Chapter 30: A Less Merciful Hero
The battlefield was in utter chaos, a shattered wasteland of rubble and destruction. The Kill Orochimaru team, once united in their mission, now faced the overwhelming might of Android Kabuto. His newfound powers made him a terrifying adversary, and the tide of battle had shifted disastrously in his favor.
Kabuto's laughter echoed through the carnage, a chilling reminder of his enhanced abilities. "You thought you could stop me? Pathetic."
Naruto, his breath ragged, staggered to his feet. "You won't win, Kabuto! We'll stop you no matter what!" He lunged forward, chakra swirling into a Rasengan in his hand.
Kabuto dodged with ease, countering with a devastating punch to Naruto's stomach. THMMP!
The impact sent Naruto crashing into a nearby boulder, the Rasengan dissipating into the air. "You're no longer a challenge for me."
Hinata, her Byakugan still activated, tried to flank Kabuto. "Jūken!" Her chakra-infused hands glowed as she aimed for his vital points.
But Kabuto anticipated her move, catching her wrists mid-strike and hurling her into a pile of debris.
Sasuke's Sharingan spun with desperate intensity as he engaged Kabuto. "Chidori!" he cried, his hand crackling with lightning. He thrust it towards Kabuto, but Kabuto's speed was beyond anything they had encountered. He sidestepped the attack and delivered a bone-shattering kick to Sasuke's side, sending him sprawling.
"Is this all you've got?" Kabuto sneered, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. "You're not even worth the effort."
Sakura, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination, stepped forward. She had used her slight break to heal her dislocated arm, making it usable once more. "Stop it!" She too formed a Rasengan in her hand, the swirling chakra sphere radiating power. "Take this!"
Kabuto's expression shifted to one of mild interest as he watched Sakura approach. "Oh? And what do you think you can do?"
Sakura dashed forward, her movements fueled by sheer willpower. She thrust the Rasengan towards Kabuto, but he caught her arm, stopping her mid-attack. "Nice try," he said coldly, before twisting her arm once more and slamming her into the ground.
Sakura cried out in pain, the Rasengan vanishing from her grasp.
She struggled to rise, her vision blurring with liquid. "I... won't give up..."
Kabuto laughed, the sound devoid of any warmth or mercy. "Give up? You should have given up a long time ago."
He lifted her by the collar, his grip tightening. "I'll make an example out of you."
With brutal efficiency, Kabuto began to pummel Sakura, his fists striking with relentless force. Each punch was a symphony of pain, a testament to his android strength. The girls cries echoed through the battlefield, a haunting melody of suffering.
"Is this all your supposedly mighty team has to offer?" the android taunted, his voice dripping with contempt. "You're nothing but insects to be crushed."
Sakura tried to fight valiantly against the overwhelming might of Android Kabuto, her fists glowing with chakra as she delivered powerful blows that ultimately did absolutely no damage. Despite her strength and determination, Kabuto's power was far too much. He countered her attacks effortlessly, his movements a blur of deadly precision.
"Sakura, watch out!" shouted Sasuke, his voice filled with urgency.
Kabuto's eyes gleamed with malice as he delivered a brutal kick to Sakura's midsection, sending her crashing into the ground with bone-shattering force. The impact left a crater, and the girl gasped for breath, struggling to rise.
Naruto's heart pounded with horror as he witnessed the scene. "Sakura-chan!" he yelled, his voice a mix of anger and desperation.
His vision blurred with rage, and he felt the Kyuubi's chakra surge within him, a dark, overwhelming force that threatened to consume him entirely.
"Sakura, get up!" Hinata cried, trying to rush to her side, but Kabuto intercepted her, sending her flying back with a powerful blow to her cross guard. Whenever the others tried to intervene, they were harshly ejected from the fray, their bodies slamming into the debris-strewn landscape. The scene was one of utter devastation, and Kabuto stood amidst the chaos, his expression cold and unfeeling.
Thus, Naruto, Hinata, and Sasuke could only watch in horror, their bodies too battered to intervene. The sight of Sakura being brutalized filled them with a helpless rage, their own injuries rendering them powerless to stop the onslaught.
Kabuto's eyes glowed with a sadistic glee as he continued his assault.
"This is the end for you," he whispered, his voice a cold, deadly promise. "You should have known better than to challenge me."
Sakura's mind raced through the pain, memories flashing of her training, her friends, and her promise to herself to become stronger.
"No..." she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I can't... let it end like this..."
Kabuto paused, his eyes narrowing as he leaned in closer. "What was that? Did you say something?"
With the last of her strength, Sakura's eyes met Kabuto's, burning with defiance. "I said... I won't let it end like this!"
Summoning a reserve of chakra from deep within, she forced herself to form another Rasengan. The swirling sphere of chakra glowed brightly, casting an ethereal light on the battlefield. "This is for everyone... for Kiba..."
Kabuto's smirk faded, replaced by a look of genuine surprise. "What?!"
Sakura thrust the Rasengan into Kabuto's chest, the impact creating a shockwave that rippled through the air. The android staggered back, his grip on her collar loosening. For a brief moment, there was silence, the battlefield frozen in the aftermath of her attack.
But then he recovered quickly, his eyes blazing with fury.
"You'll pay for that," he hissed, raising his hand to deliver a final, crushing blow.
Before he could strike, a voice cut through the chaos.
"Stop!" Naruto, fueled by sheer desperation, pushed himself to his feet, his chakra flaring wildly. "You won't touch her again!"
Kabuto's gaze shifted to Naruto, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "How touching, pun intended. But you're too late."
As her world was beginning to go dark, Kabuto prepared to finish her off. The dire situation seemed to stretch on, each second a lifetime of pain and despair.
The android stood over the fallen Sakura, his fist raised to deliver the final blow. The air was thick with tension, the outcome uncertain.
Naruto's eyes widened, his breath quickening. The sight of her, bloodied and struggling, ignited a fire within him.
The rage grew, bubbling up from the depths of his being, fueled by the Kyuubi's chakra.
His body trembled as the red chakra cloak enveloped him, pulsing with raw, unbridled power.
"Naruto-kun, please, get a hold of yourself!" Sakura pleaded weakly, reaching out to him.
But Naruto could no longer hear her. The Kyuubi's power surged, each tail adding to his monstrous transformation. It was two tails, then three, each one making Kabuto's challenge greater. His form twisted and contorted, covered head to toe in dark red chakra. His eyes glowed with a menacing red light, and his teeth sharpened into fangs. Kabuto's grin widened as he observed the transformation.
"Ah, the power of the Kyuubi. How fascinating. Let's see what you can do, Naruto."
Naruto let out a guttural roar, the sound echoing across the battlefield. He lunged at Kabuto with incredible speed, his claws slashing through the air. The android barely managed to dodge the first swipe, his eyes widening in surprise at the sheer force behind the attack.
The ground beneath them cracked and splintered as Naruto's chakra-infused blows rained down on Kabuto. Each strike was filled with primal fury, the Kyuubi's power making Naruto a force of nature. Kabuto countered with his own attacks, but Naruto's speed and strength were overwhelming.
"Sakura, are you okay?" Sasuke shouted, rushing to her side as she struggled to stand.
Sakura nodded weakly, wiping the blood from her mouth. "I'll be fine. But Naruto-kun... he's losing control."
Hinata joined them, her eyes filled with concern. "We should try to help him, but how?"
The Uchiha clenched his fists, his eyes never leaving Naruto and Kabuto's fierce battle. "I don't know but he can't fight him alone. He won't last."
Kabuto and Naruto clashed with earth-shattering force, their movements a blur of speed and power. Naruto's roars filled the air, his attacks becoming more savage and relentless. His opponent slightly struggled to keep up, his android body straining more than usual under the onslaught.
"You think this power will save you, Naruto?" Kabuto taunted, dodging a swipe and countering with a powerful punch to Naruto's midsection. "You're just a beast, a mindless animal!"
