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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
- 24
- 25
- 26
A/N: I want to apologize for how long it has taken to get this chapter
out. College and the rest of my life are massive detractors from my writing
without all the added stuff that�s been going on. Either way, I feel like I�m
not in too much of a rush. This is the second last chapter, which means of
course that the next one is the last one, so I guess part of me is trying to
savor it all. Either way, the next one definitely won�t take as long, as I�ve
not worked out a schedule that should keep my writing current. And now, without
further ado�

Dragonheart

Chapter 24

Yakusho drifted.
That was the only explanation for what he was feeling at that moment.
Truthfully it was an experience that defied explanation. There was nothing else
in the world Yakusho could compare it to. After a few moments of soundless
floating, he considered that he might be dead. After all, Kosu did hit
him with a bolt of lightning to the chest. If that hadn�t stopped Yakusho�s
heart, then he truly had to be immortal.
The more he thought
about it though, the less likely it seemed he was dead. If he was dead, then
how could he be thinking about it? Then again, what if this was the afterlife?
To just endlessly hover, suspended in unconscious blackness for all eternity.
Yakusho could feel a shudder pass through him as he contemplated the
possibility, and deduced that he couldn�t be dead.
He was simply
dying.
No sooner had he
come to the realization than it ceased to be true. Light shot into Yakusho�s
eyes so suddenly that he was forced to shut them against the brightness. The
sound of labored breathing hit his ears as the grand chamber beneath the
Ryuugakure temple came back into focus, his eyes slowly adjusting to the
torchlight. Someone was pressing against his chest, with even more pressure on
his thighs. It took him a moment to realize something was on top of him,
holding him down. Not taking the time to consider his situation the young
dragon ninja bolted straight up, causing his forehead to collide with Sakura�s.
�OW!� the
pinkette cried out. She promptly smacked Yakusho, knocking him on his back
again as she rubbed the bump on her head. �Jerk! What the hell are you
thinking?�
�That someone�s
crushing me!� Yakusho groaned, shaking the dullness from his head. �You�re
heavier than you look!�
�What did you
just say!?� Sakura fumed, her face billowing with rage. �What kind of �thank
you� is that!?�
�What the hell
are you talking about?�
�You just called
me fat!�
�I did no such
thing!�
Sakura throttled
Yakusho, shaking him back and forth like a doll before slamming him against the
ground. �Jerk! See if I ever give you CPR again!�
�Wait, CPR?�
Yakusho blinked. �That means you��
Sakura glared at
him. �Don�t you dare think anything of it! I�m just doing my job! It isn�t my
fault you got yourself hit by lightning of all things!�
�Jeez, I�m
sorry,� he groaned. �Thanks, I guess.�
�You�re welcome,
I guess,� Sakura huffed, turning her head away from him. �Don�t scare me like
that ever again, okay?�
�I�ll try my
best,� he chuckled, sitting up straight.
�If you two are
done flirting,� Jiyumaru said, �I could use a hand over here.�
Yakusho and
Sakura jointly turned red and quickly jumped to their feet. Together they
walked over to the altar to which Hinata was bound, taking a moment to
straighten themselves out.
�Get me out of
here!� Hinata pleaded, struggling against her shackles. �I think they�re
getting tighter!�
�Why haven�t you
broken her out yet Jiyumaru?� Sakura frowned.
�That�s just it,�
he said. �I can�t. No matter how hard I try, I can�t open or break them.�
�What do you
mean?� Sakura sighed. �They�re just��
The medic reached
over to undo Hinata�s shackles, only to jump back in fright as they hissed at
her. It was only then that Sakura noticed that they were not normal by any
means. Each one was designed with a furious looking dragon�s head, the eyes
glowing red in response to her approach.
�Gah! What the
hell?� Sakura shrieked. �They�re alive!�
�Dragon
shackles,� Yakusho sighed. �Kakeru really pulled out all the stops, didn�t he?�
�What are you
talking about?� Jiyumaru looked over at Yakusho quizzically, then back at
Hinata�s bonds.
�All you need to
know is they�re special,� Yakusho explained. �And the only people who can undo
them without serious effort are members of the Ryumoto clan.�
To emphasize his
point, Yakusho reached over and stroked the shackles on their �heads�. As soon
as his hand passed over them they clicked and let go of Hinata, freeing her
from her imprisonment. The raven-haired girl rubbed her wrists and ankles as
she stood up with a deep sigh.
�That�s much
better, thank you,� she said. �Are you all okay?�
�No worse for
wear I guess,� Sakura replied. �Jiyumaru, what was that you did? You
were incredible!�
�Nothing too
special.� Jiyumaru rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, avoiding Sakura�s
eyes. �Just a family secret.�
�Sorry I had to
miss it,� Yakusho snorted. �I�m sure it was spellbinding.�
�Jealous much?�
Sakura teased.
Yakusho didn�t
react. His eyes were too focused on Hinata, who was currently staring at her
hand with fright. The others slowly caught on and turned to Hinata as the air
around her appendage swelled and wavered. Slowly, red chakra bubbled up from
under skin, covering her hand in the powerful crimson essence of the Kyuubi.
Hinata panted and rubbed at her shoulders as more and more of it began to seep
out of her, covering her in a wash of blood.
�What the hell is
going on?� Sakura asked. �Hinata? Are you okay?�
�It�it burns��
the heiress whimpered, clutching her stomach tightly. �It burns all over!�
Jiyumaru�s head
shot upwards, looking at the ceiling. �You don�t think�?�
A strong gust of
wind knocked Sakura, Jiyumaru and Yakusho off their feet. When they rose, they
found the room devoid of a certain white-eyed girl. A piece of stone crushed in
the shape of a palm was the only evidence of her passing.

