Chapter 28: Cold Wars 3rd Strike
At the Namikaze / Senju residence:
"Menma… that's what I want my name to be." Said the black hair Naruto clone as he sat with Tsunade, Mei and Kumiko
"Ok Menma. How old are you?" Tsunade asked
"This many." He said holding up 6 fingers
"Well, looks like we'll need to set up room for him." Kumiko said with a grandmotherly smile
"Can I go and see Naruto?" The boy asked
"Unfortunately, he's not around right now… but when he gets back, you two will be able to hang out as much as you like." Mei said
"Naruto is a ninja right? Can I be one like him?" He asked
"Of course you can. But it'll be hard. Naruto's strength was gained through a lot of intense training. Are you ready to go through that?" Kumiko asked
Menma nods as his blue eyes meet hers, causing her to smile.
"Come along then, it's still early in the day. Let's get started" she said, causing the other women to smile as they watched them go out to the backyard of the estate.
"Yes! I'm gonna be just as strong if not stronger than him!" He said in excitement
"He acts just like him." Tsunade said
Little Yuji walked up next to them as he looked at Menma following his great grandmother. He tugged on his mothers sleeve to get her attention
"Can I go with them mama?" He asked
Mei smiled at him lovingly.
"Not yet dear. Perhaps you can start in another year or so." She said ruffling his redish hair with blonde tips.
"But I wanna be fast like daddy!" He said with puppy eyes
"Don't worry dear. You will be" Mei said
"Those two are influential even when they aren't around haha." Tsunade said with a hardy laugh
"Mom! Mom!" An 11 year old Mito yelled running into the house
"Yes dear?" Tsunade asked
"C'mon mom you said you'd teach me medical ninjutsu today".
"Alright, alright. Let's head to the greenhouse." She said as she smirked down at her daughter
Xxx
Back on Namek at their base of operations with a few fires going on in the cave.
"Hey, how did you guys heal me? I was poisoned after all." Kenji asked
"We are trained healers under the grand elder." Sajin said
"Whoa cool! Can other Namekians do that?" Naruto asked
"No, I'm sure just like on your planet we have those who have a specific set of skills for each trade." Sajin replied.
"While I'd love to hear more about this, we should probably make a plan of attack for Cooler." Sasuke said
"Yea and gotta get the dragon balls away from him simultaneously." Kenji said
"Why don't we split into two groups? You two can teleport right? So why don't each of you split with a partner to find the dragon balls?" Tapion asked
"Who's gonna fight Cooler?" Hinata asked
"I'll test my strength against him" Tapion said with a smirk
"You'll need a partner and a healer! That guy is crazy strong! We watched him kill 2 warriors that bested two of his soldiers." Sajin said with warning in his tone
"Don't worry. I have something that'll get rid of him." Tapion said with Finality.
"No way! You'll need back up!" Chabo said
"Let him fight, we'll need the distraction. And after we get the Dragon balls we'll assist him if needed." Sasuke said
"You guys think Cooler doesn't have something up his sleeve?" Naruto asked
"Oh I'm counting on it." Tapion said as he smiled
Random part of Namek:
Dore's body crawled upon a shore as he coughed out water from being washed into the sea.
"Gotta…get back…to base…" he said as he stood and floated as he grimaced from the pain.
"Grrr… I'll get them for this!" He grimaced in annoyance
He felt the embarrassment from losing as his fists clenched. He would kill them all no matter what. He didn't have a scouter so he couldn't issue a warning about the other invaders ahead of time.
Xxx
Back on earth:
Jiraiya and Nanashi were flying through the sky and soon they came upon a large fortress like ship. It looked like a floating village and that's what alarmed them. It had several airships around it as well. They were hidden by the clouds as they looked at the floating fortress that stood over the land of storms.
"Well this just got interesting." Nanashi said as he calculated over to get in
"They may have a chakra sensor barrier around that thing." Jiraiya said
"More than likely they do. So what's the plan? Are we going in?" Nanashi asked
"No, what we'll do is make a safe enough perimeter to watch their actions such as: patrols, who visits and we're gonna have to see how far their patrols go." Jiraiya said
"We also need to find out if they can lead us to their contact in the land of waves." Nanashi added
"Correct, now let's go ground level and create a safe perimeter around this thing and put some chakra detection seals down." Jiraiya said
And soon they got into action as they landed and they looked around the ground level area to see if they had any other bases. Soon they began to set up a sensor barrier around the entire fortress. They couldn't do sensory seals in the air but, they were able to set them along the ground and have them reach up with a range to 300 feet in the sky.
"Alright, now I'm going to send a toad back to the village. Looks like we'll be needing some back up to keep watch over the area." Jiraiya said as he body flickered away.
Nanashi nodded as he looked around their settings, specifically the sky. Soon they saw a group of 12 shinobi flying over them. He stayed close to the shadows of the rocks and large stones around him.
Suddenly 4 of the 12 Sky Shinobi landed near his position and he listened in.
"We'll be heading to scout out the ruins of the Hidden Rain. If all goes well that'll be our ground base. The other 8 will be going to the land of sound to converge with the Hikari faction." The jonin of the group said
"Sir!" The other 3 chorused
Nanashi grimaced as the 4 shinobi leapt towards the destroyed village.
"Tch I would follow them but… I should wait for Jiraiya instead. But I guess I can send a clone to follow them and report back to me." He said as he made a shadow clone.
With Jiraiya:
He was headed back to the sight he made with Nanashi when he heard movement coming towards him and then he hid in the shadows of the rocky outcrop of trees. Soon he saw several shinobi moving through the rocks. Eventually they passed as he saw 4 hidden sky shinobi.
"Tch, looks like they work fast."
Soon he saw Nanashi moving past them. He stretched out his ki senses and realized this wasn't the original and he chose to make his way back to him. But not before making a shadow clone of his own to follow
'Whatever they're after, we'll find out." He said as he moved forward through the rocky outcrop
His body flickered at a high speed and then he slid to a stop. He looked up to see the blonde shinobi watching him chewing a blade of wheat.
"I take it we'll be staking this place out for a while." Nanashi said
"Definitely. The Hidden Leaf should be sending us some back up within the next few days" Jiraiya said
Suddenly, they looked up to see a golden craft with large blades spinning to propel them forward. It had several shinobi in gliders flying above them.
"What the hell? It looks like they're headed towards…"
"The land of Fire." Jiraiya finished
Xxx
Shikaku was sitting at a pond in the Hokage's garden smoking and solving a Sudoku puzzle. Next thing he knew, a green toad with a yellow stripe on its back appeared, then it spat out a scroll that he picked up.
