Chapter 26: Even Legends Die! Part One!
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Torune's POV (Hidden Leaf Village East)
Torune dodged the large bone drill narrowly and he tapped the now monstrous shinobi on one of his spikes. He had been aiming for his back but even slowed down Kimimaro was much too quick. Kimimaro, feeling the contact spins violently and quickly manages to remove some of the insects yet they had done some damage as a spike off his back fell off. Before the man could charge towards the Torune he was hit by a water dragon. This does no damage to the powerful man but it does stumble him. Before he could even regain his balance a large earthly spike slammed into him shattering on contact. This managed to send the man flying. An anbu attempted to follow this up with a giant slash of a katana but it shattered upon Kimimaro's tough bones. Kimimaro mercilessly impaled the man with the spear. He tossed the corpse towards the group. Torune and two Anbu dived to one side and two on the other. Before the other two can recover, Kimimaro lands, crushing them both.
The last three anbu stood opposed to the monstrous Kimimaro. "Are you all prepared to die?" He asked calmly.
"I was hoping to avoid this strategy due to the likelihood of all parties dying. But it seems unavoidable for now." Torune whispered quietly. "Are you both Root?" They both nod and confirm. "Excellent, we shall do three staged fake-outs. Full commitment." They nod as the three charges brazenly. Kimimaro quickly thrust into the first man who slams his palm into the ground raising a mud wall. The spike easily pierced this wall and the man behind it. A second attached chain to the man. Kimimaro attempted to remove the spikefrom the first body but the mud wall had hardened to the spike wedging it. The chains wrapped around him limited his mobility. Seemingly being no normal chains. Torune quickly appeared from below the ground bear hugging Kimimaro with his shirt off. His skin is simply purple and even as he hugs the man he is impaled by various spikes protruding from Kimimaro's front. The third anbu wielding the chains rushed forward wrapping a bundle of chains around the throat of Kimimaro attempting to strangle him. Kimimaro grunted in pain as the purple substance ate at his hard bones and skin slowly. "This is my Parasitic Destruction Insect Technique. My body is inhabited by nano-sized insects. Capable of destroying organic matter at a cellular level. With this level of contact, your death is assured and will be quite painful.
"I see quite the dangerous technique. Forgive me but I cannot allow you to leave here. I serve my master and cannot allow a threat to him. Prepare yourself. My final dance is a violent one. DANCE OF THE SEEDLING FERN!" Quicky hundred large bone spikes emerged impaling Torune and the final anbu violent but just as quickly stopping. The last unnamed Anbu had been pierced through the head, dying instantly. Torune had been pierced throughout his body. But he had managed to avoid a lethal strike. He pulled himself off the bone spikes. Falling to the ground in between the bones. Kimimaro emerges next to Torune, falling out of the bone and landing on the ground next to Torune.. Torune had holes throughout his body. The man is now missing his left leg. The front of Kimimaro seemed to be almost melting now, completely purple and slowly caving in.
"Don't worry master…"
"Don't worry master…"
The two dying men met eyes and smiled.
"At least we achieved your final order." They said as one. Both men had been manipulated and abused for years. Treated as tools, they had never lived a traditional life. And yet they were both thankful as they died. Happy to have served their respective masters on the way out.
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Guren's POV (Hidden Leaf Village West)
As a proud commanding officer of the Sound Village Guren was inherently aware she was valuable. So inherently useful he had not even bothered to brand her with the cursed seal. She was powerful enough on her merit, rivaling the likes of Kimimaro. Oh, she was no fool, her master was a cruel one. Her death would likely be at his hands or due to his betrayal. She was well aware of this, but she had no choice in the matter. She had been a rare one for the Sound. She had been loyal, honest, and dedicated. The rest tended to be more mercenary. Oh, there was an exceptions, Kimimaro had always been the most loyal. Zetsu, now ingrained with their master due to the loss of his own, was equally as loyal. The man seemed to not have anything. Almost a pet at this point, though she doubted he realized that. Kabuto seemed loyal in some ways but his raw intelligence and cruel mind made it hard to tell. She also had once wielded such loyalty. She had even fallen into a depression once Orochimaru had deemed her ill fit to be a vessel. The despair ate at her,she had failed her one task in life. She had taken to wandering a bit. Attempting to discover purpose, she had found it of course. She had discovered a young man she had become attached to. Yukimaru, he had been named, was a sickly mild boy. Likely to die young and yet so hopeful. He saw the good in life even as he was surrounded by the bad. He had given meaning to her life that not even her master could provide. Perhaps it had been the want to right the wrongs she had suffered in her life. To give someone the life she never had a chance to live. It mattered little, for the second her master realized there was a threat to his power. Well, he had taken care of it. Of course not himself, Kabuto had been the one to kill him. From the grizzly sight of the remains, he had done so violently. Guren had nearly killed Kabuto before he had arrived. So angry and broken she had been that she prepared to strike down her own master. But he had merely chuckled at her rage. Offering her a deal he seemed so sure she would accept.
