May: Ummm babe, it's been about a week since we've gotten the internet back on. Shouldn't you…I dunno update?
KG: DOUBLE KILL! YES! I AM FUCKING UP THIS FIZZ MID LANE! Oh what's that babe? I'll get to it soon.
Me: Hun, I think your readers will get impatient.
KG: They are always impatient! OMFG BOT LANE WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! FUCKIN' NOOBS!
May: uhhhh bae?
KG: Hun I promise I will update as soon as I find out WHY OUR ASHE TOOK GHOST AND NOT HEAL!
May:…
May: I guess I can give it a shot. Pfft how hard can writing one of my husband's stories be? Ummm how does he start these?
-10 minutes later-
May: Ah okay, well we'll go on adventure this time everyone.
Music of the Week: Running by Eliana Elias
Quote: "When your time comes to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home," by Tecumseh.
"Keep pace all of you! We're almost to the surface," Guren ordered as she and Yura swiftly led the people up the stairs out of the underground prison that had been some people's home for possibly months on end. In Guren's arms laid Kushina. Kushina's unconscious form was easily seeable of everyone wasn't rushing to keep up with Guren and Yura. "Don't lose stride!" Guren repeated against.
It hadn't sit well with Guren to allow her cousin to go back into the caves without proper backup, but Guren had known that Naruto could handle himself. He wasn't a part of her unit so he had to follow his own mission parameters. Guren wasn't going to stop him, but the fact that more people could have been down there wasn't filling her with the best hope currently. As she looked down at the unconscious leader of Hinoken, Guren wondered just what could have been so powerful as to knock out the clan head of the Uzumaki. It was without a doubt that the Uzumaki had a strong life force. This was coupled with the fact that to contain said strong life force, then they needed particularly strong bodies. It wasn't widely known, but back in the day Uzumaki blood was extremely value able for its high resistance to poisons, disease, sickness, and other ailments. Uzumaki blood back in the day could probably have bought you a small house for about an ounce to a pint or more. So given how strong this blood was, Guren had to wonder what could possibly be in Kushina's system that caused her to become unconscious.
"Kushina, what happened to you?" Guren asked before shaking her head. She gave a small grunt before turning her head forward. The grin on her face couldn't have been bigger as she noticed the familiar small door which came to be the entrance of the cavern. Not looking to stop her stride, Guren kicked the door down ushering in a small crash. The dust that came from the crash dispelled soon enough allowing Guren to gain her focus. What she say in front of her would have made her chuckle if it wasn't for the situation. "Stand down!" Guren said seeing Iruka, Shikamaru and Ibiki looking ready to take someone's head off if they seemed to be a threat.
Each member took in her words before they quickly calmed down and withdrew their weapons. Iruka took a step forward. "What did you find Guren-san?" Iruka asked. The three looked down and Shikamaru had to suppress a groan. "That's Naruto's mother isn't it?" he asked. Guren quickly nodded before moving to the side. The three men watched Yura quickly come from the door.
"One at a time, single file line please! No pushing or shoving!" Yura instructed. Seeing the entourage coming, Guren quickly took action. "Ibiki, go open the door," Guren said. Ibiki raised an eyebrow, but quickly did so. Just as he had done so he, and the others, watched as a massive horde of people walked into the room and out the door.
"Line up outside please. We'll try to get everyone organized before we let you go!" Yura said as people slowly began to show their emotions of seeing the outside for so long. However those emotions suddenly turned sour as people looked at the sky. Sasame and Amaru looked up in the sky and gawked. Kotohime was the next to follow as she turned back to the cabin. "Erm, Yura-san, I believe we have a problem," Kotohime said. Guren and Yura blinked before they sent a glance to each other. Guren moved over to Iruka while Yura calmly ordered for the escapees to halt their progress. Guren laid Kushina next to Iruka.
"Please look after her for me," Guren said. Iruka nodded before he began pulling out a standard med kit. Iruka was no medic nin, but standard field medicine he could accomplish. He quickly nodded while Guren and Yura moved outside. Both looked into the sky. "What the hell?" Guren muttered. The once clear skies that showed it should still be early in the morning were covered in dark clouds. Lightning flashed through the sky. Thunder roared over the horizon. Guren, Yura, and the group of prisoners gasped as lightning flared down and struck the ground nearly the cavern. The struck earth quickly exploded forcing a series of shouts from people as boulders fell to the ground. People screamed in shock as the jagged cavern rocks suddenly seemed to resemble the jaws of an angry demon ready to devour them whole.
As the lightning struck the ground, Guren quickly moved in front of the freed prisoners. She effortlessly slapped her hands together before she slammed them on the ground. "Shoton: Shokujinheki( Crystal Release: Crystal Encampment Wall)" Guren shouted forcing a wall of crystals to cover the mouth of the cavern. People gasped as the large rocks bashed against the crystal breaking it into pieces, but they were more amazed that the crystal quickly began to repair itself. However, Guren and the rest of the freed prisoners didn't have the time to relax as the earth beneath their feet suddenly started to rock. "And earthquake? Right now?" Guren thought to herself as many people fell to ground. Sasame quickly grabbed Amaru as they fell forward. Kotohime gasped as the earth violently rumbled. Even Ibiki, Shikamaru, and Iruka clutched the walls of the small house that become the entrance of the underground maze. Iruka quickly covered Kushina's body.
Outside, Guren cursed as the shaking seemed to get even heavier. The earthquake and the thunderstorm rocked in Guren's ears. Guren looked left and right in surprise. She quickly glanced to her left and to the right. As the earth rumbled, Guren watched as crack appear to the very far left of the crowd of people. Something was coming. This…this aura. It was an otherworldly aura. Guren didn't know where it was coming from, but the crack suddenly got bigger…and bigger…and bigger. "Move to the side!" Guren shouted and people quickly gasped as a large light exploded from the ground and into the sky effortlessly piercing Guren's crystal wall. Guren could barely hold her surprise. "What the hell is going on?!" Kotohime shouted. However no one was able to answer her question as another swell of light came from the top of the walls of the cavern. A third light erupted from the side. The lightning struck down ferociously slammed into the ground.
Yura gawked at the scene in front of her. Never had she known the earth to be so terrifying that right now. This supernatural phenomenon that was going on was beyond her understanding. The ground was shaking so hard she couldn't even write a seal for a protective barrier to help anyone. Also these swells of light that kept appearing from the ground, it was like in a response to someone's anger. The way they stood in the sky and pierced the clouds. Just now a seventh one appeared. It flared in the sky just the same as the other six. Yura wasn't sure what to make of the sight. "Guren-san, we have a problem!" Yura heard Iruka's voice come from behind them. She glanced back and gawked. "Can't it wait?!" Guren asked angrily, but she didn't receive an affirmative or a negative. With a flick of her tongue over her teeth she glared back and widened her eyes.
Kushina was…glowing. Her once red hair gave way to silver-white hair. Strange seals slowly began to etch themselves into her skin. From her neck down to her thighs, the seals crossed her face. The freed prisoners turned and noticed what was happening to Uzumaki Kushina. The look of surprise on their faces couldn't have been more accurate to Guren's own face. No one could comprehend what was happening to her. The same as no one could, or would ever comprehend what was happening in the near lowest parts of the cavern.
-x-
Yuri stared at Shizune and Ebisu's dead bodies. The startling revelation of who she had been fighting, what had been done to them, and who they were killed by was all taking it toll over Yuri's mind. Was this…the true destiny? Was this all that awaited humanity? Was it all…how it should have been? She…vowed. She promised. She had broken a promise. How could she save them? How could she…..? She…couldn't. She could feel the remainder of her chakra slipping away as she laid on the ground gasping for air to breathe. With a heavy gasp, she reached out her hand and touched their bodies. They were still warm. Yuri's tears stained the hot slab of earth protecting her from falling into the lava. She…looked forward and noticed Tokiwa walking away. Yuri wasn't sure, but she could feel her anger rising. She could feel herself breaking. Yuri balled her fists.
"Shizune-san, Ero-oji-chan! You guys were supposed to watch me do the chunin exams! You weren't supposed to die down here!" Yuri thought as she struggled. With her remaining strength she pulled Shizune and Ebisu's bodies closer to her. "I couldn't save you. I couldn't save anything! I couldn't do anything!" Yuri thought as her tears fell to Shizune's body and Ebisu's body. Her tears stained their clothes wishing against wish that they would wake up and just hug her. Yuri sniffled. Slowly two hands touched her shoulders. Yuri gasped and turned around only to see the ethereal forms of Ebisu and Shizune smiling down on her. She looked at them before her eyes become watery.
"Gomen! G-Gomen! Gomen! I couldn't save you! I couldn't save anyone! I couldn't…I…I…couldn't," Yuri slowly gasped as Shizune gently wrapped her arms around Shizune. Ebisu placed his hand on top of her head. Yuri held her head to the sky as Shizune and Ebisu smiled. She…didn't deserve those smiles. She had failed. Her anger kept rising, rising, and rising. Suddenly she felt the presence leave her body. Looking back she noticed Shizune and Ebisu beginning to fade away into the spiritual plane. No. No! NO! Yuri could fix this! Yuri could still…she could still save them! She could still…
With whatever strength that held her together, Yuri reached forward and grabbed Shizune and Ebisu's forms. They stared at her in surprise. "You are staying! I…I…WE will make her pay for this! You are both staying with me dammit! You are both staying with me forever!" Yuri proclaimed vehemently. Shizune and Ebisu gasped as they suddenly and forcefully glided into Yuri's body attaching to her spirit. Once they did….in an instant, Yuri's mind snapped.
She had seen everything. She had seen every deplorable, despicable, detestable act that Shizune and Ebisu were forced to endure. She glared up at Tokiwa. "You…you'll pay for this! YOU WILL DIE FOR THIS!" Yuri shouted forcing Tokiwa to look back in shock as Yuri seethed. She felt like her body was ripping itself apart. She could easily pass out from the pain, but her anger kept her awake to experience the act. "I will make you pay for this!" Yuri snarled out as her red hair slowly started to fade away.
"How are she still alive? She shouldn't have any chakra left!" Tokiwa exclaimed as she stared at Yuri cover her body. A fierce wave of power exploded from her body rocking the internal structure of the cavern. Swiftly a white fire surrounded Yuri's body. Tokiwa covered her eyes as Yuri's nails clawed at the ground. The white fire blasted from Yuri's body and the rock platform and into the lava. Tokiwa's eyes watched the fire as it sped up the walls with a raging intensity. Tokiwa also watched as the flames closest to Yuri burned her hair coating them in a silver-white flame. The chakra cloak that had evaporated from her body had effortlessly come back. Tokiwa watched its red glow suddenly turn as white as the snow that fell on the ground at times of the year. Her hair flew widely into air it flailed about like a wild animal. Tokiwa watched Yuri's pupils whiten until they covered the outer lines of her eyes. The lava in the chamber bubbled viciously as the Tokiwa suddenly felt the heat increase in the cavern.
"This…this power. This is our King's power that we tried to drain. How does she have it?!" Tokiwa asked as she watched the entire cavern system crumble. She turned back and noticed the former red turned white chakra cloak dissipate. However once it disappeared Tokiwa watched as an array of seals fell down Yuri's face to her arms and then to her legs. The white power exploded from her body as the spiritual particles attached to her life essence. The light suddenly became overpowering and wind suddenly started to pick up in a place where no wind should have been available. The wind blasted into Tokiwa's face, its force so strong it pushed her back slightly. The light forced her eyes shut as Yuri was bathed in its glow. The howling of the zephyr rattled in her ears. Unknown to her, the spirits who watched it take place fell to there knees and bowed. The Shikyō had his valve and now his centerline was his. The spirits prayed, sang, and worshipped as the light grew brighter. "You have mocked my family, my love, my village, and my friends for the last time. You wish to die so badly! I will make sure to rip your soul from your body and hand it to the shinigami upon your death!"Tokiwa could hear Yuri speak. She groaned as the light somehow penetrated her eyes no matter how hard she shut them. However this didn't last long before the light slowly began to fade. Until it faded completely, Tokiwa hadn't opened her eyes. Once she opened them she snarled and took a step back.
"Reiton: Mugen Kūgeki," Tokiwa shouted as she grabbed her sword and swung it releasing a large pent-up wave of light at Yuri's direction. The light passed over Yuri as Tokiwa growled and waited for the light to fade away. As it did, Tokiwa was stunned to silence. "Count us as the last face you will ever see before you are taken before the Shinigami. I hope you're ready to die. Like Nii-chan, right now I am reluctant on second chances for those who don't deserve it. Here I come…Tokiwa-san. Your death is coming dattebayen!"Tokiwa shivered as she felt she heard more than one voice speak to her.
Yuri stepped out of the light. Her clothes looked like that had been washed in the essence of divinity itself. Long white streaks laid across her clothing. She glared at Tokiwa angrily. More over, her clothes were covered by…something. Tokiwa couldn't figure it out. It looked like a cloak made of pure silver and light. This cloak fell down to where it just reached her ankles. Her hair was…floating in the air like the very spiritual pressure keeping it afloat. Her silver-white eyes bore seemed to dig directly into Tokiwa's soul.
"I see. So that's how you used that move of yours," Yuri said once again creeping Tokiwa out with how there seemed to be three voices talking at once. However she steadied herself. "You are harder to kill than I had assumed before. What do you mean you have figured out my technique?" Tokiwa asked with narrowed eyes. Yuri didn't answer immediately. Instead she glanced off to the side. She could see the bubbling lava with her sparkling, silver eyes. Yuri honestly found it funny how she didn't see it. Her brother was essential the avatar for all things spirit-related in the shinobi nations. She glared back at Tokiwa before she took a step forward. From that step, a wide circle of white fire began to slowly spread along the floating rock platform on the lava.
