Chapter 16

Moving the Pieces into Place Part I

Mountain's Graveyard

Madara was walking through the halls of his hideout, having checked on his favorite prisoner just a little while ago. He was heading to where he let Kabuto do his own preparations for the upcoming War. Madara had checked in on Sasuke, who was still adjusting to his new eyes which were still bandaged, and also to the brooding army under his feet. Almost all the White Zetsus were ready for combat.

The beauty of the flower now is that it'll continue to produce White Zetsu until I have the number I need, even if I sever Gedo Mazo from it the production will continue, Madara thought to himself, smirking behind his mask. The next task is gaining the Rinnegan from Nagato's corpse, I can't wait for the conditions to be perfect again for it to return to this world...

He had planned on transplanting his own awakened Rinnegan eyes into a worthy user, but whenever he tested it out they were rejected by the user's body, even killing prospective users. Thus, they were in a special part of his lab until someone who could handle them would return. Not even his own body was up to the task anymore even after gaining Hashirama's cells, the injuries from his final battle were far too great. To get the conditions right for the Rinnegan to return to the world, Madara had engineered the Second Shinobi World War and paired people who were distantly related to both the Senju and Uchiha. Nagato...had been the result of that. He hadn't learned he was successful until years later when the first Akatsuki organization was formed by Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan.

Smirking to himself, it gave a perfect way of messing with Konan's head if she tried resisting. He then felt a slight rumble from the wing where Kabuto was staying, walking to investigate. When he arrived he found his partner...fighting the Itachi Edo Tensei. His eye narrowed witnessing that Itachi was using Susano'o, having its Yata Mirror in front of it...due to the thick smoke or mist, Madara couldn't tell what exactly was happening.

Suddenly a blast of black flame hit Itachi's shield, which held firm, changing its nature to counter. Then a stream of lightning shaped into a spear...then a powerful wind blast. And then a line of sharp bones. Itachi's full Susano'o began skidding back, and to Madara's amazement he began hearing...cracking sounds from it. A powerful blast of Water then smashed into Itachi's Yata Mirror, followed by...a pillar of wood which delivered the final blow. Yata Mirror shattered, and the Susano'o was sent crashing back with a huge whole in it. Then there was a flash of movement and Madara saw Kabuto's body obscured by his cloak, his hand glowing as he slashed Itachi in half before he could counter attack. He then made a seal, a coffin appearing around the stricken Konoha patriot and was swallowed back into the ground.

Kabuto chuckled to himself. "The most effective way of training..." I have truly surpassed Orochimaru by now...though why did Itachi lack the Sword of Totsuka? Perhaps he couldn't form it in time... He then looked up to see Madara there and he grinned. "Can I help you with something, Madara?"

"What were you doing...?"

"Training," Kabuto said with a smirk, pushing up his glasses. "Have to be at my best for War, after all."

"...I see..." Madara said as he folded his hands behind his back. "How many of your Edo Tensei's have you prepared?"

"Hm..." Kabuto gave a grin. "Nearly fifty, there a problem with that?"

"...no, that should do," Madara replied as his partner smirked. I need some leverage against you...

Zetsu then began rising out of the ground. "Kisame has sent a scroll of information, Tobi. He says he'll be arriving here in a few days."

"Excellent," Madara said, smirking behind his mask.

"It appears that Naruto has gotten a hang on Kyubi's chakra, he can sense malice now...he spotted Kisame easily..." Black Zetsu said as White Zetsu held the scroll. "Not only that, but the Hyuga girl with him, Hinako, was it? Hinaza? Hinata you idiot, the Hyuga Clan Heiress. Right, right, right, anyway something happened to her Byakugan! Her eyes turned into yin-yang symbols and then bam, Kisame was sent flying by a Kaiten that didn't require her to spin!"

Madara's eye brow raised. "...describe the eyes again."

"Her eyes now resemble the Yin-Yang symbol, like what her clan wears on their cloaks, her pupil is the opposite in each eye, one white and one black," Black Zetsu replied and White Zetsu waved his hand. "It was really freaky!"

...the Keihatsu Byakugan? Its been literally centuries since that eye awoken... Madara thought to himself. Incredible...those eyes are worth collecting in the future...

"Oh, very interesting!" Kabuto said, putting his hand to his chin.

"Yeah, that's what I was saying!" White Zetsu said cheerfully. "I recommend acting now while the garrison on the island is in chaos, get the Hachibi and Kyubi and get out. But the Rinnegan needs to be taken, right?"

"How about we divide the labor on that then, eh, Madara?" Kabuto asked with a smirk. "You head to Amegakure to secure the Rinnegan, I'll strike to try to obtain Naruto and the Hachibi."

"You'd do that for nothing?" Madara replied, looking at him.

"Well I'm very interested in the Zetsus...they'd answer a whole lot of questions that I have..."

"...very well, accomplish this mission and I'll grant you one White Zetsu to achieve your goal."

"Then I'll make my preparations," Kabuto said as he gave a mocking bow, walking out of the room as his snake hissed at Madara as he left.

"Keep watch on him, Zetsu," Madara ordered, his eyes narrowing. "We need to be prepared if he tries to betray us."

"Right Tobi...on it boss!"

With that, Zetsu sunk back into the ground as Madara walked out. Shortly, he was outside his hideout and saw that Kabuto had summoned Deidara using Kuchiyoise: Edo Tensei. There was already a large bird made of C1 getting ready to take off. He glanced back, giving a wide, confident smirk.

"I'll be back before you know it..." Kabuto said as the C1 bird flapped its wings and then took off.

Madara himself watched his ally and former partner depart, before slowly disappearing right inside his own visible eye. He mused that Sasuke would be safe with his two subordinates guarding him, he had more important things to focus on.

Kumogakure

The other Five Kage were now having a urgent meeting to address what had just transpired on both the Island Turtle and in Kirigakure. Motoi had summoned an Owl to send a full report to the Kages gathered at in Kumo, and Mei looked like she was steaming while sitting in her chair. Ao had to take a step back to avoid the little...Futton aura that was around her and melting the surroundings.

"Mizukage-dono, I understand your feelings but you need to calm down," Mifune said calmly as Mei breathed out slowly.

"Shodaime's blade lost while I was in the village, and Kisame got away again," Mei said tartly, folding her hands. "This is me calm."

Tsunade sighed. "Still Mizukage, getting angry won't help things right now."

"What we need to do is send reinforcements to the Island," A said as he folded his hands. He had taken his vambraces off. "To reach the village in time, we'll need someone with flight."

"I'll go then," Onoki said with a smirk. "I can transfer my flight ability to my Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi and get there quickly."

"It'll be better if I go, Tsuchikage-dono. With my sand I can fly just as fast as you can, and your back wouldn't be at risk in being thrown out."

"Bah, I can handle it just find!" Onoki said as he pushed himself up. "Don't you underestimate me, young whippersnapper!"

"I'll join you," Mei said as she cracked her knuckles, her Futton aura ceasing. "If the Island Turtle is attacked, I'll be able to vent my anger...and there is no one more dangerous around a large body of water than me."

