Chapter 29
Kimimaro looked to the ceiling of the underground facility as dust fell due to the clash taking place further in. Around him, Sound Nin looked to each other in worry, the stress palpable even amongst hardened criminals—not that he could blame them. The might of his comrades far exceeded their lackluster abilities, holding feats that would make them look like civilians in comparison. The fact they were currently engaging someone said to hold the infamous Kyuubi was reason enough for them to want to get as far away from this place as possible. He had faith in his comrades, yet even he doubted their prowess against a Jinchuuriki, yet alone the strongest of them all.
Nevertheless, that wasn't his mission. His current and only goal was to make sure the escape route remained secure. Konoha would be here any minute now, a fact all too clear from the chakra signature quickly closing in on their position.
The sudden rushing of water had the last Kaguya leaping to the ceiling. Moments later, a rush of water flooded the corridor, sweeping the remaining Sound Nin off their feet and carrying them further into the facility. Above, Kimimaro watched the water surge past him, likely drowning anyone and everyone within. It did eventually stop, but the attack wasn't over.
The sound of chirping birds had his head turning sharply to meet the red eye of the Sharingan. Instincts had him drop from the ceiling and away from the attack. Unfortunately, his movements were anticipated. The moment he fell, the Jonin slowed his charge into a flip. The moment his feet touched the ceiling, he rocketed off of it, his lightning-covered hand heading straight for Kimimaro's chest.
With no time to dodge, he swung his left arm upward, catching the hand just above the wrist. Electricity coursed through his veins, the heat a secondary annoyance as he did his best to stop the Jonin's momentum. The force of the attack sent them flying through a wall, shattering the concrete in their wake and stopping just as fast as they began.
The room they now found themselves in was pitch black, a stark contrast to the corridor's dimly lit ambiance. Not that the two needed an external source when the hand currently doing its best to run the Kaguya through to no avail.
"So this is the famous Raikiri from Copy-Nin Kakashi himself." Kimimaro spoke calmly, his eyes never leaving that of the Sharingan. "I must say, I am honored you see me as such a threat."
Instead of replying, Kakashi leaped back and out of the hole they had created. Free to move once more, Kimimaro observed his hands, the burns from the lightning slowly fading until pale skin was the only thing left.
"I don't know if it is a stroke of bad luck that you came across this facility, or a blessing that you brought a Jinchuuriki right into our hands. Regardless, I cannot allow you to pass."
Kakashi silently acknowledged the warning, readying himself for another fight. "I'd like to say it's an honor, but I don't have the luxury of time. This would be a lot easier on the both of us if you were to surrender."
The Sound Nin seemed unfazed by the comment as he began walking towards the hole they'd created.
"I believe you are the one who should surrender, Hatake. This is not a battle you are likely to come out of alive."
"Well, normally I'd give you the courtesy of entertaining the thought. However," he shrugged, the Sharingan briefly flaring with activity, "You have three of my allies, along with who knows how many Fire Nation civilians. I cannot entertain the thought of surrender when my allies are at stake."
Before Kimimaro could give a rebuttal, the ground shook once more. He didn't remove his sight from the copy Nin, but it did cause him to stop and nail his feet to the ground less he tumbled from the earthquake.
"...And from the sound of it, so are yours."
"...Is that so?" If Kimimaro didn't know any better, he'd say Kakashi was giving him a knowing smirk behind that mask. "Then that only means time is of the essence."
At once, the Curse-mark on his neck began to spread inky-red along his skin until it covered his entire body. Seconds later, bones protruded from his back, flesh ripping and tearing as they broke through, yet there was no blood to speak of. His hair darkens to gray, while his eyebrows grow black as they stretch to the sides of his head.
In no time at all, Kakashi found himself staring at a completely new man, if he could even be called that. If not to make the scene more monstrous, his hand bent and out of his wrist emerged a long, sharp bone that he caught with the same hand it came from.
Determined yellow eyes now met his, no mercy or fear to be seen.
"I'll just have to make this quick."
Location: ?
"N-no please-!"
"Stop! W-were just-!"
"I-I don't wanna-"
The tearing of flesh swiftly silenced the cries of men and women. Many turned their backs to flee, yet found death waiting for them around every corner.
None were shown mercy. Every living being bearing a lab coat or Sound headband was cut down until their life on this world ultimately came to an end. Blood painted the walls and floors like a decoration, the splashes from footsteps giving the now quiet corridor an eerie ambiance. The sole living occupant of the room gave a swift swing of her tanto before sheathing it behind her. Stepping over the corpses in her wake, she came to a stop before a stretcher. On the stretcher was a familiar face as well as the one next to him, both out cold with multiple tubes running into their veins. Around them, similar people, mostly elderly, were in the same state, yet they came second to the two Genin in front of her.
