Gaara's POV (Ruins of Anbu Headquarters - Hidden Sand Village)
Gaara sat with his siblings, not comfortably; the three rested on top of a destroyed massive table. It had been bowed in the center where either dead or unconscious Anbu lay. It had been used as the main piece of the meeting room. His father would meet with his most trusted men to discuss important matters. A room of silent order, an image Gaara was sure had been ruined now. Though it was not as if the three of them had done it alone…
All around the siblings were living and dead bodies. Both were marked with the headbands of the Sand as if a massive free-for-all had kicked up within these walls. Most of the dead were the Anbu and Jounin of the Sand. The alive were mostly Chunin and Genin. The only notable human in the room was a tired but lively-looking Pakura.
It had been one of the most challenging tasks Gaara had ever done. Making friends with humans was infuriating, even more so that it stood as a defiant point. Gaara had always assumed humans and jinchuriki could never genuinely coexist. The nature of jinchuriki and their relationships in general was simple. Humans used jinchuriki; jinchuriki had one day snapped. Gaara had seen this as his truth and had formulated a goal to right this wrong. He would become more than human; Gaara would embrace the nature of being a jinchuriki. Become so powerful that not only was he treated as the being he was, but so that all jinchuriki could have the same. He would flip the order of the world… until he met Naruto Uzumaki. The blonde had fought for others and managed to do so against Gaara. It made a decent point… Gaara was no fool, however. He heeded the lesson.
First, it had been repairing his relationship with his human siblings. Temari had been shockingly easy; she had always supported him, even when Gaara hated her. Now that he was trying, she had proved his most trusted ally. Kankuro was slower going, and the fear Gaara had worked hard to instill slowed the progress. But Kankuro had always taken his job of protecting Gaara seriously before. Now that Gaara treated him well? Kankuro had proved invaluable as well…
The rest of them had been a mix of work between the siblings and Pakura. For Gaara's next plan, he needed massive support. Something Gaara had figured would've been easy. Rasa was cold and cruel; plenty within the Sand hated him. And I hate him they did; it was terrific to Gaara how many. Even more so with how little they wanted to do something about it. The three of them had hit a brick wall until Pakura came knocking. It turns out the woman didn't trust nor love her leader; in fact, she wished to usurp him…
The alliance was tenuous. Gaara did not trust Pakura or him, but both realized they would need to be on the same page. As such, they slowly garnered support and supplies—all for a plan Gaara had initiated today…
"I can't believe we're doing this… is there truly no other way?" Kankuro complained into his hand. His human older brother had done what was asked of him but had openly doubted the need for it. It seemed a mix of loyalty and fear of Gaara had motivated him.
"Don't be dense, Kankuro," Temari replied tiredly with a roll of her eyes. "We didn't really have a choice in the matter. We put this plan into motion the second we took down those envoys. Besides, is now truly the time to raise a complaint? We can't exactly take it back now."
Gaara listened to the two bicker. Before his battle with Naruto, he had always found it annoying and juvenile. It still was, but now he found some humor in it. It was also good for gauging his thoughts; the two were intelligent and cautious but unknowingly opposed each other. Kankuro felt unsure of what they were doing, his love for them being the only reason he was there and why he even bothered wasting his breath. As annoying as it was to question him, Gaara knew the benefit of conflicting points of view in battle. Temari was supportive of him to a fault, she was rather protective of Gaara. It made listening easier; Temari enthusiastically deflected Kankuro's concerns each time.
"I've been trying to tell the two of you this is too risky for days!" Kankuro snapped back. "But Gaara is determined that this plan will work, and you're too loyal to even consider he might be off! And now we're in too deep! There is no taking this back!"
"It will work." Gaara chimed in calmly. Before, he would've snapped Kankuro in two for such bold doubt. But now he only felt furious that the human doubted him. "There will be chaos, but the aftermath will show it to be for the best."
"Of course it will. I will oust your father and lead the Hidden Sand Village through the aftermath as its new and rightful leader," Pakura replied, stepping close to the three. Do not forget these men fight for me, Gaara, not you."
"I am no leader, Pakura; you humans are much too annoying to herd like cattle," Gaara replied with a roll of his eyes. "However, this arrangement works for us both. I need my father gone, and you do as well. As long as our goals align, there is no need for useless bluster. There's a reason the only time you all moved with my support. This rebellion is nothing without me…"
"Don't forget the deal either." Kankuro chimed in. His earlier doubts were hidden as he prioritized instantly.
"Even once this works, Gaara and we will be outside your control." Temari reminded. "You can have the helm of Kazekage, but we are not part of the deal…"
"None of that matters if we don't reach your father!" Pakura roared angrily. "I've served that fool loyally for years, gaslighting him for the moment I could take his position. And while I'll admit it, I have this present opportunity thanks to you. I still find your plan flawed!"
"Oh, that's right, the best plan your human mind could think of was a series of assassination attempts on my father and various high-level officials all at once. A convoluted plan, prone toward failure, and reliant more on luck than anything." Gaara sneered as he stood face-to-face with Pakura. "For one, no assassin stands a chance at killing my father; not even you, working in tandem, could achieve that. If it was easy killing the man, you humans wouldn't even be here. My father is strong enough to warrant a coordinated team of high-level shinobi; to allow the chance to give them a shot, we needed to take out his trusted forces first. Besides Anbu and Jounin, there are five others Rasa counts on."
"Gaara, his son and or greatest weapon; Pakura, his unknowingly traitorous head of Anbu; Baki, his head of Jounin; Head of Defense Bumo, and Lady Chiyo." Temari continued his thought helpfully. She was much better at this meaningless babble. "Luckily, three of the five are on our side. And assuming everything worked out smoothly, the other two have been taken care of."
