The Newest Member (A Naruto-Akatsuki Fanfic)

Chapter 36: The Battered Leaf

The Shukaku roared, it's claws extended and fangs bared. The Akatsuki were spread out now, spaced around the towering creature like a Crescent of dangerous red clouds, their weapons at the ready. Gaara had went from being a man to a gargantuan creature of raw power and hatred, its chakra thick in the air like a pungent smoke, invisible to the eye. Obito knew that releasing the Shukaku instead of just draining its chakra and tapping into its locked strength was when the battle was decided. Tailed Beasts are creatures of great power and ability, completely immortal unless sealed away in vessels like humans are the Gedo Statue. But despite their great power, they were just beasts, incapable of strategy or logic. The more angry they became, the more mistakes they would make in a fight, resulting in an easier capture or severe wound. Gaara was a Kage, an excellent tactician and warrior of both strength and wisdom, turning himself into a creature to exploit its raw power, let alone the weakest Tailed Beast of all nine, was his one mistake.

Obito shook his head in bemusement "Damn, he could have killed a few of us too ... he's just an inexperienced kid who made one wrong move"

Sasuke glared at Obito "Are you going to sit there and talk shit ? Or are you going to help us ?"

The ruthless smile Obito shone only mad Sasuke the more angrier "You can finish him without my help, we don't want to go overkill and waste our chakra"

"You think this will be that easy ?"

"Use your Susanoo and Amaterasu ... It won't know to dodge it as well as the Kazekage once would have. It has gained power, but if you can dodge its attacks then it is only a matter of bringing it down with our own sheer power"

Sasuke did not look convinced "I think you underestimate the power of a Tailed Beast, Naruto was ..."

Obito cut him off sharply "Naruto holds the Nine Tails, the strongest of the Tailed beasts. And we were close to defeating him before ...Deal with it"

"Yes, Obito ... I'll take him out without issue. But I am not your minion or subordinate ... We are equal clansmen, you got that ?"

"yes ...Glad to hear it"

Sasuke drew ghostly blades from his Susanoo, their purple Chakra shimmering like flames. The Shukaku growled, scraping its iron-like claws together, small sparks glinting with each scrape. Then everything went into fast motion. Sasuke lunged forward, his blade holding the creature at bay as it tried to devour him. Kakuzu charged, his Fingers separating into a flail of needle sharp threads, burying into the Shukaku's legs and weaving into its fur and skin like a tapestry. Screaming in pain it kicked its leg forward, Kakuzu flew across the arena, still connected to the beasts leg. Itachi placed both index fingers to his mouth and sent a large rolling fireball colliding with the creatures chest, burning its fur and singing its flesh. Sasuke used its disarray and slashed his blade across its chest, a thin trench opened and blackish blood spilled from the wound. It roared in anger and pain, landing on all fours and charging at Sasuke.

Both claws gripped tight around the warriors shoulders, the claws digging through its spectral flesh and refusing to release. The Shukaku's face snarled down at the Susanoo apparition, its jaw opening wide. Red and Blue Chakra orbs fused together into a massive purple orb, shrinking in size as it spun mid-air. Sasuke had seen the move before by the Kyuubi, it was a Bijuu Dama. He leaped from the rib cage of his Susanoo, grabbing Itachi by the shoulder and diving into the soft pile of sand surrounding the edges. Burying themselves in the dense pile.