"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!"
Hinata's scream was loud, deafening, even with the wide open space of the open ocean it seemed to echo around them, drowning out the sound of the waves with its frantic octave.
Mika shrugged, the shift of her shoulders, the tilt of her brow, and most importantly the smile across her face giving an almost sickening air of nonchalance as her two fellow kunoichi glared at her, hands moving to their weapons. "I killed her." She answered simply.
Ginchiko's blade was unsheathed in an instant, the razor edge slicing through the air narrowly missing the red eyed kunoichi as she leapt back, laughing as she did. That same sick twisted gleeful laughter, barely drowned out by Ginchiko's outraged cry of "Traitor!"
Standing at the front of the ship now instead of the middle, once again the Kiri kunoichi shrugged. "Call it what you will." A pause before that smile spread just a bit more, taunting in its visage as cracking sounds emerged from beneath the ship, with the wooden frame shifting violently, nearly knocking Naruto and Gaara's platform off its hooked place on the railing.
A water dragon emerged from beneath her feet, roaring as she used it to carry her upwards, now towering above even the mast of the ship. "I should take my leave now."
"You're not going anywhere." Naruto's chilling voice cut through the air, killing intent freezing the psychotic Jounin in her place as a pillar of red chakra emerged from his hand, rushing towards the, now frozen kunoichi.
She tried to push it away, to utilize the techniques she'd learned over the years to counter such techniques. But she couldn't. This Killing intent...if it could even be called such, was not like the minute, controlled pulses he let out to silence his subordinates on occasion, it was not like the small tingle, at the back of your mind you felt whenever you merely stood in his presence. No. This was something entirely different.
Those encounters had just made her heart skip a beat and her mind freeze for merely a split second. But this.
This was the maw of hell open and looking to swallow her whole.
A slow twisting in your gut, like a parasite crawling up from her intestines. Rising higher and higher, till it was in your throat. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't even think. Only the sound of her heartbeat could reach her ears, the blood rushing through her veins as she saw the pillar of red approaching her.
Meanwhile on the other ship. Zhuge Liang was not idle, everything had happened so fast, and though even he was shocked by the development (Because this time he knew he had nothing...Absolutely...nothing to do with this) it did not mean that he was not going to take advantage of the opportunity it presented so openly.
As Naruto turned, distracted by the sound, and then later the sight of Temari, the Raikage's hands flew into a seal, instantly placing his highest leveled Genjutsu's over Akina, Yugito and Gaara'
He heard, as Hinata screamed, watched as Ginchiko attacked her, only for Mika to leap away. But that's not what the others saw.
To them. The blond Kage that stood opposite them merely stared at the spot where Temari had fallen, a careless whisper escaping his lips. "Pathetic." Before his eyes turned to Gaara, red glowing beneath his hood. "Such is the price of your defiance."
Yugito's reaction was instant as she snarled, drawing her kunai.
"Kai!"
Liang's gaze snapped towards the one person he knew was the least likely to be fooled by this illusion.
Akina.
The blond girl blinked. Liang tried to quickly place her under another illusion before she could fully realize that everything had changed but to no avail. She brought the Kyuubi's chakra to the surface, the rapid shift in her coils making it impossible for him to fully form the genjutsu.
Her eyes focused on Mika as she rose on her water dragon before the blue gaze snapped over to him. "You!" She screamed, unsheathing her three pieced staff.
Liang tensed, fully expecting her to attack him when a roar to their side brought their attention back to the Kazekage.
The red chakra was there, right infront of her. Naruto could almost feel it licking her skin. Ready to grip her and burn the pale flesh off her bones. He vaguely registered Hinata leaping off the ship to the sea below to try and rescue the Suna Kunoichi, but the awareness was only brief before a deafening roar tore through the sea air, bringing his attention back towards the Kazekage before he could complete his task.
Gaara's body was slowly being covered with sand, dark purple markings appearing over the grains in certain areas, further solidifying his transformation into the one tailed beast. Tendrils of sand, rising from his shoulders and back, lashed out wildly, growing in length and thickness as did the familiar, oversized, single tail, smashing against the railings and hulls of the two ships, eliciting startled cries from the men aboard each vessel.