"Bumo has been taken care of… Lady Chiyo has joined our ranks?" Pakura asked in shock.
"She is rather fond of Kankuro, it seems," Gaara answered with a shrug. "The point of this plan is to isolate my father before we slay him. Baki sensei-" Gaara gestured to a bloody human-size clump of Sand next to him. "Is dead, and Lady Chiyo has likely already finished off Bumo. All that's left is to rest up and prepare for the main event."
"That was my whole point, you monster!" Pakura roared in his face. "My forces have been weakened considerably, and I can't help but notice the three of you were holding back!"
"We were," Gaara answered plainly. "To kill my father, the three of us will need to preserve our strength. The majority of our army is too weak to be of much use. Most of you humans will serve as distractions as Pakura and I do the killing. Though if you don't like that, we can settle it…"
Pakura growled angrily and marched off; the shinobi around them glared at them warningly. But a pulse of Gaara's killing intent settled them down nicely.
"There is one question I have, brother," Temari spoke cautiously. "Not doubting your plan, but I don't understand one part of it. It all hinges on Naruto Uzumaki that he will make the choice you think he will. He'll even be able to do what you think is necessary…" Gaara was pleased she was intelligent enough not to say too much about their present company. They were scarcely able to hear the screams of the wounded and dying. But better safe than sorry.
"Now that she mentions that, I find that part the most confusing," Kankuro admitted. "The guy was good; other than father, I've never seen someone stand up to you like that. But he still lost… wouldn't it make sense to do this by yourself? Or, at the very least, not rely on him?"
"Let me answer your question with another, " Gaara said with a sly smile. Do you believe Naruto Uzumaki showed us everything he had in our last fight?"
"Of course, the bastard even made you reveal your secret weapon!" Kankuro replied, confused. "If he had anything else, I'm sure the bastard would've used it."
"But he didn't. You see, I was empowered by my ally. But Naruto Uzumaki fought mostly on his own. The Kyuubi kept him going but gave him no power… In fact, Naruto Uzumaki, I suspect, is not only strong but even stronger than I." Gaara mused excitedly. "He wields the strongest of the beast as his ally. And yet he is this strong without, so imagine how much power brims under the surface…"
"I don't doubt you, Gaara," Temari assured. "But even if you're right, you barely used your own."
"I used more than you would believe; it's a physical boost, healing, and not to mention what I like to call Jinchuriki Link…" Gaara countered. "It's a technique I use constantly, proof of my bond with Ichibi."
"Jinchuriki Link?" Kankuro asked, confused.
"A powerful technique available to us who are gifted. One that, if my brother learns, will allow him to grow absurdly powerful. Perhaps enough to have made a difference in our battle, at least when I pushed him past it." Gaara assured.
"There's more?!"
"Yes, it's different in my case; due to the single tail, it goes from that to pure possession. But for the jinchuriki of the Nine Tails? Naruto Uzumaki has depths of power I doubt even he is aware of…"
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Sasuke's POV (Chakra Anchor - Western River Plains)
Sasuke felt so much at that moment: the heavy exhaustion of both stamina and chakra reserves dwindling, the growing numbness of blood loss, his wounds bleeding even now, and the pain of the various battles he had participated in lately. But it all muted the image from moments before seared into his eyes.
He had never been fearful of death. The life of a shinobi was a dangerous one, even more so when as bold and ambitious as he was. Sasuke never struggled to accept that he may die, perhaps terribly. Even though those around him may perish, his family's mysterious fates had made him take the fact before. In fact, Sasuke often thought he had grown used to death. To the idea of witnessing a life be snuffed out.
Yet now, it made him tremble in grief and fury. Sasuke had been pinned down, unable to dodge, and at the wrong end of a trident. Suddenly, Yuno appeared, managing to tank the blow for him and counterattack. The two women paused as Yuno gasped breathlessly as the trident pierced his stomach; Mishiro could only choke as Yuno lodged her custom kunai into her throat. The two women paused as they realized they had been wounded fatally. Instincts took over for both, the woman ripping their weapons from one another to make the wound gush blood as they both fell back.
Yuno fell flat on her back, dim eyes locking with Sasuke's. Shockingly, even then, Yuno was smiling at him, the same warm smile she always gave him.
"Y-yuno!" Sasuke stuttered, the pain and delirium making it difficult to speak. "Why? Why are you here?!"
"I-I had to be… I told you all the way back when we… were kids. We don't have much family left, and you're so stubborn you barely even talk to them. We have a decent life, but you're determined to create something better. Y-you've always been that way, Sasuke. So focused on the next goal…"
As she spoke, Mishiro dropped to her knees as she breathlessly clutched her throat. She used her other arm to bite, but it seemed with no ability to breathe, she struggled to heal herself.
"But you're never focused on you. Never focused on living…"
"Yuno…"
"So I promised you and your mom… that no matter where you went or what you did, you'd never be alone. I'd help you, protect you, make sure you don't go before your time…" Yuno rambled on. Sasuke noted that, with shocking fear, her eyes looked less and less focused. Somehow, it hurt.
"Damn it, Yuno, what about you!"
"We're family, Sasuke. A Uchiha looks after their own. You constantly lectured me about how we should condone ourselves. L-like you forgot I'm a Uchiha as well, a kunoichi. The same way you're a shinobi-" Yuno stopped as she hacked up blood. "If I die saving my family, it was a good life lived… don't die, Sasuke; you are much too interesting for something as boring as death…" Yuno's words trailed off as her eyes closed.
