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Arc XII Chapter 12
XII
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Arc XII Chapter 12
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Naruto dodged, evading the volley of incoming kunai. He retreated, both of his arms shielding his face. Her kunai were fast, and her attack caught him off guard, but he didn¡¯t train and study the last three years under the Pervy Sage for nothing. Asami would have had to get up earlier to catch him. It wasn¡¯t over, though, ya know. Not by a long shot, ya know. The battle had just begun. Things started badly.
¡°...¡± Naruto narrowed his eyes, sharpening his senses. A dozen explosions shook the ground, each in quick succession. The rising dust and smoke blocked his vision. They covered her tracks. They covered her movements, which was probably her intention.
¡°Stay alert, everyone!¡± Kakashi warned, his calm unshakeable. ¡°She is using the explosions to create an improvised smoke screen ... Watch out!¡±
¡°What ...?¡± Naruto¡¯s eyes widened. Asami ... closed the gap between them in an instant, appearing right before him in a blur. Swift and elegant. Silent and soundless. A ghost on the battlefield. The girl targeted him directly, her folded umbrella clutched in her hands. Asami struck head on, thrusting her umbrella like a lance.
¡°Fuck! Shit!¡± Naruto muttered under his breath, immediately bringing up his arms to intercept her thrust. He braced himself. His training, his reflexes served him well. It was the correct response. His crossed arms protected his torso.
Her umbrella connected, hitting his elbows with the force of her purple chakra. His arms withstood her strike. Though they refused to yield, the blow he took was heavy, shaking him right down to the very bones. It was as if he had taken a punch in the guts. Yet he stood. Yet he soldiered on. Because this was his way. Because this was his nindo! He never gave up after a single blow! He never backed down!
¡°Aargh!!!¡± Naruto gritted his teeth, mustering all his force, mobilising his chakra. He resisted. He fought. He even managed to push her back, slowly but surely. He gained ground, much to Asami¡¯s apparent displeasure. ¡°Aaaaarrrrrrgh!!!¡±
¡°...¡± Asami narrowed her eyes, a frown crossing her lips for a fraction of a moment. It came. It vanished. ¡°Such strength ... Yet so little finesse ... How utterly deplorable.¡±
¡°...¡± Naruto glared, ignoring her obvious taunt. He wouldn¡¯t fall for her cheap tricks ... Dammit!
¡°...¡± Asami smirked, capitalising on his lapse of attention. His concentration had faltered for a single moment. His error proved to be fatal. His negligence was punished swiftly. The slightest of a moment was all that Asami required.
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The girl dropped her umbrella and Naruto tumbled forwards. He was played once again. Just like that. Shit! Fuck it! It was the same trick all over again!
¡°...¡± Asami slipped past him, circumventing his defence. His posture was broken. His flank now exposed.
¡°...¡± Naruto bit his lips, well knowing that this would hurt. Prior experience told him as much. He was right. It did hurt.
Asami turned, circling, driving her fist into his unprotected abdomen, ramming her knuckles deep into his body. Her punch hit true and hard, staggering him. ¡°You are slow, Naruto-kun ...¡±
Asami spun, her hand grabbing her airborne umbrella for the finale. This wasn¡¯t good. This wasn¡¯t good, at all.
¡°...¡± Naruto paled, realising the danger. Asami broke his defence. It was too late ... He ... He wouldn¡¯t be able to defend himself.
Asami grinned, fully aware of her advantage. The girl propelled her umbrella, accelerating her lance. ¡°...¡±
¡°Not with me here!!! Aargh!¡± Sakura roared, her savage fist saving him in the nick of time. Sakura arrived in full force, threatening Asami¡¯s flank, forcing her to react.
¡°...¡± Asami diverted her umbrella to fend off her attack. Unfolded, her parasol took the gargantuan force of her punch without flinching. Sakura¡¯s raw physical strength clashed against her purple chakra. Asami prevailed, not without repercussions, though.
Her shield resisted Sakura¡¯s powerful strike, but Asami was forced back by her sheer physical force, her feet sliding across the ground, forcing her to shift to defence. Against Sakura¡¯s brute force, even Asami¡¯s shield relented, budging ever so slightly.
¡°...¡± Asami didn¡¯t appear to be pleased with recent developments, loathe to face the two of them at once. Quite the contrary. Her countenance showed as much. The frown on her lips. The profound irritation in her eyes. They were proof enough. Sakura¡¯s timely assistance displeased her in more than one way.
¡°...¡± Sakura grinned in victory, cracking her knuckles, all fired up. Another of her punches was in the coming. ¡°Quite the neat umbrella you have there, Asami. Seems that you are a tougher nut to crack than I thought. But seriously, a smoke screen? That is the oldest trick in the ninja handbook. I expected more from you. This isn¡¯t the academy any more, Asami.¡±
¡°...¡± Asami narrowed her eyes, her glare sharper than obsidian. If looks could kill, then Sakura would be dead on the spot. ¡°...¡±
Naruto sighed in relief, rising to his feet. This was the moment of respite that he needed. ¡°Thank you, Sakura-chan. I owe you.¡±
Sakura merely smiled. ¡°No need to thank me, Naruto. I have got your back. We fight and stand as one.¡±
¡°You are right, Sakura-chan!¡± Naruto nodded in full agreement, clenching his fists. ¡°Yes, we fight and stand as one!¡±
¡°...¡± Asami rolled her eyes in open dismissal, her hands offering a round of hollow applause. ¡°How touching ... I am truly moved beyond words by your display of such camaraderie ...¡±
In a blur, Kakashi appeared behind her. The blue, chirping lightning of his chidori gathered in his palm. ¡°You talk too much.¡± His chidori struck, his lightning blade slicing through the air.
Yet, her umbrella protected its mistress once more. Her umbrella answered her call. Asami giggled, highly amused, her parasol slung over her shoulder to cover her back without the barest hint of effort or strain. Her purple chakra stopped Kakashi¡¯s chidori dead in its tracks. ¡°Oh my, sneaking up on an innocent maiden of pure heart ... From behind, no less. Are these the devious ways of Konoha these days? I hope you do not harbour any licentious thoughts, Kakashi-san.¡±
¡°...¡± Kakashi narrowed his gaze, his chidori still unable to penetrate her shield despite his lightning attribute. Sparks and light flashed in the air, his blue chakra chirping furiously. Yet his chidori failed to pierce the barrier that covered the surface of her parasol. ¡°Still as prideful as ever. They always said that your pride will be your undoing.¡±
Asami chuckled. ¡°They did ...¡± A kunai appeared from her sleeve and the girl spun around her axis, the blade nearly slicing Kakashi¡¯s throat by a hair¡¯s breadth. The touch of cold metal coated in purple passed his skin.
Kakashi dodged, only to back off immediately to put distance between him and the girl. ¡°Still as lethal as ever ... Not that I have expected otherwise.¡±
Asami tilted her head, beaming. ¡°I am glad to oblige.¡±
¡°...¡± Kakashi grabbed a kunai and they both clashed in melee, their kunai interlocking. Kunai against kunai. Steel against steel. His chakra against hers.
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Arc XII Chapter 13
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Arc XII Chapter 13
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Asami and Kakashi. Two jonin. Two former ANBU. Two former ANBU Captains. Two veterans. Their kunai interlocked in a tight grip. Blade met blade. Metal met metal.
¡°...¡± Asami¡¯s lips formed a smile, her kunai slowly cutting through his kunai, her chakra slowly grinding through his chakra. Her purple plasma shone with the brilliance of a star, invincible. As usual, it was the strength of her chakra to prevail, despite his most sincere efforts. Kakashi fought. He fought. His chakra fought. ¡°Kakashi, you appear to be hard pressed, unless I am mistaken~.¡± Her taunt proved ineffectual, eliciting no reaction from her experienced enemy.
¡°... ... ...¡± Kakashi gritted his teeth, much less in a talkative mood. What a shame. ¡°...¡±
Hers and his stares interlocked. Their eyes crossed, purple, dark grey and the red shade of his sole legendary sharingan. Kakashi ... The wielder of the infamous sharingan ...
He had removed his eye patch, revealing his prized treasure, his sharingan. A prized treasure it was. It was given to him by his fallen comrade in arms. It was a beautiful eye. A deep, crimson shade. Three proud black tomoe. It was a mature sharingan. It was ripe. Full of power. Unless her eyes deceived her, his eye even had awakened what was considered forbidden. It showed traces of a power familiar. The unmistakable powers of the mangekyou slumbered within it.
Not that such a meagre power would save him. His mastery of his eye was found subpar. Admirable, yet falling short of her expectations. Such facts had not escaped the keenness of her instinct. His sharingan was found lacking in so many aspects, but what else could be expected of a mere pretender, made the heir of a legacy not his own.
It showed. Unlike her, Kakashi was never born an Uchiha, but rather chosen by the vagrancies of fate. Even so, the eye rejected him. The eye defied him even after all these years. The sharingan refused to obey one not of her blood. The eye strained his stamina. The eye strained his chakra reserves.
Asami giggled, deigning to offer a rare instance of praise. Her curiosity, her interest in his sharingan had not escaped Kakashi. ¡°A sharingan ... Such a rare sight these days ¡¡±
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. ¡°A rare sight indeed ... Yet you hardly seem surprised.¡±
Asami giggled, armed with a beaming grin. ¡°How true~. Well, let''s say, they are a sight that I have grown accustomed to. I am certainly no stranger to the allure they hold. Not when the butcher of the Uchiha clan walks among us.¡± Her words lingered, producing the desired effect, even when more was said than strictly necessary.
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Kakashi narrowed his eyes. ¡°Him ... I understand.¡±
This was her opportunity. Asami doubled her efforts, her chakra flaring up, invigorating the purple coat of heated plasma surrounding her kunai.
¡°...¡± Kakashi¡¯s eyes widened. His body reacted now that it was already too late ...
The clattering sound of wood gave Asami pause. It was a sound that she had come to know throughout the years, once reminiscent of Sunagakure. It was the puppeteers and their puppets. The creaking, clicking, groaning, grinding cacophony of moving jaws and joints. They were coming for her, and they were closing in.
Asami glanced sideways, spotting a pair of puppets approaching her, their wooden frames and inhuman nature covered by a set of long coats.
The puppets deployed their blades, directly extending from their arms, prepared to cut her down and quite likely laced with deadly poison. Par for the course for any puppeteer of renown. Of course, it was the old woman who commanded them. It was her pulling the strings from behind the scenes, her chakra threads skilfully controlling her creations. Two puppets, both clad in matching black fur lined robes. Two nameless wooden husks without defining features beyond the simplest of contours. They looked and felt like the cheapest of cheap mass production models. Because they were.
The old woman noticed her stare. Her gaze hardened. ¡°Take this! You Akatsuki bastards should never have messed with Sunagakure! Old though I am, I will show you why I was once hailed as the greatest puppeteer under the desert sun!¡±
Asami disengaged instantly, evading. Obviously, being bisected alive was a thought she was hardly eager to entertain, nor was the poison coating their blades. Their blades missed, their sharp edges cutting the air, passing directly before her eyes. It was a close call. Closer than she would have liked to admit.
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Pain¡¯s gaze wandered across the dark expanse of the cave, targeting a certain flickering silhouette, a certain shark toothed companion. Kisame had returned from his mission with modest success, much to their leader¡¯s apparent displeasure. His monotone, lifeless voice betrayed his thinly veiled irritation and short temper. Pain had never been one to tolerate failure. ¡°Kisame ... You have returned earlier than expected ... What happened? Were you defeated?¡±
Kisame grinned, uncaring of the accusations levelled against him. ¡°They were strong. Far stronger than expected.¡±
Pain nodded. ¡°I see ... How disappointing. Not that it matters, though. The ritual is proceeding smoothly. The essence of the One Tail will be sealed soon at this rate.¡± Streams of extracted chakra were extracted from the Kazekage¡¯s body, only to be devoured by the giant Gedo Mazo Statue.
Kisame smiled. ¡°And what about our little princess? Hope they don''t cause you too much trouble, Asami. You know what a stubborn bunch you Konoha-nin are.¡±
¡°...¡± Asami ignored Kisame, her eyes closed, her hands forming a seal. Her attention was spread rather thin at the present moment, with little room to spare. The sealing ritual, the fight against Kakashi and his companions, processing the stolen essence of the One Tail, all of these demanded her attention. ¡°...¡±
¡°No response ...¡± Kisame flashed his teeth. ¡°You wound me, Asami.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Asami maintained her silence. No reaction, whatsoever.
Kisame shrugged his shoulders, slightly disappointed. ¡°Oh, well, I guess our little princess has her hands full at the moment. Nothing we can do. How are things going on her end, Zetsu?¡± His gaze shifted.
¡°...¡± Ever the dutiful scout and subordinate, Zetsu obliged to report, his considerably more perceptive black half speaking. ¡°The enemy outnumbers her five to one, yet they appear to be equally matched. Thus far, at least. I predict that her superior skill and ability will allow her to slowly gain the upper hand. In my opinion, their defeat is only a matter of time.¡±
¡°Impressive¡±, Kisame commented. ¡°Wouldn''t you agree, Itachi?
¡°... ... ...¡± Itachi, however, was silent.
Meanwhile, Pain agreed. ¡°I am pleased to hear so, though I recommend you to hurry, Asami. Time is of the essence.¡±
Asami furrowed her eyebrow, the majority of her attention still dedicated to the ongoing battle remote as it might be. ¡°How so? The fight is far from over.¡±
Pain conceded, ¡°Such might be true. Unfortunately, though, the jutsu is already reaching its limits. You are consuming his chakra at an alarming rate. I don''t expect his body to last much longer. You are on the clock, Asami.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Asami clicked her tongue, her consternation showing. ¡°I understand ... I will see what I can do.¡±
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Arc XII Art Gallery
XII
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Arc XII Art Gallery
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Arc I Prologue
Arc I Chapter 2
Arc I Chapter 3
Arc I Chapter 5
Arc I Chapter 6
Arc I Chapter 9
Arc I Chapter 12
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Arc II Chapter 3
Arc II Chapter 4
Yukihiro and Aritame
Masasane
Arc II Chapter 6
Arc II Chapter 11
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Arc III Chapter 2
City of Shimabara
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Arc III Chapter 8
Arc III Chapter 9
Hisaaki and Katsusane
Hatsu
Arc III Chapter 11
Arc III Chapter 12
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Arc IV Chapter 3
Arc IV Chapter 16
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Fumihiko
Arc V Chapter 2
Arc V Chapter 7
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Arc VI Chapter 11
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Susanoo
Arc VII Chapter 4
Arc VII Chapter 8
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Amegakure
Arc VIII Chapter 1
Yuki
Arc VIII Chapter 3
Arc VIII Chapter 6
Arc VIII Chapter 8
Arc VIII Chapter 10
Katsuki
Arc VIII Chapter 14
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Yuji and Mayumi
Arc IX Chapter 4
White Mon
Black Mon
Arc IX Chapter 7
Arc IX Chapter 11
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Yuki
Arc X Chapter 11
Ruins of Nara
Arc X Chapter 15
Arc X Chapter 17
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Arc XI Chapter 7
Neko Guard
Arc XI Chapter 8
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Desert of Sunagakure
Arc XII Chapter 3
Arc XII Chapter 14
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Arc XII Chapter 14
XII
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Arc XII Chapter 14
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Repositioning herself immediately, Asami was quick to put some distance between herself and the enemy. Distance gave space. Distance gave time. Distance gave safety. Her umbrella once again accompanied her in a single fluid motion, shielding and camouflaging her retreat behind its thin veil.
Her eyes narrowed and her glare hardened. Her annoyance was directed at the perpetrator, the one responsible, a certain old hag and her pathetic collection of puppets. What game was the woman playing at here? What was she trying to achieve here? What was she even doing here? Nobody knew, nor did she particularly care. So far, the woman merely succeeded in displeasing her. And displeased she was.
¡°
¡°
The puppets flanked their mistress and master, their sharp blades protruding from their amputated limbs. The puppets protected the woman, guarded her, their loyalty forever unwavering. They obeyed her every command, and they would even serve her in death and beyond. Not that she expected otherwise. Her puppets were nothing but inanimate objects, mere tools, mere weapons, mere extensions of her will.
The old hag clicked her tongue, mirroring her reaction.¡°Oh, fucking dammit, and I thought I got the bitch. I guess Ebizo is right after all, I must be growing old. My skills aren¡¯t what they used to be back then during the war. Oh, how the years fly by. Yesterday, Captain of the Puppet Brigade. Today, old and senile.¡±
Asami raised her eyebrow. Captain ... of the Puppet Brigade? Oh, so, it was her, after all. What a surprise. The one and only. The legendary. The master puppeteer of Suna herself. No wonder that her name sounded familiar. ¡°Lady Chiyo, wasn¡¯t it? The former Captain of the Puppet Brigade, I presume. The Terror of the Sand. The Scourge of Sunagakure.¡±
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¡°
The elder woman grumbled, responding with defiance despite the innocuous nature of her question. She was the enemy, and she was treated as such, with little hospitality given. ¡°Oh, so you know of me, Black Princess. I guess, I should feel honoured.¡±
Asami smiled with a dispassionate coldness in her voice that belied her petite appearance. ¡°Well, well, in my trade, you come to know a thing or two, Lady Chiyo. It is only natural. Unlike certain other less informed individuals present. How ironic it must be for you to fight now side by side with your former sworn enemies, Lady Chiyo. You cost Konoha dearly during the Second Ninja War. How many sons and daughters of Konoha did you slaughter again without mercy? How many lives did you claim, Lady Chiyo?¡±
Chiyo, however, narrowed her eyes, defying her openly once more. The old hag was a veteran of many battles. Of course, her resolve would not be easily shaken, nor would she allow others to waver. ¡°Tsk, far less ironic than the little girl suddenly talking about the sons and daughters of Konoha after turning traitor and slaughtering her former comrades in cold blood without even the faintest hint of remorse.¡±
Chiyo¡¯s response elicited an amused smile from Asami. ¡°Touch¨¦.¡± It was a fair point to make. Not that it mattered. Yet the enemy was quick to take advantage of her apparent weakness. The old woman gave her no respite now that she smelled blood.
Chiyo grinned in victory, her voice laced with provocation. ¡°Oh, so is that all that the great Black Princess has to say? Nothing more? Curious, you were quite the cheeky one just a moment ago, weren¡¯t you? And now what? Silence. Perhaps I overestimated you. Perhaps you are just a little girl, after all. A little girl with a tongue far too sharp for her own good.¡±
¡°
Naruto glared at her. Sakura readied herself for combat. Temari prepared for the next round. Kakashi was already positioning himself. Their posture betrayed their intentions. It was amusing. They really thought that she wouldn¡¯t notice them and what they were doing, even with a fraction of her attention. Such plebeian hubris. They completely underestimated her.