Naruto ducked
away from the buffet of black flames, using a pillar for cover. Only moments
before, Naruto had held the elite dragon ninja against the floor, tearing at
his black chakra shell with furious sweeping strikes. Now, Kakeru remained
suspended in the air, flapping his makeshift wings to keep himself aloft as he
rained fiery death down on the young shinobi. The battle of the beasts had
waged like this for minutes now with neither side able to claim superiority.
The barrage of
fire ended abruptly, leaving Naruto only enough time to wonder why before
Kakeru dive-bombed him. The chakra dragon�s head slammed into Naruto�s back,
driving the fox-boy into the ancient granite with a stone tossing crack.
Vicious fangs dug into the blond�s arm, dragging him around like a discarded
toy before hurling him into one of the room�s many failing pillars. Gracefully,
Naruto adjusted to the throw and instead landed vertically, latching onto the
stone with his claws. Kakeru snarled before Naruto leapt at him, colliding with
the fearsome black beast and tumbling across the floor with him. Naruto emerged
on top after the struggle ended, laying into Kakeru�s chakra-formed maw with a
set of dangerously powerful blows that knocked his lizard-like visage back and
forth.
Kakeru�s hind
legs finally located Naruto�s gut and let loose with a powerful, unified kick.
The whiskered genin gurgled as he was sent flying, landing on his back with a
thud. The boy barely got up in time to intercept Kakeru�s next advance,
extending his chakra and throwing a long-range punch at the dragon beast. The
red fist connected forcefully, interrupting the faux-dragon�s forward momentum
and sending him careening in the opposite direction. More ancient stone crumbled
in the face of the epic battle, reducing a structure that could have stood the
test of time to a pile of rubble.
�Impressive,�
Kakeru�s now-demonic voice resounded. �Entertaining, to say the very most.�
A ball of black
flame seared through the air at Naruto, exploding on contact with the
colorfully dressed genin�s body. Caressed by dark heat, Naruto did not see
Kakeru approach. Dragonesque claws dug into the jinchuuriki�s shoulders,
tearing into his flesh before scraping him across the already demolished floor.
Naruto panicked, kicking at Kakeru desperately in an attempt to escape. The
effort became meaningless as Kakeru released Naruto the very next moment,
leaving the blond a split-second to escape the incoming blast of flames. Stone
melted gently against the intense heat of Kakeru�s fire, but Naruto was nowhere
to be found in the destruction.
Sparks flew off
of Kakeru�s back as Naruto attacked from behind, his claws doing nothing to the
protective shell that encased the Ryumoto leader. The wounds on the boy�s
shoulders had closed and healed almost completely, with credit for the quick
recovery going entirely to the Kyuubi�s influence. Kakeru responded with a
quick swipe of his tail, smashing Naruto against the ground with brutal force.
Naruto�s form promptly dispersed into smoke, leaving Kakeru alone in the great
chamber. Naruto struck from above, coming down with a furious axe handle smash
to the back of Kakeru�s skull. The jarring blow crushed the makeshift dragon�s
jaw into the stone floor as Naruto flipped over and landed on the creature�s
back. Not wanting to give up his advantage, the unpredictable warrior held out
one hand as chakra began to swirl within his palm.
All of a sudden
Kakeru pushed up against Naruto roughly, tossing the boy into the air. A
ravenous roar filled the grand chamber as Kakeru leapt up, opening a mouth full
of razor sharp fangs. Naruto met the fearsome line of teeth with the spiraling
crimson orb of the Kyuubi-infused Rasengan, driving the reddish ball straight
into the Kakeru�s maw. The spinning chakra ground against rows of serrated
teeth, twisting the almost liquid chakra that comprised them in all directions
before the ball exploded, sending the vicious jaws and their owner whirling
straight into the ground. Naruto landed soundlessly, looking at the crater that
he had left Kakeru in.
�Not so tough
now, are you!?� the blond spat.
�I was about to
say roughly the same thing to you.�
Naruto was taken
aback as Kakeru exploded from the ground. Dark wings kicked up small tufts of
dirt as the dragon-man tackled the hapless young shinobi, slamming him into the
ground. Naruto struggled against the strength of his opponent, attempting to
dislodge the mighty creature that was pinning him to the floor. Kakeru snarled
as he kept his prey firmly in place, a sinister grin forming on his blackened
jaws.
�Is this all
you�ve got, fox!?� he bellowed. �You can�t even give me your all? Then I�m
afraid this game�s over!�
�GET YOUR HANDS
OFF HIM!�
A streak of
crimson knocked Kakeru off of Naruto, tossing the ebony-sheathed shinobi across
the cold stone floor. Naruto looked up to see Hinata wreathed in red chakra,
her veined eyes filled with unbecoming hatred. Her features changed back into a
warm smile as she looked down at Naruto and helped him up.
�Are you okay?�
she asked.
�I am now!�
Naruto beamed. �Let�s kick this guy�s ass and go home, all right?�
�I�m all for it.�
�Well isn�t this
an adorable sight?� Kakeru hissed, rising from his latest fall. �Sadly I�m not
into any kinky m�nage en trois, so you�ll have to find another partner.�
�Blow it out your
ass!� Hinata snapped. �I�ve been, harassed, terrified, used as a bargaining
chip and kidnapped twice in the last month. I�m seriously not in
the mood for jokes!�
�The Kyuubi�s
chakra makes you spicier than I could ever have imagined!� Kakeru squealed, his
grotesque wings unfurling. �I can�t wait to tap into that limitless potential!
You might also give the Black Dragon King heartburn when he eats you. But I�m
sure he won�t mind.�
�I said ENOUGH!�
The Hakke Kusho
that Hinata released tore across the inlaid stone as the Kyuubi�s chakra
mingled with her family�s jutsu, creating an enormous orb that slammed into
Kakeru with destructive force. The shockwave from the impact pushed the two
Konoha shinobi several feet backward as Kakeru was sent hurtling across his own
temple, crashing into the far wall and sending several chunks of masonry
rolling down the hall. The morphed dragon-man slowly pulled himself from the
crack his body had formed, rubbing his serpentine jaw line with a bemused
cackle.
