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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
- 23
- 24
- 25
iizDragonheart

Chapter
23

Hinata almost felt like crying
again.
The second she heard the footsteps
coming down the stairs, her heart jumped wildly in her chest. The words of the
Honor Guard were quickly washed away in the waves of hope that swelled within
her, falling at the wayside to the Hyuuga girl�s growing confidence. Part of
her had feared that her previous words of faith were nothing but fantasy. Her
tiny, apprehensive self had been crushed once again, leaving a smile on her
face.
They�re here!
Sakura was the first to step into
the fiery limelight of the ovular chamber, squinting as the heat bombarded her
brow. Jiyumaru followed her, with Yakusho only a second behind them, holding
the Dragon Fang at the ready. Hinata bit back the trembling in her lip and
blinked away the moisture that had been gathering in her eyes, overjoyed at the
sight of her friends.
�Sakura! Jiyumaru! Yakusho!�
Hinata cried out, tugging at her shackles as roughly as she could.
�Hinata! You�re okay!� Sakura
appeared ecstatic, her face shining happiness at her friend. �Don�t worry,
we�re going to get you out of here.�
�Uh, excuse us? Did you forget
something?�
Sakura�s expression shifted into
anger as she looked just above where Hinata was held down. Reclining all too
casually at the other end of the room was Kosu and the rest of the Honor Guard,
eyeing the new arrivals each with their own unique reaction. To his character,
Kosu�s visage remained indifferent, while Yoshi�s swelled with
self-righteousness and blind pride. Haruko simply smiled, her ceramic cheeks
curved in her own perverted version of bliss.
�You three again!� Sakura hissed,
shifting into the Goken battle stance.
�Release Hinata and we won�t have
to fight you,� Jiyumaru stated calmly, raising his sword in spite of his
demeanor.
�Silence, you filth of Konoha!�
Yoshi snarled. �You are not, nor will you ever be, in a position to give us orders!�
�You wear symbols of devotion and
honor that belong to the dead, and you call us filth!?�
The room shifted wildly, a great
pressure suddenly spreading across the great chamber. Sakura and Jiyumaru
quickly found themselves on their knees, gasping against the horrid tide that
consumed the air. Once again the shinobi were the victims of a wave of
murderous intent so potent that it all but crippled them. This time however,
the warriors of Konoha were not the only ones to suffer at its hands. Across
from them the Honor Guard had also fallen, buried under the weight of a hate so
powerful it extinguished all other feelings.
As swiftly as it had begun the
feeling dissipated, leaving six terrified shinobi in its wake. The only one who
remained unaffected by the surge of malice was Yakusho, who remained stoic as
he let his eyes bore into the fallen members of Kakeru�s elite.
�He can do that too?� Kosu heaved,
trying to get to his feet. �Seriously, one is bad enough�why does he have to have that power?�
�What Jiyumaru said wasn�t an
order,� Yakusho corrected, acting as if the last few seconds had not even
occurred, �nor was it a request. It was a warning. We will kill you if you don�t surrender now.�
�What makes you think we have any
intention of bowing our heads to you?� Haruko seethed, her usually calm
demeanor completely abandoned. �It will take more than fear to make us admit
defeat.�
�Then that�s your choice,� Yakusho
sighed, craning his neck in Hinata�s direction. �We�re going to get you out of
here, understand? Just sit tight, this won�t last long.�
Hinata could only respond by
nodding her head, her voice caught behind the lump that had developed in her
throat. She had been close to screaming when Yakusho�s terror-inducing
technique had hit her. It was all she could do now to save face and not cry
openly. She had felt the same thing with Kakeru earlier where her mind had fled
in panic, leaving her skin to crawl in dread. It was like a surreal force had
dug into her heart and soul, dredging up the most terrifying images and
memories it could find, pressing them against her eyes and forcing her to watch
them play out once more. Now that Yakusho had done it, she could come to only
one conclusion.
There was something inhuman about
the Ryumoto clan.
�You think it�s going to be easy
to beat us?� Yoshi snapped, brandishing one of his gleaming katars. �Did you
forget what we just finished doing to you outside?�
�I can assure you I remember it
all too well.� Yakusho flexed his arm, reaching up with his free hand to press
against his forehead. �But I also remember what those hitai-ate you�re wearing
mean�to me, my family and my people. I won�t allow you to desecrate them any
longer.�
�And what about you two?� Kosu
pointed to Sakura and Jiyumaru questioningly, his face twisting into a serious
scowl. �Just here for the ride?�
�Our motives shouldn�t be
important to you,� Jiyumaru replied. �We are here because it�s our mission�as
Konoha shinobi, we cannot simply stand by while you threaten not only us, but
the world we live in as well.�
�You and your friends have done
unspeakable things, all in the name of what? Power?� Sakura tightened her
fists, arms trembling at the force building up within them. �We won�t simply
sit back and allow you to murder and terrorize for your own gains!�
Kosu looked back at his teammates
and shrugged his shoulders, pulling out his massive katana with a look of
excitement on his face. Haruko and Yoshi pulled up beside him, each of them
with their unique weapons at the ready. Sakura gave Hinata a quick nod, trying
to reassure her one last time. Unable to respond, the ex-heiress simply
squirmed on the makeshift altar as the two groups stepped up.
�Well then,� Kosu smiled, the
blade of his weapon suddenly crackling with lightning. �Let�s do this.�

Naruto truly wished he were
somewhere else.
Another line of black flame rushed
towards him, screaming across the granite floor at incredible speed. The blond
quickly dove for cover yet again, rolling behind one of the giant stone pillars
that dotted the temple�s antechamber just as the ebony streak exploded. Several
broken chunks of rock scattered about as the hideous laughter of Ryumoto Kakeru
filled the air once more. In one hand he held an ominously styled Dragon Fang
while charcoal-colored fires danced across its steel.
�You certainly are faster than I
thought you�d be,� Kakeru called out, stymieing his cackling with speech. �You
keep this up I might become genuinely entertained.�
Naruto cursed under his breath as
he peered out from the behind the pillar. Kakeru had seized control of the
fight from the get go, sending Naruto scurrying for shelter within the span of
fifteen seconds. Now the jinchuuriki was pinned down, leaving the poor blond
wondering how he had managed to underestimate his opponent so badly. The
disarming and quirky personality that Kakeru had displayed at first had been a
farce. Now confronted with the real Ryumoto Kakeru, Naruto found himself
doubting in his own strength for the first time in a long, long while.
�Come out, come out wherever you
are!� Kakeru chimed in a disparaging tone. �I don�t have all day. I have
ancient forces of destruction to resurrect, human beings to slaughter�my
schedule is very tight.�
The genin cringed and trembled in
anger. He could feel his blood boiling as Kakeru taunted him, his control
slowly slipping into the Kyuubi�s grasp. He refused to give in however,
breathing deeply to regain his sense of self. Even if he had no other choice,
he still would not resort to using the Kyuubi�s power. He would not stand for
having it take control of him.
�You were really bad at hide and
seek in school, weren�t you?�
Incredible reflexes were the only
saving grace that Naruto had to thank for narrowly dodging Kakeru�s surprise
attack. The tips of his messy hair were singed by the black flames that
engulfed Kakeru�s Dragon Fang as the blade whizzed over his head, crashing into
the pillar the young shinobi had been using for cover. The blade lodged itself
in the support column, scalding the stone with an otherworldly heat. Seeing an
opportunity Naruto charged headfirst, slamming his skull into Kakeru�s stomach.
The ruler of Ryuugakure expelled a desperate cough as the wind was violently
forced from his lungs, stumbling backwards as he tried to recover. With a shout
Naruto followed up his counter attack, throwing a solid right hook at his dark
adversary.
The blond�s fist was quickly
caught and batted aside by Kakeru, who stood up with a wicked grin stitched
onto his lips. With a backhanded strike he tossed Naruto aside, not even taking
the time to watch the blond bounce across the granite floor before collecting
his Dragon Fang once more.