Raising his arm, which was quickly loosing its appearance of a club and gaining a likeness more to an actual claw, he attacked the Kage of Konoha.
Naruto leapt away from the attack, and with his attention no longer focused solely on her, Mika was able to break free of the paralyzing killing intent. Manipulating the chakra in her water dragon she forced the animated apparition to rise higher and higher, sparing one last glance at the broken ship beneath her, as well as its occupants before she forced the creature to rush off, moving to escape both fleets now that her task was done.
Normally, water dragons weren't capable of this, but with her constant physical contact with the creature through her feet she was able to constantly feed chakra into the apparition. Doing this consumed a huge amount of chakra, and by the time she reached the mainland which was about five miles away she would more likely than not, be completely out of chakra. She may even have to consume one or two of her soldier pills before she arrived.
"Stop!" Ginchiko yelled, leaping over the railing herself before following the newly christened traitor with her own water dragon. Mika cursed, she may not be in any condition to fight once they arrived on the mainland, then again, neither would Ginchiko. Though her chakra reserves were larger, Lightning was her primary affinity, water a secondary. Whereas water was her primary, which gave her a chance to outrun the older Kunoichi.
Naruto turned his eyes back towards the escaping Mika, growling under his breath before his eyes returned to Gaara as his chakra output continued to rise higher and higher. His leg muscles coiled tensing beneath him before he launched himself towards Naruto, the thin plank shattering as he took off.
Naruto growled, using his wind element to shift in mid air as he drew his blade as the Shukaku crazed Kage latched onto his shoulders, claws digging deeply into his flesh, crimson that was not absorbed into Naruto's robe staining the sand that came in contact with it. Naruto used his free hand to latch onto Gaara's throat, stopping him from tearing his face off with his teeth, barely registering as his back was slammed against the railing of his ship. Many of the pirates had chosen to abandon the vessel as they had seen Gaara's transformation.
Naruto raised his sword hand, ready to slice off Gaara's head as he channeled wind chakra into his blade. But even Gaara, was not so out of it as to not recognize the threat. Sand extended from his claw which was still cutting harshly into Naruto's shoulder, crawling up his arm. Naruto cursed as his arm was held in place.
Placing his feet on Gaara's chest he shoved the Kage off of him, pushing him off with enough strength so that his back smashed against the mast of the ship, giving him enough time to throw the possessed grains off of him and his shoulder wounds to heal.
Zhuge Liang quickly manipulated his Genjutsu around the Kazekage and Yugito, making Hinata, Ginchiko and Mika seemingly vanish in clouds of smoke before dropping it entirely Even though they were well beyond the range of a Shunshin, especially above water in Gaara's crazed state he did not care, all that mattered was Naruto to him at this point. Yugito however was another matter, immediately catching onto the fact that she was in a Genjutsu he could feel her beginning her attempts to dispel it. Akina however was already preparing her handseals; she really was going to attack him.
Not that it was surprising really. She was foolish however to believe that he would let her do it, especially now. Pulling a scroll from a pouch on his back he unrolled it, the parchment carried in the breeze in front of his face, swiping his thumb across a small razor on his belt he passed it over the unrolled scroll. "Gyaku-Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"
And with those words the Raikage vanished in a cloud of smoke, reappearing on his flagship, a small seal glowing at his feet.
Yue Ying walked briskly up to him. "What happened? We can feel the chakra from here." She questioned hastily, watching as Zhuge Liang removed his coat and headpiece. Allowing some of the seal experts that had been expecting him to begin drawing the designated markings over his hands and forehead.
He turned his eyes to her, his response coming quick, clipped. "Naruto has attacked the Kazekage. Order all ships to advance at once. I need at least an hour for the Jutsu to be complete."
Ying nodded once before she turned and walked away, ready to carry out her orders.
