27

Savage Beasts Collide

"What is this…?!" Sasuke ask as he looked around for the origin of the incredibly dark aura.

Naruto search for source as well. "This killer intent… It's stronger than Zabuza's… And even Gaara's…" He thought. "The only one that could compare was that Kisame guy…"

For his part, the grieving Ukon started to shake in fear.

As he continued his search, Sasuke's eyes suddenly widened. "Naruto! Watch out!" He screamed, but all the Uchiha could do was stand and watch as his friend turned around right before he was ambushed by a purple blur. The next thing the raven haired teen knew, his teammate stood several feet away impaled to a tree by what appeared to be two white stakes, one in the chest and another in his leg. Looking at where Naruto had been standing moments ago, Sasuke could now see a pale young man dressed in loose purple clothing with a skinny body that donned the unmistakable marks of a curse seal.

"Are you Uchiha Sasuke…?" Kimimaro inquired with a cold voice as he let the large barrel he was carrying drop to the ground and took a step towards the raven haired boy.

Before the Sharingan user could react, the newcomer appeared in front of him, graving him by the neck and picking him up with ease. "Well… Are you…?" He asked.

Struggling against the hold on his neck and the suffocating killer intent, the raven haired teen was able to glare at his captor.

The pale man took a second to regard the younger ninja's Sharingan eyes. "So you are…" Kimimaro commented before tightening his grip.

"Argh!" The Uchiha gasped as the fingers around his neck pressed down.

Casually, the newcomer reached into his disheveled robe and took out a small jar with dark, purple pills inside of it. "Is… Is that the Seishingan…?" Ukon asked timidly as he pressed his back against the trunk of a tree. The blue haired teen's body language indicated that he did not know whether to run away or stay.

"This is a new variant that Kabuto-san created." Kimimaro answered in a monotone as he forced one of the pills down the Sharingan-users throat. "Orochimaru-sama can wait no longer… This new pill will greatly accelerate the process to prepare the Uchiha's body." The older shinobi added.

Sasuke struggled, but try as he might, he was unable to spit the tablet out due to his current predicament.

The effects of the pill were almost immediate. A dark aura suddenly enveloped the Uchiha as the young man screamed in pain. "That… That's not supposed to happen…" A startled Ukon commented.

Ignoring the other Sound nin, Kimimaro simply turned around and started to walk back towards the large barrel, his hold on the genin never loosing. "Open the coffin, now." He commanded in a strong voice.

Ukon jolted in surprise, but hurriedly scrambled to comply, lifting the lid off the barrel. Kimimaro unceremoniously threw Sasuke writhing body into the coffin before making a hand seal. An ominous black fog gathered over their heads for a brief moment before it suddenly fell into the barrel along with the Leaf nin. Warily, Ukon placed the lid back and immediately stepped back. "Incredible… It would have taken all of us in the Sound Four to pull off the Black Fog, but he did it by himself…" The blue haired teen thought as he watched the pale man seal the coffin. "No wonder he was the one Orochimaru-sama had chosen…"

Suddenly, Kimimaro jumped away from the barrel and Ukon. The next second, the place where the older shinobi had been standing burst into black flames. "What the hell have you done to Sasuke…?! You bastards!" Naruto demanded to know as he walked towards the two Sound ninjas, despite his accelerated healing, blood was still running from his wounds. Setting sights on the sealed confine, the blond charged towards it ready to set his teammate free.

Unfortunately, the Jinchuuriki was intercepted by the newcomer, who delivered a powerful kick to the genin's midsection at lightning speed that send the spiky haired teen flying right through a tree.

"I cannot allow you to destroy the coffin." Kimimaro commented. "Doing so will kill Uchiha Sasuke and interfere with Orochimaru-sama's plans." He added.

The Uzumaki got back to his feet right away, angry at the pale man for kicking him and at himself for almost killing his friend. "Then I guess I will have to take care of you two first…" The genin commented as his Sora Sharingan stared at both Oto shinobi down.

