Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Eyes piercing the darkness ❯ Endgame ( Chapter 26 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

The start of the final fight, let's start the end where the story began, for all those who have read to this point and waited patiently for me to get back to writing, I thank you, and in gratitude, I shall pay you in spades.

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Endgame


Silence had loomed over the leaf village and a grim atmosphere had overcome it's inhabitants, those who weren't going to war, had loved ones who were and they were headed to face a man who could have killed them all not too long ago. Despite the air and grim feelings, there was also calm, down in a dark room far below the hyuga complex Naruto leaned his back against the cold stone wall, eyes closed he thought, this was where it had all began, where he had first began to change, when he had met Yubiki, where the girls had found him, and where his story had started, his first kill was in this room, his life was depict by these four walls.
Naruto: Thinking back now, It wasn't so bad.

He said to himself looking up to the ceiling.
Naruto: Back then I never had to worry about people trying to kill me, the world coming to an end, or the looming change that everything was going to face. But the world around me is no longer dark.

Naruto lifted his hand before his face and marveled at the blackness in front of him, even his hand was eclipsed from his eyes.
Naruto: But my life in the light is a pleasant one. That's why, I'm going to fight to protect my light, and step away from the darkness, forever.

Naruto shot to his feet and grabbed onto the jacket lying on the floor next to him.
Naruto: Goodbye.

He whispered back as he rolled the jacket on and walked calmly from the room after reaching the stairs Hinata moved away from the wall and caught up to his pace, walking up the stairs Neji waited in the courtyard holding his chin in his hands before throwing himself to his feet walking alongside the two fox demons and through the front gates where Ishi waited on the side of the door and pushed herself from the wall just as the three emerged, being joined by Anko and many members of the hyuuga clan that had been slated to join the battle. As Naruto walked forward Sasuke walked from the back alley of the side street and joined ranks moving alongside the Kitsune prince. With every step Naruto took another of his allies formed in next to him, until the streets were allowed no room, even for those seeing off their loved ones, the war was going to be massive, no doubt Orochimaru would see an armada of this size coming from Konoha, but no one cared, let him know, this battle was coming to him this time. Thinking this Naruto turned to Ino, smelling one of the flowers in front of her newly rebuilt house before stepping back into the mob with her father and his two teammates, As well as the masters of the academy graduating class and Naki, but once Naruto reached the end of green tea street there was no more calm, the entire cluster of people took off into a sprint shortly after being joined by Shino and Kiba, who had been waiting with Raizen in the village streets and once Sakura dropped from the roof onto Raizen's back he gestured back and took off like a rocket for the destination to prepare. After all joining had poured in to the mob Naruto aimed for the gates, where JJ and Shikamaru waited, and with a smile, both boys seamlessly melded in with the others. Then the final additions waited ahead, the sand siblings, staring into the rushing mob and as Naruto passed Gaara, they became a part of Konoha's ranks. Yubiki stood smiling at her son as he approached her, going into the most dangerous battle he had faced, yet he boldly moved in unafraid of what would come next. Yubiki placed her hand on Naruto's stomach and became one with him, rushing winds blew past and Naruto's eyes were forced shut, but once they opened they were burning blood red, operation: Endgame, had began.

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Itachi had just awoken groggily from his sleep, something he never had a habit of doing, but something in his mind had told him not to get out of bed, like Yura had told them, he was indeed in Arukechi village, but he wasn’t going to be staying much longer than that night and his intuition was telling him to get Isane and Kisame and depart for the next village as soon as possible, but the importance of the item he’d been sent to find was crucial to their plans and leaving at night would have only served to tired them out, as powerful as they may have been they were still only human. Isane stirred next to him, softly purring in her sleep as if enjoying the warm next to her; and just as Itachi reached to brush aside a strand of hair on her face she awoke in a start. It didn’t take long for Itachi to sense the same thing she had, maybe not as clearly, but he could feel the air was different somehow.
Isane: I don’t hear any thoughts.

She said as she leaned up from the bed, hopping to her feet and changing from her nightgown. Itachi knew what that meant, Isane could always hear thoughts, and if she couldn’t hear them, then that meant that no one was around, in a village that was full of people the previous night. That was far from normal in any sense of the word. Itachi slowly gained away from the bed and dressed himself as well, calmly stepping out into the hallway where Kisame waited with his back against the wall.
Kisame: It’s about time you got up, you slept in, that’s not like you.
Itachi: I agree.
Isane: Something is happening; it was probably your body telling you that you’re going to need your strength.
Itachi: Do you know what’s happening Kisame?
Kisame: Nah, but I get the feeling someone wants us to stay here, and I’m not going to waste any energy trying to get out, besides, if they want a fight, who am I to deny ‘em, right.

He said grabbing the hilt of his sword and calmly all three stepped out into the now deserted village and closed their eyes, the moment that they had stepped out into the open the ground below began to shift and then a wall shot up around the village covering them in a dome with several holes at the top to allow air and sunlight. It was a futile defense, any of the three could have easily freed them from that prison, however, it was easy to tell by the holes at the top that their goal wasn’t to imprison them, but to contain them for something more. Itachi peered back barely managing to avoid the sparking strike his little brother had unleashed on him, and as Sasuke landed to the ground with a spin he smiled as from above Raizen dropped with his sword held back and his eyes blazing red, however once again Itachi made even the speed of the attack seem miniscule. Isane walked forward aligning herself with Raizen, yet she seemed unsettled by the fact that she had read neither mind of either boy before they appeared, and even now their thoughts came across muddled.
Kisame: So you came for a rematch, eh kid, I’ll take you on this time.

He said brandishing his sword in an attempt to intimidate Raizen, but before either could do anything another sword slammed against Kisame’s.
Zabuza: Back off, the kid’s with me.
Kisame: Heh, so you’re here too; interesting, now I’ll finally get to rip you apart.
Haku: I wouldn’t count on it.

She said holding three senbon needles between her finger aimed for Kisame’s throat, however with a push he managed to free himself from the encirclement.
Kisame: Alright, fine by me.
Isane: Kisame!

She shouted, however right before could move, she sensed danger and it moved her back, avoiding the strike of a very poisonous snake.
Anko: Remember me?

She asked walking toward the blonde psychic with the stride of a model.
Anko: I’m sure you do, after all the times we used to spar.
Isane: Anko, I have no business with you, explain what’s happening here.
Anko: Settlin’ an old score that’s all.

Itachi turned back slightly, catching sight of the lightning spark coming for his head, and in haste he locked eyes with the person coming at him, but not long after it vanished and the lightning blade was at his side prepared to flank him. Itachi ducked paying no mind to the attack that nearly killed him as he spoke the man cursing his luck.
Itachi: Kakashi, it was foolish of you to come here.
Kakashi: Perhaps, but this is something that has to be done, we’re going to end this all today.

Itachi gazed back to Isane, who seemed to be extremely shaken by the happenings around her.
Itachi: Isane.
Isane: I can’t read their minds.
Kisame: Who cares, just take them out.
Isane: That’s not it, the only way someone could block my telepathy is-
Neji: If they have it too right?

Neji stepped from inside one of the houses and stared at the woman who once stood as the heir to Ishi’s throne. And from behind him Ishi stepped, staring at the one she had once called sister.
Ishi: Isane-onee-chan.
Isane: Ishi….

She called out, as if longing however instantly with the understanding of her power waning she calmed herself and froze her heart. As the two stared off Neji thought back to the briefing.
JJ: That’s the strategy as a broad, but there will be individual jobs that will be required of certain members.
Kakashi: Such as?
JJ: I’m going to need team Asuma to handle the charges on the mountain. Everything else will be taken care of on the field, however there is one special mission that must be done before that. Mika, you will not join the immediate assault team.
Mika: What, why? If this is about those times when I slapped you I thought you’d-
JJ: Note: serious face right now.

He said pointing to his expression.
JJ: You will be handling the side project of ours; Isane, Itachi, and Kisame will be in the village, so I’m going to need you Raizen, to evacuate the villagers before the battle can start, do this quietly as not to alarm the three I just mentioned, It’ll take every skill you have as a shinobi to pull this off.
Raizen: You know I can do it.
JJ: Yeah I do, after he’s done that Sasuke, Raizen and Ishi will remain in the village as assault team alpha, for the sole purpose of eliminating the Akatsuki before Orochimaru can reach them.

Those words caused an uproar, however none so loud as Neji’s.
Neji: You mean to place Ishi in there with three of the most dangerous criminals in the world? Are you insane!?
JJ: I’d expect better from you Neji. Are telling me you can’t protect your girl?

He asked with a smile that made Neji back off slightly.
JJ: I said they were going to be assault team alpha, You, Anko, and Kakashi will be delta, and Zabuza, because I know you’re listening in on us, you and Haku will be sigma.

Zabuza chuckled stepping in to the room with his arms folded as if subtly joining the conversation as Haku humbly apologized to everyone there.
Mika: Then why do you need me?
JJ: Your job will be to create a barrier that will contain the battle as the main fight rages, you’ll encase the entire village in a stone cage and hold them in so that they can’t escape, at the same time, I need you to create a single fault line in the seal, and tell it only to Ishi.
Mika: Why?
JJ: With her psychic powers she can easily block telepathy from another. The fault line will be placed at a specific location and if things go sour, Ishi can attack it, if that exact area is attacked, Mika, you will drop the barrier and quickly remove the teams from the village, depending on their status afterwards they will either return to or retreat from the main battle.
Sasuke: So we get to fight the people we want to face, why?
JJ: I’ll be honest, I don’t expect you to win, Kisame’s sword skills are much more developed, than Raizen’s and Itachi can throw someone into a genjustu just by moving a finger, Isane will have her telepathy blocked, but her skills as a psychic are far beyond Ishi’s own. At best I’ll say you’ll probably be able to tire them out, but if they get serious, or manage to kill one of you the morale of the others will drop and it’s all downhill from there.
Zabuza: Heh, that’s some confidence you have there kid.
JJ: I’m a realist.
Anko: Then why send us at all.
JJ: That’s easy; it’s so that those three can realize what it is they’re fighting for.

The intensity in his words caused the entire crowd to stiffen and with his eyes now closed he continued.
JJ: If we allow those three to escape, you’ll keep thinking about it, until your brains hurt, and then you will be of no use in battle except to build to the mortality rate. That’s why I need you to face them, stare down your demons and join the battle with clear minds. I need you all to fight with everything you have, so that you can walk away from this fight with your lives.

He said opening his eyes in a smile. Ibiki returned the smile and asked, though he knew there was no need to question.
Ibiki: And where are you going to be during this battle, you’ve told us everything, but what you intend to do.

JJ dropped his smile and stared down at the map with shogi pieces spread along it, picking up the piece he had carefully written his name on he slammed in right in front of the pieces that represented the enemy forces.
JJ: I will be on the front lines, any and all who pass after phase one, will have to go through me. Recently, I remembered what was important to me, the smiling faces of the people I see here, and the job entrusted to me, that job is to make sure that all who set out with me come home, and those who don’t are only slain, after I cease to draw breath.

Naruto finally unfolded his arms and picked up the piece with his name on it, placing it right next to JJ’s, and soon as did all those with their roles on the front lines.
Naki: Hell would have to freeze over before I let a kid die for me.
Naruto: There’s no way I’m going to let you fight alone.
Hinata: We all fight as one
Shikamaru: This time, we take the fight to him.

JJ smiled again and Neji blinked, returning his mind to the battle at hand, there was no way he was going to lose this battle, not with everything that came along with it. Failure was not an option. Allowing Ishi to walked forward he watched carefully at her every step, right until she aligned herself with Anko.
Isane: What are your goals; by standing with them what do you intend to accomplish Ishi?
Ishi: I intend to gain the strength needed to restore the kingdom of flowers to it's original beauty, now I return that question to you Oneechan, what do you stand to gain from your current dealings?
Isane: Nothing, I have no true intents or goals, I simply desire satisfaction.
Ishi: And you find it in destruction?
Isane: Why don't you read my mind and find that out? Or do you still need touch to read thoughts?

She asked out, making Ishi withdraw slightly.
Isane: It seems that I guessed correctly, let me change my question then, if your guess is right, what would you do?
Ishi: I'd do everything in my power to stop you before you could hurt anyone else.
Isane: Interesting, I'm curious to see what you can do, little Ishi.

