Chapter 34: The Memory
"Memory is the Master of Death, the chink in his armor of conceit."
-Wole Soyinka, Death and the King's Horseman
Naruto & Shikamaru-Amegakure Security Checkpoint Entrance
Metal towers towards the heavens.
That's the way the guy on his left describes the vast network of wires and steel, Naruto studying and taking it all in. Everyone here seems to revere the 'God' and 'Angel' who lead this village, sing nothing but their praises on how much they've bettered the economy and standards of living for Ame's citizens overall.
'This place must've looked like a shithole after the last Great War if this is somehow better than back then.' Naruto considers.
The air is clogged with the scent of mud and rain, Shikamaru discreetly nudging him to keep his eyes forward as the line moves along.
"Focus. No deviating from our background and story." He murmurs.
Naruto half-smiles, nods in return.
"Don't worry, I'll take both of them down y'know; I'm extra prepared! Just make sure no outsiders try to interfere."
Shikamaru says nothing, notes the calm lilt in his voice.
'No fear at all. Seems like he's just holding in his excitement?' He absently wonders.
A man with a crisscross scar to his left cheek who goes by Atsushi from his nametag looks them up and down as they approach, studies closely their ponchos the same colors as the clouds above, faces marred with scratches and bruises.
"Occupation and where you're coming from." He grunts out.
"Black market vendors, Land of Silence." Shikamaru answers as he reviews their forged documents, ink and paper ones only found around the Land of Keys he'd taken from Konoha library's archive.
They've used transformation jutsu to look like men in their mid to late 20's, masked any signs of their true identities in their postures and demeanors.
Atsushi nods for the guard Keisuke to give them a thorough pat down before giving the clear for them to go ahead.
Naruto straightens his shoulders as they walk deeper into the city.
So these are the last buildings, the last things Pervy-Sage took in before dying...
"I just wanted to tell you that I've never believed in all this sacrificial stuff. I always saw it as the villages being a bit superstitious!" Jiraiya remarks cheerily behind him.
Naruto ignores him, rooftop hops to the next building.
He's been chasing him all around the village since the early afternoon, day now giving way to approaching dusk. He's too close to his apartment now, the buildings around here known for having rusted metal, rotted wood, and an overgrowth of vines.
His foot catches on a broken shingle as Jiraiya approaches from his right, draws up a gust of wind before he topples.
"Wind Release: Typhoon Blast!"
Jiraiya weaves under the current, hair wrapping around Naruto's torso before hopping them to the townhouses opposite from his own area. One could easily forget which side of Konoha they're on from looking at them, buildings made with fine brick, metal, and steel shades of copper to pure black.
He holds up his hands at Naruto's silence as he deposits him beside him, done with their game of chase from the way he keeps a hand on his shoulder.
"Come on, I'm sure you know what that means, right? I'm not going to treat you with kiddy gloves! You're not going to get any bullshit from me Kid!" Jiraiya promises.
He lightly pokes at his back. "You can't be a future ambassador of Konoha or anything carrying around this anger like this. Granted, I know it's hard to resist not giving into your rage. I haven't done much in that aspect to change your feelings, but I'm working on that now."
Naruto doesn't look at him, studies the rising moon against the sunset, reds and ambers blending on the sky as he thinks of the beast within him.
"...Why did you really return back to Konoha? If you truly don't believe in or follow the customs of annual offerings being given to a nation's jinchuriki, then you shouldn't be bothering with me."
Jiraiya squeezes at his shoulder. "Now, now. I know we didn't get off to the right foot-"
"You pretended to not know who I am, and you'd rather look at women then properly train me! I'm fine on my own or sparring with Hinata at this rate if you won't be serious with me." Naruto sharply interrupts.
Jiraiya glances to his hand, fingertips starting to faintly burn. The wind whistles around them lowly in warning, Naruto's eyes flashing red growing increasingly irritable.
Impatient.
