Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Dragonheart	By : UmbreonMessiah Category: Naruto > General Views: 1644 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 17
- 18
- 19
Sorry for keeping you all waiting. It�s been a long time
between chapters, but at least this means I could make it a Christmas gift to
all who�ve been waiting.
The website may be moving soon. Keep in touch with the fic
and my profiles if you want to know its new address when it moves.

Dragonheart

Chapter 17

A blazing roar clawed its way
through the night. It was not the sound of a charging beast, nor did it carry
the ferociousness of any animal. It was simply the sound of unmatched heat,
scraping across the dark canopy and worming its way to any eardrum it could
locate. No creature known to the living races made this noise. The only thing
that came close was a forge, suddenly opened to the cold when its fires had
burned brightly and tightly for hours uninterrupted. The noise echoed three
more times as the heads of each blazing dragon snapped and hissed at each
other, experimenting with their newfound life. They seemed to be aware of an
existence that was not just their own, yet they also resembled newborns. They
were new to life, yet had been aware of it long before they had been called.
Jiyumaru felt something in his
spine tingle. He realized it was his nerve.
Yakusho remained silent for the
time being, his eyes scanning his incarnations and the battlefield all at once.
He slowly rose to his feet, his gaze drifting gently towards Jiyumaru once
more. There was finiteness to his eyes. It was a quality that disturbed the
ANBU jounin immensely. It was as though Yakusho felt this would be the last
time their eyes would meet. Delving too deeply into those thoughts fractured
what little calm Jiyumaru had managed to attain.
�You look tense,� Yakusho
muttered. His voice was hardly noticeable above the roaring flames of his
summoned beasts, but the skilled ninja�s ears picked up the noise nonetheless.
�Anything I can do to help you with that?�
Jiyumaru was wary of Yakusho�s
demure attitude. The flaming dragons before him could not be friendly. They
were most definitely hostile, but it was impossible for the Jounin to
understand just how hostile they were. He had never seen or heard of a jutsu
quite like this one in all his years, leaving him guessing for the first time
in a long while. He felt his limbs twitch more and more as he remained still,
sizing up his opposition with care. His grip on his katana loosened for but a
split second, causing the steel weapon to tilt slightly before he regained his
composure.
�You seem quite on edge,� Yakusho
continued, crossing his arms over his chest. The Dragon Fang remained in his
hands, held tightly to his body along with the bloodied photo. �You�ve never
seen anything like this, right? It�s one of the most well hidden techniques of
the Ryumoto Clan, so I�m not surprised. Would you like a crash course?�
A solitary dragon-flame tilted its
mass downward, becoming level with Yakusho�s height for but a moment. It leaned
in towards its master as if it wanted to be petted on the head, a request that
the brunet did not respond to. Spurned by its master the dragon turned on
Jiyumaru, letting out another furnace-like belch that actually singed the hairs
on Jiyumaru�s skin. The dragon-thing returned to its position high above the
Ryumoto, hissing all the way up.
�You see, the Karyuu Yuudoudan is
a special kind of summoning technique used mostly for tracking,� the sole clan
survivor explained. �It requires, on top of a little contracted blood, an
object to use for the dragons to home in on a particular person. Like a dog
sniffing out someone by using one of their socks, only more effective.�
As if responding to its summoner�s
words, another head of flame roared deadly heat into the air, snapping its
flaming jaws at the speedy ANBU member. Jiyumaru felt his breath catch in his
throat, his limbs poised to move at a moment�s notice. He didn�t trust the
serpentine fires any more than he trusted their caller.
�Basically, I�ve used this pretty
little picture of you and your team when you were kids as a base,� Yakusho
continued. �My dragons will hunt down the closest thing related to the base
until they�ve killed it. Pretty simple, huh?�
Jiyumaru leapt backward just as
the first snake of flame crashed into the rocky terrain. Tendrils of smoke and
fire cascaded out from the impact as the summoned entity ploughed through the
limestone, bombarding the surrounding area with chunks of rock. Jiyumaru
brought his arm up to shield his face from the barrage, grunting as the debris
cut into his clothing and skin. He had barely realized he was under attack when
the draconic fire had rushed forward to strike him, giving him but a moment to
escape catastrophe. He vaguely wondered how much longer he could keep up with
simple close shaves. He knew his luck would only last so long.
�Not bad, you�ve still got good
reactions,� Yakusho sneered from across the brook. �Though I sincerely doubt
you can outlast my missiles.�
Three of the four flame-bred
dragons flew off from the ring surrounding Yakusho, bellowing out in hunger as
they scorched straight toward Jiyumaru. The veteran shinobi attempted to
distract them momentarily with an explosive kunai, bounding off to the left as
the tool combusted violently in the air. The diversion did not work as
intended, instead doing nothing more than obscuring his vision of the oncoming
assault. A cylinder of flaming might ploughed through the smoke and fires,
opening its eyes and jaws on the other side as it closed in on its prey.
Jiyumaru dove forward and sprung off his outstretched palms in order to escape,
flinging himself out of the way of the screeching flame and into the path of the
second.
A single curse left the jounin�s
lips as he hurtled towards the second hunter, unable to change his trajectory
by any normal means. But Jiyumaru was no normal man, which gave him many
options to which normal people were not entitled. His mind raced to force the
chakra through his arm, causing a hard gust of wind to blow his body to the
side of the gaping, fiery fangs. He hit the stony earth hard, coughing out his
breath as he skidded and tumbled across the rocky surface. He stopped sharply,
his bones battered by the fall, yet not damaged enough to keep him from
fighting back.
The third searing beast reared its
head right behind Jiyumaru, barreling down on him with its fiery jaws wide
open. The great summoned entity swallowed the ANBU jounin whole, bathing his
form in flame. Yakusho observed as his opponent�s body was slowly reduced to
ash beneath the assault, leaving not even a single shred of his existence
behind. The dragon reformed slowly and pulled its head into the air, peering
over at its master with a sneer.
�I think I should mention,�
Yakusho blurted out, �that the dragons don�t need to see you to find you.�
All three vicious creatures
ploughed straight into the ground, knocking rocks and chunks of soil to the
side. Jiyumaru leapt out from his hiding spot, his face twisted in anger that
he had been unable to hide in the ground like he had planned. Another barrage
of exploding kunai met the incarnations, driving them back for just a moment.
In that one moment he summoned a good portion of chakra and put it all into one
jutsu. A moment later the clearing was filled with five Jiyumarus, each one
giving a curt nod in Yakusho�s direction before dispersing in a several
directions. The scraping of flame roused once more as the snake-like flames
rushed out from Yakusho�s ring.
�Oh, and Bunshin don�t fool them
either.�
Jiyumaru swore louder than he
realized, most of the aberrant word censored by the blaring, scorching roar of
three separate serpents of flame racing through his clones towards him. Each
Bunshin dissipated noisily into chakra smoke as they were ripped through, each
streaming animal screaming towards the large oak that Jiyumaru had hidden
behind. The solid plant was no match for the crazed force of fire, becoming
torn and burned apart as each manifested conflagration crashed into it. Chips
of splintered and charred wood scattered about as Jiyumaru used the force to
propel himself back into the clearing.
No sooner had his feet hit stone
than Jiyumaru was running off at top speed. Chakra placed in the legs was known
to give one a great boost in speed, but the boosts that Jiyumaru had given
himself were beyond anything any other person had seen. It was specific rhythm
he had designed, the perfect timing for pushing chakra out through one�s legs
and feet. It was not a constant boost, but rather quick shots of chakra beyond
what would normally be acceptable. The result was Jiyumaru�s �First Step�, an
incredible boost in speed that made him move with blurring alacrity. He was
upon Yakusho before the brown-haired teenager even realized the elite ninja had
hit the ground, the silver-bladed katana poised to finish the dragon-warrior
with a single swipe.
