~~~
*THUMP!*
*THUMP!*
Sasuki was fighting Airu. Naruto was fighting Itoh. Neji was fighting Kurotsuchi. Their fists connected as they all engaged in a taijutsu battle while on the snowy mountain.
"So, Enryu sent you all here, too? Quite the impeccable timing." Naruto said as he swiftly dodged fast and deadly punch from Itoh. They were now having another rematch.
"Have you gotten stronger? If you have not, then all hopes of defeating me is slim — no — you wouldn't even be able to defeat me at all. Our levels in power are no longer even, I have evolved and grown stronger. The last time we had fought, I was barely taking it seriously." Naruto taunted as he blocked and canceled out a kick from Itoh with a kick of his own.
Naruto had heard a growl escape Itoh's lips. A smirk came creeping on Naruto's face. "Oh? Are you perhaps. . . angry?" Naruto asked as he jumped over Itoh and quickly took out a scroll.
"If you're angry, you'll try harder to defeat me in overwhelming power, will you not?" Naruto unsealed his trusty katana that he has been using for quite some time now.
"Like what I told you the last time we fought, you talk too much." Itoh said with a scowl on his face as he charged towards Naruto. He smirked in response as his back hit Neji's back. Itoh was coming in for a punch towards Naruto. Kurotsuchi was also coming in for a punch.
The two nodded as they switched place. Naruto went and punched Kurotsuchi in the face as Neji gave Itoh an unexpected jab to the gut. They went back to normal and Naruto was back facing Itoh and Neji was back facing Kurotsuchi.
Sasuki smirked as she faintly she saw this as she fought Airu. Her eyes looked at Airu's. "I'm stronger than the last time we fought. That was a year ago. I've grown stronger than you could have ever imagined. I won't lose to someone like you." Sasuki told Airu.
She dodged a kick that was aimed towards her head. "It doesn't matter if you have grown stronger. Your end is to die by my hands. I can't let you or anyone else distract my brother's plan." Airu told Sasuki. She just scoffed right at him.
"You have a problem following your brother too much. I used to be the same person like you. I envied my older brother because of his unwavering strength. But, I grew out of his shadow and became my own person. While, you have not. Grow up." Sasuki said in a very cold manner.
She would use 'Amaterasu'. But that would be too easy for her. Sasuki wanted to take this fight slowly, there was no need to rush such important and crucial practice to improve herself.
Neji swiftly dodged another incoming attack from Kurotsuchi. He noticed that she was gritting her teeth as hard as she could. There were immediate thoughts from this.
She's aggravated that I'm dodging. Neji thought as he blocked a punch from Kurotsuchi with a his hands. "I won't lose to someone with such low temper like yourself." Neji told her, much to her displeasure.
"Shut up!" She hissed as she punched the ground. The rocky ground that the mountain contained suddenly grew huge cracks. Neji narrowly dodged a kick due to this.
Neji followed up with an immediate kick to her back after dodging. "Your movements are too predictable," Neji said as he got back into the 'Gentle Fist' stance once more.
He was angering her by a very huge extent.
Naruto ducked down as he dodge a kick that was meant to connect with his face. He tried sweeping Itoh, but he managed to jump and dodge last second. Itoh looked down and aimed his leg to break Naruto's leg that he tried sweeping with.
Naruto jumped and backed away. He huffed as he stood back up and looked towards Itoh. The other two were doing pretty good against their opponent. He had expected nothing less from them.
After all, they were the 'Rookie of the Year' in their graduating classes. Naruto thought as his eyes morphed into his eternal Mangekyou Sharingan. Naruto locked eye contact with Sasuki and Neji.
They all nodded in unison.
After a moment or two, they all jumped away. "We have to get to the top of the mountain. We don't have time for you all." Sasuki declared as the trio jumped up and ran up against the mountain.
"We won't let you 3 get away." Said Itoh as they followed suit. Sasuki thought of a quick plan. A purple Susano'o quickly formed with an arm sticking out. The Susano'o smashed the walls of the mountain that they ran up on.
The rubble fell towards Itoh and the other two. They gritted their teeth as they dodged the rubbled by going moving sideways. They look above them and saw that the 3 had just about 1 quarter left until they would reach the top.
"GO!" Yelled Itoh as they went rushing behind them. They were all pushing their speed to the limit so they could catch up to Naruto, Sasuki, and Neji. They were within reach.
As they neared the top, Itoh managed to grab Naruto's foot. Airu managed to grab Sasuki's foot. Kurotsuchi just barely managed to grab Neji's foot. They all came crashing back down to where they were all at before.
