Sword of God -- A Naruto Fanfiction

| 30 | Hook, Line and Sinker

Avery kicks upwards from her downed position, something that Naruto sidesteps but the jagged, metallic edge of her sandals grazes his cheek, leaving a shallow scar.

It is of no consequence, Naruto convinces. I will get what I want, my liaison to the underworld.

He leaps back just as Avery lunges forward, placing them both at optimal close quarters, favouring the female -- she had already had her fists outstretched.

It turns out that the crude move had not proved theatrical in the least as it connects with Naruto's jaw.

Time to get serious, he decides, slightly incensed though not to the point where his emotions influence his fate.

He takes a deep breath as he skids back, uprooting a linear chunk of the ground in the path of his opposed movement.

The gesture of calm does not bode well with the Axel heir as she darts forward, intending on capitalising on her perceived victory of minuscule effect, though a win is still that, just not one to live up to its full potency.

Naruto smiles in an in eerily serene manner that is quite disturbing to watch, accepting, even though he has no plans to.

The accepting, in his mind, will be hers to perform.

But who knows?

"Claw~" Naruto yells just as his opponent does the same for her own jutsu.

"Serrated Fist!"

How can a fist be serrated? Naruto idly questions as the two techniques meet.

His left palm is outstretched in a claw whereas hers is in one where all fingers are, an open palm with no secrets to hide.

The claw and tip of the middle finger meet, the former easily overpowering the latter as Naruto sends her flying back.

How'd he do that? Avery incredulously asks herself, searching her textbook knowledge of shinobi hand-to-hand combat before drawing a blank, twisting her body to land on her feet.

Naruto steps forward thrice, covering the substantial distance as he bends his knees to form a crouching position, advancing like a predator stalking its prey with cat-like grace.

A panther weaving throughout the maze of trees, a hurdle of obstacles to reach the wary antelope.

A dragon propelling itself through the stormy seas with natural elegance fitting that of its regal nature and birth, chasing after its game, hot on its tail.

The two predators meld together to create an unstoppable animal, no, a beast from the deepest pits of the unknown, never before seen.

Naruto's pace seems leisurely on the exterior, his cool facade never wavering as he reigns in all emotion, keeping them in check.

His arms hang loosely by his side, a carefree gesture that earns him erratic tick marks on Avery's face, near her brow.

"Do you think that I'm a pushover?" She storms towards him. They are now face-to-face with each other, barely any room for movement as she forces him into a tight predicament.

I must say, that I've never anticipated such an outcome. Never in my whole shinobi career have I--

"Not at all, " Naruto smoothly replies, his voice flowing like silk.

His silk gloves do so as he capitalises upon her momentary distraction.

"THEN WHY DO YOU--" she begins to bellow, minus the deep tone, all pretence of reputation thrown to the side as she storms, her words flying like lightning as she pushes herself up against Naruto.