The next chapter of Vessel of The Demon King. Akatsuki and The Leaf face one another, but then a third party interrupts.
Chapter 3: The King Attacks
Sakura Haruno flipped through the air, weaving and moving across aided by puppet strings attached to her as she did. She twisted and move her body avoiding a buzzsaw that was fired at her.
She was shown in a cave, fighting against an S Class Ranked Ninja
It had been three days since they had departed for the mission. Making it to Sunagakure, The Hidden Sand Village who had sent out distress call for aid from them. Upon arriving, she managed to heal Kankuro, The Kazekage's Brother from the toxic poison he had been infected with.
After getting all the information that they needed, they had went off in pursuit of The Akatsuki Members who had kidnapped Gaara. It was her, Kakashi and Team Gai.
They were also aided by Lady Chiyo, a Puppeteer and Medic who had knowledge of one of their adversaries.
They had made it to the Akatsuki base where they had taken Gaara. Rock Lee and the others were forced to stay outside as Clones of them had appeared after the seal on the cave had been broken.
Venturing in, they found the Two Akatsuki members waiting and with them was Gaara. One of them, who was missing an arm took him and rode off on a Giant Owl.
Kakashi had gone off in pursuit of the other Akatsuki member, leaving just her and Chiyo to face Sasori, The Scorpion of The Red Sands.
A pair of sickles were fired at her and she reached down to her waist and pulled out two Sabre Swords that were strapped to her side, they were medium length and coated in blue on the center of them.
Using them, she blocked and deflected the attacks as Chiyo was shown using Chakra Wires to help her body move and avoid attacks. Sakura brought the swords up and countered the attacks, showing finesse and skill with the dual swords
Sasori opened his mouth and let loose with a flurry of poisonous senbon. Sakura leapt out of the way and went for a diving kick.
Sasori burrowed underground as he avoided her attack. "Oh no you don't!" She exclaimed. Channeling Chakra to her foot, she stomped on the ground creating several cracks and causing the cave to shake as part of the ceiling above gave way.
Sasori emerged from underground and a tail like appendage shot out from his back, the same weapon he had used to nearly kill Kankuro. Sakura was pulled back by Chiyo as it was impaled onto the ground.
(An opening!)
Taking that chance, she charged forward, ready to deliver a crushing blow.
Sasori however showed no sign of worry as he opened his maw.
"Die..."
Poisonous purple gas emerged and engulfed Sakura, consuming her entire body.
"Sakura!" Chiyo shouted in horror as she disappeared into it. There was nothing she could do to save her, once his poison made contact with a person's skin, they were doomed to die.
"Foolish girl, you have sealed your fate." Sasori said with contempt in his voice.
"I don't think so!" Sakura's voice shouted from it catching him off guard.
Sakura emerged from the poison cloud unharmed to Sasori's surprise and bringing her fists up smashed through the shell of the puppet, shattering it. She then brought her leg down and smashed it's skull, breaking it into multiple pieces. It's tail shot up attempting to impale her but she dodged it. She then used her Sabres to slice it in two.
"Sakura, are you alright?" Chiyo asked her. "I never thought I'd live to see the day when Sasori's poisons were ineffective." She said in astonishment
"Yes, I'm okay." Sakura told her. She had taken an antidote she had created when she healed Kankuro prior to before the battle began, that would make her immune for a while to his Poisons. "Now to get rid of this poison." She said and began doing hand symbols.
Channeling her chakra, She then clapped her hands together creating a gust of wind from the impact of them, that blew the poison cloud upward into the hole in the ceiling and outside where it dispersed harmlessly. "Lady Tsunade told me she created that move when she found out she was being peeped on at the Hot Springs." She told Chiyo who let out a chuckle.
But before they could continue, a figure leapt out of the remains of the broken puppet. To her and Chiyo's surprise, it was a young teenager, no more than fifteen years of age.
"Sasori? It can't be." Chiyo said seeing how young he looked. The red headed Akatsuki member said nothing as he glared at Sakura.
"You continue to annoy me with your stubborness girl." Sasori said in irritation. "Hiruko was my favorite puppet." He said with a growl. "It's been a long time since I've had to resort to such a technique against an enemy." He said as he pulled out a scroll and summoned a different puppet as the battle was far from over.
Team Gai also found themselves in a battle. Once they had defeated their clones that had appeared from breaking the seal that had been placed, several strange beings appeared before they could enter and help out their comrades.
In front of them were several beings that had the appearance of humans but something was off about them. The top half of their faces and eyes were covered by bandanas and had charms on their faces as they had chalky white skin and wore robes with brown vests and black pants. Over forty of them had appeared each wielding an iron stave. They surrounded Team Gai on all sides as they hopped in place.
Team Gai were shown back to back with each one covering the other's weak spot so that they could not be open to attack.
"Just who are these guys? They appeared out of nowhere." TenTen asked the bun haired Weapons Master said looking on.
"I don't know, I thought they were more of Akatsuki's agents but something doesn't feel right about them." Neji Hyuga said his violet eyes glancing around. When he activated his Byakugan on them, he saw no chakra points on them. "They aren't human it seems like."
"You gotta admit, their hopping and jumping does look like good exercises to try out." Rock Lee said and started to imitate them.
"Focus Lee, we can try it later." Might Gai told him and he nodded his head. "Everyone stay on guard, we are already tired from our earlier fight. We must fight defensive here." He said as that was the only way they were gonna get out of this predicament. "With this many numbers, we must each fight as one. No one gets hit! Understand?"