"Well then, lets start heading out!" Onoki said as he...threw his back out with a large crack and his jaw dropped in pain. "AHHH!"

The other Kages sweatdropped as Onoki grasped his back, crying out in pain. Through the window came a butterfly made of paper...which unfolded itself quickly with a message for the Raikage. A snatched it up as Tsunade used her medical ninjutsu to ease the pain in the Tsuchikage's back.

"...Hokage, its from Amegakure," A started as he slid it over. "Requesting assistance."

"For what?" She asked, lifting it up and reading it. "...the new village leader, Konan is worried that Madara will try to retrieve the Rinnegan from Nagato's corpse..."

"...can you trust that, Hokage-dono?" Gaara asked, looking at her. "It may be an Akatsuki trap."

"Naruto reported after the Invasion that Konan had left Akatsuki," Tsunade replied as she stood up. "I have no reason not to believe it isn't on the level."

Gaara nodded. "Very well, I'll accompany you Hokage-dono. It'll be faster traveling on my sand than on foot."

"Thank you Gaara-dono," Tsunade said with a grin. "Lets hope she's worried for nothing, however."

A nodded. "I'll hold down the fort here with Mifune-dono, by the time you're back all the preparations will be finished."

The four other Kages nodded, walking out of the room. A glanced out of the window, feeling like a storm was coming. He breathed out calmly from his nose, squeezing his hands into tight fists slowly. Walking to the window, he saw the building Alliance forces below. Many of the ninja were getting training to prepare themselves or helping carry weapons and supplies.

Island Turtle

Since there would likely be a battle taking place on the turtle's back soon, Naruto had ordered that all the animals on the island needed to be evacuated into the Temple. As such, Hinata and Yamato were navigating through the jungles to get animals who still hadn't lined up to enter the Temple. Yamato landed on a tree, putting his hand to a branch.

"There seems to be a few large rhinos near by, I'll round them up," Yamato said as he stood up.

"Right, I'll handle the gorilla colony on the other end of the island," Hinata said with a nod and the two split off in different directions.

Unknown to them though, Hinata was being tailed by the Kumo shinobi who had a grudge against her and her father. He was using a Meisaigakure no Jutsu (Hiding with Camouflage Technique) similar to that of the one Mu, the Nidaime Tsuchikage used. Thus, he couldn't be detected by Dojutsu unless it was directly looking at him.

Hinata jumped through the trees, heading towards the gorilla colony. In the days since Kisame's fleeing from the island, she had stepped up her training to complete the Rasengan as well as perfect the Rasenyari. She was so close to making the Rasengan perfect she planned on showing Naruto when she got back. She then looked up, and looked around

Killing intent, but where?!

She then leaped out of the way of a dozen crescent shaped shuriken, which curved and followed her. She blinked, jumping up onto another branch before ducking onto another, the shuriken picking up speed. Hinata winced hearing a several pops coming from the shuriken, and she dove out of the way as they streaked into a tree and threw it, blowing it apart before crashing into the ground and causing several small craters.

"Whose there, show yourself!" Hinata demanded, activating her Byakugan.

"Impressive you were able to avoid them, those eyes of yours are what my father really desired," a voice said from everywhere as the shuriken yanked out of the craters. "Those blades were moving at several times the speed of sound, yet you avoided them..."

"Who are you?" Hinata yelled, dodging the next flurry of shuriken as they curved around to attack her again. She heard the same pops from them and her eyes narrowed, a bluish aura covering her body as they approached. "Kaiten!"

Spinning defiantly, she deflected the hypersonic shuriken with ease, sending them crashing away all around. When she stopped spinning a hand materialized out of nowhere and smashed her in the back of the head, sending her crashing down to the forest floor. Leaping to her feet quickly she saw her attacker...one of the Jinchuriki's guards that had accompanied them to the island.

"Why are you doing this?!"

"For your eyes," the Kumo shinobi had short brown hair and a thin brown mustache, and he wore his headband on his shoulder. He was wearing an old-style Kumogakure flak jacket, which was dark blue in color and had as many pockets, as well as extra armor underneath the cloth. "With it, my clan's experiments will be complete..."

"My...eyes?" Hinata asked as the Kumo Shinobi bowed.

"Its rather fitting, my father failed to get you as a toddler...I will accomplish what he died attempting," he said darkly, flicking his wrist as the shuriken lifted from the ground. "My name is Hideki...not that it matters."

"All the villages are allied now, you don't have to do this!" Hinata yelled as Hideki pulled his sword off his back.

"Yes, I do!" Hideki yelled as he shunshined over at great speed, his sword glowing as Raiton chakra flowed into it. "My family name will be redeemed and I'll become the next Head Ninja!"

He...can't be reasoned with... Hinata thought as she dodged his strike, bringing out a kunai to try to block.

Hideki pressed his attack, spinning and yelling. "Kumo-Ryū Mikazukigiri (Cloud-Style Crescent Moon Beheading)!"

Hinata backpedaled, narrowly avoiding her head being sliced off by the crescent shaped slice. Moving quickly she did her own spin, stepping and hitting Hideki's palm and knocking his sword out of his hand. Her body was covered in blue again and she spun, yelling Kaiten as Hideki jumped back to avoid the spinning dome that she created.

Opening his hand, his sword shot back and he pulled his other hand into a up, creating a fist and the crescent shaped shuriken began spinning around each other, creating a whirlwind. "Jiton: Kane Senpu (Magnet Release: Metal Whirlwind)!"

Her eyes widened. "Jiton, but how?! That bloodline is exclusive in Sunagakure!"

"One of my father's first successes, securing the Jiton bloodline which I've perfected," Hideki said with a dark smirk. "Toroi, a recipient of the Jiton bloodline couldn't hope to get to this level..."

He directed his metal whirlwind at her and then broke it into an explosive release. Hinata jumped, twisting and contorting her body but her cheek got slashed and her coat and mesh underlay got cut. Landing on one foot she righted herself and shoved her palm out.

"Hakke Kusho!"

Firing the air sphere Hideki was sent skidding back and he gritted his teeth. He then opened his palm. "Jiton: Soju-do (Metal Release: Body Manipulation)!" He made Hinata's own palm smash into her face, sending her flying back and he smirked, seeing her look of shock. "Your blood contains a tiny amount of iron, with my Jiton I can manipulate and control it enough to make you attack yourself."

He released his control and charged at her. Hinata panted, trying to calm herself down. He's too overconfident...I need to exploit that...

She met his charge, engaging in a clash of taijutsu against kenjutsu. But he kept manipulating her body to hit herself or to avoid a strike. Hinata received scratches as she barely dodged his blade despite the manipulation and she tried to get prepared for a Hakke Rokujuyon Sho. But the way he kept manipulating her body she couldn't even get into position for it!

Hinata ducked under his sword when he flicked his wrist and then pushed forward, sending her skidding into a tree. He smirked darkly, lifting his hands up to make her arms be suspended and he formed a seal, making them stay like that when he lowered his own. She was now effectively pinned, no matter how hard she struggled.