The strike failed as the fourth
flame ignited right at Yakusho�s feet, encircling his body in a protective wrap
of fire and hissing out violently at Jiyumaru. The dragon�s eyes formed within
the blaze along with its jaws, catching the blade against its body of
impenetrable flame. The two shinobi traded glances in that one moment,
Jiyumaru�s filled with anger while Yakusho�s remained impassive. Jiyumaru
snarled shortly and withdrew before the three other fiery snakes returned,
crashing into the earth violently and scattering more stones and steam about.
�You never cease to amaze me
Jiyumaru.� Yakusho had not moved an inch since the fiasco had begun, his arms
still crossed tightly across his chest. �Even now you�re pulling out things I
didn�t know about.�
�Being ANBU means I don�t give all
my secrets away, especially in battle!� Jiyumaru panted slowly, catching his
breath. The only downside to his extreme speed was that it tended to wind him
momentarily after its use. It didn�t always happen, but it was a pain when it
did.
�I see. Don�t hold that against
me, please. The only reason I�ve given away as much as I have is because I had
to do so to survive.�
The earth before Jiyumaru erupted
in a shower of rock and soil as the three flame serpents exploded from the
ground. They had burrowed their way through the solid earth using nothing but
heat and brute force to lash out at him, following their predetermined orders.
Jiyumaru barely back-flipped out of the road, the blazing touch of one of the
missiles burning his vest and pant leg. Though their sneak attack failed, the
three summoned beasts were already preparing for another assault, twisting
apart to come at Jiyumaru from all angles.
�Katon! Karyuu Endan!�
�The cry pervaded Jiyumaru�s mind and caused him to falter. A
fourth screaming stream of flame exited Yakusho�s mouth, flying straight at the
already dangerously positioned jounin. The blast came to life in the shape of
another dragon missile, opening its blazing jaws wide as it neared its goal.
The three homing missiles dove in at that exact moment, forming a four-way
death trap. It was a sinister display of fire�s true might, sealing all the
exits Jiyumaru could take very quickly with intense heat.
He made his move suddenly, diving
toward the draconic blaze coming at his left. The suicidal maneuver had been
done with perfect timing, such that for a moment even Yakusho believed Jiyumaru
to have died. Jiyumaru�s narrow escape could only be attributed to his intense
flexibility and agility, as his body would not have escaped a bath of flames
any other way. Like a snake the well-trained ninja dove straight toward the missile
just as its body swerved, leaving a momentary opening. He was through it just
as all four of Yakusho�s attacks collided, consuming the area in a gigantic
inferno. The dragon ninja watched his creation burn for a few moments before
watching Jiyumaru stand up slowly, his clothing singed and touched with ash.
�You just keep pulling shit out of
your ass, don�t you?� Yakusho actually chuckled, amazed at the entire
situation. Luck was allowing Jiyumaru to live and keep on fighting in a way no
other had ever done.
�Well if I didn�t, this wouldn�t
be very entertaining for you, would it?�
Jiyumaru did not share Yakusho�s
amusement in the least bit. The game that was going on was taking its toll on
him, as he realized it had been intended to. The summoning technique that
Yakusho had employed was a wondrous thing, such that it even met Jiyumaru�s
incredibly high standards. He had no doubt now that it would continue to chase
him until he was dead. Even if Yakusho ran out of chakra, Jiyumaru would most
likely be in no condition to fight back, whereas Yakusho would be completely
fresh and ready for combat.
�No, I don�t suppose it would be,
now would it?� Yakusho barely let a smirk light his face as he pointed in
Jiyumaru�s direction. �Don�t get cocky now. The fun�s barely started, after
all.�
The ring around Yakusho burned
more brightly as he spoke, suddenly bursting to life as his speech ended. Three
separate flames coiled around his body before taking their shapes once more,
sneering devilishly as they came to life once again.
Yakusho�s dragon missiles launched
out with a crackling scream, each one headed straight for Jiyumaru.

Naruto struggled against the
chakra that bound him to Sakai�s barrier. The tendrils of energy that held him
to the dome tightened against his squirming, crushing his body against solid
azure. He had not been aware until that moment that chakra, something he
usually felt flowing throughout his body, could be so damn hard. It felt less
like chakra and more like a cement wall.
His attention shifted slightly
from his own pains toward Hinata. She had just agreed to fight Sakai, in order
to spare him. The more he ran that by his mind, the more ludicrous it seemed.
Using him as bait so Hinata would be forced to fight? How did that even begin
to make sense? Why would Sakai want to fight at all? Wouldn�t he rather simply
escape? And why would he use someone like Naruto as bait?
Naruto realized that
metaphorically sitting on his ass would do him no good at all. He began to
struggle against his prison once again, grunting sharply as the tension
increased and smothered him against the see-through wall once more. He would
not allow pain or fear of death stop him though. He would break free and rescue
Hinata just like he had promised Kiba. He wouldn�t fail twice.
The problem that arose at that
point was that Naruto�s brute strength alone could not shatter his bonds. The
snake-like swirls of energy that kept him chained to the dome were surprisingly
resilient despite their rather thin structure. Naruto wondered what it was that
made them so strong. He vaguely remembered Sakai saying something about the
chakra being tempered with soil and metal from the earth. If that were the
truth, then it would take more power than his body had to break through.
It would take him breaking his
promise to save her.
Don�t even think about it, pup.
Naruto�s eyes shot open as the
voice entered his head. The Kyuubi had spoken to him once before that night,
back when his hope had begun to falter. Now the beast was speaking again, but this
time it was to prevent him from saving Hinata, an action that made no sense.
The Kyuubi had helped Naruto get this far, all on the promise of reclaiming
�their vixen.� Why would the demon stop him now?
Why the hell shouldn�t I?! What, you�re suddenly looking out for me and
my promises now?
Don�t get a swelled head. This
has very little to do with you�it�s about that strange child with the blue
hair.
Naruto found his eyes drawn to
Sakai as the Kyuubi spoke, as if the Demon Fox were tilting his head in the
strange teenager�s direction. For but a split second Naruto and the ghostly
boy�s eyes met. At that moment, in spite of the situation at hand, Naruto felt
a chill run up his spine.
What about him? He doesn�t seem that special.
Then you�re blind AND stupid.
Then again, I guess I couldn�t expect you to feel all that chakra like I
can�and that marking�he has to be from the Ageru clan.
The Ageru clan? Who the hell are they? I�ve never heard of them.
Of course you haven�t�you don�t
get around like I used to.
I�ll take that as a compliment.
The trapped bijuu snarled at
Naruto�s impudence, something that made the blond chuckle.
So, what makes them special enough to make you think twice?
Naruto could practically feel the
Demon Fox peering from his prison, looking back and forth throughout the
clearing before looking straight at Sakai. His attention seemed to be linked to
Naruto�s, as the young shinobi was doing just what he felt the Kyuubi would be
doing.
You�re pretty much living one of
the reasons they�re so special. They have wondrously large amounts of chakra,
more than most ninja could comprehend. But as a whole, their shinobi history
was short and unimpressive.
So then why are you so worried?
Because before they were shinobi,
the Kyuubi snorted loudly, they were demon hunters.
Demon hunters? What the hell kind of job is that?
You really ARE clueless, aren�t
you? The Kyuubi chuckled, his voice echoing throughout the chambers
inside Naruto�s subconscious. A demon hunter hunts demons�small ones, and
Bijuu like myself.