"Right!" All three of his students said at once.
The Jiang Shi then advanced upon them preparing to attack from all sides.
"Now!" Gai shouted to his team.
Team Gai went to work, like Might Gai had instructed they fought as one. Each member working with the same thought and mindset.
When one attacked, the other was there to protect and cover them. Ensuring that there would be no opportunity for them to get hurt.
TenTen swung a Kanabo breaking a stave, and Neji was right there to guard a blow aimed at behind. He then delivered several rapid palm strikes to the chest of one and Lee blocked a strike.
The group worked in perfect unison, putting up a perfect defense.
The Jiang Shi were not able to break through their defense but instead opted for a different tactic
A group raised their staves and fired blasts at them.
"Damn! Move!" Neji shouted as they were sitting ducks if they stayed together. The group was forced to scatter each heading in a different direction, thus enabling them to avoid it.
But at the cost of now not being able to defend the other from attacks.
TenTen summoned a Naginata and attacked. She leapt through the air delivering pokes and jabs with it above them before turning around and throwing several kunai.
She spun her weapon deflecting attacks before she delivered a slash. "Twin Rising Dragons!" She shouted as she leapt up and pulling out several scrolls summoned multiple weapons, from shuriken to senbon and unleashed a storm of steel upon them.
They were hit all over and vanished having been destroyed.
She landed on the ground a confident look on her face, but was suddenly tackled by the remaining ones
She was grasped from behind by one knocking her weapon out of her hands. More then grabbed onto her, preventing her from moving.
"Get off me!" She shouted as they pinned her down.
They grapped hold of her by the arms and legs and hoisted her up, before tossing her. TenTen was thrown as she was seen flaying her arms and legs about as she soared through the air before hitting the ground hard.
"TenTen!" Neji shouted. "That's it, Kaiten!" He shouted and spun around at a fast rate knocking a group back. "Byakugan!" He shouted as veins appeared over his eyes. He then went on an the attack delivering several rapid blows.
(To think, three years ago, I wouldn't have cared if my teammates had gotten hurt. I wouldn't have wanted to come on this mission either after what has happened as I would have said it was preordained.) He thought to himself. (I guess it's because of you Naruto) He thought with a smirk as the image appeared in his mind of a blonde boy. (You made me realize my foolish path. If only I could have saved you like you saved me.)
He continued several fast palm strikes. They may not have had chakra points, but he could hurt them with his attacks all the same.
"Leaf Hurricane!" Rock Lee shouted doing a series of high and low kicks that connected with a pair. He then dropped low. "Leaf Gale!" He then swept them off their feet kicking thier legs out from underneath them.
"Time to try out my new weapon!" He said and pulled out from behind his back attached to his pack he carried a long chain with a handle on one end of it and a metal ball on the other. "Leaf Meteor!" He shouted and begin spinning and twirling his Meteor Hammer.
He launched one end and hit one in the chest knocking it off it's feet. Pulling it back, he then swung again and entangled one around its stave and disarmed it. "Haha! You maybe talented but the spirit of my youth shall lead me to victory!" He proclaimed as he launched it which smashed directly into a Jiang Shi's face which then dispersed and disappeared.
He continued attacking as he spun and twirled it as he moved with grace and fluid movement. Any caught close to him would be knocked and batted away by his weapon.
A Jiang Shi charged at him and lunged at him with its staff. He got the weapon entangled and got ready to pull it loose, but was unaware was that was what it wanted.
The Jiang Shi reached up and removed the charm off of it's face, before suddenly exploding. Lee not anticipating or expecting it was knocked backwards from the force of it dropping his weapon.
"Lee! C'mon get up!" TenTen shouted as she and Neji helped him up as he winced in pain. Several more Jiang Shi tore off their charms as well before blowing themselves up, battering and damaging the three as they were knocked off their feet, covered in burn marks and bruises.
Lee got to one knee as he attempted to stand up. "My youth won't let me give up!" He said as he fought to get up. "Got to protect my precious people." He said preparing to remove his weights.
Might Gai then appeared in front of him and the others, protecting his Squad. "That's enough Lee, I'll handle this from here on out. You have all fought well" He said to them.
Looking on, Might Gai considered preparing to open the gates. But doing so would be risky, as he had done so when he had fought his doppelganger. Doing it again so soon would put a strain on his chakra, plus risk injuring himself. But his students needed him, he was always prepared to take such actions!
Just as they were about to attack, a large gust of wind hit them by the side scattering them knocking The Jiang Shi off their feet.
Team Gai looked and saw their savior. A Suna Kunoichi clad in black with a red obi bow around her waist with sandy blonde hair in four ponytails and carrying a giant fan.
"Looks like you guys could use some help." Temari, Mistress of The Winds said to them as she had arrived along with Baki and other Suna Ninjas.
Kakashi continued pursuing after the other Akatsuki agent. Chasing after him as he leapt through the trees. He could still make sight of him as he had been running after the giant Clay creature he rode on that had Gaara.
He was too out of range, he couldn't leap that high nor hit him with a Jutsu. He didn't want to risk it either as the chance of hitting Gaara was too high. He just needed to get a vantage point where he could get onto it as he continued leaping through the trees.
As he went, he noticed that the area around him the further he went was starting to be covered in thick heavy webbing. It caught his attention as only recently they had appeared. It was blocking his path and forcing him to slow down as he had to find new paths and ways.
"Argh, I'm blind as a bat here." He said in irritation as he found himself surrounded by thick webbing. The sun above was being blotted out "A thousand spiders just had to make this their nesting grounds." He cursed.