�You�re pretty fast,� Kakeru noted,
inspecting the curve of his sword. �I didn�t actually think you�d�son of a
bitch. You chipped my sword!�
�Don�t fuck around!�
Naruto reared up behind Kakeru and
delivered a fierce axe-hand strike to the back of his head. Without even
acknowledging the genin�s presence, Kakeru gracefully sidestepped the attack
before issuing a sideways kick that slammed Naruto into the very structure he
had been hiding behind. Before Naruto could respond to the violent rejoinder,
Kakeru swung the Dragon Fang down on his shoulder, cleaving him down the
middle. The foreboding shinobi turned around with a sigh as Naruto�s body
vanished in a cloud of smoke, leaving nothing behind in its place.
�Kage Bunshin?� the Ryumoto
sovereign sighed. �Delaying the inevitable is a hobby of yours, isn�t it kid?��
�I knew I wouldn�t like you,�
Naruto scoffed as he reappeared in the middle of the room. �But I never thought
I would hate you�especially this
much.�
�Hate is such a strong word,�
Kakeru frowned. �Can�t you be a bit gentler?�
�After everything you�ve done!?�
Naruto gritted his teeth, trying to keep himself under control. �How can you
just stand there and say things like that? Are you insane or something?!�
�I don�t really know,� Kakeru
shrugged. �I�ve never had myself checked out. You think that would be prudent?
I could go right now if you�d like. We can just put this little scuffle on
hold.�
A howl of rage heralded the punch
that connected with Kakeru�s jaw, knocking the broad man onto his back. Naruto
did not stop there, pouncing on his prone opponent in order to deliver more
blows to the face. After five uninterrupted strikes Naruto grabbed Kakeru by
his collar, rearing his head back in preparation for a crushing headbutt. At
that very moment Kakeru�s hand shot up, his fingers curling and squeezing
around the contours of Naruto�s face. With little effort Kakeru managed to
right himself, pulling hauling Naruto upward by his head as the jinchuuriki
threw punches and kicks in an effort to escape.
�My, my, my,� Kakeru snickered. �Yakusho
was right. You really aren�t too
bright.�
Wordlessly Kakeru smashed Naruto
into the same pillar he had smashed the poor boy into earlier. This time
however there was much more force behind the attack, the stone support giving
way to Naruto�s mass with a shuddering crack. Kakeru continued to follow
through with his powerful blow, pushing the genin through the pillar and
sending him careening across the floor. The great temple groaned in protest as
one of its many limbs was shattered. Naruto kept going until he crashed into
another of the marvelous granite arms, sending a long fracture up its side.
The structure-crippling assault
did not slow him at all. In less than a second he was on his feet again, his
eyes throwing daggers as his hands threw shurikens. Kakeru deflected each
projectile effortlessly, his sword flashing in the dim light as it met each
jagged star. The long-ranged attack was merely a diversion however, as the real
Naruto leapt out from the shadows behind Kakeru. Each Naruto brandished a sharpened
kunai as they closed in on Kakeru, swinging the blades at opposing heights to
both behead and eviscerate the dragon ninja simultaneously.
�Ooh, that kinda felt nice!�
Kakeru�s disembodied head laughed as it tumbled across the floor.
Both Narutos were sent hurtling
through the air as Kakeru�s clone exploded, each one slamming horrifically into
the walls of the temple. One disappeared in a puff of smoke while the other
remained behind, coughing out blood as he fell to his hands and knees. Footsteps
echoed from the shadows as the dominant shinobi emerged from his hiding spot,
wearing an eerily amused smirk.
�Are you starting to get the
picture yet?� Kakeru gleefully stomped on Naruto�s back, crushing the young
ninja against the ancient masonry. �I can draw it for you in bright colors if
you�re having problems: You. Can�t. Beat. Me.�
Naruto stiffened against Kakeru�s
foothold defiantly, letting out a growl that echoed throughout the temple�s
halls. �You must be deaf. I told you I was going to kick your ass, and that
means I will!�
It was at that moment that a
startling shift occurred in Kakeru�s demeanor. Instead of laughter and witty
remarks, the only response he offered his genin prey was a sharp snarl and a
fierce kick to the stomach. Orange and black rolled across the floor before
Naruto hit the temple wall yet again, which prompted Kakeru to spit upon the
ground where the blond had previously been stepped on.
�Then do it boy,� he taunted. �But
you know there�s only way you�re going to be able to do that. Stop being a
coward�I�m waiting here. Use the demon�s power. Show me what you�re really made of, or I�ll just end this
right here and now!�
�No.�
Dust and specks of broken stone
cascaded down Naruto�s shoulders as he stood up. Wiping blood from his lip, the
disheveled genin stared down Kakeru�s venomous gaze, pitting righteous azure
against ghastly scarlet. Eternity seemed to pass in silence until Naruto spoke
again, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves.
�I made a promise that I would
never use that power again, no matter what.� Naruto�s eyes broke away from
Kakeru�s gaze, unable to withstand the barbs that came with it any longer.
�Even if you say I can�t defeat you without the Kyuubi�s power, I won�t give
up. I won�t sink that low to get rid of you.�
�You remind me of Yakusho�s
father.�
Naruto stepped back, pressing into
the cold granite behind him. �Wh-what?�
�Actually, you remind pretty much
of every other blasted Tribe Leader.� Kakeru�s once-playful tone had evaporated
entirely, leaving behind the guttural speech of some sort of twisted
abomination. �You�re a mindless idiot, just like all of them. Pathetic, weak
and running scared. Do you have any idea how much I loathed them?�
�The hell are you talking about!?�
Naruto snapped. �As if I would know anything about that! I was only born fifteen years ago!�
�Then allow me to inform you of
why I hate you and your kind so much,� Kakeru sneered. �As I just finished
saying, you�re all weak. Ryuugakure sat upon the most powerful force in the
world � the Dragon Kings! We were stronger, faster and smarter than every other
nation in the world combined. We had the power to wipe civilizations off the
map and make anything that threatened us dissolve into the sands of time. We
were gods in this world!
�But what did those pathetic,
human-loving wimps do with all that power? They cowered! Instead of making a
name for themselves, they chose to keep to the shadows so they could never be
exposed. Instead of making their claim in the world, they sat in their high
chairs, content to live in the mountains and the cold forever. Instead of
showing their strength and putting Ryuugakure in its rightful place as the
greatest village in the world, they kept neutral, or sought out alliances that
would keep them out of harms way.
�Then, to add the salt to all
these grievous wounds, they suggested an alliance with Konohagakure, of all places! A village that rallied behind the
strong, but promoted the weak. The only reason you and your kind were ever a
threat to anyone else was because of your precious Hokages and your two
wonderful clans. But there was nothing special about the Uchiha�they�re all
power-grabbing bastards, content to live off murdering their own to advance.
The Hyuuga? Nothing but worthless abominations. They were all beneath us! We
could have destroyed you all and moved on to much greater things�but instead,
they suggested an alliance!? Do you
have any clue how insulting that is
to my heritage?!
�So perhaps now you understand why
I hate you, and why I hated them. And perhaps you understand why I�m not sad
any of them are gone. Because now I can live out the true dream of the Ryumoto
Clan. For once I don�t have to be shackled by the laws and rulings of the
stupid�I can finally do what should have been done all those years ago. I can
destroy every other nation on Earth and bring the clan to its rightful place at
the top of the world!�
�You�re severely fucked up, you
know that right?�
�Pardon?� Kakeru called, tilting
his head comically. �I didn�t say I was finished talking, did I?�
�Who cares?� Naruto slammed his
fist against the wall angrily. �How can you be glad they�re dead? They were
your family, weren�t they? How can you just spit in the face of something like
that!? I can�t say I know anything about it�but I think all they wanted was
safety and security. To live in peace, rather than gallivant across the world
to show off how powerful they were! How can you justify hating them for
something like that?!�
�Because they were weak,� Kakeru
replied. �And they attempted to infect the rest of us with that weakness. If
they�d had their way, why, all of the world would be nothing but peaceful.�
�And what�s so wrong with that?�
�Because then the weak rule the
world.� Kakeru paced to his left, looking up at the distant ceiling. �And of
course, weak rulers lead to a weak life. Eventually everyone would stagnate.