�Such ferocity!
Your power is almost more valuable than the original�s!�
�If you think
what I can do is impressive, then you truly don�t understand the Kyuubi at
all,� Hinata said, readying herself once more. �Naruto, let�s finish this. I
want to go home.�
�I hear you,�
Naruto nodded. �Let�s end this once and for all�together.�
The couple raised
their hands together and formed Naruto�s most used seal in unison, their chakra
overflowing as they focused all their demonic essence into the technique. Waves
of crimson energy flickered and flailed in nonexistent wind as the Kyuubi�s
chakra exploded from both of them, causing the temple to visibly shudder under
the weight of their combined power.
�Tajuu Kage
Bunshin no Jutsu!�
Endless clones of
Naruto and Hinata materialized in waves, spreading out from their progenitors
to create a sea of orange and lavender. The constant supply of shadows filled
the grand temple, covering even the remainders of the support system with
Narutos and Hinatas that directed their heated gazes to the sinister figure in
the middle of the room. Kakeru peered at the throng of clones, his left eye
twitching slightly as he came to understand the predicament he�d gotten into.
His composure broke for but a second as he let out a single whimpered phrase.
�Uh oh.�
Replicas of
Naruto and Hinata rushed forward in a swelling tide, charging Kakeru without
regard for their own lives. Instinctively the draconic villain struck back,
unleashing a furious gust of flames that engulfed more than a quarter of the
lovers� army. The loss did not impede the attack however, each emptied space
being almost immediately filled by another clone. Fists surged against ebony
chakra as barrage after barrage pounded against Kakeru�s shell. The
demon-possessed teenagers directed their combined rage against the man behind
the darkness, attempting to shatter the barrier between them and his flesh. In
a show of staunch determination, Kakeru did not bend to the prolific assault,
and instead summoned all the power he could into a single exhalation of dark
fire that washed across the stone, knocking away clones left and right to
create a thick layer of mist that reduced the battle to a blurry show of
silhouettes. Shadows converged on the wily villain�s grand frame only to be
knocked aside by his powerful limbs. With a deep roar Kakeru unfurled his wings
and took to the air, sending out a gust of wind that dispersed the clouds of
chakra smoke and left the battlefield visible once more.
In control once
again, Kakeru used his aerial advantage to avoid the haphazard jump attacks
that Naruto threw at him. Hinata and her clones stayed at range, keeping their
attacks down to long-ranged strikes of Hakke Kusho. Kakeru simply weaved
through the gauntlet, raining fire on the two shinobi whenever the chance
arose. Black flames spread across the floor, flickering in defiance of the
bodies that appeared and disappeared amidst the ruined stone. Orange and black
swelled against a backdrop of burning darkness as dozens of them launched
themselves at Kakeru, who quickly averted the attack by diving under the
blond�s victory rush. This maneuver led him into the pair�s trap, several orbs
of chakra slamming into him as Hinata�s clones unleashed another salvo. Each
red-tinted orb exploded against Kakeru, stunning him long enough for Naruto to
deliver a powerful slam from above, driving the dark dragon ninja into the
ground. Stone cracked under the impact, leaving a depression in the shape of
Kakeru�s dragon form as Naruto stepped off, both Kyuubi-tainted warriors and
their clones standing side by side.
�Had enough?�
Naruto growled, his whiskered face twitching angrily. �Or can I end it here?�
�You amuse me
with how much you presume,� Kakeru snapped back, slowly rising from his
personal crater. �I can�t tell which pisses me off more. The fact that you
think you can beat me, or the fact that you seem to think that this is all it
would take.�
�If this isn�t
enough, we�ll keep on going till you�re dead!� Hinata cried out, her empty eyes
burning with unearthly fury.
�You�re more than
welcome to try,� Kakeru taunted. �I welcome your pathetic stalling. It makes my
day far more entertaining!�
The carved stone
beneath Kakeru erupted, sending shrapnel in all directions as Naruto latched on
to the chakra beast�s throat. Though his grip was as firm as steel, Kakeru
seemed unaffected. His powerful claws grabbed Naruto�s relatively brittle arm,
twisting it at just the right angle to begin breaking bone. Hinata stepped in
at that point and charged Kakeru along with some of her clones, separating him
from Naruto with series of combined strikes. The dragon-man recovered with
surprising ease, countering Hinata�s attack with one of his own. Frightful jaws
clamped down a pale arm, dispersing the flesh into gas as the clone evaporated.
The slight confusion that followed allowed the pair to escape and regroup,
vanishing amongst the throng of clones that inhabited the main hall.
Another Naruto
leapt out from the shadows behind Kakeru and grabbed onto his tail. The
appendage contained great power it seemed, as Kakeru was able to fling the
blond shinobi well into the distance simply using the whip-like counterbalance.
Another Naruto came to replace the first, this time teaming up with one of the
Hinatas to take greater hold of the flailing attachment. More clones came out
of the stonework, latching onto various parts of Kakeru�s body. Eventually
Kakeru became restrained by a gaggle of colors, leaving him defenseless. At
that point the real Naruto emerged from amongst his doppelgangers, carrying a
swirling mass of dark red chakra.
�I told you I�d
kick your sorry ass!�
Kakeru was not
affected by the words. His eyes seemed unfocused and dazzled, switching between
bodies in a random fashion. The blanket of impostors shifted as Kakeru�s body
shuddered violently, firing off a pulse of chakra that knocked every clone of
Naruto and Hinata across the room. The pop of shadow after shadow evaporating
overpowered the sound of Kakeru�s enraged growl as his eyes settled on the last
two versions of Naruto and Hinata. His giant wings knocked stone into the air
as he rocketed toward the two ninja with his teeth and claws bared. Carved
stonework broke into shards as Kakeru crushed the jinchuuriki and his mate into
the ground, pinning the pair by their throats. An inhuman hiss followed the
brutal tackle as Kakeru hovered above his prey.
