The air crackled with tension as Nyx stood amidst the remnants of her shattered ice barrier, a cold determination settling in her icy blue eyes. She felt the sting of their combined attack, a flicker of surprise dimming her usually unshakable composure. Yet, that moment of vulnerability quickly hardened into resolve.
"You should have savored your victory while it lasted," she said, her voice cutting through the haze of battle like a blade. "You have no idea what true power feels like."
As she spoke, the ground beneath them began to shift, the temperature plummeting as her chakra surged forth, emanating waves of frigid energy. The air became charged with an ominous chill, and a thin layer of frost formed over the landscape, transforming the battlefield into a winter wonderland.
"Watch out!" Temari shouted, sensing the change in the atmosphere. She swung her fan with fierce intensity, creating a gust of wind to push back against the freezing air. "We can't let her gain control again!"
Kankuro quickly activated another puppet, his hands deftly maneuvering the strings. "Salamander, launch the blades!" The puppet's bladed arms shot forward, aiming directly for Nyx, determined to maintain the pressure.
But Nyx remained unfazed. With a swift motion, she raised her hand, conjuring a series of sharp icicles that erupted from the ground like a frozen forest, effortlessly intercepting Kankuro's attack. The blades shattered against her icy defenses, and she stepped forward, her presence imposing.
"How naive you all are," she remarked, a chilling smile gracing her lips. "You think you can overcome me with mere resolve? Let me show you the depths of despair."
Naruto clenched his fists, feeling the weight of her words. "We're not afraid of you, Nyx! Gaara believed in us, and we believe in each other! We'll fight for him!" He summoned the Nine-Tails' chakra once more, feeling its energy surge through him, igniting a fierce glow around him.
"Then come at me!" Nyx taunted, her voice echoing in the now-desolate surroundings. "Let's see how much you can endure!"
With that, she unleashed a torrent of ice shards that spiraled toward the trio like a winter storm. Each shard gleamed in the dim light, a deadly testament to her power. Temari spun her fan again, creating a barrier of wind that deflected the incoming projectiles, but some of the shards still managed to slip through, narrowly missing her.
"Keep moving!" Kankuro yelled, trying to rally their spirits. "We have to stay one step ahead!"
"Right!" Naruto shouted, racing forward with determination in his eyes. "Rasengan!" He channeled his chakra into the swirling sphere, launching himself toward Nyx with unyielding resolve.
But Nyx was ready. With a swift motion, she conjured a wall of ice, blocking Naruto's path. The Rasengan collided with the icy surface, sending shards flying. Nyx grinned, sensing the frustration building in Naruto.
"You think strength alone will win this battle?" she challenged, her voice dripping with disdain. "You need strategy!"
Temari seized the opportunity to attack again. "Let's combine our efforts!" She turned to Kankuro. "I'll create an opening! You follow up with Salamander!"
"Got it!" Kankuro shouted back, determination fueling his voice.
As Temari unleashed a powerful gust of wind, it collided with the wall of ice, causing it to shatter and sending a barrage of ice shards in all directions. Kankuro's puppet moved swiftly through the chaos, striking at Nyx with precision.
But Nyx anticipated their movements. She ducked beneath Salamander's blades, the air around her growing colder as she prepared her next move. "You are all so predictable!" she sneered. "How many times must I teach you the same lesson?"
Naruto charged forward again, refusing to back down. "I won't let you hurt anyone else!" He drew on his inner strength, the glow of the Nine-Tails enveloping him as he leaped into the air, preparing for a devastating blow.
"Now, Naruto!" Temari shouted, her voice rising above the cacophony of battle.
In response, Nyx unleashed a blizzard of icy winds, swirling around her like a protective barrier. Naruto's attack collided with the cold front, causing a massive explosion of ice and energy, the shockwave rippling outward.
Temari and Kankuro shielded themselves from the force of the blast, eyes wide with determination. "We can't stop now!" Kankuro yelled, adjusting his stance to maintain balance.
As the dust began to settle, Nyx emerged from the frozen mist, unfazed, her expression cold and calculating. "You have some spirit," she admitted, her eyes gleaming with challenge. "But spirit alone won't save you."
With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a wave of ice that cascaded toward them, intent on freezing them in place. "You will learn your place!"
"Not if I can help it!" Temari shouted, her voice resolute as she stood in front of Naruto and Kankuro, prepared to face the oncoming assault. "We fight together, no matter what!"
In that moment, Naruto felt a surge of hope. "We can't lose! For Gaara!" He charged forward, rallying his friends as they prepared for one final push against the formidable foe.
As they advanced, Nyx's expression shifted, a flicker of annoyance crossing her features. "Fools," she hissed, gathering more power. "You won't survive this!"
The battlefield erupted in chaos as the trio launched their final coordinated attack, their chakra merging into a single powerful force. "Together!" they cried, the words echoing through the storm of ice and determination.
In that climactic moment, time seemed to slow. Nyx realized that this fight was not merely about power, it was about conviction, friendship, and the bonds that held them together. As Naruto, Temari, and Kankuro surged forward, she felt the weight of their resolve pressing against her defenses.