Asami smirked, confronting Chiyo with a dangerous smile colder than ice. ¡°Careful, Lady Chiyo, I hope you realise that you are playing a dangerous game here. Though your loose tongue might have served you well in the past, Lady Chiyo, it does not today. It is generally judged unwise to displease me. I suggest thus weighing your words more carefully in the future. After all, we don¡¯t want any mishaps to occur, Lady Chiyo, do we?¡±
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Arc XII Chapter 15
XII
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Arc XII Chapter 15
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Chiyo clicked her tongue, dismissing her gracious advice outright. ¡°Or what, little princess? What are you going to do ...¡± Chiyo¡¯s eyes widened, years, decades of combat experience kicking in. Her reflexes screamed danger. Her instincts sensed danger. Her old bones moved with the speed of times long gone. They moved like never before in her life, with a sense of urgency never felt before.
It happened in a mere moment. Asami raised her hand and commanded with a mere flick of her wrist. Her chakra obeyed. A purple javelin answered her call. A javelin of pure concentrated chakra, condensed into an instrument of her indomitable will. It was time to teach the woman a lesson to remember.
Her javelin was fast. Her projectile crossed the plain, closing the distance in a blink of an eye. Her enemy was hardly able to react, yet she did. Chiyo survived. The woman dodged her projectile, rolling sidewards, throwing herself into the dirt. Whether due to skill or mere luck was impossible to tell.
Her javelin missed, shooting past her after obliterating one of her puppets en passant. Her chakra shredded the wooden puppet into pieces, simply atomising everything in its way in a cloud of misted purple. The puppet never stood a chance, but such was hardly a consolation. A miss was a miss.
¡°What a splendid performance, Lady Chiyo.¡± Asami offered her best smile, clapping her hands sardonically. ¡°I am truly impressed. To think that you would actually survive! Just among us, I considered such an outcome highly unlikely.¡± Chiyo¡¯s response was gelid. Unsurprisingly, she didn¡¯t take kindly to being nearly murdered. Nobody did.
The woman¡¯s eyes hardened, glaring at her with murderous intent despite her ragged breathing, despite the exhaustion of her shock. The woman lived, her right hand reaching immediately for her wounded left arm. Her coat was torn apart, shredded. The red stain of blood covered her entire arm. The stench of burnt, cauterised open flesh was in the air. Her javelin might have missed, but its raw energy grazed her arm, which was enough. The power, the sheer heat ruptured her skin like a thousand razors, scorching her entire arm like the singed grass below. It must hurt. It did hurt.
Chiyo gritted her teeth, defying her to the utmost. ¡°You ...¡±
A cataclysmic explosion cut her short from behind, from inside the forest at her back. Violent, thunderous, torrid. A roar crossed the plain as a blinding flash of light tore through the canopy, flattening everything. Trees splintered and shattered. Trunks and branches snapped like brittle bones by the hand of a vengeful god. The ground trembled under the might of the shock wave before a column of dust and smoke surged skywards. Her javelin had struck a target.
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Asami tilted her head, her index finger caressing her lips. ¡°Are~ are~, the dangers of stray ammunition.¡±
Everyone turned their stares at her, once again in the centre of their attention. Naruto gulped. Kakashi observed. Sakura clenched her fists. Temari stood her ground. They had gained a healthy dose of respect. They knew this could easily have been them.
Chiyo narrowed her eyes, a gentle green glow engulfing her pal to tend to her wounds. ¡°This is bad ...¡±
Sakura came to her assistance, appearing before her with a look of concern. ¡°Lady Chiyo, do you need any help?¡±
¡°Hmm, I am fine, Sakura.¡± Chiyo grumbled under her breath. ¡°I am old, but I can still take care of myself. This is just a minor flesh wound. I have seen worse during the war.¡±
Sakura appeared to disagree, yet said nothing. ¡°...¡±
Chiyo directed her attention at her. ¡°I am more worried about her, though. What was her name? Asami? The girl is the real deal. She is powerful. She is strong. She is fast. She is experienced. She is dangerous. She is crafty. She strikes hard. She hits hard. The way she moves. The way she behaves. Her reflexes. Her skill. Her chakra control. They are all exceptional. At such a young age, too. How annoying. The girl is clearly not an ordinary enemy. Kakashi was right, we need a plan if we want to win.¡±
Temari cut in. ¡°And how?¡±
¡°...¡± Chiyo started pondering. ¡°Her umbrella. Have a look at it. Did you notice how she was using her umbrella to create her barriers to stop our attacks? She was using her umbrella to channel and solidify her chakra. It was always her umbrella that blocked. That deflected. She always moves with her umbrella. She even used it to attack. It must be some kind of special ninja tool of hers. I am sure.¡±
Naruto nodded. ¡°Now that you say it, Granny Chiyo, I think you are right.¡±
¡°...¡± Asami raised an invisible eyebrow. Her umbrella? A special ninja tool? Her umbrella was certainly special in the sense that it was on the more expensive side of umbrellas made of the finest silk. An umbrella befitting her station. But otherwise? It was just an ordinary umbrella. An accessory for the sake of aesthetics.
Sakura listened. ¡°And how exactly does that help us?¡±
Chiyo elaborated. ¡°No matter how skilled she may be, her umbrella can¡¯t be everywhere at once. We must take the initiative. We must force her on the defence. We must restrict her movement. If we attack from multiple directions at the same time, we will get her. She can¡¯t take all of us on at the same time. One of us will get through.¡±
Attacking from multiple directions ... How creative. Not the most refined method, but solid nevertheless.
Kakashi joined in, voicing his doubts. ¡°Easier said than done, Lady Chiyo. It was not as if we weren¡¯t trying. Asami is strong both at range as well as in melee. It will be difficult to pin her down, not to mention synchronise our attacks. Our margin of error is ... slim.¡±
¡°I know¡±, Chiyo conceded. ¡°But we must. I won¡¯t back down. Not here. Not now. Not when I have come so far. Not when I am so close. I still have a few scores to settle with my wayward grandson.¡±
Kakashi merely nodded. ¡°I understand ...¡±
Asami listened, her fingers playing with her umbrella. Her wayward grandson? Ah, yes ... Now that she mentioned it. This promised to be interesting ... ¡°You know, just among friends, it is generally considered ill advised to discuss your tactics in front of the enemy.¡±
Chiyo clicked her tongue. ¡°Tsk, how modest of you. Look, if you are even half the kunoichi you claim to be, then you should have been able to tell them regardless.¡±
¡°...¡± Asami smirked, hardly able to disagree. ¡°True enough.¡±
¡°Then let¡¯s start. Everyone! Prepare!¡± Chiyo started rummaging through her pockets, only to produce a black scroll. Her hands formed a quick succession of seals. ¡°Black Secret Technique: Chikamatsu Collection of Eight Puppets.¡±
A cloud of smoke popped up and dispersed, revealing eight menacing puppets, each armed from teeth to toe, each intent to murder her. What a pleasant surprise.
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Arc XII Chapter 16
XII
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Arc XII Chapter 16
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¡°Attack!!!¡± Chiyo ordered her inanimate soldiers, her fingers their strings. Her puppets, they moved, their assault directed at her. Swords. Blades. Axes. Spears. Needles. Explosives. Poison. Their arsenal was impressive. Their attacks coordinated, almost perfectly timed. Always in motion. Always retreating. Always repositioning. Always exploiting opportunities when they presented themselves. All of them united in a single purpose, a testament to the exceptional skill of their master. Chiyo¡¯s experience showed. Unfortunately, her patterns proved to be far too predictable, far too schematic.
Asami dodged. Evaded. Sidestepped. Chiyo¡¯s attacks hardly presented a challenge, but they were nothing but a mere diversion. Her senses monitored the enemy. They were planning something. Temari already readied her fan, only waiting for her chance. Kakashi moved, circling her. So did Naruto with his private army of shadow clones. They had learned from before. They intended to pincer, flanking her from both sides. Sakura held her position, being kept in the reserve. For now.
Chiyo retracted her puppets. ¡°Now go, Temari!¡±
¡°Understood.¡± Temari obeyed, immediately grabbing her giant war fan, unfurling it behind her shoulder for a full swing. The girl accumulated her chakra, much more than before. Fuuton. Wind element. The gales of wind surrounded her figure, her chakra blazing brightly in the sun. This was going to be an all out attack. ¡°Argh!!!AAAAAAARGGGHHHHHH!!!¡±
Her war fan sliced through the air and a true furor of wind blades followed to bombard her position indiscriminately. Her blades saturated the ground, exploding all around her in a wild, unrestrained torrent. Dirt, grass, earth, rocks flying in all directions. Unsurprisingly, their accuracy was abysmal, which possibly reflected Temari¡¯s volatile temperament. The vast majority missed her by a long shot, kicking up nothing but loads of dust in the process. But they served their purpose, restraining her movement, limiting her mobility. It was their signal to attack.
Kakashi and Naruto increased their speed. Her instincts sensed their presence. Their signatures grew ever stronger. They had invaded her perimeter. Their chakra stood out like a shining beacon in the darkness. It was hard to miss them. They moved in, closing the distance under the cover of the dust. Kakashi darted from the right. Naruto from the left. Their attacks converging on her position ...
Asami raised her umbrella to block another frontal attack, knocking aside another sweeping wind blade. Temari pressed her attack, completely uncaring of collateral damage and potential friendly fire. Temari knew that she wouldn''t move from her spot, a fact that the violent girl was eager to exploit.
The stream of green chakra crashed against her purple shield. Obviously, her barrier prevailed. Despite the strength behind her attack, the wind blade dissipated upon contact, her feeble chakra unable to maintain cohesion in the face of serious resistance. Her jutsu disintegrated, but this was the moment of distraction that the enemy needed. They put her in zugzwang, forcing her to defend herself exactly where they wanted her.
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¡°...¡± Asami mustered an amused giggle, mumbling to herself. ¡°Crafty ones, aren¡¯t they?¡± Unfortunately, they were far too slow. Far too predictable.
¡°AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGGGHHHHHH!!! RASENGAN!!!¡± Naruto appeared from the dust, his cry reaching far and wide. He charged her without the slightest hint of constraint, his shining blue rasengan resting in his palm.
¡°...¡± Kakashi followed suit, finally revealing himself. He approached rapidly. Taciturn and silent as ever, his eyes narrowed at her, his lips twisting behind his mask. Only the chirping of his chidori betrayed his presence, a blade of gleaming lightning at his command. Crackling electric currents made the air dance, vibrate, oscillate.
¡°...¡± Asami smirked. This time, they would strike almost simultaneously. Her friends ... They were finally learning. Unfortunately, not fast enough.
Naruto and Kakashi converged and struck, head on, with full force. The ground shook, and the earth trembled upon impact. A potent shock wave rushed across the open plain, dispensing with all the surrounding dust in the air.
¡°Yes!!! Take this, bitch!¡± Temari retracted her fan, her arm raised, and her fist closed with a wide victorious grin stretching across her face. ¡°We got her !! ...¡± Her declaration of victory, her optimism turned out to be ... premature.
The dust settled and there Asami stood, untouched, unyielding, immovable, unperturbed, uncaring, her umbrella in her right hand and a purple spinning sphere in her left, blocking both of their attacks, holding both of them at bay at the same time. Her umbrella faced Kakashi. Her sphere Naruto.
Her umbrella diverted Kakashi¡¯s lightning, his chidori failing to pierce her barrier. Though he breached her chakra, he didn''t succeed in penetrating.
Her sphere, meanwhile, stopped Naruto dead in his tracks, easily counteracting his rasengan with a negligible amount of force. His jutsu lacked sufficient focus. Lacked sharpness. His chakra was a blunt instrument, merely suited to bludgeon an enemy. And it showed.
¡°What?¡± Naruto¡¯s eyes widened, his rasengan still swirling in his palm, although it had lost much of its potency. He finally noticed her sphere, one so strikingly similar to the precious jutsu of his father, Naruto was dumbfounded before realisation did not escape him. Shock was written all over his face, leaving him speechless. ¡°...¡±
Asami¡¯s lips formed a dark smirk, her voice laced with a sense of superiority. ¡°Now, now, surprised, aren¡¯t we, Naruto-kun?¡±
¡°Gggrhhhh!¡± Naruto gritted his teeth, desperately struggling to maintain his rasengan despite his limited capabilities. He injected more and more chakra, yet his efforts proved to be in vain. His rasengan, its form, its chakra, it wavered. He was unable to properly control his jutsu. ¡°How ... How do ...¡±
¡°How do I know the rasengan?¡± Asami smiled, exploiting the moment to give him a little lecture with all the calm of the world. After all, she hadn¡¯t been an ANBU lecturer for nothing, even when they accused her of being disparaging. And it wasn''t exactly as if she was pressed by two enemies breathing down her neck. ¡°Well, once seen, once learned. I would go as far as to say that it is not a particularly difficult jutsu to grasp. A sphere of concentrated chakra variable both in terms of size and density. An extreme case admittedly, but otherwise a most classic example of shape manipulation. Not without its hurdles, but overall hardly a challenge. Usually, something you pick up along the way.¡±
¡°...¡± Naruto glared at her with a mixture of humiliation, of inadequacy, of inferiority, of self loath, but primarily a feeling of anger, of hatred. The look in his eyes. The anger directed at her and himself at the same time. Naruto detested her. He detested her arrogance, her very being, yet he also detested his own inadequacy. Naruto ... He remained the weak boy she remembered.
Unperturbed, Asami continued with her lecture, ¡°Then apply a horizontal rotation along the vertical axis in order to stabilise, or rather maintain, angular momentum. A tad more complicated, but doable, I would say. Combine both, and voil¨¤, there you have your rasengan. Not the most complicated thing in the world, right, Naruto-kun~. Granted, it might take some skill and maybe a bit of practice here and there, but all in all, quite a manageable affair ...¡±
¡°Let¡¯s see how manageable is this!!!¡± Sakura rushed her, jumping at her from above, her arm drawn back behind her shoulder. An aura of wild green chakra invigorated her entire body, coating her forearm. Her eyes flared up with excitement. ¡°AAAAAAARRRRRGHHH!!!¡±
...
... ...
... ... ...
¡°...¡± Asami raised her eyes. This was slightly problematic.
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Arc XII Chapter 17
XII
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Arc XII Chapter 17
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Sakura crashed into her. The girl struck with all her force behind her punch. The girl hit with the brute, undiminished force of an illiterate barbarian, with raw, unrelenting, savage strength.
Her fist shattered her purple shield, smashing through layers upon layers of solid chakra. Her barrier yielded, fragments of dispersed chakra flying in all directions like shards of glass. Her first layer broke. Her second broke. Her third broke. Her fourth broke. Not her fifth. Her resistance hardened. Her fifth layer refused to succumb. Her fifth layer stood. With the strength of her attack abated, Sakura¡¯s fist was halted right in front of her face, a mere arm¡¯s length away. So close, and yet so far.
¡°...¡± Sakura glowered at her, now realising that her attack had failed. ¡°...¡±
Amused, Asami welcomed her newest guest with a saccharine smile. ¡°Are~ are~, the customs of this time and age, to attack an innocent maiden when I wasn¡¯t even finished talking ... Such uncivilised times. Where have your manners gone, Sakura-chan? You were always such a well behaved girl, weren¡¯t you?¡±
Gritting her teeth, Sakura snarled, her blood veritably boiling. ¡°Shut up!¡± Her fist struck again. And again. And again. Each time with little to no effect. Her shield didn¡¯t budge. Her chakra reformed, restored, repaired.
¡°Dammit!¡± Sakura scowled, fuming. ¡°Why?!¡±
Kakashi¡¯s eyes widened, his sharingan warning him. Nothing escaped them. His eyes sensed the danger. His eyes saw the danger. Kakashi braced himself. ¡°Sakura, Naruto, disengage ...¡±
Sakura glanced sidewards. ¡°What ...¡± It was too late.
Filled to the brim, the air was saturated with her residual chakra, saturated with untapped, unused potential. Her chakra was her weapon. A mere command sufficed.
Her chakra hardened, solidified, instantly expanding outwards. The pressure increased and the air receded. Her manoeuvre produced the desired effect. Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura, the blast hit them point blank.
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¡°Aarghhhh!¡± Naruto was pitched backwards, only to be hurled across the grass until his rolling body came to a halt.
Same with Sakura. The shock wave sent her flying, making her kiss the ground. ¡°Aarghhhh!¡±
Kakashi took the brunt of it head on, yet he was quick to recover. Years of experience allowed him to regain his balance even in a pinch. He shifted his weight, his feet gracefully sliding across the ground.
¡°...¡± Kakashi raised his head, his eyes defiant, once again ready to strike. ¡°...¡±
There was no time to lose. This was her opportunity. Asami unholstered a kunai and counterattacked, her umbrella folded. She rushed Sakura. Still shaken, still disoriented, her defence broken, the girl was easy prey.
¡°...¡± Asami accelerated, sprinting. Vibrant plasma coated her kunai, producing a purple chakra blade.
¡°...¡± Kakashi¡¯s eyes widened, his panic painted across all his face. ¡°SAKURA!!!¡± How quaint.
¡°...¡± Sakura forced herself up, rising to her feet despite having taken a beating. ¡°Aargh, what was this ...¡±
Asami had closed the distance. Her blade aimed for Sakura¡¯s head. She put her faith in a thrust.
¡°...¡± Sakura turned, realising only now what was about to happen. The looks in her eyes. The fear ... The dread ... The angst ... The desperation ... All her life condensed in a single moment, passing right before her eyes. Delicious. The tip approached her, a slender blade with her name.
¡°...¡± Asami smirked, dark glee crossing her lips. It was over ...
Asami rolled sidewards. Her instincts forced her to dodge. With unwelcome consequences. Her aim was thrown off. Her thrust failed. Her strike missed.
Her kunai pierced Sakura¡¯s shoulder, the intense heat melting flesh and bone alike. The sheer momentum of her thrust hurled Sakura through the air like a mere rag doll. Her blade entered and exited her back, cleaving straight through her body under agonising pain. Yet Asami couldn¡¯t care less about such trifling matters of secondary importance.
¡°...¡± Gravely displeased, Asami narrowed her eyes, all of her senses swept the area with only two questions in mind. What was this? Who was it? She wanted answers. She demanded answers.
Her coat. Her sleeve. It was torn apart, the black and red fabric was shredded to pieces. Even her precious kimono beneath, her precious silk was damaged in the process. Unforgivable. The attack was meant to claim her arm. The attempt had failed.
Asami didn¡¯t understand. It was an attack that she didn¡¯t see, nor sense coming. Even when she should have. It should have been impossible to miss such a dense concentration of chakra invading her field, and yet she did. The attack came without warning. Quick. Sudden. Violent. Out of nowhere. The attack by passed all of her defences. By passed all of her perimeters. A concentration of chakra where none was before. As if created out of thin air.
