Shirinai: Secrets Beneath The Sand

I sat silently on my own; I didn't want to be burdened by the business at the camp. I looked out into the desert; it was a blazing sea of burning gold sand. The heat was blazing and there was no protection from the sun, yet night was nearing. I heard foot steps in the sand behind me, and turned my head to see who it was. "Hey Gary." Ren greeted. My attempt to get up was put to ease by her light hand on my shoulder, she sat next to me. Everything around me seemed to shift. "I'll assume you brought this rock?" she asked. I thought for a moment then realized she was talking about the rock we were sitting on. "Uhhh yeah haha, there are a lot of rocks under the sand, all there is to it to pull it from the sand and put then together." Ren looked at me with curiosity; her light blue eyes always struck me. "Gary, what's on your mind?" she asked, "Don't say 'nothing'; you explain something I already know to avoid me asking." She was right; I never realized I had done that before. "Before we came here, I was having nightmares, reliving the dream of the 7 tailed Badger Beast." She scooted a little bit closer, giving an ear. "Instead of the way I lived it, he came to me and told me to kill Shakaku, or his avatar, and he'll lift the curse." I could tell Ren was thinking."You know I can't kill Destiny, and think of how hard it is to find Shakaku, much more kill him." Ren's head lifted and looked around, it was a gamble to have said what I did, we were in the desert were Shakaku was rumored to have lived. "You won't have to kill anyone. You get by fine with Ryu's help" She said to me, "They are JUST nightmares, that's all." Ren was right; it wasn't as real as when I first encountered Kaku. I turned to look at her but she looked out into the sea of sand. 'What is it?" I responded. "There's something I never understood, why does Darki help us?" she asked. Her questionseemed spontaneous. "He isn't clouded by darkness like some of us. Even though the darkness clouds his past he won't let it cloud the future." I stood up. "Lets go back to camp so we can get a move on." but Ren shook her head. "I'm going to stay here awhile, I'll be there in a moment." she smiled. I nodded and began to walk off. Ren stood up behind me, but didn't follow. When I got back to the camp Kyoma was sharpening his sword. "Where's Ren?" He camp was on top of a rock I had manipulated to protect us from the sand and wind. "Back there. She'll be back in a little she said." Shadow watched me as I walked over to Ryu and sat next to him in the sun. Just as I began to relax Ren came. She smiled and pet Ryu's head "Are you guy's ready?" she asked. "Yes are you done playing with you breast?" Kyoma retorted. We began to die laughing until she cut us an evil look sharper than Kyoma's sword. I shook my head at Kyoma and pulled my face mask over my mouth and nose. She promptly turned around with her bag and began our journey.

We had been requested for mission that I was reluctant to take. The Secretary of the Kazekage said there carriers of food, cloths, and other supplies were being cut off by a group of desert bandits. They would catch the group, but then more would arrive; so the village was in desperation and requested our help. The reason I hesitated in taking this mission is because they requested me specifically for this mission, never have we received a request asking for a certain person to see through a mission. But hey, this was the stakes of a WHOLE VILLAGE; I'd assume they'd want it seen through thoroughly. Essentially we were roaming the desert hoping to run into the bandits. Ren walked ahead of us on hot sand, like a blue blur in the heat rising off the ground. The desert was a barren wasteland for miles, like life had never been there, or what life was there had died. Pure golden sand. Far off in the distance, as a spec was a roost of rocks but it was hardly seeable from the distance we were at. 'Kyoma, you angered Ren badly, you need to apologize." Shadow hissed from inside his hood. "She'll get over it." Kyoma snickered in response. He acted as if he did care, but I could tell he did. He often pretended to laugh things off when he didn't want to show care for them. I caught a look from Shadow's crimson jewel like eyes; I then turned to Ryu who seemed in his own world. I sighed, "Kyo, you know how she gets with those kinda jokes." "I don't care, she'll get over it." He said. I looked a Ryu for an answer, he just shook his head. A thought came to my mind "Oh! Kyo! Did you ever find out how exactly Tora got those flame powers?" I asked. Kyo rubbed his chin and put a cigar in his mouth and lit it. "Well when he was fighting the ninja, the ninja was using Fire Jutsus. As you know, Tryga only uses Taijutsu so in order to get closer Tora decided to absorb the Fire Chakra. Well however he did that it, whenever he expands his muscles, fire comes out." Well, that made sense, but for whatever reason I was more concerned about Ren, even though I was the one who had asked the question. She was walking at least twenty feet ahead of us no saying a word or making a sound. I ran ahead and grabbed her shoulder "Ren-" before I could say anything she grabbed my arm and extended it, tapped it three times, and there was an excruciating pain in my arm that shot fire through my veins. I screamed then my arm went dead, there were three needles in it in different places. The look on Ren's face was that of if she had seen hell "Gary? - I'm- You- You shouldn't have snuck up on Me." she said before releasing my arm turning around to continue walking. Anger ran me into overheated "Dammit Kyo! You really made her mad!" I yelled pointing at my limp arm. His eyes went blank, this meant he knew was wrong, but still he completely ignored me and continued walking past me. Ryu stayed behind with me "He always manages to piss her off." I sighed "remove these for me, Ryu." I lifted my dead right arm with my left. Ryu's powerful jaws gently removed the thin needles. The feeling returned to my hand, then my arm. I swung it around a couple times to makes sure everything was operating fine. "Thank you Ryu." And hugged him. Even though he was a huge lizard, I still could hug him. Everyone had walked far ahead of us, not even looking back. "Gary, we should catch up." Ryu said, with that we took after them.

