Saving Lord Third

Chapter 21

Ting!

Fwack!

Ting!

Zing!

Swish! Thud! Crack!

Huff...Huff...Huff… "What the hell is this kid? He's not normal!" A Sound ninja said as he watched another one of his comrades drop dead to the ground with 5 needles sticking out of him. Haku stood not far away from them as he gave a quick glance at the barrier that held the Hokage and Orochimaru. He noted the three Anbu sitting on the roof watching Lord Hokage battle Orochimaru and thought to himself, what the hell are those three useless Anbu doing? They're just sitting there and watching? They won't even attempt to try anything? If they can't do anything about the barrier they could at least help us get rid of these guys sooner he inwardly cursed in his head.

Kakashi and Guy were extremely surprised. As they fought against the foreign ninja they noticed that Haku was doing just as well on his own and killing many of the ninja that instigated the attack. Yamato, you really weren't kidding when you said that they were truly skilled. I'm afraid even Sasuke won't be able to beat him right now Kakashi thought as he parried a kunai and threw a heavy kick at one of the foreign shinobi.

At this time Naruto and his group chased after Sasuke and Gaara. Since they were followed Shikamaru elected to stay behind to dupe them, successfully capturing eight Sound ninja with his Shadow Possession Jutsu. "Tsk. Kakashi's dog Pakkun said that there were nine people following us. That last person's job is probably to hide in the shadows just for situations like these." Shikamaru complained to himself. Just as he was contemplating his next move he heard a familiar voice.

"I found this person hiding in the shadows." The voice belonging to that person then dropped a dead man on the ground. A Sound ninja lay bloody on the ground for all to see. This instantly caused all of the eight captured Sound ninja to panic since that guy was supposed to be the one to free them in situations like these.

"Eh?" Shikamaru turned to look who it was and said in a surprised voice, "Kimimaro?"

Kimimaro turned to look at Shikamaru and nodded his head in acknowledgement. "Mn." He then walked over to Shikamaru's side and said, "You should kill all of them first before your Shadow Possession Jutsu wears out."

When those sound ninja heard Kimimaro say that, they were instantly distressed. "W-wait. W-we can talk this out."

Sigh. What a pain Shikamaru thought. "Well, I knew there was a ninth person but wasn't sure where he was. You saved me a lot of trouble. Thanks." Shikamaru said. He then took out four shuriken and 4 kunai and threw them, effectively killing the eight Sound ninja he captured with his Shadow Possession Jutsu.

Phew. He breathed out a sigh of relief. He turned to Kimimaro and said, "What are you doing out here anyways?"

"Me? I won't be able to hide it much longer so I suppose it won't hurt letting you know. My health is actually not that good. Getting into any serious fights will flare up my condition. I promised someone to stay out of the battle unless I have to. Would you like to join me?" Kimimaro replied.

"Eh?" Shikamaru said dumbfoundedly. He then smiled and said, "Well, since you're offering I will graciously accept. So where's your resting spot?"

Haku jumped back and parried an attack before putting his hands together and forming the signs of Ram, Tiger and said, "Water Style Syrup Trap Jutsu!" A dark murky wave of water quickly washed over the body's of 5 Sound ninja effectively slowing their movements and keeping them stuck to the ground. Kakashi and Haku used that moment to quickly kill all five of them in the next instant. It was also at this moment that Haku noticed Lord Third fall to the ground with Orochimaru standing over him. It seemed like they were talking about something, however Haku saw that scene as an immediate threat to Lord Third's life and threw a kunai in the air with a paper bomb attached. It exploded creating a large plume of smoke in the air.

"Eh? What was that for?" Kakashi asked confused. Haku simply said with a voice of indifference, "For big brother to save Lord Hokage." Kakashi and Guy became even more confused at how that paper bomb was meant for Izaya to save Lord Third.

I just stabbed a Sand ninja in the neck and killed him when I saw a plume of smoke in the air. I instantly reacted by placing my hands together and said, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" I then formed the hand sign of confrontation and said, "Flying Thunder God Jutsu!" I left my Shadow Clone in charge of the barrier as I instantly appeared in front of Lord Third and kicked Orochimaru in the face which sent him flying back through the air all the way near the wall of the Four Violet Flames Formation Barrier. The three Anbu outside the barrier, the Four Sound ninja, Orochimaru, and Lord Third were so shocked at my entrance that they didn't know how to react as their voices got caught in the back of their throats.

Good thing I only fought with Taijutsu earlier against those Sand ninja and conserved as much chakra as I could. Even with the Shadow Clone I should still have enough chakra to teleport Lord Third and myself out of this damn barrier. I then turned to Lord Third and helped him stand as he looked at me still with a shocked expression on his face.

"Izaya-kun, did you use the Flying Thunder God Jutsu just now?"

"Mn." I nodded. I pointed at the necklace he was wearing and said, "Forgive me Lord Third. I meant no harm by giving you this necklace that contains my sealing formula inside. I just wanted to have a way to thank you for all the years and care that you've given my brothers and I. The only thing I could think of that was worthy of what you have done for us was to help protect you if anything were to ever happen. For that I would need to be able to arrive at your side instantly. I hope you can pardon my act of secrecy." I said with an apologetic tone yet not taking my eyes off of Orochimaru and the two reanimated Kage.

