Sleepless D: A new chapter, hope to bring more interest, though few but you enjoy. Peace out.
Thirteen doesn't respond at first, simply reaching for their mask to lift it, revealing a flawless exact likeness of Hinata under her mask, only missing the scar in the corner of her eye that drifts to her jaw. "We're artificially made...Hinata is the originator of us all."
Naruto stares at her, blinking as his heart rate increases, his breathing ragged as he feels in shock. He's used to Shadow Clones and all sorts of clones, but they're chakra based, they vanish with damage. Naruto looks down at the Sharingan clone of Hinata, seeing such familiarities with Hinata with subtle differences. "Wait, wait, wait! Why the hell does this place have clones? Why the fuck did this clone have Sasuke's eyes...no, the Sharingan! What the fuck is going on!?"
Eleven squats a little, looking down at Naruto with sadness, or at least that's what Naruto's assuming, now wondering if that's a flawless copy. Naruto shakes his head noting the red hair and is obviously not an exact copy. "We were made with other clan genetics." Eleven says with a sad voice. "Master wished to create an original."
Thirteen nods, "Lord Danzo created us, fusing us with clan genetics to test and perhaps discover where bloodlines originated from. Number Two was implanted with Uchiha genetics and Number Six," Thirteen points upwards, "Was infused with Aburame genetics."
"The hell are you fused with?" Naruto asks, becoming agitated and sick, unsure how to feel killing some copy of Hinata. Naruto's stomach drops, suddenly remembering Hinata and himself killing Number Eight near the entrance and the feeling of nausea comes once more.
"I was a mistake." Thirteen informs Naruto, making him look up, confused as Thirteen places a hand on Eleven. "And Eleven is implanted with Uzumaki genetics."
Naruto's eyes go wide, looking at Eleven who waves awkwardly. "You're me!?"
Both Eleven and Thirteen sigh, "No." Eleven tells him, chuckling a little. "Your samples were too high a risk factor to obtain. At least not directly. As a result, my samples came from another."
Naruto blinks, confused as he tries to connect the dots. "Wait...I'm a clan?"
Thirteen seems to break character for a moment, giving a small smile before her face becomes expressionless once more. "Yes, Naruto. You are a member of a clan. We have to leave before what ever is below us wishes to escape."
Naruto blinks, quickly looking down as seeing a silvery liquid substance seep from the cracks of the floor. Naruto feels a shiver in his spine as he jumps up to the bridge the two copies stand. Naruto twinges in pain, feeling his right arm go numb and curses, feeling the bones in his forearm having fractured from the attack. "It feels wrong..." Naruto says, glancing at the two of them.
"Your arm?" Eleven asks, lifting Naruto's other arm to help carry his weight.
Naruto shakes his head, looking at Eleven. "I...I've been fighting copies of Hinata...I...I nearly killed you and...the other two..." Naruto whispers, feeling sick.
"I'm glad you have a caring heart, Naruto." Eleven says with a hint of happiness.
Naruto chuckles a little, wishing he was still laying in bed, preferably with Hinata and this is all but a horrible dream. "But...why Hinata? Why did they do this to Hinata? Why were you made with Hinata's...chakra? Blood? Whatever you're made from."
Thirteen and Eleven jump to the ledges of collapsed bridges, jumping up the series of destroyed bridges to get back to the higher levels. Eleven speaks during the flight up, "...I believe they got Hinata's samples a few years ago and because of the Hyuga's Kekkei Genkai...they were prime examples to create an army...or something. I don't know what Master's plans are when he made us..."
Naruto looks at them, a little shocked. "You're only a few years old!?"
"Correct." Thirteen tells him, taking the lead on the series of jumps. "We've been injected with substances to increase our performance, learning, stamina, recovery, everything is increased by ten fold. We age ten years for every one of yours."
"You look the same age as Hinata!" Naruto yells, trying to calculate.
"I'm physically two years younger than the originator's current age. Eleven is a bit older than I, but her Uzumaki line has a slower ageing process, if slightly and longer lifespan." Thirteen tells him, making him more surprised. "Due to that, her stamina and recovery is three times greater than the average copy's. Our learning was rapid with simulations, despite us being between one to two years old so we can function as well as we currently are."
Naruto blinks, getting lost on occasion with her explanations and sighs, "Okay...how many copies are there of you?"
"I thought fourteen was the last one...we don't often get to interact with our sisters." Eleven comments, adjusting her weight to carry Naruto a little more in mid-flight.
"I counted seventeen last time." Thirteen mentions, jumping and landing on a mostly intact bridge, looking at the unconscious Number Six. "But they might have implanted more with old blood samples of other clans. They may still be a child in stature." Thirteen scans the area, seeing the walls crumbling with the liquid metal flowing under it like blood.
