34 No Regrets
[AN: This chapter was a long time coming.]
'Am I…gonna die..?'
Souei found himself pushed to the brink of exhaustion. Sweat trickled down his forehead, mixing with dirt and grime as he gasped for breath. His limbs felt heavy, his movements sluggish.
Ahead of him, Roshi stood like an invincible wall. The man's face set into a frown, Souei even thought he saw a flicker of pity within his eyes before he dismissed it.
"The things I do for the village.." He barely heard the man mumble before sighing loudly.
Souei's panic flared as he heard Roshi walking towards him. Each step echoing loudly into his eardrums.
Souei could feel desperation gnawing at his core, but there was nothing he could do. Doubt crept in his mind as he worried for his survival, worry for himself, his friends, his aunt, his little nephew.
And the world suddenly slowed to a crawl, as memories of the past filled his mind. He remembered Aunt Chiyo walking him to the academy on his first day. Meeting Rasa and Rukia and befriending them. He remembered the joy he felt when he held his Sasori for the first time when he was born, promising to be the best uncle/older brother to his nephew. He remembered training with Ishito Sensei. He remembered winning the Chunin Exams and the exhilaration when his friends and family cheered for him. He remembered the pain in Sasori's eyes when he found out his parents got killed. He remembered his vow to himself to never allow Sasori to go through the same thing ever again. He remembered his promise to Aunt Chiyo, to not die and do whatever it takes to survive. He remembered his and Rasa's vow to come back to see their team again in the Land of Stone. And for some reason, Rukia's face lingered for a moment longer than the rest.
Then, there was a flicker, a spark buried deep within his soul, a power he had never tapped into before. It surged forth, an electrifying rush that coursed through his veins.
His eyes, once dim with defeat, blazed with newfound determination. His hand went into his pouch and grabbed a handful of chakra pills and shoved them all into his mouth.
Usually, just one would be enough to energize a shinobi back into fighting capability. But he realized just it wouldn't be enough. He needed to get to Aunt Chiyo and run. But to do that, he has to pass through this monster of a man named Roshi.
Souei's body surged with power as his chakra flared, sending a shockwave rippling to the battlefield. Roshi was caught off guard by the sudden surge and was pushed back a few feet before he regained his footing.
He raised his head to see Souei standing there, his body buzzing with adrenaline. But what caught his attention were the strings on Souei's hand. Now colored pitch black and covered with a blood red aura.
Souei studied the new threads with interest before his eyes glanced at Roshi. The older ninja didn't know what it was, but something about his opponent had changed.
Souei then immediately moved. In the background, sounds of combat between Onoki and Chiyo raged on, so he couldn't afford to waste time.
"God Thread: Threaded Obsidian Arrows!"
He moved on instinct, he weaved the black threads into a set of arrow-like projectiles and launched them at high speeds towards Roshi, who immediately conjured a massive earth wall to protect himself.
However, much to his surprise, the arrows pierced through without trouble, and Roshi was forced to jump high to dodge fast moving arrows.
Souei then smirked. 'Got you.'
He saw Roshi's eyes widening in shock as Souei raised his arm high and the arrows suddenly curved upwards, following through the air towards the Yonbi Jinchuuriki.
However, Souei knew that just hitting him won't do much. Unless he's capable of taking him down in one shot, injuring a Jinchuuriki is useless since their enhanced regeneration would heal almost all wounds easily and fighting a contest of attrition won't work since they have an infinite well of chakra.
So right now, Souei's goal isn't to beat Roshi. It's to immobilize him long enough for Souei to book it.
The black arrows suddenly exploded and expanded, ensnaring Roshi completely as the strings contracted all over his skin.
"Ugh!" The man grunted as he fell unceremoniously to the ground. Immediately, lava came emanating from his form as Roshi strained to break through, but the enhanced durability of his new Earth and Yin chakra based threads managed to hold out long enough for Souei to summon even more strings to cover the man from head to toe.
