Sasuke’s finding chapter 7
As Sakura first noticed Kio rushing towards her with his katana, she was convinced James’ life and her own were over. She closed her eyes, the only thing she could do at that moment, not wanting to see the actual moment of her own death. She waited to feel the blade pierce through her but did not feel anything. Sakura quickly opened her eyes again and saw a tall man with spiky bleached blonde hair. The stranger had a kunai holding back Kio’s blade. He kicked Kio back but as he was thrown backwards, Kio flipped around and got back on his feet.
“What!? “ Sakura spoke in surprise while the stranger quickly turned to her.
“Are you alright?” he asked with a concerned voice.
“Yeah… I am fine… Thank you.”
Sakura now saw more exactly what her savior looked like. He had a long black leather trench coat on that went past his knees. Under it, he wore a white shirt with jet black pants. He also had a diagonal scar on his right eye brow. Sakura noticed he had a sand village head band at the cuff of his right arm of his Jacket. He seemed to be muscular and his eyes were light blue.
“You know, it’s pretty pathetic that you’d attack three kids and a baby. “ He said to Kio.
“Leave. This isn’t your fight.” The ninja replied.
“It is my fight now. I won’t just let you harm children. Who are you anyway?”
“Well since I am going to kill you, it doesn’t matter anyway. I am Kio. Heard of me?”
“I have. You will do any job and have killed many people. Men, women, children. You have destroyed countless families.”
“Yeah, I will do any job, though I enjoy most the ones that involve needless murder and screaming. Many would lie awake at night if they had done what I have, but I just laugh myself to sleep.”
“This your last battle, monster. These kids will be witnesses to your demise. You shall die at the hands of Jakken.“
Kio stood there, grinning, then laughing loudly while he reached in his pocket.
“Why do you laugh at me?”
“It’s only that I just realized that this is your fight after all. I have something to show you, Jakken; my latest joy.” Kio said, pulling out a medallion made of green stone.
Jakken stood frozen to the ground. “Jade…you killed Jade.“
Kio laughed. “Yes, I did. She put up a good fight, but winning from me is impossible.”
“You…you bastard!!!” Jakken screamed at the top of his lungs, going with full force at Kio, but he skillfully dodged Jakken’s attack.
“You will have to do better than that, Jakken. I am at the top of my game and you are just an old man now.”
“I’m only thirty one years old and I have more than enough fight left in me. I’m going to kill you for what you have done!”
Kio pulled out his Katana, a huge grin on his face. “Well, let’s see if you can.”
“You will pay for what you’ve done!” Jakken said, pulling out his own Katana. Unlike Kio’s weapon, Jakken’s was one of the legendary named swords and it had its name written on it in bold letters, “Jin”. Jakken charged at Kio, his entire body drowning with rage. Unfortunately, Jakken was not the only one skilled with swords. Their swords clashed and within the next instant they were heading into the trees to fighting on the branches. But in the end Kio seemed to have the upper hand, creating a diagonal slash from Jakken’s hip to his left shoulder.
“Argh! You bastard!” Jakken said, staggering back with one hand holding his bleeding chest.
“Don’t tell me you’re done already?” Kio asked mockingly.
“Done? I’m just getting started.” He said, gaining back his balance. Their katana kept clashing until finally Kio jumped off the branch and landed on his feet. But Jakken was strangely nowhere in sight.
“Where are you?” He asked with slight panic in his voice.
Suddenly, two hands pushed out of the ground and grabbed Kio’s ankles, throwing him into a large tree. Caught off guard, Kio’s body smashed right into the tree without hardly blocking. Kio was just trying to catch his breath when Jakken charged straight towards him with his hand open and glowing with energy. Kio was barely able to dodge Jakken’s blow which instead pulverized the tree.
Kio stood up, shaking off the dirt. “I underestimated you. It seems your daughter was right about you.”
“I want to know why you killed my only daughter.” Jakken said sternly.
“It goes back to a year ago when I still had other projects besides mercenary work. Six other men who worked for me and I were hunted down by your daughter and she meant to kill us. She was able to kill all of my subordinates but I was able to escape. I vowed I would kill her. After a year of constant pursuit, I finally found her. It seemed that someone had told her I was looking for her and she secluded herself from anyone who could have saved her to protect them.“
“And why did you come to Kohona?”
“Isn’t it obvious Jakken? I came to finish my revenge.”
