Chapter 48: Spirit Weapons and the Fourth Division

AN: Alright Chapter 48 is here! Chapter 46 has Izaya fighting Muramasa and Chapter 47 is about the war happening at the same time. The conclusion to Izaya's fight with Muramasa is in this chapter as well as the current happenings of Gaara's Fourth Division. The war is only beginning! What will happen to everyone I wonder...

Chapter 48

CRASH! BOOM!

Several walls of a dark cavern broke and shattered as a dark Tengu chased after me rolling and tumbling uncontrollably through the air. "Guh!" I groaned coughing up some blood as I crashed into the fifth wall that finally stopped my momentum. Damn Muramasa! After all this time he's still as strong as ever. Every time I'm able to separate him from his katana and create an opportunity to seriously injure him he's able to counter with some weird technique of his or he's able to materialize his katana in time to counter me I mentally cursed as I lay in a rubble of stone, dust, and blood.

Tsk. I clicked my tongue and clutched my right arm taking a moment to sense all the areas on my body where Muramasa inured me with his katana. The wounds won't stop bleeding after he cut me with his blade even with the regenerative abilities of my body. That blade of his is really strange. Every cut and wound on my body that was inflicted by something other than his blade eventually stops bleeding, but wounds inflicted by that blade won't stop bleeding. My body's regenerative powers are enough to replenish my blood loss for now but it won't do me any good if I keep bleeding nonstop and my chakra depletes to zero.

Swish!

Muramasa jumped down from the ceiling with his katana in hand as he aimed to pierce it through my heart. Once again I flew to a different kunai avoiding imminent death causing a scowl to appear on Muramasa's face. I took note of his growing frustration and anger as our battle continued to rage on.

Muramasa clenched his katana in his hands as he once again missed his killing blow contemplating in frustration. Never! Never once had he had this much trouble catching and killing someone he deemed his prey. It irritated him greatly that this one insect of a shinobi was taking so long to kill. Although he liked to play with his food, that was only up until a certain point and only if it was under the condition that he had absolute control. However, this...This game of trying to catch and kill a mere shinobi who had less than a third of his total chakra was getting out of hand.

I merely stared at the back of Muramasa as blood dripped down my mouth while sporting a sorry look with cuts, wounds, bruises, and injuries all over my body. Just as I was racking my brain for another plan I heard a voice speak in my head. "You there. Kid."

Eh? I widened my eyes and looked around unable to find the source of the voice. Then I heard it again. "Kid. To survive this long against that spirit, you aren't half bad. But if you keep this up you'll end up dying. How about I lend you a hand."

Before I could respond Muramasa swung his katana forcing me to teleport to another kunai once again dodging one of his many failed lethal blows from our drawn out battle. I continued to avoid Muramasa's onslaught while doing my best to split my focus between staying alive and listening to the voice in my head as I responded, "Who are you? Where are you? And how can you help? If you've got an idea I'll take it. I'm running out of ideas myself."

That mysterious and ancient voice spoke again. "Mn. You would do well to listen to me. However, if I am to help you then you must also help me."

Bang! Boom!

I dodged two perilous strikes to my life as I simply nodded."Speak your mind."

Once again that ancient voice spoke. "Muramasa is a spirit weapon. The katana and sheath are his true vessel. His soul is bound to it, that is why he can materialize the blade to his hand. He is only using that Tengu called Sojobo as his temporary host so he can move around freely. Although that Tengu is truly dead, his body is acting like the house for Muramasa's spirit. In order to defeat him you must expel his spirit from the body and back into the katana and sheath. Then you must seal his soul and suppress it in both the katana and sheath so he will not be able to reign free nor exert his malicious influence."

Thwack!

I swung a powerful kick at Muramasa's head successfully sending him flying across the cave as I responded to that mysterious voice, "Alright. Easier said than done. How exactly do I expel his spirit from the body. And how do I seal his spirit into the sheath and katana? I'm pretty good with Fuinjutsu but even I don't know a seal strong enough to contain this guy."

The voice responded once more, "I know. I will help you expel Muramasa's spirit from that Tengu's body and force it back into the katana and sheath. The sealing technique you need to use is called the Four Symbols Fiend Seal. I will transmit to you how to activate the technique. Use it to seal Muramasa's spirit back into the weapon. Lure him to my location."

I quickly nodded in agreement. "Alright. Where do I find you and what did you need me to help you with?"