Naruto let out another furious roar, his chakra flaring with explosive force. He charged at Kabuto, his movements wild and unpredictable. The android tried to block, but the strength of the Kyuubi's vessel was too much. Each blow sent shockwaves through the ground, the sheer power of the red chakra tearing the battlefield apart.
Sakura watched in horror, her heart aching for Naruto. "Naruto-kun..." she whispered, her voice filled with desperation.
Hinata placed a reassuring hand on the rosette's shoulder. "He's still fighting for us, everything'll be fine."
Naruto's form continued to morph as the Kyuubi's power surged through him. The ground trembled beneath his feet as he grew larger and more ferocious. Kabuto, despite his strength, found himself pushed back by the sheer ferocity of Naruto's attacks.
However, things wouldn't remain that way for much longer.
"Is this all you have?" Kabuto sneered while blocking strikes with his enhanced forearms. "I expected more from the Kyuubi's vessel!"
Naruto roared in response, a sound that echoed with the primal fury of the beast within him. He lunged forward with blinding speed, his claws slashing through the air with deadly precision. Kabuto barely managed to dodge the initial strike, but the force of the blow sent him skidding back, the ground cracking under his feet.
"Sakura, are you okay?" Sasuke asked, his voice tight with worry as he knelt beside her.
"I'll be fine," Sakura replied, struggling to her feet. "But we have to help Naruto-kun. He's losing himself to the Kyuubi."
Hinata remained beside them, her eyes focused. "Come on Naruto, pull through."
Kabuto launched a series of powerful chakra blasts at Naruto, but the Kyuubi's chakra shield deflected them effortlessly. Naruto retaliated with a series of wild, powerful swings, his movements driven by the primal rage of the beast within.
"You think this power will save you?" Kabuto taunted, dodging another swipe. "You're nothing but a beast, a mindless animal!"
"GRAAAAAH!" Naruto's response was another guttural roar, his chakra flaring with explosive intensity. He charged at Kabuto with reckless abandon, his movements wild and unpredictable. And yet the android began to adjust to the onslaught, an asshole-ish smirk developing on his face.
As the rest of the Kill Orochimaru team watched, Naruto's transformation continued. His body was now fully covered in the dark red chakra, the Kyuubi's power clothing him completely. He let out a final, deafening roar, his eyes blazing with feral intensity.
The four-tailed state had taken over, and Naruto was no longer in the driver nor passengers seat in terms of control.
Kabuto braced himself, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation. "So, this is the true power of the Kyuubi," he muttered. "Let's see if it's enough to save you."
Sasuke and Hinata were forced to take another step back, pulling Sakura with them, their eyes wide with shock as Naruto lost himself to the Kyuubi's influence. The transformation was terrifying, the once familiar features of their friend now obscured by a cloak of dark red chakra that pulsed with malevolent energy.
Naruto's eyes, now blood-red slits, glared at Kabuto with feral intensity.
"Naruto-kun, please!" Sakura shouted, desperation lacing her voice.
But her words fell on deaf ears. The Kyuubi's influence had taken over completely, and Naruto was beyond reasoning.
With a guttural roar, the four-tailed Naruto charged at Kabuto, his movements a blur of destructive power. The ground trembled beneath his feet, each step leaving a trail of scorched earth. He lunged at the android, his claws swiping through the air with lethal precision.
Kabuto, though taken aback by Naruto's sheer strength, managed to evade the initial attack. He countered with a series of precise strikes, his movements fluid and calculated. But the chunin's raw power was overwhelming. Each strike from the Kyuubi-possessed Naruto caused Kabuto to stagger, the force of the blows sending even greater shockwaves through the battlefield.
Sasuke watched in horror as his best friend unleashed his fury. "Dobe, don't let it control you!" he shouted, but the beast before him was beyond reach.
Kabuto's eyes narrowed as he analyzed Naruto's attacks. But the smirk never left, he knew what was inevitable. He wasn't going to lose here.
"You're strong, Naruto," he admitted, his voice carrying a hint of admiration. "But strength without control is nothing more than chaos."
Naruto responded with an ear-splitting roar, launching a Bijuudama at Kabuto. The dark sphere of concentrated chakra hurtled towards its target with devastating speed. Kabuto's eyes widened, and with a swift motion, he shot his hands forth and caught the attack in his palms. After a moment of struggle, the former nobody turned android punted the tailed beast bomb into the sky.
The explosion obliterated the remains of a distant mountain, the shockwave shaking the very ground beneath them.
Sakura, watching the battle from a safe enough distance at this point, felt a surge of fear and frustration. "Naruto-kun... please come back to us," she murmured, her hands clenched into fists. She could see, no feel the toll the transformation was taking on him, both physically and mentally.
The android refocused his attacks on Naruto, matching his ferocity with calculated precision. He dodged and weaved through Naruto's relentless onslaught, his movements a masterclass in efficiency. "You've lost yourself to the beast," Kabuto taunted, the same smirk still playing on his lips. "You're no longer fighting for your friends. You're just a mindless monster."
Kabuto then delivered a swift kick to Naruto's midsection, the force of the blow sending Naruto skidding backward. He recovered almost instantly, the Kyuubi's chakra healing his injuries with terrifying speed.
Naruto roared again, his all white eyes blazing with unbridled fury.
Kabuto raised an eyebrow, impressed despite himself. "Your healing abilities are remarkable, but it won't be enough."
He formed a series of hand seals, summoning a barrage of chakra scalpels. The blades of energy shot towards Naruto, who deflected them with wild swipes of his claws.
The deflected scalpels sliced through the surrounding rooms, walls, test tubes, everything that could be used as evidence of Otogakure's existence, causing explosions that sent debris flying in all directions. Hinata, Sakura, Sasuke, and Shikamaru had to take cover to avoid the deadly projectiles. The battlefield was a chaotic mess, and it was clear that Naruto's uncontrolled power was causing as much destruction as it was aiding in the fight.
"Naruto-kun!" Sakura called out, her voice filled with a mix of fear and frustration. "You have to fight it! Don't let the Kyuubi control you!"
But the Kyuubi's influence was too strong. Naruto's mind was consumed by the beast's rage, his consciousness buried under layers of primal instinct. He charged at Kabuto again, his movements even more frenzied and powerful.
"You're losing control, Naruto," Kabuto taunted, his voice steady despite the intensity of the battle. "You're becoming the very monster you swore to fight against."
Naruto's response was another guttural roar as he charged again, his claws slashing through the air. Kabuto countered with another chakra scalpel, slicing through the jinchuriki's defenses and landing a solid hit on his torso. Naruto staggered but quickly recovered, the Kyuubi's chakra healing his wounds almost instantly.
As Naruto charged once again at Kabuto, his claws aiming to tear through the android's defenses, the android remained unnervingly calm. His eyes flickered with cold calculation, his movements precise as he dodged the initial onslaught. He moved with an almost supernatural grace, each evasion a testament to his experience and the enhancements that made him a formidable foe.
Kabuto's voice cut through the air like a knife. "You think raw power alone will save you? I'm here to tell you...you don't have enough of it!"
Naruto's response was an animistic roar, the sound reverberating through the battlefield. He lunged again, faster this time, his claws aiming for Kabuto's throat. The ground cracked under the force of his leap, and Kabuto barely managed to sidestep the attack. Naruto's claws sliced through the air, missing each time by mere inches and leaving deep gashes in the ground where they struck.
The two clashed ferociously, their battle creating craters in the earth and sending debris flying in all directions. Hinata and Sasuke could only watch, their hearts heavy with worry. Each time Naruto struck, Kabuto countered with brutal efficiency, his experience and precision gradually wearing down the berserk shinobi.
In a fierce exchange, Kabuto managed to land a devastating blow.
He struck Naruto with a chakra-infused punch that sent him crashing into the ground. Naruto roared in pain and fury, his chakra cloak flaring wildly. He tried to rise, but Kabuto was relentless. He followed up with a series of rapid strikes, each one aimed at Naruto's foxified vital points.
