Chapter 37
Ryota was confused as he saw the two younger ninjas disappear, leaving the fat ninja and the female ninja who carried countless shuriken. He glared at them and chuckled, beckoning them over with a hand. Tenten disappeared, leaving Choji alone to handle the distraction. Performing a few handseals, his body size tripled and he then began running towards Ryota at fullspeed, preparing to kill the threat immediately.
Ryota held out a hand, stopping Choji in midspin, and then pushed back, leaving Choji in a crumpled pile, exhausted and wasted. Ryota then sensed danger behind him, turning around to various weapons flying towards him, guided by invisible chakra that Ryota could easily see through. He focused a small amount of chakra into a finger and began deflecting the attacks away as a child pops bubbles. Chuckling again, Ryota appeared behind Tenten, knocking her to the ground with a flick of the wrist. He then looked around for the other two; presumably, they had run away, leaving the elder ninjas to finish the job. But he sensed talent in them, just as he had during the trials of the Forest of Death and in the preliminaries of the third chunin exam. He turned to see Kenta and Akimaru facing him. They disappeared and seemed to reappear in the air every few seconds, slowly growing closer to him. Ryota held out a hand behind and grabbed Kenta in midair, also snatching Akimaru by the scruff of his neck. He then gasped the realization that the child and cat were mere clones. They suddenly exploded in his face, knocking him off guard.
Perfect… Natsumi thought to herself, releasing more seeds around the area, preparing to end this like she had with Hitomi…but she wouldn't fail this time…
Ryota still looked frantic, as he had finally been caught off guard, but calmed himself, realizing that was their last trump card. Now…he could beat them at their own game. Focusing chakra, he sighed and waited in midair, his legs crossed and his arms as well, calm and relaxed in the face of battle.
Kenta glared and motioned to Akimaru, initiating their own acts in the insidious plot. Ryota looked up to see shuriken flying from all directions. He perceived through the illusions and held out a hand, knocking away all but one shuriken, which he caught. Once again, the clone shuriken exploded in his hand, but this time he was prepared. He unleashed a hail of darts, effectively ending any chance of survival. But he stopped as Kenta appeared behind him, darts caught in his mouth, hands and feet. Thrusting them back at Ryota, Kenta disappeared, only to be caught by the proverbial tail by Ryota, who had perceived his counterattack.
"Impressive, Kenta…but you've lost…"
Kenta simply grinned and replied, "You'd think that, wouldn't you? Look behind you…" Kenta said, pointing behind Ryota, who looked back and returned with a glare to an empty pair of clothes, replaced by a tree stump.
Substitution…you are a stealth expert, Kenta Uzumaki…but…I'm better…
Ryota held out a hand, revealing countless illusions, revealing the true Kenta hiding in the bushes, ready to ambush Ryota again. Ryota smiled slightly and resumed his calm mood, waiting for the next surprise.
Natsumi was nearly finished, but she still felt a bit uneasy, as Ryota was insanely strong. But she remembered Hitomi's words and completed her tasks, staying back, preparing to watch the fireworks.
Ryota was getting somewhat impatient, as he wanted to kill both of the children, but he decided to simply incapacitate them. Killing them was too much effort at this point. He located Kenta and reappeared in an empty clearing, thought Kenta was supposed to be here. He looked around and saw Kenta mocking him from another tree branch. Ryota lunged at the cat ninja and missed, turning around to attack again, but missing every time. He then realized the truth again…
"Another illusion, Kenta? This is getting old…"
"Yeah…and you're getting boring yourself, Ryota. Maybe we need to add some spice to this bland life of yours…" Ryota saw Kenta waving at him from afar and he glared, turning to attack, but then stopping at a realization too late to react to. The forest erupted into flames as a huge explosion consumed half of it in a single blast. The smoke cleared and Ryota was nowhere to be seen. Natsumi didn't believe it…she had beaten Ryota… But she gasped as a shuriken struck flesh. She turned to see a scorched Ryota, his eyes now glowing white and black. He smirked and slapped her aside, knocking her unconscious as well. Kenta thought he was safe, but stopped at a shuriken in his side as well. Ryota struck him aside and took flight, already late for his next appointment.
The Earth Village will pay next…with their prides shattered like stones…

