Permission To Seek

Chapter 65 Shino’s Death

Several men hide in the stadium watching the battle, awaiting the order to attack. Explosions cause them to retreat until they could resume their current position. The boy it seems is remarkable, countering every attack with precise skill and upper level ninja technique.

“I can not believe that boy is a Chuunin. Why he is not listed under Jonin?” One ANBU officer queried.

“You will understand when you are older, for now keep quiet; it looks as if Kuni-te has had enough.” A higher-ranking offer responds.

Sure enough, Kuni-te has sustained several large injuries, which has one of the grotesque insect legs hanging by a thick band of leather like outer covering while the other lay several yards away twitching sporadically. The old man knells on one knee both gold eyes fixed on his nephew thirty feet away, the boy still with the passive glare. The emotional outbreak before moving their fight no longer visible, Shino has manage to bury his emotions deeper before this final confrontation.

“It seems you will not hesitate this time.” Kuni-te huffs, standing shakily he then shifts his gaze up towards the theater above. “Ha, we got their attention now! They see you!” He wheezes in laughter.

Above them more than three dozen ANBU officers, line the walls and seats watching the fight, with measured interest.

Shino never takes his glare off his uncle, the old man seems thoroughly amused by the circumstance. He raises his hands swiftly, ‘Kikai typhoon.’ The destruction bugs pelt out in a rapid vortex the mouth widening as they close the distance between the two combatants. “Spread!” The insect horde, spread out like a tidal wave covering the greater portion of the arena.

“Dam! Look how fast they move!” An ANBU officer yelled.

Kuni-te hands hammer the ground his face screws up as several fingers surpass their limit snapping backward. Then baring his teeth his hands move just as fast he then leaps high to avoid the ocean of destruction bugs the remaining insect limb snaps, falling to the ground. In his wake the hard earth suddenly comes to life, his gold and black Kikai collide with Shino’s sounding like hail stones bounding on concrete.

“There is the order get in position.” The captain calls heading toward the main arena.

However, several ninja appear around the seating area blocking the officers’ progress, perched as if a bird on the arm rail the elite Jonin addresses the ANBU warriors.

“I really do not want to kill a comrade today, so please let him finish. This confrontation is personal.” Kakashi turns two-tone eyes at the ANBU captains’ ghost mask.

“Last I check Kakashi I take orders from a person much larger than you. Stand aside; I am not opposed,” he glares around at the surrounding rookies all with icy glares on their face, “to killing anyone who prevents me from following orders.”

Above Shino is aware of the growing confrontation, ‘This must end.’ Kuni-te lands several feet away staring as the entire mass of Kikai rise no longer battling soon completely out of sight.

“Ha, ha! You are impressive, why did you wait so long to take them?” Kuni-te asks with a wide grin on his face impressed, his insanity visible despite the causal conversation. “No, I know you want to make a big show of your strength! That is my boy! You are remarkable!” He cackles mindlessly again staring around at the above arena.

The situation quickly moves out of hand, as one ANBU officer challenges Hinata, believing the petite ninja will be intimidated. She delivers a lesson he will not soon forget, attacking his chakra supply, before he is within ten feet of her. With his collapse the fighting escalates, ANBU on council orders attempt to kill both Kuni-te and Shino. Kakashi with many of the rookie nine and several others on both sides of the battle clash fulfilling an order from the Fifth not to intervene in the Aburame confrontation. Now dozens of small explosions, clashing kunai, and yells as ninja deliver and receive direct attacks from each other.

“Ha! Look they are fighting when they should be watching!” Kuni-te raises his arms shouting and laughing madly. “Shibi I hope you are watching you son of a bitch! This boy is everything I raised him to be! You loose!” He screams at the sky, in hysterical laughter.

Shino pulls off his torn jacket casting in aside. “You are wrong old man!”

