The Shinobi Visitor

Chapter 33 - Might Is Right This Time...

"Ichigo?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you think they're doing now?"

Ichigo looked at his girlfriend as they were walking through the snow-filled streets of their town. "Who?"

"Naruto, silly! Who else?" Orihime beamed with a smile as Ichigo returned hers a moment later.

"I don't know." The Substitute Shinigami looked up at the sky with wonder. "Hopefully he's not doing something drastic that draw attention to him-self."

"Ichigo?"

Ichigo looked at Orihime who was playing with the new blue ribbon he got for her on Christmas. "What is it?"

"Things are going to change around here, aren't they?" Orihime asked as she and her boyfriend turned the corner to enter a closed park.

The couple kept walking to their destination, an empty and quiet spot in the park where Kisuke told them to meet the others. It wasn't long when the large Senkai wooden doors opened, revealing his longtime friends, Rukia and Renji with their Lieutenant badges around their left sleeve. The four exchanged greetings before they left for Urahara's shop via Shunpo to make preparations for the upcoming battle they've dreaded for the past six months.

Ichigo returned the nod as Orihime tightened her arms around his neck, being carried in bridal-style in his arms. "Yeah… on the 31st… everything will if we don't win." He spared a glance at sky one last time. "Hopefully he's back then. We'll need all the help we can get."

-(The Next Day)-The Island-

Groaning after a nice, long sleep, Naruto opened his eyes as he stifled a yawn to avoid waking anyone up. He tried to get up, but found him-self pressed down on the floor by something… three of them. "Huh?" He looked and smiled at him-self. "Oh yeah." Rhea was laying on his chest with her bosom gently rubbing on him; Kuroka, in her human form, slept on his right side as she held his right arm between her breasts and Medusa was doing the same with his left arm. All of them were sleeping with small smiles on their faces.

"I remember now." The girls sneaked out of their rooms to sleep with him since he chose to sleep on the couch in the living room for the night. "Now for the no-so-hard part…" Naruto whispered as he prepared to substitute him-self with a clone.

However someone didn't want him to go anywhere.

The blonde gulped when the arms around his neck started to tighten by the second and threatened to cut off his oxygen. The still smiling Rhea opened her eyes to look at her boyfriend who started to look a little pale at the moment. "You're not going anywhere at the moment." She stated, her grip grew a little tighter just now.

"G-got it." Naruto wheezed out before the grip slacked. He inhaled the precious air before his eyes stared directly into her green eyes. "Morning my goddess."

In response, Rhea gave him a peck on the lips. "Morning my maelstrom."

"Want some breakfast?" Naruto asked his girlfriend. A moment later, Rhea was surprised to find herself in Naruto's arms bridal style and looked at the spot where they slept to find the sleeping and disoriented Medusa and Kuroka sleeping with two recently created clones. "Man I'm good." Naruto praised him-self as he kissed Rhea on the lips.

Rhea moaned a little by the passionate kiss before Naruto set her down on the unexpected cold floor. Naruto broke the kiss as he waited for Rhea to change from her pajamas to her casual clothes. He didn't need to change since the gi was very comfortable. After that, he quietly led Rhea out of the room before their hands laced together as they enjoyed their comfortable silence together. They soon found the banquet room for breakfast before entering.

After grabbing and picking their meals from the buffet, Naruto and Rhea found a table before they sat down to enjoy their meals. Twenty plates later, Naruto leaned into his chair, completely stuffed and satisfied. "God, that was good. Although it's nothing compared to your cooking, Rhea."

"Thank you." Rhea responded after she finished her sole plate, putting it atop of the pile on the table. "Naruto…"

"Yeah?" He saw her finger and looked at the third seat that was occupied by someone. It was the mysterious man form yesterday. "Who are you?" Naruto couldn't help but ask as he took a closer look at him.

The man wore glasses and an expensive gray suit with a red tie. His black hair was slicked back and contradicted with the brown eyes that seemed to be magnified by the glasses. The man smiled as he held out a hand. "Hello, I'm Tanaka." Naruto took the hand before they shook their limbs.

"Naruto Uzumaki." The ninja introduced him-self as he let go before gesturing at the beauty next to him. "This is Rhea. She's supporting me and my friends in the tournament."

Rhea smiled at the man. "Hello." She and Naruto sweat-dropped when the man dramatically clutched his heart while he was looking the other way.

"My gosh! What a beauty!" Tanaka exclaimed before fixing himself with an embarrassed blush. "Sorry about that. Rhea, your beauty has no bounds." Rhea blushed a little while Naruto sent a glare at the older man. "You look foreign to me. Are you from another country?"

"Greece."

"Greek." Tanaka nodded with a smile. "I see." He turned his gaze upon Naruto. "You're with Ryozanpaku, correct?" The blonde nodded to answer. "Which style?" In the boy's short battle yesterday, Tanaka couldn't accurately recognize his martial arts so he would find out in solid way: asking him directly.

"Furinji Style. My master is Hayato Furinji." Naruto responded with a grin, surprising Tanaka as his eyes shot through his glasses.

"…I see. So it's true. Elder Furinji really did take a disciple." Tanaka muttered to himself as Naruto and Rhea exchanged mutual confused glances.

