Chapter 18

Chapter Inspiration: Mercy by Hurts [from 0:00-2:28]

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For the first time in her life, Mai was unable to fight back, completely restrained by roots where she was. So. This is what it felt like to be useless. Feel vulnerable before the enemy. And for the first time a seed of fear began to blossom in the Be Fong.

The Jinchuuriki bent down to eye level as the wrappings tightened around her wrists and ankles and tugging them in opposite directions. A hand reached forward, the ninja trying to pull away as the palm caressed her face. But it was not tender in any way as a burning sensation occurred under the skin and spread. Her body shook, lips pressing together in an attempt to will it all away. Eventually, it became too much and Mai screamed.

From the destruction, Juugo rushed in to help unearth the buried ninjas, quickly pinpointing their locations. First, he pulled Team 7 from the rubble as they gasped for air. When the Uchiha nearly blacked out from the previous lack of oxygen, the young man shook him roughly.

"You have to get up!" Juugo shouted. Now was not the time to show weakness.

As the ringing died down in their ears, Sasuke's face paled at the horrifying scream that echoed in the air. It broke his haze instantly, finally thinking straight once more.

"What is...?" Naruto breathed.

"Mai!" he shouted.

Finally, the hand pulled away, leaving the Be Fong panting and withering in pain. The only thing holding herself up were the restraints. The area continued to burn slightly as the murderous look in her eyes returned.

"Just give up," Obito ordered. "There is nothing you can do to stop this from happening."

She spit in his face, the saliva mixed with blood coating an eyelid and running down a cheek. Mai didn't look away for a second, staring him down as the Jinchuuriki wiped it away. Her head snapped to the side, mouth flying open in a painful gasp. It had only been a flick, but even so the pain that traveled through the jaw was agony.

"Rude. Even after I beat you into the ground you still continue to fight."

A hand pressed against the teen's forehead, jerking the Be Fong forward to lock eyes once again. His fingers gripped the hair and pressed against the skin.

"I am going to enjoy breaking you."

Something slammed into the young man's side, throwing him feet away and sliding to a halt.

"Get away from her!" Naruto snapped.

Mai's breath shook, exhaling heavily in mild relief that the enemy was no longer close. Obito stood to full height, brushing away the attack as if it were nothing.

"Very well," the young man said. "If you're in such a hurry to die, I will deal with you first."

Sasuke appeared, quickly examining the roots that restrained her and attempted to rip them away.

"Are you alright?" the Uchiha questioned. He could not use the black flames for fear they would burn her in the process. They were too close, wrapped around the teen intricately.

"Help Naruto!" Mai shouted.

"But–!"

There was an explosion as the blonde emerged, trying to gain some distance and rethink his plan off attack. Only the Jinchuuriki was right behind him. It was Minato to whisk his son out of the way of a deadly jutsu.

"Help him!"

Clenching his teeth, the Uchiha forced himself to leave and join the battle once more. Calming herself from the second near torture experience she pulled against a root. It barely even budged before settling back into place. Focusing, if the teen could not move her digits to control the chakra, as the roots pressed against the pressure points in the arm, she'd have to figure out a way to let them freely travel using intellectual motor skills. The strain left her sweating, brows pinched while trying to block out the loud noises happening all around her. Finally, the strings left the palms, squeezing under the bark and circling the wood. It stung as the chakra cut into the skin, but that was nothing compared to what this war had done to her.

"Your efforts are futile," Obito stated. He was staring down at the resurrected Hokages, Juugo, Naruto, and Sasuke, who had barely managed to avoid a Dark Jutsu. They were strewn all over the battlefield, trying to recover and regroup.

"I will take away all of your hopes and dreams..." A hand raised in their direction. "And create this new world as it should've been..." Chakra surged in palm. "Then I will destroy everything you care about..."

Mai's head whipped up sensing the increasing levels and realized what was happening.

"Starting with the Be Fong you seem to be so concerned about once your existence in this world is eradicated."

There was no way to survive that blast and dread gripped the teen.

"NO!" she screamed.

With a quick jerk of the wrists the Chakra Strings ripped into the roots and shredded them to pieces. Feet now firmly planted against the ground Mai released a justu increasing her speed and destroyed what was left of the gathering jutsu. Her foot cracked against the elbow, throwing the Jinchuuriki off and the attack shot off into the surrounding mountains. The Be Fong vanished before being caught was an option and went on the offensive from another angle. They were battling back and forth all over the destroyed field, seeming to be evenly matched.

Sasuke forced himself into a crouched position, watching the whirlwind in front of them. He attempted to stand, only grunting as a pain shot through his abdomen. That last attack had broken something, but that wasn't important right now. He had to help Mai.

"What is she doing?" the Second Hokage questioned.

"Giving us more time, again," answered the Third. "And we must use that to our advantage."

Sparks flew as her short swords clashed with the hardened skin, while the ninja used the Chakra Strings to lift and hurl rocks as a counterattack. For now, it was working. His back slammed into a structure, having been thrown through the air by the Chakra Strings. Clearly, Obito was no longer finding any of this amusing and pushed through the rubble to lock with the ninja's blade once more. The force behind the attack was greater than before forcing up the teen's arm. Leaving her open. She manipulated the Chakra Strings to tug her backwards trying to gain a proper gap.

Obito was right in front of her now, foot slamming into the gut and propelling the teen into a rock. It exploded before crumbling, the Be Fong realizing he had anticipated the movement. Now he was headed towards the group she had just aided. The Jinchuuriki was going in once more for the killing blow, arm raised. Before he could slice off their heads, Mai's hands gripped at something before giving a rough tug. It jerked the enemy back in her direction, as well as pulled her from the rocks. They were preparing the clash midair.

"Enough," Obito stated.

His body disappeared, detaching from the Chakra Strings completely. Mai's eyes widened. How had he broken free? Impossible–

That half a second of shock allowed him to move closer, arm arcing up.

"NO!" Sasuke and Naruto shouted.

The ground became stained with blood as it flew through the air and something limp hit the rocks. Mai's back slammed into the dirt, rubble digging into the skin as she came to a sliding halt. Everything was spinning, trying to sit back up right away. Yet the movement was impossible as she collapsed, confused. Something wasn't right. Something was numb. And at the roar that came from Naruto as he attacked the approaching Obito, Mai knew it was very wrong. Slowly, her head turned to the right to stare at the limp hand. Only it wasn't where it should be.

"Hinata!" Sakura shouted finishing off the one of the last remaining beast clones near them. "What's happening? What is that spark of chakra?"

"Mai was fighting the Jinchuuriki," she answered. "She just went down. Now Naruto is involved."

"What happened?"

Eyes looking around to try and assess the situation the Hyuuga's face paled, breath hitching.

"What?" Sakura wondered. "What is it?"

"H-her arm! He severed off an arm!" [song ends]