Kuni-te stops mid-laugh turning his wide gold eyes on his nephew, a strange almost comical twist on his shining lined face. He seems as though he did not understand the reference. “What did you say?”

“I said you are wrong.” Shino says slowly, and then starts walking towards Kuni-te placing his hands together performing his own version of the forbidden jutsu “Ekib-you-ga-me!” (Angel of death) his voice carries throughout the entire stadium, several battling ninja pause.

Kuni-te throws his head back laughing and pointing as his nephew draws nearer. “I knew you will be the one to master that technique!”

“There is someone who wants to share a few words with you old man.” Shino hissed now only a dozen feet away, he stops, “Gen-jutsu.” He whispers.

In the distance, dark clouds gather as if a tornado were approaching on the pre-noon sky. The fighting had resume now Kakashi and the rookies out numbered as the ANBU officers’ skill surpasses many of the rookies. The Jonin glances at the skyline, something dangerous approaching; he evades two officers’ attacks from opposite sides. The Jonin quickly utilized a water jutsu to wash them away.

“Get a hold of yourselves he is not the enemy!” He leaps to assist another brawl, unable to prevent the few officers that leap down throwing weapons at random toward the Aburame heir.

Weapons fly in swiftly strangely they bound off several feet from their target. As the attackers close in they notice a transparent chakra cloud swirling around both bug users. The elder on his knees screaming, in a altogether tragic manner. One ANBU officer prevents another from getting closer,

“What is it?”

“Gen-Jutsu, what the hell is happening?” The ghost mask officer removes his face covering, staring at the two for several moments then speaks via radio to the others who have managed to enter the arena. Once he received a consensus nod, they all as one put their hands together in unison.

“I wont die so easily, you bastard! Shino will stop you!”

The Elder held his head screaming to the heavens his vision full of you young girl with ruby color eyes, she looms over him bigger than life. At every turn, her sweet defiant voice corners him repeatedly.

“Shino will stop you!”

Reminding him harshly of the people, he has hurt over the years, although her face and words stand out reverberating around his mind, her dazzling eyes a beacon forcing him to see the others who have died at his hands.

“I wont die so easily, you bastard! Shino will stop you!”

“Ahh!” The old man hoarse screams fade to whimpering sobs, and pleas for forgiveness. He lowers his head toward the ground.

Shino waves a hand terminating the jutsu the Chakra surrounding the pair slowly lifts towards the sky. He glares at the man he once admired; he can no longer feel any portion of his body. The sensation similar to that of a dream, only he completely realizes these events are no dream and its outcome will be just as real. Lifting his left hand, he removes his shades crushing them in the process.

The sound snaps Kuni-te out of his babbling sobs; he stares at the broken frames then up into his nephews’ scowling face.

“No! This can not happen now!” The Elder’s body shudders, in vain he attempts to get to his feet.

Shino kicks him in the chest sending the Aburame Doctor back a dozen yards. Before the old man is able to draw his second gasping breath, the teen descends on him again; lifting him bodily from the ground punching him in rapid succession in the abdomen then delivers another powerful kick to his face. The faint sound of breaking bones mix with the sound of a growing hum.

Kuni-te limp frame lands another fifteen yards away motionless, as the boy stands over him again, his pale eyes surveying the man. Incredibility the Elder turns over on his back, dark blood coating his broken face, his eyes barely able to open. “You need to finish it.” He rasps unable to do more, he forces his eyes open as much as possible, staring at the faded violet eyes.

High above the arena the approaching swarm merges with the Elder’s and Shino’s Kikai all begin to swirl in a spherical pattern, creating a vortex of suction, countless others continue to merge with the whirling monstrosity; the sky now gray with their tiny bodies blocking the light in the afternoon sky.