"Calling it Reiton is actually pretty accurate. You truly do not have chakra. You and the others like you trained your bodies to live without chakra. Chakra is the combination of physical and spiritual energy. Your techniques have no physical side. You have turned your spiritual energy into a weapon on its own. It's like Nii-chan's Honshou, only to a lesser almost irrelevant extent. Want to know how I know?" Yuri asked as Tokiwa frowned, however Tokiwa couldn't stop the bead of sweat that fell from her head. Whether from the pressure Yuri was exuding of the heat radiating in the chamber, Tokiwa wasn't sure.
"It's easy. With these eyes, I can effortlessly stare into your soul and see your spirit. Your spiritual power diminished slightly from that last attack. You focused your spiritual power into your blade and you made that into an attack. I now also understand why my chakra always faded after that attack. In its form, you merely merged the spiritual half of my chakra with your own spiritual energy before dissipating it. Essentially, you stole half of the requirement for me to make chakra. In other words, you overpowered a portion of my spiritual energy with your own," Yuri explained with a small nod to herself.
Meanwhile, Tokiwa could feel the fear and angst staring to rise within her. In just those few explanations Yuri had been able to decipher the truth behind Tokiwa's technique. The technique that she had spent years perfecting had just been explained by a 13-yr old genin child! Tokiwa's hand strangled the handle of her sword. "So it seems you have explained the powers behind Reiton effectively. However just because you have explained it that doesn't mean that you can comprehend the danger I still possess to you. I will admit that this power you have obtained is intriguing it doesn't help your situation," Tokiwa said as Yuri merely shook her head.
"I wouldn't except someone like you to understand the power of a soul of the person you love. I will show you the power of the souls you killed. I will show you that thanks to my friends…my spirit will forever be stronger than yours," Yuri said and Tokiwa watched as the white energy that surrounded the former redheaded Uzumaki slowly began to gather into her arms. The white aura granted itself a sharp tip extending itself from Yuri's fingertips in the formation of a blade. Yuri sent a light glare at Tokiwa. Tokiwa grabbed her sword and frowned. "I will make certain you pay for what you did!" Yuri proclaimed boldly while Tokiwa unsheathed her sword. As Tokiwa got into her kata she could have sworn she saw an image of Shizune and EBisu glaring at her…in the act same formation Yuri was in.
-x-
Sasuke, with the help of Konan, quickly flew to the left as a blast of white fire passed over their heads. Konan quickly flew Sasuke into an aerial arch. The laughing of their opponent was evident in their ears as Sasuke gave a small curse. He wasn't used to fighting in the air let alone with someone holding him like this. "Run! Fly! Do more tricks! Dance for me!" Ranmaru cackled as he grabbed his sword and swung it forward. An arch of light propelled from his sword. Konan and Sasuke watched the incoming attack before Sasuke held up his own sword.
"Katon: Enko (Fire Release: Arch)," Sasuke called before he swung his sword releasing an arch of fire that quickly blasted into the light arch. Both quickly collided before dispelling in an array of fire and light. Sasuke and Konan glared at Ranmaru while the young boy laughed. "Nice one, Uchiha-san! This is the most fun I've had in awhile," Ranmaru said with a childish grin. Sasuke snorted. Obviously the kid needed something better to do with his time.
"Though judging from you and your friend I don't think you have enough chakra to continue for long. You were in this cavern for nearly a month. You can't have a lot of chakra remaining. The same would go for you, Tori-san!" Ranmaru said making Konan's underlip twitch, but she didn't reply. Her only reply was to grip Sasuke's shoulders and charge him forward. With a shout, Sasuke held his sword back before the sound of clashing metal rang in the middle cavern room.
"Besides, I don't think your friends are going to have a much better time with Mu-san than you are having with me. You'd like to help them wouldn't you?" Ranmaru asked. Sasuke gave him a small glare, but as if Fate were suddenly against him he heard a cry of pain and turned around.
Kehahahaha, You ain't a matc' fer meh! Jus die ya cunties!" Mu shouted as his fist slammed into Mikoto's blade with enough force to rock her body sending her crashing into the wall. Mikoto gave a small snarl to Mu while Komachi quickly rushed to Mikoto's aid. However Komachi wasn't sure, but the shadow looming over her form didn't inspire the best confidence in her as she turned and noticed Mu right behind her, his fist prepared to dislocate her head from her shoulders.
"KEHAHAHAHA!" Mu cackled as his fist came rushing down on Komachi's form. However his fist never made the connection as Zabuza's blade came between the two. The former Demon of the Mist's battered form was easily noticed in Mu's eyes only seeming to inspire even more thrill from the crazed cult member. "Zabuza-sama!" Haku said nursing her wound. Zabuza panted as blood dripped from the side of his face.
"Ya got big balls. I is gonna have ta applaud ya!" Mu said as Zabuza kept just enough strength to keep from passing out in front of the enemy. Such a thing was unsightly for a shinobi of his caliber. However it didn't help that he could feel the aching in his broken bones and the strain on his chakra coils. He doubted he could have held this for long. "Quit gawking and get her to the red-haired brat," Zabuza said to a surprised Komachi. The blonde-haired Uzumaki quickly nodded and grabbed the dazed Uchiha matriarch before moving her over to Karin.
Karin quickly knelt to her and furled up her arm. "Mikoto-san, hurry and bite my arm!" Karin said urgently. Mikoto squirmed as she opened one of her eyes. She leaned forward and quickly bit into Karin's arm which let out a small squeal from the redhead. Mikoto could feel her body's injuries healing and while she felt better she couldn't say the same for her chakra reserves.
Seeing this, Mu couldn't help but grin. "So yer te healer o' te group. Yo Ranmaru, in RPG's ain't it right ta go fer te healers?!" Mu asked much to everyone's surprise. Sasuke turned back to Ranmaru while Ranmaru grinned. "That's right Mu-san. But this is real life! This isn't an…what in Kami's name is an RPG?" Ranmaru asked, but he didn't really care. He wanted this group to die. As much fun as he was having even fun could become tedious after a short time.
"S'all I needs ta know!" Mu said as the white fire in his eyes suddenly got bigger. Zabuza shivered beneath his gaze before he felt something…crack. Looking down, Zabuza was stunned into silence as Mu's fist broke through the Kubikiribōchō before it rocketed into Zabuza's stomach. Blood splattered over Zabuza's mouth through his bandages as Mu forced Zabuza through the air and into the opposing wall with a mighty crazy. Everyone gawked before Mu turned to face Karin.
"Da big baddie wolf is comin' fer ya sheep!" Mu said before he tucked in his legs and blasted for Karin's position. Mikoto gasped as she watched Mu charge for them like an angry bull. The dirt picked up around his feet like a fierce storm of anger. The white power of his soul illuminated his path. "A..Almost there," Mikoto thought to herself as she felt more of her wounds close. Komachi and Haku quickly appeared in front of Mu.
Haku wasn't used to showing her emotions easily. For the shinobi, those who easily showed their emotions gave their enemy the advantage, however the look of anger on Haku's face couldn't have easily been replaced by anything else. With one handsign, Haku quickly pressed against the ground. "Hissatsu Hyōsō (Certain-Kill Ice Spears)," Haku hollered and Mu quickly watched as large spears of ice erupted from the ground. He chuckled as he dodged one by moving to the left. He dodged another by jumping over it. Komachi frowned before she placed a hand over Haku's. "Raiton: Kūgeki Toho( Lightning Release: Void Walk)," Komachi uttered. Nearly instantaneously a streak of lightning arose from the ice spears. Mu grinned at the incoming lightning strikes as they connected to the tips of each individual spear. The ground cracked beneath Mu's feet. He looked down and quickly sidestepped a spear that erupted from the ground before he ducked underneath a strike of lightning that passed over his head. Haku and Komachi gawked as Mu snickered.
"Yer annoyin'. Take yerself a nap," Mu said before he flared his spiritual energy. This energy quickly flooded the room and Mikoto was forced to watch as Haku and Komachi fell to each side of Mu before going unconscious. Sasuke and Konan growled, but they both felt the pressure as Ranmaru pressed his blade into Sasuke's blade. "Are you sure you have the time to be distracted?" Ranmaru asked while Sasuke and Konan frowned at him.
Mikoto and Karin watched as Mu's form got bigger and bigger until he stood before them. Mikoto gripped her sword while Mu smirked. "No worries fer ya. All heal'ers go ta hea'ven," Mu said as he cocked back his fist. With a wide cackle, Mu sent his fist flying forward. Karin shivered underneath his gaze. She tightly closed her eyes.
It was going to be over for Karin. Mikoto still couldn't move and she was going to die in this cavern, but strangely Karin wasn't so against the idea. Sure Sasuke was hers like she might have always envisioned, but she supposed she did have a hand in keeping his mother alive. That had to have counted for something. There always was her distant cousin. He could probably bring her back with that contract of his. Then again, perhaps Karin was sick of dealing with the world. The bullshit that seemed to make up the most of her daily life was because of situations that she could never truly comprehend.
Karin had waited for her ending. She had kept waiting. This Mu guy didn't seem like the type to make you intentionally suffer. She actually expected to be floating around the room or whatever the hell a spirit did went it departed. However there wasn't any pain that she could think of, well other than the Uchiha matriarch who was still biting into her arm. She opened her eyes and saw Mu…bleeding from his lower lip, but what surprised her the most was that…Shinnō had stabbed the man front the back. Shinnō's quivering form was easily noticeable as the tears fell down his face. Karin and Mikoto could see a kunai that Shinnō had used buried deep in Mu's back. Mu coughed as blood dripped on the floor before he turned a murderous glare towards the prisoner.
With his hand, he slammed his fist into Shinnō's stomach knocking the man to the ground as he doubled over in pain. Mu snarled as he turned around forgetting Karin and Mikoto for a moment. "I gotta admire ya spunk asshole! But ya have only signed ya death warrant!" Mu said with a snarl as he walked over to Shinnō. The man's body shook as his breath quickened. Mu grinned while Mikoto cursed. "Mikoto-san, you aren't finished. Just a few more seconds!" Karin said while Mikoto looked over as Mu towered over Shinnō's form. He raised his fist into the air.
"Say yer prayers asshole!" Mu shouted as he swung his fist down. Shinnō made the attempt to defend his body as best he could, but no one could hide their surprise as Mu's fist impacted metal. Mu looked down and noticed Zabuza huffing with his blade being the only thing keeping Shinnō's head attached to his shoulders.
Mu turned to Zabuza and noticed the man's battered form. A vein appeared on the edge of his forehead. "Would ya all kindly TAKE A COK 'N FUK OFF!" Mu shouted as he grabbed Zabuza by the face before slamming him into the ground. The light slowly began to fade from Zabuza's eyes before Mu turned to Shinnō and kicked him into an opposing wall with the sheer force needed bury the man through a hole. Shinnō coughed as he slid to the ground. Mu gave a small grin before he turned back to Karin and Mikoto. He looked up for a second and noticed Ranmaru effectively blocking both Sasuke and Konan. He gave a small nod. He turned back to Karin and Mikoto.
"I'm comin' fer ya sluts!" Mu cackled as the spiritual pressure of his energy cracked the ground beneath his feet. He quickly charged for the two downed women.
Mikoto didn't remember anything hurting this much. As she laid on the ground, she shivered. She was sure that her bones were broken in some areas. She was also sure that she had some internal bleeding. Whatever healing Karin had done had nearly been destroyed in that single moment. The ringing in her ears wasn't going away, but not even that could mask the snark laughing of Mu. Mikoto could hazily see Karin's body edged into the wall. Her life-force sprayed over the wall like a disgusting art painting. How Karin's body twitched unnerved Mikoto. She turned over and noticed Haku and Komachi still unconscious. Kakashi and Yugao were still passed out from their earlier injuries. Her eyes trailed up as she noticed Sasuke's eyes looking at her in shock, surprise, and horror. Mikoto frowned.
No, she couldn't let it happen again. She couldn't let son watch her die again. Countless times Mikoto, at night, had seen Sasuke cry more than likely from a dream about her and Fugaku dying. Even right now, she could remember hearing Itachi's blade shake and his whimpers. She imagined his tears as they fell to the ground…in the name of the village. Mikoto chuckled even though it hurt to do so. Her right hand twitched. She could feel her blade in her hands. Yeah, that's right. She still had her blade…and her Uchiha heritage. "Do it," Mikoto shivered as she heard someone speak. Mikoto wasn't sure if she was going crazy or not, but she could have sworn she could see Shisui looking at her. "I'm tired," Mikoto answered with a smile as she noticed Mu turn to her. The glee in his eyes was enough for her to tense.
"If you don't do it then everyone in this cavern is going to die and the end of days will come," Shisui told her. Mikoto frowned. "Naruto could just revive us again. Why do I have to do anything different?" Mikoto asked. She noticed Shisui seemed to be displeased with that answer.
"How many deaths would Shikyo-sama have to do to help return everyone? Shinigami-sama and we, the spirits, can see it. How tormented his soul is with each kill he makes. Despite being the summoner to the very essence of death he has yet to learn the true meaning in death. Until he does his soul will forever be tormented by his kills. Do you want your son to die down here?" Shisui asked. Mikoto snorted painfully. That was a low blow. Mikoto remembered Shisui being much nicer.