Are you serious? People other than Akatsuki do that?
They don�t anymore. Demon hunting
became a dead profession long before you were born. Still�it�s still a problem
concerning me and you pup.
Explain that one to me!
Honestly, is there any part of
that brain of yours that isn�t focused on ramen and our vixen? The
Kyuubi was beyond irritated now, but continued with its expos� regardless. All
ninjutsu created by demon hunters were originally designed to deal with
demons�other beings with immense levels of chakra. If you tap into my power,
there�s a very high chance that you�d only be helping him.
Naruto would have slammed his fist
against the barrier had it not been crushing him. Suddenly the coils around him
tightened, compressing his body and wringing the air out from him. He gasped
hotly and begged for breath, hyperventilating as they let go of him. His face
slumped against the blue dome with a grunt, leaving him exhausted.
At that moment, he caught eyes
with Hinata, who quickly turned around to face Sakai once more.
Damn it, this isn�t fair! I can�t help her, and he�s using me as bait!
This time the Kyuubi did not
respond. Naruto felt a growl rising in his throat that was quickly quelled by
another sharp squeeze of his body. As it released him, he realized that he
could not escape and that it would be up to his lover to stop Sakai.
He may not have been a genius, but
the irony of the situation was so blatant even he could not miss it.
Suddenly, the ground began to
tremble violently. Sakai and Hinata�s eyes were drawn directly toward something
that was going on behind Naruto. The blond squirmed tightly against his bonds,
trying to turn his head to see what they were looking at. Something about it
had Sakai spooked, that much Naruto knew.
Damn it, what the hell is going on?

Jiyumaru�s body flew through the
small stream, tossing water and stones into the air as he slid across the
ground. The dive had been his last minute escape from another strike by
Yakusho�s dragons, which had summarily blanketed the area behind him in a
swathe of fire. He lay there for a moment, letting the tranquil stream soak his
vest and dark garments, letting the tiny rivulets of water dampen the ends of
his hair.
Move damn it. Get up and move!
Jiyumaru rolled out of the stream,
pulling himself to his feet just as Yakusho�s missiles reformed, throwing him
deviant sneers as they prepared to lash out once again. Yakusho himself seemed
relaxed, eyeing the jounin cautiously. He was monitoring the progress of the
fight, determining Jiyumaru�s remaining strength and stamina. He was biding his
time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.
�I don�t suppose you�d like to
come out here and join the party, huh?� Jiyumaru called out, dusting off his
elbows.
�Thanks for the offer, but I like
my little corner over here. You�re more than welcome to join me, there�s room.�
Yakusho�s lips curved very slightly into a smarmy grin that made the hairs on
the back of Jiyumaru�s neck stand up.
�I�ll pass thanks.�
The dragon to Yakusho�s left sped
outward, making a beeline directly at Jiyumaru�s body. Without hesitation the
ANBU-level shinobi dove out of the way and made a break for the trees behind
him. There was no logic in it. Yakusho had already proven that nothing fooled
the beasts, and that included trying to hide behind or under things. They were
relentless, able to find him through some unbelievable sense that Jiyumaru
could not hope to emulate. They were savage creatures, brutal like the flames
that had created them.
Jiyumaru doubted he could outrun
them much longer.
Just when he thought things could
not get worse, the serpentine flame snapped out, traveling several feet sharply
without warning. Jiyumaru was forced to perform another dive to avoid having
his head bitten off, an action that cut him off from his momentum and caused
him to grind across the gravel below him. His face and jaw were cut in the
slide, battering his upper body with stings of pain. In that moment he was
struck with the horrifying realization that the dragon was still upon him and
that he was no longer able to run away from it. He rolled over onto his back
just as the seething jaws of his attacker raced down on him.
Then, for some reason, they
stopped. The draconic fire was yanked back, like a dog that had run to the end
of its leash and had suddenly been snapped back. It let out another charred
roar, trying to fight against the force holding it back without success,
snapping its fiery mouth at Jiyumaru desperately. The ANBU jounin was at a loss
to explain why he wasn�t burned to a crisp yet, staring into the hungry eyes of
the fire-made beast with confusion.
�Shit,� Yakusho cursed. �I wasn�t
paying attention�let it go too far.�
For a moment, Jiyumaru remained
puzzled. Then slowly the pieces fell into place and the mystery was solved. He
slowly and carefully regained his footing, backing away from the ravenous
flameling and shooting Yakusho a triumphant yet mischievous grin.
�They have a limited range huh?
That�s good to know.�
�Don�t act all superior. It�s not
because they have a limited range. It�s because they have a limited volume.�
Jiyumaru�s eyes shot wide as the
serpent to Yakusho�s right slipped back into the ring of flame and the one that
had been held back suddenly rushed forward, past its previous maximum length.
Jiyumaru threw himself to the side, dodging the rush of heat and teeth just in
time to avoid being struck. He was on his feet quickly, running once again from
the elongated missile, unable to fight back against the immaterial beast.
Another exploding kunai covered his tracks, giving him some extra distance
between himself and the attack.
The third head slammed into the
ground ahead of him, causing a wave of fire to fly across the rocks and soil in
all directions. Jiyumaru could feel the intensity of the flames before they
reached him, causing his legs to propel him into the air out of instinct. He
avoided being incinerated by the surprise attack, leaving him wide open to the
other head as he fell back towards the ground. The missile that had been
chasing him previously closed the gap quickly, racing up through the air to
catch him while he was vulnerable. Another furnace-like bellow filled the
clearing as it homed in on its desired feast.
Something flew through the air,
aimed directly at Yakusho. The dragon ninja was unsure as to what the small
projectile was, but he wasn�t about to be struck by something this close to
victory. The fourth flame ignited in the ring, coming up to provide the
draconic shield that had protected Yakusho from the last attack made on his person.
The result of that simple defensive action was twofold in Jiyumaru�s favor. As
the shield drew up, the dragon missile that was poised to strike him down was
pulled back, drawn away due to the change in consistency in the overall attack.
Yakusho realized only too late that calling up his shield shortened his attack
once again.
The second thing that occurred was
a loud, shuddering explosion. The object that Jiyumaru had thrown was a small
explosive, usually triggered by impact. The heat from the Karyuu Yuudoudan,
however, was more than enough to cause the small orb to combust. The shielding
fire absorbed most of the deadly blast, causing Yakusho to merely be thrown two
feet out of the circle of fire. The red-vested teen slammed against the rocks
behind him, grunting as the world around him spun slightly.
The flame serpent that Jiyumaru
had just stopped shrieked, drawing more than enough attention to itself. His
attention diverted itself to the sound, which blessed his eyes with a peculiar
event. Yakusho�s summoned beasts were currently writhing and struggling against
themselves, their pure and bright flames slowly dying down to nothing but
embers. Those hot flecks crumbled and fell off the creatures as they thrashed
about, slowly wasting away to almost nothing as their source of life was slowly
being wiped away. It took Jiyumaru a moment to realize just what was occurring
and another moment to figure out why it was happening. He met Yakusho�s eyes as
the younger brunet stood up once more, a mere hint of exasperation apparent in
the traitor�s visage. Three steps saw the dragon-nin back inside his circle, at
which point his summoned creatures regained their full vigor.
�That�s a pain in the ass,� he
shot out. The hunting flames returned to his side, hovering and slithering
about him cautiously, responding to their owner�s emotions.
�So that�s it huh? The whole trick
depends on you staying in that circle?� Jiyumaru almost laughed at the
situation, holding his side to prevent the amusement from showing on his face.