Shikaku read the contents of the scrolls and pulled out some paper of his own with a pen and wrote down some information on it.
"I know just who to get." Shikaku said
A few moments later.
"Trunks Namikaze, Kakashi Hatake and Shikamaru Nara, and Shino Aburame, your mission is to help Lord Jiraiya and Nanashi Namikaze in stopping the Hidden Sky Village from expanding their territory. Their location has been marked down in your scroll." Shikaku said
"Yes sir!" They all chorused as they made their way out.
'Tch, these Hidden Sky shinobi are just a distraction for what's really meant to happen.' Shikaku said
20 minutes later a jonin burst through the door.
"Lord Hokage, we've got incoming flying enemies!" The jonin yelled in alarm.
"Tch, man the guarding positions!"
Xxx
Utakata, Hotaru, Team 4 and Team Suigetsu had taken a break for a night, then they got back to a move on at 5 a.m. towards the Hidden Valley Village.
Soon they were stopped by a Giblet, who stood with his arms folded. The Saiyan warrior was standing with his arms folded as he cracked his neck. Across from him sitting was Orochimaru who brandished his Kusanagi drawn.
"Hmm, it seems that we have attracted our prey." Orochimaru said as he stood up next to Giblet.
As they landed the hairs on Iruka's neck were sharp as he felt the weight of their presences.
"Be on guard everyone! Orochimaru is a dangerous individual! And judging from the tail on the other akatsuki member he must be a Saiyan!" Iruka said as he got on guard, drawing two kunai.
Sozu drew his sword from the scabbard in a reverse grip. Suigetsu looked at Giblet then at Utakata and Hotaru as he drew his Nuibari.
"Chojuro, Ameyuri, we'll take on the Saiyan! Iruka, do you think you and your team can split up to get Utakata outta here?" Suigetsu asked
"You all seem to think you're getting past us. Why don't I show you all what no hope looks like!" Giblet said as his blue aura burst around him.
Sozu grimaced as he realized this would be a battle unlike no other. He activated his cursed seal allowing the white marks to spread across his body. Orochimaru looked at him while licking his lips at him.
"Oooh, so it looks like you've turned my seal into something else. You truly are worthy of being my vessel. I heard that you defeated 1 of my best soldiers! Let me see the power you used boy!" Orochimaru hissed out
Naori Uchiha stood with Sai in defensive positions before Utakata.
"Sozu and I will take on Orochimaru! You all get Utakata out of here now!" Iruka said with no room to argue.
"R-right!" Naori said as she looked at the two vips.
Giblet disappeared without warning and kicked at Chojuro who used the flat of his sword to defend himself as he was sent flying away into a tree. Suigetsu tried to stab him but he gripped the sword and pulled it forward and punched him causing his face to burst into a glob of water. Following this he punched out at Ameyuri who dodged and slashed at him but he dodged the sword slash from the Kiba blades. Utakata stood in front of Hotaru protectively and drew his bubble pipe.
"Hotaru get behind me! He's dangerous!" He said
Sozu leapt forward and slashed at Orochimaru with his katana causing Orochimaru to bring us his own sword. As they clashed, they locked eyes and Sozu grimaced at him while Orochimaru gave a face splitting grin. Sozu pushed off Orochimaru's sword and flipped as he noticed Suigtesu on the Defensive with Utakata. Naori stood guarding Hotaru and Sai was rushing to help Suigetsu. Meanwhile Chojuro and Ameyuri tried to pull themselves together from their injuries. Orochimaru tried to attack him but Iruka interfered but his kunai was cut through as he had to jump backwards.
"What's the matter? You all need to pay attention if you want to win!" Orochimaru said.
Sozu smirked and channeled ki throughout his body and pushed him back with his strength channeling fire chakra into his sword.
"Azure Slash!" he yelled and Orochimaru channeled water chakra into his sword to cancel out the fire.
The clash pushed them both back and they flipped, landing a ways away from the group.
"I'm going to enjoy this" Sozu said as his cursed seal wrapped around his skin and went into stage two. Then his hair turned white and his Sekigan activated and he channeled his ki as his sword became covered in blue ki and blue fire chakra.
"Oh, you mean you'll enjoy using the gift I gave you?" Orochimaru said with a smirk
"Yea, but I've made it my own actually" Sozu said as a white cross formed on the bridge of his nose
Orochimaru looked with a bit of unease as he grimaced and pointed his sword towards Sozu.
His eyes widened and he disappeared as he reappeared and slashed a crescent wave of blue flames towards the snake Sannin and he dodged to the side. The snake Sannin went through one handed seals with his index and middle finger extended, with the other fingers curled into a palm.
"Earth Style: Rock FIst!" he yelled as rock armor gathered around his left fist and he leapt forward throwing a punch that Sozu dodged and kicked him away.
Sozu followed up and leapt forward to slash at the Sannin who ducked the sword swipe narrowly and planted his hand on the ground.
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!" he yelled pulsing chakra and a wall of earth went to his Sozu but he dodged and reappeared slashing at the Sannin who brought up his sword but he was pushed into a rock. Sozu stabbed his sword into the ground and pulsed a burst of ki into the ground sending it towards the Sannin. Sozu jumped off the ground as a sword tore through the ground and he flipped and floated looking down at Orochimaru.
"You've grown up boy. You were weak the last time we fought. In fact all you could do was be a nuisance kukuku hahahahaha!" he laughed.
Sozu smirked as he got ready to attack again. Suddenly Iruka tried to grab Orochimaru from underground but the snake jumped back and held out his free hand.
"Striking Shadow snakes!"
Iruka substituted with a rock and reappeared on the same side of the field as Sozu.
"Don't forget about me! Sozu, I'll cover you the best I can while you take the frontal assault."
With Giblet:
He was dodging several sword swipes from Chojuro and Ameyuri. Soon he jumped and he was almost cut by Chojuro. Then to his surprise Ameyuri channeled lightning into one of her swords and threw it at him and it began to spin.
"Hooo, interesting." He said as he landed and spun to lean back dodging the sword.
Giblet smirked and soon he dodged an incoming Sai with a tanto drawn to slash.
"You're slow." Giblet said, catching his right wrist and breaking it.
"UAAAAGHH!" Then he back fisted and busted his nose, sending him flying across the field.
"What?" Naori said in concern as she went to catch Sai as she slid across the desert forest.