Rhea spoke after a few moments of sudden silence from Tanaka. "Is everything all right?" She looked down at the man's left hand and noticed a ring on the ring finger. "You're married." Tanaka tensed slightly and this didn't go unnoticed by Naruto as his hand crept closer to the nearby knife. "What's her name?"

The man breathed deeply before he looked at the couple with a genuine smile. "Maya. Her name is Maya. We've been married for three years now."

"Shouldn't you be with her?" Naruto asked as his grip loosened on the knife but kept it underneath his palm just in case.

Tanaka simply smiled at the blonde. "I ask myself that question, but my wife is stubborn about me entering the tournament. You see she inherited a dojo that her father owned a long time ago after his death. This dojo is the home of an ancient martial art style that almost was extinct. I myself was a student there. That's how I met and fell in love with her."

"An ancient martial arts style?!" Naruto and Rhea harshly said in surprise. "What's it called?" Naruto asked curiously as Tanaka looked at him in a confused manner.

"I thought your master would've told you about my style." Tanaka replied as he fixed his glasses in their place. "It is called the Tenchi Mushin Style." His kind persona then changed into a more serious borderline grave expression. "Listen here, Naruto Uzumaki…" Rhea was taken aback by the sudden serious tone while Naruto narrowed his eyes slightly. "I'm going to win this tournament so I can fight and defeat a certain someone here. I won't let anyone get in the way. This person brought shame to my family and I will make him pay."

"'Him?'" Both Naruto and Rhea thought together as they watched the man leave the room and themselves. "Well that was something." Rhea muttered lowly but loud enough for Naruto to hear as he gently placed his hand atop her own.

Naruto nodded stiffly at that statement. "Yep." He said as his thumb gently rubbed against her hand. "I wonder who this guy he was talking about. Although I don't think it would be far-fetched to say the person he was talking is in Yami." He smiled at his girlfriend who offered him a strawberry that was dipped with cream and gladly bit it. "But that doesn't matter right now."

"What?" Rhea asked confused.

"Nothing, beautiful." Naruto leaned over and gave her a peck on the lips, causing Rhea to smile at him once more. "Just you and me for now."

-(Two Hours Later)-

"Day two." The Shinobi whispered as he and his group watched the new collection of fighters gathering in the ring. Another battle royal like yesterday. Most likely to thin out the herd faster so that smug bastards, Kano and Kabuto, could fight him and Kenichi sooner. "I hope nothing else will happen today."

Naruto looked at Kenichi who was shaking a little as he stood in place, but with a quick elbow nudge, the short boy calmed down with a big and fresh bruise. "… Thanks." Kenichi pouted while rubbing his arm.

"Not a problem." Naruto then turned to his thoughts with feedback with his partners. "What do you guys think?"

"What exactly, Naruto?"

"He's talking about his 'grand plan,' which I think it's extremely intolerable in my opinion!" Ashura responded with obvious disgust.

"Oh that grand plan. Yeah… I kinda have to agree with Ashura here."

"Duly noted." Naruto sighed. "I don't like it either."

"Then stop it! It's not too late to stop your plan."

"Listen to us, Naruto. This won't bode well with the Angels… especially the Big Man upstairs. He could-. No, He will punish you severely for this and I'm not sure your healing factor with my chakra can help you from whichever punishment He chooses."

"…"

"Naruto, call it off."

"…"

"Naruto!"

His eyes closed as Kurama let out a loud sigh. "Forget it, Ashura. He won't change his mind because of that stubbornness from his parents!"

"This is my fault as well. Stubbornness runs in the family after well."

Naruto opened his eyes once more. "Sorry guys. I know I should've discussed this with you, but..." He sneaked a glance at Miu who gave a light slap at Kensei when she caught him trying to grope her. "She's been showered in pain for far too long. I only wish to show the light that awaits her."

"And that includes-"

"Ladies and gentlemen!"

The Ryozanpaku box, the Yami masters and the Coliseum's occupants turned their attention to the man holding the microphone.

"Welcome to the second and last day of the Desperate of Disciples tournament. From yesterday alone, almost half of the fighters who entered are gone. And so… we are doing another battle royale to determine who will win the battle! Now let us beg-"

"Hold it, hold it!" A familiar and annoying voice bellowed, drawing everyone's attention to the edge of the ring. It was Sho Kano. After casually leaping to the ring, the leader of Yomi looked at the fighters with a displeased look. "This is embarrassing."

No doubt that brought tempers flaring as the fighters edged towards Sho as he continued talking to the angry crowd.

"Is this how far martial arts has fallen? So much that insects such as yourselves insults true masters of martial arts?" Sho asked casually with his arms spread out.

"That little punk."

"We should get rid of him."

"Let's take the little creep."

Naruto narrowed his eyes while Kenichi froze in his seat as they saw the look in Sho's eyes. Apathy and darkness blended together. Ki leaked out as Sho stared his now afraid prey before he dashed at them with drawn knife-hands; a sign of his go-to fighting style.

"Karate." Both Naruto and Sakaki said at the same time as almost all of the fighters turned tail and jumped into the surrounding water below.

