A/N: Here. A present for the coming of the New Year. Happy New Year.
Episode Twelve
Main Shrine
At that declaration, the four newcomers gawked at the number of kids, all smiling and waving at them, though Shizuka was the only one the Hyugas recognised from previous interactions.
Despite enjoying the confused expressions, Shizuka approached her lovable husband and bonked him lightly, saying, "Don't just leave it at that,"
Naruto chuckled nervously, though he knew he should elaborate before they thought ill of him or something. Despite his own feelings on the matter, he had adopted them and they him, so making distinctions between them all seemed kinda redundant. He sighed, before doing as his wife had said. "Okay. Even if I believe that to be true, I should elaborate clearly..."
All the kids grin up at that, knowing their dad saw them as his even if he wasn't biologically, though Naruto continued, "My biological kids are here," gesturing to his three girls and a boy who just stepped up, "My oldest, and proud defender Shirin..." Naruto gestured to the lone male with him, who waved. "Yo."
Ino grinned; this boy was like a more mature Naruto, not some scrawny kid, and was way cooler with his blond and black hair in a low dragon tail. His black boots and Anbu-style cargo trousers, paired with the basic grey t-shirt, were simple but practical. Similar thoughts went through two of the Hyugas' minds, though the last was comparing him to her records of a young Naruto-kun, seeing that the similarities were rather striking.
Naruto gestured to the daughter dressed in similar simple attire, clinging to his side. "This is my Flower Warrior Princess, Kushina. My eldest daughter."
Ino smiled brightly at that, almost cheering out. "Hey! I'm Ino Yamanaka. My family owns a flower shop, and your dad was talking about you yesterday. I've been super excited to meet another flower enthusiast!"
Kushina's eyes seemed to sparkle at that, but her mind also refused to let Daddy go yet, so she was torn about what to do, but nodded repeatedly. "Nice to meet you too. You should see our flower fields; they're the best in the world. Even Hyuga-san said it was impressive."
Ino nodded rapidly, though Naruto had to cut in, or they'd never be done. "Next up are my two little flames, my middle children," Karin takes his coffee wordlessly, sensing his intent, and Naruto places a hand on each of the priestesses-in-training, "Miroku and Saki. Both are in training to take over for their mother as maidens of the shrine."
Both girls performed a perfect formal bow and radiated the same gentle grace as their mother, albeit to a lesser extent, speaking in perfect unison. "It is an honor to welcome you to our shrine."
The guests returned the gesture, though Ino did squeal at the sight of the blonde family. Naruto moved along swiftly, before she could spread the fangirlism among his princesses. Gesturing to his amazing wife, Naruto introduced, "My beautiful wife, whom you all probably read about in a bingo book, Shizuka. She is currently carrying our newest member, Nami."
As Ino led the ladies' approach, both Karin and Honoka saw the three chains silently peel from his back, snake around, but remain hidden at his wife's back. Kushina and Shirin noticed this too, and both tensed in anticipation. Shizuka noticed the tensing of her two babies and Naruto's stiffened expression, which was locked on to the three ladies ogling her baby Nami, who was very similar to herself, with the only real difference being her eyes, which she got from her father.
Hiashi too had noticed the subtle changes and movements of Naruto, and as a father himself, he did not blame him. As a shinobi, he understood the reaction, for right now his reason to fight was being exposed to an unknown factor. He suspected that if his daughter, the Yamanaka heiress, made one wrong move, her life would be forfeit within a heartbeat. No. Even less than that, based on what he knew of his skills. Even he would likely not escape, let alone save his own daughters.
"Beautiful," Ino whispered as Nami's blue eyes locked onto the heiress's teal, earning a gasp from Hinata, who too whispered, "She has Na… the Regents' eyes."
Hanabi nods, though in the corner of her vision she notices a shift, which draws her attention to Naruto's laser focus on their every twitch, causing her to get nervous for some reason. A glance at her father shows he too is incredibly tense, growing more so the longer they interact with the baby.
It took a little while before Hanabi connected the dots. Somehow, or someway, Naruto was ready to strike if they made a wrong move. A move he perceived as harmful to his family. Her father probably knew he would be like this, as a father himself, but, more importantly, as a shinobi father. Thinking about it a bit more, it made sense to be wary.
They could probably kill the baby within the span of a heartbeat, not that they would, but it wouldn't be. She paused. Noticing that Shizuka was also in a stance that allowed her to jump backward. Both arms were wrapped firmly around the baby. Hanabi recalls this woman was an S-rank kunoichi too. Her reaction time is probably faster than they could ever hope to match.
Paired with the speed of her husband. A subtle and fleeting activation of her eyes showed that yes, Naruto is very clearly ready to kill them with chains directly in his wife's shadow. She will jump; his kunai-tipped chains will take them out the following moment. Damn. Death is so close, and they did not even notice. Naruto is certainly a protective father. Not just him though; she hadn't noticed them, but there are Kumo teams waiting in the shadows too.
This all took about five seconds, as Ino was busy playing with the baby, who had caught her finger. She was squealing near silently at the cuteness of it all, while remaining ignorant of the fact that these two shinobi parents were ready to kill them in less than a second.
Eventually, Ino looked up from the baby to the mother, smiling so genuinely and warmly, "You are a very lucky woman, Shizuka-san."
Shizuka nods firmly, with a soft smile, "I know and am grateful in many ways for it. My husband is wonderful," she turns to the other children, who are standing together with beaming smiles. "Same with my kids here."
Naruto clears his throat, bringing the attention to him, allowing Shizuka to step a few steps back, and her husband's chains to retract just as silently. Naruto speaks up. "Next, we have my eldest daughter, Amano,"
The dark blonde, grey-eyed girl raised her hand, cutting off her father figure, "Isoko-Uzumaki."
Naruto smiled at that, nodding his approval, along with Karin and Honoka, who both just smiled. Naruto moved on, but again the short black-haired boy with equally dark eyes stepped up, waving, "Tada Skien-Uzumaki, at your service."
Naruto didn't even have to continue anymore, as each took over for him, "Kozato Harumi-Uzumaki." The white-haired, hazel-eyed boy, who was really slim for a boy of eight, spoke up.
The pale blonde, with her red eyes that reminded the Leaf group of a certain genjutsu wielder back home, spoke up with a smirk of confidence, despite her short frame. "Hirori Yura-Uzumaki. Nine."
"Ayao Uzuki-Uzumaki," the purple-haired, purple-eyed girl with a soft, gentle smile and a slight bow at the waist. That name caught Ino's and Hiashi's attention, both looking to Naruto for answers, to which he smirks, explaining, "Yes, similar to us Uzumaki, the Uzuki is a scattered clan. The two are likely related somehow, and yes, she does know."
Ino and Hiashi both nodded, looking back at the girl who looked nervously back at them, but it was Shion who broke their stares as she stepped beside her husband. "Okay, lunch is ready."
Naruto nods before recalling that only the Hyugas knew of his light, so he turns to Ino, who was observing the spread. "Ino," he says, drawing the woman's attention, as Naruto proudly gestures to the woman with a goofy grin on his face, "This is the heart of our family, the light that guides us home through the darkness, the ever-gracefully shining love and grace that made all this possible. Sister-wife of Shizuka, Shion Uzumaki."
