"Talking"
"SHOUTING/SCREAMING/YELLING"
'Thoughts'
"Jutsu"
"Tailed Beast Talking"
'Tailed Beast Thinking'
Sound Effects
Date Time
Location
[Flashback]
]
Chapter 7
]
Academy
While listening to Mizuki's boring lecture, S.C Naruto felt his chakra supply switch from the original to Kurama, 'Something happened to Boss!' He realized before glancing at S.C Misa who seemed to have come to the same conclusion.
'What do we do?'
'We can't leave or the originals will be in trouble!'
'But they may already be in trouble, the switch proves it!'
'Then what can us two shadows clones do? We don't even know where they are!'
'… You're right but we can't-'
The classroom door opening interrupted their conversation and the lecture as the class as a whole turned towards the individual who had just stepped in.
"Mizuki-sensei." Hinata acknowledged.
"Ah Hinata," Said sensei lowered his notes, "Are you feeling better?" he asked.
The Hyuga gave a nod, "I'm in good shape."
"Then head over to your seat, you haven't missed much yet."
"Hai."
As the Chunin resumed class, Hinata walked over to her seat and sat down before taking a look towards the last row of their seating arrangement where she spotted Naruto and Misa seated side by side while exchanging subtle glances.
'Don't they make a great couple?'
A strange emotion blossomed from the discovery but was immediately stamped down as she focused her attention on the lecture.
]
White Void
BADUM!
BADUM!
'She's almost done-'
"N..r..to."
The boy's eyes widened, 'Kurama-'
BOOM!
The cocoon burst open and Naruto took a step back as he gazed upon Ido who was now donned in a black combat dress along with grey armor and an ominous looking two handed sword, "Are you sure we can't talk this out?" He tried.
His reply was the Black Knight raising the blade over her head before vanishing in a blur.
"Heaven's Strike!"
Naruto jumped to the side narrowly avoiding the downward slash which split the floor but not the shockwave as it blew him off his feet with the demon racing after.
"Reverse Hurricane!" Landing on his hands, the Uzumaki spun in place lashing out his legs in a cartwheel which forced Ido to a halt as she watched him in caution. Seeing that he had bought himself some time and space, Naruto flipped into a combat stance and drew a pair of kunai from the holster on his thigh before dual wielding them, "Okay."
The demon raised a brow at his choice of weapon, "If you think a pair of knives can match my sword then I take back my compliments on your intelligence."
The redhead gave a sheepish smile, "It's not like I have a choice, they just happen to be the only weapon on my person." He then thought, 'and there are only five of them.'
"Hmm," Gripping the hilt with both hands, Ido once again raised the blade overhead and vanished from sight.
Clang!
Naruto blocked the strike with his crossed knives but felt his arms shake from the incredible strength behind the blade, 'But she's in range.' Lifting a leg, the Jinchuriki tried to hook one of hers but the demon leapt back and fired off a flying slash which forced the Uzumaki into a side jump-
"Dark Bullet!" and right into a shadow bolt from her free hand which slammed into his chest and sent him flying, "Barrage!" More bolts were fired and Naruto weathered them all with crossed arms before crashing down with a groan, "Heaven's Strike!" The 14 year old instantly raised his kunai up and crossed them, deflecting the sword to the side before barrel rolling away as Ido crashed onto his previous spot and soon charged after him.
'Talk about durability,' Back on his feet, he threw both kunai at his foe but they only succeeded into buying enough time for he to draw another pair as Ido was once again upon him, her blade this time going for a stab at his liver. Twisting his body out of the way while flinching at how close it was, the Uzumaki retaliated with a kunai to the side of her head since Ido's head gear was just an M-shaped protector which covered her forehead and cheeks leaving the rest bare but the demon ducked under and spun, her blade rising upwards in a diagonal slash.
Clang! Clank!
Jumping back, the Jinchuriki stared at the kunai which was knocked out of his left hand, 'If I hadn't blocked, she would have slashed from my right hip all the way to my left shoulder.' He touched down and drew the last kunai from his holster, 'If this pressure continues I'm really going to end up dead!' He realized while wiping a bead of sweat with his arm sleeve.
Staring at the redhead, Ido glanced to the discarded kunai which had blocked her strike and frowned, "If I wasn't handicapped this fight will have ended a while ago."
Her words confused the Uzumaki, "What do you mean?" He asked warily.
"I'm saying that you aren't the only one under a handicap," The demon pointed out.