Suddenly Kakashi felt a presence as the hairs on the back of his neck were standing up.
"Behind me!" He said as just narrowly he ducked in time and avoided having his head being cut off.
He kneeled in time only for a second sickle like appendage to nearly get him as he leapt down from the branches to the ground below. He hit the grass and looked on as he was in a clearing as there was little webs around here.
Something large then dropped down from the trees before him, causing his eye to widen
Standing and towering before Kakashi was a monstrosity. One that could only be imagined in his nightmares.
It had the upper body and bare chest of a muscular human but had blue skin. But that was the only traits that made it look human. It's head was like that of a bull as it had a pair of horns and red eyes that seemed fixed in permanent rage. The most startling of it's appearance though was it's lower half. It had the abdomen and lower half of a giant spider. With multiple black legs as long as spears and sharp enough to impale a full grown man.
"What in the world?!" Kakashi exclaimed at the beast before him. "A Summon?" He said at the monster before him. His answer was a bellowing roar as the monster attacked.
A distance away, hidden and undetected, Gebu looked on pleased. "Ushi-Oni will deal with him." He said referring to The Demon who was one of the strongest in the army. He would deal with this lone Ninja easily. "While Byako enjoys himself."
Deidara turned his head around and allowed a smirk to form on his face as the Missing Ninja of Iwagakure saw no trace of the Leaf Ninja who had been pursuing him for over an hour as he had never gave up but now it seemed like he finally had.
"Finally," He said with a smile. "Now I can relax for a change, find Kakuzu and have him put stitch a new arm on for me." He said referring to the Bounty Hunter. "This was a hassle un." He said as he rode on the giant Owl made of his clay. Carried in its talons was Gaara, the now former Jinchuurki of Shukaku.
"What's keeping Sasori so long? He should've beaten that bag of bones and the girl by now." He said in slight irritation as he should've meet up with him by now. He was most likely wasting his time and droning to them about how Art was suppose to be eternal. "I suppose I'll have to go back and find him." He said shaking his head.
Before he could complain anymore, The Akatsuki Member suddenly heard a sound that caught his attention.
From the trees, two giant skeleton hands shot out from them and towards his owl, grasping it by the
Before he could react to it, the wings of his ride were suddenly ripped off, torn off taking away it's ability to fly. "What the?!" He shouted in shock at what just happened as he and his creation then plummeted downward.
He crashed through the canopy, feeling the branches hit his face as he fell downward before he reached the bottom and landed in a kneeling state.
Deidara pulled himself up off the ground. Irritation and annoyance was on his face. He wasn't hurt as he hadn't suffered any damage from falling just now. "Stupid pest doesn't know when to quit!" He shouted in anger thinking it was that Leaf Ninja having caught up with him.
He felt a presence behind him, an unfamiliar presence that he had never felt before as he slowly turned around. His uncovered eye widened in surprise at what he saw.
Standing ten feet away from him was a figure clad in finely crafted black armor. Armor that was laced with gold as he was covered head to toe in it leaving no part of his body exposed, as he wore a helmet that obscured his face. Despite it, he could tell that he was glaring at him and could feel the killing intent radiating off of him. Deidara felt a bead of sweat forming on the side of his head as he felt it. It dwarfed that of even Kisame's, not even Itachi had such a presence before. A lesser man would have fallen to his knees shaking in fear at the killer intent he was displaying.
Deidara did not know who this man was, but he would admit he was quite a spectacle. He knew little in metallurgy or blacksmith but could tell that the it was finely crafted out of the finest materials and steel. Built for defense and for movement.
"Un!" He exclaimed clacking his tongue. "I must say, love the getup. Very flashy!" He said with a smirk. "I don't know who you are stranger, but next time you could try a warning before you knock me out of the air. I would applaud your tactics, but as you see, I'm missing a hand here." He said gesturing to his missing limb.
His new foe did not say anything which annoyed Deidara as he brought his hand up.
Deidara tapped on his right metal eye, as he began to analyze his new opponent. His Scope however revealed nothing that was of any usage. He could not decipher any weak points or gaps in the armor he could potentially exploit. He was fully protected by it.
Still, he didn't become an S Class Nin by being dumb.
"Un! So tell me my armored friend, what have you got against me? Don't tell me you are with that other group trying to get back that Jinchuurki un?" Deidara said to him. As he did, he secretly had his right hand's mouth biting down on clay, keeping it out of sight that he wouldn't notice it as he continued to talk and gesture.
"I must say, you and that Leaf lot are the first one to ever come after one to try and protect them." He continued. "Most people either tell us where they are at or cheer us on. So it's a bit rare to actually see someone defend a Jinchuurki. But we've already got what we needed from the Kazekage anyway. We extracted The Tailed Beast out of him, but man was it a strain for it to finally happen. Gonna need a massage after this." He said to the armored foe, he was almost finished.
"I have no concern for The Jinchuurki as you call them, or of the Bijuu. They are but mere imitations of what a Demon's true power is." His foe said finally speaking. "You and the rest of Akatsuki are hindrances to my path of Conquest, and for that, I shall kill you all." He declared to him
"Kill us?" Deidara said before chuckling in amusement. "Man, I tell ya, it seems like everyone's on a conquering spree un." He said to him. The fool was unaware he was falling right into his trap and would be no more. He just needed a few more seconds of buying time.
"It would seem that there are too many who seek to rule the Land. And I have no intention of giving up my Throne." Byako said as he stepped forward, on his right arm a sword and shield appeared.