“You mean…”
“Don’t be so cocky. Not you, but your grandson; the baby in that girl’s arms.”
“My grandson…I didn’t know that was him. I should have realized sooner… I just though your killed him together with my daughter.”
“Jade went to Kohona for the only reason to keep James safe. I heard she left him in an alley in one of the richest parts of Konoha before she left. I intercepted her in the forest to her surprise and we fought. Even though she was fatigued, she fought to the very end. As much as I tried she would not let out where she had left him. After I grew bored with her, I ended her life assuming her child would be with you and your wife. But by the time I had made my way to your village, I heard about a baby being found in the village of Kohona. Sure enough those three kids were looking after them. I tried to take James one time before, but that boy with black hair stopped me. I am here to finish what I started.”
“You might have killed Jade, but you’re not killing my grandson!”
“We will see, Jakken.”
Kio jumped back landing on the top Lake. Jakken stood ready for anything. Kio was doing a lengthy hand sign routine, Jakken knowing the jutsu was going to be huge.
“Water style! Water dragon justu!” He said, a large body of starting to form into a dragon behind him. Jakken did his own hand sign.
“Desert fox Justu!” He shouted, a large fox made out of dirt rising from the ground. Kio’s water dragon lunged for Jakken but his desert fox protected him. The two beasts clashed as both Kio and Jakken tried to get the upper hand. Jakken’s fox bit Kio’s water dragon in the neck which caused the justu to dispel and the water to lose its shape.
“Not too many people survive my water dragon justu.” He said, a bit annoyed.
“Not too many people are like me either… I have a reason to fight.”
“I know you have skills with a sword and you have allot of powerful justu. Let’s see how good your taijustu is.”
“Come here and I will show you.”
Kio, being interested in Jakken’s reply, bolted towards him and ran off the water, throwing a few kunai in Jakken’s direction. Jakken dodged them and they embedded themselves into a large oak tree instead. Jakken ran towards Kio, sliding under him, performing a spinning leaf kick. But Kio dodged it by doing a back flip behind Jakken, grabbing his jacket, and sending him into a large tree where the kunai was embedded. Jakken hit the tree with one leg being stuck into the tree. Seeing Jakken was stuck, Kio seized the opportunity to charge towards Jakken. Jakken grabbed a Kunai.
“That’s it, Kio keeps coming…” Jakken said to himself as Kio came in fast. Jakken waited a second more before bursting out of the tree making a large slash in Kio’s torso.
“Ahhhhhhhhh!”
“Now we’re even, Kio.”
Kio held his hand on his torso. “You…will…pay for that!”
“I only wish I could make you feel every ounce of pain that you have inflicted on so many families.”
“Hmph. Like it’s going to matter if you even kill me. There will be many that will fill my shoes.”
Jakken unsheathed his blade and aimed towards Kio’s neck. But before Jakken could give the death stroke, Kio threw a smoke bomb and disappeared from Jakken’s sight. When the smoke lifted, Kio was back on the water.
“HA HA HA HA! Did you think you could kill me that easily?!” Kio started focusing his chakra. A large ice berg was coming slowly out of the water.
“What? What is that?”
“You’re in for a treat Jakken. You and these kids are one the only few who will ever see this. By the time the villages I destroyed witnessed this masterpiece, it was far too late to escape.” The large body of ice berg finished rising from the lake. It berg was quite large, with Jagged edges covering it which looked quite sharp.
“Water style, Ice arrow justu!” Kio smashed the ice berg, shattering it into arrows of ice flying into the air. Jakken removed his Jack and put it on his left arm while performing a few hand signs.
“Wave of kunai Justu!” Jakken swings his Jack to the direction of the ice arrows, sending countless kunai at the ice arrows. Almost every kunai destroyed the many ice arrows. Instead of sky raining ice arrows the sky was raining fragments of ice, but Kio wasn’t finished yet. Kio brought more ice arrows to the sky. Jakken repeated his justu, but he knew he would not be able to counter every arrow this time. He unsheathed his sword and deflected the remaining ice arrows easily.
“Let’s finish this!”
Jakken was still wielding his Katana as he charged head on to Kio. Jakken ran across the lake with full force. Kio readied his Katana, prepared for the final showdown.
“Shouldn’t we at least help Jakken?” Sakura asked.
“No. This is Jakken’s fight. Besides we must guard you and James. I…almost thought I had lost you.” Sasuke said.
“I thought so too. I didn’t want to lose my mommy.”
