25 The Gobi Jinchuriki

[Year 52, Kamino Stronghold, Iwa/Suna Border]

A massive explosion rang out that covered the entire battlefield in black smoke. The rocky walls of the Kamino Stronghold could be seen above the hills with the sounds of Suna and Iwa shinobi fighting ringing across the forests.

Ishito stood amongst the trees surrounded by the bodies of stone ninja. Mukade, the centipede puppet, coiled around his body as he walked forward leisurely past all the chaos.

He paused in his trek as a massive surge of chakra washed over him. Ishito whipped his head around to see a heavily armored man charging in his direction. He only had a second to react as he slammed his foot to the ground. A triangular wall of earth was dug up that defended Ishito against the onslaught.

The man that Ishito now recognized as Han quickly barreled through the wall with ease, steam pouring out of the Jinchuriki as his chakra flared. His power tearing apart the trees around them.

Ishito's quick response however, allowed him to dodge the attack and come out uninjured.

His opponent shrugged off the dirt from his shoulders before standing to his full height. He was then the first to speak. "Ishito Kazoku, the Centipede. It's a pleasure."

"Han, the Steam Bull." Ishito replied, his pupper centipede slowly uncoiling as Ishito subtly prepared an attack. "The pleasure is mine."

"Your reputation certainty precedes you. I didn't think you'd be ballsy enough to attack the stronghold just a day after the fight at the bridge." Han claimed as he folded his arms in a non-threatening way, but Ishito wasn't fooled, as he noticed the fluctuations of the man's chakra.

"'Strike when the iron's hot', a famous saying wouldn't you say?"

"Indeed."

Silence reigned the field as the two S-rank shinobi prepared to fight. A leaf fluttered in the wind between them, having fallen from one of the tall trees. The leaf continued to sway until it landed on the ground.

The two experienced ninja took that as a sign to move, as a stream of flame was ejected from Ishito's mouth. Han didn't even attempt to dodge the attack, as he stood there and released steam from the cracks in his armor. The heat from his natural element met the fire and canceled out any damage from the jutsu.

As the fire and steam died down, that was when a puppet centipede appeared, hiding from behind the stream of flames to get close to the Gobi Jinchuuriki.

The slight widening of Han's eyes were the only sign of his surprise as he slammed a gauntleted fist towards the centipede's head, redirecting it to the side.

'The Gobi's defense capabilities are certainly strong. It looks like his steam could counter my flames with no difficulty.' Ishito thought as he circled around the larger man, his fingers moving in an intricate manner as his puppet centipede engaged Han in close combat.

While the fire jutsu was nowhere near his strongest and just a first attempt at offense to get a feel of his enemy's strength, Ishito knew that a significant portion of his arsenal would prove to be just as ineffective.

The sound of heavy steps got him to focus back on the fight. Han had just punted Mukade away and was charging at him with steam bursting from his armor.

Seeing the tank of a man running at him at full speed, Ishito expertly weaved around him. He called back his puppet to work with him in tandem and engage the larger man in a taijutsu match in order to prod for any weaknesses in the man's armor.

He jumped over a steaming fist that cracked the ground beneath him before retaliating with a kick to the man's chin. However, it was obvious that the hit barely rattled the larger man.

Han was about to make a move before a sharp pain got him to look down.

The centipede puppet had used its stingers to create a large cut on Han's thigh, a deep red line could be seen with the blood around it purpling. The wound turning a weird dark hue.

'Poison?!'

Ishito kicked the larger man's chest to use a foothold and jumped back to gain distance. 'It seems Mukade's talons are sharp enough to pierce his armor.'

Ishito then pointed two fingers towards Han, Mukade heeding the command as it slashed towards the Jinchuuriki with its legs.

Han grunted as he managed to side step enough that only his left arm was cut. He skidded back from the attack as he lowered his arm to study the injury.

"I see, I've clearly underestimated you too much." Han said as more steam came out of his armor. He then flexed his muscles as his chakra became visible, an aura of power around him that Ishito could recognize as the orange chakra unique to Jinchuriki.