Isane opened her hand and a thorny vine crawled down from her robe, much like Ishi's snakes had done moments before when she'd made her threat and as if it were a signal, all around began to prepare for battle. Each second stretched out as an eternity as battle sense filled the air, and the intensity grew as a cancer in the throats of all present. As a casted shadow passed the white haired girl, she vanished with the peering light and unsurprisingly the blow she had thrown was treated as a child tantrum by her older sister, dodging the attack as if air had been thrown at her. Twisting her body downward Isane swung her foot at Ishi who blocked it with the many snakes in her sleeve, being blown back behind Anko who had placed herself in the small gap between them, launching her venomous vipers at the blonde before her. This attack however registered as a threat, and dodging every snake would have been a problem; however her shield made doing so unnecessary.
Isane: Orochimaru's style? Poor taste Ishi.
Ishi: It's may be a style he came up with, but it's all my own now.

She replied with a smile, as all of the snakes landed on the ground, morphing themselves into thorny whips, lashing out at Isane from all sides, barely allowing her time to place a barrier. Isane chuckled, warping herself behind Ishi with her left hand drawn back, but before she could land a blow a hand shot for her and in a hurry, she cancelled her attack and flipped back.
Neji: That's as close as you're gonna get.

The proud hyuga prodigy leaned down into his family's famous stance and prepared himself for the psychic's next move.
Anko: You must be slipping if you can't even handle the kids here.
Isane: No, perhaps I am going soft for not getting serious the second my power was disrupted. I'm sorry little Ishi-chan, but Onee-chan is going to have to get rough with you.

The moment she smiled Neji was able to tell that she was definitely Ishi's sister, the wave of killing intent she had released was enough to choke and army. Neji’s eyes slammed shut as a powerful gust blew toward him, but before his body could react, a fist was driven into his sternum, even the byakugan had failed to alert him to the woman’s attack. Isane other hand shot forth, yet as it drew near a small circle appeared directly in front of her attack. The tiny small was no bigger than the size of Isane’s fist, but it was enough to stop it in it’s tracks.
Isane: So you can make barriers too? Impressive.

Isane looked back to her younger sister as she smiled, however movement at her side had taken precedence over all else. Anko’s leg shot between her and Neji, then onto Isane’s chest, kicking her back along the ground twenty feet, however the smile on her face let Anko know that pushing her was all she had done. Isane stepped forward.
Isane: This is going to be fun, the only time I’m actually given a challenge is when I spar with Itachi-sama. I guess Madara is going to have to wait a little while longer.
Anko: What did you just say?
Isane: Nothing you need to worry about, simply a ghost awaiting ascension. Shall we continue, I’m far too excited to hold back anymore?

When Isane stepped forward thousands of thorny vines sprouted from the ground, dancing as if the breeze were stroking them, however that wasn’t what seemed threatening, it was the fact that they were sixty feet into the sky peeking down at them like hungry lions.
Neji: Okay, now I see what JJ meant.

Neji finally regained himself and stood next to the two women at his side. Sasuke flipped back, barely managing to evade Itachi’s attack, it was only thanks to Kakashi’s interference that he managed to get that far away from it, but exploding clones, it seemed like something Naruto would do, but the magnitude of that attack was almost unreal. Sasuke was full of rage the last time he’d fought Itachi, but this time his head was unusually calm. Sasuke dipped his hand into his pouch and pulled two kunai and a shuriken, with that he could close the distance on his brother while Kakashi kept him distracted. Sasuke turned away from the wall and hurled the three weapons at Itachi, who spared his attention to block them, and in that moment, exactly below him Sasuke appeared, fist reared back in preparation to fill the blind spot below his brother’s gaze, but that proved futile as effortlessly Itachi leaned back away from it and sent his foot flying for Sasuke’s face, but thanks to the boy’s quick reflexes he was able to flip away from it before it landed. Itachi peeked back, ducking under Raizen’s wide swing, and calmed under the cold breeze such a fierce attack had brought along with it.
Raizen: Sparking sky!

He shouted out, as crackling flew from his blade, sending a electrical current flowing through his blade and down toward the ground below. Itachi put forth more of an effort to avoid this attack, but as Raizen sped towards him at blinding speed it became apparent that dodging wouldn’t be that easy, but there was no need to, once he gained on Itachi a sword slammed up into his, knocking his attack off the mark.
Kisame: You don’t think you’re just going to keep swinging a sword in my face and expect me not to take you up on the challenge?

He asked, pushing back against Raizen’s blade as if the boy’s strength were little more than a joke. Raizen stopped himself, kicking up an impressive dust cloud in his wake, but kept his eyes locked on Kisame, who seemed to be amused by the boy’s gaze.
Zabuza: I could say the same to you.

He said ripping the sword from his back so fast that the wraps on it flew off in a brilliant dance into the sky above.
Raizen: Don’t worry though Kisame, your head’s just as good as the others. So I’ll play with you too.

Raizen ripped his sword to the side and stood next to Zabuza.
Zabuza: You sure about this kid?
Raizen: Don’t worry about me, I’ll just finish this one off and go back to Itachi when I’m done.
Zabuza: That’s what I like to hear.

Kisame smiled, slamming his sword onto his shoulder. Kicking back roughly, he flew forward, swinging to tear Raizen’s head from his shoulders, but the boy didn’t move an inch mostly because Zabuza’s sword slammed into his, and in the time it took to blink, Raizen was standing behind Kisame, swinging down for his shoulder.
Kisame: Not bad kid.

He whispered as he reached back, catching the sword firmly in his left hand, but Raizen quickly threw his body upward, kicking for Kisame’s face as Zabuza swung his right fist for the scale covered face of the man before him. Kisame smiled, leaning his body back to avoid the two attacks coming for his face, and then spun upward, swinging his leg back into Raizen’s chest. Removing his hand from his sword, Kisame cycled through seals and gathered the moisture in the air.
Kisame: Water style: Water shark bomb jutsu!

At his call, a massive water shark flew at Zabuza, a move he barely managed to block, and the explosive impact sent his sliding back across the ground. After the explosion Zabuza placed his sword on his back just as Kisame had grabbed his.
Zabuza: Water style: Water dragon jutsu!

He shouted as twin serpents emerged from the water Kisame had gathered and shot back at him, but as they grew closer, Kisame slashed them in half, drenching himself in water, it was at that moment that Raizen rushed in, placing his hand on Kisame’s chest.
Raizen: Spark wave!!

His endless torrents of electricity rushed through Kisame’s body ceaselessly, and though it was a weak attack, the pain that Kisame felt was overwhelming, however the difference between a normal shinobi and a strong one is, that a normal one would have died from that, but a strong one such as Kisame managed to push the boy back despite the pain. Kisame shivered and coughed, but managed to not only lift his sword to his shoulders, but take a step forward into battle once more.
Kisame: Heh, nice one. Guess I’ll have to stop treating you like a joke kid.

As Kisame walked forward the ground shook beneath him, this wasn’t going to be an easy fight, not by a long shot.

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JJ Alone stood at the edge of the battlefield, staring into the massive numbers heading his way; of course Orochimaru would send that many at them like it was nothing, but then again this was a battle for his future, to gain something he had otherwise lost. It wasn’t that there were so many ninjas flooding toward him that arrested his attention; it was the fact that Orochimaru seemed to be nowhere in sight, even his aura was absent from sight. He ground his teeth, Orochimaru could be in the village already, and if he was, what were they supposed to do to take him out, with Ishi blocking Isane’s telepathy there was a chance that he could get in, and no one would notice, however that wouldn’t be easy for him to pull off with so many other shinobi in there. As he mused his worries were put to rest as the dark purple aura appeared far back behind the crowd, there was no mistake.
JJ: This is it.

He said as he motioned for the cloaked shinobi behind him to move forward and as the enemy ranks closed in he lifted his arm and waved to his army, and once the cloaks came off, it revealed the thousands of Naruto clones lying in wait. A they charged, the real Naruto, riding on top of one of his clones running on all fours like a horse, formed a sword in his hand and aimed it forward.
Naruto: For SPARTA!

He screamed, leading the assault on the still confused sound shinobi. As the battle began JJ whistled, Naruto was his own army if he needed to be, but at the moment he needed to activate the next phase of his plan. JJ activated an aura spark that signaled Shikamaru’s group and once they noticed the boy responded with a sigh.
Shikamaru: Why did they have to have the same idea to use the mountains?

He asked, turning his head to his allies as they fought off various sound shinobi trying to overtake them.
Ino: Asuma-sensei; that was the signal!
Asuma: I noticed.

He said back as the slammed his fist into the chest of an attacking shinobi.
Asuma: I’ll handle thing here, Shikamaru, Temari, you know what to do!
Temari: Yeah, yeah, ready slowpoke.
Shikamaru: Whatever.

He said, as he and Choji pushed a several small crates from the ledge and once they began to fall Temari jumped down with them and waved her fan, blowing the connected parachutes open, sending them soaring over the battle field. Seeing this JJ whistled, signaling for Naruto to fall back and once he did JJ slammed his palms together triggering an explosion on all of the crates, launching down thousands of Kunai laced with his green aura tethered together by wire. The wire itself powered by the force of the explosion was enough to knock off plenty of the shinobi heading toward them, but it wasn’t the kunai that was the trap. JJ lowered himself and cycled through a wide array of seals.
JJ: Pentagram formed. Nores aura ninjutsu; green aura: Heaven’s elemental gate!

After his activation the entire field lit up in a beautiful pillar of green light that enveloped all standing within the formation. Then by forming another seal JJ changed the color of the pillar to red, which exploded shortly after, sending a massive shockwave throughout the land. Kabuto chortled, looking down at the massive losses their side had just suffered from that one attack.
Kabuto: So do we join the fight Orochimaru-sama, or…
Orochimaru: Long ago soldiers would often release rabbits onto the battlefield before them, do you know why?
Kabuto: So we’re going to let them exhaust the enemies trapped for us.
Orochimaru: Let the fodder fulfill their role to completion. After they fall, they will fill our ranks once again more beautifully.
Kabuto: I see, leave it to me Orochimaru-sama.

He said with a smile as Yura, at their side, scanned the battlefield.
Yura: I can see their next move.
Orochimaru: Then let them spring it, I’m quite entertained at the moment.

With a small nod the girl returned her gaze down to the battlefield as the scattered sound forces struggled to regain their formation, but that seemed to be taking a lot longer than it should, especially with JJ and Naruto heading off the charge, however that wasn’t the last trick the boy had up his sleeve, at the moment the attack had landed the ground below began to shift and in an eruption, the leaf army sprung from the ground from all directions, when dealing with superior numbers you fight with your head. JJ smiled as the battle flared to a new level with the addition of the others, and bravely he lifted his hand into the air and charged onto the battlefield.
JJ: Shino, it’s your show now!
Shino: Right, Arubame clan, it’s our turn.

With his family’s secret technique the earth once again began to quake, and the insects in their bodies emerged swarming together overhead in a massive ball that draped the battlefield in darkness for a moment before the accumulated insects dropped to the ground in large clumps that ate away at anything they touched on their way down, and though the attacks seemed random, they never even came close to hitting their comrades, the focus of the Aburame clan was unrivaled.
JJ: Nice one. Naruto, it’s time for us to move for the king!
Naruto: That’ll lead us through the heart of the battle right?
JJ: Yep.
Naruto: Then what are we waiting for?

He said speeding up over the boy next to him, however a single cry brought them to a stop, turning back JJ saw one of the leaf shinobi fall to an enemy blade, and then another.
JJ: How could they regain composure so fast?

He asked out loud, trying to keep his cool, but in a quick moment the heads of the sound ninja responsible were cleaved from their shoulders. Hinata stepped forward and gazed over to JJ.
Hinata: Norugi-niichan, their numbers are growing.
Naruto: What?
Hinata: This.

She said pointing down to the heads of the two men she had just killed, but they appeared to have many more wounds than just what Hinata had done, fatal wounds that no one could continue fighting with
JJ: No way, this is-
Kabuto: Forbidden art: Dance of the dead!

Just as Kabuto shouted those who had fallen in battle returned to fighting form, yet slightly less, “alive” than before. JJ had never even noticed, the aura eye could only detect the living, so “dead” soldiers were invisible to it. Cursing at this he deactivated his Kekkai Genkai and calmly said back.
JJ: Naruto, Orochimaru will have to wait, Hinata, how many of them do you see?

Hinata focused closing his blood red eyes and said in an eerily calm voice.
Hinata: Over four thousand.
Naruto: Not. Good.
JJ: Dismember them, it seems like Kabuto doesn’t use the ones that aren’t in one piece, so let’s make a mess. Naruto, can you pass that message along to the rest of the army?
Naruto: Yeah, but do you have a plan for this?
JJ: Yeah, we hold out for reinforcements.

He said with a frown. JJ cracked his neck and headed back into the battle.
Gaara: Sand burial!!!