"Okay! You gotta a point, I'll give you that. I'm sorry Naruto, I'm...not good with this kind of thing. Heh, I've trained students before, but never one like you. I need you to build some trust in me, though I've been doing a shit job at that. I came back to Konoha to help you train for the Chunin Exam Finals, though more importantly, because you're in danger."
Naruto's brows furrow, snorts while crossing his arms. He's always in danger despite Old Man Third trying to tell him differently that the deity within him will keep enemies away from him and protect the village if the time comes for war again.
Jiraiya shakes his head. "I mean it Naruto; I came back to the village because an organization is going after Tailed Beasts for some reason. They don't see the bijuu as deities to offer gifts and sacrifices too, just as something to collect to obtain power for themselves for some type of plan. If they're able to extract the Nine Tails from you, it will kill you in the process."
Naruto looks at him fully then, concern pooling into his gaze. "Who are they? What do they look like?"
"As far as I've gathered, they go by the name Akatsuki. Even with my best intel, I hardly know who's an actual member of the group or who their leader could be. Itachi is one though, your teammate's brother. I do know they wear black robes with red clouds on them and each member wears a ring possibly to communicate with each other." Jiraiya explains.
Cerulean swirls with a mix of worry and anger before sighing, rubbing at his head. Jiraiya hugs him to his side, chuckles as Naruto attempts to squirm away before reluctantly giving up.
"Don't worry Kid! You've got nothing to worry about! I'll track down whoever their leader is eventually and find a way to take them down! Focus on these Exams. In the interim, I'll make sure you get strong enough to face whoever he or she is if they come to the village! Kakashi got you some the basics down, but I'll take the care of the rest!"
Naruto swallows. "How strong are these guys Pervy-Sage?"
Jiraiya shrugs, notes a pair of women walking home from the business district: Megumi and Rumi.
"Ladies, save a seat for me at the Red Poppy Club! 9:00 pm as usual!"
They giggle and wave back in return, sisters going to probably commiserate drinks over longer work hours coming for the end of the month closing on stocks.
And to discuss the who's who of shinobi that have been passing in and out of the village as of late.
Jiraiya looks back to Naruto, surprised he hasn't tried to jump away at his behavior, gaze towards his apartment instead.
Where Hinata probably is.
"Hey now, I'm stronger than I look Kid! You're not going to be dealing with the Akatsuki alone; I promise!"
Naruto grits his teeth, voice jagged and cracked. "...You still didn't answer my question."
Jiraiya blows out a breath, tussles his hair until he stares at him properly. "I dunno Naruto; I'll be honest with you. But that's what I intend to find out! Whoever the leader of the Akatsuki is, I'll find out their weakness! Everyone has one after all!"
Pervy-Sage was right, everyone has a weakness.
And he will exploit Nagato and Konan's soon enough.
Nagato & Konan/Naruto & Konan-Amegakure Central Tower/Swamp of Kawatora
"Anything?" Konan questions.
Nagato stays silent for a minute longer studying every alleyway and corner of Amegakure's streets before shaking his head. "Not yet, but we must stay vigilant. He'll either be coming here directly to us or we will need to go to Konoha ourselves."
It took a month to prepare and replace the bodies Jiraiya took down, rewinding through his plan.
If Naruto's not in Konoha, then he'll use the Paths to destroy the village and all surrounding lands until he's forced to show up.
Especially if he traps Naruto's latest sacrifice that he's so fond of.
"There haven't been any updates at the security checkpoints by any of the guards, but I want to be sure. I'll get reports from the officers at the North and South gates while you get the East and West gates. Report in anything that seems unusual or out of the ordinary." Nagato orders.
Konan nods, departs for the East posts.
The line is mostly stragglers as she approaches up, Atsushi moving into a deep bow when he sees her.
"Ah, our resident Angel! What can I do for you?"
Konan shakes her head. "I'm just checking in at the East and West gates to make sure all is running smoothly. Did you have a lot of people come through here earlier?"
