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Naruto's POV (Southern Swamps of Irminsul - Terra)
"You bastard! You even had an answer for that!" Kiba laughed. "Luckily, my final trick is one you can't muscle out of. This is a submission-style taijutsu created by my masters. Once I flex my muscles, I'll dislocate your elbow, then maybe I'll start snapping bones!" He threatened cockily.
"I'll just force my way out!" Naruto countered as he strained his muscles and attempted to pry off Kiba's hands with his free one. However, Kiba just chuckled, as Naruto's efforts seemed pointless. In fact, with a mere shift, Kiba strained Naruto's entire arm, the Blonde crying out in pain.
"Unlikely, the only way you get out is when I let you go!" Kiba mocked. Before he tightened the hold, the pain and weight overwhelmed the Blonde, who dropped to his knees as Kiba rested against the water's surface. "This little fight is over, Blondie; the alpha has been established."
Naruto didn't answer, however. Instead, with roaring pain and fury, he stood up and lifted Kiba up as well. With grunts of effort and pain, he ran, with the two of them quickly closing towards land.
"Clever, you intend to slam me!" Kiba taunted. "But too late!" With a chuckle and flex of his entire body, he pulled his armbar tight, and with a pop, it seemed clear his earlier threat had not been idle. However, the Inuzuka was shocked when Naruto continued charging. With incredible speed and grace, Kiba switched to Naruto's right arm. However, before entirely securing and dislocating the other, Naruto finally reached dry land in his sprint. And with a roar managed to raise Kiba's entire body and arm into the air before slamming it down. By proxy, driving Kiba into the hard stone below, cracking it. Kiba spat out blood but with a crooked smile kept in the new armbar. "Gonna take more than that! And you're down an arm!" However, in a feat of pure willpower, Kiba froze as Naruto raised the injured left arm before bracing it. 'No fucking way…' Kiba thought before, with a shout of rage and pain, Naruto slammed the injured arm into the face of Kiba. Another distinctive pop sounded as Kiba was brutally slammed into the stone again. The force was so great that Kiba bounced off it, consciousness barely holding on as Kiba's mind whirled.
'He managed to fix his dislocated arm with that insane punch…' Kiba thought dimly. 'He really is stronger than me…'
Naruto watched as Kiba landed as he massaged his somewhat still injured arm. 'I'm lucky that actually worked. Best knock him out for now and figure out what to do with the two of them.'
Naruto stood and sighed as Kiba dully laughed, no longer standing firm on the water but now floating, showing that Inuzuka was out of chakra. "This fight is over. I don't know what they did to you, but I'll fix you." He promised Kiba as he prepared to march over/
"Doesn't matter!" Kiba laughed. "First the Krookorook Clan, then me. Even a juggernaut like you must be running low on fuel!"
"Your point?" Naruto asked. Before he suddenly had to dodge back as several giant wolves burst into the scene. Naruto watched angrily but cautious as the wolves surrounded Kiba. Each looked pretty normal if not for the dark streaks in their fur, which looked unnatural. 'Are they under control too?'
"The Masters made it clear not to let these two be taken. You will leave, or we will feast on you. The Masters will deal with you eventually…"
"The Masters were smart enough to send back up. Within minutes, dozens and dozens of these wolves will appear." Kiba explained. "Are you certain you can fend them off while defending Yuno in your state?"
Naruto growled to himself. As much as he hated to admit it, the endless fighting thus far affected his tank; the day wasn't getting younger either. But he wouldn't just leave Kiba behind. "You haven't seen anything yet!"
"Nor have you, soon the Mosquito clan will show as well, with so much blood spilled it's practically guaranteed. Can you fend off two clans at once, and find shelter after for the three of us? Not to mention your clone is all that is defending Yuno…"
Naruto glanced back worriedly as a disturbing realization set in. He couldn't afford to risk this fight right now. The day must be ending soon, and with an unknown number of opponents coming, it would be risky for him, let alone his clone and Yuno. Besides, he likely would need to fight more…
"I'll be back for you, Kiba!" Naruto promised before he dashed off to gather Yuno and retreat.