Giblet then had to block a jet of water from Utakata.
"Tch, the jinchuriki huh? Finally a real challenge!" he said as he smirked and disappeared.
Utakata channeled his tailed beast's power and a cloak of purple chakra bubbled up around him. He threw a punch and Giblet caught it smirking.
"Oh yes! You'll be fun to break!"
Hotaru was hiding behind several rocks with Naori and an injured Sai.
'Master…please be safe' she thought.
Giblet saw Ameyuri's sword coming at him out of his peripheral and smirked as he jumped back and nabbed it and used it to slash at Utakata. Utakata used his bubble pipe to clash with the sword causing the wind to pulse around them.
"I'll put you away!" Utakata said as he went through hand signs and blew out a wave of water towards Giblet who dodged.
Suigetsu tried to attack from behind and Giblet weaved with his body to dodge and he slammed an elbow into his face causing his face to combust into water. He leapt towards Utakata and slammed his right foot into his stomach sending him tumbling and crashing into a divot along the rocky outcrop.
"Come now 6 tails use your full power or this won't be any fun." he said as he folded his arms.
Chojuro leapt and brought down his Hiramekarei with an ethereal hammer form brought down on him. The ground beneath his feet cracked causing his knees to buckle.
"Che! Buzz off you damned fly!" he yelled, pulsing his ki and pushing Chojuro backwards.
Heathen used Ameyuri's sword to block her other sword as she swung down.
"Give me back my sword!" she yelled causing Giblet to smirk
"Gladly!" he yelled as he headbutt her and tried to stab her but she countered and channeled lightning into the sword causing Giblet to grimace but he held onto the sword.
Next he was caught by surprise as Utakata slammed a fist into his face causing him to let go of the sword. He crashed into a nearby boulder with a thud, making a loud crash.
Utakata sprouted a second tail of dark purple chakra and he stood hunched, ready to fight. Giblet burst out of the ground with a smirk on his face.
"You'll need more than that if you want to end this!" he said as his purple aura pulsed around him.
He launched forward and kicked Utakata in his face sending him flying into a tumbling divot and he skidded to a halt.
"F-fuck! He's..strong!" Utakata said as he tried to get up.
Suigetsu grimaced as he looked at Giblet with his Nuibari in his hand. He felt fear creeping into his body as he had seen the Saiyan toss Utakata around like nothing. This made him straighten up as he held his sword ready to strike. Giblet landed and folded his arms as he walked forward slowly as if he was beckoning him to attack. He saw someone walking up next to him and he saw that it was Ameyuri.
"We need to put him down now!" Ameyuri said as she channeled lightning into both Kiba blades as she got into a fighting stance.
Suigetsu held his Nuibari ready to strike next to her.
"Use it now Ameyuri! I'll do the same!" he said as he sank into the ground. This caused Giblet to float as he looked at the scene with interest.
Ameyuri channeled lightning from the heavens into her swords and she crossed them, and a ball of lightning began to form in front of her swords. Soon Suigetsu's Nuibari shot out of the ground towards the Saiyan whop dodged and the water shinobi moved in a circle around him and then he smirked as he pulsed his ki around him to push the water shinobi away. But soon his body dispersed into water. Soon a burst of water blew from under the ground covering Giblet in surprise.
"NOW!" Suigetsu yelled as his corporeal water form held onto Giblet.
"Tch you better not die from this damn it! Art of the Kiba Blades: Thunder Bullet!" she yelled as the bullet hit Giblet and Suigetsu causing an explosion of thunder. The ground exploded and a burst of smoke, thunder and fire blew up causing a crater to appear where Giblet was. Soon a burst of air blew the smoke away and a shield was around Giblet and Suigetsu.
"You should be grateful."
"Wh-!"
Soon Giblet sent out a burst of ki to pulse away Suigetsu in his water form sending him flying. Giblet held up a hand and sent out a pulse of ki sending him flying and tumbling across the ground to a skidding halt.
"You'd be critically wounded if I didn't bring up my barrier." Giblet continued
Following this he reappeared and kicked out at Ameyuri but she substituted with a nearby dead tree branch. Giblet smirked as he dodged an incoming punch from Utakata, followed up by a spinning leg sweep. Utakata used his tails and they formed into makeshift fists catching Giblet off guard and punching him several times until they grabbed him up and yank him towards the 6 tailed jinchuriki and he shot a large bubble at him point blank range and it exploded sending him flying backwards again. Ameyuri was on the sidelines looking around with her swords ready.
Chojuro and Suigetsu were also back on their feet and the 3 stood on guard. Suddenly Giblet burst out of the rubble flying upwards and he floated with a purple aura radiating around him as he cracked his neck.
"Come now, that can't be all you've got is it?" He asked
Xxx
In the Hidden Valley Village:
Nagato stood in an office as he looked over the village when suddenly he began to see explosions near the entrance.
"Who dares to attack this village?" He thought out loud as went to grab his Boshoku cloak.
He opens the window and leapt out of it using his Deva path and then he flew towards the entrance. As he flew Konan flew alongside him.
"Konan, maneuver behind the enemy and surprise attack him. I'll be assaulting them upfront." He said
"Right, be careful!" She said
Nagato nodded as he pressed forward. Soon several chunin and genin began to leap along with them.
"Sir, we're evacuating the citizens to an emergency bunker! Do you need any assistance with the enemy?" A Chunin asked
"No, Konan and I will handle things with the enemy. You all stay on standby or continue to help evacuate the civilians." He said
"Sir!" They all chorused out and scattered along with Konan.
Nagato eventually landed on a street with destroyed village buildings and walls. He looked around the smoking and burning mess as he saw several dead citizens and shinobi. His fists clenched and his Rinnegan began to glow and he sent a pulse of gravity to push the smoke aside. What he saw caused him to grimace. Before him stood Madara Uchiha and Sosetsu Fuma. He noticed something different about them right away as he looked at them in shock.
"You two? What…what have you done? Why do you have the…Rinnegan?"
"Do you like? We figured we'd even the playing field with you!" Madara said
"Yes, and now it's time for you to die, you self proclaimed heretic of a god!" Sosetsu said as he grinned with a bite in his tone.
Nagato held up a hand towards the two of them.
"You two, Rinnegan or not, will die today!" Nagato said as got ready to fight.
Sosetsu smirked as he raised his own hand and Madara bit his thumb and ran it across a seal on his left forearm. Soon a Gunbai with black edges and he held it ready to fight.
