Mending The Past To A Better Future

Chapter 40: Supernova

su·per·no·va

/ˌso͞opərˈnōvə/

noun

ASTRONOMY

a star that suddenly increases greatly in brightness because of a catastrophic explosion that ejects most of its mass.

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"I like this brat," Kurama said in delight, and Naruto could picture how the fox's head would be propped up in his claw at this moment as he watched the world through her eyes. "He gives you a challenge. And he doesn't try to kill you while he does!"

Naruto snorted internally, amused. Kurama's unsubtle snubs towards Sasuke would never fail to make her laugh, if only for the sheer stupidity in the fact that an ancient chakra being like the Kyuubi no Kitsune could actually hold grudges when he considered so many other things minuscule. She was sure that if Sasuke had known, he would have gained a perverse sense of pride from pissing off a powerful creature such as her tailed beast.

As it were though, Kurama was right. Shisui was making her work for it, and was smiling while he did it instead of a steadfast glare and manic laughter. It was refreshing. The only four Uchiha she had ever known had all tried to kill her at some point, even if Itachi had been a double agent and Obito had redeemed himself. Choking down a crow didn't get any less disturbing no matter how much time had passed.

Shisui and Kakashi's skillset had certainly grown with their heights these past few years, and Naruto was pleased. Having Kurama present within her added the flare and energy she had forgotten about since before the war, and they both seemed to be able to meet her hit for hit.

The trio was engaged in a three-way deadlock, sparring with each other. Naruto glimpsed up as a shadow fell over her , and dodged Kakashi's foot as he lashed downwards, his thigh splinting the ground beneath him when he landed. Naruto spun around, hair whipping behind her as she brought her kata out from underneath her wrist, slashing at his neck, to which he leaned back just in time for.

Shisui body-flickered behind Kakashi, katana drawn. The slim blade arced through the air, and clipped at the jonin's sleeve. Shisui grinned victoriously when a small drip of blood formed, before Kakashi was retaliating. He twirled the kunai around his finger before whirling in place and letting it fly. Shisui's katana came up to deflect it, and Naruto took that as her opportunity to leap between them, and unleashed consecutive punches into Shisui. Shisui flew up with the first slam of her fist, and the next, and then the next. She leapt up and flew into a roundhouse kick. Before she could kick Shisui into the tree, Kakashi grabbed her leg, parrying the punch she had ready with his forearm. Her knuckles stung as it made impact with his metal arm guards, and the skin split.

Naruto grinned as their battle seemed to slow. Kurama chuckled in her mind as her split knuckles mended themselves in the next second, and Kakashi rolled his eyes. In that short moment, Shisui disappeared from her view. Jumping back from Kakashi, she flicked her kata back up, reaching her senses out for Shisui's bright chakra signature. Somewhere in the treeline, she could feel him. Then he body flickered back down and to the opposite side of the field. Naruto smiled to herself and ignored him for a second, focusing on Kakashi.

The blonde pulled the silver haired boy forward by the straps of his sheath, and his eyes widened momentarily, clearly caught off guard. She tugged him down and brought her knee up, with the intent to steal his breath. Kakashi's eye crinkled, and her grip on his loosened as a sharp pain entered her hand.

Naruto sucked in a breath. Senbon. This tricky motherfucker.

She pushed through the pain and jumped instead, imbuing chakra in her feet to boost herself up. She locked her thighs around Kakashi's neck and squeezed, twirling them until he lost his balance and went down. Then she twisted over his lap and pulled his arm behind his back, knee pressed into the base of his spine.