Doshun

Now that he was closer, Doshun could see that Chiyome's skin was now made up of scales like a reptile, though the peach pigmentation hadn't been altered.

"Well, well," Chiyome said. "If it isn't my old pal, Doshun. Decided to join me after all?"

"Um, no, I haven't," Doshun said.

"Oh Doshun, you're too easy. It takes the fun away."

"Are you part of the Cult of Corruption?"

"Cult is such a negative way of putting it. But I've found a new religion, yes."

"What happened to all your talk about doing those experiments for the good of the village? How could you turn your sword against your own village?"

Chiyome cackled. "There are bigger things at stake here than a single village. Avatar Maguro is a visionary who is using the Corruption to evolve this entire planet."

"And the village has to be destroyed for that?"

"Well, no. You could surrender. You could be transformed, as I have been."

"And look like a lizard? I don't suppose there is a benefit?" Doshun asked.

"Actually there are a lot of benefits, but in short, my corrupted skin affords me a powerful protection without consuming any Chakra. Im calling it 'Dragon Skin.'"

"Oh, well. I hope it's not too powerful of a protection."

"It is for you. Give up, Doshun. It's what's best for the village."

"I'm tired of hearing you talk about what's 'for the greater good,' or 'best for the village.' They let you off too easy. They let both of us off too easy. What's best for the village and the world… is for you to die!"

Doshun drew a vial with an orange substance then chugged it. He felt heat rising from his stomach. This one was never pleasant. It always caused some nausea.

He opened his mouth and breathed out a stream of fire on Chiyome.

He could make out the outline of Chiyome in the flames. It was definitely a hit. After a few moments, Chiyome'a silhouette began walking forward. Then running.

Doshun closed his mouth just in time to see Chiyome reaching for his throat. He leapt backwards out of the way.

"I guess those scales are quite protective afterall," Doshun said. Chiyome was completely unharmed.

"Nice try. But, yes, I'm afraid you're just completely outclassed. Though… I didn't think you could use the fire element."

Doshun smiled excitedly. He loved explaining his creations, even in these kind if situations. "I can't normally, but this elemental potion allows anyone who drinks it to breathe fire. Of course, it had to be first infused with the chakra of someone with the fire element. That's right Chiyome. Thanks to these potions, I am capable of using every element."

The medical techniques of Kumogakure were something he largely developed himself. Rather than directly injecting chakra into the patient, chakra could be used to enhance chemicals. Of course, this could also be used for applications beyond healing.

Chiyome clicked her tongue a few times. "Is that all? I've tested these scales and I was able to withstand attacks from all five elements."

"Only the five?"

There was a look in her eyes, only for a moment, though Doshun wasn't sure what it meant.

"You remember the technique we worked on together, Doshun? We created such a powerful shinobi by sealing away that storm. Well, mainly it was your technique, but I am the one who's perfected it. Come out, child."

He'd sensed shinobi hiding, but there were too many to keep track of, especially now that the Cloud ninjas were fighting Sand ninjas all over the valley. So he hadn't paid any particular notice to the vibrations on the ground until the child burst from it. She had lifeless eyes and ragged clothing and stood like the perfect soldier.

"You settled for a storm, but there are forces of Nature more powerful still. I just had to hunt down someone capable of controlling this particular element."

"Child, don't let her use you'" Doshun said.

"It's useless," Chiyome said. "I didn't make the same mistake as last time. This one is not even a person. She's merely my weapon and she knows it." She looked towards the child. "Kill him."

The seal became visible as a result of the glow on the child's chest. She made some hand signs.

And then the Earth opened beneath Doshun.

Doshun managed to avoid falling into the fissure, but was knocked off his feet.

"What the hell did you do, Chiyome!"

"Instead of a storm, this one has a volcano sealed within her."

As Doshun got to his feet, he beheld a wall of lava rising from the fissure. Something like that could destroy the entire village.

The wave of lava crashed down. Doshun didn't have much time. He chugged another potion, a blue misty one this time and made some hand signs. From his chest, his own seal glowed as he unleashed a wind, much like Arashinari's, but chillingly cold. The freezing winds danced across the entire lava wall.

Where the wave of Magma was, now there was a wall of stone. A wall of stone that was already cracking as chunks fell from it.

Doshun ran up the wall and leapt down to where Chiyome was still staring at the wall dumbfounded.

"I also have evolved my technique. But unlike you, I didn't use another child as a test subject."

"I see. You sealed a blizzard within yourself and used onebofnyour potions to temporarily gain the Ice Release."

Doshun began making hand signs once more, as did the child.

Then he saw something smash through a section of wall, a massive tentacle, red like blood. He was no sensory ninja, but he could feel the massive chakra. It was like a Bijuu but… it was covered in eyes. It was all wrong, some concoction of the Corruption.

But he had his hands full already. Hopefully someone else could take care of it.

The child completed her hand signs and opened her mouth. But nothing came out. Then he saw some dust blowing towards him. A wind technique.

He completed his own hand signs and sent a massive blast of cold air at the attack before it reached him. His attack seemed to completely overpower the child as she and Chiyome were blown back.

Then, further back, Doshun watched in horror as shinobi from both sides began dropping to the ground. There was no sign that anything was wrong. They surely were dead before they even knew they were in danger. Dead because he had redirected the child's technique.

Yes, that was when realized what the technique the child had used was. It was volcanic gas, invisible and instantly deadly if inhaled. But he would habe to chastise himself later. He tried to keep his attention on the battle.

Ice was beginning to form over Chiyome and the child.

But then steam formed over the child and she rose to her feet. She began making hand-signs.

"Protect me, you twerp. That's your top priority."

The child stopped whatever technique she was about to use and hurried over to Chiyome, whose lower body was already encased in ice.

She leaned over Chiyome and placed a hand on her and the Ice around her began to melt.

She was powerful, but she was inexperienced. She didn't notice what Doshun had done. He'd used his storm winds to carry over a large rock that had fallen from the wall. It had been meant for Chiyome, but now the child was in the way.

Chiyome, now unfrozen, pulled herself out from under the child and scurried to her feet. The child on the other hand was struck by rock, buried underneath it. He hoped he hadn't killed her. He didn't want killing a child on his conscience even if she was an enemy.

He couldn't see Chiyome on the other side of the boulder. Doshun crept around the rock, his kunai in hand. And Chiyome was no where in sight. Of course she'd abandon a dying child.

Doshun made some hand signs. A simple earth release technique to move the Boulder aside.

Fortunately, the girl was still breathing. But she was in critical condition: bleeding, unconscious, shattered bones.

Doshun propped her head up and fed her a red potion. The bleeding immediately stopped. It would also speed up her natural healing. Still, he needed to get her somewhere safe… and secure.

He used another Doton technique to encase her hands in stone. Hopefully she wouldn't be too much trouble without her hands.

He lifted her and began making his way back towards the village. He was able to get a better view of the corruption monster as well.

It had eight tentacles, and a body covered entirely in eyes. As if that weren't disturbing enough, none of the eyes were the same. There was a shark eye, a slitted snake eye, and more human-looking eyes.

And yet it resembled a creature Doshun had only seen pictures of. In fact, with that bull head, the resemblance was too close. And this tangibly strong chakra signature could only come from a Bijuu. Had the eight tails been warped by the Corruption?

He considered handing the child to someone else. He was one of the few shinobi on the village who had attacks on a scale that would be effective against a Bijuu.

But he was also the best medical ninja in the village. He would get her to the hospital a treat her injuries properly, then hurry back to the battlefield.

Or he thought he would, but that's when the nausea from the potion hit him and he found himself doubled over, struggling not to drop the child as he vomited.