54 3.16

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Because of how close the explosion was to me, I also suffered from it as I was sent flying forward, which happened to be right into Ibuse.

Ibuse showed no restraint, and tried to slam me with its tail, which I'm sure would kill me with my already great momentum. However, the moment it was about to smack me down, I used another Force ability.

Force Inertia.

My body suddenly tipped to the side as I landed on the incoming tail, all of my momentum transferring into the summon as I started running along its body, driving my sword across its skin.

Unfortunately, my sword wasn't as sharp as it used to be, and I only managed to cut the skin.

It was enough to piss it off however as it started thrashing about, releasing poison around itself. Not wanting to get crushed to death, I jumped down from it, running straight into the enemy ranks, which had already started fighting as our forces charged at the same time as I did.

Meanwhile, the smoke created from the explosion of Konan's explosive tags subsided, revealing Hanzo. His cloak had been burned off, making him bare chested. He had a rather large scar on the left side of his abdomen, and more importantly, his respirator was broken.

As he peeled off the remains of it, Hanzo breathed out a purple gas, and asked, "Was that supposed to kill me?"

I ignored him however, as I continued dodging the incoming blades, dishing out a few strikes of mine too.

This was the best place for me right now. Because of the nature of the battle, the enemy could hardly use their Ninjutsu without dealing team damage.

However, Hanzo wanted my skin more than I thought so, as even as the Ame Orphans jumped at him from three different directions, all aiming their weapons at him, he weaved several handsigns, and disappeared into the ground.

My instincts warning me, I jumped back, just in time to dodge the incoming scythe as Hanzo jumped out of the ground, right next to me.

That… was not expected.

The moment he appeared, the surroundings quickly filled with poison, and while his men, who were equipped with respirators, were fine, our men not so much.

I didn't have the time to worry about them however as Hanzo went for the kill directly.

His scythe, or kusarigama, felt like death's scythe as it descended upon me. I parried it with my sword, but as I did the weight attached to the weapon with a metal chain crashed into my chest. I felt it coming through my instincts, but I couldn't do anything to dodge.

Coughing violently, I stepped away from Hanzo, who laughed, "What? Already done?"

I groaned and held out my fist, using Force Choke on Hanzo. He looked shocked as he was lifted off his feet, his hands going for his throat.

I tightened my grip on him as much as I could, but before I could break his neck, he once again weaved hand signs, and spat out a spear made of fire at me.

Although much smaller than a C Rank Great Fireball, it was much faster, and I could feel that it would melt right through me, so I begrudgingly let go of him to dodge.

But right as I dodged it, Ibuse appeared above me. It had jumped from where it was, and was threatening to crush me to death.

I felt hands grab me from under the ground however as the earth turned into mud, and I was dragged underground.

The experience felt… very strange. But I was quickly out as I realized it was Nagato who had saved me.

Emerging next to the Ame Orphans, I coughed out some mud that had gotten into my mouth, and said, "We need to keep them separated."

Yahiko frowned, muttering, "Wish I had learned the Summoning Jutsu from Jiraiya-sensei… Konan?"

She nodded, rubbing her palms together as she asked, "I'm going to need a few minutes, can you hold them off for now?"

The three of us nodded, and Nagato said, "If you can get Hanzo off the top of Ibuse, I will be able to damage it."

Without waiting for us to respond, he started weaving handsigns. It must be quite the Jutsu, if he started already.

Yahiko and I shared a look, and we rushed at Hanzo and Ibuse, running parallel.

Ibuse opened its mouth wide, but the moment it did, Chris, who was hiding somewhere nearby, shot the insides of its mouth, blowing up some of its flesh and forcing it to close its mouth.

Yahiko moved ahead with a Body Flicker, reaching the top of Ibuse's head as he swung his sword at Hanzo, who parried easily. But I arrived right behind, and fueling it with my emotions and some of the lifeforce I had stolen before, I used Almighty Push.

The moment I did, both Yahiko and Hanzo disappeared, replaced with lumps of dirt that were blown away by the Force. As for Ibuse, its legs buckled as it slammed into the ground.

Hanzo had avoided all damage, and Ibuse would easily shrug it off, but I did what I needed to.

I jumped off Ibuse just in time to see the earth beneath it churn and move up its body, dragging it deeper into the mud before it solidified into rocks.

Ibuse was strong, and as it thrashed around it started breaking off the restraints, but it wasn't fast enough.

Lightning manifested above it, taking the shape of a strange horse with a dragon's head, and it slammed itself right into Ibuse.

"Raiton: Heavenly Qilin!"

The attack was somewhat reminiscent of Kirin, used by Sasuke against Itachi, although this one only used the lightning from Nagato, instead of natural lightning, so it was less powerful. Was this what Sasuke had used as reference?

But even when it only used the lightning made by Nagato, it was still powerful enough to char Ibuse's back black, and immobilize it for a moment. At the same time, knowing he couldn't afford to lose his companion, Hanzo tried to rush at it, and fully used his poison breath to keep Yahiko away.

That wasn't enough to keep me away, however.

Slamming into him, I parried his scythe, and pushed him back. My lungs were starting to heat up from the poison, but I would be fine for now.

Sliding back, Hanzo growled as more fumes slipped past his lips, "Move away!"

I smirked in response, and clashed with him. As our weapons locked, Hanzo surprised me by suddenly letting go of his weapon, and stepping closer to me. He was faster than me as he punched my chest, and grabbed me by the shoulders to throw me over his shoulder.

But the moment he made contact, I used Force Drain, weakening his grasp over me as I grasped him back, and resisted his shoulder throw.

Hanzo looked shocked, and I headbutted him in the nose, earning a groan from the man. However, he also used the opportunity to breathe his fumes right into my face, and even with my resistance, I felt myself grow a little weaker as I let go of him, and he of me.

It was fine, though, for I had earned us enough time.

A large bird, easily as big as Ibuse, and made of paper had appeared, and was now attacking Ibuse. Hanzo roared and threw a fire jutsu at it, but the paper was no ordinary paper as it shrugged off the flame attack, continuing to attack Ibuse.

Konan kept focused on the battle, and had hidden herself out of sight. Yahiko and Nagato, however, surrounded Hanzo with me as we walked in circles around him.

Hanzo looked at us three, before narrowing his eyes at me and saying, "So you were the real leader of the Akatsuki?"

I smiled, twirling my sword around my hand as I replied, "Nah, I'm just an S Rank pain in the ass."