Minoru panicked as he sensed Ryota's power, even all those miles away. He saw Hitomi's group in their path to the Earth Village.
"This will be difficult…that's two team members gone at once. I hope they can handle Ryota themselves."
Hitomi stopped as she sensed danger. She flung out a shuriken, realizing too late who it was. Minoru stepped out of the shadows, a shuriken lodged in his already injured hand. He was definitely not happy, but relaxed as he called out to Hinata and Lee.
"You two…I need to talk…"
Hitomi was confused as Minoru began talking to the two jonins, both of them nodding hesitantly, Lee acting strangely serious, and Hinata being very courageous. They completed the exchange of information and turned to Hitomi.
Hinata looked down and then spoke to Hitomi, her usual tone confusing Hitomi even more, "H-hitomi…we...we need to tell you…something…"
Lee interrupted with his own loud voice, "Yeah, we need to tell you that you and Jotaro need to follow Minoru to a secret training, and then you'll be able to beat Ryota. It'll take at least a week to complete the training, so you'd better make a quick decision! …" Lee became instantly silent as he looked away. Minoru followed with his own carefully chosen words.
"Hitomi…you know what the note said, don't you?" Hitomi nodded in response as Minoru continued, "so…you're ready to leave the team, take Jotaro with you and leave Risa in the hands of Hinata and Lee?"
Hitomi was hesitant to answer this question, and Minoru answered it for her with more forceful words, "Of course you are! They chose you because you had good decision-making skills, not because you're Kakashi's daughter! You have more courage then you think, Hitomi. Now believe in yourself, or nobody will believe in you!"
Hitomi was shocked to hear Minoru speaking so harshly and began to unconsciously cry, Minoru glaring and responding with more words, "Hitomi, stop it! Don't use your sensitive feelings as an excuse for weakness! You know you've already made peace with it in your soul, now tell your mind that you're over it! Risa's strong, Jotaro's strong," he said while looking at Jotaro, who seemed quiet and pensive, yet determined to face the challenges. Hitomi still continued to cry, speaking in between sobs
"Please…Minoru…don't…don't try to…tell me what to do…"
"I'm not telling you what to do…"
"He's telling you what you need to do…"Jotaro added in, "For everybody…you have a duty…you told Kenta and Risa that…Now…keep true to yourself…and join us… Kakashi wouldn't want you to be a coward… And you know that too… Don't you?"
Hitomi was in shock as she realized the truth nearly too late. Her tears began to dry as she smiled again, the bright smile bringing hope back to Risa and the others. Hitomi hugged Risa, telling her to be strong, as she and Jotaro said their last goodbyes to everyone again. Hinata and Lee waved goodbye to the three ninjas as their Taigans lit up and made them seem to be able to fly through the forest.
Risa looked towards Hinata and Lee.
"So…what are we going to do to fight Ryota?"
Lee grinned his classic confidence grin and turned to Hinata.
"All right, I've got another plan. And this time, I've thought it through! You with me?"
Hinata nodded, as did Risa, who listened intently as Lee's eyes shone brightly.

Ryota was soaring through the air, continuing to muse on the past.
Suffering…hatred…chaos…they all exist without thinking... Just as we humans do…continuing through an endless hell, thinking we will go to heaven… All that will end soon…

Chapter 38
Hinata and Lee's team was nearly to their destination, and the plan was etched into their minds, thanks to Lee's constant reminders along the way. Risa was still nervous, but every time she remembered Hitomi's words, her courage returned, greater than ever. The Hidden Stone Village was only another two miles away, and she could already see a small amount of it on the horizon.
What new powers could Ryota have? …It's better not to worry about that until it happens… Focus on the mission…

Jiraiya was still waiting in the same spot where he had trained Naruto, the fourth Hokage and where his own training sessions with Tsunade and Orochimaru had started when they were children. He looked up to the sky and sighed.
Those kids better get here soon. It won't take Ryota more than a week and a half to finish off every one of the five countries. And my training usually takes at least a week. They need to get here soon…or everything will fall apart…