"Near the first cavern hall there are three tunnels. Take the one on the left. There you will find an old lamp alit with crimson fire. Remove the seal on the lamp and I will be able to aid you, however, my power is limited. Overtime I have been greatly weakened and once I leave the lamp I will need another place to dwell. I've been watching you this entire time and have noticed that your body is quite interesting. You wield the ocular powers of the Sharingan and your physical body has great vitality. The way you can help me is to seal my spirit into your body utilizing the Four Symbols Divine Seal. With your body It may be able to help me regain my powers and survive instead of dying off."

I was incredibly stunned at this moment after hearing what this mysterious voice just said.

Bash! Bang! Boom!

I dodged Muramasa's onslaught moving to the left, then right, then left again and started making my way towards the lamps location recalling the memory of an old worn out scroll I found in Danzo's hideout about the Uzumaki Clan. It can't be...Can it? The voice said to look for a lamp that contained fire and this voice wants to teach me how to perform the Four Symbols Divine Seal and the Four Symbols Fiend Seal? Didn't that old scroll I found mention an old lamp that contained the eternal flame and that it contained the secrets to the Four Symbols Sealing Jutsu?

Boom!

I did a quick backflip dodging another lethal strike to my head as I slid across the floor and into the designated location that the voice instructed me to go. Immediately I spotted an old and ancient lamp with a crimson flame inside pulsing like a warm heart beat.

CRACK! BANG!

The entire left tunnel collapsed revealing Muramasa's furious and monstrous looking form reeking of sinister bloodlust. I didn't waste another second tearing off the seal on the old lamp. The moment the seal was removed space and time in the surrounding region instantly froze as I felt a ripple in my mind. My heart rate quickened and my eyes widened in shock as images and information appeared in my head. The way to perform the Four Symbols Fiend Seal and the Four Symbols Divine Seal was instantly imprinted in my memory as time and space began to move once more.

Muramasa screeched and swung down with his blade only to widen his eyes in shock as a bright crimson light blinded him and filled the entire region with a majestic aura that ascended into the skies. His spirit was ripped out from within Sojobo's body and forced back into the katana and sheath. I quickly cut my arm smearing some blood on 24 different kunai as I slightly wavered and fought to remain conscious from the blood loss all at once. I arranged the kunai in a pattern of 4 by 4 by 4 by 12 which surrounded the katana and sheath and formed the signs of Dog, Ox, Boar, Tiger, Ox, Boar, Tiger, Dog, Boar, Tiger, Ox, Dog, Tiger, Dog, Ox, and Boar clapping my hands at the end saying, "Sealing Jutsu Four Symbols Fiend Seal!" A giant purple light erupted from my hands and a giant seal connecting the blood stained kunai appeared surrounding the katana and sheath as all the murderous aura in the region was reabsorbed into the weapon before the seal shrunk leaving a mark on both the katana and the sheath.

FWISH!

The purple light slowly dissipated leaving only the light of a giant flame floating in midair as it spoke in this moment. "Impressive. Even though you have only just acquired the knowledge of how to perform the seal, to actually be successful on your first try is commendable. It appears my gamble has paid off in choosing you. You cannot leave this island with your current strength as the seals and barriers placed around it are much too powerful. It will take you at least three years to break through. I will do you one more favor and destroy this barrier so you can leave, however it will drain my power once more. After I destroy the barrier use the Four Symbols Divine Seal I taught you to seal me inside of you immediately. I will be completely drained of strength and have to recuperate. I won't be able to converse with you for last few things I will tell you before I break this barrier is that the spirit you fought is actually a physical spirit weapon named Muramasa which is also that katana you see before you. Place a Four Symbols Divine Seal on it and it will slowly siphon off his power into yours allowing you to wield him freely, though it may be a few years before you are able to. Do not draw that blade until enough of your aura is mixed with it which will let you have control over its power. The second thing I will tell you is that the tunnel to the right contains another spirit weapon. A spirit weapon that was sealed away by Muramasa. Remove the seal and bind it to your soul with blood and chakra. You should be able to wield its power without much harm. I think you will find it useful. Lastly, when I am sealed inside of you do not be alarmed. Your body's self regenerative power and ability to recover chakra will be slower than normal as I will slowly siphon off those powers to revitalize my spirit. Take care to not be damaged too horribly. Now, are you prepared?"

I took a moment to consider what this crimson flame said before nodding my head. "I am ready. Do you have a name?"

