Naruto's POV (Outside of Bandit Camp - Land of Fire)
Dosu wouldn't call himself an arrogant man. He knew his capabilities well. Strived hard to raise them. Learned his comrade's abilities and even established leadership over them. They had great teamwork, his teammates were not quite on his level yet they had found their niche. He led them well, even acquiring the attention of his Kage. The Kage had given them a simple mission. They would assist the ambush squad to ambush the Leaf. Their unofficial rivals. Even better yet had been their role in this. The three of them would kill one measly Genin. To make the matter easy. They had received substantial information on him. It was damning, to say the least. An assassin's dream job. Their target was labeled unintelligent, untalented, and criminally weak. They had seen his clones. Something the file hadn't mentioned and Dosu knew the data might be off. But he was a newbie up against three of the Sound's finest. What could he truly do?
Well endlessly summoning clones and surprisingly efficient kenjutsu was the answer. Dosu did not doubt that if they could mob the original they could take him. Yet their ambush had been turned on its head. At all points in the fight, they were significantly outnumbered. At least eight to one. The clones were easy to dispatch specifically for Zaku and him. But Kin struggled to do the same. Since they did not want to be down a man against such an overwhelming foe. Both Dosu and Zaku aided her. This led to an odd loop of dispatching clones and saving Kin. But in turn, the clones got closer and closer to landing decisive blows on them. Kin's slack and their adapting were leading to repeated mistakes. Somehow, this fool was perfectly pushing them back.
Naruto silently crept through the forest around the battle. Occasionally, stopping to summon shadow clones. He was looking for his moment. It was clear between Dosu and Zaku they had consistent coverage against the fragile clones. The woman named Kin was struggling already even with the other two's help. Doubtless, if one of the men were defeated, she would shortly follow. His eyes watched as Dosu swung his gauntlet, destroying groups of clones. Zaku seeing a clone sneaking up on Kin sniped it with his Cannon. As another clone snuck up on him, he used the other hand to blow them away. He was wide open! Naruto's training kicked in as he dashed into the field at max speed. He saw Dosu notice him, but by the time he called out, Naruto had already attacked with a tanto thrust from behind. Silence struck as the four young adults froze. Naruto quickly drew the tanto out of Zaku harshly as he rolled. Kin's senbon missing the blonde. Zaku spit out blood but managed to stay on his feet. Naruto then stared the three down as his clones surround the now defensive shinobi.
"Zaku, don't tell me you're out!" Kin called angrily as she shifted her stance nervously.
"Heh, like fuck I am." Zaku growled as he climbed to his feet. Dosu merely nodded as the three prepared for an assault against the clones. But to their shock, Naruto called out.
"Please surrender. I cannot waste any more time here. You cannot beat me, ya know?" Naruto called out calmly.
"A true shinobi does not accept failure." Dosu countered confidently.
"Then I'm sorry for this." As Naruto said this, the clones charged wildly. Some even filling the air. The clones seemingly intend to crush the three with mere weight. He then raised a hand sign as he called. "Shadow Clones: Walking Landfield Jutsu!"
The three all tensed as the clones seemed to swell for a second. Dosu wracked his brain for survival options. "Zaku! FULL POWER AT THE GROUND! KIN CHANNEL CHAKRA! I'LL LEAD!" He called him and Kin dived behind Zaku as he prepared an attack. Dosu and Kin weaved hand signs in sync.
"COLLABORATION TECHNIQUE: SONIC BOOM!" At the call of the three, a dome of power expelled from their voices managed to blow back the explosion. Zaku collapses on the ground using all his chakra for the attack. Kin and Dosu, though both still game, flinched as a single Naruto was flying through the air toward them.
"Sensei told me never to count on something to end the fight." Naruto lectured as he pulled his blade. "Overkill always works. Uzumaki Style: Slash of the Riptide!" As he said this he did a horizontal slash. A wide line of powerful chakra cut through the field at waist level. Zaku, having collapsed already, was safe. Dosu jumped up, attempting to push Kin down but missing in his haste. Kin herself was too slow; the line seemed to slide through with no trouble. As Dosu was landing the line returned now in reverse. Dosu watched as it went through his left foot. The same foot he had intended to hit the ground with. There was silence as Dosu and Kin both seemed frozen for an instant before Kin fell into two pieces and Dosu collapsed with a howl, now down a foot. Naruto felt sick but forced himself to approach the three. He did his best to avoid looking at the grizzly sight of the halved Kin. But the sight of the two bleeding men was hardly a comfort. Even as he approached he did so carefully preparing for them to launch a counterattack. But Dosu merely rose to his knees. Kunai was drawn but fear was evident in his eyes. Zaku seemed to be fearful as well but could not move.