"YUNO!" Sasuke cried out brokenly; his instincts screamed, however, as he turned his head to see Mishiro rushing over to thrust her trident into him. Sasuke could only glare hatefully as his watery death approached.
However, just as she thrust her blade, Tamaki appeared at his side, barely reflecting the attack. However, Mishiro barely flinched as she kicked the Neeko member away, embedding her into the stone opposite her. Sakura landed beside him, groaning as she lifted a large stone and tossed it at Mishiro. The Uzumaki casually sliced the stone in half as a chain lazily smacked Sakura, prone next to Yuno.
"STOP HURTING THEM! I'LL KILL YOU," Naruto roared from within the barrier. Sparks flew off his body, and the chains tightened slowly as the blood stood. Attempting to break the chains and barriers with pure strength.
"Enough! I will not be bested by mere amateurs!" Mishiro roared. "No more saves! No more surprises! No more mercy! For the crime of impeding the goals of my Love, I sentence you all to death! I'll admit, I suppose you are skilled peasants. But real combat is not so simple nor clean… did the two of you think you'd face me and not lose your allies… How naive. You'll lose much more today…" Mishiro promised grimly as she slowly approached the downed Sasuke.
Sasuke could barely move but locked eyes with the woman hatefully. Naruto cried out in pain and rage, and his voice dully sounded off behind him.
"The two of you have never lost someone in front of you, have you?" Mishiro asked cruelly. "It's hard to accept, isn't it? To even comprehend even after you watched it happen…"
"You'll pay…" Sasuke promised.
Mishiro snorted, pausing for a moment mere inches away from Sasuke. Within an instant, she struck out, kicking Yuno away a few feet. Sasuke trembled as he desperately attempted to force his body to stand and kill her where she stood. "This is the real world, Uchiha. It's cruel and unreasonable. The only true things that matter are strength, intelligence, and wealth. One where even our love cannot protect the one we care for the most. A fool like you likely can't even accept this is happening-"
Sasuke could scarcely hear her. The sound of breaking glass echoed throughout his head. Where was the glass? Why was it so loud? How did he let Yuno get hurt? His confusion slowly gave way to pure, festering rage.
His vision began to blur as his mind focused on the woman before her. Sasuke had spent his life pursuing the family he once had but had lost. And thanks to her, he lost some of the little family he had left. His vision cleared, his mind too; even the pain and numbness were distant now. His vision became sharper than it ever had. Enough to show him what he wanted more than anything. This bitch burning…
Mishiro flinched suddenly, placing a hand instinctively to guard her face. As she did, Sasuke felt his reserves dip even further; he hadn't known they could get this low. As he did, consciousness began to fade slowly. Mishiro blinked as Sasuke watched a small batch of flames burst into existence on her hand. It bubbled a couple of inches from her skin, impeded by her chakra defenses. However, as with the other attacks, the fire seemed unable to be absorbed. It grew in potency as a sizzle filled the air simultaneously with Mishiro's screams. The woman dropped to her knees and thrust her hand into the water they stood on. Yet Sasuke watched with marked fascination as the flames did not die but grew further up her arm. Mishiro writhed in pain before she grits her teeth and grabs her trident; she lined the blades up to her arm. And, in an impressive display of grit, savagely cut off her left arm from the forearm down. She cried out in pain and writhed on the ground as she did. "Amaterasu." Sasuke instinctively spoke.
Sasuke flinched as he heard more glass, but it was behind him this time. Naruto was fully standing now and seemingly was embracing his jinchuriki nature. His eyes were red, his whiskers pronounced, and his teeth had become sharp fangs. He snapped the chains holding him with a mere flex of his shoulders. The blonde's eyes were locked onto Mishiro as he thrust his palm savagely through the barrier trapping him. His fingers snapped from the force but quickly snapped back into place. Naruto once again grimly did the same with his other hand, crudely gripping the barrier with his hold and ripping it in two with a terribly shattering sound. The blonde marched past him and the wounded Yuno wordlessly as he marched toward a recovering Mishiro. There was a boom as Naruto appeared above her instantly. Slamming a single hand into her head. With an eruption of water and a massive air explosion, Mishiro was spiked to the waterbed by the blow. Naruto stared down at her coldly as she did.
"I'm done," Naruto said simply; Sasuke's consciousness finally gave out as the blonde finished his words.
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Leifazu's POV (Nearby Chakra Anchor - Western River Plains)
Leifazu lay flat on her back, happily whistling a tune. The pain and exhaustion of battle were slowly fading; she could even begin to twitch her limbs. A Uzumaki like herself lasted long and recovered faster, meaning if she kept twitching like this, she should regain movement. As Leifazu worked toward such, she eyed the still-unconscious duo. Content they wouldn't be getting up any time soon, she focused back on herself.
It was slow and boring work, but eventually, Lefaizu regained enough strength to climb to her feet. Standing was painful and slightly nauseating, but Leifazu was fine with discomfort; she had experienced it often in her life.
It took several more minutes, but eventually, Leifazu felt rejuvenated enough to move around with ease. The pangs of chakra exhaustion made it clear she would need true rest before she could hope to fight someone.
Several massive flares of chakra in the distance drew Leifazu's attention. One of them was all too familiar; it seemed some of their enemies had made it to Mishiro. From the massive and somewhat similar auras of one of the chakras, Leifazu was sure Naruto Uzumaki, one of the primary targets, was in the battle, another powerful as well. It concerned their chances of success, but Leifazu smiled despite that. She was much too spent to be helpful in such a battle, and she was pretty disappointed. But now Leifazu had the perfect chance to get that bitch killed… there was just one more matter to decide before she moved.
