Coming of the Duke Wolf

by windstorm16

No summary yet.

6. Chapter 6

Hello all Storm here with a new chapter! Here we'll be wrapping up this arc as we see Ryujin now taking the fight to the Ninja, with their being some surprises along the way and plenty of fights. So, without further ado.

I own nothing

After returning to town, Kakashi and Yamato had handed Lycan over to Ibiki to begin interrogating the experiment to find out what he knows. Before Team Seven, Yūgao and Fū had went to get looked over by Kabuto.

"From what I see, it looks like you all got off lucky with these new experiments since it seems like they were much stronger than the previous three." Kabuto stated as he looked over their injuries and got to work on healing them.

"Yeah, they also had much better teamwork." Said Kakashi, knowing Gozuki and Mezuki had been tough opponents.

"Agreed, if the fight had gone any longer, I'm unsure if we would have been able to win." Yamato added, given if Kakashi's Kamui hadn't worked, then they'd have to also worry about looking after him, giving the two experiments even more chances to take them down.

"What about the Genin? How are they?" Questioned Yūgao, looking at the four Genin, given the state they were in when they arrived.

"We already said we're fine." Satsuki replied, with Naruto, Hinata and Fū nodding in agreement.

"While it's good for you to say that, it's better for you to know your own limits. Satsuki and Hinata both have their share of injuries, plus they were running low on Chakra when you all got back. Though Naruto and Fū, you both are free to go since your injuries seemed to have already healed for the most part and your Chakra Reserves recovered as well. So, you both can go." Kabuto said, having simply finished healing the few injuries they had left.

Along with having subtly placed a Tracking Seal on Fū in the process, planning to deliver the means to track Fū to Sasori once he has a chance.

With Naruto and Fū nodding before exiting the clinic, the two Jinchūriki then began walking around the town, taking the chance to relax without worry of training or fighting any experiments. Though as they walked, Naruto noticed Fū glancing at him a few times before quickly looking away. Confusing the whiskered ravenette at her behavior, given how open she's been since they started training together.

"Is something wrong, Fū?" Naruto asked, wondering if something was bothering the greenette.

"What? Oh no, nothing's wrong Naruto. I just…I never really got the chance to thank you, for teaching me the Shadow Clone Jutsu…and for being my friend." Fū said shyly, making Naruto look at her with a frown.

"You don't have to thank me for teaching you the Shadow Clone Jutsu, Fū. And you definitely don't have to thank me for being your friend-." Said Naruto before stopping when Fū shook her head.

"Yes I do. Before I met you, Satsuki, and Hinata, I only ever had Shibuki as a friend and someone who'd teach and train me. Then I met you three and even after how I acted when I woke up, then when I accidentally exposed you as a Jinchūriki, you still chose to be my friend, even teaching me a Jutsu to help with my training. It…it all really means a lot, especially since you know what it's like to be alone, then to have someone who cares about you and wants to be your friend. So, yes I do have to thank you, Naruto, because it means so much to me." Fū said, smiling at the Uzumaki, while Naruto looked at her in surprise before smiling as well.

"You really don't have to thank me, Fū. Even if you weren't a Jinchūriki, I'd still want to be your friend since you're a really kind and good person to be around, along with always trying to look on the bright side of things. And anyone who can't see how amazing you are isn't worth wasting time over. Besides you've helped us as well by showing us the Water Style Ninjutsu you know. So, if you're going to thank me, then I should thank you as well for being my friend and helping with my training." Replied Naruto, making the Taki Kunoichi look away with a faint blush at his words.

"O-o-ok-okay, I-I'm glad I-I could help." Said Fū, touched at how Naruto saw her as amazing and would even still want to be her friend if she wasn't a Jinchūriki.

"But…um, will you get in trouble…with teaching me the Shadow Clone Jutsu?" Fū asked nervously, not wanting her friend to get in trouble just for teaching her a Secret Technique.

"If anyone has a problem with me teaching you the Jutsu, then it's their problem to deal with since I don't really care if someone doesn't like it. For me, my friends come first and the village comes second, if that means teaching someone from another village a Secret Technique that can help them, then I'll do it. You'd also be the only one in Taki that'd really be able to take advantage of it, as I doubt anyone else would have enough Chakra to make that many Shadow Clones." Naruto said, surprising Fū again, before she smiled at how he put his friends above everything.

Though the greenette also couldn't help, but look at him curiously, having seen and heard that Naruto didn't seem to have a high opinion of his village.

'He doesn't even seem to like it.' Thought Fū, knowing that while Jinchūriki usually weren't liked by their home villages, they were still loyal.

"Um, Naruto…if you don't mind me asking, do you even like Konoha?" Fū said, unable to help her curiosity at how Naruto viewed his village, with Naruto glancing at her before looking ahead.

"If you'd asked me that a few months ago, I wouldn't have hesitated to say yes. That I loved Konoha and even wanted to become Hokage, despite how I was treated for being a Jinchūriki. How I wanted to have everyone acknowledge and see me for who I am, rather than who they see me as." Naruto replied, surprising Fū that he'd want to become Hokage and have everyone acknowledge him as himself.

"And now?" Questioned Fū, feeling that something must've happened to change his feelings towards the village.

"Now…now I can't really look at it the same way. Did you know you were a Jinchūriki from the very beginning?" Naruto asked, making Fū frown at the sudden question.

"Of course I did, I was old enough to know what was happening when the Nanabi was sealed in me." Fū said, knowing that Jinchūriki were fully aware of their status from the moment it happened.

"I wasn't, I was made a Jinchūriki the day I was born and my entire life I didn't know. But the rest of the village knew, or at least those old enough to remember, and the only thing they saw me as is the Kyūbi. They either hated me or feared me, leading to them ignoring me, treating me like I didn't exist. And while the younger generations didn't know, they saw how their parents treated me and emulated them, most of them anyway, or they saw me as the deadlast in the Academy." Revealed Naruto, surprising the greenette again that he hadn't even been aware of his Jinchūriki status, but everyone else was aware, making her look at him sadly.

She at least knew why nearly everyone in Taki feared or hated her, Fū couldn't imagine what it'd be like to simply be hated for something she didn't know about. To be ignored and alone, having your own existence be denied by everyone around you.

"I only learned I was a Jinchūriki a little over a month ago, after failing the Graduation Test for a third time, I was tricked by one of my former teachers into stealing the Forbidden Scroll. While being told it was a make-up test and I had to learn a Jutsu from it, which is also how I learned the Shadow Clone Jutsu. But I learned it was a trick by my former teacher, who used me to take the scroll for himself and planned to kill me, all while telling me about the Kyūbi in the process. If it hadn't been for another of my teachers, I likely would have died. I was able to beat the traitor in the end, but I now knew the truth and that the Hokage had been lying to me my entire life about why I was hated. He tried justifying it by saying he wanted me to have a normal childhood." Naruto said with a scoff at the end, while Fū frowned at this, not liking that he had to learn his status in such a way and from a traitor of all people.

"I'm sorry you had to learn about it like that, when you should have known from the beginning. It might suck learning you're a Jinchūriki, but at least you'd have some solace in knowing why you're hated and feared, rather than thinking it's because of yourself." Said Fū, with Naruto nodding at her in thanks.

"Thanks for that Fū. Anyway, to answer your question…right now my feelings towards Konoha are complicated, I can't say I like or dislike the village right now, maybe that'll change later on. But now…I simply can't bring myself to care about the village or what anyone there thinks about me. The only opinions I care about are the ones of people I care about, which includes you, Fū. And it's those people I'll do anything to protect and help in any way I can." Replied Naruto while looking at the Taki Kunoichi, making her blush lightly at his words.

"W-we-well…with everything you went through, it's understandable if you wouldn't like your village." Fū stated, with the Uzumaki nodding in response.

"What about you? I know your only friend in Taki is Shibuki, but what was it like growing up there, knowing you were a Jinchūriki?" Naruko asked, wondering what Fū's life was like in Taki compared to his own.

"It…it was pretty much the same as yours, being hated and feared, being alone, though no one ignored or acted like I didn't exist. But they made sure to never miss a chance to remind me that I wasn't wanted or liked. I'm even stuck living on the very outskirts of the village, while still being in it, as I'm sure the only reason they don't force me to live outside is to make sure I don't try running away. I can't even go outside the village alone without a "team" accompanying me, but I learned to get used to it, knowing there wasn't anything I could do. The only good part is having Shibuki around to train and protect me, he also taught me the importance of friendship and loyalty. Though…it's hard to see how they're important when I didn't have any friends and the village I was loyal to wanted nothing to do with me." Said Fū, looking down before looking at Naruto when he put a hand on her shoulder.

"Like I said, anyone who can't see the kind and good person you are, isn't worth your time. If they don't anything to do with you, then it's their loss, because I'm happy we got to meet and become friends." Stated Naruto, smiling at the greenette, which Fū returned while putting her hand over his.