Once he was completely mummified in a black cocoon of solid strings, Souei slammed his hands to the ground and turned the earth to mud before solidifying it once Roshi completely sunk in.
"God Thread - Earth Collaboration Jutsu: Thread Eternal Prison."
In any other circumstances, he would most definitely try his new found strength against a ninja as powerful as Roshi. But Souei knew he still didn't stand a chance in a straight up fight. Roshi underestimated him and was caught off guard, he won't make the same mistake twice.
He knew that this would only hold the Jinchuriki for twenty, maybe thirty seconds tops. It wasn't long, but it was time. Time he desperately needs to find his aunt. The entire mission had gone to shit the moment Iwa had appeared. The outpost was lost and it was time for them to rendezvous with the rest of the retreating forces.
Souei slammed his feet to the ground, activating his Seismic Sense, and immediately found where his aunt was fighting. He started moving towards her, but what he did not expect was to find her in the kind of state she was in.
She was injured all over, covered in blood from head to toe. The remains of all her puppets, broken and battered, surrounded her form. But what was ingrained into his mind was the glaring stump where her arm should've been and the perfectly circular hole on the left side of her abdomen. He didn't know how she's still conscious.
Everything happened in a flash. Up above, he could see Onoki preparing to fire off another of his Dust Release jutsu. His target was my aunt, who was too injured and wouldn't be able to defend herself in time.
So Souei didn't even hesitate. Whether it was his innate recklessness, a complete disregard of his own life, plain stupidity, or even the adrenaline coursing through his veins, Souei saw how both Onoki and Chiyo's eyes widened in surprise when he made his appearance known.
Jumping straight into the line of fire of Onoki's technique, Souei weaved his strings, creating a massive blackened spear of condensed threads.
"God Thread: God-Killing Spear!"
The gigantic spear whistled through the air as it made its way to the Tsuchikage, who was forced to dodge and abort firing his technique at Chiyo.
At that moment, several conclusions came into Souei's mind.
For one thing, his reserves that were replenished by the chakra pills, were already starting to diminish. In his high minded state, he didn't notice how chakra extensive the God Thread technique's actually were.
Two, there was a veritable army of Iwa ninja that stood in their way of escape. They were pushed back far from the hole on the wall that the rest of their forces used to escape when Onoki and Roshi attacked. Going that way meant to fight through hundreds of Iwa ninja and that's tantamount to suicide.
Three, Onoki and Roshi are currently still distracted, but it won't take them long to recover. So their next move must be both quick and quiet.
That leaves with only one direction for them to take.
Souei grabbed Chiyo and he immediately used an earth jutsu to keep digging below ground. He quickly created an earth clone who covered up the hole he used before it dug down in another location.
Souei kept going down, before shifting directions on the opposite side from where his clone created his hole. It was just in time too, since Onoki fired his dust release right in the next second towards where his clone had been. He could feel the earth tremble around him from Onoki's attack.
He could only hope that that old coot would think he killed them with that move. That way, they wouldn't bother chasing them.
.
.
How many hours has it been? Two? Three? All he knows is that he couldn't stop digging until he's sure they're safe. He had spent all that time digging through with earth chakra, not to mention the number of times he had used his seismic sense to see the world above ground, trying to determine whether or not it was safe to emerge.
He had taken another 2 chakra pills, refilling his reserves, but not as much as the previous ones. It was widely known that using chakra pills back to back won't do much good since its effects would wane the more you use them. Not to mention the strain it would create to your chakra network since you're basically forcing your body to create chakra when it's not supposed to.
But he couldn't really care much right now. Aunt Chiyo fell unconscious in the first hour after they escaped. He had tried his best to stitch up most of her injuries, but even he knew that without proper treatment, her wounds could prove fatal.
He couldn't help but shudder as he remembered the state of injury his aunt was in after battling Onoki. The first things he focused on were stitching up the bloody stump she has for an arm and the hole on her abdomen. It was crude work, but he prays it'll be enough.