Lee and Choji were still peacefully slumbering. Leifazu kicked a pebble at the bowl-cut warrior, and thankfully, this time, he didn't fight her off in his sleep. Her experience as a killer made it a known fact she should kill both of them. After such a fantastic fight, the two had the full details of her abilities and seemingly even her weakness… but the fight had been amazing…
Better to leave the two alive, it ensured the bitch Mishiro died, and Leifazu would have quite a bit of trouble on her hands in the next bloody battle with them in the Leaf. Yes, it was better to leave them-
Leifazu flinched and whipped her head to the side to see a human-sized blur flying at her. With her limited abilities, she couldn't stop the attack, her attack smashing into her. Leifazu wrapped her limbs around the attack as they rolled, only for them to skillfully wrap all four of their hands around her feet and legs. Leifazu howled as she felt fangs bite into her shoulder.
Those damn demons! They must've been attracted to their battle! Leifazu thrashed her limbs, attempting to throw them off her. It was shockingly strong, maintaining its grip while deepening its bite. Leifazu groaned in pain and willed her hatchet back. It took seconds, and the demon did its best to remove her head. Luckily, Leifazu felt an impact hit the demon; it relaxed its grip as she kicked it off her.
Leifazu's hatchet had buried itself in the back of its head. Not a moment later, Lefiazu rolled on top of the creature and pulled her weapon free. She could feel three more rushing her now. As she stood, she slashed, beheading another creature as it drew near. She spun around a dive from the second as she willed her other hatchet back to her. It flew from Choji, cutting off one limb of the charging third, causing it to slide in a bundle toward her. Leifazu slid, slitting its throat as she ripped through her second hatchet. The third demon slid as it turned around to charge her again. Leifazu smiled cruelly at it. Before she flung both hatchets with a heave, removing all four of its limbs. She walked over and caught both hatchets as she stood over it, dropping to her knees to slam both into its spine. Leifazu ripped them free, and the demon whined as it died.
Leifazu panted, the meager fight having cost her much. But as she looked into the forest, she witnessed many more glowing, hungry eyes. Leifazu sighed, knowing she would not be able to stand them all as she was… but…
Leifazu sheathed her hatchets at her hip, ran over, and threw both Lee and Choji over her shoulder. The awkward trio began to hobble away quickly, pursued by the crawling monsters of Irminsul.
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So she was running, but where the hell should she go? By now, the entirety of Irminsul was likely their enemy. Leifazu's leader was locked into combat, a battle she did not know if it was going their way. However, defeating Leifazu and defeating Mishiro were two very different things. Besides, if she or their enemies did win… they would serve as great bait to the demons.
Leifazu awkwardly leaped from tree to tree as she raced toward the Chakra anchor. She smiled, however, as a familiar person landed with her on the next branch.
Leifazu and her knocked-out allies had been joined by Suzumebachi. The woman seemed just as worn out as him and had a massive bruise on her forehead. "I'm shocked you're alive. I can tell you lost a fight. I suppose I'm not the only one feeling miserable today."
"I lost to a superior opponent," Suzumebachi said with a roll of her eyes. "Their choice to spare me was an honorable one. What happened to you?"
"Turns out those Leaf shinobi are damn strong!" Leifazu chuckled. "Here, take one of these two."
"You defeated him…" Suzumebachi said in shock as she lifted Lee from Leifazu's shoulders. "So I suppose we're taking these two as prisoners?"
"Nah, we're getting the hell out of here; saving these two is a favor," Leifazu answered easily as they began their journey again; the two relaxed even as dozens of monsters raced out of here. "We'll use the Chakra Anchor to escape; Mishiro is handling the rest as we speak; we'll leave them to die by her hands." It was a partial lie, one she noticed Suzumebachi seemed to notice. But the woman didn't press them as the two raced toward the Chakra Anchor.
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Kyuubi / Naruto's POV (Naruto's Mindscape)
Ever since the beginning of his recurring imprisonment, this One's life had been a simple, dull affair. While sealed as he was, he had no actual physical being. More of his physical being had been fused with his host, but the result was the same. His existence was only on a spiritual level. His spirit was free; his being was locked within a giant wet sewer system. The cage changed with the host, but the result usually was the same. Dark days left toiling away for what seemed to be an eternity.
The only entertainment or method of passing time was the visages his imprisonment allowed him. Due to his location within the host, he was privy to some of their senses, primarily vision and hearing. At any time, This One could gaze upon the happenings of his host, a momentary reprieve for his empty days. Today, however, was an oddity, a day he could experience more… perhaps even escape.
Jinchuriki were made to be weapons. This one and his relatives were not made to be entrapped within the feeble bodies of humans. While Ninjutsu and Fuijutsu had allowed them to surpass this limit, there were side effects for the union. The host often displayed traits of their captive, gained access to absurd power, and, most importantly… was tied emotionally.
For This One and his siblings, these side effects were no concern. But for humans? It was quite the conundrum. As all Tailed Beasts had lived for centuries, they each had experienced much in this world. And thanks to the recent efforts of humanity, it was mostly negative. Long before they were entrapped, they had been hated and hunted. The constant negativity had covered their very essence. So when the host suddenly felt the depths of their fury, wrath, and hatred… they snapped.
"Naruto Uzumaki… you cannot even hear This One, can you…"
The blonde did not heed his words. His spirit stood robotically unblinking; even now, Naruto was focused on his goal.
"To think you would be capable of Jinchuriki Link… no small task. However, we Tailed Beasts are not nearly as feeble as you humans. Can you tolerate your own hatred and This One's?"
