Naruto: Power in Play

"Alright, boys. Show these bastards what a real invasion looks like."

"Tch. These damn flying pests are everywhere," Gamabunta grumbled. His narrowed eyes flickered to the sky, where dozens of Sky ninja hovered, raining kunai and explosive projectiles indiscriminately.

"Noisy bastards. Let's shut 'em up."

With a powerful leap, Gamabunta launched himself toward the largest cluster of airborne enemies, his enormous blade gleaming in the dim light.

He swung.

The sheer force of the slash tore through the air, creating a gust strong enough to knock several Sky ninja off balance. The blade carved through enemy ranks, sending bodies crashing down in a bloody rain.

The Sky ninja scrambled to counterattack, launching concentrated energy blasts from their cannons, but Gamabunta dodged them with surprising agility. With another mighty swing, he sent debris flying at the enemy, corpses few across the battlefield.

A deafening screech pierced the ruined village, an unnatural, bone-chilling wail. The Reibi's white tendrils surged forward, twisting and writhing like living vipers. They lashed out, seeking more victims—anything with chakra to devour. And the massive toads looked like quite the appetizing prey to it.

As the tendrils sneaked their way towards Gamabunta, a massive iron shield slammed down, stopping the tendrils inches from their prey.

"I do not like this," Gamaken muttered, gripping his massive polearm tightly. "Not one bit."

The tendrils coiled around his shield, pulling, trying to break through, but Gamaken held firm, digging his massive feet into the Ancor Vantian's surface. A tendril surged towards him from the side—he spun his polearm and struck, severing the appendage with a clean, precise motion. A screech of pain reverberated through the Ancor Vantian, and even more tendrils erupted from the darkness, coming at him from multiple angles.

Gamaken gritted his teeth and braced himself, shield raised high, ready to hold the line.

"Alright, big guys. Time to clean up."

On the other side of the fallen fortress, Gamahiro landed in the heart of the enemy's formation, his twin swords flashing as he leaped and sliced through Sky ninja and mechanical artillery alike.

Sky ninja who had soared freely a second ago now found themselves struggling to maneuver, unable to rejoin the Ancor Vantian. They were stuck dodging the deadly swings of the massive blades.

Behind Gamahiro, two more colossal toads landed, their webbed feet crushing the operating canons under sheer weight. Their deep, guttural croaks rumbled across the battlefield, almost drowning out the screams of the Sky ninja caught in the carnage.

Jiraiya stood atop Gamabunta's head, watching the battlefield shift in their favor. He cracked his knuckles. "Not bad. And we're just getting started."

His eyes locked onto Shinno from the distance, the dark warrior standing atop a large tower like a tyrant surveying his empire.

Jiraiya bent his knees, his chakra flaring beneath his feet. Then, in a single powerful leap, he launched himself from Gamabunta's head, soaring through the battlefield like a crimson blur. His red cloak billowed behind him, his hair wild in the wind, his fists clenched tight.

He crashed onto the platform before Shinno, his fist extended into a punch. No words. No taunts. Just a clenched fist flying straight for Shinno's face.

The corrupted doctor dodged. Jiraiya's attack grazed past his cheek, the force alone sending a shockwave rippling through the air.

Shinno's smirked. "Impatient, aren't we?"

Jiraiya didn't respond. He attacked. Their clash echoing like a thunderstorm. Fists met fists. Legs clashed midair. Chakra surged violently with each strike. Jiraiya struck with a ferocity that belied his usual carefree nature. Each punch forced Shinno back, step by step. And he was forced to admit that had underestimated the Sannin.

After a few exchanges, a few hits slipped by, and Shinno's guard was opened. Jiraiya did not miss the opportunity, a hit landed square on his opponent's gut. His fist sank into the gigantic man's stomach, sending the Sky Village leader skidding backward, his boots screeching against the steel platform.

But he didn't crumble.

Instead, he exhaled sharply, his dark chakra pulsing ominously. He glanced down at his abdomen where Jiraiya had struck him, a slow smile creeping across his lips as the wound mended itself before his eyes.

Then his chakra flared. Shinno blurred forward, his speed nearly inhuman, his fist cloaked in malevolent energy.