Blazing day turned to freezing night. The red sun turned to white moon. We all walked silently, thoughts to ourselves and no noise. I pulled my mask over my mouth and nose, to protect it from the cold. Ryu seemed to be freezing too, so I took a blanket out of my pack and put it over him. The night was silent, there was no except the wind singing in our ears. It had slowed down though; we were soon nearing the rocky roost. The night forced us to reluctantly set up tension of laying down near and having to watch over each other thickened as Ren occasionally made diamond splitting glares at Kyoma. We all sat around the fire, Ryu and Shadow closer to warm their reptilian bodies. Kyoma puffed on a cigar, "That's a dirty habit you have Kyo." Shadow said. Something made me glance at Ren who sat staring at the fire. I looked at Kyoma who was now blowing rings of smoke into the air. My eyes followed it until it dispersed. The sky was beautiful, a deep dark bluish black with bright white stars. It reminded me of the time before me and Ryu were managing Team Shirinai Bounty Hunters; we were free. We would train and play in the woods. Explore the swamps near Earth Village. Study the plants and wildlife, enjoy life freely. The land's beauty was in our eyes. Often we would stay out late and hangout by the lake, see how the stars reflected while we fished. It was a Utopia compared to life of missions and the stress of business, most of the time we are so busy working we don't get to stop and enjoy the world around us. Us, Ryu was connected, he was reminiscing too, feeling what I felt and seeing what I saw. But there were more rings of smoke; it clouded my vision of the old times with the stress of our current busy life. "Kyoma, you need to leave the cigars alone." Shadow hissed. "I'll smoke whatever and whenever I want!" He snapped back. With that, the smoke no longer plumed from his cigar, it froze over. Our eyes went straight to Ren, her right hand was glowing light blue; she had frozen the cigar. Her eyes never left the fire, nor did her body move. Kyoma made a strange noise then grumbled "I'll take night shift." before walking off. Shadow slowly slithered behind him. "Ryu accompany Ren until I'm done raising a few stones." I thought. Ryu nodded in approval and sat next to Ren, who turned and petted him. It was then I was late to realize that Ren still got along with Ryu, this made me happy. The camp needed to be protected from the wind. I had never been in the desert but I dressed for the occasion, my green shorts, fully bandages legs, along with my long-sleeve green garb with shoulder armor. I wore my hair in a ponytail. Kyoma and Ren wore the same outfits but in their respective colors; Ren's light blue and Kyoma's grey. Kyo, strangely enough had a hood to his shirt. I raised the rock ridge around the camp to protect us from the elements and seen Kyoma while doing so, but we avoided each other. Ren's icy mood froze us over toward each other.

When I got back, Ren had set up the tents and was in her's. Ryu laid out by the fire keeping warm. He nodded for me to sit next to him, which is what I did. "She's hurt. She feels Kyoma doesn't respect her or will give her any privacy." I found this kind of funny "It wasn't like she was actually doing with but yeah I get you." I thought of how Ren and I were always close, but she changed. Ren had an open personality to have been someone who had been given the future her parents tried to give her. I was no different, living heavily in the shadow of my brother and sister. They had always been great ninjas, past all their exams at the top of their classes. They would've been part of the Black Ops Nin but when my parents left to join the Ninja Tribunal they stayed to take care of me. When I was little I always wondered if they regretted not leaving or had malice toward me for not being able to, but they didn't and still don't. But they still force me to live up to them, in their foot steps, in their legacy. But unlike me, Ren broke from it. I looked at Ryu and wondered if he ever rivaled with Brute, my Brother Leo's partner. Brute is a huge lizard, way bigger than Ryu. Ryu was 5 foot tall on all fours, but, when he stands on his hind legs he's 7 foot tall. Brute is nearly 6 foot tall when he is on all fours and 8 feet if standing on his hind legs. Brute is a heavily armor ebony black Armadillo Lizard Dragon with a thick clubbed tail, and Ryu is savagely spike Emerald Green Iguana Dragon. Brute had the ability to use the Black Fire Jutsu, an Earth Style Jutsu of black flames that turn the opponent to stone. It is considered to be one of the most powerful attacks among the Takamaru Dragons. I digress, Ren and Ryu got alone always and that was my connection to her when she distanced herself. I leaned over onto Ryu. Being around Ryu was comfort in this sandy wasteland. My mind wandered but my eyes remained on the dancing flames, they danced me into a trance. Drowsiness took over me and I began to lean heavily over onto Ryu. He made a strange noise and began to fidget, "Let's go to the tent." he said, and pulled me into the tent. Although the events of the day were over, the night was yet to bring more.