Undoing their bindings and removing the IV's did little to wake them from their slumber, the drugs in their systems likely having a hand in keeping them under. Thinking quickly, she went through a few hand-signs before slamming a hand into the ground. Around her, Multiple puffs of smoke appeared and what would have been a nightmare for anyone with arachnophobia presented itself in the form of six eight-legged creatures of varying sizes and shapes. All immediately turned to her, ready to heed her every command.
"Take care of the Civilians," was all that needed to be said before they went to work. The elderly were all wrapped up in cocoons of webs before being attached to the arachnid's backs. Meanwhile, Kagero secured Neji and Tenten into her own arms, one over the shoulder and the other inside. Once they and the rest were secured, she motioned for the rest of her summons to exit the way she had, secure in the fact there would be no opposition on their way out.
Now all she needed to do was make sure they got to safety while Kakashi extracted the Jinchuuriki. Going by the way the underground hideout shook every other second, things were either going according to plan, or their opposition was a lot more resilient than they had first calculated.
"My oh my."
A voice, one belonging not to her nor her summons, spoke in a sickeningly sweet tone, one that sent shivers even down her spine. Footsteps followed, all eyes shooting to the corridor they'd yet to venture through.
"I have to say, never in a million years would I have thought Danzo's little experiment would operate in the light, much less take up a Genin team of her own volition. Though I can't say I'm too surprised. You are a puppet, after all."
The voice grew closer, Kagero readying herself for an attack. The footsteps stopped just outside of her field of vision, yet she dared not take her attention away from the corridor lest she be snuck upon.
"Tell me, Kagura-chan, how is our old friend doing these days?"
Kagero did not answer the voice. She instead took the time to slip her summons a particular sign, one they were ready to execute at a moment's notice.
"Aw, don't be like that, Kagero-chan~. Aren't you excited to see me?"
She answered by throwing a smoke to the ground. The moment the smoke cloud was thick enough, her summons made their move. Webs shot from all corners, covering the corridor completely until the entire area was walled off. When the smoke cleared, only Kagero was left behind, her eyes determined. Despite the summons getting away with the rest of the subjects, the voice chuckled ominously.
"My, my, I truly underestimated your character, Kagero-chan. I expected you to turn tale, but it seems you've grown a sense of honor. How very human for a puppet."
Kagero did not allow the taunt to get to her, but she did give a reply, "I cannot hope to defeat you, but if I can stall until the extraction is complete, then I have served a purpose."
Another chuckle from the voice, followed by footsteps, "How noble. I'm happy you think so highly of me." He said, stepping out of the shadows and revealing himself to her in all his glory. "Then allow me to live up to your expectations, Kagura-chan."
Location: Underground Coliseum
The first to charge the Jinchuuriki, predictably, was Mizuki. In his new form, he surpassed that of his Chunin status, able to reach the blonde within a blink of an eye with a fist raised to smash him into the ground. He wasn't very certain just how much stronger he had become due to the power granted to him, but he was confident it would be more than enough to turn the 12-year-old into a bloody smear on the ground.
Then his life flashed before his eyes.
A sharp, burning pain shot through his abdomen, which was soon accompanied by another in his throat. Stumbling back, he came to realize he was coughing up blood—a lot of it. Looking down, his stomach opened into two holes. Two gaping, bloody holes. Blood poured from them in pools, painting the ground with both his insides and life liquid. No matter how much he wished to, he couldn't look away from the sight. When he finally did, it was as if his head was moving on its own.
The demon was standing in front of him, taller and much bigger than he remembered. The eyes that remained so vacant and devoid of human emotion now looked down on him righteously.
As if he were a bug.
As if his life were meaningless.
As if...he were a God?
Such thoughts were put to rest by something crashing into his body and sending him flying. The shock of being cut open was soon replaced by panic and agony as he flailed in the air before his body impacted a something hard—the new pain overwhelming his senses enough for him to not realized it had all been an illusion.
Naruto watched dispassionately as his former sensei was sent flying by a backhand from Sothis's corporeal form before returning his attention to the much bigger threat now approaching him.
Jirobo, Sakon and his doppelganger rushed him as expected, both prepared to meet him head-on while Kidōmaru and Tayuya disappeared into the shadows. Jirobo was the one to meet him first, using his strategy from before to kick dust into the air.