Zhuge Liang turned his eyes to the faint speck on the horizon that were the two ships he had just left. "And so it begins."
On the other side, Jiraiya eyed the conflict through a scope, the magnifying device giving him just enough magnification to see the battle, but not what was going on exactly. "Damn...looks like Negotiations failed...what a surprise." He thought with a rueful sigh as he massaged the bridge of his nose before looking to the flag men who stood at the side. "Send out the signal. First wave advance."
With a nod, the man raised the designated flags, waving them in the air in wide arcs, immediately the different shouts of the captains as they barked out orders to their men resonated through Jiraiya's ears, echoing in his mind.
One thing was for sure. No matter the outcome, this would be one battle that would go down in the history books.
"Damn him!" Akina growled under her breath, snapping her gaze around to Yugito, who, with Liang's presence gone was now fully out of the illusion, drawing her weapons as she prepared to rush Naruto as well, seeing as how he was the only target. Akina acted quickly, lashing out and catching Yugito by the shoulder. "Stop!"
Yugito blinked, confusion dancing in her eyes which was quickly added to anxious surprise. "What? Why are you just standing there? Cant you see the battle is already underway.
"Look we've been tricked." Akina said. "Whatever the hell happened it isn't Naruto doing this!"
"Are you insane?" Yugito questioned "Didn't you just see that his Kunoichi killed-"
"Yes and I also saw the Hyuuga jump into the water after Temari, meaning that whatever happened happened without Naruto or anyone else on that ship knowing, Zhuge Liang put you and Gaara under a Genjutsu which is why you didn't see-"
"Why would he-"
"Just look!" Akina yelled, grabbing the older girl by the arm and yanking her to look over the ships railing.
Only for their eyes to be greeted by nothing but the sloshing waves beneath the ships.
No Hinata, no Temari.
Yugito, fed up with the stalling and listening to the sounds of the Kazekage fighting Naruto yanked her arm free of Akina's grip. "You look." She said, her tone harsh. "I have no idea what the hell is going on with you. But whatever it is, deal with it. For all you know Naruto somehow found out about this hatred you have for sensei and he's manipulating you with his own Genjutsu specialist. And even if what you say is true, try convincing Gaara of that at this point. You may not like Liang but Gaara is your Kage now, you're sworn to protect him, so do your job."
With her words spoken, Yugito drew her kunai, eyes shifting to purple as dark flames danced across her arms and before Akina could say anything else the older blond leapt towards the fight.
Akina growled, clenching her eyes tight, running her hands through her hair in frustration as she pulled on the pale blond strands. She knew Naruto was innocent of this. Goddamnit she knew that this fight was unnecessary.
She vowed, with god as her witness, as she drew her weapon, that she was going to kill Zhuge Liang the next second she landed eyes on him for making them do this!
Below the two at the stern of the ship, Hinata gasped for air as she broke the surface of the water, Temari's bleeding form held tightly beneath one arm as she used the other to latch onto the wooden surface of the ship with chakra, soon bringing her feet, up from under the water she latched onto the side with those, now having more leverage to better grip Temari she began carrying her up the back of the ship, towards the deck.
"Damnit Sabaku you're more trouble than you're worth." She groaned as she hefted her over the side of the ships railing, noticing after a brief moment that she was on Kumo's ship, though, like Konoha's ship the crew had chosen to abandon the vessel at the sight of the impending battle. Liang had apparently decided not to risk his ninja getting in the way of Gaara's rage. She knew he had to have had something to do with this. It was the only explanation she had really. She leapt over the railing herself, taking only a brief moment before kneeling at the gasping Temari's side, who's hands did little to stem the flow of blood that passed between her now slick fingers.
"Hold still." Hinata hissed as her hands glowed a faint green with her best medical Jutsu. She wasn't a medic nin by any means but hopefully she'd be able to stop the blood flow enough to get her to a proper medic.
Jiraiya slowly shook his head. "Somethings wrong...these chakra's are too strong." He muttered to himself shaking his head as he leaned heavily on his cane. "Something is definitely wrong." Turning to the flag-man he spoke. "Send out the signal for the second wave to advance.