All could see how much love he had for the woman, none more than the woman herself, who was blushing rather prettily if you asked the Hyuga. Ino herself was stunned for a moment, wrapping her mind around the fact that the knucklehead, orange-wearing loudmouth, ramen-obsessed, blond she knew in her childhood had not one, but two wives, and enough kids, five of whom were adopted, to field three genin teams. The kids seemed to worship him enough to adopt his family name as their own.
After that three-second pause, Ino's grin turned into a smile. She stepped towards the woman and offered her hand, though again, those at Naruto's back watched the two silent chains emerge smoothly and move to striking positions. Just in case.
Ino introduced herself, "Lady Shion, it is great to make your acquaintance. My name is Ino Yamanaka, heiress of the Yamanaka clan, and Naruto's childhood friend. I think I am becoming a fan of yours and Lady Shizuka's work. You've performed a miracle in your work on that knucklehead of a ninja you call your husband."
Shion smiled at that. Shizuka looked away, her cheeks pink. They both knew that Naruto was a recklessly stupid, bullheaded, stubborn, foul-mouthed, alcoholic battle junkie when Shizuka first found him. It took a while to peel away the foul-mouthed automatic defense, break through the stubbornness filter, and find the boy who was silently crying underneath.
A boy who was lost, confused, and hurting.
Shion nods in understanding, though gracefully gestured towards Shizuka. "Well, I can't take all the credit. I think Shizuka has more claim to that than I do. She has worked with him far longer than I've known them both."
Ino nods, understanding, but she also knows just how highly Naruto holds Shion, or an inkling of it, based on how he introduced her. "Even so, thank you for being his light."
Those at Naruto's back saw the slight twitch and the retraction of the chains after that statement, and finally allowed Shirin and Kushina to relax their postures.
Clearing his throat, Naruto gained everyone's attention again and gestured to the final member of the family. "This is," he was cut off as the grey-haired kunoichi mother spoke up, "Kiyota. Kiyota Uzumaki."
Everyone tensed as Naruto looked to his warrior queen, who was staring at her junior, who was staring back, and for a moment it seemed tense. However, it was just that, a moment, as Shizuka looked to her husband and nodded. Naruto offered a smile back, before gesturing for her to step forward, announcing, "My adopted little sister, and her daughter, Koki Uzumaki."
Kiyota bowed her head, and they all bowed back before heading to the table.
Southeastern Demon Country
Kurama, in fox form, and three other eight-tailed kitsune land on the edge of a clearing, beside a waterfall, to see the large two-tailed cat, along with six of her own, staring at several multi-headed rattlesnakes and cobras, all hissing at one another.
Atop the central boa constrictor stood a hooded figure, who was clearly grinning at the cats, "Kukuku, to think, you'd be this tough to escape. How persistent of you."
None of the cats stopped their actions, with even Matatabi, not in her tailed beast form but a similar smaller, large lion-size, form with striking royal blue coloring, and tiger-like stripes. It was a classic Mexican standoff with the snakes unable to beat the reaction time of the cats, too many lunging heads for the said cats to avoid.
Though, much like their containers, Mata sensed the arrival of her sibling and took a step back, which was the signal for her little kittens to fall silent. The hooded figure raised a brow before narrowing slit eyes at the action, seeing their smirking features. A taste of the air revealed the issue, but before they could react, the cobras were diced up, and the Boa ducked just as a small pack of foxes fled overhead, narrowly missing their target.
The figure's hood revealed that it was indeed Orochimaru, but in a form much like that of a twelve- or thirteen-year-old. Orochimaru watched as the snakes again attempted to lunge at the foxes, but the hellcats were faster. With claws that could split an atom, the hellcats reduced the remaining reptiles to piles of flesh in the span of a bird's twitch. The bijuu slid to a stop beyond, hissing at the last one that held the snake sannin, who chuckled, "My, how strong. Perhaps I should reconsider my position here..."
Kurama snarled, lowering herself down. "You will not get anywhere near that boy, snake."
Orichamru chuckled in amusement, hiding the fact that he was surprised they knew why he was here. However, he wouldn't let that show. These summoned animals are indeed dangerous, but clearly, he can outwit them.
Leaping from his steed, he ordered it forward to strike, Orochimaru went through additional hand signs with a grin. This was going to be fun.
Main Shrine
With the food being consumed, Naruto looked at Hiashi, "So, Hiashi, what is it that you wanted to discuss?"
Hiashi nods firmly, sips his tea, and then looks from his daughters to Naruto. "Firstly, I think I should ask about a local trade station. A branch of our trade company."
Naruto nods, expecting this, and was prepared. "For what can we expect in response to allowing this?"
"Local taxes and a bonus of ten percent," Hiashi began, earning a raised brow from Shizuka and Karin, though Naruto reached for his coffee, speaking before he sipped. "We're listening."
Hiashi nods once, expecting that, and continues, "With a trade center, I will ask that you allow us to create a compound to house the workers. A leader will be installed by me to oversee."
Naruto expected this, suspecting the worst, so he asked carefully, "I take it you have a candidate?"
Hiashi gestured to his daughters, "Currently, my daughters are the prime ones."
Naruto now speaks up, "Next?"
"Well, next, we wish to offer an alliance," Hiashi informed, "and now we want to buy into the flower fields..."
Ino cut in, "Hold up."
All eyes looked to the platinum blond, who met Hiashi's blank face head-on. "The Yamanaka clan is here solely for a joint venture regarding that. Sure, we have yet to see it directly, however, it is our specialty. I can't let you go through with this."
"From Hinata's perspective and initial reports, it should be," Hiashi stopped upon Naruto's raised hand, looking to him as he spoke, "Hiashi. I get that you want to try to infiltrate our markets, but I cannot allow monopolies or cornerings within them."
Hiashi nodded, understanding that. So, Naruto continued, glancing at Ino, "And as I know of the Yamanaka's botany capabilities, especially regarding flowers specifically, I am intrigued to see what they could possibly do."
Ino smirked, nodding along and clearly excited at the possibility of getting her hands on them. Naruto continued, "What you have seen thus far is the result of my flower warrior princess, my sister Fu, my wife's gentle hands, and my employees' hard work. That is all after myself and my warrior queen had scoured the continents for seeds and bulbs for cultivation."
Hiashi nods. Ino does too. Naruto speaks up, "Hiashi, I will allow tea, wood, and herbs with no more than twelve point five percent market share. We can discuss expansion into silks and the like after some time."
Hiashi pondered that for more than a moment, allowing Naruto to address his other guess. "Ino of clan Yamanaka, what about you? I can only predict that it was solely the flower business, right?"
Ino nods once, getting serious. A puff of smoke appears, and a file materializes in her hand, which she presents to him. Naruto takes the file, and both his wives appear behind him, reading over his shoulder. It isn't a bad deal: a respectable five percent atop local taxes. Once a local branch is open, if profits reach a certain threshold, it will match the local tax rate.
Naruto felt no real reason to deny it, so he lowered it down to the table. "Verdict?"
"Fine by me," Shizuka informed calmly from his side, moving to retake her seat.
Shion nodded, speaking softly, "It's rather straightforward. I don't have any problem with it."
Ino beamed at that, until Naruto's cold blue eyes locked on her teal, the will of the people he leads seemingly appearing at his back. His eyes narrowed upon her as he spoke frankly. "Ino. I am not an idiot. Remember that."
