Hinata of the White Lotus
The Shrine
Hinata fidgeted awkwardly in the small boat, the steady hum of the motor punctuating the silence between her and her guide. Hinoshita Rei steered them steadily toward Toyama Island, her hands deftly gripping the controls while her expression remained one of calm cheerfulness. The boat sliced through the still waters, leaving behind a frothy wake that shimmered under the last rays of the setting sun.
The sky above them was streaked with vibrant oranges and purples, the kind of beauty that Hinata would normally appreciate if not for the growing knot of anxiety in her chest. She could feel the warmth of the sun's final light burning against the back of her neck, a reminder that time was slipping away. Soon, the full moon would rise, and with it, the Moonfire Blossom would bloom. She had only one chance to harvest it and save Kurenai-sensei. Failure was not an option.
"So, have you been to any of the other shrines yet?" Rei suddenly asked, her voice bright and curious, breaking the silence. She cast an eager glance at Hinata, practically beaming with excitement. Her enthusiasm was almost overwhelming, as if this entire journey were some long-awaited honor.
Hinata shifted uncomfortably under the attention, her fingers pressing together in a familiar gesture of nervousness. "T-this is the first one…" she mumbled, lowering her gaze to the water. It rippled gently beneath them, reflecting the sky in shades of gold and blue. The mountain ahead of them loomed larger with every passing second, its jagged silhouette casting a long shadow over the surrounding sea. What had seemed like a distant speck when they first set out now towered ominously, its dark form both majestic and foreboding.
"Really!?" Rei clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with delight. "I can't believe it! That means I'm the first of the clan to escort you to a shrine!"
Rei's words stirred something in Hinata, a faint flicker of recognition. The name Hinoshita did sound familiar, though she couldn't quite place where she had heard it before. Perhaps it had been in one of the ancient scrolls left behind by Kali's previous reincarnations. If so, she wished she'd paid closer attention.
"Do you communicate often with the other members of the clan?" Hinata asked cautiously, hoping to steer the conversation into safer territory. She had to tread carefully; while she was technically here as Kali's reincarnation, she still felt like an imposter. The truth was, she had no idea that a clan existed to maintain the shrines or that there were even other shrines to begin with.
"Hmm… not much beyond the nearest ones," Rei admitted, her smile softening with a tinge of sadness. "There are just too many to keep in touch with everyone, you know? With there being eighty-eight shrines and all."
"E-eighty-eight?" Hinata's heart skipped a beat, and she barely caught herself before repeating the number out loud. She swallowed hard, keeping her face as neutral as possible. Eighty-eight shrines. The enormity of the task before her hit like a tidal wave. She had come to Toyama at Kali's request, thinking it a one-off task. Now she realized this was just the beginning. And if the Hinoshita clan maintained all eighty-eight shrines, then their reach extended far beyond what she had imagined.
"I'm… glad to hear you maintain contact with even a few," Hinata said after a moment, forcing a small smile. She hoped the comment would cover for her momentary slip.
"That's sweet of you!" Rei's grin returned in full force, her genuine warmth almost disarming. "We're not quite as prominent or powerful, since we never developed the Byakugan like our cousins in the Hyūga clan, but we have our own pride. It's a relief to see that the Shrine Maiden is someone as sweet and humble as you."
"…I see." Hinata replied softly, her mind racing. The revelation that the Hinoshita clan and the Hyūga shared a common ancestry only added to the swirling complexity of her thoughts. Perhaps they were a branch that hadn't inherited the Hyūga's signature kekkei genkai, given this role to preserve their connection to Kali's reincarnations. It was an overwhelming history to process, and she wasn't even sure where to begin.
"Here we are then!" Rei announced suddenly, pulling Hinata out of her thoughts. She slowed the boat as they neared the island. Hinata turned to look, her breath catching slightly as the full sight of Toyama came into view.
The island was almost entirely dominated by the mountain, its steep cliffs and dense forests stretching up toward the sky. The lower slopes were shrouded in a thick canopy of trees, their dark green foliage turning black as the sun sank lower. A narrow strip of sandy beach hugged the shoreline, and a wooden dock jutted out into the water. The dock was weathered and aged, its timbers bleached gray by years of salt and sun. From the dock, a stone staircase climbed into the forest, disappearing into the shadowed depths.
The scene was both tranquil and foreboding. The wind carried the scent of salt and pine, mingling with the faint sound of waves lapping against the shore. Above them, the first stars of the evening began to twinkle faintly in the twilight sky.
"Should I guide you to the top…?" Rei asked hesitantly, glancing at the staircase as if suddenly aware of how little time they had left.