Naruto curses under his breath, wanting to both leave this place and destroy it in its entirety. He notices Six laying on the floor, suddenly remembering that Thirteen captured her. "The hell did you bring her for? You going to turn her to our side or something?"
"She won't come to our cause, unfortunately. But her usefulness isn't over just yet." Thirteen comments, her fingers glowing a blue colour as she approaches Six.
Naruto looks confused, stepping forth to ask her what she's doing until he hears footsteps heading towards them. Naruto turns, looking and his heart skips when he sees Hinata standing at the exit of the bridge. Naruto even feels happiness when he sees the uncharming face of Sai as that's a face even he would be happy to see down here. "Hinata!" Naruto calls, quickly stepping towards her.
Hinata remains in an attack stance, seeing the two Numbered people and even seeing Thirteen having her back to Hinata, lifting her hand to pull her mask back down to cover her face. Sai blinks, feeling unsure of the situation and just smiles since that seems to be bringing Naruto some joy he believes. "Naruto-kun! What's going on? Why are you with those two?"
Naruto blinks, suddenly realising they'd been attacked by Eleven and at the elevator before. "Don't worry! They're here to help! I thank…" Naruto whispers the last part, feeling a little unsure. "These two...I honestly don't know how to explain, but they're here to help you...specifically you!"
Eleven waves as Thirteen knees before Six. Naruto looks back, soon going white as Thirteen's hand slices through Six's abdomen and has her hand slide into it. The three look in both shock and confusion as Thirteen rummages through Six's body before pulling her palm out, holding a white object in her hand as she stands up and walks towards Eleven. "This is going to hurt." Thirteen informs Eleven, clasping her shoulder to turn her to face them. Thirteen's hand glows blue once more before stabbing into Eleven's abdomen, blood splattering up Thirteen's arm and on the floor. Eleven screams in pain as Thirteen's arm stabs deeper into Eleven.
Naruto rushes forward, quickly grabbing Thirteen and pulling her away from Eleven who falls to the floor, blood seeping through the cracks of her mask as she coughs up blood. Thirteen slides and stops at the edge of the bridge, clasping the white object in her blood covered right hand as she turns to Naruto. "What the fuck was that for!? I thought you two were working together!?"
"We are." Thirteen simply says, turning from Naruto as they head towards Six. "I'm making precautions."
"What fucking precautions!? Eleven's got a hole in her!" Naruto yells, angry.
"And it'll be the lowest hole you'll see, Naruto." Sai says with a smile.
"READ THE FUCKING ROOM, SAI!" Naruto yells, clearly angry which Sai nods and begins to jot down notes.
Eleven coughs hard, her mask crumbling from the force and the fluids didn't help. She slowly pushes herself up, coughing hard as the lower parts of her mask crumbles away, showing pale, blood stained lips. Naruto reaches down, having his left hand on her shoulder. Eleven's right hand clasps Naruto's arm in a reassuring manner before having her right arm reach up to her mouth and quickly sinks her teeth into her own arm, drawing blood. Eleven's abdomen begins to hiss and stitch together, shocking Naruto who raises his eyebrows.
"I...how did?" Naruto questions, soon looking at his own arm, blinking and pondering whether his fast healing is from his clan or the Kyuubi now. Even trying to resist an experimental bite of an impulse.
"Don't worry…" Eleven says, slowly standing up and wiping the blood from her lips. She gives a small smile to Hinata who remains on guard by the whole situation.
"Sai…" Hinata whispers.
"Yes, Hinata?" Sai replies, closing his notebook and places it back into his pouch.
"What are these...numbered people?" She whispers, seeing the wounds closing and concern rises.
"...They're Danzo's...that is all I can share with what little I know and am able to share without risk to myself." Sai simply tells her.
The foundations shake violently, making everyone steady themselves as they scan the area. The walls crumble and the higher levels of this chute of bridges crumbles and begins to fall. Hinata activates her Byakugan and her eyes widen, some level of fear showing. The liquid mass having untold amounts of chakra and masses moving through them, chakra masses, networks and she realises they're people.
"We have to move…" Hinata tells them, gaining a nod from Sai.
"Yes. It seems we're losing the supports within this structure." Sai comments, soon grabbing his chin and begins to think.
"Right, so where's the exit?" Naruto asks, helping Eleven up and giving a small glare at Thirteen whose hand had re-entered Six's abdomen for a few moments before pulling her blood stained hand out.
"The way you came will be too unstable to go back to." Thirteen tells them as she begins to hoist Six over her shoulder and holds her there, ignoring the blood trailing down her shirt.
