Naruto: Amongst the Whirling Tides Chapter 23

Hi all,

Here’s the next chapter. The team starts searching the forest and comes across a formidable opponent.

Chapter 23

The forest was thick, filled with towering trees closely packed together and lush green vegetation carpeting the ground. Navigating through the forest would pose a challenge since there were no marked paths or distinct landmarks to lead the way. Getting lost in its depths would be a real possibility.

That was before taking into consideration how dark it was inside the forest. Although light filtered through the canopy above, providing enough visibility from their vantage point, the ground below was significantly darker.

The team stood on a high branch of a tree, taking in their surroundings. In such an unfamiliar environment, it was best to take a moment to assess the situation.

Jiraiya stood off to the side. Unless there was an emergency beyond their ability to handle, he wouldn't intervene or speak with them, at least not until they discovered something significant. They had to pretend he wasn't even present.

“Why is it so quiet?” Naruto asked, searching for any signs of life.

“I will take a look,” Hinata said, activating her Byakugan.

She scanned the forest in all directions. With the density of the forest, they would have to rely on her Byakugan a lot to get around.

"I do not see anything in our immediate surroundings," Hinata said. "Aside from the usual animals and insects found in the forest, though in smaller numbers than usual."

"Maybe there is an alpha predator in the forest," Shikamaru speculated. "A big cat or a primate?"

"We will have to keep a close eye out," Naruto said. "How are we going to get around the forest? I think we should stick to the trees until we find a place to set up our base camp."

“It’s for the best,” Shikamaru agreed. "My shadows work better up here because there is more illumination. If we are attacked, my combat abilities will not be restricted."

“I will take the lead,” Hinata said. “It shouldn’t take me long to find a good location for a camp.”

“I will take up the rear,” Naruto offered.

Shikamaru nodded. "Then I will take the centre. Let’s get moving.”

They moved north, leaping between trees at a steady pace while remaining aware of their surroundings. Because the canopies were so dense, they were at risk of being ambushed by animals hidden within them. Until they knew otherwise, they considered it a hostile environment.

Jiraiya followed them from the back. So far, he had no complaints about how they had conducted themselves, as they were being sensible and not taking anything for granted. There were no usual jokes or banter, which could distract them from their mission. It was fine once they had a base camp and a perimeter established, but not before that.

He didn't anticipate any conflict between the three, which is why he chose them in the first place. They were all relatively easygoing individuals, so there would be no jostling for leadership or putting their egos ahead of the others. The only possible issue he saw was Hinata's feelings for the boy getting in the way of a dangerous situation, but this was a minor concern.

Maybe he was being unfair by giving his godson such an easy team for his Chunin exam, but he didn't care. Naruto already possessed the maturity and strength to be one, so this mission was merely a formality in his eyes.

A few minutes later, Hinata discovered a small clearing. They removed some trees to expand the space and allow more sunlight for better visibility. After pitching their tents, they installed perimeter traps around the camp to alert them to any intruders.

Naruto took an extra step to enhance the security of their camp. After executing a series of hand signs, he slammed his hands on the ground. A rock wall emerged from the ground, forming a protective barrier on one side of the camp.

Earth Release: Earth Shore Return. It was one of the jutsu he had his shadow clones learn. It was an effective jutsu for blocking incoming projectiles because it was quick to activate.

"Should you be spending your chakra so carelessly? Shikamaru inquired as Naruto summoned three more walls to surround the rest of the camp.

The wall wouldn't provide much defence against most opponents, but it might keep out the smaller ones and delay some of the larger ones.

"Naruto's chakra reserves are massive," Hinata informed him, and Shikamaru looked to Naruto for confirmation.

"They are probably on the same level as a kage," Naruto confirmed.

“Is that because of the Kyuubi?” Shikamaru asked.

"Yes, but I also benefit from my Uzumaki heritage," Naruto replied. "The jutsu I just performed is a drop in the bucket compared to my overall reserves."

“Incredible,” Shikamaru murmured. “Before we do anything else, we should share an overview of our abilities and our tactics inside a battle.”

“Good idea.”

"Some of these plants are strange," Hinata said, picking up a small root with scarlet red leaves from the ground. "I have never seen anything like them before."