Sakura's heart clenched as she watched Naruto struggle. "Naruto-kun..." she whispered once more, not knowing what else to say, tears brimming in her eyes.
CRACKOOOM! Kabuto's final strike was a powerful kick to Naruto's head, the impact creating a thud that rippled through the battlefield.
Naruto's form went limp, the dark red chakra dissipating as he was knocked out cold.
The battlefield fell silent, the only sound being the THUD of Naruto's naked body collapsing to the ground.
Kabuto stood over Naruto's unconscious form, his eyes cold and unfeeling. "You fought well," he said quietly. "But even with the Kyuubi, you are no match for me."
The battlefield that used to be a network known as Otogakure was now a war-torn wasteland, littered with the debris of their fierce struggle. Naruto lay unconscious, his body burnt and drained from the Kyuubi's rampage.
Shikamaru, using his Kage Jutsu, carefully dragged Naruto away from the epicenter of the chaos, towards where he and Sakura had been positioned.
"Damnit," Shikamaru muttered under his breath, his eyes flicking back to the ongoing battle. He knew he needed to play support, to stay out of the direct conflict, but the sight of his fallen friend was a heavy burden on his heart.
Sakura knelt beside Naruto, her hands trembling as she held his scorched body. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to stabilize his condition with her very limited chakra supply. "Naruto-kun... Please, hang on. We need you," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. "You mean so much to me... I can't lose you."
Meanwhile, Sasuke and Hinata stood as the last line of defense against the formidable Kabuto.
Sasuke turned to Hinata, his expression grim and resolute. "Hinata. Take the others and run. I'll hold him off."
Hinata's eyes narrowed at the thought, her next words laced with the intent to jab. "You're a fool if you think I'd run away from him. No, we fight together."
The Uchiha smirked at her casual insult, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. "Alright then, let's kill him. All out."
With a surge of chakra, Hinata activated her Chakura Basuto mode, her entire body glowing with intense chakra from her amplified tenketsu points. Sasuke unleashed the Kaimon and Kyumon; the gates of opening and healing, the raw power surging through him enhancing his speed and strength.
Their combined power created a palpable tension in the air as they prepared to face Kabuto together.
A last stand if you will.
Kabuto watched them with a twisted grin, his eyes gleaming with malice. "You both know you're just delaying the inevitable."
Hinata's stood firm, her Byakugan reactivated and focused. "The inevitability that you fall, here and now."
WHOOOOSH!
The prodigies launched themselves at Kabuto in perfect synchronization. Hinata's strikes were precise and powerful, her gentle first technique targeting Kabuto's vital points. Sasuke's attacks were swift and relentless, his Sharingan predicting Kabuto's movements and exploiting every opening.
The problem was, Kabuto could track them just as easily as they could him. The advantages of their dojutsu simply did not apply in this encounter.
Androids were overpowered, even early stage models such as this one.
Kabuto countered with vicious efficiency, his movements faster than a blur as he deflected all of their attacks.
"Impressive, but not enough," he taunted, his voice dripping with contempt.
Hinata spun gracefully, her hands glowing with chakra as she finally struck at Kabuto's torso. "Hakkeshō Kaiten!" she cried, creating a spinning dome of chakra that forced Kabuto back momentarily.
Sasuke seized the opportunity, dashing forward with lightning speed of his own. "Chidori!" he shouted, his electrified hand aimed at Kabuto's heart.
Kabuto twisted his body at the last moment, the Chidori grazing his side instead of delivering a fatal blow, causing an insignificant amount of harm.
"You're fast Uchiha, but not fast enough!" Kabuto sneered, retaliating with a powerful chakra-infused punch that sent Sasuke careening across the battlefield.
Hinata immediately stepped back in, her Byakugan pinpointing Kabuto's potential weak spots. However, upon seeing his chakra network it appeared that Kabuto no longer had...a limit to his flow. How did that happen?
"What did you do to yourself?!" she asked, her fingers striking with incredible speed and precision. Each hit disrupted Kabuto's chakra flow, but his enhanced body quickly adapted, and he countered with brutal force.
The android's chakra scalpels glowed menacingly as he slashed at Hinata. She evaded most of his strikes, but one managed to cut across her arm, drawing blood.
"You're stronger than I could've ever imagined, Hyuga. But you can't keep this up forever."
Sasuke regained his footing and rejoined the fray, his eyes blazing with the Sharingan's power.
"We'll see about that," he growled, launching a great fireball at Kabuto. "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!"
Kabuto dodged the flames with ease, but Hinata was ready, her hands forming seals. "Hakke Kūshō!" she shouted, sending a powerful burst of compressed air which hit its mark. The attack struck him squarely, forcing him back and creating an opening for Sasuke.
Sasuke dashed in, his movements a blur, running through seals and generating electricity in his palms. "Raiton: Raimei!" The thunder clap did it's job, the double slap to Kabuto's back momentarily stunning them and shooting him in the girl's direction.
"Now Hinata!" the Uchiha shouted.
Hinata nodded, channeling her chakra into her palms. Unknowingly, two flaming lion's made of chakra appeared as if to symbolize Hinata's ferocity in battle. Seeing this, she named this specific jutsu after its blatant appearance for the first time.
"Jūho Sōshiken!" she cried, her hands glowing with intense energy. She struck Kabuto with all her might, the thunderous impact rocking the whole geometric area of what used to be Otogakure.
Kabuto was launched thousands of feet away from them, but in due time his android body recovered all the same.
"That actually really fucking hurt," he hissed from his position on the ground, his voice filled with venom. "I'm done playing around."
He responded to his pain by swooping in with a vicious kick to Hinata's face, sending the girl crashing into a nearby boulder.
Sasuke's eyes flashed with fury as he watched Hinata struggle to stand. "You'll pay for that," he snarled, reactivating the Kyumon and charging at Kabuto with renewed ferocity. His strikes were faster, more powerful, each one aimed to incapacitate Kabuto.
But Kabuto's resilience was unmatched. He parried Sasuke's attacks with ease, his movements fluid and precise. "You can't win, Uchiha. You're outmatched," he taunted, delivering a crushing blow to his opponent's abdomen that left him gasping for breath.
Hinata, despite the pain, rose to her feet. We're not done yet," she said, her voice steady. She charged at Kabuto, her chakra burst mode activating once more.
Together, Sasuke and Hinata launched a coordinated assault. Their attacks were a beautiful visual of high speed motion, a symphony of power, aggression, control, and precision. Kabuto found himself struggling to keep up with the two simultaneously, his confidence wavering slightly as he faced the combined might of the two shinobi.
Despite this complicated dance, Kabuto's android body showed no signs of fatigue. He fought back with unyielding force, gradually wearing them down.
Sasuke and Hinata exchanged a quick glance, understanding passing between them. They needed to end this, and fast.
As they prepared for one final go, the battlefield heated up, the intensity of their clash reaching its peak. The scenery denoted a cataclysm of raw power and destruction. Smoke billowed into the sky, and the earth trembled under the weight of the ferocious conflict. Sasuke and Hinata, their breaths heavy and labored, stood against the overwhelming force of Android Kabuto.
His body, enhanced with mechanical augmentations, showed no signs of fatigue despite the relentless onslaught they had unleashed.
"We need to keep him off balance," Sasuke muttered, his Sharingan spinning with intensity. "Hinata, we can't let up. If we stop, even for a second, he'll kill us."
Hinata nodded, her Byakugan activated, her gaze resolute. "Hai. Let's give it everything we've got. We can't let Kiba's death be in vain."
They sprang into action, using some combination of elemental jutsu, Kage Bunshin, and hit-and-run tactics to keep Kabuto on his toes.
Sasuke weaved through hand signs, summoning a torrent of fire. "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" he shouted, launching a massive fireball towards Kabuto.
Kabuto's eyes gleamed with a predatory light as he dodged the fireball with ease. "Is that all you've got, Uchiha?" he taunted, a sinister grin spreading across his face.
