Despite it All

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Darui's POV (Outside of Lightning Camp)

Darui had to admit. The four-eyed bastard that stood in their path was anything but dull. The fight had started as one-sided as they had expected. While Kabuto was anything but a Genin facing two high-level shinobi would be impossible for most. He ducked a slash to his head from Darui but was helpless to dodge the burst of electricity that had jumped from his blade. Shocking him long enough for C to jump in and slash at his midsection. Darui watched as his tanto slashed through Kabuto slicing through ribs and organs with practiced ease. Kabuto merely laughed as his body seemed to reform around his wound. Slashing with his hands towards C. C blocked one the other hand tapping his wrist. Before Kabuto could engage in any attack Darui managed to throw his blade like a hatchet it slicing through the offending arm removing it harshly from Kabuto. C for some reason screamed in pain as he jumped back. He held his wrist and glared at the man.

"He's using some kind of techniques to survive our blows, then using another touch-based one. It somehow seemed to damage my wrist severely. I think from the inside somehow." C remarked.

"They are called Chakra Scalpels simpleton." Kabuto's condescending tone called out. " Using precise chakra control I formed a thin blade around my hand. So fine is this blade I can cut into your insides without even cutting the outside. As for me taking your hits I'm merely using my mastery over Medical Ninjutsu to heal them as we fight. Luckily these seals give me access to enough chakra to do so constantly. I look forward to testing it against you in particular Darui of the Black Lightning. The two of you will be a decent challenge."

"Challenge? I don't do dull things like that." Darui started suddenly body flickering above Kabuto. "I prefer to obliterate those who my boss tells me to. Unfortunately for you, that means you. See if you can survive this! Storm Release: Laser Circus!" As he finished a litany of flashing flowing lightning that raced towards Kabuto insanely quickly.

Kabuto could only mutter. "Of course I can. I'm now even closer to immortality, even closer to my sensei's goal." The lightning converged upon him with a massive explosion. C being blown back the might of it. The fence wall surrounding the Cloud Camp was thrown back by the force. Dust flew through the air from the impact, clearing leftovers as electricity visibly shocked the area of impact. As the smoke and dust cleared a body of Kabuto was revealed. He was covered in burns and missing one of his arms.

"Well that wasn't d-" Darui started before being shocked into silence. Kabuto slowly rose from the crater with a manic smile on his face.

"Seems even this method has limits. My mind can't take too many hits of that nature. It causes me absurd mental anguish to live through that. Nor can I afford the chakra cost to survive it repeatedly even with Ikam's gift." Kabuto said as he fully healed. "I'll have to kill you sooner rather than later."

"I'm just getting warmed up." Darui informed as he prepared to continue. Before either could do anything more a shocking blur flew into the clearing past Kabuto.

"DARUI YOUR ASS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AIDING THE SAMURAI! HOW DARE YOU WASTE TIME HERE! I SHOULD SMITE YOU WHERE YOU STAND!" A roared, his angry expression being exposed after his sudden arrival. Kabuto could not reply, his head suddenly flying from his body. "The next lariat is coming for you ingrate!" A roared.

"A! Sir behind you!" C called out.

A spun into a back fist narrowly to avoid Kabuto's kunai thrust and sending the Leaf traitor slamming into a nearby snow bank. The loud snap alluding to the bone breaking power of the Raikage.

"How dare you survive my lariat! I'll kill you as many times as it takes. DARUI!" A roared.

Wordless Darui repeated his earlier hand signs before he fired off another Laser Circus into the snow bank Kabuto was buried in. With another boom, the snow either melted or dissipated. Leaving an empty spot Kabuto should be lying in. Yet there was nothing more than darkened stone. A was not even slowed by this. Suddenly he appeared in front of Darui and raised him up by his collar. Screaming questions faster than the relaxed man could explain.

C merely sighed, this would take a while to settle he was sure.

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Sasuke's POV (Leaf Camp)

Sasuke slashed his way through several spiders. Three tomoe Sharingan spinning as he dodged the silk they exploded into. He supposed to a normal person; this summons and its spawn would be problematic. But he managed to weave and cut his way through the spray of spiders without even being touched by the silk. The extraordinary gift of the Uchiha family. He heard Kidomaru's frustrated call of cheating as he approached. He paid no mind to this, flying in and drawing a kunai to start his assault. First, he met Kidomaru. Projecting an image of him still charging towards him on top of his summon. Both were now perched on the treetops and trying to tie him down. While Kidomaru focused on the Genjutsu Sasuke activated his and his sensei improved version of the body flicker as he weaved yet another jutsu with one hand. He appeared behind both, finishing his hand sign as he did.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu." He said as a large fireball flew into the large hissing spider and its freak of a master. The spider thrashed as it burned but Kidomaru merely flew from the flames.