"No time for pleasantries. Either you do it or the world will fall right here. None of us are going to blame you for it," Shisui said. Mikoto looked up and noticed Mu directly behind Shisui. The maddening look in his eyes didn't particularly faze Mikoto. "If you don't….who will?" Shisui asked and then disappeared as Mikoto closed her eyes while Mu grabbed her face. Mikoto sighed and with the last bit of her chakra she turned on her sharingan.
"Goo'night sweet princess!" Mu said with a grin however so enthralled in his actions that he never noticed the light in Mikoto's left eye go out. Mu crushed Mikoto's head into nothingness. Mu cackled as Mikoto's body fell to the ground. He laughed as loudly as he could shaking the caverns as he looked down at her body. "Take that ya dumb bitch! Take it! Take it! Take it!" Mu shouted as he slammed his foot into Mikoto's body.
However, the glee didn't last long as Mu watched Mikoto's body fade away into a void of emptiness. He stared at the ground. "Mikoto-san!" Mu heard someone shout. He turned over to the direction of the sound and his breath stilled. Hell even Sasuke, Konan and Ranmaru were amazed.
Zabuza, Mikoto, Shinnō, Karin, Haku and Komachi were all standing uninjured along with Mu. However Kakashi and Yugao were not. "What happened? I thought we were dead!" Haku said as everyone watched Mikoto drop to the ground covering her left eye. "Mikoto-san!" Karin said as Mikoto panted. Karin and Haku quickly went to attend to Mikoto as the woman gasped for breath!
"You! What did you do?!I killed you all! Why aren't you dead?!" Mu shouted angrily. Ranmaru was intrigued to know this answer as well. Even Sasuke would liked to have known. Even through his anger over the transpiring events Sasuke could feel something burning within him. He had nearly been about to lose his mother…for a second time and he was being held up by a child six damn years behind him. It nearly annoyed Sasuke to no end. Sasuke trembled enough for Konan to notice. She looked down and could see the lightning current run through his blade.
"Drop me," Sasuke replied. Konan frowned at him. "Your opponent is in the air," Konan said before Sasuke turned back to her and gave her a solid look. Konan frowned, but then closed her eyes. Try as she might, she couldn't find it in herself to argue with the Uchiha member. She essentially had no chakra left to keep him in the air. She could only nod and everyone watched as Konan dropped Sasuke.
Sasuke slammed into the ground making the attempt to ignore the tingling in his legs. Sasuke stared at Mu, however it was for just a moment as Ranmaru dropped to the ground next to his accomplice as well. "I can see it Mikoto-san, your chakra dropped drastically from…whatever you did. Whatever you did, it won't be happening again. I can assure you of that," Mu said while Mikoto huffed. However she quickly noticed Sasuke stand in front of her, his sword at the ready. Everyone could feel the anger rolling of Uchiha Sasuke's shoulders. He didn't know what happened to his mother, but he was angry. He was…very angry. Konan fell behind him as Sasuke raised his sword at Ranmaru. "S-Sasuke…I…have…a…," Mikoto could barely breath before she fell over and leaned into Sasuke's back. Sasuke moved to accommodate her. He gave her a small look and Mikoto had just enough time to stare into his eyes in surprise before offering a small smile. Since when did her son grow into such a reliable young man? Mikoto gently slipped into unconsciousness. Karin grabbed Mikoto and touched a hand to her forehead.
"Severe chakra exhaustion. Whatever she used to save us completely drained her of chakra," Karin said before Shinnō knelt down. "Let me take care of her. I am a doctor," he said. Sasuke gave a quick nod, but his eyes never left Ranmaru or Mu. By the shuffling of bodies, Sasuke could hear Karin and Shinnō drag Mikoto off to the side and tend to her.
"Oi Zabuza, I have a plan, but I need the five of us," Sasuke said. Zabuza, Konan, Haku and Komachi looked at Sasuke and were surprised by his look before Zabuza snorted. "Hmph the brat's really changed from the coward genin. To think he'd come this far," Zabuza thought to himself before turning back to their opponents.
"Not much chakra between all of us Uchiha. What plan do you have?" Zabuza asked heaving his large sword over his shoulder. "I only have enough chakra for one last technique. I just need two minutes. Komachi, can you place a fire seal on my sword?" Sasuke asked. Komachi blinked. She wasn't the best sealing person in the world, much less by Uzumaki standards, but she could at least do that much.
"Whateva yer doin' it wont save ya!" Mu shouted as he charged forward. Sasuke quickly threw his sword to Komachi as she pulled out her ink brush from her pouch. "You won't get the chance!" Mu shouted as he slammed his fist forward only to hit something solid. He looked up and noticed a mirror of ice blocking his path. He snarled. He sent a glare at Haku before he turned to see Ranmaru charging forward.
"Sasuke-san!" Komachi shouted bringing everyone's attention forward. Komachi threw Sasuke's sword into the air. Sasuke quickly grabbed Zabuza's shoulder before being hurled into the air. Sasuke quickly grabbed his blade. "I don't know what you're planning, but it won't work! I suggest you give up!" Ranmaru said before he brought back his sword. Everyone watched as the light quickly began to cover the area. Ranmaru grinned as he noticed Sasuke on the ceiling. Sasuke grabbed his blade before he glared at Ranmaru.
"I told you before I would have Naruto send your souls to the Shinigami. I intend to make him do just that," Sasuke growled as he released the fire seal. The flames quickly ignited the blade before Sasuke forced his own lightning chakra through the blade. "I will make you regret for what you did to everyone. I will make sure that you regret ever doing this," Sasuke spoke as the fire and lightning flared from his sword.
Ranmaru chuckled while Mu gave a small grin. Both turned down and the smiles left their faces as they noticed Konan and Zabuza toegther. "Kirigakure No Jutsu( Hiding In The Mist Technique)," Konan and Zabuza said before a thick fog fell over the area. Mu and Ranmaru jumped out of the mist. Ranmaru smirked. "Nice try. With that water you would magnify the power of Sasuke-san's lightning. The heat from his sword would condense the mist making the lightning even stronger. We wouldn't fall for something so childish." Ranmaru said before they gasped as the mist began to rise into the air. Ranmaru heard something…spark. He glanced to the left and then to the right. Another spark snapped in his ears. He looked forward for a moment. He shivered. Sasuke was gone.
"Where did Sasuke-san go?!" Ranmaru asked. Mu widened his eyes and looked up but he didn't see Sasuke either. Both couldn't feel his spiritual energy either. Ranmaru growled as he looked around the area, but he couldn't see Sasuke. "You'd better focus on what's in front of you!" Zabuza snarled as he charged at them. Mu held up his fist before heard something spark. He looked around the room as did Ranmaru. They both gasped as streak of lightning flashed around the cavern room.
Zabuza continued charging at them both. He swung his blade at Mu, but the large man effortlessly grabbed the blade with one hand. "Ha, don' get ahead 'a yerself!" Mu said with a smirk as he slammed his fist into Zabuza's stomach. Zabuza coughed as he was propelled away and to the feet of Komachi, Haku and Konan. Mu grabbed his blade and chuckled. "Nice toy ya got here," Mu said before he heard Zabuza smirk.
"It's for you, dumbass," Zabuza said. Mu and Ranmaru watched as the blade dispersed into paper and the paper into paper bombs. Ranmaru widened his eyes as he jumped away. "Mu, run!" Ranmaru warned, however it was too late as Ranmaru and Mu heard shouting. They looked up. W-W-When did the mist turn into thunderclouds? That…that wasn't possible! How was this much chakra still available despite the caverns?! This couldn't be possible! A massive roar was heard from the clouds. The clouds suddenly turned a bright hue of orange and red. Ranmaru and Mu shivered. The amount of chakra in this technique…shouldn't have been possible for this group! The lightning raced through the clouds.
"Before there was the Kirin. Now there is only the Chinthe. You all die by my hand. Understand your place as you fall before the Beast of Thunder. Ration: Chinthe( Lightning Release: Chinthe)," Sasuke roared and the clouds roared in response. Sasuke dashed from the clouds and charged at Ranmaru and Mu.
"I won' be fooled by yer tricks! Ya die today boy!" Mu shouted as he jumped into the air. "Reiton: Shiro Hōyō( Spirit Release: Embracing White)," Mu hollered as his fist encased itself in a white light and fire. Sasuke and Mu charged at each other before Mu bashed his fist into Sasuke's blade. Ranmaru didn't even have the chance to react as Mu was effectively split in half. Ranmaru quickly tried to jump away, but he saw his legs stuck. He gasped as he looked forward to see Haku with a panting handsign. Ranmaru stopped struggling.
"Very well Sasuke-san. I will use this on you. The most powerful technique in our arsenal that I know." Ranmaru said has he brought his blade back. Sasuke watched as Ranmaru bit his thumb and trailed his blood over his sword. "Reiton: Sōdai Mugen Kūgeki( Spirit Release: Grand Endless Void)," Ranmaru shouted as he swung his blade at Sasuke. His sword scrapped the ground igniting his steel before he fired it forward. Zabuza, Haku, Karin, Komachi, and Shinnō were all forced to close their eyes as the light came over the area. The only thing they could hear had been Sasuke's scream.
Swiftly the lights faded. Everyone opened their eyes and gasped as Sasuke was on the ground. The light seemed to be pierced by his blade as the lightning current sped through his sword. Ranmaru gasped as he turned to Sasuke utterly stunned. "That..that was…," Ranmaru thought as he saw his sword snap in two. Ranmaru closed his eyes. "I…see…so that's it. Our King truly is the one to revolutionize the world," Ranmaru thought as he fell to the ground in a pool of his own blood. Sasuke stayed crouched for a moment before looking back at Ranmaru. He then stood up before he swung his sword and placed it back in his sheath.
Sasuke quickly walked back to the group. "How is Kaa-san?" Sasuke asked with narrowed eyes. Shinnō looked up at him and sighed. "Bad. The sharingan in her left eye is completely unusable. I dear say she's blind in her left eye. She will not be able to see out of it again. But right now she's just heavily exhausted. I believe it would be best if we got out of here," the doctor said. Sasuke gave a still breath. It probably had to do with that technique from last time. However he quickly nodded.
"Kakashi and Yugao?" Komachi asked. Shinnō frowned as he moved over the two other shinobi. "Bad as well. I can give them some medication to get them moving, but they will be hurting later on," Shinnō said. Sasuke frowned for a moment before nodding allowing the doctor to go ahead. Shinnō quickly injected Kakashi and Yugao with a purple liquid forcing the two awake.
"What happened?" Yugao asked. Komachi shook her head. "No time to explain that Yugao-san. Can you move?" Komachi asked helping Yugao her feet. Yugao grimaced as she stood while Shinnō helped Kakashi to his feet as well.
"Let's get out of here no….," Sasuke didn't get the chance to speak as the cave system suddenly crumbled and crashed. The ground beneath them shook angrily and Sasuke turned back to see the stairs to the lower levels give way before collapsing. "Shit. Move!" Sasuke ordered as he grabbed his mother. Komachi quickly grabbed Karin and Zabuza grabbed Haku. Kakashi grabbed Yugao. Shinnō helped Konan to her feet as well and quickly the ten individuals made their way out of the caverns and through the upper staircases leaving behind the corpses of Mu and Ranmaru to be buried…forever.
-x-
Yuri gave another step forward while Tokiwa frowned. Tokiwa didn't move before Yuri was about an arm's length away form her. Without prompt, warning, or even a word, Yuri swung her leg at Tokiwa's arm. Tokiwa quickly blocked it, but gasped at the spiritual pressure that expelled from Yuri's body. Tokiwa was sure she could spiritual energy exit Yuri's body by the bundles from that one kick. Tokiwa gazed into Yuri's unfeeling eyes before Tokiwa swirled her left leg for a sweep kick. Yuri effortlessly dodged over it with her right leg that propelled her into the air. She swirled her body before aiming the white flames that covered her hands at Tokiwa. The woman quickly jumped away from Yuri before holding up her sword. Yuri fell to the ground for but a moment before she swung her arm releasing a wave of white flames in Tokiwa's direction. Tokiwa ducked underneath the shot and she gasped as the blade of white flare slammed into the wall knocking rocks and boulders into the lava. She glared back at Yuri.
"If you aren't careful, you will be trapped in here, whether you defeat me or not," Tokiwa said and Yuri's frown only seemed to deepen. "It's not 'whether or not', it's is an absolute that I will defeat you. So long as my spiritual pressure is stronger than yours you will never overtake me," Yuri said which only made Tokiwa sigh. However even with her sigh, Tokiwa almost choked on a gasp as she noticed Yuri right in front of her. Yuri's right hand was behind her back just waiting to lunge forward and slice Tokiwa's head from her shoulders. As Yuri lunged forward Tokiwa held up her sword. Yuri's hand slammed into TOkiwa's blade. The white flames exploded over the lava chamber forcing lava to erupt from various areas around the platform that Tokiwa and Yuri stood on.
This pressure was more than Tokiwa felt like she was capable of handling as she felt like her very presence was fading away into nothingness with each swipe and strike of Yuri's body. "This pressure….," Tokiwa thought to herself, but as she looked into Yuri's eyes she noticed something wrong. From her peripheral, she noticed….Yuri at the far end of the platform with her arms folded.
"Are you done fighting with ghosts?" Yuri asked. Tokiwa turned back, but noticed that the Yuri who was closest to her had disappeared. Tokiwa turned back to before standing. "How do you know how to do this? Not even as a chunin you should be able to do this," Tokiwa asked. Yuri frowned. She didn't answer Tokiwa's question and Tokiwa felt like Yuri wasn't going to try to answer it. Tokiwa merely closed her eyes.