Gaara shouted, crushing over twenty of the soldiers in a torrent of sand, but it still wasn’t enough to quell the unruly mob before him. However, it’d take more than that to move him. Lowering himself, Gaara placed a single seal in front of his face and whispered, closing his eyes during the process, and once they opened the below the mob softened, swallowing up all standing on it as they struggled in futility to get out, letting him know that there were more than just “Dead” soldiers fighting against them. Gaara gazed at Kankuro, motioning for him to come join him and Gaara calmly advanced on the sand as if it were solid and once he reached the middle, it became so, crushing all lying inside as blood leaked back up to the surface.
Kankuro: This is startin’ to get ugly, have you seen Temari?
Gaara: No.

He said, folding his arms across his chest as he stepped patiently forward to greet the next wave of enemy shinobi, numbers that seemed to flow as endless as an ocean charged forward, fearless and overwhelming. Gaara lifted his hand and prepared to strike them down, but came to a stop when a massive stream of flames descended from the heavens. Gaara stared up in confusion, as did the rest of the leaf shinobi.
JJ: And the reinforcements arrive.

He said with a smile as ten dragon kin dropped to the ground before him.
Olera: Your highness, we have appeared as requested, are you certain that you do not require more to bolster our numbers?
JJ: No, I hate to have to overuse my authority as it is.
Teepo: Imagine my surprise when you asked. Fou… No, Norugi, lead the way.
JJ: Sure, I invoke my right as King of the dragon clan and command my clansmen to battle!!!!!!

He shouted, pointing forward at Orochimaru’s looming forces, and at his war cry, the fierce battle resumed. JJ smiled at the powerful presence his kin had brought to the battle, stepping forward proudly he clenched his fist.
Naruto: Those are the reinforcements?
JJ: Only the first, the next should be ready to spring any moment now.
????:Archers, fire on my mark!!!!

Emerging from the Side Mountains came a voice, booming down to the valley in powerful volumes.
????: Now!!!!!!

It resumed sparking a hail of arrows to fly down to the land in a quantity large enough to blot out the sun. After a sizable enough number of enemies had been felled, the man leading the charged slid down the mountain. Screaming to the heavens as they made their way into battle, locking eyes with the boy heading off the ninja army the man smiled.
Magaki: And so we meet again king of dragons.
JJ: I bet you never saw this day coming, one where your dragonslayers fought alongside the dragons you hated so much.
Magaki: No, not in my wildest dreams, but I owe that village of yours a debt, so we’ll fight by your side, so long as you don’t decide to flake out on us.
JJ: No, we dragons live with honor, we will not break our truce.
Magaki: Heh, I can’t believe I actually trust those words. Alright, my men are in your hands, I'll follow you, so don't let us down.
JJ: I shall fall myself before I allow my men to. Let's start this pact off right Magaki.

After exchanging a smile, the two stepped back into battle with a confused Naruto standing at his back.
Naruto: What type of magic did you use to pull this one off?
JJ: Good old fashioned kindness and consideration. What do you say we take another step into finishing this thing?
Naruto: Heh, guess that's one more addition to this fight, let's go, we've got the end in sight now. Hope Sasuke's group is doing okay, though.
JJ: Don't worry, none of them will die before they figure out what I meant.

He said with a smile, complete confidence in his own words.

(---------)

Sasuke rolled back, charging chakra into his left hand as he leapt back into the fight, barely managing to dodge Itachi's punch as he thrust the sparking attack into his brother's chest, smiling to himself Sasuke pushed forward, crushing through to Itachi's back, but soon after the man hanging over him smiled, and began the vanish. Kakashi quickly pulled Sasuke away from Itachi and threw him to the side completely prepared to take the resulting explosion from Itachi's clone, but in a blur of blue and black Raizen pulled him away before the blast could rip through him.
Raizen: That was rather careless of you Sasuke.
Sasuke: Bite me!

Raizen's eyes blade shot upwards, clashing with Kisame's sword on it's descent.
Kisame: Nice reflexes kid, but that won't get you anywhere fighting with me.

Raizen closed his eyes and reopened them more focused than before, trained on his enemy's throat. Raizen quickly moved his left arm back, grabbing onto his shuriken and slashed up, hoping the decapitate the sharkskinned warrior above him, but that move failed to meet it's mark, as Kisame lifted his blade to block it. Wearing a mocking smile he kicked down into Raizen's chest, sending him sprawling back along the ground and turned in time to stop Zabuza's massive blade form splitting him in two.
Kisame: That kid of yours really fights a lot like you, but that's the problem here, I know every trick in your arsenal.
Zabuza: That so, I never realized I was so predictable, tell me, have you seen this one?

Kisame lifted an eyebrow smirking as he struggled to overpower Zabuza's blade, but suddenly he didn't feel any pressure pushing against him, the reason, because Zabuza had dropped it, stepping forward under both blades Zabuza brought up his fist into Kisame's chin, and spun with a straight kick into his chest, as Kisame slid back struggling to regain his composure Zabuza grabbed the hilt of his falling sword and launched it at Kisame. Sensing danger Kisame raised his sword, deflecting the blade coming straight toward him, but in a split second the sword, once airborne, was now held still by Zabuza's firm grip. Zabuza placed his left foot to Kisame's side, and swung the sword with as much strength as he could, though Kisame managed to block it, the force behind the blow sent him flying headfirst into one of the buildings behind him.
Zabuza: Training that kid was good for me too, long story short you greasy bastard, this old dog's got some new tricks.
Kisame: So you do.

He said pulling himself from the rubble of the collapsed building, brushing off his shoulders.
Kisame: I'm still not impressed.

Placing his sword on his back Kisame held his hands in front of him and formed several seals faster than the eye could see.
Kisame: Water style: Water Shark bomb jutsu!

Zabuza smiled lifting his sword in preparation for the attack, but once it got closer the shark's body was pierced by several senbon shortly before Zabuza and Raizen slashed through it, causing it to burst, however the senbon flew through the air straight toward Kisame. With a chuckle he lifted his sword the to stop the projectiles, but his senses alerted him to the danger, albeit too late.
Haku: Crystal ice spears!!!!

The water formed on the senbon expanded and froze in mid air at frightening speed. Kisame's sword was knocked away by the first collision and the second and third pounded into his chest and face, propelling him back to the far wall. Before the others could reach him Itachi stepped in front of him and inhaled.
Itachi: Fire style: Fireball jutsu!

The resulting attack ate away at the incoming attacks as if they were nothing and continued on it's path to the two down the road. Zabuza gripped his sword, but Raizen stepped in front of him and held up his sword, closing his eyes. As the heat grew closer Raizen focused, opening his eyes only at the right moment and slashed down through the blast, extinguishing the flame in one blow. However this feat was quickly overshadowed as Itachi reached his hand through the smoke and grabbed tightly onto Raizen’s throat and tossed him into the back wall, giving another fireball to accompany him on his way, the explosion sent him full force through the entire house.
Sasuke: Raizen!!

He screamed out toward his cousin before turning his gaze back to Itachi; however Kakashi found this strange, Sasuke, in his previous encounter with Itachi, and for a moment even had to stop himself from stop himself from going to check on him. While he hadn’t consciously noticed, Sasuke had realized JJ’s prediction, and now there was only for them all to understand.

(Flash)

Ishi desperately dodged the onslaught of thorny vines flying toward her, and in a attempt to gain ground on her, but as far as Anko could tell, the three akatsuki, were just playing around, Ishi tried to force her way through, but with every step she was stopped by one of the vines crashing into the ground, however a single flash broke through the line with relative ease.
Neji: I’ll clear the way.

Neji’s 360 degree vision helped him preempt every incoming attack as if it weren’t even coming toward him; however that soon became null as something even beyond his scope of vision came flying at him, a building flying roof first toward him. Isane smiled, showing off just how much power she could use, and in the worst it wasn’t even a true effort. Neji panicked slightly, but something in his head pushed him forward. Neji leapt through the roof’s door and with his feet laced in chakra he navigated through the hallways, until he reached the stairs, but soon that path was blocked off by the vines crushing through the walls, however, Ishi’s words managed to reach him, unspoken words played directly to his mind, a power she had never displayed before. Guided by her words, Neji leapt through the hole above head and barreled through the passageways as the building collapsed around him under the weight of both the vines and the impact with the ground. Once all had crumbled Isane stood smiling at the boy’s resilience, even more so when he came flying from the smoke and rubble toward her with his hand drawn back, but accompanied by that was Ishi charging from under him, quickly weaving through the vines, under the direction of Neji through their links minds. Once both reached her, their hands slammed into her chest and stunned her, leaving enough time for them to lean back.
Neji/Ishi: 8 Trigrams!

Neji and Ishi moved in simultaneously, slamming the their strikes into Isane’s chest, but while Neji’s were filled with chakra, Ishi’s mock was little more than snakes striking from her sleeve in seconds, yet in surprise, she never broke from Neji’s pace once, making Anko proud of the way she had trained the young girl. On his 62nd strike, Neji paused as Ishi spun to her sister’s back and finished her 62nd attack, and at the right moment both reared back and pushed forward with both palms.
Neji/Ishi: Sixty-four palms/ Striking vipers!

Isane was crushed under the weight of their attacks and it felt as they had completely defeated her, but in that moment they could tell, the cloak they attacked was empty and Isane, waiting at their side, pulled back her hand and prepared to Strike down Neji, but in only a second Anko had grabbed her hand and pulled her back, wrapping several snakes around her throat, but in an instant thorn vines had wrapped around Anko’s neck as well, pulling both toward one another. Isane stabbed her foot into the ground and prepared to pull back as Anko’s snakes revealed their fangs, ready to pump their powerful venom into the woman’s neck, but Isane’s body burst into several vines and shot toward Anko, as the ones already holding her erupted in flames. Having, ignored the entanglement before this, Anko now saw the danger in withstanding the attack and pulled them from her with all the strength she had before the flames could reach her. Isane sighed turning away from Anko as if dismissing her as a treat, but Anko was wise to her true game, Ishi plagued her mid, there were little else reason for her even staying inside these walls save for that. Seeing the power the woman had displayed in lifting an entire building with her mind, it’d be a simple enough task for her to break a hole in the wall, so to her understanding, the only thing keeping these three inside, was intrigue.

Itachi stepped forward, gazing into the eyes of his rage filled little brother, but not even single flicker came into his own, instead he stared, with unwavering fortitude, calmly waiting for whatever came his way, and in boredom he sighed, peering over to Isane as she calmly passed over Ishi and walked toward him, gliding across the town as if her feet didn’t even touch the ground she stood before him and smiled, only turning to the voice of her sister calling to her.
Sasuke: Are you running away!?
Raizen: This isn’t over yet!

He screamed, speeding toward Itachi with the grace of a god, but as his sword came down, Itachi caught it with a single hand and with it, flung him to the side as one would a toy. Raizen quickly rolled to his feet and pulled the shuriken from his back, keeping it locked in close combat mode.
Raizen: I won’t let you get away.
Itachi: How can you possibly hope to defeat me, when your mind wavers so?

He asked, as if peering into Raizen’s soul, there was something that haunted him, yet he himself had yet to discern the cause. Raizen rose to his feet and clicked is teeth, preparing to move forth, but Ishi’s cry stopped him, a soulful scream to her sister.
Ishi: Why are doing this? Don’t you know what these people intend to do?
Isane: I have no idea what you mean.

She replied, with an expression clearly showing her lie.
Ishi: You’re on the wrong side.
Isane: And those in kingdom of flowers were? Like Loni who tried to kill you?

Ishi’s eyes flew wide and stepped back, kicking up dust that could easily symbolize her wavering resolve.
Isane: Or more like the father that hated you, or the vassals that feared you? Good or bad can easily change depending on which side of the looking glass you stand.
Ishi: How did you?
Isane: You blocked my telepathy, a nice move, but instead you locked me in your own mind. This whole fight, I’ve been wondering through your memories, but for some reason I couldn’t see recent ones, meaning you have something to hide right? Like why this wall is up?

Ishi flinched and backed away from her sister, but Isane never stopped talking in the face of her sister’s rising fear.
Isane: You want to know why your mother killed herself.

At that comment, Ishi froze wide-eyed she stared on.
Isane: Because she thought she killed me.

Ishi shook nearly losing her footing.
Ishi: What?

She asked weakly.
Isane: She wanted you to rule the kingdom, so she set out to kill me; went through the trouble of hiring people to do it, set me up and then scared me off a cliff. She just knew what would happen if someone found out, and then add a kid that can read minds and boom, backed into a corner. She was trapped, and unable to confess her sin, she chose to end it all. It was all your fault Ishi, if you hadn’t been born, things wouldn’t have wound up this way.

