The Pantheon of Nine

By: Finn Mertenz

A/N: Narudevilfan - I wish Kishimoto tried to explain it, but he never bothered to try. Even with Sage Mode, they're all based off an animal, so being a Forest Sage wouldn't make sense.

GamerX568 - "I don't know why you made the Raven blind considering that definitely didn't happen in canon." In canon, it was confirmed by Itachi (and Danzo) that after using Kotoamatsukami, the eye needs a decade to recharge.

That's why Danzo had bandages over his right eye, to hide Shisui's blind Sharingan. Because, (if you aren't Shisui) you can only use Kotoamatsukami once a decade.

"You way overpowered Kakuzu and Hidan; Only a jinchūriki can survive a direct Bijūdama." In Naruto Shippuden episode 72 (which is 100% canon) Kakuzu and Hidan battle Yugito.

To make this clear, Kakuzu literally takes a Bijūdama point blank to his face. And he's completely unharmed without any injury, at all, he wasn't hurt in any way, shape or form.

In canon, Yugito is foot stomped by Hidan and Kakuzu (the latter doesn't even use his masks.) So, why is Han/Yugito vs Hidan/Kakuzu so unrealistic? What's the problem?

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO. I DO NOT CLAIM TO OWN NARUTO.

Chapter 125: Assault On The Mist Village! Stained With Blood.

Sunday 4:23pm, September 6th 58SSP.

"Hahah! I win!" Kiba scoffed.

Surrounded by his Genin teammates, these shinobi played a friendly game of cards. Beating Deidara with an ornate display of skill, this rogue shinobi dropped his hand in annoyance, pinching his nose.

"I'll admit, you're pretty good, for Konoha." Deidara leered.

Enthralled by this insult, Kiba challenged him to another match, shuffling his deck. Drawing a handful of cards, these ninja were engaged in a friendly battle, testing each others wit and genius.

Meanwhile.

"Hurry up! I'm starving!" A youthful girl cheered.

Walking down the misty streets of Kiri, this 8 year old child was trailed by her mother. Dressed in a blue kimono with a white apron, this middle-aged woman smiled at her impatient daughter.

Meanwhile.

"Order up!" Kagura proclaimed.

Gifting a steaming bowl of ramen to Kurenai, this Jonin was seated at a wooden bar. Positioned inside the iconic Karatachi restaurant, she studied her bingo book while eating, shuffling the pages.

"Thanks, I appreciate it..." Kurenai reached for her wallet.

"Keep it! As a thank you to Konoha." Kagura chuckled.

His father had always maintained peaceful and positive relations with the Land of Fire. As the son of the 4th Mizukage, Kagura wanted to continue that streak of friendship, strengthened by food.

Leaning over the counter, he caught a brief glimpse of Naruto's whiskered and fair face. Listed as an S-rank criminal, he was wanted for the assassination of the 3rd Hokage, and the betrayal of his village.

"I've heard of that shinobi... Are you hunting him?" Wiping grease on his attire, Kagura slurred.

Reluctantly pinching the bridge of her nose, Kurenai slurped a mouthful of noodles. Detailing the risks and threats to Konoha, she had no choice, Naruto was a enemy of her village.

Meanwhile.

Basked by swirling clouds of mist, the headquarters for Kiri's Anbu was a three-story tower. With unmasked faces and grey flak jackets, five shinobi were gathered around a sphere of transparent chakra.

"Tekuno is late... Where's his report?" An elderly Anbu fueled this orb.

Encompassed by the constant veil of mist, Kiri used this natural weather to their advantage. Filtering every entry and embarkment from their village, the mist instantly identified any intruder.

"Don't worry about it... He's probably gambling, again." Suikon growled.

A middle-aged shinobi, Suikon had fair skin with shoulder-length brown hair, matching his eyes. Adorned in a full-bodied blue jumpsuit, this attire was concealed by a grey flak jacket.

Standing up to stretch, he popped several joints and muscles, breathing a sigh of relief. Walking outside to smoke, he pulled a cigarette from his jacket, lighting it with a waxy candle.

Meanwhile.

"And you think the nine tailed fox is to blame?" Mei sneered.

Seated behind an ornate desk, the 5th Mizukage held both arms against her massive chest. Basked by exterior beams of mist, an opened window permitted a great view of Kiri's streets.