�You win points
for being more fun than I expected,� Kakeru smirked. �Unfortunately, your
tricks are repetitive, and I�ve gotten bored. And since I only need one
of you��
Kakeru�s eyes
widened suddenly as his body contorted into a strange arch. The Naruto and
Hinata under his grip popped as the real Naruto drove a crimson Rasengan into
Kakeru�s back. The twirling pressure from the attack disturbed the shell of
black chakra that surrounded the maniacal despot, slowly forcing him down.
Kakeru resisted, pushing up against Naruto�s special attack, pitting dark power
against dark power. With considerable effort the Kyuubi�s energies won,
grinding Kakeru�s transfigured body against the cold stone floor. It felt as
though he was being crushed over and over again as intense amounts of pressure
poured down on him until the Rasengan exploded, sending Kakeru deeper into the
temple�s granite foundation. The dark beast did not slow however, pulling
himself from the rubble with an ear-splitting cry. This prompted Hinata to
finish what Naruto had started, charging Kakeru from the darkness and striking
him rapidly with her devil-charged Jyuuken. Pulses of red exploded from her
palms and fingers as each hit stunned and knocked the makeshift dragon
backwards. The last strokes were something of a waltz, a trio of blows that set
Kakeru up for the final strike that sent him tumbling across the demolished
room.
�Learned your
lesson yet?� Hinata panted as Naruto reclaimed his position at her side.
�You assume you
have something to teach me,� Kakeru growled in response. Slowly he emerged from
the shadows, revealing that his disguise had been dropped, leaving him in his
human form once again. �I find that highly offensive, just so you know.�
�I wasn�t playing
around when I told you I�d kick your ass,� Naruto said, narrowing his eyes on
Kakeru. �I was dead serious. I never go back on my word.�
�Wait, you were serious?�
Kakeru gasped. �Oh, darn, I thought we were still goofing around. Well if
that�s how it is, I suppose I can stop playing around��
�That�s enough,
Kakeru.�
Two sets of eyes
jumped while one set simply floated towards the archway that led to the
temple�s basement as Yakusho, Sakura and Jiyumaru finally showed themselves.
Yakusho stepped forward, his sword already engulfed, keeping his unnervingly
calm gaze on Kakeru.
�Argh, are you
kidding me?� Kakeru moaned. �They�re dead? Seriously? Do you know how hard
it is to find fanatical followers these days? Those three are going to cost a
lot of time and effort to replace, you know? I�ll expect compensation.�
�I said enough,�
Yakusho restated, walking toward his mentor. �The game is over Kakeru. You can
stop pretending now.�
Kakeru attempted
what looked like a pout, but quickly abandoned the look for something more
fitting. His face regained the demonic glow it had attained just before the
battle with Naruto had begun as he let out a short laugh.
�Ah, so you saw
right through me from the beginning huh?� Kakeru slapped his knee and laughed a
little louder before silencing himself with a gesture, putting a more serious
look on his face instantly. �You really take all the fun out of being me, you
know?�
�What�s he
talking about?� Naruto questioned. �Someone please fill me in.�
�No time to
answer silly questions,� Yakusho said. �Everyone else get out�I�ll deal with
him from here.�
�Ah, so that�s
what you�re doing,� Kakeru laughed. �You�re protecting them. How cute.�
�Protect this, asshole!�
Naruto charged
Kakeru with all his rage, focusing it all into a blood red Rasengan. The
chaotic mass of chakra threatened to break apart within the blond�s grasp, its
shape contorting in every direction as he fought to keep it together. Its stability
did not bother him however, for he knew if he could hold it for just a few more
seconds that he could go home happy. Everything would be over.
�Oh please.�
Darkness roiled
out from Kakeru, eclipsing the entire temple in makeshift emptiness. Naruto watched
the rest of his existence melt away along with the Kyuubi�s chakra, leaving him
standing meekly before his imposing enemy. Kakeru suddenly seemed taller, his
mere presence enough to make the genin choke. Naruto fell to his knees as his
breath was stolen, black tendrils creeping over his skin and into his mouth to
rob him of his life. He found himself wondering how he ever thought he could
defeat such a monstrosity.
It was only then,
when he understood that he could never do such a thing, that the blackness
drained away. Kakeru stood unmoving before him as Hinata rushed to his side,
helping him limply to his feet. He was unsure if he had been experiencing a
jutsu of any kind, but knew well enough what it had meant.
�How?� Naruto
breathed. �How can any human have that kind of��
�Power?� Kakeru
finished, grinning aberrantly. �I truly wish you could have lived during the
glory days. Then you might understand that there is very little �human� in the
Ryumoto clan.�
�I said that�s
enough, Kakeru,� Yakusho spoke up again. �You�ve had your fun.�
�Have I?� It
seemed to be Kakeru�s first serious question, as though he were only just now
acknowledging the existence of others in his presence. �I don�t recall saying
anything of the sort.�
Yakusho ignored
Kakeru and turned to Jiyumaru. �I trust you can get them all out of here?�
�What are you
planning, Yakusho?� Jiyumaru�s brow tightened as he surveyed the scene.
�Something that
requires you and everyone else to get as far away from here as possible,� the
brunet conferred. �Now are you going to stop arguing and move?�
Jiyumaru nodded
hesitantly and grabbed hold of Sakura�s wrist, pulling the pinkette with him
against her wishes. Even though she and the others struggled both physically
and verbally against the strategic retreat, the stoic swordsman would have none
of it. With a courteous nod in Yakusho�s direction, Jiyumaru dragged the other
Konoha shinobi out of the temple without interference, at which point Kakeru
sighed and turned his attention on his former student.