I awoke to complete darkness. This was another dream, only this was, the 7 tailed Badger was there, only a large grey stone. I walked over and inspected it; it was round and soft to the touch. Suddenly it was engulfed in sand; I hopped back "What the hell?" Two eyes glared at me from the sand orb, and then the sand exploded. From the sand erupted the 7 tailed Badger, Kaku, made of pure stone. The sand swirled and formed Shakaku, the one tailed Raccoon Dog. "What is Shakaku doing here?" Soon the two elemental beasts were battling. A huge wave of energy shook my body, their chakra was immense. Each body either pure stone or pure sand, no skin, fur, or flesh; just pure elemental chakra. Their waves of energy hit me one after another until it swept me off my feet. The waves carried my body into the air but I wasn't getting any farther from the two Beasts. My right hand began to shake; Earth Chakra began release from it and shaped into a sword. Suddenly I opened my eyes and something pulled me up and running out of my tent, there was a bright light and something stopped me. When I fully realized what was happening Kyoma had his sword to my throat. When I realized I had my Quake Blade and Kyoma was holding it down with his Snake Blade. I deactivated it. I looked around there were 5 bodies on the floor next to the fire tied up, along with Ren standing over them. Two of the bodies had their hands cut off. "They tried to rob us, these are the Desert bandits." Kyoma said. I looked at the bandits, 4 of them glared at me, but the other laid toward Ren. "Who is the leader?" I asked calmly. They remained silent, their eyes never left me. I was slightly irritated by this, but shrugged it off. "They seem like basic ninjas, did you have any trouble beating them?" I asked. Kyoma shook his head "No. They are retards, even their ambush was cheap." Shadow defused from the Snake Blade and Kyoma sheathed it "But, they aren't what you would expect of desert bandits, they were using Fire Style Jutsu." I glanced at them again. "Why hasn't he moved?" I pointed at the one facing Ren. Kyoma shifted a little, but then Ren's eyes cut into me. I looked down at the bandits that were one glaring at me, now they kept their eyes from meeting with any of ours'. Ren's voice was low and icy "This is their leader; he tried to sneak into my tent. He knelt down by me and put his hand over my mouth, then a kunai to my throat. By this time I already froze his veins, shards broke off and he died of massive internal bleeding." With her foot she kicked the bandit's right arm over. It was dark red all the way up to his shoulder, "I'll assume he's the leader." the other bandit began to sweat despite the cold air. They were deathly scared of Ren, they squirmed from her. "That must be a useful technique used in the Black Ops," Shadow inquired from Kyoma's hood 'but it takes alot of chakra, and expert control does it not?". Ren nodded. Ryu came from behind me "Go lay down Ren." he said. "Where did you come from?" I asked. "Securing the area." Kyoma answered. "I'm going to continue that." Ren said and began to walk off. "But he just did that." I butted it. She waved her hand "Tie them up tighter" and walked away. Her word had apparently become law because we tied them up without was blood everywhere from the severed hands. "Where'd their hands go?" Ryu asked. Kyoma looked up "Uhhh...I'm notttttt suurreee." he turned and looked around quickly, then shrugged. I raised an eyebrow; this was new to have hacked off limbs laying around. "We'll keep watch over them for the rest of the night." Shadow said. Ryu laid down next to the bound and now unconscious bandits, "You had another nightmare Gary?" I nodded in response. Kyoma sat by the fire, "What nightmare?" he asked. I shook my head "Nothing." I didn't want him to know. He shrugged "I'm going to get some sleep. I'm gunna use your tent.""I figured because he knew he was on Ren's side he wouldn't try to use her 's. "The one on the left." I said and pointed to my tent. With that my cousin got up and went into the tent I let out a huge sigh, walked toward the bandits and kicked one in the head. He didn't move but I could see him breathing. "Fire specialist in the desert eh? I wonder where they are from." I thought. "They weren't holding any hand bands on them." Ryu Thought back. This shocked me for a moment, completely forgetting he could hear and respond to my thoughts. "Right." I said aloud. Shadow watched us motionlessly. The ebony serpent's pink tongue flickered in and out of his mouth. We glared at each other for a moment then I realized what I was going to ask him, "Why did you tell Ren to lay down?" I asked. "That technique requires alot of precise chakra and concentration, considering it's a one hit kill. To stream such small amounts of chakra accurately can leave a person weak for awhile." I shrugged, obviously it didn't affect Ren. Sometimes Ren was a huge mystery, but we never underestimated her. My mind drifted back to when I woke up from my dream, the Quake Saber was activated. I've used that technique maybe once or twice but that's it. The free energy was too risky to use, a sword of pure elemental chakra is too dangerous to use; so why was it activated? I didn't do it, and I didn't know what this meant. "Well, how will we go about getting these bandits back to the Sand Village?" I wondered aloud. They all had their eyes on me, I shook my head, it was a question for the road. "Night, Ryu and Shadow."