"No, it's okay." Hinata shook her head, stepping onto the dock as soon as the boat came close enough. "I just follow the stairs?" she asked, her voice quiet but determined.
"That's right." Rei nodded. "The shrine is about two-thirds of the way up the mountain. There's only one path, so you shouldn't have to worry about getting lost."
Hinata nodded, her gaze shifting to the staircase. The ancient stone steps seemed to beckon her, leading her into the unknown. She couldn't help but feel the weight of her mission pressing down on her shoulders. She was here to save Kurenai-sensei, but now it felt like she was stepping into something far larger than she could have anticipated.
"Thank you," Hinata bowed deeply to Rei, gratitude written across her face. When she straightened, she caught Rei waving her off with an encouraging smile. With a final nod, Hinata turned to face the mountain, her determination hardening like steel. She pumped chakra into her feet, and with a powerful leap, launched herself up the stone staircase, her figure disappearing into the shadowy forest.
The path grew darker with every step she ascended. The sun hadn't fully set, but under the looming presence of the mountain, it might as well have been night. Shadows pooled around her feet, swallowing the light in an unnatural way that made her shiver. The air was heavy, thick with an oppressive energy that seemed to sap her strength. Activating her Nichiren Byakugan, she forced herself onward, the chakra flowing into her eyes illuminating the narrow, ancient pathway ahead. Even with her enhanced vision, the way forward felt suffocating, as though the mountain itself were alive and watching her.
Her breath came faster as she pushed herself harder, her legs pumping relentlessly. The sharp incline and the rapid change in elevation began to take its toll, a dull ache settling in her chest and spreading to her limbs. The mountain air was thin, making every gasp of breath feel shallow and unfulfilling. Her head throbbed in time with her pounding heart, a pulsing pressure that made her feel as though she were climbing through water rather than air.
She ignored it all. She had no choice. The Moonfire Blossom would bloom only for a short time, its petals opening under the light of the full moon at the volcano's summit. She couldn't afford to falter now. Every second was precious.
At last, she reached the shrine, stumbling to a halt as the torii gate came into view. Hinata had been expecting something grand, akin to the temples in Konoha, with towering columns and intricate carvings. Instead, what lay before her was small and unassuming—a single stone pedestal sitting beneath the torii gate. On the pedestal rested a statue, its grotesque form barely illuminated by the faint glow of her Byakugan.
Hinata froze, her stomach turning at the sight. The statue was monstrous, an abomination carved from dark, weathered stone. It depicted a nightmarish creature with a long, twisted body that seemed to ripple unnaturally even in its stillness. From its back sprouted ten tails, each one ending in jagged, claw-like tips that appeared ready to lash out at any moment. Its three faces were even worse: one bore a gaping, tooth-filled mouth frozen mid-scream, the second was dominated by a single, unblinking eye that seemed to stare straight into her soul, and the third was an ear grotesquely elongated, as if straining to hear some forbidden sound.
"What… is this?" Hinata whispered, her voice trembling with disgust and fear. Her words seemed to hang in the air, swallowed by the oppressive silence surrounding her. The statue exuded a darkness unlike anything she had ever encountered. It wasn't just an absence of light—it was a tangible force, a living, breathing malevolence that pressed down on her like a weight. The shadows around the shrine weren't natural; they writhed and pulsed, thick and oily, as though the air itself had been tainted.
A wave of nausea hit her like a punch to the gut. The oppressive energy radiating from the statue seemed to seep into her very skin, burrowing into her senses and poisoning her from within. Her head throbbed violently, the pain so intense it felt as though her skull might split open. Her knees buckled, and she staggered to the side, barely managing to hold herself upright as her stomach heaved.
She fell to her hands and knees, the coarse stone scraping against her palms. Her body trembled as she vomited, expelling what little food she had eaten that day. The acidic burn in her throat was nothing compared to the icy, clawing sickness that seemed to twist her insides. She gasped for air, her vision swimming as she struggled to push herself back to her feet. The shadows around the statue seemed to creep closer, tendrils of darkness reaching out for her like hungry hands.
"This… this can't wait," she rasped, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She had come to the mountain to harvest the Moonfire Blossom and save Kurenai-sensei, but the corruption radiating from this place was too dire to ignore. The statue wasn't just a relic—it was a vessel, a conduit for something dark and terrible. If left unchecked, she had no doubt it would unleash a catastrophe far worse than anything she could imagine.
Her Nichiren Byakugan flickered as she refocused, forcing herself to take another step forward. She had to purify the shrine, no matter what it took. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to run, to flee from the suffocating evil that surrounded her, but she clenched her fists and stood firm.
She wasn't just a Shinobi. She was Kali's reincarnation. This was her duty. This was her fight.