Atsushi shrugs, lifts up a hand up and down.
"Not too many really. Quite a bit of black market dealers though. I'm sure they'll be able to sell some unique intel on how things are going on in the villages to the east of us for the right price."
'East? That would include Konoha.' Konan notes.
"Any unique features on one of them?"
Atsushi taps at his cheek. "Err, I'm afraid not my Lady. Just the general scars, bruises, and scabs that come from skirmishes around these parts. Some of them could've been using a transformation jutsu as well knowing their true identities are at risk. My apologies I don't have much to offer you."
Konan shakes her head, lightly smiles.
"You've told me enough. Thank you; I'll let you get back to work."
She begins to move westward before stopping herself, smile slipping back into a frown.
'Even the best transformation jutsus can crack with enough pressure.'
She needs to check every person let through.
From her sleeves she draws out a hundred paper cranes, lets them search out every person that came through Atsushi's section.
Men and women ranging in age from preteens to the elderly, groups talking in low whispers.
The 6th group of cranes pinpoints on two middle-aged men, pair sagging into the seats of a nearby bar.
She blends herself into the opposite wall, catches pieces of conversation.
"-Where should we stay tonight?" The taller of the two asks.
His companion swigs from his bottle. "Ehh, wherever will make our ryo last the week. Will help if it has cheap booze and food close by."
Konan sniffs the air, paper ant crawling up behind him.
Her eyes widen.
'Water and soda?'
Neither man is actually consuming alcohol despite their apparent flushed cheeks.
'Who are they really?' Konan leans back.
She taps her ear. "I found two men I plan to interrogate near the East gates. They're currently having a drink at one of the nearby stands. I'll report in once I'm done interrogating and looking into their full backgrounds."
Nagato answers a second later. "Alright. Be careful in case they're actually shinobi. We need a full report on everyone who came in today, where they said they're coming from, and any possible DNA we can collect from them."
The scraggier of the two sets his bottle down.
"Well, gonna go take a quick leak in the alley and then we can go perusing for a hole in the wall!"
The man shakes his head, looks away.
"Ugh, hurry it up. And I don't need you to tell me all that shit."
His grin widens as he passes him, feigns a stagger into him. "Yeah, maybe I'll be doing that too!"
As soon as he disappears into the dark, Konan follows, corners him.
Amber eyes darken.
"Stop. I know you're not actually drunk. I need you to come with me for questioning."
A light croak hits her ears before her paper can shoot forth, arm stilling in place.
'Toads?'
The alleyway disappears as the croaks grow louder in tandem joined by a low buzz of cicadas and crickets. Humid air fans her cheeks, looks backwards and up only to see swamp, sycamore trees hanging thick vines down where once pipes and wires stood.
Smoke unfurls in front of her revealing blond locks.
Vermilion eyes.
'Ah, so he came to us. That will make things easier.'
Naruto steps forward to her out of the haze, Konan drawing in a breath as she takes to the air.
"Water Release: Geyser Surge!"
Naruto weaves pasts the jets of water, forms a human chain of clones drawing close.
"Toad Oil Bullet!"
The blast slams her left wing, knocks her off course as she positions her body gearing it away from the barrage, blows them back with a rush of wind and paper.
Their bodies slam back into the murky waters on opposite ends, Konan turning her body to paper as a clone's hands move to enclose at her throat. She slips through reeds and vines, head beginning to thrum as the croaks and hiss of snapping reptiles close in around her.
Follow her.
She draws out a kunai as Naruto slithers out of the marsh's dark to attack again, metal clashing before each switch to slices of wind, air, and stone.
Konan reforms, strikes a hand down against a patch of mud.
"Earth Release: Rock Needles!"
Spikes rise out of dirt and water, where one clone pops, two more form.
And her body slows as Naruto lands on top of her rock spears, unfazed.
He licks at the blood of cuts that mar his cheek and arms already healing from the Nine Tails, clothes caked in mud and weeds.