There was no answer. Unsurprisingly, with the blonde going down this route. Jinchuriki Link was a dramatic change for most jinchuriki, for his jailer? Even more so. This One's hatred had been fed and fueled far more than the others. Yet Naruto's own hate nearly burned as brightly as his own. This had been building in the back of his mind; the human had surprisingly control to bury this much.
Jinchuriki Link was a technique used in the first possession stage of a Tailed Beast. The user's mind and the beast must be aligned; it usually happens during moments of great fury or grief. It allowed the user to use a chakra coat, access a full tail's worth of power, and enhance durability and healing. However, the user often loses control, especially those of iron will. They would maintain control but be influenced by the emotions of their prisoner. It usually led to a gradual possession until their beast got the better of them and was fully manifested.
This One had suspected Naruto may be something else… different from the other humans. In fact, the blonde even reminded him of them. This would be the test. If he lost control, snapped fully, and allowed himself a trip outside, This One would act as he must, rampage and kill the annoyances around him and finally free himself.
This One watched with rapt attention as the Uzumaki seemed entirely in control despite the Jinchuriki Sync. Perhaps he could manage the inner darkness of them both… This One would see…
X-X
Naruto's POV
Naruto couldn't hear; his hound pounded so loudly inside his chest that it muted everything else. His teeth itched as they grew even longer, becoming a set of razor-sharp fangs. His whiskers grew thicker and harsher, and his eyes glowed a bright orange through the air. Slowly but surely, a burning sensation covered his skin. The blonde mutely noticed his skin was covered in a thick orange miasma of chakra. Steam wrapped around him as the water beneath him evaporated. The chains wrapped around him continued to tighten, and the barrier hummed as chakra shot into his body. But all Naruto felt was pain and a growing, burning fury. The pain of his transformation vastly outweighed the pain of his binding.
The only thing Naruto saw was Yuno being speared over and over, Sasuke being defenseless and being saved by her, and them both nearly dying because of him… He watched as Tamaki came and saved the Uchiha again but was boredly smacked away. Sakura attempted to stop her but suffered the same.
"STOP HURTING THEM! I'LL KILL YOU!" Naruto promised from the binding. Seeing his friend be devastated like that filled him with even more weight, fury, and pain. He forced himself to his feet with his new strength. And began to move the chains to stretch. He wouldn't just lie here and let his friends die!
The near loss to Neji, the defeat to Juzo, and the most recent defeat to Gaara flew by his eyes. Hadn't he intended to become Hokage? To be someone people could love and count on? To defend and fight for what he saw as right? How could he do that if he kept failing… This time was worse; his failure had cost much more than his pride… Yuno was…
The thought gave him the boost he needed. The chains snapped easily; Naruto would not be stopped anymore. Naruto embraced the pain with a smile as he thrust his hands into the barrier. It shattered like glass from the blow, as did his fingers, but as soon as he had swallowed the pain, they had healed. His eyes were only for Mishiro. Somehow, the woman had lost most of an arm. Naruto would make it the least of her concerns.
Naruto wrapped his fingers around the barrier; with a pull, he ripped it into pieces with a single pull. It fell in tatters around the blonde, who breathed in deeply as they did. Muri flew from him now in a bird form, crying out for Naruto to calm down. Naruto doesn't know why he wasted his breath. Before they even faded, he marched forth slowly; the foolish bitch wasn't even paying attention. As he walked past his battered friend, he paid them no heed; usually, he would've ensured they were right. But why waste the time? If he wanted to keep them safe, there was a pest to swat first.
His patience snapped as he leaped forward, landing behind Mishiro with a single bound. When was the last time he had allowed himself to truly let go? Perhaps during that failed training trip with his mother? Naruto had forgotten how fast he could be. The woman, even in pain, whipped her head around, sensing his arrival. Unlike before, however, Naruto was too fast. He closed his fist and smashed it into the top of her head.
The blow sent her flying into the riverbed below with a massive eruption of water. Naruto watched with a smile as the woman was buried by the blow, and the water splattered everywhere, some even raining back to the ground from above. Naruto noticed he was floating idly as the water was disturbed. Now he could even maintain Personal Atmosphere Level Two by himself… He clenched his hand and flexed his chakra. Blowing away even more water and thickening the chakra shroud around him. He was so strong now… even more so than before… he could make this right…
"I'm done…" Naruto was surprised at how deeply warped his voice was now. He knew Mishiro wouldn't hear him, but he spoke to himself. "I'm done losing, losing fights, losing confidence, losing the people I care about." As he spoke, a tail slowly protruded from his back, lazily swaying back and forth. "All because of my restraint… I've lived my life holding back, fearful to ever truly go all out, always trying my best to do everything while holding back. But now I see I'm pathetic, that it's all my fault. I'm not enough now… but I will be… I'll start by killing you."
As he finished, the tail snapped out, fishing into the river bed and ripping Mishiro free from it headfirst. The woman threw her trident straight at him, but Naruto ignored the powerful weapon as it stabbed into his shoulder. The tail dragged her high into the sky as Naruto smiled and ripped the trident out.
"It's all so plain to see! Gaara was right! If I want to live as I wish, I gotta be powerful! More than just human…" Naruto said manically to himself. "This trident… you used it on her…" As Naruto finished his thought, the elongated chakra tail suddenly shrunk, reeling the helpless Mishiro in. "Why don't you take it back! You'll need it!" Naruto promised as she drew close. Naruto cocked the trident back as she flew at him before hurling it with all his strength. He laughed as it speared right through her stomach and sent her careening into the wall and spearing her to it. The stone buckled against the impact but held her there all the same.