"First, it was Gaara, then Utakata..." Ao recited a list of names.

"There's no doubt, he's gathering the tailed beasts." Shuffling a handful of pages, Mei sighed in response.

For several months, jinchūriki had vanished and disappeared from their villages. Robbing their nations of power and prestige, at first, many praised this gift, freed from the demons they controlled.

However, the 5th Mizukage became alarmed by this sudden lapse of autonomy. Losing Isobu and Saiken, the Land of Water lost their greatest tools for defense, unprepared for external war.

Since her inauguration as a Kage, Mei constantly strived to prove her worth and value. Too live up to the memory of Yagura, and surpass the overbearing shadow that he left, after his disappearance.

Now, met with conflict after conflict and obstruction after obstruction, she found her opportunity. This was the moment she dreamed of, to show the world that she was worthy of the Kage title.

Meanwhile.

"I thought I smelled blood..." Kisame cackled.

Standing outside the natural walls of Kiri, this shinobi was surrounded by limp corpses. Shrouded by the bandaged outline of Samehada, his shark-like teeth were bared and jagged.

"But this is a little much, even for you." Speaking with a wide smile, he towered over Naruto.

Just 12 years old, on the cusp of youth, this rogue shinobi was veiled by dense mist. Clothed in black robes with red clouds, he wore a purple-tinted ring on his right thumb, with the kanji for 'zero'.

"Itachi died for this, they all died, for this." Naruto groaned.

Like all Akatsuki, Kisame was once a loyal and devoted shinobi, serving the 4th Mizukage. Forced to slay, murder and devour the weak, he was taught that nothing was more important than the village.

Eventually, this devotion turned sour and stale, tainted by years of heartless conflict. Broken by one final order, to kill those that fell behind, Kisame couldn't withstand the twisted nature of shinobi.

Tied of lying, he didn't want to live in a world of lies, a world of fake and false mirages. This was Kisame's dreams, to break the never ending cycle, to live in a world without lies.

"You know how much I hate to lie." Kisame chuckled with insanity.

Pulling the yellow-tinted ring from his left hand, the kanji for 'south' was emblazoned on its surface. Snagging this pristine jewel, Tayuya snarled before sliding it onto her left ring finger.

"This is the final lie, the last straw, the illusion that will break the cycle." Naruto slurred.

Alone, Naruto couldn't change the world, but he had friends, allies to call upon. Kisame was one of these allies, a confidential teammate of Itachi, this rogue shinobi would do anything for peace.

As this conversation progressed, Jūgo loomed in the background, the same staggering height as Kisame. Grouped together, each of these ninja wore the red cloud of the Akatsuki, enemies of the world.

Struck by a linger beam of sunlight, Jūgo raised one hand to his fair-skinned face. Matching the mixed colored palette of his eyes, he wore an orange-tinted ring on his left index finger.

Inscribed with the black kanji for 'three', this jewelry denoted his status amount the Akatsuki. Previously worn by Hidan, this ring was now brandished by Jūgo, a fanatic follower of Naruto.

The new host for Saiken, Jūgo was now the jinchūriki for the six tails, bursting with chakra. Empowered by his unique Senjutsu bloodline, he displayed greater control than any of his predecessors.

Pulled from the sealed Gedo Mazo, Naruto freed every tailed beast he could find, offering them a choice. The choice that none of them were ever given, they willingly followed his eyes, the ancient eyes of Hagaromo.

"Heheh… Alright, I'll play along..." Kisame sneered.

A former Jonin and Anbu of Kiri, Kisame knew of a secret passage into his hidden village. Also, he could easily sneak past the ever-lingering fog, bypassing the special mist that Kiri employed.

Twenty minutes later.

"Stop following me! I've been babysitting you all day!" Deidara spat.

Seated in a misty park, Deidara fondled and molested a mound of wet and white clay. Accompanied by the Genin of Team 8, Kiba recently past his fourteenth birthday, on the verge of adulthood.

The youngest member of his team, Shino stood with both hands inside the pockets of his jacket. Obscured by the raised collar of his attire, his face was partially hidden by thick circular glasses.