"Maybe some unique plants developed on the island because it was isolated," Naruto suggested.

"Maybe," Hinata said doubtfully as she began harvesting them to study later. "But there are five types of plants here, and each one of them is a scarlet colour. It’s if something in the soil or the environment is altering them. I know a lot about plants, and these aren’t natural."

Shikamaru picked one up and rubbed a plant between his fingers, causing it to crumble into pieces. “Troublesome. Hinata is right, but we can discover the reason why later. For the time being, we need to talk about how we plan to search this island. We are looking for a research facility, but it could be anywhere."

Naruto took one of the photos they had obtained for the mission and examined it. He pointed to a location in the island's southernmost region. "We disembarked just north of here and have moved a short distance towards the centre of the island. If we want to be methodical, we should start at one end of the island and work our way across in a linear pattern.”

“We should draw a map so we can keep track of the progress we have made,” Hinata said.

“Leave it to me,” Naruto said and he retrieved one of his storage scrolls that held his fuinjutsu supplies inside it.

Meanwhile, Shikamaru sat down and closed his eyes, placing his hands together, with the index fingers pointing up. It was the position he took when he was thinking about something or coming up with a plan.

“We should start by using your clones,” Shikamaru said. “Since we don’t know what’s on this island, using them will have zero risk and we can keep a secure position here. We can also discuss our battle tactics in the meantime.”

That shouldn’t be a problem. It cost him a lot of chakra to use his shadow clones for such a task, but he always had his core reserves in the unlikely event he ran out. If they encountered something out there and were destroyed, then he would receive the memories instantly.

He summoned twenty shadow clones into the clearing and showed them the rough map he had drawn. “Guys, I need to spread out and search the surrounding area, and keep a lookout for any structures.”

Hinata removed some coloured ribbons from her storage scroll. "Once you have searched an area, hang these on the branches so we know it was searched."

Naruto grinned. “Good idea, Hinata.”

Hinata's cheeks reddened and she ducked her head. “Thanks, Naruto.”

They spent the next twenty minutes discussing tactics and individual abilities while Naruto's clones scoured the island. Given his extensive skill set, Naruto spent the most time explaining. Aside from excelling in taijutsu, he also specialised in ninjutsu, having access to a wide range of jutsu thanks to his clones. He could also switch into the tailed-beast form when he needed more power.

Hinata excelled as a taijutsu specialist due to her gentle fist style, making her extremely effective in close combat. She also demonstrated remarkable accuracy with projectiles such as shuriken and kunai, allowing her to engage in combat from a distance. She would also serve the role of the team's medic-nin, as she was honing her skills in that area and had even developed her own medicine for minor injuries.

Shikamaru excelled as a mid to long-range fighter, focusing on tactical battles and employing his clan's Shadow Imitation Technique. While his taijutsu skills were average, his parents had given him extensive training since they arrived in Uzushio. He increased the strength of his shadows, making it more difficult for opponents to escape their bindings. He was also working on mastering the Shadow Neck Binding Technique, which allowed him to strangle his enemies.

Naruto’s head jerked up as he received the memories from one of his clones. He stood up and surveyed his surroundings. “Guys, prepare yourselves. We may have trouble.”

“What’s going on?” Hinata asked.

“Something ambushed one of my clones,” Naruto replied. “There was no hint of an attack that I can see from its memories, so it must have happened instantly.”

“Hinata, search the area,” Shikamaru said.

Hinata activated her Byakugan, and did a quick search. She didn’t find anything, but that didn’t make them any less cautious. They spread out in a triangular position to give them good coverage in case they were attacked.

Another clone was destroyed, with no evidence as to who had attacked it. Over the next few minutes, it happened again and again, until he was down to six clones. Whatever was out there was either extremely fast or there were several of them.

“Something is moving inside the forest,” Hinata called urgently. “Seven o'clock position, about half a mile out.”

“What is it?” Naruto asked. He could feel adrenaline rush through his veins as his body prepared for a fight.

"It resembles a gorilla, but it must be at least four times as large as a typical one. Wait, what is it doing…?”