*Later*

After walking around town for a while, Naruto and Fū headed for a small food stand for lunch, the Uzumaki being pleased that they also served ramen.

"You must really like ramen." Fū stated, seeing how Naruto's already eaten four bowls of ramen in less than twenty minutes.

"Yeah, it's really great, but it's not as good as Ichiraku's." Said Naruto, getting the Taki Kunoichi's attention.

"Ichiraku?" Asked Fū, curious of what that was.

"It's a ramen stand back in Konoha, owned by a father and daughter, named Teuchi and Ayame. They're…they're some of the few people I still care about in the village, along with being one of the very few who never hated or feared me. They'd always let me eat at Ichiraku when I was hungry and didn't have food or go anywhere else, becoming their best customer. It's also where me, Hinata and Satsuki started going once we began training together." Naruto replied, making Fū frown at imagining Naruto being kicked out of places, but smiled that he had people willing to help him.

"They sound great." Said Fū, with Naruto nodding in agreement.

"They are, and if you want, I can introduce you to them." Said Naruto, surprising the greenette at the offer.

"But…we're from different villages." Fū said with a frown, as while it'd be nice to meet more people Naruto cares about, she doubts it'd be possible with them being in different villages, plus with her being a Jinchūriki with limited freedom.

"That doesn't mean you can't visit or even come back with us before returning to Taki, along with the Chūnin Exams taking place in Konoha. So we'll still be able to see each other even after the mission is over." Naruto said, surprising Fū again.

"You'd…you'd still want to be friends…even after we have to go back to our villages?" Asked Fū, having been unsure if they'd still be friends after the mission was over, since with them being from different villages, she hadn't been sure if they'd still see each other or remain friends.

"Of course we'll still be friends. We said we'd be your friends and we're going to be Fū, it doesn't matter if we're from different villages, different nations, even different continents. If you ever need me, Satsuki or Hinata for anything, then we'll be there to help you, no matter what it is or where you are." Said Naruto, with Fū looking at him with wide eyes before smiling brightly.

"Th-thank you, Naruto! That…that really means a lot, that we'll still be friends! And that you'd go that far to help me!" Fū said, touched and happy that Naruto would still want to be her friend even after the mission is over.

With the Taki Kunoichi then surprising herself and Naruto when she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, the two Genin blushing at her action before quickly going back to their food. Though the two glanced at each other before looking away again, with Fū unable to keep the smile off her face. Making Naruto smile as well at making her happy.

*With Ibiki*

Meanwhile, Ibiki stood in front of Lycan's cell, glaring at the experiment who was restrained to the wall by chains and shackles, having ensure he wouldn't be able to move an inch. Unfortunately that's been the only good part since Lycan had been brought back. As all of the interrogators attempts to make the experiment tell him everything he knew have been met with failure.

With Ibiki having started out with simply trying to intimidate Lycan with everything he could do to him, before moving on to using his Summoning: Torture Chamber. Leaving Lycan restrained with garrote wire around his limbs, tightening every time he refused to speak. Before trying to burn, electrocute, and slice Lycan to get some answers, only to resort to simply try beating him to talk.

Only for all his attempts to be met with silence, showing a great resistance to any torture and interrogation methods. With the experiment only growling or snapping at Ibiki whenever he questioned him.

"I'm starting to think you can't even talk." Ibiki stated, beginning to believe Lycan's incapable of speaking anymore, being too animal-like to be able to talk.

"Of course I can talk human!" Growled Lycan, still enraged at how he was defeated and forced to submit, while Ibiki's eyes narrowed at him.

"So you can talk. Yet you've remained silent this entire time. Why?!" Demanded Ibiki hoping to finally make some progress.

"Because I find your attempt to interrogate me amusing, I've experienced far worse than you can inflict. Not that it would matter if I did tell you what you wanted to know, you'll be dead soon while any information you learn will be pointless." Lycan stated, with the Tokubetsu Jōnin punching the cells bars and glaring at the wolf-like experiment.

"If that's a threat then you'll soon regret it. Because if you think this is the worst I can do, you'll see that everything so far…it's been me being nice. So, tell me what you're talking about?!" Ibiki said, knowing if Lycan didn't start giving him answers, then he'll be showing him what he can really do.

"You still don't get it, do you? You've killed five of us already and now captured one. Ask yourself human, do you really think Ryujin is going to ignore that you've wiped out half his forces or is he going to make you all regret it?" Questioned Lycan with a dark and fanged grin, making Ibiki's eyes widen in realization.

Before mentally cursing since the majority of their fighters were still recovering from the previous fight, only now they may be having a much bigger problem to deal with. Knowing he didn't have any time to waste, Ibiki took off running to inform the others of what was coming, leaving Lycan alone.

Listening to Ibiki's footsteps, Lycan waited until he was sure he was alone before grunting as his bones began snapping and realigning themselves. With his body shrinking and becoming more human, with the chains and shackles becoming loose around him. The experiment soon managing to free his claws and began shifting back, growling as he stabbed his claws into his body where the Suppression Seal was.

Not hesitating, Lycan ripped the flesh from his body, the seal along with it, roaring as he felt his Chakra begin flowing through him again, with his injuries healing as well. Before he ripped the remaining chains and shackles off until he completely free.

Now freed of his restraints and Suppression Seal, Lycan tore through the bars and rushed out of the prison, intent on hunting down the brat that beat him and rip him apart.

*With Ryujin*

While outside the wall around town, Ryujin stood outside looking at the wall the Ninja thought would keep him out. With him and his remaining forces having immediately made their way towards the town after learning Mezuki and Gozuki were dead and Lycan was captured.

Though on the way to town, they'd encountered the traps the Ninja had set up, which proved far deadlier than they originally assumed. Resulting in Ryujin losing most of his forces, but knew it didn't matter since he still had his elite followers. Both of them having more human appearances compared to the others.

The first is a pale skinned young man with long blue hair with two long strands of violet on both sides of the face, supported by two golden hair separators, claw-like nails, and the veins on his forehead are quite prominent, to the point of replacing his eyebrows. His eyes were red without pupils and with prominent dark bags. Along with having three horns on his forehead, two on either side and the third in the center. With him wearing a full-length long-sleeved ninja uniform with meshes on its wrists and neck, the mesh of the neck having three small ribbons centered hanging from it.

And the second had a muscular young man of average height. He had pale, ash-gray skin with two green marks around both of his upper arms and legs, shoulder-length, spiky dark-green hair parted at the middle of his forehead, and small, beady black eyes. He also possessed prominent fangs and sharp nails. His attire consisted of a sleeveless, blue tunic with a dark-turquoise-and-white pattern outlining his exposed chest. He wore pale colored bracelets around his wrists and ankles.

These were Murk and Savage, two of the strongest experiments that had been freed, though they still weren't close to Ryujin's level.

Looking at the wall, lightning began appearing around Ryujin's body before he held his hand out towards the wall. The lightning increasing in intensity until it began gathering in his hand, before Ryujin unleashed a massive bolt of lightning at the wall. The lightning shooting right through the wall, leaving behind a trail of destruction as it tore through the town, buildings, and people in its way. With Ryujin, Murk, and Savage entering the town, seeing people running about, screaming in panic and fear. Before Ryujin raised his hand, stopping Murk and Savage when they moved to attack.

"No, leave the Ninja and these fools to me. The two of you find Lycan and kill him, he's already proven to have outlived his usefulness." Ryujin ordered, wanting Lycan dead for allowing himself to be captured.

"HAHAHAHAHA! Even better, I always wanted my own wolf pelt to hang up!" Savage said eagerly at the chance to kill Lycan.

"We'll see it done, Ryujin-sama." Said Murk with a short bow before the two jumped off to locate Lycan.

Once the two had left, Ryujin continued on his way into the village, unleashing blasts of lightning at anyone he saw. Though the lightning wasn't strong enough to kill, but to simply leave them unconscious, the experiment not being satisfied with simply killing the citizens and the Ninja. Ryujin wanted them captured, so they could be made examples of and so they would suffer longer.

"Lightning Style: Depth Charge!" Ryujin said, enveloping himself in Lightning Chakra before unleashing an omnidirectional blast of lightning, destroying everything around him, while everyone nearby was electrocuted until they fell unconscious.

"Wood Style: Smothering Binding Jutsu!"

Ryujin frowned when he suddenly found himself restrained by several wooden tendrils, along with feeling his Chakra being suppressed. Looking to where the wood was coming from, Ryujin saw Yamato holding his now wooden arm out towards him, which extended into the tendrils bindings him. Before grunting when a sword emerged from his chest as Yūgao appeared behind him, while feeling it wasn't meant to be a killing blow.

"I take it that you're Ryujin." Kakashi stated as he, Ibiki, Kabuto, Satsuki and Hinata appeared around Ryujin, ready in case he somehow managed to break free from his bindings.