The girl appeared behind him in an instant, her palms glowing with more chakra. "Hakke Kūshō!"
The attack struck Kabuto, sending him skidding back, but he quickly regained his footing, unscathed. Before he could open his mouth to mock the girl, Sasuke's shadow clones materialized around Kabuto, each wielding a Chidori. They converged on him, their electrified hands crackling with lethal energy. "Chidori Raimei!" Sasuke called out, unleashing a thunderclap burst of electricity that surged through the clones and towards Kabuto.
The goal was to trap Kabuto in a blitzkrieg that sounded like 10,000 birds. Alas, it wouldn't work as intended.
Kabuto countered with a swift series of strikes, his chakra scalpels cutting through the clones with surgical precision. He moved with unyielding force, his mechanical body shrugging off the attack as if they were mere nuisance. Withholding his tongue, his eyes locked onto Hinata.
Hinata darted in, her movements untraceable to trained eyes. She aimed for his vital points with precision strikes, but Kabuto grinned wickedly as he grabbed Hinata's wrist, his grip like iron. "Time to end this." He pulled her close, raising his other hand to strike her down with enough force to blow her head off.
Sasuke lunged forward, his kunai gleaming in the dim light. "Let her go!" he roared, swinging the weapon with all his might. Kabuto parried the strike effortlessly, tossing Hinata aside and turning his full attention to Sasuke.
"Stop interrupting me," Kabuto hissed, his chakra scalpels glowing ominously. He moved with blinding speed, striking Sasuke in the abdomen.
Sasuke gasped, the pain searing through him as he staggered back.
Hinata recovered quickly, her eyes blazing with flames only seen from those who train with Son Goku. She formed a series of hand signs and performed an uncharacteristic jutsu for a Hyuga, unleashing a powerful wave of lightning?
She silently thanked her father for effectively disowning her, allowing her to forge her own path and breakaway from customs and traditions. She was able to learn what she wanted and how wanted, her status as a former heiress temporarily alleviating her from receiving the caged bird seal.
More importantly, why not dig deeper into her bag? They were losing anyway, might as well let it fly.
"Raiton: Rakurai no Jutsu!" A bolt of lightning surged towards Kabuto, who countered with a blast of artificial chakra, the two attacks collding with explosive force.
Despite their efforts, it was clear that Kabuto's stamina was limitless. His mechanical body showed no signs of slowing down, while Sasuke and Hinata were growing increasingly weary. The relentless assault took its toll on them, and Kabuto began to gain the upper hand.
"You're wearing down," Kabuto observed, his voice eerily calm. "Soon, you'll be nothing but corpses at my feet."
Hinata's eyes narrowed, her fists clenched despite her increasing fatigue. "We won't give up. Not as long as we can still fight."
Kabuto's expression turned cold and murderous. "Then die fighting." He lunged at Hinata with lethal intent, his chakra scalpel aimed at her heart.
The girl dodged at the last second, but Kabuto's speed became overwhelming. He kicked her hard, sending her crashing into the ground. The Uchiha rushed to her aid, but the android intercepted him, striking him down with a vicious blow to the chest.
The prodigies lay on the ground, battered and exhausted. Kabuto loomed over them, his eyes gleaming with malevolent triumph.
"You're finished," he declared, raising his hand for the final strike.
Nearby, Sakura tended to Naruto's unconscious form, her hands glowing with healing chakra. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to mend his injuries. "Naruto-kun, please wake up," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I need you... we all need you."
Naruto's body, chakra burnt and naked, lay still as she worked tirelessly to heal him. Despite the tears in her eyes, she tried to stay strong for him, wiping her face and focusing on the task at hand. "You've always been there for me, Naruto-kun. Now it's my turn."
Shikamaru, still staying out of the direct conflict, used his Kagemane Jutsu to provide support whenever possible, binding Kabuto momentarily to give Sasuke and Hinata a chance to strike. But each time, Kabuto broke free with terrifying ease.
"We can't keep this up forever," Shikamaru muttered, sweat dripping down his face. "We need a miracle. We need Son Goku."
Hinata struggled to her feet. "We can't let him win," she said, her voice resolute. "We have to protect each other, no matter what."
Sasuke, clutching his side in pain, nodded. "We fight until the end."
With a burst of motivation they sprang into action again, their movements synchronized. Hinata's strikes were precise and powerful, while Sasuke's attacks were swift and relentless. They used every technique left in their disposal, trying to find a chink in Kabuto's seemingly invulnerable armor.
Sasuke formed a series of hand seals, his eyes blazing with fury. "Katon: Ryūka no Jutsu!" he shouted, releasing a dragon-shaped flame that roared towards Kabuto.
Hinata followed up with her own technique, creating two other Kage Bunshin with the cross seal in order to summon a massive wave of pure chakra. "Hakke Kūshō!"
The two attacks merged, creating a devastating combination that engulfed Kabuto in a torrent of fire and potent chakra.
For a moment, it seemed as if they had succeeded. But as the smoke cleared, the android emerged, his body glowing with an eerie light.
"You can't defeat me," he said, his voice cold and unyielding. "I am beyond human limitations."
Sasuke and Hinata exchanged a glance, their resolve hardening. They launched themselves at Kabuto... One. More. Time.
But it wasn't enough.
Kabuto's stamina seemed limitless, his augmented body showing no signs of fatigue. The two prodigies on the other hand had nothing left in the tank.
"This is getting repetitive," Kabuto sneered, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Time for more people to die by my hand."
He raised his hand and opened it up, preparing to strike Hinata down with a chakra blast meant to evaporate her existence.
PSSSSSSSSHHHHHHH!
Just as he was about to deliver the final blow, a blue boot collided with Kabuto's head with incredible force, sending him crashing into the broken but still alive group of recovering Oto-nin and Red Ribbon Army soldiers. The impact was so powerful that it created another shockwave, scattering the soldiers like leaves in the wind.
Hinata and Sasuke looked up in shock and relief as Goku landed gracefully between them and Kabuto. His aura blazed with a fierce light metallic blue light, his eyes filled with a mixture of determination and righteous fury.
"Goku..." Sasuke muttered, a hint of a smile crossing his lips. "You bastard. Finally."
Goku's expression was grave and devoid of the usual mercy, his eyes never leaving Kabuto. "I won't let you hurt my friends anymore," he said, his voice firm and unwavering. "This ends NOW!"
Kabuto whistles, beckoning for his remaining forces to converge on Son Goku, to which the remaining platoon charges at him mindlessly. Seeing this development, the man with grey hair grinned viciously, fading behind the momentary distraction.
Goku, with a visage of boiling carnage visible to the naked eye, surveyed the landscape and the numbers coming to end his life. The destruction around him was a testament to the fierce clashes that had taken place, but there was no time to reflect. And then he moved. He unleashed a furious assault, incapacitating or killing the remaining platoon members with ruthless efficiency. Whether they lived or died became less and less important with every move that was made. Each strike was precise and devastating, his movements a blur of rage. All of the soldiers and remaining bots from the Oto-nin and Red Ribbon Army fell like leaves in a storm, unable to withstand the power of Goku's assault.
As the dust settled in what occurred in only a few seconds, Goku's eyes locked onto a chilling sight—Kabuto standing with a wicked grin, holding Hinata hostage.
A chakra scalpel glowed menacingly at her neck.
"Why can't you fight me like a man, Kabuto?" Goku demanded, his voice trembling with anger.
Kabuto's grin widened. "I'm not an idiot, Goku. If you made it past Orochimaru-sama, there's no way I could defeat you. But your weakness is those you care about."
Hinata, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes, shot Goku a thumbs-up, trying to reassure him. The Saiyan's heart ached at the sight, his mind racing.
For the first time in a long while, he didn't know what to do.
"I'll do whatever you want, just let her go," he pleaded, his voice slightly breaking.
Kabuto's eyes gleaned with malice, surveying the area around them both. "Kill your own team, Goku. Show me who is more important."