Save for one.

"This is a joke, right?" Sho asked in contempt at the last fighter. A boy who was younger than him and the way he's trembling, no experience in a specific fighting style. "Insects like you should stay in the dirt and be afraid of birds like me." The scared boy then ran past him with his tears streaming down his cheeks, intending to escape the violent Kano. "Die."

He swiftly turned around with a swift knife-hand thrust, but instead of his hand connecting through the boy's back, it was pressed between the palms of a determined Kenichi.

"Go! Run!" Kenichi ordered the boy who quickly nodded before jumping into the pool.

With him out of the way, the two disciples launched well-placed kicks that were blocked but they were knocked away from each other. Kenichi stopped skidding just as Sho did the same with gritted teeth. Both fighters assumed their battle stances of Karate.

"Prepare to die, insect." Sho declared as his right leg shifted forward with his left leg slightly bent. His right arm extended forward with the palm in front while the left arm was close to his body as the palm was facing up. "Tenchi Jouge!"

Kenichi huffed after making sure the boy behind him was safe in the stands. "Not if I have to anything to do about it." He fixed his posture with his parallel arms in the air. "Maeba no Kamae!"

With that exchanged, Kenichi and Sho dashed at each other with drawn fists before they released them in a clash.

-Ryozanpaku's Box-

If there was a word to express the emotion on everyone's faces right now, it would be a mixture of pride and comedic laughter as evident by the masters laughing on their behinds, their arms rolled around their sides as they rolled left to right.

"That's our disciple!"

"Show them the power of Katsujinken!"

"…Win… or suffer the… consequences."

"Consequences?" Everyone asked the stoic female master as she gestured a cutting motion to Kensei's lower body. The male members immediately knew what she meant and covered their jewels to protect them as they shuddered in fear.

"Ooohhhh." The males said in shuddered tones, even Apachai.

"Win Kenichi!"

Rhea and Medusa giggled at the men's comedic reaction while Kuroka nuzzled against Naruto's lap, purring in content by the warm contact. Naruto soon smiled and petted the cat along her back, causing her purring to become more vocal than it should be.

"Nya!" Kuroka said in content, shocking the trio near her before Medusa bopped one on the head, knocking her out easily. Rhea exhaled in relief as she wiped sweat from her forehead since neither Miu nor the masters seem to noticed the cat's human-like voice.

"That was close." Medusa whispered, getting nods from Naruto and Rhea.

Rhea whispered back. "Too close."

"I say we wake her up in a tub of water…" Naruto smirked evilly with a gleam in his eyes that startled the girls. "With ice."

"Scary." Both Rhea and Medusa said as they stared at their love interest chuckle at him-self.

-Kenichi vs Sho Kano-

"Meotoude!"

Kenichi countered one of Sho's knife-hands with one palm while using the other to launch a sneak counterattack, but Sho simply swatted it away before launching a sidekick at the abdominal. Kenichi however blocked it with his right leg before extending that same limb for a high kick aimed at Sho's chin, but the latter casually dodged it by a backwards hand-stand and gained distance.

"Your attacks are weak."

"At least they're pushing you back. Doesn't that say something?" Kenichi inwardly smirked upon seeing Sho's brief flash of anger. Sho dashed at Kenichi with knife-hands once more and thrust them when he got into range, but Kenichi swiftly blocked and directed them away safely from his body with his hands. "Seikuken!"

Sho was confused by the way the battle has been since it started. He should be demolishing the weak Katsujinken with no resistance and be finish with him by now. Except that wasn't the case at all. The insect Kenichi was reacting to every one of his moves without creating wasted movements.

These were signs of a seasoned fighter for years.

"Impressive for an insect, but still… how is this possible?" Sho threw another yet faster punch that was again blocked by Kenichi's forearm, but he didn't let that stop him. "Time to step it up then." Kenichi gasped in pain as he was sent back after being hit by a hard front kick to the chest and stared at Sho who had his leg extended in front of him.

"Damn. He got me."

Kenichi cursed a little as Sho closed the distance with a leaping kick and a drawn knife-hand. Kenichi countered by grabbing the extended limb and slammed Sho into the ground. However Sho performed a hand-stand to stop the impact and kicked Kenichi in the face, but he too wasn't unscathed as a strong roundhouse kick slammed into his sides and right leg as well.

The two fighters looked at each other to observe their wounds and current fighting capability. Kenichi got hit twice, but besides a bloody nose that was wiped clean, he was fine while assuming his Maeba no Kamae stance. Sho on the other hand was not pleased… at all.

"You… insect."

"Don't you have anything else to call me beside that?" Kenichi remarked, much to the surprise of the Ryozanpaku members sans Naruto who simply smiled in return.

"…No. Not yet anyway."

"Then let's get back to business."

Sho agreed as he and Kenichi charged at each other. Fists meet Fists. Kicks against Kicks. Elbows fight against elbows. Combinations of punches with kicks and elbows met each other as Kenichi and Sho are dead even with their assaults. However it wasn't long until the victor was clear.

"Gah!"