"You would be correct. And you are the Ninja that have been a thorn in my side. Given your presence has been interfering in my goals, I'm sure you understand why it is I'll be enjoying making you all suffer." Ryujin said, looking rather calm despite being restrained and impaled, making the Ninja tense at the chance he had something up his sleeve.

Before "Ryujin" suddenly exploded into a blast of lightning, forcing the Ninja to all jump back to avoid being electrocuted. Until they heard Yamato cry out, making them look only for their eyes to widen at seeing Ryujin, now covered completely in electricity, holding the Jōnin by his head. The experiment electrocuting Yamato before throwing him into a wall, leaving him unconscious as well.

"Lightning Style: Lightning Strike Armor." Said Ryujin, turning his head back towards the Ninja, revealing his pupils had narrowed into slits.

"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu!" Satsuki shouted, unleashing a blast of fire at Ryujin.

"Fire Style: Flame Capture!" Said Hinata, creating a whip of fire she launched at Ryujin as well

"Wind Style: Air Bullets!" Said Kakashi expelling several blasts of wind, causing the Fire Ninjutsu to grow more powerful as they rushed towards Ryujin.

Only for Ryujin to vanish in a burst of speed, reappearing behind the Ninja with Yūgao quickly turning and charging him.

"Secret Sword: Moonlight!" Yūgao said, rushing at Ryujin fast enough to leave behind afterimages, before she got close enough to swing her sword at him.

The purplette's eyes widening when Ryujin blocked her sword with a single finger, before gagging when he slammed his foot into her chest, sending Yūgao crashing through a wall. With Ryujin then sidestepping Kabuto when he tried sneaking up on him with a Chakra Scalpel. Grabbing the Medic-Nin by his neck and shocking him before slamming his head into the ground.

"Summoning: Iron Maiden!" Ibiki said, slamming his hands on the ground, causing an iron maneki neko to rise up from underground around Ryujin, and start closing around him.

Only for the iron maiden to be blasted apart by Ryujin, who vanished in another burst of speed and smashed his fist into Ibiki's stomach. Causing the Tokubetsu Jōnin to double over in pain, before Ryujin slammed his elbow into the back of his head, knocking Ibiki out as well.

Ryujin then turned, blocking a kunai from Kakashi, who had revealed his Sharingan, despite already running low on Chakra.

"Using your Sharingan already? You must be desperate to end this fight, not that you had much of a chance to begin with." Ryujin stated with a small smirk, before grabbing Kakashi's other hand when tried stabbing a Raikiri into his chest.

"Lightning Style: Electric Shock Needles!" Hinata said, creating several needles made of electricity, which she launched at Ryujin.

"Water Style: Water Bullet Jutsu!" Said Satsuki, releasing multiple blasts of water that became electrified upon coming in contact with the needles.

Before the Genin's eyes widened when Ryujin quickly turned and used Kakashi as a shield, shocking and horrifying Satsuki and Hinata as their Jutsu hit their teacher. Only to soon find themselves grabbed by Ryujin, who'd dropped Kakashi to the ground and reappeared behind the girls. The experiment then slamming their heads together, leaving them unconscious along with the others.

"How disappointing, I was at least hoping for a decent challenge." Muttered Ryujin, looking at the unconscious Ninja before he continued moving on to deal with the remaining citizens.

*Earlier-With Naruto and Fū*

After finishing their lunch, Naruto and Fū had continued walking through town, only to tense when they suddenly felt the ground begin shaking and saw flashes of lightning on the other side of the village.

"Is that…" Fū said in worry, thinking it could already be another attack from the experiments.

"Let's go!" Said Naruto, knowing they were the only ones who were fully recovered from the previous fight.

With the greenette nodding in agreement as they jumped up to the roofs to go to where the experiments were attacking. Only for them to suddenly be knocked back to the ground by a sonic howl, before they quickly rolled out of the way when Lycan slashed his claws where they once were.

"I'm guessing you're friends helped you escape." Naruto stated as he and Fū got ready to fight the wolf-like experiment.

"I don't need help to escape and I won't need help in killing you!" Lycan roared, unleashing another sonic howl at the two Jinchūriki, with Naruto and Fū jumping out of the way.

"Water Style: Rising Water Slicer!" Said Fū, going through some handsigns before landing on the ground, causing a wave of water to shoot up from the ground and rushing towards Lycan.

"Wind Style: Sword of the Wind Count!" Said Naruto, swiping his hand through the air, releasing a compressed wave of wind at Lycan.

Seeing the two attacks coming towards him, Lycan released another sonic howl at the ground, propelling himself into the air. With the experiment then began swinging his claws at Naruto and Fū, unleashing multiple crescent blades of Chakra at them. Forcing Naruto and Fū to start moving around to avoid the blades.

"Shadow Clutch Jutsu!"

Though Naruto's and Fū's eyes widened when they suddenly felt as if they were being grabbed before being slammed into the ground. Something neither of them were expecting before they quickly got up, only to see an elongated shadow stretching out and connecting to their own, much to their shock. Before seeing the shadow was coming from Murk, with the two grunting when they were sent flying back into a wall.

"Murk, so Ryujin sent you to deal with the Ninja. Find your own targets, they're mine!" Said Lycan, refusing to let anyone interfere in dealing with the Uzumaki himself.

"You misunderstand the reason we're here, mutt." Murk stated, making Lycan tense before roaring when Savage appeared behind him stabbing his claws into the wolf-like experiments back.

"We're here to kill you for being a worthless failure!" Said Savage with a crazed grin before slamming his foot into Lycan's back, sending him crashing to the ground.

"Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld!" Murk said, slamming his hands on the ground turning the ground beneath Naruto, Fū, and Lycan into mud.

"I'll kill you two for this! You think you'll live long after this betrayal!" Lycan roared about to unleash a sonic howl at Murk and Savage, only to have his head forced into the mud by Savage jumping on top of him.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You stupid mutt, Ryujin-sama sent us to kill you! Why would he waste time on saving a fucking dumbass that loses to a couple brats?!" Savage taunted while jumping on top of Lycan, before jumping back onto solid ground when he tried swiping at him.

"Indeed. Ryujin-sama doesn't tolerate failure mutt, now you'll see what happens to those that no longer have a use to him. While these humans will be sharing your fate." Said Murk ,channeling more Chakra into the swamp, causing the trio to start sinking faster.

"Don't think we'll die that easily assholes! Water Style: Water Trumpet!" Naruto shouted, releasing a large jet of water through his hands at the mud, loosening and pushing it away so they could move.

"Water Style: Tornado of Water!" Fū said while going through some handsigns, causing the water and mud to begin rising up in a large swirling vortex.

With both Ninja soon being able to free themselves from the mud, looking at Lycan to see he was still trapped before Naruto grabbed him and began pulling him free, much to Lycan's shock.

"And don't think you'll be able to escape! Earth Style: Black Pyramid Jutsu!" Murk said, going through handsigns before slamming his hands on the ground, causing multiple stone spikes to shoot up from the ground.

The sight making Naruto and Fū mentally curse before the greenette helped Naruto grab Lycan, pulling him free from the swamp, while dodging the spikes. Only for their eyes to widen when Murk's shadow then extended and connected to theirs, paralyzing them. Before more shadows began rising up around them, until the trio was trapped inside a large pyramid-shaped shadow.

"Shadow Absorption Jutsu!" Said Murk, making a handsign as the sides of the pyramid began swirling around before the surrounding buildings and debris began breaking apart and were pulled towards the pyramid.

"Now to blow them all into pieces!" Savage said madly before he began throwing multiple Explosive Tags at the pyramid which were sucked in as well, with the tags detonating as the pyramid convulsed and expanded.

After a few moments, Murk clapped his hands together, stopping the absorption before releasing the pyramid as everything that had been sucked was expelled outward. Leaving behind nothing but destroyed remains and ruins, while neither experiments sensed any of their targets.

"Let's return to Ryujin-sama." Murk said, seeing their target was now dead, before the two jumped off to report back to Ryujin.

With the two soon arriving to find Ryujin standing in the center of dozens of unconscious bodies, including the other Konoha Ninja.

"The mutt is dead Ryujin-sama, along with two of the brats that got in the way." Savage said, making Ryujin frown slightly in annoyance, having preferred if all the Ninja were alive to suffer.

"A pity. But oh well, the failure is dead and we still have everyone here. Murk, take their shadows, they can suffer in the darkness of their own minds for a few weeks, then we'll move onto the true suffering." Said Ryujin, with Murk nodding before making a handsign.

"Shadow Cutter Jutsu!" Said Murk as multiple tendrils shot out from his own shadow, transforming into dozens of pairs of scissors that began cutting away the Ninja's and citizens and shadows, absorbing them into himself.