"Bansho tenin!" Sosetsu yelled and Nagato grimaced
"Almighty Push!" Nagato yelled, sending out an opposing force.
Madara jumped back, going through one handed hand signs and blew out a large fireball. Next he channeled wind into his Gunbai and swung it towards the fire creating a giant tornado.
"Tsk!" Nagato jumped back as he had to wait 5 seconds to use his Almighty Push.
He held out his hands and the Preta path activated as he absorbed the jutsu. Abruptly he was hit by a gravity pulse from Sosetsu. To follow up with this Madara was about to attack him directly when he was suddenly stabbed in the forearm by several paper lances and he had to jump back so as not to get struck by more of them.
"Konan…you're an eyesore!" He said as he used the Bansho tenin to pull her towards him. He caught her by the neck and slammed her into the ground.
"Too easy!" He smirked when he soon heard her body started to sizzle
Soon he jumped and her paper clone exploded.
"Fine then, it seems I'll deal with you and Sosetsu will get rid of the bigger pest." Madara said as Konan materialized from a flock of shikigami birds.
"You've crossed the line this time Madara. You've split too much blood today." She said as the two stared at one another.
Xxx
Sozu clashed with Orochimaru again as he dodged a swipe from the Kusanagi. He kicked the Sannin away from him and sent an Azure Slash at him. Orochimaru jumped over the crescent wave of blue fire.
'This child is nothing to sniff at! Perhaps I may have to summon Manda.' He said as he slid across the ground feet first.
Sozu looked at him in annoyance as his body glowed blue.
"Orochimaru! I don't have time to play with you!" He said as his body disappeared into a burst of after images.
The snake Sannin stood strong as he watched his body flicker around him. His feet made no sounds as he appeared all around him. He blurred out of sight surrounding him causing weariness to creep through him. A slash tore through his right coat sleeve, then his left shoulder, then his chest, then his back, then his shoulder, then his cheek, and it continued as he began to cut him down slash by slash. Soon he reappeared and gave a severe cut down his collarbone and chest causing blood to spurt from the attack.
"Urgh!" He yelled as he was sent reeling from the pressure of the attack and he slammed into a nearby boulder.
The snake man spat out a glob of blood as he grimaced. Now he knew what it felt like to almost die by the death of a thousand cuts. Each movement felt like a chore as he grimaced. He had barely been in the battle for 5 to 10 minutes yet he felt as if he would need to unleash everything if he was to win here.
But, then he remembered he had a second opponent as he heard whistling in the wind as he saw two large Fuma shurikens. His mouth opened as and two hands pulled open the snake Sannins mouth and a new and improved Orochimaru leapt out of the man's body like a snake shedding its skin.
Iruka took out a scroll, opened it, nicked his thumb and rubbed the blood across the scroll and another Fuma shuriken popped out. He threw the shuriken and put his hands in a cross seal.
"Fuma Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Soon one shuriken turned into 10 and Orochimaru channeled wind chakra around his Kusanagi and slashed through the shuriken with ease. Soon he had to block a swipe from Sozu's sword causing him to be pushed backwards. He gave a shit eating grin and he pushed off him and landed on his feet, biting his thumb, going through hand signs and placing his hand on the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!" She said
Soon a plume of smoke burst into the clearing. A giant snake with dark blue scales, black sclera, yellow eyes with black slits for pupils and large white fangs appeared.
"Why have you summoned me, Orochimaru?"
"Oh best believe me Manda, you'll have a good time with our opponents!" he said with his sword drawn pointed at Manda causing the snake to look at Sozu and Iruka.
"Sozu! I have a plan to sink the snake. Can you hold off the Orochimaru?" Iruka asked
Sozu nodded and Iruka put his hands in the boar seal as he sank into the ground. The Sekigan activated as veins pulsed along the sides of his face. He leapt forward and Manda lunged out towards him, mouth open to eat him. He dodged and stabbed into Manda's scales but found a hard time slicing through the scales.
"Tch, fuck it!" He yelled and kicked off the snake and flipped using an Azure Slash that Orochimaru responded to in kind with a barrage of Vacuum Sphere Crescent Waves.
Sozu flew around more Vacuum Sphere waves and he floated above the snake. Manda spat out a wave of poison causing Sozu to maneuver away from the path of the attack. Orochimaru grimaced as he stood atop Manda at Sozu. The Kohinata leapt forward and maneuvered past Manda as he twisted and kicked at Orochimaru who blocked with his left forearm.
"Humph, you fool!" Orochimaru said as he tried to grab and stab him. But he pulsed back and flipped landing on the ground with his feet skidding to a halt.
"What's the matter boy-" he was cut off as the earth beneath Manda collapsed.
Sozu smirked as he stabbed his sword into the ground and went through hand signs ending in the boar sign, then putting his hand on the ground.
"Earth Style: Piercing Stalagmites!" He called out a hoard of stalagmites pierced through Manda's scales holding him in place and causing him to bleed out.
The Sannin grimaced as he jumped off his snake as it was unsummoned.
"You're fucking annoying me now you brat!" He said as he landed and then he lunged toward Sozu with his Kusanagi drawn.
He grit his teeth in frustration as he wanted to slice at him. One nick from the blade would be poisonous enough to incapacitate him. Sozu dodged as he also used his own sword to block and parry his attacks. Sozu smirked as he jumped back and up high. Orochimaru narrowly dodged a ball of fire sent at him from Iruka.
"You're getting on my fucking nerves!" Orochimaru yelled as he went through hand signs ending on the snake seal.
"Lightning release: Inazuma no Hebi" (Lightning Snake)
Shooting out a snake made of lightning at Iruka, causing him to roll out of the way.
Sozu went through hand signs ending on a flat hand with all fingers extended except the index finger, which is put under the thumb.
"Water Style: pressure cutter!" He thought as he spat out a thin line of water at the snake Sannin who dodged flipping backwards. Subsequently, he blocked a barrage of kunai from Iruka. His body flickered in front of Iruka and slashed at the Jonin who took out another kunai to clash with the Kusanagi. Then he palmed another Kunai to stab at the Sannin caught his wrist. Sozu reappeared and kicked him in his face, sending him tumbling into a heap as he slammed through a boulder.
Sozu grimaced as he decided to end the battle as his body glowed a dark blue chakra. The air around Orochimaru hissed with the whistling of chakra slashes. He got another slash across his face, then his left shoulder, then his right arm was cut off with the Kusanagi in hand, he was stabbed in his left leg then he received another stab in his stomach. The onslaught continued until he was a mangled mess. Sozu landed, whipping the blood off his katana sheathing it. A large amount of blood spurted out from the Sannin as he coughed and spat blood.