Unbothered by the Konoha nin's words, Kimimaro calmly took a few steps forwards, setting himself between the blond and the coffin. "Ukon, take the Uchiha to Orochimaru-sama." He ordered. "Make sure to get there on time." The older teen added, spiking his killer intent to accentuate his command.

Visibly affected by the malevolent aura emanating from his comrade, Ukon needed a second to compose himself before nodding and grabbing the barrel, strapping it to his back.

"Not you won't!" Naruto declare before dashing towards the blue haired teen. Unfortunately, the Uzumaki was once again interacted by Kimimaro, who tackled him again, ramming his body through several trees. The spiky haired boy gasped in pain as he realized that more white stakes have impaled his chest. Looking up, the genin was surprise when he saw several bones sticking out of his opponent's body.

The Oto nin did not seem to be any pain despite his own body's condition. "Does it surprise you?" The grey haired teen asked. "This is Shikotsumyaku… My extinct clan's bloodline limit." The Kaguya explained, referring to the bones sticking out.

The Sharingan user merely glared. "I don't care about you… Move out of my way." He commanded as he got back on his feet.

Kimimaro remained unfazed. "I will not." The young man answered simply. "I am here to fulfill Orochimaru-sama's wish… And right now, you are a threat." He stated before suddenly launching himself forward. "Yanagi no Mai."

As the Sound shinobi closed in on the blonde, he thrust his palm forward, a sharp bone coming out of it to stab his opponent on the shoulder. Naruto was able to move out of the strike's way, prompting Kimimaro to swing his outstretched arm in pursuit.

For a brief moment, Naruto considered blocking his opponent's arm to gain an opening, but fortunately his Sharingan eyes caught another bone emerging from the older teen's shoulder. Instead, the spiky haired boy jumped back out of the attack's reach.

However, having predicted the Leaf nin's action, Kimimaro took advantage of the split-second opening the jump gave him to deliver a powerful kick to the younger boy's stomach sending him flying back.

Naruto's back hit a tree with a thunderous impact, causing him to flinch in pain. "Amaterasu!" The genin exclaimed as he quickly opened his eyes.

Kimimaro jumped back right before the black flames appeared.

"Damn it…! I need to beat this guy quickly…!" Naruto raged in his mind. "I have to catch up with the one that took Sasuke!" He thought as he continued sending the Amaterasu flames at the grey haired teen who was graciously dodging all of them as if he were dancing. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto called out after a quickly hand seal.

Immediately, ten blondes appeared around the Oto nin, closing in on their target. "Karamatsu no Mai." Kimimaro muttered, crouching down slightly as the clones swarm him. The next second, all of the shadow clones disappeared in clouds of smoke, revealing the Kaguya with his body covered by sharp, protruding bones.

The gray haired teen looked up to find the blond right in front of him with most of his right arm covered in fire. "Houyoku!" Naruto called out as he thrust his fire jutsu forward.

The Sound nin did not even bothered to dodge.

Blue Sharingan eyes widened in disbelief at the sight of his attack being stop by the bones in the pale teen's ribcage that had suddenly emerged and impaled in his arm. "Tsubaki no Mai." Kimimaro said as he looked down on the younger shinobi. Reaching for his shoulder, the Sound nin pulled a short sword and used to stab the trapped blond in the left shoulder.

The power of the strike was so strong, that Naruto was set flying back onto a tree once more. The Uzumaki panted as he gripped his bleeding shoulder. "Damn you…:" He growled.

Still, the Kaguya remain unnerved by his opponent's killer intent. "From what I sensed as I was coming here, I expected you to be a greater challenge." The pale man informed. "But your mind is so focus on rescuing Uchiha Sasuke that you have yet to realize that you are going to die by my hands."

Naruto's fist tightened. "Shut up…" He demanded.

"I understand you… I know what it feels that to have this one thing that you devote yourself to the point that nothing else matters." The Sound nin admitted. "You want to save your teammate and I want to fulfill my masters' wish." He added. "However, there is a difference between you and me… I have nothing left to lose." Kimimaro said before extending his arm away from the blond.

By the time the spiky haired teen's eyes widened in realization, five projectiles had already shot out of the Kaguya's fingertips and were flying straight towards where Neji and Kiba lied unprotected.