'My legs, what exactly am I stuck in?' Konan clicks her tongue.
More clones rise out of the mud and haze, dozens watching from the trees and grasses stepping closer. He intends to draw out this match until she's run out of stamina it seems or is just toying with her now that she's fully trapped in his terrain.
'No. There must be some trick to breaking this genjutsu. If not pain, then what else?' Konan reviews.
Her eyes study where the fireflies flicker in and out in greens and yellows, any pattern to where they land and fly.
Naruto blocks her view just as she watches one land on a twisted log at the edge of the marsh.
And her eyes lock back on red, the spiral of charged wind and water in his hand.
"Wind Release: Drilling Cut!"
Blood coats the back of her throat as the attack punctures through her chest, paper instantly gathering at the wound.
Naruto pushes her down before she can turn her body back into paper, hovers over her.
'If this is a genjutsu, I can still break out of this.' Konan calculates.
Is it truly just illusions though? She can taste the sand and salt on her tongue, sludge moving along the back of her neck.
But even if she can break out of this trap, there's too many Narutos' here. Her paper sticks and droops under the weight of oil and mud. She has to warn Nagato somehow if he isn't already sending his Paths to this scene...
The hum and swish of the river gets closer in her ears, body sinking.
Glowing eyes watch from below, waiting.
Naruto grins. "The swamp song doesn't end until you die Konan. There is no escape from here, not via any attack in your arsenal. This swamp was created in mind of research I did into Pervy-Sage's best abilities and kappa. Yokai gods of the water that can easily go from playful and mischievous to dangerous and malevolent under the right conditions."
His clones gather in a circle, grab at Konan's arms snapping them back until the crack of them breaking rings out across the marsh, tears pricking her eyes.
She forces her gaze to remain on him.
"P-Pain will come. He'll finish this and take the Nine Tails even if I die-"
Naruto's gaze sharpens. "You mean Nagato? He's going to join you in death and I'm going to live. Consider this self-defense as you two aren't going to stop trying to kill me either."
His grin widens at her blank look, continuing on.
"Nagato is using Yahiko's corpse, right? I'll make sure those eyes Nagato has don't get into the wrong hands. Well, Shikamaru has a hunch on what they are, and he normally isn't wrong about these types of things y'know."
Konan jolts, teeth clenching.
Naruto crouches to her eye level and the extent of his malice bores in.
He's been studying every facet of them, just as they knew Jiraiya's weaknesses, he has learned both of theirs...
"This is how you two killed Pervy-Sage, right? Hovering over his body like this?" Naruto begins.
Konan says nothing face falling, clone to his right forcing her gaze.
"Well, I'm going to treat you the same way as you two did to him in his last moments. Your body will be left in the alleyway, forgotten like trash like how you sunk Jiraiya to the sea. Eventually, the people of Ame will forget their 'Angel' too. The Akatsuki you dreamed off with Yahiko and Nagato is going to unfortunately die with all 3 of you. I'll get rid of Yahiko's body, make it unrecognizable and unrecoverable."
Konan fidgets from his grip at that.
"Yahiko...please don't desecrate his corpse. Nagato uses it only because he was the original leader of the Akatsuki-"
Naruto steps back before she can finish, shoves her head backwards until water fills her nostrils, taste of saltwater and mud soon burning at the back of her throat.
She shoots forth her paper wings, thrashes trying to blind him and take him with her.
"D-Don't-!" Konan warbles out.
Naruto fully coils his hands around her neck.
"Stop talking."
Her wings dampen as water fills her throat, clipped and falling apart...
Sinking.
Tsunade & Danzo-Hokage Tower
"We need to send teams after him! You're clearly far too incompetent to continue to hold this title." Danzo growls.
He slams his cane against the ground, refuses to move.
It's one thing if Shikaku's son wants to run to his death all on his silly ideas of avenging his fallen sensei and comrade, it's another for the jinchuriki of their village to be tagging along with him pointlessly walking to his death/capture.
