Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Naruto Dragon Champion ❯ Light and Shadow ( Chapter 21 )

Naruto - The Twin Swords

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto…if I did…then I'd be rich and recognized now wouldn't I?

Chapter 20

Light and Shadow

( ): Thoughts

((“ ”)): Holy Talon's voice

(((“ ”))): Death Fang's voice

((( ))): Kyuubi's voice

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In a nearby town…still some distance from Konoha…

“Darn it…I can never get a break…”

Tsunade cursed the gambling machine as she took out another bill to use, she was currently relaxing on her own time…and she was not very happy that she was on her usual losing streak yet again.

(I was hoping my gambling luck would finally take a turn for the better just this one time…but…ah well…I guess I have to keep trying…I wonder what those two are up to this time?)

The others were currently taking a bit of a rest break, though not in the most conventional ways…Naruto was currently munching in a ramen stand, with Shizune keeping him company for the time being with Ton-ton, and Jiraiya…well, he was doing the things he normally loved doing and while she was not very pleased with what he was doing in the very first place…she decided that she could at least let him off the hook for the time being. There was still some time before they made it to Konoha and she planned to use that time wisely on her own.

While she wore her normal clothes…she had been getting used to the fact that she was young again and this had gained her quite a lot of attention as many young men and even married men were giving her the once over and giving her the looks…while some women, in various ages looked at her with either envy or jealousy, she didn't mind it to say in the least.

As she finished her last round, she was surprised suddenly that she had won the game right on the next turn…and won a large load of money…however, this told her that something was bad on the horizon yet again and this was not looking good…

(Oh please…not again…what the heck could be this bad coming our way now?)

----------

In a nearby ramen shop…

“Man…this stuff is good…but not the same as the ramen old man Teuchi makes…”

Naruto was busy munching away at the ramen while the stall owners watched in fascination as the pile of ramen bowls began to climb ever higher while Shizune watched in absolute shock at the number of bowls that Naruto was accumulating.

“Where the heck is he putting it all?”

Ton-ton oinked and that meant that she would love to know that as well…but they did nothing as Naruto was currently in good spirits as they were soon to be heading home back to Konoha and that he would be able to finally see his fellow ninja and hopefully have Sasuke, Kakashi, and Lee treated and they would all be able to help Konoha recover. The two were also relaxing for the moment and the town seemed to be in good spirits…but not for long as two guards were now sitting down alongside Naruto…

“I'm telling you he said all those things…you should have seen that guy mumbling on about some demon that killed everyone in his entire camp.”

“You've got to be kidding…”

“I'm not…the bandit's been in the prison for at least a few hours and all he's been rambling about is that creature that slaughtered his entire camp and did black magic on the place. I think that guy's just had one round of sake too many…”

“Maybe…so what did he say about that `demon'?”

“He said it had a skull for a face…with blood red eyes made of flame…and had this sword…which according to him drank the blood of his lackeys while that demon was killing them…and you know what else….he said the sword was made of bone…”

“Get out of here…there's no such thing as a sword made of bone!”

“I know…the warden's thinking of shipping that guy to the asylum…a lot of good that's going to do him.”

Naruto stopped as Holy Talon spoke to him.

((Master Naruto…those guards…they're talking about something I know about!”))

(What do you mean?)

((“What they described sounds very familiar to me…ask them about the bandit they have in prison…we need to hear this for me to be sure…if my suspicions are right…we have a serious threat on our hands.”))

(All right.)

“Hey Mister…”

The guard turned and looked at Naruto and sighed.

“What is it kid?”

“You said something about this bandit you guys have…what happened?”

“Look, all I know is that he was brought in by the other guards, raving mad and covered in blood and screaming about some demon killing his followers…personally I think you shouldn't bother…”

“I'm a ninja from Konoha…I want to know what's going on.”

“Really? Fine…go to the jail and talk to him…but don't blame us if the warden doesn't let you in…that guys been screaming and doing all sorts of crazy stuff…we had to restrain him twice before he harmed the other prisoners.”

Naruto nodded and took out a large wad of bills and paid for his feast and moved out to the jail…but Shizune came along and the Medic-nin wanted to know what the heck was going on…she had seen Naruto's face turn from happy to downright intense at the mention of the demon the imprisoned bandit was talking about.

“What's this about Naruto-kun?”

“Something Holy Talon told me…I need to find out more about this demon that bandit saw…Holy Talon told me that demon's description sounded familiar to it…and if Holy Talon tells me that there's a serious threat happening here…I need to find out what it is before we all regret it if I don't…sorry Shizune…but this is serious...I have to go…”

Shizune was not liking this…she had not seen that look in Naruto's eyes before as he left her, she felt that this was very important for them all to get involved. With that she placed Ton-ton down and spoke to the pig familiar.

“We need to find Tsunade-sama and Master Jiraiya Ton-ton…I've got a bad feeling about this…I've never seen that look in Naruto's eyes before…let's hurry!”

---------

In the jail…

“Come on sir! I need to see that man!”

“Look kid…I know you're a ninja from Konoha but this guy we have is a complete basket case at the moment….he's been raving and shouting for hours now…and he's even attacked the other prisoners…I have no clue what the bloody hell happened to him. But I am not letting anyone come in here and question him…besides…he's too far gone to be of much help…whatever that `demon' did…it's snapped his mind. No way am I letting a kid in there…ninja or not!”

Naruto was not liking the attitude of the warden but couldn't blame him…the very second he had entered the jail…there incessant screaming and shouting as the sounds of a madman were heard all over the halls…and the guards were all wearing ear plugs or had stationed themselves a fair distance from the door that led to the more high security cells.

“Let the kid in…”

Naruto and the warden turned and saw none other than Jiraiya , Tsunade, and Shizune walk in along with Ton-ton…Naruto was relieved…if he couldn't convince the warden to help him see the prisoner…then maybe the Pervy Sage or Tsunade could be able to help him.

And sure enough…the now young again male Sannin was the one who spoke to the warden…at first the man refused…until he recognized Jiraiya as one of the Sannin and quickly recognized the hot blonde woman as the other Sannin Tsunade…that was enough to convince him to agree to let them in…and there they heard the screaming…it was so loud that even the Sannin had to cover their ears…

“Why the heck are we here anyway?”

Jiraiya asked as Naruto arrived in the cell and there they saw the man chained to the walls and shouting incoherently…muttering only the words `Demon', `Death', `Bone Sword', and `Messenger'. Naruto then tried a Mind spell that Holy Talon had taught him before…a spell to calm the mind and bring sanity to the insane. He reached out with his hands and placed them on the sides of the bandit's head and spoke.

“CALMING HAZE!”

A cyan haze flowed from Holy Talon and into Naruto's hands and into the head of the bandit leader…and slowly his incoherent ramblings began to fade and he seemed calmer…Naruto maintained his contact with the bandit until the man was calmer now…as soon as that was over…Naruto released his hold on him and the man opened his eyes and spoke.

“What…where am I?”

Naruto explained everything to the man and the bandit merely nodded and spoke…

“You had better kill me now kid…after what I've seen…I'd rather be dead.”

“What did you see?”

“Why should I tell you? You're not going to believe me…all the people I warned called me insane…the last thing I need is a kid talking to me as if I'm insane.”

Naruto then spoke to Holy Talon mentally and the Holy Dragon Sword told it's master to ask if the demon carried a sword made of bone that drank the blood of his allies.

“Did your attacker have a sword made of bone?”

The man then looked at Naruto intently and spoke.

“You really want to know?! Fine…”

Naruto listened as the bandit recounted the battle between his group and the Wraith Knight…as he did so…the blonde ninja asked questions that were handed to him by Holy Talon and soon enough…the bandit told him everything…shocked that this young kid with the sword knew about this creature that slaughtered his entire band like they were nothing. As soon as Naruto was told that Holy Talon heard enough, he bid the man good-bye…but not before the man shouted.

“You planning to kill him kid…nothing can kill him…he's a demon…mark my words…nothing can kill him!!!”

---------

Later…

Naruto said down in the park that was at the moment bare of any townspeople…except him and the Sannin, Ton-ton, and Shizune. Jiraiya then gave him a look and sighed.

“All right Naruto…what's going on here? First thing that happens is Shizune coming and interrupting my research and then dragging me and Tsunade along for the ride and now you've interrogated some bandit…and now you want to face this thing that the bandit was raving on about?”

“There's a reason for it Pervy Sage…that demon that guy was rambling about…it was a minion servant of Death Fang.”