Ino nods once, understanding the silent message, but she smiles nonetheless: "I understand."
As Naruto and his team finished up, the kids chatting calmly, Karin rapidly approached Naruto, frowning, which drew his attention. She whispered in his ear, "I am sensing Sasuke approaching the docks in the north."
Naruto's eyes hardened, his gaze shifting across the room. "Is that so?"
She nodded grimly, remained still, and Naruto closed his eyes, focusing on his connection with his tenant, sensing the fluctuations of chakra, suspecting it to be from a battle. So, he opened them and locked them on his sister, "Yugito. We have another problem that requires my attention."
Yugito raised a brow briefly, before narrowing her eyes at him. The two stared at one another for a full second before she nodded. "Samui. Remember your place and back him up this time."
"Understood," Samui reports, standing abruptly. Naruto follows shortly afterward, leading Ino and the Hyugas. Ino asks to confirm her suspicions, "What's going on, Naruto? You're prepared to fight something."
Naruto knew that lying to the Hyuga was one thing, but someone like the Yamanaka, who could catch microexpressions, was much harder. So, he explained, "A new threat, my former teammate, according to the chakra signature, at least."
The Leaf group hardened their eyes at the thought of the traitor. Ino muttered lowly, "Sasuke, huh? He's here?"
Karin frowned and nodded. "Yes, unfortunately, I am very familiar with his dark chakra signal. I was his fangirl once. Until he tried to kill me."
"You aren't alone in that," Ino reports calmly, coldly, and with a healthy amount of venom. "We all have had moments of weakness. We can't hold you to that."
Naruto's sword clicking into the holster on his back broke the room's attention from thoughts of the traitor to the head of the household, eyes locking onto him. His firm face scanned the room. "I suspect that this will be the last time we see him breathing. Well, I'll see to it."
"I will come too," Ino informed.
Hiashi spoke next, "As will I. The village must be made aware of his crimes and subsequent demise."
"No way I'm sitting this out," Karin informed, following her clansman out of the dining room. Their Leaf guests followed after. Naruto glanced back at Karin. "Arm up, we have time, right?"
Karin nodded once. "Based on the course and speed, we have more than a few minutes," she continued, running off to her and Honoka's room. Naruto looked back at his family, noting his brothers' kids, who looked at him timidly. However, his two wives stepped forward. Shizuka spoke up, "This Sasuke Uchiha, is he the same one from..."
Naruto cut her off with a raised hand, a quick glance back to the table where Kiyota clutched Koki tighter. Naruto nodded to confirm, answering his wife. "He is. I will handle it."
"Naruto-Nii," Kiyota called abruptly, drawing all eyes back to the young mother. She stood up, taking deep breaths to keep her nerves in check. Naruto looked at her, and the leaf team noticed her stiff posture when their missing shinobi was mentioned, but did not mention it. Though Naruto spoke softly, "Kiyota. You don't have to…"
"I need to," Kiyota responds, breathing heavier. Before Naruto could deny it, Shizuka spoke up, "Naruto."
Her hard, firm voice and shinobi stare caused Naruto's tongue to tie, allowing his wife to speak up, "Let her reclaim what she has lost. As a ninja, she can't let this stand."
Naruto wanted to argue, he really did, but both his wives were giving him their own look. Shion took baby Koki from her mother, taking the little bundle in her arm, allowing Kiyota to step before him with a similar gaze to Shizuka's. "Please. Let me..."
"Fine," Naruto snapped, looking back down the corridor. "Gear up. We don't have time to wait."
Kiyota didn't even wait for him to finish, body-flickering directly into her room.
As they waited, Ino stepped towards Naruto, her face blank enough to impress the Hyuga clan head. She spoke up, "That girl,"
"Yes, Ino. The reason you all caught up to us in Wave was the birth of my current youngest, Koki there," Naruto informs, gesturing to the baby in his wife's arms, a very dangerous glint in his eyes. Ino normally would have flinched away from that look, but her own rage matched his veiled one. She spoke deceptively calmly, "I see. Then the last hit is hers, yes?"
Naruto nods with a tight frown. "After I beat him down and leave him in a near-death state, though Karin will want her own pound of flesh, I don't doubt it."
"I am not that petty, Naruto," Karin says, announcing the arrival of herself and Kiyota, who was wearing a Demon Chunin kunoichi uniform, with a pout. Naruto gestured to the former Nadishiko, "What's her...?"
"My old uniform doesn't fit," Kiyota began, her annoyance clear. "My ass and bust grew so..." She paused, realizing what she was saying and to whom, and clammed up, growing red from beneath the collar.
To save her from her embarrassment, Naruto pretended not to notice as he glanced around at his squad. Temporary or not, they were his team: Ino, Hiashi, Hinata, Hinabi, Samui, Karin, and Kiyota. Six chains emerged from his back and reached out towards them all. Naruto spoke up, "Yui, go tell Gaara the situation. If the Leaf asks, talk to the Inazuka canines."
Yui, by the door, chirps back and runs off just as his chains wrap around each person's arm. Ino asks, "What are these chains?"
Karin answers, in place of clansman, "our bloodline," as her chain wraps around his waist. He didn't have enough, so she took the initiative: "Chakra chains. Though, these aren't sealing our chakra by their default settings."
The next moment, they were all gone in a bright flash of yellow.
Lodinia Port
In the town center, the flash of yellow caught many off guard before people saw Regent appear before them. Cheers at his arrival were halted upon seeing his very serious expression, paired with him being outfitted for battle. A sight many had not seen since the skirmish with Marsh.
Subsequently, the local shinobi and samurai garrison sprang to life, their leaders meeting him within minutes as he approached the port's jetty, his party at his back. Yet before the captains could ask, Naruto spoke first, "Evacuate the port up until the town center. Lock the place down."
"Sir!" Both sides rush to complete their Regent's command as Karin steps up beside Naruto. He asks, "Lead on."
She nods silently and rushes off, the others following Karin out past the port docks, reaching the large quay walls. In silence, she heads toward a medium-sized galley with about one hundred guns, featuring a hurried sigil of a clan soon to be extinct. Naruto was about to dish out orders when a familiar thumping sound was heard, and he declared, "Scatter!"
They all leap in different directions, explosions litter their previous positions, the ship's cannons continue to unload on the approaching shinobi. Karin and Kiyota manage to stick with Naruto, the Uzumaki chains coming into play as they close in, defending their approach with the indestructible adamantine sealing chains.
When black flames erupted around them, Naruto and Karin both knew that they had gained their target's attention. The guns fell silent, and the chains pulled apart to reveal them to their enemies. Sure enough, his annoying smirk settled on his pale face, his duck butt hairstyle still in place. He rested his foot on the ship's starboard railing, staring at the Uzumaki with his Sharingan already active.
Naruto vs Sasuke
Sasuke Uchiha has appeared before the Uzumaki family and breaks the silence by chuckling, shaking his head. "Dobe. You make this far too easy. Here I thought I would have to hunt you down by slaughtering those in that town. Have you come to give me your power like that idiot you are?"
Naruto twirls his finger in his hair, before looking at Karin, who looks back just as confused. They both then look at Sasuke, and Naruto asks in a familiar tone, "Huh? Did you say something?"