Hinata slumped down into a meditative position, her legs folded beneath her as she forced her mind to focus. Entering Kali's dimension was never effortless, but this time it felt particularly arduous, as though the oppressive energy surrounding the shrine was clawing at her, dragging her back. Gritting her teeth, she pushed through, and with a surge of determination, she found herself in the Eight Trigrams Dimension.
The usual brilliance of the dimension, with its glowing Pinyin runes and ethereal light, was diminished. A dark fog clung to the air, coiling around the glowing patterns like a malevolent presence. Even here, the corruption was seeping through, tainting what should have been a sanctuary.
"I see you've arrived," Kali greeted her, her voice laced with uncharacteristic tension. She floated down from her usual perch atop the flattened Truthseeker Orb, her face set in a grimace as she surveyed their surroundings. The orb itself appeared dimmer, the black fog licking at its edges like a predator testing its prey. "It's worse than I thought," she muttered, her tone unusually serious.
"Kali… this is—" Hinata began, but her words were cut off as a violent cough wracked her body. She doubled over, her chest heaving as dry heaves took over. For a moment, she thought she might vomit again, but her stomach was empty, leaving her body trembling and weak.
"Yeah, this is bad," Kali said, her tone clipped. She crossed the space between them in a single, graceful step, kneeling down to place her hand gently on Hinata's head. A surge of pure, white natural energy flowed from her fingertips, radiating warmth and light that momentarily pushed back the oppressive fog. Hinata felt the throbbing pain in her skull ease, though not entirely. "Can you feel what I'm doing?" Kali asked softly, her eyes searching Hinata's face.
"Y-yes," Hinata managed to reply, her voice shaky but resolute. There were so many questions swirling in her mind, but the sheer weight of the impurity outside pressed them down, leaving only the immediate task at hand.
"Good. Remember this feeling," Kali instructed, her voice steady. "When you leave here, you need to place your hand on the head of that statue. Just like this, you'll channel the natural energy you've been absorbing through your Nichiren Byakugan. It will purify the statue, but…" She paused, her gaze darkening. "The impurity has a will of its own. It will fight back. You'll have to overcome it in a battle of wills."
"Is… is that all there is to it?" Hinata asked, her voice faint as she sat back, trying to collect herself. A battle of wills against a force as overwhelming as this seemed like an impossible task.
"Normally, there's a proper ritual," Kali admitted, standing and glancing around at the dimmed runes. "The ritual weakens the impurity's will and protects you from contamination. But we don't have time for that. The situation here has grown too unstable." She glanced back down at Hinata. "I'll back you up from here, but you'll be the one acting as the conduit. You must trust yourself."
Hinata swallowed hard, nodding, though doubt churned in her chest. "What is that statue, anyway?" she asked, unable to stop herself. Even now, the grotesque image of the three-faced, ten-tailed figure haunted her.
Kali's face twisted in visible disgust, her lips pulling into a thin line. "An idol meant to gather impurities," she said, her tone sharp. "The Hinoshita clan calls it the Ame no Hitotsu no Kami, but it goes by many names. It's modeled after the original form that first brought impurities into this world. Its purpose is to attract and concentrate those impurities into specific locations."
"The shrines…" Hinata murmured, understanding dawning on her. The eighty-eight shrines weren't places of worship in the traditional sense—they were containment zones.
"Exactly," Kali confirmed. "By focusing the impurities into these hotspots, we can track and purify them before they spread unchecked. Without the shrines, the impurities would be scattered across the world, creating chaos. This way, my reincarnations can manage the problem more effectively."
Hinata shivered, the memory of the statue's presence making her stomach churn again. "But why is it so bad here? Worse than anywhere else, I mean?"
Kali frowned, her eyes narrowing in thought. "That's the troubling part," she admitted. "It shouldn't have gotten this bad, not without some external trigger. It's almost as though the impurity is reacting to something nearby… but I can't say what. Not yet." She shook her head, her expression hardening. "Whatever it is, it doesn't change what needs to be done. You have to purify the shrine first. We'll figure out the rest later."
Hinata nodded, her resolve firming despite the fear gnawing at her. She closed her eyes, focusing on the sensation of Kali's hand on her head and the flow of pure natural energy. "I think I've got it," she said, though her voice wavered slightly.
"You'll be fine," Kali said, her confidence unwavering. "Just stay on your guard. I have no idea how the impurity might fight back this time." She stepped back, her fingers sliding away as the comforting warmth faded. "And, Hinata…" Her tone softened. "If it gets too much, don't be afraid to rely on me. You're not alone in this."