That got the attention all of the others as they looked at Naruto and he explained.

“According to Holy Talon, the servant that the bandit and his guys fought with was a Wraith Knight.”

“A Wraith Knight?”

“Yeah…from what I understand, the Wraith Knights were the spirits of men and women who had dedicated their lives to serve Chorvax when Chorvax first rose to power as the Dragon Lord of the Chaos Dragons…he treated them badly and amused himself by allowing it to happen and granting them power…however, they proved to be so loyal to him and killed and enslaved others in his name so well that he decided to turn them into wraiths…they gave up their flesh and bodies and became dread spirits who followed his armies to battle…and when Death Fang was made…Chorvax first bound the Wraith Knights to it's service as some of the strongest of it's servants.”

“I thought Death Fang needs a master in order to summon allies?”

“Normally yes…but Death Fang is not above summoning minions to do what it was made to do and that is to corrupt and destroy…I think it was sending out that Wraith Knight…to lure me out into the open.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah…and it worked…if I don't take out that Wraith Knight…then it will continue attacking other locations and killing more people.”

“But aren't you and Holy Talon still weak from summoning Faldren? If you fought this creature in your shape…”

Tsunade left that hanging…she now realized that this was the reason her bad luck suddenly turned good and that meant that there was a chance Naruto would not…No she would not think that…she saved him once from death's embrace with all her skill and power…she was going to save him again…no matter what sort of enemy it was that he was going to face this time.

“I have agree with Tsunade…you're in no condition to be fighting right now…”

That decision however was taken out of their hands as the town was suddenly filled with the shouts of alarmed people as the townspeople began to move outwards…the Sannin, Naruto, and Shizune didn't take long to see what was the commotion as they townspeople saw bloody and half mad people walking into the town…

It didn't take long for the story to come out…the town they had come from had been visited by a red robed and hooded stranger…who then began slaughtering all he could see…men, women, children…young and old…the town guards tried to fight back but lost their lives as the stranger cut them down without pity or mercy…killing the wounded and even those who begged for mercy…those who tried to reason with the stranger were slain on the spot…they were those who escaped…and saw the stranger reveal it's face…a metallic skull with red fire in the eyes and his sword…covered in blood was a sword made entirely of bone and it screamed a vile sound as it cut through the people there…

Naruto took the news grimly and looked at his companions.

“We have to go now…unless we stop that Wraith Knight…then other villages and towns are next.”

----------

It didn't take long for them to reach the down…it had been a day and a half from the town they had stayed in and the sight that awaited them was horrific…there was blood everywhere and bodies littered the streets…it made the Uchiha Clan massacre look like child's play as there were bodies all over the place and the lingering stench of death filled the air…Tsunade and Jiraiya had seen horrible sights in their times as Shinobi in war...but this was too much…this entire town lived in peace…and the thought that only one being slaughtered these people like they were animals was sickening to them.

“Why…why would such a being do this?”

Shizune asked as she held Ton-ton close to her as she saw the carnage and felt sick…

It was then that in the setting sun…the saw a robed figure wearing a blood red hood and cloak…and then a dead…soulless voice filled the air.

“Why should you care human?”

The Sannin got ready while Shizune readied her poison needle shooter…while Naruto took out Holy Talon and they got ready as the robed and hooded figure approached them and sure enough…the Wraith Knight revealed it's face and spoke yet again.

“All life dies in the end…I merely speed up the process.”

“You monster! These people are innocent of any wrong doing…why did you kill them?!”

The Wraith Knight merely looked on and then revealed it's Vampire Bone Sword and challenged Naruto wordlessly by pointing it's sword right at him.

“I killed them because it is my duty and mission to kill…innocent or guilty…it matters nothing to me…all humans I deem as foes will die…however...there is a motive…to draw the Holy Dragon Champion out into the open…and it seems I succeeded.”

“That you have…now you'll pay for this!”

Naruto got ready to attack….but then the Wraith Knight then jabbed it's Vampire Bone Sword into the ground and then spoke.

“Do not think you have me outnumbered…I have my own servants…Those slain by my sword…come back to life…and serve me!”

The minute that was uttered…to the shock of the Sannin, Shizune, Naruto, and ton-ton….the once dead townspeople, and the town guards suddenly began to move and make groaning sounds as they rose back from the dead and were now heading towards the group…Tsunade and Jiraiya had head about powers being able to bring the dead back to life, namely the Forbidden jutsu that Orochimaru used to bring back the First and the Second Hokages, but this was different somehow…more vile in the sense it could control multiple people without sacrificial bodies.

The undead closed in and began to attack the group as Naruto fought his way through them, as Holy Talon told him that these people were already dead and nothing was going to change that…the only way for them to pass on into the next life was for the Wraith Knight to be defeated in combat…and Naruto had every intention of doing just that as he cut his way through the undead…dodging attacks from the weapons of the slain town guards.

Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune also defended themselves but Shizune found out quickly that her arsenals of poison needles were useless and her use of poison was also useless as these people who were currently attacking them were already dead and can no longer feel pain and worse as their senses were gone…another thing the two Sannin also found out was that despite them knocking down the undead with their Taijutsu…they were unable to make sure they stay down as after a few minutes…the undead would rise once more and keep coming at them.

“Damn…no matter how many times we knock them down…they just keep rising back up!”

“I have an idea!”

Jiraiya then made the hand-signs and then unleashed another attack

“KATON! DAI ENDAN!!!”

The Great fireball Jiraiya unleashed…proved to work well as the undead that were hit by it were burned to ash and were not going to rise anytime soon. And Tsunade then grabbed a nearby wooden beam and smashed the weapon on the undead approaching them…and Shizune decided to switch tactics as she used a nearby gas lamp and made a torch to strike at the undead…it was then that Naruto attacked and managed to distract the Wraith Knight and this had an effect on the undead as the ones who were knocked down no longer seemed to rise…

However…that didn't mean that Naruto was going to win this battle easily as the Wraith Knight proved to be more than a match for the young blonde Dragon Champion in terms of sword play and maneuvers…Naruto tried a slash to the neck that the Wraith Knight evaded and the undead warrior lashed out with a powerful rising slash that tore through Naruto's clothes and damaged his Orchaelium chain-mail. Naruto backed away and the Wraith Knight attacked with a barrage of thrusts and slashes that Naruto barely evaded and blocked…unlike Naruto…the Wraith Knight couldn't tire is it had given up it's flesh millenniums before and was not weighed down by human exhaustion. He on the other hand was…as he tried his best to evade the attacks…

He flipped over the Wraith Knight and launched a powerful slash in his landing towards the face…but the Wraith Knight merely ducked out of the way and nearly skewered Naruto with a thrust of it's Vampire Bone Sword…Naruto barely evaded the blow and then had to duck with the Wraith Knight swung it's vampire sword at a wide arc towards him…he got to his feet as the Wraith Knight was now removing it's robe and hood…revealing itself for the very first time and Naruto nearly felt like he was going to be sick as he gazed at the deadly form of the Wraith Knight as it then gripped it's weapon in both hands and attacks Naruto..Naruto blocks the attacks…but the Wraith Knight merely kicked Naruto and sent him into a wall and the Dragon Champion barely ducked as the Vampire Bone Sword ripped right through the wall of the building behind him…and the wall was pure concrete several feet thick…but the sword sliced through it like it was paper.

Naruto got some distance and unleashed his own attacks of slashes and thrusts but while he had speed and power the Wraith Knight was faster and stronger…plus more seasoned with the way of the sword than Naruto was as it evaded and dodged his attacks with inhuman precision and lashed back with it's own as Naruto barely dodges another stab and managed to knock it aside with Holy Talon in hand.

(Damn this thing is fast!!!)

Naruto thought as he clashed blades with the Wraith Knight as the Wraith Knight and him fought on while Jiraiya, Tsunade and Shizune fought with the undead…while Ton-ton was safe from harm. The blonde ninja then took out several shuriken and fired them at the Wraith Knight, but while the Wraith Knight's body was hit by the shuriken…the weapons did nothing to injure or hurt the Wraith Knight and Naruto was forced to use other means as he unleashed his spells…keeping his usage controlled as he knew that he had to be careful.

“DRAGON FIRE BULLET!!!!”

The sphere of flame launched outwards from Holy Talon as the Wraith Knight evaded it and the Wraith Knight decided to unleash it own spell in reply.

“SPIRIT EATER SPEARS!!!!”