"Ugh! Hahaha…haha! Agh!" He coughed and hacked up blood and fell unconscious. Sozu grimaced as he watched the body turn into mud as he looked in the distance realizing the snake escaped. Iruka walked up next to him as he looked at the mud clone.
"Looks like you made him retreat. At least that's one less think to-"
Iruka was cut off when they felt a spike in chakra and turned to see Utakata in his four tails form. Utakata was in his four tailed form going tooth and nail with Giblet. The two leapt toward each other and clashed fists, sending out a shock wave of pressure cracking the ground and uprooting what little wildlife was actually in the area, along several pieces of debris. Iruka dropped to one knee as he began to feel chakra exhaustion. Sozu looked at him in understanding then back to the battle gritting his teeth.
"Tch, Sensei, stay back! I'll handle this!" Sozu said as he leapt into action.
Giblet jumped back from Utakata landing back in his fighting stance. Subsequently he leapt to the left and avoided a slash from Sozu who jumped over to a side of his own. The one armed shinobi sighed as he spoke up.
"So…Utakata, are you still conscious or am I gonna have to fight you both?" He asked
The jinchuriki was silent as he looked at them both. Sozu used his ki to reach out to the tailed beast.
Utakata's Mindscape:
A large plain with blue water to stand on and a white sky to look at caught him by surprise. He looked to see Utakata and an enormous white with a light blueish tint bipedal slug with stubby arms, feet and six long tails. It has two prominent optical tentacles (eyes) and hole-like openings as a mouth. Its entire body is covered in a thick, slimy substance.
"And who are you? Human?" The giant slug asked
"I am Sozu Kohinata. Student of the Supreme Kai and designated bridge between the mortals and the Gods." He said
"Humph, so you're a student of that man…the one who plants the seeds of universes…" the 6 tails said
"Saiken, what does he mean by that? Like actually Gods?" Utakata asked
"Yes. I felt his power when you first met him. He is indeed a strong shinobi. If he is truly a student of that man, then he is one that can be trusted. But, the Saiyan you two are facing has an incredibly dark power. If you are to defeat him, then you must hit him with everything you've got." Saiken said
"Yeah, the depth of his power is crazy… it's…demonic actually… Can we seal it?" Sozu asked
"No, you must defeat him. Those infected by the energy from the demon realm must be beaten and the energy will be cleansed from them. For the energy feeds off their will to fight along with their belief in its power." Saiken said
"If anything it seems like you're saying that we won't be able to defeat him." Sozu said, running a hand through his hair.
"You must rally your allies as best you can. If not and I am removed from Utakata then-" He said
"He'll die. And I know what they plan to do with you from what the Supreme Kai has told me. He and a few others plan on reviving the 10 tails." Sozu said, causing Saiken to scoff.
"Ten tails?" Utakata asked
"A malevolent creature made up of all 9 tailed beasts! The Sage of 6 Paths my father broke it down to the 9 tailed beasts! The fools! They know not what they call upon! Our time is short! Do what you must!" Saiken said
Sozu nodded and soon they faded from the mindscape and back to reality. Back on the field, Sozu stood with his sword drawn and the Utakata skipped unleashing the 5th tail and his body became wrapped in a lavender purple dome. Sozu smirked and Giblet got a manic grin in his eyes as he had been waiting for this. Sozu took a deep breath himself as he began to prepare his body for the use of the Kaioken. Soon the dome cracked open and lavender light pierced through and an explosion of chakra cracked the ground and steam burst through the ground. As the overwhelming force died down along with the light, his appearance was revealed. His appearance was revealed as he had a lavender aura all around him. His entire body was lavender, his eyes were teal, he wore a long haori with dark purple inside, he had 3 magatama on the side of each collar, too white circles with black inside along with 6 magatama on the back of his haori and he had 2 black circles on the front of his jacket.
"Oh, this is what you were hiding from me?" Giblet said as his black cloak with red clouds billowed from the shockwave's pressure. Next, Sozu drew his sword as the power in his body released itself.
"KAIOKEN!" he yelled as red aura poured around him and his aura unleashed towards the sky cracking the ground. This caused the onlookers from Mist and the Leaf to look in awe.
"The pressure from their ki levels is ridiculous!" Chojuro said as he covered his face from the wind pressure, dirt and debris.
Team 4 was in shock, even Sai, who had woken up, was in awe at the power Sozu was outputting.
"Really now? You're both giving me the chills!" Giblet said with glee in his voice.
Sozu and Utakata had no more to say. No witty comebacks, declarations of victory, promises of retribution were needed. The conversation with Saiken was all they needed to have. They looked at one another and nodded as they disappeared and the game was on. Utakata pushed forward with so much force that his footprints left a divot in the ground beneath him. Utakata threw a heavy right jab at the Saiyan and brought up his right forearm to take the brunt of the force as the wind pulsed behind him from it.
Next Sozu came up from behind to throw a heavy left roundhouse kick that Giblet brought his left arm to block and the force from the attack made his buckle. Sozu spun with his sword to slash at Giblet who chose to jumbo back as a lock of hair was cut from his head. He continued to jump back, causing Sozu to follow him as Utakata followed his lead. The Saiyan grimaced as he shot a blue ki blast towards Sozu who cut the orb in half, leaping forward. He faked a slash and sent out a spartan kick towards Giblet. The Saiyan laughed as he caught his leg but, soon he grimaced as Utakata smashed a fist into his face quickly, sending him flying across the field.
"IS THAT ALL?!" Giblet yelled as he regained his balance mid flight and he flew upwards away from his opponents.
Sozu leapt forward to slash at Giblet who caught the blade with both hands. Sozu smirked as he channeled fire through his blade and Giblet had to move the fire extending from the blade as it narrowly grazed his right chestplate. Utakata leapt past him and punched Giblet in his stomach causing him to grimace and lose his breath. He pushed more chakra into his attack, sending out a pulse of chakra and twisting his fist sending him flying through several boulders.
Sozu stabbed his sword into the ground and went through one-handed seals ending in a flat hand with all fingers extended.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bomb!" he yelled as he blue a flaming giant dragon's head towards his opponent. The impact was followed by a huge explosion that sent out a shockwave but they stood strong. As the fire died down, there was only smoke and dust around where Giblet was hit
"Do you think that did anything?" Utakata asked
"Not even close." Sozu said as he pulled his sword channeling water chakra into it sharpening it to a razor's edge.