A cracking noise echoed from the forest, catching Naruto's attention. He quickly identified it as the sound of a tree snapping. A moment later, the tree hit the ground with a thud, startling a flock of birds into taking flight.

A moment passed.

“Incoming projectile! It’s throwing the tree in this direction!” Hinata gasped.

He experienced a sudden rush of alarm mixed with confusion. How did that creature think it could propel one of those massive trees through the dense forest? Plus, with the rock walls in place, the tree should be stopped if it ever makes it to their camp, right?

“From above!”

Hinata's urgent call prompted Naruto to instinctively look up, where he witnessed a massive tree hurtling through the sky. With alarming precision, the trunk reached the peak of its arc and started falling towards their camp like a meteor.

“Take evasive action!” Shikamaru yelled.

The trio leapt over the walls and reached the treeline just as the trunk speared into the ground with a massive thud behind them. The end of the tree was suspended in the air for a moment before it crashed down on top of the wall behind him.

Naruto's mouth dropped open as he realised the tree's massive size up close. He wondered how much strength was required to throw something so massive over a half-mile distance.

He looked around and noticed Jiraiya had taken refuge in one of the trees. He appeared to be interested in the situation, but he made no effort to assist them.

“Is everyone alright?” Hinata called out.

“Troublesome.”

“I’m fine,” Naruto replied.

“That’s good. Because the thing is heading for us and it’s moving fast. Prepare for battle!”

As if to emphasise her point, Naruto heard a massive roar, followed by crashing sounds as the creature approached them. Naruto leapt back over the wall, to see that the camp was now in ruins thanks to the massive tree parked in the centre of it. Their tents were beyond repair, crushed beneath the massive weight of the tree.

Shikamaru and Hinata appeared, and they converged on the only area of the camp that remained relatively clear.

"How are we going to deal with this?" Shikamaru asked quickly.

Naruto immediately took command, realising how dangerous the current situation had become.

"Allow me to fight the creature in my tailed beast form. Given how far it threw the tree, it had to be extremely strong. Shikamaru, you stand by and see if you can restrain it with your shadows. Even if only for a second, it might help me finish it off. Hinata, keep an eye on your surroundings in case something else decides to attack.”

The two didn’t disagree, having realised the danger as well. The two drew back and Naruto shrouded himself in a cloak of orange chakra, and two tails extended out from the back. He released a roar of his own in response to the creatures, feeling a surge of bloodlust and excitement well up inside him.

Fueled by this sensation, he did something completely absurd. His tails extended out and wrapped around the circumference of the tree trunk. He yelled as he attempted to lift the thing into the air, and to his astonishment, he managed it. Although it was unwieldy due to its length, it almost tipped over and crashed to the ground again.

“Come have a taste of your own medicine,” Naruto growled.

A massive figure appeared on top of the wall, roaring and pounding its chest with its fists. Before Naruto could take in its appearance, he swung the large tree like a bat and struck it squarely. The creature was launched backwards, snapping several branches as it crashed through the forest.

"Oh, yeah! I am the most powerful. Believe it!” Naruto yelled after successfully landing his attack.

Jiraiya, up in the tree, cringed at Naruto's boasting in the middle of the battle. Did he think that he had already won?

“Naruto! Stay focused!” Shikamaru shouted. “It’s not over yet.”

When Naruto heard the beast's roar, he realised the tree had done nothing to hurt it. He casually tossed it aside, freeing up space for their upcoming battle.

The stone wall exploded as the creature crashed through it, and Naruto threw himself to the side as it attempted to ram him with its body. One of his tails reached out, attempting to trip the creature, but the creature had quick reflexes and dodged it with its back to him.

During a brief pause in the battle, the two opponents assessed one another. The creature towering over him resembled a gorilla but was significantly larger. If it were to stand up straight, it would be roughly three times his height. Its massive body was characterised by thick muscles and enormous hands that appeared capable of tearing him apart if given the chance. It made the creatures in the Forest of Death appear mild in comparison.

Naruto dashed forward, leaping into the air with the intention of landing a spinning kick on the gorilla's head. He was quickly swatted out of the air with one hand, sending him crashing into the wall. Undeterred, Naruto twisted in midair and landed with his feet on the wall, which he used to propel himself back towards the gorilla. This unexpected move caught the gorilla off guard, allowing Naruto to land a punch on its face. The gorilla's head turned slightly in response to the impact, but it remained firmly planted in its position.