Hinata gave one more nod, the dimmed light of the Eight Trigrams Dimension reflecting her determination. "I understand. Thank you, Kali." She closed her eyes and exited the meditation, her resolve burning bright despite the encroaching darkness.
When Hinata opened her eyes again, she was once more in front of the shrine. The darkness had deepened, heavy and oppressive, and she could no longer tell if it was the impurity that had grown stronger or if the sun had finally set. Either way, there was no time to hesitate. She stumbled to her feet, her breaths shallow and quick, and stepped toward the idol.
Her gaze locked on its grotesque form—the single, unblinking eye seemed to bore into her soul, and the statue's warped features appeared almost alive in the dim light. It was just a statue, she told herself, willing her legs to move closer. It couldn't see her. It wasn't alive. Yet she hesitated, her hand trembling as she raised it toward the idol's head.
Forcing herself to focus, Hinata placed her fingers atop the statue and activated her Nichiren Byakugan. The world around her became a network of glowing energy flows, veins of power coursing through the air and the earth. She could see the problem clearly now—the balance was broken. Natural energy should exist in harmony, the yin and yang complementing each other, but here, the yin energy was overwhelming, drowning out its counterpart and creating the impurity that poisoned everything around it.
Taking a steadying breath, Hinata began channeling her own natural energy into the statue, pushing an overwhelming surge of yang to restore the balance. The moment the energy connected, a horrific force pushed back. Her knees buckled, and she gasped, nearly collapsing as an otherworldly scream ripped through her consciousness.
It wasn't a scream she could compare to anything human. It wasn't even the roar of a beast. The sound was alien, a cacophony that clawed at her mind and filled her with a terror that froze her lungs. Tears welled in her eyes as her throat tightened, and though she wanted to cry out, no sound came. Or maybe she was screaming, and the monstrous noise drowned her out. It didn't matter—she couldn't hear herself, couldn't even hear her own thoughts.
"Hinata! Calm down!" Kali's voice suddenly cut through the deafening noise, clear and sharp like a bell. It was enough to jolt Hinata's focus back, her trembling hands pressing more firmly into the statue. "That's right, focus on me!" Kali urged. Hinata could feel her presence forcing its way through their connection, a lifeline in the overwhelming darkness. "Reverse the flow! Quickly!"
Hinata's eyes widened as she realized her mistake. She wasn't controlling the flow of energy anymore—the idol was pulling her in, consuming her instead of being purified. Her arm had vanished into the shadowy mass surrounding the statue, the black tendrils crawling up her body and consuming her torso. She tried to yank her arm free, but it was fused to the idol, the impurity's grip inescapable.
Her breath hitched, panic threatening to overtake her. But there was no time for fear. Eat or be eaten. She clenched her teeth, her resolve solidifying. Digging deep into her core, she unleashed a torrent of yang energy, forcing it into the statue with everything she had.
The backlash was immediate. The impurity lashed out, a writhing darkness that fought to suffocate her. The alien scream returned, louder and more disorienting than before, but Hinata clung to Kali's guidance, her focus unwavering.
"Kali!" she gasped, her voice barely a whisper through the noise.
"I've got you!" Kali's voice resonated again, a steady presence in the chaos. The warmth of her chakra flooded through Hinata's body, blending with her own and amplifying her power. Together, they pushed back against the impurity, their combined energy a beacon of light against the shadow.
The darkness began to recede, slowly retreating from her torso, then her arm, and finally her fingertips. Inch by inch, the black tendrils were driven back, until they were forced entirely into the idol. Hinata could feel the balance returning, the yin and yang energy stabilizing as the idol's influence was overpowered. The oppressive atmosphere lifted, and the suffocating noise fell silent.
The ground beneath the idol glowed with radiant light, the torii gate behind her trembling as if resonating with the purification. The heavy fog that had clung to the air dissipated, replaced by a soothing clarity that left Hinata gasping for breath.
"You did it, Hinata!" Kali's voice rang with pride, her presence filling Hinata with a sense of accomplishment. "The shrine is purified. You've restored the balance!"
Hinata smiled weakly, her legs trembling as she stood upright. Her body ached from the strain, and her mind still reeled from the horrifying experience, but they had succeeded. She had succeeded.
At least… that's what she thought.
The ground trembled beneath her feet, a low rumble that grew into a violent quake. Hinata's Nichiren Byakugan flared instinctively, and what she saw made her heart drop. Deep within the mountain, something stirred—something vast and ancient, awakened by the purification. The light that had enveloped the shrine flickered, dimming as a new darkness began to seep into its place.
"Kali…" Hinata whispered, fear creeping back into her voice. "What's happening?"