Goku dropped to his knees, cursing himself for not defeating Orochimaru faster. The realization that his lust for battle had endangered his friends weighed heavily on him in the moment. He was supposed to protect them, to be their shield, but now, he was their greatest liability.
"Isn't it ironic, Son Goku?" Kabuto's voice dripped with contempt. "You who pride yourself on your strength, now brought to your knees by your own compassion. It's almost poetic."
From an observable position, Sakura's hands glowed with healing energy as she tried to mend his wounds, her tears ceasing. "Naruto-kun..." she whispered, her voice filled with anguish. She stopped crying, trying to be strong for both of them.
Shikamaru stayed in the shadows next to them, the roles reversed as he was now guarding Sakura and Naruto. He knew there was no strategy or anything he could do to help in the fight as he was a physical liability, but the desperation of the situation gnawed at him. "It's up to you Goku," he muttered under his breath, his eyes darting between Goku and Kabuto. "What will you do next?"
Hinata's eyes met Goku's, and for a moment, everything else faded away. Pale lavender met pure onyx.
"Goku... you have to be strong," she said, her voice calm and unwavering. "Don't give in to his demands."
Kabuto's grin faltered slightly at her defiance. "Foolish girl," he hissed, pressing the scalpel closer to her skin. "Goku, decide now, or she dies."
Goku's hands clenched into fists, his nails digging into his palms. "No... I won't let this happen," he whispered, rising to his feet. "Hinata, I'm sorry I failed you."
The android's eyes glinted with a strange mix of sadness and malice. "Failed? Do you know what failure really is, Goku? Failure is serving someone like Orochimaru-sama. It's the endless torment, the never-ending experiments, the feeling of your own body betraying you as it becomes something other than human."
The Saiyan's eyes widened, taken aback by the raw emotion in Kabuto's voice. "What are you talking about?"
Kabuto's grip on Hinata tightened. "You think I wanted this? To be a cyborg, a monster? Orochimaru took everything from me—my humanity, my pride, my freedom. Every day was a nightmare, and the only way to survive was to become something worse than him."
Shikamaru, listening intently from his hidden position, felt a pang of pity for Kabuto despite the dire situation. "He's not just a villain," he mused aloud. "He's a victim with a fucked up life too."
Hinata's voice was gentle, filled with compassion. "Kabuto, you don't have to do this. We can help you. You don't have to be a monster."
The man's face twisted with rage. "Help me? It's too late for that. I am what Orochimaru made me, and I'll use this power to crush anyone who stands in my way."
Sakura, her voice steady now, called out. "Goku, don't listen to that bastard! We're a team, and we'll find a way out of this together!"
Goku looked over at her, seeing the resolve in her eyes. She was right. They were a team.
Kabuto, sensing a shift in morale, tightened his grip on Hinata. "Enough talk. Time to die."
As Kabuto moved to kill Hinata, the battlefield seemed to hold its breath. Goku's eyes burned with a newfound determination. In an imperceptible motion, he dashed forward, his speed unable to be tracked.
But it just wasn't fast enough. The chakra scalpel inched closer, and Kabuto's grin widened. "Say goodbye," he whispered, relishing the moment.
Goku's voice cracked with desperation, pausing in his tracks. He no longer had the will to proceed.
"Please, Kabuto, don't do this. You've suffered enough. Don't let Orochimaru win."
Kabuto's eyes flickered with a hint of doubt before hardening again. "It's too late for redemption, Goku. I am what I am, and this is the path I've chosen."
The tension in the air was palpable, every second stretching into an eternity.
Just then, Shikamaru's voice rang out from the shadows. "Kabuto, you don't have to be like him. You can choose to be better."
Kabuto's grin faltered again. "You think words can save you? This world is cruel, and only the strong survive."
Goku's mind raced. "Kabuto, please. Hinata doesn't deserve this. None of us do. If there's any part of you that remembers what it's like to be human, let her go."
Kabuto's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, a flicker of humanity seemed to return. But it was quickly replaced by cold resolve.
"You're right, Goku. She doesn't deserve this. But neither did I."
The chakra scalpel inched closer to Hinata's neck, the deadly intent clear in his eyes.
"Do it now, Goku. Prove your loyalty to her and kill the rest," Kabuto taunted, his voice dripping with cruel satisfaction.
Goku's heart pounded in his chest, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. He knew he had to act, but the fear of losing Hinata paralyzed him.
For the first time in years, he was hopeless.
"I'm sorry Hinata," he whispered, tears brimming in his eyes.
Hinata's voice was soft, filled with love and determination. "It's okay, Goku. It's okay."
As Kabuto's wicked grin grew, he prepared to finally kill Hinata. The chakra scalpel inched closer, and Kabuto's grin widened.
TCHHH TCHHH!
Suddenly, two senbon pierced Kabuto's neck, infiltrating his enhanced durability.
"What the...?"
Goku seized the opportunity, moving with his true speed. His knee smacked into Kabuto's face, the force of the impact separating him from Hinata. The android was sent crashing into a nearby wall, his body crumpling under the blow.
Sasuke, watching from a distance, recognized the senbon and smirked. "Haku."
With Kabuto momentarily incapacitated, Goku unleashed a relentless assault. "RAAAAAAAH!"
His fists moved like blurs, each strike delivering bone-shattering force. He pummeled Kabuto through the tunnels and depths of Otogakure, the ground trembling under their one-sided bout. The android struggled to recover, his body trying to compensate for the damage.
"You... you think this will stop me?" he spat, but his words were cut off as Goku's fist slammed into his jaw.
Goku proceeded to whoop Kabuto's ass up and down the Otogakure ruins.
As the ass whooping was taking place, Orochimaru reappeared in the form of mud sprouting from the ground, his body partially healed and his intentions clear.
He moved towards the downed Sasuke, his eyes gleaming with malice.
"It's time, Sasuke. Your destiny awaits," he hissed, activating Sasuke's cursed seal.
Sasuke's body immediately convulsed with pain as the curse mark spread, his muscles twitching involuntarily. He tried to resist, but the seal's power was overwhelming.
Orochimaru reached out, ready to drag Sasuke away to the Red Ribbon Army HQ's ruins. He knew he could rebuild Otogakure with their resources within a short time frame, therefore he could careless about his village or his most trusted enforcers demise.
And while Goku was too strong for now, his other prize was ripe for the taking.
All he needed to do was collect the goods and scamper away undetected.
Kukukuku.
However, a shard of ice interrupted Orochimaru's pursuit. Haku.
And emerging from the shadows, she stood before him, her eyes filled with a fierce determination.
"I won't let you take him," she declared, her voice steely.
Orochimaru laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the tunnels. "You think you can stop me, little girl? You're nothing compared to my power even right now."
Haku's gaze hardened, her voice unwavering. "I will protect Sasuke-kun, no matter the cost. My bond with him is more than you could ever understand."
The snake's eyes narrowed, his curiosity piqued. "Your bond? And what, pray tell, makes this bond so special?"
The girl's voice softened, filled with genuine emotion. "Sasuke-kun gave me something I thought I'd lost forever. A reason to fight, a reason to live. He showed me kindness and strength when I had none. My devotion to him is not just about power; it's about love and loyalty."
Orochimaru's laughter rang out again, but there was a hint of bitterness in it. "Love and loyalty? How quaint. You truly believe such sentiments can make a difference in this world? Power is the only thing that matters."
Haku shook her head, her eyes resolute. "You're wrong. Power without purpose is empty. It's the bonds we form that give our strength meaning. I love Sasuke-kun, and I will protect him with my life."
The villain's gaze hardened, a sneer forming on his lips. "You speak of love and loyalty as if they can save you. But in the end, power will always prevail. Sasuke's potential is limitless, and with his power, I will achieve my goals. You're nothing but an obstacle."
The girl took a step forward. "I am more than an obstacle. I am Sasuke-kun's shield. You will not take him from me."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with dark amusement. "Such conviction. But tell me, what will you do when your strength is not enough? When love and loyalty fail you?"