Her instincts saved her, and the minimal delay in execution. The chakra had to manifest before taking effect, forcing it to reveal its presence. It did. The chakra manifested. The effect was immediate. Instant. Her senses felt it. The foreign chakra, jutsu warped, distorted, corrupted all surrounding space, if not the very fabric of reality itself.
It was a jutsu, no doubt. Spatial displacement ... Noticeable effect ... Considerable potency ... Instant ... Invasive ... Quick manifestation ... Swift execution ... Minimal delay ... Minimal warning time ... Directed ... Planned ... Coordinated ... Aimed to disrupt her thrust ... Not Naruto ... Not Temari ... Not Chiyo ... Kakashi ... The direction aligned ... The chakra signature corresponded ...
The pieces finally fell into place. Asami turned and the answer to her question greeted her. Her gaze fell on Kakashi¡¯s left eye. ¡°Ocular.¡± His sharingan ... His eye had changed. His three black tomoe had vanished, replaced by an arrangement of three black razors. A mangekyou ... So this was how he had done it.
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Arc XII Chapter 18
XII
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Arc XII Chapter 18
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¡°Hah ... Huh ... Hah ...¡± Kakashi leaned on his knee, tired, exhausted, destroyed, his breathing heavy, yet triumphant. ¡°This was ... a close call ...¡±
Kakashi raised his chidori just in time to block her incoming kunai. They met once again, face to face. His blue chidori met her purple blade. The red of his mangekyou the bottomless abyss of her purple eyes. They stared into each other, into each other¡¯s very souls. The sharingan was said to unveil what lay hidden. Though, certainly not all. Some secrets eluded even them, the all seeing eyes.
Asami smirked with a glint of understanding. ¡°I see. To think that you would not only possess a sharingan, but also a mangekyou. You are full of surprises. Tell me, Kakashi, how does it feel to wield such incredible power, power beyond the grasp of mere mortals?¡±
¡°...¡± Kakashi gritted his teeth, both tight lipped and hard pressed at the same time. Interlocked, her chakra blade pressed against his chidori, forcing him to supply more and more chakra to counter her assault. He didn¡¯t need to be told twice. Kakashi knew of the consequences otherwise. He saw what happened to Sakura. ¡°...¡±
¡°Taciturn as ever.¡± Asami retracted her kunai and they both clashed with renewed ferocious vigour. A fury of flashing chakra and sparks erupted. Blue against purple in an incessant storm, driving each other back and forth. The relentless pace accelerated. Faster and faster. Each movement a blur. Every strike raging like thunder. Thrust. Cut. Block. Slash. Chop. Evade. Dodge. Slice. Cleave.
¡°Grgh.¡± Yet Kakashi stood his ground, resisting her assault even when put on the defensive and under heavy pressure. Their blades once again interlocked, her purple blade veritably grinding against the blue chirping lightning of his chidori, producing a ceaseless rain of sparks. Fragments, particles of luminescent chakra danced in the air.
Armed with her kunai and her umbrella, Asami knew of her advantage, knew of her superiority. The tide of battle favoured her. Kakashi was gradually losing ground. He was losing his sharpness and focus. ¡°Quite the pinch, you find yourself in, Kakashi?¡±
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¡°...¡± Kakashi refused to respond. ¡°That remains to be seen.¡± The battle reignited, and their chakra clashed again. No quarter was given. No mercy. No respite.
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¡°Urgh.¡± Naruto finally got back on his feet, his head still spinning, suffering from disorientation. He took quite the hit, yet his first thought was. ¡°Sakura!¡± Where was she? ¡°Sak ... Sakura!!!¡±
His eyes shot wide as he spotted Sakura, sprawled on the ground, her body not moving. Chiyo and Temari were at her side, the former already providing first aid. The green shimmer of her medical ninjutsu filled the air. Could it be? No, it couldn¡¯t. It mustn¡¯t.
Forgetting about everything else, Naruto rushed to her side. He saw the bloody gaping hole in her shoulder. ¡°Granny Chiyo, how is she?¡±
Much to his surprise, it was Sakura, though, to answer his question, with a cheerful smile on her face, no less. A strained smile. It was the Sakura he knew, always putting on a strong fa?ade in front of others. ¡°Cough ... Cough ... Cough ... Naruto, don¡¯t worry. I am fine ... Cough ... I am fine.¡±
¡°...¡± Naruto clenched his fists, his anger rising. She wasn¡¯t. Sakura was lying.
¡°Sakura, stop talking. Save your strength. You are still weak.¡± Granny Chiyo admonished her, her voice serious.
¡°Hehe, I am fine, Lady Chiyo. It¡¯s just a minor flesh wound. Nothing more. I have seen worse.¡± Sakura forced a laugh, throwing her exact words back at her.
¡°Tsk, youngsters these days.¡± Granny Chiyo clicked her tongue, half annoyed, half amused. ¡°No respect for your elders.¡± Her healing continued.
Sakura mustered a smile. ¡°More importantly, Naruto, you must help Kakashi-sensei. He needs you ... Naruto ...!¡±
¡°Sakura-chan ¡¡± Naruto gritted his teeth, his voice laced with fury, with ire, with rage. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. An aura of red, boiling chakra surrounded him, coating his body. It was a dark, sinister chakra of evil origin, one that promised retribution and vengeance.¡°Who was it?¡±
...
...
...
¡°...¡± Sakura paled, and so did Chiyo and Temari. They were all left speechless. This aura ... It was the Kyuubi¡¯s menacing chakra.
Naruto raised his head and two slitted eyes greeted them. Two orbs of demonic red. ¡°Who did it?¡±
¡°...¡± Temari gulped. ¡°It was her. It was Asami. She nearly killed her.¡±
¡°Asami ...¡± Naruto repeated her name with venom, his blood boiling, his very chakra boiling. ¡°She will pay for this, you will see!!!¡±
¡°No.¡± Sakura realised the danger. ¡°Naruto, don¡¯t ...¡±
¡°...¡± Naruto disappeared without a word spoken, rushing straight into battle.
¡°Naruto!!!¡± Sakura shouted with a sense of panic. Her voice never reached him.
¡°...¡± Chiyo began to sweat., aware of the imminent danger of a jinchuuriki out of control. This was the last thing they needed. ¡°This is bad. His emotions got the better of him. If he loses control here and now ... I don¡¯t want to think about what will happen. We can only hope for the best at this point. Temari!¡±
¡°Yes, Lady Chiyo.¡± Temari straightened her back.
Chiyo spoke, the concern in her voice apparent. ¡°Go and support Naruto. He will need you. Asami ... This girl ... She is dangerous. To think that a demon like her still exists in this time and age.¡±
¡°Understood.¡± Temari nodded and followed him.
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Arc XII Chapter 19
XII
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Arc XII Chapter 19
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The battle raged on, undiminished in ferocity and intensity. Again and again, Asami and Kakashi clashed on the field. Regal purple against sparks of blue. Kakashi resisted with all his might, yet it was him to be forced on the defensive. More and more the longer the battle lasted. His gradual decline didn¡¯t escape her. Kakashi was gradually losing ground. His attacks lost their vigour. His attacks lost their edge. It had become apparent who was holding the upper hand here. It was not him.
¡°...¡± A grin adorned Asami¡¯s lips, the purple chakra of her blade grinding against the gleaming azure of his chidori. Kakashi gritted his teeth, sweating visibly under her pressure. It was the suave, suave taste of victory. Delicious. ¡°Kakashi-san, if I may be so bold as to presume, but I think you have seen better days, haven¡¯t you?¡±
¡°...¡± Kakashi declined to comment, preferring the comfort of silence. He wouldn¡¯t fall for her ploy. Instead, he maintained his focus, even going as far as to reinforce his chidori. Defiant to the end, his lightning flared up with new vigour, fuelled by the strength of his chakra. Kakashi defied her. He fought her. How sweet of him ...
¡°...¡± Asami raised her parasol, her umbrella serving as her shield, blocking the incoming attack. An old friend had returned, joining the fray of battle once again. It was Naruto. How unexpected.
¡°Aarghhhh!!! Rasengan!!!¡± Naruto hit her barrier, his rasengan striking her shield. This time, however, it felt different. It was different. His rasengan proved more potent than ever before, his blue chakra intermixed with a dark, sinister aura of red. His sphere succeeded in forcing her back, making her slide across the ground until she came to a halt.
¡°...¡± Asami smirked, a dark smile crossing her lips. So it was finally time ... So Naruto had finally decided to resort to the strength hidden deep within him. He should have done so sooner.
This chakra ... This strength ... This might ... This familiar aura ... There was no doubt, this was the aura of the Kyuubi that reared its head, an aura whose deleterious effects hardly escaped her. The influence of the Kyuubi was noticeable. Naruto¡¯s chakra had changed, transformed, morphed. His chakra had grown both in strength and potency. The red chakra of the Kyuubi ... It was a chakra that craved, consumed, devoured. A chakra with a pronounced prevalence of yang, which by itself was curious, not to say peculiar. To think that the infamous Kyuubi of all bijuu would lean unlike his brother so heavily towards yang. It was unexpected.
¡°...¡± Asami lowered her parasol, taking a peek with a cheerful smile on her lips. ¡°Are~ are~, Naruto-kun, welcome back~. It is a pleasure to see you again~.¡±
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¡°Hrrrrr.¡± His red chakra cloak blazed. Naruto seethed in fury. His teeth gritted, his fist clenched in rage. Even his canines, his claws showed. The animalistic nature within him surfaced as the influence of the Kyuubi grew in strength and his own rationality waned. ¡°Asami!!! You will pay for what you did!!! You will see!!!¡±
¡°Oh my, I will pay, you say~. How dreadful~.¡± Asami tilted her head, a sardonic smile crossing her lips. ¡°And for what exactly? What most heinous crimes did I commit this time, Naruto-kun?¡±
¡°Stop playing dumb, Asami!!!¡± Naruto snarled, his voice laced with the venom of pure hatred. ¡°It was you who hurt Sakura-chan!¡±
¡°...¡± Asami smiled, a dangerous glimmer in her eyes. ¡°Oh, just because of that~? You detest me just because I hurt your precious little girl? How quaint. First, you reject my kindness, my benevolence. Then you choose to fight me. And now you seek to kill me, to extinguish my very life. And yet you begrudge me for responding in the same kind and manner ... You deny me the right you so readily claim as your own. You expect me to die for yours to live, when it was you who first raised the sword.¡±
¡°...¡± Asami shook her head, her tone dripping with open contempt. ¡°Naruto, you may fight like a man, but you speak like a child.¡±
¡°Aaaaarrrrrghhh!!!¡± Naruto charged, his war cry echoing across the plains. Propelled by his chakra, he attacked, solely armed with his fists and claws. A poor choice. He was far too easy to ready.
¡°Naruto! No!¡± Kakashi yelled. He tried to warn him, but his voice went unheard.
Armed with her chakra blade, Asami spun, dodging his attack. Naruto passed her. Her blade sliced through his cloak, through his corroding red chakra, through his open flank, straight through his guts. It was a clean, diagonal slice. Blood flowed, gushing out.
¡°Aargh!¡± A cry of pain escaped Naruto before the boy crashed into the ground. As it turned out, even a beast was susceptible to pain, which was good news. If it bleeds, it can be killed.
¡°Amateur.¡± Asami retracted her blade, merely scoffing. Child¡¯s play, despite not even using a proper sword.
Naruto, however, was quick to recuperate. His wounds healed, a loud hissing noise resounding. They closed almost immediately. His red cloak of chakra granted him tremendous regenerative abilities. Interesting.
Scarcely impressed, Asami tilted her head, her delicate fingers caressing her ruby lips. ¡°Hmm, have you still not learned your lesson, Naruto-kun? What a shame~.¡±
¡°AAAARRRGHHHHH!!!¡± Naruto bared his fangs in utter defiance. He charged. Another frontal assault of the less creative kind. How disappointing.
Her umbrella blocked his strike, her chakra deflecting his punch with apparent ease. The dark, primordial red of the Kyuubi clashed against her regal purple. Asami felt his corroding, corrupting influence from deep beneath, the creeping blight within his aura, yet it was her imperial purple to prevail. Though the Kyuubi might strengthen his attacks, he was not enough to overcome her. Not by a long shot. Naruto¡¯s attacks were rash, hasty, reckless, foolhardy, lacking any sense of finesse. He fought like a savage beast taken by fury.
As if she would ever lose to such unsophisticated methods. Once again, Naruto allowed his blind rage to cloud his judgment beyond reason. Once again, he came to rely on the brute force of the Kyuubi where his own strength was found wanting. He succumbed to the animal within, to the tempting lure of power. In the end, however, he was nothing but a beast.
Asami retracted her umbrella, responding with a frontal rising kick, a snap kick. Her purple chakra coated her stockings, shielding her delicate skin against the malevolent chakra of the Kyuubi. Her leg rose, driving the wooden heel of her sandals straight into his exposed chin with a conspicuous amount of force, taking the breath right out of his lungs in a single strike.
¡°...¡± Naruto gasped, taking the brunt of her kick. His whole body was flung backwards before kissing the ground in a less than pleasant manner. Once again, Naruto was treated to a lovely course of grass and dirt. Not that she cared.
Asami lowered her leg, her voice laced with a veneer of utter contempt and disdain, ¡°Pathetic.¡±
Nevertheless, no matter how pathetic his attempts at humouring her might be, Naruto was, without a doubt, a stubborn boy. One who didn¡¯t know when to give up. One who fought to the bitter end. Not that she expected otherwise.
Naruto dug his claws into the turf, forcing an abrupt halt. He immediately launched himself against her once more, offering her not a single moment of respite. He attacked, his claws leading the charge. ¡°Aaarrghh!!!¡± The dance was about to start. And so it did.
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Arc XII Chapter 20
XII
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Arc XII Chapter 20
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¡°...¡± Asami came to rely on her trusted umbrella, deflecting each of his strikes in a swirl of purple and red. Faster, faster, ever faster. The waltz continued. The rhythm accelerated. The pace increased. Left. Right. Centre. Right. Up. Centre. Left. Down. Right. His punches connected, yet every time, they found their match, biting on purple chakra, unyielding like granite.
¡°Aarrghhh!!!¡± Naruto rushed her, another careless attempt. Ill conceived and ill advised in nature.
¡°...¡± Asami smirked, her left hand angling her umbrella diagonally. Her barrier stood, easily deflecting him, making him ricochet past her. It was a trick that never grew old. Naruto stumbled. He tripped.
Asami spun, striking from behind, striking from above like the hammer of the gods. Brutal and merciless. Her fist accelerated, driven by her abundance of chakra despite the limitations of her delicate physique. He never saw it coming.
Her strike connected and Naruto gasped in pain. The sheer force drove her unsuspecting victim straight into the ground. He never stood a chance. Not his chakra cloak offered adequate protection.
Naruto crashed downwards, and the very ground yielded upon impact. The ground cracked with dust and debris flying everywhere, leaving her old friend in a rather precarious position, to put things mildly, now that his defence had been shattered.
¡°...¡± A dark smile crossed Asami¡¯s lips. How truly unfortunate. For him. Her hand reached for her sword, gripping her scabbard, her chakra already coursing through her blade. It would be quick and painless ... A shame that fate had decided to interrupt her once more. A habit that had become a common occurrence these days. More than she liked.
¡°Aarrghh!!! Take this!¡± The cry of a girl echoed across the plain, her war fan slicing through the air. ¡°Fuuton!!! Legendary Sickle Weasel Technique!¡± Temari rejoined the fray, in the nick of time. The girl directed a cyclone of gales against her, from point blank, no less.
Nor was she alone. Kakashi rammed his arms into the earth, his hands gripping the soil. Of course, he didn¡¯t need to be asked twice. He knew when he saw an opportunity. He had smelled blood. ¡°Doton! Earth Spears Release!¡± His chakra moved the earth, unleashing a cavalcade, a trail of rock and stone on her. Spikes of sharpened, polished rock rose and fell, protruding from the ground like an unstoppable wall of spears.
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Fuuton from the front. Doton from behind. Both approached fast, allowing Naruto to escape the steel of her blade.
¡°...¡± Asami was forced to act, putting her faith once more in her parasol. In her umbrella she trusted, although by necessity. Her umbrella served as her shield, and her trust proved to be well founded. Her expectations were not disappointed. The wind blades struck hard and fast, each hit in quick succession, each hit deflected by her parasol. One. Two. Three. Five. Eighteen. Thirteen. Seventeen. Apparently, the girl neither cared, nor worried about friendly fire. Temari attacked without caution, without restraint. At least, her aim had improved significantly, sparing Naruto an untimely demise.
Nevertheless, her attack achieved the desired effect, providing Naruto with some much needed breathing space. Temari succeeded in pushing her back in collaboration with Kakashi¡¯s doton, much to Asami¡¯s apparent displeasure. Regretful, but unavoidable.
¡°...¡± Asami danced, skilfully sidestepping each and every one of their attacks. No matter how much they threw at her. Left. Right. Left. Right. Their feeble attempts were scarcely enough to humour her. Eventually, their attacks subsided. Neither Kakashi, nor Temari could maintain this momentum, this tempo for long, as they both had reached their limit. Unable to resort to the boundless strength of a bijuu, their attacks had taken a visible toll on them. Neither their stamina, nor their chakra reserves were infinite. Unlike Naruto, who was blessed since birth with the might of the Kyuubi to compensate for his shortcomings, their actions had consequences, consequences that had to be paid for.
¡°Huh ... Huh ... Huh ... Huh ... Huh ... Huh ...¡± Kakashi panted, tired, winded, exhausted, destroyed. Yet his eyes never left her. He observed her. He monitored her. Kakashi knew what was at stake. He knew better than anyone else that the line between the triumph of victory and the jaws of defeat was thin, fleeting in nature. It only took a single lapse of judgment, a mere moment, to lose everything. It was a lesson that he took to his heart, unlike a certain other individual present.
¡°Huh ... Huh ... Huh ...¡± Temari followed his example. Her tired, heavy body was leaning on her folded war fan, rammed into the ground to support herself.
¡°Aargh ...¡± Naruto groaned in pain, barely able to stand, staggered, shaken. His hand reached for his shoulder. Stubborn as usual, Naruto forced himself to rise after having taken another beating. This time, however, her lesson appeared to have more enduring effects. Especially, now, after disrupting Naruto¡¯s chakra. A small dose of hers sufficed to make him understand. The chakra of the Kyuubi weakened, and his influence receded. Naruto¡¯s initial fury had subsided and a glimmer of sane thought returned.
Naruto took his time, but the boy started to learn, even when it was unclear whether his progress was owed to her knocking some sense into him or due to some natural learning process on his part. Personally, she suspected the former, but the undeniable fact remained, though, he had learned. He didn¡¯t charge her. He didn¡¯t attack her like the wild, unhinged beast from before. He had come to realise that he couldn¡¯t take her on head on. And now Naruto stood there, before her, licking his wounds, his raging red eyes glaring daggers at her from afar with all their might in an attempt to murder her on the spot. She was left scarcely impressed. If looks could kill, she would have been dead ages ago.