Kenichi's head recoiled violently by a sharp uppercut followed with a sharp knife-hand slash across his chest, but he managed to cross-arm block against the dual palm strikes. Kenichi, thinking on his feet, quickly snaked and grabbed Sho's wrists before pulling them, henceforth Sho him-self, and gave him a nice little contact in the form of a head-butt before delivering a Karate technique.

"Yamazuki!"

The stumbling Sho felt pain in his left cheek and stomach where Kenichi's two punches made contact as the former skidded across the field. He stopped after putting pressure in his feet and glared at Kenichi while spitting out a glob of blood. Kenichi repeated the same action except with a tooth as the bonus.

"That's better." Sho grinned at the sight of the bloody tooth on the ground. Kenichi charged once more and entered another clash of fists, legs, elbows and throws as both try to overpower the other, but to no avail.

-Ryozanpaku's Box-

"Oh." Naruto grimaced upon seeing the tooth. Rhea and Medusa had their hands on their mouths while Kuroka licked her paws with a bored expression.

Miu on the other hand nearly fainted so that was a win for Naruto.

"I'm somewhat surprised by Kenichi's movements." Akisame spoke, his hand underneath his chin as he observed his disciple. "They have no doubt in them. Confidence and determination."

That's when Sakaki gave his input. "Not to mention that he's made very few mistakes in the fight. The kid even landed a few good blows on that Kano kid."

"But he still has ways to go to become a master."

"A master, Kensei?" Hayato repeated with mock curiosity. "Kenichi has many obstacles in the journey to become a master… and Sho Kano is one those obstacles."

Nodding to his master's words, Naruto looked at Miu before redirecting his attention back to the ring. "Don't let up, Kenichi. Remain confident and strong."

-Kenichi vs. Sho-

"Seikuken!"

Sho gritted his teeth as his knife-hands were again redirected by Kenichi's strong defense. "Time to throw him off."

"Hm!" Kenichi saw Sho getting ready to throw a left kick and prepared to defend him-self for it, only to suddenly be hit by the right leg in a roundhouse motion. "That was…Gamaku! A feint!" The confused Kenichi grimaced from the contact, giving Sho the time to mount a full-scale assault with one of his techniques.

The Ryozanpaku party watched Kenichi get pummeled by Sho in the form of a straight-forward punch followed with a roundhouse kick in a spinning motion to the lower legs plus a crushing knee attack with dual strikes knife-hand strikes to the neck and several other techniques from the different styles of Yami masters.

"Kyuu Geki Issatsu!"

Skidding across the ring, Kenichi managed to stop him-self as his feet reached the edge albeit barely. His breathing was heavy as Kenichi coughed up blood from the internal damage of his organs. "That attack just now… That was similar to my one of techniques!" Kenichi lifted his head with one open eye to see Sho closing in on him. "All right. Two can play this game!"

Sho didn't think of anything when he saw his prey just standing there, but that doesn't matter to him. All that mattered was the insect's death. Constricting his muscles in his right arm, Sho threw a straight-forward punch that was a part of his combo moments earlier.

"Seikentsuki!"

Instead of the punch dealing damage and hearing the cries of pain from his prey, Sho was surprised to see his punch bounce off from Kenichi's torso.

"Sensen Body!" Kenichi cried out after relaxing his muscles for a just moment before quickly dashing at the surprised Sho. He threw two punches to the head and stomach, a knee strike to the face, palm strikes to the torso and finally grabbing a leg before lifting it over his head with all his might. "Strongest Combo!"

Sho didn't fall on his back but instead regained his composure mid-air as he landed some distance away from Kenichi. He felt something liquid on his cheek and touched it before looking at his fingers to see blood on them. His rage grew greater from that moment onward. This wasn't supposed to happen to him. He's the Sole Disciple of Yami; the inheritor of the true martial arts.

And yet this insect in front of him is pushing his fighting skills. He's actually wounding and forcing him to use all his strength in the fight.

Well, that's about to change right now and it won't be pretty for the Katsujinken in the arena. In fact, he hopes they lose their will or attack his masters in the process.

"Time to end your life once and for all." Sho stated, confused Kenichi as the former began to leak Ki. But it was different as it was a mixture of orange and purple.

Kenichi felt a brief but strong Ki wave emanated from the box of his party was and felt the same thing as he stared at Sho who was leaking the fusion of Ki in a controlled flame-like appearance around his body: the absolute taboo of martial artists everywhere in the world who dares not to use it even if they were in a life-or-death situation.

Except that there was one master who did and used his disciple as a guinea pig to test it out.

The same master who is in Yami: Ogata Isshinsai. And his disciple, Ryuto Asami and Kenichi's former friend, suffered the consequences such as his Ki being locked away and his legs.

The Seidou Goitsu of Ancient Martial Arts and the Ogata Styles.

"Your death…" Kenichi's eyes widen in shock as the Ki-infused Sho suddenly appeared in front of him with knife-hands at the ready. "Is now!" Sho thrust his strikes intended for the stomach, but Kenichi leaped away from him, barely dodging the attack.

Although not completely anyway.

"Damn…" Kenichi glanced at his dougi that cut at the sides like a knife cut through butter. "He's faster than before. I have to keep my guard up and remained more focused."