"Well too bad, but I'm afraid your reign is going to be a short one un! You have an rather unimaginative goal, world conquest, and as an artist, I find it insulting and bland." Deidara said to him. "For you see, True Art is an Explosion! He shouted suddenly as he brought his right arm up forming a seal.
There was multiple explosions suddenly, engulfing the area where Byako had been standing at. He was consumed by them as dust and dirt shot up into the ground.
Deidara grinned, the idiot had been unaware of what he was doing this whole time. Secretly creating small bombs with his clay, no bigger than the size of cockroaches and undetectable and sent them to him. Tiny they were, but they packed a powerful force behind them especially when set off all at once. He was unaware he had been surrounded this entire time.
"Maybe in the next life you'll gain an appreciation for art more." Deidara taunted him, expecting to see a body that had been blown apart.
He looked on as the dust and smoke started to clear and his grin started to fade as confusion appeared on his face as his eye widened at what he saw
Standing in the crater before him that had been made, showing no sign of damage, was his foe.
(What! Impossible?! He should be dead right now! Or at the least missing a limb! But he doesn't have even a dent on that armor of his!) Deidara shouted in his mind at what he was witnessing. (No armor is strong enough to withstand that amount of blasts without taking damage! He must've used a Jutsu to form a barrier. But I didn't even see him move. Is it like that Jinchuurki's sand?) He thought as a dozen questions were going in his mind.
Deidara looked on as Byako brought his hand up, he first thought he was going to prepare a Jutsu or attack, but instead he batted the dust that was hovering in front of him away in a bored manner.
(He's mocking me!)
"Is that the best you humans can do?" Byako asked him with contempt in his voice. "For an Artist, I expected more."
"What'd you say?!" Deidara snapped in anger. He knew that he was trying to goad him, but no one insults his Art and lives! The mouth on his hand spat out clay and he roughly began to make it take the shape of another animal. The form of an Eagle. "In that case, try this then!" He shouted and launched it at him.
The Clay Bomb rushed in the air towards him, moving as fast as a whip crossing the distance in seconds as Deidara prepared to do the detonation symbol approaching his chest.
His adversary showed no sign of concern as to Deidara's surprise, his sword shot out of his shield and dissected the clay bomb in two, slashing through it and then lunging at Deidara who just narrowly avoided the slashes and swings before it returned to it's Master.
(A Gravity Jutsu?! His Sword acted like it had a mind of it's own just now!) He exclaimed as the list of people who could do such a technique were rare. Not even a handful existed.
Suddenly emerging from the ground behind him was a green skeletal like hand that swatted him in the back staggering him making him lose his footing.
"You have no chance at defeating me, tell me what I wish to know and you will not suffer." Byako told him causing Deidara to grit his teeth.
"Cocky bastard aren't you? You haven't even seen my true displays of Art!" Deidara proclaimed.
Back with Sakura, she was facing off against The Puppet of The Third Kazekage, Sasori's secret weapon.
She was forced to fight it alone, as it's abilities had nullified Chiyo's own puppets.
Sakura avoided the multiple hands that it had launched from it's left arm. Dodging them as they attempted to grab her as they were laced with poison.
"Water Style: Water Shuriken!" She shouted as she did hand symbols. She created two giant sized shuriken made of Water and tossed them, the spinning blades cut apart the arms, severing them.
Sasori was not concerned though as he twitched his right thumb slightly as he attacked with several blades on it's person. Sakura got her Sabres and engaged in battle against it, expertly countering and blocking them.
Chiyo could only look on cursing her inability to help, without her puppets she could do nothing to aid Sakura.
But Sakura showed no fear or concern as she fought against The Puppet Master. Unlike before when she was a Rookie Genin, her eyes showed no hesitation or fear. Every move she did with full confidence.
They came to a deadlock as her swords became intertwined with the blades on The Kazekage Puppet. Sasori grinned as he had her right where he wanted her, as then a scythe appeared from it's right arm.
Sakura was stabbed through the abdomen, seemingly impaled by the scythe.
Sasori grinned believing that he had got her when suddenly she turned into a puddle of water.
(A Bushin!) He said in alarm as it was nothing but a decoy. The real Sakura appeared behind the Third Kazekage and using her fist smashed it apart except for it's head.
With it destroyed, it's Magnet Release was now useless enabling Chiyo to use her own again.
"You are out of tricks Sasori." She told him as she brought her puppets of his Mother and Father up.
"Not yet, I still have one more trick up my sleeves!" He said before he then tossed aside his cloak, revealing his whole body causing thier eyes to widen in shock as Sasori had turned his entire body into a puppet. "This is my finest work of art, turning myself into a Puppet! It will be the last thing either of you see this day!" He declared to them as he then summoned a hundred puppets.
"We'll see about that." Chiyo said and summoned ten of her own. "Sakura, I'll handle his puppets, you deal with Sasori."
"Got it!"
Sakura then charged at Sasori who fired a spear attached to a rope from his stomach compartment. She dodged and avoided it and delivered a flying kick to him.
"Fool, you think I can feel any pain?" He taunted her as he slashed at Sakura with several blades. "You could hit me with an S Class Technique and it wouldn't even bother me! I'll just put myself back together!" He said and lunged at her, the blades attached to his arms spinning and whirling as he attacked.
Sakura quickly got out of the way knowing they would chop her up to pieces if she didn't. She dodged and put distance between them as he left no openings for her to exploit.