The next morning we were up and gone from camp. Ren decided that the best way to transport the bandits were to strip them down to their under garbs, heavily tied and make them walk on their own. The dunes were hard to walk over without sinking your foot half way in. The wind didn't help either; random gusts stopped you half way in your steps. I wondered how Ren could stand this weather considering she was from a cold land, but I assumed that her Black Ops training prepared her for this. It was six days since we had caught the bandit and it seemed we were anywhere near the Sand Village. We camped during the nights and endured the sandy, freezing winds. Ren's temper tantrum was over and everything was nearly at peace. "Damn this weather." Kyoma said. Ren turned slightly and smiled amused. I laughed, "Well getting paid 800000 is a ALOT of money Kyo." He shrugged "That's true." The bandit walked in front of us, Ren holding the rope that bound them, then me and Kyoma behind her and Ryu behind us. Shadow rarely walked on his own, he stayed in Kyoma's hood. "Ren." I called ahead. "Yeah?" she stalled slightly to look back but kept walking. "When we get back I'm going to bake you the strawberry cakes you like." I offered. She turned her head slightly 'I'd like that." Kyoma butted in "What will you make me?" He mocked. "He'll make you clean the toilets." Shadow said. We all laughed. Ryu behind us let out a big yawn. "You good, Ryu? I asked. He nodded "Yeah kinda tired." He was on surveillance duty to keep the camp secure for the past two nights. "Kyo, switch places with Ren." Shadow said. We stopped for a moment while Kyoma took hold of the rope and Ren came and stood next to me. "Okay? What was the point in that?" Kyoma asked Shadow. "Ren shouldn't have to hold the criminals the whole time." We began walking again. "Why can't Gary do it?" "He's gunna hold Ryu." Ren answered. Before I could interject Ren turned to me "Lizards aren't nocturnal. You really should let him get some rest." Ren's words were still law because I did it. "Takamaru Beast Fusion." Ryu fused with me. My canines, claws, muscles grew, I grew a long, green, reptilian tail. The heat became more pleasant. I focused while we walked, co-oping my mind and body with Ryu. Ren's small hands were on my sides "I'll guide you." she assured me. I nodded and focused on my mind "Ryu let me take full control of our body. Just let me keep our tail and take our claws and everything else. Just sleep." I thought. "Okay" Ryu thought back. My claws and canines returned to normal. My senses returned to normal human senses. I came out of a trance and Ren let go of me. "What's it feel like to be in full control of your guys' body?" Ren asked. I thought for a moment and began to fully feel my body. Everything felt slightly heavier. "Eh, heavy, but that's because of the tail, I think." I turned to swing my tail a little. Ren raised her eyebrows. "Jerks!" Kyoma called to us. 'Why?" I asked. He shrugged "Because I said so, heh heh heh." Ren grinned. I couldn't remember the last time we had fun like when we first became a team.

Our first mission was basic, under the orders of my sister Lene, we were ordered to deliver some scrolls to the Grass Village, which actually turned out to be a request for 6000 pounds of wheat, corn, and rice. We had little trouble to the village but back from it, that was the hard part. Leo thought it would be funny to draw the trail on the map through the country of Rain. We were caught in flash floods and thunder storms for two weeks. Of course it didn't bother us, since Ren is a Water Specialist, but no one warned us about the Thunder Birds. All night, we'd have to watch out for flashes of lightning because we didn't know if it was just lightning or Thunder Birds trying to steal the wheat. The, unknown to us, Shadow had some deep seated hatred toward the Birds and repeatedly tried to have Kyoma slay them all. After making it through the Rain Country, we short cut through Fire Country to avoid any unnecessary weather delays. That's when Kyoma became a delay. The Fire Village was having a blade and sword market from the Iron Village. The merchants took one glance at Kyoma's Snake Blade and either wanted to buy or try to replicate it. Of course none of them were able to. Ren hated the Fire village, but we had no clue why so we tried to leave as soon as we could, but Kyoma was busy showing his sword off. Me and Ren left to go grab something to eat when I realized we were close to a book store. We spent at least 4 hours in there reading different scrolls and books. I bought big book full of recipes, then I remembered we had to get back to Kyoma, who wasn't and where near in the end of his fame that was generating from his sword. When we finally got his away from the village we realized Ryu wasn't with us. I went back to get him and the Iron Smiths were using his scales to make weapons. I made them give me a few kunai in return for using Ryu's scales. We returned to our trip home. It had been nearly a month since we had got the grains and we were almost home, but crossing over the mountains we ran into a poor village of 60, and when I say poor I mean poor. They had run down shacks for homes, starving animals, withered "crops", and a small river of clean mountain water. Even more frightening was the fact they were constantly rained upon by rock slides. We decided to help. Ren started with the river, she used her Water Absorbing trait to absorb the water from an aquifer in a mountain and connected the aquifer and the river, making it bigger. Next was their farming land, I softened the soil using my imperfect Earthquake Jutsu. Kyoma wanted to fix their houses, since he was the fastest he ran to wood and cut building wood to rebuild their homes. It took 4 days to rebuild them sturdier home with their help, but we did it. The happiness didn't last long because a rock slide almost hit. Kyoma worked fast to cut all the boulders down and knock them out of course to the village. Being nestled between two mountains didn't help the whole rock slide situation, so I used my Earth Swallow Jutsu as powerful as I could and Slowly but surely the solid rock ground raised higher and around the village, then started to cover over the village, and stopped before it completely engulfed the village. The people and animals were still starving, so we stayed an extra three days to take half our grains for them. Half of what we gave them I baked and cooked for them and the other half they planted. With that we returned to my sister with half of our original package. Of course Lene threw a fit but Leo calm her down and we were commended.