"Well it doesn't matter how strong you are. Not even as powerful as you have become, not even you can stop this chamber from erupting," Tokiwa said as she readied herself into her sword stance. Yuri merely turned to look at the wall to the left. She then turned to look at the wall to the right. Tokiwa noticed Yuri's body twitch. Tokiwa brought up her sword to cover her face from the fist she had known was coming. "GAH!" Tokiwa coughed as Yuri's fist buried itself deep into Tokiwa's stomach. Tokiwa looked down in shock. How?! How did Tokiwa misread that shot?! It was lined up to go to her face. She didn't have the balance to aim for her stomach. That shouldn't have been happening.
Yuri watched Tokiwa's face contort in pain. She turned her and hooked Tokiwa on the curve of her leg sending the woman crashing across the platform. Tokiwa quickly regained herself and managed to parry Yuri's white-flamed blade with her own sword. A white light exploded from Tokiwa's body as the white flames form Yuri responded just as heavily. Yuri launched a flurry of punches and Tokiwa did her best to block them attacked her with a vigor that Tokiwa hadn't seen in a lot of people. A left and a right, a sweep kick and a side kick, Tokiwa wasn't sure but she thought for sure that she was looking at…phantom shots. Each kick and punch seemed to be a ghost of the next one nearly making it impossible to find a way to accurate dodge. With a grunt, Yuri swirled her body before she ducked beneath a sword strike for Tokiwa. Yuri quickly performed a sweep kick as the sweat dripped from her face before evaporating from the heat.
Tokiwa jumped over the kick, but she quickly noticed that this was what Yuri wanted. Tokiwa bounced from the ceiling and back to the platform. She huffed as Yuri blinked. Yuri looked at Tokiwa, unamused. Tokiwa could feel the dregs of frustration seeping into her body as she held her sword back. "Reiton: Katakiuchi (Spirit Release: Retribution)," Tokiwa shouted as her sword pierced the light of the cavern. Yuri raised an eyebrow. Tokiwa had just gathered a large sum of her spiritual energy for this attack. Tokiwa took a breath before she suddenly appeared in front of Yuri. Yuri managed to hold back her mild surprise as Tokiwa's blade inched for her throat. Tokiwa was ready to lop Yuri's head from her shoulders just like she had done to Ebisu. This technique was the fasted technique in the organization's arsenal. A technique were even the sharingan with its capabilities would have trouble keeping up with the blade of the wielder. It's attack was flawless!
"Is this all you can do?" Yuri asked as she held up her hand and stopped Tokiwa's blade an inch from her throat. Tokiwa shivered as she saw Yuri hold her blade effortlessly. The white light that exploded from Tokiwa's blade was easily dispersed by the white flames tat surrounded Yuri's body. Tokiwa was stunned to silence. "How…How could you see that?!" Tokiwa asked. Yuri decided to humor the woman.
"Without a doubt I would have been dead if I was myself. I almost missed that, but in my body is the trained experience of two elite Jonin of Konoha. I calculated it easily," Yuri said making Tokiwa gawk. She…calculated it?! That was impossible! This technique couldn't be calculated! It couldn't be foreseen! It also couldn't be blocked with…one hand! With a growl, Tokiwa swung her leg at Yuri, but Yuri quickly ducked underneath it. She backflipped away before she reached into her pouch. Yuri quickly pulled out three kunai before scattering them across the platform. Tokiwa watched them quickly form a triangle.
"Fuin: Kazure( Seal: Flame Shift)," Yuri boldly proclaimed and Tokiwa watched as flames escaped from the outreaches of the kunai in the very same triangle pattern. Tokiwa snorted. "Childish," Tokiwa said and in one smooth motion she jumped into the air over the triangle with each. Yuri gazed up at her for a moment. Her eyes narrowed before she sucked in her legs. Her right fist tightened before as the white fire exploded in her palm.
"Shiratama: Jisshi Rei( White Soul: Spiritual Embodiment)," Yuri shouted as she thrusted her right fist forward at Tokiwa's body in mid-air. Tokiwa gasped before she swiftly dodged to the left. However she was further surprised by the fact that Yuri held up another handsign. "Ninpo: Dokugiri," Yuri shouted. Tokiwa had heard this jutsu before. She had seen that one, Shizune, use it before the woman was ultimately captured. However instead of the dark purple poison Tokiwa was expecting, she gawked as a pure white haze escaped Yuri's mouth and began to flood towards her location.
"You would do well to not let your guard down!" Yuri warned. Tokiwa had just enough time to not only hear the warning, but have her ears assaulted by a noises from above. She looked up noticed the white fire hadn't vanished. It…was floating in the air?! "This…she shouldn't be able to do this. No fire jutsu can be controlled like this," Tokiwa thought to herself. However she didn't have the time to be amazed as the flame quickly shot around the room before heading for her location. Tokiwa noticed the poison mist continuing to do the same. That's right, she didn't have her mask this time. Tokiwa quickly held her sword to the air.
"Reiton: Bunsen Higeki( Spirit Release: Dispersing of Tragedy)," Tokiwa said as the white haze and white flames slammed into her. Yuri squinted her eyes from the light, but she wasn't really surprised when she felt Tokiwa's spiritual energy raise a significant amount before a sharp pillar of light slammed into the ceiling dispersing the flames and the haze into nothingness. The anger in Yuri's eyes didn't diminish. She took a step forward.
Tokiwa wasn't sure it was possible. She…thought she almost died. A pack of blood erupted from her mouth as she looked down to see Yuri's fist embedded in her stomach. "You will suffer for what you have done to MY FRIENDS!" Yuri cried as she swung her left fist for Tokiwa's face. Tokiwa held her sword up defensively. The only thing Yuri would be hitting would be her blade and her hand would be mush against the ground.
The ground beneath Tokiwa's feet was only a part of her surprise as Yuri's fist slammed against her sword releasing the pent up spiritual energy she had stored in her body. Tokiwa felt the pressure against her blade. She could feel the platform cracking beneath their feet. How? How?! HOW?! How was Uzumaki Yuri doing this?! How was she doing things that defied common sense! Tokiwa wasn't even able to think before Yuri vanished in a burst of speed. She didn't even have the time to react as Yuri came from behind and swung her fist into Tokiwa's face launching the woman over the platform. Tokiwa skidded on the platform before her head fell just an inch over the edge of said platform. The lava bubbled before her as she opened her eyes.
"The fact that you allowed me to hit you, as well as your stunned expression tells me that you don't understand what just happened. It's simple, my spirit is stronger than yours," Yuri stated as if it were that simple. Tokiwa rubbed her lip and she noticed a sliver of blood on her fist before she sent a light glare in Yuri's direction. Yuri held up her hand, showcasing the white flames as her own. "My spiritual energy overpowered your own. So much so that the only thing you blade was hitting was my immense spiritual energy that I exuded from my body. I admit that I took the properties of the Hyuuga Clan's Jutsu to pull this off, but its a simple thing to do for jonin…or in my case, one with jonin-level experiences and skills," Yuri explained. Tokiwa snorted as she held up her blade. This seemed to be going harder for her. She held up her sword defensively. However she only noticed Yuri fold her arms.
"You can do it if you wish. I won't stop you," Yuri suddenly said. Tokiwa blinked as Yuri turned to the side to watch the bubbling lava. "You still have a lot of unused spiritual power in your body. You might as well draw it out," Yuri said and if Tokiwa could feel anything, then she felt the presence of uneasiness.
"I don't know what your aim is, but your new powers and personality have gone to your head. I didn't know shinobi held such arrogance," Tokiwa said. However Yuri only shook her head. "This isn't what you call arrogance. It is merely absolute assurance. I am going to break you Tokiwa-san. I am going to make you suffer for what you and your group have done to my friends and my family. So make your preparations if you need to. I will make sure you realize what a waste it is," Yuri said. Tokiwa felt a slip of sweat on her neck. Whether from the heat or from Yuri's statement, she wasn't sure. It was true that she figured she had a lot of things in her arsenal that could destroy Yuri, but Tokiwa had never used it except only one time. The Regent had forbidden her and the others from using it. However, this girl needed to learn the truth and she needed to see the reality of despair and this path. Tokiwa…would make an exception.
Tokiwa clenched the hilt of her sword before she closed her eyes. A strong light surrounded Tokiwa's form, but Yuri didn't avert her eyes. Yes, Yuri understood that what she was doing right now was against shinobi protocol. A shinobi was supposed to be swift, decisive, and deadly. Yuri wasn't supposed to letting Tokiwa do this. Even right now, Yuri could feel…Shizune and Ebisu's attached spirits warning her own of this possible outcome, but Yuri could feel it. She could feel it in her own spirit. No matter how strong Tokiwa perceived herself, she would never have a stronger spirit than Yuri.
The light faded almost as fast as it had appeared. A white power flowed from Tokiwa's body in bundles. Her sword was practically glowing. She looked at Yuri with a calm look. Yuri gave the same look back. "Reiton: Kentankai( Spirit Release: Blade Soul Releasing)," Tokiwa said calmly. She swung her blade to the far left. In an instant Yuri noticed a deep slash engraved into the wall. Tokiwa's blade was much sharper. It had cut that wall like it was merely butter to a hot knife. Yuri actually had to applaud Tokiwa. That strike had spiritual energy pouring out so hard that the spirits were actually trying to soak it up. "You will learn that you have overstepped yourself. Your death will not be a quiet one. Only when you have seen the final result of everything our organization achieves will I grant you death. It will make our King and Queen sad, but you are not needed in the revolution," Tokiwa said while Yuri unfolded her arms.
"And you are not needed to leave this chamber. I will make that clear to you right now. Nii-chan loves me and I will forever remain at his side. Wherever Nii-chan goes, I will go. Wherever Nii-chan lives, I will live. Whoever Nii-chan hates, I will hate. Nii-chan's enemies are my enemies. Nii-chan's love…is my love and I know that one of my Nii-chan's enemies…is right in front of me," Yuri said. Tokiwa didn't respond. She only moved to hold up her sword. Yuri rolled her wrists before assuming her learned Uzumaki stance. The air was still, but instantly as pulse of spiritual energy erupted from the lava chamber as Yuri and Tokiwa clashed at the very center of the rock platform overtop the lava chamber.
-x-
Naruto huffed as he descended one of the stairs. He covered his face as an explosion erupted from a jail cell. He quickly channeled his honshou into his eyes. "Take me to Yuri!" Naruto commanded to the floating spirits. A couple quickly bowed before they dashed off to the right. Naruto quickly followed them. Naruto truly didn't know who else was done in the caverns, but when he had met with Sasame and the others, he hadn't seen hide nor pride of Uchiha Sasuke. So that had to have meant that Sasuke and the others were around somewhere else. Naruto had already sent out various clones to try and cover the caverns as fast as possible, but with explosions being as frequent as they were the only thing Naruto ever really received were the constant screams of his clones before they died. It had made Naruto frustrated and he was sure that he could ask the spirits to….
Naruto slapped his forehead so hard making the spirits turn to him. He quickly made himself another set of clones. "One of you guide them to Sasuke!" Naruto commanded to a male spirit. He quickly bowed before ushering the clones down another cavern to the right. Naruto shook his head before he continued on his way.
It hadn't taken long for Naruto to come into an open wide open area with many intersecting cavern doors. Naruto noticed the spirits take him to the door second from the farthest left. He began to make his way to the darkness within before he felt his senses kick in. His ears picked up on the whistling of wind. Naruto turned his head to the right as his vision caught a glimmer of a white arrow barely scratching his cheek before it embedded itself into the floor. Naruto barely even had the time to react from that as a hail of arrows swiftly came down upon him. Naruto grabbed his sword with both hands and held it behind his head. "Uzu no Fukushū: Dai Uzumaki Ikari( Whirlpool Revenge: Great Maelstrom Rage)," Naruto called out as he swung his sword releasing a wave of water from his body which quickly shaped itself into a large amount of water missiles. Each shots blasted into the hail of arrows knocking them to the ground. Naruto looked up and he noticed two sets of eyes looking down at him.
"He seems to have noticed us dear Wolf," Naruto heard a rather melodious voice speak. "Heh, so this is the brat. Doesn't look like much! I will grind him to shreds!" The other spoke in a gruff, angry voice. Naruto sent a small glare to them. He eyed the door that was where Yuri would most likely be. The Kindred noticed his legs shift. With a sharp howl, Wolf sped after Naruto as the blond ran for the door. Lamb quickly held her bow before she sniped at the entrance with her arrow. Naruto flung his blade and blocked the arrow. As his body had him turn around to block the shot, he noted Wolf coming over him. Wolf came into the light. He didn't have a solid body. In fact, he was essentially floating in the air. The mask on his face reminded Naruto too much of a hazy memory he had. However he couldn't think on that for long as Wolf opened his maw to devour the blond. Naruto quickly held up his sword and blocked Wolf's crushing bite with his blade. Naruto cursed.
"This pressure? How are these guys?!" Naruto thought to himself as the dirt at his feet kicked up while the steel of Naruto's blade and the sharp fangs of wolf clashed against each other. "You'll have to try harder than this to make us submit brat!" Wolf said as Naruto felt his breath hitch. More than likely, these were the two Mōryō was talking about. The two reasons as to why his powers weren't working. These two individuals, one being, they were his Shinju.
Naruto growled. Pushing his strength into his arms, he shifted his body and slammed Wolf's body into the ground before jumping back. He skipped across the dirt as Lamb dropped to the ground rather gracefully. Wolf effortlessly floated up and to her side. His snapped his fangs at Naruto while Lamb held her bow. "Look I'd be more than happy to fight the both of you right now, but I don't have the time to deal with you. I need to get everyone out of here," Naruto said boldly. Lamb and Wolf looked at him, but with their masks he couldn't very well understand their emotions. However hearing Wolf's sudden laughter made Naruto frown.