Haku's voice was firm behind her mask. "They won't fail me. Because even if I fall, Sasuke-kun will continue to fight. And that is something you can't understand."
The snake's sneer deepened. Elsewhere, Shikamaru's voice cut through the air, his mind running a million miles an hour.
"This is getting out of hand," he muttered, his eyes darting between the combatants. He turned to Sakura, who was tending to Naruto's unconscious form.
"Sakura, how is Naruto?" Shikamaru asked, his voice tense.
Sakura looked up, her expression filled with worry but also a glimmer of hope. "He's stirring, but he's still not fully conscious. I'm trying my best to heal him, but it's slow work."
Naruto lay on her lap, his body still burned from the intense chakra of the Kyuubi. Though he didn't wake, his slight movements brought a small smile to Sakura's face.
"Thank you for fighting for us, Naruto-kun," she murmured, her voice soft and filled with love.
Shikamaru nodded, his mind still racing. "We need to buy more time. Goku is handling Kabuto, I just hope Orochimaru's weakened enough from his fight with Goku that the girl can keep him away from Sasuke."
Speaking of which, the two of them continued their verbal duel, the tension between them palpable.
"You think you can protect Sasuke from me?" Orochimaru asked, his voice dripping with contempt. "You're delusional."
Haku did not flinch. "I don't think. I know. Because my love for Sasuke-kun gives me strength you can't comprehend. It's not about power; it's about the will to protect those you care about."
The snake's laughter was cold and harsh. "You truly believe that will be enough? That your love can stand against my power? Sasuke's potential is wasted with you. He belongs with me, where his true strength can be realized!"
Damn, Orochimaru might really have pedophilia. Damn.
Her voice was steady, maintaining its edge. "Sasuke-kun's true strength lies in his heart, in his ability to care for others. And that's why you will never truly have him."
Orochimaru's eyes darkened, his amusement fading. "You fool, love makes you weak. Sasuke's destiny is to rise above such trivial emotions and achieve greatness."
Haku's love for Sasuke shone through the shade, the dark cloud that was before her. "Love doesn't make us weak. It makes us strong. Stronger than you could ever imagine. Sasuke-kun's destiny is his own, and I will ensure he can choose it for himself."
The villain's sneer returned, more menacing than before. "You're willing to die for him? To throw your life away for a futile cause?" His expression was a mix of disdain and curiosity.
Haku nodded without hesitation. "Yes. And even if I fall, he will continue to fight. That is the power of our bond."
"You're truly devoted to him, aren't you? Willing to sacrifice everything for him. But tell me, Haku, do you think Sasuke feels the same way about you?"
"I know he does. Sasuke-kun may not always show it, but his actions speak louder than words. He cares for me, just as I care for him. Our bond is something you will never be able to break."
"Such naïveté. Do you honestly believe that Sasuke's feelings for you will protect him from the darkness within? That your love can save him from his own ambitions?"
"I believe in Sasuke-kun. I believe in the goodness within him, and I will do everything in my power to help him realize that. No matter what it takes."
Orochimaru's laughter was cold and mocking. "You're a fool, Haku. Your devotion is admirable, but ultimately futile. Sasuke's destiny is intertwined with power, and nothing you do can change that."
Haku took a step closer, her hands twitching. "I will never stop fighting for Sasuke-kun. No matter how dark the path, no matter the cost, I will always be there for him. Because that's what love is. It's not about power or destiny. It's about standing by someone's side, no matter what."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed, his sneer fading into a contemplative frown. "You're willing to sacrifice everything for him? Even your life?"
Haku's voice was a whisper, filled with unwavering resolve. "Hai."
Fueled by her love for Sasuke and her self-imposed duty to protect him, Haku launched her attack.
"Hyoton: Sensatsu Suishō!" she cried, summoning a barrage of ice needles that flew towards the villain with deadly precision.
Orochimaru dodged the needles with serpentine grace, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You think you can stop me with parlor tricks?" he taunted, his voice dripping with condescension.
Haku's eyes narrowed behind her mask. She performed a series of hand seals, summoning ice clones that surrounded Orochimaru. "Hyoton: Makyō Hyōshō!" The ice mirrors formed around him, reflecting his image a thousand times.
The ice clones attacked in unison, their movements synchronized with Haku's. Explosive paper tags were affixed to each clone, their fuses burning brightly. The air crackled with energy as the clones converged on Orochimaru, the explosive force creating a relatively large shockwave.
But Orochimaru was prepared. With a swift motion, he summoned a barrier of snakes that absorbed the brunt of the explosion.
"Futile," he hissed, his eyes gleaming with malice.
Undeterred, Haku launched herself at Orochimaru, her hands glowing with icy chakra. "Hyoton: Tsubame Fubuki!" She released a storm of ice swallows that spiraled towards him, each one carrying the promise of death.
Orochimaru weaved through the storm, his movements fluid and effortless. He countered with a powerful jutsu, his hands forming seals with blinding speed. "Kuchiyose: Edo Tensei!" The ground split open, and skeletal hands reached up, grasping at Haku's legs.
Haku leaped into the air, avoiding the grasping hands, but Orochimaru was relentless. He appeared behind her in a blur of motion, his hand gripping her mask and ripping it off with brutal force.
And then finishing the short fight, the Sannin grasped the revealed girl's esophagus.
"Like I said," Orochimaru declared, his iron grip closing around Haku's throat. "Delusional."
Sasuke, watching from a distance despite writing in agony, felt his heart shatter. "Haku!" he screamed, his voice raw with anguish.
He struggled against the cursed seal's pain, his body trembling with the effort to move.
Haku's eyes met Sasuke's, her expression softening despite the dire situation. "Sasuke-kun," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."
Tears streamed down Sasuke's face as he watched helplessly. "No, Haku! Don't give up!"
The girl managed a weak smile. "You have to be strong. You have to live… for both of us."
Orochimaru tightened his grip, cutting off her air supply. "Touching, but ultimately pointless."
Sasuke's eyes widened in horror, his breath coming in short, desperate gasps. "Let her go, Orochimaru! She's done nothing to you!"
Orochimaru's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. "She dared to stand in my way. That's enough."
Nearby, Shikamaru watched the scene unfold, his mind racing. "Damnit," he muttered, clenching his fists. "We're losing too many people…"
Naruto remained completely unconscious, his body lying limp on Sakura's lap. His agony seemed to subside slightly, but he showed no signs of waking. The faint rise and fall of his chest was the only reassurance Sakura had that he was still alive.
Sakura herself was speechless, unable to watch the heartbreaking scene any longer.
The pain and fury of seeing Haku die and hearing her final words triggered something deep within Sasuke.
His vision blurred with tears, and his heart pounded with unbearable grief and rage. "No... NO!"
A searing pain shot through his eyes, and the world seemed to slow down significantly.
His Sharingan morphed into the six pronged, star-shaped Mangekyo Sharingan, and the black flames of Amaterasu erupted from his eyes, consuming Orochimaru.
Orochimaru screamed as the black flames engulfed him, burning with a heat that defied all logic. He released Haku, his hands clawing at the flames as they devoured him.
"This... can't be..." he gasped, his body writhing in agony. He looked at the bleeding eyes of his prey. "Those... eyes..."
Haku fell to the ground, her vision fading as she looked up at Sasuke one last time. "Thank you... Sasuke-kun... I love you..." she whispered, her voice barely a breath. Her eyes closed, and she lay still, the life leaving her body.
Sasuke's heart shattered as he watched Haku die. The black flames of Amaterasu continued to burn Orochimaru, reducing him to ash.
The boy fell to his knees, his body trembling with grief and exhaustion. "Haku... I'm so sorry..."
The girl's eyes fluttered open one last time, her gaze fixed on her love. "Sasuke-kun... promise me... you'll live on. You'll find happiness. Don't let hatred consume you."
Sasuke's voice cracked with emotion. "How can I promise that when I keep losing everyone I care about? You, my family... everyone."
Haku's hand reached out weakly, touching Sasuke's cheek.