Acting out of instinct, Naruto launched himself toward his fallen teammates. "I'm not going to make it in time…!" He thought with dread. As he rushed to try and stop the white bullets, the blond error dawned upon him.

With his opponent havening exposed himself completely defenseless, Kimimaro directed his other hand towards him and released another barrage of the bone projectiles.

Naruto realized that he had no chance to dodge the small missiles if he wanted to even hope to help his friend, all at the genin could do was brace himself for the, more than likely, painful impact and hope that he would still be able to still make it in time.

However, the Oto nin's attacks never made contact. Two large barriers of sand had formed in front of him and his teammates, blocking the white bullets.

"What a shameful behavior… Uzumaki Naruto…" A strong voice echoed throughout the forest as the sand gathered up and started whirling in place.

"Ok Hinata-chan, this time put more force on your spin, ok?" Tenten instructed as she prepared another set of kunai.

The younger kunoichi gave her friend a worried look. "Are… Are you sure?" Hinata asked; her voice full of her doubts about the situation.

"Geez… I told you that yes I am sure… This is the best way for you to learn the Kaiten." The brown haired girl declared.

The Byakugan user bit her bottom lip. "But…" The blue haired girl was cut off when three kunai were shot her way. Having no other choice, Hinata started to spin on her heel, pumping chakra out of every part of her body as she did so. Taking the advice, she pushed on harder as the blades approached.

Two of the kunai bounced harmless off the sphere formed by Hinata's movements, however the third one somehow latched on to the young woman's chakra for a brief moment before it was sent flying to the side in the direction where Sakura and Ino were resting.

"Look out!" Tenten shouted as her kunai cut through the hair on a warpath towards the pink haired girl whose eyes widened in shock at the incoming projectile.

Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind swept through the training field, veering the small blade away from Sakura, and making it fall somewhere among the trees.

Tenten let out a sigh of relief at her friend being unharmed, but still look around the field confused. "Where did that strong wind came from…? It's almost as if…" The weapon mistress stop mid sentence as she caught sight of familiar person approaching. Her hold on her weapons tightened. "You!" She shouted.

Sakura and the other two kunoichi turned to where the older girl was glaring at and gasped.

Temari from the Hidden Sand walked casually towards them as she closed her fan.

"What are you doing here?!" Ino asked as she took a defensive stance.

The blond girl took a moment to glare at the group of tense kunoichi in front of her before her expression softened. "Relax… I have not come here to pick a fight." She revealed, however here words went heeded as four girl refused to lower their guards. "My brothers and I were sent back to the Leaf as a peace envoy… Here." Temari added as she threw her fan far away from her reach and raised her hand as a show that she meant no harm.

The younger kunoichi relaxed a bit, but Tenten remained in full alert. "What do you want with us?" She asked narrowing her eyes.

Looking at the brown haired girl, Temari shook her head in disbelieve. "I asked the Hokage point me where you were because… Because…" Shocking everyone, the older girl suddenly bowed down. "I wanted to personally apologize for the Sand's attack on this village and for the part my brothers and I took in it." She said unreservedly before raising her head. "My brothers wanted to come too, but Kankuro had to stay behind to deal paperwork related to our mission and Gaara already went ahead to the others." The blond informed.

Sakura gave older girl a confused look. "Ahead to the others…?" She repeated. "What do you mean?" The Haruno asked.

"To meet with your teammates." Temari revealed. "The Hokage informed us that they were in a very important mission… Gaara rushed out immediately to back them up."

A figure started to form in the middle of the whirling sand. Naruto was taken back as Gaara appeared in the middle of the forest, arms crossed, and pale blue eyes looking straight at Kimimaro.

"What are you doing here…?" The spiky haired boy asked, not sure of what to make of the newcomer's presence.

The redhead did not even bother to look at the other Jinchuuriki as he answered. "I could ask you the same thing." He said. "Your Hokage told me that you were out here trying to save a friend… But instead I find you failing at it." The Sand genin said, holding nothing back.

The blond flinched for a second at those words. "You don't know what you're talking about…" He tried to rebuke.