The flame simply said, "You may call me Senko." In the next moment a blinding crimson light flashed throughout the entire island as a loud cry of a majestic bird resounded from the mountains before a shattering sound was heard signaling the destruction of the barrier. I quickly smeared blood on my hands and weaved the signs of Snake, Bird, Dragon, Tiger, Bird, Dragon, Tiger, Snake, Dragon, Tiger, Snake, Bird, Tiger, Snake, Bird, Dragon, and clapped my hands at the end saying, "Sealing Jutsu Four Symbols Divine Seal!" My hands glowed with a golden light and a large circular seal appeared beneath a small crimson flame that floated in front of me before it was absorbed into the seal and imprinted itself on my abdomen. I immediately gritted my teeth as I groaned, "Kuh! What the heck is this flame? I can feel an incredible amount of power from it but at the same time I can feel my body's regenerative properties slow down. My body feels incredibly hot but in a comfortable way. It almost feels like I could walk through lava and be completely fine!" But I probably shouldn't try that I silently mused to myself.

The feeling lasted for a few more seconds before the golden light surrounding the cavern dissipated and everything returned to normal. Phew. I breathed out a sigh of relief. "It's finally over. That was rough. The prep for the Four Symbols Divine Seal is a lot less than the Four Symbols Fiend Seal. I wonder why."

I took a moment to observe my condition and smiled mockingly to myself. "At least all my wounds aren't bleeding profusely anymore. Probably cause Muramasa has been sealed away so the special ability of his blade to cause my wounds to bleed non-stop is rendered obsolete. But now my wounds are going to take a lot longer to heal. Normally my body would be healing them all right now...except nothing is happening. And my chakra is getting pretty low."

I touched my right eye and frowned as I realized that although my wounds stopped bleeding, my Sharingan was still destroyed. "Well, I was debating how I should utilize Shisui's eye but I guess now is as good a time as any to test out the limits of this body of mine." Taking a seat on the floor I took out a red scroll unfurling it and formed the hand sign seal of Confrontation. "Unseal!"

Poof!

A cloud of white smoke appeared and cleared away revealing a liquid container with a Sharingan inside. "Now I wonder how this will go. Non Uchiha's are supposedly unable to awaken the Mangekyo. Since I was able to my body must have at least become somewhat similar enough to that of an Uchiha's. So will Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan remain as is or will my body that's good at harmonizing bloodlines be able to assimilate Shisui's DNA from his eye and evolve it to an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan?"

Using the medical Ninjutsu I learnt during my years as an Anbu I dipped my hands in the jar and held Shisui's Sharingan. With glowing green hands I transplanted Shisui's Sharingan in my right eye and instantly felt a burning sensation in my head. At this moment Senko who was just sealed inside of me took note of what I was doing and exerted a little bit of his power into my right eye causing a crimson light to shine in the dark cave before everything returned to normal. I clutched my eye and felt a pounding headache rage on inside me for a few minutes before calming down.

"Alright...I'm sure Senko just did something, but I have no clue what. Seems like my right eye is undergoing some sort of change. Doesn't seem like I can use it for awhile." I looked down at my abdomen where the seal was placed and said, "Oi, Senko. What did you just do? I thought you were going to sleep right away or something." I waited a few moments but no response came from him. Letting out a sigh I shrugged my shoulders in defeat.

I'm not sure if sealing a foreign spirit in my own body was a great idea or not but under the circumstances I didn't have much of a choice. And I couldn't exactly try to trick Senko and go back on my word since he's definitely an existence that's stronger than even Muramasa I mentally noted. I took out another blindfold and tied it around my eyes before looking down at the weapon lying on the ground. It was a violet colored sheath and the katana itself was a purple blade that had a violet colored hilt with black diamond patterns. "So this is Muramasa." I walked over and picked up both the katana and sheath. The symbol of the Fiend Seal was left imprinted on both the sheath and the base of the blade. After putting the katana back in the scabbard I performed the Four Symbols Divine Seal once more as Senko had instructed causing another sealing mark to appear on both the sheath and the katana.

Eh? I widened my eyes in shock and wariness as I felt my soul link up with Muramasa causing small amounts of dark, sinister, and murderous chakra to mix with my own. "I-Is this going to be okay?..."

I took a moment to observe my condition after the linkage and heaved a sigh of relief after feeling my chakra slowly assimilate Muramasa's dark aura. Strapping Muramasa to the left side of my waist I followed Senko's instructions and entered the right tunnel. After reaching the end I took note of a blue tinted katana with a black and blue hilt mounted on the wall with intricate sealing tags strewn throughout the room. Above the weapon was a name carved on the wall that read Masamune.