Soon, there was a feeling of unease that washed over them. An explosion of blue aura burst out of the crater as Giblet rose from the ground with a few scars and burns along his body. His akatsuki cloak was in tatters as his blue armored chest plate was showing along with his black short and blue combat boots. Sozu was already in his curse mark level 2 stage. He smirked as he finally got to test his full power as he locked his eyes on the akatsuki Saiyan.
"When I move in, follow my lead!" Sozu said causing Utakata to nod
"KAIOKEN TIMES 2!" Sozu called out and he disappeared into a blur and the 6 tailed Jinchuriki followed behind
Giblet dodged a swipe from the blade and he grabbed a punch from Utakata and threw a punch back that the jinchuriki caught as well. Giblet smirked as he headbutted Utakata and sent him flying. Sozu leapt back in without hesitation and Giblet backflipped over him and drop kicked him in his back sending him flying. Sozu grimaced as he pulsed out his ki stopping his flying momentum and then he turned around but his opponent was gone and he only saw Utakata standing up.
"Where'd he-"
"RIGHT HERE!" Giblet yelled
He was cut off as Giblet appeared inches from him burying his fist into his stomach causing him to spit blood. He gripped Sozu by his hair and pulled him up to eye level.
"Is that all you have?" he asked
He heard Utakata leap towards him and swung Sozu by his hair into the ex Mist Shinobi and shot a ki blast into his stomach sending them both flying through several boulders and rocks. For good measure he held out his right hand and sent out a pulse of ki hitting him in his stomach sending both of them flying even further. Then he spat some blood and folded his arms as he waited for them to return.
The team of Legendary Mist Swordsmen and the remainder of Team 4 looking in shock.
"W-what the hell? Did you see him get back up right after getting his ass beat and deal it back out? We need to get in there and-"
"And do what?" Chojuro said, cutting off Suigetsu with an angry tone.
"He's right. All we can do is sit tight. We'd only be getting in the way" Iruka said with his fists clenched.
Sozu stood up as he picked up his sword and gripped it tight. Utakata did the same as his purple aura billowed around him.
"Heh, he's getting the best of us already I see…" Sozu said
"Yea, but I've got plenty of chakra left. What about you?" Utakata asked
"Well, if I go past Kaioken times 2, then I'll be done before we can make a decisive strike" Sozu said
"Well, can you keep him busy by yourself for 3 minutes?" Utakata asked
"Yeah, why? Lemme guess, you got something to obliterate him?"
"Something like that. Just keep him busy for 3 minutes and lead him in front of me." Utakata continued.
Sozu nodded as he took a deep breath and closed his eyes gathering his chakra.
'This might destroy my body but…fuck it. I can use my ki to heal me as it returns.' he thought.
"Ok, I got it. 3 minutes to go." he said and then his eyes opened.
His power began to skyrocket as his vermillion red aura pulsed from him in waves as pressure irradiated from him and ran down his sword. He was betting everything on this attack from Utakata to stop Giblet in his rampage.
"KAIOKEN TIMES 3!" he yelled
And he spun, twisting his body to slash. The akatsuki member leaned back causing Sozu to smirk and twist to trip him off his feet. Next he spun to slash at him. Giblet answered this by flying backwards. He followed up cupping his hands in front of him shooting a ki blast that Sozu had to slash through. Giblet smirked as he shot a kiai at him, staggering him and he leapt forward to fake him out with a haymaker only to switch up his rhythm and land a body shot sending him skidding as he refused to fall.
"Urgh!" He grimaced in paint as he spun and sent out a slash of blue Ki towards his opponent.
The Saiyan dodged and Sozu kept spinning, sending out several waves of crescent Ki blasts at his opponent. Giblet countered by shooting Ki blasts back and Sozu matched him.
Utakata had his hands out and an ethereal form of Saiken's head materialized and a concentration of positive black and negative white chakra balls formed in his hands. He began to condense them into one small black chakra sphere. Power pulsed around him as it grew smaller and he clasped his hands around it. Next he opened his hands and the black ki sphere began to slowly grow.
Giblet dodged another ki slash and leapt backwards with a grin on his face. His eyes widened as Sozu stopped spin and threw his sword at him.
"YOU IDIOT!" He yelled as he caught the blade only for Sozu to disappear and reappear behind him kneeing him in his back. Then he went in to bring down an elbow strike.
Giblet spun around to slash at him with his own sword. He landed a few feet away as he dodged and then Giblet threw the sword back at his opponent. Sozu caught it and stabbed it into the ground. Soon he put two fingers on his forehead and teleported behind Giblet surprising him and then he kicked him in his back. Then he looked at Utakata as he held a black sphere between his palms.
"Tailed Beast Ball!" He yelled, shooting the attack towards him.
Giblet grimaced as he tried to jump but Sozu beat him to the punch and jumped up to smash a foot into the top of his head avoiding the technique.
"Grrr!" He grimaced out as he was brought to knee and foot. He put out both hands hastily to guard against the tailed beast ball as it threatened to explode right in front of him.
"F-FUCK YOU!" He yelled as pulsed out a yellow wave of Ki.
Sozu flipped and stabbed his sword into the ground and shot a blue ki blast towards the tailed beast ball in order to help obliterate their foe.
"AZURE BULLET!" He yelled.
Soon the attack pushed forward and exploded at a point blank range causing a large crater and huge shockwave that caused the other shinobi to hide behind several rocks.
"Urgh! To think he was sitting on this much power!" Sai thought out loud as he watched the wooden splint that Naori made for his broken right forearm.
Naori looked at the backs of the two shinobi with amazement in her eyes. The shockwaves from the explosion kicked up dust and wind. Eventually, everything died down just to dust and wind. The calm after the explosion was eerie. A long crater was left after the blast radius. Utakata stood breathing heavily as he looked for a sign of their opponent. Sozu's cursed seal retracted and his Kaioken died down as he balanced himself on his sword.
"D-did that…do it?" Utakata asked, breathing heavily.
There was a moment of silence as Sozu looked in the direction of Giblet.
"No. He's still alive. He hasn't even been taking us seriously at all." Sozu said.
His aura burst around him as he forced himself to stand as he looked in the direction of their akatsuki opponent. Suddenly there was a feeling of malevolence that exploded as a purple aura surrounded the end of the crater. Giblet emerged from the bluff with a serious look on his face. His blue armor was torn around his right shoulder and breast plate. From the looks of it, his right arm took the brunt of the attack with a large amount of burns and injuries on his right shoulder but it didn't seem to bother him. Giblets raced his arms and got into a horse stance as his aura shifted and his pupils became purple with a black dot in the middle. His hair began to rise as well as veins were swelling all over his body.