"This is it, Hyuga Hinata..." Hideki said with a smirk, walking over. "Your eyes are mine...you've given me a good workout...but this is the end."

Hinata's eyes widened. Just...stay calm...think of how you can reverse this...

He then spun, beginning another Kumo-Ryū Mikazukigiri. Calming herself...Hinata's eyes spun, switching to the Yin-Yang symbol again. The Kaiten burst around her body without her spinning and Hideki's eyes widened, his blade being deflected and shattered, while he was sent crashing into another tree. His jutsu was broken and she dropped to her feet, panting slowly.

"What...what the hell is this?! How did your..."

"You didn't see what happened when Naruto-kun was training to tame the Kyubi..." Hinata said slowly, breathing in. "When I was calm...these eyes awakened. Despite the situation I was in..."

A...higher level of the Byakugan...when a serenity is reached...?! Hideki thought in disbelief as he wiped the blood from his lip Impossible...but...they do say the Sharingan and Byakugan came from the same family...and the Sharingan has a higher level called the Mangekyō Sharingan...but the activation of this one is entirely different! The opposite!

He stepped forward, making his shuriken bombard her Kaiten which deflected them all with ease despite the incredible speed they were going at. He then charged and Hinata lifted her hand, focusing her chakra.

I'll show Naruto-kun when I get back... she thought as the chakra swirled in her palm...forming a solid sphere. Her Kaiten fell as Hideki went for another charge, taking out a kunai. She dodged, feeling the effects of his Soju-do starting to take effect again but she powered through it, her Keihatsu Byakugan flaring. "RASENGAN!"

She smashed her Rasengan hard into Hideki's stomach, and his eyes widened and he spat out blood...and was sent flying and spinning back by the force of her attack. Spinning hard he crashed into a large tree as the Rasengan on her stomach exploded, shattering the base of the tree and sending it crashing sideways. Hinata panted, dropping to one knee as her eyes turned back to normal.

"Hideki...its...time to move forward..." Hinata said, closing her eyes. "The Shinobi have all allied...the true threat is Akatsuki. Petty grudges against villages and clans won't do anymore, not with the threat we face..."

Hideki spat out blood as he pushed himself up. She...held back so she wouldn't kill me...?

"After the War, you're welcome to try again, but not now," Hinata said firmly, standing up at her full height. "I'll meet your challenge and win..."

"You should...have kill me..."

"No...like I said, challenge me again and again until your satisfied since I'm not running," Hinata said as she leaped into a tree. "But wait till after Akatsuki is defeated if you still desire."

With that, she left Hideki pondering why she left him alive. Why she didn't just kill him after the coup d'grace Rasengan she gave him. Groaning, he put his hand to his stomach and began limping off back to the barracks on the island.

Land of Lightning South-Eastern Coast

The Tsuchikage and Mizukage rendezvous at the same time with their bodyguards. Mei looked out at the sea, cracking her knuckles slowly as she breathed in. Akatsuchi was grinning excitedly and Chojuro blinked, looking over. Kurotsuchi sighed, shaking her head.

"Akatsuchi, stop acting like a little kid!"

"Heh, I can't help it! I just can't wait to fly!"

Damn it Akatsuchi, you're getting me excited too! Kurotsuchi thought with a sour look, growling to herself.

"S-So how does this work?" Chojuro asked and Mei smiled.

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that Chojuro, you're riding with me," she said and Onoki blinked.

"You've learned the Hisho Jutsu, Mizukage-dono?"

"No, but I have something that could save us a bit of chakra getting there," Mei replied, biting her thumb and scrawling it on her hand. "Kuchiyoise no Jutsu!"

She slammed her palm down and in a puff of smoke was a giant Manta Ray floating over the cliff, it seemed to hum as it flapped its wings. The ray was black colored on its back, while a light blue on its back and around its neck it wore a giant Kirigakure headband. Mei walked onto its tail and then onto its back, patting it gently.

"Alright Ao, Chojuro, get on! I expect our Iwa comrades will be taking this method of flight."

Onoki chuckled, patting Akatsuchi's back and then Kurotsuchi. "You're right about that, Mizukage-dono."

Akatsuchi grinned widely and he punched his fist into the air as he flew off. Kurotsuchi yelled at him, taking off after him as Onoki levitated and got point before the two groups flew off at full speed towards the Island Turtle.

A ways off, Kabuto was flying with Deidara. The mad medic took out a kunai, with a red piece of paper on it as his undead partner continued to survey the surroundings. Kabuto then pushed his hand into the artist's head, the paper making both the kunai and his fist phase into it. The cracks began dissolving off of Deidara's cheeks and his blue pupils became visible again.

"I'm not going to lie that I understand your art, Deidara-san, but I won't make this binding fuda so restrictive to wipe out who you are," Kabuto said with a smirk and Deidara grinned.

"Thanks! I owe you a lot, now I can continue with my art for all time!" Deidara exclaimed cheerfully, flexing his hand. I am no longer restricted...I can make my ultimate art even better!

Kabuto smirked, he had also prepared another Tensei for later in case he needed it...and when they reached the coast his own personal summon had been teleported into the sea via the Kuchiyoise jutsu. The snake that he used to create a 'tail' was guiding it through telepathy. They'd be reaching the location where Kisame had indicated the...moving island very soon.

On the Island Turtle itself, all the giant animals were being led into the safety of the temple. Tenko was trying to get a big bear to get into the temple while Bee was playing Janken with a giant lobster. Naruto was breathing in, looking up at the sky as Yamato dragged in an unruly giant rhino while the rest of the herd followed.

"Come on, get in there you stubborn..." Yamato said, growling as he yanked his hand with the wooden tentacles. The rhino huffed and puffed, snorting in resistance.

"Uh Yamato-taicho, I think I can handle that," Naruto said, walking over. Pausing for a second, he entered Sage Mode and with one hand, lifted the unruly rhino up. "Alright big guy, this is for your own safety!"

Hinata was soon arriving back, the gorillas following her and the leader of them, King. She was riding on the huge gorilla's shoulder, and had managed to get cleaned up after her fight with Hideki. Naruto grinned, looking up after getting the rhino herd into the temple. Hinata hopped off of King's shoulders and smiled at Naruto.

"All animals gathered I think, Naruto-kun," she said proudly.

"Excellent, we don't know when Akatsuki'll be here, at least we'll be prepared," Naruto said with a grin as he looked up at the sky. "Motoi, do you sense anything coming?"

Motoi shook his head. "No Hokage-sama, nothing yet..."

B walked over, moving his hands around to an imaginary beat. "While we wait, you got a play date! You got the Kyubi's power, but in a zero hour you'd be dead meat! So we'll train in your new Biju Chakra, and then you'll have them beat!"

"...right..." Naruto said and B grinned, slapping his back and leading him into the temple.

Tenko grinned. "I'll show you something awesome when you're done, Naruto!"

"I look forward to it!" Naruto said with a wide grin.