¡°...¡± A conceited smirk crossed Asami¡¯s face, her trusted parasol coming to a rest on her shoulder with the blue blooded grace of a true imperial princess. ¡°Unless I am mistaken, I think your lot has seen better days ...¡±
¡°...¡± Her heart ... Her chakra ... The pain ... Asami gripped her chest, her heart, her breathing intensifying. Yet she retained her countenance, her composure, ever a true princess down to the bone. No matter how strained her smile, no matter how thin the veneer of her fa?ade might be, she endured.
Her chakra wavered, disturbed, disrupted, impossible to stabilise. This poor excuse of a body had reached its limit. It had lasted longer than initially anticipated, but the moment had finally come. Her liberal use of chakra combined with the fatigue of battle had taken its toll. This body had reached the tipping point with catastrophic results. This body was collapsing, withering, disintegrating, like the snow under the summer sun. It wouldn¡¯t last much longer.
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Arc XII Chapter 21
XII
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Arc XII Chapter 21
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¡°...¡± Kakashi¡¯s left eye widened. His sharingan saw what could not be concealed. He was the first to notice the extent of her weakness, the first to grasp the opportunity.
Kakashi¡¯s voice hardened, his senses sharpened, his fatigue all but gone. ¡°Temari, Naruto, prepare yourself. I don¡¯t know why, but her chakra ¡, her aura ... are wavering.¡±
¡°... ... ... What?¡± Temari looked up, staring at Kakashi in disbelief, her arm still leaning on her war fan. ¡°Her chakra is what?¡±
¡°...¡± Naruto shared Temari¡¯s doubts, his scepticism written all over his face. ¡°What are you talking about, Kakashi-sensei?¡±
¡°No time to explain.¡± Kakashi cut them short, his voice cold. ¡°We must strike now. We must strike as long as the iron is hot.¡±
Kakashi reached for the holster strapped to his leg. A kunai was his response, reverse grip. Chirping lightning coated his blade, the steel of his kunai vibrating. ¡°Temari, Naruto, listen, I will engage her in melee. I will keep her busy. You, Termari, ... throw everything at her, you have. You must cover me. I will need it.¡±
¡°Understood.¡± Temari complied, nodding firmly.
Kakashi glanced sidewards, his gaze wandering to his student. ¡°Naruto, ... you know what you have to do. We are counting on you. Strike when the moment comes. Use it well. Strike hard. Strike fast. Put everything in it that you have. You will need nothing less than all your strength to defeat Asami.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Naruto gulped, yet his will remained unshakeable. He clenched, his eyes blazing with conviction. ¡°Got it, Kakashi-sensei, I will.¡±
¡°...¡± Kakashi merely nodded before returning his attention to her, his eyes scrutinising her. ¡°Now ... Go!!!¡±
In a blink, her enemies vanished, separating. They were once again on the move, their blades turned against her, much to Asami¡¯s open amusement.
¡°...¡± A dark smirk crossed Asami¡¯s delighted lips despite her weakened state. It appeared that her friends had still not learned their lesson. Against better judgement, the three of them dared to tempt fate once more, to challenge her one last time, even now when her poor excuse of a body failed her and time was in short supply. Of course, she was glad to oblige.
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Kakashi stormed ahead, his body accelerating, his kunai raised high, tightly clenched in a firm grip. The fleeting blue shimmer of lightning accompanied him, sparks dancing along the blade of kunai. True to his word, the ANBU of legends rushed her, hitting a second wind. Nevertheless, his pace had slowed considerably. His fatigue, his exhaustion, his depleted chakra reserves, all the accumulated stress had begun to show. Fortunately for him, the current state of her body wasn¡¯t much better either, barely allowing her to move, to react, to defend herself.
Kakashi moved, closing the distance before he ... ducked ... Out of nowhere, the former ANBU changed course, ducking. He shifted the entire momentum of his body, lowering his head, barely giving her any time to react. In theory.
¡°...¡± Asami gripped her umbrella. This move was planned. The sly fox he was, Kakashi had baited her. His manoeuvre had cleared the line of fire, allowing a certain Suna kunoichi to take aim, her war fan always eager to strike. The mischievous grin on her lips did not escape her. Temari hated her guts. The girl had been only waiting for this exact moment, which didn¡¯t surprise her considering all the bad blood between them. In fact, it was rather ... logical.
¡°...¡± Temari was quick to exploit the opportunity granted to her, her arms swinging her giant fan. ¡°Time for payback!!! Take this, bitch!!!¡± Her wind blade raced across the plain, her green chakra cutting through the air like a hot knife through butter, sailing right over Kakashi¡¯s head with deadly precision.
Temari¡¯s attack forced Asami to act. Her hand raised her umbrella in defence, resisting the incoming strike. Once more, green and purple collided in the midst of battle with unrelenting fury, with neither side willing to cede any ground. Temari struck hard and fast. Considerably harder than she had previously anticipated. Considerably harder than she had previously given her credit for. It appeared that irritating her must have done wonders.
Temari¡¯s wind blade was eating through her chakra, capitalising on her declining defensive capabilities, but of course all of this was just a mere ruse meant to distract her, to cover his approach. It was the oldest trick in the book. Kakashi closed in from the flank, his kunai in his hand. Their manoeuvre would have even succeeded against lesser opposition. Not against her, though. Kakashi should have known so.
Her resolve steeled, Asami responded, shifting, rotating, her umbrella to counter them at the same time. Her angled parasol diverted the wind blade, redirecting its force, before blocking Kakashi. They both clashed, both lightning blue and her serene purple.
Kakashi rammed his kunai into her shield, sending sparks of gleaming chakra flying everywhere. He even penetrated her outer layers, yet her shield stood, unmoveable, unbreakable, unyielding as ever.
¡°...¡± Kakashi glared, the feeling of frustration, of annoyance palpable in his eyes. His thoughts lay open like a book. He knew ... that he had failed.
Yet he attacked again. And again. And again. His kunai struck the same point over and over again with increasing vigour in an attempt to tire her chakra through sheer fatigue. Obviously, he knew what he was doing. As expected of him, the old sly fox.
Fortunately for her, Kakashi was running on his last reserves as well, his chakra having long since lost its former sharpness. No matter how well he was trying to hide it, he was at the end of his rope.
¡°...¡± Asami giggled, her lustrous lips forming a smile. Her parasol shifted ever so slightly, allowing their eyes to meet. His vivid red met her imperial purple. His mangekyou and her purple eyes, both of them staring at each other, gazing deep down into each other¡¯s souls. They were born unequal. He, a mere pretender to a power not his own. She, the true heiress to an ancient legacy. Yet, they met as equals at this very moment, the moment his kunai and her umbrella crossed. ¡°Kakashi~, enlighten me, how long are you willing to continue this charade?¡±
¡°...¡± Kakashi maintained his stoic facade, unwavering, his stare defiant, ¡°As long as necessary.¡±
Asami chuckled, mildly amused. ¡°As long as necessary~. Yet we both know how this will end, Kakashi~, don¡¯t we?¡±
¡°...¡± Kakashi glared, his eyes narrowed. ¡°We will see, Asami. Naruto! NOW!!!¡±
It was his sign. The sign he has been waiting for. Naruto circled her, rushing in from behind with two of his shadow clones at his side, accompanying him on the move. The two clones were weaving their chakra, channelling all of their power and, perhaps unconsciously, the last vestiges of the aura of the Kyuubi into his attack. His rasengan grew in size and strength, his blue sphere ever bulging.
His clones dissolved into a white cloud, and Naruto charged, immediately going on the attack. He charged with his rasengan in his arm and a single goal, a sole purpose in mind, to defeat her.
Naruto gritted his teeth, his blue eyes filled with both fury and determination in equal parts. ¡°Aaargggggghhhhhhhh!¡±
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Arc XII Chapter 22
XII
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Arc XII Chapter 22
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¡°...¡± Asami grinned. So this was his plan all along ... How predictable of them. The only problem was Kakashi, though. He knew that the odds were favourable, and he didn¡¯t refrain from pressing his advantage when it mattered.
Kakashi increased the pressure, calling upon his strength. His chakra flared up, and his lightning was grinding against her umbrella, not allowing her to budge even in the slightest. ¡°Asami ..., this will be your end.¡±
Asami tilted her head, a beatific smile gracing her lips. ¡°Truly, how troublesome.¡±
Naruto closed in. Kakashi pinned her down. Unfortunately for them, it took far more to take her down. She hadn¡¯t fought and bled two entire lifetimes, she hadn¡¯t fought armies, nations, fate itself, just to be defeated by a mere brat with some pretension of grandeur.
Asami moved, shifting her weight, shifting her perpendicular axis, her left hand producing a kunai from her pouch. Her body rotated, making Naruto hit nothing but empty air, much to his surprise.
¡°What ...???¡± Naruto shot right past her, stunned for the moment, the shock palpable in his eyes. But it wasn¡¯t over. Ever eager to strike, Kakashi exploited the gap in her defence.
Her kunai was immediately put to good use, blocking Kakashi¡¯s counterattack, blocking his incoming kunai dead in its tracks. Their kunai crossed, and her purple chakra met his lightning. Meanwhile, her parasol countered Naruto. Much to his credit, her favourite jinchuuriki quickly recuperated from his blunder before switching the axis of attack. Naruto halted, his feet biting into the ground, and redirected his rasengan. It was only too little too late. Her umbrella was already in place to deflect his attack. Her parasol blocked his sphere, layers upon layers of solid chakra nullifying his rasengan once again.
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¡°...¡± Asami took a deep breath now that it had become apparent that their attack had failed. Now that both, Kakashi and Naruto, were kept at arm¡¯s length with a minimum of force. ¡°You know, we crossed swords aplenty today, and yet you still seem to take me lightly. This farce ends now.¡±
An array of purple orbs surrounded her figure, manifesting upon answering her call.
Kakashi¡¯s eyes widened, the sweat running down his forehead. ¡°Retreat!!!¡± Her obs detonated in a glimmering flash of purple, covering the plain in a cloud of dust and debris, covering her.
Kakashi and Naruto retreated, but the explosion hit them point blank with full force, kicking them backwards before they came to a halt.
Naruto clenched his fists, the frustration swelling up inside him. They had failed. Once again. ¡°Dammit! Why ... Why ...¡±
¡°NARUTO!!!¡± Kakashi-sensei¡¯s scream reached him, the panic in his voice audible.
¡°Hm?¡± Naruto didn¡¯t understand. He glanced up and there she stood right before him in the blink of an eye. Asami moved with a speed and elegance thought impossible, her coat, her kimono, her long, silken, black hair dancing in the wind with not even a single movement wasted. Her folded umbrella led her charge, its metal tip coated in purple chakra. It happened fast. Too fast. Naruto never stood a chance. His body tried to move, but it was too late. Uncaring, mercilessly, the girl closed the distance and her parasol connected.
...
...
...
¡°...¡± It took Naruto a few moments to process, his senses numbed. Time had slowed to what felt like a small eternity, and his world had come to a halt in front of his very eyes before the first sensation of searing pain awakened him from his terrible slumber, the torrid, blistering pain surging through his entire body.
¡°Aarghhh!¡± Naruto gritted his teeth, his adrenaline fighting the soaring pain. Asami, however, didn¡¯t care in the slightest.
The girl grinned in dark delight, the dark abyss of her purple eyes boring deep into his soul like a demon of ancient times. ¡°You are too slow, Naruto-kun.¡±
Naruto¡¯s gaze wandered downwards, his eyes falling upon her folded umbrella. Her parasol had impaled his stomach, her shimmering purple chakra piercing through his whole body. He saw the blood flowing from his wound, staining his orange clothes deep crimson red. His strength left his limbs and his consciousness was fading quickly.
Her umbrella tightly gripped, Asami deigned him her attention, her predatory purple eyes looking down upon him in plain condescension. ¡°I remember you, Naruto-kun. I remember the day you fought the Hyuuga boy. I remember the words you spoke. I remember when you said that you wanted to become Hokage. I remember you when you said that you wanted to change fate. And yet you lack the strength to even control your own destiny ... A word of advice, Naruto-kun, from someone who has dictated the course of history before. It takes more than some fragile convictions to alter the path of fate, it takes more than some juvenile dreams to carry the weight of the world.¡±
¡°...¡± Naruto listened, but Asami¡¯s words went unheard. Naruto fell, and his entire world turned black.
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Arc XII Chapter 23
XII
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Arc XII Chapter 23
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¡°So the boy lost once again ... Such a failure ... Useless and worthless as usual, despite me having lent him a paw¡±, Kurama growled from behind the iron bars of his prison, his crimson eyes flickering like embers in the shadows. Not that he had expected much else from his fabulous host.
This girl ... Asami ... A mere glance sufficed to tell, this girl was dangerous. Her chakra ... Her chakra ... For a mere human, for a mere mortal of her time and age to possess such strength ...
The outcome of the battle was a foregone conclusion. The difference in skill and experience was painfully obvious. No matter how much Naruto was relying on his chakra, the girl was not an enemy the boy could hope to defeat. Most certainly not at his current level.
Naruto was fortunate to suffer only a minor flesh wound. He should survive as long as this Sakura girl had even the barest understanding of the art of healing, which she should. As for the rest, his chakra would see to that. He had seen and healed far worse over the centuries.
Kurama closed his eyes, his tails coiling around his body as he prepared to sleep. Not that he had much else to do, ever since the day the fourth Hokage and his wretched woman had bound him to this insufferable place. Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, his day never changed. As if all life had ceased for him and time itself stood still. Every day was the same age old monotony. The same old place, bereft of joy and hope. There was only anger, only resentment, only hatred.
The years and the boy¡¯s blatant lack of control might have weakened the seal, but the chains restraining him remained as unyielding as ever, a testament to the skill of the Fourth and the despicable Uzumaki blood of his woman. The day to reclaim his freedom and finally dispense with the nuisance of a boy had not come yet. But he was patient. He could wait. The passage of time was inexorable. He had seen centuries pass. He had seen kingdoms rise and fall. He had seen countless mortals come and go. He knew, thus, that the day would come ... would ... eventually ...
¡°... ... ...¡± Kurama jolted up. His ears perked up, his fangs bared. His senses tickled. His senses sharpened. This chakra ... This aura ... This was her. And she was close. There was no doubt, the girl was here, right in front of him, hiding in plain sight, masking her presence. The girl had invaded his mindscape, her prying eyes observing him from the shadows judging him. Such impudence. From a mere mortal, no less.
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¡°Cease your little games, human!!! Your ploys tire me!¡± Kurama snarled, his furious eyes roaming the entire room in search of the unwelcome intruder balefully. ¡°I sense your presence, girl!!! So, show yourself !!!¡±
His words went unheeded. The girl refused to comply. The girl refused his order.
¡°... ... ...¡± Snarling behind his bars, Kurama growled, ¡°It appears that I was mistaken, after all. You are no different from the rest of your treacherous kin, human. You lack the courage to look me in the eye. Instead, you hide in the shadows like the insects you are. How fitting.¡±
His words showed the desired effect. His words finally elicited a reaction from the girl.
¡°Hehehe. Hehehehe.¡± The sound of her giggle filled the void, sinister and ominous, amused and entertained in equal parts. ¡°Hehehehehe. Hehahahahe.¡± Was ... Was the girl mocking him? Him? Kurama? The strongest among his siblings? The one most feared and revered by the likes of humans since time immemorial?
Kurama flashed his teeth, fuming, his blood, his chakra boiling. ¡°Be wary, human, you are overstaying your welcome. Know that even my benevolence is limited.¡± Yet his threats proved scarcely effective. The girl wasn¡¯t intimidated even in the slightest. Quite the contrary.
The shadows receded and from amidst a mist of incandescent purple chakra, a girl emerged, her aura as cold as ice. Long black hair. Her eyelids closed. Her umbrella slung over her shoulder. Her lips formed a smile. ¡°Ara~ ara~, quite the talkative one, aren¡¯t you, Kyuubi?¡±
¡°...¡± Kurama glowered at her, his glare filled with venom. ¡°Temper your tongue, human, if you know what is better for you ... ... ...¡±
...
... ...
... ... ...
The girl opened her eyes. Her response was a gaze unyielding. Two orbs of luminescent purple pierced the darkness of the void and the blood froze in Kurama¡¯s veins, a profound shiver overcoming him, shaking him deep down to the core. Her mere presence sufficed to unsettle him, making his fur crawl.
¡°Rrrrrrrrrrrr.¡± Kurama bared his fangs, all of his senses distrusting the girl. Her eyes ... Her eyes alone ... unsettled him to an uncanny degree. They harboured a sinister touch, a disquieting touch of all consuming darkness. A darkness that surpassed even the one of Madara.e
A devilish grin crossed her lustrous lips, betraying her amusement. ¡°Oh my, quite the hostile reaction ... Most unexpected ...¡±
¡°Rraaarrrrrrrr.¡± Kurama snarled, his sense of danger hardly diminishing. He had erred. Her aura ... Her chakra ... Her soul ... The feeble, lingering scent of Indra¡¯s cursed blood ... How ... How could he have been so blind ... The girl ... She was something else. Something beyond mere mortals. Something much more dangerous. A true demon clad in human skin.
The girl tilted her head, giggling with the sinister touch befitting a demon like her. ¡°Now, now, what a courteous welcome. How unfortunate that our time is limited, Kyuubi ... Not that it matters. I have the answers I have sought.¡±
¡°What are you blattering about, girl?!¡± Kurama growled, his disdain palpable.
¡°...¡± A smile graced the girl¡¯s lips as her figure vanished, her body slowly dissolving into a fine mist of purple chakra. It was the grin of someone in the know. ¡°Kyuubi, ... you are incomplete, are you not? Your better half ... It is missing, isn¡¯t it?¡±
...
... ...
... ... ...
¡°... ... ...¡± Kurama scowled from behind the bars of his prison, yet to no avail. His silence was all the confirmation she required. ¡°... ... ...¡±
...
...
...
¡°Hehehehe ... Hehehehe ...¡± The girl giggled from amidst the shadows, satisfied with her deductions, a smirk spreading across her lips. ¡°It is as I thought.
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Arc XII Chapter 24
XII
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Arc XII Chapter 24
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¡°...¡± Asami retracted her umbrella in a single fluid motion, extracting her parasol like a lance of old after having performed its gruesome work. Naruto¡¯s blood dripped from her silken umbrella, each droplet staining the dusty ground red.
