Chapter 12
The ruins of Kirigakure quaked under the weight of Yagura's transformation, his full Isobu form towered over the shattered streets, a monstrous turtle, three spiked tails thrashing like living battering rams. His shell gleamed, impervious and menacing, one eye closed, the other glowing with feral intent. Naruto stood dwarfed but unbowed, blood dripping from his scars, Leviathan Axe in one hand, Poseidon's Trident in the other, Blades of Chaos and Nemesis Whip humming within. His Spartan Rage flickered, red chakra flaring, Kurama snarled within, "Rip that turtle apart, brat!" and his feral grin promised annihilation.
Yagura roared, a sound that split the air, and rolled into a ball, Spiked Ball Assault launched him forward with terrifying speed, shell spikes spinning like a buzzsaw. Naruto's Hermes' Boots flared, a golden blur dodging left, stone shattered where he'd stood, debris flying, but Isobu pivoted mid-roll, tail whipping. Naruto ducked, the spiked appendage grazing his shoulder, blood sprayed, as he skidded back, boots cracking the earth. "Big bastard," he growled, charging, Blades of Chaos erupted, chains lashing at Isobu's shell, fire sparked, coral chipped, but the beast's Tough Shell held, deflecting the assault.
Isobu unfurled, tails slamming the ground, Tidal Waves surged, massive walls of water crashing toward Naruto. He leapt, Hermes' Boots boosting him atop a ruined tower, water smashed it below, stone crumbling, but Isobu's tail struck again, a blur of force. Naruto parried with the Leviathan Axe, frost met coral, ice cracking the spike, but the impact hurled him skyward, ribs groaning. He twisted mid-air, axe spinning, frost slashed downward, striking Isobu's shell, ice exploded, coral fractured, but the beast roared, unfazed.
Yagura's voice echoed from within, distorted but resolute, "You'll fall, Uzumaki!" Isobu's maw opened, Water Release: Water Blast fired, a high-pressure torrent obliterating a cliffside behind Naruto. He dodged, the blast grazing his leg, skin blistered, Healing flaring, and countered with the Nemesis Whip. Spikes cracked with electricity, lashing Isobu's open eye, the beast recoiled, a guttural bellow shaking the mist, coral sprouting to shield the vulnerability. Naruto landed, grinning, Rage Empowerment surged, fueling his next move.
Isobu rolled again, faster, Spiked Ball Assault tore through the battlefield, a juggernaut of destruction. Naruto's Bow of Apollo flashed, fiery arrows rained, exploding against the shell, flames licked, coral blackened, but momentum held. He braced, Poseidon's Trident thrusting, prongs met shell, sparks flying as he skidded back, boots gouging trenches, his strength straining against Isobu's force. The beast unfurled mid-charge, tail slashing, Naruto ducked, chains lashing, Blades wrapped a tail, fire searing, yanking, but coral grew along the chains, hardening, forcing him to release.
The Three-Tails reared, Coral Generation pulsing, jagged fields sprouted across the ground, spikes piercing upward. Naruto leapt, boots blazing, but a coral tendril snared his ankle, Coral Palm's legacy, binding tight. He roared, axe slashing, frost shattered the growth, blood dripping from his leg as he broke free. Isobu's tails whipped again, three strikes, a storm of spikes, Naruto parried one with the Trident, dodged another, but the third slammed his chest, his durability held, blood sprayed, hurling him into a flooded street.
Water closed over him, Isobu's domain, but Spartan Rage ignited fully, red chakra boiling. Naruto erupted from the flood, eyes crimson, muscles bulging, Blades whirled, axe spun, fire and frost clashed with Isobu's shell, a deafening explosion, coral cracked, scales chipped, the beast staggering. Yagura countered, Shockwaves pulsing from Isobu's roar, force repelled Naruto's assault, chains snapping back, axe skidding, Naruto rolled, boots planting as he rose, panting, blood streaking his face.
Isobu's eye glowed, Hallucinogenic Mist seeped forth, a shimmering haze exploiting Naruto's scars: Mei's bloodied form flickered, Hana's screams echoed, Uzushio's children wailed. "Illusions won't stop me!" and he charged through, whip cracking, electricity dispersed the mist, striking Isobu's shell, sparks danced, coral smoked. The beast retaliated, Tailed Beast Ball forming, a massive orb of chakra, crackling with ruin. Naruto's Hermes' Boots blurred, he darted left, right, the ball fired, detonating a block behind, earth quaked, heat seared his back.
Naruto closed in, axe slashing, frost wave froze Isobu's front legs, anchoring it, Blades lashed, chains wrapped a tail, fire burning, yanking, the appendage tore loose, coral and flesh spraying, a howl shaking the ruins. Isobu's remaining tails struck, Naruto dodged one, parried another with the Trident, prongs bent, body faltering, the third slammed his side, ribs snapping, blood gushed. He roared, Spartan Rage peaking, axe spun, chains whirled, whip cracked, a whirlwind of frost, fire, and lightning.
Isobu reared, Tidal Coral Surge unleashed, a colossal wave laced with coral blades crashing forth. Naruto's Bow of Apollo fired, arrows exploded mid-wave, steam rising, but coral shards pierced his arm, leg, blood flowed, healing slowing. He pressed, Blades wrapping Isobu's neck, fire seared, pulling, the beast thrashed, coral sprouting to sever the chains. Naruto leapt, axe slashing, frost erupted, cracking Isobu's shell, scales split, blood oozed, Yagura's roar echoing within.
The beast staggered, shell fractured, Naruto saw his chance. He charged, Spartan Rage blazing, Blades lashed, whip snared a tail, axe spun, a triple assault, fire burned, electricity surged, frost shattered, Isobu's eye widened, a desperate bellow as coral fields crumbled. Naruto leapt atop the shell, his Strength surged, axe raised for the killing blow, frost gleaming, when the air rippled.
A figure materialized, orange mask, black cloak, a single Sharingan glowing, the Masked Man. Time slowed, Naruto's axe descended, Obito's Kamui swirled, a vortex of space-time, Yagura's massive form shimmered, phasing, Naruto's blade struck empty air, frost exploding uselessly as Isobu vanished into the void. Naruto landed hard, boots cracking stone, chest heaving, blood dripped, rage guttering, Obito stood yards away, Yagura's fading roar echoing from the Kamui dimension. "Not yet, God-Slayer," Obito's voice rasped, cold and mocking, before he too warped away, leaving Naruto alone amidst Kiri's ruins, a cliffhanger teetering on fury and loss.