"So the wannabe master thinks he can save everyone from death. He truly doesn't even understand the mere concept of death. Dear Lamb, let's show him what he's missing!" Wolf said while Lamb slowly nodded. "I agree dear Wolf. We'd better make him understand," Lamb said while Naruto shivered. Something was wrong here.
"Hate us or not, it is not our concern. Uzumaki Naruto, would you prefer a swift death? Or a painful one?" Lamb asked as Naruto raised his sword. He noticed Lamb raise her bow to his face. Her hands gently touched the string of said bow before pulling it back. Naruto could see the white arrow come into life. Naruto was more than ready to parry the shot however he was surprised when Lamb shot the arrow into the air. The three watched it go before Lamb stepped to the side. Wolf did the same. With gravity the arrow came falling down, however unlike the other arrows…it phased through the ground. Naruto wasn't sure what to expect. He looked at the Kindred. They looked at him.
"30 minutes Uzumaki Naruto. That arrow is going into the active lava chamber below us. When that arrow hits the lava it will force the lava to surface with such a force that nothing will stop it from erupting. It will kill all life in here as well as any life beyond this mountain for the next twenty miles. Ashes will fill the sky. The fate of those you wish to save is on you," Lamb said while Naruto widened his eyes in horror. Unknown to him, Kyuubi and Mōryō frowned from their respective places. That wasn't good at all.
Naruto strangled his sword as he glared at the two. "Why are you doing this?! You would kill everyone here just to prove a point?!" Naruto asked. "Not to prove a point. To merely provide a lesson," Both said at the same time. Naruto raised his sword. Lamb raised her bow and Wolf snarled. Right now, Naruto did not like these two! However the worry quickly etched itself onto his face as the ground at his feet shook violently. No, perhaps even more violently than before. It actually made him wonder how the caverns weren't collapsing on him, this crazy Shinju, and anyone else in these caves. A crack of the ground came between his crack quickly began to spread itself from one entrance of the entrance to the cavern to the next. Naruto could even see the cracks beginning to shift against the walls. He turned back to his opponents.
"Your time starts now Uzumaki Naruto. Defeat us…or kill about twenty, maybe even thirty men, women or children, in the hopes of reviving your loved ones. Not even Uzumaki Naruto could find thirty…not-so-innocent people to do so. You're option is clear here," Lamb said as she pointed her bow at him. Naruto tightened his grip on his sword. Wolf licked his teeth with a sharp grin over his face.
-x-
Sasuke and the others quickly moved themselves up the flight of stairs coming to another hallway. Sasuke grumbled to himself, but he pressed forward. The others quickly moved behind him. "What floor are we on?" Karin asked as they ran as fast as they could. "This would probably be floor eight or seven. The paper trail is still leading us. We should be coming up to floor five soon," Kakashi said. Sasuke and the others quickly nodded, however the sudden crack of the earth at their feet caught their attention. The crack seemed like a giant line that ran through the hallway. It kept going and going.
"What's happening?" Haku asked as Zabuza cursed to himself. Everyone, in an instant, lost their balance as they dropped to the ground as the shaking seemed to be getting even worse than before. Sasuke unwillingly slammed against the wall while Haku and Zabuza dropped down. Yugao and Kakashi held fast as best they could despite their injuries. Karin held Shinnō while Komachi and Konan leaned against the walls. "This place is coming down hard!" Karin said while everyone looked around. Sasuke looked up and cursed.
"MOVE!" Sasuke all but shouted and everyone followed his vision to see the entrance slowly beginning to collapse underneath the rubble while the very floor they were standing on was beginning to break apart at the seams. Sasuke and the group charged for the entrance. With his blade he swung his arm breaking through the barricade as best he could before they all kept running. The flight of stairs that they ran up was actually beginning to break behind them.
"I hate my life!" Karin shouted as she panted, the her feet just barely managing to get off the rocky steps she stepped on before they descended. "At least you'll live to hate your life!" Zabuza growled out as they continued forward.
"Oi Sasuke!" Everyone perked up as they heard a voice. Sasuke looked up and if he wasn't…him, then he would have no doubt have hugged AND married Naruto right now as the blonde appeared in front of him. "Aniki?" Komachi asked and Karin was never happy to see her cousin right then and there. Haku and Zabuza smirked.
"Right in the nick of time loser!" Sasuke said with a smirk as Naruto quickly waved to them. Naruto quickly summoned a group of clones that took hold of the others as they came face to face with him. "Glad to see you made it. But we don't have time. Boss is busy fighting a Shinju. He wanted me to get you out of here," the clone said as the others breathed easily.
"So make the portal and get us out," Karin said quickly as the cavern seemed to shake even faster. The clone cursed. "That I can't do right now. The Shinju is locking Boss's abilities right now. I can only lead you guys to the exit outside. I warn you. We're going to pass by Boss's fight so don't interfere with it." The clone warned. Everyone would have liked to argue, especially Sasuke, but the Uchiha knew that they were all in no condition to go anywhere currently. He just gave a snort for acknowledgement for nodding. The clone nodded as well before they all ran back the opposite way.
"Sasuke, did you see Yuri?" the clone asked. Sasuke turned to Naruto. "She didn't exit the cavern? Last I saw her she was going to rally the prisoners," Sasuke said. They glanced back to the entrance in shock.
"She wasn't with the group!" Naruto claimed. Karin and Komachi quickly gasped while Haku and Zabuza and Sasuke gazed back. Konan and Shinnō were the exact same, however Konan was the only one to give a complete stop. "Oi Konan-san, we can't stop." Karin said as Konan gave a short gasp of breath.
"Uchiha-san, hand me a soldier pill," Konan said. Sasuke gave her a small glare. Konan effectively matched her glare. "I can fly. None of you can. I have the best chance of finding and extracting Yuri before this place entirely collapses," Konan said almost urgently.
"You don't know that!" Shinnō said, but Konan effectively deleted his statement from her mind. "Naruto-san wouldn't be able to get there without dispelling and the clone has told us that he's already being held up by another matter. He wouldn't reach her in time. I can do it!" Konan boldly claimed. Naruto and Sasuke turned to each other before turning back to her. Naruto gave a small sigh.
"I believe in you Konan-san. Please rescue Yuri for me," Naruto said with a thumbs up. Konan felt the edges of her mouth furl up into a smile. Kakashi offered an eye smile. "Maa if she's truly willing then I think she should take her on her word…for now," Kakashi said just letting that hang in the air. He truly meant no ill will, but Konan was still an Akatsuki member and Yuri was still a jinchuuriki. Sasuke gave a small sigh before grunting. He quickly tossed Konan a solider pill.
"Alright you guys, let's go dattebayo!" Naruto claimed as he ran the way they were going. Everyone gave one last look to Konan and she watched them fade out of sight. Konan turned back to the way that had just collapsed. She then bit into the solider pill frowning at the bitter taste. However she could feel her reserves replenish as she quickly formed paper wings into her back.
Konan jumped from the hallway platform before she floated down to hall that just collapsed. "Shikigami no Mai (Dance of Formula Paper)," Konan said as she held her hand in the air. The paper that surrounded her quickly formed a spread that she launched at the closed off wall effectively opening it. She flew inside. Truly Konan didn't know why she was doing this. If she were honest she gained nothing from rescuing the main reason she was even in this predicament in the first place, but then again Konan hated to admit it, but the Uzumaki had grown in Konan. The fact that she saw Yahiko had indeed helped, but Konan felt it was a lot more than that. She was sure if she lived through this then she only had Yuri to blame, and she was strangely happy with that.
-x-
Tokiwa and Yuri glared at each other as a flash of white snapped through the chamber. Yuri picked up her foot while Tokiwa spun her body. Yuri's foot slammed against Tokiwa's leg, but Tokiwa blocked the attack well as she aimed her sword for Yuri's throat. Yuri quickly grabbed the blade blocking the pent up energy from releasing before she weaved her head out of the way. The blade slashed against the wall across from her as Tokiwa backflipped away. The insides of Yuri's knees quickly buckled as Yuri dashed for Tokiwa's position. Tokiwa watched the girl come before she threw her back out letting her barely dodge Yuri's fist from hitting her chin. Yuri landed from the platform to the wall. However she effortlessly ran up the wall to ceiling. Tokiwa sharpened her blade before she slashed at the ceiling. Yuri blurred in a burst of speed leaving Tokiwa's attack to hit the ceiling, and only the ceiling.
Yuri appeared back at the platform as she noticed Tokiwa's blade slash across the ceiling. However once Yuri turned back to find Tokiwa, she didn't find anything. Yuri, with the help of the cumulative years upon years of shinobi experience possessing her by Shizune and Ebisu, she didn't have to feel the killer intent coming from Tokiwa as the woman appeared behind her. Tokiwa let loose a kick for Yuri's mid-section, however Tokiwa only gave a low growl as Yuri raised her hand a caught the kick in its full force. Yuri had to admit that it was a massive amount of pressure in that kick as Yuri felt herself forced back a couple of inches. Obviously Tokiwa's spirit was in full bloom in front of Yuri. Not that Yuri minded. She would crush Tokiwa's spirit and then her body along with it.
Yuri answered Tokiwa's kick with a kick of her own. She spun her left hand on the ground sending her right leg at Tokiwa's face. Tokiwa swiftly jumped away from the kick as Yuri leaned. She saw Tokiwa grab a hold of her blade. "Reiton: Shinrei-Teki Bunsan( Spirit Release: Divine Spirit Dispersion)," Tokiwa called as a fierce white light enveloped her sword. Yuri quickly slapped her hands together. Tokiwa buried her sword into the lava before unleashing her technique sending both fierce light and lava in Yuri's direction. Yuri watched the incoming attacks before she opened her mouth showing a seal on her tongue.
"Uzumaki Fūin: Ōzora Daikan( Divine Sky Great Bomb)," Yuri called out and without pause a mixture of fire, water, lightning, and wind erupted from her mouth colliding with the lava and the fierce light of Tokiwa's technique. The explosion that quickly followed didn't even force Yuri to finch as she noticed through the piercing light and the explosion, Tokiwa came bursting out with her sword pointed directly in Yuri's face. Yuri looked at the weapon before snorting. "Is this really all I get? You talked high and mighty! You killed my tortured my family. Killed my friends, abused Nii-chan and…THIS IS ALL I GET FROM YOU?!" Yuri thought angrily as she grabbed Tokiwa's blade and followed with the motion of flinging the woman over her shoulder. Tokiwa coughed as she slammed into the platform with a heavy cough. She coughed as she groaned.
"This…this shouldn't be happening. My energy is pushed to its very limits. How is she still stronger than me?" Tokiwa thought as she rolled over and shakingly stood to her feet. She backed away from Yuri while the white-haired Uzumaki cracked her neck. Tokiwa gave a small frown before a blinding light came through the chamber.
Yuri looked up, showing surprise for the first time since having this transformation. It was a pure white arrow. "This energy, this isn't from Tokiwa-san. It holds the same energy that Ni-chan has. It's…heading for the lava?" Yuri thought to herself as she and Tokiwa watched the arrow fall into the lava without a sound.
Tokiwa shivered. "We're commencing the plan already?! But our King hasn't been recovered yet! What's going on here? Are we…executing it without him? That wasn't a part of the plan!" Tokiwa thought to herself. Not even a second pass before the lava skyrocketed into the ceiling. Yuri and Tokiwa covered their faces as the lava quickly began to bubble. They watched as it suddenly began to get hotter and hotter even melting the rock they were standing on.
"It would see that your time has run out. Either our King has been recovered and the plan has commenced or we have enough of his power that he can begin without him. You will die down here along with me. However the only difference is that I will be reborn back to this realm to finish our work. You have wasted your time," Tokiwa said. Truth be told this was a rather bold lie. She couldn't even believe half the things that she was saying. The ceiling was cracking and the room was getting even hotter. Tokiwa figured she might as well pressure Yuri for anything right now. However Tokiwa was surprised that the only thing she got from Yuri was a hard glare.
Yuri wasn't sure how much of what Tokiwa said was true or not. It was hard to trust in the word of your enemies. If she truly believed she was going to be reborn then she would have sacrificed herself and Yuri into the lava a long time ago into this fight. Still with Shizune and Ebisu's advanced intellect, Yuri could see this becoming a problem. The arrow had done something to the chemical properties of the lava causing it to pressurize. The molecules in the lava were being forced to expand and then explode. This much force was going to burst the lava through the ceiling and into the air. With this much heat, the as he clouds would destroy all life in the region. Iowa would investigate this cause and, if they're shinobi were truly competent, then they would pinpoint Konoha to the problem. Yuri glanced back to the lava. Right now, there was no time for a strategy and no time for a plan. All Yuri had right now…was that the Uzumaki were as lucky as legends foretold.
Yuri gave a still breath as she held up her hand. Tokiwa blinked as the white fire encased Yuri's hand before she thrusted it off to the right side. Tokiwa watched a large white chain dig itself into the side wall. Yuri closed her eyes. Visions flashed in her eyes of the cavern. "No, no, not there, not that one, not there either!" One after the other visions passed Yuri's mind. Tokiwa looked down and gasped. The lava was beginning to rise to where the platform was actually beginning to sink and melt at the same time. She turned back to Yuri to see her eyes still closed. "No, no! NO! Come on dattebayen! Come on!" Yuri prayed as she could feel the heat just beneath her feet. The images raced through Yuri's mind before she gasped. Never doubt Uzumaki luck.