“I thought I was going to die too.” Sakura confessed. “All I could think of was poor little James’ life coming to such an early end. We all appreciate Jakken greatly. I just hope his wounds will be ok. Can you see the gash he has?”
“I think he will be ok. As long as his adrenaline is going, the bleeding should be slowed down. I just hope his chakra can hold out.” Sasuke said.
“Come on, Jakken, don’t die please!” Naruto said
As they watched on, the battle went back to solid ground. Jakken made a final slash, destroying Kio’s blade.
“No, it can’t be!”
“Your time is running out Kio.”
“No…Your time is, Jakken. You just gave me a reason to finish you off; I want that amazing sword of yours.”
Just after he said that, a water clone came behind restraining him.
“Your time is running out, Jakken.” Kio grabbed a kunai from his belt and made another slash to Jakken’s chest. Jakken screamed loudly before flipping himself behind the water clone, slashing its throat with a kunai and making its body return to water. Jakken was now in bad shape, bleeding more than before. He was barely able to stand. Giving it one last try he made a run for Kio, only to be punched in his face and then kicked into the lake.
“Jakken!!!” Sakura screamed, but there was no response.
“Ha! I knew you were weak, just like Jade was!” Kio now grinned at the group. As shocked as they were, none was as furious as Naruto. Kio started to walk to them, but a sudden gust of wind made him step more cautiously.
“No… it couldn’t be…” Sakura said.
Naruto started growling as red chakra swirled around his body, the explosive increases in strength pushing out with destructive gusts of wind. “YOU KILLED JAKKEN!!!” Naruto’s eyes started changing from blue to almost a black feline eye.
“What’s happening to Naruto?” Sasuke asked confused.
Naruto was at his max level, gunning for Kio who had made a few water clones. As soon as they were fully formed, they threw multiple Kunai at Naruto… and they all hit. But his chakra pushed them out of his flesh at blinding speed and they imbedded themselves in nearby trees. Naruto grabbed a water clone and then socked him in the face, smashing him into a tree where it shattered into a puddle of water.
“You’re going to pay what you did to Jakken!”
Naruto set his sights on another water clone Kio had made. Naruto and the water clone fought hand to hand until Naruto slid under the water clone. Naruto used his legs to grab the clone’s head, throwing him backwards to the ground while Naruto jumped and put his kunai through the clone’s chest. Ending that clones existence there was only now two clones left. As the real Kio distracted Naruto, the last water clone was back on the lake bringing up another ice berg. Naruto had to stop the water clone but he also had to stop Kio. He would have to be at two places in the same time.
Without even having to make a single hand sign, a shadow clone appeared and it gunned for the clone on the lake while the real ninja kept the real Kio from escaping. Pushing its fist into the ice berg, going though it quite easilt, shattering it to ice fragments which made both Naruto’ shadow clone and Kio’s water clone disappear. The real Naruto stood on the lake, catching his breath.
“You’re good, kid. I don’t where you got that power from, buts it’s no use. I will kill you all, just like I killed that pathetic father Jakken.” At the comment Naruto charged at Kio, but when he set foot on the ground he felt the water ripple behind him. His anger started to subside.
“Jakken?”
The water rippled more until Jakken jumped out of the lake and smashed his fist into the ground. Jakken’s chakra surrounded him like a light blue flame. Jakken’s pupil was now just all white as he stood up. But something was different about Jakken. He had an evil smile across his face.
“Jakken! I am so glad you’re ok!” Naruto screamed
“No… it’s impossible… no man could ever survive your injuries.” Kio screamed.
Jakken laughed maniacally. “Take a rest, Jakken, I think you could use a rest.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Oh…I am Jakken’s other side, Marv.”
Marv drove his hands into the ground. Shooting claws up in Kio’s direction. Kio dodged most of them but one claw impaled him in the arm.
“AAAAAAH!”
“How did you like that one, Kio?”
Kio said nothing but threw as many kunai as he could at Marv. His claws receded and he quickly made a shield out of clay. Jakken then stretched his arm out into a giant claw and extended it to Kio’s direction. Kio side stepped Marv’s attacks, finally bringing back his claw arm.