Tsunade is up from her chair before he can say more, glare as steady and dark as his own.
"Enough. You might've provided me with intel for the village's benefit and useful notes when I first took up the hat, but no more."
Danzo arches a brow, scoffs.
"Hmm? What's this? Do you actually believe you can fire me? You always have been a foolish little girl more interested in card games that actually leading this village."
Tsunade snorts. "Ah, because you think you would be such a better leader? Envy is such an ugly emotion you've always been terrible at hiding. Sarutobi-sensei pitied you, gave you the Root Foundation to lead since the 2nd Hokage, my grand uncle believed Hiruzen was the best successor for him; not you."
Danzo's hands tighten upon his cane before abandoning it.
He draws out his breath, shapes and molds air into a blade.
Tsunade dodges the slices, Danzo rolling his neck.
"That's all in the past. You've let our jinchuriki escape and his sacrifice is missing based upon my operatives check of their apartment. All of this happened on your watch Tsunade. But don't worry, I'll rectify your mistakes with Konoha's citizens and shinobi turning on you."
'Hinata is missing? I doubt the Hyūga would take her in, she must be with Kurenai or under the Aburame or Inuzuka's clans protection.' Tsunade gathers.
An alarm blares off in the distance before she can dwell on the thought, the windows to her right rattle and burst as a series of explosions fire off across the village's busiest areas, glass shards falling in rivulets against the windowpane and nearby ground.
Smoke rockets up into grays and blacks into the sky, screams following.
Tsunade twists her gaze back to Danzo. "What the hell is wrong with you?! Damn it, people are going to die because of this! How is that becoming of a Hokage? Someone who kills their own citizens if they don't act in line with his or her's policies?!" She growls.
'Pain/Nagato could come here too via one of his Paths, sowing even further destruction.'
Danzo shakes his head. "Necessary sacrifices you could say to purge the chaos you've caused. The ones who survive will place the blame on you for letting our jinchuriki escape."
Tsunade cracks her knuckles, slams down a fist to the ground before his vacuum bullets can get close.
"Earth Release: Terra Wall!"
A barrier of cement, dirt, and mud temporarily keeps them apart, Tsunade clicking her tongue.
'So he intends to start a civil war within our nation? Why?'
"The people will see the devastation to the lands and realize the jinchuriki is gone, will assume the worst that their annual gifts of appeasement never reached him or was stolen by you. Sure, you'll have some supporters, but not enough." Danzo continues, slices through the wall with bursts of air.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"
Tsunade is back to standing as the wall fully crumples, cracks her fingers imbuing them with lighting.
"Naruto. You never can seem to remember his name as he said. As for supporters, you should be worrying more about your own than mine. Especially the ones who told me about Izanagi, my grandfather's cells, all those sharingan eyes you stole off corpses..."
His visible eye widens giving pause, reviews back through his network of connections.
'When would a spy have infiltrated my ranks? I would instantly know if a root member's seal on their tongue had been tampered with.' He grits his teeth.
He has tabs and pulls on all of them.
Tsunade moves closer, each step forming cracks.
"I've been studying all these modifications done to your body since I found out. Poisoning you slowly with your favorite herbal teas, snacks, and meals for months now for the moment you would betray me."
'Looks like you were right again Jiraiya.' Tsunade absently smiles.
"Your birthday gift to me is one of your Make-Out Paradise novels?" Tsunade repeats.
She should chunk this right into the forests for the birds to use as a nest. It really was a waste of time to indulge him meeting him by the river like this during a rare hour lunch break.
Jiraiya pouts as hazel eyes cloud over, studies the passing afternoon with a yawn.
"Hey, that's not even out on the markets yet; I wrote this one just for you! Geez, if I gave you ryo, you'd spend it all in a single night at some gambling den."
Tsunade shrugs, stirs at her cup. She's going to need her flask putting up with him like this.