While everyone's bodies became dull and pale, with all of them now stuck in comas from the loss of their shadows and would remain until Murk returned the shadows on Ryujin's command.

"Good, send them away now." Ryujin ordered, wanting them all returned to their base.

"Shadow Capture Field Jutsu!" Murk said with his shadow expanding outward, all the Ninja and citizens falling within it and being deposited back at base in the cells.

Once everyone had been transported, Ryujin, Murk and Savage exited the town, stopping once they were a good distance away. The trio stopping and turned back to the town, with Ryujin soon expelling a large amount of Chakra before sending it up into the sky. Causing dark, swirling storm clouds to begin forming overhead with lightning jumping between them.

"Lightning Style: Thunderstorm." Said Ryujin as several bolts of lightning began crashing down on the town, unleashing complete devastation on it.

Nodding in satisfaction, the trio began making their way back to base.

*Later*

The lightning strikes soon ended after several moments, with the entire town being nothing but smoking and charred ruins. Before a pile of debris began shifting and being pushed aside, revealing Naruto, Fū and Lycan pulling themselves out of the ground. The Uzumaki having managed to use Earth Style: Hiding Like a Mole Jutsu, turning the ground beneath them into sound to escape the debris and explosions. Remaining underground to make Murk and Savage think they were dead before waiting until the coast was clear.

"Oh Kami." Fū muttered while looking around in shock and horror at the destruction around them.

"Damnit." Said Naruto, cursing that this happened and worried about what happened to the others.

"You…you saved me? Why?" Lycan said, looking at them in disbelief that they'd save him after he's tried killing them multiple times, with Naruto and Fū looking at him.

"I…don't know. I just acted on instinct and…saved you." Naruto replied, though mentally noted how Lycan being betrayed by his comrades had hit too close to home for him.

"We also couldn't just leave to die after being betrayed by those two." Added Fū, having similar thoughts to Naruto, with how Lycan was betrayed by his own comrades, simply for being defeated and captured.

"Tsk. You should've just left me to die. Ryujin's already decided my use has run out, once he finds out I'm alive, he'll just keep trying until I'm dead." Lycan said bitterly at being betrayed and left to die, despite his loyalty and never once questioning Ryujin's orders.

"Fuck Ryujin, then. The bastard was willing to kill you just because you were defeated and captured, that just shows he only sees you all as disposable pawns to toss aside once you've served your purpose. And we're supposed to be enemies, yet we still saved you." Said Naruto, making Lycan look at him in surprise, while Fū nodded in agreement.

"Naruto's right. He probably would have done the same eventually anyway, after no longer having a use for you. Now though, you're free from his control, since they likely think you're dead and you could leave if you wanted." Fū said, with the wolf-like experiment frowning at this, having no idea where he would even go.

"And…if it's worth anything, we both know the feeling of being tossed aside." Added Fū, getting Lycan's attention as he looked at them again.

"What could either of you possibly know?" Demanded Lycan.

"We're Jinchūriki, meant to be used as weapons for our villages and if we fail, then we'd simply have our Bijū extracted and sealed inside someone else, while we're left to die. So yeah, we know the feeling that a single screw up could end with us being dead." Naruto said, surprising Lycan again to hear they were Jinchūriki.

"But right now, we have to go save everyone, if they're still alive, and stop Ryujin before he can hurt anyone else." Fū stated, with Naruto nodding in agreement.

"You do that, you'll only be walking to your own deaths. Ryujin is far stronger than you can imagine, all of this, this was just him sending a message. If he gets serious, you'll both die." Said Lycan, knowing Ryujin was much stronger than they believed, given how he was able to keep all the experiments in line, as not all of them were eager to follow orders but also didn't want to die.

"Maybe we will. But he attacked people we care about and we're not going to let him get away with that." Said Naruto, swearing if Ryujin did anything to Satsuki and Hinata, he'll tear him limb from limb.

"Plus, we want payback against the two assholes that tried blowing us up and burying us." Said Fū, also wanting to get payback against Murk and Savage.

With Lycan frowning at this before standing up, making Naruto and Fū wonder what he was going to do.

"If you're so eager to walk to your own deaths, you should at least know where you're going and who you'll be dealing with. And if anyone's going to kill those two, it's going to be me." Said Lycan, planning to rip Murk and Savage apart for thinking they could kill him, with Naruto and Fū smiling slightly that he was going to help.

"It'd be really great having you with us. And what can you tell us about them?" Fū asked as they left the ruins and began following Lycan towards the experiments' base.

"Murk is a rogue Nara, having defected after stealing several Kinjutsu from them before being found by Orochimaru. You saw he's skilled in the Nara Clan's Techniques, he also knows Water Style and Earth Style Ninjutsu. While Savage, he doesn't have any special abilities, but he is a Jashinist, being part of some cult in the Land of Hot Water, along with being immortal. You can stab him, cut his throat, rip his heart out, even cut him into pieces and he'll still be alive. The experiments that were performed also gave him greater regeneration, so he heals faster than you can hurt him. Aside from that, he usually just acts like a living shield, tanking any attacks while getting in close to attack with his hands." Explained Lycan, surprising Naruto and Fū at what they're capable of, but nodded at now knowing what they're capable of, which should hopefully make them easier to deal with.

"And Ryujin?" Questioned Naruto, wanting to know what Ryujin is capable of.

"He's skilled in Lightning Style Ninjutsu, using it to not only attack but enhance his physical abilities, he also has a more advanced Curse Mark than the rest of us, which gives him even greater power when he activates it. I know he also uses poisons since I can smell them on him, likely in the event he's ever against a superior opponent. But make no mistake, he won't be an easy opponent and will very likely kill us." Lycan said, fully believing that if they face Ryujin they'll end up dead.

But at least he could say he tried bringing him down as well, and will make sure that Murk and Savage do die. While Naruto and Fū looked at each other before all three took off running, intending to take the remaining experiments down and free the others.

*Base*

Meanwhile, at the experiments base, Ryujin, Murk and Savage were looking over the prisoners, before stopping at Kabuto. Recognizing him as one of Orochimaru's followers and right-hand man, though it seems the rest of the Konoha Ninja weren't aware of this. Ryujin briefly considered having Murk wake the Ninja up and tell them, before shaking his head. Since it didn't really matter to him what spies Orochimaru had in the Hidden Villages.

"Both of you, go watch the entrance in the event anyone shows up." Ryujin ordered, given the chance that more Ninja would be sent or if Orochimaru, or any of his followers, comes to investigate.

Nodding, Murk and Savage left to watch the entrance of the base and prepare for anyone to show up, while Ryujin returned to his throne room, pleased at their success.

Though when he entered his throne room, Ryujin frowned at seeing Kimimaro standing in front of his throne.

"Kimimaro, what a surprise. I take it you're here about Orochimaru's little spy currently locked away." Ryujin stated, not surprised that the Kaguya was still around after releasing them.

"You shouldn't have interfered in Orochimaru-sama's business, Ryujin. As now your usefulness has run out. Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!" Kimimaro said, swinging his hands at Ryujin, firing his fingers bones at the experiment.

"Lightning Style: Lightning Strike Armor!" Said Ryujin, covering himself in lightning before vanishing in a burst of speed, dodging the finger bones and reappearing behind Kimimaro.

The experiment thrust his hand forward to impale Kimimaro in the back, only to be forced to jump back when several bone spikes shot out of Kimimaro's back.

"Willow Dance!" Said Kimimaro as long bone spikes emerged from his palms and elbows before rushing Ryujin, swinging his right arm at the experiment.

With Ryujin leaning back to avoid the spike, before quickly grabbing Kimimaro's second spike when he tried impaling him. Only for his eyes to widen and grit his teeth in pain, when Kimimaro managed to slice through his hand and armor. Before the Kaguya then jumped up slamming his knee into Ryujin's chest, a bone spike shooting out of his knee and stabbing Ryujin, who managed to move enough to avoid being stabbed through his heart. With Kimimaro then stabbing the bone spikes from his palms into Ryujin's shoulders.

Using his momentum, Kimimaro flipped over Ryujin, throwing him into his throne, destroying it before charging the experiment again.

"Larch Dance!" Kimimaro said as his bone spikes receded slightly to shorter lengths before several more emerged from his body, Ryujin quickly sped out of the way and putting some distance between them.

"Lightning Burial: Banquet of Lightning!" Said Ryujin, launching several bolts of lightning through the air at the Kaguya, his eyes widening in shock when Kimimaro swiped his arms at the lightning and dispelled it.

Leaving Ryujin open as Kimimaro closed the distance between them, dropping his knees as he slid across the floor, swinging his arm at Ryujin's legs, stabbing the bone spikes into them. With Kimimaro then flipping Ryujin in the air and slamming his foot down on his back, sending him crashing to the ground.