It was over for him. Naruto¡¯s unconscious body hit the ground, falling over like a lifeless puppet. The blood loss was significant, not to mention, his injury. He was pierced right through the abdomen, right through his guts. Unsurprisingly, the shock of the trauma had made him faint, even with Kyuubi¡¯s chakra alleviating the worst of the damage. And yet his wound was already stabilising, his body already regenerating at an astounding rate considering the extent of his injury.
As it turned out, her suspicions were correct. For reasons inexplicable, the Kyuubi sealed inside Naruto was ... incomplete. The Kyuubi¡¯s chakra lacked any trace of yin. The yin component was entirely missing. The seal restraining him testified as much.
The inscriptions. The formulas. The lines. The formations. The arrays. The structure. The way it was anchored to Naruto¡¯s soul. The seal was potent without a doubt, albeit more reliant on brute force rather than finesse, but it was apparent that the seal was constructed for the sole purpose of containing the yang portion of the Kyuubi. Even when the execution left much to be desired, to put things mildly.
It was obvious that the sealing procedure had been exceedingly rushed, not to say improperly implemented. Despite all the years, the essence of the Kyuubi had hardly integrated, had hardly fused with Naruto¡¯s soul, barely subject to any control. The essence of the Kyuubi remained entirely foreign in nature, an alien entity so completely different from his unsuspecting host.
Neither the chakra of the Kyuubi, nor Naruto¡¯s soul had been woven together with proper care, time and consideration. Instead, they were violently, hastily stitched together without the slightest sense of caution. What should have taken weeks, if not months, was rashly done in a matter of minutes, with precipitous methods no less. The seal hoped to compensate with force what it lacked in finesse, but its shortcomings, its deficiencies, its flaws inevitably showed.
The consequences were disastrous. The Kyuubi retained his own consciousness, his own agency, even his own free will. His essence was seething, raging, violent, defiant, adversarial, hostile to the highest degree. His chakra wild and uncontrollable, only ever serving under the threat of coercion. No wonder that Naruto was unable to access but a mere fraction of the Kyuubi¡¯s true strength, even after all these years. But perhaps such was the intention, considering his particular case ...
The Kyuubi had been sealed inside Naruto upon his birth. Nobody knew what happened that night 16 years ago, but circumstances must have forced the Fourth¡¯s and Kushina¡¯s, his wife¡¯s, hand to take such desperate measures despite the risks. To seal the Kyuubi inside a child, a newborn child, no less ... It was insanity beyond madness. The mere fact that he survived the entire ordeal, that his soul was able to sustain the burden, was nothing short of a miracle, when he should have, for all intents and purposes, ceased to be. His feeble soul fractured, splintered, ripped, torn apart by the essence of the Kyuubi. Yet he didn¡¯t. Naruto defied the odds. He lived.
Perhaps that was the reason behind the essence of the Kyuubi having been split in half, and as to why only the yang portion had been sealed inside him ... To reduce the strain placed upon Naruto¡¯s soul ... To lessen the detrimental side effects of their rushed sealing ... It certainly made sense, and it would explain much. Why the boundaries of the seal were set so strong. Why the essence of the Kyuubi and Naruto¡¯s soul had never merged. The Kyuubi was never meant to cease. They were never meant to fuse.
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The only question left now, where was he? Where was the other half? Chakra ..., mana ..., energy ..., they didn¡¯t just disappear. It was not how things worked. His other half ... It must be somewhere. A signature of his scale and strength cannot be concealed. His presence alone must leave traces. So where was he? Where was he hiding? So many questions for her cute, little head ...
Her instincts acted. Once again, they served her well. Asami raised her umbrella, blocking Kakashi¡¯s chidori despite him approaching from a dead angle. Kakashi knew his m¨¦tier.
His attack connected, and her parasol took the brunt of the force. The impact forced her back, making her concede ground, more ground than she would have liked.
Her body absorbed the impact, gliding through the air before her toes touched the ground with practised ease and grace.
Rotating her umbrella, Asami turned her attention to her assailant, a saccharine smile on her lips. ¡°Ara~ ara~, not a single moment of respite, Kakashi-san~, not even for a fair maiden of pure heart. Such treacherous times, indeed.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Kakashi ignored her teasing, all pretences of friendliness gone. His iron glare and the chirping chidori in his palm were response enough. ¡°Temari, ... how is he?¡±
Temari had rushed to Naruto¡¯s side, her hand feeling his neck, checking his pulse. ¡°He is alive, Kakashi! He is breathing!¡±
¡°Naruto!!!¡± Another girl came to the rescue. It was Sakura, back on her feet, soldiering on, despite her injured shoulder. Chiyo flanked her. They both came rushing in, immediately joining Temari.
Losing no time, Sakura sprang into action. A gentle green glow surrounded her palms. It was the characteristic green of medical ninjutsu, much to Asami¡¯s bewilderment. So it appeared that Sakura had mastered the skills and arts of healing.
¡°Damn it!!!¡± Sakura¡¯s chakra flared up and her healing intensified. "Naruto! Hang on! You can¡¯t die here!¡± Her pleas, however, went unheard. His consciousness had long since faded.
¡°...¡± Kakashi redirected his gaze at her, his dispassionate fa?ade all but gone. Deep within, his eyes harboured a murderous intent, chilling and unnerving, yet controlled. ¡°... ... ...¡±
Asami tilted her head, mustering a cheerful smile. ¡°Oh my~, what have I done to merit such scorn?¡±
¡°...¡± Kakashi raised his chidori, his eyes narrowed, his crackling lightning masking his face. His posture left no room for discussions. No love was lost between them. ¡°You are still asking? As if you wouldn¡¯t know.¡±
...
...
...
¡°Hehehehehe~. ¡±Asami giggled, her hand covering her lips with a sense of magnanimity. ¡°Fair enough, Kakashi-san~. The question was rather rhetorical, ... admittedly.¡±
¡°Anyway~, ...¡± Asami tilted her head, her fingers caressing her lustrous lips, her devious smile boring into him. ¡°Are you going to avenge your beloved student, Kakashi-san~? Although I must wonder how~?
Unless I am mistaken, Naruto lies unconscious, incapacitated. Sakura cannot fight in her current state. Temari has exhausted her chakra reserves. And Her Ladyship Chiyo has already played her cards. And you, Kakashi, you are reaching the end of the line. So, tell me, what are you going to do~?¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Much to his credit, Kakashi remained entirely unmoved, not even batting an eyelid. It was a testament to his professionalism and iron discipline. No matter the odds, he and his azure chidori continued to defy her with every fibre of his being. As long as he drew breath, he would fight. ¡°... ... ...¡± Such a shame ... It was time for the last act, for the grand final. She would not disappoint.
Asami¡¯s hand reached for her scabbard, gripping the hilt of her sword, her thumb resting on the guard. Her motion put Kakashi immediately on guard. His sharingan monitored her movements, anticipating her next move.
¡°...¡± Asami grinned, her thumb extracting her blade from the scabbard. Her sword popped. For one last time, her gaze fell on her enemies, wandering across their ranks, Kakashi, Sakura, Chiyo, Temari. The animosity in their eyes hardly went unnoticed, but such was life. ¡°Unfortunate as it might be, but the time has come for us to part~. It was a pleasure to revel in the good old times~, although I suspect that our paths will cross again.¡±
Her words served little to assuage their suspicions. Quite the contrary. They put Kakashi and Temari on the edge. Not that she cared.
Asami giggled, presenting her most sincere smile. ¡°Now then, until later.¡± In a single motion, her sword was drawn, in a fraction of a mere moment, too fast for them to comprehend what was happening before their very eyes. As if she would ever give them the satisfaction of victory ...
¡°...¡±
¡°...¡±
¡°...¡±
Silence. Nothing but total silence amidst the gentle sound of the blowing wind. The shock, the disbelief, the confusion were written across their faces. Lost for words, Kakashi, Sakura, Chiyo, Temari, they stared at her, their eyes wide, unable to understand.
Her blade had pierced her body, claiming her own life. Her blood stained her kimono red, accompanied by the tender pain of dying. At last, this poor excuse of a body had served its purpose.
And thus Asami¡¯s vision faded. The fight had ended.
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Arc XII Chapter 25
XII
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Arc XII Chapter 25
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Asami opened her eyes, her purple orbs once again announcing her presence. The fight had ended and she had returned. The sealing had meanwhile proceeded. Residual, floating chakra saturated the cave, the air heavy, enriched with the familiar chakra of the One-Tail. Considering the quantities involved, such was to be expected. The sealing was ... an arduous procedure. Unsurprisingly, it took its time. After all, she spoke from experience.
Pain had come to notice her presence. His flickering shadow emerged from the veil of darkness, the iron gaze of his Rinnegan directed at her. As usual, the man was trying to assert his dominance and authority. ¡°... ... ...¡±
¡°...¡± The good girl she was, Asami chose to comply, of course. She lowered her gaze in respect, to please, ever eager to please, ever the loyal servant of his Most Divine Excellency. No need to put her fealty into doubt. At least, not at this point. ¡°...¡±
Though it went unsaid, Pain appreciated her gesture. His face remained unyielding like stone, hardly batting an eyelid. As usual, he pretended not to care, but she knew better. Pain spoke, ¡°Asami, ... you have returned ... I hope your mission was graced with success.¡±
Asami returned a smile. ¡°More or less, considering the circumstances and the subpar quality of the material provided ... The enemy had proven ... tenacious, not to say troublesome, but manageable, overall. They have taken quite the beating. After getting mauled they should be out of commission for a day or more.¡±
Kisame grinned from the shadows, flashing his shark like teeth. ¡°See, Itachi, I told you our little princess knows how to fight ... Not a single hint of remorse, even when being turned against her former comrades. Will of Fire ... Comrades ... Friendship ... Maybe I was wrong, after all, Itachi? Maybe all of you Konoha guys are secretly cold blooded killers like you two?¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Itachi ignored his teasing partner with his usual taciturnity. Truly a man of few words and divine patience. Not a single motion. Not a single reaction. Not a single sarcastic comment. Only uncaring, apathetic silence. It even worked.
Pain eyed his trusted spy and intelligence service. ¡°Zetsu ...¡±
Zetsu had answered Pain¡¯s summon. Surprisingly and unlike usual, it was black Zetsu who took the word, raising his deep voice. When it came to her, it was often him to speak. And it was noticeable. Was it a coincidence? Was it deliberate? It was hard to tell with Zetsu, or whatever the thing was supposed to be. ¡°Her performance was ... admirable. Her strength ... Her speed ... Her precision ... impressive. Truly impressive. Certainly for a girl of her age. The enemy will probably regroup and cease their operations until tomorrow.¡± Zetsu praised her. Black Zetsu, no less. What an uncommon occurrence. Unlike his white brethren, black Zetsu was decisively less moronic.
Pain nodded, satisfied with the results, his eyes remaining fixed on her. ¡°I am pleased to hear so. Especially, considering that you are responsible for this whole mess ... All the little breaks you took along the way, your sleeping hours, they put us severely behind schedule.¡± He glared at her, almost accusingly.
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¡°...¡± Asami was tempted to grumble, but chose not to for the sake of maintaining harmony. In her defence, her beauty sleep was of supreme importance and the stolen chakra of the One-Tail was not processed in a day. Not that she could say so openly. And it was not her fault that Sasori was the lamest duck in the ninja world no matter how much he constantly complained about hating to have to wait. Apparently, he did not hate to make others wait.
Yet everyone understood and the sealing continued. They were close to being finished. Even so, another long night awaited them. What a delight.
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The once raucous battlefield had now fallen eerily silent, only the whisper of the wind and the ragged breathing of those left standing disturbing the silence.
Kakashi staggered forwards, each step heavy, his breath panting. ¡°Heh ... Heh ... Heh ... Heh ...¡± It was over. The fight had ended. They had won ... Or rather, they had survived ...
It was the moment that the weight of the battle, the tension, the strain, the stress, the exhaustion, came crashing down on him at once. Kakashi stumbled and collapsed, falling to his knees. His vision blurred as the adrenaline finally began to ebb. His hand still trembled. His Chidori had taken its toll. It was only his ironclad discipline that allowed him to soldier on.
¡°...¡± Kakashi raised his head, his gaze falling on Naruto and Sakura. Unconscious and battered, Naruto lay sprawled on the ground, his orange clothes torn, blood seeping from his wound. His wound was deep. Luckily, he was alive. His chest slowly rose and fell.
Kneeling beside him, Sakura continued to tend to his wounds, her hands glowing with the soft, pale green light of her healing chakra. Her face streaked with sweat and grit. There was determination, there was a fire in her eyes.
The sight filled Kakashi with pride. Sakura ... The little girl that he had once known ... She had grown so much, hadn¡¯t she? Her skill, her resolve, her focus, sharper than ever. But also with guilt.
¡°...¡± Kakashi clenched his fists. They were his team. They were his responsibility. The fight ... It was close. Far too close, for his liking. To think that they would meet her, of all people, the princess herself. It was a rendezvous he would have gladly foregone.
¡°Sakura ...¡± Kakashi rasped, forcing himself. ¡°How is he?¡±
Sakura turned, responding immediately, ¡°His body, his breathing, they are both stabilising, Kakashi-sensei. He will live. His wound is deep. Abdominal region. Lateral. Dexter. Severe trauma. Severe blood loss. He has experienced a heavy hypovolemic shock. His state is stable, though. He is recuperating.¡±
¡°Good.¡± Kakashi pretended to understand half of it. At least, there was some good news after such an ordeal.
Sakura interrupted his thoughts, ¡°But there is more, Kakashi-sensei. The red chakra ... His wounds ... They are healing on their own ... His rate of regeneration is astonishing ... This is incredible. I have never seen anything like this before. It¡¯s his red chakra. The chakra is healing him.¡±
¡°...¡± Kakashi listened in silence. So it was true, after all. It was just like Jiraiya said back then. ¡°This is the chakra of the Kyuubi, Sakura. Apparently, it possesses extraordinary healing properties. As it turns out, it was true.¡±
¡°Does that mean ...¡± Temari asked, puzzled yet hopeful. ¡°Does that mean he will soon be back on his feet?¡±
¡°Probably¡±, Sakura confirmed with certainty in her voice. Her predictions were well founded. Judging by what Jiraiya had told him, the chakra of the Kyuubi allowed him to shrug off even the heaviest wounds.
Kakashi concurred, ¡°Yes, probably. It will be a few hours, but he might be back on his feet by tomorrow. I hope so. Because we can¡¯t continue our pursuit. Not like this. Not in our condition. Not in our current shape and form. Whether we like it or not, we must abort the mission. We must gather our forces first.¡±
¡°...¡± Sakura merely nodded, signalling her agreement.
¡°... ... ...¡± Temari clenched her fists, her blazing anger showing. Annoyed, irritated, exasperated, yet Temari agreed with his course. Not that she had much of a choice. She was not angry at him. She knew that he was right. She knew that this was the right choice. Even so, he understood her desire to save her brother no matter what. It was only natural.
Everyone understood. Everyone agreed. Even Chiyo. ¡°The son of the White Fang is right, we had better take a break for now. It makes no sense to continue the mission. It would be foolish to press on. The fight cost us much strength and chakra. We had better halt and recuperate.¡±
¡°Exactly.¡± Kakashi nodded.
¡°Tsk.¡± Temari crossed her arms, clicking her tongue in annoyance. ¡°Well, we made some progress, I guess. In the end, the crazy bitch ... offed ... herself ...¡± Temari trailed off. Temari fell completely silent.
Kakashi had a bad feeling. A very bad feeling. He followed her eyes and his gaze fell on Asami¡¯s corpse ... Her presumed corpse. He understood immediately. He did not like what he saw.
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Arc XII Chapter 26
XII
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Arc XII Chapter 26
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So it was like this ... As usual, his instincts did not fail him. The whole time, he had this strange feeling, this strange premonition. They had both proven correct. He knew it. He knew that there was something wrong about her. Even if he could not tell what exactly. Until now. From the very beginning, the entire fight had been nothing but a sham.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes, his gaze was fixed on her supposed corpse. Motionless, lifeless, the body lay before them on the ground, at their feet, the fresh blood staining the black coat red. Her blade had been fatal. Yet the corpse in question was not hers. Instead, the sight of a black haired man greeted them, his face distinctly Sunagakure. This was not her. This was not Asami.
¡°...¡± Temari gulped, her tongue stuck in her throat. Her eyes stared wide open, in complete disbelief. ¡°This is ... This is impossible! This can¡¯t be!!! Why ... What ... Why is he here? What is he doing here?¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± And so did Chiyo, her disbelief written all across her face, plainly to see. Despite all of her years, her composure had been deeply shaken. ¡°...¡±
Kakashi turned to them. ¡°I gather you know the man ... Who is he?¡±
¡°...¡± Temari bit her lips, clenching her fist. Her initial confusion had faded, only to be replaced by fire and fury. ¡°...¡±
¡°...¡± Chiyo steeled her resolve, regaining her composure. Her voice rung heavy. ¡°This man ... His name is Yura. He is ... He was a jonin and a trusted member of the village council. He was a loyal supporter of Gaara ... To think that he of all people would turn traitor ... I never thought it possible. But here we are ...¡±
¡°I see ...¡± Kakashi understood. Another betrayal. Another unsolved mystery.
Sakura joined in, ¡°So it was him whom we fought all this?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Kakashi gathered his thoughts. ¡°I have no idea how, but he must have served as some kind of substitute body for her. Which explains a lot. Her constant complaints. Her slower reaction times. Her fighting style. Her overall defensive posture. And yet she was still playing with us ...¡±
¡°What?¡± Temari protested in disbelief. ¡°Are you serious? She was playing with us? You call all this playing with us? ¡±
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¡°...¡± Kakashi fell silent. ¡°Unfortunately, yes. Think about it, not even once, she drew her sword. Instead, she was fighting us with an umbrella ... It¡¯s obvious that she didn¡¯t deem us an adequate threat.
¡°GGGRRrrrrrrr!!!¡± Temari clenched her fists in a fit of rage, her pride struck. ¡°This ... This ... This fucking little bitch!!! Who does she think she is?¡±
The answer was obvious, in Kakashi¡¯s opinion.
¡°...¡± Kakashi ignored Temari¡¯s little outburst. It was not helpful, but at least her morale remained high and fighting spirit undiminished. Which was better than nothing.
Kakashi formed a hand seal, channelling his chakra. ¡°Shiba!!!¡± A white cloud of smoke erupted before dissipating. His loyal companion and ninken answered his summon. Before him, stood a furred ninja dog. It was Shiba. The fastest and most agile amongst his ninken. He had a mission for him.
Shiba presented himself on his paws. ¡°You have called for me, Kakashi.¡±
¡°Shiba, I have a mission for you¡±, Kakashi elaborated. ¡°Go and find Pakkun. Unless I am wrong, Guy and Shikamaru should be with him. Inform them that we have encountered ... some issues along the way. We can¡¯t continue the mission. Not in our current shape. We need to rest. Tell them to link up with us as fast as possible. Together we will resume the mission tomorrow.¡±
¡°Understood.¡± Shiba nodded before sprinting off, running off into the distance.