Sasuke's eye twitched, only then noticing his 'old toys' standing with the dobe. He chuckled darkly, staring at Karin, then Kiyota, "Hey, dobe. You've gone through my trash and picked out two worthless pieces I discarded."
Karin's chains coiled, ready to strike. She pushed up her glasses, while Kiyota gripped her borrowed katana handle tighter, reacting to Sasuke's disrespect, the leather squealing under her tightening hold. Naruto raised a brow, feigning ignorance. "You're still as arrogant as ever, it seems. Have you learned anything since I kicked your ass a year ago?"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, wondering what exactly the dobe was talking about. They hadn't met in a few years. Seeing the confusion, Naruto grinned, "Oh? You don't recall. Guess you really are stupid."
Sasuke's Sharingan spins faster, his irritation growing. Naruto continues, "And what's up with your hair and clothes? You look like you haven't even bathed in a month." He makes a visual cue of actually sniffing the air and covering his face with both hands. "Damn, it smells like it too. Didn't your parents teach you to wash yourself every day?"
That did it. Sasuke was pissed, his eyes morphing into the Mangekyo Sharingan, as he roars, "Dobe! You're dead!"
Naruto blinked owlishly, looking at Kiyota then Karin, his cheeky grin in full. "Was it something I said?"
Sasuke charges at Naruto, a very familiar black katana drawn. Upon seeing it, Naruto's eyes harden. He hears Kiyota's gasp upon its reveal. At that moment, Naruto's demeanor shifts, and most notice this. That sword is Kiyota's, stolen from her when she was abducted by the Uchiha filth currently charging at him.
He is unworthy of it.
Naruto draws his own and clashes with Sasuke, three quarters of the distance between them. Sasuke grinned, seeing the dobe with the same kind of weapon he had; it was a good choice to keep this thing. Yet, suddenly, a boot came up, and Sasuke ducked it, going for an upward slash. However, Naruto was having none of that, as he continued his spin, the long-form katana flowing with wind came speeding around in his wake, ocean following the swing that forced the man back.
Sasuke leaped over the wind-water slash combo part of that multi-strike attack, and with a single hand sign, launched a fireball. Yet, Naruto's six chains tore it into chakra and embers, rushing the Uchiha, his face devoid of all emotion.
The Uchiha never thought Naruto would give him such an empty look, but it didn't matter, as his chakra had finished collecting. "Amaterasu!"
The black flames rushed forward, but again, the flames met the business end of the chakra-disrupting Uzumaki sealing chains, tearing them apart too, much to the frustration of the Uchiha, who growled, flooding his weapon with lightning chakra and rushing forward.
Naruto raised his fingers in a familiar sign, sword still in hand, "Shadow clone jutsu," and abruptly, six additional Narutos appeared, running beside him, swords also drawn.
Sasuke lacked time to plan for the dobe's most common tactic. He should have suspected it. He just grinned, confident he had a good way to beat him, and roared, "Susanoo!"
A purple ethereal cage of chakra appeared just in time to catch the sword strikes from multiple directions. Naruto gritted his teeth as the Uchiha cackled, "Let me show you true power! The might of the Uchiha is unbeatable!"
The rest of the warrior burst forth, forcing Naruto back, his clones dispelled, as the upper body, and two arms appeared. That was quickly followed by muscle and armour, towering above the defenders a good twenty metres and it wasn't even complete yet.
Karin and Kiyota watched from the sideline with cold sweats. How was Naruto supposed to fight against that? Sure, the chains could, but Naruto's maximum in combat is six. He would need at least three times that number to pin it down long enough to disrupt it.
Karin was about to rush in to aid Naruto but stopped upon sensing his chakra build up. It wasn't his, but rather, something else. Blinking owlishly at that, she finds her gaze locked on Naruto's now almost translucent, shimmering bluish-grey slit eyes, paired with his grin and shake of his head. He then smirked, an Uzumaki smirk, and gave a thumbs up. Karin smiled back and nodded, returning to the sidelines.
Naruto then looks to his opponent, standing before him, Sasuke finally finishing his evil cackling, and bites his thumb, going through hand signs, which catches the copy-wheel eyes of the last Uchiha. Sasuke recognises the signs for a summoning, how foolish. Those toads are useless out here in the ocean, voicing this, Sasuke says, "Your toads are useless out here, dobe. This is the..."
"Who said anything about toads?" Naruto asked before grinning at him. He slammed his hand below the surface of the sea they were battling atop, and the Uzumaki called out, "Summoning!"
Nothing seemed to happen. No spreading of symbols. No puff of smoke. Nothing. Sasuke looked around for a moment. Not seeing anything new, he began to chuckle, shaking his head, and was about to mock the dobe again, but noticed how stiff Karin got in the corner of his eye. She might be trash, but her sensory skills are second to none. So, he looked around again but saw no animal summons.
His attention was drawn to the chuckling blond dobe, who looked positively smug, though Sasuke said. "Seems like your ability to fail has infected your summons too. No matter. I shall kill you and take..."
Naruto interrupted his holy speech, speaking loudly enough to be heard over the distance between them, "Say, Sasuke. Do you know what Uzumaki means?"
Sasuke looked more puzzled than anything else, causing Naruto's Uzumaki grin to form again. Naruto shook his head before speaking up again, "My clan hails from Uzushiogakure no Sato, Sasuke. The Village Hidden among the Eddies. Cousins of the Senju, masters of Sword, Seals, and Swirling tides. Yet, you have the audacity to challenge me on my home field advantage?"
It then clicked for Sasuke: they were out at sea. The dobe might have a wind affinity, but his secondary was water, which is currently surrounding them. Not a problem; he had lightning. Sasuke shrugged, "So what? You're a water jutsu user? I have lightning and fire. I can..."
Naruto facepalmed, returned his sword to his back, and said, "Foolish little Uchiha."
Sasuke's eye twitched at that; the dobe dies now. Yet it was then, as he went to step forward, that he noticed the uneven water pressure beneath him. Looking down, a massive whirlpool had formed just beneath the surface he was standing on. Sasuke snapped his face to the grinning Naruto, who nodded and confirmed, "Yes, Sasuke. Uzumaki can be translated to spiral or swirl. Though, personally, I prefer the other: Whirlpool. Even more so when paired with my own: Maelstrom."
Dropping his Susanoo, Sasuke leaps clear, but out from the suddenly erupting pool of swirling water comes a large snake-like beast with a dragon-like head, brilliant white scales, and dark green-blue scales upon its dragon-like snout that flow back over its face like a helmet, split around the large sail-like fin of a beautiful cyan, and partially down its back following its spine spikes, though the scales on its stomach look somewhat soft to the touch, with a blue hue to them.
It roared at the Uchiha, a high-pitched almost screech, as water slipped down its elegant frame. Sasuke spots Naruto standing atop its head, grinning like the idiot he is, as he himself goes through the same hand signs, "Summoning!"
Meanwhile, Karin gawked at the sight, as did many nearby, of the Leviathan that Naruto summoned and stood atop. She had read the archives Naruto had. She knew that the Leviathans once served alongside the Uzumaki, along with the Krakens, Puffins, and the more common among the clan, the deep-sea Seals. She never thought she would see any of them, yet here was Naruto atop a beautiful sea beast, fighting against that bastard who tried to kill her. Her Uzumaki grin widened, darkening.