"Lightning Style: False Darkness!" Ryujin shouted, turning on the ground and firing a lightning bolt in the shape of a spear from his mouth right at Kimimaro, the Kaguya not having time to dodge as the lightning spear impacted his chest.

The blast sent Kimimaro flying across the room, crashing through a wall as Ryujin got up and continued unleashing the lightning at Kimimaro, focusing it right at the Kaguya. Only to gag when a spinal cord shot out of the hole and wrapped around his throat, cutting off his Jutsu. With Kimimaro emerging from the hole, looking completely fine aside from his ruined shirt and the skin on chest healing, revealing his hardened skeleton.

"Clematis Dance: Vine." Kimimaro said before yanking his bone whip, pulling Ryujin through the air towards him.

"Camellia Dance!" Said Kimimaro, pulling a bone sword out of his arm, stabbing it right through Ryujin once he was close enough, making the experiment cough up blood.

Though Kimimaro didn't stop there as he then kicked Ryujin across the room, releasing his whip before holding his hands up.

"Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!" Kimimaro said, firing his hardened fingers bones at Ryujin, succeeding in them shooting through the experiment repeatedly and sending him crashing against the wall.

Gagging and coughing up blood, Ryujin weakly looked up at Kimimaro as he approached him to finish him off.

"H-ho-how…how c-ca-can you…resist my…li-li-lightning?" Ryujin said, knowing his Lightning Style Ninjutsu was far stronger than any normal Lightning Style Ninjutsu.

"Truthfully, I never trusted you, only freeing you because Orochimaru-sama requested it. The fact you were somehow powerful enough to be close to Jūgo's level made me even more distrustful, in the event you ever betrayed Orochimaru-sama. And knowing your preference for Lightning Style Ninjutsu, I learned how to convert my Chakra into Wind Chakra and trained myself to cover my bones with it. Combined with my already high defensive powers, your attacks were little more than a small shock for me. And I suppose I should thank you, as you've helped me grow even stronger in serving Orochimaru-sama. For that I'll end your suffering quickly." Kimimaro said as he prepared to fire more finger bones at Ryujin to kill him, only to tense when Ryujin suddenly started chuckling, no longer sounding as weak as he did a moment ago.

"Lightning Style Bullet: Powerful Breath!" Ryujin shouted, thrusting his fist forward, unleashing a powerful blast of lightning that sent Kimimaro crashing through several walls, much to the Kaguya's surprise.

While Ryujin continued chuckling as he stood up, shrugging off his fur, robes, and kimono, leaving him in just black hakama pants. Before a dark purple shroud of Chakra began covering him, with bolts of lightning jumping across his body.

"Well, I thank you for this information Kimimaro, but as you said, I am second to Jūgo and haven't shown you just how powerful my lightning really is." Said Ryujin before his head and arms began jerking around, as patches of scales began forming across his body while his eyes glowed with black sclera and slit pupils

"And haven't you ever wondered just why Orochimaru made me so powerful? Why he let me grow strong enough to be second to Jūgo?" Ryujin questioned, stepping through the hole in the wall, while Kimimaro got up.

"No. Clematis Dance: Vine!" Said Kimimaro, pulling his spine out and launching it at Ryujin, only for the experiment to grab it with a malicious smirk.

"You really should have." Said Ryujin before yanking Kimimaro through the air, slamming his arm into his neck, making Kimimaro gag lightly at the blow before he was sent crashing through more walls.

With Ryujin's body jerking some more as horns began sprouting from his head, with his teeth sharpening into fangs, and his tongue becoming forked.

"You serve Orochimaru like a loyal lapdog, not knowing just how weak he's become. Years of self-experimentation and stealing bodies for his own desires has been taking its toll on him, resulting in Orochimaru trying to regain his former strength." Ryujin said, blocking Kimimaro's bone sword when the Kaguya appeared in front of him in a burst of speed, now looking angry at the insults to his master.

Before Ryujin grabbed him by the head and slammed him into the ground, throwing Kimimaro through the walls again back to the throne room.

"That is what I was made to be. I wasn't just a replacement vessel or something Orochimaru would use to simply control. I was meant to help him regain the power he lost, to help him rise even higher than he once did. Only…I'm no snake…" Ryujin said wickedly as he stepped back into the throne room, before two wings burst out of his back, possessing white membranes and purple interior.

"…I am a dragon!" Roared Ryujin as Chakra and lightning flared around him, with Kimimaro looking at him with narrowed eyes.

"Then I'll be the one to slay you. Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!" Kimimaro said, swinging his hands through the air, launching several barrages of finger bullets at Ryujin.

"Lightning Style: Lightning Wall!" Ryujin said, slamming his hands on the ground, creating a wall of lightning that vaporized the fingers bullets.

"Lightning Style: Lightning Fang!" Said Ryujin as the Lightning Wall turned into several bolts of lightning that he fired at Kimimaro.

"Larch Dance!" Said Kimimaro, causing several bone spikes to sprout across his body, as he charged at Ryujin.

Raising his arms up, Kimimaro gritted his teeth as he could still feel the lightning coursing through his body, but managed to block most of it out. Before reaching Ryujin and swung his arms out to slice through his body. Only for Ryujin to block his attack with his wings, with Kimimaro flipping over him when the experiments tried slicing him with his claws.

"Willow Dance!" Kimimaro said as a large bone spike emerged from his palm, which he thrusted down into Ryujin's back, the dragon-like experiment grunting.

"Lightning Style: Lightning Quake Flash!" Ryujin said releasing a current of purplish lightning from his hands that spread across his body, throwing Kimimaro away from him before flying at the Kaguya.

"Camellia Dance!" Said Kimimaro this time pulling two bone swords out of his arms and charged Ryujin, only for Ryujin to smirk and quickly land on the ground.

"Lightning Style: Spider Web!" Said Ryujin, slamming his hands on the ground, causing a web of lightning to spread out across the ground, with Kimimaro acting quickly and jumping into the air.

Throwing one of his sword into the ground, the Kaguya landed on top of the sword, remaining perfectly balanced until Ryujin flew at him again. Knocking Kimimaro off his sword, only for the white-haired teen to flip around and slam his feet into Ryujin's back sending him crashing back to the ground.

"Lightning Style: Thunderclap Arrow!" Ryujin shouted, shooting a blast of lightning at Kimimaro, who threw his sword at the lightning, triggering an explosion.

Skidding across the ground, Kimimaro retrieved his second sword before rushing Ryujin again, who had activated his Lightning Strike Armor as well. Allowing him to avoid Kimimaro's slashes before getting in close and grabbing the Kaguya's wrist, twisting his arm around to release his sword. Grabbing the bone sword himself, Ryujin stabbed it through Kimimaro's stomach, smirking as it managed to impale the Kaguya.

"Guess your own power is your biggest weakness. Lightning Style: Lightning Rod!" Said Ryujin, raising his arm into the air, generating a powerful bolt of electricity before having it travel through his body into Kimimaro's.

The Kaguya grit his teeth before hardening his skull and slammed his head into Ryujin's face, making the dragon-like experiment grunt. With this allowing Kimimaro to raise his knee as a bone spike emerged from it, stabbing it through Ryujin's chest. Before Kimimaro jumped back and looked at Ryujin with narrowed eyes, before sighing and shrugged off his shirt. Before bringing a hand to his mouth as he began coughing violently.

'I need to end this now!'Kimimaro thought as he pulled his hand away and saw splotches of blood on it, knowing that with his illness and Ryujin proving to be stronger than he anticipated, he can't afford for this battle to let this battle draw out.

"I will admit, the power you possess certainly puts you above the usual trash I must deal with and I now see why Orochimaru-sama gave you such power to regain his own lost strength. However…you still had no hope in a fight against me." Kimimaro stated as his Curse Mark glowed before black markings spread across his body.

"And why's that?! You're using your Curse Mark, showing you need its power to beat me!" Retorted Ryujin, annoyed at the Kaguya thinking he still stood a chance when he's at his full power.

"You misunderstand, I am fully capable of killing you in my base form, but such a thing would only lead to a longer fight and I don't enjoy wasting my time on such nonsense. This is merely to end the fight now rather than let it continue more than it already has. After all you seem to forget something very important Ryujin, the power you possess was given to you. While I was born powerful." Kimimaro said as he entered his Curse Mark Second Stage.

Giving him dark grey skin, dark black sclera, yellow irises, sharp teeth, six large bone spines protruding out of his back, a long bone-spiked tail and two dark black curved markings under his eyes, one under each eye and two as elongated eyebrows, one above each eye.

"Now…what was it you called me? A loyal lapdog to Orochimaru-sama. Then you're dog food!" Said Kimimaro before charging Ryujin, though being much slower in his transformed stated.

"Don't give me that crap! Maybe if you were in your prime that would've been true, but we both know that isn't the case! Lightning Style: False Darkness!" Ryujin shouted, unleashing multiple spears of lightning from his mouth at the Kaguya, only for Kimimaro to charge right through them, thanks to his now thicker skin.