"Yeah, so? What's wrong with that?"
Jiraiya says nothing, watches the wind ruffle at the trees, sparrows and robins taking to the sky.
"Where are those Old Farts at by the way? Normally they follow you around like a second shadow." He asks aloud.
Tsunade half-smiles at the random change of topic. "Probably having their usual lunch session where they bitch and moan about how terrible I'm doing as Hokage. That I should be doing things 'as per policy guidelines' how Sarutobi-sensei did."
Jiraiya chortles at that, nods to his book once more.
"Read the last 5 pages of the final chapter."
Tsunade reviews the title once more.
Aftershock: Her Best Shinobi Tactics.
Tsunade rolls her eyes at his silly titles, flips to the very back to appease him at his giddy look.
"You better not just have me reading some sex scene." She grumbles.
Jiraiya hums at that. "Why do you think my books are so graphic? Have you been reading them in secret by chance?!"
Tsunade shoves him back, notes the two characters names.
Tamika and Daisuda.
Characters who look and behave similarly to herself and Danzo.
'Daisuda has stolen the keys from the infamous Kamiya clan. One particular key is said to unlock the doors of the mind as witnessed by him seeing a Kamiya member use in the last war. He's hidden the keys all over himself, has even harvested cells from the great Yoshimasa.' Tsunade reads.
She snaps the book shut; fingers numb.
The alcohol in her stomach runs hot.
"All of this...the symbolism; it's true? You've confirmed it?" Tsunade whispers.
Jiraiya's gaze stays on the waters, nods.
"You're a great actress Tsunade, go on pretending to be naive, unaware. But now you can start trickling into him various tasteless powders and tonics, just like you did to me that one time! Also, just in case..."
Tsunade swallows as he trails off.
"Just in case of what?"
Amber turns to onyx, Jiraiya shrugging and Tsunade's nails dig into grass that they still dance around the topic of death with each other.
"Well, just because there's a chance you may start winning at the slots later tonight, I suppose!"
She ribs him gently. "Nah, I'm probably going to lose it all before midnight."
Danzo undoes his bandages, can at least stall her out with genjutsu.
His vision blurs as soon as he activates his right eye, clutches at his head as a pain zaps and runs through him.
Tsunade fingers grip at his head before he can shoot backwards.
"I'm gonna make a bet with myself here and now. One that I don't mind winning for once that you won't be leaving this room alive."
Shikamaru, Naruto, & Nagato-East Entrance, Amegakure
"He's...here."
'Naruto.' Nagato ascertains.
Konan's voice comes in rasps before fully crackling out, words undecipherable.
Trying to reach her again only results in full static, earpiece most likely off.
Nagato switches all Paths to head in the East gate's direction. It's possible she's just surrounded by too many of Naruto's clones. Though once the Preta Path drains the original Naruto of his chakra, he can overwhelm him.
The Preta, Asura, and Animal Paths move upon the scene, Shikamaru reviewing them from the bar, feigns the same fear as the other bar's patrons hiding in the back.
'Alright, as expected he's bringing out his offensive Paths. Hmm, it's like shoji pieces. The Naraka Path is being kept in the back, protected by the others if one of the Path's bodies ends up destroyed. It would be better to get rid of that one first to avoid drawing out this fight.'
Nagato's eyes are on everything forward facing.
Still, sweat beads his brow, heart pulsing loud in his ears.
"-Oh hell, what's going on over there?! Is our Angel okay? All that smoke is pouring out of the alleyway!" A man to his left bemoans.
The woman beside him orders him to put his head down. "Stop squirming around damn it! We'll be fine, he'll come too if it's truly some enemy shinobi trying to slip into Ame."
Shikamaru pulls his attention away from the pair, squeezes out the lingering tension in his hands before lowering his body to ground with the others preparing his shadows.
'No mistakes.'