Inside the Temple, Bee lead him to another area. Naruto admired all the murals again, seeing the Shukaku mural first, it commanding the desert and firing air blasts, massive Nibi mural blowing out fireballs, the Sanbi one creating a tidal wave by just rolling in a ball on the waves, the Yonbi creating a massive volcanic eruption, the Gobi was running at speeds like the wind was trying to catch up to it, and the Sanbi was melting an mountain range. The last three murals had the Nanabi slashing through mountains with its wings, the Hachibi punching through another mountain...and they were in the shadow of the Kyubi itself. Which was creating tsunamis with a tail and using a roar to destroy several surrounding mountains on the mural.

"Wow...how long were all of these carved Bee?"

"Older than all the clans, the island turtle's been traveling all of the lands!" Bee said to his beat as the Hachibi's eight tentacles sprouted from his back as he tossed his swords up, the tails catching each one. "Now time to learn control, go V1 or your new mode, since we'll reshape this abode!"

Naruto blinked, nodding. He pushed his hands together, focusing and his new mode flared to life around his body, the flame-like chakra whipping around his shoulders. Naruto breathed out slowly and rotated his shoulder.

"Now what, Bee?!"

Bee then leaped up and using the blades in his tentacles, he cut a massive pillar into several shapes and blocks like they were nothing before tossing his swords back into the air, and maneuvered perfectly so they could land in their sheaths. He landed, his tentacles still flicked behind him and he cracked his neck.

"Your first task for you to pass is stacking these blocks!" Bee said with a smirk, his tentacles reached and grabbed all the blocks and shaped rocks and stacked them perfectly into a new pillar. "This will show you Biju Chakra rocks! Visualize an arm, push it forward and you'll do it without harm!"

Naruto nodded. "Right!"

Naruto slapped his hands together again, gathering the chakra to his arms and he shot out at the first block. However, he grabbed it too hard and shattered it with a flex of the ethereal fist. He blinked as the shards of rock fell out of his chakra arm.

"Yah gotta be careful, Biju Chakra is very strong just a tiny bit of strength will give the enemy a handful!"

"Right!" Naruto yelled back as he tried again, reaching out with another Chakra Arm and this time grabbing another block more gently. Breathing in through his nose calmly, he went to lift it and the 'claws' at the end of the arm pierced the rock. Gentler! Gentler!

He lifted it up slowly, trying to control the amount of strength he was putting into the ethereal hand. Gently he lowered it, placing on the ground and he reached out for the next one as Yamato came walking in with Tenko and Hinata. Naruto grabbed another and applied enough force to lift it, sweat appearing on his forehead as he slowly carried it back to the other block.

Damn...this is much harder than what Bee made it seem like...

"...so they're just going to play with blocks?" Tenko asked as he blinked a bit.

"I'd like...to see you try doing this Tenko!" Naruto retorted, trying to concentrate to lift the block without crushing it. He grabbed it too lightly and he reacted quickly, shooting out a new arm to grab the block before it could fall. "Phew, that was close..."

He then placed the block on the first, working to get the next out. Like Bee, he began making more Chakra Arms so he could grab more blocks. Sweat trickled down his brow as he messed up again with one of the new arms, squashing the rock block like it was nothing. He gritted his teeth and grabbed another, trying to keep it in control.

"Come on...gentle...gentle..." ...and he crushed another one, and Naruto's eye twitched. "Okay...lets...try this again..."

And after he crushed several more blocks, he finally grabbed one with enough force to pick it up and put it on his little 'tower'. He panted slightly and wiped his forehead, there were six Chakra Arms around him as Tenko grinned.

"Heh, I wonder what old man Fukasaku'd say of this training Naruto!"

"He'd probably bat me over the head with that black stick of his to help me concentrate!" Naruto replied, laughing slightly. "Wait..."

Bee grinned. "Ya have an idea to train that's not going to be a pain?"

Naruto grinned. "Just watch!"

He then sat cross legged, breathing in slowly as he calmed himself down. Slowly he sent one of his chakra arms and grabbed a block, and he felt it to try to get its weight and size. He took a slow, deep breath and began lifting it up, the ethereal hand twitching as he tried to control his strength.

Calm down...not too hard or soft...just have to keep the grip enough not to crush the rock...

Then he placed the block right on top of the tower. Keeping himself calm as he focused, he reached out with another arm and put the next block up...then the next one...and the next...until he had a tower as high as the one that Bee had created. He opened his eyes, breathing in and out as his chakra arms withdrew to his sides and shoulders. And shortly after that, he turned off his Chakra Mode, and wiped his forehead.

"Awesome, you stacked them all! And none of them are gonna fall!"

"Heh...thanks Bee! I remembered my senjutsu training and thought the stillness and calmness of it would work here..." Naruto said with a grin. "It helped a lot with the control..."

"Now ya'll have to do it again, until this part of the training ends up in the bargain bin!"

Naruto grinned, giving a thumbs up as he reentered his Chakra Mode, the chakra bursting around him like a warm flame. Tenko grinned, and he felt something stirring in his body...a drive he's never felt before.

I'm already behind him...I need to catch up! Tenko thought, his body trembling in excitement. I need to master my Sage Mode!

At the same time, high in the air Deidara and Kabuto were swooping down to a lower altitude to try to get a better look at the sea below. The Island Turtle was moving at a steady speed, it had already left the area where Kisame had pinpointed it before. Deidara grinned, already having planned in advance with his bombs when his summoner detected several presences nearby. Suddenly, the Sandaime Tsuchikage, Onoki came flying out of the sun which blinded Kabuto and Deidara, smashing his fist into the young snake user's chest with all his might.

The old man?! When did he get here?! Deidara thought in surprise, looking back as Kabuto chuckled.

"What a weak punch..."

"Heh, I normally attack physically to see what type of opponent I'm facing," Onoki retorted confidently. "You're a clone, aren't you?" His eye narrowed. So he wasn't Madara...and... "What's with that bird, and is that Deidara?!"

"Lets say...he's more or less the real thing..." Kabuto replied as his body changed into white clay and wrapped around the Tsuchikage's fist.

"A Nendo Bushin (Clay Clone)..." Onoki said with a growl.

"Onoki, you old geezer, it's been a while!" Deidara said, swooping in as his body turned into clay as well.

"Another one too!?"

Deidara and Kabuto observed, the mad explosive artist making a seal. "I'll remind you old man, my art..."

"Suiton: Mizu Misaru (Water Release: Water Missile)!" was then heard and Kabuto and Deidara went into a dive to avoid several shots of water shaped into explosive missiles and the mad artist snarled.

"As I was saying, Art is a blast!"

Deidara made a seal and the Nendo Bushins exploded around Onoki after glowing for a second. His eye narrowed however seeing a rock shaped like the Sandaime Tsuchikage falling to the sea below. Kabuto gave a smirk, glancing down at the sea.

In the sea itself, a dragon-like object swam through the depths at high speed. The Giant Squid which guarded the island was scanning the area when a huge mouth opened and then clamped down, cutting the squid's mantle in half. Its beak opened in surprise as ink and green blood began leaking...and it began sinking to the depths below.

Motoi looked up, sensing something approaching the island while on the outside of the temple. Huh...what is that? Something's approaching rapidly but it's definitely not a human being...

"What's happening?" Yamato asked.