“Aburame Kuni-te this is the end!” Shino roars above the grinding noise. “You will face judgment by the Konaho Council of Elders for all of your crimes!” He crouches down, his body trembling with effort to maintain the technique, grabbing the older man by the front of his shirt and pulling him off the ground to face him. “Did you hear me old man! I am my father’s son; I will protect my people with my life! You have nothing to do with me and I have nothing more to do with you! My father gave his life to protect these people, from your twisted ideas they will no the color of your sins. Death is no escape; I will not allow you to have any redemption for what you have done!” He raises two fingers pressing them against Kuni-te’s forehead, forcing his chakra in side, implementing a powerful seal against the former leader.

“NOW!” The ANBU captain orders, a half-dozen officers release chakra lace kunai, Senbon, and shrunken targeting Shino and his uncle. Several smoke bombs and explosive tags detonate sending soil and stones in every direction. The officers close in, the grinding black clouds above begins to descend, as rookies Jonin, Chuunin all leap to prevent a further attack against, the bug users.

This results in more intense fighting, explosions, clashing metal yells and screams echo throughout the arena. This assault comes to a sudden halt as a new combatant joins; yelling as did his thousands of copies.

“What the FUCK do you think you are doing!” Naruto’s voice magnified by the sheer numbers nearly the entire warring party surrounded by orange and black clad red eye ninja.

The ANBU officer with a shattered cat mask attacks one clone, believing it is the original. Instead of the direct kick knocking the clone off its feet, the officer found his foot held in a vice grip. The teen kyuubi container, baring his teeth and crushing the foot before the officer reacts he tosses him aside like a rag doll, causing him to roll several times over before coming to a stop at the feet of another clone.

“Naruto calm down!” Kakashi warns as small fights begin breaking out again,

“How can you say that? Where is Shino!” The original demands as his sensei take several moments to catch his breath. Naruto looks around at the different fighters searching for his lover. The noise above grows louder making it difficult to hear.

Kakashi places a hand firmly on his shoulder, and then points to the center of the arena where two bodies lay crumbled under broken gravel. Naruto yells, noticing that one person his Shino, all around the clones move as one surrounding the two bodies, while the original jumps swiftly in the center.

Shino lay with several weapons lodge deep in his limbs face down on the ground. “Shino!” Naruto turns him over, the combatants once again pausing in their fighting everyone leaning or crouching exhausted with their efforts.

Naruto quickly removes the shrunken and kunai wiping a blood stain hand across Shino’s brow. “Shino!” Naruto’s yells desperate for any reaction, “Shino!”

However, Shino’s face remains pale and unresponsive. A drop of water splashes across his cheek followed by a few others. Naruto pulls the limp figure in his chest tightly, red clouds of chakra billow from his body. Around the arena clones growl then grab their heads before popping into nothingness. A growling wail of despair wrenches from Naruto’s chest, nearly all the clones vanish, as he continues to cry over his lover.

Now many of the combatants are kneeling too exhausted to continue although Kakashi manages to land behind Naruto forcing himself to endure the billowing red chakra. The Jonin gazes up at the dark gray sky; it is as if a tornado is descending with out the normal pattern of destruction. Kakashi Sharringan eye discovers the entire cloud cover compiled of destruction bugs. The Jonin stands up looking around now with renewed interest; everyone appears exhausted and can barely do little more that glare dangerously at each other. He glances back up then down at the lifeless figure understanding, he kneels speaking to Naruto, who now is the greater danger.

“Naruto you must calm down let me look at him, he is not dead!”

Lifting his oddly demonized face away from Shino’s shoulder, Naruto stares into the pale features. “He’s not breathing; he will not open his eyes!”

“Naruto trust me let me see him.” Kakashi eases forward, staring at the pale complexion; amazingly, wounds on his face heal before his eyes. The Jonin glances at Naruto tear stain face, his chakra like everyone else rising constantly toward the dark sky. However, the thick billow also draping around the bug users body, healing every wound. Kakashi peers in his eyes, as soon as he lifts the lid, Naruto’s chakra intensifies.

“What happen to his eyes?” he says in a gruff voice full of malice.