�Jeez, that�s so lame I can�t believe it took that for me to figure it out.�
�At least you�re having fun,
right?�
Jiyumaru�s relaxed pose slowly
melted away as he considered Yakusho�s words. They weren�t exactly cryptic in
nature, but somehow they held a deeper meaning than they appeared to. The
answer to that was probably more damning to Jiyumaru�s personality than to his
actual character. Every duck and weave exhilarated part of him. Part of him was
brought to life by the near-death experiences, by the sheer defiance of the
Reaper�s strike each moment of this battle had offered. As a Kenshin, he
naturally found his calling on the battlefield, where peace was not welcome
except at the end of grueling combat. That was part of his nature. It was in
his blood, an undeniable fact of who he was. So, at least in part, the answer
was yes.
Yet another part of him was not having fun. It was his more human
side, the part of him that valued everything life had to offer. The part of him
that valued his allies and friends. It was that part of him that looked at
Yakusho and felt remorse and sadness. Sadness over the events that had brought
out the truth. Remorse over Yakusho�s choices, whatever they may have been. He
did not want to be here, fighting to death over someone he had thought his
friend less than two hours ago.
�Am I allowed to add an asterisk
to my answer?� Jiyumaru asked with what little wit he had left.
Yakusho snorted, his lips creeping
into another playful smile. �You�re shitting me.�
�Believe it or not, this isn�t how
I wanted things to go.�
�You honestly think it�s any
different in my shoes, Blades?�
Yakusho�s arms fell limply to his
sides, as if the life in them had been extinguished by a particular memory.
Jiyumaru kept himself ready for just about anything, his hand gripping his
katana tightly as the conversation allowed a break in the action. The longer he
kept Yakusho talking, the more time he had to regain his stamina. With that in
mind, Jiyumaru pushed the topic harder, unaware of just what he was getting
himself into.
�You expect me to buy that load?�
The ANBU�s anger was a culmination of the confusion and distress that had
amalgamated amongst the Konoha shinobi since the wedding. �You and your group
kidnapped Hinata. Unless Naruto catches up to your friend, you�ll get away with
it, too. You�ve scattered our forces, and at least one of the Leaf�s best
shinobi is dead! So explain to me how it�s not different for you!�
�What the hell makes you think I
wanted any of that!?�
Jiyumaru nearly dropped his blade
at Yakusho�s outburst. It was not the shout, however, that had caused him to
lose his composure. It was the raw emotion that had consumed Yakusho�s face and
eyes that disturbed him. For but a moment, the betrayer had lit up with such
furious feelings that they nearly set the area around him aflame. A moment
later those feelings slipped back into the darkness as Yakusho controlled
himself, relaxing in the fiery circle of the Karyuu Yuudoudan.
�Fangs wasn�t supposed to�it
wasn�t supposed to turn out like that. It wasn�t in the plan.�
Jiyumaru had been trained in the
finest arts of weapon combat known to the world. It was that training alone
that allowed him to catch onto the subtle hints that gave away Yakusho�s true
sentiments. The way his gloved palm tightened its grip on the Dragon Fang. The
way his lip trembled ever so slightly as he spoke. The way his words hitched
and scattered. The way he changed the words he wanted to use. It was obvious
that something was bothering him, yet he refused to let Jiyumaru in on the
secret.
�That�s wonderful�except that it
happened anyway, and you�re just as guilty as Katai!�
�Jiyumaru had expected a violent retort. What he witnessed instead
was the rather disarming sight of Yakusho turning his head away from the
accusation, holding his sword tightly as the flame missiles circled and glided
around his body protectively. His lean frame trembled within the barrier of
flames, and for the first time Jiyumaru truly realized that he was looking at a
child. Even though no shinobi could be called something so innocent, the sight
of Yakusho withdrawn into his own fire was more than symbolic enough to remind
the jounin of his opponent�s true age. It was enough to remind him that horrors
he didn�t even dare to dream had been a part of the young boy�s everyday life.
At age seventeen he was alone, the sole remaining member of his kind, in a
world full of death and deceit.
For a moment, Jiyumaru felt sorry
for him.
�I don�t need to explain myself to
you,� Yakusho growled as he teetered on the brink of what might have been
tears. �I am who I am, and have done what I have done. This is my
decision�nobody else�s. I will not be held to the standards of others!�
Yakusho thrust his sword arm out,
holding the blade horizontally as he pointed at Jiyumaru with two fingers. The
non-verbal command was heard by the dragon missiles Yakusho had summoned,
sending all three of the free ones on a death-dealing course towards Jiyumaru.
A simple roll was all it took to dodge the erratic assault, giving Jiyumaru
just enough time to get his footing and make a dash to the far end of the
clearing. He had been given just enough time to regain some of his wind, as
well as enough time to formulate a very simplistic plan.
It was based on a story he had
heard from Hatake Kakashi about the Chuunin exams some two or so years ago. The
once-great ANBU member had thoroughly told the tale of Gaara�s battle against
Gai�s student, Rock Lee. He remembered how the one-eyed special jounin had
described the Jinchuuriki�s Shield of Sand, and how Rock Lee�s immense speed
had outwitted the very rudimentary but effective defense. He was also reminded
how similar Yakusho�s defense was to Gaara�s sand, and had thusly decided to
borrow a chapter from Konoha�s past to deal with it.
Jiyumaru only hoped that he would
still be standing after he did it.
�Second Step.�
Jiyumaru�s form vanished from
view. The dust rose rapidly in a straight line towards Yakusho without reason,
kicked into the air by an unseen force. Yakusho could not respond fast enough
to the mysterious disappearance of his target, his eyes opening wide as the
fiery shield from the Karyuu Yuudoudan rose up to the defend him from an
oncoming attack. The shield shuddered and scattered slightly as something cut
across the flames, almost breaking through the solid power of the barrier.
�What the hell?!� Yakusho cried
out, spinning on his heels to look behind him.
Jiyumaru was now several feet
behind him, having outwitted both Yakusho and his summoned creations. The
special jounin let out a deep, rasping breath as he came to a full stop,
holding the ground for balance as he summoned more air to his lungs and chakra
to his legs.
So, it works after all.
�First Step� had been simple
enough to create. It wasn�t even a marvel of shinobi ingenuity. All it had been
was perfecting a concept and giving it a name. �Second Step� however, was a bit
more complicated than just giving a concept a name. It was based upon the idea
of First Step, but instead of just any kind of chakra, this version used Wind
elemental chakra. It was a violent risk to use wind chakra in such a fashion,
and Jiyumaru could already feel the side effects. The precise timing of sending
wind chakra through his legs and out his feet produced an insanely large amount
of extra speed.
It was this technique that
Jiyumaru hoped would end this fight.
�I�m sorry to say I can�t let you
just keep going on like this,� Jiyumaru called breathlessly, �but I don�t take
kindly to those who tread on the happiness of others. Your selfish ambitions
all end here!�
Jiyumaru vanished from sight once
more as the chakra poured through his legs, kicking up another streamline of
dust and rocks. This time Yakusho brought up his hands and the shield of his
own will, catching Jiyumaru�s katana with the wall of flame. It wasn�t until
the fire that rose behind him was cut across the middle that he realized he was
under attack again. He tried to turn around and face the oncoming blade, only
to feel another attack attempt to penetrate the defensive perimeter to his
left. Jiyumaru continued his light speed assault, bringing the katana down on
the blazing shield, each lightning fast blow attempting to cut through the thin
but strong obstruction. Eventually one strike managed to cut through the
intense flames, whipping right past Yakusho�s skin. The swing caused a small
rustle of wind to rattle the hairs on the teenager�s arm, alerting him to the
failing state of his attack.