He weaves his shadows carefully backwards through the cacophony of noise and smog, shadows only slithering up just enough to jab the needle into the Naraka Path's ankle.
1-minute passes. Then 5 minutes.
'Shit, these samples didn't go bad on the journey here; did they?' Shikamaru grits his teeth.
But then color of Naraka Path's skin becomes a haunting gray, skin bubbling and sloughing at its hands, neck, and face exposing metal, wire and rods.
Body toppling.
'Perfect.' Shikamaru buries back a smile.
A hand roughly grabs him by the back, nearly slams him to the ground as he breaks and rolls away.
The same man from earlier glares harsh stormy auburn eyes at him, jagged points of a broken bottle poised for his throat.
"You! Weren't you with that guy from earlier? What are you two up too?!" He snaps.
Shikamaru gets himself out of reach from his hold again, runs right into the danger of outside as the Asura Path prepares a hand blast for the alleyway. His shadows slip over quickly, paralyzing it and the Animal Path in place.
"Sorry, can't let you interrupt yet. Just business is all."
Granted, Naruto is dragging this out to a near uncomfortable level, shoulders only dropping slightly in ease as his trademark blond hair comes into view.
Thousands of Naruto fill the area and rooftops above.
But it's the original who steps forward flicking away blood and specks of flesh from his hands, wipes the rest on his pants marred with spots of grass, mud, and weeds.
He beams in greeting with a wave, eyes glowing a brilliant red.
Shikamaru nods in return. "Is it done?"
Naruto rolls his neck, stretches before scoffing at that question. "With Konan? Yeah, of course. Her death was just the warm-up really."
The Asura Path aims its head towards them.
His shadow paralysis is going to break in 1, maybe 2 minutes max.
Shikamaru hums, drops his voice an octave as he puts the final measures of restraint on before they must get out of the way. "He probably had little time to change the location of his real body, maybe only move it one floor down or up knowing there's a morgue somewhere around there too. The Deva Path hasn't made an entrance yet."
Vermilion studies the area, blows out a breath. "The Deva Path is the one that can attract and repel forces. We should split the remaining vials up against the 3 of them since the other Paths don't operate offensively. The Deva Path is the corpse of his deceased friend Yahiko. I'm sure like Konan, Nagato especially doesn't want it getting destroyed. I'll use that to my advantage via some acid, the syringe, and some other tricks up my sleeves y'know!"
They leap in opposite directions as the blast of white comes, explosion shaking at the ground, pair nodding to each other as they move for their respective positions.
The clones up and below get into formations as well, a mix of rasengans and spins of water to wind at ready to create further diversions, be his own measures of defense and offense.
Naruto grins, looks over his shoulder sensing the Deva Path watching somewhere from the smog.
"Your time is up." He mouths out, knows he's thinking up plans on how to capture him still.
Only once the Animal, Preta, and Asura Paths are destroyed will most likely be the moment when it finally steps into the battlefield.
He looks beyond it to the looming tower in the northeast as Pervy-Sage said.
Eventually, he'll slip away from these crowds...
And head straight for his real body.
-x-
Hmm, hopefully it doesn't feel like Naruto killed Konan too fast, I didn't want to drag out their fight or for them to pull out one trick after another. I honestly think based on all the preparations Naruto and Shikamaru made to go to Ame, he wasn't and isn't playing to toy around with either.
I went to Reddit and scoured the internet on the hypothetical match-up between Danzo and Tsunade lol! Most people generally said Tsunade would win and, in this scenario, it's a Tsunade who knows about the other abilities Danzo has kept hidden.
The Naruto and Nagato/Pain confrontation comes next chapter! A lot of ideas have been bouncing around in my mind for this section and I'm starting to settle on one that will have Naruto not only complete his revenge, but like the canon Nagato, have to look inward realizing just how far and how too late it is for him to come back from his actions.
Pa-tre-ons get early access to chapters and bonus content! I go by TheLovelyMidnightWriter there!
Let me know your thoughts as always!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!