But Jiraiya was no slouch, he dodged the strike despite the sudden power up, twisting his body as the punch grazed his ribs—but even that brief contact sent a numbing shock through his muscles.

A Medical Scalpel, Jiraiya realized. His eyes narrowed as he reassessed his opponent. Shinno wasn't just using raw strength, the dark chakra coating his arms were something akin to chakra scalpels, but bigger and stronger.

Before Jiraiya could reposition, Shinno's hand whipped upward, forming a dark chakra blade in an instant.

It slashed toward Jiraiya's neck.

The Sannin ducked low, spinning on his heel, his leg sweeping toward Shinno's ankles. The latter leaped over it, flipping midair, and conjured another dark chakra sword in his free hand.

Jiraiya's hands flashed through hand seals in response.

"Oil Bullet!"

A stream of thick, viscous oil shot from his mouth, coating the platform beneath them. Shinno landed, and his footing slipped just enough for Jiraiya to seize an opening.

The Toad Sage lunged, spinning, his elbow connecting with Shinno's jaw. The force sent him flying, crashing into a metal railing with a sharp clang.

But before Jiraiya could press his advantage, Shinno was already back on his feet, seemingly uninjured. And in his palm, a swirling ball of chakra.

Jiraiya's eyes widened. A Rasengan?

Shinno triumphally held the spiraling sphere of chakra. Pausing a moment to let his opponent see.

"You Konoha ninja do love your little tricks," he mused, admiring the sphere. "So easy to replicate."

Jiraiya clicked his tongue in response. "That's not yours to steal."

Shinno rushed forward, the black Rasengan twisting ominously in his palm, dark chakra mixing unnaturally in it.

Jiraiya exhaled, his hands flashing through signs.

"Sage Art: Oil Slope!"

The floor beneath them turned slick with oil in an instant. Shinno's footing slipped again, his charge abruptly halted.

Jiraiya didn't waste the opportunity. He came sliding forward, throwing a sealing tag onto Shinno's forearm as he advanced. The moment it made contact, Shinno screamed. Dark chakra flared violently, then flickered, disrupted. The Rasengan in his palm dissipated, the unstable chakra unable to hold form.

Jiraiya wasn't done. He kicked out Shinno's footing from under him and then flipped into the air, his hand already moving into another set of handseals.

"Fire Style: Toad Oil Flame Splash!"

A stream of oil erupted from his mouth—and with a single flick of chakra, it ignited. Flames engulfed Shinno along with the already prepared tower, roaring to life as they swallowed his entire form. For a moment, all was silent, safe for the sound of burning flames.

Then—

A violent explosion of dark chakra erupted from within the inferno, snuffing out the fire instantly. Shinno emerged, his cloak burned, his expression livid.

"Impressive," he admitted, rolling his shoulders. "You're stronger than I thought."

Jiraiya exhaled slowly. He noted the unblemished skin of Shinno as he emerged from the flames. The enemy, as it seems, possessed an unlimited supply of chakra, coupled with an undying body. He seriously started considering how he was going to keep the man down.

Then they clashed again.

*******************************************************************************

Amidst the chaos of battle, Shikaku Nara's voice cut through the telepathic communication line. "Hokage-sama! Now might be the best time deploy all remaining elite fighters into the enemy fortress! We must neutralize the Sky ninja reinforcements before they can interfere with Jiraiya-sama's fight."

Hiruzen, still atop his hawk, surveyed the battlefield. Jiraiya was already engaged with Shinno. The toads had disrupted the enemy's air superiority. The Sky ninja were struggling to hold their lines.

The time was now.

Hiruzen gave the command. The remaining airborne Konoha shinobi dove toward the Ancor Vantian, slipping through the storm of aerial combat. They landed in coordinated strikes, crushing enemy defenses before they could react.

At the forefront of the charge was Hiashi Hyuga, his Byakugan piercing through the Ancor Vantian, scanning and finding the enemy forces. He directed the other jounins as they landed. Might Guy, a blur of raw speed and power, immediately engaging the squads of Sky ninja.

Asuma Sarutobi backed him up, his dual chakra blades flashing, cutting down enemy soldiers, stopping them from surrounding the Green Beast. Along with another team of elite Jonin, Konoha's strike team steamrolled though the enemy ninjas.