Blobs of sickly green energy appeared and were fired at Naruto in the shape of spears, Naruto evaded the attacks..but saw the lethality of the spells as one of the spears struck a nearby tree and in a moment…the tree rotted and died from the attack…making Naruto gulp as he unleashed another spell.

“EARTH WAVE!!!!”

The Wraith Knight evaded the wave of summoned earth and managed to block Naruto's attack with it's Vampire Bone Sword and the two once more clashed blades as they tried to outmaneuver one another in combat. But being far more talented than Naruto in the way of the sword…the Wraith Knight managed to land several blows on Naruto…and while his Orchaelium chain-mail kept him safe…the armor was begging to show signs of damage from the attacks. Naruto then realized that the Bone Sword was among the few weapons of Dagern that could severely damage Orchaelium armor…and he knew that if he wasn't careful…he would die…

However, the Wraith Knight new this as well and after moving back…cast another spell.

“GHOST WOLVES!!!”

Shadowy tendrils came from the Wraith Knight`s hand and formed into ghostly wolves that quickly swarmed at Naruto…while Naruto's attacks with Holy Talon seemed to wound and injure these creatures…the others were able to injure and halt Naruto and once they did so, the Wraith Knight closed in and attacked Naruto with yet another barrage of slashes and thrusts that Naruto was barely able to block in time and as he was about to attack once more…the Wraith Knight suddenly moved away from his descending slash and then thrust forward…and Naruto didn't have enough time to react.

(OH NO!!!!)

Naruto managed to move a bit to the left…hoping to evade the incoming thrust of the Vampire Bone Sword but it was already too late as the blade was already closing in…

SLISH!!!!!

The sound of the Vampire Bone Sword hitting and slicing through his weakened and damaged Orchaelium chain-mail was heard and then the feeling of some entity draining his blood, life fluids…and even his chakra began to affect Naruto as he barely coughed out a shout of rage and disbelief…but when the Wraith Knight pushed the sword deeper…Naruto screamed in pain as the bite and power of the Vampire Bone Sword was more intense than before.

----------

Tsunade and the others turned after they had beaten then undead and looked on in horror as Naruto was impaled by the Wraith Knight's Vampire Bone Sword…right through the shoulder and Naruto's scream of pain was enough ignite them into action…as both Tsunade and Jiraiya attacked at the same time…

“LET HIM GO!!!!”

Tsunade landed a killer left hook right on the face of the Wraith Knight and Jiraiya landed a powerful kick to the chest of the Wraith Knight…the undead warrior was sent flying and the Vampire Bone sword that it carried was taken out by it's flight backwards…Naruto gasped as while the sword was removed…the effects of the Vampire Bone Sword's power affected him as the blood that was flying from his body and was taken by the sword…he fell down…and was stunned as Holy Talon was right…despite being made of bone…the Vampire Bone Sword was among the most dangerous weapons of Dagern under the use of the followers of Chorvax…and was among the few numbers of weapons that could severely damage or destroy Orchaelium Armor…and that was true as despite wearing his Orchaelium chain-mail the weapon cut and tore through it as if it was paper. That was due to the fact that his armor was made only in short notice and not with enough time and care.

Jiraiya got ready to defend Tsunade and Naruto as Tsunade used her chakra to try and heal Naruto's wound…she had to remove his clothes so see the extend of the wounds and what she saw horrified her…as the flesh on the wound was already petrified and dead…as if the very life fluid had been taken out of it in moments…and the smell of death was on the wounds as she tried to heal Naruto.

“Hang on Naruto! I'm right here!”

Shizune came and also used her own chakra to try and heal Naruto alongside Tsunade…while Jiraiya looked on towards the Wraith Knight…hoping that this undead…thing didn't attack them…normally he thought that it was over now…but what he saw changed that as the fallen warrior merely got up and seemed to be all right…unless the fact that his head was not there was missed….Jiraiya looked and saw the skull that appeared to be the head of the Wraith Knight and the headless body merely walked towards the head and quickly lifted the head up and placed it back on it's body. Shizune fired her poisoned needles…but the weapons merely either bounced off the armor of the Wraith Knight or passed through it's shadowy form that was not covered in armor.

“You have got to be kidding!!!”

The glowing red flame eyes of the Wraith Knight glowed and then it spoke once more.

“You have some level of power Champion…but not enough…find me if you can…I shall be waiting for you in my lair…find me…if you can…”

The Wraith Knight didn't retrieve it's cloak as it burned in black flame and the Wraith Knight merely turned and from the blackness of night…came it's steed…a giant undead Fel Wolf that was the size of a bull ox…the creature roared at it glared at the Sannin and it's armored harness and saddle creaked as it allowed it's master to mount him. The Fel Wolf howled and took off as night fell…leaving the Sannin, Shizune, and Naruto alone in the abandoned town. The Sannin were relieved that the Wraith Knight had left but they focused on healing Naruto as Shizune and Tsunade focused on healing the horrendous wound on Naruto's body. As soon as Naruto was stabilized…the two Sannin located an abandoned hotel and used it as a place to rest and hide for the time being.

As soon as Naruto was out of danger…the two Sannin spent turns guarding him…and either Tsunade and Shizune or Jiraiya and Shizune would search the town to locate any survivors and sadly found none…the entire town was abandoned and the bodies of the unlucky were everywhere… They then got supplies to help Naruto regain his strength and help the Kyuubi in healing the still recovering ninja…once in a while Naruto would awaken and they were able to feed him some food and have him drink some water, Tsunade and Shizune then used their skills in medicine to create several healing salves to patch up the wounds Naruto suffered and then bandaged him. As soon as they were sure they were safe…the two Sannin and Shizune spoke to one another.

“I've never seen anything like that thing before…how can we beat something that's already dead?”

Tsunade thought about it but had no answer as she recalled her battle with the undead servants summoned by the Wraith Knight from the bodies of the fallen towns-people, their town's guards…all of them that were previously slain by the Wraith Knight…they had been able to take down many of them…but the Wraith Knight would somehow re-animate them and they would attack once more. No matter how many times they knocked down the undead people, they could just come back and keep on attacking, unless they used fire to burn the bodies. It was only when the Wraith Knight was engaged by Naruto that they were able to defeat the undead more effectively and they didn't rise once more.

“I don't know Shizune…neither you nor I can answer that question…what I want to know is how are we going to stop it?”

“We can only ask Naruto…he's the only one with the answers at this point and time. We'll have to wait until he wakes up and we might get some answers from Holy Talon.”

The Sannin decided to take turns resting and guarding the place…lest the Wraith Knight suddenly came back and attacked them while they were in the state they were currently in at the moment. While they did so…they were unaware that Naruto, Holy Talon…and the Kyuubi were in a very heated debate in Naruto's mind.

(((I can't believe you were that foolish brat!!! Just because your companion already told you about how to kill that damn creature…you charged without a bloody plan to say the least…and you nearly wind up as a corpse!)))

(You think I'm not aware of that…Tsunade and Shizune managed to save me and you for that matter…I don't understand what's eating you.)

(((YOU don't understand?! Okay then…let me remind you that if you die…I die…so unless you forgot that already from your near death experience, I suggest you get it into your head not to try charging at that creature the next time you meet it!)))

((“Kyuubi is right…at your level of ability Master Naruto…and our handicap…we're going to have to think of other ways to win if we go after the Wraith Knight again.”))

(((Let me fight damn it…I'm not going to stay here and let the brat kill himself again…)))

((“That will be true…and you are part of him after all. We still need to cut through the Wraith Knight's armor…namely in the chest area…the Wraith Knight's heart is the center of the power that sustains it's form and power…if we strike through that…then we can kill it…however…we must also destroy the Vampire Bone Sword.”))

(((Why?)))

((“Every victim that died by it's edge had their souls consumed by in and stored in the blade…if the blade is not shattered…then the spirits of the dead will still be the slaves of the Wraith Knight…that will allow it to command them and reanimate their dead bodies…there is another way to make sure they are not reborn…we have to sanctify and burn the bodies…that way the souls cannot be forced to re-animate them and attack at the command of the Wraith Knight…but still the Bone Sword must be destroyed.”))

(What happens after that?)

((“The bodies are allowed to be reduced to ash and fade away…but those things only happen to the ones who have been in the thrall of the Wraith Knight the longest…we will need to burn the bodies of the recently slain to make sure they aren't re-animated. We do this…then the numbers of undead serving the Wraith Knight will be less for us to deal with.”))

(Good idea…what do you think Kyuubi?)

(((Bah…I'll agree to that…the less of these stinking undead we have to deal with…then all the better…besides…I am going to enjoy fighting this Wraith Knight so I can see how tough that thing really is.)))