Running through the foreground, Hinata laughed while chasing a red-spotted ladybug. Tripping over her own feet, she rolled and slid across the grass, giggling without any delay.

"You're holding out on us! I know it!" Kiba protested.

Leaping to his feet, this shinobi was muffled by the repetitive barking of Akamaru. As the bustling sound of distant commerce polluted the air, Deidara dragged one hand against his face.

Abruptly shrouded by Kisame's shadow, this lumbering bulk forced Team 8 to tense. Laughing off their unease, he strolled in front of his short teammate, outstretching a single palm.

"You still have Sasori's ring? Give it to me, and yours aswell." Kisame cackled, devoid of his own jewelry.

Suddenly, the village was struck by a fierce explosion, rupturing into a geyser of debris. Billowing a cloud of smoke, Team 8 rushed to investigate, isolating the Akatsuki duo behind them.

Meanwhile.

"Is everyone okay?!" Kurenai panicked.

Holding a scorched and singed girl, she was barely 8 years old, covered in fresh burns. Narrowly rescued by Kurenai, she rushed outside at the last moment, disturbed by an eruption of flames.

Soon aided by various Chunin and Jonin, dozens of civilians were yanked from the rumble. Confused by this strange outcome, the hair on Kurenai's back began to stand up, emboldened by goosebumps.

"I remember you..." Naruto appeared in a flash.

Swatting Kurenai to the side, she flipped and twirled across the street, striking a wooden wall. Glaring at the burnt girl in front of him, a chakra-rod phased from Naruto's palm.

Impaling this defenseless child without a second thought, Naruto's whiskers were stained with blood. Murdering a young child in front of her mother, a familiar pain echoed through his damaged heart.

"This world shall known peace." Snarling, his weapon was drenched in innocent blood.

Despite the blank expression on his face, he wore the fuzzy penguin hat of Tayuya. Creating a deep contrast across his whiskered cheeks, he was too distracted to care, broken by Iruka's sacrifice.

Enthralled by this rampant brutality, several Anbu lunged into the air, unsheathing their tantō. Descending through the misty horizon, they plunged their blades towards the earth.

Colliding against a unseen sphere, this gravitational shockwave snapped their shortened swords. Veiled by shattered shards of metal, several Anbu were hurled backwards, breaking their limbs.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?!" Kurenai crawled to her feet.

Kakashi was dead, Choji was lost, and the 3rd Hokage was murdered, all at Naruto's expense. If he stayed in the village, Hiruzen would be honored, his sensei would be alive, and his friend would be alive.

"Your sensei is dead! Does that mean nothing to you?!" Enamored, her small chest fluttered.

Devoid of the slightest twitch, Naruto's reaction was bare and frigid, acting like nothing happened. With unblinking Rinnegan, his eyes gazed without pause, defined by a set of black ripples.

"You're right... He is dead, and I'm the one who killed him." Naruto shouldered the blame.

Evading a barrage of shuriken, these projectiles were hurled by Kiba, rushing to aid his sensei. Assembled together, Team 8 dispersed the surrounding mist, exposing their Konoha headbands.

Strolling forward, Naruto bore his heel against the throat of a squirming and demasked Anbu. Crushing the bones in his neck, this shinobi released a final gasp of air, diluting a cloud of fog.

"This won't end like last time!" Kiba gritted his teeth.

Accompanied by a hostile bark from Akamaru, this young pup was ready to fight and gnaw. Pulling both hands from his jacket, Shino's sleeves were swarmed by a nest of poisonous spiders.

Conquering the previous anxiety that tormented her life, Hinata glared at Naruto with regret. She thought of the life that could have been, the world they could have shared, together.

"Yes, this time, you'll die." Naruto tilted his head to the side.

Interrupted by the dislodged earth beneath them, an orange-legged centipede soared into sight. Hissing and coiling, this insect was the size of a two-story building, complete with Rinnegan eyes.

Pushing her students to safety, Kurenai hastily clasped her hands into various seals. Inhaling a stark breath of air, she expelled a torrent of fiery embers and burning cinders, searing the attacking beast.

Teleporting behind this Jonin, Naruto thrust his chakra-rod for the final killing blow. Parried by Hiramekarei, this twin-hilted blade was wielded by Chōjūrō, fighting for the defense of Kiri.