"You damn assholes," Naruto said as they slowly got up from their downed position. He glared at every single one of them. Naruto dodged a sudden kick to the abdomen. Naruto quickly picked up his katana.
They now have resumed fighting once more. Naruto concentrated on his surroundings. He regulated his breathing as he held his katana tightly in his hands.
"I won't let you steal that blade away from us!" Yelled Itoh as he appeared next to Naruto and went into for a jab. But, as soon as Itoh tried going for the said jab, he was kicked away by Naruto.
"Stealing? I don't think you even know what that word even means. As long as that blade stays here on this mountain, anyone can attain it." Naruto told Itoh in a very deadly tone as he breathed in-and-out. Itoh gritted his teeth in anger.
How?! How did he improve so much in such a short amount of time?! I must be lacking something! Itoh thought angrily as he clenched his fists as he looked at Naruto.
How can a kid like him improve and get stronger than him?
Sasuki dodged a punch by tilting her body the side. She then countered with a kick to Airu's stomach area. Sasuki jumped away to create distance immediately after hitting him. She looked at Airu as he held onto his gut.
That spot is weakened. I'll capitalize on it. Thought Sasuki as she charged right towards Airu. He threw a punch with his large arms right at her, which she jumped on and stood on it.
Sasuki channeled chakra to her foot.
"Take this you chunk of garbage." Sasuki said coldly as she smashed her foot on Airu's face. "AGHHH!" His face, it was in ruins. Blood rushed down from his nose and mouth. Everything on his face was in pain.
Sasuki jumped back onto the ground with a smirk that had satisfaction written all over it. She got her payback after getting beaten to a pulp by Airu.
I didn't even need to use my 'Curse Mark of Heaven'. I guess I really am out of his league in power now. Sucks to be you. Thought Sasuki as she watched Airu regain his footing.
"I'll make you pay!!" Airu yelled out in agony as he rushed in towards Sasuki like a mindless animal. "Come at me. If you don't go all out, you may just die by my hands." Sasuki said as she too rushed towards him.
Neji struck Kurotsuchi's arm. He was avoiding trying to create as much unnecessary internal damage as he possibly do. This certainly didn't fit the 'Gentle Fist' style, but it'll have to do. Possibly killing the granddaughter of the current Tsuchikage would certainly be a problem.
Kurotsuchi suddenly did a set of hand seals.
Tiger → Rat
"Lava Release: Ash Stone Seal Technique" Thick clouds of ash came rushing out of her mouth as it went towards Neji. Out of instinct, Neji moved to the sides and jumped away. But, part of the clouds of ashes managed to attach itself to his arm and harden.
Neji widened his eyes at this.
I should've been more careful. She managed to slow down my arm movements. Thought Neji as he managed to dodge a kick from Kurotsuchi. He was now getting continuously pressured by incoming attacks.
This isn't good. That jutsu she casted is slowing me down by a considerable amount. I can't even create enough space between us to get this off of me. Neji dodged another set of attacks.
Left. . .
Right. . .
Right. . .
Left. . .
Down. . .
Jump. . .
Neji landed back onto the ground as he suddenly thought of a plan to get the Lava jutsu off of his arm from limiting his own abilities. He breathed in-and-out slowly.
I need to time this perfectly. Thought Neji as he noticed she was going in for a punch. Before her fist connected with his face, he brought the arm that was being restricted by the hardened ash.
Kurotsuchi's fist connected with the solid ash instead and broke it to pieces. She widened her eyes with surprise. Neji took that opportunity and kicked her away and created space between them.
"Naruto!" Yelled out Sasuki. Naruto looked towards her way. She was trying to multitask with fighting Airu and ordering Naruto around like a damn bitch. "You'll have to go up the damn mountain and get the blade! They're just holding us up!" Yelled Sasuki.
Naruto gritted his teeth.
"Will you two be ok?" Naruto asked an idiotic question. Sasuki grew an irritated tick mark as her fist knocked Airu's fist away. "You dare underestimate us? We'll be fine! Just get going!" Sasuki yelled back.
"Tch! Fine! Just don't die!" Naruto dodged an attack from Itoh. Naruto turned around and bursted towards the mountain wall. He sensed Itoh following him as he ran up the wall.
Naruto gritted his teeth.
Naruto jumped to the side as Itoh tried punching him while they ran up the wall. Naruto leaped from the side of the mountain towards Itoh with a punch aimed right towards his head. He too jumped to the side and avoided the punch.