"I warned you, ya know? I never want-" Naruto stopped with a growl. "No, you were here to hurt my friends. This is what you deserve! A hard ass kicking than jail time!"
"If you spare us, I'll kill you one day." Zaku said darkly. "I'll wait till your sleeping and I'll kill you. If I can't get to you? I'll kill your family! HAHAHA!" He laughed manically.
"Do not punish me for his sins." Dosu reasons. "He cracked, you've proved your point. No need to slaughter me as well."
But Naruto tensed further and further as Zaku laughed. Naruto slowly raised his tanto as if to finish off the manic man. But as he debated what to do his vision went black. It was as if he'd fallen asleep. With a jolt of pain throughout his body, Naruto remembered the situation. His eyes opened and saw he was now ten feet away, buried in a giant tree. What the hell had hit him?'
"I bet you're wondering what hit you." A voice called. Naruto rose and glared at his new foe. "Don't worry boss says I can't kill you, so kiddy gloves." The man explained. He was a tall man mostly covered by a black robe with red clouds. He was partially covered in bandages, but curiously his face remained uncovered. His face was painted, with red warpaint across his jaw. They were evenly spaced out red lines. The man also had a large "x" scar on his right cheek. He smiled savagely at Naruto.
"GET. OUT. OF. MY. WAY!" Naruto growled furiously.
"Can't, was told to kidnap you after all. I do think I'll take a leg for the back talk though. For the record, my name is Juzo Biwa." He then hefted a large broadsword, it was shaped like a butcher's knife. If butcher knives were human-sized. It had two holes near the top. One was a full circle in the center of the blade; the other one was a semi-circle on the edge. He then quickly and mercilessly slammed the blade tip down on Zaku. The downed man was defenseless as the blade decapitated him. "Related to that snake huh? Guess once I'm done with the kidnapping, I'll kill you too. Don't blame me, blame your master."
Naruto growled for a second before smirking. As soon as the blonde's lip curled, the trees around the men seemed to rain kunai and shuriken. So much so that the sky was blocked out. Juzo smiled up at the litany of metal death coming for him. He drew his blade up and winked at Naruto. As soon as one of the kunai came close to the man it seemed to bounce off nothing. Then as more came in Naruto could see what was happening. Somehow even with this ginormous sword, he was swinging it so fast that not even a single kunai came close to the man. 'This guy is insane!' Naruto tensed as realization hit him. 'My friends may need me! I WON'T BE STOPPED!' Naruto panted harsher than normal as Juzo deflected the last of the blades and remaining clones. He smiled at the blonde as he charged. Naruto was unable to use any jutsu as Juzo closed the distance. Naruto just barely manages to get his blade up. But even then it felt like the man was swinging a tree. Naruto went flying, his path being barred by a tree. Naruto smacked through the tree. As he coughed up blood it was clear to the blonde some of his ribs were broken. And using the shadow clone jutsu as much as he had exhausted even his chakra. Even now he had a plan. He knew just by the size of the blade the man was strong and merciless, but Kushina had taught him a technique perfect for this. The one that had defeated Neji. The one that stored chakra into his tanto throughout his days. Now he would unleash what he had stored. It didn't matter how much stronger this brute was, this would end it! So even as he shakily stood he held the tanto over his head. As Naruto had figured, the man quickly appeared keen on delivering more punishment. When he saw the blonde's counter-attack he merely smiled as he jumped up and prepared to slam his blade down with all his force.
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"Uzumaki Style: Raging Wave!" He screamed as he slashed his blade towards the strange man. A blue wave of chakra flew from the blade. Juzo merely smiled as he met the jutsu with a mere slash of his blade. As the two attacks collided. They paused for a moment before the blade slashed through the chakra and scored a minor cut on Naruto himself. He flew back exhausted and defeated.
"Not too bad at all kid. Should've used your tenant though. Ah well, I'mma cut off your-" Juzo stopped mid-speech for an instant ducking below a flying kick from Ino. He then sidestepped a palm thrust by Neji and unleashed a kick to his ribs that sent the Hyuga sailing back towards the blonde dazed.
"Petal Storm: Explosive Beauty!" Ino called flower petals surrounded Juzo. He cackled as he twirled his sword absurdly quickly with one hand blowing away the petals.
"Name makes it obvious newbie," Juzo replied gruffly before appearing in front of her swinging his giant blade horizontally. Neji appeared between the two kicking Ino back and spinning.