Without warning the next attack
landed, knocking Yakusho clear of the circle. The blade did not have enough
force left behind it to cleave him in two, simply rattling his ribs as he was
tossed into the wet stream. He tumbled head over heels backward before coming
to a stop in the water, looking up just in time to see the Karyuu Yuudoudan
begin to fall apart and cool. Any chance he had of making it back in time was
eliminated as Jiyumaru zoomed by once more, hitting Yakusho with the handle of
his katana and knocking the young ninja aside. The traitor came to his knees
just as the blade of Jiyumaru�s sword made its final pass, the sharpened steel
passing right over his forehead with a sound so frighteningly close to his body
it made him freeze in place.
Jiyumaru finally came to a stop in
front of Yakusho, skidding harshly on his knees as he finally halted his
attacks. He was panting hard, unable to catch the breath he had wasted in his
effort to defeat Yakusho. He blinked in order to regain his senses, finding it
hard to see after his rapid movements. When he could see straight once more,
his eyes traveled to Yakusho�s kneeling form just in time to see the red
bandana he always wore slide off his face, cut by his katana in the last pass.
Yakusho�s bare forehead stopped
Jiyumaru�s breath in its tracks. Emblazoned upon the young man�s brow was an
old shinobi emblem, long forgotten by the people and found only in textbooks.
The sight of the dragon, with its wings curled about its form, simply bursting
from the dragon ninja�s head was somehow a terrifying sight. The more he
stared, the more obvious it became to Jiyumaru that the once noble symbol of
Ryuugakure had been literally burned onto Yakusho�s forehead, seared onto his
flesh by some event long into the past.
Yakusho turned his head upward,
his eyes glazed over with rage. His hands glowed red with dragon chakra as he
rose to his feet, letting heat and power gather around his body in a shimmering
display.
�You know nothing about me. You
don�t even begin to understand half of what I�ve been through. So don�t
you�.don�t you�don�t you dare judge me!�
The energy that gathered around
Yakusho began to tremble as the young man snapped his hands together, focusing
all his power into the necessary seals as he let his rage drive him. Yakusho�s
brown eyes flared violently as pure force traveled throughout his entire body,
igniting the air around him.
�Ryuu no Kokoro!�
Jiyumaru could only step backward
in both awe and fear as Yakusho unleashed the power of his lineage, summoning
every ounce of his draconic might from within the deepest crevices of his body.
The ebony backdrop of the darkened forest and nighttime sky rippled under the
intense force of Yakusho�s dragon chakra, which slowly seeped out from his skin
and began to cover him. By the time his hands hit the cold stone of the lonely
brook they had already changed, surrounded by and morphed into claws by the
altering effects of the volatile red energy. His throat issued forth a deep
roar of anger, which slowly became deep and vicious as the chakra crawled over
his face. His features stared cold death at Jiyumaru as they were slowly
replaced by a snarling crimson visage, a row of faux-teeth snapping as Yakusho
became engrossed in his transformation. A long tail snapped out from behind the
dragon ninja, whipping across the ground and scattering pebbles about the scene.
The final step of the transformation was a set of thick wings on his back,
which flapped once before coming to a rest.
A single bead of sweat rolled down
Jiyumaru�s cheek.
�Let�s see what you�ve got now!�
Yakusho taunted. �I�ll tear you apart limb by bloody limb!�
Despite being several times
bulkier than his regular body, Yakusho�s dragon form moved with surprising
speed. A single lunge brought him to Jiyumaru in less than a blink of an eye,
his claws poised to rend the flesh of the seemingly petrified ANBU. Jiyumaru
artfully ducked to the side, evading the savage attack and bringing his katana
down on Yakusho�s thick red hide. A loud scraping assaulted Jiyumaru�s ears as
he pulled his sword across the unstable chakra shell, finishing the long swipe
just before the hind legs. The jounin turned around just in time to see that
his attack had done next to nothing before he was slapped aside by Yakusho�s
tail.
�I think you�ll find that the
protective shell created by my chakra is much more durable than flesh,� Yakusho
sneered. His voice had an otherworldly echo to it, deeper and more animalistic
than his regular tone.
Jiyumaru propped himself up on a
knee, bringing his sword up to block another one of Yakusho�s lightning fast
blows. The same scraping sound as before rang out from Yakusho�s hands as he
gripped the blade tightly with his claws. Jiyumaru attempted to withdraw his
weapon, but found that Yakusho�s clutch was far stronger than his own muscles.
The more he tried the harder his opponent held on. The katana�s metal began to
creak under the pressure, signaling the panic response in Jiyumaru�s brain. The
maw of Yakusho�s shell snarled viciously as the young ninja tried to snap
Jiyumaru�s sword in half, tugging on the steel with all his might.
Without warning, a purple cloud
exploded to life in the middle of the brawl. Yakusho�s lungs received a full
blast of the smoke and expelled it sharply, causing him to release Jiyumaru�s
sword with a hard cough. Jiyumaru pounced on the opportunity afforded him by
his smokescreen and rolled out of the cloud, releasing him into the free air of
the rocky creek. No sooner had the elite ninja gathered his bearings did he
launch himself back into combat, springing back into his Second Step attack
pattern. His body vanished into the air as he flew past Yakusho, striking his
powerful hide over and over again with each pass. Each time he brought his
sword down on the red chakra that covered Yakusho�s body there would be nothing
more than that same scraping sound, signifying he had failed to do any real
damage.
Yakusho dispelled the cloud with a
hot blast of fire just as Jiyumaru was making his seventh pass. Suddenly the
dragon-like man was very aware of his surroundings. The eight strike glanced
over his shoulder, giving him a reference from where Jiyumaru had come from. He
watched the cloud of dust that was born from Jiyumaru�s lightning-fast passing
and waited. He did not have to do so for long before Jiyumaru came around for
another strike, kicking up pebbles and dirt on his way in.
Yakusho struck the ground in front
of himself with his claw, tossing up chunks of stone and gravel. Amidst the
banks of fire and destroyed terrain, the defiant gesture seemed immaterial and
pointlessly destructive. Yet behind the primitive display of power was a
flicker of anticipation. A moment later that anticipation was met with success
as Jiyumaru collided with the outstretched arm and was sent flying across the
small brook. The grizzled jounin tumbled across large, wet stones for but a
mere second before regaining his posture, coming to a shaky stop with shock on
his face. Yakusho, whose face was mostly obscured by the crimson veil covering
his body, curved into a sadistic grin as Jiyumaru prepared another attack.
This time when Jiyumaru raced in,
Yakusho�s chakra tail caught him across the stomach. Saliva flew from his mouth
as he was tossed aside, flung into the shallow river by the merciless
appendage. He did not get up for a moment, letting his senses and thoughts
return to him before attempting another attack. Another gust of wind later he
was on the offensive once again, only to be thwarted at the last second as
Yakusho pulled a giant chunk of earth out of the ground and slammed it into
Jiyumaru�s incoming form. The sickening crunch that filled the clearing didn�t
even make it to Jiyumaru�s ears, as he was struck mindless by the savage blow.
He teetered for a moment just out of Yakusho�s range, shaking his head to try
and regain himself.
�There�s a fatal flaw with speed
like that,� Yakusho bellowed, �even beyond the side effects it seems to have.�
No sooner had Jiyumaru�s brain
started functioning again than he realized just how much his legs hurt. A quick
look down confirmed the worst of his fears as each of his pant legs was steeped
in blood. His leg muscles and skin had begun to rupture under the pressure of
Second Step and had finally taken all the beating they could take. He bit his
lip as the affliction assaulted him so as to not let on to how much pain he was
in.
�And what might that be?� he gasped.