�You�ve gotten
soft,� he remarked with a sad look on his face.
�Of course I
have,� Yakusho admitted freely. �I�ve made friends. So you understand why I
can�t let them do something as stupid as try to fight you.�
�Shouldn�t you be
saying the same to yourself?�
Yakusho shrugged
off the chill that crept up his spine as Kakeru licked his lips in a rather
deviant manner. There was something totally unwholesome about the act that served
to underline Kakeru�s latent nature. It was a nature that Yakusho was all too
aware of, as he shared it in as many ways as he did not.
�A few months
ago, I might have,� Yakusho said. �But I�ve changed since then. I�m ready to
accept my responsibility.�
Yakusho reached
into his vest and produced a tightly bound scroll. Kakeru raised an eyebrow in
curiosity as his nephew unfurled the frayed parchment, revealing symbols and
words written in calligraphy that radiated experience well beyond Yakusho�s
years. The younger Ryumoto whipped the paper firmly as his chakra flowed into
the meticulously scribbled text, evoking its dormant power with a loud bang,
followed by a thick cloud of smoke.
�I knew it,�
Kakeru sneered. �You had them all along.�
Yakusho clicked
the two bracelets that rested in his hands as the clouds of chakra slowly faded
away, placing the scroll back into his vest. The two armlets were identical to
the ones that adorned Kakeru�s wrists, except the designs on Yakusho�s pair
were filled with a vibrant bronze coloring. Yakusho tested their weight, as
though he were recalling a long lost memory, sifting through the replay before
casting it aside altogether.
�I was told never
to let anyone other than myself have them,� the teen announced, sliding
one of the bracelets onto his wrist. �I�m not sure how, but somehow I just know
she meant you in particular.�
�I wouldn�t be
surprised,� Kakeru chortled, crossing his arms in a manner that purposely
showed off his set. �After all, look at what I�ve accomplished with the ones I
own.�
Yakusho placed
the second bracelet on his left wrist and felt a surge within him. He could not
describe the feeling properly, for there were no words that could express it.
His skin crackled with lightning as the bangles came to life, the bronze
patterns glowing brightly and sending off a dramatic spark before calming down.
Where Yakusho once stood was now an entirely different person, yet he looked
exactly the same. The sum of generation upon generation of knowledge dating
back long before the birth of ninjas seemed to throw itself at Yakusho�s feet,
tempting him only to recede as he reached for it. He was keenly aware of
another presence, something far greater than he was. It watched over him,
enshrouding him in its protective shell and warding off the dangers of the rest
of the world. It was almost as though it were the first time Yakusho had ever
felt safe or complete, his heart beating slower as he exhaled warmly.
�Exhilarating,
isn�t it?� Kakeru teased. �There�s nothing quite like putting them on for the
first time. They�re a remarkable piece of draconic know-how, aren�t they?�
�Now I
understand,� Yakusho breathed hard. �I thought I understood before�but now I
truly get it. This is why you�re never afraid of anything.�
To that, Kakeru
simply laughed. His bracelets hummed to life as a torrent of dark energy spread
out across the ground in a web-like pattern, dissolving only seconds later to
leave trails of steam floating into the air.
�There are plenty
of things in life I�m afraid of,� he said. �Thankfully neither you nor your
dullard father made the list.�
�This ends
tonight, Kakeru,� Yakusho growled out, his voice echoing against the temple
walls. �We settle this here and now, with blood!�
�You�ll never
hear me agree to something faster!�
Hand seals flew
by at an incalculable pace, ending in the same symbol in which all of the
Ryumoto clan�s secret jutsu ended. Power the likes of which Yakusho had only
witnessed once before exploded from within him, filling him with its brilliance
at the same time as its dark counterpart consumed his uncle. Yakusho could
already feel himself changing as the jutsu�s name left his and Kakeru�s lips.
�Ryuu no
Tama!�

Night had fully
taken up its mantle over the valley. The ghost town took on a new veil with the
lack of sunlight, each tumbling stone and rickety shutter adding to the sheer
terror that seemed to creep out from every corner. It was a horrifying place
that was haunted by spectres from an age long past, whose voices could not be
heard and whose touch could not be felt. All they could do was watch as four
shinobi escaped through empty streets.
�Let me go damn
it!� Naruto hollered. �I said let me go!�
�Stop struggling
Naruto!� Jiyumaru ordered. He stopped sharply and released his three
companions, watching Naruto roll across the ground. �Do you think Yakusho would
tell us to leave if it weren�t important?�
�He�s insane!�
Naruto spat. �He doesn�t want us helping him because of his stupid pride! We
have to go help him before that monster tears him in half!�
�Naruto, relax,�
Sakura shushed him. �Yakusho can handle himself.�
�Did you fight
him!?� Naruto bellowed. �Do you know what he�s capable of!?�
�Nobody here
knows more about Kakeru than Yakusho,� Hinata said sagely. �He�ll be all
right.�
�You have to
trust him,� Jiyumaru explained reassuringly. �He knows what he�s doing. He wouldn�t
have told us to get out if he wasn�t sure he could handle it.�
�You just don�t
get it!� Naruto stomped the ground, creating a small crack in the ground from
his uncontrolled strength. �That man isn�t human! He�s some sort of
freakish monster!�
The earth suddenly
shook with tremendous force, reducing several of the rundown houses in the
village to their foundations. The grand temple cracked and lurched under the
force, showering buildings with discarded shards of stone and clouds of dust.
From within the once-hallowed halls arose a horrific roar that sent a tunnel of
wind into the deserted town, launching a funnel of dirt and broken homes right
past the four stunned shinobi.
�What the hell
was that?� Sakura gasped.
