Chapter 17

Chapter Inspiration: Reign of Chaos by Audiomachine

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From the destruction the Jinchuuriki reemerged, a wild expression honing in on its new opponent. She was easily recognizable as the young man tried to understand how her involvement was even possible. They should be dead, lying among the countless corpses that fell under his strength and power. This wasn't possible.

"You," his brows narrowed.

The Be Fong disappeared so quickly it made his eyes widen, unable to track the movement.

"Me!" she shouted.

From behind a palm slapped against the back of Obito's head, slamming him face first into the ground with bone crushing force that could rival Sakura's Taijutsu attacks. The earth caved in underneath them. However, the teen didn't stick near the enemy long, using the strings to be pulled backwards as the Jinchuuriki struggled to pull himself out of the cracks. He was suddenly jerked free, completely suspended mid-air before being smashed into another large rock face that had it crumbling on impact.

"Amazing," Minato breathed. He'd recognize those techniques anywhere. "I can't remember the last time I witnessed a Be Fong fight. But at this level... it's something I've never seen before."

"Yeah, Mai is something else," Naruto grinned as the resurrected Hokages joined their side. Yet stayed back in order to devise an effective plan moving forward.

An angered Obito emerged from the wreckage, sights set on Mai with killing intent. She equaled his hatred and refused to stand down. Fingers flicking out the Chakra Strings slunk through the bodies that littered the rubble searching for what she desired. Upon finding them the digits flexed as some of the limp forms began to twitch and animate before standing around the Be Fong with unseeing eyes. The new line of forces was unsettling for Obito, warily observing his opponent. A handful of the dead began performing hand signs and duplicates of the same Fire Jutsu barreled down on the young man, who, startled, quickly lunged out of the way. He'd never seen anything like this before.

"S-She's–!" the Second Hokage breathed.

"She's using the bodies as if they were puppets," the Third Hokage managed out in surprise.

It was not out of disrespect that the Be Fong took the corpses for her own, but out of highest regard knowing of the abilities of fellow Leaf and Sand Ninja, seeing as how they had worked side by side on many missions. Even if they were not aware of her profile for being part of the Phantom Division. They would be able to help defend against their common enemy and protect dear friends and loved ones that were still breathing. It was a sight to behold that the dead were managing to produce effective attacks and hold off the tailed beast.

"She's pumping them with chakra," Minato stated. "In order to produce multiple jutsus from the fusion of the Chakra Strings."

"That's impossible!" Tobirama barked. "No one in the Be Fong Clan has ever reached that level before. And even for ninja greater than them that technique is untouchable! That kind of chakra–!"

"A lot has changed since your rule, Second," Sarutobi said. "Even as a Genin, Mai managed to hold off a Sage in order to give her team enough time to escape certain death during the Chuunin Exam."

"She's become one with the Chakra Strings," Naruto relayed. "We found out some time after it happened, but it's incredible what Mai's capable of now."

The Second Hokage was at a loss for words as an inferno raged over the field, feeling the heat from their distance.

"Well, they always said the Be Fong Clan was in a league of their own," Minato spoke up. "This proves it. That's why they lived as long as they did decades before our Clans even came into being. They didn't welcome death as easily as the Rain Ninjas would have liked when they attacked. Something tells me this one refuses to stand down just like her ancestors."

"You have no idea," Sasuke said.

"So tell me," Itachi mused. Back during a time when Sasuke wanted to do nothing more than kill his brother for revenge, he remembered their first meeting after the massacre very well. "How is Mai doing?"

"That is none of your concern," the boy spat through the blood.

The criminal stared his brother in the eyes. "She's surprised you, hasn't she?"

Sasuke glared.

"Our Intel says she's clearly at the level of a Chuunin."

"What business is that of yours?"

"We like to know our threats... or potential allies."

His eyes widened. Akatsuki... could they want her too?

"If you touch her–!"

"You are in no position to threaten me."

The Genin clenched his teeth.

"She will know of our encounter. I'm surprised she's not here with you. Mai will have questions. It's up to you if you wish to answer them. Or maybe she will seek me out, just like you have now. Maybe we'll have something to offer her since she has caught our attention."

"Mai will never be like you."

"No... she will be greater. I saw her potential the minute her chakra began to develop. The question is which of you will continue to become more powerful and break all logical boundaries. And possibly be viewed as a God amongst mortals."

That still had yet to be determined, but it was becoming clear that all had underestimated her to a degree. Not that the Uchiha would say she was weak, only that what he had previously witnessed when they fought on opposite sides, Mai had been holding back.

How lucky for him. [song ends]

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Chapter Inspiration: Pandora's Heaven by Immediate Music

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"Well, we can't let her have all of the fun," Naruto smirked. "I wanna beat that bastard's ass into the ground."

"Get in line," Sasuke stated.

"Listen to me," the Third Hokage spoke up, "We have yet to fully regain our strength. But there may be a way you can at least slow his movements and chip into his armor so we can actually cause damage."

They listened intently.