Hiruzen moved separately from the jounin team. He navigated the small rubbles of the Ancor Vantian, making a beeline for the tower where Jiraya and Shinno were fighting. With a final mighty leap, Hiruzen Sarutobi landed across from Shinno, his boots cracking the steel beneath him. A murderous rage burned in his aged eyes.

"So, the Hokage himself finally graces me with his presence," Shinno mused. "Took you long enough."

Hiruzen said nothing. He simply moved.

The moment Hiruzen swung his staff, the air exploded. Shinno barely had time to raise his arms before the first blow connected, sending him skidding backward across the platform. But he didn't fall—he twisted midair, his feet grinding into the steel as he slid back.

Jiraiya saw the opportunity and charged.

"Rasengan!"

Jiraiya's palm slammed forward, the spiraling sphere of chakra twisting the air around it. Shinno barely managed to counter with another hastily formed rasengan of his own, the impact shattering the steel beneath his feet and sending him careening down into the building.

Hiruzen didn't let up. He jumped through the hole, his hands a blur of handsigns. "Wind Style: Wind Dragon!"

A torrent of wind gathered and twisted into the form of a great dragon, its jagged mouth opening wide before surging forward, smashing into Shinno with violent force, slamming him through the floors of the tower. Jiraiya followed through, hands flashing through seals.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Flame Cluster!"

A barrage of small, precise fireballs rained down, engulfing the rubble which buried Shinno with violent explosions of flames.

Yet, Shinno refused to go down. He emerged from the debris with a roar. His towering figured healed once again. But as he moved, a crackling bolt of lightning struck him dead-on, sparks of energy dancing across his muscles as his body momentarily convulsed.

"Lightning Style: Thunder Fang!"

Jiraiya and Hiruzen landed side by side. Their combined barrage had given Shinno no room to breathe. The battlefield shook with every impact. The relentless onslaught battered Shinno from all sides.

And as the fight progressed, one thing became apparent. Shinno was no match for his assailants. If not for his extraordinary healing abilities, the fight would have long been concluded.

Seemingly recognizing this truth, Shinno stopped retreating. With a shout, a wall of pure dark chakra shielded him, stopping the student and master duo from attacking.

And then a terrific scene unfolded. Shinno's muscles started squirming like snakes under his skin. Slowly, the man grew increasingly taller. If before, he was standing at around 2,5 meters tall. Now, he was pushing into the 3 meters. And accompanying this change was an explosion of dark chakra that seemed to press on the student and master duo.

Shinno rolled his shoulders, his huge muscles rippling unnaturally. "I think it's about time I start taking this seriously."

Hiruzen gritted his teeth. Reevaluating the newly transformed Shinno.

They were up against a freak.

Jiraiya agreed to that sentiment. But… that wasn't the worst part. He and Hiruzen were burning though their chakra reserves just to keep Shinno on the backfoot. But their opponent, no matter how many times he was hit, no matter how much damage he took, stood tall.

And his body never seemed to tire.

Jiraiya gritted his teeth in frustration. They had to find a way to counter Shinno soon. Before the man turned the tides on them.

But it seemed like Shinno's transformation was not over yet.

The duo watched with a growing sense of horror as Shinno lowered his stance. The air around him distorted. And his aura turned into something different. Something wild, like flames that wanted to burn everything.

*BOOM! *

A shockwave erupted from his body, silencing the battlefield.

The Sky ninja, the Konoha forces, even the toads stilled for a moment, feeling the oppressive pressure.

Then came the words that shook them all.

"You know of the Eight Gates, don't you?"

Jiraiya's eyes widened.

Hiruzen's expression hardened in shock. "Impossible…"

Shinno smiled.

"You Konoha fools sacrifice your lives just to tap into their power. But me?" His aura surged violently, the steel beneath his feet bending under the sheer force of it. "I'm different."

Then, Shinno vanished.

Jiraiya's instincts screamed.

"SEN-!"

But Shinno was already there. His fist tore through the air, faster than either of them could react, and straight into Hiruzen's chest.

The impact rippled through the Hokage's body, sending him rocketing back like a cannonball. His body smashing through the tower's wall.

"3rd Gate, Gate of Life!" Shinno declared cooly.

AN: Thanks for reading 😊 Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! We're wrapping things up soon!