"HEAR ME WELL! I WILL BE TAKING THE JINCHURIKI AND BEATING THE HELL OUT OF YOU BOTH!" He yelled.
His aura caused the ground to crack as his teeth grit. He had been beaten so easily and his anger was about to be unleashed to bring them to their moment of reckoning.
"HAAAAAAAAAUUUGH!" He yelled as his ki rose to the skyline and cracked the ground. He unleashed his Ikari form as his aura bathed his body.
Sozu pushed himself to channel the remainder of his strength and then he smirked as he got an idea.
"I have an idea. I'll need you to hold him off for me. I'll have the others join in to help you. Trust me!" He said
Utakata nodded as he channeled more of Saiken's strength. Sozu teleported to the Mist and Leaf teams.
"Hey, you guys! I have an attack that'll get rid of him for good. Help out Utakata in the meantime. It shouldn't take me longer than 10 minutes to get the power for this technique together." He called out.
'The Spirit Bomb should be enough to get rid of him.' He said as he stabbed his sword into the ground and raised his hand to the sky gathering Ki into a white Ki sphere in the palm of his hand.
Giblet leapt forward and Utakata caught a punch from him. He kneed the 6 tails jinchuriki in the stomach causing him to cough up blood. He head-butted him and kicked him away.
Ameyuri tried to slash at him but then he channeled Ki into his right hand creating a blade of it. He defended against her sword and then he kicked her away from him and then he tried to move in and stab through her. Suigetsu appeared in front of her using his sword to block an attack. Chojuro's body flickered behind him with the Hiramekari in its Hammer form, smashing it into him and sending him crashing into a boulder far away.
"Don't let up!" Iruka yelled, going through hand signs ending on the tiger seal blowing a large gust of fire towards him.
Naori followed up by going through hand signs ending in the tiger seal.
"Fire style: Fireball Jutsu!" She yelled, combining her fireball with her squad leaders.
'Giblet! We're waiting on you! Stop monkeying around!' Madara said through their mental connection
'What the hell are you complaining about? You both have a Rinnegan! Have fun and fight!'
'Need I remind you that we are on schedule! Besides that! I can sense the other members of Boshoku closing in on us!'
'Tch, fine! Give me a few seconds!'
As the flames tried to burn the Saiyan to cinders his aura exploded dispelling the fire techniques sent towards him. The Saiyan floated with murder in his eyes. He launched forward and Utakata met him with gusto. Giblet dodged several strikes from the jinchuriki. He smirked as he held a hand behind him as his five fingers began to glow dark red. After dodging a right hook from his opponent he slammed his hand into the jinchuriki's stomach.
"Uzumaki Secret Sealing Technique: Heavenly 5 Point Seal!" He yelled, twisting Utakata's seal shut and locking away his connection to Saiken.
"Guhaugh!" Utakata yelled out as he spat and hunched over and lost consciousness.
"MASTER!" Hotaru yelled as she stood from her hiding place. She started to run forward but then, Giblet glared at her with killing intent, leaving her stuck in her place.
'D-Dammit! How could…I not see this coming…" he said as he hung over his opponent's hand in a limp form.
"Crap! I've barely even started gathering natural energy!" He said as he tried to gather Ki from nature.
"No! Get him!" Suigetsu yelled racing towards the saiyan. He used a kiai to push Suigetsu and Ameyuri away. Next he kicked Iruka away as he lunged towards him. Naori had to jump to catch Iruka and Chojuro used his sword to block a ki blast.
He gripped Utakata by his collar and floated into the sky. Sozu abandoned his spirit bomb and gripped his sword and channeled the remainder of Ki he gathered into it. He knew this was his last stand and he grimaced as he realized it was crunch time and his body ached. King Kai told him never to go above level 2 but, desperate times called for desperate measures.
"KAIOKEN TIMES 5!" He called out as his body radiated in power. His body flickered towards Giblet and he flew towards him with a rush of power. He caught Giblet by surprise appearing behind him. He spun to stab Giblet and the Saiyan smirked as he kicked his foot away. Then he kicked at Sozu who dodged and then he stabbed forward. Giblet smirked as he spoke up.
"So you were holding out on me, were you?" He asked as he channeled Ki around his hand and caught the blade.
Sozu channeled the nature Ki through his blade cutting into the Saiyan's palm. Giblet smirked as he channeled his own Ki into the blade in retaliation and Sozu realized what was about to happen as he let go of the blade and it exploded from the conducting of so much Ki.
"Crap…ugh!" He called out as his aura faded. He used the last of his power to teleport away from the explosion and he was left with the pain of sore muscles and he dropped to a knee and breathed out heavily.
Giblet laughed at them as he celebrated his victory.
"You know, you all really entertained me today! So I'll let you leave with your lives today! Rejoice, especially you, Sozu Kohinata, the man who escaped death and returned with only a few flesh wounds! For you and a few others are only alive due to my grace! Lick your wounds and go train, because I'll be expecting you and the other descendants of the Otsutsuki to give me a good show when I stand before you again!" He said and then he flew off with Utakata.
'The deed is done Madara!'
'Good, now we'll finish up here!'
Hotaru dropped to her knees in tears as she began to cry at the loss of her teacher. The rest of them were in shock as they realized they had been outdone and utterly defeated. Naori went to comfort her as her cries were silent.
Sozu grimaced as he punched the ground. He continued to punch the ground until his fist drew blood. He grimaced as his body began to spasm from the aftereffects of the Kaioken. He drifted off as his body fell forward and his vision faded to black.
In Sozu's temporary mindscape:
He sat in a void of white with nothing in sight. He looked down at his left hand and then his eyes widened as he noticed the ground.
"A yin and yang symbol huh? Is this what death looks like?" He thought out loud.
"Not at all child. But it is where those who are in between realms go." A voice said, causing him to look around and activate his Sekigan.
Sozu looked to see an old man. His appearance was very frail, his ribcage was slightly visible, his brows were prominent, and he had deep wrinkles in his face and his once white hair had turned gray. He wore a white kimono with a black wide collar ceremonial kimono, with a light green sash tied over his right shoulder. The most important part was that his eyes were both Byakugan. He realized who he was right away and bowed to waist length towards the man.