"Found it!" Yuri thought to herself as she opened her eyes. "I suppose I should have thanked you for not interrupting me from stopping your…'plan' for the both of us. I won't let you have your way. As a Uzumaki, as a Konoha shinobi, and as family of Nii-chan, I am not going to let you kill anyone anymore!" Yuri said as Tokiwa gasped. She quickly grabbed her sword and lunged for Yuri's position, however Tokiwa was far too late as Yuri suddenly shouted as she pulled on the chains with all her strength. The hardened walls of the lava chamber began to crack. Tokiwa slammed her sword down on Yuri, but to the woman's surprise, Yuri stopped the assault with her opposing hand.
"Why do you resist?! This is for the betterment of the world!" Tokiwa growled out while Yuri snorted. "The only betterment for the world would be one where your group didn't exist dattebayen!" Yuri retorted as her white chain ripped the wall apart. Tokiwa and Yuri felt the lava shift as it poured out of the open wall and quickly began to fall into the darkness below. The white chain quickly vanished as Yuri and Tokiwa felt the platform at their feet began to shift along with the flowing lava.
"You…you're pouring the lava out?! You have no idea where it goes!" Tokiwa said while Yuri snorted. "True, but then again. Neither do you," Yuri said and quickly had her new found energy attach her to the platform. Tokiwa glared at her before her spiritual energy held her in place. The platform began to move.
The lava carried the platform out. Yuri and Tokiwa had only a second to see the lava smash into the ground below sliding down deeper and deeper into the darkness. The platform tipped. One measure of pressure in the wrong place and it would spill over. "You told me the world has a pointless reality. One that would be revolutionized by you guys. The only thing I see are people who lost something from the world and gave up trying to change it. If your people could see you now…they would hold their heads in shame. Before I kill you, I will show you the feelings of the people you discarded!" Yuri said as she shifted to the right. That shift was all the platform needed as Yuri and Tokiwa fell along wit the spilling lava. The platform sailed down the flowing lava at a nigh breakneck pace. Yuri and Tokiwa's hair flapped in the winds of the cavern as they glared at each other. Tokiwa held up her sword, she made sure her spirit energy kept her steady. Yuri cracked her knuckles as she used her left and right hands to form blades made entirely of white fire.
Tokiwa and Yuri charged once again. Yuri ducked underneath Tokiwa's blade before she swung her leg for a sweep kick, Tokiwa jumped over the kick with ease before she sailed through the air. She noticed the flowing platform before landing on it making it rock. Yuri quickly tightened her fists as Tokiwa came charging at her. "What woulda girl who has never experienced any form of hardship know about the feelings of the discarded?! What would a child who has never had anything ripped away from her know about the cruel reality of the world?!" Tokiwa asked as she lunged her sword for Yuri's chest. Yuri snorted as she backflipped away, landing on the edge of the platform. She looked up, but barely managed to dodge the sword strike aimed for her throat as a strand of her hair was cut.
The momentum of the surfing platform seemed to get even faster as it dodged a tall stalagmite. Yuri grabbed the stalagmite before propelling herself back to the platform. She slammed onto its surface and then proceeded to block a punch from Tokiwa. "Tell me, child? How would you find the answer?! What would you do? How can you fix this broken world were people fight and kill each other for causes they don't even believe in? How can you fix this world were people live and die just by one world from someone who lives and breathes the same air as everyone else! Tell me! You like to think you're high and mighty! Tell me Uzumaki Yuri!" Tokiwa said between punches as Yuri blocked and deflected each of them, one after the other. In anger, Tokiwa thrusted out her fist and punched Yuri across the face sending the girl sliding back. The white aura that surrounded Tokiwa's body suddenly seemed to get even brighter as Tokiwa charged at Yuri.
"Where is all your talk now?!" Tokiwa asked as she tripped Yuri off her feet. Yuri's eyes were moving rapidly over the lava chamber as she glanced to the left. She quickly poured her energy into her left hand as she vaulted over the platform before landing on the opposite side. Yuri looked up and noticed Tokiwa suddenly over her head. "You can't talk because you have nothing! You will never have nothing! You will never get anything as long as we live in this cruel reality known as life!" Tokiwa said as she sent her sword slamming down over Yuri's head. However Tokiwa was stunned to silence as Yuri stopped her sword inches from her face with both her hands with ease. Tokiwa growled as Yuri growled.
Yuri shifted her body before she tossed Tokiwa to the side. Yuri panted and she could feel her heart actually beginning to burst. She looked over and noticed the lava actually beginning to drop down even further and further than before. No doubt a fall was about to come. Yuri turned back just in time to see Tokiwa charging at her as they continued to sail down the river of heating lava. "You wish to know? Then I will tell you. I will kill you by the third rush," Yuri said as she slammed her hands together.
In instinct, Yuri and Tokiwa jumped into the air as they platform beneath their feet descended along with the lava down even FURTHER depths. Yuri might have boggled how big this platform was if she wasn't fighting for her life right now. She locked her gaze with Tokiwa before they backflipped and landed on the sides of the cavern walls. Yuri and Tokiwa slid down the walls picking up dirt and dust. "I will make you understand the true meaning in death and life!" Yuri said as they both jumped forward. Tokiwa was the first to land on the platform before she noticed Yuri still in the air. Yuri's hands were still clasped together. However Tokiwa noticed three orbs surround Yuri's body. Two white tails sprung from Yuri's backside along with two chains. One of the orbs quickly took its place atop her head while another was held by the two white tails. The very last was held by the two chains.
"Hakukari: Shinrei Bakushin( White Light: Spirit Rush)," Yuri called out and it was almost as if the three orbs became even more prominent as Yuri slammed into the ground hard enough to make it crack. Tokiwa held her blade as Yuri held up three fingers. "After the third rush, you will die and you will understanding the feelings of those you have killed," Yuri said while Tokiwa snarled. She charged at Yuri while Yuri charged at her. Tokiwa swung her sword, but Yuri jumped over it. Tokiwa gasped for a moment before she noticed Yuri drop to the ground.
"First Rush," Yuri said and as soon as those words escaped her mouth, Tokiwa felt pain. It was like her body had been entirely destroyed, reconstructed, destroyed and reconstructed at least three times. Tokiwa fell to the platform before she noticed one of the orbs Yuri held was gone. The orb held by the tails was gone. "W-What was that?! I can't let that hit him again!" Tokiwa thought to herself. Yuri frowned before she narrowed her eyes.
"It's pointless, you will understand, and you won't escape. I won't let you escape this pain! The pain of everyone you have killed!" Yuri snarled as she dashed at Tokiwa. Tokiwa quickly got up and blocked a kick from Yuri, only to hear Yuri murmur. "Second Rush," Yuri said and Tokiwa coughed as she looked down and noticed the orb that was held by Yuri's chains to be embedded in her stomach. Her body absorbed the orb before she felt her very spirit shatter into pieces before it reconstructed. Tokiwa dropped to one knee. She could actually taste the blood in her mouth. Tokiwa noticed Yuri approaching her before before she grabbed her sword and jumped to the opposing end of the platform.
"Why?! What makes your spiritual energy so strong?! What are you aiming for in life?! What is it that you hold so damn dear to you that you would attempt all of this! What do you stand for?!" Tokiwa asked. The white orb on top of Yuri's head dropped into her palm. Tokiwa could see it beginning to spiral in a rather familiar shape and pattern. "I believe in the family that I will have with Nii-chan one day. That is all dattebayen! Even now I can feel Shizune-san and Ejo-oji-chan's spirits judging my own for my…apparent desire to have an incestuous relationship with my cousin. However I don't care about how the world see it. I don't care whether everyone accepts me as a 'decent' human being or not. Your morals are not my morals. Your ideals are not my ideals. I live for Nii-chan. That is all that matters," Yuri said and that answer seemed to only make Tokiwa even angrier. The woman forcefully pushed out all her spiritual power as she gripped her sword. Her energy easily made the platform crack. Yuri frowned.
"He will die one day! Everyone we both love will die one day! There is nothing worth hoping for in this dead reality! What is the point in being happy if the only thing that it gets you is sadness in the end!" Tokiwa said as Yuri held the orb into both her hands. "Remember the happy memories. Death comes to everyone. That is why you live your life with who you love. Never have time for regrets. Never give up and never back down. If Nii-chan passes away before I do then I will remember how much he loved me, what he has given me, and where I would be without him. Just because you gave up doesn't mean that I WILL!" Yuri suddenly shouted as she held her hands back. The surfing platform suddenly cracked into pieces over a large lava fall as Tokiwa and Yuri jumped into the air. Tokiwa's pupils faded out as white fire escaped her eyes. Yuri brought her hand back.
"You will learn one day! One day there is nothing to be gained from such thoughts! You will learn that as long as this status quo stays, there will never be a place for humanity to improve! I will forever be a child feeding on the bosom of its mother. It will forever be coddled until it is broken from its harsh realities! You can never face such a thing!" Tokiwa said as she drew her sword back.
"If my family is with me then we will face anything you assholes can throw at us. 'Never quit, and never back down. Most of all never, and we mean NEVER, go back on your word.' That is the Uzumaki Way! Someone like you could never understand those words," Yuri hollered as Tokiwa suddenly shouted.
"Reiton: Daitenchūka( Spirit Release: Great Heavenly Order Fall)," Tokiwa shouted as she pushed herself off a wall and dashed at Yuri. Yuri watched her come before sighing. She bent her head down. "Do it," Yuri heard Sanbi speak as she felt his power overwhelm her orb.
"Third Rush," Yuri vanished out of sight. Tokiwa and Yuri hollered as they slammed into each other. A fierce light bathed the very reaches of the cavern in power as Yuri and Tokiwa growled. Yuri's orb clashed against Tokiwa's blade as the two snarled at each there. The white spiritual power was actually so heavy that the walls, lava, and earth cracked beneath the sheer force. The entire cavern system rocked and shook with unearthly force of will. Tokiwa gazed into Yuri's eyes. For the first time, tears fell down Tokiwa's white-fire filled eyes.
"Tokiwa, do think there will ever come a time that those stupid village laws will ever be changed?" A young dark-haired girl asked. Tokiwa smiled as she leaned against a tree overlooking the village with a serene smile on her face. "If there was anyone who could change their minds then it would be you, Shizuka-sama. However I do believe that certain things are put into place for the betterment of the village," Tokiwa said with a small smile.
Yuri and Tokiwa shouted at the top of their lungs. Tokiwa could feel the sweat on her sword beginning to slip her grip.
"Tell me Tokiwa, if I were to die, would you mourn me?" Shizuka asked with a small smile earning Tokiwa's surprise. "What are you talking about Shizuka?! Don't talk like that!" Tokiwa said while Shizuka shook her head.
"Dont misunderstand me. When I look at Nadeshiko village I think, if a man died then no one would cry over his death. If I died, would anyone feel different? What makes a man different from me?" Shizuka asked. Tokiwa looked at the ground for a second before smiling. "That would be love Shizuka-sama. Not only does everyone respect you, but they also love you as a sister. It helps that most have seen you grow up. They know you much better than they know a random male. The same applies to me Shizuka-sama. I would mourn you…because I love you," Tokiwa said as Shizuka smiled.
"You know, I don't think I'ld like to see you mourning me. It would make me feel bad if I was watching over you. Promise me that no matter what happens, you will never stop moving forward," Shizuka said. Tokiwa blinked before chuckling. "If you say so Shizuka-sama. I'll keep moving forward, but I'm pretty sure you're going to be around longer than me," Tokiwa said while Shizuka laughed.
"Then I guess I'd better hurt you if I see you still alive while I'm gone," Shizuka laughed. Tokiwa despite her facade, couldn't keep the smile from her face as she chuckled lightly as they looked down at their village. Down at Nadeshiko Village.
"Shizuka-sama," Tokiwa thought as she gasped when her sword shattered in two before Yuri crashed the orb into her chest. Yuri cried as the orb shattered Tokiwa's very soul. Tokiwa could feel like she was beginning stabbed over and over by a million sticks of fire from inside her body. She could actually feel her spiritual energy being severed from her body as Yuri pushed her forward before both slammed into the ground. The explosion rocked the base of the mountain.
Konan gasped as she dodged a couple of stray rocks before seeing a narrow entrance. Naruto, Lamb and Wolf jumped out of the way of falling debris. Sasuke, Shinnō, Komachi, Karin, Haku, and Zabuza fell to the ground as they tried to make it up the stairs. At the very top, Iruka and Ibiki safely carried Kushina's body out of the house as people watched it crumble to the ground revealing the way into the cavern. Guren had kept the shield as steady as she could while Yura and Shikamaru ordered before to wait for the shocks to be over.
Meanwhile, the exhaustion finally caught up with Yuri as she marched forward. Her white hair slowly began to fade away back to its natural red color. Her eyes lost their white fire and her cape slowly vanished away. Yuri coughed and moved towards the crater. She looked inside. "I lost my parents. Growing up Yura-neechan was the only family I ever had or ever knew. She became a shinobi for me. I wanted to, but Yura-nee being the overprotective baka that I love, she wouldn't even discuss that with me. One day, we were kidnapped. I shudder sometimes when I hear what they were planning to do with her and me. I had never been so helpless before in my life, but in the dead of night, we were saved. We were saved by a kind man named Uzumaki Naruto. We didn't know he was Nii-chan at the time, but we were amazed we had more family. Nii-chan is the only reason I probably haven't ended up like you," Yuri said, laughing only to stop short it pain. It hurt to laugh. Please Yuri could feel her consciousness fading.