The Jonin releases the unresponsive eye now turning his attention back on Naruto. “I don’t know Naruto; the most important thing is that you remain calm….”

The blonde ninja lifts his red eyes to his teacher, his teeth protruding from the effects of the demon fox. I am going to kill them.” His demon eyes turn to the exhausted ANBU officers, his pupils widen.

Kakashi grips Naruto shoulder, determine to get through before it is too late. However, Naruto releases a massive amount of chakra, not just blowing the Jonin away but knocking several nearby ninjas flat on their back.

The elite ninja swiftly draws a Kunai ramming it in the ground to slow his momentum, lowering his body flat to the ground in order to avoid the worst of the demon chakra blast. The red plumes whipping around wildly, then circle Naruto’s body concentrating the energy. Above the Kikai, swarm continues absorbing chakra, at the center of the vortex Naruto’s red energy vacuumed separate from the blue-white energy.

“Naruto you must maintain control!”

“I am trying!” Naruto growls still holding the limp Chuunin in his embrace, he can feel the energy burning his skin, trying to take complete control of him. A deep chuckling snap his attention left, staring in the lined face of the Aburame leader. Taking the man in fully the golden hair ninja sat up taller his grip tightens reflectively on his lovers’ remains. Kuni-te is sitting up, wiping his face with part of his torn clothing, chuckling, he use one hand to stem the flow of blood from his nose.

“What are you laughing at old man!” Naruto voice gravely deep, his chakra darkens.

He keeps laughing, gazing around at the weakened ninja. “He did all this, my boy is amazing.” The Elder chortles, laughing harder at Naruto’s glower. “So Shino did not finish what he starts and now he never will.”

“Shut up!” He grips Shino tightly, as if the act will keep him from pouncing oh the Elder. “He gave his life for everyone, don’t dare say his name.” Angry tears spill freely from demon red eyes.

Kakashi intervenes hoping to prevent a set back in Naruto. “Do not listen, he is not dead! Look at the sky.” The Jonin limps over closer to his former student, careful not to get too close he crouches down.

“I always will hate you brat!” Kuni-te directs toward Kakashi and then, pushes up right swaying for several moments before cackling again. “Well, Naruto-kun I will be running things around here from now on seeing as my nephew is predisposed.” His mad laughter a shadow of the insanity he’s previously display he turns staring at the weakened ninja.

“I told you not to say…” Naruto yell and then stops speaking, Shino’s lower body twitches, and then a hand rises slowly.

“Ha, ha! They will know what fear is once I do a little ‘weeding’. Imagine what this place will be like with out these disgusting people.

Kakashi interrupts his babbling. “You do not honestly think we will allow that?”

“Well you let me kill Shibi.” He barks in laugher lifting one dirty hand toward the sky, summoning his Kika. “That son of a bitch lived a month without food. In the end he just kept begging me to raise the boy right.” Kuni-te lifts his head back laughing mindlessly again.

Kakashi shook his head finding it amazing the crazy bastard can still walk after the beating he received; above the Kikai swarm slows he can feel less of a drain on his strength, his eyes flicking to Naruto and Shino. “Naruto,” he whispers as the Elder continues in his random babbling. The Jonin leans closer only caching the end of the pairs whispered conversation.

‘Divergent evolution….’

Kakashi stares at the auburn head male his student helps him to sit up, Shino’s head hangs low his chin pressing to his chest. “Naruto, fill me in.” the Jonin orders.

“Shino you need to see the Fifth she can help, please no more.” The blonde ninja pleads.

Pale eyes open, now dark shadows underneath the eyes of the once flawless features, his eyes a faint shade of plum. “Tenshi, only you can do this join me on that day.” Shino speaks in a low voice, and then lifts his face to his uncle, bringing his hands together. “I am glad you decided to share that Kuni-te, you are a boastful man.” Now the Aburame heir voice carries over the mad scientist, rants.