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Guy. Lee. Neji. Tenten. Shikamaru. Ino. Choji. Both of their teams were on the move, following Pakkun¡¯s lead. His stubby legs were leading the way, guiding them.
Trees, branches, leaves, twigs flew by, only blurred silhouettes accompanying them. They had crossed forests, hills, mountains, rivers, and yet they pressed on. They pushed onwards, day and night, without respite. Their movement was swift and fast.
¡°...¡± Shikamaru glanced up, his annoyance apparent. His irritation was directed at a certain individual in a green jumpsuit with orange leg warmers. Had the idiot gone insane? Had he lost it, or what? What a drag. Guy¡¯s enthusiasm and inexhaustible stamina were noted, but his breakneck pace was beyond reasonable, not to say counterproductive. They had gone four days without barely any sleep or rest. Shino, Choji and he, they were all struggling to even keep up. And yet the idiot kept pushing them harder and harder ... Things couldn¡¯t go on like this. Not any longer.
Shikamaru called out, his voice carrying far, ¡°Oi, Guy-sensei!¡±
Guy turned his head, his typical grin on his lips, together with an raised thumb. He had come to hate both of them these days. A mountain of luggage towered on his back. He and Lee had insisted on them taking all of their luggage to add extra weight for ¡°training purposes¡±.
¡°Yes, Shikamaru?¡±
¡°...¡± Shikamaru grumbled, venting his grievances, ¡°Listen, Guy, can¡¯t we slow down? This pace is unsustainable. Ino, Choji and I, we all need a break.¡±
Guy frowned, thinking for a moment. ¡°Hmm, well, you might have a point, but the flame of youth burns brightest when we push beyond our limits! Don¡¯t forget that Kakashi is counting on us.¡±
¡°...¡± Shikamaru clicked his tongue. ¡°Yes, Kakashi is counting on us, but he needs us still in one piece! Look, Guy, the flame of youthand all that stuff ... well and good, but it¡¯s far more important to get there alive. Not half dead ...¡±
Pakkun halted, settling down, his tongue lolling. The rest of them followed suit, coming to a sudden halt on a large tree branch together.
Ino and Choji panted heavily, nearly about to drop dead, judging by their pale faces. Tenten wiped her forehead, heaving a grateful sigh at Shikamaru. Neji merely nodded, tacitly approving of his measures in the face of Guy¡¯s incorrigible ways.
¡°...¡± Pakkun started sniffing in the air, his nose picking up a familiar scent. ¡°Heh? Shiba, what are you doing here?¡± His voice sounded surprised.
As Pakkun predicted, another ninken emerged, his fur grey and a Konoha headband hanging around his neck.
The dog responded. ¡°Kakashi sends me. He and his team have encountered serious resistance.¡±
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Arc XII Chapter 27
XII
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Arc XII Chapter 27
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Resting under the nearby tree, Kakashi was still licking his wounds, while keeping Sakura company. The fight had certainly taken its toll on him. More than he liked to admit. Was it his age, or was he just out of shape? He suspected the latter. The past years had mellowed him. Unsurprisingly, he had lost some of his edge since his ANBU days.
Kakashi turned his attention to his former and current disciple. Fortunately, the worst had passed. Semi conscious, but alive, Naruto was lying on the ground, his head resting on a stack of fresh spare clothes. Meanwhile, Temari and Chiyo were busy gathering some firewood and were preparing to cook; commendable on their part. Better than just ration pills every day ... Having to swallow them every day was a painful experience. ¡°Nutritious¡± as they might be, their edibility left a lot to be desired ... even by his standards.
Kakashi observed Naruto. Ignoring his blood sullied jacket, it was as if he was sleeping. Peacefully, no less. ¡°What¡¯s his status, Sakura?¡±
¡°His condition has improved greatly¡±, Sakura responded, a smile on her lips. Her initial worries had mostly dissipated by now, that much was apparent. ¡°His wound has mostly mended itself. His chakra has stabilised. At this point, it is only a matter of time before he regains consciousness. Judging by his condition, a few hours at most. He should be ready again by tomorrow, Kakashi-sensei.¡±
¡°...¡± Kakashi nodded. That was what he wanted to hear ... The ground vibrated. Someone ... Someone was coming. It was them, wasn¡¯t it?
Kakashi glanced sidewards, eyeing their newcomers. As expected, it was an old friend leading the way, his face sober, his eyes serious. They all came to a halt right before them, standing around them.
Guy was the first to speak, hardly winded despite their tempo. The same couldn¡¯t be said for Shikamaru and his team. They were practically dripping sweat. ¡°Kakashi, we came as fast as possible.¡± He grinned, his thumb extended. His grin, however, faltered the moment his eyes fell on Naruto. ¡°We were told that you have encountered some difficulties. So it was true.¡±
¡°...¡± Kakashi merely nodded. ¡°It was a tough fight ... even when the enemy was only a doppelganger.¡±
¡°Tsk, you too?¡± Shikamaru clicked his tongue, betraying his annoyance. ¡°We also fought one. It was this shark guy, Hoshigaki Kisame. I remember his face from the briefing files. The No-tailed Monster of Kirigakure. He was quite the tough nut to crack.¡±
Kakashi nodded thoughtfully. ¡°I see. They expected both of us.¡±
¡°That aside ...¡± Skikamaru cast his eyes around. ¡°Anyone else that got wounded?¡±
¡°Me.¡± Sakura interjected, putting her healing aside for the moment. ¡°I got hit too. Directly in the shoulder, but it was mostly just a flesh wound. Nothing serious.¡± Sakura showed her shoulder, her wound patched up, the burns and cauterised skin still visible.
¡°...¡± Shikamaru, nor Guy, nor anyone else for that matter looked particularly convinced about her so called ¡°flesh wound¡±.
¡°...¡± Guy spoke. ¡°What about you, Kakashi? What about the rest of you? Are you okay?¡±
¡°More or less.¡± Kakashi dispelled their worries with a hand wave. ¡°Our chakra reserves are depleted and we are a bit exhausted, but besides that, everything is fine.¡±
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¡°...¡± Shikamaru pondered, his hands in his pockets. ¡°Who was it? Who did you fight? Was it the Uchiha? Itachi? Or the explosion guy? Or was it this Sasori we heard about?¡±
¡°Neither of them.¡± A sigh escaped Kakashi. ¡°She was more than enough on her own. As a matter of fact, you all probably know her.¡±
¡°She?¡± Shikamaru furrowed an eyebrow, his wariness and suspicion instantly triggered the moment the word fell.
¡°...¡± Guy clenched his fists, his fire rekindled. ¡°Tell us, Kakashi, who was it?¡±
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
¡°It was Asami.¡±
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Kakashi glanced around. ¡°Everyone ready?¡±
A nod went through the ranks. Everyone was prepared. Everyone was resolved to fight. Only a boulder and a stubborn seal protecting it separated them now from the enemy.
¡°Neji! Status.¡±
The Byakugan user reported, his white eyes observing the seal. ¡°The seal has weakened substantially. The technique was successful. We should now be able to break through.¡±
¡°Understood.¡± Kakashi nodded. His suggestions worked, both removing the various tags as well as injecting chakra. As suggested and thanks to his Byakugan and gentle fist, he was able to disrupt the seal¡¯s ley lines and thus disrupt the circulation of chakra through bursts of chakra. The effect was immediate. The seal¡¯s performance had diminished and its potency declined. It was time to shine. They should be now able to remove the boulder. ¡°Guy ... Lee ... Your time.¡±
They both jumped backwards, putting some distance between them and the boulder for the run up. It was time to strike.
Guy cracked his knuckles, a sparkling grin on his face. ¡°Lee, let¡¯s show these Akatsuki the power of youth!!!¡±
Lee raised his thumb, the same grin on his face. ¡°Yes, Guy-sensei!!!¡±
That was the answer that Guy wanted to hear. ¡°Then let¡¯s goooooooooooooo!!!¡± They both started sprinting, their chakra propelling them forwards. They rushed. They charged. ¡°AAAAaaaarghhhhhhHHHHH!!!¡±
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¡°I hate to keep people waiting. But what I hate even more is when people keep me waiting ...¡±, Sasori grumbled behind his mask, complaining as usual. ¡°... ... ... What are they waiting for? What is taking them so long? Can¡¯t they get past a little seal?¡±
¡°Hmmmm, who knows, Master Sasori.¡± Deidara shrugged his shoulders, his tone faintly mocking. ¡°Maybe our precious friends are less skilled than previously anticipated, hmmmm. What do you think, Asami?¡± Their domestic explosives expert turned to her, his words were directed at her. Her opinion was requested. After some consideration, his request was granted.
Asami merely chuckled, throning upon her cushion, her hand armed with a teacup. Her lips savoured the gentle aroma of her favourite blend of chamomile tea. Ever the impeccable princess, she was a paragon of proper decorum, reminiscent of more civilised times. The fragrance, the warmth of her tea calmed her body and mind while conversing. It was a delight. ¡°Well, frankly speaking, their arts ... left to be desired, to say the least. Their competency ... underwhelming. Their lack of capabilities aside, it would be remiss to underestimate them, I guess. Weak as they might be, their strength lies in their numbers or whatever.¡±
¡°Fair enough¡±, Deidara more or less seemed to agree, his hand already munching on his explosive clay. ¡°Hmmmm. So it¡¯s business as usual then. Small fries. Dangerous in numbers.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Sasori continued grumbling, much less gregarious and affable than his partner, but such was well known. ¡°... ... ...¡±
¡°Affirmative.¡± Asami smiled, depositing her teacup on her impromptu table. As it turned out, Tobi performed admirably and made for an excellent piece of living furniture, namely for an excellent table.
Tobi lifted his head, still holding his posture with the stiffness of a board of wood. Straightening his back, he served as her personal table, carrying her tea service. ¡°Asami-senpai~, when can Tobi stop being a table? It is cold and dark and dark and cold. Tobi not liking it down here on the ground.¡±
¡°...¡± Asami sipped on her teacup, although her supply of tea was steadily dwindling. Her cup had once again emptied by now. How dreadful. ¡°Tobi, ... what did I tell you? What are you?¡±
Tobi started pondering, the few gears in his head working. ¡°Hmm, Asami-senpai~ said Tobi is a table.¡±
Asami nodded. ¡°Correct. Do tables talk, Tobi?¡±
¡°... No.¡± Tobi lowered his head, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
Asami nodded once more. ¡°Right, does Tobi talk then?¡±
¡°... No.¡± Tobi understood now.
¡°Exactly.¡± Asami smiled before extending her teacup. ¡°And now, if you would be so kind, a refill, please.¡±
¡°...¡± Tobi lifted his right hand, reaching for the teapot placed on his back just as ordered. Steaming water poured into her cup, filling it to the brim without wasting a single drop and without trying to scald her in the process. A laudable performance. He had certainly improved.
And thus Asami came to enjoy her tea once more. Her new found joy, however, was short lived.
The boulder blocking the entry exploded, shattered, blasted, cracked apart by raw force. Splinters were sent flying in a shower of stone and rock, shooting in every direction, even forcing her to dodge an incoming projectile sailing past her head, much to her dismay.
¡°They are here. Finally.¡± Sasori groaned, his eyes more bloodshot than usual. ¡°Took them long enough.¡±
Deidara smirked. ¡°Better late than never, I guess. Hmmmm.¡±
¡°...¡± Asami narrowed her eyes before resuming sipping on her teacup, a pointed glare directed at their uninvited guests. ¡°Not even bothering to knock. Not a shred of courtesy. We truly must live in uncivilised times.¡±
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Arc XII Chapter 28
XII
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Arc XII Chapter 28
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The enemy appeared, assembling before them in all their dubious glory. There were three teams in total and a lot of familiar faces. The ghosts of her past had come to pay her a visit. It was team Kakashi together with Team Guy and Team ... Shikamaru? The latter appeared to be missing their former sensei. For whatever they were worth these days, Konoha had sent reinforcements. How commendable.
¡°Gaara!!!¡± Naruto shouted, brash and brazen as usual. The moment he noticed the Kazekage¡¯s lifeless body lying on the ground, his composure crumbled. ¡°What are you doing there, Gaara? Get up? What are you waiting for?¡±
¡°...¡± Asami raised an eyebrow, glancing for a moment at the Kazekage¡¯s corpse while relishing her tea. Naruto once more demonstrated that he had never been the brightest candle in the chandelier.
¡°... ... ...¡± Kakashi interjected. ¡°Naruto, ... I doubt that he is in a state to move.¡±
¡°...¡± Naruto clenched his fists, gritting his teeth, his blood boiling. ¡° Dammit, you fucking bastards! You killed him!!! I will kill you!!!¡±
¡°Hmmmm, I guess it¡¯s my turn.¡± Deidara grinned, swinging himself onto his clay owl. His bird grabbed the Kazekage¡¯s corpse with its talons. ¡°I will take on the jinchuuriki. Master Sasori, Asami, see you later.¡± And away he went, his bird taking flight.
¡°Hey, where do you think you are going? Don¡¯t think you can get away!¡± Naruto immediately stormed after Deidara, hardly wasting a second. He had lost his mind and took the bait without further consideration. It was appreciated when plans went well.
¡°Naruto! Stop!¡± Kakashi tried his best to reign him in, but all was in vain. He failed to stop his student. ¡°Listen, everyone, I have to go after Naruto. Guy, Shikamaru, you take on the rest here. Take care.¡±
¡°Got it.¡± Shikamaru nodded in silence, his little head already busy scheming, plotting, and strategising.
¡°We will handle this, Kakashi!¡± Guy grinned, his thumb raised. ¡°But you shouldn¡¯t go alone, not when the enemy is strong.¡±
¡°Right¡±, Kakashi concurred, sharing his assessment. ¡°Some support would be appreciated, I guess.¡±
Guy shouted, ¡°Neji!¡±
¡°Yes, Guy-sensei?¡± Neji listened.
¡°Neji, accompany Kakashi¡±, Guy ordered. ¡°Go with him.¡±
Neji obeyed. ¡°Understood!¡±
¡°...¡± Kakashi eyed his new companion. Time was of the essence. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Neji.¡± They both disappeared. They both left. Three less. Nine still remained.
The old woman named Chiyo stepped forwards, her eyes steeled with resolve. ¡°It has been a long time, Sasori. All these years, I have been waiting for this moment.¡± A set of scrolls emerged from her sleeves. A fine collection of puppets stored inside them, no doubt. At least, based on their previous encounter. The old woman was serious right from the start.
Temari unfolded her fan, a strong gust surrounding her. ¡°I will fight by your side, Lady Chiyo. You can count on me. You can count on my fan.¡±
¡°Me too.¡± Sakura smirked, a smug grin plastered across her face. Her combative spirit had hardly diminished. The girl cracked her knuckles in a way befitting her brutish, violent methods. ¡°Time to kick some arse.¡±
¡°...¡± The old woman smiled, glad to have them on her side. ¡°Temari, Sakura, let¡¯s show my precious grandson what we are made of.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Sasori chuckled, heartily amused, his deep inhuman voice reverberating through the cavern. His metal tail slithered around menacingly. ¡°Bring it on! Show me what you all are made of. I am waiting.¡± The fight started. Three less. Six remained. Six potential enemies. Six familiar faces. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.
They all glared at her, their stares fixed at her, unyielding, uncompromising. Shikamaru, Lee, Tenten, Ino, Choji. They had learned of her betrayal and did not take particularly kindly to it. How troublesome. They were loath to forgive her, although their disappointment must have been limited.
¡°...¡± Unfazed, undisturbed, Asami continued sipping on her tea, armed with a saccharine smile. She had seen and experienced worse. A little bit of aversion alone hurt nobody. ¡°Now, now, whom do we have here? Some old faces. Some better known faces. Some lesser known faces. Courtesies aside, I hope that time has treated you well? Hopefully, your journey has not been too arduous.¡± Her polite words failed to elicit a corresponding response.
Shikamaru clicked his tongue, clearly annoyed. ¡°Tsk, save your little games for later, Asami. We know exactly who you are and what you have done. Kakashi told us everything.¡±
¡°...¡± Asami tilted her head, giggling ominously with her teacup in her hand. ¡°Everything you say? Such as, Shikamaru-kun?¡±
The Nara boy narrowed his eyes. ¡°Stop playing dumb. You know exactly what I mean. No matter who you were. No matter what you were. ANBU, Black Princess, or whatever. Once a traitor, always a traitor. You have betrayed the village. You have betrayed Konoha. You have betrayed us.¡±
Ino joined him, launching her own tirade against her, venom dripping from her words. ¡°I always knew it. I always knew that you couldn¡¯t be trusted. Even back then, you were always the creepy loner girl with her doll.¡± Oh my, what a low blow.
Lee protested, hardly hiding the disappointment in his voice. He was disappointed in her. ¡°Asami, ... how could you? I thought you were one of us.¡±
¡°If you only knew ... If you only knew ...¡± Asami shook her cup, silently watching the swirling tea inside. ¡°Traitor ... Traitor is such a harsh word considering the circumstances. At times, fate is truly a cruel arbiter indeed, unpredictable, unforeseeable. In mere moments is lost what cannot be ever regained. The accusations that you make against me are grave, although not without merit. It would be wrong to say that the blood of our own is not on my hands. I have slaughtered them. I have massacred them. Not that it matters, though. Bygones are bygones. The past is history by now.¡±
¡°...¡± Shikamaru gritted his teeth, unable to mask his emotions, his disdain, his hatred plain. Nor did anyone else. Their eyes burned with nothing but hate. ¡°So, it¡¯s true, after all ... You are a demon through and through.¡± A demon ... It was a familiar word, a word of two lifetimes ... For some, she had been a demon, a reaper, the scourge of the gods ... For others, an angel, a saviour, their sole hope ... Curious, wasn¡¯t it?
Asami remained unimpressed, solely dedicated to her teacup. ¡°I would be frankly hurt if I wasn¡¯t. Anyway, matters of my supposed demonic nature and your resentment aside, what are you going to do? Are you all going to fight me?¡± Her eyes shimmered with a glimmer of purple.
¡°Tsk, you can be certain of it!¡± Shikamaru dismissed her subtle threat. ¡°Playing dumb doesn¡¯t suit you, Asami. We will fight you. And we will win. Don¡¯t think that we will go easy on you.¡±
¡°Oh my, how troublesome. How dreadful.¡± Asami inspected her nails, their presence was already tiring her beyond what she considered acceptable. It had been a long three days and nights. She was tired. ¡°Unfortunately and quite frankly, my time as well as interest in you is limited.¡±
¡°What?¡± Lee raised his voice, confused.