Those times were past and we were now on our own. I dragged my feet in the sand and Ren stared at me blankly. I reached over and tapped her cheek, she responded by reaching down and throwing sand at me. I just smiled, my focus was my eyes hawked onto the feet of the bandits, when they stepped it didn't leave tracks, and the sand barely moved. "Hey Ren-" there was a huge gust of wind that hit us. We all stopped, and waited for it to pass. "Desert storm. We had to get or make shelter otherwise we'll suffocate from the sand." Ren said. The Wind blasted in every direction, but it felt more like the sand was being shot from cannons in every direction. With the time nearing dusk and no flats or stones in sight we were in a bad predicament. Kyoma turned around "I have an idea, but me and Gary will have to press our curse a little." He turned his head towards me slightly. He gave the rope holding the bandits to Ren, who slid fluidly into his place. "I've been saving these for a 'rainy day'." He chuckled "I have one for everyone." He withdrew his Snake Blade. "Shadousodo!" Shadow fused with his sword and it gave off a Shadowy Black aura. Kyoma's eyes began glowing black, "Changed the name huh?" I asked. I noticed he changed the name of his beast blade fusion technique from Orochi No Kutana to Shadousodo; Shadow Sword. Kyoma swirled the black blade around twice before forming a circle. The aura caused the circle to be seen. "Seventh Dimension!" Giant boulders fell out off the small circle. I sensed Ren's head tuning toward me to I looked at her in amazement. "Kyo, what was that?" Ren asked. Kyoma's eyes returned to normal, he was panting heavily like he had just ran a mile. "It's a new technique I've been practicing, I use shadow dimensions hold water or rocks for Gary or you, in case there isn't any around." he began to pant a little heavier. He nodded to me. "Okay Ren, it's my turn." I walked a few feet and stood by the boulders and closed my eyes. I focused to the core of my body where the 7 Tailed Badger's Chakra was, then released it. I could feel the burst of Earth chakra solidify in my body, I grabbed the boulders. I channeled my chakra into the boulders. I began to mold the boulders; with my chakra flowing through them it was easy. Slowly I molded them into a huge stone dome. I felt the chakra beginning to strain so I released it. "You guys okay?" Ren asked, I could see pure concern in her eyes. Strangely enough, me and Kyoma nodded at the same time. I felt every inch of my body to make sure none of it had turned into stone. I nodded at Ren again. My eyes met Kyoma's, then the bandits' who kept averted. The storm began to rush and slam us, sand nearly buried us.

We filed into the hut, the bandits first, Ren, Kyoma, then me. When we got in we lit a fire and enjoyed the heat away from the storm. That night was a decently comfortable one, we talked and made jokes. The next morning the storm hit harder and heavier so we couldn't leave the stone dome, but we enjoyed our time in the hut. Shadow told stories and Myths he had heard over the years, and I cooked different stews. What caught me by surprise was the bandits never ate, but I thought nothing of it, "Desert bandit train themselves not to eat for weeks, there often isn't any food in the desert. They must suffice with what they bring." Shadow explained. For the next few days the storm seemed to hit harder and harder, and Ren seemed to become increasingly bothered. In the amidst of all this, I never told Ren my nightmares continued and seemed to get worse and worse. I would wake up in cold sweats and shaking. But always hid it from them seeing. Ren stayed awake to watch over the bandits every night, and took long naps during the day. I was always surprised she never caught me waking up from a nightmare. Kyo was a sound sleeper; a brick dropped on his head wouldn't wake him up. The nightmares would've though, if he was having them. Every night. Kaku was telling me "Kill the One tailed Shukaku's avatar" then Shakaku would show up and fight with Kaku. It wasn't the fighting that made my dreams nightmares but the fact that Shakaku seemed to nearly kill me in the battle with 7 Tails. Why? Why would Kaku want me to kill Destiny? It didn't make sense. I thought for a moment. The Tailed Beasts warred for title of most powerful beast, Kaku fought and won against Isonade the 3 tailed turtle and Sokou the 4 tailed cockatrice, but never have I heard of him battling Shakaku. I decided to ask Shadow who was laying next to Kyoma, but when I turned my head slightly I could see Ren watching the bandits. I glanced at Ryu who was passed out next to me; he was getting sleep so would I.