"Young one, please, do not bow. Raise your head so that we may speak." He said with a smile at the respect he was shown.
"Yes, Lord Hamura."
The man waved his hands in showing that the Lord was not necessary.
"No need for the 'Lord'. I was given a chance to speak with one of my descendants and my chakra can never truly vanish and so here we are. There is a name for this place you know. It's called Limbo. A place between the realm for those whose presence cannot move on or refuse to move on." He said
"Incredible. Why didn't supreme Kai tell me about this?" Sozu asked
"Shin doesn't know about this place. Only the Omni King and the angels know of it." Hamura replied, shocking Sozu.
"Not even the Gods of Destruction know of it?" Sozu asked in interest
"No, there are not many who reside here. And those from the living who brush with death can only come here through a connection to an ancestor. Now, I see you're privy to some knowledge of the Gods and the Universe. That's a splendid feat in itself." He said, causing Sozu to blush.
He felt as if he were talking to his grandfather. It wasn't standoffish and he felt at peace.
"Sir, it's… an honor to meet you. But… does this mean I…does this mean… I'm going to die?" He asked with some form of tension in his voice.
"If that is what you wish. But you are young with so much life left. I personally believe it would be a waste. I am… also privy to the evils that lurk in the world of the living due to the malice of the energy output into the environment."
This reminded Sozu of what he was doing beforehand. His left fist tightened as he got a frustrated frown on his face.
"Sir…I…I failed you…they're capturing the tailed beasts and… they just took Saiken! I'm… ashamed to say this to you…I am…not worthy of your time… I'm merely half blood anyways…"Sozu quipped as he felt ashamed to fail his ancestors.
Hamura walked up to him but Sozu could not look at him. He felt as if he was a waste. He trained so hard… but his efforts were for naught. But as his head was down, he felt a hand ruffle his hair gently.
"Raise your head young man." Hamura said in a gentle yet firm tone.
Sekigan met Byakugan as they locked eyes. Hamura put his right index finger on his forehead.
"You are not a waste. You are one of my many great, great, great, grandchildren. My dear friend Kaioshin saw the greatness in you and so do I. Your eyes show me a young man who has gone through much strife but they also show me the eyes of a great man in the making. Your heart is in the right place and that is what matters the most. If your attitude and actions are right, then the rest doesn't matter." He said with a genuine smile.
Sozu began to shed tears as he tried not to look away. Hamura brought him in for a hug and Sozu didn't fight it. No, instead, embraced him with all he had.
"Th-thank you… grandfather."
They hugged for a few more moments and then they eventually broke the embrace.
"My son. Your journey isn't finished. You have much to give. Do not underestimate yourself and do not give up!"
"But, how can I go back? Even if I did, my strength wouldn't be enough."
Hamura held up his hand and Sozu was quiet.
"Close your eyes." Hamura said and Sozu did so.
"I will give you the strength you require to add to your own. But, you must master it. Use this power to protect. Your comrades and family need you more than ever. The world needs you, my child. Now go! Show them the power of the Reincarnation Eye. Show them the power of the Tenseigan!" He said as Sozu's eyes changed from red to blue, then they pulsed and he grimaced in pain but he stayed still. Soon his body began to fade from the world. Hamura took his hand away as he did and Sozu opened his eyes. He noticed he was becoming ethereal and he reached out to hug Hamura one more time.
"Grandfather…thank you…I…I needed those words." he said as he buried his chin in his shoulder.
"You're welcome…now…fight…fight harder than you ever have! Fight for your world! Fight for your family! Fight for yourself! Your past doesn't matter! Fight for the present and the future! Don't let the sacrifice of those who came before you be in vain! Don't let your efforts go in vain! Protect what is precious to you! I believe in you! And I leave the fate of my brother's children to you and his descendants!" He said ending with a confident smile.
Outside world:
10 minutes had passed and Iruka had sat Sozu against a boulder as he had patched up his bruises and lumps and he and the Mist team were wondering what to do next. As they were going over how to salvage the situation, they heard an explosion from the Hidden Valley Village. Simultaneously, Sozu's body began to glow blue and his cursed seal began to spin on his forearm until it was rapid. Everyone turned to look at him and they were worried. Then suddenly it changed colors and turned into a cyan color and began to slowly disappear. Abruptly, his arm began to elongate and slowly they saw his right arm grow back to life, like something straight out of a movie. Everyone's mouths were open as his body began to heal.
"Did his arm just grow back?" Suigetsu asked in a freaked out tone.
Naori activated her Sharingan to see what was going on.
"It…looks as if his cursed seal was absorbed by his body and used as a conduit to regrow his right arm." Naori said in amazement
"How is that possible?" Hotaru asked,
"No clue…but I'm sure he'll be happy to have it back.
Sozu's eyes opened and he slowly stood up as he looked at both hands. He was shocked to see his right arm and hand again after all this time. He smirked as he looked on his left arm to search for the cursed seal but it wasn't to be found. He felt as if he already had it activated but his body was normal.
'Looks like the power that gramps gave me absorbed the cursed seal.' He thought
"Heh, incredible. This power! It's Unreal!" He thought loud
"What're you-"
Iruka was interrupted as Sozu looked in the direction of the Hidden Valley Village.
"Sensei, I'll be right back! I can't sense Giblet anymore but I can sense the feeling of the powers in the Hidden Valley Village. I plan to take care of it." He said as began to walk forward and grab the hilt of his broken sword and then he put it in his ninja tool pouch. He looked in the direction Giblet went but he could barely get a feel for his chakra.
'He's…long gone. Dammit
"Wait! Sozu we need to-"
Iruka was cut off as Sozu went through hand signs. Ram, Tiger, Boar, Tiger. His body glowed with a cyan outline, then his aura washed over him and his body was wrapped in the cyan aura. He gains a cyan-coloured chakra shroud with six magatama markings on his collar, dark markings over his eyebrows and lower eyelids, and a single horn shaped extending from his forehead. The shroud constantly radiates flickering flames of chakra, and his clothing and hair continuously billow upwards as if caught in a strong breeze.
"What the hell is going on? Where did this power come from?" Suigetsu asked
But no one could answer him. Sozu floats upwards as he hears another explosion from the Village nearby and then he blasts off leaving his team and the Mist team to follow him.
"Dammit! Team 4 we have to go after him!"
"We're right behind you! Chojuro, Ameyuri, we're not letting Boshoku's home turf be destroyed by the akatsuki!" Suigetsu said and they all packed up and took off towards the Hidden Valley Village.