An assortment of eleven sea snakes appeared, along with Sasuke's personal summon, Aoda. Yet, he still felt under-equipped. An idea hit him: that beast looks worthy of serving him, a Uchiha. Looking into its hardened gaze, he cast his strongest visual genjutsu. He will kill the dobe with his own power.
Meanwhile, Naruto stood atop his summon, Ritorupāru, or Pāru for short, speaking softly to her, though she was the first to speak. "I must say, Naruto. You don't write or call and just drop me directly into a fight. Sometimes I think you only call me when you need my strength."
Naruto let out a soft sigh. "Things have been busy since I got home. Truthfully, this is supposed to be the first day of our founding festivities, yet stupid people are coming out of the woodwork, trying to cause all manner of trouble."
Her giggle was musical perfection as her eyes locked on their opponent, who had just summoned sea snakes to battle the likes of her, and Pāru would have snorted, but such an act was beneath a lady of her station. Naruto noticed them too, and unfolded his arms, "Seems, he is taking us rather lightly. Sea snakes? Is that…?"
Both the summon and the summoner sense the invasion of chakra aimed at Pāru, and Naruto face-palms so hard that she hisses aloud, "He dares!"
The Uzumaki chuckled darkly, filled with loathing. "I swear this guy is really fucking stupid. Did he honestly think we didn't know about his clan's genjutsu prowess and not counter it?"
"My second eyelids protect me too. Even if we were not intermixing our nature chakra right now," Pāru hissed. Naruto grinned, preparing himself, and asked, "Then, let's not keep our enemy waiting."
With a roar, the leviathan dived down, sinking beneath the waves abruptly. The battle had just entered three-dimensional space, and their enemies darted down after them into the depths of the surrounding sea.
Sasuke noticed how calmly Naruto floated there, beside his summon, which seemed immune to his genjutsu. Even more worthy of him. Sasuke grinned, all he had to do was wait for the dobe again and he could blast him with his black flames.
Yet he was again shocked when Naruto jetted forward at speed, like a powered torpedo, his summon keeping pace alongside him. Naruto's movements nearly mimicked his own snakes, who also counter-charged. The first snakes they came across, Pāru dived down, before rising and biting down on its slinking body, splitting it beneath her mighty jaws and fangs.
Naruto slipped out of the chomping snake's mouth, avoiding the venom-laced embrace, his sword cutting through its flesh as he twirled around its large body, leaving bubbles and blood in his wake. He too, abruptly dived, avoiding another coiled snap as the first snake puffed away from its injuries. Naruto led the three snakes deeper into the ocean's depths, directly into the path of Pāru's jaws, which snapped through them like paper, leaving a cloud of blood and three corpses floating steadily to the bottom.
A slash of bubbling air cut off the one chasing after the summon. Her summoner darted past the now headless corpse as another, an anaconda? Probably. The snake darted down, hissing silently, but Naruto jetted aside. The empty chomp was a clear indication of the missed strike, but the blonde threw two kunai on reflex. However, the snake's eyes closed, and they bounced harmlessly off due to the drastic drop in speed through the water resistance.
Yet before he could even raise his sword, another whirlpool abruptly appeared and yanked his opponent down, deeper into the darkened depths, far below the surface where the sun's rays do not reach. Naruto would have pitied the snakes, but he lacked the time, glancing back up to find the one he knew Sasuke was riding near Karin and Kiyota.
Taking a deep breath, Naruto was grateful for the Leviathan Contract, which granted him underwater breathing and propulsion, as well as access to Leviathan Sage Mode, when he noticed another five new sea snakes approaching the fight. Great.
Karin and Kiyota vs Sasuke
As the battle raged beneath the waves, Sasuke looked back at the two kunoichi left behind on the surface and grinned darkly. It seemed the dobe had taken them both into his 'precious people'; thus, killing or taking them would have a negative impact on his vaunted rival.
Sensing the will of his summoner, Aoda slinked forward silently towards the two ladies, who tensed and entered battle stances. Karin's chains erupted from her back, and Kiyota drew her katana. This caused the Uchiha to chuckle with a shake of his head, saying, "You actually believe that you can stand against me? I have subdued both of you before. You will serve me in destroying that dobe, whether or not you want to."
His eyes began to spin lazily, clearly prepared to entrap them under his command. Yet, both just smirked. Karin spoke up, venom in every word. "Naruto is our leader. My clan head. I will never betray him. Not even for you, Uchiha."
Both ladies' eyes harden, narrowing to slits, as Kiyota announces next, "My older brother and leader of my family. I will stand with him until my dying breath."
Sasuke scoffed at their bravado. Yet, this was perfect. Once he crushed them, the dobe would crumble before his might. He looked to his summon beneath him, "Aoda, stay out of this. I'll crush them myself."
The snake nods as its summoner leaps off, "By your word, Lord Uchiha."
Touching down, Sasuke drew his stolen katana, channelled his lightning through it, and said, "I will have you begging for mercy and pleading to be used by me." He looked at the silver-haired Kiyota and added, "Again, in your case."
Abruptly, Kiyota charged forward, enraged by his words and his assault on her a year ago. Despite not being used to fighting together, she was backed up and followed by Karin's dozen chains. Sasuke didn't even take them seriously, chuckling with dark intent, "Foolish."
His eyes snapped to stare into the grey eyes of the former nadishiko. Genjutsu was placed, forcing Kiyota to pause briefly. Then, one chain lightly cut her arm. Karin's chakra broke it and formed a genjutsu repellent seal on her skin. It will protect them both for ten minutes or so.
Kiyota growled, before darting forward again. Sasuke smirked; she had gotten better. All the more reason to take her now. A fine woman who would birth many strong Uchiha children. But first, he must show her her place beneath him. So, he charges forward to beat her at her own game. His eyes can see through her kenjutsu, so beating her shouldn't be too hard. It's her best skill after all; her will would break.
Kiyota's blade was deflected after her initial swipe, yet as Sasuke went to cut off her sword arm, a chain darted over her shoulder, aiming at his crotch. Seeing this, the Uchiha spun clear, directly into the slash of the exiled nadishiko. Again, he deflected it. Going for a thrust himself, Kiyota spun clear, and another two chains dived at him in a cross-over.
This again forced Sasuke to take a hop back. Kiyota came into an overhead slash, which his lightning blade blocked. Then, he borrowed the move he had copied from dobe earlier and launched a roundhouse. The woman, recognizing the move from her hidden crush/brother figure, had seen him train many, many times. So, she ducked beneath the travelling leg, as Shirin had done, though with far greater swiftness and flexibility.
Sasuke's unfamiliarity with the movements meant that his body was locked into it until its completion, thus his back was wide open as Kiyota raised her sword up towards the sky, an easy spine-severing strike. Sensing this, Sasuke activated his Susanoo rib cage, caught the blade before contact, which forced her to leap back to avoid.
Yet before he could pursue, two dozen chains erupted up from the ocean around him, wrapping around the construct of chakra. Sasuke watched them as he could feel and see the cracks in his ultimate defense and frowned, pumping more chakra into it to break free of these pathetic creatures' attempts to subdue him. Yet, no matter how much chakra he poured into his Susanoo, it wouldn't evolve into the next stage.