This made Naruto blink in confusion, "This is YOUR mindscape, how can you be handicapped in a space you control?" Frequent visits to his own mindscape had proven that he is far stronger in there than in the real world.
"Yakumo," The lookalike answered simply, "I'm currently denying her entry and she fighting back by limiting my power." She then gave a self-deprecating laugh, "I'm so weak that a powerless 14 year old with just a pair of knives can match me blow for blow."
Blue eyes widened, 'It's true, the two of them are connected and Kurama did say that he can influence my mindscape so in this case Yakumo should be able to do the same,' Naruto promised himself to thank the Heiress the next time he saw her, "So we're at a stalemate then."
"Not really."
"Huh?" Dread filled the boy, "What do you mean?"
Ido didn't reply as she stared to her right, 'They're close.' She turned her attention back to Naruto and made up her mind, 'Time to end this.' Raising her blade overhead, she closed her eyes and concentrated.
'What is it now?' The Jinchuriki would have assumed that it was another Heaven's Strike but Ido never closed her eyes before when performing the move, 'A new attack?' He turned out to be correct when the sword lit up red with a tint of black, 'Fuc-'
"My ultimate move," Grey armor along with the head protector vanished as the light intensified forcing Naruto to squint his eyes, "Let's see if you can block this," Every instinct in the Uzumaki's body screamed at him to move, "EX," Ido began as the redhead tensed his leg muscles, "CALIVER!" She swung down and he leapt to side dodging… nothing.
'Eh?' He thought midair before realizing that he had fallen for her trap, 'Nooo-"
ZANG!
SPLAT!
]
Opening her eyes, Misa gazed at the multicolored space which had paintings floating round in midair, some of which she recognized as Yakumo's, "So we're in?"
"We're in." Yakumo who was standing beside her answered.
"Where are they?"
"That way." The brunette pointed left towards a white dot in the far distance.
The Mitarashi frowned at how far it was, "Then we should start running." Receiving a nod the two girls sprinted towards the dot and after a while Misa turned to her friend in surprise, "Yakumo."
"Yes?"
"You aren't tired?"
A brow was raised, "Why would I?"
"Your condition?"
"It only affects my physical self," The brunette gestured at their surroundings, "in here I'm as healthy as you are."
"Oh, that makes sense-"
Crack! Crack!
The two slowed to a halt as the floor in front of them cracked, "Ido?" Misa asked.
"Ido," Yakumo confirmed as more cracks appeared, "She trying to stop us."
The Mitarashi smiled as her left hand morphed into a snake, "Which means that Naruto is still kicking," She placed her right hand into the reptile's mouth and drew her trusty Kusarigama (Chain and Nail) before giving it a twirl, "What's her current emotion?"
Crick! Crack!
"Surprise with a hint of frustration," Yakumo snapped her fingers and a golden colored bow along with a sliver quiver appeared on her back, "There it comes!"
CRACK! BOOM!
GGRROOOAAARRRR!
Erupting from the ground the creature let out a beastly roar as it slammed down kicking up a cloud of dust which was immediately blown away by a wind jutsu from Misa who later gaped as she recognized the creature from an old mythical book that she had borrowed from Yakumo some months back.
"A Minotaur!"
"It's not just any Minotaur," The Kurama Heiress hissed in displeasure while staring at its dark hide, "It's a black Minotaur, the strongest and most intelligent of them all."
"Shit!"
The brunette agreed with her, "If Ido is resulting to this then it's either the fight against Naruto isn't going the way she wants it to or that she's afraid of I usurping her control." Yakumo reached out and grabbed an arrow from her quiver as a battle axe appeared in the Minotaur's right hand, "Watch out!"
Swoosh! Boom!
Having leapt to the sides avoiding the blow which obliterated the ground, Yakumo notched the arrow and took aim, "Arrow Rain!" She released and said arrow exploded into a volley.
Raising its axe the Minotaur batted a good lot away and weathered the rest with its tough hide before snapping its head to the right as it sensed a buildup of chakra.
"Fire Style: Fire Run!" Misa stomped down sending a streak of flames at the beast, her plan was to surround it in a wall of flames and then using 'Wind Style: Divine Wind' create the combination move 'Firestorm'.
GRROOAARRR!
But a bellowing roar from the Minotaur snuffed out the flames.
"Wha?" Misa who was already weaving hand seals for 'Divine Wind' cried.
"Shackling Chains!" Chains sprouted from the ground and latched on the beast by its arms and legs restraining it in place, "Exploding Shot!" Sliding to the front, Yakumo aimed for its heart and fired.
CRACK!