"Masamune? Senko said this one might be helpful to me...As long as it doesn't go wild like Muramasa…" I whispered softly to myself with a bit of hesitation. After a few more moments of quiet contemplation I decided to go with it and removed the weakest part of the seals after studying the formation for a bit.

CRRRRSSSSHHH!

After the successful removal of the first the rest of the sealing tags lit on fire and burnt away leaving only Masamune. A bright blue and silver light fluttered around the weapon releasing an aura that felt like being embraced in the protective care of one's mother before dissipating. "Well...That was certainly different than Muramasa."

I walked forward and dripped some blood along with infusing my chakra into the black and blue weapon. Just as the red drops of blood infused with my chakra touched the blade the blue silver light erupted once more and covered my body before the light disappeared along with the weapon. "Eh? It's gone." I closed my eyes and focused within myself as I sensed a sleeping spirit dwell inside. I wonder if this is what Itachi feels with his spirit weapons. Or maybe he doesn't feel anything. Honestly it's a mystery to me how Itachi got his hands on his spirit weapons. From my past life I remember people thought that Itachi awakened them with his Susanoo. If that's the case then his Susanoo was a natural born monster! Itachi's spirit weapons were incredibly powerful. I wonder if my Susanoo will be able to wield Masamune and whether it has some unique skills like Itachi's Totsuka Blade. I took one more look around finding nothing but the carnage left behind from my battle against Muramasa. Letting out a deep breath I finally walked out of that damn hell hole and stood on the still barren mountainside.

"Hopefully I didn't miss much. Muramasa said that time and space were distorted here...It felt like I was only gone for a couple of days. No way the Great Ninja War started or anything like that yet right?" I said to myself taking a glance at the sky.

888

Whiiiiirrrr!

A warm wind blew past a large open desert with rock formations erected in various areas as Gaara stood atop a rock column alongside Onoki who turned to Gaara and said, "With the area Hiruzen was in he should have arrived by now. It appears he has been delayed. We can't afford to wait much longer. The previous Kage and Jiraiya are closing in on us. Kazekage, let you and I make a preemptive strike from the distance and see how they respond."

Gaara turned to Onoki and said, "Very well. Be careful."

Onoki smirked. "Heh. I may be old but I'm quite experienced. Allow me to show you that I have not forsaken myself."

Gaara nodded and lifted his hands causing a large amount of sand to rise in the air moving it towards the previous Kage and Jiraiya. The reanimated Kage and Jiraiya stopped in their tracks at this moment as they saw the gigantic wave of sand coming towards them. Gengetsu was the first to speak. "OH! Look at that. What a large amount of sand."

Rasa furrowed his brow as he thought about Shukaku. He quickly placed his hands on the ground and said, "Gold Dust!" Immediately a large amount of golden sand erupted from the ground and crashed into the oncoming wave of regular sand forcing it to fall down right before them. As he turned his head upward he widened his eyes in surprise seeing Gaara instead of the Shukaku. Gaara floated atop a sand cloud looking down as he said, "Hello father."

Rasa frowned. "Where is the One Tails?"

"The One Tails is no longer with me. It has been gone for a long time now." Gaara lifted up his hands to ensnare the Four Kage and Jiraiya with sand only for Mu and Jiraiya to successfully dodge. Onoki snuck up behind all of them and said, "Particle Style Atomic Dismantling Jutsu!" Mu turned utilizing the same Jutsu while Rasa released Gaara's entrapment allowing the previous Kage to move out of the way from the collision of both techniques. A giant cavity was created in a sphere of bright white light before dissipating.

Rasa and Gaara continued their attack on one another as Rasa asked, "What do you mean Shukaku is gone?"

"I am no longer a Jinchuriki. The Akatsuki extracted the One Tails from me and I had died. It was Granny Chiyo and my friends that saved my life."

"Friends? You have friends?" Rasa asked in disbelief. Gaara stared at his father for a moment as he thought about his past. "Father, even though you tried to kill me six times, and each time my fear and hatred of you grew, I no longer hate you. I can understand why you did it. I am now the Fifth Kazekage. It is a leader's duty to eliminate threats against one's village. We must protect it."

Rasa stared in shock. "You are...You are the Kazekage?"