"Damn! Tricky minion turned out to be a boss!" Kidomaru roared. But could only freeze as Sasuke appeared within his guard. Wielding a kunai coated in chakra.

"Life's not a game. If it was-" Sasuke started before suddenly appearing all over Kidomaru slashing with each body flicker. The force of the slashes kept him in the air. As his spider summon collapsed, having finally succumbed to flames, Sasuke ended his barrage letting Kidomaru fall to the ground. "Then this is your game over. Reappearing Shadow Sever."

"Maybe in that life! But I got a one up!" Kidomaru chuckled happily as he rose. His body was covered in black markings which were revealed by the cracked armor around his body. "To think you nearly cut through my armor! Gonna enjoy what comes next!" He suddenly raced forward much quicker with a flying knee. Sasuke barely managed to duck it. Whipping around to notice Kidomaru had gone into the surrounding forest. "Now this is a level! No more cheating eyes telling you all my moves. Let's see if your eyes can see everything! My Curse Mark Level Two will crush you!" He howled.

"Nothing can crush the Uchiha." Sasuke said darkly.

Kidomaru didn't bother responding as his face shifted, becoming more spider-like. He jumped back and his speed greatly increased as he tried to put distance between himself and Sasuke. But as he entered the treeline, he was suddenly kicked back into the clearing. He quickly spit out a line of kunai to buy him time but Sasuke merely appeared behind them, never breaking stride and allowing him to land a knee to Kidomaru's face. The man stunned despite his power boost and armor stumbled back dazed. Sasuke mercilessly swept the legs of the man with a swift kick. Raising the same foot high in the air and slamming into the deformed man's face. The blow shattered the stone beneath. Sasuke glared down at the man, confident that the blow had rendered him unconscious. But was caught off guard as Kidomaru suddenly shifted his weight unbalancing the Uchiha and striking out with a hastily crafted blade. Sasuke stumbled back narrowly avoiding one of his Sharigan being cut. It still cut a shallow line through his lower face and up through his brow. The Uchiha flipped backwards, obviously somewhat unnerved with the close call.

"Your speed stats are absurd. But your strength stat is mediocre. Your kunai is even less adequate. That little teleport trick doesn't matter if you don't make your hits count. I think it's time I showed you who the player was." Kidomaru taunted as Sasuke straightened out and slowly settled into an odd stance, one hand in a tiger seal the other stretched out as if holding a blade.

"Attack potency is not something I struggle with. Blade of the Besmirched: Flambe." Sasuke stated coldly as flames sprouted from his hand quickly forming a lifelike katana. The heat made the cold air hiss as he wielded it seemingly uncaring of the heat. "I merely was testing that defense of yours. It seems it is mere armor. I don't need to cut it, you'll cook inside of it anyway."

Kidomaru was stunned into silence. He slowly stepped back suddenly all too afraid of their speed difference. He turned fully attempting to retreat but once he turned Sasuke was already behind. His flame blade mere inches from him.

"Besmirched Flambe Reappearing Death." Sasuke whispered as the blade came into contact with Kidomaru. The man cried out as the blade hit him just below his ribs. Lacking physical form as it was, it didn't cut him. Merely wrapping around him as it passed through. But the affected body part was cloaked in its flames. The heat of which he could feel burning him into ashes from the inside. The pain made his vision blur. Desperately he spit out a kunai at the Uchiha, seeking to delay the painful assault. As he did he attempted to jump back. Looking backwards to seek asylum he flinched as a ducked Sasuke was already there.

Swinging the dreaded blade of flames for his ankles. Kidomaru didn't scream, he shrieked as he fell. Sasuke could hear the man's flesh pop and bubble beneath the armor. A loud pop sounded off as either the armor around his ankles popped or his ankles themselves. It was cruel Sasuke supposed but death was becoming of anyone who dared threaten and impede him.

"HAAAA-ohgod-fuck!" Kidomaru howled as he attempted to crawl away.

"You can't leave yet." Sasuke began coldly. Appearing in front of the man's crawling form. "My technique isn't finished." He then disappeared yet again. Appearing to the side of Kidomaru slicing into his midsection again. The man flailed and pleaded, seemingly defenseless now. Sasuke merely appeared above the man's face, his blade hovering mere inches from it. "When I find out the truth I seek, there may be those who have to pay for hidden crimes. Even those who choose to stand in my way. To both, I only offer one thing. Death." Sasuke said coldly, thrusting his blade into the head of Kidomaru. The flames wrapped around his face. His eyes visibly popped as his head was cooked from the inside.