That same night I awoke to Ryu standing between me and Ren. "Get up you guys! Now!" He roared. Kyoma and I woke up immediately. There was a cold stillness in the air, only the slight movement of our breath rippled in the motions. "The bandits are gone" Ryu whispered. Kyoma began to say something but Shadows tail wrapped around his mouth. Ren slowly rose, "I dozed off for a moment, then they were gone." her body seem tense, her eyes were focused. "That wasn't enough for them to get away though.I knew you were following us the whole time, now, show yourself." Ren demanded. For a moment nothing happened but then I sensed it. There were thin pieces of chakra spread all around that began to convene into the area were the bandit once laid, another Avatar. The sand began to sway and shift, then it took shape of a human. Instantly the figure detailed into female covered in shawls. She stood about 5'5', covered in tan and white shawls that covered her face and body. Her skin and hair was light, and her eyes were dark brown. I watched Ren slowly walk backward to Ryu, Kyo and I. All of our poses erected. We didn't know if she meant us harm but her Chakra Signature was familiar. Her piercing eyes never left me; I felt they were burning into my soul. "I could sense her the whole time." Ren said aloud "She was... it was her time of the month." Me and Kyoma looked at each other. "What the hell?" Kyo asked in disgust. "When we are in Black Ops, you learn that the pheromone change is easy to detect when a woman is on her period, concealing her chakra might work, but nothing will hide the pheromone change." She answered swiftly. "Who are you?" I asked. Her body didn't so much as twitch. We waited a moment for a response, but she didn't respond. Everything seemed slow and indirect; the air seemed to be under great strain. "I am Ren Jia of Team Ryu, and the Shirinai Bounty Hunters, tell us who you are!" Ren yelled. The woman's eyes shifted swiftly to Ren. "You have a sword, so you must be Kyoma, 8 Tails' Avatar." Kyoma drew his swords and took his stance. "You're correct." Shadow instantly fused with his Snake Blade. Her eyes shifted to me next. "Sorie Keer. I'm the Avatar of Shakaku." she said evilly. "Keer?" I asked in astonishment, everything was starting to go bad. "Related to Destiny Keer?" Sorie's eyes grew soft then hardened again "My daughter, ungrateful daughter." she growled. Fear and astonishment took over me; I gave a fearful look to Kyoma then Ren. "You're her mom?" I cried. Suddenly the sand storm outside the dome grew stronger, the sand hit the dome like hail. Sorie's face flashed, "I am Shukaku's Avatar!" She screamed as she lifted her hand. Within split second sand was swirling around me. Ryu slashed it away with a powerful swipe from his tail before anything could happen. Kyo chuckled as we took battle stances "You aren't the 1 tailed Avatar, Destiny is." Ren challenged. The air settled again, the calm before the storm. Sorie's eyes glowed light yellow then there was a huge surge of chakra coming from behind her. The dome behind her exploded into sand, a huge dust cloud engulfed us. I fused with Ryu. There was huge, crazed laugh; then the clouds cleared. Above us stood Shakaku himself.

There it was, the manifestation of my nightmares. He stood lket a skyscraper over our heads, his sandy body glittering in the pale moonlit sky. His beady black eyes remain motionless. I stared in shear terror, he was really here. Sorie melted into the sand then reappeared beneath Shukaku's heavily breathing belly. It wasn't until then Shakaku moved, a huge eye turned to me. He seemed to smile a ghastly grin and let out a roar. For a moment the world seemed to be at a stand still. None of the Avatars we knew ever came face to face with a Tailed Beast outside of their locked dimension, their terror was rumored to be horrid and proved to be so. I didn't know what to do, everything was against me. Sorie spoke "There is Gary Takamaru." Her thin hand lifted and a long, menacing finger aimed at me "Kill him." "Shadow Samurai." next to me, Kyoma's body was engulfed in a shadow, an aura of Darkness Chakra stuck skin tight to him and melted in with shadows, his eyes shone gold. "Turtle's Crystal Ice!" Ren's body morphed into water, and then hardened into crystal clear ice, her eyes glowed blue. Their bodies were completely changed. I took my queue, "Earth Dragon Warrior!" Earth Chakra swirled around my limbs, my dreads grew and hardened into spikes, and my eyes glowed green. We had all unleashed our Beasts' Chakra, our most powerful forms and attacks were at hand and we were ready for our fight. Shakaku let out a huge, amused laugh. Sorie opened her hand and sand swirled into it then disappeared into her sleeve. Her eyes glowed red and what was visible of her face began to crack, she ripped her cloak off. Her body had become unreal like sand, cracks all over her skin made her look like a broken porcelain doll. Although it was two against three, we were still painfully outmatched.