She stomped on the ground and picked up a large rock and got ready to throw it
"Sakura there! The marking on his chest! It's his heart! Aim there!" She heard Chiyo shouting and Sakura did so. Sasori stopped his attack and backed away just avoiding being hit.
"So, you old bag of bones have discovered my one source of humanity left. No matter, burn!" Sasori shouted and holding out his left arm, it detached and revealed a flamethrower. He let loose with several streams of fire filling up the cave and raising the heat in it as he would either burn them to death or die from lack of oxygen.
But Sakura was ready for such an attack.
"Water Style: Rain Cloud!" Sakura said doing the Jutsu. Above in the opening of the ceiling, a black cloud appeared and started to rain, filling the area as that was part one of her plan as she doused the fire he unleashed.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!" Sakura shouted and she using water from the cloud, created a giant Dragon made out of water that hit and destroyed half of Sasori's remaining Puppets. Breaking and shattering them to pieces.
"You have destroyed too many of my Art you wretched girl!" Sasori said with a snarl. At first he had thought he would try to turn her into a puppet as well out of amusement for defeating Hikuro, but now he only wanted to see her dead.
Sasori's remaining puppets then emitted smoke, filling the entire area with black smoke. Sakura looked on as she could tell that it wasn't poison as the thick smoke covered the entire area. She kept her guard up as she lost sight of Chiyo and couldn't see a thing. She brought her swords up to protect herself trying to find any source or trace of him.
Sasori then emerged from the smoke behind her. Sasori was prepared to finish her off, he would impale her with mutliple blades on all sides that were impossible for her to dodge all at once.
"Sealing Technique: Lion Closing Roar!" Chiyo's voice called out. A puppet shaped like a Lion's Head slammed into Sasori, on the puppet was a seal that had been put on it.
Sasori was pinned against the wall by The Lion's Maw. Trapping him as the seal went to work, deactivating his puppet body. His body shut down as he attempted to pry it off of him but to no avail before he stopped moving.
Sakura looked on as at last it seemed like they had won as she looked on at his body. But she took a closer look as she saw that something was different now on him.
Sakura then realized something was missing. "His heart!" She shouted as it wasn't there and she saw the container floating in the air and then went into another puppet body of Sasori before they could react as he stood upright with swords in place of his arms.
"Now you die!" He shouted and he fired a Katana at her.
The blade flew at her, too fast for Sakura to dodge or deflect as it came at her. She brought her swords up but knew it would be too late.
But then something unexpected happened.
Chiyo shoved her out of the way, taking the hit, she coughed up blood as the sword pierced into her. Taking the hit that would have killed Sakura. "Now, Sakura!" Chiyo shouted as she gave Sakura an opening, which she took.
"Water Style: Piercing Swordfish!" Sakura shouted. This was her only opportunity to end Sasori's madness!
Sakura swung her Sabres at him, as she did, water appeared and took the shape of a Swordfish that shot right at Sasori. The blow hit Sasori, right in the chest where his container was.
(That's the spot!) Sakura said as she had to move fast, rushing forward she then attacked. Before Sasori could launch another weapon or he could detatch his organ, she lunged with her weapons aiming for his heart.
Her blades found their mark, hitting his heart container, stabbing and piercing through the last part of his human self.
Sakura glared into the orbs of The Puppet Wielder as his face was contorted in pain. Her twin sabres pierced through the container holding his heart and into it as blood started to leak out of it.
Sakura looked on at him with no mercy, for all he had done, including the murder and turning human beings into puppets, she gave him the same mercy he had given others. Blood poured out of Sasori's heart container as he looked on at her but Sakura's glare did not soften. How many others had he hurt, used for his twisted experiments and art?
"You are beaten." She declared to him.
Sasori inhaled sharply. "Like a flower, you maybe beautiful, but you are quite deadly. You have my respect Kunoichi." He said in between breaths.
"Tell me," Sakura ordered him. "Tell me where Orochimaru's base is at. He was a member of your group beforehand right? You know where he has bases at. Tell me where it's at and I will end your suffering." She said to him.
Sasori chuckled as he felt the blades piercing into his heart. "Very well, consider this a Reward for you Victory. The Land of Grass, my former comrade had a base there. A spy of mine works for him. At The Tenchi Bridge, ten days from now he will be there. Now then, before I die, answer my own question Girl. For curiosity's sake, why do you seek him out?" Sasori asked her.
"I seek to find Sasuke Uchiha, who has defected to him." Sakura replied
"I see," Sasori said intrigued. "And what will you do once you have found him?"
Sakura's eyes hardened. "For what he has done, for what he did to Naruto three years ago, there is only one thing that I shall do when I find him."
"And what is that? By all means tell me before I die."
"Kill him..." Sakura responded with no hesitation. "That is what I will do. I will find Sasuke and kill him."
Sasori smiled cruelly and let out a mocking laugh. "A most unexpected but delightful answer you have given me." He told the pink haired girl. "You, you are a lot like me." Sasori said and The Puppeteer continued to laugh.
Sakura plunged the Sabres into the container and through his entire heart as Sasori breathed his last before dying as Sakura looked on at him, not looking away as she stared him in the eye as his heart beat it's last.
Once he was dead, she pulled her sabres out from his heart and turned and saw Lady Chiyo who was lying on the floor, having pulled the blade out of her. "Lady Chiyo, let me help you!" She said as she rushed to help. "I still have antidote remaining of his poison that can heal you." She said as she started to apply medical chakra to her.