"Clematis Dance: Vine!" Kimimaro said, pulling out his now much longer spine, with the vertebrae now having spikes, and launched it at Ryujin.

Folding his wings around himself to block the bone whip, Ryujin gritted his teeth as the spikes on the whip dug into his wings and body, before finding himself yanked through the air towards Kimimaro.

"Clematis Dance: Flower!" Said Kimimaro rushing Ryujin's approaching form, while creating a massive bone spear around his arm.

Thrusting the spear forward, Ryujin grunted pain as the spear stabbed through his body, before finding himself thrown through the air.

"Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!" Kimimaro said, swinging his hands through the air, unleashing hardened fingers bones that now had spikes tips, with each of them shooting through Ryujin's body, only increasing his pain.

Before Kimimaro then stabbed his bone spear into the ground and burrowed his way underground, making Ryujin growl.

"You think you can escape me?! Lightning Burial: Banquet of Lightning!" Ryujin roared, sending multiple blasts of lightning through the ground towards Kimimaro's location.

"No, I'm simply ending this now! Bracken Dance!" Yelled Kimimaro before dozens and dozens of bone spikes shot up from the ground around Ryujin, making his eyes widen before he quickly flew up to avoid being impaled by the spikes.

Only for Kimimaro to emerge from the bone spikes behind him, having merged with the bones to appear behind Ryujin.

"This ends now!" Kimimaro said, thrusting his spear forward to kill Ryujin, with the dragon-like experiment looking at him with wide eyes and a spark of fear in them.

Before Ryujin managed to move enough to avoid it being a killing blow, but still grit his teeth in pain to avoid screaming as the bone spear impaled his side. With Ryujin then releasing a cloud of purple smoke right into Kimimaro's face, making the Kaguya back away and cough. Only to suddenly have several objects shoved into his mouth, with an uppercut causing him to bite down on them, spilling unknown liquids into his mouth.

"Yes it does end now." Ryujin said with a smirk before grunting when Kimimaro twisted the bone spear in his side before he grabbed the Kaguya and pulled him out of the bone spikes, throwing him across the room, breaking through dozens of the other bone spikes.

"Lightning Style: Depth Charge!" Said Ryujin, covering his body in Lightning Chakra before unleashing an omnidirectional blast of lightning that vaporized the bone spikes.

With Kimimaro hardening his skeleton, allowing him to shrug off most of the damage, though found himself starting to grow weaker and his vision becoming blurry.

"Poison…as expected from trash that knows they would die." Kimimaro said, panting as he felt his body getting weaker, with his Curse Mark deactivating, while Ryujin smirked wickedly at him.

"Whatever ends in me winning. Now I wonder, will Orochimaru mourn your death or care less about losing another tool. Let's find out when I send him your head!" Ryujin said before flying at him with clawed hand pulled back to impale the Kaguya.

Gritting his teeth in annoyance, Kimimaro forced his body to stand up and waited until Ryujin was close enough, spinning around his attack at the last second.

"Camellia Dance!" Kimimaro said ,drawing two bone swords and stabbing them into Ryujin's back and into the floor, pinning the dragon-like experiment down, with Ryujin being unable to stop himself from screaming in pain.

Before growling and forced himself off the bone swords, only to see Kimimaro was nowhere in sight, much to his growing anger.

"Run as far as you like Kimimaro! With your illness and now my poison running through your veins, you'll be dead soon enough!" Ryujin shouted, knowing Kimimaro was a dead man before grunting as he went and sat down on the raised dais where his throne once was.

Now alone, Ryujin panted heavily at the fight and Chakra he used, combined with his injuries, looking at them to see they were starting to heal. But knew he'd need time to rest and fully recover before was back at full strength.

*With Kimimaro*

Meanwhile, Kimimaro had managed to escape the base and was now wandering through the forest, panting lightly as he felt the poison running through his body. Before he spotted a cave, making the Kaguya headed for it.

Entering the cave, Kimimaro headed deep inside before finally lying down and closed his eyes.

'Forgive me, Orochimaru-sama' The Kaguya thought before he lost consciousness, though rather than his breathing coming to a stop like he and Ryujin thought it would, it began evening out during his hibernation.

*Later-With Naruto, Fū and Lycan*

Naruto, Fū, and Lycan had soon arrived at the entrance of the experiments base, with the latter sniffing the air before growling.

"I can smell Murk and Savage inside; they're likely waiting for anyone to enter to ambush them." Lycan said, with Naruto and Fū nodding at this, while knowing they didn't have time to waste.

"We'll need to catch them off guard and take them out quickly. We still need to find the others and take out Ryujin, so we can't waste time and energy on fighting them." Stated Naruto before motioning them to move back from the entrance.

Once they were a good distance away from the entrance, Naruto pulled out several kunai with Explosive Tags before throwing them at the bases entrances. With the tags detonating the moment they made contact, blowing a giant hole into the base.

"Fire Style: Fox Fire!" Naruto said, creating ten blue fire balls before launching them into the base.

"Wind Style: Divine Mountain Wind!" Said Fū, creating a vortex of wind she fired into the base, causing the fireballs to erupt into a massive inferno that spread incinerating everything in its path.

With Lycan letting out a sonic howl at the combined attacks, further increasing the power of the flames, before Naruto nodded at Fū, which the greenette returned.

"Water Style: Surging Sea!" Naruto and Fū said while going through handsigns before expelling a large amount of water that instantly put the flames out and created a large amount of steam.

"Let's go!" Said Naruto as they rushed into the base, running through the steam, before the Uzumaki quickly drew his sword blocking a strike from Savage, who's entire body was burned and healing.

"You'll little fuckers should have stayed dead! Cause now I'm gonna-" Savage said, only to be tackled by Lycan and slammed into the wall.

"The only thing you'll do is scream!" Roared Lycan before biting down on Savage's neck and tearing a large chunk out, throwing the Jashinist down the corridor, where he got up and began regenerating.

"I'll mount your fucking head on my wall!" Yelled Savage before charging at Lycan, who released a sonic howl that sent Savage flying back.

Naruto and Fū moved to help Lycan deal with Savage, only to tense and quickly jump back as they saw Murk rising up from the ground, with his shadow extending towards them.

"Shadow Sewing Jutsu!" Murk said with his shadow splitting into multiple, thin, needle-like tendrils that rushed towards Naruto and Fū.

"Not this time!" Said Naruto, pulling out several pellets, throwing them on the ground with them exploding into a large cloud of smoke, removing their shadows from being grabs by Murk's.

"Scale Powder!" Said Fū, releasing a large amount of find powder from her body through the smoke, with the powder immediately shining brightly, making Murk grunt and shield his eyes from the blinding light.

"Wind Style: Air Bullets!" Naruto said, going through handsigns before releasing multiple compressed bullets of air at Murk.

"Earth Style: Mud Wall!" Said Murk, slamming his hands on the ground, causing a stone wall to rise up in front of him, which the Air Bullets impacted and cracked.

"Water Style: Rising Water Slicer!" Fū said, creating a wave of water that rushed towards Murk, slicing through the Mud Wall.

The experiment managing to regain his vision, only for his eyes to widen at the sight of the water wave coming towards him. With Murk quickly jumping out of the way, grunting when the water wave managed to slice his arm. Before crying out when Naruto rushed him, drawing his sword, and slicing Murk across his chest, the rogue Nara quickly jumping back.

"Shadow Neck Binding Jutsu!" Said Murk with his shadow shooting out, managing to grab hold of Naruto's before it began creeping up his body to his neck, choking the Uzumaki.

Before Murk had his shadow also wrap around Naruto's arm and began forcefully moving his sword to stab himself, with Naruto gritting his teeth as he tried resisting the control.

"Net-Shaped Prison!" Fū said, shooting webbing out of her hands, ensnaring Murk before he could dodge, with the experiment soon feeling his Chakra being drained, allowing Naruto to start breaking free from his shadow.

The ravenette flaring his Chakra, succeeding in freeing himself from Murk's shadow before charging the experiment, Murk's eyes widening in fear as Naruto raised his sword. The rogue Nara quickly sinking into the ground to escape, only to find himself pulled back by Fū's webs. With Murk not having time to react before Naruto swung his sword, slicing right through his neck as his head hit the ground. Leaving the duo pleased that their plan and sneak attack seemed to have worked, before they prepared to go off to aid Lycan.

Though Naruto and Fū tensed when dozens of shadows suddenly flew off of Murk's body, wondering if he was able to save himself from being killed, only to see nothing else happened.

"What was that?" Fū said, confused at what just happened before they saw Savage's torn apart and mutilated body be thrown at Murk's.

"That's Murk's Shadow Cutter Jutsu, a Kinjutsu used to steal people's shadows, leaving them in comas and trapped in their own minds. The victims only wake up if Murk returns their shadows, I guess killing him also works as well." Said Lycan, surprising the two Jinchūriki, with both of them being thankful he didn't get the chance to use it on them.