Ishi collapsed in tears as memories flowed back, and some not her own, Isane was projecting into her mind, linking together the sights she didn’t want to see, and as the tears began to flow Anko called out to her, but before she herself could do what she intended, Neji stepped forward, lifting her from the ground and with a firm glare, he slapped her as hard as he could surprising friend and foe alike.
Neji: What does the past matter? All that has happened has been done, there’s no going back. Being born is not a sin; no one should feel that way, that’s what a friend once told me. I understand how much it hurts to know the truth, but crying and blaming yourself won’t change it, neither will petty revenge or hatred. Don’t hate what made you what you are, because if it had never happened, you never would have been given to me, and I never would have become a better person through it.

Ishi blushed in Neji’s grasped and with a smile she nodded. Neji smiled at her and walked forward before the enemies they had come to fight.
Neji: We’ll definitely settle things with you all, but now isn’t the time. Ishi, contact Mika, we’re leaving.
Raizen: What are you talking about?
Neji: Sakura and Kiba are out there.
Raizen: Ah.

With just those words, Raizen realized what had been haunting his mind, sheathing his sword he walked over to the far wall and smiled.
Raizen: Heh, you know, I don’t even feel bad about this.
Neji: Sasuke-
Sasuke: I know.

Sasuke turned away and with a smile he turned back to Itachi and pointed his chakra forged blade to his throat. Then with a chuckle he lowered it and walked away with a smile, how much he had changed. He wasn’t alone anymore, and now fighting for those he trusted, was far more important than Itachi.
Sasuke: Orochimaru has some kind of secret weapon that he plans to use against you. Our allies are out there fighting him, so he doesn’t have a chance in hell of reaching you, leave while you can. One day your head will be mine, so stay alive until then.

The teachers looked on with pride, while the children had been too distracted to notice, JJ’s message was always clear to them.
Kisame: Screw this, you think I’m gonna just let you walk away!

He asked lifting his massive sword with intent to kill, but the eyes of Ishi paralyze for a brief moment, her intent to kill was so immense he could taste it, and while it didn’t strike fear in him, it did make him hesitate.
Itachi: Kisame leave them, we’ve delayed long enough.
Kisame: Heh, you’re right, whatever. Hey girl, the next time we meet, I wanna go a round with you. It takes a lot of guts to look at me with those eyes.

He said turning to walked away. As the wall around them crumbled Ishi and Isane locked eyes, staring at one another, through one another Ishi said.
Ishi: We’re enemies now right?
Isane: Yeah, we are…… Are you happy w, with the ways things are?
Ishi: More than I’ve ever been before. I’ll rebuild my kingdom, far better than it ever was, with Neji-kun.
Isane: The next time we meet, we’ll have to fight again, grow strong Ishi, surpass me. I love you.

Ishi smiled at her sister once as she returned to smile before both quickly departed heading in opposite directions from the battlefield.
Kisame: You wanna see how things turn out?

He asked Itachi with a smirk, sensing that both he and Isane wanted to stay, although his reasoning behind it was different from theirs.
Itachi: No. We’ve no business left here.

With a curt nod Isane followed suit and the three akatsuki vanished from the battlefield altogether.

(Flash)

Kiba pushed forward, ripping through the ranks of sound undead and alive alike, but the more he moved forward the more there seemed to be. He’d been separated from his clan, since the beginning of the battle he’d held close to his mother and sister, but with the changing tide of battle, he’d had to draw them away as he battled through the many hordes of undead soldiers, marching forward without fear of death.
Kiba: Just how much chakra does that bastard have anyway!?

He asked aloud, gaining only a groan from the dog standing at his side in his human guise. Before he could step into battle once again with the scores of enemies coming their way a single footstep grabbed his attention, Mimiru gracefully walked onto the battlefield before him, drawing her blade with the delicate form of a master and in an instant she stood on the other side of the field with the limbs of her foes soaring through the air behind her. Lowering herself to the ground she sheathed her blade, drawing instead the black sword hanging at her left hip in a single stroke, felling over fourteen enemies in one swing, the blow could not be seen, but the wind rushing over the grassy plain was more than enough to display it’s power. Kiba moved in closer, noting the many sound shinobi closing in on the young woman, but soon enough he was surrounded himself. Grating his teeth he slowly backed away, walking into the many waiting droves, and above their advance he could hear Mimiru hacking through them toward his direction.
Kiba: I could drill a hole, but with all this dead scent, I can’t tell where that girl is?

He said to himself as he surrendered to his fate, screaming to the heavens as if announcing his plight, but as far as he could tell, no one answered. Turning his head to the ground, Kiba closed his eyes as Akamaru wearily moved to his left leg, but before the enemies could finish the job, Kiba threw his hand onto the neck of the closest one.
Kiba: Like hell I’m going down that easy!

He shouted in defiance, and as if to praise he resilience the sound of the wind rushing past him met his ears, accompanied by the sound of severed flesh. Before he could check for the origin of the sound, a massive blade slammed down on the man in his grip, crushing him.
Kiba: Wha-
Raizen: I see you can’t hold your own out here, good thing I came back.
Kiba: Rai?
Raizen: Yo’.

He said as he stepped forward, brandishing the mighty blade in his grip.
Kiba: Did you get him?
Raizen: Nah, there’ll be other chances, but before we do that, there’s more important things to take care of like making sure that you don’t die on me.
Kiba: Whatever, I wasn’t gonna die here anyway, not until I stop that idiot.
Raizen: Right, we still gotta get your girl.

He said, pulling the shuriken from his back dripping in the blood of the dead.
Raizen: Let’s do this.

Raizen pointed his shuriken at the waiting horde as a harsh wind, carrying the heat of flames, brushed passed him. Fiery death rained upon the sound soldiers as they rushed heedlessly toward the leaf shinobi. Sasuke walked leisurely forward, staring with a prideful expression as he gazed into the masses of enemies surround Kiba and Mimiru, who seemed to be elated at the sight of the raven haired boy.
Mimiru: You made it back.
Sasuke I had to come back, their was no way I’d leave you out here all alone, and Kiba, look who I found on the way back.
Tsume: Kiba!!

Kiba’s mother shouted as her mighty hound pounded across toward him with her daughter at her side. Kiba sighed in relief, finally things were starting to look up.
Hana: You had us worried there for a second.
Kiba: There’s no way I’d go down that easy.

Kiba announced proudly, as he surveyed the field. Any who’d known him long enough could easily tell what he was looking for. The girl who’s life had been wrested from her, he had to find her, however his eyes soon became latched onto Naruto and JJ standing in the middle of the field, they seemed to be watching the general of the other side with interest, never once letting their gaze stray, not even when the enemy came close, for each time they did, heads rolled following the glimmer of Hinata’s beautiful scythe, or the earth would move to crush any who dared step closer. Even without that, any warrior worth his salt could tell that there wasn’t a single opening in their stance, not even a fly could touch them as they were now.
Mimiru: They’re waiting for the enemy’s true hand to show.

Mimiru whispered, surprisingly calm despite the situation she was in.
Neji: They won’t be waiting long.

Neji followed, walking slowly toward the center of the battlefield; however it was Kiba who beat the fastest sprint toward them, followed closely behind by his family and friends. His haste had purpose, for flowing across the battlefield with the grace of a goddess was a single girl, striding forward with unmatched zeal, her eyes held confidence, her movements resembled water, and with every step she took, enemy, dead or alive, left her path. It was as if she were royalty, but in the present situation, it only meant that she was one of the most fearsome enemies they were going to face. For many on the leaf side, simply gazing at her in this light was like a blow to the gut, others felt insulted that Orochimaru would send a lone girl to face an army, regardless of talent, for Kiba, it was like having his heart ripped out. Naruto was the first to move, stepping toward the girl with intent in his eyes, but Kiba’s feet led him ahead of the blonde hero, with Raizen following closely on his heels.
Kiba: YURA!!!!

Kiba screamed out, hoping to halt her advance, and to his credit, he had, but only received a sarcastic snicker shortly after.
Yura: Here we go again.

She muttered as if exhausted, with cold eyes leveled to Kiba she shouted.
Yura: I told you didn’t I? That the next time we met it’d be as enemies.
Kiba: Don’t give me that bull, you know you don’t want to fight us.
Yura: You don’t know me, stop pretending that you do, I was always an agent of Orochimaru, when I got close to you, when I hung out with you, it was all planned.
Kiba: Stop lying, I know it all, you told-
Yura: Forget. All the things we said, the things we thought we meant, it means nothing now. All that matters is that I’m an assassin sent to wipe you out and help Orochimaru-sama achieve his goal. I wish I could say I’d be sad to see you go, but I’m not.
Temari: Heh, Orochimaru must be stupid if he sent only you.
Yura: Oh, Temari, I thought I made it clear last time how easy it’d be for me to kill you.
Temari: Just try it.
Kiba: Wait, don’t-

Kiba’s words fell short, with a stride, Naruto stepped forward once again.
Kiba: Naruto you-
Naruto: I’ll knock her out, you take it from there.
Kiba: That’s not what I-

Once again Kiba’s words only caught air as Naruto’s pace hastened, quickly closing in on the girl. Effortlessly Naruto called three clones to his side; all falling in line with his pace, but as the gap closed, Yura’s hand lifted, and the clones were quickly dispersed, all stared caught in confusion, but Naruto’s confusion was a critical error. Yura lifted her leg, launching it into Naruto’s chin, and before anyone could see her move, she’d grabbed onto the back of his collar and slammed him head first into the ground, following with a smooth spin kick that sent him spinning across the ground on his head. JJ caught him in his mid drift and peered down at the girl, or where she should have been, for at the moment her knee was soaring right for his face, and despite the fact that he had activated his dragon skin, the attack still broke through. In one a fluid motion she twisted in the air and landed in the middle of the leaf forces, a bad idea for many, but for Yura, it was simply strategic placement. A single brief flash overwhelmed the sights of the shinobi for a moment, but after it faded all charged in, but with no knowledge of what had just happened. Neji was the first to close in, jamming two strikes into the girl’s stomach, but there wasn’t even the slightest reaction from it, in surprise, Neji launched forward again, this time catching her chest, but once again, not even a flinch. Yura smiled, kicking into his shin. Once he stumbled from the blow that was far more painful than it looked, she shot her elbow back into Choji’s stomach as he ran for her and kicked down into Neji’s face with the grace of an angel, this entire scuffle was only three seconds.
Naki: Sorry to have to do this, but...!


He shouted, cycling through seals as quickly as he could, but for some reason he couldn’t feel the charka flowing.
Naki: Oh shit.

Yura chuckled, flipped away from one of Lee’s blows, latched her tail onto the Naki’s neck, tossing him to the side as if he were nothing. Hinata followed, holding her middle form, yet advancing with non-lethal force, dodging through Yura’s counters, but for some reason she couldn’t see Yura’s chakra points, and even with her transformation her hits seemed to lack punch, this was confirmed when Yura countered her palm strike with her own, grasping onto her hand like a vice. Hinata realized right then, somehow, she wasn’t exuding chakra, however the knee to the stomach, soon blocked all thought from her mind and the feeling flying soon followed. Naruto caught her and glared at Yura as Hinata struggled to regain herself, but the girl showed no fear even in the mob of people around her, why was she so confident? Soon all was rushing at her, the girl needed to be restrained and lethal force was started to look very tempting. Buzzing caught Yura’s ear and with a single glance they disperse from the clump they’d formed and Yura blocked the backhand Shino sent down for her, no doubt intending to knock her out. Cursing his luck he prepared for the Kick Yura sent for him, but it stopped half way when his father grabbed the girl’s leg, no doubt this was the best chance they had to restrain her, and with the opportunity, all moved in, but with unreal strength Yura perched on her tail and kicked onto the faces of both men, sending them flying across the field, and at the center she stood, holding her weight on her tail as if floating. With legs across and her hands resting on them as if lounging, she chuckled, mocking the unwitting shinobi, and goading them into another reckless attack, and it worked. Yura flipped back, barely dodging one of Raizen’s wide swings, but she managed to determine his next attack and preempted him with a kick to the stomach, following by a quick flip kick that connected with his jaw.
Yura: Is this really your best.

Yura landed to the ground in a crouch, sliding away from Sasuke downward punch, and rolling to the side to avoid Kakashi’s reach. Rising to a stand she quickly launching her foot and tail into each’s stomach simultaneously, then flipped over Kakashi’s head, kicking him into Sasuke. Yura was toying with them, and they knew it, something wasn’t right. Temari opened her fan, smiling at the girl who seemed to be unaware of her incoming attack, and nodded to all those around her, warming them to dodge at her signal, and when she waved her fan, they all did. Yura turned back to incoming gust attack and charged it head first, somehow not only managing to dodge every single blade in the wind, but close in on Temari in a second. Temari closed her fan, blocking the incoming punch with the hard steel and counter by using it was a blunt object, swinging it down for her, but Yura rolled over it, launching her foot into the girl’s chest, and after landing she jammed her elbow into her stomach.
Yura: That’s for Tayuya.