All it would take then is someone who was actually strong to come along and
wipe us out. I couldn�t have any of that. It just wouldn�t be right. So I
pushed every day for us to use our power instead of hide it. I could not be
happier with the result of that day fifteen years ago.�
The topic change did not escape
Naruto. Suddenly he found his fists so tightly closed that blood was drawn, a
small cackle passing through his conscious.
�You don�t mean��
�Yes, that wonderful day when the
Ryumoto Clan was decimated!� Kakeru threw his arms to the sky, as though he
were professing to a god. �That absolutely wondrous day when the Kyuubi was
sent to wipe us off the face of the earth!�
Warning lights went off in
Naruto�s head as Kakeru spoke. What had just been said did not fit with
everything he knew. It was a dysfunction, something completely out of tune with
the reality he was aware of, and it upset him for reasons he could not say. Desperately
he pushed back at the trepid tide swelling within him, striking at his fear
with words.
�Wh-what are you talking about?�
he gulped. �Sent? The Kyuubi is a demon beast�it can�t be controlled! What
happened all those years ago, both to Ryuugakure and Konohagakure, was an
accident!�
Naruto was instantly plunged into
a deeper well of fright as he finished his sentence. He was not afraid because
of what he had said or what it may have meant. He was afraid because Kakeru�s
response was to let out the most spine chilling laugh the genin had ever heard,
his body shivering as the great shinobi fell to the floor, laughing so hard he
could no longer stand.
�Y-you still think...you still
think the Kyuubi was an accident!� Kakeru managed through hysterical laughter.
�That�s the most hilarious thing I�ve ever heard!�
Despair and confusion gripped
Naruto�s mind as the laughter continued. Everything he had come to know about
himself and the demon within him now came into question. Whether or not the
claim could be trusted did not matter. Its simple existence was enough to toss
turmoil into Naruto�s heart, causing him to falter even as Kakeru managed to
stand up again.
�Y-You�re lying!� the jinchuuriki
finally blurted out. �It�s not possible! It�s not!�
He�s not lying�and it is entirely
possible.
The temple dissolved before
Naruto, vanishing in wide brush strokes as the Kyuubi�s prison appeared before
him. The demon�s teeth were twisted in a malefic grin, a deep chuckle echoing
through the dank chamber. Naruto himself grit his teeth, walking right up to
the gates that held back the great beast and slammed on the representation of
the seal itself.
What the hell are you talking about!? He screamed. You never said anything about that before!
Neither you nor anyone else has
ever bothered to ask before, the Kyuubi replied, his vicious smile
curling further and further towards his ears. I personally find it amusing.
Levity failed to hide the grim
truth from Naruto. For years, an ocean of knowledge had been at his disposal, left
for him to harvest the schools of fish within at his leisure. Yet he had never
bothered to cast the net. Apprehension, fear and societal pressure had kept him
from accessing what had been rightfully his. Somewhere in time he had convinced
himself that a jailer should not converse with his prisoner, and had left the
vast waters to evaporate, leaving nothing but the parched ground.
I�I never thought that�
Only few have, the Kyuubi
laughed. Very few know anything these days. Perhaps in the future you will find
my services more valuable?
�Who?�
�I beg your pardon?� Kakeru had
ceased laughing, his eyes fixated on Naruto eerily. �Sorry, I became very
intrigued when you stopped talking. What did you say?�
�Who was it?� Naruto asked
angrily. �Who sent the Kyuubi?�
�As if I knew,� Kakeru chortled,
rubbing his nose slightly. �All I know is anyone with that kind of power is
more of a god than a ninja. But that�s just me.�
�How do you know this!?�
Isn�t it obvious, kit?
�Isn�t it obvious?� Kakeru�s voice
eerily mimicked the Kyuubi�s, his face even aligning itself into the same
sadistic sneer the demon beast wore. �I asked.�
�Who could you possibly�� Naruto
trailed off, his mind wrestling to accept the truth as it dawned on him.
�That�s right boy. I asked the
Kyuubi itself.�
Is that true!? Naruto shouted, his mental voice echoing throughout
the caverns that contained the great Bijuu.
What, you think he�s lying?
The Kyuubi didn�t laugh, but he seemed to be very entertained nonetheless. All
those years ago, as the village and his comrades burned down around him, he
looked me straight in the eyes and asked me.
�And he was very forthcoming with
information too,� Kakeru gleamed. �Said I reminded him of the man who had sent
him�an aura of dark intentions and murderous intent. To be compared to a god by
something that powerful is something I�ll never forget. It almost brings tears
to my eyes.�
Reality spun around Naruto in
indistinct colors, robbing him of his senses one by one. Both of his
conversations were beginning to meld into one, Kakeru and the Kyuubi merging
into a singular horrific being. When the Kyuubi would speak, Kakeru would pick
up as though he could hear the imprisoned monster talking. Eventually the world
around Naruto became nothing but smears of paint, Kakeru and himself the only
objects remaining in focus. Colors and shapes disintegrated into blackness as
both of Naruto�s adversaries melded, becoming a mesh of flames and smiles that
consumed all reality.
�Is there a problem?� they
growled as one. �You don�t seem yourself.�
Naruto collapsed as his world
turned into nothing but the combined abomination, gripping his head tightly as
he tried to squeeze the visions out. His screams had no sound, his voice
drowned in limitless other sights and sounds. Soon even the conjoined
monstrosity vanished, swirling into the pastel cyclone that encircled the young
shinobi. Naruto was not sure where he was or where his sanity had escaped to.
In moments he was convinced he had never been sane. After that, his mind coiled
into itself, convincing him that he did not exist and that nothing was ever
real.
Without warning, he ceased to be.
Must I do everything!?
In a euphoric rush Naruto�s life
realigned, a great geyser of light and hope exploding from within him. His eyes
shot open, dazzled by his sudden return to consciousness. As he struggled to
make sense of his surroundings, he became aware of a blurred line of grey and
black coming straight for him. His body reacted with a jolt, propelling him
backwards as the grey streak slammed into the ground, sending chunks of rock
and sand in all directions. A moment later Naruto�s vision recovered, his
attacker and the rest of the room coming into focus slowly. Kakeru snorted,
withdrawing his Dragon Fang from the small crater it had created and dusting
off his shoulders.
�I suppose I have the Kyuubi to
thank for that timely save,� he sighed. �Petulant demon. Can�t let me have my
fun even now.�
�Wh-what�s going on?� Naruto
whimpered. �H-how did you�?�
Your uselessness is far from
endearing, boy! The Kyuubi snarled, pressing his muzzle against the
metaphoric cage of his seal. You still can�t even recognize genjutsu when
you�re in the middle of one. Consider yourself lucky that my survival is tied
to yours�otherwise, I�d have let you die!
Naruto quivered as he stood,
holding his head as though it held great weight. How had he fallen prey to such
an illusion so easily? When had Kakeru even had the time to perform the
technique? As far as the whiskered ninja knew, they had just been talking. To pull
off a jutsu that powerful without being noticed, even when Naruto had been
watching him so thoroughly meant big trouble for the inexperienced shinobi. He
was definitely in over his head.
�Has it sunk in yet?�
A fist connected with the back of
Naruto�s skull, sending him hurtling forward down the hallway. Kakeru was
already forming seals, summoning up recesses of chakra as his opponent bounced
across ancient architecture. Naruto came to a stop just as the final seal was
made, his foe making a fist as he prepared to launch his attack.