SNAP!
"Missed," The brunette frowned as the Minotaur had somehow managed to break the chains on its left arm and intercepted the shot at the cost of said arm, "Wait!" She took a look at the stump and noticed that it was bubbling.
POP!
"Regeneration, of course she included it." The Heiress hopped back until she was beside Misa who had replaced her Kusarigama with a Katana, "Any ideas?"
The purple haired nodded as the Minotaur went on to free its remaining limbs, "You blow off the limbs while I cauterize them."
Yakumo admitted that it was a good idea but, "Will you be fast enough to beat its regeneration?"
Misa gave her a look, "Who's the fastest person you know?"
"… You're the only person I have seen run." Yakumo deadpanned before grabbing an arrow.
Crick! Crack!
"You ready?" She notched the arrow.
"Of course.
Snap! SNAP!
GGRROOOAAARRRR!
Now free the Minotaur crouched down and charged right at the two.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Spears!" Slamming a palm on the ground, Misa sent forth a wave of earthen spikes before breaking into a run.
The Minotaur obliterated the spikes with a swing of its axe before throwing a kick at Misa who slid under and reappeared behind forcing the beast to twist its neck to keep track of her, "Yakumo!"
"Mega Shot!"
Boom! Boom!
GGRROOOAAARRRR!
Twin shots to the head forced the Minotaur to focus on Yakumo exposing its back to Misa who had leapt into the air, her katana blazing a scorching red, "Scarlet Slash!" She swung it down at the beast's right shoulder slicing through hide, muscles and bone until it was fully amputated.
GGAAAAWWWWWRRRR!
The mystical beast collapsed to the knees, crying in agony as its left hand grasped the cauterized stump.
"Jet Stream!"
Distracted by the lost of its right arm, the Minotaur could do nothing as Yakumo fired a beam of light which vaporized its left shoulder.
GGAAAAWWWWWRRRR!
"Scarlet Slash!"
Now in more pain but not wanting to loss another arm it swung its horns to the left taking Misa's attack and sacrificing them to buy enough time for-
Pop! Swoosh!
The 15 year old could only widen her eyes as the newly regenerated arm went in for an uppercut, 'Fuc-'
KAPOW!
"MISSSAAAAA!" Yakumo cried as her friend was sent flying, "Shackling Chains!"
BAM!
Groar?
With the Minotaur restrained by double the usual amount of chains, the brunette ran over to unconscious friend missing the orange mist which sailed over them all.
]
White Void
Lying in a pool of his own blood, Naruto stared blandly at the white sky(?) as he felt life slowly ebb away, "So.. this is… it?" He asked in a weak voice.
"You should be proud of yourself pawn of the Hokage," Ido dispelled her sword, "I had to result to trickery in order to finish you off."
The title she gave him caught his attention, "Pawn.. of.. Hokage?" The redhead looked in her direction.
"Yes," Ido nodded, "You're the fourth one to be sent and it's my duty to eliminate each and every one of you." She declared.
'Wait a minute, I'm no pawn of the Hokage! Misa brought me over to cure Yakumo not harm her!' The 14 year old realized the he was being mistaken for someone else, 'Didn't Misa said anything-'
Crick!
"Huh?" Both demon and Uzumaki looked up.
Crick! Crack!
"What's going?" Ido muttered as her armor, protector and sword reappeared, "They're still occupied with the Minotaur so who else is trying to break in?"
Crick! Crack!
'N..ru..o!'
Though faint and a bit unclear, Naruto smiled as he recognized who it was, 'About time Kurama.'
SHATTER!
"NANI!" Ido leapt back as an orange beam broke through the sky(?) and slammed into her foe engulfing him and the immediate area, "WHAT IS THIS?!" She yelled over the shockwave.
'You are a wreck Naruto.' Kurama said after inspecting his host, 'I thought you were better than this.'
Said male would have snorted if his lungs weren't on fire, 'I was fighting a mid tier demon with no chakra and just 5 kunai.'
'… You did well to last this long.'
'Thanks.'
'Don't worry I will take over so just rest.'
'Go easy on her.'
This made the fox blink, 'You want me to go easy on someone who tried to kill you!'
'It's a misunderstanding and we don't know how it may affect Yakumo.'
'... Fine.'
As the light began to diminish, Ido felt a change in the air, 'Something's different,' Her thought turned out to be right when the light vanished revealing Naruto completely healed and covered head to toe in fiery aura, 'I-impossible! How is-'
"So" Naruto raised his head, his eyes now a blood red with slits as his lips curled in a fanged grin, "Your name is Ido correct?"