(But I'm worried about Tsunade…Shizune, and the Pervy Sage…they may be Sannin…but they can't beat those undead with fists alone.)

((“They will need weapons to help them defeat the undead servants of the Wraith Knight. There are holy weapons that can be used to cut and then sanctify and burn the bodies in battle…that means you will need the aid of some friends…and you know who I speak of Master Naruto.”))

(Yeah…I know them well enough…let's all get some rest…we're all going to need it.)

----------

The next day…

“You want to do what to the bodies?”

Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune were surprised at Naruto's plans when he told them about his discussions with both Holy Talon and the Kyuubi. They were happy that he had indeed recovered and when they removed the bandage… there was no sign of the wound anymore and the smell that came with it was gone. Naruto ate ravenously and as soon as he was fully recovered…he still thanked them for being there with him in the battle and then told them what Holy Talon told him.

“I know that it sounds off…but if we don't do it…there's a chance that they'll be brought back to life by the Wraith Knight…so until we destroy both the Wraith Knight and it's Vampire Bone Sword…there will be no end to them if they attack us again.”

Jiraiya thought about that and couldn't help but see the logic there…if the Wraith Knight could re-animate the dead then the less there were of it's victims…the less chance there would be of the dead being used by the Wraith Knight in attacking them all…he had to admit that it went against everything that went into burying the dead…but they had no choice.

Both Shizune and Tsunade were not liking the sound of that…but they had to also admit that despite how…unusual it was, they knew that they would need to do so since if they were to stick to normal attacks…as they all found out to exceptionally useless against undead…no matter how many times they were knocked down, as long as the Wraith Knight was around, the undead would come back to attack them.

“All right…we'd best get ready for this…it's going to be a long day…”

And a long day it was as they hauled the bodies of the dead who were left there by the Wraith Knight…with daylight on their side and the fact that the Wraith Knight was not around at the moment to attack them, it took them a long time to get the bodies of the slain townsfolk and then Naruto blessed them, along with prayers for the dead from the Sannin and Shizune. Once that was done…Naruto summoned his Dragon Breath and incinerated the bodies. The bodies were thankfully reduced to ash and bones…no longer able to be resurrected and used as weapons by the Wraith Knight…the group smelled horrible and after that day…they decided to get showers and clean baths before getting ready to face their next challenge. Thankfully there was a large public bath house that was thankfully in good operational condition for them to use. Jiraiya relaxed while there…along with Naruto, who despite his near death experience with the Wraith Knight enjoyed the feel of swimming for the time being.

Tsunade and Shizune bathed in the women's side of the public bath-house and Tsunade managed to drink some still good sake that she had salvaged from a nearby bar…Once they were refreshed…Naruto and the others met in the public hall area of the bath house to plan their next move.

“So how do we deal with the undead anyway…no matter how many times we knock them down…they keep coming back up again.”

“Holy Talon told me that there are weapons made to fight the undead…weapons that can damage them and burn them at the same time…with those…I think we have a much better chance than we did before…however…”

“However? That does not sound good Naruto-kun…”

“I'm not that skilled yet in enchanting weapons and you both will need armor to beat them and keep you alive…so Holy Talon and I have to call in some old friends who can really help us in this time of need…plus…they were the ones who made my first armor suit. They can really help us here now.”

“Who are they?”

Jiraiya already knew them as he had met them previously in the early days of the Chuunin Exams.

“Don't worry Tsunade, Shizune…these friends Naruto have are very trust-worthy…and quite helpful…go ahead Naruto…bring them out.”

Naruto nodded and took out Holy Talon and spoke the summoning language yet again.

----------

Later…

Rumkil and Thorell looked at the young Naruto and the others before them and weighed their options…just as Leena and her brother Halfir were also finished in getting the details as well. Thorell then spoke with respect in his voice.

“So ye faced a Wraith Knight now do ye lad? Yer lucky the Gods smiled on you and the lovely ladies there saved yer young hide…I'll say it honestly…tis a dark fate for all had that undead abomination killed ye.”

“No kidding…can you help me again? That Bone Sword of his tore through my chain-mail and I need to have a better suit soon to fight him.”

Rumkil nodded.

“Aye…that won't be a problem laddie, but yer friends are going to need some serious steel to beat them undead…fists alone ain't going to kill em undead things. And they'll need some decent protection too.”

Halfir then spoke as well.

“I'll handle that part you two…Leena will help me as well…we should hurry…as long as the Wraith Knight knows that our young friend still lives…he will hunt him.”

The dwarves nodded and then went to work as Naruto was taught how to summon the supplies needed to make the weapons and armor that he and the others were going to need in the soon to come battles.

And sure enough Halfir's words proved true, the Wraith Knight…now knowing that it had done what it's master Death Fang had asked of it had halted it's forces from attacking other areas and focused on luring the young ninja and Dragon Champion into another brutal battle. This meant that there was time left for the group to gather their gear and ready themselves for the battle ahead…despite not liking to strain herself too much…Tsunade began to train in her Taijutsu once more focusing her strength to ensure that the next time she fought the undead…they were going to get it right where it hurts.

Even Shizune and Jiraiya decided to sharpen their skills and so did Naruto…he made the mistake of thinking that his current level of ability was enough and he paid for it by nearly getting killed, he was going to make sure that it didn't happen again, he decided this time to use whatever skills he had as a ninja were brought into the battle that he was soon to be drawn into…holy Talon told him that the Wraith Knights were high level swordsmen and women who were talented in various use of weapons apart from the Vampire Bone Sword and a good portion of them were also skilled in elemental magic…but befitting their dark natures and the methods of creation…they focused on the branches of Death Magic and Summoning…and were skilled at summoning evil creatures and using necromancy.

The past few days moved on and it seemed that the time had come for on the last day of the week…

Tsunade, Shizune, and Jiraiya looked worriedly at the armor before them…there had been times in their youth that both Sannin had worn armor…namely during their missions with Orochimaru before he went rogue on Konoha and the armor they wore saved their lives…but these suits of out worldly armor seemed to be truly odd to them…along with the weapons that were now before them…they wondered for a second if the armor they had would work…Naruto on the other hand had already tried on his new Orchaelium armor and was assured that while the Vampire Bone Sword might damage it still…the armor was going to be stronger and hold out much more than his previous suit. The armor followed the same design as his previous suit…but this time…the plate mail was interlocked into the chain mail so Naruto no longer had to strap on the plate mail armor, only the chain-mail itself. The new armor was slightly thicker and stronger than his previous armor and while he had left behind the plate mail…he valued the previous suit and had asked the two dwarf brothers to repair his broken and damaged chain-mail.

The two Sannin looked at their armor and wondered if the armor was going to be light…even the body armor they wore in their younger days looked more flexible than what they were looking at the very moment. However after chatting with Naruto about the fact that the armor weighed like cloth and hearing the praise given by Leena and Halfir on the works of the two dwarf smiths, they decided not to complain and place on the armor…Shizune did the same…though this would be the first time that she would ever wear armor.

It took a while and they each had to help each other on placing on the armor…which was comprised of Orchaelium…the same material that composed Naruto's old and new body armor. And both armor types varied as well between the two Sannin and Shizune…

Tsunade's armor was made of chain-mail as the base of the design…but instead of plates of Orchaelium to protect her body…the armor was made of interlocking squares of Orchaelium that were bound by chain-links of Orchaelium as well…the square armor plates covered her chest comfortably and her back and mid section, as well as the sides…her thighs were protected in the same fashion as well…but there were two plates of Orchaelium covering the chain-mail and flaps of the same square plate mail covering them as well…the chainmail also covered her legs to her ankles and were protected by plate shin guards. The blonde ninja's arms were also protected by chain-mail and there were plate gauntlets that were made with both chain mail and plate-mail. To Tsunade's surprise…the armor was nearly weightless and was comfortable to her…she could breath and move easily and with zero discomfort and she was starting to like the armor.

Jiraiya's armor followed the design of his own clothes…but his body suit was covered with chain-mail as well. While the outer suit of armor was in the fashion of Orchaelium plate made in the shape of his old body armor back in his Jonin days…but was segmented…allowing for free flow movement when he would move…the chain-mail covered his legs as well…and like Tsunade…his thighs were protected by Orchaelium plates and so were his greaves as well. He also had Orchaelium plate on his upper arms and chain-mail gauntlets with forearm guards as well, and like Tsunade, he found the armor surprisingly light and comfortable to wear…along with easy to move in with…he decided that maybe wearing the armor was certainly going to be very helpful for the battle they had to soon be in.