Only this time, the strength of his fist impacting the ground not only cracked it, but completely shattered it, creating a large sinkhole with pillars collapsing around them. Naruto was forced to retreat, landing yards away while the dust blanketed the battlefield. The moment his feet were to hit the ground, a whistling in the air had him leaning out of the way. An arrow, long and yellow, flew over him, the velocity at which it was moving enough to send the blonde tumbling for a moment.
When he returned to his feet, he was greeted with a foot and an arm courtesy of the twins—the leg aimed for his own while the would be lariat aimed at his neck. He dove low under the arm, allowing his momentum to carry him past the twins as he spun between the two blows. Covering him, Sothis brought her corporeal hand down on the two yet met nothing but the ground as the two swiftly evaded the blow.
No quarter was given in the sequence. The moment the twins were out of harms way, Jirōbō appeared before him, his fist reeled back. The strike came with the force of a moving train, aimed and capable of obliterating everything in its path.
Unfortunately for the much bigger teen, the power of his blows meant nothing if he couldn't hit his much smaller and more agile opponent. Punch and kicks were dodged almost effortlessly by the blonde, his features holding that mask of determined rage all the while. It wasn't long before the blonde finally made a move of his own, swinging his sword in an arc that was likely meant to cut the man in two.
Not only was blood not drawn, but the strange boney object bounced harmlessly off the giant's skin.
It was as if he'd hit a brick wall.
Naruto was perplexed momentarily while Jirōbō used the opportunity given to go in for a grab, only to be forced to block the two hands that came from above to squash him like a bug. His power proved equal to that of the bigger woman's hands, creating a stalemate between their power.
A stalemate that ultimately ended with a fist being buried in the teen's abdomen. From the size of the blonde, one would think his much smaller frame was incapable of damaging the proven iron skin of his much bigger opponent. But as he soon discovered, the fist did more damage than he thought possible. His vision blurred, and he began losing feeling in his extremities. It wasn't long after that the pressure on him eased, and he felt his entire body be enveloped before he was lifted off his feet entirely.
Sothis reeled her arm back in preparation to spike the overgrown teen into the ground. Halfway through the motion, something tore right through her, causing her to release the teen early and send him flying into the darkness.
At the same time below, Naruto found himself engaging the twins once more. Their kicks and punches were thrown in perfect coordination, creating a near impenetrable wall of offense and defense that the blonde couldn't even find a single opening within. Despite the disadvantage, the blonde fought tooth and nail, his sword redirecting their punches and kicks expertly. Like Jirōbō, their skin was like iron, the Sword of the Creator bouncing harmlessly off the hard scales covering Ukon's left and Sakon's right.
But though the dragon-like scales covering their respective sides were tough, the same could not be said for their more Oni-like form—something Ukon found out firsthand.
Sakon went in for a punch, his fist connecting with what he thought was Naruto's head, while his brother came from above with a diving axe kick meant to split the reforming ghost and boy in twane. At the same time, an arrow from Kidōmaru flew their way along with a few seconds likely courtesy of Tayuya. He was covered on nearly all corners. It wasn't humanly possible for him to not take at least one stray blow.
Sakon wasn't given time to realize it was the blonde's hand that had caught his fist, nor was he prepared for the lightning-fast kick that sent him flying. While his vision was blurred, he did not miss the inhuman speed at which the boy moved. His free arm swept out into a blur, air surrounding him briefly as the senbon were knocked from the air. In the same millisecond, he leaned out of the way of the arrow while his brother came down hard.
The strange thing about that was that his foot never met the ground. He practically face-planted before rolling to a stop between his brother and the blonde. Both twins looked momentarily confused, one as to why he couldn't push himself from the floor, while the other stared at the leg and arm lying before the kid.
The horrifying scream that left Ukon's lips confirmed what both had feared.
"IT HURTS! SAKON! IT HUUUURTS!"
Sakon was frozen stiff, eyes wide with horror at the sight of his brother writhing on the ground. It didn't help that the kid stood silently over his brother's fallen form like an executioner, his glowing seafoam eyes pinning him in place as much as the now glowing sword. A foot was raised over his brother's head before coming down, silencing him almost immediately. Rage took over and he lunged forward, his hands outstretched to grab the bastard and choke the light from his eyes.
Ironically, it was he who had his neck in the boy's hand, the blonde meeting him the moment his feet left the ground. A choked gasp left Sakon, his body swinging forward from the boy's momentum before his back and head smashed into the ground. Despite being a runt, Sakon was being manhandled, the crushing pressure around his neck making it hard to breathe and think as he continued to be dragged along the ground.