She had, if she spent ten years of absolute servitude to Orochimaru she would get to see Yukimaru again. She had insisted Kabuto be removed due to her murderous rage when faced with the man. Her master had sent him away. Though Guren got the impression he had done this to avoid losing one of his two most valuable pawns. He claimed he could resurrect him. Guren was no fool; she had demanded proof of the claim. He had chuckled at her, killed a nearby grunt, and did as asked. Guren had almost cried seeing him again. He may not be blood but he was her son. Yet ever the cruel man, Orochimaru had dispelled the technique coldly, removing her son from the corpse. An unspoken threat, even if she earned her son he could take him away. Guren had little option.
She knew he was playing her. That he would likely extend the servitude. But she had little else to hope for. A majority of her life had been dedicated to Orochimaru. Even now it was all she knew. Her only escape had been Yukimaru and he had killed him. He also was the only way the woman would see him again. So as Guren saw it she would obey either till death or Yukimaru's return.
She hated her choice at the moment. Anbu were powerful in their own right but she had shredded whole squads before. It seemed the Leaf had increased its power in the peaceful age they enjoyed. She ducked under the wind blade of one anbu and avoided the fire blade of the other. Her armor was great for ignoring the kunai fired off from the small puppet above where the trapped Fu was. But the two Anbu had summoned blade techniques that were problematic and made the armor burden. The wind blade simply was so refined it could slice through it. The flame was simply so hot it would burn her inside it. Not to mention she had to be careful to avoid them clashing near her. It would surely cause a sizable explosion. As she stepped back to avoid another slash from the duo she felt her foot trip over something. Her eyes widened as she fell.
'What did I?' Her eyes saw a kunai stabbed into the ground. 'So that was why he-'
As she fell the two Anbu closed it trying to match their blades as they cut into her. But she merely weaved one hand desperately "Crystal Style: Pentagonal Prison!" She called as crystal welled below her before flying upwards absurdly quickly. All three shinobi were crystallized as trapped in the frame.
Fu panted harshly as he dispelled his puppet. And examined the crystal structure below looking for movement. He couldn't see into it from his angle above it but knew motion would be obvious, He waited a full minute before he let his guard down as he expected Guren may have a way out. He would likely be unable to stop her if she was still in play but he had planned to explode a series of explosive tags sewn into his clothing. It would certainly kill him, but it would be well worth it to stop her from helping her master. He then gripped his tanto harshly as he prepared to free himself from the crystal. He lacked enough chakra to attempt to shatter the crystal but needed to be freed to report to Danzo. He robotically swung the tanto into his ankle. The first strike cleaved through the bones but failed to cut fully his own limb. This shifted his weight enough that with a painful crack, his still attached and trapped ankle shattered against the weight. He felt tears fill his eyes but calmly cut the other one with an odd strike. He fell through the air toward the ground. The man flowed his remaining chakra through his body to survive the fall, before the crystal he was falling next to suddenly extended out. Fu barely felt much but pressure. But his body trained to ignore the pain. Instead focused on the events he was subjected to. He saw the crystal had caved in his chest cutting and crushing as it grew through the shinobi. He finally let out a gasp of pain as Guren seemed to grow out of the crystal that had impaled the man. She stood on the tip looking down at the dying man with some level of pity.
They had both served in their life. Both had been dutiful servants hoping to gain the world from a master who seemed to have it. Yet this servant was no more. He would likely be remembered for only his failure. Danzo could be just as unforgiving as her own. Was there ever truly a difference between the two? The man had met death willingly as if he did not fear the end. Yet Guren feared dying, she had experienced happiness and selfishly longed for it again. Perhaps she was not a good servant. She deep down she wished to be free of her service. As she prepared to walk away she passed two of the dead Anbu. Guren's eyes widened as she realized there was no crystal on them! As she turned the two thrust tanto into her stomach. She coughed blood onto the two, gripping their wrist and crystalizing them both. She swore the two smiled even as they were engulfed. She stumbled back obviously wounded harshly. She lowered herself to her knees as she gripped both tanto. With a cold efficiency she ripped both out. Splatters of blood fell as the blades left her body. The pain was immense, only her experience saved her from passing out. She then pressed her hands to the wounds, filling them with crystal. Certainly rudimentary but would keep her alive for now.