"Have care, Centipede. Not many usually survive once I go all out. Try not to die too quickly."

Ishito merely narrowed his eyes before they widened as Han suddenly appeared in front of him. He barely managed to cross his arms to block the thundering strike that was coming.

Ishito skidded back across the ground, cringing in pain as the bones on his forearm no doubt cracked from that one attack. He then quickly swerved his head to the right, dodging the fist that nearly took his head off. Flames then covered his hands as he sent a swift palm strike to the man's midsection.

He made sure to put a decent amount of chakra to that attack to make sure the steam doesn't neutralize the flames, and his efforts were rewarded with the large man being launched backwards from the force of the attack.

'He's faster than his size suggests, and this heat..' Ishito panted as he started to sweat. Despite the heavy armor he was using, Han was capable of moving quickly. The steam emitting from his body was also nothing to scoff at.  Ishito had felt his skin bubble just from being in close proximity with the man.

'Looks like the only way to counter him is by using even hotter flames.' Ishito then pulled back his two hands, chakra extended to his puppet as he prepared for the next bout of the fight. The Centipede suddenly caught on fire as Ishito called on Fire Transformation chakra.

'Mukade: Blazing form.'

'The poison from the initial injury is doing its work. All I have to do is buy time.'

Opposite him, Han simply stood there with narrowed eyes. A black imprint of a palm could be seen on his chestplate.

Ishito launched his puppet forward, with himself running just behind it. Han met the puppets charge head on, the centipede being halted in its tracks as Han grabbed it by the two talons. The flames not even affecting his steam coated hands.

A quick contest of strength between the puppet and Han proved the latter's victory as a small crack appeared on the centipede's mouth as Han prepared to rip it in half.

Ishito quickly intervened before that could happen, his body completely bathed in red flames.

"Fire Release Chakra Mode."

Ishito kicked the back of Han's knee forcing the man to tumble, before using a poison coated kunai to slash at his back.

"Agh!"

A cry of pain could be heard coming out of Han's mouth. But before he could retaliate, Ishito flexed his index finger, commanding his puppet to intercept.

'Mukade: Venom Spit.'

A glob on venomous spit was ejected from the puppet's mouth that impacted against Han's face.

"Enough!"

With a cry of rage, Han burst in an explosion of steam and chakra. Both puppet and master was launched backwards and Ishito was forced to root himself by applying chakra to stick himself to the ground.

'Of course…' Ishito sighed in resignation.

For in front of him, as the smoke and steam started to disperse, stood the form of Han covered entirely in bubbling orange and black chakra. Four tails of chakra sprouted from behind him as the man unleashed more and more power of the beast within him.

Ishito had heard of this before. From stories that veteran ninja told of the previous wars. The power that experienced Jinchuuriki, those who have control of the bijuu, are capable of. An ability to utilize the strength of their respective tailed beast without fully transforming.

The Jinchuuriki Stage II Transformation.

A viscous purple liquid was then poured out from his wounds as all the poison that Ishito injected was forcibly expelled.

'Tch. There goes that plan.'

Ishito recalled his puppet back as he put it in between himself and Han. He tensed in preparation as the fight no doubt entered another stage.

The amount of steam now in the air was also palpable as he could barely see the form of his opponent. The air around the jinchuriki shifting from the heat. Ishito now had a difficult time discerning his features and movements through the thick haze. He would have squinted to get a better look if his opponent didn't suddenly start rushing at him.

Ishito could barely follow his movements as a fist was suddenly shoved into his stomach. He spat out a large amount of blood as he was then launched back from the attack, smashing into one of the rock walls that made the stronghold.

Ishito could feel the skin on his midsection bubbling and melting from the intense heat that Han was now causing. Looking forward, he could see the Gobi Jinchuuriki, now with a large fist made of steam covering his arm like a gauntlet.

He could also see Mukade, his centipede puppet, now with large cracks all over its body sitting by the side.

"You could only keep up with me in my base form. Now, you don't stand a chance."