Naruto blinks a little and sighs. "Well that can't be the only exit. Where's the next one?"
Eleven speaks up, "Probably in the same state."
Naruto sighs once more. "Are there any exits that didn't rely on a damned elevator?"
Sai smiles a little, "Yes. Though it will be difficult as that would lead us to the most secured location in the Foundation."
Hinata looks at him, raising an eyebrow. "Why? What is held there?"
Sai's smile vanishes and he gives a blank expression. "Lord Danzo's quarters. At least the Foundation setting beneath them at least."
Hinata's fingers twitch, feeling anger before she composes herself once more. "Are there any other exits?"
Naruto nods, "Yeah, like why don't we use stairs or blow our way through the roof or something?"
Sai smiles once more. "Contingency plan. The Foundation is secured by what would be three barrier seals. Between the three are enough explosives to ensure whatever breaks in or out will not live to tell the tale. The walls, ceiling and floor in within this sphere barrier to ensure full safety for the Foundation itself and those outside should something breach containment."
Naruto and Hinata blink in shock. "Why can you tell us this and nothing else?" Hinata asks in confusion.
Thirteen speaks up this time, "Deterrent. It keeps enemies from allowing them to attempt something stupid with too high a risk."
Naruto blinks, looking around the crumbling world around them, "Got to say...it's working."
"They're contained and you're not attacking the ceiling." Thirteen tells him.
Naruto nods, "Fair enough."
"Are there no other exits?" Hinata asks, trying to scan the area, but the liquid metal flowing through the foundations are blocking her vision.
Sai ponders, soon shaking his head. "Nothing I can recall. Only Lord Danzo knows of every exit or escape tunnel."
"So we're making our way through the guy's house? Awesome. Let's leave before...well I'd have said shit hit the fan. But this looks like diarrhoea in a literal tornado." Naruto says, gaining a bewildered nod from the rest.
"Naruto, don't swear. Okay?" Eleven asks, smacking the side of his head weakly as her arm rests on his shoulders.
"We make it out of here, I'll do so and buy everyone ramen." Naruto tells them all as Sai begins to motion where to go.
Hinata pauses a little, waiting as Naruto walks by her with Eleven whilst Thirteen hurries over with Six over her shoulder. Hinata glances at the liquid mass through the walls, her eyes becoming unfocused for a moment as her right hand brushes down and clasps her shirt. Her fingers clench and her thumb brushes her scar.
"Hinata?" Naruto's voice calls out, catching Hinata's attention. She looks back, seeing him turned back to check on her. "You okay?"
"I...yes...Let's go." Hinata tells him, hurrying to catch up.
Xxx
"Targets are on the move…" Number Four says, her hands clenched in the tiger seal, focusing hard.
"Signals are jumping all over the place." One of the observers notes in annoyance, clicking several keys in annoyance. "Any idea where they're heading?"
Taking deep breaths, they focus hard. "Lord Danzo's complex. That is my guess, to say the least."
The second observer coughs in surprise. "Really? We...best reroute to intercept and inform Lord Danzo of the...disturbance that's going to follow."
A door swings open and a heavy breath comes as Number Ten talks in, dragging the overweight Number Nine. Number Ten wears tight, black bindings and clothings, her messy black hair sticking out of her mask and ever over it, nearly covering her numbers on her face. "Number Nine is...collected." She says, taking a heavy breath. "I wasn't expecting...to be on collection…"
"Situation might change." Number Five informs Number Ten. "Targets are moving to our location."
"I'll ensure they don't get any further." Ten tells her, cracking their neck and their nails sharpen.
"Negative. You will be defending us." Five informs her, stepping towards the monitors. "We require defence and you're the only taijutsu expert on hand." She presses a few buttons and getting a confirmation which she confirms.
"All available Sisters are relocating to deal with the threat. Danzo will not accept these intruders within his abode." Five informs them.
Number Ten seems disappointed. "That is within reach of us acting."
"Yes. We are the final line." Five tells them, turning to them all. "We are not going to fail. Secure the facility." Five tells the operators. The two nod and begin to type rapidly into the computer system.
Xxxxx
Sai hurries down the corridor, scanning the halls as he leads the rest, motioning them as he hurries. Thirteen follows with Six over her shoulder, hurrying as they follows Sai. Taking up the rear, Naruto and Eleven who is being supported by them whilst Hinata remains near Naruto, still confused by the situation.
"So...Danzo made clones of me from...my time here?" Hinata asks, looking her way towards Eleven.
Eleven nods, "Yes. Unfortunately." Eleven tells her, sounding sympathetic.