"Heh…" A short laugh escaped Gaara, surprising the hell out of the Uzumaki. "Yeah, maybe I do not… I am still new at this protecting others business." The sand users admitted. "But what I do know is that if you continue fighting this person in your current state, you will die." Pale blue eyes narrowed. "And I cannot allow that to happen."

Naruto gave the Suna shinobi a look. "What are you saying?"

As if to answer the question, the sand from the redhead gourd came out and hover around its master. "I will take care of this guy while you go ahead and rescue Sasuke." He indicated.

"But what about the others?" The blond questioned as his eyes shifted from Neji and Kiba to Shikamaru.

"I will keep them safe." Gaara assured with confidence. "Now, go!" He commanded.

The Sharingan user hesitated for a second, but then nodded before dashing off.

Kimimaro immediately reacted. "I cannot allow that." The grey haired teen said as he moved to intersect the spiky haired boy, his sword still in hand and ready to strike.

"Sabaku Ame!" Gaara called as he extended one of his hands, immediately a barrage shot out of one of the sand clumps floating in mid air.

Out of sheer instinct, the Kaguya jumped out of the sand projectiles way, giving the Uzumaki enough time to get away safely. Kimimaro watched the blonde's back disappeared from his view.

"You berated Naruto from not being focus on the fight and now you are committing the same mistaken." The redhead's words reached the Oto nin's ear. Turning around, the grey haired teen barely had enough time to jump out of the way a large stream of sand flew pass where he was standing.

Despite having missed its apparent target, the sand continue going until it reached Shikamaru's unconscious body, picking it up and taking it to where his teammates lied.

The large gourd on Gaara's back dissolved into sand, moving toward the three fallen ninjas and enveloping them in a large sand sphere for protection.

"How will you fight me if you are using the sand to protect them?" Kimimaro inquired as he glared at the Jinchuuriki.

In response, Gaara unfolded his arms and narrowed his eyes. "I have something more… Feral stored for you." He said as the dark lines around his eyes suddenly became more pronounce.

The Sound shinobi watched as his opponent bore his fanged teeth at him and an orange chakra started to cover his body.

The chakra coat around the genin's body seemed to be boiling as it took an animal-like shape. Gaara's eyes were replaced by Shukaku's black and yellow once as he crouched down and his hands turned into claws. A large tail made up of the same boiling chakra swung behind the young man.

"I see…" Kimimaro said in an unperturbed voice. "You are the type of guy who does not hold back… Very well…" The pale teen let his robe fall off his shoulders and hang around his waist. The rip-like pattern on his body started to burn and spread, giving his skin a dark tone as a large set of bones sprouted from his back. "Let's go…"

The two transformed shinobi charged at each other at blinding speed, both readying their fists. The clash between the two young men was so strong it sent a shockwave throughout the forest.

The backlash of their collision pushed the two teens back. Gaara wasted no time to thrust one of his arms forward. Immediately, the bubbling chakra arm extended, flying straight at the Oto nin and destroying every branch on its path.

Kimimaro jumped out of the way. "Tessanka no Mai: Tsuru!" The Kaguya roared as he pulled out his own spine and used as a whip to strike the Jinchuuriki.

Mimicking his opponent, Gaara jumped to dodge the sweeping strike.

Dozens of threes were cut it half as the bone whip swept through the forest.

Taking advantage that his opponent was in mid air, Kimimaro raised his free hand and sent out a barrage of razor sharp bones.

The Jinchuuriki saw the projectiles coming. Taking in a deep breath Gaara let out a powerful roar that not only blew the bones away, but caught the Sound ninja by surprise as it push him back down to the ground with tremendous force.

Before the Kaguya could recover, the Suna genin landed back on a tree and sent another chakra arm at his enemy.

The transformed teen managed to dodge the incoming attack, but failed to see the chakra hand grabbing on a tree behind him.

Using the extended hold as a slingshot to quickly shorten the distance between them, the redhead delivered a powerful punch on the Sound nin, sending him flying far back, going through tees and rocks like they were nothing.

By the time Kimimaro regained his composure and stood up, the Sand nin was already in front of him ready to strike again.