"I thought you said, he couldn't be killed." Stated Naruto as he looked at Savage's body.

"He can't, but his body is useless without its head and his head can't be reattached if it's nothing but a stain on the wall." Lycan said, having crushed Savage's head, ensuring it would be impossible for him to come back, with Naruto and Fū nodding at this.

"Alright, that just leaves Ryujin. Fū you go find the others, Lycan and I will keep Ryujin busy long enough for you to free everyone and come help take him down." Naruto said, the greenette nodding before she ran further into the base to find where everyone was being kept.

With Naruto and Lycan going towards where they could sense Ryujin, readying themselves for what would be a difficult and dangerous battle. Though the closer they got to the throne room, the more they saw remnants of another battle, confusing the two as to who else could have been here. But also making them hope whoever fought Ryujin weakened him enough that they'd be able to take him down themselves.

Before they soon arrived, bursting into the throne room, making Ryujin's head snap up while Naruto's eyes widened at seeing his transformed state.

"Well…it would seem I'm being plagued by insects today, if you two are still alive." Ryujin said in annoyance at seeing Naruto and Lycan were still alive, especially in his current state.

"I can't say the same for Murk and Savage, leaving just you." Growled Lycan as he saw the condition Ryujin was currently in, believing they may actually have a chance to kill him.

"And just by looking at you, it looks like someone saved us some trouble. I guess you could make it easier and just let us kill you." Naruto added while pointing his sword at Ryujin, making the dragon-like experiment scowl as he stood up.

"Even in my current condition, I'm still more than powerful enough to kill the likes of you! Lightning Style: Lightning Ball!" Ryujin shouted, creating multiple balls of lightning that he launched at Naruto and Lycan.

"Wind Style: Shield of the Wind Count!" Said Naruto, going through handsigns and creating a barrier of wind that the Lightning Balls impacted, before being launched right back at Ryujin at greater speed and power.

With Ryujin quickly flying out the way, grunting as some of the Lightning Balls impacted at him before he was tackled by Lycan. The wolf-like experiment roaring and slamming Ryujin into the ground before grabbing him by his wings and throwing him into the wall.

"Fire Style: Ash Pile Burning!" Said Naruto, releasing a large amount of Chakra-infused gunpowder towards Ryujin, before dragging his sword across the ground creating a trail of sparks that ignited the gunpowder, consuming Ryujin in a large fiery explosion.

Only for Ryujin to fly out of the fire, covered in his Lightning Strike Armor, appearing right in front of Naruto before he could blink. Grabbing the Uzumaki by his head which he slammed into the ground before throwing him up against the ceiling and slamming his foot into his chest, sending Naruto crashing through a wall.

Before he quickly turned and grabbed Lycan by his throat, only to growl when Lycan slashed him across the face with his claws. With Ryujin in turn slicing Lycan with his own claws, before slamming his elbow down on his head, sending Lycan crashing into the ground.

"You are nothing but a worthless failure, Mutt! One that I'll enjoy tearing apart!" Ryujin growled as he grabbed Lycan by his neck, only to grunt when Lycan quickly lifted his head up, slamming it into Ryujin's jaw.

"Says the other failure!" Retorted Lycan before unleashing a sonic howl, sending Ryujin flying across the room and crashing against a wall.

"Wind Style: Sword of the Wind Count!" Naruto said, having recovered from Ryujin's kick, while swinging his sword at the dragon-like experiment and releasing a large sharp wave of compressed wind.

Folding his wings around him to block the attack, Ryujin roared in anger and pain as the attack managed to slice through his wings and Lightning Strike Armor. With his wings slowly healing before Ryujin vanished in a burst of speed, reappearing behind Naruto and stabbed his claws into his back. Making the whiskered ravenette grunt as he was lifted into the air.

"I've had enough of you humans interfering! Lightning Style Bullet: Powerful Breath!" Roared Ryujin before throwing Naruto up and slamming his fist into him, unleashing a powerful blast of lightning that sent Naruto crashing through the ceiling.

The Uzumaki crying out as he smashed through the ceiling until he was launched back outside, leaving a massive hole in the base, allowing moonlight to shine through. With Naruto soon crashing into the ground after Ryujin stopped his attack, the dragon-like experiment flying outside and divebombed Naruto.

Only to be forced to move as several crescent-shaped blasts of Chakra were launched at him by Lycan, who leapt out of the throne room. Roaring loudly, Lycan created several Chakra Wolves that all launched themselves at Ryujin, who growled in anger and began swiping his claws at the wolves.

"Are you alright?" Lycan asked helping Naruto up, with the Jinchūriki grunting as he stood up while feeling his wounds healing.

"I'll live. Let's just focus on dealing with him." Replied Naruto before they turned to see Ryujin seemingly draining the Chakra Wolves, absorbing their Chakra into himself and speeding up his own healing factor.

With the Uzumaki then creating dozens of Shadow Clones, sending most of them to attack Ryujin, while three stayed back with him and Lycan. The dragon-like experiment only growing more angry at now having to deal with clones.

"Lightning Style: Electromagnetic Murder!" Ryujin shouted, unleashing a wave of lightning from his hands that vaporized most of the clones.

"Fire Style: Flame Whirlwind!" Naruto and one of his clones shouted, launching spiraling flames towards Ryujin.

"Wind Style: Flower Scattering Dance!" Said the other two clones, creating two large cyclones of petals and winds.

The Jutsu combining together into a massive spiraling vortex of fire, with Ryujin being unable to dodge as the attacks collided against him, burning his body. Before Naruto and his clones directed the vortex up into the air, with Lycan swinging his claws, releasing dozens of crescent-shaped blades at Ryujin before letting out a loud sonic howl.

While Ryujin cried out in pain as he was burned and slashed by the combined attacks, along with feeling his hatred and rage growing at how they thought they could beat him. The dragon-like experiment soon roaring loudly in pure rage, with his Chakra flaring around him as a miniature lightning storm. Causing the flames and wind to be dispersed, shocking Naruto and Lycan.

"I will put an end to all of your miserable lives, right now!" Ryujin shouted before he began spinning around in the air with dark thunderclouds gathering overhead, converging around Ryujin as they surrounded him in a vortex of lightning and wind.

"Lightning Dragon Tornado!" Yelled Ryujin as the vortex took the shape of a long serpentine dragon with red eyes, the dragon roaring loudly before diving down straight towards Naruto and Lycan.

With Lycan letting out a powerful sonic howl, channeling as much of his Chakra into it to try and push the dragon back. Only for the dragon to let out its own roar and pushed through the sonic howl, with Lycan putting even more Chakra into it. While Naruto held his sword tightly before he began channeling as much as Chakra as he could into it, causing the sword to be surrounded in an aura of Chakra. The Chakra soon condensing around the blade and moving to the tip of it.

The whiskered ravenette then shouting as he swung sword at the dragon, unleashing a gigantic wave of Chakra in the shape of a crescent moon. With the attack combining with Lycan's sonic howl and for a moment looked to push it back. Before the dragon roared again and surged right towards the two, making their eyes widen, with Lycan being shocked when Naruto got in front of and raised his sword in an attempt to block the Lightning Dragon Tornado.

Only for the attack to shatter the blade, making Naruto's eyes widen, before he and Lycan were both thrown back by the attack as it exploded in a massive dome of lightning and wind, devastating the area. With Naruto and Lycan being sent skidding across the ground, groaning in pain, before they saw Ryujin emerge. The dragon-like experiment immediately flying right at Naruto with his claws pulled back.

"Die!" Ryujin shouted wickedly, while Naruto struggled to stand up to get out of the way, only to be unable to move as Ryujin grew ever closer.

With the Uzumaki only able to tense at seeing he's likely going to die, only for a white blur to suddenly get between him and Ryujin. Naruto looking in shock and horror to see that Lycan had gotten between them, with Ryujin's claws stabbed through his chest.

"Sacrificing yourself for a human? You really are pathe-" Ryujin said, only to be cutoff and scream in pain when Lycan slashed his claws deeply across his face before unleashing a sonic howl that sent Ryujin flying back.

"Why? Why did you save me?" Naruto asked in shock that he took the hit for him as Lycan fell to his knees and looked at the Uzumaki.

"Ryujin has proven to be my enemy. You…" Said Lycan, putting a hand on Naruto's shoulder and the other on his chest, with Naruto suddenly feeling a surge of energy as Lycan began transferring the last of his Chakra and lifeforce to him.

"…you have proven to be my friend. Take this, the last of my energy. Take it and destroy him for all wolves!" Lycan said before he fell down after giving the last of his energy to Naruto, the Jinchūriki looking at him with wide eyes before catching Lycan's body and laying him down on the ground.