"Get the garrison back into the temple, an attack's coming!"

In the sky, Onoki, Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi were floating as Mei on her Manta Ray flew over, and she prepared a seal. The Tsuchikage's eyes narrowed, and he looked directly at his former student. Deidara grinned while standing on his clay bird, and Kabuto licked his lips in anticipation.

"Didn't quite expect that...I heard you were dead Deidara," Onoki said, floating with a grimace. "You're back because of that technique aren't you...? And those were your Nendo Bushins..."

"And yours were Akatsuchi's Iwa Bushins weren't they you doddering old man! Not enough chakra anymore to produce your own?" Deidara asked with a smirk as he lifted his hand, the mouth in his hand doing a razz-berry at him. "Still haven't found the right successor huh?"

"Still treating your elders with no respect, even in death you don't change Deidara," Onoki retorted with a grunt. "I'm still strong enough to defeat you, or do you remember all the beatings I gave you when you challenged me with those ridiculous pieces of 'art'?"

A vein popped on Deidara's forehead and he growled. "My art has evolved old man and you'll taste HOW!"

So two Kages...the Tsuchikage and the Mizukage...hm...good thing I planned ahead, Kabuto thought, unconcerned as he made a seal. "Calm down Deidara, he's trying to get under your skin."

"I know...grr...right the objective," Deidara said with a snarl.

On the Island Turtle itself, the massive turtle was suddenly stopped in its tracks when something large bit right into its right back fin! The entire animal practically screeched to a halt as everyone and everything on it was sent flying forward from the loss of momentum. Hinata pushed herself up and Tenko reached down and helped her up and Motoi's eyes widened.

"What the hell was that?!" Tenko yelled and Motoi snarled.

"We're under attack, that's what!" Motoi replied as he performed a seal to widen his range of chakra sensing. "There's a massive snake that's stopped the island's movement!"

"Looks like Manda II found it, I'm surprised a big thing like that can move so fast," Kabuto said with a smirk as Deidara took the clay bird down into a dive.

"Follow them! Don't let them get away!" Mei yelled as she formed seals and she spat out several blasts of lava right at Kabuto and Deidara.

The mad artist smirked, spinning out of the way of each shot as Onoki dove as well, pushing his hands forward and he created his Jinton: Genkai Hakuri no Jutsu (Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique). Sparks formed as he combined the three chakra natures and a cylinder was formed with a glowing center. He then fired and Deidara and Kabuto barely hopped off the first bird, the mad artist creating another as the Tsuchikage wielded his jutsu in an arc to try catching them.

"You're just too slow old man!" Deidara said as the new clay bird, now with four wings began flying an an even faster speed towards the island turtle. "A giant mobile island fortress, heh, it'll be fun blowing up!"

"Be careful though, Deidara. Our quarry are down there, both the Kyubi and the Hachibi," Kabuto said with a grin, pushing up his glasses as the mad artist reached into his pack.

"Gotcha..." Deidara said with a grin. "I'll get to repay that bastard Naruto back for that punch he gave me. Yeah. What's the plan?"

"The island needs to be immobilized, so we're going to need a real big bomb for it, Deidara."

"Damn it, they're too fast!" Kurotsuchi yelled alongside her grandfather.

On the Island Turtle, Manda II slithered up it at an increasingly high speed and wrapped around one of its giant spiked mountain spires. Inside the temple, Naruto and Bee were sent flying forward and the young Hokage used two Chakra Arms to catch himself and the rapping Jinchuriki wrapped one of his chakra arms around a pillar.

"Whoa! What's that?!" Bee yelled, straightening himself up. "Those quakes have been phat, making me fall to the wall!"

Naruto looked up...sensing a malice. "We're under..."

Below the turtle a jellyfish made of Deidara's special 'C3' chakra swam along until it was under the very bottom of the massive reptile. Deidara gave a smirk, lifting his hand up and making a seal as his bird weaved out of the way of another Mizu Misaru launched from Mei's Manta ray, a Genkai Hakuri no Jutsu from Onoki, and a few Yoton blasts from Kurotsuchi.

"Art is a blast! KATSU!" Deidara yelled with a big grin.

The C3 jellyfish glowed and then detonated with enough force to level an entire city, sending it's force upwards and flipping the giant chelonian onto its back with the help of Manda II's insane strength. The turtle gave a loud, pained groan as it was sent entirely onto it's back and created massive tsunami waves out in all directions. Inside all the animals and shinobi were sent from the floor to the ceiling, Yamato hastily doing seals.

"Mokuton: Jukai Kōtan (Wood Release: Nativity of a Sea of Trees)!" Yamato yelled creating a small but dense forest to catch everyone from falling.

Hinata, Tenko, and Motoi managed to flip, land on their feet on a branch with the Mokuton user, Aoba had to catch a lower branch, but Gai fell right through the branches due to having not fully recovered from using the Seventh Gate against Kisame's clone. He groaned, picking himself up as in another part of the Temple Naruto had to shoot his Chakra Arms everywhere to stabilize his fall while Bee continued to hang onto the pillar with one of his tentacles...and continued to write lyrics.

"Yo Naruto, how does..."

"I think we have more problems than finding lyrics right now Bee-sensei!"

Hinata snapped on her Byakugan, seeing Kabuto landing with Deidara on the Island Turtle's armored stomach. "I see him, its...Yakushi Kabuto! His body...its now entirely like Orochimaru's chakra, he even has a snake growing out of his stomach!"

"...who?" Tenko asked as he looked at the Hyuga and blinked. "The Kabuto part, not the Orochimaru part, I know who that snake bastard is."

"Kabuto was Orochimaru's right hand man, and after Uchiha Sasuke defeated him Kabuto incorporated his master's remains into his own body to get stronger," Yamato said, his eyes narrowed. "Naruto, Hinata, and I encountered him nearly three months ago and Orochimaru's remains just had taken over thirty percent of his body..."

"Its now one hundred percent, Yamato-taicho," Hinata said and she breathed in. "What's more...I see...several other chakra's mixed with him as well. All in a perfect balance..."

"Then he's even more dangerous and working with Akatsuki," Yamato said darkly as he breathed in through his nose. "What of the Akatsuki with him?"

"Its...the blond haired one we saw in the book Kabuto gave us originally-Deidara...but...he's supposed to be dead," Hinata said, focusing her Byakugan on Deidara and she gasped. "...there is...someone inside him...unconscious...and its like his body is made of ash, paper, and dust, not flesh and blood..."

Yamato's eyes widened. "...Kuchiyoise: Edo Tensei...Kabuto even mastered that technique..." he gritted his teeth. "We need to move out to stop him. Motoi-san, keep an eye on Naruto-sama and Killer Bee, we'll hold off Kabuto."

Outside on the Turtle's shell, Kabuto grinned triumphantly as he took his first steps on enemy territory. Deidara took out his eye piece and dodged several Mizu Misarus from above, and both of them looked to see both Kages and their bodyguards flying at full speed towards them. In Onoki's palms was another Genkai Hikari no Jutsu, this time shaped like a spinning cone with several little jets around it as it pulled more chakra and power into it. A bead of sweat trickled down Deidara's forehead, remembering how strong his former teacher was.