�When you move that fast, your
eyes can�t keep up with your surroundings.� Yakusho paced to the side, keeping
his eyes on Jiyumaru. �It�s a well-known downside to super speed. The faster
you move, the less aware you are as you move. Your vision most likely focuses
in on your target and only your target. It makes it incredibly easy to simply
trick you. Also, someone with reflexes and speed like I have in this form can
simply throw obstacles in your road that you can�t possibly avoid.�
Jiyumaru cursed, unable to hide
the agony in his legs any longer. Things had been bad enough before, but now he
was crippled. His speed and maneuverability were gone and his attacks had
almost no effect on Yakusho whatsoever. Every instinct in his body knew that
this battle was over and that he would die. Yet he refused to accept that,
keeping his legs moving despite the pain that consumed them. He forced his body
into a fighting pose, panting desperately as his eyesight blurred under the
throbbing agony in his limbs.
�Fighting till the bitter end,
huh?� Yakusho snorted. �Entirely within your character, I guess.�
�This has nothing to do with my
character,� Jiyumaru responded. �This has to do with my duty.�
�Whatever helps you justify your
life on your way to hell!�
Jiyumaru�s eyes strained to follow
Yakusho�s rapid movements, catching only blurs and streaks of red as the
now-transformed dragon ninja took to the sky. Flecks of chakra scattered about
in the wind as they drifted from their ethereal origin, lighting the darkness
with their incendiary glow. It took a moment for the beleaguered shinobi to
find his flying enemy amongst all the shining debris, spotting him silhouetted
against the moon. The air around Yakusho had begun to twist and ripple as he
gathered power, a blinding orange glow forming inside his jaws. Small streaks
of light floated from his lips and past his cheeks each time he opened his
mouth to draw in breath, his voice catching in a deep chuckle high above the
battlefield.
Jiyumaru willed his legs to move.
He knew what was coming. If he didn�t move now, there would be no way to escape
it. His mind screamed at his damaged muscles and bleeding shins, cried out in
fear and rage with the command to move.
The only thing that answered it
was pain.
Yakusho exhaled a violent storm of
flames that crashed into the stone and water, casting up a cloud of hot steam
moments before even that was consumed by the blaze. A tsunami of cascading fire
rushed along the entire clearing, smothering every last thing there in a cocoon
of blistering heat. Yakusho continued to expel the savage flames until his
lungs could no longer blow, searing everything within his vision. From the sky
he looked down upon the scorched wasteland, letting his eyes roam over the
burning landscape. Flames flickered powerfully where once there was a tiny
stream, reduced to nothing more than an imprint in the wake of the red-dressed
man�s assault. Back and forth his eyes scanned the ground, looking and looking.
Yet no matter how hard he searched, what he was looking for evaded him. Once,
twice, then a third time he passed his eyes over the great space before letting
out a howl.
�Where are you, Jiyumaru!?�

Kenshin Jiyumaru gripped his right
arm firmly, letting saliva drip down his chin as he sat against the base of a
rather large tree. A small pool of blood had begun to form just under his legs,
made slightly larger each time a drop of his essence seeped through his
thoroughly saturated clothing. His katana was no more, lost in the blaze that
had charred his sword arm and nearly taken his life. He had managed one last
burst of speed under the circumstances and instantly regretted having pushed
himself that far. His tendons were shot and his muscles were shredded, leaving
his legs almost completely useless. If they weren�t treated soon, he would most
likely never walk again. He realized that in his current situation, those kinds
of thoughts should probably have been placed on the back burner.
�Where are you Jiyumaru?! I�m not
going to just float around here forever, you know!�
Jiyumaru grunted slightly as he
shifted against the tree, brushing his singed arm against the great plant�s
surface. The pain was extraordinary, brought on from overworking himself in the
previous battle. He was completely down and out this time, without any hope of
a comeback or second wind. Those things were wonderful, but mattered very
little when one was basically a cripple. Jiyumaru continued his labored
breathing in an attempt to keep his thoughts level as Yakusho continued to
taunt him from the darkness.
This is bad. I can hardly stand, let alone move. My arm is too damaged
to use my sword effectively�and even when I could use it, I could hardly even
scratch him..
�You�re trying my patience
Jiyumaru!� Yakusho�s distorted voice traveled far throughout the skies and
forest, easily reaching Jiyumaru�s ears. �Perhaps I should just start blowing
things up and see if I find you!�
Somewhere to Jiyumaru�s right,
much deeper into the woods than he currently was, there was a giant explosion.
A deep crimson glow battered the incapacitated jounin, changing the colors of
his body to a deep red. He ignored the obvious implications of Yakusho�s rage,
staring off into the distant blackness of the trees.
At this rate, the outcome of the battle is obvious. I�ll lose. There�s
simply no way I can stand up to someone like him in my current condition.
Think, Jiyumaru, think! There�s got to be a way�some solution. You can�t go out
like this.
Jiyumaru continued to belittle
himself with random comments as the forest and surrounding area began to glow
with the red of Yakusho�s fires. Every few moments another small patch of
wilderness would be set ablaze as the angered dragon ninja searched violently
for his opponent. It would only be a matter of time before one of the errantly
thrown fireballs found Jiyumaru and incinerated him.
That�s how it was going to be. The
last moments of Kenshin Jiyumaru�s life would be spent waiting to die. The
bloodied ninja wanted to deny it, but found no way to do so. There was no
escape from Yakusho at this point, and the scattered barrage of flames was
slowly creeping in. He could not fight back and he could not escape. It seemed
that there would be no other alternative except to await death.
And yet, at the corners of
Jiyumaru�s contemplation was a solution. For a moment it teased him, darting in
and out of his thoughts as he continued to breathe. His hand shifted on his
burned arm as the answer to his predicament continued to flitter back and forth
in his mind, finally resting on the tip of his consciousness and tongue.
�K-Kagura!� he coughed, sucking in
another hard breath of air. �I�ve never managed before but�might be my only
chance��
The forest ahead of Jiyumaru
exploded in a cloud of fire, scattering wood and rock into the air. Splinters
landed on Jiyumaru�s head straight from the disaster, along with soot and wisps
of smoke. Yakusho was getting closer with his random attacks and there was no
telling when the next one would hit home. There was no more time for
deliberation or thought.
It�s now or never.
Jiyumaru drew his hand towards his
mouth and bit into his left thumb. The blood from his digit flowed gently
compared to the flood of produced by his legs and drooled down to his palm
slowly. The seals for the jutsu were placed together slowly due to Jiyumaru�s
injured right arm, snapping together one after another in slow succession. Time
ticked away as the ANBU jounin raced against the clock to finish the technique
before the screaming fireball that claimed his life showed up.
Yakusho readied his next blast.
Steam rose from the maw of the dragon�s head, a pale orange glow coming to life
inside his mouth. Each coughing suck for more air and more flame scattered
embers into the air. He had picked a small batch of forest that had completely
avoided his wrath so far. It would burn, just like all the other patches he�d
attacked. Perhaps that was where Jiyumaru would be hiding and this blast would
be the end of everything.
�Kuchiyose no Jutsu!�
Yakusho�s fireball was delayed as
the piece of green he had chosen became covered in a cloud of thick white
smoke. Amongst the chakra-induced fog a large figure landed, shaking the ground
as it came into being. The terrain shook and changed under the weight of
whatever it was that had appeared, several large trees creaking and snapping as
they were bent over.