Swollen with blue chakra, the bandages around Hiramekarei were shredded into ribbons. A unique ability of his blade, Chōjūrō's weapon was engulfed by a tangible aura of vibrant chakra.

Taking the shape of a 20ft hammer, he slashed this odd sword towards Naruto, disrupting the mist. Raising the earth in anticipation, this blow was blockaded by a pillar of grey stone.

Outstretching a single palm, Naruto exuded unfathomable force from his ancient eyes. Breaking the translucent outline of Chōjūrō's scared blade, he was flung through several buildings.

Standing in the center of a freshly carved crater, nearby towers collapsed under the weight. Undaunted by the tumbling structures around him, Naruto stood without any emotion.

Using this distraction to escape, a reluctant Kiba bit his lower lip in frustration. Encouraged by Shino's wisdom, they regrouped with Kurenai before retreating, ready to plan a counter attack.

Meanwhile.

"What was that?!" Suikon's cigarette fell from his mouth.

Running inside to inform his superiors, Suikon's feet were pierced by spires of coral. As red as blood, these external skeletons were soon soaked with fresh gore, triggered by Tayuya.

Cutting Suikon's throat with a black kunai, she pushed this limp Anbu to the ground. Standing over his corpse, she snarled and scoffed in triumph, ready to test her own abilities.

Meanwhile.

"Get everyone inside, quickly!" Ao ordered.

Organizing the evacuation of Kiri's civilians, men, women and child were rushed underground. Sent to a desolate tunnel below the surface, they scurried and prayed for safety, unable to find it.

Startled by a hail of chakra-filled bubbles, Ao jumped from its path at the last moment. Piercing the Anbu that he previously stood by, their torso's were torn and ripped into a bloody geyser.

Crushing the earth under his feet, Jūgo's girth resembled the impact of a falling mountain. Holding the throat of a dead Jonin, he dropped this twitching corpse to his feet, narrowing both eyes.

Because of the tailed beast that now swirled inside of him, Jūgo's childhood rage was soothed. Able to control his frequent and insane thirst for blood, he directed this rage to serve Naruto.

A middle-aged man, Ao was a veteran of the 2nd and 3rd Shinobi Wars, experienced and rigid. With decades of knowledge, he clasped both hands into the tiger seal, kneading the chakra in his stomach.

"Water Style: Liquid bullets!" He spewed a barrage of watery projectiles.

Molding water from the moist mist in the air, he unleashed a C-rank technique with vigor. Sundering adjacent stone and rustic walls, this attack was swept aside by Jūgo's discolored right claw.

Taking on the appearance of a demonic paw, his hand was twisted, malnourished and bulking. Grabbing several bullets in midair, chakra-filled orbs were dispersed under extreme pressure.

Dissolving into a puddle of water, Ao reappeared behind his towering opponent. Using the mist to his advantage, he pulled a kunai from his pouch, pointing it at the red cloud on Jūgo's back.

Sweltering and oozing, Jūgo's skin morphed into a clump of wet mush, singeing his outfit. Knocking the blade from his hand, Ao was forced to retreat, leaping and jumping over the ground.

Landing on the slanted wall of a stone skyscraper, Ao ascended this vertical incline. Funneling blue chakra to his feet, thrashing wind caused his well-trimmed hair to violently waver.

Empowered by demonic strength, Jūgo clenched his fist before striking the gigantic building. Crumbling the steep wall beneath him, Ao leapt through the air, jumping from debris to debris.

Muffled by snapping bones and torn ligaments, tainted wings ruptured from Jūgo's back. A result of his bloodline, they resembled massive claws, connected by thin patches of skin and coated in slime.

Soaring towards the skyline, he swept and swatted several chunks of falling rock. Rushing to reply, Ao narrowly fell from his path, plummeting over 20ft to the damaged and misty streets below.

Falling to one knee, blood dripped from Ao's downcast face, exposing a fresh scar. Ingrained across his left eye, this elite Jonin was briefly blinded before rising to his bloodstained feet.

"There's a saying in Kiri..." Groaning, he reached for the eyepatch on his right eye.

"Our left eye sees the past, while our right eye, sees the future." He plucked the seal from his patch.