She whispered, placing her feet on Temari’s chest she kicked back, both launching Temari and sending herself into a roll under Kankuro’s blade. With a chuckle Yura donkey kicked into his chin, but before she could finish Gaara held out his hand, drawing all of the sand from his gourd and it shot forth, going for the girl relentlessly, but Yura stood defiant looking into the sand cloud even as it opened like a mouth hungering for her, but when it reached her, she just closed her eyes and let the sand gently brush over her. Gaara’s eyes flew wide in shock and in that moment she’d shot over to him, gripping tightly on his face she reared back and prepared for the next blow, but something grabbed her. When she looked there was nothing there, but she could feel it, Ishi. The young princess focused as hard as she could, but Yura broke away, locking eyes with Ishi who awaited retaliation, and as Yura charged for her, she closed her eyes, only to feel the wind brush past her as she went for Neji as he moved in to protect. It was then that JJ released all tension, he looked over to Shikamaru, who’d managed to come to the same conclusion as him and Shikamaru formed his family’s famous seal. He’d been waiting for the right moment to use it, but now he just wanted to confirm something.
Shikamaru: Shadow possession jutsu!

Yura heard the cry, and scoffed at it, managing to blow it away like nothing and in reply she ran for Shika, but Naruto stood in the way halting her with quick attack that forced her to retreat.
Shikamaru: It’s as absurd as I thought.
JJ: Kiba, is she…
Kiba: Yura can negate chakra.

This instantly made everyone take a cautious step back, no wonder she had been able to move through their ranks so well.
Naruto: That would have been helpful sooner.
Kiba: I tried to tell you, but you ran in so fast.

The fight was only three minutes, yet Yura had managed to force the leaf shinobi to a halt.
Yura: And that’s not all, I can also read your chakra’s traces, meaning I know every jutsu you’ve ever used and what it does.
JJ: No wonder Orochimaru got so gung-ho.
Sasuke: With something like that he probably would’ve beaten Itachi.

He confessed, negating every trick someone could use, and then forcing them to face down a demon of myth, not many people would have a chance against that.
Kakashi: I see, then this won’t be easy.
Yura: I don’t intend to make it that way, You’ll die here before you face Orochimaru-sama.

It was no idle threat, they probably could fight her without chakra, but the fact remained that most of them weren’t using ninjutsu and she still managed to turn the tables, the girl’s reflexes were finely tuned, and she was as slippery as an eel, not an opponent you’d want to face in a battle, there was also the fact that the sound zombies and shinobi were still advancing on them. Yura stepped forward, but from the crowd came a blast, something she knew in her bones wasn’t charka, and when it connected she went flying past Naruto, JJ, and Shikamaru, who all locked shocked at what had just happened.
Mimiru: Then Mimiru will be the perfect opponent for you.

She said, gripped her sword at her side. Yura lifted herself, wise enough not to rush back in after that hit, but she was going to make her pay for that. Yura had learned many things under Orochimaru, one of them being chi, the polar opposite of chakra, and knowing of it meant that she wouldn’t be able to negate her attacks, fine by her.

Yura moved on all fours, using her speed to her advantage, but Mimiru didn’t move instead she waited for the right moment and drew her sword, swiping at Yura with the back of her blade, Yura predicted this and spun around it, reaching Mimiru’s back, and reared back, preparing to attack, but before she could the sword’s sheath slammed into her throat. Taking advantage of her daze Mimiru held the flat of her blade on the back of Yura’s neck and kneed her in the stomach finishing by re-sheathing her blade and drawing it swiftly creating a shockwave.
Mimiru: Roaring lion!

The instant she ripped her sword from it’s sheath the air around it began to warp, crafting into a wind blade that slammed into Yura’s chest, sending her flying back along the ground. Yura flipped to the ground and stopped herself just in time to ready herself for the next two coming for her, however she had positioned herself in Mimiru’s line of attack and without a chance to move, she was pashed with the flat of Mimiru’s sword, and in an instant, she went down. A snide chuckle came from the cliff at the far side of the battlefield. Kabuto had come to watch over Yura’s progress, after all, his dead soldiers had dropped and couldn’t create a link to them after they died, it was only after reaching the spot he stood he knew why. Yura had severed his link and was holding it down for her battle and despite being able to hold her own in the beginning seeing her be knocked unconscious so easily was almost deafeningly funny to him.
Kabuto: And so the stray cat is lost, can’t say that I’m surprised. Maybe I should get rid of her now and save us some trouble later.

He said pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, he opened his hand readying to move in, but his interest piqued when gazed down at the girl once more.
Kabuto: I guess it wouldn’t hurt to watch a while longer.

Yura, lifted herself from the ground with a growl, alerting the leaf forces to back away, yet Mimiru stood her ground waiting for the girl’s next move. Yura kicked from the ground in a flash, Nearly matching Raizen in speed as she charged for her enemy, there was something in her eyes, a lost gaze, Yura was running on instinct, yet with her mind now as an animal, she was far move fierce. It was all Mimiru could do to guard the downward slash with her sword, and even after that, Yura shifted her weight onto the blade, holding herself in the air, while somehow keeping herself light enough not to cut enough on the blade. Laughing Yura threw herself to the side, dragging Mimiru’s arm with her and landed at her side, before bringing her knee into the girl’s back. Mimiru grunted, but held her ground despite the power behind the hit and grabbed for the black sword at her hip, she had yet to draw it the entire battle, but she was going to need it for this one, however before she could Yura hand latched onto hers and pulled it back, re-sheathing her blade before it could come free. Sasuke charged in, the battle was moving out of the girl’s favor, and despite the lack of chakra he was feeling, he could at least try to fight back, but as he grew closer, Yura released the girl’s arm and lashed back with her tail, slamming it into Sasuke’s stomach, and for such a slim appendage, it was surprisingly strong. With her new found wiggle room, Mimiru pulled her blade and swung it up, sending a rippling black shockwave that slashed along Yura’s back, making the girl go barreling down the battlefield, however when she stopped herself, her eyes had been normal, she’d awaken during the course of the battle.
Yura: I’m impressed samurai.

She muttered, trying her best to ignore the pain on her back, soon after losing the need to when it healed itself. Yura focused and lowered herself, digging her claws into the ground below she exhaled and in pulled back, launching herself toward Mimiru. in a single second she had reached her opponent and slammed his claws onto the girl’s blade, Mimiru could feel the strength in the attack, she knew before the power that the girl wielded, but it wasn’t until now that she understand. With all the force being weighed down on her she was forced to abandon her sword in favor of her second one, allowing Yura to fall under the force of her own blow. Mimiru ripped out her sword, slashing for Yura who quickly recovered in time to move away from the blow, and with her new free room Mimiru lifted her fallen sword, wielding one for each hand.
Mimiru: You aren’t going to get much further.

Kiba frowned, gritting his teeth in frustration, he wanted this to stop, but he didn’t know what to do. Nearly at the point of growling Kiba turned away, that is until it was all made clear in the form of Raizen shoving him. When Kiba turned back to him he nodded in Yura direction, Kiba knew what that meant and with resolve in his heart he charged.
Yura: You really think that, trust me; I can cut through you if I have to.

Mimiru gazed into the girl’s eyes and sheathed her blades, stepping away from her in a dismissive fashion, which confused Yura, as this girl had seemed quite adamant on being the one to face her, but the sound of beating feet dragged her attention elsewhere.
Yura: Unya?

She uttered, turning around to see Kiba rushing at her with the force of a freight train, tackling her to the ground with his entire body. The two tumbled down, Kiba landed on top, pinning the girl to the ground with both arms.
Yura: What the hell do you think you’re doing!?

She screamed as loudly as she could, Kiba growled locking his eyes on hers with a glare that flamed with determination.
Kiba: I’m stopping you, no more interruptions, no more friends jumping in, just you and me!
Yura: You’ve lost your mind fool, you can’t take me in a fight and you know it.
Kiba: Stop acting tougher than you are!!!!!

Kiba’s shout rattled Yura, she could feel it in her soul and it hurt her. He could see her, inside her, through her, Kiba’s eyes knew everything there was to know about Yura Inugami and she knew it, she wanted it. Her eyes curved into a glare to match his, she wouldn’t give in to him here, she needed to maintain appearance, at least until the last moment. Growling from her stomach she pulled her lower half from under Kiba and kicked into his chin, forcing him off of her and once she was free she turned into a kick that landed in Kiba’s right cheek, sending him spinning away from her in an awkward motion before finally coming to a stop.
Yura: Getting fresh again Kiba?
Kiba: Heh, you know you like it.
Yura: Ass. You’re barking up the wrong tree dog boy.
Kiba: Yeah? And you’ve lost your mind alley cat. If you really think I’m going to fall for your crap, you’ve really lost it.
Yura: I don’t need you to; just make sure to die quickly so that I can get back to my real job.

Yura charged in slashing wildly at Kiba’s face, but her skill wasn’t as refined as before and Kiba evaded it, positioning himself behind her.
Kiba: You’re not fooling anyone, but yourself!!

Kiba shouted, thrusting his elbow into the girl’s back, sending her stumbling forward. Anticipating her next move, Kiba quickly turned to face her, dodging the flurry of attacks that followed his strike, and soon after entering a flurry of his own, the last of which being a wide roundhouse that Yura easily leaned back under, avoiding it in its entirety. In a surprise and rather skillful reprisal she pulled her upper body forward and used the force of it to flip forward, slamming her heel into Kiba’s head, knocking him to the ground. Kiba struggled to lift himself, but when he did Yura punched down, in a delayed motion somewhat as if she were waiting for him to notice, and once she was in range JJ grabbed onto her arm and forced it to her back, holding her steady with all his strength, and losing that battle furiously.
Kiba: You’re not fooling anyone, trust me. I know you, I know what you really want.
Yura: You don’t know me at all, Kiba.

Yura shouted, by simply putting in a little effort she managed to throw him over her shoulder and to the ground in front of her. It felt like he had been thrown through a brick wall and as soon as his eyes re-adjusted his senses shouted to run and with haste, he rolled away from Yura’s fist speeding down after him. Kiba gained distance and from the look of the earth in front of Yura, it was a good thing he moved when he did.
Yura: Still think you can take me, even when you can’t hold me still.
Kiba: No I don’t. Not that I can’t, but because I won’t.
Yura: Really? You give up pretty easily.
Kiba: I never said I was giving up, I’m just done fighting you. I know perfectly well that I can’t beat you in a normal fight.
Yura: Is that so?
Kiba: Besides, I saw what I wanted to see.
Yura: And what was that?
Kiba: Your resolve is lacking, as Neji would put it. Your heart’s not into it.
Yura: How do you figure that, oh wise one?
Kiba: You were pretty convincing at first, but notice how JJ stopped coming after you after a while, he noticed it just like I did. When you were running at Ishi, you hesitated for a good long while, long enough for someone to stop in. Do you remember what you called her when I caught you?
Yura: What are you-?
Kiba: The nice airhead?
Ishi: I’m not an airhead.
Yura: I was cut off by her boyfriend.
Kiba: You had plenty of time before that, you even went around her.
Yura: What’s your point?
Kiba: You like her, she always went out of her way to interact with you when you were in Konoha, you didn’t want to hurt her.

Yura lifted an eyebrow, despite Kiba’s accuracy she wasn’t about to let her façade slip so easily.
Yura: Is that truly what you want to think, then be my guest, but I’m done talking.

She scuffed, brandishing her claws at Kiba who didn’t even flinch to respond to her suddenly hostility.
Kiba: Heh, You can’t keep up the act if we keep talking, huh?
Yura: …!
Kiba: You’re not fooling anyone.
Yura: I’m not trying to.
Kiba: Really, because you’re not a good actor, Yura I know what you’re really like.
Yura: You don’t know me.
Kiba: I don’t, eh? I know enough, like that your mom’s name is Momo Inugami.

Yura flinched, she was hoping he’d just stop talking, but she knew him too well.
JJ: Momo……?
Yura: Kiba……
Kiba: I know why you hate humans.
Yura: Shut up.
Kiba: You were alone there, they treated you badly, they tried to……
Yura: Shut up Kiba.
Kiba: And then they attacked you when you resisted, you’re right to hate humans as much as you do. Your life is filled with the bad side of humanity. Yura I……
Yura: You’re wrong.
Kiba: Huh?
Yura: I don’t hate humans Kiba. I’m afraid of them.

The look in her eyes when she said that hit Kiba right in his heart, so sad and filled with hurt, Kiba wasn’t the only one who felt it, many in the crowd felt a strong twinge of guilt at her words.
Yura: Even though I was way stronger than them, and I knew that. I still couldn’t overcome that fear. You’re right, I was alone; until Orochimaru-sama came to that place, he freed me from that hell.
Kiba: He’s just using you.
Yura: I know, of course I know. I don’t need you to remind me.
Kiba: Then come with us.
Yura: And then what? We all die together? Don’t make me laugh!
Kiba: We can protect you!
Yura: Yeah, protect me from the man who broke into your village and killed your leader and then walked away as if it never happened!?