"Enough!" Nyx shouted, unleashing her icy fury in a desperate attempt to hold them back.
But their combined energy collided with her icy storm, creating a brilliant explosion of light and frost. The ground shook beneath them, the air filled with shards of ice and sparks of chakra as their determination clashed against Nyx's cold ambition.
"That's it..." Nyx mumbled, her voice low but steady as her Kōritsurugan began to glow with a brilliant light. "Absolute Stasis."
In an instant, time seemed to distort, slowing to a crawl around her. For Nyx, the world sharpened into focus, each movement of her adversaries exaggerated in its sluggishness. She looked toward Kankuro and Naruto, their expressions frozen in determination as she summoned a flurry of ice shards.
When time resumed, the air erupted with chaos as Kankuro and Naruto were caught off guard. The ice shards struck with devastating force, blasting them away from the battlefield and leaving only Temari and Nyx to face each other.
"Isn't this familiar?" Nyx said, a hint of amusement dancing in her voice as she walked forward, ice glimmering in her hand. "It's just like back then."
Temari felt a wave of nervousness wash over her as Nyx advanced slowly, her grip tightening around the hilt of her short blade. This is it, she thought, the chilling realization creeping in. I'm going to meet the same fate as Gaara.
However, instead of delivering the fatal blow, Nyx extended the blade toward her, offering it with an eerie calmness. "Stab me," she commanded, her eyes unwavering.
Temari blinked in confusion, disbelief coloring her features. "What are you?—"
"The enemy is right in front of you," Nyx interrupted, her voice cutting through the tension. "The one who killed your brother. The one who is going to put an end to your so-called home. Yet you dare to hesitate?"
With that slight push, Temari instinctively grasped the blade and, in a moment of desperation, thrust it forward. But Nyx had perfectly repositioned herself, ensuring the wound would not be fatal, her healing abilities already at work to mend the injury.
Temari staggered back, shock coursing through her as she glanced at the bloody blade and then at Nyx. "What are you doing?" she managed to ask, confusion mingling with anger.
"Just watch," Nyx replied, her voice steady and calm.
Nyx created a perfect clone of herself, its form mirroring her precisely, right down to the injury. The clone stood perfectly still, a testament to Nyx's power.
"Before the Akatsuki, I once worked under the Third Hokage," Nyx began, her tone turning serious. "I was on a mission to prevent the massacre. I had to put an end to Danzo, which I did, but in that process, I learned some things."
"What did you learn?" Temari asked, curiosity overriding her caution.
"Gaara can be saved. That person will arrive soon," Nyx assured her, glancing toward the horizon as if sensing something. "Their battle is reaching its end anyway."
Temari's heart raced. "You're not lying to me, right?!" She gripped Nyx's collar, pulling her close, desperation in her eyes. "If you're lying, I'll use your blade and shove it straight into your heart."
Nyx chuckled, a flicker of amusement crossing her icy facade. "I wasn't lying back then. You are cute when you're like this. But no, I'm not lying."
She took her blade back, her expression serious once more. "What is your plan?"
"My plan... let's just say I'm living in the end," Nyx replied cryptically.
Temari furrowed her brow, determination igniting within her. "And what of the Akatsuki? What if they find out you willingly let the enemy win?"
"Showing concern for the enemy?" Nyx raised an eyebrow, her amusement palpable.
"O-of course not!" Temari exclaimed, defensive. "I'm just asking."
"Well, it doesn't matter if they find out," Nyx said, her voice unwavering. "I'm too valuable to them, and they can't do anything about it. They need me."
"I see..." Temari mumbled, absorbing the implications of Nyx's words.
"But consider yourself lucky that I'm here. If it was anyone else, Gaara's body would be long gone. I purposely headed toward your direction knowing you would be here," Nyx added, her gaze steady.
Temari raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Why are you helping us?"
"I don't have any sides to choose from. There is only one path for me to take, and to reach the finale of that future, there are certain things I must do," Nyx explained, glancing behind as if sensing the approach of others. "Looks like their battles are finished, and the rest of your teammates are almost here. I'll have to take my leave now."
Before Nyx could turn away, Temari gripped her wrist tightly, her voice softening with a mix of frustration and confusion. "Why are you helping us?"
"Us? I'm helping you," Nyx clarified, her gaze unyielding.
Temari struggled to find the right words, but before she could respond, Nyx vanished into thin air, leaving her own clone slumped against Temari's shoulder. It slid to the ground, lifeless and cold, a stark reminder of Nyx's power.
Temari stared at the clone, bewildered and unsettled, but she couldn't shake the feeling of intrigue. Strangely, she found Nyx pretty.
From a distance, Nyx observed as the rest of the team arrived at the scene. She watched, detached yet fascinated, as the elderly woman she had seen before poured her chakra into Gaara, revitalizing him at the cost of her own life.
"Just as I thought," Nyx muttered, turning away to leave, her heart oddly heavy as she glanced back one last time.
As Temari looked into the distance, she felt a strange sensation fade, realizing that Nyx was gone. A mix of confusion and hope swirled within her as she gazed at her brother's still form, her resolve strengthening