Engulfed by a tangible aura of sapphire, his attire rustled under a current of pulsating chakra. Highlighting the white eye he possessed, bulging veins paved the path to his Byakugan.

An expert in close handed Taijutsu, Ao surged across disheveled chunks of rock and debris. Plunging a flat hand towards Jūgo, he unleashed a wave of visible chakra, pouring from his palm.

Meanwhile.

"This is so lame..." Tayuya sighed.

Seated atop a wooden staircase, the red clouds on her attire were drenched in fresh blood. Twirling loose strands of crimson hair, she leaned back, using an Anbu's corpse as a pillow.

She didn't care about the lives of the innocent, or the foundation of the shinobi world. Her only concern was Naruto, the favored boy that she prized so much, she would do anything for his attention.

Breaking into the Anbu headquarters of Kiri, she slaughtered dozens of elite and veteran Jonin. Dreaming of boiled ramen as a reward, she ignored the limp bodies around her, oblivious to their loss.

Meanwhile.

Standing on the garden-filled roof of the Mizukage's office, Mei's hat was battered by wind. With swinging breasts and a wide backside, her figure was flattered by the tight robe she wore.

"We can't confirm the number... Because headquarters isn't responding." A masked Anbu declared.

Observing distinct pillars of smoke, Kiri's mist was polluted by scorched cinders and fiery embers. Snarling with disgust, Mei yanked her hat off, throwing it into a current of rushing wind.

"Gikan, Tosu… You're with me." Mei groaned.

Dissolving into a mirage of mist, the 5th Mizukage was trailed by a pair of devote Anbu. Investigating the disturbance in their village, the smell of blood and seared flesh entered their noses.

Meanwhile.

"I can't believe he would go this far..." Kiba stood beside a tree.

Awed by the frantic death and disorder around him, Kiba had never witnessed such brutality. This wasn't some C-ranked average mission, this was an act of war, a far-reaching conflict.

"We need to get out of here, and tell Konoha what's happening!" Kurenai stammered.

Keeping watch over her youthful students, this veteran of the 3rd Shinobi War was on high alert. Gasping as a roaring howl tore through an adjacent building, she pushed her students to safety.

Snagged by the foaming snout of a gigantic brown dog, Kurenai's right arm became trapped. Lifting this helpless Jonin into the air, Rinnegan eyes were as wide and bright as the distant sun.

"Sensei!" Hinata slurred, disrupted by a house-sized paw.

Struck and blinded by a loose array of pebbles, rocks and dirt, the Genin for Team 8 groaned. Hiding their faces behind crossed arms, they were too small too help, like ants fighting a giant.

"I said get out of here! Report to the Hokage! Now!" Kurenai was slammed to the earth.

Grabbing Hinata's hand, Kiba dragged her down the street, followed by a running Shino. Led by Akamaru, these youthful Genin ran for their lives, retreating through the warzone around them.

Ten minutes later.

"Don't worry! You're safe!" Kagura proclaimed.

Rescuing a young child from his burning home, Kagura lowered this burnt boy to the road. Abruptly shrouded by a whiskered shadow, he crouched under the horizontal slash of a chakra-rod.

Striking this strange stave with a metallic spatula, Kagura fought in the garbs of a chef. Tripped by Naruto, this pale shinobi fell to his backside, dropping his weapon with sloppy panic.

Saved at the last moment by Hiramekarei, Chōjūrō saved the honorable child of the 4th Mizukage. Just 16 years old, Chōjūrō was a childhood friend of Kagura, the only friend that he ever had.

"Don't get yourself killed! I'd be lonely!" Chōjūrō nervously slurred.

Interrupting this friendly banter, Kagura was kicked in his stomach, hurled down the street. Afterwards, Chōjūrō was separated from his sacred blade, overwhelmed by a gravitational shockwave.

Reaching for Hiramekarei's hilt, Naruto staggered, evading a barrage of spiraling shuriken. Exposing the stark expression on Kiba's face, he barely recognized his former classmate.

Cut off by a whirlwind of leaves, a panting Kurenai stood with a dismembered right arm. Dripping a puddle of crimson ooze atop the dirt-filled road, her feet were laden in thick sludge.

Scoffed and stained, the fabled Konoha headband was missing from her fair forehead. Revealing loose strands of black hair, they deeply contrasted her blood red eyes, matching her fatal wounds.