"Because you have to. For them. For me. Find strength in love, not in hatred."
Tears streamed down Sasuke's face, mingling with the blood from his eyes. "I... I promise, Haku. I'll try. For you."
Haku's hand slipped from his face, her strength finally giving out. "Thank you, Sasuke-kun... I'll always be with you..." Her voice faded into silence, and her eyes closed for the final time.
Sasuke's grief was overwhelming. He cradled Haku's lifeless body in his arms, his tears falling onto her peaceful face. The weight of her sacrifice, of her love, pressed heavily on his heart.
Nearby, Shikamaru clenched his fists, his own eyes filled with sorrow. "We've lost too many... and for what?" he thought, his mind clouded with grief and frustration. He looked at Sasuke and felt the depth of his friend's pain, remembering watching Choji get crushed to a bloody paste by Gaara. "Sasuke... I wish I could take away your pain right now."
Sakura, still tending to Naruto, watched the scene with a heavy heart. "We're all suffering," she murmured, her voice a whisper in the chaos. Naruto stirred slightly, his eyes remaining closed, but the agony in his expression seemed to lessen. Sakura managed a small smile, her heart aching for her teammates. "Naruto-kun..." she whispered, her voice filled with a mixture of hope and sorrow.
Sasuke knelt beside Haku's lifeless body, his fingers trembling as he reached out to touch her face. "I couldn't protect you... I couldn't save you," he whispered, tears streaming down his face.
Haku's expression was peaceful, her final moments spent expressing her love for Sasuke. His heart ached with a pain that seemed to pierce his very soul. "You... you didn't deserve this," he said, his voice breaking.
Shikamaru stepped closer, his eyes reflecting the depth of his sorrow. "Sasuke... we need to regroup. We can't let their sacrifices be in vain."
Sasuke looked up at him, his eyes filled with a mix of rage and despair. "Haku... she gave everything for me. How can I go on without her?"
Shikamaru's voice was soft but firm. "We go on because we have to. Because they believed in us. And because they would want us to keep fighting."
Sasuke's grip on Haku tightened as he lifted her into his arms, cradling her gently. "I won't let her sacrifice be in vain," he vowed, his voice trembling with emotion. "I will fight... for her... for everyone we've lost."
Sakura watched, tears welling up in her eyes. "Sasuke..." she whispered, her heart breaking for her friend. Naruto's faint movements brought her some solace, but the pain of their losses was almost too much to bear.
The battlefield, once filled with the sounds of combat and destruction, now seemed eerily quiet. The smoke from Amaterasu's flames still lingered, a stark reminder of the price they had paid.
Sasuke's tears mixed with the blood that streaked his face, a testament to the intense emotion that coursed through him. "Haku... I will carry your memory with me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I will make sure your sacrifice wasn't in vain."
Goku and Kabuto reappeared amidst the devastation, with Kabuto being launched into a rock formation, the impact echoing across the battlefield. The Saiyan's mercy had utterly vanished, replaced by a cold, unrelenting fury.
Kabuto, recovering as quickly as he could, grabbed the nearby unconscious forms of Karin and Jugo, using them as human shields.
"Stop this Kabuto!" Goku shouted, his voice filled with righteous anger. "Let them go!"
Kabuto's eyes gleamed with malicious intent. "I'll give you a choice, Son Goku. Comply with my demands, or watch them die."
Not falling for the same trick twice, Goku did not move. Wrong answer.
The manic android grinned as he kicked the pair towards Goku, their limp bodies airborne. "Catch them, if you can!"
Goku's heart pounded as he lunged to catch them, his instincts driving him to protect. But Kabuto had anticipated this.
He fired a concentrated blast of artificial chakra, aiming directly at Goku while Jugo and Karin were still in the air.
The blast was devastating. It incinerated Jugo and Karin in an instant, their bodies disintegrating into ash. The energy wave then engulfed Goku, the force of it causing a massive explosion that rocked the entire battlefield.
Sakura, tending to the unconscious Naruto, screamed in horror. "Goku!"
Shikamaru, staying out of the way, could only watch with concern. Sasuke didn't care.
As the dust settled, Goku emerged from the blast zone, shirtless and unharmed, his expression colder than ice.
"ENOUGH!" he declared, his voice echoing with an uncontainable rage.
Without hesitation, Goku walked toward Kabuto. Each step he took left cracks in the earth. And then...
It happened.
Goku let go.
Kabuto tried to mount a defense, but Goku was relentless. He struck Kabuto with a barrage of powerful punches, each blow resonating with the fury of a thousand storms.
"Do you think you can play with lives like this?!" Goku roared, his fists moving faster than any eye on Earth could follow. "Do you think you can kill anyone you want and get away with it?!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Kabuto tried to counter with his enhanced strength, but Goku's rage was unyielding.
A short time later, Goku stood over the battered form of Kabuto, his chest heaving with exertion. The rage and anguish in his eyes were palpable as he looked down at his foe. Kabuto, once so smug and confident, now lay broken on the ground, his body a testament to Goku's relentless assault.
Kabuto coughed, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth. "Goku, please," he gasped, his voice weak and desperate. "Mercy... I was just following orders... Orochimaru... he made me do it..."
But Goku's eyes burned with unrelenting fury. "You killed Kiba. You threatened my friends. You used innocent people as shields. You're just as much a monster as Orochimaru."
Kabuto's eyes widened in fear as he saw the resolve in Goku's expression. He tried to scramble away, but his body refused to obey. "Please, Goku, I can help you! I can provide information... I can be useful!"
Goku's fists clenched, his knuckles turning white. "Useful? How many lives have you ruined, Kabuto? How many people have suffered because of you?"
Kabuto raised a trembling hand, trying to shield himself from the next blow. "I can change! I swear it, I can change! Just give me a chance!"
But Goku's mind was lost in a storm of rage and grief. The faces of his fallen friend and two other innocents flashed before his eyes—Kiba, Jugo, Karin. The pain of their loss fueled his fury, drowning out any possibility of mercy.
"You don't deserve another chance," Goku spat, his voice cold and unyielding. "You've caused too much pain. You've taken too much."
With a roar of pure rage, Goku's fists came down again and again. Each strike landed with a sickening thud, the ground beneath Kabuto staining red. Kabuto's pleas turned to gurgles as he choked on his own blood, his body convulsing with each blow.
"Goku, please!" Kabuto tried to scream, but his voice was barely a whisper. "Please... stop..."
BOOM BOOOM BOOOM!
But Goku couldn't stop. He wouldn't stop. The images of his friends' suffering and the sound of their final cries drove him onward. Each punch was a release, a way to channel the unbearable pain inside him.
"You took everything from us!" Goku shouted, his voice echoing through the battlefield. "You don't deserve mercy!"
Kabuto's body finally went limp, his eyes rolling back into his head. But Goku continued to strike, lost in his rage. It was only when his arms began to ache and his breath came in ragged gasps that he finally stopped, looking down at the lifeless form of Kabuto.
The battlefield fell silent, the only sound the heavy panting of Goku as he stood over his fallen enemy. His hands were covered in blood, his chest heaving with the effort of his rage-fueled assault. Slowly, the reality of what he had done began to sink in.
Goku looked down at Kabuto's broken body, his anger slowly giving way to a deep, aching sorrow. He had avenged Kiba, but at what cost? The sight of Kabuto's lifeless form brought no comfort, no relief. Only a profound sense of loss. The Saiyan took a step back, his hands trembling. He felt a hollow emptiness in his chest, a stark contrast to the burning rage that had consumed him moments before.
"Was this... the right thing to do?" he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible.
He still had one more decision to make however, so he blotted those thoughts out for the moment.
As the Amaterasu flames consumed Orochimaru, their black tendrils hungrily devouring his current form, Sasuke felt a sudden, intense burning sensation on his neck. The cursed mark, a symbol of his torment and Orochimaru's control, seared with excruciating pain. His eyes widened as the black flames seemed to resonate with his Mangekyo Sharingan, the curse mark reacting violently to the powerful dojutsu. Slowly, the dark, sinister pattern began to disintegrate, the flames burning away the cursed seal and leaving his skin unmarked.