She panted as she eyed the field. She heard a crash as her master fought the two powerful old men. As well as Kimimaro as he doubtlessly slaughtered his share. If she were to leave it very well might be a clean escape. She knew Orochimaru would never give her Yukimaru. Merely wished to keep her working until she was useless. Perhaps she should seek a new purpose. She looked down at her blood. She rested both tanto there and her hair tie. Orochimaru likely would realize eventually she was alive but it would fool him for at least the day. She flinched as she felt a crazy boom as her "comrades" fought valiantly.
'What am I even doing?' Her mind raced. She wasn't sure. Perhaps that was a new way to live. Without even checking on her comrades she fazed into the earth. She would wait for an opening and escape.
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Orochimaru's POV (Hokage Manor)
Orochimaru had always been told he had an ego problem. Something that had always resented. Time and time again he proved himself superior to his peers. Others always seemed to find flaws in him. Usually related to his personality. But so great were career he lead. He had thought they would surely give him the role of Kage. Especially since it was his own sensei retiring. It would restrict him in some ways but in others… oh it held possibilities. Enough to where once Hiruzen had warned him of his consideration he had deemed he would accept it. Only fitting for a man such as himself after all. He had always pondered the idea of running a village. But the damned bastard had been given the role. He was from no prominent clan. He was taught by the damned Toad Fool. Yet he had grown at astounding speed. Enough to be in consideration for the role despite his young age. Orochimaru initially had been foolish enough to think his experience would win him it. After all, with age came wisdom. In the third shinobi war, Minato shattered his confidence. Minato had done something even the Snake would begrudgingly admit was astounding. A Stone shinobi army had approached, their large size and straight path had made it clear. They intended a direct assault on the Leaf. Amid the global war, that was the Third Shinobi World War. Engagements with both the Cloud and Mist had left them wide open. Minato Namikaze upon hearing this intel had made a simple request. He wanted to launch a solo assault on them. Orochimaru had been on leave and upon hearing the bastard's request refused to offer his aid. If the man wanted to perish and give him the position, why should he interfere?
Orochimaru flinched as Hiruzen's staff crushed three of his ribs. He quickly spat himself from the now hollow body. His unique ability to heal always proved useful. As he flew from the old body he lunged forward. Attempting to crush his attacker's throat with his bare hands. Instead noticing an approach, he bonelessly slid into a cane thrust by Danzo and threw him at his comrade. The two rolled through and fired off an absurd amount of shuriken. Both calling out.
"Ninja Art: Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Orochimaru hissed as he slid through the kunai weaving hand signs he allowed several large snakes to crawl towards the older men. Hiruzen immediately roasted them with a basic fire jutsu. But this instant was enough for Orochimaru to roar gleefully.
"Wind Style: Great Wind Breakthrough!" A sudden and strong gust of wind sent the two men flying back towards the barrier. Orochimaru's mind raced as he cackled at the two men's potential death.
It had been foolish looking back on it. Minato was absurdly powerful with those jutsu he used. Instant teleportation and an absurdly powerful technique labeled the Rasengan. It had made him into an avatar of death. Orochimaru had thought he was too naive and weak to use it to his fullest potential. Yet the man had slaughtered the army single-handedly. The returning Rock shinobi had spoken of horror stories of blonde men killing squads near instantly. With the accolade and his bingo book entry being updated to a flee on sight, his promotion had been assured. Orochimaru may have been broken to some degree but it had been shockingly painful to lose what he had thought had been a sure race. He had been filled with rage. Arranged various troubles for Minato. But the man seemed near flawless. He countered any problem quickly and efficiently. So instead he shifted to easier targets. His experiments had always been done on bandits. Harmless blights to society would hardly be missed after all. But the rage had influenced him in strange ways. Soon he started to use civilians for experiments. The experiments before had been cruel for sure. But a necessary cruel, logical one. These were still scientific, but his hatred shined in the new inhumane ways he went about testing his new hypothesis. But while in the employ of the village, his hatred merely grew, it had multiplied. He had always been confused by the loyalty displayed by Tsunade and Jiraiya. The three of them for their remarkable talent were rewarded by the type of missions they don't expect survivors from. They had overcome the challenges, but Orochimaru knew he was being used. It simply was infuriating when he was superior. They would use the three of them to solve all their problems before their untimely demise. He needed to strike back, and strike back he did. His subjects soon shifted to shinobi. He would randomly arrange for the death of shinobi. Then take them after their supposed "death". Soon it was no longer even science. Cruelties done for his own amusement. The Uchiha were perhaps his most aggressive of betrayals.