The impurity writhed, its grotesque form defying all logic and nature as it tore itself free from the remnants of the purifying light. The snapping sound that echoed through the shrine wasn't just audible; it reverberated deep into Hinata's bones, sending a primal wave of terror crashing through her. The oppressive darkness surged, and then that eye opened—inhumanly white, lidless, and staring directly at her.
It was wrong. Everything about it was wrong. The eye felt like the Byakugan, but it was twisted into something wholly alien. It bore into her like it could see past her flesh and into the very fibers of her soul. Hinata stumbled back, her vision flickering as her Nichiren Byakugan struggled to focus on the shifting form before her.
The impurity was becoming something more. Its darkness thickened, coalescing into a head-like mass that seemed to shift and pulsate as if alive. Lanky, elongated arms stretched out from its formless body, twisting unnaturally with too many joints. The "mountain" on its back shifted as it moved, heaving like some parasitic growth feeding off its host. It had no legs, just a single grotesque tail that slapped against the ground as it dragged itself forward. The sound of it moving was like wet flesh tearing and grinding against stone, each motion an assault on her senses.
Hinata gagged, bile rising in her throat as the oppressive aura grew stronger. She fell to her knees, gripping the ground for stability. Every breath she took felt like inhaling thick, noxious fumes, the impurity saturating the air around her. The creature opened what might have been its mouth, though there was no visible jaw or lips—only a gaping void. The roar it unleashed wasn't a sound so much as a sensation, a vibrating cacophony of chaos that pressed against her mind, threatening to drown out her very thoughts.
"Kali!" Hinata cried out, her voice barely audible over the scream that seemed to pierce through every plane of reality. Her fingers dug into the dirt as she tried to ground herself, her knees buckling under the sheer weight of the entity's presence.
"I know!" Kali's voice came sharp and urgent, cutting through the madness. The spectral energy of her presence wrapped around Hinata like a protective shield. "Hinata, you need to focus! Don't lose yourself!"
The impurity twisted its headless form toward the forest, its grotesque tail slamming against the ground with a sickening thud. Then, without hesitation, it fled. The creature moved with an unsettling speed, its form a blur of black as it plowed through the forest. Trees groaned and snapped like twigs as it tore a path of destruction down the mountain, leaving a blackened, corrupted trail in its wake.
Hinata scrambled to her feet, her Nichiren Byakugan burning as she tried to track the aberration through the chaos. She could see it, a swirling mass of shadow that was already too far for her comfort. It wasn't just escaping—it was hunting. She could hear the distant cries of birds scattering from the trees and the crashing of branches breaking as the creature barreled toward the city below.
"You have to stop it, Hinata!" Kali's voice was almost panicked now, her normally calm demeanor cracking under the weight of the situation. "If that thing reaches Kōtō City, the destruction it causes will be unlike anything you've ever seen! It's already been corrupted enough to interact with the physical world. It will devour everything in its path!"
Hinata's body trembled, every nerve screaming at her to give chase. Her feet shifted forward instinctively, ready to sprint down the mountain after the creature. But then she hesitated. Her gaze flicked upward toward the mountain peak, her Byakugan locking onto the faint glimmer of the Moon.
The delicate moonlight shimmered in the wind, the faint glow a beacon of hope. The Moonfire Blossom was so close, most surely perched precariously near the edge of the volcanic mouth. It was the only thing that could save Kurenai-sensei. Without it, her teacher's life would slip away.
Hinata clenched her fists, her breathing ragged as she glanced between the two paths. The weight of her decision pressed down on her chest like an iron vice.
"If I don't get the flower, Kurenai-sensei will die…" she whispered, her voice cracking under the strain of her emotions. The thought of her teacher lying pale and helpless in the hospital crushed her heart. Kurenai had been her mentor, her guide, the one who had believed in her even when she didn't believe in herself.
But the impurity… That monstrosity was heading straight for Kōtō City. Its very existence was a violation of nature, and it would not stop until it had consumed everything in its path. Hinata could see the glowing trails of its corruption spreading further with every moment she hesitated. If it reached the city, the death toll would be unimaginable. The cries of terrified civilians echoed in her mind, a haunting prelude to the destruction that was sure to follow.
Her hands trembled as the tears spilled over, running down her cheeks in hot streams. "What do I do?" she choked out, her voice breaking. The weight of both lives—her teacher's and an entire city—threatened to shatter her resolve.
"Only you can decide, Hinata." Kali's voice softened, though there was a desperate edge to her words. "But whatever choice you make, you must commit to it fully. There's no turning back."