Shizune also wore chain-mail like her mentor and Jiraiya but hers was like a short sleeved trench coat that reached all the way to her mid claves…but this was the outer armor as she was currently wearing a breast plate of Orchaelium underneath the chain-mail which doubled her protection very well and the chain-mail would make it easier…the Medic-nin was also further protected by sections of Orchaelium plate armor that was easier to place on her thighs, and upper arms to protect her along with the chain-mail. The gauntlets she had were armed with her needle shooters and they were easy to access and were protected from damage as they were covered by a thin but strong layer of Orchaelium plate. She also wore greaves of Orchaelium to protect her lover legs.

As soon as they were done looking at the armor, Jiraiya looked at Tsunade's armor and couldn't help but smile at his team-mate's new look.

“You certainly look different Tsunade…the armor suits you.”

The blonde woman smirked and replied.

“You look all right to me…a bit better than that Kabuki style suit you wear.”

“Hey! I love my clothes!”

The three then got their weapons from Halfir and Leena…Tsunade was given a pair of battle blades that were attached to her arms allowing her to not only punch with her superhuman physical strength…but to cut with a swing of her hands. Jiraiya was given a katana which was blessed by Leena with healing Dragon Fire…which while beneficial to the living…was deadly to the undead as it could destroy their bodies and ensure that they would not be easily resurrected. Tsunade's own weapons were also blessed in the same fashion by the female elf healer. Shizune was given a supply of similarly blessed needles and were also coated with a special oil that was like poison to the undead…which was a good thing as the normal poison that Shizune used was useless on the undead as she had found out when they had been able to fight the undead servants of the Wraith Knight…her poison was useless as the undead came at her…she was also given a katana of the same make and blessed with the same enchantments. The two dwarf brothers smiled at their work and so did Leena and Halfir.

“Now ye all are ready…make sure to keep em weapons and armor in good condition all right? It's hard work makin them in the first place.”

“We will Rumkil…many thanks to you all.”

“Not a problem young Champion…fight well.”

The dwarves and the elf siblings faded away…and now the group got ready for the fight that they knew was about to happen.

----------

The group arrived to the borderlands where the camp of the Wraith Knight was using as it's home…and it didn't take too long for them to see the effects of the presence of the Wraith Knight…once healthy trees full of leaves and healthy bark looked dead as the leaves were as black as night and falling down…gathering in a very unhealthy pile all over the place…there were pools of water…but they were yellowish with stagnant filth and the smell of death and decay about them…animal carcasses were there and they looked bloated and desiccated as well. The place resembled the land of death itself as the ground was dry and dead to the feel and even the dust seemed dead.

“By the Kami…what has that thing done to this land?”

Shizune asked…horrified at the extent of the corruption of the lands before them. Tsunade couldn't help but cover her nose at the smell of all the death…even worse somehow than what she had seen in the battles during the Third Shinobi War…the same could be said for Jiraiya as he too covered his mouth while they moved on.

“It's like the land itself is dying…or being transformed into something else…”

Naruto then replied.

“Holy Talon tells me that the Wraith Knight's trying to pervert the land…ripping away all traces of life and energy to feed itself and it's minions…they're like locusts in a way…but they don't feed on plants or even flesh…but the spirit of the land itself…if we don't stop that thing tonight…then other lands will be reduced to this…”

The Sannin saw the truth in Naruto's eyes and words…if they didn't halt the Wraith Knight soon…then the lands would become like this…and worse…

They had reached the middle of the land when they heard the now familiar sound of shuffling feet and from the shadow of the now setting sun…the undead walk once more as the undead bodies of bandits, town guards…and towns-folk came at them once more…armed with a variety of weapons…from the more recognized military weapons used by town guards and the town guards…to the more civilian tools and implements of the towns people. Naruto and the others drew their weapons and knew that now was the time…the people before them were not people anymore…but re-animated bodies under the thrall of the Wraith Knight…if they truly wanted to save them…they had to defeat the Wraith and shatter his Vampire Bone Sword to end it's threat to their world.

The four ninja attacked and sure enough the battle proved intense as Jiraiya used his katana and Taijutsu to even up the odds to his favor while he was able to see that the weapon proved effective as each slash that he was able to his the undead with…resulted in the green-silver flame…burning away the bodies of the zombies coming out to kill them. Tsunade and Shizune also noted this and now were happier that they could fight on an equal footing with the undead servants of the Wraith Knight.

Naruto cut through the undead with ease as Holy Talon's powers were enough to cut down the undead coming right at them and this allowed him and the others to cut through their ranks but they knew that even if they now had weapons to deal with the undead…the Wraith Knight was the real target…

“DRAGON FANG STORM!!!!”

Bolts of energy slammed into the nearby force of undead and reduced them to ash as Naruto down several more undead that came at them…Holy Talon's power sliced through the armor worn by some of the undead and defeated them…Tsunade used her super human strength to send the undead flying all over the place…along with rending the earth to trap and halt their advance…Shizune fired her new needles and the result was working well as the undead no longer kept attacking…but were dying slowly…one by one as they were poisoned and burned at the same time…however they were not going to have an easy time as the undead were now being reinforced by Fel Wolves…the snarling creatures attacked and it was only through the Orchaelium Armor and their skills did the group make it out…and Naruto summoned a band of Steel Lancers and War Blades to even the number score…it was then that Tsunade and Jiraiya called out to Naruto.

“Naruto! We'll hold these creatures off…go after the Wraith Knight!!!!”

“But I can't leave you here!”

“Go! And don't worry…we're the Leaf Sanin remember? It's going to take more than a bunch of walking undead to stop us!”

Naruto saw that they meant it and quickly realized that this was his chance…but he was not going to let the Sannin, Shizune and Ton-ton throw away their lives to help him. He unleashed a barrage of Fire Bullets from Holy Talon at some more of the undead and spoke to them all…

“Promise me you'll be alive!”

“We promise…now GO!”

Naruto turned and then unleashed his favored jutsu, namely in it's enhanced form…

“TAJUU!! KAGE BUSHIN!!!”

The undead warriors were suddenly attacked by a veritable sea of Naruto clones and they were attacked by them…Naruto used the clones in a spearhead strike while ordering his summoned Steel Lancers and War Blades to protect both his rear and to support Tsunade, Jiraiya, Shizune and Ton-ton…the two Sannin and the Medic-nin were raking in their own number of kills and this reduced the number that were attacking them as Naruto charged on.

It didn't take too long for Naruto to arrive near the now corrupted camp of the bandits…and there…the undead bandits also attacked with their weapons and abilities…killing some of Naruto's Kage Bushin but were soon being over-run by the clones and the original Naruto…it was there that Naruto was able to form up a basic plan in order to catch the Wraith Knight off guard and hopefully end this creature's reign of terror on the countryside forever …and hopefully restore the beauty and spiritual health of the lands corrupted by the minion of Death Fang. He then realized that there was a chance something would go wrong and he only had one chance and couldn't afford to waste it.

As soon as he arrived at the barred gate…he shouted.

“HERE I COME!!!!”

---------

The Wraith Knight watched as the gates of it's base was destroyed by a massive blast of fire…and there in the smoke and ruins was Naruto wielding Holy Talon and the bodies of his bandit minions were before him. Naruto knew that he was walking into the maw of the beast as he had no doubt in his mind that there was going to be an ambush.

“So you have arrived…”

“Right…and I will finish you once and for all!”

“How you recovered from the bite of my Vampire Bone Sword…I will never understand…but it will not save you from me a second time Champion.”

“We'll see about that!”

Naruto charged and the Wraith Knight calmly waited and then raised it's Vampire Bone Sword. And to Naruto's shock…undead bandits armed with bows and crossbows appeared and with the drop of the Vampire Bone Sword…the undead bandits unleashed a stream of arrows and bolts…that quickly slammed right into the blonde ninja…and filled him with arrows and bolts…

“Now you are…what?”

The Wraith Knight was surprised when the Dragon Champion fell and exploded in a puff of smoke and then to it's surprise…thousands of Dragon Champions suddenly came on the scene and swarmed the camp…the Wraith Knight ordered the undead bandits to attack and soon enough…the bandits and Kage Bushin smashed into one another in a scream of bodies and weapons. The bandits were able to kill a number of clones…but so did the Naruto clones…The Wraith Knight then got involved as it waded into the mess and managed to kill a large number of clones and then as it got itself some fighting room it uttered another necromantic spell as it opened it's mouth.