Hinata feels sick, looking away from her for a few seconds before looking at Naruto. "Naruto-kun...I'm s...I'm sorry for brining you into this situation."
"As long as you're safe, that's all that matters to me. Trust me. I'm still hoping to be waking up next to you." Naruto tells her, hurrying along. "Still feeling sick ki...killing copies of you."
Hinata looks ahead, seeing the two other clones of her ahead. "Y-Yes…" Hinata replies, thinking in confusion. "Why are you supporting me?"
Naruto's a little confused, but Eleven replies. "Thirteen was an accident and implanted with Hyuga genetics. She has much of your...she has your views and supports someone called Norio's plans." Eleven tells her, sounding a little confused as she seems unsure of what Thirteen's goals are. "I'm here to help Naruto, personally."
Naruto nods, a little confused. "Yeah...apparently she's an Uzumaki...or has some Uzumaki Clan genes mixed in."
"You're of the Uzumaki clan, Naruto?" Sai asks, managing to hear this part.
"Yeah! You know of them?" Naruto asks with surprise.
"Not at all. I didn't even know you were part of a clan." Sai says, turning to Naruto with a smile.
Naruto lowers his eyelids, glaring at Sai for a few moments. "Suddenly losing that glad feeling at seeing your ugly mug."
Hinata was looking at at Eleven, seeing her mixed hair of black and red and catching a small smile in the corner of her mouth. "I see…" Hinata comments, glancing towards Thirteen and becomes deep in thought as they hurry.
Naruto ponders for a few moments, "What are this Norio guy's plans anyway?"
"You don't have to worry, Naruto/Naruto-kun." Thirteen and Hinata say in unison, startling Naruto and Hinata momentarily.
"That...was weird." Naruto comments as he glances at Hinata with a worried look. "If you're okay with...that guy's plan. I trust you, because I..."
Eleven pats Naruto's head, ruffling it a little, "Naruto being all romantic."
Naruto starts glaring at Eleven. "I kicked your arse once, I can do it again."
Eleven starts pulling Naruto's left ear in annoyance. "Don't swear, Naruto!" she yells in annoyance.
Naruto yelps in pain as he tries to stop her pulling his ear as the group continues walking. Hinata finds herself bemused, a feeling that she hasn't felt in what feels like a lifetime.
Hinata soon feels stable. She looks down, seeing the floor has no damage as does the walls and ceiling. Hinata glances back, seeing the hall behind them still damaged, but it ceases at a certain spot and continues as they progress down the hall. Hinata activates her Byakugan, seeing a barrier that seems to be blocking the liquid mass. She becomes confused and sees a chakra signature coming from Sai, realising he opened the barrier temporarily for them.
"We're approaching the last room." Sai informs them.
Eleven ceases pulling Naruto's ear and steps from Naruto, seeming more energetic than usual. Naruto weakly clenches his right fist, still feeling pain and tingles across it and hopes he doesn't have to worry about continued fighting.
Sai reaches for the door, suddenly diving as several golden, ragged blades pierce through the door. Thirteen lunges forward, air palming the door and narrowly avoiding Sai as he lays prone as the door leaves the frame and flies as shrapnel.
Naruto stares in shock, his arm having reaches out to act as a shield for Hinata as the smoke settles. Eleven hurries into the room, hoping over Sai as Thirteen does the same, taking up a defensive formation, waiting for Naruto, Hinata and Sai to enter with them.
Naruto slowly approaches the door, glancing out with caution and his eyes widen slightly, seeing two small bodies splayed on the floor whilst five others are spread across this large chamber with stairs leading up into the darkness. Naruto looks up, seeing high, dark walls with some windows shinning a few lights through them and what can only he hopes is the bright sky above with any luck. He looks back at the figures each have their own numbered mask and Naruto feels sick, knowing that they are Hinata clones, but what's worse, their size and stature suggests they are not even ten of age and younger. He sees their numbers, seeing Eighteen, Twenty, Twenty-One, Twenty-Four and Twenty-Five.
"Naurto-kun...are you...alright?" Hinata asks, seeing the children clones of herself, feeling some rage as she keeps at the ready, glancing up at the large flight of stairs that lead up into darkness.
Sai walks in, his scroll and brush out as he scans the room as well. Naruto nods, glancing at Sai with some wariness. "I'm good...Sai, how'd you notice the attack before it hit the door?"
Sai glances at Naruto before looking at the flight of stairs. "I had a similar feeling when I first met Sasuke." He says, explaining no further.
Footsteps come from the flight of stairs, making everyone ready themselves for the worse. Naruto's stomach drops as more masked clones of Hinata appear, these ones being of similar build to Hinata and the two fighting for them. Four descending and the sense of dread building into the room that the foundation seems to be peeling from the chakra levels elevating in this room. Five children and four young adults with the markings of Three, Seven, Twelve and Fifteen markings their masks.