"Deidara! You've forgotten how fearsome I become!" Onoki yelled, pushing his hands forward as they finished crossing the distance. "Its time you remembered!"

The sheer power of the Jinton in Onoki's palms made Kabuto step back a little bit, losing his trademark smirk. This could be problem...out of all the current Kage Ryotenbin no Onoki is the most destructive with his Jinton nature...

"Here it comes!" Onoki began before Akatsuchi acted quickly and wrapped his arms around the Tsuchikage's, making him release the attack. "Akatsuchi, what are you doing?!"

"You'd have blown up the entire island if you let lose that attack Onoki-sama!" Akatsuchi yelled as Deidara launched three C1 birds at both of them.

"Suiton: Mizurappa (Water Release: Wild Water Wave)!" Ao yelled, blowing out a wave of water at the incoming birds to smash them into the sea where they exploded. "Mizukage-sama, we'll aid Tsuchikage-sama here against the undead Akatsuki, you pursue the snake user."

"Be careful, that one's rather dangerous," Mei ordered as she jumped off her ray and landed on the Island Turtle's stomach, taking off after Kabuto who had already used that time to begin moving towards the center of the giant animal.

Kabuto was smirking, moving forward as Manda II slithered out of the water and wrapped itself around one of the pectoral fins of the turtle, before wrapping the rest of itself around the turtle's neck to keep it from trying to flip over. Two streams of lava went shooting at Orochimaru's successor, who just leaped over them and skidded out of the way of the third that had been launched and he turned to face the Mizukage. Mei wiped the lava from her lips as she prepared the next move.

"Ah yes, the Mizukage too," Kabuto said with a smirk as he did a seal. "Shame I don't have time to play with you personally, but I've been dying to test this Edo Tensei out."

He then slammed his hands together and a coffin rose out of the ground. Who is it...? Mei thought, taking out a kunai from a holster on her hip.

The coffin opened...and to her shock Hanzo the Salamander came walking out, brandishing his trademark kusarigama in his hands. He looked at Mei with golden eyes trapped in a black sclera, and steam rose out of his village symbol engraved respirator. The legendary shinobi was wearing his usual dark gray cape over his light gray flak jacket had two swirls on its chest, and he topped it off by wearing black pants. Kabuto smirked as he pulled out a kunai with a new fuda, pushing it right into his head.

"I wonder, Mizukage-dono, if you're strong enough to face the man who defeated the Sannin, hm?" Kabuto said and Hanzo snarled.

"If it weren't for this binding fuda, you arrogant little snot I'd be attacking you right now," Hanzo said as he turned his attention to Mei. "...though I hate the Five Nations...I guess I'll have to take my anger about being revived like this on you!"

With that, he flicked his wrist and tossed the weighted chain of his kusarigama right at Mei, forcing her to jump out of the way. Hanzo followed up by charging at her with the scythed end, slashing at her and the Mizukage blocked with her kunai, sparks flew off their blades as they broke away. Mei dodged the chain again which smashed hard into the turtle's shell as she did seals, taking a deep breath.

"Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu (Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet)!" Mei yelled and she shot forth a massive dragon-shaped torrent of water at Hanzo.

The salamander leaped out of the way as the water smashed and carved a little trench into the shell of the Island Turtle. "Impressive power..." Hanzo commented, doing several seals. "But futile..." steam rose from his mask as he took a deep breath. "Katon: Amekata Doragon Kouen no Jutsu (Fire Release: Rain Style Dragon Flame Technique)!"

Hanzo's eyes seemed to glow as he shot forth a massive dragon shaped blast of flame from his respirator, complete with wings and gigantic claws. Mei's eyes widened and she flew through her own seals and jumped back towards the sea as the dragon flame flew at her. The Mizukage then pushed her hands forward.

"Suiton: Suijinheki (Water Release: Water Encampment Wall)!" Mei yelled as she shot water out of her mouth and added the sea to her attack. Both the dragon flame and water wall collided with each other and a massive amount of steam was created. Excellent...

Mei jumped out of the way as Hanzo burst through the steam, slashing his scythe at her head. The Mizukage ducked but a few strands of her hair had been severed. Mei acted quickly and smashed her heel into his stomach and sent him skidding back as she did a seal.

"Futton: Kōmu no Jutsu (Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique)!" Mei yelled as she breathed out into the steam her special acidic mist.

Inside it Hanzo scowled, his respirator filtering the acid out but his body was starting to melt. "Impressive..." he said and used a Shunshin to escape the acidic mist. Once he was out he slammed his palm to the ground. "Kuchiyoise no Jutsu!"

In a puff of smoke which blew the acidic mist away and left Mei back out in the open...she saw Hanzo's signature summon, the giant salamander Ibuse. She cursed, breathing out as Hanzo smirked behind his mask, making a seal and then smashing his palm right down onto his salamander's head. Its bottom cheek swelled as it took a deep breath in.

"Now...smoke her!" Hanzo said as Ibuse then expelled a massive amount of poisoned smoke from his mouth at the Mizukage.

Mei covered her mouth. Damn it...I need to get out of that...

Before she could finish her thought her manta ray then swooped down, momentarily slowing down as the poisonous mist approached its master...then it flapped its wings and shot off like a bullet. Several sonic booms were heard as the mist was dispelled, being blowing right back into Hanzo and Ibuse's faces. Hanzo snarled and his respirator filtered the poison out harmlessly but Ibuse began rubbing his nose in annoyance of his own mist.

"So you have your own summon...highly impressive. I hope it doesn't succumb to the poison in mid air though," Hanzo commented as he jumped off. "So far you're entertaining me, Mizukage."

"I'm glad to hear that, since its time I put this to an end Hanzo-dono," Mei said as she made a strange seal and then blew out lava around her feet...and it rose and encased herself. "Yoton no Yoroi (Lava Release Armor)."

She increased her defensive and offensive ability with that chakra nature armor...Sandaime Raikage was said to have mastered a Raiton version of it... Hanzo thought to himself, holding the weighted chain of his kusarigama. "Ibuse, go back home, you'll get caught in this!"

Ibuse nodded and burst away in a puff of smoke as Mei launched herself at Hanzo. The former Ame Ninja Leader jumped back, barely avoiding a punch from the Mizukage. She followed up with a series of punches and kicks, each transferring the deadly heat and fumes from her armor to Hanzo. Behind his respirator Hanzo sneered, paper and ash flying off his body as he jumped back and tossed his kusarigama's scythe behind him and he used it to pull him out of the path of palm strike Mei had loaded.

"I'm impressed you pushed me to use this technique, you definitely live up to your name of Mizukage," Hanzo said as he did a seal. "But this ends..."

"Don't be so arrogant you old fool," Mei chided, jumping forward and launching a wave of lava from her mouth under the armor and Hanzo finished his seal sequence.

"Katon: Hachiman," Hanzo uttered when he finished and flames began appearing around his body...and started to form into a ribcage and aura. The wave of lava smashed into it and was...divided by the defense as the flames continued to grow and add a full skeletal structure...followed by 'skin'...and finally armor with the symbol of the sun on the 'helmet'. "Meet Amegakure's guardian War god...Hachiman!"