"What? But sir, the first wave hasnt even engaged the enemy fleet yet. And only lady Ginchik-
"Ginchiko has not yet reported back leading me to believe that she's either missing or dead. Judging by the chakra's I'm sensing things are alot heavier out there than what we anticipated. Order the second wave to move in immediately and to fire artillery into the enemy lines at will order all battle ready ninja to prepare themselves.
The man hesitated for a moment before nodded. Waving his signal flags as designated.
Naruto snarled as he was forced to dodge yet another sand claw. He rushed forward, dodging and weaving through the tendrils of sand, appearing next to the Kazekage his wind empowered blade cut right through the Jinchuriki's side. Blood turning the sand crimson before the wound was sealed up. Gaara lashed out with his massive claws, smashing through the deck of the ship as Naruto vanished from sight.
The groaning of wood and snapping of ropes brought the Shukaku's attention behind him, where he saw Naruto in mid air, descending behind the ships slowly toppling mast.
Naruto thrust his arm forward, boiling red chakra extending from his arm before it smashed into the mast of the ship, sending the massive wooden pillar rushing down towards the Kazekage.
Gaara's sand rushed to his defense, forming an orb around him just before the pillar crashed down on top of him. Wood gave way beneath the massive weight as both sand demon and ship mast crashed through the decks of the ship, nearly severing the rear of the ship clean off as water rushed in through the newly made openings, causing the ship to groan as it began its sinking process.
Naruto sensed someone approaching behind him. Spinning on his heel he fluidly caught Yugito's arm, continuing his spinning motion, he used the added momentum of his spin to throw her, her body smashing right into Akina's mid flight, launching both of them back across the the gap between the ships, landing once again on Kumo's vessel.
The kage of Konoha rushed forward, powerful strides swallowing the distance between them as he leapt off the railing of the ship, chakra gathering at the base of his throat and lungs.
"Die!" He he growled before fire exploded in front of his mask, descending towards the two women.
Yugito got to her feet, purple flames at her finger tips as she called the dark hellfire of her Bijuu to coarse through her chakra coils. It gathered in her palms, the ghostly flames making her skin feel strangely cold before she released it.
The two attacks slammed into each other, the explosion causing enough force to make both ships shudder and shake. Naruto shot through the flames, smoke rising from his shoulders and the edges of his robe. Blade at the ready as he headed straight towards Akina, who was only just now beginning to stand up from having been hit with Yugito, having only mere seconds to react as he brought his blade down towards her.
She reacted on instinct, cartwheeling over his initial attack aimed towards her legs. Landing she drew her weapon, as she delivered a spin kick that connected solidly with his face.
Naruto took the hit without even a grunt, swinging his blade without a moments pause. She practically stumbled in her haste to dodge the counter, leaving herself open as Naruto placed his foot against her chest, using it as a step jump to deliver another kick to her face, one with enough force to send her skidding back towards the railing.
Black flames suddenly descended on the area Naruto had been standing on, the source being Yugito as she stood on the side of the ships mast, above them. Violet eyes scanned the fire, waiting to catch sight of him if he tried to escape. But she saw nothing, the dark flames were spreading throughout the entire deck of the ship, and she had to wonder for a second if she truly got him so easily. That thought was expelled from her mind however as an iron hand clamped down around her throat, brutally cutting off her air supply before slamming her against the wooden pillar. Dazed, her violet eyes focused on the red robed Jinchuriki for a moment before he pulled her forward and slammed her again, the back of her head thumping against the wood with a painful crack before Naruto threw her off the wooden surface.
She fell limply in the air, spinning around more by the way she was thrown than any real conscious act She managed to see Naruto just before the back of his leg slammed down on her stomach in the form of a crushing axe kick.
The air left her body in a rush, pain exploding from her midsection before she smashed through the ships deck. She vaguely registered Naruto as he prepared a fire attack above
Before Naruto could finish his technique, something slammed into his side, rolling as he hit the ground he saw it was Akina, weapon in hand as she breathed somewhat heavily.