Naruto swallows and looks at Thirteen for but a moment. "Hey...Thirteen...which of the...bigger ones should I take?"
Thirteen remains silent as the four continue to descent from the darkness, entering the room. "None...all would destroy you."
Eleven speaks up. "Avoid Number Three at all costs!" she yells, releasing several chakra chains through herself, spreading them wide as they tear through the stonework and stairs.
Smoke consumes the area ahead of Naruto's group, holding ground as Sai creates several tigers with his artwork, sending them out to act as shields for any potential incoming projectiles. Hinata activates her Byakugan, scanning as she sees the clones rapidly dodging Eleven's attacks, seeing one of the younger children being torn in half whilst the others charge forward. Hinata's eye twitches, counting four older copies and three younger copies remaining now. One is missing and their body isn't amongst the wreckage. One of the older copies jumps high, launching themselves towards them.
"Above!" Thirteen calls out before Hinata responded, pulling her arm back and air palming the figure.
The chakra attack slams into the target, rapidly tearing it through the clothing around the clone as they don't even budge from the attack. Thirteen dives forward as Eleven whips one of her chains to slam into Naruto, Hinata and Sai to throw them out of the way as the clone hits the ground and it explodes from the force.
Naruto's eyes are round as dinner plates as he wonders how much that Hinata clone weighed as Sai quickly gets up, his paint brush dabbing the paint of what remains of his beasts, creating several more from his parchment and sending them to attack them.
Hinata remains focused, scanning the others as this destructive copy of her pushes forward, their skin solid and pure black with a metallic sheen as the cracked remains of #12 cover her face. Their fingers crack as each step destroys the flooring with each step, armoured from any attack as the tigers are torn through like water, not even leaving a dent in her skin.
Naruto quickly creates clones and has them charge Twelve, easily avoiding her as she proves to be slow, but with each Naruto clone that hits the Twelth Hinata clone scream in pain as blood splatters from their fists with hard hits and one clone falls back after kicking, his foot flopping at an angle it shouldn't before they all despersed. Naruto receives the quick memories and gulps a little. "She's made of something hard!" Naruto yells, suddenly seeing several projectiles flying his way. A mixture of small white shrapnel and crude, brownish gold kunai.
Hinata is already in front of Naruto as her hands become ablazed with chakra, forming a chakra net that forms a barrier before them. Naruto suddenly gets a flashback of Hinata when she was little, the time she used it against the Bee ninja. "Protective Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!" Hinata calls, having the projectiles collide with the barrier. The golden brown kunai shatter within an instant. The white shrapnel don't cut as easily and are tearing through them, shocking both Naruto and Hinata.
Moments pass as both see a child clone of Hinata, Twenty-Four having their lower part of their mask open and pulling forth a golden like spider thread mucus. The other, Fifteen is holding their hands out towards them, her finger tips open before she stands at the ready and her forearm suddenly splits open, having her forearm bones protrude from them, sharpening at the tips.
"You've got to be shitting me…" Naruto whispers in fear, recognising the two jutsu powers.
Thirteen seems to come from nowhere, attacking the two and making Naruto panic, knowing that the two are not to be trifled with. Naruto goes to scream at Thirteen, but is cut off at Twelve's fist comes flying at his head. Sai had grabbed Naruto's shirt collar, pulling him back to avoid the hit as Hinata ducks under it and slams her palms into Twelve. "Eight Trigrams: Thirty-Two Palms!" She yells, slamming her palms into the hard skinned clone, striking hard and true and pauses after finishing. The non-clones of Naruto's group seem to hold their breath to see if it had worked.
Twelve's fist flies at Hinata, narrowly missing hers as the clone pushes forward, ignoring any possible threat as she attacks Naruto, Hinata and Sai.
Naruto and Hinata remain on their toes, dodging the attacks whilst Sai pulls out his tanto and strikes at the copy of Hinata. Sparks fly from the collision, making Sai pull back and notices his blade cracked from the collision.
"The hell is she made of!? Pure metal!?" Naruto yells, quickly summoning a clone and forming a Rasengan and readies himself as Twelve marches towards him.
"Raseng-" Naruto begins to shout before a sudden sharp pain hits his side, making his eyes widen and suddenly lose focus on his Rasengan. Naruto glances down, seeing an open wound in his side, as if something's still stabbing him before being pulled from him. Hinata seems panicked, having noticed Naruto getting stabbed but she didn't see the attack nor the attacker.