Scowling now, Sasuke glared at Karin, who was kneeling with her hands in a ram hand sign, eyes closed in focus, bringing down the man she loved once upon a time. No. She was obsessed with. Recalling the soft feelings she had being among her clansmen and his family, she knew that was what she wanted. That warm, cozy feeling. It is too early to say whether this is love or not, maybe it was just the safety and security of a family, but damn, she is going to defend it.
The Uchiha growled as the chakra construct began to crumble. He stared at the redhead, sharingan spinning, and called out, "Amaterasu."
An arrow of black flames shot out, charging towards the woman focused on keeping him locked down. It was a shame, really. These chains had potential for greatness under the Uchiha fan. Oh well. He'll find another.
Yet again, his plans were derailed by Kiyota, who slashed through the arrow of flames with Wind Slash. The flames briefly bloomed in all directions, including the blade of origin of the attack. The tip was now housing the black flames, the rest dotted about the flowing surface. The greynette grinned as she charged again.
Kissing his teeth at his lack of progress, Sasuke deactivated his ultimate defense, leaped clear of the entrapping chains, slipped through them, and countercharged the woman. Lightning burst across the black metal as he slid to a stop. "Chidori senbon."
Many needles like lightning strands form around him as he points the sword at the approaching swordswoman, and a flare of his chakra launches the four dozen lightning senbon forward.
Kiyota's eyes sharpened to a new level of focus, her breathing remained level and mind clear as she tracked the trajectories of the countless projectiles, muscles rippling in anticipation of use, though she idly mused about how her secret crush might have predicted this.
A lot of the training she had received from him was speed and agility training. Fighting against attacks from multiple directions. Naruto often said, "High-speed combat isn't all about moving faster than your opponent. It requires you to see through their moves before either side knows what their next one is and be ready to react accordingly. My counter, however, requires you to look at what they think you would do, what they believe they have forced you to do, and then find a better way. A way they did not anticipate. That is how we Uzumaki tend to fight."
With that in mind, Kiyota looks at the encroaching storm of lightning bolts. The horizontal axis was completely locked down, and the second wave covered the vertical access. Jumping over the first will result in the second wave catching her. Her wind is strong, sure, but he has anticipated it with the third wave, which is far denser than the first two. Though she has those all-consuming black flames at her disposal currently.
Her best bet is to cut through the first, avoid the second, then dive beneath the sea to avoid the third. Use the blade as a distraction. Karin would likely react now that she isn't focused on holding him down, thus she can try and strike. No. She will strike from below while Karin keeps his attention. Now, to implement it.
Kiyota funnels wind into her still-burning blade, expanding the black flames that are eating down its length, as she swings through the first to reach her, the flames consuming the lightning as it travels. Following the built-up momentum, she cuts through the second wave before throwing the flaming blade ahead as a distraction, allowing her to slip beneath the waves as her katana erupts into black flames. Unintentionally saving Karin from having to defend herself, as the flames of Amaterasu consumed a large portion of the third through sixth waves of lightning.
With this newfound space to act, Karin noticed that Kiyota had slipped beneath the water and split her two dozen chains into two groups. Eighteen charged at the Uchiha, keeping his focus, while six remained below to help her family member move into position to strike from below. She may have tossed her burning sword, but Karin knew her fellow nadishiko had a plan. Even if she herself was only one in name.
Sasuke growled as he scanned the choppy sea beneath him, looking for that woman, but that was brief as those chains came charging at him. Those chains seemed to nullify chakra when they made contact, so most of his chakra attacks were useless against them. Sword raised, kenjutsu was his best bet then. Charging forward, eyes tracking all eighteen pointy ends that traveled like snakes before pointing out and snapping down at him.
Ducking and weaving, Sasuke deflects them away from his person as his eyes guide his movements to prevent him from taking so much as a glancing hit. This was child's play. Though, he does idly notice the frantically increasing number of blind spot attacks as he closes in on this troubling redhead. She was useless before, but maybe if he can overpower whatever resistance to his genjutsu she has, he can make use of the bitch.
Reaching fifty metres of Karin, half the distance of before, Sasuke noticed that more chains had joined the melee, slowing his pace. Karin had yet to move, just maintaining the ram hand sign with eyes shut. He was close enough for a phoenix flower to reach her, so, reaching into his shuriken pouch and taking a handful, he took a deep breath. With a wide swirl, he deflected the six razor-tipped chains, allowing him to internally chant. "Uchiha style; Phoenix Flower!"
Sasuke spits out a large barrage of small fireballs, hiding six shuriken among at least twelve balls of bright orange flames. At this point, Kiyota erupts from beneath the waves, holding a kunai in each hand. The first kunai slices his sword-wielding wrist, causing his grip to loosen, while the second one goes through his throat.
As ambitious as Kiyota was, it would not be enough. Sasuke had his right hand in front of his mouth for his attack, thus intercepting the wrist holding the kunai going for his throat was a simple affair. Though he did wince at the cut to his arm, the greynette managed to kick her stolen sword from his grasp.
Seeing the black blade liberated gave her a sense of accomplishment, but that too was only fleeting as she now found herself in the Uchiha's grip. Kiyota eventually saw his iron grip on her wrist and his blank-faced gaze upon her, and internally panicked. A quick glance showed that Karin had pulled back her chains to deal with his attack against her. The redhead was busy for the next twenty seconds or so.
Twenty long seconds.
With a twist, Sasuke forced the teenaged kunoichi to release her grip on the kunai, but Kiyota would never allow herself to be his victim again and thus lashed out with her other hand, only for a knee to meet her gut. She lost all wind in her body, her strength waning as his strike had been precisely aimed, hitting her solar plexus directly.
Next, she found his hand grasping her throat, constricting her windpipe, with the Sharingan lazily spinning as he stared into her eyes. He spoke lowly, "You know – ever since I heard about the caliber of kunoichi in your home, I was willing to take it over and rule it with a far less severe punishment for you all if you were willing to aid me in rebuilding my clan."
Kiyota glared at him, despite the encroaching darkness on the edge of her peripheral vision. Sasuke continued, uncaringly, "Yet I was rebuffed. Told I was unworthy of you all. Then, when I had heard that your princess, the pride and joy of your backwater village, the strongest and most appealing you had to offer, had selected that dobe as her partner, I was absolutely livid. So, I ordered that your village be erased."
He paused while idly going through the woman's recent memories, spotting a little girl no older than a year, being cradled in the dobe's arms and giggling at him. Digging deeper, despite her resistance, which wasn't insignificant, he saw it. That child, Koki, was no doubt his. A Uchiha. His daughter was being raised by the dobe in his place. Unacceptable.
Sasuke growled, glaring death back at the woman who dared hide a member of his noble Uchiha from reaching their potential beneath his wings. "You dared to hide her from me? Have you raised that pathetic waste of space in my palace!"
The sound of a thousand birds erupted from his empty left hand. His eyes were cold yet deranged. "I shall kill you, that dobe, and anyone who dares think they could escape from my justice. Then, I shall take and raise my daughter, who will take the name Sarada, not something so pathetic like Koki. She will be raised perfectly to rule over this land, which I shall gift her..."