"You're not Naruto," Ido noted with a bit of wariness, "Who or what are you and how did you get in here?" She pointed her blade at him.
Kurama, in control of Naruto's body, raised a brow, "You can't tell?"
"… You're his demon aren't you?"
"Ding! Ding! Ding!"
"Tsk," Ido gritted her teeth, "so the Hokage sent not only an Uzumaki but a fellow demon as well."
"Huh?"
"Unfortunately it won't be enough to finish me off," She powered up her sword as darkness pooled underneath her feet, "I will end this-"
"HOLD ON A MINUTE!" Kurama interrupted with a yell, "Neither Naruto or I have any intention of 'finishing you off'." Ido opened her mouth but he continued, "And we have no connection with the Hokage, your host's bombshell of a friend was the one who invited us."
"Lies!" Ido didn't believe him, "You probably tricked her into doing it."
"Now that's not-"
"Enough!" She interrupted as dark tendrils sprouted out of the pool, "I won't believe a word you say so DISAPPEAR!" They shot forward.
'Well I tried,' The Bijuu shrugged in resignation before narrowing his eyes, "Chakra Arms!" Ethereal arms sprouted out of his chakra cloak and grabbed on the tendrils stopping them in their tracks.
'Tch,' Ido dismissed the tendrils and fired a barrage of dark bolts from her left palm, "Bullet Barrage!"
"Shade Style: Judgment Burst!" Raised Naruto's right palm, Kurama cancelled out her attack with his own barrage of bullets before vanishing as a sword swung down from behind obliterating his previous spot, "Using the smoke as cover huh."
"Die!" Ido answered Kurama with a slash which he jumped over and reciprocated with 'Judgment Beam' which failed to reach the former as it was blocked off by wall of tendrils that later on lashed out in an attempt to the restrain the redhead.
"Chakra Arms!" Only for ethereal arms sprout out once again and interfere, "Fire Style:" Kurama began while falling, "Foxfire Flame Bombs!" He breathed out a wave of fox shaped flames.
Staring the approaching inferno, Ido gathered wind round her blade and thrust forward, "Gale Force!" She let loose a giant cylinder of wind.
The two attacks collided and strangely enough the wind won as cleared a path through the flames, one which Ido charged through but soon stopped as she spotted no foe before her, "Where-" A shiver went down her spine, twirling round she barely succeeded in blocking the blow with her left bracer but was still sent sliding back.
"Chakra Mold: Spear! Crimson Thrust!" Conjuring a red spear, Kurama thrust forward only to miss as Ido jumped over and performing a spin swung down at his skull but the redhead blocked it with his weapon then lashed out a kick which forced the female to retreat with him in pursuit.
"Bullet Barrage!" Ido released another barrage of dark bolts from her free hand but Kurama twirling his spear in front of him knocked them aside before jabbing at her head. Ido avoided it with a head tilt then swung her blade in wide arc, Kurama released his spear and duck down before kicking upwards with his right foot slamming into her chest plate and launching her into the air.
"Shade Style: Judgment!"
Ido recovered mid air and slashed, bisecting chakra blast before landing on her two feet then glancing down to inspect damage on her armor, "You're good," She complimented after feeling the dent on her chest plate.
"The praise goes to my host, I'm just relaying on his muscle memory." Kurama admitted as this was his first time wielding an actual weapon.
"I see." Ido nodded, "Then I have to thank Yakumo for her love of knights especially the female knight - Artoria."
"Artoria?"
"She's a fictional character who after pulling out a holy sword from a stone became King of her country before it was destroyed in a civil war brought about by her wife and son… or was it her daughter?" The lookalike tried to recall.
"…"
"It's a fictional story so you don't put much thought into it."
Kurama went along, "So you based your fighting style off this Artoria knight?"
"Her and someone else," Ido repowered her sword, "Shall we continue?"
With a grin, the redhead twirled his spear, "Of course."
The two charged at each other and clashed with their respective weapons creating a shower of sparks.
]
Outside the White Void, Yakumo's Mindscape
"Misa! Misa! Misa!"
"Uh," The purple haired groaned as she came to be, "What hit- Ouff" She had barely sat up when Yakumo enveloped her in a hug, "What's with you?"
"Sorry," The Heiress withdrew while wiping a couple of tears, "but you passed out after taking that nasty hit."
"Passed out?" Misa then spotted the one armed Minotaur restrained by a lot of chains, "Oh," She now remembered, "We were fighting Cowhead over there and I got punched but," She took a look at herself, "How am I still alive?"