"Me and Kyoma have Shukaku, take Sorie!" Ren yelled as they launched out at Shukaku. "I can't hit my girlfriend's-" before I could speak I noticed Sorie was going to intercept them. "Rock Twister!" I span as fast as I could and hit her before she could get them. There wasn't time to rest because Shukaku's huge paw was headed for us, I ducked under it and was grabbed by a wave of sand. I broke free and ran at Sorie who continued to try to grab me; I used my Earth Twister and missed. I landed and turned to Shukaku spewing Air Bullets at Kyoma and Ren. For a moment I worried about Ren not having any water to use. Sorie materialized in front of me, and bit into my shoulder I roared in pain and I slashed with the opposite claw but it was futile. I struggled to rip my arm free when I realized I was being held by a sand doll. It was ugly, a dark brown color with small red eyes and a sandy body the size of a small child. I flailed and tugged harder but it wasn't working. That's when Shukaku turned to me and shot an Air Bullet at me, Ren jumped in front of me and took the hit, and Kyoma broke me free from the doll. A huge tornado of sand surrounded us, and was closing in. I summoned to stone walls under the sand, and slammed them down to destroy the tornado. Shukaku stood towering above us with a smirk on his face, "Throw me." Ren told us. Me and Kyoma looked at each other and nodded. Kyoma grabbed her arms and began spinning in circles to gain momentum and I ran toward Shukaku. I ran on all fours and heard Kyoma say "Go." I glanced back to see Ren launched through the night sky like a shooting start at Shukaku. I began my assault of shooting Quake Blasts at him, preventing him from intercepting Ren. Ren made impact and hit him full force in the chest. Shukaku tilted over. I jumped in to attack but something grabbed my legs and slammed me down into the sand. I turned around and seen a sand doll holding my leg down. I broke free but Shukaku slammed a huge paw down on me. The pain the exploded in my body. The sand stung against my face and the air was pressed out of my body. My instant reaction was to burrow in the sand, but that was a death trap. Shukaku lifted his paw and I clung to it, I looked down from being raised high into the air, below I could Kyoma's battle with Sorie and the sand dolls. There were rocks scattered everywhere. Soon I was in Shukaku's face; he laughed and held his paw in front of his mouth, below his belly expanded. I roared back, I crawled across his hand to the back and he expelled an Air Bullet into the palm of his hand. My next move was unknown to me, do I climb to his shoulders or do I fall to the ground below? Before I decided Shukaku turned his huge claw around and I was face to face with him again. "Earth Twister!" I hit him in the face with a series of rapidly fired kicks, at the last attack I launched backwards off his nose a hundred foot landing was made easy by the shock absorbing sand. Shukaku was pawing at his face, with him busy with that, I turned to look for Ren. "Ren!" I called, but there was no answer back, I couldn't even sense her chakra. I ran to Kyoma. Who was slicing and dicing the dolls down but they seemed to keep re-materializing. As I passed Kyoma I spoke "Shukaku is distracted for now, but Ren is missing." Past Kyoma I seen Sorie. "Dragon Blades!" I somersaulted into a ball letting my spikes continuously hit Sorie, but she was holding me back with one powerful hand, while controlling her dolls with the other. Her sandy body was protecting her from my spikes. She used both her hands to break through my velocity and grab my feet and threw me in the air to send me flying. In that split second she let go of the control of her dolls, Kyoma took advantage and sliced her in half like a knife through butter. Her bottom half hit the ground and Kyoma's Shadow Aura swallowed it. The something hit me like a cannon and I was sent flying back down to where Kyoma and Sorie's remains were. I hit the ground but I managed to catch my balance. I was hit with an Air Bullet. Shukaku was no longer rubbing his face. I stood up and coughed, "Where the hell is Ren?" I asked Kyoma. Kyo shrugged "She didn't get killed, I know she didn't." The disappearance of Ren cast a solemn effect over us. Sorie's body had had disappeared into the sand, and we stood in the cold night air facing the One tailed Monster who seemed to have an ominous grin on his face. He belly expanded. Me and Kyoma braced for his attack, suddenly there was a blue glow from behind him, and a huge icicle erupted from his chest. His eyes grew and he let out a bone chilling scream. He began clawing furiously at is back as if something was on it. Kyo chuckled "Ren." The icicle retracted, and Ren came running to us.

"How?" I asked with astonishment. "When I hit his chest, he right after went after you, I took my chance and climbed to his back and concealed my chakra while absorbed water to add my body." Ren answered. Her body was made of Crystal Ice, and when she absorbed water she could expanded and transform her body. We watched Shukaku flail around over-dramatically. "That isn't going to kill him." Kyoma reminded us. It was a grim but undeniable fact, I thought for a moment to turn the table in our favor. I need to gather the rocks for my use, so I summoned the rocks from the busted up dome and dropped them around us. It won't take long for Shukaku to regenerate and that means he'll regenerate Sorie too, I thought. As this went through my mind we could sense Sorie's chakra signature rebuilding. "Kyo, open Ren's dimension!" I told him, without hesitation he did. A black hole over Ren's head spilled water onto her clear body that she absorbed instantly. She re-sized her body to twenty feet tall and morphed her arms to a few different shapes, "I like this. Thank you Kyoma." and returned to her normal size. Shukaku stopped flailing and began cackling. We looked to see the hole in Shukaku filled and Sorie ad at least a hundred sand dolls standing next to her. I began to swirl the small, broken down rocks around us like a cloud, and returned to all fours. "Earth Style! Rock Storm!" The rocks stopped swirling and shot out at our enemy. The barrage was stopped by all the sand dolls combining and becoming one huge doll. "Three on three now." Ren said. I could feel Ryu's primal savagery pushing through, my spikes grew longer and my canines grew out of my mouth. Ren grew to ten feet tall, and morphed one arm to a Crystal Ice Blade. Sorie and the huge sand doll came marching toward us. I began shooting Quake Blasts at them, but it didn't slow them down... "I've got the dolls," as Ren said this 100 more sand dolls appeared around the huge one, "Gary, face your fear, attack Shukaku." Ren complained. Kyoma's eyes narrowed and he waved his sword at me "You're afraid of Shukaku?" He teased. My pride didn't answer. The second attack was on. I grabbed two giant boulders and threw them at the upcoming battalion; the crash of the boulders caused a cloud of dust to cover us. I charged through dust, picking up a few pieces of rocks on the way and putting them in my pockets. Suddenly three sand dolls tried to grab me, but a slashed them in half with my tail. Two more came from my right but I turned them to stone with my Earth Sphere, another one came from the right, I jumped on the petrified dolls and lunged on it. It wasn't a doll, it was Sorie, and she began slashing with a dagger. I barely dodged the close attacks, but I managed to get a few kicks in to repel her. Her attacks wouldn't let up and it was becoming a hassle to dodge the attacks of the surrounding sand dolls as well. I managed to get in close to Sorie but she shoved me away hard, between us Kyoma emerged from the shadow cast by a rock sticking out of the ground, and separated me and Sorie. "You heard-" "DOWN!" Ren yelled from above our heads. There was a huge gust of wind that cleared the clouds and nearly swept us off our feet. Shukaku and shot an Air bullet at Ren but she dispelled it. With the stun from the air bullet, I left Sorie to Kyo, and the Sand Doll to Ren, and headed straight for Shukaku. I ran on all fours, dodging his rain of air bullets. The Earth Chakra round my limbs began to swirl faster. I got within twenty feet of him when he slammed his paw down, I dodged it with a quickly barrel roll then began my climb up his arm. As I ascended, digging in with my claws to stay latched on; I began shooting Earth Spheres at his belly. He watched me run his arm to his shoulder, and I met with his face. He let out a crazed laugh. I gazed into his giant yellow eye for second, this was it. Kaku wanted me to kill the avatar but I had Shukaku here to myself. He would be near impossible to kill, even for a Beast Avatar, but I had to do something. His arm came up and began smacking at me, trying to pry me off. I barely dodged his claws by crawling over to his opposite shoulder. All I could think of was to turn him to stone, but even that wouldn't work. The only way to beat a Tailed Beast would be to be a Tailed Beast. That was it, a Tailed Beast. I lunged off Shukaku's sand body towards Kyoma. Half way through the air, Shukaku's tail met me and smacked the crap out of my body; I hit the sand slid over the stinging sand. He knocked me far from where Kyoma and Ren were and it would've taken alot longer to get to them. I stood up and popped my neck, "Greeaaaatttttt." I complained. Shukaku began to slowly advance towards me. "Alright Ryu, looks like we'll have to pull him without Kyoma's help." I said. "Let's do it." I sat in the cold sand and looked up at the dark night sky. With an attentive ear to the Tailed Beast I began to focus and summon Kaku's Chakra. If I pulled out enough Earth Chakra while Shukaku was close enough, I could pull him into the Earth dimension. This was taboo to enter the Dimensions without the unrestrained Beasts' chakra because whenever an Avatar would lose control, the Chakra would leak the dimension I would at least have a chance against him. He was getting closer; I dug deeper and deeper into the chakra. The danger that waited from peeling into them purest source of the Beast chakra was showing. It felt like my body was painfully turning to stone each time I pulled more and more of the chakra out. Then I hit it, the raging Earth Badger's Chakra. I could feel the chakra oozing from my eyes and finger tips, surrounding my body in an aura. Rock particles from the sand around me began to raise and surround me. My eyes moved from the sky to Shukaku who had stopped and glared at me. "Ryu, your turn to take over." Just as I gave Ryu control over our body, we heard Shukaku's maniacal laugh and he hit us with his tail. It was then, our chakra wrapped around his tail. The impact was twice as much as last time, it knocked the wind out of us and broke some of our ribs, our eyes never closed but for a moment everything went dark, the pain subsided, we had succeeded.