He was only allowed to breathe again upon being slammed into and through something hard. He felt the grip around his neck loosen, but the pain in the rest of his body became a much bigger priority as he stumbled across the ground. He wished that was the end of it, but fate wasn't so kind.
A foot slammed into his gut, knocking the air out of him once more and forcing his eyes to shoot wide as his insides twisted. The boy stood over him, a fist was raised to end it.
This time, and only this time, he was saved.
Naruto's arm shook, finding not only his arm but his entire body constricted by an invisible force. Looking to his arm, he could see nothing, but the slight reflection of light showed a very thin line wrapped around his wrist—likely web. The realization was followed by the tune of a familiar flute. Unlike last time, the chakra did not try to invade his chakra network. Instead, the ground began to shake as heavy footsteps came from behind him.
He turned to look over his shoulder and could only see an orange, glowing fist in his peripheral before it smashed into him, sending him flying across the battlefield. His body tumbled for a moment before coming to a stop, yet the assault wasn't over. The orange monstrosity that was Jirōbō landed on top of him, caving his chest in and cratering the ground around them.
Then he began pounding him into the ground. Every heavy fist shook the Earth, the sound echoing through the facility and likely the city above. With every devastating blow, a huff of anger followed, the giant unable to hold back as the blonde beneath him slowly turned into nothing but a lump of blood and flesh. Despite succeeding in turning the blonde's head to mist, he lifted both arms above his head, ready to obliterate what little remained of the stain on the ground. They came down, a shockwave following the motion and kicking up dirt in their wake.
Jirōbō breathed heavily, his rage slowly fading as the dust began to settle. The sight of blood was the first thing he saw, giving him hope that the blonde was dead. The more the dust cleared, the more of the body he could see, his fears dwindling to nothing when the body was revealed to be no more than a puddle.
His victory was short-lived as his entire body seized up. Much like before, it felt like a giant hand had him in a vise, squeezing the air from his lung.
Under him, the blood from before began to move. Slowly, it all came together along with bone and skin. Bones began to reform, organs regrew into place, and muscles knitted back together before a face could even be recognized. Before long, the blonde stood once more, completely unharmed and looking up at the bound teen with that same look of indifference.
Whatever confidence Jirōbō had in their victory died then and there. Child or no, he had just watched the dead come back to life right before his eyes—something not even Orochimaru himself was capable of. If he thought the snake Sannin was a monster, then this child was the devil's incarnate.
He flexed his muscles, seeking to break the invisible grip on him to no avail. Once again, the outline of a woman looked down on him, unsympathetic to his struggle. If not to make matters worse, something then wrapped around his neck from behind, the giant unable to see the blonde clone using the sword whip to wrap around his neck as a strangling device. The grip grew tighter, and Jirōbō felt his bones begin to creak. Soon he wasn't able to breathe at all, the life literally being choked from his lungs.
And that damn kid just sat there watching. Even when he reached out, using every single muscle and chakra he had left in his body, the grip around him did not cease, nor did the devil even blink when his struggles became more frantic. The stoic, unbothered eyes of his killer were the last thing he saw before darkness claimed him.
Jirōbō's body reverted back to his former human appearance, Naruto watching on silently as his clone vanished while Sothis placed the teen gently into the rubble. With him down, only three were left. He didn't know where either Tayuya or Kidomaru were hiding, but it was child's play to point out Mizuki. His killing intent overshadowed that of all the teens combined, making him a bonfire in a field of candles.
Yet despite his rage, his approach was not a reckless one. Rather than rushing at the blonde like he has before, he kept his distance, circling the fight like a predator stalking and likely thinking it'd be easier to strike while he was exhausted.
Like now.
Without Sothis even needing to warn him, his sword came up to deflect the Fūma Shuriken tearing through the air.
*CRASH*
The next moment, time stopped, and Naruto made his way over to where the Chunin was hiding a couple of yards away in some rubble. The moment time resumed, Naruto used a Pulse to appear right in front of him, his sword already thrusting towards the Chunin's chest. It didn't pierce the tiger-man's skin, due in short to the blonde's mercy, but it knocked the wind out of him, sending him tumbling a few yards before stopping on his front.
A growl left Mizuki's lips as he struggled getting back to his feet, glaring hatefully at the slowly approaching demon. Just watching it look down on him with that featureless expression like he'd always shown, as if the people around him were bugs, as if they were inferior, ignited the flame of hatred within him all over again.
That thing wasn't even human! It was a monster, and only he could see it!
"YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED THAT NIGHT!" He roared at the top of his lungs, causing the demon to halt in his advance. "THE FOURTH SHOULD HAVE KILLED YOU! YOU ARE NOT EVEN WORTHY TO BE ALIVE WHEN SO MANY HAVE DIED AND SUFFERED BECAUSE OF YOU! THE SHINIGAMI SHOULD HAVE DRAGGED YOUR SOUL STRAIGHT TO THE DEPTHS OF HELL! I SWEAR IT, IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO, I WILL KILL YOU! EVEN IF I HAVE TO DRAG YOU TO HELL WITH ME, I'LL KILL YOU! I SWEAR IT, DEMON!"
Mizuki breathed heavily after his rant, his words echoing in the silence that followed. The demon did not give the Chunin so much as a blink. His face remained passive, yet something in his eyes changed that Mizuki refused to acknowledge as pity.
"...I see." The words were spoken so softly that Mizuki almost didn't hear them.
Then the demon brought up his fingers into a cross sign and yet another living nightmare appeared—this time, as far as the eye could see.
Demons.
Hundreds, if not thousands, surrounded him and every side. On the ground, on the pillars, in the rubble, on his left, on his right, behind him, in front, they were everywhere. All looked down on him while Mizuki continued to twist and turn in every direction as if they would jump him at any moment.
"Do you know what the Eight Gates are, Mizuki-sensei?" The demon closest to him spoke, likely the original.
"...Actually, that's a stupid question. Of course you know what it is, seeing that you're a teacher and all." Another spoke to his left, the Chunin briefly believing he had made a mistake previously.
"A better question would be, do you know what happens when a clone uses even one of the Eight Gates?" This time it came from behind, and Mizuki's mind began to become scrambled as he questioned his own sanity.
"Funnily enough, clones are able to maintain their form for a few seconds while the gates are activated." This time from above.
"Which means the effect on your clones is also temporary, but can become the worst seconds of your life." Another spoke to his left.
"What you're about to experience," said another from above this time.
"...will be the worst 30 seconds of your life."
Mizuki was on the edge of his sanity at this point. His vision was becoming blurry, the man not knowing if it was because of the fear, tears, or the fact he was close to passing out due to hyperventilation. He didn't see the clones activate whatever they were talking about, but he definitely felt it when the chakra around him suddenly spiked.
His eyes shot wide, not because of the realization but because a fist was buried in his gut. The clone that had struck him disappeared almost immediately, yet there was no reprieve. Something smashed into his back next, followed by his side, his head, his leg, and eventually his face. Every blow came like a brick to the face despite his tough skin, making him see stars and even knocking him unconscious a few times.
He tried fighting back, throwing punches in every direction in the hope of taking out even one. And yet, despite his enhanced strength and desperation, it was still hundreds against one delusional Chunin. Within seconds, the sea of blonde covered the man, his cries of defiance petering off until there was nothing but his cries of agony and blows meeting flesh. When they all dispelled, Mizuki was left in a mangled heap, his body reverting back to human as purple bruises and blood covered him from head to toe. He was damn near unrecognizable, and yet Naruto felt nothing for the man he had trusted for years on end.
What he did feel were the aftereffects of having hundreds of clones opening gates. Falling to a knee, he panted heavily, all the chakra in his system practically empty as the beginnings of chakra exhaustion kicked in.
"You are quickly approaching your limit, Child." Sothis did not so much admonish, but comment—as if it were simply a fact. Not a moment later, Naruto felt his body revert once more with a Pulse, his chakra refilling completely while unable to rid himself of the mental strain the clones has put on him. "I suggest you finish this quickly. We are down to three Pulses and I fear another stunt like that will be too much for your mental fortitude."
"R-right," he, thankfully, saw reason, leaning on his sword to push himself up.
"Well, isn't this interesting."
A voice right next to him had him on guard, yet though he could turn his head, the rest of his body felt as if he were stuck in sludge yet not distracting him from the head currently growing out of his shoulder. A familiar Oni-like face that smirked at him with a row of shark teeth.
"It seems that wonderful power isn't exactly yours, is it?" Feeling more in his sword arm, he swung backwards, hoping to at least get scared the teen off of him only to have his arm caught by another that grew out of his side. "None of that, now. You'd only be hurting yourself at this point."
Naruto struggled to push the arm back but found his strength matched equally with the Oni.
"Confused, aren't we? Since we're going to be well acquainted with each other soon, allow me to explain what's happening inside of us right now. In our cursed form, we can deconstruct my body on a molecular level. We took the chance to enter your body while you were too busy flexing your strength on that poor bastard."