"This is...like the Susano'o technique Uchiha Sasuke used..." Mei whispered as the giant flame warrior brandished a large scythe.

"I wouldn't be surprised, I developed this technique after studying Uchiha Madara's use of it in the old days," Hanzo said as the Mizukage braced herself. "I can solidify fire, its one of the things that made me so strong...it can make an extremely strong defense as you see..."

It was at the same moment, Kurotsuchi swooped down to confront Kabuto while Hinata, Tenko, Yamato, and Aoba came out of the turtle to face him. Kabuto smirked, his eyes darting as the Iwa kunoichi did her own seals.

"Yoton: Sekkaigyō no Jutsu (Lava Release: Quicklime Congealing Technique)!" Kurotsuchi yelled and spat out several blasts of white lava at Kabuto.

"Ah, so Naruto is inside the turtle, I see now," Kabuto said offhandedly as he dodged the Iwa Kunoichi's attack easily, looking at his snake tail which nodded. "Now how do I get in...?"

"Hakke Kusho (Eight Trigrams Air Palm)!" Hinata yelled as she pushed her hand forward, trying to hit Kabuto with the air shell.

Kabuto leaped over it like it was mere child's play as he sidestepped more of the white lava globs that Kurotsuchi shot at him. She gritted her teeth and did another seal, taking a deep breath through her nose as her cheeks flushed.

"Suiton: Mizurappa (Water Release: Water Trumpet)!" Kurotsuchi yelled, blowing out a high pressure amount of water right at the lava to make it splash up at Kabuto. The second it touches him it'll harden and he'll be immobilized...

The snake however shunshined out of the path of the incoming quicklime, dodging another Hakke Kusho and two Mokuton roots. Kabuto smirked, his eyes seeing who was assembled to face him...and he licked his lips.

I would really love to see this higher level of Byakugan that Kisame described in his information.. he looked at Hinata, then his eyes drifted to Tenko. And from the looks of it, it looks like there is a bastard child of Jiraiya here too...wonder if he has the same potential... He then jumped over two Mokuton spikes and smirked. But this is my actual target...Naruto and the Hachibi can wait.

"Tenko, work with me and the Iwa Kunoichi to box him in," Yamato said as he did a seal, creating a Mokuton Bushin. "Then Hinata, you seal up his tenkatsu with Hakke Rokujūyon Shō (Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms)."

"Hai!" Hinata and Tenko said as Yamato took off running at Kabuto while Tenko followed. Hinata activated her Byakugan, waiting for her moment.

Kabuto smirked, his hands glowing with chakra scalpels as Yamato and his clone began attacking. The clone morphed his hand into a giant wooden mallet, swinging it hard at Orochimaru's successor. Kabuto ducked, moving his hand up fluidly and slashed the clone's hand off before his snake tail lashed out and grabbed the clone by the neck and smashed it right into the real Yamato. Tenko then jumped at him, drawing his fist back.

"I wonder what you can do boy..." Kabuto said and his snake hissed in warning. He blinked, jumping back as Tenko's fist slammed into the turtle's shell and the area shook. Extreme physical strength...now Jiraiya's was above average...but not that amount...

"I'm not done yet!" Tenko yelled as he leaped up and launched a spinning roundhouse kick at Kabuto who jumped out of the way but the shock wave of his sheer physical sent him skidding back. Jiraiya's son then did a seal. "Now Ranjishigami no Jutsu (Wild Lion's Mane Technique)!"

With that he lashed out with his hair which grew wildly, sharping harder than steel and lashed out right at Kabuto. He jumped back, a small bead of sweat appearing on his forehead as Tenko's hair then shaped itself into a lion's maw and charged right at him. The Ranjishigami managed to wrap around Kabuto and impaled him from all sides. However the snake user just opened his mouth and shot out a new body right at Tenko.

Tenko blinked and he barely raised his hands to block the punch Kabuto launched, and he pushed upwards and sent his opponent flying over his body. Kabuto landed, licking his lips as Tenko's hair shrank back to normal, and he turned to face him.

"Now that jutsu...as well as the strength you display..." Kabuto licked his lips like Orochimaru would which added to the eerie sensation that Tenko, Kurotsuchi, Yamato, Aoba, and Hinata had. "You're the son of both Sannin aren't you? My, my, I really didn't expect this!"

"And from the jutsu you use...that's Orochimaru's 'Shinsei no Jutsu', correct?" Tenko responded, a bead of sweat appearing on his forehead. This guy's good...if I'm going to win I'm going to need Sage Mode...

"Correct! You really show your lineage," Kabuto replied with a smirk. "Shame I didn't have an Edo Tensei prepared for you, but I guess it won't hurt to get my hands dirty to prepare for my real objective."

Tenko snarled. "You won't get Naruto!"

Kabuto did several seals and then shot forth his hand and several snakes were launched right at him. "Sen'ei Tajashu (Many Hidden Shadow Snake Hands)," he uttered calmly as Jiraiya's son did his own seals, breathing in.

"Hari Jizo (Needle Jizo)!" Tenko yelled as his body was then wrapped by his hair which then jutted out like steel needles to form a solid, tough defense.

The mass of snakes all smashed into Tenko and pushed him back, sacrificing themselves as they tried to get beyond his needle defense. The solid mass of hardened hair held up and the surviving snakes couldn't bite through it to inject their venom into Tenko's body. Kurotsuchi and Yamato used that moment to attack simultaneously, Kurotsuchi now blasting dark lava from her mouth and Yamato transformed his entire arm into sharp roots and he shot them at Kabuto.

Kabuto jumped back and Tenko followed up by biting his thumb, quickly going through the seals and he slammed his palm down. In a massive puff of smoke, he summoned Gamabunta. The old toad's wounds from Pain had finally healed and he was back in action. Tenko stood right on Gamabunta's head, and bit his wrists enough to draw blood as he scrawled it from the edge of his eye to the red line underneath it and completely intersected the marking, and did the same with the other eye. He breathed out, preparing to enter Sage Mode.

"Tenko huh, what did you summon me for?" Gamabunta asked as he pulled his pipe out and breathed out smoke.

"I need you to buy me some time with Yamato, Hinata, and that Iwa Kunoichi against that snake bastard down there," Tenko sad and Gamabunta put his pipe back into his mouth."

"Fine, I can't let my skills get rusty after the battle with Pain after all!" Gamabunta announced, sliding his giant dosu sword right out of its sheath.

With Gamabunta here it makes things more problematic... Kabuto thought as he sent a telepathic command to Manda II to attack the giant toad, jumping out of the way of Gamabunta's slash which sent a shockwave making him skid back.

At that moment, Hinata, Yamato, and Kurotsuchi attacked as one. The Mokuton user created several wooden tentacles tipped with a sharp spike from the ground and surged them towards Kabuto. Kurotsuchi then launched a wave of corrosive lava to make the snake user jump out of the way, which he did rather lazily. Chakra formed around Hinata's arms as she formed two lions heads made out of chakra, launching towards Kabuto to finish the combination attack.