�Kokuryuu��
Oh Kami, not this again!
��Bofuusetsu!�
Black energy flew out of Kakeru�s
fist, coalescing into the shape of a winding dragon with blood-red eyes. The
beast howled out from its sinewy mass of chakra, winding its way towards the
prone genin at high speed. Naruto could only shield himself as the jutsu
collided with him, the dragon opening its jaws before biting down on the orange
and black clad shinobi. Cold air exploded from the impact, dispersing the jutsu
into tendrils of spiraling ebony. The world lost its coherency as Naruto was
sent skyward, slamming into the ceiling before coming back down and smacking
into the ground with a sickening, ground-cracking thud.
�You can�t beat me,� Kakeru
stated. �At least, not the way you are now. You haven�t got a chance, and you
know it.�
Blood dripped from Naruto�s lips
as he tried to right himself. Within him the Kyuubi cackled, amused by its
warden�s pain. There would be no denying the truth now. Naruto simply did not
match Kakeru�s power. Fighting normally was no longer � nor had it ever been,
Naruto realized � an option in this battle. There could be no room for error
and no room for mercy. That realization brought even more pain with it, left to
stew in the ruins of another broken promise.
�So be it.�
A shimmering glow encircled
Naruto, bathing the surrounding area in dark red. Slowly he rose to his feet,
his cuts and scrapes vanishing under a growing mantle of bestial ruby chakra.
The Kyuubi�s sick laughter attained a deafening pitch as a sheath of crimson
covered Naruto�s body, smothering him in the demon�s power. More flooded into
the young shinobi as his features, along with the chakra shell, began to take
on a more vulpine appearance. Before Kakeru�s eyes, long red ears and a tail
made of pure demonic energy grew from Naruto�s body. At the same time Naruto�s
face began to change, his whisker marks deepening and his canines becoming more
pronounced. Finally he fell on all fours, opening his once blue eyes to stare
red death at his enemy.
�If that�s what you want, that�s
what you�ll get!�

�Scattered tails of heat flickered out as Yakusho delivered another
parry. Yoshi�s flaming katars bounced off the Dragon Fang, separating the
combatants and sending a shower of embers spiraling to the ground. The small
gap was all the space Yakusho needed to fire a stream of fire across the ground
at Yoshi, running right behind it to deliver a follow up swing at the young
redhead. The two met once again as Yoshi sidestepped out of the blazing attack,
thrusting one of his katar forward in a sheath of bright red flames. Yakusho
stopped the searing blow with a quick punch to Yoshi�s forearm, knocking the
strike upwards. Another streak of fire flew at Yakusho�s head, only to be
stopped short by the patterned blade of the Dragon Fang.
Steel-coated wind cut a trail
through the air as one of Haruko�s chakram flew past Yakusho�s head. The
chakra-enforced weapon made its return arc moments later, barely missing
Sakura�s midsection as the pinkette dodged by falling backwards onto her palms.
The blanched girl was not to be outdone, firing off her second chakram in a
vertical throw. Sakura put her training and her agility to the test, twisting
to the side to avoid the second attack. With the second miss Sakura righted
herself, charging towards Haruko with a first drawn back. The pasty kunoichi
proved she was just as quick as Sakura, ducking to the side of the medic�s
first attack. Enraged, Sakura continued with a vicious right hook that traveled
over Haruko�s petite frame. A moment later Sakura felt the wind knocked clear
of her lungs as the sadistic girl hit her with a surprisingly powerful shoulder
check. Both of Haruko�s chakrams returned to her at that moment, snapping into
her hands as Sakura fell to the ground gasping for air. The anticipation of
delivering a coup de gr�ce mounted within Haruko and drove her forward to
finish off her prey.
Jiyumaru�s katana stopped Haruko�s
fatal blow just short of Sakura�s neck. Metal ground on metal and chakra as the
ANBU member forced the creepy girl back, separating the two kunoichi before
returning to battle. Lightning scattered across his vision before Kosu lashed
out with a blurred horizontal strike that Jiyumaru barely stopped, energy
coursing through both blades. The chakra exploded into a dazzling array of
electricity that sent a powerful shock through Jiyumaru, throwing him across
the room like refuse. Momentarily paralyzed, Jiyumaru could do nothing to stop
his flight into the nearby wall. Only after he slammed into the stone carvings
did feeling return to his limbs, bringing the throbbing ache of pain with it.
Kosu did not relent, quickly following his previous attack with another aimed
at beheading the ANBU jounin. Lightning met fire as Yakusho intercepted, holding
Kosu off just long enough for Jiyumaru to regain himself. Kenshin steel
streaked through the air before halting on charged metal, sending sparks flying
across darkened stone as Yakusho met another of Yoshi�s nimble stabs.
All the while Hinata struggled
against her bonds. She was helpless to do anything but watch as her friends did
battle, shackled to the stone altar in the middle of the chamber. Her thrashing
availed her nothing, simply chafing her wrists as she tried to escape. She did
not wish to be chained, forced to watch her friends fight to the death over her
life. She wanted to be free to help them, to strike back at those that had
imprisoned her and used her as bait. Whatever was holding her to the altar was
simply too strong for her to break alone. Eventually she gave up with a
distressed whimper, clenching her fists tightly.
�Damn it!� she cursed. �Damn it!�
�Keep it down over there!� Yoshi
snarled, pushing Yakusho back. �You�ll get your chance to die soon enough.�
�Like hell she will!�
Sakura delivered a bone cracking
right hook to the side of Yoshi�s face, crushing his cheek and jaw with a loud
crunch. Immediately after the blow, Yoshi�s body dissipated as his clone was
destroyed. He emerged from behind the altar that Hinata was fastened to and
threw a kunai with an explosive note attached to it straight at Sakura�s back.
The dangerous projectile was deflected by Jiyumaru�s katana, which sent the
throwing knife skyward before it exploded, knocking all the combatants on their
backs and smothering their vision with flames and smoke.
The next strike came in the form
of a bolt of lightning that thundered off the Dragon Fang, sending crackling
forks of electricity through the air and against the walls. Lightning was
pushed back by flame as Yakusho�s sword ignited, fighting off the charge of
Kosu�s weapon with the sheer strength of his own. Neither blade gained the
advantage, pressed into a struggle of energies that crackled and sizzled
between the beating hearts of two fierce warriors. Slowly Yakusho pushed
forward until his sword pressed against Kosu�s, lightning and fire spiraling
out of control from the eye of their storm. The clash was suddenly ended by a
swift kick to Kosu�s ribcage, knocking the taller shinobi on his back while
Yakusho went in for the kill.
Haruko�s chakrams halted the
mortal blow, knocking the Dragon Fang from Yakusho�s grip and nearly slitting
his throat. Yoshi descended from the blanket of smoke created by his own
exploding kunai, bringing both his flaming katars down on Yakusho�s shoulder
blades. Sakura�s fist made a powerful deterrent, driving itself deep into
Yoshi�s gut and sending him flying across the cold stone floor. Kosu remounted
his assault, swinging his crackling blade at Yakusho in wild arcs. Without a
weapon to fight back with, Yakusho could only dodge each dangerous slash,
feeling his skin go numb as lightning danced just over his flesh. Sakura
attempted to step in, but it was Jiyumaru that finally intervened, slipping
under Kosu�s wild attacks and performing a powerful parry that stopped the
relentless assault in its tracks.
Yakusho was not free to go,
however. As soon as he had escaped Kosu�s clutches, Haruko was upon him once
again. Opting for close range instead of her standby style, Haruko closed the
distance between Yakusho and herself and swung her chakram like rounded knives
at her adversary. This time the dragon ninja was prepared, his fists alight
with the red glow of the Ryuuken as he grabbed onto the cold steel of Haruko�s
weapons. His clawed hands stopped short of the actual chakram, grating noisily
against the wind chakra that was extending the reach of the pasty girl�s tool.