"KAITEN!" Juzo merely continues his earlier cackle as he managed to simply backstep out of range of the Kaiten before swinging his sword into it. The blade cut through Neji's Kaiten easily. Neji seemingly collapsed to his knees.
"Eh, not too shabby either," Juzo said simply before slamming the dull side of the blade into the Hyuga, sending him skidding across the ground into the base of a tree. He did not move. "Honestly, the lot of you probably would be strong enough in the future. But we're in the present." As he kicked Ino roughly into a tree cracking its bark. Ino landed on one leg and fired off a kunai. Juzo merely dodged this as Ino screamed. The landing seemed to injure her ankle. Ino tried to get up once again but her ankle seemed broken and she had nothing left.
"Sheesh, that must hurt. Well, I don't like killing young women unless necessary. So I'm gonna maim and then take your friend." Juzo stated simply. Walking towards the still unmoving but conscious Naruto. "Though to be clear, can't have our names known. Everyone but Runt here has to die. But first, let's make sure you can't run!" Juzo yelled as he swung down to cut off Naruto's legs.
"NARUTO PLEASE! GET UP!" Ino screamed desperately.
Naruto heard her.
"Son, you gotta get up. Every morning, especially when it's hard! We Uzumaki don't quit! So we always get up, ya know?"
His mother, he could hear her.
"Listen Naruto I know chakra control is boring but we gotta do it. So you gotta get up."
Iruka, his first sensei and someone he considered a brother could hear him.
"I thought you were gonna smack my mask off ne? Guess you'll have to get up."
Kakashi is his odd yet reliable sensei. He pushed Naruto's buttons. Yet now he could hear him.
"Naruto. You will get up."
The last voice he didn't know yet he could hear it. Naruto felt determination and anger swell within him. He wasn't strong enough, but he could not quit. It was time he supposed. Time to live as he was, time to use the burden he held. He wouldn't fail his friends or himself.
'Nine Tails, our deal.' He thought angrily.
'It's not a deal brat. It's something you and others have forced upon me.' The beast countered bitterly.
'You rather risk death or a fate worse?' Naruto asked, now furious.
'I like you much better when you are an angry brat. Take it, just know if you lose control I'll destroy everything you love.' The beast warned.
Naruto nearly screamed as the corrosive chakra covered him near instantly. Jozu, realizing what he was doing, slammed his blade down quickly. But the Kyubi amped Naruto, caught this on his forearm. Before slamming a fist into Juzo's face. The force and speed caught him off guard leaving him flying through the air stunned.
'This form hurts. I can't keep it going safely. Every second I nearly lose myself in hatred. Need to end this now!'
Naruto chased after him as he held his blade behind his head. As he got close his cloak of chakra seemed to go into his tanto. Naruto smiled at Juzo who was still flying through the air helplessly.
"Uzumaki Style: Raging Blood Wave!" He screamed as he slashed downward, creating a wave of red energy that hit Juzo causing an explosion. Naruto collapsed and fell unconscious.
Ino stared shocked both at what Naruto had done and how he must have done it but before she could say anything the horror had returned.
"God damn not too shabby at all. It hurt like hell, if it wasn't for leader-sama it would've done something." Juzo said his cloak was gone in the front revealing burnt skin and the slash. Despite it, he seemed unbothered. He then nonchalantly raised his blade to finally maim the demon but heard someone screaming.
"GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!" A busty blonde woman quickly appeared within his guard. So fast she was that he barely managed to wedge his sword before her fist. He planned to deflect her punch and counter. But the second she first touched his blade it shattered. Bits slicing into both of them. The woman unsurprised, continued her momentum landing a follow-through punch. The force of the blow made Juzo cough up blood as he flew back. The fragments of his blade cut him and the woman. The blood from which, seemed to be absorbed by the giant blade that quickly reformed. "This is the turf of one of three Sannin. Tsunade Senju! The Leaf and its inhabitants are my allies. So if you intend to kill today… it's your funeral." She said simply, she stood in front of the three downed Genin.
"Tsunade, a legendary warrior. I didn't expect someone so… lively. Sorry to do this, but Leader-sama said no risk." Juzo said as he climbed to his feet. A basket-sized bruise on his ribs showed the damage Tsunade had done. Yet to the shock of the various Leaf shinobi it faded. "Too sloppy today, Kisame will never let me hear the end of it." He then simply sheathed the giant blade on his back and ran.
"HEY, YOU LITTLE SHIT GET BACK HERE!" Tsunade screamed as she charged.