Twelve clasps Naruto's shirt and suddenly slams him down into the floor, shocking him by the strength and force she has as he feels the wind escape him and a few ribs break from the force. Twelve's other hand reaches for Naruto's face, making him panic.
More sparks fly as Sai swipes at the incoming hand with his cracked tanto, having more of the blade fracture off and a small splatter of blood comes from the wrist. Twelve pulls back a little in surprise, allowing Sai to kick Naruto away from Twelve and hit the wall nearby. Sai quickly pulls out a scroll and pain brush, trying to buy time for Naruto to recover as Hinata moves to cover Naruto.
"Naruto-kun! Are you okay!?" Hinata asks, becoming more panicked as she tries to figure out where the invisible attack came from.
"Yeah...no...that hurt." Naruto grunts, blinking as she glances around.
Thirteen is busy engaged with Fifteen and Twenty-Four. Eleven is contesting with Three who is mainly dodging the chakra chains. The child clones of Hinata, Eighteen and Twenty-Five are fending off the painted beasts Sai created whilst Seven is trying to keep away from the other clones but fending off the beasts.
Sparks fly and the remains of a blade fly as Sai's tanto completely break as Sai back flips away, dropping the no longer bladed weapon and takes a breath. "I had discovered a weakness. Her skin is like armour and thus the joints are weaker...Or were. She can manipulate and harden the joints while sacrificing movement."
Naruto and Hinata look, seeing some blood seeping from Twelve's left wrist and right armpit. Her right arm is looking like a statue for a moment before it starts moving again and she starts marching towards them.
"So...she can harden her...joints? The fuck...am I supposed...to do?" Naruto ponders as she quickly gets up, wincing in pain as he coughs up blood and readies himself.
Hinata stands in front of Sai and Naruto and readies herself, getting into a stance similar to her Gentle-Fist style as Twelve marches towards them, the floor shaking with each step. Twelve swipes her fist at Hinata, as if to brush her off to get to Naruto.
Hinata's activated Byakugan eyes scan the room rapidly, seeing Eighteen destroy a painted beast. Thirteen is fending off Fifteen whilst Twenty-Four is busy trying to keep Thirteen off balanced. Hinata feels a cold rush, feeling her blood freeze and her chakra burn as she sees the line. Hinata ducks and her palm stretches out, slamming into Twelve's gut. Her stomach suddenly crumples, collapsing into itself and blood sprays out from underneath Twelve's mask as she flies back with violent velocity, smashing through a few painted beasts and the child, Eighteen who explodes into smoke. The smoke spirals, spreading and a few things fall from the smoke when it leaves its mass. Twelve continues to fly across the room, blood trailing as she interupts the fighting between Thirteen and her two opponents. Twenty-Four is hit partially by Twelve with enough force to make her body become shatters and thrown before Twelve grazes Fifteen and slams into the wall. Fifteen staggers, feeling a few bones bend from the force and fracture, though that is little meaning for her.
Twenty-Four's body is splayed on the stairs, blood seeping from her body as a few bones stick out of her body. Twelve remains imbedded in the wall, blood seeping from under her mask and the faint sounds of rapid breathing coming from her, her chest having difficulty giving enough space to breathe as her stomach remains flattened and her skin still hard as steel. She gurgles a little, trying to undo the hardened skin, but failing as she remains unable to uncrush her abdomen.
Fifteen's attention is momentarily brought to the heavily injured Twelve and the either dead or dying Twenty-Four. She turns to Hinata, almost as if to challenge her as her bones repair and begin to reshape and protrude from her body. Thirteen suddenly appearing from left her side and Thirteen's scalpel in hand quickly swiping it into the narrow opening on the number five of her mask, plunging it as deep as she can. The stab meets resistance as it tears through the mask and eye before hitting something harder than metal, causing it to scrape and grind to a halt. Thirteen quickly releases, narrowly avoiding a devastating retaliation as Fifteen's bones shoot outside of her body, the tips only making it a few centimetres into penetrating Thirteen's right side and leaving shallow wounds to blood through her clothing.
Fifteen's body retracts and starts protruding more bones across their body, their body cracking as it starts to shift under her skin. Thirteen sees beneath the skin with her Byakugan, seeing the bones forming and plating itself in an unusual way, spreading through their body like tiles every few inches. Thirteen watches as Fifteen reaches up, clasping the scalpel embedded in her face and pulls it out, having blood seeping from the wound and quickly seals itself and encases her eyes with bone. Thirteen knows she's using her Byakugan to now see her and keeping her remaining eye safe from attacks. This fight is going to be much harder than before and readies herself.