Enraged, Haruko brought her other chakram to bear and thrust it forward as if
to stab Yakusho in the throat. The bladed ring came short of its target as
Sakura shoulder tackled Haruko, knocking the frail Honor Guard aside. Yakusho
and Sakura separated quickly, avoiding a sudden burst of flame that erupted
from where they had been standing. In its wake Yoshi wore a devious sneer, his
katars blazing with his inner hatred.
�Why can�t any of you just stay
still and die?!� he shouted.
�We could say the same about you!�
Sakura snapped back, cracking her knuckles.
�I assure you this stalemate won�t
last.� Haruko stood up looking untouched, his face twisted in a horrifying
scowl. �I grow tired of these games. Kosu, Yoshi�let�s end this.�
�Whatever you say,� Kosu smirked.
Yoshi exploded from his stance,
delivering a sharp snap kick that knocked Sakura across the chamber. Yakusho
attempted to cut in, but was stopped short as a thick blade of lightning cut
across the floor in front of him. A split-second guard met Kosu�s melee strike,
causing Yakusho to lose his balance and tumble back onto the floor. Jiyumaru
bolted into action the moment he saw his friends in peril, but was blocked by
Haruko�s chakrams. The bladed rings hovered in midair as they spun, kicking up
winds until they created small whirlwinds that circled Jiyumaru closely. A
quick test of the winds revealed their cutting potential as they nicked and
sliced at his prodding blade. Trapped between impassable barriers of wind,
Jiyumaru could only grimace as the Honor Guard continued their assault on his
comrades.
Sakura vaulted to her feet only to
fall to the floor again in order to dodge the oncoming barrage of fiery blows
that Yoshi threw at her. Burning steel scraped stone as Sakura pivoted her
frame back and forth to avoid each strike, twisting herself into various odd
shapes to prevent herself from being pierced. A small opening presented itself
in which Sakura kicked Yoshi�s arms aside, using the momentum to bring herself
back to her feet and lay into Yoshi�s face with a powerful backhand. The young
ninja recoiled from the blow, spinning around in order to keep his balance.
Sakura continued her counterattack with a punch that would have shattered
Yoshi�s entire skull had he not rolled underneath it. Unable to react in time,
Sakura bore the penalty for her mistake on her bicep as Yoshi dug one of his
flaming katar into the muscle. A short spray of blood deepened the red of
Sakura�s clothing before the intense heat from the redhead�s weapon cauterized
the gash. The adrenaline in the medic�s system allowed her to temporarily
ignore the grievous wound as she pressed on, swinging low with her foot to
disrupt Yoshi�s tumble. The result was another point of misfortune in Sakura�s
favor as Kakeru�s most loyal shinobi caught her leg and sent her spiraling
through the air with a simple twist. Before she met the cold ground her body
was sliced several times over, leaving her with more burned evidence of her
failure.
Yakusho fared no better on his
end. Kosu proved vastly quicker than the Ryumoto teen, carving circles around
the brunet with random blasts of lightning. Without even a moment to form a
stance, Yakusho could not properly defend himself from the rapid attacks made
by silver-haired shinobi. A sudden flash blinded Yakusho, leaving him to
stumble about in a daze as Kosu moved in for the kill. It was by sheer luck
that the dragon ninja recovered in time to summon a pillar of flame in front of
him, bringing Kosu�s attack to a halt. Yakusho took the spare moment to back up
and throw the Dragon Fang at Kosu, setting the specially crafted steel ablaze.
Knowing full well what his ex-compatriot was capable of, Kosu vied to jump over
the discarded blade instead of directly blocking it. The explosion went off
regardless, the shockwave hurtling Kosu through the air directly at Yakusho,
who had the Ryuuken ready and waiting. Determined to not fail, Kosu used the
opportunity to point his sword forward in hopes of impaling his reckless enemy.
Yakusho�s chakra claws allowed him to grab hold of Kosu�s crackling blade and
throw the Honor Guard ninja into the wall, smashing the face of a stone carving
into dust. Without remorse Yakusho leapt toward Kosu�s prone body, striking
like a voracious predator. It was not to be, as Kosu had managed to remain
responsive enough to raise his sword and fire a bolt of lightning directly into
Yakusho�s chest. The Ryumoto survivor lingered in the air for a moment before
the electricity shot him flying across the chamber, smashing another stone
carving to bits as he fell to the ground limp.
�Yakusho!� Sakura screamed. The
pinkette tried to rush to her friend�s aid only to be held fast to the cold
floor by Yoshi�s geta, which buried itself in her back firmly as the young boy
continued to grind it into her bones.
�This is much better,� he cackled. �You�ve both finally stopped squirming.
Much easier to kill you now.�
�Sakura! Yakusho!� Hinata
struggled against her bonds even harder as she watched her allies being beaten
mercilessly. No matter how much she tried she simply could not break whatever
sort of enchantment Kakeru had put on her shackles. She couldn�t even drum up a
single ounce of the Kyuubi�s energy, no matter how hard she tried.
�Stop it!� Jiyumaru shouted,
vainly trying to find an opening in the cyclones that were keeping him at bay.
�Let them go!�
�You can relax,� Haruko giggled
sinisterly. �You�re next.�
With a complicated movement of her
hands the twisters orbiting Jiyumaru stopped their patrol and attempted to
crush him between their bladed winds. At the very last second Jiyumaru
propelled himself out of their reach, his legs pumped full of chakra to
increase his speed. With First Step at his side Jiyumaru adjusted his charge
and headed straight for Haruko, hoping to knock the supporting pillar out from
beneath the Honor Guard. In her place Kosu greeted him, fresh from the battle
with Yakusho. Being broken and bruised did nothing to slow Kosu down as he put
himself directly between Jiyumaru and Haruko, his sword coming to life with a
loud bang. The swordsmen clashed, light and sound dancing around the elliptical
chamber as both blades scraped together. Jiyumaru backed off suddenly and
performed a flawless feint to the right, catching Kosu completely off guard
with the leftward strike that followed. Haruko stopped the perfect blow with
her chakram, losing the weapon in the process as it was knocked from her grip
and sent rolling across the floor. The delay was all that Kosu needed to
recover, forcing Jiyumaru back with a clap of thunder.
From there, things continued their
downward spiral for the Konoha jounin. Though Yoshi was preoccupied with
keeping Sakura pinned down, he was not completely removed from the fight. With
a set of hand seals he began to spit balls of fire at Jiyumaru, who was already
busy trying to dodge Kosu�s dangerous electric attacks. Caught between two
separate forms of death, Jiyumaru was forced to break off his attack in order
to dodge the incoming ranged blasts. Jiyumaru would soon discover being at
range would not save him from Kosu at all, as the blade wielding Honor Guard
member swung his sword, throwing arced blades of lightning across the ground at
Jiyumaru while Yoshi and Haruko assaulted him from afar. With amazing agility
Jiyumaru ducked, rolled and stepped out of the way of every attack that was
thrown at him, slipping under chakrams, bounding over fireballs and
sidestepping flying slices of electric energy. For a moment he appeared
untouchable, eluding any harm that could have come to him.
The illusion of Jiyumaru�s
immortality came to an end very shortly. Kosu randomly changed his pattern of
attack, dashing forward to engage Jiyumaru at close range once more as his
allies pelted the ANBU shinobi with ranged attacks. Choosing to avoid direct
confrontation while under heavy fire, Jiyumaru darted to the side, running up
the wall of the chamber in hopes of getting a chance at attacking Yoshi and Haruko.
The maneuver left him exposed to all three Honor Guard members, allowing each
of them to launch a powerful blow from afar. Kosu�s lightning converged on
Yoshi�s fire and Haruko�s steel, creating a lethal projectile that crashed into
the wall just ahead of Jiyumaru. Though the attack missed, the force from the
explosion was enough to toss Jiyumaru through the air, slamming into the wall
on the opposite side of the room as the well-built carvings crumbled under the
force of the combined assault.