Onoki floating aside Gaara chimed in, "That's not all. He's also the commander-in chief of the Allied Shinobi Forces main battle regiment. Despite his age he's not only Kage, he also has the respect of all the other Kage."

Mu looked on with interest and commented, "No wonder. I thought I sensed a mix of different chakra from multiple villages. Imagine that. Shinobi forming an alliance."

Jiraiya smiled and said, "Allied Shinobi Forces? I wish I was alive to see the day that something as incredible as that was formed. It is unfortunate that I have to witness such a great event as a reanimated shinobi on the opposite side. Who was it that reanimated us? I thought that Sasuke had killed Orochimaru."

Gaara turned to Jiraiya answering, "It was his subordinate Kabuto. He learnt how to use the Reanimation Jutsu and summoned you all back from the dead. He is working with the Akatsuki. The Akatsuki's leader is Uchiha Madara and he has declared the Fourth Great Ninja War. We shinobi of the Five Great Nations have banded together to prevent Madara from ending the world."

The previous Kage and Jiraiya immediately widened their eyes in shock at this revelation.

"Madara? He isn't dead yet?" Mu said in disbelief.

"Guh...I had a feeling something drastic was going to happen in the world." Jiraiya mumbled.

The Third Raikage, A spoke at this moment, "If Uchiha Madara is truly still alive then quickly seal us away. We don't want to be pawns for his plans. We don't have control over our own bodies and are set to counter the enemy automatically. Be prepared."

"Understood." Gaara said as he unleashed a giant wave of sand once more whilst Rasa countered with a wave of his own gold dust. Onoki finally gave the signal for the rest of the Fourth Division to engage in battle. Jiraiya furrowed his brow as he, A, and Gengetsu rushed towards the Fourth Division shinobi. Mu and Onoki also began engaging in a battle of their own.

"Damn this Jutsu. I don't have control over my own body. After all that time searching for the answer to peace I am being used as a pawn to go against the very peace I fought for. Naruto, please stop me." Jiraiya lamented aloud as he jumped in the air and clapped his hands saying, "Barrier Probe!" Immediately an invisible sphere rippled out from his body erecting a sensing barrier around him, allowing him to detect anyone who gets near him from all directions. He then formed the signs of Boar, Tiger and said, "Earth Style Dark Swamp Jutsu!" At this moment the Fourth Division split its members into three units to face Gengetsu, A, and Jiraiya. Many of those facing Jiraiya had fallen prey to his Dark Swamp Jutsu and started sinking deep into the murky, sticky mud.

"AAAAH!"

"Help!"

"Don't come any closer!"

"Stop!"

Screams of panic and fear were heard all around from all three units. Jiraiya dodged multiple ninja tools aimed at him including those from his blind spot due to his erected barrier warning him in time. He scowled at his own body for reacting in time and shouted, "There is a barrier around me. Either find a way to remove my barrier or simply overwhelm me with attacks from all sides." At this moment he felt his body acting on its own again and shouted, "Anyone, quick! Block with Water Style!" He then formed the signs of Rat, Ox, Dog, Horse, Monkey, Boar, Tiger and shouted, "Fire Style Great Fire Destruction Jutsu!" He took a deep breath and exhaled an incredibly powerful and large flame from his mouth while several allied shinobi's banded together and said, "Water Style Water Bullet Jutsu!"

KRRRSSSHHH!

Steam and smoke filled the air as several water bullets collided with Jiraiya's Fire Ninjutsu.

PWOOOSH!

At this moment Gaara had managed to successfully seal away his father the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, and joined up with the three units that were currently engaging Jiraiya, Gengetsu, and A. He frowned as he took note of the casualties. Gengetsu had summoned some sort of giant clam and was releasing a Genjutsu which confused the unit engaging him. A, the Third Raikage was devastating the unit facing him as his speed was too fast and his power and defense too great whilst the unit facing Jiraiya suffered just as many casualties against Jiraiya's mastery over many different Jutsus. Onoki returned to Gaara's side at this moment and said, "Lord Mu has used one of his Jutsu's to turn invisible in order to hide from detection. Until he's found we need to deal with these other three as quickly as possible. Where the heck is the Third Hokage?!"

Gaara nodded and said, "I will support all three units to minimize casualties. You should pick a unit to help and quickly try to seal away the reanimated shinobi. Hopefully we buy enough time for the Third Hokage to join us. He must of been held up with a battle of his own."

"Mn. We can only do that for now." Onoki agreed.