So was Shikamaru, his eyebrow furrowed. ¡°What is that nonsense supposed to mean? Are you playing with us?¡±
¡°Oh, no, I am not playing with you at all~. How would I?¡± Asami hid behind the cover of her enigmatic smile. ¡°Fortunately for you, I have already found a suitable replacement to fill my roll~. Tobi!¡±
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...
...
¡°Tobi!¡±
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...
...
...
...
...
¡°Tobi!!!¡±
Tobi finally responded. It only took three times. ¡°Tobi not talking! Tobi being a good table. Good tables not talking. Tobi thus not talking.¡± Ah, yes, right ... She had nearly forgotten about him serving as her table
¡°...¡± Asami sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. Competent personnel were difficult to come by these days. ¡°You have permission to speak, Tobi. You are henceforth officially relieved from table duties.¡±
Tobi sighed in relief, sharing his joy. ¡°Yay, finally~! Thank you, Asami-senpai~. You are the bestest! My back is getting stiff, and my knees are freezing!¡±
¡°...¡± Asami sipped on her teacup. ¡°Listen, Tobi, I have a special mission for you.¡±
Tobi tilted his head, still on the floor. ¡°And that would be?¡±
Asami beamed with childish innocence. ¡°You see, Tobi, I have always wondered why you are part of Akatsuki. The day has come to prove your mettle.¡±
Tobi tilted his head one more. ¡°Heh? Tobi not understanding.¡±
Asami smiled with deceptive sweetness. ¡°Fight them for me. Entertain them in my stead.¡±
¡°What!!?¡± Tobi veritably panicked, his arms shaking, his voice oscillating. ¡°No! No! No! Absolutely not! Enemies scary! Tobi not fighting! Tobi going back to being a table!¡± He readopted his previous posture, straightening his back once again. ¡°See, Asami-senpai~, Tobi good table. Good table not fighting. Good table not talking.¡±
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...
¡°...¡± Asami was less than pleased, despite her lips savouring her tea. ¡°See, Tobi, sometimes in life we have no choice but to fight. We are forced to fight whether we want it or not.¡±
Tobi looked up, a question floating over his head. ¡°I don¡¯t understand, Asami-senpai~ ...¡±
¡°...¡± He would understand. A healthy kick was her answer. Asami rammed the heel of her sandals directly into his flank, making Tobi roll sidewards like a barrel, directly towards the enemy. Her hand left deftly caught her falling teapot mid air. Unlike Tobi, her teapot didn¡¯t deserve such treatment.
¡°AAAaaaaaarrrrrgggghhHHHHH!!!¡± Tobi rolled, rolled and rolled until coming to a stop. His head was spinning, and his world was turning. ¡°Asami-senpai~, why ... are ... you ... being ... such ... a ... meanie ...¡±
¡°Leaf Drop Kick!!!¡± Guy came crashing down on him, his drop kick nearly pulverising poor Tobi. The ground beneath crumbled, stone and rock splintered.
¡°Wah!!!¡± Tobi dodged in the last moment possible, barely escaping judgement. He jumped up, shrieking. ¡°Asami-senpai! Asami-senpai! Help! Help! Protect Tobi the Table!¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Her response was cold. Asami ignored his pleas for help, sipping on her tea. His predicaments went ignored. It was his fight now. Tobi might act like a fool at times, but he was not a complete idiot. There was a reason Pain had chosen him to spy on her. Contrary to his allegations, Tobi certainly knew how to fight. He certainly knew how to move. And he certainly knew how to survive. He only needed to show his hand for a change.
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Arc XII Chapter 29
XII
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Arc XII Chapter 29
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The fight continued while Asami was sipping on her steaming tea. Tobi tried his best to survive, with considerable success and admirable persistence so far. Stubborn as usual, Tobi refused to go down so easily.
Although Tobi might play the fool, his act did not deceive her. There was more to him than the eye met, yet even now Tobi was hiding his strength. Despite numerous occasions to counterattack, he was solely limiting himself to defensive measures without ever taking the initiative. He merely dodged and evaded. He never attacked. He needed to be put under more pressure to force him to reveal his hand ¡
Her head ever so slightly, dodging a feeble attempt on her life and tea. A kunai sailed past her head, lodging into the rock behind her. The offender was quickly identified. This was l¨¨se majest¨¦, was it not?
Asami continued sipping on her tea with stoic tranquillity and all the nonchalance that she could muster, yet her voice was laced with traces of annoyance. ¡°Ino ... Always one rash to act, are you not?¡±
¡°...¡± The girl clicked her tongue, a drawn kunai in her hand. ¡°Dammit, I missed.¡±
¡°...¡± Asami was forced to chuckle, a gelid smile adorning her lips. ¡°Well, to be honest, it was a rather feeble attempt on your part. So failure was to be expected, admittedly.¡±
Ino clenched her fists, boiling. ¡°Just shut it, bitch! Nobody asked you for your opinion, princess!¡±
¡°Bitch?¡± Asami furrowed an eyebrow, swirling her tea inside her cup. ¡°Says the scantily clad woman with dubious morals.¡±
Her words showed their desired effect, enraging Ino. ¡°What did you just say?!¡±
Asami grinned, having Ino right where she wanted her. This was far too easy, was it not? ¡°I think you heard me right.¡±
Ino narrowed her eyes, fuming. ¡°Just wait! I will show you ...¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Shikamaru stopped her, his arm blocking her way. ¡°Ino, don¡¯t fall for her cheap tricks. Concentrate and focus. Don¡¯t lower your guard!¡±
¡°...¡± Ino was quick to reconsider, much to Asami¡¯s disappointment. ¡°... right.¡±
Asami took another sip, amused. ¡°Are~ are~, you are such a smart boy, Shikamaru-kun. No wonder that they say that you are a cut above the rest.¡±
¡°...¡± Shikamaru ignored her compliment, his eyes narrowed. The gears in his head were turning. The master tactician in the making had already begun strategising, plotting her downfall and demise. It was apparent that he was serious. Fortunately for them, she was in no mood to play.
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Asami refilled her cup of tea. Much to her dismay, her remaining reserves of chamomile tea had begun to approach critical levels. Her kettle was slowly emptying. What a dreadful prospect. ¡°Anyway. You know, as curious as it might be, I am not in the mood to fight you, which means my interest in you is exceedingly limited. So what if we strike a little deal, you and me?¡±
¡°A deal?¡± Choji wondered, the distrust in his voice manifest.
Asami smiled to the best of her abilities. ¡°Yes, a deal~.¡±
¡°Tsk, and what exactly would that deal of yours entail?¡± Shikamaru clicked, reluctant, though not entirely disinclined, just as predicted. Though he might be a ninja of Konoha, he did not lack a certain opportunistic streak. If there was one to accept, then it was him.
¡°...¡± Asami giggled, resorting to her most diplomatic smile. ¡°Personally, I would define it as some sort of truce. The conditions are simple, as long as you do not bother me and my tea, I will not bother you. Does that not sound like an equitable bargain?
Shikamaru merely scoffed in response. Little love was lost. ¡°And why on earth should we accept your proposal? For the sake of old friendship, or what?¡±
¡°Hardly.¡± Asami grinned deviously. ¡°As I see it, we both stand to gain from such an agreement. I profit, but so do you. As long as I do not intervene, you are free to aid your comrades in need. As a matter of fact, I am sure that your support would be appreciated. After all, Tobi appears to give them quite some trouble. So why fight me instead for no apparent gain?¡±
¡°...¡± Shikamaru clicked his tongue, not even bothering to hide his distrust. ¡°And what guarantees do we have that you won¡¯t backstab us?¡±
¡°...¡± Asami tilted her head, reflecting for a moment, her index finger caressing her lips. ¡°To be precise, ... none. None besides my word of honour for what it is worth.¡±
¡°How deeply reassuring ...¡± Shikamaru frowned, clearly displeased with her response. ¡°What a drag. You never change, do you, Asami? I have no idea what you are scheming in the little head of yours, but we will accept anyway. Choji, Ino, let¡¯s go. As things stand, we have already wasted enough time on her.¡±
¡°...¡± Choji and Ino merely nodded. Together, the trio disappeared.
¡°...¡± Asami smirked, satisfied with the outcome of her negotiations. Success. She had gained a new set of pawns to pressure Tobi. Hopefully, they would prove a useful addition to her board.
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Tobi stood tall, his arms flailing wildly as he struck a theatrical pose. His voice boomed with bravado, radiating presumed confidence. ¡°Muahahahaha! Kneel before Tobi¡¯s might, feeble humans! Kneel before Tobi the Invincible, Defeater of Tangos and Konoha shinobi, Mightiest amongst the Tables!!! Muahahahahahaha! Your puny attacks are no match for Tobi the Table!!! Muahahahahahaha!¡±
¡°Dammit! He¡¯s mocking us!¡± Tenten snapped, her hands twitching toward her holstered storage scrolls. The battlefield was littered with a sea of discarded kunai and shuriken, every single one of them a testament to her failure.
¡°He is¡±, Guy conceded, his voice calm yet his eyes sharp. He was tracking Tobi¡¯s erratic movements. ¡°Don¡¯t let his antics distract you. He has dodged all of our attacks so far. That¡¯s no coincidence. His reflexes are excellent, and his movements are calculated. Caution is advised. Our enemy is skilled. He is far more than he lets on.¡±
¡°Ohohoho!¡± Tobi wobbled dramatically on one foot, his arms flapping like a bird. ¡°You are right, Tobi the Table is far stronger than you all can imagine! Ohohoho! Shiver in fear!¡±
¡°...¡± Tenten growled as she yanked on her scrolls, prepared to unleash another volley of kunai and shuriken. ¡°What an annoying guy ...¡±
¡°...¡± Lee merely nodded in agreement, his fist raised high to guard his posture. He had been intently observing the enemy. ¡°Guy-sensei, what are we going to do?¡±
Tobi hopped in place, clapping his hands like a gleeful child. ¡°Oh, yes! What are you going to do? Tell me! Tell me!¡±
¡°...¡± Guy ignored the enemy¡¯s interjections. ¡°We must continue attacking. We must maintain the pressure. We must increase the speed and tempo. No matter how skilled he might be, he can¡¯t dodge forever. Sooner or later, he will make a mistake.¡±
¡°Understood, Guy-sensei.¡± Lee agreed.
¡°Got it.¡± Tenten nodded in agreement, her fighting spirit reignited. ¡°Sounds like a plan. We just need to wait and apply further pressure.¡±
¡°Ohohohoho!¡± Tobi laughed loudly, hardly intimated. ¡°So you think that you can defeat Tobi the Mighty Table? Ohohohoho, how arrogant of you non furniture ¡¡±
The earth trembled, and the ground was shaking. Something was approaching, and it was approaching fast. Right from behind and right in Tobi¡¯s direction.
¡°...¡± Asami sipped on her tea in deep contemplation. Hopefully he would notice in time. Otherwise, this would spell the end for poor little Tobi. She would need to organise even a proper gravestone for him. That would be a rather laborious affair.
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Arc XII Chapter 30
XII
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Arc XII Chapter 30
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Confused and confuzzled, Tobi turned around, unaware of the awaiting danger. Tobi tilted his head. ¡°Hmm, what is ... this ... Wuah!!!! Awww!!! Waahhh!!!¡± Tobi dived into safety, wailing and flailing, barely able to dodge in the nick of time before being crushed alive by a rolling boulder of human flesh. It was a trademark Akimichi clan technique.
The Akimichi boy had increased his size and weight, turning his entire body into a living weapon. Much to Tobi¡¯s relief, Choji missed, shooting right past him before taking a sharp turn. The meat boulder returned. The Akimichi boy went for a second attempt, his determination evident.
¡°Phew!¡± Tobi sounded relieved, brushing his invisible sweat from his nonexistent forehead. ¡°This was close! Tobi was almost a goner ... Huh?¡±
¡°Awww!!!¡± With a startled yelp, Tobi leapt into action, narrowly dodging the Akimichi¡¯s second attack. Tumbling midair in an overly dramatic fashion, he landed on his feet only to immediately face her. His mask locked onto her.
¡°Asami-senpai! What¡¯re you doing?! They¡¯re ganging up on poor, innocent Tobi!¡± Tobi wailed, his voice in equal parts incredulous and accusatory. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to watch Tobi¡¯s back?¡±
¡°I am.¡± Unbothered, Asami took a slow sip of her tea, her every movement measured and deliberate. Her lips curved into a faint, amused smile. ¡°In theory.¡±
Tobi threw his hands in the air, groaning in protest. ¡°In theory?! What¡¯s that supposed to mean? Tobi is risking life and limb, and you¡¯re just sitting there ... sipping tea?! Some senpai you are!¡±
¡°...¡± Asami remained entirely unimpressed, slowly raising her cup again, armed with an encouraging smile. ¡°And yet you seem to be doing fine~. Even without me~.¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Tobi¡¯s muscles tensed up, his instincts kicking in. His body moved in an instant, retreating to gain distance. The attack had been subtle, but not subtle enough to escape his attention.
¡°...¡± Asami smirked over the rim of her cup. So he had noticed after all. The shadow was creeping towards him, hiding amidst rocks and the cave¡¯s dim light, but Tobi had spotted the approaching danger. Good for him. The consequences of not having done so would have been rather ... unpleasant.
¡°Eeeek!¡± Tobi shrieked as the shadow pursued him, darting towards him like a serpent. He scrambled, twisted, narrowly managing to avoid the shadow¡¯s grasp.
¡°Go, get him, Shikamaru!¡± Ino cheered him on from the sidelines. ¡°Pin him down! I need to get a lock on him¡±
¡°Tch, I know. I know, Ino. You don¡¯t need to tell me¡±, Shikamaru grumbled, his hands forming a seal. ¡°But all easier said than done. The guy is slippier than he looks. What a drag.¡±
His shadow twisted and bent in all directions, meandering across the entire cave. Yet to no avail. In the end, his shadow had exceeded its effective range.
¡°Tsk, dammit.¡± Shikamaru frowned, his annoyance evident. ¡°Too slow.¡±
¡°Ohohoho.¡± Tobi meanwhile relished his victory. ¡°Nice try, boy! But you won¡¯t catch the mighty Tobi the Table so easily with your shadow thingie! Ohohoho!¡±
¡°Don¡¯t get your hopes up too soon.¡± Tenten came rushing in, readying her storage scrolls from behind her back. The scrolls unravelled in their entire length, revealing their explosive load.
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¡°...¡± Always the impeccable princess, Asami was sipping on her tea, pretending not to notice. Judging by the volume of explosives to be employed, this was going to be a delicate affair for everyone involved. Hopefully, the girl knew what she was doing and was not going to endanger the structural integrity of the entire cave. Hopefully. But you never knew with these Konoha shinobi and their brutish ways. Otherwise, she would be forced to relocate.
¡°Huh?¡± Tobi shifted his attention towards the attacking girl, only to shriek in fear. Poor Tobi recognised the danger. He was waving his arms wildly in front of him. ¡°Awww!!! No! No! No! No! No!!! Don¡¯t! Please not! Tobi is too young to die!!!¡±
¡°Too late.¡± Tenten smirked before jumping up, rotating around her own perpendicular axis, her scrolls tightly gripped in her hands. ¡°Take this!¡± The barrage commenced. The girl unleashed a torrent of kunai, every single one of them adorned with an explosive tag. The attack produced the desired effects, indiscriminate as it might have been. The barrage flattened everything in its path with fire and brimstone.
¡°Awww!!!¡± Help!!!¡± Surrounded by a storm of explosions and denotations, Tobi was running with his tail between his legs, scrambling for his life. ¡°Awww!!! Asami-senpai~, help!!! Tobi is in danger! Help!!! Senpai~!!! Help!!!¡±
He was not the only one. Shikamaru and the rest of his team were quick to take cover. Fortunately, the onslaught had the decency to spare her, forcing her shielding to deflect only a few stray kunai that had considerably missed their mark. The girl¡¯s aim left much to be desired.
Yet Tobi lived, escaping Tenten¡¯s barrage mostly unscathed despite his dubious antics and running around like a headless chicken, flailing with his arms, legs and head. It was either a testament to his skill or his apparent imbecilic nature. Even now he insisted on maintaining his facade of stupidity, his carefully crafted persona. Nevertheless, the outcome remained the same, regardless of his unconventional methods. Tobi lived, surprising as it might have sounded. He had dodged the incoming fire with ease, with only a few scorch marks here and there gracing his coat.
Tobi sighed in relief, grateful for his good fortune. ¡°Huh, Tobi lucky. Tobi living to see another day.¡± Or so he thought. It was not over, though.
¡°...¡± Asami stole a glance at him over the edge of her teacup, quietly observing from afar. Her lips curved up ever so slightly, revealing a gleeful grin. The Green Beast of Konoha was approaching Tobi ... How troublesome for her partner.
¡°RrrraaAAAHHHHH!!!¡± His monstrous roar reverberated through the cave. Guy rushed forwards, his momentum and speed carrying him. He charged, his iron fist sought to strike. He jumped, coming from above down onto Tobi.
Tobi pretended to panic, his voice trembling. ¡°Waaaaahhh!!!¡± He scrambled to dodge. Against all odds, her partner managed to evade. He should not, and yet he did, once again betraying his excellent reflexes. His body twisted, slipping past Guy¡¯s wrath. Tobi evaded once more, his body floating through the air.
The Blue Beast struck, shattering the ground beneath him. Rock and stone crumbled under his sheer strength, the kinetic impact ripping a deep hole in the solid ground. All his efforts seemed to be in vain. Unfortunately for her partner, this was all part of their plan. Tobi had taken the bait.
Amidst falling debris, a broad grin flashed across Guy¡¯s lips, a grin of victory. ¡°Now!!! Lee!!! Show him THE POWER OF YOUTH!!!¡±
Yes, Guy-sensei!!!¡± Lee clenched his fists, taking the opportunity. The boy rushed in, propelled by an incandescent green aura visible even to the naked eye. His chakra level exploded, rising exponentially. His chakra engulfed his entire body, going beyond what should be humanly possible. It had to be. It must be. ¡°AAarrghHHH!!!¡±
¡°...¡± Asami sipped on her tea. So this was the infamous technique of the Eight Inner Gates ... What a frightening sight to behold ...
Lee moved with superhuman speed. Guy had distracted Tobi long enough to provide an opportunity. It was now that Tobi realised that he had miscalculated. Lee was coming directly for him and Tobi would be unable to change momentum. They were about to collide ...
Although her knowledge of taijutsu might be limited, even she understood that this was going to hurt. Significantly so.
¡°AAarrghHHH!!!¡± Lee approached. He approached fast, with his fist clenched and all his strength behind the blow, Tobi directly in front of him. ¡°AAAaarrggghHHH!!!¡±
His fist never connected. The moment Lee was about to strike with all his might, his whole body phased right through Tobi. Lee passed through Tobi¡¯s incorporeal form, crashing into the rock behind with full force. The stone cracked and the cave¡¯s wall collapsed with boulders falling around him. It was a spectacular display of strength, yet the fact stood, Lee¡¯s attack had failed. Evidently so.