Marv snapped his neck as he once more charged at Kio with lightning speed. Kio had no time to react. Marv first punched him in the chest knocking the wind out of him, and then kicked him straight into the air. He jumped up in the air after Kio, Marv forcefully kicked kio to the ground. Marv landed on his feet and Kio was trying to gain back his balance. But Marv was far from being done with Kio. Marv grabbed Kio, throwing him so hard into a tree that it snapped. Marv calmly walked to Kio’s bruised body. He was still alive, but groaning from his beating. Marv lifted him by his neck.
“How does it feel, Kio? To have your life in someone else’s hands?”
“You won’t kill me, Jakken. You don’t have enough hate in you to kill me.”
“This is Marv, not Jakken. And I do have the hate to kill you. After what you did to all those people. After what you did to Jakken’s baby girl. I should make your death slow, agonizing, but I am not like you. Any last words before I end your miserable life?”
“Well, I will tell you one thing. If you think I am going to have a change of heart or redemption…you’re wrong. I don’t regret what I have done in my life. I wish I could have done more. Oh, one more thing Jakken, your daughter screamed for her daddy before she died.
Marv was about to end it but one of his pupils went back to normal.
“Hold on. I am killing him!” Jakken screamed.
“Jakken, stay out of this. If you go back now you’re going to die then will both be dead.”
“Marv, remember I am the one who raised Jade. I want Kio to die at my hands!”
“Jakken, remember, if it wasn’t for me. You would have drowned in that Lake.”
“I don’t care!” Jakken screamed as he began to get control of his body again. He squeezed Kio’s neck till he finally stopped struggling, dropping his body to the ground. Jakken stared at Kio’s body for a few minutes. Looking at the same person, that ended so many lives. That had filled the hearts of his survivors with pain, anguish and hatred. Worst of all, the only daughter he had was now just a memory. But it was finally over.
He tried to stand but his strength was fading fast from his injuries and the large consumption of chakra. He quickly collapsed to the ground.
“Jakken!” Naruto screamed. Sakura ran over and checked his pulse.
“Naruto, he is still alive! But his wounds are quite deep.”
“Ch…check… my right…po-pocket of my…Jacket.” Jakken said, barely able to speak. She found a few blue pills there.
“What are these?” She asked.
“Ch…chakra…pills…”
Sakura placed them in Jakken’s mouth. With the last bit of strength he swallowed them. In a little bit, Jakken had the strength to sit up.
“Thank you all. You have saved my life.” He said to them, smiling.
Naruto hugged Jakken tightly “I thought we were going to lose you!” Naruto said crying. Jakken hugged tightly, feeling a connection to Naruto. It was strange how quickly he had bonded with these people he did not even know this morning. It might have been the battle which they had fought together, or the baby they both loved immensely, but there was no denying the connection.
“It’s okay, kid. I am here now.”
“We all owe you our lives.” Sasuke said.
“Kio needed to be stopped. If he wasn’t stopped he would have killed many more. He would have killed you and James… my grandson”
“What?!” the group screamed confused.
“It’s true. Kio told me that’s why he stalked you all. After he had killed my daughter he went looking for James. After he would have killed him, he would have come after me and my wife Yuki.“
“Jakken, I don’t want to sound rude since you saved us. But how can we be sure you’re James’ grandfather?” Sakura asked.
“Well, I see you will not just take my word. Maybe this might prove something. Jakken removed his blood stained coat, turning his back and showing a round shaped birth mark on his shoulder blade.
“Sasuke…It’s the same birth mark James has. He is related to Jakken.”
“Please can I hold my grandson?” he asked.
“Of course!” Sakura said to Jakken as she handed him James. A flow of tears flooded Jakken’s face as he held James close to his chest. It reminded him when Jakken cradled Jade in his arms so many years ago. It took him quite a while before he had regained his posture.
“I need to go to Kohona. I have some things to clear up. But I am going to need help to walk. My body is out of commission. And I need someone to grab that large packsack hiding in that tree for me.” Naruto quickly grabbed it for him. “And Jade’s pendant… could you grab it off Kio’s corpse?” Sakura nodded and searched the ninja’s belongings for it.
“Thanks kids. I have some precious stuff in this bag, and this pendant is all I have left of Jade.” He smiled, before looking at James again. “Just this pendant and this guy. Could one of you help me to the village?” Jakken asked as he picked his Jacket and shirt
“Sure.” Naruto quickly offered putting his shoulder under Jakken’s arm. Now they were ready to go to Kohona. The sun was shining as they all walked back to Kohona to fix up Jakken’s wounds and whatever else he had to do. At the very least James would be safe from now on.
End of chapter 7
