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And he seems to gain power from his victims…"
Sakura's POV (Eastern Forest of Irminsul - Terra)
"It's like he's becoming some sort of insect hybrid…" Sakura said in horror.
"They had been whispers of a technique that allowed the user to become a beast…" Shino said worriedly. "I suppose this is proof of such. Though it seemed to have regained health and chakra by eating… I'll have my allies warn the ants to let us handle it." Shino said. "Sakura, you mentioned a technique earlier. Would it be capable of doing enough damage to put it down at once?"
"It should be, it managed to scare off a summon boss, but I'm still perfecting it. To use it safely, I'll need time to channel it. Furthermore, it takes a lot of my focus; I'll need time and an opening. Can you give me about thirty seconds and a chance?" Sakura asked hesitantly.
"Indeed." Shino agreed before charging the beast fearlessly. Sakura could only watch as she flexed and melded her chakra into her right hand.
Shino charged forward, weaving hand signs for a jutsu. "Earth Style: Earth Gauntlet!" Quickly, two massive fist-shaped gauntlets covered both his hands.
"KILL ABURAME!" Kurobachi roared in fury, his intelligence seeming to break free through hatred.
Shino offered a simple, merely aiming a gauntlet at its face and uttering. "Earth Projectile." The gauntlet flew into Kurobachi's face, managing to shatter but stun him. Shino raced in, but Kurobachi managed to launch his tendrils at him even when stunned. But Shino merely used his gauntlet of chakra-hardened earth to swat them aside with ease; he spun with the momentum and smashed the gauntlet into Kurobachi's face. He heard the sick sound of his gauntlet crushing Kurobachi's eye. Blood flew as the somewhat human man stumbled back. Shino offered no rest for him; however, as an explosive tag struck its face ignited, the small explosion did no damage but made him stumble back into a newly created earth wall. "Thirty Seconds have passed. This battle is over." Shino said calmly.
Sakura arrived just in time, her fist glowing as she flew through the air. She smashed through the wall bodily using her momentary strength. "Nerve Impact!" Sakura cried as she smashed into the back of Kurobachi's head. Headless of the armor her fist smashed through sending pain racing down her arm. All the same Sakura could feel her chakra invading his body and attacking his nervous system directly. She had managed to perfect her technique! A blow, nothing should be able to survive. "Suffer, you sexist dick!" Sakura roared as Kurobachi was sent flying across the clearing and skidding violently across the ground. Before becoming at a rest at the edge of clearing bloodied, but still moving.
Kurobachi cried out in anguish, bleeding from the wound on his head and crushed eye. It pitifully climbed to its feet, clearly somewhat drained and injured. It roared in fury however, and as it did so its chakra level grew and it seemed to stand straighter. But with a burst of chakra, blurred forward, appearing before the off guard and tired Sakura and Shino. They were wide open!
"Wild Youth Rampage!"
"Air Palm Volley!"
The barrage of air-based chakra blows sent Kurobachi flying back and careening to the ground. A fresh Lee and Hintata appeared and stood with their allies.
"It seems this foe is quite the unyouthful one." Lee decided with a frown.
"To attack and kill these fine ants for no reason is unforgivable. Harming my friends is even more so…"
"I'm sorry we arrived late. It seems this foe has given you some problems." Hinata said as her Byakugan focused on the now-standing Kurobachi. "Is that thing human? Its body is similar to ours, but…"
"It seems to be the same Kurobachi Kamizuru that attacked me earlier. He has used some sort of technique to transform. One that, based on what it consumes, gains strengths and unique biological traits." Shino explained.
"He also can seemingly heal now and can take quite the beating; his nervous system is in disarray,he's down an eye. And now has quite the chest wound. The pain alone should drive him unconscious.
"Seems to have only made it angrier somehow. What's the strategy then?" Hinata asked as the four dropped into combat stances as the creature prepared to charge them.
"Attack it as one, keep assaults quick and noncommittal. Try to breach its armor with pure force as much as possible. Sakura and Hinata, you two engage directly with my support, Lee. If you have an opening, can you break its armor? Preferably around the chest where it seems densest? My assumption is his organs are still vulnerable considering Sakura's attacks and the need for thick armor at all." Shino commanded the group grimly.
"YOSH! If only used for a moment, I can open another gate! It should allow me the power necessary to shatter its armor! My youth will leave it defenseless!" Lee answered.