"Talking to your-self?" Kenichi barely turned his head around to see Sho right behind him with knife-hands again. "In the middle of battle… Such an insect." Sho delivered the strike that consisted of two spinning knife-hands that'll certainly pierce through his body and claim him victor. "Jinenken-Nejiri Nukite!"

The slightly terrified Kenichi felt time froze as he watched the knife-hands come closer to him each second. He thought to himself that this might be it. The end of the road for him. But that way of thinking was the old him; before he took martial arts. Before he met Miu, Naruto and the masters.

"Remember this, Kenichi. Be still like the rock in the stream; letting the water flow around you. Keep you emotions in check."

"Use this technique only if the situation calls for it. It is your trump card in my opinion. If you master this, the future battles ahead of you will be less difficult."

"Master… Naruto…"

Sho smirked as his strikes pierced through the torso of his enemy. Until he suddenly flickered out of existence, shocking everyone, especially him. "An afterimage?!" His heightened senses alerting him, Sho looked to his left to see Kenichi in close range and threw another knife-hand thrust, only to pierce through another afterimage. He soon noticed that there were several Kenichi's surrounding him in the Maeba No Kamae stance and other stances from his masters.

"I see. So even an insect like you can learn that technique. I'm actually kinda jealous. I've always wanted to learn it." Sho commented with a small hint of envy before he swiftly pivoted on his heels to throw a sharp punch at an incoming Kenichi who dodged this time as the afterimages disappeared a moment after the action. "You're mine now!"

The leader of Yomi was so focused that he didn't notice the thin layer of Ki around Kenichi until it was too late. At the last moment, Kenichi dodged the first knife-hand and redirected the second with his left arm, shifted his feet so that he's on Sho's side and delivered an elbow strike into the ribs.

"Agh!"

Both Kenichi and Sho launched kicks that clashed with enough force to push them away from each other. Heavy breathing filled the ring as both fighters observed each other with Sho being intrigued about the technique Kenichi is using right now. "I have to ask…*pant**pant*… What is that technique called?"

"*pant*…*pant*…" Kenichi inhaled a deep breath with a deeply look in his eyes as he spoke, "Ryusui Seikuken."

-Ryozanpaku's Box-

"EH?!" shouted the surprised masters and Miu sans Hayato who howled with laughter while Sho was sent skidding back from the punch and coughing up a mouthful of blood.

Naruto laughed loudly as he clapped with praise. "Well done, Kenichi! Well done!"

"So that's the technique you taught him." Akisame said after his surprised moment. "The Bushin technique."

"Yep." Naruto replied with a smile, which brought smiles from Rhea and Medusa as they giggled at his happy mood. "Kenichi had some flaws here and there, but he eventually got the hang of it."

Kensei pouted slightly. "I wanted to teach the technique."

"You snooze, you lose~"

"The kid did great during those last counterattacks. But they nearly reached their limits." Sakaki stated after observing the boys' conditions. "This battle is over."

"I agree. However I doubt that Yami will let this go quietly."

"I vote for Kenichi!" Apachai declared with a fist pump, followed by Shigure and Tochumaru.

The smile was replaced with a look of thinking as Naruto looked at Yami's box. "Or they'll end it first."

-The Ring-

With renewed vigor, Kenichi charged with surprising speed that took Sho off guard before lashing with spear-hands, but Kenichi smoothly dodged them with little to no effort. Sho continued the assault and upped the speed of his favored hand weapons, his frustration growing each second for every missed attack that were sure to land on the primitive opponent.

"Why can't I hit him?!" Sho angrily thought before choosing to do the same method he used before.

Kenichi saw his opponent prepare a kick and anticipated it, but was stunned when Sho connected an attack with the right leg this time. Another feint. Another Gamaku. "Damn it!" Kenichi cursed before calming him-self as to not disrupt the flow of the advanced and final version of the Seikuken.

The Ryusui Seikuken requires the user to remain absolute calmness and have total control of his emotions. The Elder mentioned the technique is one of the Furinji Style's 108 techniques and regarded as the ultimate form of Sei. Therefore it is only accessible to Sei-Ki users like him and the Elder as far as he knows.

"I can't keep this up. My body is screaming with pain now!" Kenichi bellowed inwardly as he dodged Sho's strikes with a few of them connecting here and there.

Sho was also in the same boat as his entire body felt extremely heavy each passing moment, his mind fighting a losing battle against the physical pain from the Seidou Gou. "Any more moments and the Seido Gou will send me in a worse state than Odin."

"I have to land one but crucial strike."

"No feints. No tricks."

"If I don't time this right, he'll kill me and take Miu away from Ryozanpaku!"

"Your death will mark the end of your kind."

Kenichi and Sho slid their feet across the tiles as both were ready to land their attacks. However Sho was the first as the speed enhancement allowed him to react and land, his sudden thrust of dual palm strikes surprised Kenichi as they were close to his head, intending to cut his head off.

All it took was one moment. The crucial moment that will determine the outcome of the battle and declare the victor and the loser. In this case, it wasn't Sho.