“RANVENOUS WINDS!!!!”

The spectral winds ripped through the place…ripping through the bandits and tearing them apart and destroying the Kage Bushin in a cloud of smoke…and as soon as that was done…Naruto came out and fired several shuriken and kunai…the Wraith Knight spun it's Bone Sword and deflyt blocked the projectiles and slashed at Naruto..who dodged the attacks and lashed out with it's own attacks as more bandits began to spear to support their master. The bandits attacked but they were easily dispatched by Naruto with several powerful slashes and thrusts with Holy Talon as they fell down to the ground. The Wraith Knight attacked again and it's massive slashes and thrusts kept Naruto off balance…and it was now between the Dragon Champion and the Wraith Knight.

Naruto attacked with several thrusts as the Wraith Knight spun it's Bone Sword expertly and was able to block and deflect Naruto attacks…the enchantments made it bale to withstand Holy Talon's normally powerful attacks…showing the strength of the Wraith Knight and it's skills as a sword master as well as every attack Naruto threw at the undead warrior were easily evaded and parried… Naruto rolled backwards to evade a powerful downward slash and grabbed a nearby fallen sword…and began to slash with it in conjunction with Holy Talon…using the dual wield style and that caught the Wraith Knight off guard for a moment and Naruto took to the offensive and forced the Wraith Knight.

But it didn't take too long for the Wraith Knight to be back on the defensive as it began to unleash several more deadly attacks…slashes, parries and more as it began to even up the odds…after several attacks…the Wraith Knight then managed to knock aside the other sword and deftly cut it in half…and then stab Naruto in the leg…though this time the armor held…however it was then that Naruto summoned another source of aid.

(Now Kyuubi!)

(((About damned time brat!)))

The Dragon Wardens released the chakra of the Kyuubi as it filled Naruto's being…surprising the Wraith Knight as it's next attack was suddenly blocked by the Dragon Champion who was now covered in a strange gold-red energy that seemed evil somehow, but in full control of the blonde ninja…the blonde unleashed several more attacks and this time it evened up the odds and with several slashes and thrusts…some of which cut and scratched the Armor of the Wraith Knight…Naruto decided to finish this fight once and for all…as he summoned several more Kage Bushin. He had a plan in mind and now was the right time.

The Wraith Knight fought off the Kage Bushin and while it was unable to to fully expect this sudden turn of events…it was able to slay the Kage Bushin…but as it went after the last three barring it's path to Naruto the Kage Bushin suddenly exploded…clouding it's vision but it heard Naruto suddenly shout out

“What?”

“NOW YOUR MINE!”

The Wraith Knight watched as Naruto and his Kage Bushin charged right at him and before it could defend itself, the Kage Bushin smashed itself into the Wraith Knight and gripped the Wraith Knight hard to prevent it from escaping, the Kage Bushin faded but it was enough for Naruto as he unleashed the attack. He had been able to summon the Rasengan…but this time…he had been able to fuse another spell with it…one well suited for killing and banishing the undead…

“ EXORCISM RASENGAN!!!!”

The Rasengan was covered in silver and green flame and the power of Holy Talon once more fused with the Rasengan...only this time it was using the Exorcism spell…a spell used by Dragon Clerics to defeat the undead and banish their souls back into the afterlife…the blow reacted fiercely on the Vampire Bone Sword and the blade began to crack and splinter…the results were the energies of the sword began to filter out as Naruto slammed the attack hard on the middle of the Vampire Bone Sword and sure enough…the attack did as it was set out to do…with the Exorcism spell helping to breach the necromantic enchantments on the Vampire Bone Sword and the Rasengan finally causing the sword the shatter…

The Vampire Bone Sword was shattered by the Exorcism Rasengan and the Wraith Knight looked on in shock as Naruto then attacked with Holy Talon in his left hand…then only word uttered by the undead servant of Death Fang was…

“Incredible…”

As Holy Talon glowed with silver fire…and slashed through the head of the Wraith Knight…cleaving through it's metallic skull…slashing between the eyes and then to the jaw…cutting and ripping the shadowy form of the Wraith Knight…and right through the torso armor…all the way to the ground…the Holy Dragon Sword had literally cleaved the Wraith Knight into two halves…and in a moment…a glowing blast of red light came out as the Wraith Knight fell and was now lain in ruins as it's form was dispersed and it's cleaved and useless armor now lay next to it's broken and shattered Vampire Bone Sword.

(I…I did it)

(((What do you mean YOU did it?!)))

((“Come on you two…WE did it…that's all that matters.”))

(((Hmpf…fair enough…now if you two don't mind…I need some sleep.)))

----------

Naruto coughed out another bit of blood as he held his right shoulder with his left hand and groaned as the blood began to flow out of the wound as he looked at the ruined body…or rather…ruined remains of the Wraith Knight…it had been a serious battle and had tested him on everything he had learned so far…he felt the blood flow down his arm and felt the liquid make his grip on Holy Talon slippery but thankfully the pain was starting to wear off as he reactivated the Kyuubi's chakra and felt his wounds begin to heal…

The spirits of all those slain by the Wraith Knight began to fly out of the shattered remains of his Vampire Bone Sword…he saw the faces of the villagers…men, women, children, young and old…finally free from their inhuman captivity within the sword…their spirits were finally freed and it didn't take long for Naruto see the results of the battle as the undead people were finally sent back into the ground and reduced to ash and seemed to fade away…the spirits seemed to slowly vanish and that was enough for Naruto to relax a bit as he looked to see Tsunade, Jiraiya, Shizune, and Ton-ton rushing towards him, covered in mud, dirt., sweat, and some blood…but alive and were all safe. They kept their word to be alive when he saw them..as he knew they would…it made him happy to see the Pervy Sage…and also Tsunade and Shizune…though more stronger emotions filled him as he saw the two women.

He smiled as his wounds began to close…but his smile was stopped as he felt a black and foul presence fill the air and he quickly got Holy Talon ready in a two handed grip as the remains of the Wraith Knight was suddenly consumed by a blood red flame…he saw the remains consumed and he then felt great evil and quickly shouted to the two Sannin, Shizune and Ton-ton.

“NO! STAY BACK!!!”

The group stopped as he moved back…ready to fight as he was covered in the Kyuubi's chakra…ready to fight as the flames began to grow in intensity…and then a cold and demonic voice filled the air as the Sannin, Shizune, and Ton-ton came in closer…

(((“Interesting…you were able to best my minion…, a mid to high level summoned minion…despite being a novice Dragon Champion…that tells me you are of great promise…”)))

Naruto gazed as the flames' light died and he felt a feeling of cold fear grip his heart for a moment as he saw what or who was before him…

Over the still existing ruins of the Wraith Knight and bathed in the blood red flame was sword…that resembled Holy Talon…at least in design…but it was vastly different. The blade was midnight black in the middle while the edges were blood red and there were gemstones in the middle of the blade and there were saw like teeth in the middle of the edges…there was a dragon head that gripped the base of the blade with two fang shaped prongs on the sides of the mouth. The hand guard had a wing design with spikes on the top of the hand-guard…the handle was long…showing that it could be wielded in the same way as Holy Talon, either in a single hand or both…the hand grip was in a scale like pattern…but were blood red mixed with black and bone white. The pommel was a Dragon claw grasping a human skull that had the mouth open in a scream and had two gems for eyes and the middle of the hand guard had a blood red eye with a black slit in the eye and it was glowing in malevolent fire.

Even if he had never saw the sword before…Naruto knew already just what or rather…who the sword was…

“Death Fang…”

(((“I see you know me well…Naruto Uzumaki…you are not exactly what I expected to be the chosen to face me as Holy Talon's master…but your defeat of my minion is proof that you have promise…ah…but you are inhabited by a demon…of great power…how odd that is…has Holy Talon gone weak and soft minded over the years?”)))

And for the first time, Holy Talon's voice was heard by everyone present.

((“You have not changed…you're still as contemptuous as ever…why are you here?”))

(((“Simple…I came to sample this world's richness as I have instructed my Wraith Knight to show me and it is rich indeed…so many lovely beings to kill, enslave…and torture! The souls of those you couldn't save in time were…delicious…I want more…”)))

“I won't yet you do anything to my world you sick monster!!!”

Naruto shouted as he readied Holy Talon…but his companion stopped him.

((“Don't attack him Master Naruto!!! It's merely an Astral Projection…Death Fang is not really before you…you'd waste your energies attacking it.”))