"They…wouldn't want to see you like this. Your…friends and family wouldn't want to see you…turn into a monster," Yuri said as she dropped to her knees. "Reality sucks, but it sucks when nothing is real," Yuri said with a chuckle before she fell forward and bashed her faced into the ground, unconscious.
From the crater, Tokiwa couldn't move. She wasn't fooling herself. She was dying and she knew it. However she closed her eyes. "It sucks when nothing is real. Uzumaki Yuri, you are an odd one," Tokiwa said to herself before she held up her blade. It's broken form etched into her mind. Now Tokiwa must have been crazy as she saw various spirits form around her, but only one seemed to really smile at her. "Shizuka-sama…forgive me for the things I have done!" Tokiwa said. Shizuka merely smiled before she took Tokiwa's spirit from her body as Tokiwa's arm, holding the blade, fell limp to the ground never to move again. Tokiwa's head gently fell against the dirt as Shizuka and the women of Nadeshiko lifted her up. Tokiwa smiled uttering thousands upon thousands of apologies to her friends and family. Tokiwa…would have a lot of making up to do, but…she wasn't going anywhere for a LONG time.
As Yuri slept she never noticed a shadow form over her backside as eyes stared down at her.
-x-
Naruto snarled as he parried a white arrow with his blade. Naruto swung his sword at Lamb's body, but she easily and swiftly dashed away from the sword strike. To that end, Naruto didn't have the time to even relax as he noticed Wolf coming around the side. Naruto jumped into the air away from Wolf's lunge. However much to Naruto's surprise, Wolf was a lot more agile than the blonde thought the spirit could be. Wolf quickly turned around and charged for Naruto. His fangs opened up. Naruto cursed before calling for a kage bunshin without the handsign to do so. The clone flung the real Naruto allowing him to reposition. Wolf snarled at the blonde's evade as Naruto landed down.
"Is all you know how to run? Well I will continue to run you down!" Wolf growled out in a gruff roar as his body charged at Naruto once again. Naruto quickly picked himself up off the ground. "Shit," Naruto thought before he saw another three arrows coming for him. Naruto sucked in his legs and pushed his body back, watching as the arrows sailed across his face just barely missing the tip of his nose. Just as strand of his hair had been taken from his head as the arrows splintered into the opposing wall. Naruto glared up to notice Lamb with her bow ready to take him out. Naruto quickly reached into his pouch and flung a kunai at her. The kunai sailed through the air with deadly precision just as Lamb released another white arrow.
The arrow and the kunai flew past each other and headed for their intended targets. Naruto quickly slashed the arrow in two while Wolf knocked the kunai away from Lamb. Naruto looked at them both before he chuckled. "If I wasn't fighting for mine, and everyone else's lives…this would actually be fun ya know," Naruto remarked as the Kindred gave a glance to each other. "You find this bout…entertaining?" Lamb was the one to ask while Wolf looked at Naruto in curiosity.
"Don't get it wrong! I still intend to kick both your asses for going along with this stupid plan, but I really wish it didn't have to come to this," Naruto said. Naruto wasn't sure of the Kindred were capable of emotions. By their masks, he couldn't make out any real facial expressions. Their silence, admittedly, was a little unnerving, but Naruto had been used to such things from many people. "Death is an unavoidable part of the existence of all beings minus those with divine powers. It is our job to merely guide those people to their final resting place. Your wish that this didn't have to come to pass is merely you wishing that no one had to die. It is impossible," Lamb said. Wolf gave a glance to her before turning back to Naruto. Both could see that the smile on his face didn't lessen.
"But don't you think it would be better to pass away enjoying life and being around those you love rather than left to die in a place like this?" Naruto asked. The Kindred gave pause for a moment. "Oi brat….how do you feel about death?" Wolf asked his eyes shining in amazing white light. Naruto flinched and sighed.
"I hate it. I absolutely hate seeing people cry for losing someone precious to them. I hate it even more when I know that there is something I can do about it. I hate lying. Every time I see someone die I wonder…can I resurrect them? Who has to suffer the permanent feeling of death for someone else to live? I doubt you both, not being human, can sympathize with me on that," Naruto claimed. Wolf and Lamb didn't speak, however Naruto and Lamb heard a source of laughter. They noticed it was Wolf who was doing so.
"As I thought. The great and powerful summoner of the Shinigami…is merely a pathetic, spineless coward," Wolf sneered as Naruto's power suddenly flared dangerously. He…was being laughed at? Now don't get Naruto wrong. He had been laughed at and made fun of more times than he could count, but for someone to actually laugh and insult him while he was being as serious as he could? The ground beneath Naruto's feet cracked. His power only seemed to rise when he heard a sigh. "Those words are a little harsh, but I tend to agree with Wolf, Uzumaki Naruto. It was truly a mistake for the Shinigami to sign a contract with you of all people. I can see why the spirits in your blade show sadness for you," Lamb said and Naruto took a step back. How did they know about Pakura and the others still locked in his blade?
"Obviously we know a lot more than you are led to believe Uzumaki Naruto. They cry out to you to help you, to assist you, and to aid you in your fights yet you hold yourself back in releasing them," Lamb said. Naruto snarled. What the hell were they on about? Naruto couldn't release them! They had been locked by Shin. Naruto had no other way of calling on them or he would have done it by this time. "I will teach you brat. Prepare yourself!" Wolf shouted without warning. Naruto suddenly raised his guard as Wolf's speed suddenly increased tenfold. He slammed his teeth into Naruto's blade. Naruto cursed as Wolf pushed him through the ground before slamming him into the wall.
"Death…is life! Death is suffering! Death is welcomed! Death is a beginning! Death is a end! Death is a balance! Death is promise!" Wolf shouted as he clutched his teeth around Naruto's blade. Naruto widened his eyes before Wolf swirled around and around sending Naruto with him. HIs teeth quickly let go of the blade, flinging Naruto through the air. Naruto touched the ceiling before he dashed back down at Wolf. The spirit easily dodged the strike as Naruto slammed his blade into the ground. He picked himself up and glared at Wolf. He turned to Lamb, but only noticed her arms folded and her bow underneath her arm.
Naruto huffed as Wolf spoke. "'Every time I see someone die, I wonder…can I resurrect them?!' Get over yourself you brat! Death isn't so forgiving!" Wolf shouted as he quickly got behind Naruto. Naruto turned and swung his blade, but Wolf easily ducked underneath it. He slammed his mask into Naruto's face ushering a curse from the blond. Wolf swiftly moved himself as Naruto gasped. The blonde ducked just in time for Wolf to pass him overhead with his teeth bear for Naruto to see. Wolf floated in the air as he snarled. Naruto held his head down.
"Your solution…will only ever be a temporary solution. They will die again and again and again until you get it through your damn thick skull that the final destination for nearly all beings is Under Realm!" Wolf growled as he charged forward. Naruto still kept his head down. As Wolf neared Naruto, he was suddenly in range to feel an immense pressure beginning to rise. He could see the white flames in Naruto's eyes.
Naruto, in his anger, quickly swung his blade slashed at Wolf's mask offering a small slash mark to it. Wolf growled while Lamb unfurled her arms. Wolf shook his head as he and Lamb glanced at Naruto. They saw Naruto stiffen. "You don't want people to feel sadness? Well tough luck brat. One your little plan runs out then no one's going to appreciate life if you are there to always resurrect someone. People will appreciate life less, killing themselves for unnecessary reasons that you couldn't begin to comprehend," Wolf said as Naruto opened his mouth.
"Is there something wrong with just wanting people to be happy?!" Naruto asked angrily as he still looked at the ground. Wolf and Lamb frowned behind their masks, but Lamb was the only one who spoke. "Happiness is born out of some form of sadness taking place just as sadness is born out of some form of happiness. What you have given people is temporary happiness, but no matter how temporary it is it will fade away and people will look to you to revive someone to have them living again. I am not against you doing what you wish for those important to you Uzumaki Naruto, however…you are being irresponsible about it," Lamb said. She tensed when she noticed Naruto grip his sword. He held it into the air.
"Uzu no Fukushū: Raimei no Kyōda( Whirlpool Revenge: Furious Thunder Swirls)," Naruto shouted as he swung his blade releasing an arc of Honshou towards the Kindred. Lamb swiftly jumped away and Wolf followed as the arc slammed into the wall. Naruto swung another one. They jumped away. Kindred quickly flung five arrows at Naruto, but she watched in mild surprise as the arc Naruto flung at her quickly blew past the arrows without any resistance. Lamb shielded her body as the arc slammed into her knocking her into the wall. She slid down and covered her mask with her hand. "I'm being irresponsible? I see, so you two just gave up on trying," Naruto said. Lamb and Wolf seemed stunned by his answer. Wolf floated up.
"What. Did. You. Say?" Wolf breathed out in almost seething rage before they heard Naruto chuckle. "Yeah, I knew that. I knew about all that. It realized it when I probably revived Mikoto-san. I thought, 'Sasuke is just going to be upset and angry if she passes away again' or 'Why did I disrupt Hiashi-san's life by reviving his wife leading to all of this happening to me?' And you know what? When I saw the look of sheer happiness on Sasuke's face, on Neji's face, Hinata's face…I knew made the right choice. It's true, I don't know how to keep balance and all that, but I can learn how to…if you guys help me," Naruto said. If there was one thing Wolf and Lamb were expecting then that wasn't it.
"You mock us, then you ask for our help? What do we have to invest in you?" The Kindred asked. Naruto took a small breath. He was about to do something stupid. Something really stupid. Man he hoped his mother would never find out about this. "If I can't figure out a way to keep people happy while maintaining balance then I will stop being Shin's summoner and he can take my soul. You have my word as an Uzumaki," Naruto said. Lamb seemed to consider this while Wolf chuckled before giving a snort.
"Like the word of a so-called human means anything to us. What you ask is for us to invest our very will into you. To give you full control, to give you ownership and mastership over us. Sorry, but no deal brat. If you want us, then you're going to have to do it the old fashioned way…capture us!" Wolf shouted as he dashed towards Naruto. The blonde flipped to the side while Lamb fired one arrow after the other. Naruto dashed through the chamber as arrows flew over his head. Lamb's hooves slammed on the ground one after the other in order to follow Naruto's movements.
Naruto slashed at one arrow before he quickly slid underneath three other arrows. Wolf came charging at him, but Naruto wasn't interested in Wolf anymore. Naruto jumped over the howling beast before charging at Lamb. Lamb quickly noticed his intent as did Wolf. Wolf quickly turned around and charged for Naruto's backside. As he was ready to bite the blond in the back, Wolf felt pain on his chin as a Naruto clone kick him upwards. Lamb saw Wolf fly into the air before she looked back as Naruto suddenly appeared in front of her. Naruto slammed his sword down, but Lamb blocked his strike with her bow. Naruto struck once, twice, thrice, as Lamb countered with her bow as best she could. Lamb wasn't alien to close-quarters combat, but against someone like Naruto it was actually a lot harder than she had thought. The pressure of his blade against her bow was strangely…exhilarating. Lamb released a kick, but Naruto jumped over it. He had just enough time to see Wolf coming down over him. Naruto kicked Lamb away before he held up his sword and Wolf bashed his teeth against it both Naruto and Wolf released countless waves of spiritual energy from their bodies. Naruto had just enough time to see Lamb backflip before aiming her bow at Naruto, releasing three white arrows from her bow. Naruto didn't have the time to be surprised as Wolf flung him horizontally through the air. The arrows came closer and closer as Wolf grinned. "He won't be able to dodge that!" Wolf thought as the arrows struck Naruto only for him to vanish into smoke. Wolf staggered. "What?!" Wolf thought.
"Right above you Mr. Big 'N Bad!" Naruto shouted as Wolf looked up. He dashed from Naruto's blade, but as soon as Naruto touched the ground he vanished hard enough to pick up dust. Wolf touched around before he heard a crash. He turned and noticed Naruto quickly over Lamb assaulting her with strikes. Wolf moved to intercept. However he stopped for a moment. For a split second when Naruto slammed his sword into Lamb's bow…he could see it. He could hear it. The chimes, the pulsing, he could see it all and hear it all. Wolf couldn't stop the smile on his face. Whether the brat knew it or not, he was getting there. "BRAT!" Wolf howled as he charged at Naruto.
As Naruto engaged Lamb, he quickly turned around. He noticed Lamb jump in the air before flipping around for an overhead drop-kick. Naruto steeled himself as he held up his sword with one arm before blocking Wolf's headbutt with the other. Naruto panted before he jumped slightly in the air before slamming his foot into Wolf's face while punching Lamb in the face knocking her away. As Lamb flew threw the air she straightened her vision before firing three arrows as Naruto before pulling her bow back even longer. "Toritsuke Senritsu (Mounting Dread)," Lamb called out as she fired a well place shout. Naruto quickly kicked Wolf away before parrying the first three shots. However as Naruto was ready to block the fourth one, he widened his eyes as it suddenly gained a burst of speed and slammed into his body, sending him flying into the wall with a mighty crash.
Naruto slammed out the other side of the wall and chuckled. "Damn, even when I try to kick it up they just match me. I hate those two," Naruto said before he heard a voice. "Keh, they aren't so special," Kyuubi said bringing himself into the fight. Naruto gave a painful laugh.
"Well you're not the one fighting them," Naruto said. Kyuubi smirked as he opened one of his eyes. "Well who's fault is that?" Kyuubi asked. Naruto coughed out a laugh as he groaned.