Hinata's chest heaved as she fought to steady her breathing. Her heart screamed at her to save Kurenai, but her conscience wouldn't let her ignore the innocent lives below. The path before her forked into two impossible choices, and with every second she delayed, the consequences grew heavier.
Finally, she made her decision.
Naruto vs Kimimaro
The club came down with a deafening crash, splitting the ground beneath Naruto's feet as chunks of dirt and stone exploded in every direction. Naruto dove to the side, tucking into a roll before springing back to his feet. His heart pounded in his chest, the sheer force of the impact leaving a ringing in his ears.
"Close one," he muttered, forming a quick string of hand seals. He slammed his palms onto the ground. "Mokuton: Wood Binding Jutsu!"
From beneath the ogre that had nearly flattened him, a clone burst upward, morphing into a tangle of thick wooden branches. The ogre roared as the bindings coiled around its limbs, tightening like a vice until it toppled backward with an earth-shaking thud. Before Naruto could celebrate, the second ogre bellowed and brought its massive club down, shattering the wooden bindings in an instant and freeing its companion.
"Great," Naruto groaned, sidestepping a chunk of wood flying past his head. "These things just don't quit!"
"Interesting," Kimimaro's calm, detached voice cut through the chaos. He stood a few yards away, completely unmoving, his white hair glowing faintly under the light of the rising moon. His arms remained crossed, his expression unreadable, as if the battle was merely a puzzle he was observing from afar. "Your technique… It's clever but crude."
Naruto spun to face him, clenching his fists. "Oh yeah? Why don't you come over here and say that to my face, you lazy sack of bones!"
Kimimaro's gaze barely flicked toward him. "I've already seen enough. Your Wood Release is an imitation—a pale shadow of the First Hokage's legacy. You can only create wood clones, which serve as catalysts for your other techniques. It's… half-baked at best."
"Half-baked!?" Naruto bristled, pointing an accusatory finger. "I'll show you half-baked! Just wait till I grind you into the dirt, you smug—!" He caught himself mid-rant and straightened, forcing his usual cocky grin. "I may not be the First Hokage, but I'm the man that's gonna make you eat those words!"
Kimimaro regarded him with faint disinterest, tilting his head. "If that is the case, then I suppose I should apologize." His voice lacked any trace of sincerity, making the words feel more like an afterthought than a genuine concession.
Naruto blinked, caught off guard by the casual dismissal. His fists trembled as the righteous fury surged back into his chest. "You bastard…" he growled, his voice low, simmering with anger.
Kimimaro's pale eyes closed briefly, his expression unreadable save for the faintest flicker of what could have been annoyance—or perhaps disdain. For a moment, he looked almost bored, as though this confrontation was an inconvenience he hadn't planned for. When he spoke again, his tone was calm, deliberate, cutting through Naruto's rage like a blade. "I ask again: Where is the Hyūga girl?"
Naruto's scowl, once defiant, faltered. His hands clenched tighter, the sharp bite of his nails into his palms grounding him. "What's your deal with Hinata anyway?" he snapped, his voice rising. "She hasn't done anything to you!"
Kimimaro's lips pressed into a thin line, his gaze steady and unflinching. "That is irrelevant," he said coldly, each word like frost on the air. "My deal was to allow the Akatsuki to retrieve you." His tone shifted, a subtle yet unmistakable edge creeping in, like the quiet tension before a storm. "But my purpose here is… different."
For the briefest moment, something flashed in Kimimaro's eyes—a flicker of something deeper, something almost personal. It was gone just as quickly, his stoic mask firmly in place once more, but it left an unsettling chill in the air.
Naruto's fury bubbled closer to the surface, his breath quickening as he fought the urge to rush forward. "What the hell are you talking about? Hinata's got nothing to do with this!"
But Kimimaro didn't answer immediately. His gaze remained fixed on Naruto, as if weighing him, testing him. The silence between them grew heavier, fraught with unspoken tension, each second stretching endlessly. Whatever Kimimaro's true purpose was, it was clear that it went far beyond orders—it was something he wasn't willing to reveal just yet.
Naruto's eyes narrowed, his teeth grinding together. "Not gonna tell me, huh?" He took a step forward, planting his feet firmly. "Well, not that it matters, because you're not getting anywhere near her. If you want her, you'll have to go through me first!"
Kimimaro's cold eyes locked onto Naruto, his expression unchanging. "So you've said." He took a slow step forward, the ground seeming to ripple beneath his feet. He held the bone weapon loosely at his side, the motion so calm it was almost ritualistic.
"Yeah?" Naruto barked, cracking his knuckles. "Well, good luck trying to keep up, pal! Let's see how you handle this many!" He flashed a quick hand seal. "Mokuton: Wood Clone Jutsu!"