The Yami disciple was shocked when Kenichi barely tilted his head, both sides of the neck bleeding from the knife-hands. Bringing his hands forward and combining the principles of Karate, Muay Thai, Chinese Kenpo, and Jujitsu, Kenichi launched the swift, strong punch that is one of his strongest techniques squarely into the chest of a clearly shocked Sho Kano.

"Mubyoshi!"

-Yami Leader's Box-

The masters of Yami couldn't what they've been seeing. Their Sole Disciple struggling to win against Ryozanpaku's disciple who only had a year of training. This was unacceptable! This match was to show the Satsujinken way triumphs over the Katsujinken.

Saiga however was nevertheless impressed by Kenichi's fighting skills. Not only the boy used an ancient technique so proficiently, but he also used his father's Ryusui Seikuken in conjunction as well. Kenichi Shirahama has the makings of a master right now.

"This can go on no longer." Senzui spoke, his tone catching his comrades' attention. "That boy must die now. He's a serious threat to us. Kabuto…"

"Say no more."

Saiga was about to make a move to save Kenichi when Kabuto appeared in front of the tired boy, but he, along with the other masters, were surprised when Naruto was in the ring and landed a punch that pushed him back to where Sho was standing.

"It would seem that we're about to see Uzumaki's skills after all." Ogata stated with his snarl/grin present, clearly showing his excitement at watching the skills of the blonde.

"So it appears." Senzui stated before noticing that Uzumaki was glaring at him as he mouthed to him, "I know what you did that night." His eyes had slight signs of confusion and intrigue as he doesn't know what the blonde could be referring about. They never met nor seen each other before today, so what could he be talking about?

While Senzui was pondering this, so too was Saiga since he caught Naruto's message. It won't be long until he realizes the truth.

The horrible truth that he's been searching for 16 years…

…And the wrath that will follow afterwards.

-The Ring-

"Naruto?!" The exhausted Kenichi spat out spittle as his friend stood before him.

Kabuto, on the other side of the ring, rubbed his arms after blocking Naruto's kick that stopped him from attacking Kenichi. Sho on the other side couldn't help but be surprised and shocked of the speed displayed by Naruto moments ago. No one in the Yami organization could match Kabuto's speed during training, even if he was 'warming up.'

"Things are about to get exciting now." Sho's eyes narrowed in anger as his glare stared at the equally glaring Kenichi who stood behind Naruto.

"Sho."

"Kenichi."

"Go to the masters/Attend your injuries, Kenichi." Kabuto and Naruto said simultaneously, getting reluctant nods from the younger disciples. "And Kenichi…" The said boy looked as Naruto looked over his shoulder and gave a big grin. "You did a great job. I'm proud of you."

Despite his exhaustion and possible internal injuries, Kenichi gave a proud smile before limping away from the ring with the help of Miu while Sho was assisted by one of his Yomi colleagues; a small girl with expressionless eyes and a Jujitsu outfit similar to one of the Yami masters.

After making sure that the ring is clear, both Shinobi stared at each other with different expressions: Naruto being calm and collected; Kabuto expressing eagerness and devious.

"Ready?"

"Like you have to ask."

Kabuto smirked while slipping into his fighting stance that's reminiscent to Ogata's stance as Naruto assumed the Furinji Style battle stance, both Shinobi ready to pummel each other once more. It was only a few minutes later that Naruto realized how quiet the Coliseum became. He's been preparing this rematch for months and with the recent battles in the mix, Naruto feels that he can win again.

Yet there is something that bothers him still. But he can't seem to shake it off.

"Now's not the time to think about that. Time to skin this snake alive!" Naruto thought as his chakra exploded from his body, enveloping him in a flame-like aura.

Meanwhile Kabuto had his train of thoughts as he and Naruto started to circle around in their battle stances like a pair of lions fighting for territory. "I've suffered losses from you over and over again. First that time with Jiraiya battling Lord Orochimaru…"

Images of a younger Naruto slamming the mastered Rasengan into his younger self flashed into his mind.

"Then the time that I could've beaten you when you were searching for Sasuke, only then I realized you grew stronger than me."

Another set of images of their recent battle during the Wager of the Gods flashed in his head, his fists slightly trembling before Kabuto calmed them as his chakra surrounded his body in the same manner like Naruto's.

"But… this time you will fall to me!"

To everyone's surprise and shock, the two males disappeared as blurs being the only sign of their presence. Naruto and Kabuto reappeared high in the air, exchanging punches and kicks that were blocked or redirected by their Seikukens. The power behind the attacks caused thundering shockwaves that shook the Coliseum's structure and several large cracks as a bonus.

Their battle soon took to the ground after they descended from the sky as Naruto low-kicked Kabuto's leg while also blocking the latter's straight punch before they broke away from each other. As for everyone else, they were in complete awe of the fighting prowess of the two Shinobi, especially the masters of Ryozanpaku and Yami.

"Not bad. Your Taijutsu is more solid. Stable and refined." Kabuto commented after noticing Naruto's improved movements.

"… Same to you." Naruto replied after flexing his forearms to get rid of the pain from Kabuto's attacks. "They're heavier than last time. He must've been training intensely these past months."