Everything seemed to slow as he barely caught the shadow before the black blade came down and reacted. Releasing the traitorous thing, he thrust his chidori, only for his attack to be intercepted by a chakra chain. A loud snap signaled the breaking of said wrist, followed by a truck of a kick that broke at least three of the Uchiha's ribs, shattering more than a few more.
Sasuke skipped across the ocean three times before Aoda caught him, as it hissed at the new arrival. Wheezing and panting, Sasuke's eyes landed on the mop of blonde hair and silver-tinted blue eyes glaring at him as he held the panting Kiyota in his arms, against his chest protectively. She had tears of panic running down her cheeks, gasping for air, and was desperately clinging to Naruto, having seen a glimpse of the dark future her daughter might go through if that man got hold of her.
Naruto vs Sasuke II
Naruto had never felt this murderous. Actually, the last time it was this bad, Naruto's bloodlust had been amplified by Kurama during that first clash with Yagura in a similar situation as now. Maybe he has bad luck when fighting in the open sea, just beyond the sight of ports, as he can still make out the Lodinia port in the far distance.
Kiyota's mutterings brought his attention to the clearly distraught woman in his arms. "Koki..." was whispered beneath a breath, "he wants to take Koki."
Naruto's eyes harden to neutron star core levels, bordering on black hole density at the thought of Sasuke trying to corrupt that innocent baby girl. A girl who has her whole life ahead of her. That smile, bright and innocent, has the power to calm even the likes of the sadistic Seiken.
Sasuke might be her father, but Naruto is that girl's dad, and he'll be damned if this power-mad fool gets any closer to his youngest princess. Any of his princesses.
A deep, feral yet protective growl erupted from the blonde's throat as he glared unflinchingly at the thing that was once his best friend, brother in arms, now an amalgamation of hatred, corruption, greed, and jealousy. With a murderous snarl, Naruto spoke, "Uchiha. You have threatened my family. Your death warrant has been signed, and the shinigami awaits your arrival..."
He repositions his hold on Kiyota, who is slowly calming down, and allows his long black katana to rise and point at a now glaring Sasuke. Naruto finishes, still snarling, "And so, I shall be sending you to him personally. Consider yourself honoured."
Sasuke smirked darkly, unfazed but internally impressed by that expression. He never thought the dobe could pull off such an imposing face. It was good, but his eyes saw through his bravado. Going through that girl's memories had revealed the truth. The dobe's family: two wives and a bunch of brats. The blonde wife is a good little civilian woman, the so-called heart of the family. She'll prove useful.
The other wife is the nadishiko princess. She can bear many strong Uchiha. We must take her alive. Her daughters will be useful in a few years, so we'll keep them alive for now. His son will die, though. We don't need him. He looks too much like the dobe. Maybe torture him? Perhaps.
Sasuke was abruptly brought back to the fight as Aoda was suddenly tackled by the dobe's summon and was struggling to stay above water, its resistance seemingly futile. This distraction proved to be what Naruto was waiting for, appearing at Sasuke's side, slashing down. The Uchiha caught the flicker of movement briefly and darted aside, but lost his left wrist.
Still off balance, Sasuke ducked and weaved around Naruto's increasing number of slashes and kicks. His Sharingan barely kept up with his attacker's next move, or more like, his body struggled to keep pace. Unacceptable. "Susanoo!"
Yet the Uchiha was surprised when Naruto's blade left a giant gash through his rib cage, almost cutting through, even more so when the follow-up kick cracked it further. In a panic, Sasuke pumped his construct full of chakra, pushing it straight to his upper body muscles before those chains erupted from all around him again, emerging from below the waves and chaining him down.
Through gritted teeth, his gaze flickers to Karin, now supporting Kiyota, but when Naruto's six chains come into view, Sasuke was reminded of a feeling he hadn't felt in a long while: fear.
Again, his ass was saved as two things happened at the same time. Pāru abruptly erupted behind Karin, intercepting a white snake that was about to swallow the two ladies. Aoda, beaten, punctured, and barely breathing, lunged at Naruto from the side, forcing him to leap backward, though the blond did manage to slash Aoda across the stomach as he retreated.
Demon vs Uchiha vs Sound
Naruto lands atop Pāru's head, her body curved around Karin and Kiyota, who was no longer so shaky, and she was on her feet. The summoner splits his glare between the almost beaten Uchiha and the clearly injured Snake Sannin, in his large snake form, covered in claw marks that the jinchuriki recognizes. The work of both Kurama and Matatabi.
He'll have to punish her later. It's well past noon, and he's still breathing. No doubt she was playing around with him, as she tends to do with most of her prey. What a bad kitty.
Back at the shrine, Matatabi arrives alongside Kurama, both clearly unsatisfied that thing got past them when the shorter of the two stopped. Kurama glances back, to see her sister's twin-tails puff up and a shudder run down her frame. Kurama raises a brow at the sultry smirk on her little sister's face. The Nibi giggles, "Oh-my, I think I am about to be punished."
Back in the fight, Naruto's attention snaps to the white snake, made up of smaller snakes, as it chuckles deeply, "Mah – mah… how fortunate. Both the former fox brat and my old student. How delectable."
Naruto rests his long-katana on his shoulder, meeting the snake's eyes unflinchingly. "Orochimaru... the fact that you're here and breathing means I have a kitten to punish. Then again, you yourself are a fool to come here."
Orochimaru cackled boastfully, hissing at this upstart, "Oh? But without that tenant of yours, you hold a body of no equal with enough chakra to rival..."
Naruto sighs, so he figured that out. Not surprising seeing as he had escaped both Mata and Kurama, but still. Naruto looking at Sasuke, who was trying to slip away, to get back to his ship and have his subordinates use the guns to blast his enemies away. No reason to lower himself further.
Crouching down, he whispered, "Pāru, can you protect the girls for a moment?"
An impressively gentle nod, barely noticeable to most, was her response. Naruto stands and offers the snake sannin a cheeky side eye and smirk, saying, "Sorry, did you say something?"
That caused the monologue of the snake sage to pause, then glare and hiss at the fox brat, "I will enjoy taking over your body, taking everything you..."
Naruto flicked a kunai in the snake's direction. Three hand signs turned one into a hundred. Pāru wind jet sent them to sound barrier-breaking speed. While the snake was distracted, Naruto rushed towards Sasuke, his sword rippling with wind once more, as if gliding across the water.
The Uchiha spotted the approaching Naruto and spun up his Mangekyo once more, calling out, "Amaterasu!"
Naruto's chakra chains burst forward again, deflecting the black flames, not breaking his stride, as the Uchiha uses his ultimate technique, roaring out with full might, "Sasunoo!"
The full might of the Uchiha was unleashed with his roar, and piece by piece, the monster known as Sasunoo formed and grew, bones, muscles, armor, weapons, then wings. Its wielder raised it to a point on his forehead, and Naruto could be seen leaping back as the mad cacophony of laughter and cackling could be heard from the mad Uchiha.
As he slid back, cursing about the stupid chakra construct's size, the wind shifted, and Naruto ducked beneath the waves, narrowly avoiding the white snake that had lunged at him from behind. With the underwater breathing and propulsion granted by his leviathan summons, Naruto was easily able to regroup with his own. Bursting up from the water, he landed back atop his summoned partner.