A dozen more wooden clones erupted from the ground, each one springing toward the ogres with battle cries. The monstrous figures roared in unison, charging forward with their massive clubs swinging wildly. The battlefield was a chaotic mess of wood and fury as the clones dodged, blocked, and counterattacked with relentless energy.
Kimimaro's eyes flicked toward the clones, his face betraying no emotion. "Pathetic." He raised his bone blade, but before he could strike, the ogres suddenly faltered. Their movements slowed, their massive forms swaying unsteadily before collapsing to the ground with dull, earth-shaking crashes.
Naruto blinked, caught off guard. "Huh? What just happened?"
Kimimaro's eyes narrowed. He turned sharply toward the forest, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Tayuya…?"
A slow grin spread across Naruto's face as realization dawned. "Heh. Looks like Shino and Kiba found your partner, huh? Guess your plan isn't going so well after all!"
Kimimaro remained silent, his gaze fixed on the distant treeline. The tension in his posture was subtle but telling—he hadn't expected this.
Naruto couldn't help but laugh. "That's the thing about me, buddy! I may not be the smartest or the sneakiest, but when it comes to being a distraction? I'm the best there is!" He jabbed a thumb at his chest, his confidence swelling as he took a step forward. "Now it's just you and me. Let's see how long you can last!"
Kimimaro slowly turned his gaze back to Naruto, his bone blade gleaming under the moonlight. "So be it."
Tayuya vs Kiba and Shino
The thick forest canopy cast jagged shadows over the ground, the faint silver glimmers of moonlight filtering through the leaves barely illuminating the battlefield. Tayuya wiped a bead of sweat from her temple with the back of her hand, her crimson hair sticking to her face. Her flute was pressed to her lips, the eerie melody she played weaving her summoned ogres into a relentless, coordinated attack alongside Kimimaro. Every note was precise, her fingers deftly dancing across the flute to keep the monstrous trio in perfect sync.
"Come on, you idiot," she muttered under her breath, her sharp eyes fixed on her summoned giants. Through the flickering light, they lumbered forward, smashing through clones and hunks of wood in their unyielding pursuit of their target. "Just fall already. I don't have all night."
But something was off.
The melody faltered for the briefest moment as Tayuya's sharp ears caught the faintest rustle behind her. It was barely audible over the natural sounds of the forest, but it was enough. Her fingers stilled on the flute, her body tensing like a coiled spring. Slowly, deliberately, she turned, her sharp gaze sweeping the shadows. It wasn't hard to guess who it was.
"The Hyūga brat's team," she muttered under her breath, her voice dripping with disdain. "Figures."
Her lips curled into a sneer as she raised her voice. "You think I didn't hear you, mutt?" She lowered the flute, gripping it tightly like a weapon, her glare sharp enough to cut through the darkness. "Get out here before I drag your flea-bitten ass into the open."
From the shadows, two boys in gray jackets stepped forward, the moonlight casting jagged shadows across their identical forms. One of them grinned, the smirk on his face as cocky as it was infuriating. Tayuya's eyes narrowed. This wasn't some simple clone jutsu—she'd read the reports on Hinata's squad before setting out. The other, no doubt originally a dog, growled low and menacingly, the noise rumbling through the forest like distant thunder.
"Heh. So you noticed me," Kiba said, his voice laced with mockery. "Guess you're not completely useless after all."
Tayuya scoffed, flipping her flute in her hand with a practiced ease that made it look almost casual. Her lips curled further into a sneer, venom dripping from her words. "Big talk from a guy hiding behind his mutt." She twirled the flute once more before pointing it at him like a dagger. "What's your plan? Bark me to death?"
Kiba's grin widened, his sharp canines glinting in the slivers of moonlight filtering through the trees. "Nah," he said, his tone light but his stance coiled and ready. "My plan's to keep you busy while my buddy here does his thing."
Tayuya's eyes flicked past him for the briefest moment, the shift subtle but telling. Her sneer deepened as her mind raced. "Your buddy?" she asked, her voice edged with suspicion. Her sharp instincts picked up the faintest disturbance in the air—a glimmer of movement above. Her body tensed, and her sneer twisted into a snarl.
"Damn it," she spat, spinning around just as Shino's swarm descended from above, a thick, buzzing cloud of insects pouring down toward her like a relentless tide.
Tayuya leapt backward, bringing her flute to her lips and playing a sharp, discordant note. The melody cracked through the air like a whip, and in an instant, the swarm were trapped in a genjutsu, causing them to scatter erratically.
"You think your music is gonna help you?" Kiba barked, his voice brimming with adrenaline as he charged forward, Akamaru at his heels. "Let's see how tough you are without those meatheads doing all the work!"