"Ah, Jūho Sōshiken (Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists), one of your new signature techniques isn't it Hinata-san?" Kabuto asked as he dodged her first palm strike, and then the other and he got into her guard. "But really, you didn't expect to hit me did you?"

His hand glowed blew, creating a Chakura no Mesu and he launched an upward slash. Hinata's eyes widened, and she barely forced herself away using a Hakke Kusho, but her shirt and undershirt were torn open. Kabuto capitalized on it and launched his tail and wrapped it around the Hyuga Heiress's torso and slammed her away into Kurotsuchi who barely caught her.

"You okay Hyuga-san?!" Kurotsuchi asked as she skidded back.

Hinata nodded, panting. "Y-Yes, thank you...he's strong..." she breathed out. "And that Orochimaru chakra on him...seems to make him even stronger."

"Very observant, Hinata-san," Kabuto said with a grin as he created another scalpel in his other hand.

Gamabunta jumped over, preparing to slash Kabuto in half when he was forced to dive out of the way of the absolutely gigantic tail of Manda II, and he back flipped and landed on the water to dodge the giant snake's huge jaws. Tenko breathed in, still concentrating to get enough chakra for Fukasaku and Shima. Tenko then felt Gamabunta standing still for a few moments...and his energy seemed to change.

"I haven't been laying on my ass since the battle with Pain, youngin," Gamabunta said, grasping his blade as Tenko realized.

"Y-You've got Sage Mode now as well Gamabunta?!" Tenko yelled as Manda II lunged again right at them again.

At the last second, Gamabunta sidestepped the strike using the new senses he had in Sage Mode and he spun around, slamming his sword right into the humungous snake's side with such force it was sent flying upwards. It hissed in pain, withdrawing back to the Island Turtle's throat as its own dripped blood.

"Time to take the fight to them!" Gamabunta yelled, charging chakra to his legs and launching himself right at the island turtle at full speed. There were two puffs of smoke right on Tenko's shoulders as he finished concentrating.

Kabuto was advancing towards Yamato, Kurotsuchi, and Hinata, dodging or deflecting all their attacks like they were nothing. Yamato created a mokuton katana, running right at the snake user who ducked the slash which was enough to cut off the very top of his hood, had his snake tail bite into the mokuton user's ankle and then tossed him at full force right at Kurotsuchi and Hinata. He then took off running right at them, a psychotic smirk appearing on his face.

"I have enjoyed..." before he could finish his sentence a white blur appeared in front of him and he was kicked solidly in the chest by something with an insane amount of strength. Blood spat out of Kabuto's lips as he was sent skidding back and he growled. I wasn't able to fully liquify in time...was it...Naruto who did this?

The ground had cracked and shattered from the impact of the white blur, thus there was smoke wafting up from its feet. When it cleared...he could see it was...Tenko but his features were different. His nose had grown large and bulbous with five wart-like bumps on it, red coloration covered his entire cheeks, and he grown both a thin white mustache and a beard. His eyes had become round rectangles like a toads, and his hands and feet resembled a toad's now as well. And on his shoulders were the two great toad sages, Fukasaku and Shima.

"Ready for round two, bastard?" Tenko asked, cracking his knuckles.

"Orochimaru-chan's disciple huh...definitely looks like him," Fukasaku said as Shima nodded.

"If Tenko-chan needed to summon us to help fight him, he must be as strong or stronger than that Uchiha boy we helped Naruto fight!" Shima added.

Get him while they're still talking, Manda II! Kabuto thought as he straightened up, but coughed out another bit of blood.

Manda II then launched himself right at Tenko, zigzagging around Gamabunta's huge Suiton: Teppōdama (Water Release: Gunshot) at extremely high speed. He was going to hit Tenko like a battering ram and flatten him, but the Senjutsu user's eyes flashed as he spun, charging chakra to his fist to increase its power. Tenko then met Manda II head on, smashing his fist at full strength right into the giant snake's nose...and he stopped the massive purple snake's charge like nothing. Manda II's eyes flashed and it gasped, releasing its hold on the Island Turtle's throat as it was knocked out from the blow.

Tenko jumped up onto the giant snake's muzzle, his hair standing up as he landed on his hands and feet. "Alright, we'll hit him all at once grandma, grandpa! Senpo: Kebari Senbon (Sage Art: Hair Needle Senbon)!"

"Right! Zessenzan (Fighting Tongue Slash)!" both Toad Sages yelled, launching their tongues as Tenko shot hundreds of sharp, extremely high speed needles at Kabuto.

Kabuto managed to get up in time and his cheeks bulged just as the attacks hit, slashing his lower body while it was proliferated by needles. And with that he spat out a new body high into the air as his chakra scalpels appeared on his hands and he flew right at Tenko. The Senjutsu user was ready and he lowered his hand as chakra began swirling into it...and formed a solid sphere into the Rasengan. He bent backwards avoiding the x-slash that Kabuto tried and he slammed the Rasengan upward right into the snake user's stomach.

"Damn it, not that attack again!" Kabuto yelled as he was sent flying upwards by the Rasengan strike. Only going to get one chance at this!

With that his cheek's cracked...and he shed his human appearance to reveal his more snake-like true form and dove right down at the unsuspecting Yamato before Hinata, Kurotsuchi, or Tenko could react. With one gulp, he swallowed the Mokuton ANBU, slithered to Manda II's nose and the giant unconscious snake puffed away. He had managed to slash the Hyuga's cheek as well before he was done to collect some of her blood to analyze for later.

Tenko landed, growling as he looked around. "He unsummoned himself?! That coward!"

Deidara and Onoki were in mid battle in the sky, several clouds had been dispersed from the Tsuchikage's use of Jinton and the mad artist's bombs. Onoki had another Jinton: Genkai Hikari no Jutsu while Deidara had C4 out and ready to launch. The mad artist chuckled at his old teacher.

"I'll just show you how much my art has evolved old..." he began as a coffin appeared behind him. "What, STOP! I'M NOT!"

Before he could finish, the coffin slammed shut. And on the other side of the Island Turtle Mei had managed to block Hanzo's Hachiman sword slash with a lava dome, and the former Amegakure leader was starting to get bored. True the Mizukage had been countering his attacks, but none of her's could penetrate his Hachiman. Even her strongest suitons couldn't extinguish the solid flames that made up his strongest attack/defense technique.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to end this, Mizukage-dono," Hanzo said as he had his Hachiman create a tiger seal. "Katon..."

Before he could finish, another coffin rose from behind him and his movements halted. He snarled in frustration as his tag stopped him from moving just as the coffin slammed shut. And both his and Deidara's puffed away, leaving the island's defenders bewildered at the course of the battle...and shocked that Yamato had been captured.

To be continued...

Author's Notes::

Whew, what a chapter. I hope you liked the taste of what Tenko could do, Hinata's battle with the man who wanted her eyes, and Mei's battle with Hanzo. Spent a lot of time working on it. Next chapter is part II, with Konan's battle with 'Madara'. Hope you'll like the changes there!