(((“True indeed…and I cannot harm you as well…I can only send my minions as I need my own Master to truly fight you…ah but I sense you two have weakened…that means you will not be as strong to fight me and my own master if he were to claim me now…that is a shame…but I wonder if there are truly evil beings in this world…or I would be bored to death unless I amuse myself by sending my minions to pillage and burn the lands here.”)))

“Why don't you tell me where you are so Holy Talon and I relieve you of your bloody misery?!”

(((“My…fiery aren't you? You have chosen a very interesting boy to be your Master Holy Talon…I wonder what would happen if I had claimed him instead of you …once I had purged him of his weak human emotions and freed his demon…then this world would truly be under our control… that would have pleased my creator immensely…”)))

((“All the more reason that I am happy to have shielded him from you and chosen him as my master Death Fang…Naruto will be the protector of this world and will never side with you.”))

“And there's no way I would ever allow myself to be your master you monster!!!”

(((“Monster? Child… I have been called far worse names than merely monster…so you are wasting you're breath. But know that while have defeated my minion…he was merely one out the thousands of minions that I command and while I have no Master…I will not be idle…I shall send more of my servants to invade this world and corrupt all they can to feed my powers, as well as amuse me…and once I have gained my master…I shall truly see how strong you are…you're skills as a ninja…were interesting…but weak…you have relied on that demon in you for power, and Holy Talon for advice and support…but what about you? What are YOUR abilities”)))

“What the hell are you talking about?!”

(((“I see that you have potential…you're victory over MY minion is proof of that…but you came close to death more than once…and only through the salvation of that demon's power were you saved…and your limited and yet interesting skills…but those will not save you…both you and Holy Talon are drained of power…and you are still a novice…while I am at the zenith of my power…there is no doubt that if I have my master…then you will die swiftly…you have been trained as a ninja…and you rely only on that cloning technique and that energy sphere. That says to me that you have wasted your time for a true warrior masters many skills, and you rely only on luck and your drive to succeed…powerful as they are…with the aid of Holy Talon and the demon in you have within you. You are not yet a Dragon Champion of true power and yet you have never utilized your OWN gifts…you rely on their support alone… thus…you are not a true fighter. Take Dragon Champion Shana…she was able to perfect her senses before ever acquiring Holy Talon and mastering the Dragon Eye, and Khalen…he mastered his Boundless State style before he ever possessed Holy Talon…they had worthy skills…you may have that cloning technique…and that move you call the Rasengan…but is that all you can do? You're skills are not strong yet to be a true ninja…despite those said techniques…”)))

Naruto glared but it struck a chord in him…during the time he was training in the Rasengan…he recalled the absolute difficulty he had in passing the second step…he recalled the time he was still young and he, Kiba, Shikamaru, and Chouji had skipped class and gained Iruka's anger and he showed them how to channel and focus chakra with leaves of their heads…it was this memory that allowed him to master the second step…but all that time he wasted on being a truant in the Academy…and that time…

((“Master Naruto! Focus on the matter at hand!!!”))

Naruto shook his mind from those thoughts and focused on Death Fang….the sword then directed it's eye towards the others and Tsunade and Jiraiya got ready as well as Shizune while Ton-ton was behind the Medic-nin. The sword studied them carefully and laughed.

(((“So…you are the Sannin…Jiraiya and Tsunade I see…and both of you are ready to fight me…how touching…powerful as you are in this world…you cannot beat me…no mortal art or weapon can break me for I am created from the very body of my creator…as Holy Talon was created from his own creator. You had best move away for now…while I am not there…I am still capable of achieving magic to affect you as well.”)))

“Leave them alone! You're fight is with me and Holy Talon!!”

Death Fang's eye turned back to Naruto and the sword's voice laughed hideously.

(((“Ah yes…that is true, however it will not be worthy challenge to slay you now as you are…though it would be wiser…I relish the thought of tasting your blood when I am free and in the hands of my master, So until that time comes…I will leave, but before I do…I have only a piece of advice…take it or discard it…I do not care…but you had better train yourself well in ALL the skills you will need…for as gifted with potential as you are…you are no match for me the way you are now…and you will then be no match for me and my Master…look well on this corrupted land…Champion…and reflect well on the dead and the destroyed…for this will be the fate of your world!!!! )))

The Astral image faded and Naruto was now alone as the others rushed up to him…Naruto however paid no attention as he and the Dragon Wardens re-sealed the Kyuubi's chakra as he saw the barren and corrupted land before him…and the piles of ash that were once people…he thought about how the people must have fared and knew that while it was over, he was given a very visual idea of the fate that awaited the people of his world. The blonde ninja spoke then to his companion.

(Is there…any way we can fix this?)

((“Yes…we can help the land heal itself now that the Wraith Knight is gone… as it was the source of the corruption…but it will take time for this land to heal…”))

(I should have been stronger than this…)

((“You will be Master Naruto…the next time we face the minions Death Fang summons…we will be stronger.”))

(I know…)

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Unknown to them…

A figure…hiding in the shadows nearby watched the events unfold and as he saw both Tsunade and Jiraiya arrive…he couldn't help but sigh as he turned to Naruto and spoke to himself.

“Well Naruto-kun…you have really driven yourself into quite a mess…It seems that capturing you will be a serious mistake…now that you own that sword and the enemy you must face…I guess that means altering our plans yet again when it comes to dealing with you.”

The figure turned and then looked into the midnight moon and revealed…

The Sharingan….and the light revealed none other than Itachi Uchiha…

He looked at Naruto once more and spoke silently.

“You will be truly an interesting one…Naruto-kun. Until we meet again…”

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The next day…

Naruto walked back with the others to the road leading to Konoha…the others were happy that he was alive and safe…they had thought the worst while they had been fighting the undead people that were controlled by the Wraith Knight. They had been able to attract the attention of the Wraith Knight's undead minions to allow Naruto attack…and when they had seen the undead fall once more and were reduced to ash, they were happy…that is until they saw the sword that rivaled Holy Talon…Death Fang.

The Sannin were busy talking about what they had seen and promising to keep this away from the Council for the time being as they had no idea how to explain all this to the ninja Council just yet. Shizune was also walking at talking about what they had seen. Naruto had spent time in healing the land as he used a Nature spell known as healing rain to release a shower of healing water on the lands to reverse the corruption…once he was done…they headed back to the abandoned town that they had used as a base and rested...they then went on their way but not before they and Naruto went back to the sight and gathered the ash and bones of the people they had burned the day before and buried the remains in a proper grave-site…and now here they were…heading back to Konoha…

Naruto on the other hand was silent as he thought back on what Death Fang's words were…and he realized that he had been an idiot before acquiring Holy Talon…he had plenty of time back in his younger days in the Academy and yet he had wasted them all by being late…skipping school, playing pranks, and more. Had he known that he would have been recognized as a true ninja back in the Chuunin Exams and gain recognition like he did when he fought in the ring, he would have…. How much time did he waste by being a trouble maker?

He thought about it all even more and realized that while there was time…he would have to be really serious about his training from here on out…he was not going to give up the things he loved…but he now had to devote his time to training as a ninja once more…even if it seemed idiotic at first…he would have to relearn all the needed things about being a ninja…even if it means going back into the Academy…because if a ninja who was far better than he was got Death Fang, then he was in grave danger. He had a discussion with Holy Talon about this on the way and his companion agreed that the time had truly come for him to devote himself to training as a Dragon Champion as well, he had to learn all he could from every Champion before him if he wanted to have a chance at facing Death Fang and it's minions again..

He then spoke to Jiraiya.

“Pervy Sage…”

“What is it Naruto?”

“I want to ask you something.”

“What would that be?”

“If…if you had a chance to relearn everything that you should have mastered long ago…would you take that chance and do it?”

The two Sannin stopped and so did Shizune…this sounded serious as Naruto had been silent all the while and now that he was talking, it seemed that he had a serious matter on his mind. Jiraiya looked at Naruto and realized that ever since his battle with that Wraith Knight and his conversation with Death Fang…Naruto had been distant from them for a bit.

“Does this have anything to do with what that sword Death Fang said?”

Naruto nodded and he spoke.

“I got to thinking about all that happened and I realized that I had wasted so much time…and after what I have seen Pervy Sage, I guess it told me that I should have not wasted all those 12 years I had when I was still in the Academy. Instead of wasting all that time pulling pranks, skipping school, and making a mess all over Konoha, I should have applied my time in training in everything I needed to learn to be a ninja…I nearly died facing that Wraith Knight.”