There were a lot of flinches to that comment, she may have only said that in anger, but it was a comment that hit the mark pretty hard. Yura paused, seeming to be displeased with the reaction her comment got, the gesture didn’t go unnoticed.
Kiba: Yeah.

Kiba said, feeling somewhat dejected.
Yura: I liked that village, it was the first time I ever felt welcome. Before I met you, I couldn’t care less what happened to any of you there. But your people were nice, I wouldn’t have minded living there.
Kiba: Then come with us.
Yura: It’s too late for that.
Kiba: It’s never too late.
Yura: Grr… What do you know!? You’ve never been in the situation I’m in. I don’t have a choice, you don’t have a choice, so stop trying to tell me what to do!
Kiba: You’re just making excuses, you’re afraid of him, yet you won’t take the chance to escape? You’re just running away, trying to take the easy way out without having to make a decision. Don’t be so stupid!
Yura: You’re just trying to force your own decision on me, you’re not thinking about the consequences of this. You’re just an idiot who thinks the world is as simple as he is!
Naruto:….dude.
Kiba: Oh really, you think I don’t know what you want? You kissed me first.
Yura: Eh, that was-
Kiba: You said you loved me first!
Yura: I…uh?
Kiba: You’re not cut out for the killer’s life.
Yura: I’ve killed before.
Kiba: And he tormented you your entire life. I wouldn’t killed him too if I was there. Anyone would’ve.
Yura: I-
Kiba: I don’t care what happened in the past, we can save you Yura.

Yura held her head, trying to process Kiba’s words, but her confusion laced her mind. Confusion soon gave way to anger and before she knew it she was settled on it.
Yura: I don’t remember asking to be saved!

Kiba could feel it, everyone could, something inside Yura was changing.
Yura: You’re just trying to confuse me. I don’t want to be saved, I’m not safe anywhere anyway. Humans will always hate me, and everyone else just wants to use me.
Kiba: What are you talking about? I’m not-
Yura: Of course you are, what happens after I leave with you. Super fun time in the sack? Hehe, everyone is always the same, I can’t be happy.

Every second that passed, Yura seemed to get bigger
Yura: So why even try!?

She asked, now standing at least 10 feet tall, with muscles that seemed to span as much wide. Ripping her dagger from its sheath she launched herself at Kiba, who stunned by the sudden transformation never once tried to dodge, but Raizen suddenly appeared before him, blocking the girl’s blade with his own, but unwilling to wrestle with the half blood Uchiha, she simply moved her free hand to the side and punched into Raizen’s chest with enough force to send him sliding half a mile away. Kiba shouted out to her, but his words seemed to be falling on def ears, yet before she could finish her assault Yura was being restrained; Lee pushing her back from the front, Naruto and JJ on each arm, Neji pushing beside Lee, and Tsume and Hana holding from her sides.
Tsume: Kiba!
JJ: Now, try to get through to her.

It all became clear to Kiba, he wasn’t alone, everyone there wanted to save her too. She wouldn’t be the first one that they had pulled from the darkness and probably not the last either. Even as they held her, many in the back were still waiting to move in, they were backing him up, cheering him on, so he couldn’t fail. With a quick kick back he threw himself forward leaping over to Yura who seemed to be growing taller by the second in her rage and placed himself before her face.
Kiba: You think you’re the only one in this world whose had to suffer? You think that just because you chose to give up that I should do the same, well tough. I made my choice and I’m not going to change my mind because you have some sort of defeatist attitude. I love you Yura! If you fear something, let me fight it away, if you’re lonely, then let me be by your side. Stop trying to run away from everything! If you have to, then run to me!!!!!

Yura’s eyes flowed and her body relaxed yet with every muscle that relaxed she retracted away from Kiba, leaving those who held her back to drop in fatigue, waiting for the climax. Yura stopped having returned to her normal form and she stared on at Kiba.
Yura: Why?
Kiba: If it were so easy to turn love off, it wouldn’t be half as important as it is.
Yura: I don’t want… I can’t.
Kiba: Fine, then destroy your bond to me.

Yura looked up in shock.
Kiba: Kill me and free yourself.
Yura:…
Kiba: I won’t resist.

He said opening his arms and closing his eyes. Yura shaking lifted her hand and exposed her claws, looking over at Kiba and all else seemed to vanish. Halfheartedly she ran for him, stoning her resolve the closer she got, however, when she reached him, that resolve shattered, her claws inched before him, she stopped. Yura wasn’t a killer, even the life she had taken was someone who’d tormented her, but she hadn’t been able to take a life since and even that she regretted. Yura turned away, lowering her hand, but before it could reach her side Kiba grabbed it, pulling her tightly into his embrace. Yura didn’t resist, she simply let the tears fall, and she whispered to him in a quivering voice.
Yura: Save me.

A deep sigh resounded through the field, Kiba nearly brought to tears by two simple words. They were what he wanted to hear, and he loved it. Morale was soaring high, the battle was nearly over, all that awaited was Orochimaru and the Orochi, okay, maybe not so easy, but this was a start.
JJ: Let’s finish this.
Naruto: Yeah.

The two said leading the charge forward, but something didn’t seem right. JJ was suddenly hit with a strange feeling that caused him to screech to a halt. From the far cliff, their observer watch, disappointed at the conclusion to the drama he’d been watching.
Kabuto: Well, looks like it’s time to play pick up.

He drawled, Yura was a V.I.P on their side, and he was tasked with recovery if something went wrong, of course this was that something. Causally he placed his hand on the ground, and a single hunter snake burrowed through it with amazing speed, a present from his demon master’s, and it’s path aimed right for Kiba. JJ saw it with his aura eye, and turned with a shout, however his feet didn’t beat him there fast enough and time seemed to slow down. Yura’s ear twitched, she could hear it coming, however, it’s speed would pierce him before he could react, so shocking Kiba, she pushed him, hard. Mid fall he’d been surprised, but a second later, all was clear when the snake broke through the ground and pierced directly through her heart. And as her scream pierced the sky time restored itself and sound returned to all those around.
Kiba: YURA!!!!!!

(Music que: Absolute by-The Fray.)
He screamed in terror as JJ finally reached them, cutting through the snake in a single stroke and Kiba caught her. With the cut the snake vanished leaving only the gaping hole in the girl’s chest. Her coughs defying all logic, giving a faint hope, but the fact that her heart was destroyed wrote nothing to the sort. The girl’s slow death was simply testament to her demon blood.
JJ: Claire-sensei!

He screamed in a raspy voice, and within seconds she was at his side above the girl, however he like everyone there knew there was nothing she could do. The reason, Yura was frantic, her power was running rampant shutting down all chakra in the area.
Naruto: Mom, is there something you can do?

He shouted out to the powerful demon inside him.
Yubiki:………Talk to her.

The voice echoed, everyone knew what that meant, Yura was dead, she just didn’t know it yet. Kiba’s eyes overflowed at those words, but calmly he called out to her.
Kiba: Yura.
Yura: Kiba, where are you?
Kiba: I’m here.
Yura: Kiba, please answer me.

A cold chill him everyone, when she said that, she couldn’t hear him, which made Kiba frantic.
Yura: Kiba, please……I don’t want to be alone.

Finally Kiba’s voice strained sobs flew from him, and even some from the crowd behind him.
Kiba: Yura, I’m here! Please hear me, I’m begging you please hear me!

Yura smiled slightly, the desperate tone Kiba had taken had reached her and like a flood gate, all the sound around her flowed in as well. In her final moments, she wasn’t alone, she had people to cry for her, she’d known love, she was happy.
Yura: (Kiba.)

Unable to say those words aloud, she gave one last gasp and stopped moving all together. She was gone, and her final silence, left Kiba to believe she hadn’t heard him. He wasn’t able to get through to her, she……died alone. As that thought rolled in Kiba’s mind a roar erupted from Kiba and both Tsume and Hana embraced him, so lost was the feeling of victory they’d felt only moments before. The crowd felt lost, rightly so at that. JJ’s eyes locked onto the mountain in the distance, the aura perched proudly on the cliff as if he was removed from the battle.
JJ: Raizen.

He called in something of a growl, and All eyes turned to him and with two fingers, he pointed to that same cliff, and all but Kiba, Tsume, and Hana turned to it.
Kabuto: Well that was unexpected. Stupid stray cat, oh, well. No big loss in the long run.

He stated to himself turning to walk away, but before he could even take a step a presence made itself known in front of him.
Raizen: Go down there.

Raizen ordered in a very quiet yet, demanding voice. Kabuto chuckled continuing his stride forward with a smile.
Kabuto, Sorry, but I have no intent on troubling myself with something like this. Sort it among yourselves; after all you don’t have the time to be worrying about m-

Kabuto didn’t know why he stopped himself in the middle of that sentence, but suddenly he felt a strange sensation, and when he reached up to the his face, his glasses shattered. Rapid impacts slammed into his face almost as if time were catching up to him, however the final hit was more defined, Raizen had turned, slamming his Raizen-ken into Kabuto’s face with enough force to send him flying from the mountain. However even then he wasn’t granted reprieve, Raizen dived down, slamming a sparking fist, knocking him to the ground with a booming explosion. Kiba growled, knowing the one who’d caused him this pain was within reach, yet when he stood his face showed a strange calm. Gazing over to Kabuto as he slowly picked himself from the floor Kiba removed his jacket and slightly tilted his head the left, letting a single tear rolled from his right eye, and with delayed rage he roared, running into a berserk rage at Kabuto with Akamaru running at his side with as much vigor as his tiny legs could pump him. His roar echoed, and as if in response a single flash caught JJ’s attention, but he missed its location.
JJ: (Was it…?)
He asked himself gazing down at Yura’s body. Kiba rushed down the field like a bat out of hell, barrel down on Kabuto without a single thought. Raizen waited at Kabuto’s side, who had no idea when he’d arrived, and when Kiba reached them Raizen threw the Aname windmill to him. After closing the distance Kiba slammed it into Kabuto’s stomach, pinning him to the stone wall behind him. Kabuto coughed up blood, but otherwise seemed to care little for the pain, after all, when you can heal as fast as he can, something like a sword to the stomach isn’t much. However when Raizen grabbed onto the blade and activated his Lightning god Sharingan with a cold glare, and in a very surreal moment Raizen channeled his own body into the blade. The resulting lightning storm lit up the waning evening sky, and the screams of pain deafened those unfortunate enough to hear. When Kiba pulled back the blade, Kabuto fell to the ground in a smoldering heap, but soon began to heal as if nothing had happened. Kiba placed the handle of the blade between his teeth and changed Akamaru to his form, once done, both merged into a giant two headed wolf, or he should have. In his new form, there were three heads, one with a scar across its face all growling to the heavens in rage.
Kiba/Raizen/Akamaru: Ultimate man beast technique: Cerberus!!!!

Spinning into a twister, A gust of lightning around them, covering them in a haze of electric death that carried Kabuto along with it on it’s path in the around, miles underground, and finally back into the sky. Crisped and shredded Kabuto twirled shamefully above all, before finally being slammed into from above by the sparking tornado. After the massive collision with the ground, the transformation was forcefully cancelled, but the deed had been done, Kabuto was crushed, however still not dead. Groaning in pain Kabuto shifted, barely able to move through his exposed flesh and bones, but unfortunately, for him, it was only a flesh wounds. Kiba stalked toward him, fist clenched tightly. Kabuto could see through his newly restored eye that he was surrounded and outnumbered, he was going to lose, but what was the worst they could do to him?
Kabuto: Let me guess, this is the part where I get beaten right?

He asked Kiba in a mocking voice which enraged the boy. Kiba punched into his face repeatedly, breaking away newly restored flesh and chuckling at the grunts coming from him when he did, but no matter how much he broke away, new flesh replaced it. Growing tired, Kiba lifted Kabuto’s slowly regenerating face to his and asked in rage.
Kiba: Why did you kill her!?
Kabuto: What does the leaf do to people who abandon their village for an enemy? You know right? They’re placed in the bingo books and hunted like animals. Betrayal is a crime punishable by death. However, rest assured knowing that I was aiming for you.

Kiba slightly withdrew.
Kabuto: She saved you, not that I mind this outcome. I never really did like her, innocence under someone like Orochimaru-sama is useless.
Kiba: You Bastard!!!
Kabuto: Why am I a bastard, this is all your fault Kiba. She told you from the beginning what would happen didn’t she? You were just too busy thinking with your dick to care. A lot of good you did protecting her too there champ.