The Elder turns. “You can barely move all because you want to protect this pathetic village. What has it gotten you?” He glares marching over, with astounding vigor for a man nearly beat to death, he is a gifted healer after all. “This is because you choose to hesitate; now I will kill you and take this land for myself; since you will be sleeping for the next hundred years there is no point prolonging your life.” He laughs again revealing a knife from up his sleeves. “Allow me to demonstrate what you should have done.”

The passive face smiles slowly his weight leans against Naruto. “Your reprieve is forfeit as I knew you would.” He smirks raising his deep voice more. ”I will do the demonstrating. Pe-suto! (plague) and you will do the screaming.” Shino hissed.

“Shino!” Naruto growls. “You don’t have the strength I will…” the blonde ninja stops speaking when he sees the color drain completely from his lovers eyes, just gray pupils remain and dark vein pulsing on his temple.

The sun peeks through the gray sky, the Kikai remain docile, moving off toward one side of the arena; a smaller dusting concealed in the massive swarm separates closing in swiftly. Kuni-te raises his hands baring his teeth, his Kikai hover between, return and avoidance. Suddenly the growing horde turns on itself fighting; their tiny gold and black bodies rain down. Then in a swirling swoop they launch toward the Elder, he starts cackling.

“See you…ahh..Ahah!”

“See what old man.” Shino hisses. Kuni-te stamps madly at the ground, his feet and legs quickly covered in swarming red fire ants. “See your death, take your time.” The teen sways baring his teeth, the blood drains from his complexion, further.

“Kikai!” The Elder shouts as the gold and black imposters land and sting repeatedly. “No! Ahh!” He whirls around whacking at his body, to his horror he realizes that his Kikai are there as well, attacking with just as much ferocity consuming his chakra. His sporadic twisting, in panic and desperation, he runs wildly around the center of the arena now all the recovering ninja block his escape. He spins franticly his face and exposed skin covered in blisters and welts from the Killer Bees.

“Shino! Stop!” Kuni-te hollers his throat rapidly closing from toxins building in his body. The ground beneath his feet buckles and shifts Kuni-te loosing his footing falling in the ocean of fire ants and innumerable multi-color beetles. His desperate wails go unassisted; the broken ground opens revealing still greater volumes night crawlers erupting to join in buffet, while the Elder continues to flail around vainly wailing hoarsely.

Shino smirks, “Hnn? Sorry old man I don’t speak piety.” His shoulders lift several times as he chuckles silently. His body feels oddly disconnected; he releases the Kikai swarm to return to their host, and then slides heavily against his lover. Naruto face fades slowly; he can see the lips moving; however, his ears are tune to the fine whimpering noises from the dieing Elder. ‘Make sure nothing remains.’ Shino orders silently, the swarm redoubles its efforts now attacking Kuni-te’s confused Kikai and devouring them as well.

“Shino! You can’t leave me!” Naruto yells in the slowly dilating pupils. Grabbing his shirt and shaking him. “Shino you said you want me to save you! You got to fight, you can not give in!” He lowers the teen to the ground kneeling over his lovers body, tears dripping off his face onto the one beneath him.

Several ninja now crowd around, Kakashi stares at the ANBU officers expecting anything. “Kaka-sensei please help Shino!” Naruto sobs his voice trap in his throat.

Morino lands opposite Naruto staring at his dying student. Shino’s mouth moves slowly. “Naruto when a dieing man speaks listen!” He snaps at the crying blonde.

Naruto fell silent immediately staring in the half-lidded gaze. He leans in closely until his ear touches Shino’s warm lips. With a soft gasp, Naruto’s body stiffens then he lies across his lover for the last time and screams, his voice carrying outside the arena, echoing up to the bright afternoon sky.

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Woot! This is not the end, I have an epilogue as well, just a wrap to let you guys know what happen after the battle, thanks for stalking..let me hear from you if you want that last portion. =3 Thanks for reading..