�See?� Kosu smirked at Haruko.
�He�s not so tough.�
�It took all three of us to take
him down,� Haruko sighed. �Don�t get full of yourself.�
�Who cares?� Yoshi cackled,
grinding his foot into Sakura�s spine. The medic cried out, biting her lip to
keep herself from screaming. �They lost, we won. That�s all that matters, isn�t
it?�
�Like the lady said�don�t get
so�full of yourself!�
Though his limbs were numbed from
the blast and his head spinning, Jiyumaru slowly pulled himself to his feet.
Yoshi looked the most surprised, his foot releasing pressure on Sakura�s back
for just a moment as the Honor Guard�s elite opponent righted himself, his
sword still gripped tightly in both hands. Jiyumaru appeared shaky, his body
wobbling as though he were about to pitch forward at any moment. His katana
lilted, almost hitting the floor before he composed and straightened himself,
staring back at his enemies.
�It�ll take more than just that to
keep me down!�
�Impressive.� Kosu stood up,
letting his sword down for a moment as he smiled at Jiyumaru. �You�ve got some
soul in you, it seems. You�d make a great member of the Honor Guard, you know?
You�ve got way more personality than Haruko and more skill than Yoshi.�
Jiyumaru just laughed, shaking
dust from his shoulders. �If that was an invitation, I have to pass.�
�It wasn�t,� Kosu glared. �Just a
passing comment, I assure you. None of you will escape death on this day.�
But Jiyumaru wasn�t really
listening. His eyes were closed in deep concentration as his mind fell back
into itself, diving into the murky depths of his past. The waters had long been
abandoned, filled with grime and algae as he tried to navigate the tight
passages. His destination was clear to him however, forming a bright light at
the end of the watery tunnel. As soon as he breached the surface of that
particular grotto, the memories assaulted him, slamming against his
consciousness as he relived the horrors of his past. The blood that streaked
across his cheeks as steel and flesh met the agonizing cries of a sibling greeted
by death. Jiyumaru could see and feel it all as he stood quietly amidst the
dark stone that made up the great temple�s cellar. The pangs of guilt and
sadness rose within his throat, but were quickly stamped out by a rising sense
of righteous vengeance and pride. The images faded out one by one, cutting down
the replay to the moment in time where it all began. At that moment, Jiyumaru�s
eyes shot open as he gripped his blade even more tightly.
He remembered.
Forgive me for forgetting, brother, Jiyumaru begged from within. But I�m not running away now. I�ll show you
just how strong I�ve become.
�Giving up?� Kosu asked, aiming
his sword at Jiyumaru.
�Not anymore I�m not.�
Without warning Jiyumaru nicked
his thumb with his katana, letting his blood run down the blade. With memorized
ease Jiyumaru performed the seals for a summoning jutsu around the blade of his
sword, coating the steel in a fine layer of his essence. His chakra aligned,
Jiyumaru took his left hand and slammed it against the floor, feeling the power
course through his arm and through the pattern that spread out from his palm
across the ground.
�Kuchiyose! Odoteiru Shibito!�
A giant cloud of chakra smoke
enveloped Jiyumaru, casting his form into silhouette amongst the expelled
energy. The Honor Guard readied their weapons, completely unsure as to what to
expect. After a moment it became clear that something other than Jiyumaru was
moving within the smokescreen, whirling about his head and dispersing the mist
about him. Jiyumaru rose to his feet with pride, his face firmly set his old
professional stare.
�This ends now.�
The clouds dispersed as if by
mental command, revealing Jiyumaru standing between a pair of katanas that
whirled in the air of their own accord. The two blades appeared ancient as they
orbited the Kenshin clan warrior, their steel nicked and marked from battle
after battle. To them Jiyumaru raised his own sword, causing the weapons to
halt their dance and acknowledge his pledge by mimicking him, pointing towards
the sky before returning to their patrol.
Haruko struck first, throwing one
of her chakram straight at Jiyumaru�s throat. At the last moment one of the
rotating swords broke formation and rushed in front of Jiyumaru, deflecting the
proejectile with practiced ease, bouncing it back across the ground to its
owner. Jiyumaru did not even flinch, his mind completely at rest. Without any
outside input the sword returned to its cyclical pattern, orbiting its master
in a silent vigil.
�Pitiful defenses won�t help you!�
Yoshi called out. �We�ll turn you to dust!�
Using Sakura�s back as a starting
board, Yoshi dashed straight at Jiyumaru with his katars at the ready. The
young shinobi�s flaming weapons did not even come close to reaching Jiyumaru as
the mysterious floating swords came to the warrior�s aid yet again. The force
wielding the masterless katana was incredible, forcing Yoshi back several feet
before rearing back to strike. The redhead ducked left, veering away from the
blade as it tried to cleave him in twain. Without any body or owner to strike
back at, the short ninja had no other alternative but to play defensively,
blocking and dodging each attack as it came. The more the sword fought him, the
quicker its strikes became until brilliant flashes of light and the clang of metal
filled the arena.
Haruko moved to assist Yoshi only
to find the second airborne katana at her throat. A quick spin secured her from
the threat, but did not initiate an escape. The sword followed her, putting her
on the spot and forcing her to once again use her chakrams at close range,
batting away the ferocious weapon as it sought to impale her. The two summoned
armaments began a hypnotic dance as they swung in a harmonic, choreographed
display of untold combat experience. Yoshi and Haruko found no openings and
were given no quarter, all of their attention focused on some sort of invisible
enemy brandishing instruments of death.
Kosu watched in mute fascination
as his teammates fought against the haunting rhythm of the blades, wondering
precisely what it was that made them move in such a perfect imitation of a real
warrior�s fighting style. At first he had thought that they were controlled by
Jiyumaru�s mind, but simply looking at the brown-haired shinobi dispelled that
theory. Jiyumaru had lost none of his concentration, his eyes focused with
deadly intent on Kosu. Eventually it became apparent that no amount of thought
could grant insight as to the nature of the hovering weapons, and Kosu resigned
himself to taking action.
No sound accompanied Kosu�s
furious run at Jiyumaru, who met the charge with a half-hearted parry.
Lightning coursed through Kosu�s blade and into Jiyumaru�s as their weapons
met, the pure energy crackling as it sought a proper outlet. Separation came in
the form of a kick that found its home in Kosu�s chest, forcing the two
swordsmen apart with a thunderous boom. The shockwave from the separated
conduits of electricity forced them even farther apart, giving Kosu the range
required to send arcing streams of lightning across the ground at Jiyumaru.
Each screaming streak cut a line across the floor, digging out chunks of stone
as they made a beeline straight for the ANBU warrior. Jiyumaru easily
sidestepped each attack, slowly making his way towards Kosu once more. Kosu
suddenly fired twice in the same direction, hoping to catch Jiyumaru in his own
rhythm. The experienced ninja was not fooled however, using the moment�s
reprieve to gain more speed as he finally closed in on his opponent.
It was that exact moment that
Haruko broke free of her attacker and launched one of her chakrams at Jiyumaru.
The incoming projectile forced Jiyumaru to halt his attack on Kosu to defend
himself, leaving himself open to Kosu�s counterattack. The blade that had been
attacking Haruko intervened, blocking Kosu�s crushing swing and giving Jiyumaru
enough time to retaliate. His second attempt to fell Kosu faired no better, as
this time Yoshi broke free to defend his ally. Jiyumaru changed targets and
used his katana to fight off Yoshi�s blazing katars, stepping back to create
more space in which to counter the young ninja�s furious blows. Haruko believed
she had found the perfect opportunity, throwing both of her wind-bladed
chakrams at once in hopes of decapitating Jiyumaru. In response, the katana
that had previously been attacking Yoshi flew across the room and collided with
them, knocking both of them aside. Each chakram buried itself in an intricately
carved wall face, forced deep within the ancient stone. Suddenly defenseless,
Haruko made a mad run for her weapons before the sword could catch up to her.