He said with a chuckle, once again Kiba withdrew, trying not to let the words get to him, but he was failing.
JJ: And you, what happens when you return to your master after destroying one of his favorite tools?
Kabuto: What?
He asked with a slightly frightened look on his face, which brought some satisfaction to JJ, until he started laughing.
Kabuto: She wasn’t important at all! You haven’t figured it out yet have you?
Kiba: What?
Kabuto: We’re not here for Itachi. We’re here for Naruto, we have been all along.
Naruto: Me?
Kabuto: Of course, you’re all playing right into Orochimaru-sama’s hands. You’ve been dancing in it from the beginning. Think about it, What did he stand to gain from kidnapping Hanabi Hyuga?
Naruto: To lure us out.
Kabuto: And why would he do that. Rumor told that the fox mark could overwhelm the curse seal he’d created. It was so we could identify whether or not that was true, and to give your byakugan a boost. Right now, yours is stronger than any Hyuga living.

JJ paused, trying to piece together the information.
Kabuto: Thanks to Mizuki we also learned about your personality, which is why we left the message of her kidnap with Sasuke. He knew you’d feel grateful to him, which you did, you become close, that’s when he marked Sasuke. Knowing that you’d try to fix it, but when Sasuke kept it a secret a problem arose. So instead we chose to contact him, we were even prepared to leave behind a sign of his departure, but someone did that for us.

He said casting an eye at Sakura.
Kabuto: Calling out to Sasuke was a gamble, either you win and fulfill your purpose, or he wins and Orochimaru-sama gets the Sharingan. That whole time, none of you noticed us, but we were watching, prepared to salvage Naruto should he lose. However the plan to collect you was delayed when Norugi showed. The monster in that corpse and Yubiki would be a problem too great to handle. So instead he allowed Yura to go out, so we supplied information on a criminal the leaf had been looking for, and sent Yura into that village. We even personally requested a your team as you were good at tracking, Kiba. If they hadn’t sent you, there would be other ways, only one thing counted, you needed to know we were here, and when we’d be here. We just needed you to get the information from a reliable source.
Kiba: So Yura-
Kabuto: No, she was just as clueless as all of you. When someone like Orochimaru looks at you, he doesn’t just see you as you are, he gazes into your soul. Yura would open up to you, we all knew it. We even knew you wouldn’t have the guts to turn her in. You see, everything was accounted for, even after the loss of his arms Orochimaru-sama still overcame with a contingency. Yura was of no consequence, who needs Itachi!? Naruto has something far more valuable. Everything comes full circle, we made you hate us, and while Yura falling for Kiba wasn’t in our plans, you did well, letting it happen. So go ahead and face him, watch as he kills scores of your villagers, and then die to the one man you all hate most. And then, give him the power to become a god. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Kiba growled and reared back to punch him again, but JJ stopped him. With a calm face JJ dragged his nails through his arm, and wiped the blood with his right hand and cycled through single hand seals.
Kabuto: What are you-
JJ: Black aura: Dark grudge seal.

When JJ placed his hand on Kabuto’s face, his blood turned black, burning itself into Kabuto’s skin, leaving the mark on his face. In confusion Kabuto looked up at him, wondering what had just happened, but suddenly his body was rocked by some kind of force inside his body and seconds later he was violently convulsing on ground, vomiting the contents of his stomach in large bursts.
Kabuto: What did you do!?
JJ: It’s a curse, you’ve been branded with my grudge. A normal person would die within days, but you’ll survive it for a good long while won’t you. It’ll stay even if you dig out your own face. After all, you’ll be living with it for the next year.
Kabuto: Wha-

He coughed out trying his best to settle his fragmented sight, but nothing he did seemed to work. JJ pulled Kiba away from him and allowed Kabuto to stumble away. There was a way to kill him, but at the moment they didn’t the energy to waste trying to find it. Kiba punched the ground, stewing in his own rage, the sight drove Raizen mad, and those enraged eyes locked on a man at the other side of the field, who’d been watching patiently as if you hadn’t even the slightest worry of the outcome this battle.
Raizen: It’s all because of you.

He whispered, moving away from Kiba he pulled his sword and prepared to move for Orochimaru, but in flash, the scruff of his collar had been grabbed.
JJ: Fall back.

That command had been thrown at all, not to much rejection, but none more so than Raizen.
Raizen: What did you say?
JJ: This mission is over. Fall back.
Raizen: Are you serious?

He asked in rather calm voices that betray his angry shaking, however JJ simply matched his calm in kind.
Raizen: You’ve gotta be kidding. After all this you make a stupid decision like that?

JJ didn’t respond, even when Raizen angrily threw his hand away he still held a stone face.
Raizen: You know, I’ve always had faith in your judgment, but now I’m starting to question. How could you just look at something like this and accept it? You’re supposed to be the leader here!
Claire: Raizen!
Raizen: This isn’t something I can just walk away from, yet I’m supposed to just turn away when the man who caused all this is standing right there.
JJ: No. You will turn away, this is an order.
Raizen: ……Ha, is that supposed to mean something to me? You’re so cold JJ, I thought you were our friend, but you’re not even human, so how could I expect so different.
Teepo: Hey kid, calm down, you’re talking to-
JJ: Let him get it out.
Raizen: Heh, you think you’re helping me. I can’t believe you can just stand there all calm. You’re always like that, changing your attitude randomly. Well, consider this the moment when I overrule you, I don’t take your orders.

He said as he once again began walking away from him, but the second he tried JJ reached for him, but Raizen wasn’t going to allow himself o get grabbed twice. Instead he spun around pulling his sword.
Sakura: Raizen, stop this.
Raizen: What are you running away from. After all this, you turn tail because of some revelation and run away like a coward.
JJ: Do you know why Tsunade chose me?
Raizen: Huh?
JJ: Do you?
Raizen: She trusted your skills, something she shouldn’t have apparently.
JJ:………………Remember during the chunin exams, when I revealed my true rank?
Raizen: What does that have to do with-
JJ: I said that I had two failed missions remember.

Claire gasped/
Claire: Norugi!
JJ:…………

JJ gazed over to her with the same cold eyes he’d been wearing since Yura’s death. The look made her angry, she didn’t know what to say, instead she just shouted at him in a rage.
Claire: Do whatever you want then!

Ino held her arms, she knew what he was going to say, she knew everything about JJ, even where he came from, and this wasn’t going to be easy to hear again.
JJ: When I was twelve I was promoted to Jounin, I thought of it as a high honor, but my first mission was a D-rank mission. I felt insulted, after everything I had done and gone through, I was expected to catch a petty thief. I reluctantly went after the guy and I found him shortly after, it was boring, so I made a game out of it. I chased him around, hunted him like game, and each time I caught him, I showed him how useless it was to fight me, I even showed him my true form. So the final time I told him, that I was going to take a nap, and when I wake up, I was going to eat him, of course that wasn’t part of the deal. I just had to catch the guy, so I wasn’t going to kill him, I just wanted him to think that.

He said hanging his head low, hiding his eyes from the world.
JJ:……

(Flashback)
JJ laid on a tree branch, snoozing as he had done so many times before meeting Claire, dreaming of the cooler missions he could’ve been sent on, but those dreams were short-lived, as he was knocked into consciousness by Claire, who had sent a slap into his face hard enough to knock him from the branch he was on. JJ landed to the ground on his feet and looked around for the attacker, only to find his sensei and caretaker looking at him with tears in her eyes.
JJ: What the hell was that for!

He yelled toward her, only then catching sight of Leon and Trigger standing behind her with disappointed expressions. Feeling the weight of the moment JJ grew agitated.
JJ: What did I do?

Still silence, no matter what he said they were holding stone faces.
JJ: If this is about the mission I was going to take care of it. I‘m just-

He didn’t even finish, he could feel the bad vibes coming from them.
JJ: How am I supposed to know what I did wrong if you don’t answer me!?

He asked in anger. Leon was the first to move, grabbed JJ by his collar he began to walk dragging him along with him despite the boy’s protests, and when they stopped JJ found himself in a village, watching paramedics scramble, firefighters try desperately to fan a raging flame. As he watched he was informed on what exactly happened during his nap. The man he was chasing had run away in a panic, fearful of the monster he’d escaped, and in hysteria he had taken refuge in a school, holding the inhabitants hostage, shouting incoherently for them to call off their monster. In his rattled mind he had heard it coming for him, when in truth it was a shinobi that had gone in for him, in a start, he had blown away half the school to cover his escape, 87 died, 132 injured, the culprit, at large.

(Present day)
Raizen stopped in shock, this was something JJ didn’t delve into very often, but for those who’d gone on missions with him, they now knew the reason for his radical attitude change when he did. JJ paused as if to prepare himself for something, however this wasn’t simply a memory he could drag out so easy.
Naruto: JJ.
JJ:…………Instead of punishing me by revoking my shinobi status, or demoting me……My punishment was-

JJ’s eyes suddenly went wide and he grabbed his head with one hand and covered his mouth with the other, nearly collapsing to the ground, he dropped to one knee.
JJ: My punishment was-

He choked out again, In worry Naruto moved toward him, but as a wounded animal would, he pulled away sharply looking at Naruto, with the same eyes.
JJ: My punishment was-

He repeated. Worry racked the crowd; many wanted him to just stop, whatever was tormenting him, had truly hurt his heart. Comfort came to him in the form of a single hand on his shoulder. Ino extended to him, she knew what he was feeling and why he was feeling it, she could share his feelings, and even at times like this, shoulder them with him. JJ’s eyes filled with unshed tears and he finally choked it out.
JJ: As punishment, they…put me on clean up duty.

Those words struck many a heart, they were heavy, even Claire shook at it, she didn’t want to live in that memory anymore.

(Flashback)
JJ: This is my fault, isn’t it. Christ, I didn’t want this………I didn’t mean for this to happen.

He cried collapsing to his knees.
JJ: I didn’t mean for this to happen.

He said through sobs. Claire reached out for him, but Chris’ hand caught him first, he had sent all of the help home after they’d recovered the survivors and calmed the fire. In words he had to force coldness into he gave JJ the order, even though the thought seemed to horrify him. Claire screamed in protest, but by that time he was already taking JJ in. JJ turned back as the doors slammed shut, locking him in until the deed was done. Claire furiously beat on Chris’ chest as she cried, barely able to voice her distaste for what he’d done. It was then that JJ’s scream echoed through the halls, with his tortured cries. Claire growled and pushed past her brother in a rage running away from the scene. Chris however slightly regretting what he’d done, sat with his back against the door.

(Present day)

JJ: Have you ever stared into the cold lifeless eyes of a little girl’s decapitated head? Scraped the scorched innards of a teacher who’d protected one of his students off of the wall? Fished four kids from a hole while trying to piece together which limbs belong to who like some fucked up puzzle!?

He asked, Raizen had no words, few did. Only those who’d gone through the previous shinobi war knew what a scene like that would look like or those whom were in Anbu. Blessed were those who never had to experience that.
JJ: That shit’ll break you.

JJ‘s expression was far from what they were used to seeing on him.
JJ: Especially when you know that if you had just done your job they would’ve had a normal day of school.

He said hanging his head.
JJ: You know, the black aura is only earned when a Nores experiences true hated. And then it takes on the form of that which you hated.
Mika: Norugi-kun……
JJ: Do you remember how mine looked?
Kiba:………Like you.
JJ:……………Yeah.

(Flashback)
JJ had returned from the school with a broken expression, as if he had to turn off his mind in order to finish, and even then it had taken him two days to get through it. Since then he had sat on his bed, staring at the wall for the last week, barely reacting to anything anyone said. On the last day of that week as he stared at the wall, there was suddenly something sitting in front of him, it looked just like him, mirroring his sit, and in an eerie way it started laughing, a laugh JJ joined in on, for ten seconds they both laughed together in a twisted fashion before the shadow started to strangle him. Even with the life being choked from him JJ still laughed, that is until Claire came in screaming for JJ, but her scream only managed to make the shadow turn for her, but before it could reach for her, JJ regained his senses, if it attacked him, fine, but he wasn’t going to sit there and watch while it attacked Claire. With a single squeeze of it’s neck JJ dispelled it and with an empty gaze he looked down at his hand and closed it.

(Present day)
JJ looked over at Raizen whose rage had settled.
JJ: That mission was a lesson; that no matter what mission you get sent on. Every one of them is important. We must handle every mission with care, especially when there are lives on the line. Tsunade chose me, because she knew this story, and she knew that I’d try my best to minimize losses. Every single soldier on the field of battle is just another shogi piece, but I play shogi trying whatever I can to avoid losing a single piece, if I can’t do that, I’d gladly sacrifice myself to make it happen. Right now, we’re angry, we’ve lost sight, and we’re disheartened. We’ve lost.