Choked by Naruto's extended hand, he raised this bruised Jonin towards the misty sky. Preparing the final blow, he was startled by Hinata's Byakugan, thrusting a chakra-filled palm.

Using Kurenai's body to block blow after blow, this twitching kunoichi was thrown at her student. Catching a well-placed fist from Kiba, Naruto's eyes were devoid of emotion, fighting without thought.

"You're no classmate of mine... Iruka would be disgusted!" Kiba snarled.

Breaking the previous silence that possessed him, Naruto's face was etched with unbridled rage. Impaling his old friend, Kiba gagged as a chakra-rod pierced his heart, tossed aside like trash.

Stomping Akamaru under his heel, this sniffling pup was crushed under Naruto's chakra. Raising two fingers towards the sky, he groaned with a mixture of pain, grace and anger.

"Do you feel it? Permeating the air..." Naruto muttered.

"Peace." Muffled by snapping bones, he stomped on the fluffy throat of Akamaru.

Resembling the demon that Konoha feared, Naruto's appearance was nothing like his innocent past. Twisted and haunted, hateful and scorned, his version of reality was different from most.

Ragged and stifling, currents of thrashing wind poured from Naruto, empowered by violet chakra. As crumbled pebbles flung through the air, Shino was froze with shock and awe.

Undaunted by the rocks that struck her, Hinata slid across the road, crouching beside Kiba. Stroking and holding his face, she desperately tried to wake him up, failing at every attempt.

"H-... He's dead..." Hinata choked on her own words.

Smothered by this declaration, Shino's tinted glasses fell from his face, gasping for breath. Partially veiled by chunks of debris, his mind began to shift and wonder, drifting into the past.

-Flashback-

"You're very brave... Or foolish to enter my domain." A distorted shadow hissed.

Far in the east, miles upon miles from Konoha, Shino was gathered inside the Isle of Spiders. Standing inside a darkened cave, chittering mandibles and pattering limbs hastily scurried.

Crawling from the void, a gigantic spider with lidless black eyes stood like a mountain. As old as the shinobi world, this beast personally trained the Sage of Six Paths, over a thousand years ago.

Known as Jōrōgumo, coarse and ancient fur jutted from her elongated and curved feet. Gazing with eight unblinking eyes, this behemoth was swarmed by a skittering host of her black children.

Torn by Choji's recent death, Shino approached this lumbering demon without hesitation. Lifting a sole hand towards the ceiling, he stroked Jōrōgumo's primordial scalp, surrounded by spiders.

Encouraged by Kidōmaru, this young Genin preformed the reverse summoning technique. Teleporting him across the world, he arrived at the Isle of Spiders, one of the six pinnacles of Senjutsu.

"Most people reek of fear when they see me... But in you, I sense hope." Jōrōgumo mauled.

The death of Hiruzen, the betrayal of Naruto and the lost of Choji each carried their own weight. In the past, Shino constantly belittled his rotund classmate, until Choji revealed his true power.

Pulling a kunai from his pouch, Shino slit his wrist before falling to both knees. Offering blood and beetles as payment, he would give anything, pay any price, to save his friends.

Gnawed and feasted upon by poisonous insects, spiderlings ate the beetles inside of him. Burrowing beneath his skin, they hatched eggs and built webs inside his blood stream.

Writhing and screaming, rolling and clawing across the ground, frantic screams polluted the air. Exposing the stern and rigid expression on Jōrōgumo's face, this spider-like demon moaned.

"Hatred, vile hatred, as dark and twisted as my sac." Jōrōgumo crawled from her hole.

"Only hatred will unlock this unholy power." Watching her children feed, she gained a new servant.

-Flashback ends-

Trembling and quaking, Hinata shook the lifeless outline of her dead teammate. Hypnotized by Kiba's still silhouette, Shino's eyes began to widen into saucers, as black as the abyssal void.

"NOOO!" Shino howled.

Thrashing and rushing, chunks of dirt were torn from the surrounding earth. Tearing the tan-colored jacket he wore, four additional arms ruptured from Shino's torso, bathed in crimson gore.