Souei couldn't exactly tell where he was running too. He knew he fled in the opposite direction of where the escape route was supposed to be, and by extension he fled away from the location that the Suna forces were actually camped.
This way, he could avoid the Iwa forces that are maybe looking for them, but also it puts them in a bad spot since they have absolutely no allies for miles in every direction.
All that matters is that both he and Aunt Chiyo survive. That comes first, whatever happens next, they'll handle it when they get there. Together.
.
.
"Come now, don't make that face Souei…"
Chiyo had found out that speaking with a hole in her abdomen was hard, she felt pain coursing through the back of her spine. It hurts just trying to breathe and the only real reason she's still alive is probably due to the impromptu stitches that Souei had done.
Hell, she couldn't even move. She can't even attempt to heal herself with medical ninjutsu due to her missing arm. She definitely regrets not taking her time to properly mold her chakra with one hand and learning one handed seals.
With the state she's in, all she could do is the lowest level medical ninjutsu, something that is nowhere enough to fix a woman with her level of injuries.
Her mind is slightly muddled from the blood loss, but due to Souei's intervention, she's still capable of thinking clearly. The problem was that her entire body felt heavier than lead, it was only Souei's assistance that allowed her to sit up.
She's no fool, she knows her time is coming. Even now, she could feel herself slipping further and further away by the second.
It was certainly clever of the boy to escape in the opposite direction that the Iwa forces were expecting them to flee towards, she knows that Onoki is a careful enough man to send search parties. He wouldn't take any chances, not with her being the prize.
But it would only fool them for so long, if there's any consolation however, Souei had apparently brought them further into the lands of Amegakure. So at the very least, here, he could be safe. That brought her thoughts back to Souei, her dear nephew had run himself ragged to try and keep her alive.
"I swear I'll kill him." She heard him mutter. "I'll kill that old fart for doing this to you."
She admits this was partially her fault. In the world they live in, it is strength that matters the most. Today proved that she was weaker than the Fence Sitter, and now here she was.
Puppets can do a whole lot of things when a puppet master puts their minds into it. She could create contingencies and preparations to combat certain situations with her versatile skill set.
But the Dust Release is something not anyone could just prepare for. Its unique properties to simply erase everything it comes in contact with isn't something her puppets are certified to deal with.
A cheap shot from Onoki after he destroyed her puppets created a fist sized hole in her abdomen. She reacted quickly enough to heal some of it, but that was when another shot took her arm off.
In any other circumstances, she knows one thing that could help her now. It was a forbidden jutsu that she had learned. One with a price so high that most would think twice before using.
She glanced at the boy currently fussing over her injuries. She's accepted the fact that she's most likely not gonna survive the night. They are stranded way behind enemy lines with no way to contact their allied forces. She's unable to move and Souei's chakra reserves are at an all time low.
He had crunched even more soldier pills but had utilized most of that chakra to try and keep her alive with his Thread Release. Knowing her reckless nephew, he would most likely continue to pop the pills even if it means crippling his own chakra system forever.
There is no doubt in her mind that this is her last moment. She can accept death, but it still pains her to leave her loved ones behind when they need her. She wants to see Sasori grow up to be the fine ninja she knows he would be one day. She wants to be there for Souei, her brother's son, a child that she had raised like her own. She knows that he will be severely affected by her departure and regretfully, it is becoming an unavoidable fact.
"You are not gonna die," Souei replied through clenched teeth and cold sweat as he kept trying to heal up and stitch her injuries that just won't stop re-opening. "Tell me what to do, auntie. I have great chakra control and with you telling me what to do every step of the way, we can fix this, I can heal you."
She can tell that he's getting desperate. Her injuries won't stop opening, and Souei has never properly learned how to stitch, so his work is crude at best, not good enough for wounds of this caliber.
"It takes more than fine control to learn medical ninjutsu, Souei. There's nothing you can do."
"Please." His pleading voice was accompanied by small sniffles. She could tell he's barely holding back tears.