Kiba laughed as the wolves gathered him and took off as well.
Naruto lost sight of him as what seemed to be a living cloud of darkness came from the sky, seemingly beelining for the corpses of the Krookorook Clan.
???'s POV (Nearby)
Ichumi was not an apex predator; it was something neither he nor his Clan could claim. A creature as graceful and noble as the Blechumi Clan had never resorted to such grizzly methods. They fed upon those of lesser nature, giant insects, small mindless animals; they were sophisticated like that.
As such, the display beneath him had been almost hard to stomach. A mere single human had managed to destroy the Krookorook Clan single-handedly. Then battled another seemingly strong human before it was interrupted by the Wolf Clan and Mosquito Clan. The Wolf saved the second weaker human, and the Mosquito feasted upon the litany of blood left in their wake.
As distasteful as it all was, Ichumi felt a certain satisfaction. The Krookorook Clan had been the rulers of the Southern Swamp of Irminsul. One that had kept his own more sophisticated Clan down and in hiding. Their deaths would indeed ensure a better future for his own. The Mosquito Clan had been fed and would likely be of their usual hunting routine while they feasted and rested. This blonde human had created a beneficial circumstance. It seemed the Blechumi Clan would not be able to claim their home again…
So Ichumi followed him. He was confident that this human would be helpful to the Blechumi Clan. He watched the human meet a copy of himself guarding over an unconscious female human. He felt the beginnings of a plan form inside his head.
Ichumi was certainly he and this human could be staunch allies…
With a shuffle of his special feathers, he flew over in a short glide and landed in front of the humans. The Blonde one quickly turned and raised a blade toward him. But Ichumi felt no fear; he was sure the Blonde was no ignorant buffoon. He was somewhat sophisticated just like himself.
Naruto's POV
Naruto landed in the tree upon the unconscious Yuno and his clone. With a nod to the clone, it faded, and Naruto sighed as he crouched low and prepared to gather Yuno. Suddenly, a thud landed on the branch.
Naruto whipped around and faced the threat, pulling Riptide free from its holster and sheath in an instant. He did not allow his surprise to show as he faced the newest threat. In any other situation, Naruto would have been impressed with the creature before him. He had heard of peacocks, but their descriptions did them no justice.
It was roughly the size of a large dog. Its body was plumb at the center but slimmed out into a long neck and small beaked head. It was enhanced by the large and, frankly, beautiful feathers. They looked silky brown with large, beautiful circular spots throughout them. So long and thin were the feathers that they hung off the branch and all around the place.
"I'm tired, stressed, and frankly done with this bullshit," Naruto warned darkly. "If you intend to try to eat or enslave me I'm kicking your ass!"
"No need to fear human, a sophisticated creature like myself has no need to engage in pointless violence. Instead, I sense a business opportunity for the two of us." Ichumi reasoned.
"Attacked, betrayed, then haggled," Naruto complained. "Fine, I'll hear you out too. But make it quick, I got business to get to."
"Most reasonable indeed human. See, I, Ichumi Blechumi, and by proxy, the Blechumi Clan somewhat owe you and could need your strength." Ichumi explained his offer.
"I am already a summoner." Naruto cautiously offered. Remembering the fury of the Krookorook Clan upon hearing that question.
"No bother, we merely wish to use you to protect us briefly. In exchange, we will offer you shelter." Ichumi offered kin"ly. "Otherwise, I worry you will face a most complex problem by nightfall."
"Nightfall? What happens, then?" Naruto asked, interest now peaked.
"Something that would likely cost the life of your injured friend there. Come with me and enjoy our sophisticated lodgings, and ensure your safety. Or risk it on your own…" Ichumi finished.
Naruto only considered it briefly before his worry over Yuno and empty stomach chose for him.
"There better be food. And if you try anything, I'll kick your asses." Naruto reasoned as he hefted Yuno over his shoulder and nodded at Ichumi.
"Unsophisticated, but as long as you follow me, it should work," Ichumi responded.