"Excellent. Once he does so, I can finish it off if fails to." Shino agreed.
Lee kicked back to charge chakra as Sakura and Hinata raced forward to meet Kurobachi's charge. Kurobachi launched another mass of stingers; however, Hinata was fearless and cartwheeled towards them.
"Hebunrīsō!" She cried as chakra formed around her and smashed through the stingers, Sakura racing behind Hinata to escape the attack as well. Kurobachi attempted to block using his new tendrils, but Hinata cut through them with ease, allowing her to smash into and send the creature flying back.
Sakura chased after it wildly, slashing with her chakra scalpels. She knew from before only overwhelming offense could keep it suppressed. However, Kurobachi roared in pain as he managed to snag her arm and whip her up into the air, preparing to slam her down. Sakura flinched before an earth spike stabbed into Kurobachi's arm, failing to pierce it but forcing him to release her. Sakura landed and backtracked as Hinata dashed close in and cried out again, "Kaiten!" Quickly the chakra dome of the Hyuga appeared and smashed the creature back.
"I'M READY!" Lee cried out as his body seemed to burst with chakra, his own rivaling Kurobachi in potency. "Third Gate Open! Youthful Aura: Life Awakening!" Lee's skin turned red, and an aura of chakra opened around him. His pupils even disappeared, and veins bulged on his skin as he prepared his assault. Lee did not race to the fight in this new form; it was as if he had instantly appeared in front of Kurobachi. The monstrous man not even having time to flinch as Lee threw his attack.
"Youthful Blow: Dragon Fang!" Lee cried as threw a punch the others could scarcely see; his entire arm was coated in blue chakra, and he looked almost like it was its giant fang. He launched the blow into Kurobachi's midsection, shattering the armor with ease, crushing bones, and even splitting the skin. The powerful blow was aimed downwards, driving the partial beast-man into the ground, and embedding it with ease. The ground crumbled around them as it somewhat shattered under the force of the blow.
"Lee…" Sakura said in shock. "He was always strong, but this…"
"If this Lee had been in the exams…" Hinata trailed off. "They may have gone very differently. He may be as strong as Naruto or Sasuke." Hinata agreed. "It seems this is over-"
Hinata was cut off, however, as the beast suddenly stood and grabbed Lee by the throat. Lee reacted striking with powerful blows that cracked its armor. But Kurobachi did not flinch as he strangled Lee. A lethal amount of blood flowed from the wound, but despite it, Kurobachi stood firm. Before either could race to help Lee, he managed to kick the arm and finally free himself. Lee walked backwards to dodge a sluggish blow from the dying man. But before he could struggle in earnest Shino appeared at ease with the intense combat, he dodged a slow blow and calmly placed his now exposed and lethal left hand on the exposed inner skin of Kurobachi.
As soon as Shino made contact with the abomination, he froze; perhaps whatever remained of his humanity had broken through when faced with this foe and his all too familiar lethal technique. "Damned Aburame." It cursed bitterly. "Once again you seek to destroy the Kamizuru Clan. I have failed…"
"Our combat before was just. Our homes battling to destroy each other, our clashes and the blood spilled were expected. It was merely two clans doing their expected duty. I know we Aburame never specifically wished to destroy the Kamizuru. Nor do I suspect you clan intended specifically to destroy my clan back then. But we had no wish to crush you specifically. Our techniques in battle merely led to such." Shino lectured as the beast and him stared eye to eye.
"Wanted revenge. But now I will die…" Kurobachi bitterly said. His voice had become lighter and his movements more random. It seemed the shock had settled in from his state.
"Aye," Shino coldly agreed. "Without that pesky armor, my allies can finally feast. They will burrow throughout your body, consuming your organs and even bones. Not even a single cell will survive their gluttony. For attempting to harm me and my friends, you will suffer a painful but quick death." Shino spat. "I had no hopes to crush you a lot, but you learned not from the past. We Aburame are no hatred-filled killers, but when pushed, we will do what is necessary…"
Kurobachi offered no response as he nearly folded in two as his midsection had already been mostly consumed. Sakura, Hinata, and Lee averted their eyes from the gruesome sight. But, ever practical and careful, Shino merely watched as Kurobachi died, as if ready for him to rise again.
But Kurobachi did not, the man died as he lived, a gruesome monster.