"Isn't she here to help us?" Ino asked from across the clearing. She received no answer from her unconscious teammates.
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Kakashi's POV (Outside Main Entrance of Bandit Camp - Land of Fire)
Kakashi had known he was likely unmatched. Maybe back when in his anbu days he would've been able to hang. But now being inactive for a year as a sensei he simply wasn't at his peak. He had been training to achieve it again, but it was slow going. Kakashi had to wonder if this is how his Genin felt when they fought.
Kakashi feigned a slash high before firing off a leg kick. Kisame didn't even bother to dodge or check it. He merely tanked the powerful kick while swinging his wrapped instrument. Kakashi jumped back and weaved hand signs as he did. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" A boulder-sized flame raced toward Kisame. He merely smiled as he slammed his sword into it. Kakashi panted as he watched the blade absorb the flames. The only damage it achieved was burning off the bandages.
"Say hi to Sammeheda." Kisame chuckled. "Ninjutsu isn't very effective against me."
Kakashi grits his teeth as he signed his next jutsu. "Oh really? How about physical attacks?" He asked before screaming. "Earth Style: Rising Stalagmite!" Large pillars of earth suddenly rose around Kisame who merely smashed any that came close. As the attack ended several of the pillars towered around Kisame. "Oh, but we're not done! Earth Style: Sudden Avalanche!" The pillars suddenly shattered into pieces, filling the sky with debris. Kisame smiled widely as the smashed earth fell all around him. As the earth fell, dust filled the air for an instant before Kisame's voice rang out.
"Water Style: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
The earth was blown away from the water. An absurdly large wave was spat out from Kisame's mouth. It quickly filled the clearing knocking over trees as the forest momentarily became an ocean. Kakashi managed to jump over the water and stick to it. But Kisame was on top of the wave and was already within Kakashi's guard. He swung Samaheda diagonally. Kakashi manages to barely dodge before the sword seems to swell and cuts through his clothing and the top layer of skin on his shoulder. It was painful but Kakashi held his cool until he felt how low his chakra had become. The sudden loss made him drop into the water.
'Water Style to the highest degree. An odd sword, that seems to shave and absorb chakra. And physical abilities that put me to shame.' Kakashi thought as he sent chakra to his exposed Sharingan. 'Can't afford to hold anything back!' Kakashi's three tomoe Sharingan turned into a shuriken-looking design. "Mangekyo Sharingan!" He called defiantly. But to his shock, five sharks were heading towards him. Kakashi looks past them to see Kisame looking down from the surface. Kakashi knew he may be screwed, but he wouldn't go down alone!
"Kamui!" He called out desperately as the sharks closed in. Kisame merely quirked a brow before suddenly his arm appeared to be sucked in by a portal. With a scream of pain, it was torn from Kisame's body. The water was dispensed, as an unconscious Kakashi lay on the ground with several bite marks showing he had not escaped unharmed.
"I never expected a decent fight from a Jounin. I'll remember you Kakashi Hatake." Kisame said as he lifted Samaheda to the wound. The sword seemed to phase into Kisame for a moment before he pulled it back. A fully functioning arm in place of the stump. "Not bad at all. Been a while since anyone landed anything clean on me. Anyway." He raised his blade to finish off the helpless Kakashi but was suddenly floored by a flying body. The two rolled against the ground in a tangle of limbs. It was Juzo! Had he last to the nine tails?
"Sorry, but they're with me." Tsunade said defiantly, as she stood before the two men.
Kisame and Juzo rose. Kisame merely chuckled at her arrival.
"That makes more sense if you lost to that little upstart. I'd be taking the Executioner's Blade." Kisame said playfully. "I won't lie and say she's an easy mark but-"
"No, leader sama said no risk. We can't afford setbacks." Juzo countered.
"Well, not disagreeing with him," Kisame replied. "Let's leave then."
"YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!" Tsunade challenged as she flew towards the two.
"That's where you're wrong," Juzo said as he revealed a summoning scroll it poofed as it summoned a red-haired young woman. Her purple-ringed eyes seemed to scan them all before she pulled a scroll that covered the two men and herself.
"God will judge you one day." She said simply as the scroll sucked the three of them in before poofing away.
Tsunade sighed at them getting away. She then turned to the unconscious Kakashi, lifting him. It seems like she was being punished for being too kind. Since she now had to deal with and escort Sakumo's brat and his brats. To the leaf. She knew Hiruzen would've had a word if he heard she let Leaf shinobi die. She supposed it was time to visit Shizune anyway.