After a few moments to gather themselves, Naruto and Kabuto charged at each other, although the latter quickly crouched on his knees before lounging forward with his arms out. "Furinji Chigiguruma!"

Kabuto sidestepped to dodge the blonde missile and threw a sharp front kick with his foot acting like the pointy tip of a dagger. "Nou Ten Jigoku Keri!" The attack connected to his spinning opponent or so he thought when 'Naruto' turned out to be an afterimage, getting a chuckle from Kabuto as he turned around to see a standing Naruto behind him with crossed arms. "I can assume that it was you who taught that boy the Bushin technique."

"…"

"I'll take your silence as a yes."

"…"

"…"

"…"

"Fine… I'll make my move."

As he watched Kabuto before charging to meet him, Naruto cocked back his right arm as he discretely channeled and condensed wind chakra around his fist. "This will knock him out the ring." He threw the wind chakra-infused punch that collided against Kabuto's own.

"Eaken."

-Yami's Box-

"…Unbelievable." The usual stoic Kushinada Style Jujutsu sat there in her throne-like seat with complete shock present on her face. She wasn't alone as her colleagues, especially Senzui were also in complete awe of the fighting prowess of Ogata's disciple and Hayato Furinji's disciple.

The two boys displayed physical abilities beyond those of a Grand Master. Perhaps further than the Advanced Grand Master level where she, Saiga and Senzui are currently at right this moment. Maybe even beyond the Legendary Master level like Hayato and the armed leader of the Haichou Blade if it turns out that Uzumaki and Kabuto are holding back and haven't used their full strength.

Especially if that last punch by Uzumaki was an indicator of him starting to be serious, then Yami is really in trouble.

Agaard on the other hand was extremely excited about the idea of fighting both Uzumaki and Kabuto despite knowing of the clear gap between their abilities. It didn't matter to him. All he wants to die in the greatest battle he could ever hope and that dream was originally hoped for once he fights Apachai, but now there's two incredibly powerful martial artists fighting in front of him.

His dream couldn't become more real each passing moment.

"I knew he and Kabuto were unusually powerful, but this is insane!" Saiga said inwardly while he stared into the massive, smoking hole that Naruto's punch sent Kabuto through. "That last punch… I could've sworn I sensed Ki into it. Except it didn't feel like Ki at all. It's different." Saiga took a quick glance at his rarely surprised ninja colleague before he looked back to a passive Naruto. "Naruto, what did you mean by that? Did you…"

-The Ring-

Eaken or Air Fist in the English language was one of Naruto's original techniques he created during his training with the Sage of the Six Paths back in his world. By channeling and condensing his wind chakra into his fist and releasing it as a massive pillar of wind, Naruto can obliterate any obstacles in his path and inflict massive damage unto his opponents. This was the first time he's ever used this jutsu on anyone since his training.

Naruto was cut from his thoughts when he noticed several gleams of light from inside the smoking hole. He quickly reached into his pouch and threw four shuriken that clashed against the equal number of shuriken that shot out of the hole. However Naruto knew something else was up as his senses alerted him from behind, pivoting on his heel while throwing a roundhouse kick just as an uninjured Kabuto Shunshined in existence.

However Kabuto blocked the kick and countered with a palm-strike thrust aimed for the blonde's head. Naruto saw the attack and redirected it away with a sideway elbow, then used the momentum to spin around to add more power into a reverse elbow aimed for the head. It didn't get close as Kabuto suddenly landed a side-kick to his ribs before he send Naruto skidding back with a sharp front kick.

"Damn it." Naruto said after he stopped skidding as he assumed the Furinji battle stance once more.

"Good. I like that grimace on your face. That tells me I'm doing something right."

"Not for long."

"We'll see."

"DAMN YOU!" Saiga's voice bellowed across the stadium, drawing everyone's attention including the Shinobi. It was filled with wrathful rage.

Although Naruto smirked as an explosion occurred at Yami's throne level from the burst of Ki, most likely Saiga's. "He's realized it. Good."

The screaming and panicking audience ran out of the Coliseum without a care in the world if they stepped or trampled on anyone in the process. To them, only their own survival was the most important objective right now.

Both Naruto and Kabuto didn't flinched when the two parties appeared behind each of them with the exception of Saiga who was standing next to his younger fellow blonde. As for Miu and Kenichi, they were still in their box with Rhea and Medusa watching over them. On Kabuto's side, Senzui was standing with a small bruise on his left check, a clear mark of Saiga's rage.

"Why?" Saiga's anger-filled voice directed at the stoic Senzui. "Why did you do it?"

"…"

"Tell me!"

"… I did what I had to do." Senzui finally spoke with a flash of anger directed at Naruto who glared back.

"Say it, Senzui. I already know, but everyone needs to hear it." Naruto already knew that Miu was listening intently. "Everyone."

"Perhaps, but that will remain with me and you apparently. Soon you will die by Kabuto's hands as will Saiga die by my hands." Senzui replied in a vaguely smug tone, ignoring the Ki emanating from the Elder.

Instead of glaring any further, Naruto chuckled, "I was hoping you'd say that. Now she can tell us herself."

"What?"