Obito ripped through the corpses. But as one was obliterated another seemed to take its place. There would be no end with the countless bodies littering the field. The question was how long the Be Fong's chakra levels would last being used to this extent. There had to be an end. There always was. And it wasn't the only thing he had to worry about as the Chakra Strings ripped into the earth. Uprooting demolished tree roots under the rubble and destroying the surface further till it was unrecognizable with the tipping platforms.

What a nuisance as Mai moved through the ranks of the undead. Hand raising a finger pointed in the teen's direction as the Fourth Hokage's eyes widened.

"Move out of the way!" he shouted.

A black orb began to form at the tip, growing by the second. It wasn't as large as the Ten-Tail's blast that obliterated headquarters. Yet still, deadly.

The corpses began to cluster as Mai's spread arms arced around front, propelling herself backwards through the air to gain distance. This time the teen would not face their opponent head on as rock faces began pulling themselves together around the ninja's curled in form seconds before the blast ripped apart the undead and what remained slammed into the formed boulder. Meanwhile the Hokages tackled Sasuke and Naruto to the ground when they went to rush in and help their teammate as the aftershock rippled through the field.

"Why did you do that?" Naruto shouted. "She was in trouble!"

"Mai can take care of herself," Sarutobi stated. "You of all people should know that. By rushing in blindly you leave yourself vulnerable."

"But she–!"

A section of the ground lifted. Thrown through the air as the Be Fong came climbing out seemingly unharmed.

"Now, you may regroup."

The two instantly joined her side as they stared down Obito through the clearing smoke.

"I take it you now have a plan," Mai stated.

"Yeah, thanks for the delay," Sasuke said.

"Anytime."

Naruto's form lit up as the Nine-Tail's chakra began to take effect.

"More than enough for my levels to come up," he said. "I'll take the front line. I need you two to try and find blind spots while I distract him."

They nodded in confirmation as the Genin rushed off. However, they didn't move just yet as Mai halted the Sasuke's movements,

"Listen, I don't understand why you had a sudden change of heart or why you are actually here... but thank you. It means a lot."

The Uchiha grunted as they watched Naruto engage. "If we survive this, I'll tell you everything," he promised.

A smirk twitched at the corner of her lips. "I'll hold you to it."

A low chuckle managed to escape his lips under his breath. "Think you can give me a lift?"

"It's been a while for you." Fingers flexing, Sasuke could feel the Chakra Strings grip his clothing. "Hope you don't get sick like the first time."

His brow twitched in mild annoyance. "You will never let me live that down, even after all these years."

"Even if we are enemies, I'll still give you crap about it. Because back when we were innocent kids, it was hilarious."

The Uchiha flew through the air to make up ground understanding his childhood friend's plan of attack and moving with it willingly before freely falling into position.

For the first time Obito was feeling overwhelmed. With a combination of special techniques from every individual he was beginning to feel their attacks against his tough skin. The display of power those from Team 7 was displaying was nothing like any had ever seen before. This was completely different from the last time when they were Genin. Kakashi couldn't be prouder to witness such a sight as Sakura finished tending to his wounds. But the Jounin was far from helping them out with the state of his chakra levels. He'd honestly only get in the way.

The three moved in perfect synchronization as if they had been together fighting side-by-side all these years. That there had never been a quarrel to begin with. Combining with each other's attacks to increase their effect or moving around each other to take the enemy by surprise and trick him. Ducking. Dodging. Flipping. Flying. From the army's distance continuing to fight off the demonic beasts they could feel the tremors in the ground. Sense the chakra levels even when they were not trained sensors. It was almost stifling for some.

Finally, Mai saw the opening she was looking for as Naruto's glowing chakra reached out for the Be Fong. The teen land in the palm before being hurled through the air at breakneck speed towards the unsuspecting Jinchuuriki that was busy dealing with Sasuke. A stinging sensation shot through Obito, being thrown aside from the brief contact. Sliding to a halt, the enemy glared at his opponents as they prepared for a new wave of assault when he felt it.

Something warm trickled down a cheek, the Jinchuuriki reaching up and touching the area. When bringing it away the pads of the finger were painted red. Blood. His blood. And it made him angry that they could cause such a thing. He was invincible. A God in this world amongst mortals. His dream was superior. His being was superior. And to be viewed as nothing more than a common criminal by a couple of... children, Obito was not going to stand for it.

The tree roots sprang from the ground in waves they were not anticipating. Naruto barely lunged out of the way in time as Sasuke skidded to a halt, quickly altering his course. But the enemy was not concerned with them. There was one that could keep them alive and from harm. He personally dealt with them and the now advancing Hokages using another blast from his fingers to blow everyone away.

"No!" Mai screamed.

She scrambled to quickly blocked them with an Earth Jutsu so to lessen the attack, alongside their own defenses. Still, it wasn't enough as they were consumed. Her distraction was all the Jinchuuriki needed in order to warp the teen up, nearly cutting off the air supply and pulling the limbs taunt to constrain any movement from happening. So the strings would not be effective on the battlefield any longer.

Obito smirked. The insect was finally caught in his web. [song ends]