"Misa?" Yakumo called in worry, "Are sure you're okay?"
"Yeah," The Mitarashi assured, "It's just that punch should caved in my chest but I only felt a bit of pain which shouldn't be right unless," She grabbed the hem of her top and took a peek down, "So that's what happened."
"What happened?"
"Come have a look."
Doing just that, Yakumo felt her brown eyes widen as they stared at the purple scales covering her friend's chest and abdomen, "You manifested those?" She inquired.
"Not willingly," Misa frowned as she released the hem, "You know how much I dislike this power."
"Then how did they appear?"
"My body must have reacted on instinct."
"Well your life was in danger."
"No kidding," The purple haired stood up and looked round, "Where's my Katana?"
The Heiress pointed behind the girl, "It broke when you tried blocking."
"It's a good thing I always carry a spare," Left arm morphing into a snake, Misa withdrew a similar blade, "Hey Yakumo."
"Yes Misa."
"Can't you like," The Mitarashi gestured to the restrained Minotaur, "Will it away?"
A negative shake, "I could but keeping Ido handicapped is taking a lot and if I concentrated too much on the Minotaur-"
"Ido may end up eliminating Naruto huh."
Crick! Crack!
A couple of chains broke away but the two girls ignored them.
"I'm sorry." The brunette apologized.
"Don't be," Her bustier female sighed, "It just means I have to use 'that' ability."
"That? Wait, you don't mean that?"
"I do."
"How hold on," Yakumo reached out and grabbed the purple haired by her shoulders, "Didn't you just say a minute ago that 'I dislike using that power'!"
"If it helps Naruto then I don't mind plus it did save my life."
"But it reminds you of 'Him'."
"It still does."
"… You won't whine about this later?"
"I won't."
Staring at the determination in those yellow eyes, the Heiress released the grip on her friend's shoulder, "… You seriously about that redhead aren't you?"
Misa smiled softly, "I did tell you he's the one."
"I just hope he feels the same way." Yakumo sighed before taking a stance, "So what the plan?" She reached out for an arrow.
"The same: You distract while I attack," Stabbing her Katanna into the ground, Misa closed her eyes and concentrated on drawing out 'that' power. She succeeded in doing so as red markings ran over skin before fading away as purple scales took their place sprouting over her chest and abdomen before stopping just shy of her shoulders, "Okay," She looked down at the reptilian tail which had replaced her two legs and nodded, "This should do."
Taking in the transformed Misa, Yakumo noticed that certain parts of her body were left unchanged, "What about your arms and head?"
"I'm reserving chakra," Misa replied as she flexed her tail a bit, "A full transformation will only last a couple minutes." She grabbed her blade and gave it a twirl, "You ready?"
The Heiress notched her arrow and took aim, "Hai!"
Crick! Crack!
With the chains nearing their limit, Misa dived into the ground leaving the brunette alone as she swam towards their target.
Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap!
GGRROOOAAARRRR!
"Black Shot!" As soon as it was free, Yakumo fired her arrow and the Minotaur reacted with a swing of its axe but was caught off guard when the latter impacted the axe and exploded into a smokescreen, "Misa."
"Scarlet Slash!" Popping out of ground, Misa swung her blade at the remaining arm.
Spinning round, the beast took the slash to the chest, avoiding the amputation of its last arm, and kicked at the purple haired only to miss as she dived back into the ground and out of it's sight.
"Exploding Shot!"
Boom!
Head snapping forward, the Minotaur turned back in angry missing Misa who had popped back out again.
"Scarlet Slash!"
ZANG!
GGAAAAWWWWWRRRR!
Arm and weapon falling, the beast collapsed to its knees and was instantly restrained by chains as Misa slid over to the front and lopped off its head.
]
AN: Yeah I'm evil for cutting it off here but it had to be done as I have reached the 4000 words limit that I set for each chapter I write.
Brainstorming this particular chapter wasn't an easy feat as a lot of action got packed into it with fights such as Ido (Suppressed) vs. Naruto (Chakra Sealed), The Girls vs. the Minotaur then Ido (Suppressed) vs. Naruto (Kurama Possessed) taking place.
Also elements from the Fate Series are included in this Fic, I honestly wonder why no one has pointed it out even though I have been dropping hints since Chapter 1.
Anyway I wish you greeting from the month of August (Which is still 3 days away) and a happy new week.
Next up
Chapter 8
Total Number of Words: 4159 Words
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