"Don't be sad, you'll be joining the failure soon enough." Said Ryujin as he got up, angered at Lycan attacking him, but pleased at killing the failure-turned-traitor.

With Naruto's head snapping towards him, glaring at the dragon-like experiment before he stood up with his eyes flashing red and his pupils narrowing into slits. While his canines extended into fangs, his nails grew into claws, while whisker marks became darker and more pronounced. With red Chakra and black smoke soon emitting off of his body, as his wounds began steaming and healing. Along with the moonlight seeming to shine brighter on the Uzumaki. The sight making Ryujin frown before flying straight at Naruto with his claws pulled back.

"It doesn't matter what tricks you have left! This ends now!" Ryujin shouted as he prepared to impale Naruto with nothing left to stop him.

Only for Naruto to unleash a loud and powerful sonic howl that sent Ryujin crashing into the ground, while the smoke wrapped around the whiskered ravenette before it began solidifying into black armor and clothing. Moving up Naruto's body until it reached his head, turning his hair grey as it grew out before his face turned into a wolves with glowing amber/red eyes with slit pupils and a horn emerging from his forehead.

The sight shocking Ryujin at seeing Naruto transform before the transformed Jinchūriki vanished in a burst of speed, reappearing above Ryujin with his hand wrapped around his throat.

"You were right. This ends now, and so do you." Said Zen-Aku before throwing Ryujin into the air.

"Wind Style: Spiralling Wind Ball!" Zen-Aku shouted before releasing multiple whirlwind-like balls at Ryujin, each one slamming into his body, making the dragon-like experiment cry out at the power in the attack.

"Lightning Style: Lightning Strike Armor!" Ryujin said, covering himself in lightning before vanishing in a burst of speed.

Appearing in front of Zen-Aku, Ryujin tried impaling the Duke Wolf, only for Zen-Aku to grab his wrist and snap it. Before he then stabbed his own claws into Ryujin's chest and dragged them down to his abdomen before ripping them out. Following by headbutting Ryujin and slamming his foot into his stomach.

"Beast Wave Gale Palm!" Said Zen-Aku, using a large amount of Wind Chakra and condensing it into a massive demonic-like claw.

Launching the claw at Ryujin, Zen-Aku had it slam Ryujin into the ground before grabbing him and pulling him back towards the Duke Wolf. Moving out of the way to have Ryujin go flying past him, only for Zen-Aku to grab him by his wings.

"You won't be needing these anymore!" Zen-Aku said before smashing his foot into Ryujin's back, tearing his wings right off while the dragon-like experiment crashed into the ground, gritting his teeth at the pain and agony of losing his wings.

"You…you think…you think you can insult me in such a way?! That you could hope to defeat me?! I am Ryujin, I am a dragon, I can't be beaten by a half-breed mutt like you!" Ryujin shouted as he got up before gathering all of his Chakra.

"Lightning Style: False Darkness!" Roared Ryujin, firing a powerful beam of lightning right at Zen-Aku.

"Fire Style: Fox Fire!" Zen-Aku said, creating ten blue fireballs before combining them together into a wave of flames, using much more Chakra than usual to match Ryujin's attack.

The two attacks collided together, with Zen-Aku and Ryujin pushing more and more Chakra into their Jutsu to overpower the other. Both attacks pushing against each other, until Ryujin's attack started pushing Zen-Aku's back, much to his pleasure as he roared loudly. Causing his attack to begin overtaking the Duke Wolf's own, making Zen-Aku grunt as he pushed more Chakra into his Jutsu as his feet slide slightly along the dirt.

"Let's see how you like a taste of your own lightning! Wind Style: Shield of the Wind Count!" Said Zen-Aku, creating a barrier of wind in front of him, with his Fox Fire And Ryujin's False Darkness colliding against it.

Pushing all of his Chakra into the barrier, Zen-Aku shouted as the combined Jutsu were sent rushing straight at the shocked Ryujin at far greater speed and power. With Ryujin having no time to escape or dodge the attack, forcing him to raise his hands and try to block, only to be pushed back as he was overpowered the combined Jutsu.

"You may've been a Dragon, Ryujin! But know that you were nothing before the Duke Wolf, Zen-Aku!" Zen-Aku exclaimed victoriously.

"N-No, this can't be happening…NO! Nooooo!" Ryujin screamed in horror and agony as he was consumed by the blast off wind-enhanced fire and lightning, before he was incinerated by the attack.

Once he could no longer sense Ryujin, Zen-Aku ended his Jutsu before falling to one knee and panted heavily before he transformed back into Naruto. The Uzumaki panting, letting out a grunt as he stood up, seeing nothing left of Ryujin at all, before looked over at Lycan's body sadly and went over to it.

"Thank you, Lycan." Naruto said, knowing he couldn't have won without his help, before going through handsigns.

"Fire Style: Running Fire." Said Naruto, creating a stream of flames and had it hit Lycan's body to burn it, not wanting it to be used by anyone.

Though for a moment, Naruto could swear he saw the flames suddenly turn pure white and transform into the shape of a howling wolf, only for the flames to quickly disperse. Before the Uzumaki soon collapsed, unconscious as his exhaustion, pain and fatigue finally caught up with him.

Luckily being caught by a concerned Satsuki and Hinata as they, along with the rest of the Konoha Ninja and Fū just arrived, looking around at the destruction around them in shock.

"Naruto is certainly something else, isn't he senpai." Yamato stated at seeing the destruction caused from Naruto's and Lycan's battle with Ryujin, feeling proud at how far he's come.

"Yes, he definitely is." Kakashi said proudly, knowing that Minato and Kushina would be happy at how strong their son has become.

"For him to be able to fight an opponent that powerful and win, Naruto's certainly going to go far." Said Yūgao, smiling at her student, before spotting the destroyed pieces of his sword, making her frown slightly.

'And I'll make sure you get a new blade Naruto.' Yūgao mentally added, wanting to make sure Naruto had a stronger blade, one that wouldn't break.

All while Kabuto looked around at the destruction in intrigue, along with not seeing any sign of Ryujin's body, showing Naruto must have completely obliterated him.

'To think he's still just a Genin and is already capable of winning against an opponent like Ryujin, even if he was in a weakened state from fighting Kimimaro. But is this Naruto's own power or did it come from whatever caused his appearance to change? Either way, I'll have to make sure both Orochimaru-sama and Sasori-sama are informed of this.' Kabuto thought, knowing that both his masters will be interested in learning about this turn of events.

So, what did you think, good. Yep we see the Ninja being looked over and healed, with Naruto and Fū already being mostly healed thanks to their healing factors, along with Naruto's Uzumaki heritage, with Kabuto dismissing them, but not before placing a Tracker Seal on Fū. Then we see Naruto and Fū bonding and getting to know each other better, sharing their pasts in their villages and how they were treated, with Fū being happy and touched by how much Naruto cares about her already. Before we then see Ibiki interrogating Lycan, who's remained silent through the attempts until he finally speaks, revealing Ryujin was coming, leading Ibiki to go and warn the others, while Lycan manages to escape. Before we see Ryujin arrive with his two elite followers, the rest having been killed by the traps set up, destroying the wall around town before going to deal with the citizens and Ninja, while sending Murk and Savage to kill Lycan for being defeated and captured, with Ryujin making short work of the Ninja and citizens. While Naruto and Fū are ambushed by Lycan only to be attacked by Murk and Savage, who believe they killed the trio, not knowing they survived thanks to Naruto, along with saving Lycan, before Ryujin destroys the entire town. Before seeing Naruto, Fū, and Lycan emerge, the latter being shocked they saved him leading to the three bonding together and going to take down Ryujin, while Lycan also tells them more about Murk and Savage. Next we see Ryujin being confronted by Kimimaro for interfering in Orochimaru's business, leading to a battle between them with Ryujin proving how powerful he is when he uses his Dragon Curse Mark to match Kimimaro, before the Kaguya's illness starts acting up leading to him transforming as well to kill Ryujin, only to be poisoned and forced to flee, finding shelter in a nearby cave believing he'll die. Finally we see Naruto, Fū, and Lycan arriving at the base where they deal with Murk and Savage, before Naruto and Lycan go to deal with Ryujin, while Fū goes to free everyone, with the former two finding Ryujin after his battle with Kimimaro, but still proves to be a powerful opponent for them. Leading to Lycan taking a fatal blow for Naruto, transferring the last of his Chakra and lifeforce to him, giving Naruto the power to transform into Zen-Aku and finish Ryujin off for good. Before burning Lycan's body as everyone arrives, with Satsuki and Hinata catching Naruto as everyone takes in the destroyed battlefield, while Kabuto knows he'll have to inform Orochimaru and Sasori of this new development. So, for those that like the story, thanks for your support. For those that don't or at least don't like the direction taken, you're more than welcomed to drop the story. But thanks for giving the story a chance anyway.

Storm out