"Souei, listen to me." She summoned all her remaining strength to move her hand, gently grabbing onto his wrist. It's getting harder and harder to remain conscious and she knows time's almost up.
"You promised, didn't you? We made a promise to always survive, no matter what." His words came out as a hollow whisper, just loud enough for her to hear and she could feel the entirety of his despair within it. She has no words of comfort to offer him.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry I wasn't able to uphold my promise."
He didn't answer, his head bowed and turned away from her.
"Thank you, for being my son. If your parents were alive, I knew they would say the same."
His shoulders shook as tears were slowly pouring from his eyes.
She smiled, wanting his last memory of her to be one of peace. She wanted to say more things but found herself lacking the strength to do so. Time is really not on her side so she needs to convey to him what she needs to before her eyes remain shut forever.
"In my weapons pouch, there are two scrolls there, take it out. The green one is the forbidden technique I had developed myself. But promise me Souei, to never open it until either come back to Suna, or I'm fully gone. Do you understand?"
No voice came out of Souei's mouth, but he nodded in understanding.
"The second one contains the Chikamatsu Collection. My strongest set of puppets. In hindsight, I should probably have used it to fight back Onoki, but then again, the old fart never gave me time to do anything. In any case, keep it. It's yours now." She continued, her voice getting weaker and weaker by the second."
"I have taught you everything you need to know of puppetry, so I entrust you with my legacy. Utilizing them doesn't use much chakra, especially with you using the Thread Release. Use them whenever you're in danger, this is the only thing I can do now to protect you and make sure you get back home safe."
His shoulders shook even more as he held onto her hand. With her final piece said, she finally relaxed as she could feel death's cold hand gripping her.
"Take care of Sasori and Ebizo for me, Souei, you're the only one I can count on to protect them after I'm gone."
"I will." His reply was hoarse from his attempt at holding back the sobs. It hurts to see him in so much pain, but this is the life of a shinobi, and he has to endure.
"Promise me you'll take care of yourself. Find some happiness in your life because you deserve it so much. Don't forget that there are people waiting for you to come home, okay?"
"O-Okay." he managed to breathe out and she smiled one last smile.
"After I die, don't bother sealing me in a scroll, my body has too many secrets to risk trying to take it back to the village in your current state. Make sure to dispose of my body properly and leave no trace behind, can you promise me, Souei?"
He held her hand tighter, which she took as a yes.
She had done her best, and now it was finally time. Every shinobi makes the trip there someday. She didn't live that long a life, but not a short one either. She was blessed enough to see her grandson born. She's lucky enough to be surrounded by her loved ones, to have one of her children on her deathbed when it's her time to go.
She no longer has any regrets.
"I love you, Souei."
Chiyo's eyes closed for the last time, as she finally reunites with the rest of her family in the afterlife.
_________________________________________
AN: Let me tell you I've been planning Chiyo's death from way back before the Chunin Exams. Can't believe we're finally here.
This chapter marks her death, and Souei was there with her in her last moments.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Next we'll see Souei's reaction to everything and how he copes after her mother figure's death.
Also, Souei finally unlocked the Earth Yin Combo for his thread release. And before you say it, yes, this is my way of integrating Haki here in Naruto. Yin release was said to involve spirit and will, while Yang Release involved the physical part of Chakra. So I thought by combining both earth and yin, it would create a pseudo Haki-like effect where it heavily increases durability and effectiveness.
I also decided to call it God Thread since it sounds cool. But it is still a new power up, one he has to master with time and effort.
Also the only type of 'haki' that will be available in this fic is just the armament. No observation of conquerors.
Only one chapter today, I'll be posting the double chapters on the next set since you beautiful bastards have yet again helped reach 100 powerstones.
Get some advanced chapters on my pat_reon page! Make sure to check it out! You could read up to chapter 37 by the time this was posted. Chapter 38 is finished and currently going through editing.
Leave a review and some power stones! I'll drop an extra chapter if we manage to get 100 stones by the end of the week.
P_atr_eon.com/TeemVizzle
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Cheers!