Naruto cackled as he slashed with his claws several times. When had his nails become claws? All the better to rip her apart, he supposed. With each swipe, red lines of wind chakra shot off toward the pinned woman. He watched, amused, as Mishiro ripped the trident from herself and stumbled as blood gushed from the wound in her stomach. She bit her rest as she stood again and howled in fury as she charged ahead heedless of his attacks.
He laughed as they hit. The first two burned against the invisible shield, but the next two sliced through it, cutting shallowly into her skin. The unexpected wounds made her stumble again. Naruto appeared within striking distance at this moment.
"Learned from my Ma that your little cloak is weak to this chakra. Unfortunately for you, you've dragged it out of me." Naruto offered a jab to her newly healed stomach, sending her flying back from his might. "Get back here, you miserable little sicko," Naruto said as his tail flew out and grabbed her around her waist, pulling her back slowly. The chakra was as corrosive as ever, as Mishiro screamed out in pain from the contact. He held her close as the woman's bloodshot eyes met his own. She attempted to form hand signs, but Naruto appeared above her and slammed both of his hands into her chest, smashing her into the water below. Once again, the water erupted, and his allies were scattered as this explosion of power was even more potent than the last. "Heal up quickly, Mishiro… this cousin versus cousin spat is far from over…"
Naruto smiled widely as the water suddenly burst forth with several water dragons. Thankful she hadn't died, he turned and punched the first dragon into the water mist as his tail smashed another behind him. Naruto backflipped over a third as it attempted to hit him from his flank. Now, he was airborne, and his tail was still recovering. This left him open for the fourth. The water dragon carried through the air and smashed into the stone wall, collapsing it onto him. Naruto's vision darkened as he was buried in the rubble. That had actually hurt! Naruto flexed his chakra and tail to smash the rubble off him, only to see Mishiro within inches of him. His tail attempted to smack her way, but she deflected it and smashed the handle of the trident into his face.
Naruto stumbled back as a kick smashed into his ribs, and his chest was shallowly slashed. Mishiro attempted a double-handed thrust into his chest, but Naruto caught the trident around the blade. Naruto's cloak dispersed the water blades at the edges and allowed him to grip the blade. Mishiro flinched, attempting to pull it free. But Naruto merely gathered the new powerful chakra around his fist. It grew as large as Choji's, and the blonde punched her into the sky.
Naruto leaped up to her and wrapped his tail around her body. He smashed his elbow into her face with a spray of blood; hopefully, he shattered her nose. Before he spun his tail, he flung her back to the flooded grounds below. Using his wind chakra, he shot himself after her like a kunai. Spearing her into the ground with another water eruption. The water emptied the water in the canyon as it rained down all around them. Naruto didn't even recover or clear the debris off them before he began a vicious ground pound. However, he was suddenly wrapped in chains, they shot him into the sky, and Naruto cried out as it started to drain his chakra and slammed him into the ground. Mishiro appeared above him, single-armed and covered in blood and bruises.
"Did you think throwing a tantrum would win this fight?!" Mishiro asked. Naruto attempted to snap the chains as before, but they were being replenished and slowly covering him from head to toe. "Death is the only thing promised to a shinobi, and that girl did it as she was trained. She will not be the last thing you lose…"
Naruto slowly cracked the chains before he was suddenly submerged in them. The painful drain of chakra grew even faster as he growled angrily.
"This is why the Uzumaki must perish; they raise monsters like you…" Mishiro spat hatefully at him as she used her remaining hand to channel chakra and began another jutsu. "Water Style: Scalding Hose!"
Naruto could not see what she did but felt a quickly rising heat surrounding his prison. It quickly turned the chains scalding hot; even his shroud could not protect him. The burn of his shroud, of the water, of knowing he was failing filled him. Hadn't he promised not to let this happen?
"In the next life, hide and watch your friends die… you may have lived longer."
Naruto felt his patience snapped again. His power doubled, another tail burst forth from his back, and the two managed to shatter the chains around him. In the same instant, one wrapped around their arm and the other around her legs, holding her up as the corrosive chakra burnt at her skin and slowly crushed her limbs. He felt instincts he didn't know he had as he opened his mouth, and a dark ball of chakra formed from within it. It shot forward and smashed into the helpless Mishiro.
There was a flash; it was the only way he could describe it. The second the small orb of powerful chakra came into contact, it exploded so violently that it blinded him. There was no sound at all, the force of it silencing everything for a moment. As the light faded, Naruto could see the canyon side he'd faced was not flattened. The hills, boulders, and rivers had been destroyed for at least a hundred yards. The water had evaporated, and the ground smoked as it had been burnt a deep color, even glassing occasionally. At the end of the path of destruction was Mishiro.
The woman's entire body was blackened, the sight of landing being a see-through hole to the darkened mud beneath. She had no hair remaining on her body. Naruto marched forward regardless as the woman groaned and twitched. He watched her for a moment, attempting to raise her arm. However, with her injuries, she couldn't move; she would die within minutes…
Naruto chuckled at her as he picked up her arm and placed it in her mouth. The woman instinctively sucked, her skin healing and the wound closing as she did. Naruto waited until she was fully healed to speak to her.
"Ikam lead you all to kill me and my distant family. To do so, it seems you are looking for as much power as possible." Naruto mused to himself. "Is that all that matters to this world? Power…"
"Never heard of this expression. Might that be right?" Mishiro chuckled at him; Naruto prepared to smash her with her tails but stopped when she didn't move. "In this cruel world, the only way to survive is to truly thrive. To be powerful… Wealth, influence, and reputation can all be won over with power. It's the way of the world… you truly aren't like any Uzumaki I've met…"
"So power is the way of the world…" Naruto mused to himself. "In that case, I can do whatever I want because I'm stronger than you?"