Surging down the street, this underaged Genin swelled with primordial and ancient chakra. Enthralled by chaotic levels of Spider Senjutsu, Shino screeched without pause, sundering the ground.

Left speechless by the speed of her childhood friend, Hinata's gasping mouth fell open. With clenched fists and grinding teeth, Shino hurled a barrage of punches, smashing an unseen wall.

Cracking the gravitational sphere around Naruto, this whiskered rogue was briefly stunned. Knocking several teeth from his mouth, he was overwhelmed by Shino's rabid and untapped lust.

Imprisoned by chakra-filled webs, a squirming Naruto was entangled and snared by Senjutsu. Battered and smashed, he was plunged through a handful of collapsed buildings, buried under rubble.

Meanwhile.

What is he?! Ao internally stammered.

Malnourished and contorted, bubbling with frothing blue ooze, Jūgo's humanity was barely intact. Discolored and layered in slime, limbs resembled mush while his face was partially melted.

Soothed and tranquil, this train of thought didn't dampen the demonic appearance in his eyes. Slatted with darkened black slits, pupils were encompassed and swallowed by swathes of yellow.

Stroking his orange scalp with dull nails, loose strands clung to oily and greasy skin. Screeching with insanity, the air swelled with dense chakra, piercing the surrounding veil of mist.

Swarmed by hidden Anbu, these ninja were swallowed by pulsating mounds of blue slime. Singeing the sacred flesh he possessed, Jūgo's ancestral bloodline was emboldened by Saiken.

Sprouting two identical tails of fizzling sapphire, Jūgo thrust his fiendish claw against the earth. Dissolved and crush, rattled and steamed, debris was boiled into hundred of spewing bubbles.

With a fresh scar over his left eye, Ao's Byakugan was the only source of visible light. Using this stolen Doijutsu to his advantage, he effortlessly evaded a torrent of chaotic orbs.

As swells of chakra posioned the air, Kiri's mist darkened under a brooding skyline. Struck by static thunder, Jūgo howled as a third tail oozed from his back, tearing the red clouds he wore.

Revealed and exposed, thinly clothed and naked, the left side of Jūgo's neck was scribbled. Covered and sprawled in the black markings of an Iron Armor Seal, shaped into the kanji for 'six'.

Like a wet and crumbled maw, his mouth was conjoined by wandering streams of slime. Unleashing a blood-curdling pitch, this deformed shinobi raised his horrific face towards the sky.

A veteran of combat, Ao stood his ground against this intimidating foe, scowling without pause. Living through global conflict, and an era of peace, his experience was vast and unprecedented.

In the past, after the 3rd Shinobi War, he was chosen by Yagura himself, the 4th Mizukage. Lavished with titles, accommodations and praise, his bravery came with unwilling loyalty to Kiri.

However, this loyalty wasn't free, because his left eye was damaged by Shisui Uchiha. Narrowly surviving this encounter, he limped home with wet wounds, and the bloody Byakugan he stole from a corpse.

Fighting with this Byakugan, Ao's importance to his village was beyond measure. The sole carrier of such Doijutsu, only Konoha held the Hyuga clan, but Ao managed to steal one of their eyes.

Embedded with the visual prowess of a Hyuga, Ao's Taijutsu was unrivaled, second only to the 5th Hokage. Striking, blocking and deflecting a barrage of bubbles, vents of tangible chakra flung from his palms.

Cackling with the sound of stifling pus, Jūgo's jawline was unlatched and violently ripped. Gripping Ao's wrist, he screamed as bones and muscles were snapped with ease, overwhelmed by Jūgo.

Meanwhile.

With one hand held in front of her small chest, a 13 year old Hinata glared at Shino's back. Rushing forward to aid her friend, she was ensnared by Kurenai's grip, outstretching her bloody arm.

"Get back to the village! Hurry!" Kurenai pled.

Nervously biting her lip, Hinata hastily turned before running down the dilapidated street. Fleeing back to Konoha, she abandoned her friends and sensei, the only possible chance for survival.

As his sensei bled out, and his teammate ran for her life, Shino's teeth became curved. Growing a three eye atop his forehead, he hissed and gnawed at the air, clasping four palms together.

Infecting the air with strings of chakra-filled webbing, collapsed roofs were connected. Constructing the massive web of a spider, Shino leapt atop these wires, charging into a cloud of dust.