Pāru speaks softly, lowly, and gently so only her summoner would hear. "I am sorry, Naruto; the time limit is almost upon us."
"I am aware," Naruto whispered back, still crouched as he stared at the two things ahead of him. A towering forty-meter-tall being of chakra, which must be taking his former teammates' reserves something fierce, and the snake sannin, who is here for a new body. Either his or the Uchiha's.
The longer this goes on, the more dangerous it becomes. Recalling Kurama would be ideal. In the worst-case scenario, he can fight off the snake if he tries, and kill him for good. With his seal empty of consciousness, the snake could, and most likely would, take full advantage of it.
Sighing, Naruto looks back at his summons with a smile. "Thank you for your help, Ritorupāru. You were amazing, as always."
She lets out a delicate huff. "Do not think such words will sway me. They have been noted, but I expect to be compensated."
Naruto chuckled softly; she is never going to be honest with herself.
With that said, she puffed away, and Naruto dropped before the panicked ladies, whom he swiftly pacified with his hands dropping and resting upon their heads. Both Karin and Kiyota were drawn to his eyes, as he smiled confidently at them, "Calm down. Remember, you are both my family. My role is to defend you both as our families' shield."
His chains abruptly shot out backward, forcing the snake sannin to dive aside or face being perforated. Naruto glared back over his shoulder at being interrupted. Abruptly, Karin's chains joined the chase, and Orochimaru was forced back, just as Sasuke's Sasunoo sword slammed down atop the snake.
Naruto growled, sensing the bastard still around, but he looked back at the two ladies standing before him, who had both regained their earlier resolve. He smirked as they all shared a nod, turning back to find a Sasunoo arrow aimed right at them. Chains erupted again; however, the arrow was knocked aside by a new arrival. "Ara-ara… how rude…?"
On reflex, Naruto stiffened as the ever-voluptuous, curviest specimen of a woman landed beside the man. Her flowing white hair was tied up in a high ponytail, yet it was elegantly flowing in the soft ocean breeze. She was in full combat gear, which was similar to Naruto's, a demon Jonin attire that the Regent did not recall giving her. Her heeled shinobi sandals were black, and as she stood, her smile was soft and gentle as she raised up beside the blond, looking over at him. Naruto spoke, "Lady Seiken..."
She smiled softly, brimming with joy, and said, "My Regent. I came upon hearing about the fireworks out here. Forgive my abrupt and tardy arrival."
Seiken gently ran her finger across his whiskers, their chakra melding allowing her thoughts to reach him. "Naruto, I know you are somewhat terrified of me, but I am truly here to help you defend yourself and our family. You are the future our father foretold, and in his name, I will melt anyone who dares to cross your path."
Naruto nods once, understanding, before they both look at the threats against their home, matching glints in their eyes of the dangerous type. Naruto speaks to her, "Then, Seiken, let's clear the path to our future. I can count on you, right?"
Seiken steps ahead of him, her smile turning from warm and understanding to death incarnate in less than a heartbeat, despite not shifting a micrometer. "By your word, my Regent."
The Uchiha's Fist
Ino kicked off another pirate thug, summersaulting over the group, and landed on a missing ninja from Grass. A bolt of lightning zapped past her, hitting the entire group she had just escaped from, jumping from fool to fool, frying them all. The Yamanaka flung a kunai past her fellow blond kunoichi, downing a chunin who was going through hand signs, striking him dead in the neck.
Samui went through more hand signs, lifted her hand above her head, and said, "Storm Style: Laser Circus."
Beams of lightning shot out in all directions, cutting down the last remaining dozen or so pirates, but many of the missing ninjas evaded the attack. She gritted her teeth, expecting it since she was nowhere near Daruii's level with it, but it still did not improve her mood.
Ino stood behind her, the duo back-to-back. She pulled a kunai from her weapons pouch and asked, "How many more are there?"
Samui glanced around briefly. "Be cool. Six are left."
Ino nodded, seeing the two ahead of her pull out kunai, which meant that her ally had the other four. She spoke up, "Was it wise to send the Hyuga below deck?"
Samui drew her tanto, took a stance, and spoke coolly, "Fighting a Hyuga in closed spaces is not cool." She smirked, "Let's finish this and back up the Regent."
Below deck, the corridors were cleared of movement, with twitching bodies littering the halls. One could say that the floor was interspersed with bodies, but the reverse could be said and neither would be inaccurate. A few missing ninjas hung from the stunts above, and more than a few lay atop the ship's cannons. Whether they were still breathing or dead depended on their threat level, or which Hyuga had dealt with them and had the available time to spare for them.
Hiashi stood among the bodies at the aft of the vessel, near the access door to the inside of the hull below, as he scanned for survivors and noticed none remained here. Thus, he looked to the lowest deck, or crawl space would be more accurate, and found something rather unsightly.
Yes. The Uchiha will hang for this, but his attention was drawn to his youngest who approached him, thankfully no longer needing her bloodline, sparing her from that sight. Hanabi spoke up, "Father, we have liberated the captives at the front of the vessel, as instructed. Oni-sama is tending to them now."
Hiashi nods firmly, glancing back over his shoulder, meeting his daughter's eyes. "Hanabi, stay with your sister. Beyond this door is not for your eyes."
Hanabi makes her way back to the ship's front, allowing her father to refocus on the inhumane sight before him. If Naruto and the others do not end the Uchiha in their battle, then he, Hiashi Hyuga, will do so in the name of all these people pleading for aid.
A/N: So, family has been introduced, and pre-talks began between Demon, Hyuga, and Hyuga. Kurama has been training both Yakumo and Nila, and Matatabi is going to get punished for being a bad kitty. Oh, and Naruto reminds everyone that the Uzumaki was an island nation that works best out at sea.
Episode XIII: The conclusions.
2nd A/N: Episode XV is coming along nicely, and thankfully it looks like I'll be able to powerwalk through the last two days of the festival and get to the next major event. It shouldn't be as focused as this was. Nearly ten episodes on one "arc" of sorts. Never been so focused in my work before.
I have also removed a cool fight having changed the plan and it no longer fit, or made sense. Though, I might add it as an omake or a point five chapter at somepoint.
Shirin vs Hinata. This is no longer the case, non-cannon, whatever you want to call it.
He finds her sneaking into the inner shrine late at night and confronts her. He holds his ground and strikes out with his version of puppetry, tethering six shuriken. At first, Hinata only defends whilst trying to talk him down, but as things heat up, she tries to knock him out. There's a brief taijutsu exchange, and she is forced to withdraw or be sliced by his shuriken or caught by his chakra chain. She pulls out eight trigrams, sixteen palms, again, only for a disable, only to be caught by Naruto, who had awoken upon the chakra useage within the inner shrine, and was thrown clear into the wall of the outer shrine. He then charges her, Rasengan in hand, only for Hanabi to jump in and intervene with a Heavenly Rotation.
In the end, the second resengan, loaded with wind chakra this time, stopped close enough to Hanabi's face to cut a few strands of hair when Shion and Shizuka arrives and tells him to stop as he was still rather high strung on adrenaline and instinct. Let me know if you want to see it in any capacity.
Again, this is non-cannon, as the story changed after my editing of Episode VII. I revised the story so this does not happen. Hinata's mini arc does start in a later episode as Naruto confronts her directly.
o7