"Only if I lose!" Mishiro cried as she suddenly lunged to her feet. However, Naruto backhanded her to the ground with ease. "You're only proving my point, you, Uzumaki. Use power selfishly!"
"I don't know much about being an Uzumaki…" Naruto admitted. "But none of that matters now. For killing my friend, I'll make you suffer!" Naruto suddenly began a vicious onslaught of stomps on the downed Mishiro. "People like you hoard power and use it to abuse others! You lord over those you consider weak! Kill others purely based on their blood! If this world truly only respects power, then I'll become the strongest! And any bastard like you, I'll take care of myself!"
His rant and beating had left Mishiro battered again… perhaps he should stop…. She was too weak to defend herself anymore… at the very least, he should just finish her. But Naruto felt his anger grow as he remembered everything she had done. Yuno would not be coming back…
----------------------------------------
Sasuke / Naruto's POV (Chakra Anchor - Western River Plains)
Sasuke gasped for air as he breached the water and crawled to the surface. As he did, he noticed Sakura carrying Yuno and Tamaki but struggling to stay afloat. Normally, his Ash Step would allow him to close the distance instantly. So battered he was, he had to settle for a desperate swim over, Sakura and her dead weight dipping below the surface several times before he got close. Even with his added strength, the two could barely drag the two to the surface. Sasuke and Sakura crawled onto a small patch of dry earth, panting for breath.
Sasuke leaped forward to Yuno; he rolled her over gently and raised her head above her body. He felt for her neck for a pulse and felt dread pool in his heart when he didn't find one. Laying her flat, he ripped a patch from his shirt and kept it placed firmly over the three gaping wounds on her torso; there was so much blood. Sasuke felt panic fill him; the anger was drowned as the realization was fully set. He numbly heard Sakura briefly check the unconscious Tamaki before racing over.
"Sasuke, if we want to save her, move quickly! I'll work the wound; get her breathing!" Sakura barked as she threw off his hands, and her hands dimly glowed with the gentle light of healing jutsu.
Sasuke numbly watched for a moment before he began chest compressions. Even if the wound wasn't fatal, she wasn't breathing; she may even have water inside her lungs. He kept a steady rhythm, and Sakura cursed as she continued her work. "What!" Sasuke demanded.
"This is bad; her right lung, liver, and stomach have been pierced and nearly severed! Two of her ribs were shattered and have torn apart entire arteries! Not to mention, the wound is extensive; the skin was torn to shreds!" Sakura listed worried. "She's suffering from blood loss and chakra exhaustion; even at full strength, I wouldn't be able to handle this! Running on empty is making this impossible!"
"What the fuck do you need? Chakra? Blood? You can take my damn organs if you have to!" Sasuke snapped.
"That's not how it works! This requires complex medical Ninjutsu surgery! This environment isn't sterile; she could get infected. The two of you don't have the same blood type. And I can't simply remove your organs and place them in her; they would be rejected!"
"What the fuck can you do-"
"Sasuke… I keep telling you to work on that temper of yours. W-will never attract a girlfriend like that…" Yuno's weak voice spoke out, breaking their argument all the while. The two snapped their attention to her as she chuckled painfully to herself. "She… she's right, Sasuke. I took some medical Ninjutsu training too, enough to know without the best healer in the world, I'm too far gone…"
"Yuno, please…" Sasuke pleaded. "You can't leave… you're all that I have left."
He duly noted everyone else, sans Choji and Lee, arriving around them looking battered and tired but most disturbed to see Yuno down and dying. It occurred to them that Naruto had sent them all flying away from the ravine and into a small pond. Even Muri landed softly next to Yuno, crying openly at her.
"I'm not Sasuke; I'm all you are willing to embrace…" Yuno said sadly. "Your mother has always been there for you; you reject her due to her "betraying the clan," but she loves you enough to accept you resenting her. Hinata is your teammate; how often have you, Shino, Hinata, and I hung out or trained together. You're so focused on our clan… I was just trying to show you there's more to life…"
"Yuno please not now… just… try to breathe…" Sasuke said with a shake of his head.
"I won't be around to do that anymore, Sasuke. I need you to promise me you won't lose yourself. That you won't only achieve your goal, but be happy…"
"I promise Yuno now—" Sasuke paused as he looked back to her face. Her eyes were dull and empty again, and her body fully relaxed and nearly slid free from his hold. Muri sadly reached over and closed Yuno's eyes.
"Even at the end, she was happy…" Muri began sadly. "She was content seeing you… I think it brought her comfort-"
"Thank you, Muri, but I know," Sasuke replied calmly, robotically as he stood. "Just one moment." Shino dropped to his knees, staring at his teammate brokenly. Hinata sobbed openly at the cruel sight, and Tamaki herself seemed to pray. Sakura grimly began to check on the others, grimly keeping herself busy. As he walked past them, Kiba grimly walked beside him. However, Sasuke nearly shook his head.
"I know you're grieving right now, but you can't think of going back in there alone," Kiba said cautiously.
"I appreciate your concern, but I'm the only one who can stop this. It seems Naruto has lost himself to rage; even if he wins, he'll become a threat. It is said powerful Genjutsu can pacify Jinchuriki, however…" Sasuke replied coolly.