While he was explaining, another head grew on the other side of the blonde's body, similar to the Oni he was already looking at.
"Hehehehe, you nearly killed me back there. If Sakon and I hadn't merged, I'd have surely died." Ukon spoke, his teeth grining just as savagely as his brother. "Right now, we're altering the cells in your body, meaning we'll eventually merge and take whatever is inside of you with us. You don't feel it yet, but it will be agonizing. So much so that you will wish you were dead. Kinda cool, isn't it?"
It was not. It felt wrong on so many levels—a kind of violation of his body that went far beyond humane.
"Sothis," Naruto called out in his head, seeking help from within. "Can you purge this thing?"
"So Sothis is its name?" Ukon spoke before the Goddess could even respond, freezing them both. "Such a refined name for a so called 'demon', don'tcha think? Gonna be a lot more fun having a third voice in our head, don'tcha think, Sakon?" The two chuckled, rebuilding that red hot feeling in Naruto once more.
"...You know not what you do." Sothis spoke imperiously, causing the boys to halt their chuckles before it reignited not a moment later.
"But we do. Believe me, we do." Ukon retorted with a mocking smirk. "You'll become a part of us. Your every whim will be ours, like it has for this boy. Your every thought, every move will belong to us. In the end, you will be no more than a passenger, only there to enjoy the show."
Inside, Sothis teeth were gritted. They truly knew not what they were about to do, nor did they understand the relationship he and Naruto had. Her power was her own, and it was hers to control and take whenever she wished. The sheer insolence of these fools, thinking they could enslave her like some common beast, was enough to strike them down with her own hands.
Luckily, none was more righteously furious than her ward.
During their little spew, he had reached over and grabbed one of the strange yellow kunai conveniently in range. The twins noticed, yet looked unbothered.
"And what do you plan to do with that? You realize you'll only be hurting yourself, right?" Sakon mocked, yet neither was not at all prepared for the blonde's reply.
"I know."
Then he plunged the kunai up and straight into his lung. Blood immediately erupted out of all of their lungs, the agony in the Onis' voices a lot clearer than the silent Jinchuuriki.
"Wh-what the hell are you doing?" Ukon wheezed out, another agonizing cry leaving his lips as the blonde yanked the blade out, allowing their blood to spill out freely.
Then he plunged it in again, poking a hole in the other lung to increase their shared agony.
"Something you should know about me," The boy spoke lowly, a warning that was no longer taken lightly by the two boys. "I've faced death...more times than I can count."
The kunai was yanked out once again, causing more blood to erupt from their mouths as they now watched the kunai as if it were a gavel sentencing them to eternal suffering. "I've done it so many times that I no longer fear it...fortifying my mind, and allowing me to face situations without fear."
The kunai came down, this time right into their abdomen. "...But you still fear it. Both of you. It makes me wonder how you will fair if death were right in front of you." The kunai was yanked out, said fear clear to be seek on the faces of the twins as the kunai was aimed at something more permanent—something that a single stab would be enough to kill them all instantly. "...I'm ready to face death... as many times as it need be to accomplish my goals."
The kunai shook in their hands, yet they felt it was ready to run them through, right through their eyes.
"Are you?"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"
In an instant, Sakon and Ukon separated themselves from the insane blonde, Ukon merging into his brother as Sakon frantically crawled away. His back eventually hit a pillar, his eyes along with his entire body trembling as the blonde-no-demon got to his feet. A glow surrounded him, and as he turned, the self-inflicted wounds were nowhere to be seen.
And yet Sakon knew it wasn't a Genjutsu. It was too real—far too real. He felt the boy's agony as much as he was feeling his own. It was real. All of it was real.
And that fact alone brought absolute dread deep within him.
"I was wrong." The blonde stated, now in front of his trembling, frozen form with a foot raised over his head. "Seems you weren't ready to die after all."
The foot came down, and the twins' world went black.
Like before, Naruto felt nothing for what he had just done. He threatened Sothis, his friend, so it was only right that he felt the consequences of his folly. Thinking of what he could potentially do in the future, how he could potentially adapt, and maybe even succeed in taking something so irreplaceable had him gripping his sword tight.
Just a swing. A single swing, and he could stop a potential threat in the future. It would be so easy...
The grip loosened, and Naruto turned from the downed Nin. He was defeated and no longer a threat. He could practically feel the disapproval from his friend even within him, yet she kept quiet on the matter.
"...The others are gone." He immediately noted upon looking into the darkness.