"Feel no shame for your opponent was an Uchiha, student of Shisui Uchiha and next master of the Body Flicker." Sasuke said before using what had become his signature technique to body flicker closer to Yuno. The female Uchiha seemed to be sneaking close to a Jirobo who was talking into an earth dome. His palms rested against it and his face held a cruel snarl. Right as Yuno drew close he seemed to morph his skin growing red and his hair grew out fully seeming more orange.

"I KNEW I WAS TRAPPED IN GENJUTSU! MY FORM TWO FREED ME!" He moved shockingly quickly for his size, throwing a haymaker at Yuno's face. Sasuke merely aimed his blade. Holding it as if it was an arrow in a bow.

"Arrow of the Besmirched: Phoenix Arrow." The blade hurtled towards the man hitting his arm before it could hit Yuno. The man screamed in pain as his blade hit an easier target. Unlike Kidomaru who was somewhat resistant due to his armor, Jirobo had no such defense. The blade seemed to melt through his arm. His bones audibly popped tearing through his flesh even further. Yuno wincing at the grisly wound took advantage of the opening. Sliding in and slitting the man's throat while he writhed in agony. She cleaned her unique kunai while she leveled a glare at Sasuke.

Sasuke raised a brow in response. Offering a mere "Hn?"

"You know I hate gorey attacks like that!" Yuno hollered. "So uninteresting you damn freak!"

"He nearly hit you, I took exception to that."

"Then cut it off cleanly like a normal shinobi! Don't create a human BBQ around me any more!" Yuno lectured angrily.

"Hn…"

"And stop your damn silent act!"

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Ikam's POV (Hidden Base Located in Land of Water)

The various hired grunts moved supplies to their new home for a while. While certainly, he had come here mostly for his affairs with the Village Hidden in the Mist, he had heard of a potentially beneficial find in their hideout from one of the men stationed to keep it active. A summoning scroll.

Such ties with the beast were a valued commodity. Unremarkable shinobi the world renowned had used them to great success. Two of the Leaf's strongest were known for wielding the powerful contract of the toads and slugs. Even his ally was signed with the snakes. Without using it to summon one's self they would be unable to see what clan it belonged to nor sign the origin scroll, a scroll containing the signature of all summoners guaranteeing aid to those lucky enough to sign. Ikam had sent twenty men to meet with the being behind the scroll. The group used it to summon themselves to the home of said creatures. They were relatively powerful men, about as capable of stronger Genin. Yet they had not returned, Ikam knew it would be wise to let things be. This opportunity may not come again.

Mishio and Ashira watched both tense. Mishio due to her beloved risking himself by going to see the creatures who owned the scroll. He had forbidden her from coming, knowing of her chronic defensiveness of him. Ashira was tense to see if the pitiful man would die here. He may serve him but he holds no love for him. He would seek to complete the shared dream of the two despite his death but would do so for his reasons. He had no urge to risk the wrath of summoning creatures.

Ikam spread a sealing array around the scroll with his mind. He slowly was surrounded by the seal. An aide drew blood from his arm as he did this. An anchor for his teleportation seal. It was nowhere near the level of the seal used by the Fourth Hokage for his terrifying teleportation technique. It is slow and only able to be used as long as the user or supporter has a hefty amount of chakra present. With a silent whirl of air, he suddenly faded from the room.

There was no passing of time or notable event to process his transport. He merely arrived in a thick moist forest. Ikam could hear the buzz of insects, the chirps of birds, the crunch of twigs, and the rolling of stones as various wildlife milled around him. He flared his chakra seeing if he could sense any chakra-wielding being nearby. From his reading, they used it similarly to the way humans do. But he sensed nothing nearby. Sighing he quickly leaped through the forest periodically sending out bursts of chakra. Ikam burst from the treeline landing on a stone in the middle of the river. He could see various paths of the river branch throughout the land, his vision blocked by more trees. He traveled for a bit before suddenly he was wrapped in clay.

"Odd." Ikam noted as it lifted him. He then glanced over to a strange creature sticking only its head out of the water. Eyeing him with human-like intelligence. "Would you mind freeing me, strange creature?"

"Creature!" It roared and leapt up from the water revealing its full form. Its face was almost dog-like with its snout and black nose. The area around its dark eyes was a darker black. The rest of its fur is a black top and a light belly. A ring of lightness at the line of neck and body. He believed it was some sort of raccoon. "My name is Yashu! I'm no creature!"

"A raccoon clan?" Ikam questioned himself. "Doesn't seem particularly impressive. Best not to judge a book by its cover though."

"RACOON! I'm a Tanuki, not a damn raccoon! That's it!" Suddenly the beast started barking.

"I suppose it would be best to be brought to their leader." Ikam continued to himself. "So I suppose letting them capture me would be best." As he finished this the tanuki burst forward with speed. Suddenly growing ten feet tall it unleashed a viscous punch into the man. He didn't even budge, managing to catch the blow with his fist. "Now now, I'll come along peacefully with no need to break my bones." As he finished various more tanukis surrounded the group.