�I�m not sure,�
Jiyumaru frowned. �Hinata, what do you see?�
Soft lavender
eyes hardened as Hinata activated the Byakugan, turning her gaze upon the
crumbling temple they had all only just escaped. She squinted to focus her
clan�s dojutsu, trying to find the source of the terrible cry that still hung
in the frigid night. A strangled yelp was the only sound she could make when
she spotted it, slamming her eyes shut and wishing away the effects of her
secret technique.
�Hinata!� Naruto
was at her side, holding her shoulders comfortingly. �What�s the matter? Did
you see it?�
�I�don�t believe
it�� she muttered. �It can�t be real�what I saw couldn�t be real.�
�What wasn�t?�
Naruto shook her firmly. �What are you talking about?�
Granite exploded
in a vast shower over the abandoned ninja city, tossing blocks in sizes ranging
from pebbles to boulders through the air. What was once a sanctuary quivered in
protest as it began to collapse, the ancient stone cracking and giving way to
gravity as intricately sculpted designs turned to dust and rubble. A single
monstrous figure burst from the failing building, destroying several moldy
houses with it�s overgrown frame as it was flung through the air. It slowly
rose to its feet, four separate masses of muscle, sinew and scale rippling
under the creature�s weight. Its long neck and tail stretched out as it
ascended to its full height, letting out a quaking roar before unfurling its
massive, leathery wings. Its body glistened in the pale moonlight, shimmering
like dark sand against the black backdrop of the darkness. Its tail lashed out
to help balance its unruly girth, knocking over another dusty building as
though it were nothing more than a child�s toy replica.
�I don�t believe
it,� Sakura gasped, her body shaking uncontrollably.
�Is�is that what
I think it is?� Naruto gulped, mimicking Sakura flawlessly.
�It�s a dragon,�
Hinata confirmed tiredly. �They�re both dragons.�
�Both?�
A second snarl
echoed across the grayscale town as another dragon lumbered into view. Both
mythical creatures were virtually identical, save for the coloring of their
scales. While the first�s glittered in the moonlight, the second�s merely
devoured that same luminescence. Black as the charcoal remnants of half of
Ryuugakure, the monstrous being spread its wings and let out a hiss in response
to the challenge issued by the first dragon, a greenish fluid dripping from its
mouth and burning small holes in the ground.
�What the hell is
going on here?� Sakura cried out. �I thought dragons were dead and gone.
How�how are there two of them!?�
�So that�s why,�
Jiyumaru muttered quietly. �Why didn�t he say something? To think we left
Naruto alone with Kakeru when��
�What are you
talking about?� Sakura grabbed Jiyumaru and shook him roughly. �What�s going
on!�
�Isn�t it
obvious?� Hinata replied for the jounin. �Those dragons�they�re Kakeru and
Yakusho.�
Sakura stared in
disbelief as the two dragons charged one another, the ground trembling beneath
their combined weight. Bronze and black clashed, butting heads and raking claws
against nigh unbreakable skin. The bronze dragon lashed out and bit into the
neck of its adversary, attempting to drag the ancient beast to the ground. What
the group could only assume was Kakeru struck back unexpectedly, lashing out at
the fully dragon-like Yakusho with his full weight. The tackle sent both of
them to the ground, knocking over signposts and demolishing anything in their
path. Kakeru was the first to recover, keeping his opponent pinned by lashing
out with all parts of his enormous body. Yakusho found himself battered by
claws, wings, teeth and a large tail over and over again, with absolutely no
opening in the brutal set of attacks. Soon afterwards the huge bronze dragon
stopped struggling, and it appeared that the assault had been fatal.
The light
building up in Yakusho�s lengthened throat went unnoticed until it had reached
a stunning brilliance, shining through skin and outlining bone in silhouette.
Kakeru was ignorant of the signs until his scales and skin were struck by an
intense wave of crackling energy. Bolts of electricity bounced off the charcoal
surface of Kakeru�s armored hide as Yakusho breathed pure lightning, expelling
the raw force of nature from his lungs to combat his wicked kin. The suddenness
of the blast combined with the sheer strength of it sent the massive black
dragon flying through the air, stopping only when its tremendous body crashed
into the wall of the still-collapsing temple. Static clung to the building and
the hulking body of the evil creature Kakeru had become even as beautifully crafted
stone caved in on him. The temple finally came apart and crashed to the ground,
swallowing up the vile dragon in a giant cloud of debris. When the dust
cleared, Kakeru�s transformed body was nowhere in sight, buried beneath tons of
rock and carved granite.
The grave was
only temporary. Within moments the chunks of stone began to melt away, their
chiseled surfaces glowing a sickly green. Frothy viridian liquid gushed forth
from the confines of Kakeru�s crude tomb, dissolving and burning through
anything it touched. The mastermind, still in the guise of a legendary monster,
rose from the hole created by the fluid, with some still dripping from his jaws
and searing the rock beneath his claws.
�What the hell
was that!?� Naruto gulped.
��Dragons fight
not only with tooth and nail�,� Hinata recited, quoting an ancient text, ��but
with fire and lightning and all the horrors of the world combined. They must
only breath the word and it shall be so.��
�I think what
Hinata is trying to say,� Jiyumaru elaborated, �is that fire isn�t the only
thing dragons can breathe.�
�I gathered that
much!� Naruto yelped. �But acid? Are you kidding me!?�
A sudden gust of
wind sent a squall of sand throughout Ryuugakure that battered windowpanes and
broke glass. The great bronze dragon took to the skies as its nemesis unleashed
another stream of the violent chemical, dodging the attack as it bore through
several buildings, leaving them with ever expanding holes as the corrosive
liquid ate away at their structures. Naruto and the others were forced to duck
for cover as several large drops threatened to reduce them to nothing but
bones. Another burst of air ripped through the decimated village as Kakeru took
flight, following after his estranged nephew with renewed ferocity. The two circled
the skies high above their ancestral home, each one preparing to launch the
decisive blow against the other.