"Very well. We can have a nice long chat later." Hiruzen said as he refocused. Orochimaru snarled as he stared very closely at me. "YOU! I had a feeling you were capable after the first time we fought, however, you've given me quite a surprise. The Flying Thunder God Jutsu is the signature ability of the Fourth Hokage. To think a child like you would be able to use it. Hehehe-Hahahaha! Your body might be a good replacement for me until Sasuke fully matures." He said as he licked his lips with his long disgusting tongue.

Lord Third stood in front of me at that moment and said in a stern voice, "Orochimaru, I will not allow you to do as you please."

"Hehehe, Sarutobi-sensei, you should worry about whether you can save yourself first before you worry about anyone else." Orochimaru replied as the reanimated First and Second Hokage stood beside him. I then walked beside Lord Third and said, "Lord Third, it is unwise to continue fighting Orochimaru inside this barrier. Especially when he has reanimated Lord First and Lord Second. With the help of the other Jonin and Anbu we'll be able to hold them off without you having to risk your life."

"Ehm…" Hiruzen looked at me for a moment noticing my resolve and nodded his head as if understanding the next plan of action. "Very well." He said.

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes at us guessing what we were about to do, however, before he could do anything to stop us I placed my hand on Lord Third's shoulder and said, "Flying Thunder God Jutsu!"

"NOO!" Orochimaru shot towards us with his fastest speed, however he was too slow. Lord Third and I instantly appeared by the arena balcony where I had placed my mark earlier before I left to the outskirts of the village.

"Oh?" Hiruzen exclaimed in surprise as he noticed we were out of the barrier and near Kakashi, Guy, Haku and the other Leaf shinobi.

Huff...Huff...Huff… I panted as I leaned against the wall to stabilize myself. Kakashi and the other Leaf shinobi instantly made their way over to us. All of them still too shocked to say anything. They could only keep their shock to themselves and accept what had happened, given that the situation called for them to all be focused and serious. Kakashi did however have one thought come across his mind, Minato-sensei…

"Izaya! Are you alright?" Hiruzen slowly helped me sit down and rest. I nodded my head and said, "I'm fine. I'm good with teleporting myself but not so good with teleporting others. It costs a lot of my chakra to take others with me through my Flying Thunder God Jutsu. I've also split my chakra in half before coming here to have my Shadow Clone maintain a barrier that I have set-up by the village gates to reduce the damage to the village." I explained as I struggled to remain conscious. Haku quickly came to my side and used the medical ninjutsu he learnt over the years to begin healing me and restore some of my chakra.

"Big brother, just rest. You don't have to explain everything right now." Haku said with concern.

"Mn." Hiruzen nodded as he turned to all the Leaf shinobi present. "Izaya has done a great deed for the Hidden Leaf. Haku as well. The rest of us must not let the efforts of the young be in vain. I will count on all of you to help aid me in suppressing the attack and Orochimaru!"

"Yes!" All the Leaf shinobi assented.

"Tsk! How can this be! I had planned everything perfectly. Who would've thought that my plans would be foiled by this child who hasn't yet become a Chunin." Orochimaru seethed with anger but also with great interest in Izaya's display of power. I really want that child along with Sasuke, but the odds are against me now. I have no choice now he silently thought to himself. "Withdraw!" Orochimaru shouted as the Four Sound ninja deactivated their barrier and left hastily with Orochimaru. The reanimated First and Second Hokage slowly withered away as the body of the sacrifices for the technique dropped dead on the rooftop. Lord Third and the other Leaf shinobi with him ran off and chased after Orochimaru while Haku remained seated with me as he continued to heal me.

Clone Izaya remained guarded by Ibuki and some other Leaf shinobi as he maintained the Five Seal Barrier. Not long after Jiraiya arrived and destroyed the summoned snake which prompted Clone Izaya to instantly stop the flow of his chakra into the Five Seals Barrier technique effectively releasing its barrier field. Clone Izaya then disappeared in a puff of smoke and whatever remaining chakra it had returned to Izaya's original body along with everything it had witnessed.

"EH?" Ibuki as well as the other Leaf ninja that were guarding Clone Izaya said at the same time in surprise.

"This entire time the one maintaining the barrier was a clone?" One of the shinobi said in disbelief. Although surprised Ibuki recomposed himself in the next moment and said, "It's fine. Whether it was actually Izaya or a clone the fact remains that it was the one who was maintaining this barrier that protected the village from suffering external damage."

"Mn." The others assented. With the giant snake summon dead and Lord Third free it wasn't long after that, that the battle had ended. Orochimaru and his Sound Four ninja had managed to escape in some slippery way and the rest of the foreign ninja who couldn't escape were either killed or surrendered. Haku and I just sat down by the arena wall staring at the damage from the earlier battle. The crowd of people were all still under the Genjutsu from earlier as well, but this was for the best. If they weren't placed under Genjutsu the battle would have been incredibly chaotic if they all panicked.

"Well...does this mean we're Chunin now or not?" Haku smiled and attempted a joke to lighten the mood.

I simply turned my head to look at him for a moment before I was unable to contain my laughter, "Pfffft! Ha-Hahaha!" I placed my hand on Haku's shoulder as we stood up and said, "Let's go find Kimimaro. I could go for some meat skewers right now."