The Stone Village was reminiscent of a plateau region scattered with huts and various buildings atop its vast plane. The Earth Ninjas looked at the Leaf messengers with some degree of disgust and many without any semblance of feelings. It was understandable. Their greatest clan leader, Enishi, was killed by one of Konoha's ninjas. And now…from what Hinata and Lee explained to them, they would undoubtedly lose their own Tsuchikage. But after a long period of depression, a rousing speech from Lee got them ready to defend their village.
Risa had been molding her chakra for the past hour and was prepared for any amount of danger they might. She gasped at a sudden burst of chakra, as did Hinata and many other earth nins.
Ryota appeared on the edge of the village and remained cold and emotionless as he began destroying buildings without a thought, a wave of the hand ripping a house from its foundations, a motion of the head shattered windows and cracked stone and metal with great gusting gales of wind.
As every ninja prepared themselves, Lee explained the new plan again. The earth nins knew they would be sacrifices, but they also knew their children would carry on their legacy with pride. With a powerful battle cry, the war began anew. Ryota narrowed his eyes and flung out a hand, collapsing an entire legion of ninjas preparing a combination earth jutsu. He turned his head and rocketed down to another group of shinobi, who seemed ready to fight hand to hand. Ryota simply grinned and beckoned them to him, his hands hanging dead at his side. The ninjas rushed forward, but were flung back by a spinning kick, Ryota landing firmly on the ground.
He then pulled his arms up and performed a few practice punches before running into the fray of the earth ninja armies, numbering nearly five thousand. But with a few devastating punches, the earth nin forces were either decimated into pieces or trapped under new cracks in the earth. Ryota faced the remaining four ninjas, including the Tsuchikage, Hinata, Lee, and Risa. He smiled again at the sight of old friends and looked with disinterest at the Earth Shadow. The strapping man of 80 rushed at him, unleashing an apocalyptic jutsu, countless geysers erupting around him, followed by a pillar of fire that engulfed Ryota. Nothing seemed to be able to survive that except the caster, but once again, the smoke cleared, and Ryota was unscathed. He looked at his charred hands, which healed themselves quickly, returning to their normal hue. The musical ninja then looked up at the Tsuchikage with a smirk. He spoke with that same strange tone he had taken with Enishi.
"Well…this is interesting…you're the leader of one of the most feared groups of ninjas in the Five Countries. I'm not impressed, really. That attack was very flashy and altogether very effective, but you're not dealing with any normal ninja. I am…the peak of nindo…and now…I'll see to it that my suffering will never happen to anyone ever again…"
Risa gasped at Ryota's words, and called out to him as he rushed forward to finish off his adversary.
"Ryota, wait! We want to listen to you! Don't hurt anybody to try to relieve your own suffering! No one would want that! Not your parents, not your friends, nobody…"
Ryota stopped and looked at Risa with an icy stare. He spoke, his voice now nearly a monotone, "What friends…what family…what people do I have that even accept me? I've lived through life with hatred, distrust, even with outright punishment… No one will ever know the depth of my pain… And no one will ever have to when I destroy every ninja in the Five Countries…"
He angled his head at the Tsuchikage and grinned, holding out a hand, the Earth Shadow's body lifting up into the air as Ryota performed the handseals for the attack known as the Symphony of Ultimate Pain. Suddenly, the aged ninja seemed to convulse inwardly as some strange power took over him. His eyes widened, his pupils dilated, his breathing nearly ceased, and every inch of him seemed to stop living for a second. And almost instantly after, the elder's form began to become saturated with energy, every pore erupting with chakra, his limbs flailing uncontrollably. Bones cracked, muscles tore and organs were destroyed. But the pain seemed to never end as Ryota spoke again.
"This is my favorite move. Not nearly as powerful as the Rhapsody of Light and Shadow, but just as effective in torture and all along skill. First, it makes you feel the pain of dying and then, the sorrow of every inch of your being tearing apart all at once. And finally, your very soul and mind are torn asunder in an instant. But…I choose when that happens… And I choose…now…"
The Earth Shadow seemed to scream outwardly, but no sound came out as his vocal cords had been snapped and his voice box crushed. Chakra flowed through every orifice and erupted through every opening at once. But the true pain was inward, as memories assaulted the crone's mind and his essence began to become weak and fragile, crackling as glass in a windstorm. Hours seemed to pass as only 15 minutes actually took place. The attack ended with the body intact, but nothing was alive within it, only a mere shell now. Risa and Hinata couldn't help but cry at the senseless pain, as Lee glared at Ryota, already beginning his own forbidden techniques.
"You…you'll never hurt anyone…ever… I've gotten stronger over the past 15 years and now…I'm ready to unleash my full potential…and kill you… Five Chakra Gates…open!" The green chakra burst forth like a fountain as Hinata and Risa stepped back, Hinata stunned at Lee's new strength, as was Ryota.
"This amount of chakra is nearly equal to my own…but can you control it…without tearing muscle to bits?" He finished with another malicious grin
Lee responded with a punch to Ryota's face, the punch caught by Ryota's hand, but the force nearly shattering Ryota's bones. Ryota's eyes widened and narrowed as he pushed the punch back, Lee still forcing his power with all his might.
"Five chakra gates gives you nearly 3/4 the amount of chakra I have. I can't allow you to live… But…this will take a different move." Ryota thrust out his hands, performing the handseals, first stopping on monkey and then finally ending on dragon. Firstly, the red orange burst consumed Lee, his chakra levels dissipating to half and then the unseen force striking him, the green chakra spinning around in a whirlwind. Lee was amazed.
"What…is this?"
Ryota responded by speaking into Lee's mind.
This is a combination attack that will either kill you immediately…or tear you apart piece by piece… Your body will survive…but you'll never be a ninja again… The worst suffering for someone like you…
Lee grimaced at the realization of what was happening, but smirked as he thrust his hands out, ceasing the attack's progression for the time as he responded.
"Maybe so…but I'll fight you with every ounce of power I have before I'll just give up…"
Ryota cocked his head to the side, crossed his arms and waited for the attack to crush him as Hinata and Risa watched on in horror.

Jiraiya finally sighted the three children on the horizon and looked up, his snow-white hair flowing in the wind. Hitomi was the first to arrive, followed by Minoru and Jotaro, still eyeing each other. Jiraiya looked up and decided to introduce himself as well as tell a special truth that only he and Tsunade knew.
"Hello…you all know me as either Jiraiya-sennin or pervert-sennin…either way…I'll be training you to improve your Taigan powers. But first…I need to explain a fact about the Taigan… The truth is…the Taigan is actually…a curse brought on by your parents…"
All three of the children were in shock as Jiraiya looked down, almost sorry he had told them.