"Ne, Kyuubi…," Naruto was more than ready to say however the glowing white fox quickly and utterly stopped him. "Save it kit. Responsibility and you have never held a common theme. You have always stuck to your guns and because two spirits tell you otherwise shouldn't change your dumb ass now. Kit I will give you a hint to the answer you need. What is the difference between being the summoner to the Shinigami and the Hokage?" Kyuubi asked before utterly going silent. Naruto flinched from where he was seated. He looked at the ground. The difference between being the summoner of the God of Death and being the leader of a village? Naruto could actually name several things. But they were all minuscule things that children would say, one's of living people or another leads dead people, one uses chakra or another uses Honshou, stupid things like that. Seconds seemed to pass by for Naruto like hours of the day. Naruto closed his eyes. He thought of everything he had done so far in his life. Everything that had been leading up to this point. The decisions that he had made. The decisions he would have made and they all led back to one thing.
Naruto opened his eyes and glanced back to his sword. Now he understood, now he could see why he had done what he had done. He could understand why Shin wasn't pleased with him. Naruto quickly raised his thumb and bit it before trailing it on his seal. "Kuchiyose…no Jutsu," Naruto said calling out the Shinigami. Naruto came face to face with his glaring presence as the God of Death glared down at Naruto. His beady eyes took in Naruto's form, but once they looked into Naruto's eyes, he frowned. "Heh, I still don't know the process," Naruto said, however Shin could tell that Naruto wasn't finished.
"But…Shin I just want people to be happy. I mean, I want to be happy too, but…I like making people happy. I like thinking that the powers you offered me were good for someone. That it brought just a measure of peace to their lives that the world can't offer them anymore ya know? Does that make me selfish? I don't know. Maybe, it does. I've never been good at explaining myself. What I'm trying to say is….! I dunno if life and death offer balance…then what happens when all life is erased?" Naruto asked scratching his scalp before sighing. He looked up and noticed the Shinigami still looking at him.
"…And that Shikyō…is the process. What happens when all life is erased? Creation and rebirth. The new takes over the qualities of the old and everything comes back into balance. Chakra isn't life Uzumaki Naruto. Chakra is merely a byproduct of life. It's not from the chakra that people die, but from the exertion of chakra on their bodies and their will to live that makes it kill them. Anyone can live without chakra so long as the spirit and soul do not die then the physical aspect will not die," Shin said as Naruto nodded slowly.
"I…I will find a way to keep the balance. I swear it Shin. I will keep the balance! I never go back on my word…that's my nindo, my shinobi way," Naruto said while Shin snorted. However, despite his snort he floated over to Naruto's blade and tapped it with his finger. "You are the summoner of the Shinigami, Shikyō. While decisions are important, desires and balance are what govern the planes of existence," Shin said before fading out. Naruto smiled as he felt a white light cover his mind. He looked up and noticed Pakura, Dan, Suiren, Gari, Yahiko, and Kimimaro looking at him.
"All my life I felt like I was the only one who could do anything. That everything solely rested on me. Ero-sennin often told me I was different from the rest. That I would be the one to look for this "peace" that he talked about. Ever since…Sasuke betrayed Konoha, I thought I was the only one who could do anything to stop him. I always thought about myself ya know? Iruka-sensei, Jiji, Teuchi-ojichan, Ayame-chan, were the first people who taught me that I wasn't alone and that I didn't have to do things on my own anymore. I guess we all never synced was because being that close…was scary dattebayo. Pretty stupid right guys?" Naruto asked. The six looked at each other before smiling.
"Yeah, it was pretty damn stupid, but we won't hold it against you since as shinobi we all have felt that way in one aspect or another," Pakura said as Naruto glanced up. "It would be awesome to sync up with you guys!" Naruto said with a wider smile. The six could match.
"Six is maybe a bit too much," Pakura said as she fell back into the blade. Kimimaro followed her. Yahiko followed as well. So did Dan with a wave leaving out Suiren and Gari. Naruto looked at the deceased Kiri Nin and Iwa nin. "Suiren-san, Gari-san, it would be awesome if we could sync dattebayo!" Naruto said making Suiren and Gari smile. They both nodded before they fell into Naruto's body. Naruto tensed before he took a calming breath and opened his eyes.
"You both settled in?" Naruto asked with a grin. On their own, Suiren and Gari gave each other a nod. "Ready when you are Shikyō-sama!" they both said as Naruto took up his blade.
"Well alright, it's time….for round two!" Naruto said with a grin as he opened his eyes showing the white flames of Honshou exploding forth. "Hai!" They both said simultaneously.
Meanwhile, Lamb and Wolf waited at a ledge with Lamb holding an arrow at the entrance they had tossed Naruto through. "Was that too hard?" Lamb asked. Wolf snorted as he looked at the entrance. "If that was enough to kill him then he's truly not worthy of being the Shinigami's summoner," Wolf said with a growl. Lamb gave a small nod, though Wolf looked at her. Interesting. Looked like someone had already proven him worthy.
However neither Lamb nor Wolf was ready for a shout. A thunderous shout came from the entrance of the hole they had just put Naruto in. A white light blasted from the hole as Lamb and Wolf were forced to cover their eyes in surprise. "What the hell?!" Wolf asked before the light and shout finally settled down. Lamb quickly opened her eyes and noticed Naruto come out of the hole, however…his eyes. Those silver eyes and…that silver hair. It wasn't even blond anymore! Naruto stared at the both of them and for once…Lamb felt her bow trembling in her hands. "Lamb fire!" Wolf shouted at her forcing Lamb out of her thoughts as she unconsciously let go of the arrow. The arrow sailed through the air.
"What are we looking at?" Lamb and Wolf heard a voice ask them. They turned their left and noticed Naruto looking at them both with a small smile. They turned back and noticed the arrow lodged in the wall…no Naruto in sight. "What?! How did he get to us so fast?!" Wolf asked, but before he could blink, Naruto pressed his hand to Wolf's mask.
"Rasengeki( Spiraling Explosion)," Naruto said calmly. Lamb gasped as Wolf was sent flying from a thunderous explosion. Wolf crashed into the wall as Lamb turned around. Naruto quickly fired a punch at Lamb's mask. Lamb ducked underneath punch in surprise of how much she had dodged that on instinct. However she wasn't ready to be kicked across the face from the ledge. She slammed into the ground and coughed. Wolf quickly floated up as Naruto looked down at them. "You both are going to become mine. Right now. I will keep the balance. On my Name as UZUMAKI NARUTO!" Naruto shouted before he vanished out of sight. Lamb quickly grabbed her bow and hopped to her feet, but as soon as she got to her feet she felt Naruto sweep her feet. "I can't keep track of him? Where is this speed coming from?!" Lamb thought as Wolf raced to assist. Naruto easily grabbed Wolf before hurling the spirit over his shoulder. All of this seemed to happen in the span of about ten seconds as Wolf quickly righted himself. Lamb did the same. She quickly fired three arrows at Naruto before firing another five sets of three in succession. Naruto vanished from the first set, then the second, then the third, fourth, and fifth. Lamb gasped before Naruto appeared in front of her. He held a hand to her chest.
"Rasen Bakusui (Spiraling Explosion Water)," Naruto said before Lamb coughed as Naruto grinned pure water into her body. Lamb could almost feel her body tear from the water before…it exploded sending her into the air. Naruto turned his head and noticed Wolf charging at him. Naruto dashed at him too. He cocked his fist back as he and Wolf met head on, fist to headbutt. Wolf growled at him. "How did you get so strong?!" Wolf asked as Naruto smiled.
"I found balance dattebayo!" Naruto said as Wolf widened his white eyes. Naruto quickly kneed Wolf in the chin sending him into the air also. With both Lamb and Wolf in the air, Naruto quickly slapped his hands together. "Let's go, Suiren, Gari!" Naruto said as Suiren and Gari exploded from his body.
"Hai Shikyō-sama!" they said as Naruto jumped to the ceiling, passing Lamb and Wolf, a rasengan in his hand while Suiren ran up the left wall and Gari ran up the right wall. Suiren held the handsigns for a water technique while Gari prepped his hand for his explosion art.
Lamb and Wolf gasped as Lamb tried to aim her bow, but she couldn't figure out who to fire at. "Uzumaki Hiden Ougi: Rasenbaku Suiryoku no Jutsu (Maelstrom Sacred Art: Spiraling Explosive Water Force Technique)," Naruto, Suiren, and Gari shouted as Lamb and Wolf saw a flash of light as Naruto, Suiren and Gari crashed into them. Naruto sucked in his legs and slammed his rasengan into Lamb and Wolf as Suiren and Gari slammed into them as well. The light exploded over the room as the jutsu quickly began to cover the entire area. The explosion poured over the entire area and even to rooms beyond the room they fought in.
Just a while off, Sasuke shouted. "Get down!" Sasuke shouted as the cavern exploded in thunderous force. It was so thunderous Sasuke accidentally dropped Mikoto while Haku and Zabuza dropped to the ground. Kakashi grabbed Yugao as they fell down. Komachi quickly held Karin and Shinnō while the Naruto clone gasped in surprise. Whatever the boss was doing it had to have been big. Extremely big.
Above the cavern. Guren gasped as her crystals shattered like glass from the floor nearly giving in beneath them. People screamed in fright before Guren turned. "Ibiki, Iruka, I need you guys!" Guren shouted. However as the rocks quickly began to cover the people, everyone heard slashing. They looked up and noticed the rocks fall to the ground in ease and away from anyone and everyone. Guren looked up before she noticed a woman with silver hair and silver eyes looking at the sky. Guren shivered as she felt the mysterious aura radiating from the woman. "Guren-san, Kushina's gone!" Iruka said. Guren barely heard him before the woman turned around.
"I take it you needed some help?" Kushina asked with a small smile while Guren just dumbly nodded. Yura gasped in awe. Iruka and Ibiki couldn't even find their breath. Shikamaru could feel the beads of sweat falling from his face. This had 'Naruto' written all over it. Troublesome.
After some time, Lamb and Wolf opened their eyes. They noticed Naruto sitting next to them with a wide battered grin on his face. "I take it we were defeated?" Lamb asked. Naruto rubbed the back of his head while Wolf groaned before floating back to Lamb's position. "Those were some interesting attacks. How did you pull them off?" Lamb asked.
"A little trust goes a long way," Naruto replied as Lamb and Wolf glanced to each other. "You both tried to teach me balance. Life and death are equal. Never one…without the other," Naruto said. The Kindred looked at each other in surprise before Lamb reclaimed her bow and knelt before Naruto. Wolf gave a soft grumble before, with great effort, he bowed his head.
"The Kindred are yours to command, Shikyō-sama. Use us s you see fit and as long as you have balance in heart and judgement you have a servant in Kindred," They both said. Naruto gave a small grin before holding out his hand. Lamb looked down at it for a moment before she took it. Naruto sighed. "I might be new to this whole balance thing, but if I do anything out of line then I ask for the Kindred to help me correct that immediately until I am able to better do it on my own. I will be your master to the best of my ability dattebayo!" Naruto said, fisting his chest for good measure. As Naruto stood, Lamb and Wolf rose as well. Lamb, without a word, touched the seal on his hand before she faded into it.
Naruto and Wolf looked at each other before Wolf smirked. "Not bad brat. Not bad, I enjoyed this fight. It won't be in your favor ever again," Wolf said as he touched Naruto's seal before fading into it as well. This easily left Naruto alone as the seal on his hand changed again. This time an arch appeared over the center of the seal just before dissipating. Naruto smiled.
Not even a minute later, Naruto heard footsteps. He turned around and noticed Sasuke, Komachi, Haku, Zabuza, Karin, Kakashi, Yugao, and some unknown man come through. He also noted Mikoto unconscious on Sasuke's back. The Uchiha and the Uzumaki looked at each other. "I guess I'm not needed. Ciao," The Naruto clone said before he poofed out. Sasuke surveyed the damage. "Only you dobe. Only you," Sasuke said with a smirk while Naruto grinned.
"No need to be jealous Sasuke," Naruto fired back. Having retrieved the memories from his clone, Naruto knew exactly were Konan was as the woman went looking for Yuri. Naruto prayed hard that Konan would find her. He could only sigh before turning around. "We'll let's all get the hell out of here," Naruto said with a smile.
"Best idea I have heard…all day!" Karin cried. Some of the group chuckled before Naruto held out his hand. He took a calming breath. "Jikūyugami no Jutsu," Naruto said as the portal quickly opened. After Naruto came Sasuke, then one by one everyone entered the portal as it closed taking them from caverns just as the rocks from the ceiling came crumbling down.
Now all that was left, was for Konan to find Uzumaki Yuri and escape….somehow. Though even through the caverns, not even Konan could have prepared herself for who was also still in the caverns…walking…searching…hunting.
May: There we go. How did I do? I think I did pretty good despite myself!
KG: WOOOOOOO! WE WON! Almost out of Elo Hell! Aren't I awesome babe?!
Me: Yes, you're so amazing babe. You should definitely be Challenger by now.
KG: are you mocking me?
Totally Not-Sarcastic Me: Of course not bae whatever gave you that idea?
KG: A small hunch. Okay I can write that chapter now!
Me: Well everyone that's all for now! Sorry we took so long. KG, hun, CAN WE PLEASE UPDATE SCATTERED FEATHERS NOW?! I want to give…more research!
KG: I thought you wanted a break from that?!
May: I never said that! We have to think about MY…I mean your viewers happiness.
KG:…ummm okay? But after this chapter.
May: Oh I did it for you. Well guys that's all folks, stay breezy, protect what's important to you….
KG: Wait, whaaaaaaaa…
May: Review please, and TELL MY HUSBAND TO UPDATE SCATTERED FEATHERS! I NEED…I mean, YOU DEFINITELY NEED IT! Right? RIGHT?!
KG: WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!
May: Bye bye.