"Stop!" She breathed. "Stop fighting."
Naruto ignored her statement, rushing forward, he shifted his blade into a reverse grip, swiping at her midsection, she leapt above him, rolling as she landed she leapt again, turning in mid air to launch two kunai at him. Naruto blocked the first kunai and caught the second. Throwing it back at the girl. She took the blade full in the chest. Vanishing in a cloud of smoke a moment later.
Naruto's gaze snapped upward as she appeared almost directly above him, lightning staff at the ready. She was about to swing when Naruto leapt up, catching her by the throat, he ignored the shocks that danced across his arms and shoulders from the proximity of her weapon before he threw her face first onto the wooden floor.
Landing behind her, he reared back his blade, stabbing it through the small of her back, hearing the satisfying sound of steel cuting flesh along with the thunk of it piercing wood a moment later, only for the girl to again be replaced by mere wood.
He sensed her behind him. Spinning around he placed his blade perfectly to block the staff charged with lightning. The two weapons lighting up sparks between them.
Naruto's free hand glowed with an eerie blue light, spinning faster and faster. Akina's eyes widened as she saw the technique, quickly breaking off the deadlock before leaping back.
Naruto was about to rush her with the Rasengan in hand when fire suddenly arced through the sky above them, as Balistae and catapults fired their respective artillery pieces. The two looked off to the side as they saw the fleets engage in their battle. Balistae tore holes into the hulls of ships, allowing breaches to fill with water as catapults fired jugs filled with boiling oil which exploded like giant molotovs on impact, the screams of Kumo's ninja filling the air shortly before water dragons rose from the ocean, tearing into the hulls of ships as if the apparitions were truly ravenous beasts.
Naruto's eyes returned to Akina, noticing as Yugito emerged from her hole. He ignored her though, instead choosing to pay attention to his panting sibling.
"Stop..." She breathed, trying to catch her breath. "This fight isn't necessary. You can stop this."
"Stop this?" He questioned tilting his head almost as if he were a confused child. There was a pause before he continued. "Do you wish to turn me? Fool girl. Do you now seek to somehow redeem me? To make me "better"? More...human?"
She did not answer.
"Worthless." He stated flatly. "Your pathetic sentiment means little to me. This day has only one outcome."
Before the two could continue, a low, inhuman groan brought their attention back to the ship Naruto had arrived in, even Yugito. They felt the ship groan and shift violently beneath their feet, shuddering before it rocked hard enough to bring even Naruto to his knees. Up near the helm of the ship, Hinata could just barely hold Temari still so that she did not jostle the injury who's bleeding she'd only managed to just subside.
Even so, Temari's skin was deathly pale and her breathing shallow. Hinata had to get her to some proper medics so they could give her some blood and soldier pills.
The reason for the ships sudden and violent movement was soon brought to light as a massive "Wall" of sand, emerged from the ocean, dwarfing everything around it. The wall however soon took shape, pitch black eyes with a golden pupil scanned the landscape, roaring with fury as a single massive tail thrashed around, the waves damaging enemy and ally vessels alike.
Naruto's eyes widened minutely. Gaara was...summoning the sand from the ocean floor? He knew his rage would make him more powerful but he did not expect to such a degree. Still...it was a minor consequence.
The blond blinked, realizing that in his distraction Yugito and Akina had chosen to attack, rushing him.
Red chakra pooled in his stomach, tightening like a spring before finally snapping, the shockwave practically shattering his side of the ship as it knocked both women back.
Naruto took the opportunity to leap over the railing.
Yugito and Akina shot to their feet, eyes darting left and right, wondering where he would emerge from.
Their question was soon answered when right behind the massive Shukaku an equally massive purple, four horned snake rose from the depths.
Manda's eyes flashed an eerie yellow as The Shukaku turned its crazed eyes onto it, Naruto standing on the creatures head.
"Transformation or not Kazekage. You will soon realize...how weak you truly are."