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Unharmed and unscathed, Tobi landed on his feet, his black coat fluttering in the air as he descended. ¡°... ... ...¡±. Her partner remained unfazed by what had transpired, even when his voice had fallen silent ... How unusual for him ... He had always been a talkative one.
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The world stood still and the silence continued. Everyone stared, gaped, watched in shock and disbelief, unable to process what they had seen with their very own eyes. Shikamaru, Guy, Lee, Ino, Tenten, Choji. Even her teacup hesitated for the slightest of a moment before resuming its course. It would be a lie to say that the turn of events did not take her by surprise.
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¡°...¡± Ino gulped, her voice stuck in her throat and incredulity written across all of her face. Yet she was the first to gather the courage to speak. ¡°Shikamaru, what ... what just happened?¡±
¡°Tsk.¡± Skikamaru clicked his tongue, his annoyance audible. ¡°Give me a moment, Ino, I¡¯m thinking ...¡± The gears in his head went into overdrive, analysing, calculating, strategising. ¡° Whatever it was, this guy is going to be a real fucking pain in the arse.¡±
For once, Asami agreed. Recent developments had proven to be most curious indeed. To think that Tobi would vanish and rematerialise under her very eyes. To think such was possible ... How fascinating~.
¡°Hehehe~...¡± Asami chuckled in secret, her teeth flashing a vicious smile. Her purple eyes narrowed dangerously from behind her teacup, filled with a dark, glistering, insatiable curiosity. Her eyes observed the man named Tobi, analysing, studying his every movement like a hunter her prey, keen to uncover the secrets that now lay bare to see. She only hoped that her pawns would play their part.
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Arc XII Chapter 31
XII
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Arc XII Chapter 31
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¡°... ... ...¡± Tobi was standing in the middle of the cave, motionless, sunk in thought. His voice had fallen silent. He turned towards the source of his sudden consternation with apparent irritation, glaring at the boy even from behind his orange mask. His posture hardened visibly. Gone was his usual benign nature, replaced by something far more sinister. Even if it was just for a fraction of a moment, Tobi¡¯s mask had slipped, much to her amusement. ¡°...¡±
¡°...¡± Asami grinned, considerably pleased. As suspected, so she was right all along~. No matter how much he tried to pretend otherwise, Tobi was more than the met the eye.
¡°Aargh ... Aargh ...¡± Lee rose amidst the rubble and debris, groaning in pain as he pulled himself up with youthful exuberance, unbothered by all the collateral damage that he had caused. Lee wiped his forehead, his breath slightly ragged. Dust and grime clung to his skin, yet his eyes burned with determination. ¡°Guy-sensei, did ... Did I get him? I felt no contact ...¡±
¡°...¡± Guy shook his head, his keen stare focused on the enemy. ¡°Unfortunately, not, Lee. Somehow, the enemy escaped.¡± His tone was steady but cautious.
¡°What?!¡± Lee gaped in disbelief, his fingers clenching into fists. A single question was written all across his face. ¡°How?¡± He was not alone. Unspoken yet palpable, the question loomed in everyone¡¯s mind, including hers. Asami narrowed her eyes while sipping on her tea.
¡°Tsk.¡± Shikamaru clicked his tongue in irritation, his voice cutting through the silence. The Nara heir commanded respect. Lee, Guy, Tenten, Choji, Ino, they all turned towards him. ¡°Impossible to tell at this point. We lack sufficient information to determine how he did it. What we can say is only that he did it. The guy somehow evaded your attack, Lee. From point blank, no less.¡±
Shikamaru¡¯s eyes narrowed, his mind working tirelessly, piecing together available information. ¡°He didn¡¯t dodge, though. He didn¡¯t even try to. He took your attack head on. You should¡¯ve made contact, but you didn¡¯t. Upon impact, you phased right through him. I suspect that the enemy must¡¯ve deployed some kind of intangibility. Probably through some sort of spatial displacement technique.¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡± Lee listened, merely nodding along. ¡°So it¡¯s like that.¡±
¡°You think so, Shikamaru?¡± Ino asked for confirmation.
¡°Yes, or at least, I¡¯m reasonably sure of it. It must be some sort of intangibility. That¡¯s for sure¡±, Shikamaru stated, his eyes focused on the enemy. ¡°It must be some kind of technique. It must be some kind of ability of his. The crucial question is how his ability works.¡±
Shikamaru threw a glance at Lee. ¡°Hey, Lee, listen!¡± His words made Lee stand at attention. ¡°Did you feel anything strange while passing through him? Anything abnormal? Any tickling? Or anything else? It doesn¡¯t matter what. Every piece of information is relevant!¡±
¡°Hmm ...¡± Lee reconsidered for a moment, as his mind replayed what had transpired in his mind. The boy shook his head. ¡°No, not that I know of. I felt nothing. Absolutely nothing. It was as if he wasn¡¯t there.¡±
¡°Hmm, I see.¡± A grin crossed Shikamaru¡¯s lips, slow and calculated. ¡°As suspected then, his intangibility probably applies only to himself.¡±
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Choji raised an eyebrow, his broad frame shifting ever so slightly. ¡°What do you mean, Shikamaru?¡±
¡°...¡± Shikamaru hesitated for a moment before explaining. ¡°You see, theoretically, his intangibility works in two different ways. Either he passes through us, which means his ability makes him intangible, or he makes us pass through him, which means that technically speaking, he makes us intangible rather than himself. The result is the same, but the implications differ. In the former case, his ability is limited to himself and thus possibly restricted in range. In the latter case, it means that he can apply his intangibility to other objects and targets, which necessarily implies some kind of range for his ability.¡±
¡°I see.¡± Choji merely nodded. ¡°I get it.¡±
Shikamaru continued his analysis, his eyes sharp. ¡°Based on what we know, we can¡¯t exclude either option, but I have a strong suspicion that his intangibility applies only to himself. The fact that Lee felt nothing at all supports my theory. His ability is a jutsu. It must use chakra. If he was altering Lee¡¯s state rather than his own, Lee would have felt something. He might not be a sensory ninja, but he would have noticed. You can¡¯t just pull a trick like this on someone without people realising.¡±
¡°...¡± A row of nods followed. Lee. Guy. Tenten. Ino. Choji. Everyone agreed.
Shikamaru glanced up. ¡°The questions remain, though, what¡¯s the range of his ability? How does he identify incoming objects? Does he require any direct vision? Or does he rely on a sensory field? How fast is his response? Can he affect multiple objects at once? Are there any other potential limitations?¡±
Tenten fidgeted, her impatient fingers twitching, itching for the next fight. ¡°So what are you suggesting then that are we going to do then? How are we going to counter his ability?¡±
¡°... ... ...¡± Shikamaru pondered his answer. Then, a smirk crossed his lips, confident and assured of victory. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll find a solution. In the meantime, we need to keep the pressure up. The enemy is not infallible. Far from it. He can be beaten, and he¡¯ll be beaten.¡±
¡°...¡± Ino stole a glance at him. ¡°How can you be so sure, Shikamaru?¡±
¡°...¡± Even now, Shikamaru¡¯s smirk never faltered. ¡°Think about it for a moment, Ino. The guy was mocking us this entire time. He¡¯s spent every second taunting us from the moment we met. And yet now, he¡¯s suddenly fallen completely silent. Not a single word from him. He must be fuming right now. And you know why? Because it shows us two things.¡±
Shikamaru raised his index finger. One. ¡°Our friend knows he¡¯s miscalculated. We forced him to reveal his cards.¡±
He raised his middle finger. Two. ¡°And last but not least, his intangibility isn¡¯t invincible. If it was, he wouldn¡¯t put on this whole farcical performance just to hide it. He wouldn¡¯t go to such lengths to play the bumbling fool. He wouldn¡¯t be some nameless lackey shoved around at will by our little princess. His ability has a weakness. It¡¯s just a matter of finding out.¡±
¡°...¡± Poised and composed, Asami sipped on her tea with deliberate grace, her expression unreadable save for the faintest of smiles. It would be a lie to say that she did not commend him for his deductions. Shikamaru ... Personal differences aside, the Nara boy was smart indeed. His conclusions mirrored her own, although the information at her disposal was admittedly superior.
Tobi¡¯s chakra signature betrayed him. His use of chakra and the corresponding increase in ambient chakra was keenly felt. The increase was distinctive and noticeable. He might have thought himself subtle, but his use of chakra was far from inconspicuous. Quite the contrary. Her bare eyes were able to pick up on his chakra. Even without her Sharingan activated, she was able to discern his signature.
His use of intangibility correlated with an increase in chakra activity, which meant that the phenomenon was most definitely a jutsu that relied on chakra to operate. Furthermore, his use of chakra was localised and limited, which corresponded with the area of contact. Chakra activity ceased the moment contact ended, as did his intangibility.
His use of chakra was brief, controlled, precise, and meticulous. The conclusion was clear, as Shikamaru had suspected, his intangibility applied only to himself, and not even to his entire body. Only portions of his body turned intangible, and then only for brief durations. Which suggested that his ability was active in nature and not passive. His use of chakra was far too precise and controlled for a mere reflex reaction, which in turn implied that he had to identify incoming objects in order to deploy his intangibility.
And most importantly, the fact that he deliberately limited its use suggested either an exceedingly high chakra consumption prohibitive for prolonged combat or significant stress on the user, or both. Otherwise, such a limited and evidently efficient minded use of his chakra would not be required.
Nevertheless, despite all this, there was something else that aroused both her interest and suspicion. Her purple eyes saw beyond the veil. They saw what lay hidden. The phenomenon ... The jutsu ... His chakra ... The pattern ... The frequency ... It all felt strangely familiar. It all felt strangely suspicious. It was different, yet undeniably similar. She had sensed this pattern before. Quite recently, in fact.
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¡°...¡± Asami narrowed her eyes, her scrutinising gaze directed at his wooden mask, entirely drawn to his right eye. Tobi ... Could it be ... Was it possible ... Was Tobi really hiding what she thought that he was hiding?
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Arc XII Chapter 32
XII
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Arc XII Chapter 32
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Everyone¡¯s attention was focused on the object of their interest, Tobi.
¡°...¡± Her friend was standing motionless in the middle of the cave, his mask eerily calm, and his voice still as taciturn as before. ¡°... ... ...¡±
¡°Hey, you ...¡± Shikamaru grinned with a genuine sense of bravado, hardly intimidated by the prospect of fighting the man standing before him. ¡°Care to comment? Or have you perhaps gone mute?¡± His question was directed at Tobi. It was a taunt.
¡°... ... ...¡± Tobi, however, ignored the Nara heir. At least, seemingly so.
¡°...¡± Asami sipped on her steaming tea. What would be his next move? They both knew that this stalemate would not last forever. Sooner or later, he would be forced to act. Whether he wanted to, or not.
¡°...¡± Tobi, meanwhile, continued his pantomime charade without even the slightest care in the world. As if his silence was supposed to last ... forever ...
Suddenly, Tobi collapsed, his limbs failing him. His body fell, his fatal descent slow and steady with the grace of a dying swan. Tobi ceased as Tobi plummeted onto the cold and unforgiving ground in an overly dramatic and theatrical manner that would have put even the greatest actors of their time to shame. All while his right arm was raised high, skywards, as if grasping for the last straw of salvation that was nothing but an empty illusion.
¡°...¡± Tobi hit the ground, his body convulsing, twisting. His fingers clawed at his own black coat. His legs spasmed. His voice wailed as if life itself was draining from his very soul. It was his last dying moments. ¡°Aargh! The pain! The agony! I was hit! I was mortally wounded! Darkness creeps upon poor Tobi, slain, murdered in the foulest of ways! Tobi¡¯s time on this wretched earth is near ... The cruel hand of fate has finally taken poor Tobi, a bringer of joy and amusement in equal measure! Plucked far too soon from the beauty of life
Oh, what a cruel and heartless world! Oh, what ignominious injustice! In the prime of his youth, poor Tobi must perish, with so much yet to give! Tobi¡¯s tale, unfinished! Tobi¡¯s dreams, unfulfilled! What tragedy!¡±
¡°...¡± Tobi sobbed, his voice hoarse and husky. ¡°Asami-senpai~, weep for Tobi! Remember Tobi, Asami-senpai! Let the world know that Tobi was not merely a man, but also Tobi the Invincible, Tobi the Table, Mightiest amongst the Tables! Also, know that it was Tobi who ate Asami-senpai¡¯s last dango ... It was sweet and tasty... So sweet and tasty ... Aargh, how I¡¯ll miss them ... Now I have no regrets! Not any more! Aargh ... Fate is calling ... Tobi¡¯s vision is fading ... The light is growing dimmer ... Is this how all is supposed to end? Tobi now journeys to the great beyond ...¡± His arm lost its strength and withered. His head slipped, and his eyelids closed at last. The act had closed, and the curtain had set. His melodramatic performance had finally ended.
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¡°... ... ...¡± Long silence followed. Shikamaru, Ino, Choji, Guy, Lee, Tenten, everyone was left speechless
Even Asami who was savouring her chamomile tea. ¡°... ... ...¡± It would be a lie to say that this was ... not rather unexpected ... even by Tobi¡¯s standards. She might need to advise him to abandon his life as a ninja to further pursue a theatrical career instead. He certainly displayed an uncanny degree of talent for melodramatic performances. He had succeeded in entertaining her. That being said, was he seriously thinking anyone was going to buy his little act? Hardly so
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¡°...¡± Tobi peeked around, glancing left and right. ¡°Asami-senpai, are the evil Konoha shinobi gone now? Is Tobi safe?¡±
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¡°Hehehe~.¡± Asami mustered an amused giggle, her teacup raised. He had to give him that, he was a master of his craft, was he not? A master at taunting.
Tenten clenched her fists, her patience running thin. ¡°You bastard, you¡¯ll see, I¡¯ll make you dance!¡± The girl unfurled a ponderous storage scroll from her back with deliberate intent.
¡°Awwwwww.¡± Tobi shrieked, springing up like a scared cat. All his muscles tensed up, his hand waving. ¡°Ah, no! Poor Tobi has miscalculated! The evil Konoha shinobi not yet gone! No, please, don¡¯t hit Tobi. Tobi innocent! Tobi friendly ...¡±
Suddenly, the world cracked. They all were reminded that they were not alone.
The ceiling of the cavern groaned. A deep, ominous sound reverberated through the stone and rock. Fractures and cracks were spreading across the entire ceiling. Their result was fairly predictable ...
¡°...¡± Asami lowered her teacup, glancing discreetly sidewards. ¡°...¡± A certain girl was responsible for what was about to occur. A certain girl who had not yet dispensed of her brutish methods.
¡°...¡± Asami narrowed her eyes. Sakura ... The girl¡¯s punch, together with her monstrous strength, had lodged a massive pillar of black iron sand straight into the ceiling. With such force that a shock-wave was sent rippling through the underground chamber. The damage was done. The structural integrity of the cave was irrecoverably compromised.
The cracks split through the chamber, sharp and deafening. The brittle stone above them gave way, and the first boulders tore free. The cave had begun to collapse.
¡°Awwwww!!!¡± Tobi panicked, running around like a chicken with its head cut off, fear written all across his mask. ¡°Awwww!!! No! Help! We¡¯re all going to die! Run for your lives!¡±
More stone followed, and a rain of rock and debris fell upon them, massive boulders plummeting around them like a primordial deluge with the sole intent of burying them alive.
Even Asami herself was forced to defend herself against the unwelcome assault. Her purple shielding protected her against the gigantic boulder targeting her sweet, little head. The boulder was split cleanly apart under its sheer weight in the process. It was the second time today that her Konoha friends had disturbed her peace and made her raise her hand ...
The air had turned heavy, laden with dust. Eventually, though, the cloud of dust cleared. Her vision was restored, and her attention shifted to her esteemed comrade in arms, the master of dolls and puppets himself.
¡°...¡± Sasori hardly batted an eyelid, his expression blank as usual, unbothered by the destruction of the cave. ¡°This girl ...¡±
¡°...¡± Asami followed his gaze, focusing on a girl she had come to know well, Sakura. The girl was panting, her breath ragged and strained, but she was still standing, still fighting. The fire of determination in her eyes blazing. Behind her stood the old woman, Chiyo, sharp eyed and quick witted, surrounded by her mechanical creations, together with the other Suna girl, Temari. They seemed on the back foot, but the battle had not yet been decided.
Asami raised her voice, her words reaching far and wide. ¡°Sasori, old friend ... Unless I am mistaken, you appear to be in a bit of a pinch. Do you perchance need any help?¡±
¡°...¡± Her words elicited a reaction from Sasori. His mechanical joints cracked, and his head slowly, his soulless eyes staring at her, bored, disinterested. ¡°At times like these, the inexperience of your years shows, Asami. Do not estimate my art. My grandmother and her underlings might cause me some trouble, but their demise is inevitable, merely a matter of time.¡±
A faint smirk crossed Sasori¡¯s lifeless lips. ¡°So do not intervene, Asami. This is my fight. This is between me and my grandmother.¡±
¡°...¡± Asami ultimately conceded. His point was taken. ¡°If you say so ...¡± So it was like this ... His fight ... His grandmother ... This was ... personal.
Sasori pulled the strings, commanding his puppet. ¡°I think the time has come to end this charade, once and for all. Prepare to die.¡± His puppet released its dreaded iron sand. Their fight resumed.
In the meanwhile, Asami returned her attention to her most loyal subject and court jester, which contrary to her expectations found himself currently in a bit of a tight spot.
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¡°...¡± Asami raised her teacup with all the demeanour of an imperial princess. Her voice was gentle, yet firm with a subtle trace of irritation. ¡°Tobi, my friend, what exactly is this supposed to mean? I hope that you can provide a satisfying explanation.¡±
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¡°Ehm, ...¡± Tobi offered an uneasy laugh, his hand scratching his head. ¡°You see, Asami-senpai~, things are a bit sticky down here. In all the confusion, Tobi might¡¯ve somehow, possibly, maybe ended up being captured ... Ugh.¡±
Tenten grinned, pressing her kunai closer to his throat, effectively shutting him up. ¡°Who told you that you¡¯re allowed to speak?¡±
¡°...¡± Tobi gulped, his face paling considerably. He stood surrounded from all sides. Tenten guarded his back. The Akimichi boy restrained Tobi¡¯s whole body with his giant hands, holding him tight. Shikamaru pinned down his shadow. ¡°Senpai~! Senpai~, Tobi has been captured by the enemy! Tobi the Table turns out to be far from invincible! Asami-senpai must save poor Tobi! Tobi needs help!¡±
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¡°...¡± Asami narrowed her eyes, considerably displeased. For good reasons. The sly fox was doing this on purpose. All in order not to fight.
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