The thick layer of mist cleared
shortly after, revealing an incredibly large beast standing in the forest. It
was easily four times taller than the tallest tree there, clad in deep blue
armor. In its paw was an expertly crafted spear that was about ten feet taller
than the creature was. It was an amazing weapon, crafted out of the finest
material one could imagine. The dual spearhead design was not commonplace in
the day and age that Yakusho lived in, yet seemed perfectly in place with the
design of the creature�s armor. The navy blue with gold-rimmed armor clinked
lightly as the giant animal flicked its long, bushy tail in the trees, knocking
one or two over as it lifted the guard of its helmet up, revealing a thick
black mask covering golden eyes.
�The hell? A giant raccoon?�
�I don�t believe it! I actually
did it!� Jiyumaru coughed out from atop the giant raccoon. He was sitting on
the animal�s head, holding on to the side of the great beast�s helmet.
�Kagura-hime��
�Now what the heck am I doin�
here?� the great Raccoon Princess bellowed. She used a single paw to cover her
eyes from the moonlight as she scanned the horizon. �And where�s the tiny
person that summoned me here?�
�R-right here, Kagura-hime!�
Jiyumaru slid down the front of Kagura�s helmet and came to rest on her muzzle,
looking her straight in the eye. The Princess blinked a few times before her
cheeks turned red and her eyes squished tight in excitement.
�Kawaii!� she screamed. �You�re such
a cutie! Absolutely adorable. Nice butt too.�
A moment of silence passed by
before a giant sweat drop formed on the back of Jiyumaru�s and Yakusho�s heads.
�What the hell!?� The dragon-man
snarled. �You�ve got to be kidding me!�
�I-I�m sorry, what did you j-just
say?� Jiyumaru stammered.
�Did I stutter?� Kagura simply
giggled, stamping her spear on the ground. �I said you�re a cutie, and you�ve
got a nice ass. Is there somethin� wrong with that? Seriously, if you were a
raccoon, I�d be all over you! I might be all over you anyway��
Jiyumaru paled momentarily as
Kagura continued to talk. The blood drained away from his face as a horrible,
horrible truth began to sink in.� The
world around him darkened around him as reality came crashing down.
�Dear god, you�re almost as bad as
Zurui!�
�Oh, you�ve met my little
brother?� Kagura giggled and narrowed her eyes on Jiyumaru, squealing happily
as her memory kicked in. �Oh yes! You�re Kenshin Jiyumaru! You�re the one that
summoned him here last, weren�t you?�
�Most unfortunately�� Jiyumaru
grumbled.
�Do you two mind?�
Kagura�s and Jiyumaru�s attention
was instantly drawn to the floating form of Ryumoto Yakusho, who continued to
flap his large chakra wings in front of them. Bouts of flame flickered out of
his mouth as he focused his chakra, preparing for another fireball. The giant,
armored raccoon clenched her fist and shook it angrily at the dragon, her
cheeks puffed out in comic rage.
�Is that the big meanie that�s got
you all worked up, cute stuff?� she asked.
�Um�y-yeah, he�s the uh�meanie��
�Alright then! Since he�s ruined
my good mood by picking on you,� the Raccoon Princess offered, �I�ll cut you a
deal.�
�What�kind of deal?� Jiyumaru
twitched slightly, afraid of the answer he might receive.
�Simple! I�ll beat him up,� she
giggled, pointing her spear directly at Yakusho�s hovering body, �if you give me a private reading of every Icha Icha volume there is. With lots of juicy details.�
Jiyumaru�s face contorted in
mind-blowing shock as Kagura released the details of her plan. Yakusho tilted
slightly, almost falling from flight as he tried to comprehend the priorities
of the massive beast before him.
�A-are you insane?� Jiyumaru
quivered.
�It�s either that or I leave you
as lunch for that ugly lizard.�
Jiyumaru didn�t take long to weigh
his options. With a small but nearly invisible nod he accepted the proposal,
taking a hold of Kagura�s armor so he could stand up on her head.
�Alright,� he muttered, �you win.
I�m all yours then, Kagura-hime.�
�Excellent!� she cooed with
excitement. �Oh boy, I�ve never had such a sweet piece of ass order me around!
It�s really energizing!�
�You�re gonna go this far to insult me Jiyumaru?� Yakusho
didn�t appear at all pleased, as he looked Kagura over from head to toe. �She�s
worthless. I�ll be able to crush her and you all at once! Don�t you have enough
spine to die alone!?�
The air beside Yakusho suddenly
shifted, tossing him to the side violently. The humanoid dragon rolled in the
sky three times before finally stopping, turning his attention to the strange
phenomenon that had flung him so violently. Kagura�s spear was outstretched,
hanging in the air in a perfect line, the great head occupying the space his
body had once been holding.
�I would ask you to not insult my
summoner,� Kagura smiled indecently. �You�re already on thin ice as it is,
sweetie.�
A fireball flew across the
clearing straight at Kagura�s face. The great raccoon pulled her spear back and
deflected the blazing orb with a single spin of the weapon, bringing it into the
ready position with the flowing grace of a combat expert. From there the
Princess swung her lance overhead, sending her immensely strong chakra to the
tip as it cleaved the sky. The result of her swing was a giant blade of air
that sliced through the sky, tearing up the ground as it headed straight
towards Yakusho. It traversed the great space with alarming speed, leaving
Yakusho no time to dodge. The only thing that saved him was a slight tilt to
the left, leaving the sickle of wind to cut across his wing instead of his
entire body. The sizzling red appendage fizzled into nothingness as it was
severed from him, causing him to nose dive towards the rocky ground below.
Before he could crash into said stones however, the wing regenerated, reforming
perfectly and giving him the gift of flight once more. A single flap of the
extensions of his shell sent him airborne again, saving him from certain death.
�Y�ever heard of the saying �don�t
judge a book by its cover�, sweetie?� Kagura giggled, returning the giant
javelin to her side. �You should have listened to your mommy.�
Yakusho�s response was a violent
roar that seemed to shake even the air. Channeling all his rage into his chakra
he formed another blast of fire that rocketed out of his mouth, flinging liquid
fire towards the heavily armored summoned beast. Kagura�s response was to raise
her opposite arm, intercepting the blast of flames with the pronounced guard of
her left arm. The impact was announced by an odd crackling noise as the flames
scattered against a barrier of pure chakra, deflected easily by the intense
defensive maneuver. Despite the stunning protection, Yakusho did not let up on
his attack. He continued to pour on the fire, pushing Kagura back very slightly
by force alone. Knowing her shield would only last a few more moments under the
prolonged exposure to Yakusho�s fiery breath, the great raccoon princess swung
her spear in an underhanded arc, sending a wave of chakra through the earth
towards the dragon ninja. The ground split under the force of the energy,
sending large chunks and pillars of ground straight up in a long line. Yakusho
let up on his attack and ascended higher into the sky to avoid the ramrods of
earth that Kagura had sent after him, leaving himself only temporarily open as
he flew upward.
Kagura met that opening fiercely.
Jiyumaru shifted on her helmet and fell to his rear as she charged forward,
closing the gap in but two strides thanks to her massive size. Yakusho was
forced to veer off to the side as cold metal lunged ahead of him, attempting to
skewer him by cutting him off in mid-climb. He responded to her attack with one
of his own, firing a heavy ball of flame directly at the giant raccoon�s head.
Her left hand rose to the occasion and defended her once again, dispersing the
fiery orb with a single swipe of her shield. Yakusho flipped backwards into the
air to dodge the second strike of Kagura�s lance, taking a harsh dive to get
below her and firing a thick spout of flames against her stomach. This time she
could not defend against the attack and took the full brunt of it, grunting
fiercely as she felt the wild flames crash against her. When the light and heat
abated much of her armor was charred, along with a lot of her fur being singed.
This made her rather irritated and caused her to lash out by slamming the butt
end of her spear into Yakusho�s back, slamming him into the rocky ground at her
feet.