Ishito grunted in pain as his mind ran a mile a minute to figure out what to do. Ordinary attacks won't work on Han considering his defense and enhanced regeneration due to his Jinchuuriki physiology. A straight up attack wouldn't work either, as his speed and strength now far outclasses Ishito's by a mile.

'The only shot now…is that.' He thought. 'But that wouldn't work unless I catch him off guard.'

Luckily for Ishito, that needed distraction came in the form of his own student.

"Ishito Sensei!"

Souei made his appearance as he exited from one of the stronghold's walls and to his side.

"Souei!" He claimed in surprise. He didn't even notice that his fight with Han had moved towards the walls of the stronghold. His student had obviously just finished a fight judging by his injured form. It was also apparent to Ishito that the boy was just barely withstanding Han's immense chakra and killing intent.

Ishito glanced at Souei as he quietly signaled the Thread User instructions. He had a plan that could work, and his student's abilities were paramount for it to work.

"Souei Matsuri. User of the previously thought extinct Thread Release. Did you know that you are now assessed as a B-Rank Threat by Iwa?"

Souei didn't deign the man a reply as he just tensed himself in preparation, quietly conjuring strings to help his sensei.

"Not the talking type, then? That's fine. You student and teacher pair can feel free to converse in the afterlife."

That was when Ishito and Souei made their move. Strings sprouted around the Jinchuuriki as they snapped around Han's form. They weren't able to pierce him, and already the bijuu chakra was burning through all the strings that were holding him back.

But they slowed Han down for a split second, just enough for Ishito to swipe his arm around, the centipede puppet burning with intense flames flew forth and locked itself on Han's back. It coiled around him like a chain, holding his arms to the side as it forcibly held Han down.

Finishing a set of hand seals, Ishito slammed his hands to the ground as barriers of earth erupted around Han. The Jinchuuriki finding himself trapped in a square room with walls on all sides and a roof.

They could feel Han's chakra igniting in an attempt to escape. But before he could do so, Ishito quickly slapped his palms together, the chakra strings connected to his puppet now visible as he pumped half of his remaining chakra into the attack.

'Mukade Sacrificial Move: Centipede Combustion!'

Inside the earth barriers, Han was still struggling with the iron-like grip the puppet had on himself.

"Arghhhhh!" Han's stage II jinchuuriki form flexed hard as he tried to break free. Even more cracks started to appear on the centipede's body, straining and groaning holding back his immense strength. That was when blue chakra strings appeared out of thin air in front of him. They connected with the puppet as he detected a moderate amount of chakra being fed into the centipede.

Han could only widen his eyes as seals appeared on the puppets body. The seals covered the puppet entirely before they started to glow an eerie red.

'Shit.'

*BOOOMMM*

A massive eruption exploded from within the earth barriers. Ishito and Souei had managed to bring up an orb of earth and a cocoon of string to protect themselves from the shockwaves.

Sweat dripped from Ishito's body as the lingering heat from the explosion and Han's steam evaporated out of the area.

"Sensei…What the hell was that?" Souei questioned as he looked at the destruction with wide eyes. Already a large crater was formed near the epicenter of the explosion. The crater itself was still covered entirely in dark smoke and rubble.

"When I first created Mukade, I armed him with enough explosives to level an entire mountain. However, most of the seals got damaged from Han's steam melting through the centipede's armor. So I had to pump more chakra into it to make sure it was enough to at least hurt him." Ishito replied with bated breath.

"I…I see." Souei gulped at that information.

"Oh you gotta be shitting me…" Ishito's groan regained Souei's attention as he followed his sensei's line of sight.

There, at the center of the crater, was Han himself, standing on all fours, now with five tails sprouting behind him as he unleashed his full power, barring turning completely into the Gobi. An enormous amount of chakra burst from him that created fissures among the Earth.

The scorch marks that cover his body were quickly getting healed and as he howled into the sky. The sound of it thundering into both Ishito's and Souei's ears.

"Be careful Souei! He's starting to lose control!"