The darkness disappear and I seen my assailant dumbfounded; I had managed to pull him into the Earth Dimension using Kaku's chakra. The tail slap that sent me flying had me expected to hit a boulder from being in the Earth Dimension, but instead I hit something soft and fell the ground. My ribs hurt, so I got up slowly. Two huge blue-grey claws were on either side me, "Get up Gary." I looked up suddenly, it was Kaku. He was much smaller than Shukaku but still at least 5 times my size. He was covers in blue grey fur with white stripes. Behind him I could hear 7 swishing tails. "You managed to bring him here." He said to me. I gawked at him; it was finally the 7 Tailed Beast in the flesh. "Yeah, I did." I shook my spikes and felt over my ribs, "You got what you wanted." I started to tilt to the side from the pain; I hated having my ribs broken. Shukaku laughed. "What is this all about Kaku? Answer me." Kaku growled toward Shukaku "He and I are due for a fight, he was too scared to leave desert or even come to edge to fight me." I thought for a moment; so to weaken Kaku's power as a beast, he wanted Sorie to kill me. "I understand." Kaku and Shukaku glared at each other for awhile, growling. Why wasn't Kaku attacking? He had the advantage of being in the Earth Dimension. It was clear to see he wanted this fight to himself. "How do I get out of here?" I asked. "Same way you came in, a portal in the dimension." His huge eye stared at a swirl in the air behind Shukaku. I jumped onto Kaku's head, "Cover me." I whispered. He roared and ran at Shukaku. From behind us the ground morphed into long rock hands and lunged out at Shukaku, "Gary, Go!" I grabbed hold of one the rock hands and was flung at Shukaku, getting nearer to him caused me anxiety to turn to rage. "Quake Saber!" I jumped off the hand and ran my blade through his shoulder. He screamed, never looking back I continued to the portal. I jumped into air, ready to join the fight in the desert and went through the portal.

I was flung in the opposite direction before I knew what happen. Gary defused with me and sent me flying to avoid the spear. I couldn't believe what I seen, a sand spear skewered Gary though the belly. His body hit the ground lifelessly, I felt the cripple; I couldn't move. I heard Ren scream and Sorie laugh. Kyoma's power chakra level exploded, within mere seconds, he sliced and destroyed all the sand dolls. The Darkness Aura began to consume Sorie's chakra infused sand, Kyoma was losing control. There was pure terror on Sorie's face, but she managed to break away and disappear into the sand. I watched as Ren ran to Gary. And her Crystal Ice Body melted and sank into his.