"They fled during your 'possession'." Sothis confirmed, yet that did not stop Naruto's determination to see them all pay.
"They won't get far."
Location: ?
"O-oi, slow the fuck down!" Tayuya called out to her fellow Sound Nin currently dragging them both way from the battle likely still raging behind them. "I said WAIT DAMN IT!"
Yanking her arm from the multi-armed teen did the trick, both coming to a stop and Kidōmaru now glaring at the equally pissed off redhead.
"Can you please not act insufferably—just this once?" He spat, constantly glancing behind her to make sure the blonde devil hadn't caught up to them.
"Like hell I will! We just fuckin' left them! Ran like fuckin' cowards!"
"They're as good as dead, girl." Kidōmaru growled.
"We had em back there, shithead! He was on his last legs and you had a clear shot! With my boost you could have-"
"We ain't had SHIT, Tayuya!" He finally snapped, silencing the redhead. "Did you not see what the fuck I saw? He moved faster than I could fucking blink! He tossed Jirōbō around like he was a fucking softball! He DIED! TWICE! Gutted himself right in front of us like it was a damn Tuesday only to be walking a second later like nothing ever happened! I'm sorry that your ego burns away what little brain cells you've got, but I'm not too thickheaded to realize we're WAY in over our heads! You wanna go back there and get killed? Be my guess, but don't drag me into your suicide!" Without giving the girl a chance to respond, he took off once more, the redhead staring angrily after him.
He was right, of course. Nothing she had in her admittedly small arsenal would have worked. He was immune to Genjutsu, and if Jirōbō couldn't kill him with a punch and Sakon couldn't take over his body, what chance did she actually have? It was infuriating to even think of their weakness, much less her own. It was what she trained for, what she worked so hard to forget.
"Damnit..." She muttered, her fist clenched and shaking with unbridled fury before she ultimately decided to follow after her comrade. Regardless of how she felt, they were better off together than they were apart. She caught up to him easily enough, neither speaking a word as they traversed the rest of the labyrinth.
As luck would have it, they ran into one of their own along the way—currently engaged with another Konoha Nin. The two wasted no time joining the fray, Tayuya pulling out her flute and immediately casting her Genjutsu.
Kakashi felt his chakra get disrupted and immediately broke the Genjutsu before it could fully take hold. In front of him, Kimimaro took the opportunity to try and impale him with the giant drill he had fashioned around his right arm using his own bones as material. The Kaguya succeeded, drilling into him and tearing him in two.
A puff of smoke later revealed the pulverized remains of a boulder. Behind him, Kakashi appeared in-between Kidōmaru and Tayuya, delivering a devastating uppercut to the male while immediately following up by kicking the flute out of the redhead's hands and spinning back around, his glowing Sharingon eye staring right at her while his hand crackly with electricity towards her chest.
Tayuya saw her life flash before her eyes as the Lightning Blade grew closer to piercing her chest.
Something smashed into the Jonin, sending the man flying and saving her life. The breath she had been holding was allowed to come out, looking at the heaving back of her leader in gratitude.
"Th-thanks," she thanked the albino, not exactly surprised when the white-haired man did not acknowledge it. In the distance, Kakashi stood up from his crouch, likely having used the substitute jutsu at the last moment to escape death. To think the gap between her and an experienced Jonin was this great. She surely would have died there if Kimimaro hadn't saved her hide.
"Where are the others?" He asked, Tayuya immediately feeling a pit grow in her stomach. Her lack of response was answer enough, frustration leaking from the albino before he could stop it. "Retreat to the extraction point. This man is far above what you two are currently capable of." Kimimaro spoke, stating the obvious in a way that brooked no argument.
"And leave you behind? You're crazy." Tayuya immediately retorted, the way his heavy heaving continued despite their short respite not giving her any hope in his chances of victory.
"I will not allow the shame of defeat to smear Lord Orochimaru's name. Even if I must take him down with me, I will succeed. Now go," he assured, a finality to his words that had her clenching her fist once more. A hand on her shoulder stopped her from throwing caution to the wind and fighting by his side. Looking at Kidomaru as he nursed his jaw, she almost thought she saw desperation in his eyes as he shook his head, the fucking coward.
And yet, she complied. For the second time in less than 15 minutes, they were running with their tails between their legs. She hated it. She hated it with every ounce of her being. They got stronger for this reason, to never run or be looked down on ever again. But even now, in a situation where they should have had the advantage, the same fate continues to pursue them.
She hated it.
She HATED it.
And for the second time, she turned and ran.