Hinata takes a heavy breath, almost coughing from pain in her chakra network around her palms. She feels Naruto's arm clasp her shoulders, steadying her as she takes a few breaths. She turns to him, seeing that he's in slight pain from his ribs and trying to support her wasn't helping. "I'm okay...Naruto-kun." she whispers, breathlessly.
Suddenly seeing the smoke of Eighteen reforming to make the child again. Though this seems off as the child falls to their knees, blood seeping through their clothing and parts of their body missing, indicating that they lost several small parts of themselves from the vacuum impact of Twelve.
Hinata swallows as she readies herself to strike them down before they can recover. Sudden movement comes from her right, making her glance to see the child with Twenty-Five charging at her. She readies to defend herself when a sudden pain strikes her leg as a sudden gash comes across her calf from a bladed weapon that she can't see. Hinata's leg buckles from the sudden pain and she sees the child launch themselves at her.
Naruto pulls Hinata behind him, yelling loudly as her throws a punch at the child, hitting the mask and smirks, trying his best to ignore the pain through his ribs. Sai appears beside Naruto, holding up his scroll which blocks a surprise attack from Seven, seemingly appearing from nowhere.
Seven pulls their fist back and her black hands clench. "You blocked my attack the correct way." She says in a monotone voice. Sai chucks the scroll away quickly and readies themselves.
"Thanks, Sai!" Naruto yells, smirking at Sai before looking to face Twenty-Five once more, but pauses, seeing that the child vanished. "What the…" Naruto begins, but his throat suddenly closes as a small hand clasps it with surprising strength.
Naruto chokes out a surprised gasp, looking for where the hand is coming from and his eyes widen in shock and horror. He sees the arm, the arm that is choking him is coming from his own arm, as if phasing through it. Naruto tries to pull his arm away, but it doesn't make a difference as the smaller arm moves without issue to remain within grasping range of Naruto's throat.
"Mission successful." a voice whispers, making Naruto shiver as it sounds like a younger Hinata, coming from his left shoulder. He looks, seeing that same damned numbered mask, Twenty-Five peeking from his shoulder.
Hinata's eyes widen in shock, readying to help Naruto and reaches out with her right hand to grab the arm which chokes Naruto. Pain strikes Hinata, her eyes widen as her forearm bleeds with a blade sticking through it, or at least what she believes is a blade as it remains invisible and is outlined with her blood. The blade quickly pulls back and the blade flicks the blood away, vanishing once more. Hinata clasps her forearm, gritting her teeth as she realises the missing one of the children is invisible and has been attacking them at prime opportunity, aiming for non-lethal attacks.
"Surrender, lest you suffer Lord Danzo full wrath." Twenty-Five whispers in a cold voice, tightening her hand around Naruto's throat.
Naruto grinds his teeth, trying to wrestle this body invading parasitic clone of Hinata from choking him out. Suddenly catching heavy explosions to the far side of the battlefield between Eleven and Three. They all turn, seeing Three pressed against the wall with spikes through her body from Eleven's chakra chains. If there was a moment of happiness, it was short lived as the spiked tips of the chakra chains are pushed out from the wounds as shafts start to protrude from the piercings and forces them out. Smoke emits from the injuries as they rapidly heal and branches begin to exit through Three's arms and strike rapidly at the chains, pushing them far and having them whip across the room, destroying walls and nearly striking Naruto had it not been for the sudden appearance of Fifteen, taking the hit and not even budging as the floor crumbles beneath her.
Naruto's stomach drops, seeing the now why he was told not to engage Three in combat. Wood Style, the one thing that made the First Hokage stand above all and the reason Captain Yamato was Kakashi's replacement. Naruto suddenly feels a rage pour through him, drowning the fear and Naruto feels his skin start to burn and Naruto recognises the Nine Tails Cloak beginning to surface.
'Naruto...you're pathetic! I will finish this all with my power!' Kyuubi's voice rumbles through Naruto's mind. 'Starting with…'
Twenty-Five screams in pain and horror, part of her head and forearm becoming infused with the Nine Tails chakra which forces her to retreat from Naruto's body and hits the floor hard. Her body convulses as her body burns from the toxicity of the Nine Tails burning her chakra. She grasps at her arm, trying to tear it off as pain shoots through her.
Naruto's body moves on its own, shooting forward and kicking Twenty-Five's side and sending her flying and crashing into the nearby wall, making it collapse upon her limp form. Naruto's heart is racing, his eyes red and slitted by the Nine Tail's will as he seemingly searches for his next target.
Sai and Seven seem to pause from their fight, mostly being Sai avoiding contact as he recognises her abilities and knows being touched is a death sentence in this situation. Thirteen standing by the stairs with the remains of Twenty-Four and Twelve. Fifteen standing before him, a bone sword already in her hand and pointing the tip at him. Naruto growls and steps forward.
