Chapter 14: A Man's True Power

(I recommend listening to Invincible by Adelitas Way, Burn Brighter by Lansdowne, We Are One by 12 Stones, and The Phoenix by Fall Out Boy)

The ground cracked under his feet and the trees around them shook. The light engulfed him as Kushina could only avert her gaze. She never knew he had this type of power, and it seemed even the demon inside her had become cautious as it commanded her body to back away. This power was different to its own and those it had faced before. If it had to think of who it reminded it of most…

Kushina began to growl as the light began to diminish. Standing there was Musket, his gun now having a living dragon head and neck for its barrel. His breath was labored as he opened his eyes to stare directly into Kushina's. 'Only one? My energy really is critical. I need to end this.' He looked down to his dragon. "Ejderha, go."

It waited no time as it attacked, striking like a snake. Kushina only nearly dodged its strike before it lunged again, grabbing her leg and slamming her into the ground. Releasing her from its jaws it slammed into her with its body, sending her into a tree. Ejderha didn't relent as its mouth began to glow. Kushina attempted to dodge the blast of fire that slammed into her stomach, a scorching wound was left for her attempt.

Musket stood still as Kushina got to her feet and began to rush towards him. Ejderha kept its body around him as its head came to his side. Musket put his finger to the trigger as Ejderha extended out to meet with Kushina. Pulling the trigger, a Rasengan met a blast of pure energy as an explosion erupted over 100 feet from Musket. Ejderha retreated to be at its master's side as Musket let it float next to him, petting it with his good hand. "Good girl."

Kushina came out of the dust as Musket grabbed his dragon's handle and ran towards the woman. Pulling the trigger again, another blast erupted as Kushina was sent flying into the air. Musket called for his weapons as he made another platform to follow her.

Flying up, he flailed his arm to turn Ejderha into a whip, slamming Kushina down to the forest floor. He didn't give her an inch as he descended down and allowed Ejderha to fire another burst of flames. The trees broke from the pressures exerted from his attacks as Kushina could no longer fight.

Beginning to run, Kushina had to dodge more and more attacks from the man. Deep down she was relieved, happy to see the demon run, as her face only showed off pure rage. Ejderha extended to bite at her again as she dodged its attack, grabbing its neck. With all her strength she pulled, causing Musket to be flung towards her. Retracting her fist, she went in for a devastating punch to the man. Instead of him taking it however it would be his dragon who took the brunt of the attack as they were both sent to the ground.

Skipping across the ground like a rock on water, Musket went into a ball as he started to roll, catching himself by digging his now black fingers into the ground. Looking up, Musket called Ejderha to him as she clashed attacks with Kushina. Landing a few dozen meters away, Kushina extended her tails to impale the man. Musket dodged the attacks as he looked to see a hook blade flying towards him.

Ducking, it just missed him as he looked to Tao, A Golem made of fire standing next to him. Musket looked to Ejderha's two heads. This wasn't something that had happened before. Tao clapped, getting Musket's attention. "You've evolved. Ej is even stronger now. So how does it feel?"

Musket didn't answer as he looked down to Ej. Looking back up he met Kushina's red eyes. "Good." Charging forward, he made his black armor go across his right arm as Ej swooped behind Kushina and grabbed her with her jaws. Musket slammed a lariat into the woman before grabbing the trigger and pulling it. A massive explosion erupted into Kushina's shoulder and sent her face first into a tree. Musket stood still for a moment, hoping it was over.

Suddenly, a jolt of pain and fatigue erupted throughout his body as he came to his knees. Ej began to fade as it started to return into its deactivated state. Musket knew his energy was almost completely gone as he panted. "No. Not yet."

Kushina kicked him as he flew away. Ej followed her master as she slithered across the ground. Kushina only walked.

Musket could hardly breath. Kushina's kick had caved in his chest as he struggled to get up. Gasping for air, Musket put his hand to his chest. For a few moments nothing happened as Musket felt his final breath escape him. His body laid there, lifeless.