Sasuke's breath hitched as the pain subsided, replaced by a slight sense of liberation. The curse mark, which had haunted him and bound him to Orochimaru's will, was finally gone. Watching the black flames reduce his tormentor to irrecoverable ashes, Sasuke knew he was free at last. The bond of hatred and control had been severed, and with it, a new path lay open before him.
And as the echoes of Kabuto's pleas faded into the desolate silence of the battlefield, Goku turned his attention to Orochimaru. The snake-like shinobi, currently trying to shed his skin to escape the black flames of Amaterasu, looked at Goku with a mixture of contempt and curiosity.
Orochimaru sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "So, the mighty Son Goku stands before me, conflicted about what to do next. Are you truly capable of making the tough decisions, boy?"
Goku's eyes flickered with uncertainty. His fists, still stained with Kabuto's blood, trembled slightly. The faces of his friends and fallen comrades filled his mind, their voices echoing in his thoughts. Could he really do it? Could he take another life, even one as twisted and dangerous as Orochimaru's?
Goku recalled the words of his surrogate older sister, Yugao, before they departed for the mission to kill Orochimaru.
"Goku, there will come a time when you have to make the toughest decisions of your life. Decisions that will haunt you, but they must be made. For the greater good, for the safety of those you love."
He closed his eyes for a moment, drawing strength from those words. The image of Yugao's determined face gave him the resolve he needed. He had seen the horrors Orochimaru had inflicted, the lives he had destroyed. If he let him live, more would suffer. The cycle of pain and suffering would continue.
Orochimaru's voice broke through his thoughts, mocking and cruel. "What's the matter, Goku? Afraid you're becoming like me? Afraid you'll enjoy it?"
Goku opened his eyes, his gaze steely and resolute. "No, Orochimaru. I'm not like you. But I have to make this decision, not because I enjoy it, but because it's the right thing to do."
Orochimaru laughed as he slowly performed his substitution, a sinister sound that sent chills down Goku's spine. "The right thing? There is no right or wrong, only power and those too weak to seek it. You'll never understand."
Goku shook his head, his determination unwavering. "You're wrong. There is right and wrong, and you've crossed that line too many times. I won't let you hurt anyone else."
With a swift motion, Goku ripped the new Orochimaru out of the old snake's body and launched Orochimaru into the sky, his body hurtling upwards like a ragdoll.
The Sannin's eyes widened in surprise, but his defiance remained. "You think you can stop me? I will always find a way back!"
As Orochimaru ascended higher, Goku planted his feet firmly on the ground, his hands coming together in a familiar stance. The energy around him crackled and intensified, the air vibrating with power.
Time seemed to slow down for the twisted shinobi. His mind raced with thoughts and memories that spanned his long, tumultuous life.
"KAME...HAME..." Goku's voice was steady, each syllable carrying the weight of his resolve.
Orochimaru's sneer turned into a grimace of realization. "You... you won't dare..."
But Goku's eyes were filled with determination. "You've left me no choice, Orochimaru."
"HA!" Goku unleashed the full power of his Kamehameha, the brilliant blue beam of energy surging from his hands. It tore through the sky, a blinding wave of destruction aimed directly at Orochimaru.
"So, this is how it ends... cast aside like the remnants of an old skin. All my ambitions, my endless quest for power, reduced to this moment. How did it come to this?"
Orochimaru's eyes flickered with the memories of his early days in Konoha. The faces of his childhood friends, Jiraiya and Tsunade, flashed before his mind's eye. They were so naive back then, believing in the simplistic ideals of the village.
"Jiraiya, Tsunade... you both walked the path of righteousness, believing in the will of fire. But I saw beyond that. I saw the futility of our short lives, the fragility of our existence. I sought something greater, something eternal."
He recalled his defection from the village, his descent into forbidden jutsus and dark experiments. The pursuit of immortality had driven him to perform unspeakable acts, to abandon his humanity in the quest for ultimate knowledge and power.
"The village called me a monster, an abomination. But what do they know of the fear of death, the fear of oblivion? I embraced the darkness to transcend the limitations of mortal flesh. I sought to become a god."
As he tumbled through the sky, the faces of those he had manipulated and betrayed haunted him. Kabuto, his loyal servant, who had been willing to sacrifice everything for his master's approval. Sasuke, the boy he had sought to mold into his perfect vessel.
"Sasuke... you were meant to be my masterpiece, the culmination of my work. But even you turned against me. The allure of power was not enough to bind you to my will."
The image of Goku, the young Saiyan warrior, filled his mind. This boy, with his unyielding spirit and relentless determination, had been an unexpected and formidable adversary. Orochimaru had underestimated him, and now he was paying the ultimate price.
"And you, Son Goku... a being of such immense power and purity. You shattered my plans, exposed my weaknesses. Yet, in your strength, I see the irony of my own quest. The power I sought through dark means, you attained through sheer will and training."
As Goku's Kamehameha wave surged towards him, Orochimaru felt a strange mix of fear and acceptance. He had always known this day might come, that his pursuit of immortality might end in failure. But even in his final moments, he refused to concede defeat.
"But I am Orochimaru. I am the serpent who sheds his skin, who rises from the ashes. Death cannot hold me. I will return. I will find a way back, stronger, more powerful. This is not the end. I will transcend this mortal coil."
The brilliant blue light of the Kamehameha engulfed him, obliterating his form in a blinding explosion of ki. The sheer intensity of the blast vaporized everything in its path, leaving no trace of Orochimaru behind.
As the light faded and the battlefield fell silent, the last remnants of Orochimaru's presence lingered in the air, a dark promise of his vow to return.
"Mark my words, Son Goku... I will return. And when I do, the world will tremble once more at the name Orochimaru."
This marked the end of a dark era, but it was entirely too plausible that the shadows might one day rise again...
As the light faded and the battlefield fell silent once more, Goku stood alone, his chest heaving with the exertion of the attack. The weight of his decision bore down on him, but he knew it was the right one. He had to protect those he loved, to end the cycle of pain and suffering. He looked up at the sky, the echoes of Yugao's words still resonating in his mind.
"I made the tough decision, Yugao. I hope it was the right one."
He turned to see Sakura still tending to Naruto's unconscious, chakra-burnt body. Shikamaru stood nearby, his face grim.
"Sakura, how's Naruto?" Goku asked, his voice tinged with concern and exhaustion.
"He's alive," Sakura replied, her voice trembling. "But barely. We need to get him back to the village, quickly."
Goku nodded, his expression softening as he looked at his friends.
Shikamaru approached, placing a hand on Goku's shoulder. "You did it, Goku. You saved us all."
Goku shook his head, his eyes filled with sorrow. "We all did it. But we need to honor those we've lost. Kiba, Haku...even Karin and Jugo... they all deserve that much."
Sakura nodded, her eyes filled with tears. "We will. We'll make sure their sacrifices weren't in vain."
Goku's mind raced once more, conflicted with thoughts. He had just killed two beings with his own hands. Perhaps a lot more when you include the incapacitated forces of what was to Otogakure population. Was this what it meant to protect? Did the ends justify the means? The small sense of satisfaction he felt in ending them disturbed him deeply.
Was Orochimaru right? Were they really the same?
As he gazed at the desolate battlefield, Goku's thoughts spiraled. "Was this the right way? Am I becoming like the guys I wanna stop? I've always believed in fighting to protect, but when did it become about taking more and more lives? A part of me... enjoyed it. Orochimaru said we were alike. Am I proving him right?"
Hinata, who had been watching Goku, felt a deep sense of empathy. She had seen the devotion Haku had for Sasuke and how it paralleled her feelings for Goku. The pain of loss and the burden of love weighed heavily on her. She knew she had to make her feelings known, to be a pillar of strength for Goku just as he had been for her.
To become a pillar...