Itoh hurled himself back towards Naruto with a jump-kick. Just before Itoh made contact with his kick, a black-skeletal hand appeared and grabbed Itoh's leg with a tight grip. Naruto's Susano'o smashed Itoh right on the wall of the mountain.
Itoh quickly started crashing down. To Naruto's disappointment, Itoh managed to regain his sense and stuck right back onto the rocky mountain that had a very cold temperature to it. Naruto looked at Itoh with displeasure.
Blood escaped Itoh's mouth. He spat it out and rushed towards Naruto. They closed in on each other and started to engage in a taijutsu battle. Naruto dodged a kick and blocked a punch.
They hurled their fist towards each other. Their fist collided. "I'll be using this. Thank you for your assistance." Naruto smirked as he manipulated Itoh's hand to do a set of hand seals. "Take this!" Naruto yelled at Itoh as he jumped away.
Snake → Ram → Monkey → Boar → Horse → Tiger
"Fire Release: Great FireBall Jutsu" Naruto shot out a large fireball from his mouth and towards Itoh. He gritted his teeth as he moved to the side and barely managed to dodge the fireball. "Watch out. . ." Naruto said as he appeared behind Itoh.
He turned his Susano'o back on. The arm of the Susano'o punched Itoh towards the top of the mountain. Naruto soon realized what had just done. "Shit! He's closer to the top now!" Naruto gritted his teeth at his foolishness.
Naruto bursted at his fastest speed and followed Itoh. Naruto soon saw Itoh disappear from his sigh. Naruto appeared on top of the mountain. They were now beyond the clouds that some thought they could never reach.
Naruto looked around and saw that Itoh was nowhere to be seen. But, Naruto did see the Holy Blade floating across him. The distance between him and the blade was about 100 meters. The surface was quite big.
But, where was Itoh?
"I'm up above!!" Naruto soon heard from the top. He looked up and saw the clouds tear and Itoh came falling down. Naruto widened his eyes as Itoh smashed the ground.He was sent flying away.
Shit! Naruto thought as he was launched onto out of the top of the mountain. He came crashing down. After a second or two after entering free-fall, Naruto managed to regain his balance and stuck on the mountain once more.
Naruto was enraged at what just happened. He started running up the mountain once more and appeared at the top with Itoh. Naruto looked further ahead and that Itoh was running towards the Holy Blade.
Naruto widened his eyes as he rushed in and followed Itoh. A bead of sweat rolled down his head as Itoh got closer and closer to the Blade. He was. . . going to fail?
Is this karma for being too overconfident in my abilities? Naruto cursed himself for being too arrogant. All he felt was. . . anger. Naruto clenched his fist as anger was the only thing that washed over him.
Anger. . .
Anger. . .
Anger. . .
All Naruto could feel in his body was anger. His lack of ability is once again costing him. Naruto furrowed his eyebrows and formed a scowl in seconds. His eternal Mangekyou Sharingan began spinning wildly.
Itoh was so close. He was so damn close that he could almost taste victory. No. He already tasted it. He had finally done! He had finally gotten his payback and gave Naruto a taste of his own medicine. Utter humiliation!
Itoh outstretched his hand towards the Holy Blade. He was about to grab it. He was about to accomplish his mission for Enryu! He only needed a few more seconds. He was centimeters away from grabbing it. But, then he was suddenly not?
Itoh suddenly widened his eyes. He couldn't move. His body. . . wouldn't budge even the slightest. He was so close! So damn close from achieving so much praise from Enryu!
Itoh felt something sharp impale his stomach. He fell to the ground in pain. He was now able to move, but the pain from the stab was overbearing! Itoh suddenly heard it.
Footsteps. . .
"Ahh. . . I almost lost." Naruto said as he pulled out his katana from Itoh's back. He swung the blade one time to rid of the blood that covered it. He stood before him.
"My eyes. . . they are the strongest." Naruto said as he looked down on Itoh. A small smirk covered Naruto's face as he breathed in-and-out.
"If I can't defeat you with normal means, then I'll defeat you with the final power of my eternal Mangekyou Sharingan." Naruto said as his eyes spun wildly as he looked down on the injured Itoh.
"Momentum and Inertia. Kansei!" An explosion appeared.
~~~
DONE! Yes. Naruto's final mangekyou ability is the power to stop any movement even if it's a person or an object — momentum and inertia is within Naruto's reach! But, who caused that explosion? Definitely not Naruto. The limitations of the new mangekyou ability will be explained next chapter.
Who could it possibly be? What happened to the blade? Is Itoh going to die? Or is just so badly injured? Idk you tell me!
Next chapter is tmr. Until that time,
I'll cya next time.