Tayuya was forced to abandon her melody as she dodged Kiba and Akamaru's ferocious swipes. "I don't need them to deal with a loudmouthed idiot like you!" she shot back, her voice laced with venom.
Kiba feinted left, his claws raking the air, forcing her to shift her stance. Each movement pressed her closer to the edge of the clearing, cutting off her space to maneuver. "We'll see about that!" he growled. At his command, he and Akamaru leapt into the air, spinning with lethal precision as the pair launched their Gatsuga, spiraling toward her like twin drills.
Tayuya barely managed to leap clear, the force of their combined attack ripping through the ground where she'd stood moments before. The impact sent debris flying, the forest floor shuddering from the sheer power. She landed hard, skidding to a stop as her breath came in sharp gasps. Her flute was still clutched tightly in her hand, raised defensively. "Damn pests," she hissed, her sharp eyes scanning the shadows. She knew the other wouldn't stay hidden for long.
And she was right. The telltale sound of buzzing returned, louder this time, reverberating through the trees like an ominous drumbeat. From the darkness, Shino emerged, his calm, calculating gaze fixed on her. The light caught his glasses, the glint adding an eerie edge to his otherwise stoic presence. Behind him, his swarm coalesced, forming a perfect circle around her, the insects cutting off every escape route.
"Checkmate," Kiba growled, his voice low and dangerous. He stood between her and the edge of the forest, his posture ready, his eyes gleaming with fierce determination.
Tayuya's teeth clenched, her mind racing as she assessed the situation. Three enemies closing in, the swarm growing tighter with every passing second, her space shrinking with each movement. She wasn't out of options—yet—but the odds weren't in her favor. She tightened her grip on the flute, her breath steadying as her mind searched for the one crack in their plan. One mistake was all she needed.
Before Tayuya could act, the ground behind her began to ripple unnaturally. A deep, guttural laugh echoed through the clearing, cutting through the tense silence like a blade. The sound sent a chill up Kiba's spine, and even Shino's usually impassive gaze sharpened in response.
"You didn't think we'd leave you alone, did you?"
From the earth rose Zetsu, his grotesque, plant-like form splitting in two as he emerged. The black half cackled with unrestrained glee, his glowing, malicious eyes fixed on Kiba and Akamaru, while the white half tilted its head towards Shino, speaking with a calm, almost conversational tone.
"Three against one isn't very sporting," White Zetsu said, his voice smooth and eerily polite. "Let's even the odds, shall we?"
Kiba's grin faltered as the twin Zetsus fully stepped into view, their unnatural forms standing like a shadowy sentinel between Tayuya and her attackers. "Great. Just what we needed," Kiba muttered, his teeth gritted. He glanced toward Shino, his voice low but edged with irritation. "This just turned into a real pain."
Shino's response was measured, his voice calm as always. "It's still three against three," he said, his hands slipping into his pockets as his insects began to swarm in greater numbers, their buzzing building in intensity. "Let's finish this quickly."
Tayuya's lips twisted into a triumphant smirk as she raised her flute, her confidence surging with the arrival of her twisted ally. "Looks like your little ambush didn't work out," she taunted, her voice sharp and mocking. "Bring it on, bug boy."
Kiba crouched low, his sharp eyes locking onto Zetsu as Akamaru growled beside him, mirroring his tension. "You're gonna regret coming out into the open," he snarled, his canines flashing as his chakra flared.
The forest erupted into chaos as the three-on-three battle began in earnest, the moonlight casting long shadows over the combatants as they clashed.
Chapter End
AN: Talking briefly about the shrines that were introduced this time, using the number eighty-eight was inspired by the Shikoku Pilgrimage and the journey the Buddhist monks take through Shikoku island to visit those eighty-eight shrines. This is in keeping with the Buddhist inspirations for the Nichiren Byakugan and Hinata's duties. More on those will be explored later in the story.
The small idol in the shrine was based on the second form of the Ten-Tails. I had Kali refer to it as the Ame no Hitotsu no Kami, but this is just one of the names that Kurama had referred to it in Canon. I always thought it was an interesting detail that the Ten-Tails had many names, but we never really got any details on which groups of people may have referred to it by all these different names for it to have so many. So that was just me trying to add some lore to a Canon detail that never got fleshed out.
There was one other revelation made here, that Naruto can only initially create wood clones, and then uses all the other Mokuton techniques by manipulating those clones. There are two reasons for this, but one of them won't be revealed until later and is an actual in-story explanation. The meta textual reason is simply that I feel like Naruto's clone techniques is a critical part of his character and wanted to continue using them for a while, even if they're wood now.