Suddenly his hand glowed as Musket's wounds began to heal. Taking in a breath, Musket jumped to a sitting position as he winced, his arm still broken as he tried to move it. He took a moment to just get his bearings, only for him to have to dodge a chakra arm from Kushina. The ground shattered from the blow as Musket started to retreat, needing a new plan.

XXX

He began to open his eyes. His body was stiff and he could feel a small amount of pain around his body but other than that he seemed completely unharmed. "What happened?" He asked in a whisper as he looked around the clearing. "Minato!" He ran to the man. Blood was all around him. Fugaku checked him over only to see he had no clear wounds on his body. "What? How is this…" that's when he finally noticed the surroundings. Many trees were in splinters. Activating his Sharingan, he noticed a demonic chakra around the area, only one creature he knew could have such chakra. "The Nine Tails. Kushina!"

The ground exploded behind him as he turned to see a cloud of dust. A creature exploded and extended towards something in the air. Fugaku looked up to see the creature bite something red as it hit the ground. Fugaku looked closely at the red creature as he noticed the red chakra surrounding the person inside. "Kushina."

The dust lifted as Musket panted, Ej worried for if her master had enough left in him to continue. Musket knew he wasn't going to last much longer. He only had one option left. "Ejderha, we need to finish this." The dragon nodded as Musket looked to his left arm. His Black armor began to creep up his arm as it started to stiffen into one position. Musket held back a scream of pain as his arm went into a position for a lariat. Ejderha surrounded her master with her body as he readied himself. Lightning began to surround them both as he began to sprint towards Kushina.

Kushina struggled to her feet from that last attack. Shaking her head she saw Musket rushing towards her, lightning surrounding him. Kushina's tails rose up as she braced for impact.

Musket rushed at the woman, Ej's head hovering behind his left arm. Kushina raised her arms as Musket came within an inch of her neck. Musket was just fast enough as his lariat slammed into her neck. Musket fought against Kushina as she tried her best to keep him from moving from her spot. Musket struggled against Kushina's strength, it being similar to trying to push a moving train.

Musket yelled out as he was able to push past Kushina and send her through the air. Ej exploded towards Kushina, her mouth glowing with massive amounts of energy. The lightning began to envelope around Ej as it took the shape of a massive dragon. Kushina showed true fear on her face as this beast rushed at her at speeds not even she knew were possible. Ejderha bit down onto Kushina's neck, blood spurting out of her neck and mouth, as the lightning dragon slammed into the woman. Musket pulled the trigger as he yelled out to the sky.

"LIGHTNING NAGA LARIAT"

The forest exploded, sending Musket flying and making Fugaku have to brace himself against the tree he was next to. Trees flew out of their roots and the ground shook. The forest was choked by dust and any creatures still within the area had finally left or were injured.

Fugaku coughed as he tried to look through the dust. "Musket! Kushina! Are you ok!?" He didn't hear an answer. Weaving through hand signs, he blew out a fireball to get rid of the dust. This revealed a truly grizzly sight.

Musket was standing, his left arm held in its position due to the armor still surrounding it. Musket was panting, blood dripping from his mouth. He looked down as five chakra chains surrounded by the red chakra stabbed into his chest and stomach, Kushina standing in front of him. Her body was burned and scared, but to Musket's dismay they were already starting to be healed to make it look like she was never even attacked.

Musket's eyes fell as his left arm lost its armor, falling to his side. He fell to his knees, being held up by the tails. He dropped his gun as he waited for the end to arrive. Kushina raised her arms to end him, claws bared.

"Kushina!" Fugaku yelled as she looked to him. Suddenly her vision began to darken as the man's eyes morphed into a new shape. Kushina heard her demon scream inside her head as the chakra faded along with her chains. She and Musket fell to the ground as they both went unconscious, the last thing Musket heard being the hurried steps of Fugaku.

End of Chapter