Hinata stands behind Naruto, her eyes wide with surprise and shock at the change in Naruto's chakra and bloodlust. She gets the same feeling whenever she drank from the pools within that place, the coldness...the isolation...the dread. "Nar-"
Blood splatters on her shirt and her eyes widen with surprise. Naruto's arm is held out and a blade sticking out of it that would've hit Hinata had he not intercepted the path and blocked it with his own arm. Fifteen pulls another bone sword from her shoulder, having thrown the weapon to hit Hinata. "Big...Mistake…" Naruto growls.
Hinata sees something move near her, glancing and seeing a few specks of blood floating in the air around waist height, one of the specks now trailing down a smooth surface. She realises it's the invisible attacker and readies to attack. Thirteen is already there, her leg swiping hard and striking the specks of blood and a sickening crack comes as the invisible figure hits the ground. Thirteen stands straight and looks to Hinata. "Remember the mission." she tells Hinata.
Hinata looks surprised, feeling the same coldness running through her veins and chakra. Hinata nods and turns to see if she can help Sai but stops, her eyes wide with shock.
"What is the meaning of this!?" A voice calls out, making everyone stop. All turn to see Danzo standing at the entrance of the room, cane in hand and a few ANBU behind him, looking highly irritated.
The remaining numbered clones of Hinata that are still standing, minus Thirteen and Eleven vanish, appearing before Danzo, resting on one knee and bowing their heads. "Lord Danzo." All say. Number Three, Seven and Fifteen remaining mostly unscratched whilst Eighteen is shaking, her body shivering from body loss in her small, frail form.
Rocks crumble, drawing attention to the sound remains of Twelve, having managed to rip herself from the wall and falls to her knees, blood seeping from her mask as the sound of scraping metal comes from her flattened stomach. "Danzo…" She gurgles.
Danzo scans the room, seeing Hinata, Naruto, Sai and Thirteen to his right and Eleven to his left. An annoyed tapping comes from his cane as he judges the situation. "Sai, you surprise me for your insubordination at standing with the ROOT's invaders."
Sai doesn't respond, almost as if lost for words before black markings begin to spread through his body, paralysing him and leaving his eyes wide open as he can't move. "Sai!" Hinata calls out, surprised by the curse seal across Sai's form.
Danzo glances at Eleven and Thirteen. "I hadn't known my own creations would turn against me so readily. Harming your own siblings to defend the Hyuga and Jinchuuriki, no less! Do you have anything to say for yourself!?"
Thirteen stands there, almost defiant as she speaks. "Their mission is greater than anything you could ever do, Danzo. My life is to help Hinata."
"And mine for Naruto Uzumaki!" Eleven yells with a fist in the air.
Danzo sighs with annoyance, walking forward, striding between the two as he makes his way to the stairs. The loyal clones stand, following Danzo as a shield as he reaches the stairs. The ANBU follow Danzo, wheeling a cylinder container that contains a frosted feminine figure within.
"Operations, activate Eleven and Thirteen's triggers." Danzo says, receiving an affirmative via a radio.
"Danzo!" Thirteen calls out, making him turn ever so slightly. Thirteen walks towards the wall, grabbing the still unconscious Number Six and holds it close to her. "My death means her death. Is it worth the sacrifice?"
Danzo stares at her with a disinterested stare. "You act as if it would do more than make me pause just to hear your final words."
Thirteen remains there for a few moments before throwing Six at Three who catches her with ease. "Then let my last words be this. We may be your creations, but we are not yours."
"Very well. Number One!" Danzo calls out, making the ground shake and the entrance crumbles as a metallic shine comes from it. Missive, jagged claws extending from the shadows as a colossal figure steps through. It stands straight, or as straight as its curved body will allow as a machine of some sorts scans the area. Two, canine like legs supporting its massive, heavy figure as the body's proportions acts more like a suit of destruction and nothing more. The face, or screen of it is nothing much what could be described as a liquid silver that shifts on its own accord and forming what could be best described as horrific, demonic faces within the screen which stands six-feet tall along its torso. The screen seems to be attached to a container, shaped like a cylinder which has been fitted into the machine body, ready to tear through the world itself and give no pause. "Number One, you're to execute Sai and capture the Hyuga and Jinchuuriki. Limbs won't be important." Danzo says, his thumb brushing the head of his cane and flips the side, revealing a button. "As for my creation's traitorous behaviour. I herby name you failures and not worth remembering, let alone your final words." He presses it and the room flashes with blood and explosions.
Sleepless Demon: Sorry for the long delay of the story update. Hopefully this pleases everyone and I'll try to update more often. Peace out.
