Konohagakure | Hokage | Duality-nin
TIME: Present Day - Morning | LOCATION: Forest of Death | INTERACTION: @Reflection Ginsho paid no attention to the man’s words, he was quick with the tongue like a viper and just as sharp. Ginsho had not trained to perfect and learn this ability all those years with no arm and no friends to falter now. While this technique was not at 100% capacity due to his dominant arm being gone, the sheer power of this brilliant jutsu was more than enough to contest with the God of Shinobi before him. Had he had his second arm he would be miles ahead of his previous competitors. It seemed the puppet master was quicker than he had remembered, no matter he simply had to raise the level of strength in his attacks. Closer and closer the man drew dodging and weaving all of the attacks the archangel was throwing out. So close he could almost smell the fragrance of death on the man before him, that’s when his face seemingly began to melt away revealing a familiar face.
Jaakuna had it not been for Namine’s intervention and Aka giving up his identity this revelation would have been costly to his sanity and focus. He was rather blessed to know his dead friend had come back to life and bombed the village.
His eyes widened for a moment and quickly closed back to attention, the undead fox was quick to underestimate and assume the limits of his abilities. The archangel had full domain over Ginsho, no space was too small or near him to not attack. Due to Ginsho’s own immense speed and the angel following his hand motions, it allows him to carry out attacks with the statue in less than 0.1 seconds and to do so with leisure. The blows of the statue are so fast that they may appear to originate from another dimension, this impression is strengthened by the fact that the blow does not come from Ginsho’s position. However Ginsho decided to cast aside the sword and shield for more impressive strength to supplement against the speed demon he once knew as a friend. Ginsho smirked and spoke, but not to the appeal of his old friend that one died a long time ago,
“Kami no Te” (God Hand) Ginsho was unflinching, simply creating a chopping motion with his hand. The angel’s fist came down seemingly invisibly, impossible for basic and some advanced ninja to see coming. If Aka didn’t move out of the way he’d be mortally wounded, if he did the earth would have a massive crater below them.
It was Ginsho’s own emotions that gave him away. See, the thing that made Jaakuna so strong was that he always managed to get under the skin of whoever he was facing. Even that of his very best friend. Already a red coat was growing over his skin, each time a small blink of light as he began to move faster and faster. At this point, it was taking at least two of his tails to keep up, and his heart was racing. He knew Ginsho’s intent before he struck, already moving as the blade came down. Gravel exploded around him, a cloud of dust surging from the spot of impact. Jaakuna’s feet touched down several feet away, and when he looked to Ginsho again, he wasn’t alone. Two orbs of light fluttered behind him, one a brilliant white, the other a hellish red.
“U~iru o u~isupu” (Will-o-Wisp) Jaakuna surged forth, another set of two tails growing in behind him. A right hook coming right for Ginsho, before a tail struck the earth, pushing him to the side and in a blink, he was attacking from his exposed side. Where he had no arm to protect himself.
There was no time for emotions or thinking, only action. Ginsho wasn’t being very saintly or heavenly in his actions, but he could chalk it up to smiting an evil that was plaguing the world. His love for battle that ruled the early years of his life began to emerge. When did he get so soft that he allowed for things as small as this to faze him? He took the path of the righteous man only to lead him to some hoax of enlightenment and the loss of his arm. Had he remained to be the ninja who was none for his ruthlessness and aggression, he would have no problem watching his back and crushing the insect that was in front of him,
“When did I stop attacking first?" He thought as the smoke cleared and the dead host brought out what could only be a discount copy of the original tailed beasts cloak. Jaakuna dove into action and Ginsho had a shot of nostalgia with the tantamount speed this clone was picking up. He was much faster now and the aids of his wisps would prove some annoying hindrance.
The first shot was blocked, while Ginsho welcome the second shot to his open side. He was wearing his heavenly plated armor that would soak some of the blow, the rest not so much. Blood spurted out of his mouth before he greeted the fox boy with a devilish grin, the old Ginsho was back.
”Kami no Hakushu” (God Smack) Utilizing his phantom pain in his dead arm he performed a one handed clapping motion which the archangel swiftly copied in an instant. The clap did minimal to no damage but was strong enough to hold someone of Jaakuna’s caliber still. In quick succession, Ginsho took his open palm and connected his thumb to his index finger with the other three still flexed to form a 9, promptly following all five fingers stretched out,
”Kujuu Go Kami no Hane” (95 God Feather) Suddenly the massive wings sprang into action and released a barrage of blows in an instant directly in front of Ginsho to inflict massive damage, without needing to "pray" for each strike.