"Tessanka no Mai: Hana!" The gray haired teen quickly called out before large bones came twisting out of his left arm, forming a large drill shape structure. The Kaguya brought his left arm up, using the large bone cone as a shield to block the Jinchuuriki's fist. Kimimaro took the chance and wrapped the whip around the redhead's ankle.

With his hold on his enemy, the sound nin immediately flailed the redhead's body, trying the slam him onto the ground.

However, just as Gaara's body was coming down, the chakra limps extended downwards, slowing him down and letting him land safely.

Not wasting any time, Kimimaro took a page out his opponent's book and propelled himself at the Suna genin with his whip.

Despite his enhanced senses, the Jinchuuriki was only able to partially dodge the older teen's drill-like weapon that managed to catch the side of his stomach with enough form that to send him crashing back several feet.

Gaara got back on his feet as he held his bleeding midsection. "Physical pain…" He panted. "I have not been acquitted with this concept for too long." The young man admitted.

Kimimaro regarded his adversary for a second. "I, on the other hand, have known it all my life." He said before a small trickled of blood ran down the side of his mouth without any notice from the tanned monster. "Tell me… You are a shinobi for the Hidden Sand, why are you involving yourself with this matter?" The Kaguya questioned.

"The official word is that I am doing this a show of cooperation from my village as way of apologizing for our involvement in the attack your master orchestrated." Gaara responded. "But really… I simply owe a debt to someone that I can never hope to repay and this is the least I can do." The red answered firmly as he took his hand away from his side, showing that the wound that was openly bleeding moments ago had now closed.

The grey haired teen narrowed his eyes. "It is really too bad…" Kimimaro suddenly commented with a sigh.

The redhead was slightly taken back. "What is?" He inquired.

"You and I both fight for the sake of someone who we owe far too much to." The Oto nin started. "I wish that you would have been the last opponent I ever got to face." He revealed. "A battlefield shared with you does not sound like a bad place to finally rest… Unfortunately, you let that guy get away from me."

Gaara could feel as a new sudden wave of killer intent swept through the forest.

"I still have to track him and kill him less he continues to interfere with Orochimaru-sama's plans." Kimimaro said as he took a much more aggressive stance. "So I have to kill you quickly first."

The Jinchuuriki remained quiet for a couple of seconds. "You can try…" He said in a grave tone. Suddenly, the bubbling chakra around his body started to boil violently. "I will not let you harm Uzumaki Naruto!" Gaara grunted as his fangs become more pronounce and the ground beneath his feet started to shake.

Kimimaro had heard before about the power that a Jinchuuriki held, but witnessing it was completely different.

The skin seemed to be tearing off the genin's body as he emanated wave after wave of pure killer intent. "Graaagh!" The Sand ninja roared as all the chakra around him seemingly exploded.

As the dust settled, the Kaguya was greeted by the sight of a strange and menacing red figure swinging its single tail. There were no facial features except for its mouth and eyes that appeared as mere empty white voids.

The creature took a step forwards and dust around it seemed to dissipate as if it was trying to run away. Suddenly, it thrust one of its claws forwards, which extended as it flew towards the Sound shinobi.

Though Kimimaro was able to dodge the attack, the dark red arm was able to graze him, immediately burning his skin with the mere touch. Seeing the creature's other arm coming his way, the grey haired teen jumped into the air, the two appendages followed in quick pursuit.

Swinging his whip, the Oto nin cut down the two incoming limbs, but his efforts were useless as they instantly grew back and continue their chase.

The grey haired teen was forced to jump between branches as the red limps pursue him, no matter how many times he cut them down, they would return as if it were nothing.

Eventually, the creatures' arms got a hold of their prey, wrapping themselves around the dark skinned monsters, searing his skin.

"Sawarabi no Mai!" Kimimaro exclaimed through the pain as he forced his body down to slam his restricted hands onto the ground. Immediately, several large bones emerge out of the dirt, severing the creature's arm.

More and more bones started sprouting all around the forest.

Beneath the red beast's paws, more bones began rising, forcing it to jump out of the way.