�You think you can beat all three
of us alone!?� Yoshi snarled. �You�re the one who�s full of himself!�
In that moment, Kosu got an idea
that made his face twist in delight. Putting all his power behind his next
block, the silver-haired shinobi jarred Jiyumaru�s flying sword long enough to
allow Kosu to grab the hilt. The idea quickly turned into a mistake when the
handle sent a sharp, chilling pain through Kosu�s hand, leaving it blighted and
blistered. The distraction of Kosu�s yelp of pain was what Jiyumaru needed,
allowing him to kick Yoshi away and move in for an underhand slash with his
sword. Kosu barely defended himself, eluding the vicious swing only by throwing
himself to the floor. In the process he lost his grip on his own blade,
watching the lightning-sheathed katana tumble to the floor in front of him. Not
missing a beat, Jiyumaru angled his sword downward with the intent of stabbing
Kosu while he was down.
Haruko let out a guttural howl as
she unleashed her retrieved chakram, the weapon�s metal cracking from the sheer
amount of chakra that had been poured into it. Jiyumaru�s eyes widened as he
could actually see the blue glow of the projectile�s extended range, soaring
through the air like a giant saw blade. In the riskiest maneuver of his entire
life, Jiyumaru leapt over the chakram while one of his other swords flew
directly at it from above. To the shock of everyone present the masterless
weapon actually caught the ring in the middle, stopping its journey with an odd
grinding sound. Not allowing it to lose any momentum, the sword spun the
chakra-infused weapon about its blade like a hoop before loosing it on its
master, sending the chakram right back at a powerless Haruko. The Honor Guard
could do nothing but watch as Haruko�s own weapon severed her, separating her
lower and upper body in a fine spray of blood.
Enraged, Yoshi�s eyes coursed with
blood and fire as he charged Jiyumaru. The young and arrogant shinobi put all
he had into the barrage, forcing Jiyumaru to use everything he had just to
avoid being diced. Yoshi�s advantage soon waned as both of Jiyumaru�s swords
returned to his side, offering a protective barrier of steel while the ANBU
shinobi backed off to regain himself. Try as he might, Yoshi was unable to
break through both orbiting weapons despite the anger that filled him. Jiyumaru
rejoined the fray suddenly, his swords moving away from Yoshi to give him room.
The Kenshin forged katana clanged against the fiery metal of Yoshi�s punching
swords, rendering the short-ranged weapons useless against the extra range of
Jiyumaru�s sword.
Kosu let out a roaring battle cry
as he returned to the fight, launching a powerful bolt of lightning straight at
Jiyumaru. Both animated katanas came to Jiyumaru�s rescue, forming a protective
cross in front of him as the lightning crackled off their combined metal. The
sonic boom that followed dispersed the two swords, leaving Jiyumaru on his own
to fight both Yoshi and Kosu. Sword met sword as Kosu attacked, rushing up to
Jiyumaru and assaulting him head on. Once again lightning crackled off Kosu�s
blade as he and Jiyumaru grappled, each one trying to gain the advantage over
the other. The world around them vanished into swatches of color as lightning
streaked across their peripheral vision. Neither one would give in, as neither
one wanted to be the loser.
Jiyumaru�s focus was so deep he
did not even notice, let alone remember, that Yoshi was still in the room. The
young shinobi let out a brazen yell as he leapt into the air, eager to rend
Jiyumaru down the middle. In his rage induced fugue, Yoshi himself forgot about
Jiyumaru�s silent defenders. The redhead did not get closer than five feet to
Jiyumaru before the floating swords returned, barring his progress. Nothing
would stop the young boy however, his katars bursting with fire as he tried to
bat the swords away. His recklessness proved to be his undoing as he missed but
a single stroke, allowing one of the katana to swing under his arm and slash
him across the chest. Blood stained the furious adolescent�s uniform, but did
not appease his rage. The injury only made him angrier, causing him to lash out
in blind rage. That outburst would be his last as the two swords finally broke
free of him and skewered him in unison. As soon as they pulled apart he dropped
to the floor, drained of life.
�And then there was one�� Kosu
muttered somberly. �So be it.�
Kosu focused all his electrical
power into a fine point, causing it to blast him and Jiyumaru to opposite ends of
the room. Jiyumaru�s swords returned to their previous orbit, whirling about
him like a deadly halo. Kosu on the other hand simply let his chakra loose,
causing lightning to bounce off his sword and across his body, tangling in his
hair before scattering across the ground. Kosu seemed immune to the sparks and
electric charges that coursed through him, his concentration never faltering as
he began to focus all of it into a single point on his sword.
�I know you�re very fast,� Kosu
growled through his teeth. �But I wonder if you�re fast enough to dodge this!�
Without warning the gathered
energy at the tip of Kosu�s sword exploded into a line of pure lightning,
tearing the ground apart as it seared straight at Jiyumaru. Just as it appeared
as though Jiyumaru would be torn asunder by the great beam, a wall of pure wind
came to life in front of him. The powerful blast impacted the barrier with
resounding force but did not break through, dissipating against the powerful
defensive jutsu. Kosu stared in disbelief as his attack faded into nothing, the
energy he had gathered sputtering into nothing but a spark as he finally gave
in.
�Damn it!� Kosu snapped. �I�ll
kill you! I won�t die like this, do you hear me?!�
Jiyumaru chose to respond with
actions rather than words, rushing forward with his two partnered swords
following him. Despite his failed ultimate attack, Kosu was not yet defeated.
With a cry he fought back, meeting Jiyumaru�s headlong attack and pushing the
brunet back, following up with a low slash. One of the summoned swords came to
Jiyumaru�s aid once more, blocking low for the swordsman as he and the other
blade headed straight for Kosu. Fighting three against one, the last remaining
Honor Guard member was at a horrible disadvantage. He did not give up, dragging
his blade up quickly to block both of Jiyumaru�s new attacks, gathering the
last remnants of his chakra to form a defense. A burst of lightning knocked
both of Jiyumaru�s swords back, allowing Kosu to back up. Instantly the sword
that had blocked low for Jiyumaru raced forward, bouncing off another lightning
encased parry by Kosu. Soon another dance had begun, both of Jiyumaru�s
floating blades taking turns at attacking Kosu, taking the other�s place each
time Kosu forced the other back while Jiyumaru simply bided his time. Kosu
realized that he would have to go on the offensive, otherwise he would run out
of chakra.
�How?!� Kosu wailed. �How can I be
losing to mindless steel!? How am I losing to damn puppets?!�
�They aren�t puppets,� Jiyumaru
stated.
�Then what are they!?� Kosu
gritted his teeth, the hilt of his sword digging into his flesh as he grasped
his weapon tightly.
�That�s a secret only the dead can
know.�
Kosu let out a huge burst of
lightning from his sword, sending both of Jiyumaru�s mysterious weapons flying
against the walls of the darkened chamber. With very little steam left Kosu
pushed forward, running at Jiyumaru in hopes of delivering a decisive blow
against the swordsman. Jiyumaru met the desperate final charge, bracing himself
against the furious assault and countering it with powerful blows of his own.
Tiny sparks jumped off of their steel perches as the swords clanged together,
the sharp noise of metal meeting metal resounding throughout the small
battleground. Kosu held his own against the veteran ninja, each of them
fighting back against a tide of blows.
Kosu parried right as the mystery
swords returned, trying to cleave into his flesh while he was unaware. Flanked
by blades, Kosu ducked down and swept Jiyumaru�s feet out from under him,
lunging forward to try and finish the battle once and for all. Jiyumaru�s
swords intercepted, holding back Kosu�s furious blow and knocking him aside all
in one fell swoop. Angered by the intangible opponents, Kosu attempted to
re-engage Jiyumaru, but found that the eerie floating swords would not let him
anywhere near the brunet warrior. Filled with rage, Kosu lashed out at the
swords, slashing wildly to try and dispel the spectre of their presence.
