Chapter 170: The Return
Disclaimer:
Naruto and all of its characters belong to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto.
I own nothing but the original characters I create.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 170: The Return
Two years later. Konoha Village
"Ahhh! Help!"
A young civilian girl sprinted frantically through the narrow streets, her terrified screams echoing across the village.
Behind her, there was a massive sand sphere bouncing around while getting closer and closer. Its weight was shaking the ground with each leap. It was so large that it barely fit within the road, causing destruction to nearby homes as it crashed through walls and rooftops.
On the other side of the road was the village's river, but the sand creature seemed to avoid it, steering its chaotic path away from the water.
The girl glanced back in fear, only to trip over a loose stone. She fell to the ground, scraping her hands. Her heart pounded as she turned and saw the sphere looming over her, ready to crush her.
She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the end.
Woosh! A sudden gust of wind swept past her.
"Dynamic Entry!"
A thunderous shout rang out as Rock Lee flew in, delivering a powerful kick to the sand sphere. The impact stopped it in its tracks, completely halting its momentum.
The girl opened her eyes and gasped. Her savior stood before her...a boy in an uncomfortably tight green jumpsuit, grinning brightly.
"My lady, you have nothing to fear! The Great Green Beast of Konoha is here to protect you!" Lee exclaimed, giving her a thumbs-up.
"Ahhh!" the girl screamed again, recoiling. This time, it wasn't the sand monster she was afraid of...it was Lee, whose face was mere inches from hers.
"Wait, I was just trying t-"
"Ahhh!" she did not let him finish and shrieked once more while pointing behind him.
A massive claw shot out of the sand sphere, aiming for the martial artist.
Lee's eyes narrowed. With a swift movement, he kicked the claw away, the impact ringing out like metal striking metal. The sand beast tumbled backward, its body shuddering from the blow.
"Come on, Gaara! Wake up already and face me properly! I'll challenge you anytime!" Lee yelled, his excitement rising.
The massive sand sphere began to shift and grow, sprouting limbs and forming a familiar shape...the One-Tail, Shukaku.
"Don't let him transform here!" a sharp voice called out from behind the beast.
"Akamaru!"
A large white dog dashed onto the scene, scooping the civilian girl onto his back with one paw. Before she could say anything, the dog carried her to safety.
"Take her away!" Kiba, still in midair, spun rapidly, his body forming a fierce tornado. "Fang Over Fang!"
His attack slammed into the sand beast's newly formed face, forcing it to stagger and grab onto a nearby house for support, reducing the structure to rubble.
"Oh no! I think that was Mister Yamaoka's house," Lee commented, grimacing.
"Kiba! We're supposed to lead it away from the residential district, not toward it!" Ino shouted from the rooftop of a neighboring building.
"Hey! I was trying to save the civilian! Give me a break!" Kiba snapped back. "Let's see you do any better, Ino!"
She sighed. Her pupilless eyes moved to the river and she began to form hand signs at high speed. " Water Release…."
Something shot off from inside the water and launched itself directly at the back of the sand raccoon while this one recovered.
" Fierce Water Dragon!" Ino finished the just right before the impact.
"Arrrgh!" Shukaku howled, his claws digging into the ground for balance.
The sand raccoon used its tail to steady itself, but the impact had left it disoriented.
Once it recovered a bit, it turned to glare at Ino with angry eyes.
A smug smile appeared on Ino's face. " Go on…try something. I have a secret weapon."
" Kiba, give it some space!. " Lee warned his companion when he saw who was approaching.
Shukaku roared again and turned to charge at her. But before it could take a step, it was hit by a powerful strike right on its face.
"Vacuum Palm!" Hinata's voice rang out as the impact sent the beast reeling.
"Go, Hinata! Attack!" Ino cheered.
"She's not a dog, you know," Kiba muttered.
"Bark!"
Kiba jumped, startled, as he realized Akamaru was suddenly beside him.
"Wait, what are you doing here?!" Kiba exclaimed. "I told you to...oh." He noticed Akamaru was no longer carrying the civilian girl. She must have been dropped off somewhere safe.
"Bark!" Akamaru growled as if scolding him.
"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" Kiba grumbled. "I didn't mean it in a demeaning way. Nothing wrong with being a dog!."
"Move!" Lee's voice cut through their banter.
"Eight Trigrams: Twin Lion Fists!"
Hinata appeared in front of Shukaku, her chakra-infused strikes landing with incredible force. The sand construct flew backward, crashing down where Kiba and Lee had been standing moments before.
"Nice one!" Ino grinned. "Looks like the raccoon is scared now!"
"No… no!" Shukaku's panicked voice echoed through the battlefield. "I don't want to die!"
Hinata frowned. "It's not scared of us…"
She did not miss that the beast wasn't looking at them...it was scanning its surroundings as if sensing something unseen.
"Whatever it's afraid of, at least it's heading in the right direction now," Ino said. "Just a little more, and we'll push it out of the village."
"You mean it'll crush through the gates," Kiba muttered.
" Can we fight it for real once it's outside the village?." Lee couldn't hide the excitement in his voice.
" What are going to do?. It's behaving differently from the last time." Hinata commented while they moved after the creature.
This one had no longer any interest in fighting them and it seemed to just want to escape into the wilderness.
" Hinata is right…the last time at least we could see the body of Gaara poking out of the sand. But the Bijuu seem to have gotten better at covering its weakness." Ino said.
Crash!
A tremendous commotion could be heard as the One Tail Beast obliterated the east gate without even slowing down a bit.
Ino pointed ahead. " Okay, let's go. At the very least we have to keep it from escaping, but don't allow it back into the village either. I'm sure Lady Tsunade has already sent some reinforcements our way. We just need to gain some t-"
" Why are you the one giving orders?. Hinata is the only Jonin here." Kiba complained and interrupted her.
"Do you want me to repeat what she said?" Hinata asked, glaring at him with her Byakugan active.
" No…" Kiba always got nervous when she looked at him with her Byakugan active. There was an extra something in Hinata's eyes that made him feel like she was staring at his soul.
Ino was about to throw a few taunts in Kiba's way but was interrupted by a very bizarre noise.
"Kyaaa!" Hinata let out a scream of pure joy that took everyone off guard.
For the past two years, she had been so serious and composed that people often compared her to Neji. But now, her face was lit with a radiant smile.
"What the—" Kiba gaped at her.
"Why is she looking at Shukaku like that?" Lee asked, confused.
Ino, however, understood immediately. "It's been two years…" she murmured.
Hinata's eyes sparkled with emotion. "He's back!" she exclaimed.
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