Naruto and the
others watched in awe as both dragons flew straight toward one another,
colliding in midair with bone cracking force. Scales rained down on the village
as the two beasts tangled in the sky, claws ripping against skin and teeth
puncturing flesh. The two seemed incensed with their brawl, with their strength
appearing to grow the more and more enraged they became. It was a brutal sight
to behold, as the only time the two stopped was to regain momentum and stay in
the air, only to return to their battle immediately afterward. The cycle of
clashing, falling and rising again repeated over and over, with seconds turning
to minutes as the endless cycle continued.
The sequence was
broken by a sharp burst of acid from Kakeru�s frightening jaws. Yakusho dove to
avoid the stream, circling around as the vitriolic rain reached the village
below. The team from Konoha took cover, avoiding searing droplets that ate
through metal, stone and wood alike. A glittering metallic wing struck Kakeru
in the throat, cutting off his caustic flow and sending him spiraling to the
ground. Another burst of lightning accompanied the great black dragon, driving
him deeper into the earth with a concentrated torrent of electrical energy.
Tiny surges of lightning crackled across the ground and over Kakeru as Yakusho
swooped down, ending his flight by landing squarely on top of his uncle and
letting out a terrifying victory roar.
The remainder of
the team was already running up to meet the Ryumoto survivors when they
reverted to their human bodies. Neither appeared to have suffered any injuries
at all, but it was apparent from the way they drew breath that both were exhausted.
Drawing on the last of his strength, Yakusho used his reformed hands to haul
Kakeru into the air by his throat, glaring down at his only father figure with
an intense sense of vindication.
�It�s over,� he
said plainly, panting heavily.
�It is?� Kakeru
gasped for air. �You don�t give me�enough credit!�
�No amount of
posturing or mind games will save you this time.� Yakusho readied his Dragon
Fang, the blade gleaming against the backdrop of stars and melted buildings.
�The only thing I regret is waiting this long to finish you off.�
�You must be
joking,� Kakeru chortled. �There�s so much more for you to feel sorry about. I
could remind you, if you really want me to.�
�The only thing I
want you to do is shut up!�
Hatred drove
Yakusho�s sword toward his family�s heart, but it was skill that stopped it.
Kakeru caught the magnificent blade between his palms, stopping it dead.
Yakusho was so shocked that he did not defend himself against Kakeru�s incoming
kick. The blow was quick and precise, hitting Yakusho in the solar plexus and
winding him. From there it took very little effort to steal the specially
crafted sword and use it against its owner, cutting Yakusho diagonally down the
chest and splitting his front wide open. Blood arced past Kakeru�s face as he
sneered at his nephew, chuckling deeply.
�You ask too much
of me.�
�YAKUSHO!!!�
Sakura broke away
from the rest of the group, charging toward Yakusho and Kakeru as fast as she
could manage. Kakeru hardly seemed to notice, his eyes focused intently on
Yakusho as the brunet fell to the ground in a small puddle of his own blood. By
the time he finished enjoying the spectacle, Sakura was already upon him, her
fist drawn back and glowing a pale blue.
�Oh please.�
Sky and ground
switched places as Sakura was sent flying back at her teammates by a seemingly
disinterested backhanded strike from Kakeru. The pinkette landed
unceremoniously in the wreckage of an old school, her world going dark as she
passed out. Naruto, Hinata and Jiyumaru did not falter, surrounding Kakeru
without any reprisal from the man clad in black. It was not until they all
attacked that they were struck down one by one, each one of their assaults
stopped cold with little effort by the dragon clan leader. While Naruto and
Jiyumaru were tossed aside much like Sakura, Hinata was grabbed quite
forcefully and knocked out cold, going limp in Kakeru�s hands.
�I think even
I�ve grown tired of these games,� he sighed. �Come and stop me if you think you
can, but I won�t endure any more interruptions. Reviving the Black Dragon King
is tiring work.�
Without another
word, Kakeru vanished from the ruins of his hometown, taking the raven-haired
heiress to the Hyuuga name with him.

Naruto awoke to
the dark skies surrounding Ryuugakure, a dark canvas spotted with the twinkling
of countless stars. He vaguely remembered the events up until he was knocked
unconscious, the images replaying themselves in slow motion as he sat up in the
small crater that housed his body.
�Hinata!�
Ragged blond
locks shot back and forth as Naruto catapulted forward, almost throwing himself
on his face as he frantically tried to stand. The world wobbled back and forth
in his eyes, sights doubling up over one another until the ninja�s equilibrium
returned. Not too far from him were Sakura and Jiyumaru, huddled around what
appeared to be a corpse. Closer inspection revealed the body to be that of
Ryumoto Yakusho, who was not yet dead, though desperately close to it. Sakura�s
hands glowed as she tended to his massive wound, tears streaming down her
cheeks.
�Damn it you
bastard!� she breathed hotly. �Live! You can�t die on me!�
�Jiyumaru?
Sakura?� Naruto groaned, trudging over to them.
�Naruto!�
Jiyumaru stood up quickly, reaching out to help Naruto walk straight. �Easy
there. You got hit pretty hard.�
�What�what
happened?� the blond muttered, rubbing his skull. �The last thing I remember�we
had Kakeru surrounded and��
�Kakeru played us
for fools,� Sakura sobbed, her hands never stopping their delicate work. �He
left Yakusho for dead!�
Naruto paled
slightly, but swallowed his fear and motioned to Yakusho. �Is he gonna be
okay?�
�I don�t know,�
Jiyumaru bit his lip. �It�s pretty bad.�
�Where�s Hinata?�
Naruto asked worriedly.
�He has her,�
Sakura muttered, her voice surprisingly empty.
�Where?�
�We don�t know,�
Jiyumaru kicked the dirt. �I looked, but I can�t find them anywhere.�
Honestly,
why are you bothering to ask him? The answer is right in front of you!