The fox shinobi had to admit the impact against Ginsho was… Satisfying. The whole thing felt just like sparring in the old days. Except Namine often complained loudly in the background about cheap shots. The fox had to admit, this whole thing was new to him. While he’d stagnated and weakened in hell, Ginsho had clearly been hitting the gym. If anything it was impressive at how far one had gone while the other fell. Maybe he was the fallen angel here? Ginsho’s old stories had stuck closely by him during the years, always curious about them each time a tale was told. A tale about how an angel was struck down from heaven.
“You’re getting good! I haven’t felt a rush like this since we fought Boro the mountain!” Jaakuna grinned from ear to ear, only to feel the sudden clench of fingers around him. His tails curled around each finger, and he knew what was coming next.
Jaakuna’s strength was a benefit as he pushed against the hand clenched around him, draining the chakra construct as fissures began to crackle along each digit. Creating just enough space, as another tail formed, this time clutching his war fan. As a feather struck the metal it began to bend. An exposed shoulder began to bleed as one of the feathers sliced into the skin, another nipping at his calf. The pain of life once again flowed through him, and he reacted. Wind rushed out from the clear white orb, and the arrows quivered. Feathers in the face of a powerful wind, known as Fūton: Taifūikka. The powerful gale of wind slammed against the feathers, launching them right back the short distance to the man who used them. The hand holding Jaakuna finally broke, and he leapt back, panting as a hand clasped over his cheek, a trickle of blood oozing out. His leg began to quake, but he pushed past the pain. Because he was too excited to stop.
“You’re better… Not so old now, are you?” “I just age slower than most, and I moisturize.” Ginsho let out a reminiscent laugh they would once share when they were young. Ginsho seeing his old teammates being shredded by his feathers was depressing despite being a necessity in the situation. If he could set Jaakuna’s mind and body free and release his vengeful tether to this world, it would be a consolation prize to that of Seijuro’s death. He had to do this for Namine, for himself, for everyone else who suffered at the hands of Seijuro during the second war. “It’s time to end this old friend, walk into the light.” Ginsho started to pour all of his chakra into his praying, one final prayer that would send jaakuna to the doorsteps of heaven. His heart ignited with passions and helped him pray to the maximum. The angel suddenly disappeared and reappeared behind the fox boy, tenderly clasping Jaakuna with his palms. The sheer amount of chakra being channeled was enough to be felt across lands and in the next instant it was gone or rather just bottled up within Ginsho’s body.
”Kami no Enko” (Halo of God) A halo appeared above the Angel's head before it quickly began to spin and shoot out a massive, enormous flare of Ginsho’s chakra and aura in an attempt to destroy the enemy.The attack was so massive not only would the portion of the forest of death they were in, but acres of land would be deleted from the sheer power of the technique. While being a holy knight and devout keeper of the faith, which allowed him to age twice as slowly as a normal being, his final technique left him drained. Quickly aging him to the age of 82, normally this wouldn’t be so devastating, but the acceleration of age and the expenditure of his chakra coupled for a very vulnerable Hokage.
“Ginsho you b-” Jaakuna was about to swear as hands came crashing down. A thick smoke exploded from the wisp of fire, acrid black smoke that was easy to ignite. The cloud did nothing to stop the hands as they slammed down around his form, pinning the fox shinobi inside. A tiny red flash could be seen for a moment, but it seemed meaningless. The fire that ripped him apart was absolute. A terrifying display of god’s will… Horrifying to behold as the forest before Ginsho was reduced to nothingness. The smoldering scorch marks of where Jaakuna’s final moments where…
“Terrifying. Glad I wasn’t in that.” Jaakuna spoke softly, and he faded into view behind Ginsho. That smell of graveyard impossible to detect over the scent of scorched earth and wood. In the moment of Ginsho’s attack, he had used a clone. The smoke was a cover for the handseals, hiding his body swap for the moment. That red flash was him leaping away, invisible to the naked eye. But the fox looked… Exhausted. His hair matted and frayed at the edges.
“You know… In the old day I may have just tried to tank that with Kurama… I feel… So weak you know. Like I’m missing half of me.” His hand pressed softly to his own chest.
“But lets be honest… All this time… What I really missed was you. Nobody else could make me feel like you could. Nobody else could make me feel this young… You? You complete me like Kurama never could.” Just like that the angel faded from the plane of existence in a brilliant radiance of light, the particles touched the wrinkled and aged skin of Ginsho. His armor disappeared from his body along with the crown of thorns and the chakra rods implanted in his hands and feet, his suffering was gone. It was odd, Ginsho bared no ill-will to his friend there was some solace….some closure in this defeat. Ginsho was only half the man he used to be and Jaakuna was a living doll unhindered by the limitations of man.
“If I was enough to complete you, if Namine was enough to complete you, even sensei, you would be on our side of this play of tragedy.” Ginsho’s tone was bittersweet and direct.