That moment was the only opening
that Jiyumaru required. With a single thrust Jiyumaru pierced Kosu�s undefended
chest, running the silver-haired shinobi through. Blood painted Jiyumaru�s
clothes as Kosu coughed up the red liquid, glaring at the ANBU jounin angrily.
�H-how!� he spat indignantly. �How
could you�beat all of us alone?!�
�Who said there was only one of
us?�
Kosu�s vision blurred, slurred by
darkness creeping in at its edges. As life slowly leaked away from the Honor
Guard member, he felt as though what remained of his sanity had to be playing
tricks on him. For the formerly ownerless swords that revolved around Jiyumaru
appeared to have wielders at that moment, ghostly figures that bore the blood
drop emblem of the Kenshin clan on their breasts, endlessly spinning their
swords while keeping their lifeless eyes fixated upon him.
�It is a secret only the dead can
know,� Jiyumaru whispered to Kosu. �For they take it to their graves.�
With a graceless thump, Kosu�s
dead body fell to the floor, leaving Jiyumaru�s sword encased in a sheath of blood.
Quietly Jiyumaru cleaned his blade on Kosu�s clothing, placing the blade back
in its scabbard as the two summoned weapons vanished in clouds of smoke. The
jounin let out a deep sigh and fell to the ground, sitting with an exhausted
look on his face.
�Too close�� he muttered
breathlessly.
�Jiyumaru!�
Sakura had managed to pull herself
to her feet finally, focusing her chakra on tending to her own wounds as she
moved over to Jiyumaru. The male looked at the kunoichi with something of a wry
smile as she reached out for him, pushing her hand aside.
�Save it for Yakusho,� he gasped.
�He needs your help a little more than I do.�
�And when you�re done with him,
can you kindly GET ME OUT OF HERE?!�
Jiyumaru and Sakura jumped a bit
before turning to face Hinata, who stared back at them with an indignant pout
on her lips, still bound to the altar in the middle of the room. With a
sheepish grin Sakura turned to help Yakusho while Jiyumaru returned to his
feet, looking at the stairway that had brought them here.
He could only hope Naruto was as
fortunate as they were.

Kakeru pursed his lips, staring in
quiet contemplation of the sight before him. After all, it wasn�t every day
that such an interesting specimen simply chose to put itself on full display
for him. With something of an inner twist of glee he watched the crimson
energies of the Kyuubi cover Naruto in their protective layers, creating what
could best be described as the Kyuubi�s spawn. The blond teen with whisker
marks on his cheeks snarled at Kakeru as his power manifested, turning him into
some horrible hybrid of man and beast.
�Just watch,� Naruto growled.
�I�ll tear you limb from limb and decorate this temple with what�s left of
you.�
�Boy, you have no idea how much
I�d be willing to pay to see that happen,� Kakeru chortled. �That would
definitely be a sight for the ages, I assure you.�
Kakeru did not expect the shell of
red energy to extend when Naruto thrust his palm forward, a crimson claw
shooting out and smashing the elite ninja into the nearby wall. Stone crumbled
around the raven-haired man as Naruto�s claw scraped and dug into the rest,
clasping around the leader of the Black Dragon Tribe, pulling him out of the
indent in the wall and dragging him upward. With a loud crash Naruto slammed
Kakeru against the ground before scouring him across the floor and tossing him
into the air. Naruto met him there with flawless timing, knocking him back down
to earth with a vicious kick that that caused the ground to crack upon impact.
Kakeru slowly rose from the small
crater, coughing up a small rock which he threw aside as he got up. No sooner
had he stood his full height than Naruto was upon him again, lunging at the
tall man�s throat with killer intent. Kakeru countered the strike by grabbing
Naruto�s arm and swerving under the boy, delivering a sharp and fast punch to
the jinchuuriki�s gut. Unsurprisingly the attack had no effect other than to
make Kakeru�s knuckles sore, his palm burning slightly from the sensation of
coming into contact with the Kyuubi�s shell.
�Sheesh, playing hardball I see.�
Kakeru shook the pain out of his fist and held his Dragon Fang tightly as he
turned to face the young shinobi. �All right, if that�s how you wanna ��
Kakeru�s face twisted to the right
as Naruto attacked without warning, cutting the cruel man off mid sentence. The
demon-tainted ninja laid into his adversary, pounding bones and flesh as he
pressed onward. After some time Naruto pressed Kakeru against one of the room�s
many pillars and proceeded to beat him against it, never giving Kakeru a
moment�s rest. The stone column cracked and trembled, threatening to shatter
under the force of so many powerful blows. A final punch sent a long fault line
up the great post, putting it in danger of shattering altogether. Naruto panted
as he finally relented, looking up at his battered opponent as rage still
burned on within him.
�Now really, is that all?�
Naruto barely had time to be
shocked as Kakeru hit him so hard he flew across the grand antechamber,
stopping only due to his collision with the ground some twenty feet later.
Naruto righted himself, staring in disbelief as Kakeru stood strong again,
adjusting his strong jaw and glaring at Naruto with a look that dripped hate
just as much as it dripped amusement.
�Got some nice force behind those
punches,� Kakeru chuckled. �I think you might have actually broken something.
That�s a shame, there are no more doctors or medic-nins around here anymore. Do
you know how long it takes to get into town from here? Honestly, no respect��
�Shut your goddamn mouth!�
Naruto�s voice was hoarse and ravenous, nothing like the person he really was.
His eyes were a fierce and violent red, glaring death at Kakeru. �I�m not
playing games here!�
�You aren�t?� Kakeru looked
bewildered and truthfully shocked. �I�m sorry. If I�d known you�d stopped
goofing around I would have taken this more seriously.�
Kakeru shrugged his shoulders,
letting a fine layer of dust and pebbles slide off his body as he snapped his
palms together with a clap. His hands formed seals at a deliberate pace, his
eyes cutting deeply into Naruto as he performed his jutsu.
�Now that we�re on the subject,
are you listening Demon Fox?� Kakeru asked aloud. �Because today I�m going to
show you I�m worth more than just a �little amusement�. I will show you what
every other Ryumoto leader was afraid to�the true strength of the Ryumoto
clan!�
Naruto watched as Kakeru sped
through the seals of the dog, the rabbit, the bird, the ox and the serpent. His
final seal was the one the blond had watched Yakusho use time and time again,
the same mystery seal that it appeared was the final unlocking point of the
Ryumoto clan�s special jutsu, a sign of great power.
Naruto felt something in the back
of his throat and the pit of his stomach. Somewhere within, he recognized what
was happening. In the same moment, he felt a twinge from the Kyuubi who felt
the same thing. The fox could more easily place the memory, however.
This is going to be a bit
trickier than I thought.
What? What are you talking about?
�Ryuu no Kokoro.�
Naruto�s eyes widened as pure
black exploded from within Kakeru, spiraling over his arms and legs, encasing
his entire body in a shell of pitch. The darkness slowly took form, sharpening
into claws and narrowing into powerful jaws. Twin orbs of blood opened where
Kakeru�s eyes would have been as a deep roar echoed from the beast, heralding
the growth of what appeared to be a tail. Finally in a mess of sounds that
mimicked cracking sinew, wings made entirely of the black chakra extended from
Kakeru�s back, the bare framework trembling before filling out into a
foreboding wingspan. Before Naruto stood not the foul man who had manipulated
the lives of his friends and loved ones, but truthfully the essence of the
horrifying beast within.
�Now then,� the fetid dragon
version of Kakeru bellowed in a voice reminiscent of the most nightmarish of
demons, �where were we? Oh yes�welcoming you to hell.�

That took a lot
longer than expected, and I�m sorry for it. The college semester is now
finished though, so I should definitely have the next chapter out a whole lot
sooner. There�s not much left folks�so catch up if you haven�t yet!
- 23
- 24
- 25
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Dragonheart