Twirling over a slanted slash from Naruto's chakra-rod, this spider-like shinobi spun. Shooting webs from his fingers, he swung through the air, battered by hostile currents of mist.

Imbalanced by a gravitational wave, Shino was flung through various alleys and disheveled streets. Using two arms to regain composure, enhanced vision allowed him to dodge several strikes.

Grappling the darkened rod of his opponent, Senjutsu shielded Shino from Naruto's Rinnegan. Launching kick after kick, these failed blows were caught by fair hands, flinging Shino to the side.

Infused with thousands of spiders, they spun webs inside the chakra-filled stomach of Shino. Unleashing a barrage of webbed bullets, these projectiles bounced off a sphere of gravity.

As wind wavered and mist dispersed, a frantic struggle erupted between childhood friends. Fueled by Kiba's death, Shino refused to back down, but Naruto was too posioned by Iruka's sacrifice.

Labeling accusation after accusation, Shino blamed Naruto for everything, for every curse on his village. Hiruzen's loss, Choji's death and Kakashi's disappearance, they were all brought before his feet.

Squashed and rattled by this declaration, metallic steel cracked against Shino's hardened skin. Fighting with the strength and vigor of a sage, this youthful Genin was determined to avenge his teammate.

Meanwhile.

"Do these clouds make my butt look big?!" Fuu stuttered.

Dressed in the black and red robes of an Akatsuki, this minty-haired teenager wiggled her backside. Blushing in reply, Gaara's speechless face turned as red as his hair, biting his lip.

"I think it looks nice..." Gaara stammered.

A deep contrast to her darkened skin, Fuu's right middle finger was adorned with a metallic ring. The color tinted tone and hue of pristine white, the kanji for 'white' was scribbled on top.

Previously worn by Konan, this jewelry was proudly embellish and lavished by Fuu. Denoting her rank among the Akatsuki, she stood beside her favored boy, surrounded by sparkling rivers.

"But, we should get started." Scratching his scalp, he glanced over Tani.

The shinobi capital for the Land of Rivers, this village was the resting place for Kakuzu. Slain and dismembered by Choji, this rogue shinobi was buried without any marker, a curse that no one wanted to remember.

Sweeping Gaara off his feet, Fuu giggled and snorted as insectile wings ruptured from her back. Flying through the air, she began her search for Kakuzu's corpse, looking for his sacred ring.

Meanwhile.

"There's several signatures, but they're too stupid to notice us." Karin sneered.

Accompanied with her favorite boy, Haku, this pair of rogue shinobi were basked by sunlight. Crouched atop the grassy outskirts of Kusa, this village was still scarred from Tobi's recent attack.

Born inside the Land of Grass, Karin could navigate these disheveled streets in her sleep. Wearing the black and red robes of the Akatsuki, her hair was the same tone as the clouds she wore.

"The sooner we find Tobi's ring, the sooner we can leave." Haku exclaimed.

Grabbing Karin's hand, these youthful ninja were immediately veiled by swirling mist. Too broken to detect these invaders, Kusa was oblivious to their presence, struggling to rebuild.

Meanwhile.

Highlighted by the slate blue ring on his left pinky, Suigetsu wore the fabled band of Orochimaru. A gift from Naruto, this jewelry was painted with the kanji for 'void', blending with his Akatsuki robe.

Holding both hands against his white scalp, Suigetsu strolled beside a timid Isaribi. Repetitively bumping against her, he dramatically sighed and breathed with boredom, cleaning the water from his ears.

"I don't get it... Itachi's ring is just gone..." Suigetsu murmured.

Dispatched to find and capture Itachi's crimson ring, these rogue ninja failed at their task. The corpse of this Uchiha was oddly picked clean and buried with respect, outside of Konoha's wall.

Nervously twirling several fingers in front of her small chest, Isaribi's violet hair glimmered. Framed by the extended collar of her red clouded robe, linen bandages were partially draped over her face.

"I'm just happy... I'm happy that someone actually wants me..." Isaribi muttered.

Met by the bellowing cackle of Suigetsu, he wrapped both hands around his timid friend. Raised to his shoulders, she was carried down a dirt-filled road, praising the life that Naruto gave her.