Colors inverted
as Naruto�s heart seized. His stomach turned as everything returned to normal,
save for a light burning sensation that crawled over his body. Even before the
Kyuubi had spoken, Naruto knew how he was going to find Hinata. Now however, he
felt a sudden urgency, a need to locate her greater than any he�d ever had.
When the burning sensation reached his fingertips he understood something was
amiss. A glance at his hands told the tale, fiery wisps of demonic chakra
rising off his skin and disappearing into the air.
Hurry you
stupid boy! The Kyuubi hissed. Hurry,
before she�s taken from us!
Once again Naruto
could feel Hinata�s presence. He was unable to exactly explain how, but he
could. The Kyuubi�s influence raged through him and drove him forward, making a
beeline for his love. He was blissfully unaware of the rest of the world, everything
else black in comparison to the sight of his partner, his mate, his heart and
soul. She was the only thing he saw, even after he punched through over six
feet of rubble to descend into the catacombs of the collapsed temple yet again.
Jiyumaru stood
dumbstruck, his eyes lingering on the shrapnel that rained down on the
desolated holy grounds. Silently he turned to Sakura, frowning at the sight of
her working diligently to save Ryumoto Yakusho.
Desperately, he
hoped that the dark feeling he was getting would just go away.

The temple�s
underbelly was darker than before, filled with loose water and dirt. Naruto saw
none of it though, his vision blinded by the intense visions granted to him by
the great Demon Fox. He was mildly aware of the faint red glow that tainted the
corridors as he passed through them, but he chose to pay it no heed. Minor
details would not help him find Hinata faster. Only delving deep into the dark
power that the two of them now shared would, and he would go as deep as he
could for her.
How much time
passed before he found her was a mystery to him. His only awareness was of the
turn that brought him within direct sight of her dark tresses. The locks of her
hair were spread out, floating in the air like the rest of her. Her mouth and
eyes were wide open in a silent scream as the Kyuubi�s chakra poured out of
them as though they were open faucets. Standing next to her was Ryumoto Kakeru,
lording over her hovering body ominously.
�So you found
us,� he announced. �Good. Makes collecting you all that much easier, doesn�t
it?�
�Let her go!�
Naruto growled, his voice barely recognized by his own ears.
�I could,� Kakeru
replied scathingly. �But it might not be in her best interest if I do.�
Naruto stood
still as his eyes drifted between Hinata and Kakeru. �What are you talking
about?�
�It�s fairly
simple, but it might take some explaining for you.� Kakeru stepped away
from Hinata and toward Naruto, his boots empowering each one of his footsteps.
�I�ll say it as plainly as I can. If I release her now, she�ll die. You might
feel some adverse affects as well, but you�ll probably survive.�
�What the hell
are you talking about!?� Naruto felt his anger boiling over, the burning
sensation on his skin escalating suddenly.
�The jutsu I�ve
used is meant to extract the demonic energies within her,� Kakeru explained
with a dirty look on his face. �However, Yakusho�s assessment of your
girlfriend was slightly inaccurate. Her chakra levels are nowhere near as
endless as yours�thusly, the jutsu is probably going to fail and she will die.
Also, if I interrupt it, it will kill her, you, your friends and probably
myself in a massive explosion.�
Naruto�s mouth
went dry. So many voices shouted at him at once, he could barely manage to
control himself. One told him to kill Kakeru now and figure the rest out later.
Another appealed to Hinata�s safety, and the safety of his friends. Another
still told him to run and never turn back. Various pieces of advice kept piling
on until he silenced them all, biting his lip to quell all of his feelings.
�Of course,�
Kakeru sneered, �if you were to help me instead of trying to kill me, your
actual limitless demon chakra would allow the ritual to go on. Your little love
bug gets to live, and no one has to die. But the choice is yours
really.�
�You must think
I�m an idiot.�
Kakeru�s head
canted to the side as he laughed softly. �Oh? Whatever makes you say that?�
�Even if you�re
telling the truth,� Naruto smirked indignantly, �it doesn�t matter. Hinata
would never forgive me if I sacrificed the rest of the world for her. Even if
she�s worth it�you couldn�t trick me into betraying everyone for her. So don�t
even bother. Your tricks aren�t going to work on me.�
Kakeru shrugged,
turning around to face Hinata with his palm outstretched. �Oh well, you can�t
blame a guy for trying, can you?�
The next thing
Naruto knew, the entire room was bathed in a blinding white light. What sounds
he could make out were quickly drowned out by the deafening roar that followed.

Jiyumaru paced
back and forth. Medical ninjutsu was definitely not his specialty, so he kept
himself out of Sakura�s way as she tried her best to save the dragon ninja. He
wished there was something, anything he could do. As it was, he understood why
it was so hard on her, but there was nothing he could do but stand and wait.
Ryuugakure
lurched as the earth began to shake, the ground cracking under the stress.
Jiyumaru fell to one knee, planting himself firmly on the ground for support as
he scanned the village for the source of the massive quake. Sakura seemed
unfazed as she continued her tireless work to save Yakusho no matter how hard
the world conspired against her.
A moment later,
even her concentration was broken when the ground split open and released a
thick, dark fog. A colossal shape rose from within the crevasse, stretching
trunk-like claws wide in order to catch the rim of the world. With gargantuan
strength the sole appendage dragged whatever it was attached to closer to the
surface, causing the ground to shake even more. A second giant arm rose out of
the darkness and raked across the soil, rending trenches in the face of the
valley. A single, blood red eye opened before a sky-shattering howl echoed into
the night and a long, tall neck stretched out from the inky abyss. Now freed
from its prison, the monolithic beast pulled itself from the depths and towered
over the ancient village, spreading its wings out across the valley. Jiyumaru
craned his neck upward to see the true glory of the monster, only to drop his
sword in fear.
The Black Dragon
King had returned.
- 24
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