Naruto activated the magic circle in his palm and spoke into it before he deactivated it. "But first…" He snapped his fingers as ethereal chains shot from the ground and wrapped around the Yami masters san Senzui. "The rest of you… go to sleep." The color of the chains turned from blue to red and the struggling masters fell asleep while standing up.

Soon everyone heard loud church bells as an pillar of bright light descended from the sky like a spotlight at the opera. The light was near Naruto's opposite side, shocking everyone present even Senzui as a figure began to take form inside the pillar. The figure resembled a ghost before it became more defined like an actual person… a female person.

One that only four people in the Coliseum instantly recognized when they saw her face.

It was a woman with long raven hair that reached her waist and a hime-style haircut with her bangs in a short fringe that touched her cheeks. Her clothing was a tight body outfit similar to Miu's own. She donned gauntlets on her arms and armor on her shoulders, outer thighs and legs that go up to her knees.

"It… it can't be." Senzui said to him-self in disbelief.

Saiga was also in disbelief as he stared at the woman in front of him. His wife. "Shizuha." The said woman looked at him and soon smiled at him. The same smile that made him fell in love with her. The same smile that Miu inherited as well. "Is that really you?"

"It is." Shizuha said with her smile still present before changing it into a glare, directing it at a still shocked Senzui. "He's the one who killed me. Not Saiga. He framed my husband and made my daughter an orphan just to please the old masters of Kuremisago Clan."

Saiga directed his glare at Senzui who assumed a stance for the battle that's about to come. "Shizuha. Let's make him pay... together." He got a nod from his apparently living wife before charging at Senzui. Saiga got close and threw a very sharp rising kick that was barely blocked by Senzui and sent him into the air. The Furinji Style master appeared in front of him with a burst of speed and pummeled with a flurry of rapid and powerful punches, so fast the fists are surrounded by afterimages.

"Furinji Yamaku-Zushi!"

-Ryozanpaku's Box-

In the box, Kenichi covered his eyes with his arms from the dust before he looked at Miu. She was in complete awe and shock as her eyes were glued onto the woman standing in the ring. She only saw this woman in her dreams, but this is completely different. The woman is here. Her mother.

"M-mom?" Miu whispered as her eyes begins to tear up. Soon the waterworks broke when her mother looked at her and smiled at her before she left to help her father.

"Miu?"

Miu shook her head and looked at a worried Kenichi. "I'm fine. I'm just… happy now." Meanwhile Rhea and Medusa sat in silence as they were both surprised, but for different reasons: Rhea was surprised that Kabuto also knows Senjutsu; a power Naruto used during their first meeting/battle and Medusa shivered under the immense pressure that the aura of the two Shinobi was higher than anyone in the Coliseum sans Rhea.

But the one who was surprised the most is Kuroka. She couldn't believe it. Another Human is using Senjutsu. The power that made her race so feared throughout the supernatural world to the point of near-extinction. She thought that Naruto was the only one to Senjutsu, but now this Kabuto can use it. However, there are complete differences between 'their' Senjutsu and her species' Senjutsu.

One: they don't show any signs of being overwhelmed by the malice from the world when taking in natural energy.

Two: The pigmentations around their eyes are clear signs of different species from the animal kingdom while her kind shows no pigmentation at all or ever.

Lastly: the clear difference between Naruto and Kabuto's Senjutsu chakra. The blonde's aura feels so bright and warm like the sun while the snake-like silverhead felt dark and grim like the moonless night.

It was clear back then. It's still clear now.

"Naruto…" Kuroka stared at her chosen with loving eyes as she sensed his strong chakra from her position on Medusa's head.

-The Ring-

"I think it best for us to watch from a distance." Kensei proposed as his breathing got heavy from the increased pressure.

Hayato couldn't blame him. After all, his disciple and Ogata originate from the same world and their battle capabilities are far beyond his and Ryozanpaku's level. Not even fighting as one could they bring neither Naruto or Kabuto down. The time when Naruto was caught with Medusa months ago and punished for it, Hayato caught and knew the blonde ninja played along so he couldn't blow his cover.

"I'm getting too old for this." Hayato sighed while the others agreed as they leaped back to their box, grabbed the teenagers plus Rhea and Medusa, and made it to the top of the Coliseum for a bird's eye view. As for the unconscious Yami masters, they were pulled away from the ring by the chains and left to hang from the one of the arch structures via Naruto's command.

Seeing them gone and safe, Naruto closed his eyes as did Kabuto since he was thinking the same thing. Moments later, the two opened their changed eyes akin to a toad and a snake respectively as their chakra aura grew larger and stronger than they were moments ago.

"Sage vs. Sage then. Poseidon vs. Hades. I think I'm really going to enjoy this battle." Kabuto responded with a smug smirk.

Naruto breathed deeply as he changed his stance to the Frog Kata. "As will I."

With that said, the two Shinobi dashed at each other. As they got closer and closer with each running step, Naruto and Kabuto coated their left arms with Senjutsu chakra and threw their respective punches with all of their weight into it into a Senjutsu clash.

The Coliseum shook in place like a huge earthquake struck it while several shockwaves boomed every second as the two Senjutsu masters fought with all of their might.