He said walking over to Kiba who was still holding Yura. JJ removed his jacket and placed it over Yura.
(JJ: I hope I’m right about this.)

He thought to himself as he lifted her, which made Kiba stand, and once he was he handed Yura over to him. JJ brought his head closer and hugged him.
JJ: I’m so sorry little brother.

He said softly before releasing him. Kiba let his tears drop, and JJ turned back.
JJ: I won’t lose anyone else, I’m not going to watch anyone else die here. That why I ask once again. Please, fall back.

With heavy hearts the crowd understood and did as he asked. JJ hung his head and followed behind, but he had a second plan in mind. Naruto walked beside him and whispered.
Naruto: He’s not going to let us leave.
JJ: I know, that’s why I’m going to face him. It’ll give everyone a chance to get away.
Naruto: Not alone, you’re not. This is how we always intended for it to be anyway. I’m going with you.

(Music cue: This is war by-30 seconds to mars)
Both nodded to each other, watching their people march and then back to Orochimaru, making a study approach for them. All march unaware of the impending battle to come. Magaki looked back and readied his harmonizer, JJ knew that many of the crowd had noticed, mostly the adults, but this was what he had expected. JJ gave one last look over to Kiba, carrying the girl’s who’d died for him, and as if using that as his driving force, with a sharp turn, he and Naruto turned back, rushing for the snake sennin.
Magaki: KID!!!!

He shouted, grabbing the attention of all who hadn’t noticed, but by that time the two were already to far to reach. Both charged forward, Naruto quickly grabbing the lead as he jumped toward Orochimaru, managing to catch him in the face with a fierce right hook, however the mad man just rolled with it as if he hadn’t even felt it.
Naruto: You think you’ve won! You think you’ve backed us into a corner you son of a bitch!?

JJ rolled under Naruto’s body and uppercut into Orochimaru’s chest twice before dragging it up into his chin.
JJ: You just stand back and watch as people die around you, you pull strings until everything falls under you, and then you kill anyone for your own twisted gains!
Naruto/JJ: Someone like you doesn’t deserve to live!!!!!

Orochimaru smiled falling to the ground flat after JJ’s punch, he slid across the ground like the snake he was, and rose from it with an upward kick that would have connected if Naruto hadn’t blocked it first. JJ moved in with a thrusting elbow into Orochimaru’s stomach however even as he rolled after the impact it still seemed as if he were in control of the entire battle and that feeling came to light when he threw himself back at them grabbing the face of both and slammed them head first into the ground. With a short sprint, he dragged them along the ground and tossed JJ up into an arc before throwing a kick into his stomach sending him sliding back and still holding Naruto in the air he opened his, but in an instant JJ lopped off his head and arm using only his claws and freed Naruto, but from that same hole emerged a massive snake that slammed into both boys and sent them rolling back. Both recovered quickly and rose to their feet.
Hinata: Naruto-kun! JJ-niisan!

She seemed, following the massive crowd now heading back into the battle.
Naruto: Stay back!
Sasuke: You actually expect-
JJ: This was the plan from the beginning. I won’t let anyone else get involved!

He said as he starting walking again.
Naruto: I won’t let this bastard get away, I’ll never forgive someone like him, someone who treats life as if it’s a joke.

He roared standing to his feet. JJ stepped forward gazing at Orochimaru, who seemed to be amused by the new additions to the battle, but he wasn’t going to get the slaughter he wanted. JJ stepped forward, then gazed to his side at Sasuke in disapproval, and once again when Raizen joined on the other side of him. Before JJ could say anything Naruto stepped to the far front, donning his nine tailed coated with pride, he was now at his strongest, and there was no way he was going to let Orochimaru walk away from this alive. There had been so much that happened here, and much that happened before it, many lives that had ended on both sides, but this was not the time to worry about them, Orochimaru was quickly approaching, and from the looks of his shadow at the moment, he wasn’t coming alone.
JJ: Move quickly.

He muttered, rushing toward the waiting shadow of the man before him, gaining a smile as the remaining seven shadows merged with his own lashed out. Lightning sparked, flashing across the field as a mighty stream, striking into the face of the snake sennin, who seemed only winded by the attack and nothing more, after the sparks settled Raizen stood at his side channeling electricity through his right fist and as he prepared to land it and hand lashed out from the Man’s side, no doubt one of the Orochi intercepting his blow, but before this hand could counterattack, Sasuke slashed down through it with his chakra blade, ripping the attack away from his cousin just in time to free him of the approaching attack. Orochimaru dropped back, opening his arms and in front of him, the blood on those hands, the lives they had ended, the further he reached, the more lives he aimed for, they taunted those before him. Raizen the broken ninja, Sasuke, the one he’d used as a tool, Norugi, The boy he’d killed, Naruto: The boy who’s life he’d destroyed, however at that moment only the blood of two mattered.
Orochimaru: Now.

He whispered as Naruto massive fist came down on him, and as soon as it did seven shadows flew out toward the army of the leaf quickly drawing closer. JJ’s eyes locked onto them and with a understanding on the seal they were making he slammed his fist into the ground and roared, effectively blasting back all of the leaf forces, away from the area surrounding him. At that moment a loud crash resounded around JJ’s general area, and when he looked up, gazing down at him were the seven members of Orochi.
Aristam: Admirable, but now you’re all ours, you know that right?
JJ: Of course I do.
Insuru: A foolish decision, but I gotta admit, this is gonna be a lot more fun.
Mika: What are they talking about?

She asked, rushing toward where JJ was, but soon after came into contact with a wall.
Mika: What the…?
Claire: A barrier?

JJ stood tall and walked away from the Orochi, making his way to the leaf shinobi waiting on the other side of the invisible wall.
Naruto: JJ!!!
JJ: Don’t worry about me, you have your own battle to fight.

He shouted to the opposite side. Naruto stared with a growl, thanks to Yubiki he could see the wall that was hidden from the eyes of others. It wasn’t a barrier, it was a box, locking JJ in from four sides, an extremely powerful one, it could only be destroyed from the inside, and it was to be from the hand of the one who cast it.
Naruto: I can’t-
JJ: Leave this to me, alright!

Naruto dropped his gaze and nodded, knowing that his battle was one of great importance, but still, he worried for his brother. JJ finally made it to the other side of the wall, and smiled at those waiting, he didn’t feel approaching feet, the Orochi was waiting on him, surely in mocking arrogance, but he didn’t care at the moment. JJ knocked on the wall as if testing it’s stability and placed the flat of his hand on the wall, staring at Mika who blushingly did the same, a gesture that made JJ chuckle.
JJ: I didn’t think you’d do it.
Mika: We’ll get you out of there.
JJ: You can’t.
Kakashi: What do you mean?
JJ: This jutsu is temporary; it’ll drop in seven minutes.
Kurenai: So you just have to last seven minutes?
JJ: Not that simple, they can reset it if there is one of them able to before the final second.
Kiba: JJ, can you-
JJ: I can, don’t worry. You all just be ready for when I do.

He said turning away slightly, but as if he’d forgotten something he quickly turned back and said.
JJ: I love you.

JJ smiled at Mika before finally walking away, those words before had sent her heart in confusion, but at this moment they felt haunting, like a goodbye. For the first time she felt a decisive feeling when he’d said it, fear. JJ and Naruto walked into their own battles, one facing down the man who’d destroyed his life, the other facing down the demons behind that pain. Both boys looked to the sky and inhaled, releasing that air in a sharp sigh and smiled. The final battle had at last begun.




Next time on Eyes piercing the darkness:


SONS OF FATE







It’s time once again for the-

Character introduction Corner!
With your hosts

Norugi “JJ” Suzaku
Ino Yamanaka
And Sakura Haruno!

After the announcement the hosts entered onto the stage as two of the three seemed to welcome the newly added audience presence, Sakura was completely confused by the many cheers they received.
JJ: Thank you, thank you. You’re all so kind.
Ino: Are you all ready for a show?

Her question was answered with the screams of adoring fans.
JJ: I know I’ve been gone for a while, but I assure you guys I am not dead. I just needed a long deserved break. A lot in life had began catching up with me, and considering that I’d been writing multiple stories since 2006 non-stop when a forced break came down on me, I found it hard to go back. I just I didn’t know how fatigued I was, but now that I’m back I not going anywhere any time soon, after-all, I still have a lot of story to finish, so for those who are still there, I’d like to apologize to you all for my absence, especially you King Kakashi, sorry for vanishing without saying anything.


He said with a deep bow before the crowd who cheered on his words.
Sakura: Where do you get all this money?

JJ smiled and lifted himself up.
JJ: I’m glad you asked, because now it’s time for a word from our sponsors.

Ad: Have you ever felt down?
Jimmy: Yeah.
Ad: Like there were no people around who understand you?
Jimmy: Uh-huh.
Ad: Well not anymore, because now there’s a friend just for you, the-


Sakura Haruno Real doll!

Ad: Life sized model of Sakura Haruno who never says “no”, unless you want her to.

SHRD: It’s not like I’m healing you because I like you or anything……Baka.
Jimmy: Wow!!!!
Ad: You satisfaction is 100% guaranteed or your money back. If you don’t believe us, just listen to these satisfied customers.
Renton: I used to feel lonely after Eureka got sucked into a different timeline, searching for her finally paid off in the end, but for those nights when it was cold and I had nothing to hold onto to, the SHRD kept me company, Thanks JJtech!

He said with a big thumbs up.
Simon: After Nia disappeared into spiral energy during our wedding, I tried to keep a smiling face, but in truth I was torn up inside, I felt like I’d never be happy, but thanks to the SHRD, I never have to feel lonely again.

He said with a wide smile, trying his best not to laugh. After the focus switched from him an image of the real doll cover the screen with the price proudly displayed below.
Ad: The Sakura Haruno Real Doll can be yours now for the low price of 70,000,000,000$. Plus tax, prices may vary.

Order now now!



Sakura: Wait! What the hell is this!? That thing isn’t real is it!?
JJ:……It’s your real doll.

He replied trying his best to keep a straight face and doing a pretty good job of it. Sakura roared, stomping away from him as he stared on.
Ino: Anyway, now to introduce today’s guest.
JJ: Yubiki no Youko!
Yubiki: Thank you for having me little one.
Sakura: Tell us your stats or whatever……
Yubiki: Um, sure……

Strength: Don’t bother trying to rate it
Endurance: Ha, don’t try this either
Speed: I think you get it
Chakra: ……Do I need to say?
Taijutsu: Try me and find out
Ninjutsu: Enough to nuke a village……in my sleep.
Genjutsu: You won’t wake up ever again.

Sakura: Are those real things?
Yubiki: That rating system that was set up doesn’t cover it. I am the Queen Demon fox remember?
Sakura: No, I kind of forgot.
Yubiki: I figured you did.
Ino: What’s your most powerful technique?
Yubiki: I can’t tell you that yet, just know young one that you will find out very soon.
JJ: Well, then how about you tell us your three sizes?
Yubiki: You already know that don’t you master writer?
JJ: Hey, I’m supposed to be the one who starts that.

FOURTH WALL BREAKING MOMENT!!!!
…………………
Ino: Sakura aren’t you going to say something?
Sakura: I don’t care anymore.
JJ: Anyway, When coming up with Yubiki I actually gave quite a bit of thought, she is also the most consistent OC I have. Yubiki is the only character I made who was the same from the very start, and I was rather proud of that. I wanted to make a strong female presence in Naruto’s life, truly I know that this isn’t the first story to make the Kyuubi Naruto’s mentor or to make it female, but I didn’t just want a mentor, she was meant to be his mother. I wanted to give Naruto a family so that he didn’t face the darkness alone. My goal was to make Yubiki seem human, yet at the same time remain a strong female character, in other words, making her seem powerful and yet keep her emotions and not be controlled by them. I’ve always had a clear understanding of how Yubiki was going to turn out, and she turned out just that way. There were some things in scenes that wound up changing though, like in her confrontation with Iruka she forced him to slit her throat, in the end I changed it thinking it might have been a bit much. Yubiki also took on a more playful side too, which I felt was a good change, her attitude is a direct reflection of her relationship with Naruto.
Yubiki: But did you do a good job?
JJ: That’s not for me to decide, that’s something that I leave to the readers.
Sakura:……Are we done?
JJ: Almost.

He said with a smile looking at his disheartened co-host.
Sakura: Okay.

She said walking away from him gazing at the ground.
Ino: Was that ad real?
JJ: No, none of that stuff was real, I just said that thing to her a couple episodes ago and she took it seriously, so I kind of ran with it.
Yubiki: Hmhm, then why don’t you tell her now?
JJ: I’m going to, but boy am I going to miss trolling her. Anyways, we promise to be back sooner next time so to everyone out there reading and for those who waited patiently-
All: Shine eternal!