"Don't worry about me." She said waving her away as she coughed. "I'll be fine. You need to conserve your energy." She told Sakura but she stayed there. "You still have to find your Sensei and Gaara." She told her. "But tell me something, you are wanting to kill Sasuke Uchiha you said, is it vengeance you are seeking?" She said as she wheezed out a tired breath.
"No; not vengeance." Sakura answered her. "My path isn't one of vengeance. I am not an Avenger like he proclaimed himself to be before he betrayed us. I want something else from him."
"And what is it?" Chiyo said his voice growing weaker.
"Justice." Sakura confirmed. "I want Justice for Naruto. I want to know why he killed our Friend, and make him face Justice for what he has done. He hurt so many people for what he did. Iruka, Lady Tsunade, Teuchi, myself and others for killing Naruto. I will make him face Justice so that Naruto can finally rest in peace. And so that what he did will never happen again." Sakura said as she finished applying chakra.
"I see." Chiyo told her as she held her side. "This...Naruto, was he considered a deep friend of yours?"
Sakura looked away as pink appeared on her face. "Yes, I at first thought him annoying, but then I saw his true character and how warm and selfless he was. He would do anything for anyone. He, was starting to become my Best Friend before he..." Her voice trailed off as a look of sadness and shame appeared on her face. "It's because of me that he's no longer here."
"That's enough, come, we must go." Chiyo said as she stood up and Sakura did as well.
"Pathetic! Weak!"
A gauntlet covered fist slammed into the one armed figure's face, then punching him in the stomach and ribcage earlier.
Deidara spat out saliva as he felt like he was hit by a sledgehammer just now from the force of the blows he was enduring, before he was uppercutted and knocked away. He recovered but did so slowly now as he was now leaning over pain on his face.
Deidara breathed hard, no matter what he tried none of his techniques or explosions were working. His foe had a counter for everything it seemed and he was running dangerously low on the Clay he had on hand.
Byako stood across from him, he showed no signs of fatigue or damage from the battle he had partaken in. Deidara winced trying to see through his black eye.
(Just enough for one or two blasts) He murmured to himself as he looked on but then spotted his Owl, that had more than enough Clay for him to restock himself with as slowly a smirk formed on his face.
"It's been fun, Oh Mighty King, but it's time to end this." He said as the mouth on his remaining hand spat out a bundle of clay and he hastily formed a pair of bombs.
Deidara fired off three pigeon sized bombs at him, that flew right at him. Byako wordlessly raised his shield up to block the attack, they exploded on contact as they did no harm. But that was part of Deidara's plan as he knew he would react that way.
Using that as a distraction, he dashed towards his Giant Owl as he reached it. Grasping part of it's head with his remaining arm, he yanked the clay that comprised it off.
Grasping the clay, he than began to unexpectedly stuff it into his mouth. Shoving it in messily as he consumed it.
Deidara's body began to swell up, as he ingested the clay. His body began to expand and grow as he continued to swallow more and more of the clay. Grinning, he looked on over at Byako.
"Let's see you deal with this." He said as he swallowed one more handful.
Byako said nothing, as Gebu the Tortoise Demon appeared. "You need not strain yourself Brother. Allow me to handle this." He said as he began doing Symbols
"Now! Demon Release: Howling Tornado!" Gebu shouted.
A Tornado appeared underneath the enlarged Deidara's feet and he was knocked upward into the sky, shot up hundred of feet in the air as he then detonated
As he battled The Bull Spider Demon, Kakashi heard the sound of an explosion a distance away which caught his attention as he looked up and saw the remains as a great Tornado had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
(What is going on there?) He thought to himself. He had detected another source had appeared and was engaging in battle with The Akatsuki Agent.
But it wasn't Sakura, nor was it Gai and them. They were out of range and would have communicated with him if they were. He would have detected if it was as well. But he had no time to ponder it as he was attacked by Ushi-Oni who attempted to ram with its horns on its head that he leapt over.
"Fireball Jutsu!" He shouted and unleashed the attack. The attack hit the Demon but it did little damage, if anything that made it madder as Ushi-Oni charged at him. He just narrowly avoided it's legs.
He was tripped up suddenly and then skewered, only to be replaced by a log which confused Ushi-Oni at what had just happened. A distance away, the real Kakashi appeared and did Hand Symbols starting a Jutsu. "Earth Style: Quicksand!" He shouted.
The ground beneath Ushi-Oni's multiple legs turned watery and muddy as it became quicksand. It started to sink underneath as it's legs disappeared as Kakashi leapt away so not to get caught in his own move as he was on a tree branch. The Demon roared in anger as it struggled to break free but to no avail as it's abdomen sunk underneath as it was up to it's chest.
Just as it was about to sink underneath fully, it shot out webbing from it's hands that stuck a tree and pulled itself up out of the quicksand.
The monster opened up its maw and then spewed out green acid, Kakashi narrowly avoided it as he saw it hit a tree and melted right through it, if he hadn't moved it would have melted the very flesh off of his bones.
Pulling out Kunai, he stabbed it into paper tags and flash bombs and threw it at them, the bombs went off staggered the beast blinding it.
Kakashi then went to finish it off as he prepared hand symbols. "Fire Release: Great Fireball!" He shouted and unleashed the massive attack that hit it.
"Time to finish this!" He proclaimed as he charged a spiraling ball of energy in his hand. "Rasengan!" He shouted and charged at Ushi-Oni, ready to deliver the killing blow. Paying tribute to the third student that he had as he charged
However, before he could do throw it, Ushi-Oni held out it's arms unleashed multiple threads of webbing all around that left him nowhere to dodge and caught Kakashi by the legs as he leapt.