“Why, why are you doing this jaakuna? Did the fame and greed really poison the legendary Sanin that forfeited his life to seal the demon that you now lay in bed with?”“I admit…” There was a long pause as he crouched down, balancing on the tips of his feet.
“You should know my greatest secret now…” He leaned in, and his words were impossible to hear outside of that soft breath. And as he pulled away, he left his beloved friend with the true depths of his betrayal.
“It’s true. All those years ago. I… Admit it, I did a bad thing. I tried to fix it. Figured I could do something great with what I did. But it didn’t work out that way. And yet, when I could have been selfish, I saved you. My body was always faster than my mind.” Jaakuna smiled softly, as he ran a hand back through his hair.
“I’m a fuck up, Ginsho. I may have been the one people wanted, but you’re the one they needed. I deserved to die, and I spent twenty years in hell for it. But now? I don’t think I can walk away from that. It’s got me by a leash… I’m my own Bijuu, and Seijuro’s the Jinchuriki bending me to his whims.”It was a pity to find out that his friend had walked the opposite path he did in their youth. Once a glutton for punishment and violence, Ginsho took the path of salvation. Jaakuna was the person the village needed, or rather deserved. But instead he ate the forbidden fruit, lured in by the snake known as Seijuro, just as adam and eve were poisoned by the same snake in the garden of eden. This was twice now that he had been betrayed, how could Ginsho have been so ignorant to the vices that existed within Jaakuna?
“You’re wrong, I didn’t complete you, I never even knew you. You were a stranger, those feelings i harbored for you were all a lie. You’re weak, you’re nothing more than a coward. A sheep in fox clothing, I’m glad you were the one to die that day, your pristine reputation as the village’s Noble Jinchuriki and the next candidate for Hokage died with you that day. I just hope your misguided ambitions were worth their weight in gold. Some ”Emperor of fate you turned out to be.”Jaakuna had nothing to say as Ginsho spoke. It was painful to listen, but if he listened he could delay what was coming next.
“I guess… You’ll just have to be the one to atone for my sins.” Jaakuna whispered as he stood up. He walked about the scorched arena, grabbing the scorched black trunk of a down tree, driving it into the ground like a stake.
“I lied about a lot. But you know, I wasn’t always lying. After all, I was being honest when I told you that Namine wished you would stop quoting that bible stuff. Me, personally? I liked it. Never believed a word of it though. In a way, those could be your lies. Lies of salvation, lies of a god. But you… You’ll be able to find out soon enough.” He took another log, shaping it easily into the proper shape as he began to string the two scorched pieces of wood together. When he stepped back to admire his handwork, Ginsho could see how warped Jaakuna could be. Gnarled and smoking, twisted and in horrible condition, Jaakuna had fashioned a holy cross in the middle of this field. The fox returned to Ginsho, picking him up tenderly no matter how the fragile Hokage may have tried to fight him.
“Hush… Just like that fellow from your stories… You will atone for my sins, and the sins of this shinobi world.” He cooed, before he began the devil’s work.
Just as Jaakuna began to speak of his interest in Ginsho’s bible verses, the withering Hokage closed his eyes and relaxed and gave into his fate.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” His words became sharp as daggers,
“The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.” Ginsho knew he was provoking the fox boy, all of his words had a tinge of truth to them, but it was mostly just a bluff to provoke the old sanin. His hopes lied in the fact his novel words would change his perspective, but Jaakuna did in fact die the day he chose to eat the forbidden fruit, he was beyond salvation. Ginsho was powerless to end the life that was spiraling out of control, had he just been a little bit stronger or a full man, he’d be the one burying an old friend. The rest would now fall into the hands of his brother….
“For he is truly his brother’s keeper…” Jaakuna whispered softly as he raised a kunai into the air. The thunk of metal on wood filled the air as blood gushed onto reborn devil’s face.
“I like that one… But my favorite story is that time you talked about the desert.” He raised another kunai, and struck again. With only one hand, it was harder, but Jaakuna tried his hardest. He nailed Ginsho to the cross, taking a step back and admiring it all for a moment.
“The tempter came to him and said ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’ But the holy man replied ‘It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Jaakuna took his fan in his hand, and lifted the handle up like a spear.
“I took the bread… AMEN!” The handle was a blade of itself as it drove into Ginsho’s heart. Scarlet blood soaked the earth, and Jaakuna let his breath rise and fall.
“Amen… Amen… Amen… What does that even mean?” But he expected no answer from the corpse before him. A minute passed, and Jaakuna just watched, until he was sure Ginsho was dead. He pulled his weapon free, and pulled the body from the misshapen cross. Holding him tightly and winding a cloth over the wounds. He walked away with the body, hands brushing through that flowing white hair. As if caressing a lost child. With the body, Jaakuna vanished into the earth, leaving the hokage’s hat behind.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amegakure no Sato | S-rank | Leader of Amegakure