“Naruto…you defeated it you know…”

“I know that…but barely…just barely…I was lucky and I know luck's important and all…but that alone won't be enough. I should have trained better on how to focus my chakra back in the Academy and it would have shaved time off my training with the Rasengan. And you all saw what that Wraith Knight could do…even if it was alone…and it's just one among thousands that Death Fang could command…if that sword can do this much damage to the land and people without a Master…then…you know what I mean, if it gets a master evil enough to command it, then we're all going to be in for it…”

Tsunade, Shizune, and Jiraiya looked at one another and had to agree with Naruto…but still…

“And I have to be ready for that time when it comes…but I'm still a novice, there's no way I can beat both Death Fang and it's Master in this condition…and if I fail…then I die and there's a chance that there will not be others capable of wielding Holy Talon to stop them…”

Tsunade couldn't help but feel very worried…even more so now that Naruto said it…the first time he had been stabbed by the Wraith Knight's Vampire Bone Sword…she had used a lot of her healing chakra to heal him and nurse him back to health, along with Shizune's help. The wounds that sword could inflict were nothing like anything she had seen in her life…and it was only through her aid, Holy Talon's still present healing powers, and the Kyuubi's chakra that Naruto had survived. And the fact that Naruto was nearly killed twice was enough to make her even more terrified…now that she had seen and felt the evil of Death Fang…she couldn't help but feel even greater fear in her at the thought of that sword dealing the killing blow to Naruto.

“So I have to train even more now…but not just as a Dragon Champion…but as a ninja as well…because there's a big chance that another will find Death Fang…and if someone does…and that person is a really powerful and highly skilled ninja and evil…then I will not be able to beat him or her at all in either case. That's why I'm going to relearn everything I should have learned back in the Academy…so I can improve my ninja skills…but I need help…”

Jiraiya snorted, grinned at Naruto and replied.

“You don't need to be so overly dramatic Naruto…I am still your teacher and I did teach you the Rasengan…and after all I've seen…I will help you learn whatever you need to be ready…and I have no doubts that your adopted father figure Iruka will help you…no doubt he'd see it as a gift from Kami that you've finally gotten serious about being a ninja. And I can bet once he knows about your battles, Kakashi will give you help too…though I recommend you learn from others too. It pays to learn all you can from those who can teach you. That enough for you squirt?”

Tsunade sighed and smiled at Naruto and replied.

“I guess I'll teach you as well.”

“Really? About what Tsunade?”

“Simple…chakra control…you already know my ability to control my chakra is considered legendary and despite the fact you've got the Kyuubi inside of you…you NEED to learn chakra control so you can utilize your own chakra better and if possible…the Kyuubi's as well. Despite the fact I know I'll be swamped as the new Hokage, I'll try and find some time to train you in chakra control as much as I can…that all right with you?”

Naruto smiled at that…getting not one but TWO Sannin as teachers was a dream come true for ANY ninja…and to learn also from Kakashi-sensei and Iruka-sensei…he was overwhelmed and since Holy Talon was also going to teach him as well, along with every spirit inside of the sword…he was going to be really prepared.

“ALL RIGHT!!!”

Shizune also spoke as well.

“Naruto-kun…I know I'm not as skilled as Tsunade-sama…but I will teach you what I know about chakra control…just in case she's not available to teach you…”

“No problem at all Shizune! Thanks a lot!”

Naruto then hugged Shizune and while Shizune didn't mind it too much…she couldn't help but feel somewhat aware of the fact that despite his real age…she would have to admit that Naruto was indeed a very attractive sort of young man…give him a few years then he would be a hit for sure. She placed that out of her mind for the moment and asked Naruto to release her.

The group continued on towards Konoha and Naruto spirits was at an all time high as he got ready to finally become a true ninja…to achieve his dream of being Hokage…to keep his promise to protect Konoha, and to live up to the legacy and heritage of the Holy Dragon Champions.

It was going to be a hard road…but one he was looking forward to

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To be continued…

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Author's notes:

Well…Naruto passed the test with the skin of his teeth and Tsunade, Jiraiya, Ton-ton and Shizune managed to help him in defeating the Wraith Knight…though he nearly bites the knife in the first encounter…and yet again in the second battle. And it seems that Naruto's confrontation with Death Fang has made him reevaluate all the time he had spent in the Academy…and what that meant for him…

He then realized that the way he is now…both as a ninja and as a Dragon Champion, he would stand no chance in a fight with Death Fang if the Chaos Dragon Sword were to find it's own master and to further prove that point…if anyone was strong and evil enough to be chosen as Death Fang's master and the Chaos Dragon Champion, and is a powerful ninja…then he would stand no chance the way he was now…that was painfully shown to him in the two parts where he nearly lost his life. So what does he do?

He decides to relearn everything that he should have learned as a ninja back in the Academy all those years ago…and he now has Jiraiya as a teacher, and is an unofficial apprentice of Tsunade in terms of learning chakra control, along with Shizune teaching him when Tsunade is swamped with her duties as Hokage. That certainly does not mean that only the two Sannin will be training him…Iruka is going to relish this as it will be a dream come true for him to finally get the lessons into Naruto's head…Kakashi might also teach Naruto as well as soon as he hears about the battle…and who knows…Naruto even ask help from the other Jonin sensei, and even ask members of the Rookie 9 and even Neji's group to help him further improve his abilities as a ninja…couple that with his training to be a Dragon Champion …well…let's just say that things are going to be really hard from here on out.

That means that I'll be making some filler chapters…now before I get any reviews that say that I'll be spoiling the story and giving headaches to my readers…I'd like to point out that these fillers are still centered on Naruto's growth and development as both a ninja and Dragon Champion…along the way…we will work with the people who are part of the whole process. By the end of the fillers…we can have Naruto as a highly trained and deadly ninja and Dragon Champion…at least at that level as well….This also means that Naruto's respective relationships will also blossom and improve…who knows…the women in his life might very well have deeper feelings for him, I might include other women as well to spice things up…say a sister of Kiba's, while his male friends will trust and respect him more…and so will the village…a dream come true for Naruto as he climbs higher and higher.

Things however take another turn as Itachi has been observing the whole thing…what will happen to the ninja world once Akatsuki gets wind of Death Fang's existence…will any of them or their leader seek out the sword now that Itachi knows it exists? Will it be possible that one of the Akatsuki claim Death Fang for his or her own? We shall see…

However, it's not just Itachi this time, the next challenge is how will Sasuke react with the news and the fact that Naruto will now surpass him in almost every fashion? Not to mention the fact that he saw how his own brother holds Naruto in high regard and consider Naruto more important than him? You can bet things will get even tenser between the two and will soon boil over. And to prove my point even more, here's an advanced screening for all you eager readers…

Enjoy!

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Trailer:

Kakashi smiled underneath his mask as he was with his students…Naruto was ecstatic at the news while Sakura was happy for Naruto and proud as she knew her deserved it after all the hard work he had done to get there…while Sasuke remained indifferent as he looked at his team.

“Wow…I can't believe you got promoted Naruto-kun!”

“Thanks Sakura-chan…seems like I finally made it to pass one part of the mountain.”

“Well then…I guess that means that a celebration is in order…and since I've gotten some money and plenty of free time…I'm going to treat you guys out myself…and I know just the place which has the best beef, fish, and pork steaks in Konoha…unless you want ramen again Naruto?”

“That's okay Kakashi-sensei…I'll try anything out the first time out!”

“Good…come on then.”

Sakura smiled and turned to Sasuke and saw that the dark haired Uchiha was silent.

“Are you coming with us Sasuke-kun…?”

“No…”

Before anything could be said…Sasuke left the scene and all three members of Team Kakashi looked on with some worry…even Naruto did not like this in the least. A fair distance away…Sasuke watched his team as they talked a bit and moved on…and as soon as he was assured they were no longer there…he turned to look at the nearby stone wall…and his face which was once passive and silent was filled with bitter rage and hatred….and he quickly began pounding the stone…not caring for his cut and bleeding hands as he recalled what happened in the hotel before.

(Damn you! Damn you to hell!!!! How can you surpass me Naruto?! How?! And this…and my brother!!!! DAMN!!!!!)

Sasuke then stopped and looked at his bloody hands and screamed to himself.

(MARK MY WORDS BROTHER!!!! I WILL KILL YOU!!!!! AND NARUTO, I WILL BEAT YOU!!!!)

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By the way..I've been feeling a bit sick lately so until I recover…this will be the current chapter…and relax…once I'm on my road to full recovery…I'll be right back at this fic along with my other works.

See you all soon!