"D-Damn!" He cursed as his attack misfired as he couldn't move. Ushi-Oni then took that opening and swung him. Kakashi hit a tree and cried out in pain as he felt his ribs breaking on contact from it. He was swung again and this time his back hit a tree.
Ushi-Oni continued to swing him around as Kakashi was helpless to defend himself, multiple times he collided and smashed against the trees, the trees shattering from the force of the impact as he was at it's mercy.
He was then slammed onto the ground, but his reprieve was short as Kakashi was grasped by the throat and lifted up to see The Demon's snarling visage.
Ushi-Oni reached towards Kakashi's head with its left arm, preparing to encase and crush his head and skull with it.
Kakashi lifted up his hitai-ate, exposing his Sharingan eye, in a last gamble.
He was dropped to the ground as Ushi-Oni was shown howling in agony, the Demon stumbled backwards it's eyes widening in shock as it's left arm all the way up to it's shoulder was gone. Having vanished from sight as it clutched at it's shoulder. The beast roared and howled not able to understand what was happening or what had happened to it's limb.
Kakashi caught his breath as he had used his Mangekyo Sharingan to activate Kamui on it's limb, sending it's arm to another dimension as the Demon stumbled and flayed about as it continued to howl.
Ushi-Oni shot out a patch of thread and then retreated, fleeing the battle as it ran away in terror. Kakashi was glad to see it go
Pulling himself up off the ground he then forced his body to go. His ribs may have been broken but he kept on. Despite the toll it took on using that maneuver just now, he still had to get Gaara.
"I failed Naruto, I"m not going to fail you Gaara." He said as he went on.
Back at the scene, The Two Demons looked on. Having averted Deidara's attempt to blow themselves up with him.
"It appears that he is dead, The fool blew himself up in his idiocy. Victory is ours." Gebu said but Byako said nothing as he did not celebrate.
Byako looked on at the ground before he suddenly sunk and disappeared underneath. Sinking into the ground vanishing beneath it.
A few moments later, the ground began to rumble and shake, as suddenly, dirt and grass shot up into the ground a distance away as it burst open, and he emerged from the ground standing upright with his arm held out.
At the end of it, with his fingers wrapped around his neck, was Deidara who was being choked, he had attempted to sneak away underground but had been caught. That had been a clone he had created, a duplicate that was to buy him time so to allow him to escape
"I have grown weary of your boring games. Where are they?" Byako demanded as he lifted him up by the throat. Lifting him upwards so that his feet weren't touching the groung as he clamped his armored hand around his neck.
"Gackk!" Deidara cried out as his legs were shown kicking in the air. "W-Who?!"
"Akatsuki, where are the rest of your band of rats?!" Byako demanded as he shook him tightening the pressure. "Tell me human, you shall answer, or else I will flay each and every inch of skin off your flesh personally." He warned him. His hand was around Deidara's throat and if he wanted, could snap his neck with a mere flick of his wrist.
"Tell me!" He commanded again growing irritated.
"I...don't know! It's not like we got some kind of secret hideout we all meet and hang out at! There's places all over! I don't know where they are at right now!" Deidara said straining for air. "I've never even met the Leader in person, I swear!" He choked out as his face was starting to change color, turning blue from lack of oxygen.
"Worthless." Byako said in disgust before he threw him away. Deidara was tossed and his back hit a tree as he fell down to the ground lying on his stomach. Behind his helmet, he glared with disdain at the wretch who had wasted his time. "The rest of your group shall fall and die as easily as you have."
Deidara began to let out a laugh. Starting out low at first but began to get louder. Until he was laughing psychotically as he began to stand up.
"I guess I got no choice. I wasn't planning on using this, not on you." He said before he reached up to his shirt and tore it off! On his chest near his heart was a seal. The mouth on his remaining hand then bit down and tore it open, revealing a third mouth that he had, with a long disgusting tongue that dangled out. "But I'll make an exception!" He declared as he stuffed his remaining clay into the mouth which began to chew it up.
Black cracks and veins began to form onto his entire body as he let out laughs. "You should be honored! I was saving this for someone else who had annoyed me, but you'll do!" He declared as a feral look was in his eyes. "I'm going to blow up this entire area! With my entire body as the Detonator! This blast will be seen and felt for miles! There will be nothing left but a giant crater as the entire sky will be illuminated in my art un!" He proclaimed. "In a matter of seconds, my Ultimate Art will be unveiled!"
He continued to laugh as more and more of his body changed.
Byako looked on at him with no emotion as he stared ahead. This human was a reckless lunatic. It was astounding he hadn't killed himself long ago.
"You fool..." Byako said to him in disgust. In response Deidara only cackled and grinned wildly.
"JUST THE TYPE OF IGNORANCE I'D EXPECT FROM SOMEONE WITH NO APPRECIATION FOR MY WORKS' BEAUTY UN!" Deidara said with a deranged look on his face. "THIS UPCOMING EXPLOSION IS POWERFUL ENOGH TO KILL A KAGE! I MAY DIE BUT I SHALL FOREVER BE IMMORTALIZED AND KNOWN WITH THIS! EVEN A THOUSAND YEARS FROM NOW PEOPLE SHALL STILL TALK ABOUT THIS! BUT YOU! MY CLASSLESS, IGNORANT FRIEND! SHALL BE FOR-"
Before Deidara could finish his rant, Byako was in front of him with his Broad Sword and it glowed with dark energy. In less than a millisecond, he delivered three slashes.