And as if fate were laughing at her, the moment their backs turned, Kidomaru's face was introduced to the ground via a body landing on his back and riding him forward like a fucking surfboard. The extra punch to his back made her fellow Sound Nin go still, leaving her and Kimimaro the last of the Sound Nin currently standing. From Kidomaru's back, Uzumaki Naruto stood, slowly turning to look over his shoulder and peer into her very soul.
Tayuya was ashamed to admit she fell on her ass while desperately backpedaling away from the blonde demon. Her legs couldn't carry her fast enough, her body practically freezing up like a deer caught in the headlights as the boy turned to face her fully, his steps slow and steady. He stopped far enough to be in cutting range of that strange sword, pointing it down at her while all she could hear was the rapid hammering of her heart.
"It's over." He spoke lowly, yet she could have sworn the words were as loud as sirens. The weird, socially awkward kid she had admittedly had fun with in such a short amount of time was nowhere to be seen. In its place was a demon, one who looked as if he could run her through and not lose a wink of sleep.
It was a blessing when his eyes left hers to glance at something, or someone, behind her.
"...I'm not even surprised at this point." He commented, not an ounce of emotion behind his statement.
Kimimaro glanced back only briefly before returning his attention back to Kakashi. The man had already closed the distance, the Kaguya bringing his arm up to block a kick that had him skidding back several feet. Thankfully, the man didn't take the opportunity again, allowing the Kaguya to reply with an answer he thought appropriate, "As a shinobi, you should know that anyone at any point in time can suddenly be your enemy."
"...A lesson I'm unfortunately starting to learn." Naruto replied, returning his attention back down to Tayuya. "If you reach for that flute, I will cut off your hands." The clear threat made the redhead sieze up once again, the knowledge that he'd likely keep to his word scaring her more. "I'm only giving you both one chance to surrender. No second chances. Do something stupid and I will smash your faces into the ground."
"W-wait!" Tayuya cried out, desperate to change the direction things were going. "Y-you wanted to talk, right? A-an excuse? I-I got one for-"
"It's far too late for that now." Naruto coldly interrupted. "You had your chance. You threw it away. Your only option right now is to surrender or be beaten into unconsciousness. Nothing else."
"B-but you have no idea what they did to us! What we suffered through! Those old fucks, every last one of them sold us out to save their own skins! Didn't even fight for us! What's so wrong with getting revenge, huh? Accepting power, even from that snake? Without it, we were nothing! The strong trample on the weak! It's the way the fucking world works!" She spoke from the heart, hoping to garner sympathy to give them even a sliver of a chance at survival.
"...If I'm truly being honest, I could care less what they did to you guys." Naruto admitted, his brow creasing into a frown. "You betrayed me. Used me. If our roles were reversed, you'd laugh in my face. I'm not only doing this for them, but for myself. Just be lucky that you have the chance to keep your life...unlike the many who had lost theirs to your cruelty."
Cruelty? CRUELTY? After what those old bags had done, he wants to talk to her about CRUELTY?! The nerve of such a statement lit a flame in her that threatened to overpower the-
A heavy pressure suddenly pushed down on them all, forcing the blonde to stumble momentarily while Kimimaro and Kakashi immediately darted their heads in the blonde's direction.
As for Tayuya? Despite the air leaving her lungs from the pressure keeping her in place, a wide, almost mad grin lit her face as she watched the new figure appear in the corridor—dragging along a familiar body by the hair.
"Well well, today is just full of surprises, isn't it?" Lord Orochimaru sang in that dangerously playful way that only he could make sound threatening.
To Tayuya, she couldn't be more happy to see the snakey bastard. It didn't matter if she died here or not, because they were fucked.
A/N: I find it far more terrifying to fight someone who is immortal than someone with overwhelming power. Against someone with overwhelming power, at the very least you know you stand a chance. But against an immortal? Someone that no matter what you do to them, they will come back unharmed and with more information than they had when they died?
It's like putting me in a fight with Mike Tyson while at the same time putting a shotgun in my hands to defend myself. With the shotgun, I have all the confidence in the world and winning. However, tell me he is bulletproof and I'd rather turn the shotgun on myself.
I know I said this would be out last week, but I kinda got distracted. Stellar Blade released and I played it religiously along with Yakuza Infinite Wealth. I don't care what anyone says, that game is more than just jiggle physics! The only thing stopping me from calling it game of the year is how stupidly short it was, but best believe that if DLC story is included then I'm definitely getting it!
Anyway, thank you all for your reviews, follows and favorites! Next chapter is the pre-finale before a whole new change! Look forward to it cause it's gonna be a LONG chapter.