The Kaguya took this chance to close in on his opponent, but the creature had already recovered and charged forward to meet the Sound nin's attack with one of his own.

The fight between the two monsters continued for a while and very soon the forest was unrecognizable. Giant bones spread throughout, trees snapped like twigs, bone fragments scattered, and burn marks could be found everywhere.

Kimimaro landed some distance away from his opponent, bringing one of his hands up as he started to cough. Looking down at his hand, he saw it covered in blood. "My time is running out…" He commented, glancing ahead at his adversary.

Despite not showing any sign of slowing down, the beast seemed to be heaving.

"The extended use of the Bijuu's chakra must be taking a toll on him." The Oto shinobi reasoned, realizing that their battle was coming to a close. "I have to finish this now…" He said as he panted. "I still have to protect… Orochimaru-sama's plan…" The Kaugya said as he aimed the large bone drill on his left arm. A large amount of dark chakra started to emanate from the young man's body.

The creature seemed to understand its opponent's intentions as it let out a menacing growl before suddenly opening its mouth wide. A monstrous amount of chakra started to gather in front of the red beast in the shape of a sphere as the ground beneath it started to give as if the creature had suddenly become a lot heavier.

"Gyargh!" Kimimaro let out a primal roar as he charged forward with his drill, faster that he had ever moved before.

"Naruto, the look you had in your eyes…" Gaara's consciousness thought from inside the creature as it reeled back. "That look of worry for someone else's well being… I want it too." The chakra sphere was ready. "Naruto… Am I capable of protecting the people I care about…?" He pondered as the red beast pushed its body forward, releasing a devastating blast at the incoming Kimimaro.

A colossal explosion detonated in the forest, consuming both monsters and their torn battlefield in a blinding light while the earth shook.

Kakashi jumped from branch to branch at an impressive speed. The jounin's mind raged with thoughts about his students.

He had truly let things get out of control. His own damn pride had almost destroyed one of his students and then it had kept him from making things right.

Due to his own hesitation, the Hatake had let down every important person in his life from the Third Hokage and his own teacher to even Gai who still refused to speak to him about anything that was not mission related. Who would have thought that the silver haired man would miss the constant youthful challenges from his fellow jounin.

"I have to fix things…." Kakashi muttered to himself. "Things are about to go over the edge for Team Seven… And for the sake of my students and all those that people that placed their trust in me, I have to prevent that from happening." The Copy Ninja stated.

He knew that things were nearing its boiling point when he left for this mission, so now, as Konohagakure appeared in his view, the silver haired man could only hope that it was not too late.

As soon as he was done with the paperwork for the mission he had just finished, Kakashi would call for a long overdue meeting for Team Seven.

Yanagi no Mai – Dance of the Willow

Karamatsu no Mai – Dance of the Larch

Houyoku – Phoenix Wingbeat (Made up)

Tsubaki no Mai – Dance of the Camellia

Sabaku Ame – Desert Rain (Made up)

Tessenka no Mai: Tsuru/Hana – Dance of the Clematis: Vine/Flower

Sawarabi no Mai – Dance of the Seedling Fern

Kisame – Yeah… I'm still not sure it hasn't been a whole years since the last update… I think you knew that I had to renew my driver's license soon and you just want me to go out driving with and expire one and get pulled over.

Itachi – Oh, for Kami's sake! It has only been a we… Wait a minute… You drive a car?

Kisame – Of course. Don't you?

Itachi – I'm a shinobi… If I want to get somewhere I simply ninja my way there.

Lee – Yosh! After this chapter I can't wait to fight Gaara again!

Itachi – Calm down Lee, you still recovering in the story. You just have to wait a bit longer.

Lee – Yes, I can't wait to get back in action in the next arc!

Kisame – Wait a minute… How do you two know what's going to happen next in the fic?

Lee – Because Phoenixsun already gave out the scripts for the next arc to the people that are going to be in it!

Kisame – But… But… What about me…?

Itachi – Uhm… Anyways, thanks for reading PHD. Hope to see you in the next chapter as the arc nears its end.

Lee – And please review! It helps Phoenixsun greatly!