The first took his remaining arm.
The second removed his upper body from his waist.
The last had decapitated him.
His remains were seen in the air hovering as a look of shock was on his face in his final moments of what had just happened
(What?! No! I didn't even see him move! Not even The Yellow Flash could move that fast! It's...It's not possible! This, This can't be how I die! Not without unveiling my Masterpiece! Art is an Explosion! I AM AN...)
Those were his last thoughts as Deidara, The Bomber of Akatsuki, was dead as his head hit the ground.
Naruto's boot stomped onto Deidara's head crushing it underneath, stomping his metal eye shattering it. A fitting end to the mad artist.
"Akatsuki now knows my power." He declared. He got no information regarding the rest, but no matter, he would hunt them down one by one if need by. Paying the remains of the dead man no more mind, he then walked over to the red haired figure on the ground encased in the talons of the clay owl. The talons were ripped off as the boy's body hit the dirt.
Naruto looked on at Gaara's body. Looking on down at him behind his helmet he wore at the unconscious body. He did not move nor did he breathe, seemingly as though he was dead. He looked alive as he suffered or showed no wounds but he did not respond or move as the process of extracting Shukaku had killed him. Bringing his hands up, he removed his helmet so that he could look at him fully. His blue eyes looked on down at Gaara.
He reached down with his covered hand and placed two fingers against Gaara's neck. He felt no sign of a pulse coming from him.
As he looked, he felt an unexpected emotion just now. An emotion unexpected or becoming of him.
Sadness...
He was feeling sad for this figure. Something he couldn't explain but he had felt sadness and sympathy for him. He did not know who this boy was, and yet he felt familiar in someway. As though they had met once and were going to become friends. But he, a Demon being friends with a lowly Human? Such a notion was preposterous!
Looking on at Gaara he brought his hand down as though in a robotic manner. He placed it on Gaara's chest, he didn't understand what he was doing but it felt like something that he must do as his Sister wasn't the only one skilled in healing.
Gaara's body then became enveloped in Chakra. Glowing brightly as he laid there on the ground. "A fraction of my chakra will be enough for you to live once more." He stated as the glow disappeared.
Gaara's mouth opened slightly and a faint breath escaped his lips. Naruto looked on down at him and slowly a smile began to form on his face.
But it was immediately replaced with a scowl and a look of anger as he stood up and put his helmet back on covering his face.
"Humans, such soft and pathetic creatures." He said in disgust.
"My god..."
A voice caught his attention and he turned his head and saw a figure with a mask over the lower half of his face standing there.
Kakashi looked on at the grisly sight before him. The Akatsuki member he spotted was dead with his head having been decapitated and crushed along with other parts of his body having been dissected. He may have been an enemy, but Kakashi wouldn't wish such a brutal fate upon anyone.
Upon arriving at the scene he was shocked to find him dead, and also moreso at this mysterious armored figure who had his back to him looking down at Gaara's body.
Kakashi regained his composure as he saw the figure. "Did you do this?" He called out but he already knew the answer to it.
"And if I did?" The armored figure replied. "The fool was an arrogant worm in life, believing in his nonsensical artistry, now he can be food for the worms." The armored man said as he turned to face him so that Kakashi could get a good look at him. The helmet he wore fully covered his head and face so that he couldn't see him.
Kakashi looking on felt a dangerous aura emanating from him. This was not a foe to take lightly. After his battles, he would have to be cautious as he was in no condition to fight now.
"Maybe so, but I needed him alive. He had information that I needed." Kakashi said. Every muscle and bone in his body was on edge. Although he showed no sign of attacking him, this foe could easily if he wanted deliver an onslaught. And after what he went through, he doubted he would survive it if he did.
"Then perhaps you should curse your weakness and inability to have done so, human." The figure said in disdain. Kakashi glared at him as he saw him standing over Gaara.
"Who are you?" Kakashi demanded to know as he turned around.
"I am King Byako;" He proclaimed "The one true Ruler of this Land, having long ago conquered it and now shall do so again. Akatsuki, The Villages, Even Orochimaru, they shall all kneel or they shall all fall before me." He declared.
"What? What do you mean?"
"I waste my time on a fool such as yourself. Take the boy and begone from my sight. He shall live." He ordered Kakashi. "Consider this your only mercy that I shall give you. I have dealt with enough fools for today. Tell The Leaf that if they are wise, they will surrender, lest I destroy them and every Human that lives there." Byako informed him. Several of his Soldiers appeared behind him along with Gebu and Ushi-Oni. The now one armed demon snarled at Kakashi fury in it's eyes.
"Destroy him Byako! Let us end this Human's life." Gebu called out to him.
"He's not worth my time." Byako stated
"W-Wait! I need to know what-" Kakashi started to say when they then vanished.
Kakashi fell to his knees in exhaustion having watched them disappear, he couldn't pick up any sign of their movements or trace of their chakra.
"Byako..." He said repeating the name that he had been told. Whomever this foe was, he was powerful to have easily defeated an S Class Ninja and could have killed him as well.
He glanced over at Gaara and saw his chest raising up and down seeing that he was alive, if unconscious. "Gaara, it seems fortune favors us today." He said and faintly smiled behind his mask.
"Kakashi!" A voice suddenly shouted and he turned his head and saw Sakura and the others approaching in the distance.
Wearily, he laid down as his mind was full of questions as he fell into a deep sleep.
A/N: That's it for this chapter. Review please.