At this point, the fighting from both sides had stopped. Both Iwa and Suna forces found themselves rooted in the spot as Han's malignant chakra could now be felt all across the battlefield. Rukia herself wasn't spared as she fell to her knees and barely stopped herself from puking.

'W-What is this putrid feeling?!'

The 5 tailed Han then jumped out of its crater before looking towards Ishito and Souei. He then opened his mouth as a dark sphere formed between its fangs. Multicolored lights were then absorbed into the sphere as Han amassed more and more chakra into his attack.

Ishito widened his eyes as he saw the Tailed Beast Bomb. He realized that with their relative positions, the trajectory of the attack would land the bomb directly towards Kamino Stronghold.

'Is he going to destroy his own stronghold?!' He thought in shock.

"RUKIA!"

Ishito's voice thundered across the battlefield. "GET EVERYONE OUT OF THERE NOW!"

Rukia, still delirious from the chakra affecting her, slapped herself in both cheeks once she heard her sensei's voice. She heard the order and would comply with everything she's got.

"You heard him! Everyone go!" Her voice shook as screamed towards her comrades that were still inside the stronghold.

"B-But Rukia-san! The objective-"

"Forget it! Grab the injured and just go!"

Rukia led the way as everyone ran out as quickly as they could. The Iwa Shinobi, didn't even stop them as without any chain of command, fell into chaos. Rukia idly noticed in the moment that Gari, the guy that Souei fought, was nowhere to be seen.

The Tailed Beast Bomb was growing bigger and bigger. And soon enough, the ninja world equivalent to a nuclear bomb would be released against them.

"Souei! With me! We have to buy time!"

"Got it!"

Both teacher and student began a long list of hand seals. One that Ishito had taught Souei back when he was training him for the Chunin Exams. They both finished quickly with the snake seal, as they amassed all the chakra they could into the technique.

"Earth Style Collaboration: Wall of Ten Thousand Ri!!"

Large streams of mud were expelled from their mouths like a massive wave, which soon solidified into multiple columns of earth that formed into a hard defensive wall. It was a technique that was only possible by a duo of experienced Earth Style Shinobi. The result being ten thousand earthen walls converged into a 20 feet tall, 50 inch thick steel-hard earth defense.

And soon enough, the Tailed Beast Bomb was fully formed, the size being just as big as a large boulder, and Gobified-Han unleashed it against his enemies.

The dark sphere was launched at great speeds, creating gorges upon the ground it passed through. Ishito and Souei braced themselves as the sphere impacted against their collaborative wall. The clash created vibrations that reverberated the very earth itself.

The outer walls of the earth defense were immediately obliterated by the Tailed Beast Bomb as it cleaved through them. But each time the sphere of condensed chakra destroyed layers of the wall, it would lose its power and its momentum would slow down, little by little.

'Come on…' Ishito pleaded.

The massive wall creaked and groaned against the strain it faced from the attack.

'Hold on…just a little bit longer.' He begged.

Cracks started to appear on the last layer as a dark light coalesced from the gaps that he could see.

'No..!'

Realizing their imminent failure, Ishito immediately abandoned his post in holding the wall as he jumped and tackled Souei by the waist. He then mustered all the chakra he had to dig under and bury both himself and Souei into the ground.

All of that happened only in a second, as the Tailed Beast Bomb suddenly broke through the wall and blasted forward into the stronghold. The sphere reached the Kamino Stronghold before it detonated, sending shockwaves that could be felt miles across.

When the smoke cleared, had there been any survivors, all they would see was Kamino Stronghold completely wiped off the face of the Earth.

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What did you guys think about the fight? I've always struggled writing fight scenes so I hope this was to your liking.

There's a reason Jinchuriki are considered weapons of mass destruction. Individuals created to be deterrents for war. I aimed to show that here, where even an experienced near Kage-level shinobi struggled to fight one at full power.

Advanced chapters on my pat_reon page! Depending on the tier, you could get up to chapter 28 ahead along with a few other benefits.

P_atr_eon_com/TeemVizzle

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