The spear was shoved aside rather
quickly as Yakusho pushed up from the ground, moving it away with a rather
intense show of brute force. Kagura, though taken aback, wasn�t about to be
struck again. She spun the great spear and caught Yakusho�s side with it,
flinging him into the air rather viciously with the sharp end of her weapon.
The bladed tip just barely cut through his chakra shell, catching him and
opening a large gash on his side. Though the damage to his body was extensive,
Yakusho took that moment to pepper Kagura in a sheet of fireballs, keeping her
pinned down and unable to follow through. Behind Kagura several trees caught
fire and toppled over, leaving the landscape torn and destroyed in the wake of
the huge battle.
�Sugoi�� Jiyumaru breathed from
atop the navy blue helmet of the raccoon princess. �I�m�sorry I doubted you
Kagura-hime.�
�We ain�t out of the woods yet, cutie!�
she huffed, holding her spear at the ready. �He�s a tough little bastard, I�ll
give him that. It�s not going to be easy to take him down.�
Why Yakusho? Jiyumaru used the great raccoon�s ear for leverage as
he attempted to stand on his wounded legs. Why
are you doing this?
�Why are you doing this, damn
it!?� Jiyumaru was shocked to hear his own voice in the dark night. He
continued to stand by Kagura�s ear, panting as he waited for a response.
His answer came shortly after a
period of great silence. Yakusho�s looked up from his crimson body and snarled
only once, clenching one of his claws tightly as the words left him in a deep
growl.
�Because I have to�for my own
dreams!�
The air around Yakusho crackled
unexpectedly, shimmering and wavering as heat gathered around him rapidly. The
dragon chakra that encompassed him slowly turned to brilliant flames, encasing
him in a fiery body that made him resemble the very dragon missiles he had sent
after Jiyumaru earlier.
�What the hell is he doing?�
Kagura called out.
�I�m�not sure,� Jiyumaru
responded. �I�ve only ever had it described to me, but it looks like his
ultimate attack.�
Without warning a loud bang filled
the clearing as Yakusho�s body was covered from head to toe in bright red
flames. His entire face was hidden from sight, save for two slits that quickly
became blackened facsimiles of eyes. His voice wavered with the heat of his
building chakra as he cried out into the sky.
�Ningen Karyuu Endan!�
Another loud boom echoed through
the giant clearing as Yakusho fired forward like a bullet, sending a shockwave
out behind him as he raced forward. Kagura brought up her shield again,
grinning madly.
�Oh boy, it�s gonna be fun to see
if I can block this!�
Yakusho�s aim turned upward,
changing his flight path ever so slightly. Jiyumaru could only shake in fear as
he realized what was going on, grabbing on to Kagura�s ear tightly.
�Only he�s not aiming for you!�
Yakusho collided with Jiyumaru
before Kagura could react. For a split second nothing happened, the world
around the two shinobi freezing. The next moment the entirety of Jiyumaru and
Yakusho�s lives were consumed in a pillar of fire that stretched unto the
heavens and shook the ground with its tremendous power.
Everything slowly turned white
until not a thing was left.

Jiyumaru stood above Yakusho,
wobbling on bloodied legs as he tried to remain standing. Kagura stood behind
him, rubbing the soot and char marks off of her armor before vanishing in a
puff of smoke and goodbye kiss. Jiyumaru was, for reasons he could hardly
understand, barely harmed. His body was lightly singed, darkened from the mild
heat of the flames that had surrounded him. He was a light brown and black all
over, yet all of his body remained. He would recover from the mild burns he had
suffered due to Yakusho�s ultimate jutsu.
Yakusholay at
Jiyumaru�s feet, horribly scorched from the backfiring nature of his own
technique. He was unable to move save for his head, every inch of his body
clothed in fierce burns. Somehow his clothing had survived the disaster,
leaving Jiyumaru to believe that they were designed to resist heat. The young
male remained still on his back, looking up at the starry night sky with
half-lidded eyes. The embossed mark of Ryuugakure remained untouched somehow,
as if a miracle had prevented the symbol of the boy�s heritage from being
defaced.
�You missed,� Jiyumaru stated
calmly.
�You figured it out already?�
Yakusho�s voice was strained and quiet, unable to speak up due to his injuries.
�While I was in the fire,� the ANBU
admitted. �The flames weren�t hot enough to kill or incinerate things. They�re
a flashy side effect made from the fire you coat yourself in and to mask the
true nature of the jutsu. You collide with a specific point on your opponent�s
body with such tremendous force that the shockwave multiplies within their
body, creating a massive chain reaction that can shatter their bones and
organs.�
�Exactly fifteen millimeters from
the left of the heart,� Yakusho said. �Even half a millimeter�s difference
means it fails.�
Jiyumaru sighed deeply and looked
up to the sky with Yakusho. �Why?�
�Why did I miss, you mean?�
�Yes, that�s what I meant.�
Yakusho turned his head to the
side, avoiding the deep gaze that Jiyumaru had turned downward. �You� need to help Naruto. He may be
strong�stronger than any of us�but against Sakai that power is meaningless. He
will lose on his own.�
�Wh-why do you�?� Jiyumaru was
silenced as Yakusho looked up at him with pleading eyes, a look that froze
Jiyumaru�s judgement.
�Do you really need to ask that
question?� Yakusho asked. �You know the answer. Go.�
Jiyumaru stayed for only a moment
before nodding and turning around. He knew he wouldn�t be able to do much for
Naruto in his current state. He could barely move and could barely fight. Yet
somehow he knew simply being there would be a help in and of itself. With a
slight smile the battered ANBU jounin limped away from Yakusho.
He did not get far before he was
faced with the Dragon Fang. The previously discarded blade lay not too far from
where Jiyumaru was currently, face down near where the stream that had cut the
terrain had once been. Normally, in any other situation, Jiyumaru would have
simply kept walking. Yet something from earlier in his battle was still
bothering him. Despite his training and purpose, Jiyumaru walked over towards
the blade and kicked it over, trying not to get burned by its odd nature.
Just as Jiyumaru had hoped, the
picture Yakusho had stolen remained on the stones underneath the sword. The
injured male fell to his knees gently and picked up the picture, staring at it
intently. His eyes trained on it harshly until his head started to throb with
his heartbeat, causing a loud thumping to consume his mind. He stared at the
boy in the photo that had replaced Zougen Gisei even though his mind began to
boil over.
�Yo��
The words were forming on his
lips, but seemed to be blocked by something in his head. No matter how hard he
tried to speak the name it would not come. The throbbing in his head grew,
causing him intense pain. Each palm cupped his skull as he began to writhe in
agony, searching his memory for the words that would not come.
�Yoshiro�wh-who�who the hell�are
you!?�
A bright red light came to life on
Jiyumaru�s forehead, along with a searing blast of pain that consumed his
entire consciousness. He screamed into the night as a small symbol formed upon
his forehead, that of the small blood drop that was his clan�s insignia. The
red light stopped as soon as the entire icon had been formed, ripping through
Jiyumaru�s mind and body like a scythe. His hands fell to his side as he
toppled over, crashing onto the steamed rocks that remained.
The picture fluttered down from
his grasp and landed right next to him. In the picture, on both the mystery
boy�s and Jiyumaru�s shoulder pad was the very same blood drop symbol that had
appeared on Jiyumaru�s forehead.

��Merry Christmas one
and all! Please visit the website at http://dragonheart.exofire.net/fansite so
we can celebrate together. The website will be moving soon, so I�ll update you
here and in my profile if it does.
- 17
- 18
- 19
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Dragonheart