"Normally, I'd just use your judgment over my own," Kiba admitted with a shrug. "But don't pretend this is a decision made off of strategy. You want a chance…"
"I deserve it," Sasuke replied as he blurred forward with Ash Step. The hateful burning inside fueled him…
With a flurry of Ash Steps, he returned to the flattened ravine. Naruto, covered in thick orange chakra, was kicking a defenseless Mishiro around, cruelly chuckling all the while. Sasuke stopped a few steps behind them and watched calmly. Even with this new power, he wasn't strong enough to stop her, and Naruto defeated her. Sasuke would let him if he intended to administer punishment himself; this cruel fate was fitting…
X-X
Naruto's POV
Naruto felt so assertive and miserable but much more substantial than he had ever felt. That little battle would've been easy if he had used this against Gaara. It certainly helped with his current task. Mishiro could not heal anymore, so he held back considerably with every blow as he kicked her around like a ball. Blurring to her landing spot before kicking her again.
Mishiro had stopped fighting back a while ago. Her eyes were filled with fear, and she occasionally begged for her life. He hit her harder when she did that. A slight tingle in the back of his mind.
The tingle was the most annoying part of this form. It wasn't painful, but it kept whining in the back. It spoke of cruelty, of being tainted, of being better. It was a weak voice. But the booming presence and power wrapped snugly around him were much more substantial. Mishiro had taken his friend; wasn't she due to suffer the same pain?
However, Naruto blinked, and suddenly, he wasn't enacting vengeance, but inside a massive sewer facing a cage with the absurdly large cage door wide open. Inside, the Kyuubi lazily sat.
"I'm busy," Naruto warned.
"We sure are." His voice echoed as a familiar arm draped over his shoulders; he looked to his left to see his own face. Standard except for the dark, hateful eyes. "We're finally cutting loose, holding these little shits accountable… luckily this little breather will be instant in real-time. Gives us time to decide what to do next…"
"Who-"
"You are a unique human, Naruto Uzumaki." The Kyuubi commented with a chuckle. "To have so much hatred inside you and to have separated it like this…"
"If you're too thick-headed to realize," Dark Naruto joked. "I'm all the hate, the jealousy, the envy, the hate within you. The side you buried so deep inside you that you don't even recognize it. I'm responsible for this power and the sole reason our tenant here hasn't gained full control…"
Naruto growled. "Fine, if that's what it takes, I have to take her out. She and her group tried to kill my mom; they hunted Uzumaki's, and now she killed Yuno. Tell me killing her isn't the logical choice!"
"Of course it is; if we spare her, she'll return stronger and know our weaknesses. It'd be spitting on Yuno's grave while it's still warm."
"Using logic and reasoning to excuse your sins?" The Kyuubi asked with a raised brow. "Perhaps you are more like the other humans than I thought. Personally This One has no gripe on killing. Though I remember you did, excusable This One supposes, but your current actions?"
"She deserves to suffer for what she did!" Dark Naruto howled angrily. "We need to send a message! A little torture will make sure it sticks!"
Naruto was stunned, the entirety of his actions settling on his mind. He was torturing her, wasn't he?
"This One agrees it is effective. However This One remembers you being opposed to such, Naruto Uzumaki. Or do you not remember the death of that Sound Kunoichi… what was that human's name again?"
"Kin," Naruto said softly.
"A bitch who tried to kill us and help have our friend murdered!" Dark Naruto snapped.
"A young woman serving her country the same as you." The Kyuubi replied. "One you cut in half… excusable in combat. In fact, This One knows you did not intend to kill… now you not only kill but play with your food. You disappoint This One…"
"The Nine-Tailed Damned Fox is preaching to us?!" Dark Naruto replied sarcastically. "Are we really gonna listen to this?!"
"You cried that night… the next three, in fact, your Mother saw and comforted you, but you still remember her name… This One thinks it haunts you, you regret having to kill her… This One wonders how this event will weigh on you…"
"Don't you dare be gas-" Dark Naruto suddenly disappeared.
"Thank you…" Naruto said grimly. "I lost myself, and you helped me… why?"
"This One still hates humans, so make no mistake, but perhaps our redheaded ally was right. This One sees something in you, Naruto Uzumaki, something this current decision confirms… My name is Kurama human… you may refer to me as such…"
Naruto blinked again and was back in the real world. He stood far from Mishiro, who attempted to drag herself away with one good hand. Naruto noticed the chakra cloak was gone, and there was overwhelming hate and anger with it. Most of it, anyway… Naruto marched forward, cutting off Mishiro's path silently. The woman shrieked and rolled, attempting to get away but couldn't.
"I defeated you," Naruto said simply. "Completely and utterly I beat you… I wanna hear you say that."
Mishiro fearfully locked eyes with him and nodded her head.
"Say it," Naruto warned.
"You… defeated me…" Mishiro shakily spoke. "Please no more…"
"I'm done. Today, I'm gonna spare your life. When you crawl back to Ikam, warn him to stay away, or I'll handle him too. If you or anyone in his little club so much as come around again… I'll kill you… kill you all…" Naruto warned, his eyes flashing orange.
"Unde-" Naruto flinched as blood suddenly splattered onto his face. He opened his eyes to see Sasuke standing behind him, having used Mishiro's now depowered katana to throw it like a spear into Mishiro's head. The skull cracked with a crunch and splat as her head was nearly split in two. Naruto blinked again, shocked.
"I respect your decision, Naruto," Sasuke said calmly. "In fact, I don't blame you. But she took from the Uchiha, the only fair cost is death…"
"She really is…" Naruto asked shakily. Sasuke merely nodded. Naruto eyed the dead and mutilated Mishiro with a sigh. He had preserved his morals, but it seemed it wasn't only his choice… "Fine, you had a right for that…" he said, exhausted. The others?"
"In rough shape…"
"Do you need to t-"
"Not now, Uzumaki… let's go to the others… collect Yuno's body and have Muri send us home… then we grieve…" Naruto nodded sadly as the Uchiha and Uzumaki left the dead body of Mishiro behind as they walked over to the others.