"Damn right, you're coming with us! The leader will decide what to do with ya!" Yashu roared as he carried the man. The group of Tanuki ran off with Ikam in tow.

It took little time for them to bring him to their home. It was mostly hollowed-out tree trunks turned into various buildings. They led them up a staircase carrying them up an absurdly large tree. The trunk easily being the size of some villages. They eventually led him into a room where various animals moved throughout the room. Some meditated as cats, others seemed to nap as dogs, and one was an old, bald, and tan man. He held onto a glowing green branch. Each turned to the group holding up Ikam. One large tanuki holding each of his limbs.

The one named Yashu walked up first. "Sir, this human was found trespassing on our land. When I approached to question him he disrespected our clan!"

The old human man stalked forward. His face became a beastly snarl before he suddenly shifted into a human-sized tanuki growling into his face. "Is this true you pathetic human?"

Ikam chuckled loudly. His volume merely increased as he felt the grips tighten as a response. "My only response is to say I'll enjoy your servitude." He said before he flexed, the powerful flex sent the tanuki holding him flying. He raced forward, his hand reaching for the apparent leader's head. Chains of Clay raced out wrapping around his body trying desperately to stop him. But before it could bind him his hand was already resting against the Elder Tanuki's head. Seals raced throughout the creature's body. Ikam smiled, the seals were obedient ones meant to drive it into servitude.

"Arrogant you are. I will have to ensure one as dangerous as you cannot return. To think the bloodline of Uzumaki would fall this low. Your seals have never worked against us. It's why you originally sought us." The Elder commented before he suddenly raised a human-like hand. Forming a seal he smiled. "Summoning Jutsu: Banishment!"

Ikam could only widen his eyes as he was poofed away suddenly arriving back from where he had come. He flinched as looked down and saw the scroll they had found burning into ash. It seemed he would have to hunt them down again.

Any group that could so casually resist his Fuinjutsu was a group he wanted on his side.

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"What do you mean you want to talk?" Naruto asked as Tayuya suddenly dismissed her summons.

"I came here for my reasons shit face." Tayuya replied.

"You're working for either that snake that nearly killed Old Man Third or you're working with the bastard who tried to kill my mom either way, I'm kicking your ass forget it." Naruto yelled out defiantly.

"Listen here you little shit! Fuck…" Tayuya grabbed onto her face with an obvious mental struggle. "Please just listen."

Naruto stopped his forward advance as he heard her tone shift. He didn't trust her, but stalling wasn't such a bad idea anyway. "Fine hurry up."

"I may work for Orochimaru, but I have no choice but to strike out on my own." Tayuya countered. "I wanna defect to the Leaf in exchange for information."

"What the f-" Naruto started.

"Please I happen to overhear my teammates planning to give me to that man named Ikam. He has been killing Uzumaki all over the country and me a fucking high-level official of the sound was gonna be offered up to him on a platter after doing my job like a good fucking soldier." Tayuya explained.

"Why should I trust you?" Naruto asked with a glare.

"Once I give the info you'll see I can be trusted." Tayuya said, staring at the blonde intently.

Before either could ponder this too deeply a scream roared out. Followed by a haunted cry of Ukon.

"Brother!" He roared as he looked up at his elevated brother being held up by a large clump of sand. Both quickly took on the form of Oni. Sakon thrashed against the sand as Ukon clawed upon it. Gaara suddenly rose from the snow slowly forming out of sand. Once fully formed he kicked the brother into the clump. A wad of sand followed Ukon as he hit the clump that held his brother. The clump quickly formed around the screaming two.

"Shame you were nothing special." Gaara lectured as he lifted one arm towards the two. "If you both had used your full power instead of playing around we may have had a good fight. Luckily you have each other. Everyone has someone they say… their other half. This got me thinking… What if we could merge those halves? Let's try! DOUBLE SAND COFFIN!"

The sand compressed slowly. First crushing the two together, before it compressed smaller and smaller. Crushing each of their bones and killing both in agony. As Gaara finished his and turned towards the two a shaky Gai and Kakashi appeared on the roof backing Naruto. "Seems I'll have to wait. You owe me a fight, Uzumaki." He whispered as he turned into sand. Disappearing from the battlefield.

Naruto frowned as Tauya raised her hands above her head. He quickly pulled some wire from a pouch on his hip binding her hands together.

"One night out drinking and you're already tying up young ladies! I'm so proud!"

"Quite youthful indeed, yet somewhat naughty!" Gai roared.

"Shut up Kakashi sensei! You too Old Bushy Brows! You are the worst ya know?!" Naruto roared indignantly.

He was so done with today.