Naruto retreated a few steps after realising the punch had no effect. “What a tough nut to crack. "What were you eating, big fella?"

The gorilla roared and pounded the ground with his fists, sending a tremor through the ground.

Naruto summoned a Rasengan into his hand and rushed forward again. Dodging under one of its swinging arms, Naruto buried the Rasengan in the gorilla's stomach. It cried out when it was sent sliding backwards several feet, with a layer of fur and flesh stripped from its hide.

“That did some damage,” Naruto muttered. “Should I aim for the same spot?”

The gorilla raised its arms in the air, roaring, and an intense red aura erupted from its body. Naruto was caught off guard by the latest development. He recognised the same aura that had emanated from the giant marlin he had fought on the ocean, but how did it get here? Was it more common than he initially thought?

“Where did that chakra come from?” Hinata exclaimed. "It appears even more sinister than Kyuubi's chakra."

“What a drag. I am glad it’s not me fighting out there," Shikamaru said quietly from near the treeline. He made a series of hand gestures, and a shadow extended out from his feet, stretching towards the gorilla in the clearing. "Something tells me Naruto is going to need my help. I need to wait for the right moment, and restrain the troublesome creature."

Jiraiya frowned upon seeing the creature's aura. He detected a sense of corruption emanating from it, for lack of a better term. He searched his memory but could not find anything familiar. This was his first encounter with such a phenomenon, though he remembered the mission details involving the giant marlin.

"If it empowers the creature just like it did with the marlin Naruto encountered. He might have a difficult time with it. Should I intervene?”

Naruto retreated a few steps, aware that he needed to be even more cautious than before. The gorilla didn't let him get any distance and rushed forward. Naruto's eyes widened as he quickly dodged to the side. The gorilla's speed had increased significantly, and he now felt like he was on the back foot.

For the next minute, Naruto was on the defensive as the creature continued to attack him. Despite his ability to hold his own, he was unable to launch any attacks. His teammates called out to him and asked if he wanted to join the fight, but he declined. If they joined the fight, they would be unable to keep up and could be seriously hurt or worse.

A figure dashed out from the treeline. "Naruto clone number seven has arrived. I am the luckiest member of our group. Believe it!”

Five more clones emerged. The six were the remaining clones from the group that had survived the ambushes in the forest. Their appearance gave Naruto an idea.

"Hey guys, how much chakra do you still have?" Naruto asked.

"We still have our full reserves," they announced.

“The lucky clone. Come over here, as I have a task for you. As for the rest of you, I would like you to divert the gorilla's attention and buy me some time. Spam your jutsu and don’t hold anything back!”

“Understood, boss!”

While his clones threw a variety of jutsu at the enraged gorilla, Naruto summoned another pair of clones and had them on standby. He raised his hand, and a ball of yang chakra appeared in the palm of his hand.

The clone knew what Naruto was planning. “I don’t feel so lucky anymore.”

"I need you to tell me when you are almost at full capacity," Naruto told the clone before turning to face the other two. "I need you to throw him at the gorilla before he explodes. It will take perfect timing, so do not mess it up."

Naruto kept an eye on the fight as he stuffed the clone with more chakra. The clones that were fighting didn’t last for long, and they were destroyed one after the other. Fortunately, the last one managed to hold on long enough for Naruto to finish.

“Throw him!’ Naruto screamed, and the two clones launched the third at the gorilla.

Having destroyed the final nuisance, the gorilla roared and turned to face the others, only to see the clone flying in the air towards him. The instincts of the creature flared to life, telling him that the human was dangerous.

"Do not move out of the way," Naruto muttered as that scenario was about to play out.

The gorilla began to move, but Shikamaru decided it was time to act. His shadow ensnared the gorilla's foot. Although he could only keep the hold for a brief moment before it broke free, it was enough time for the exploding clone to reach it.

Naruto shielded his eyes and braced himself for the massive explosion that reverberated through the clearing. The shockwave struck him, causing him to slide several feet back. At that point, he realised he should have given his teammates more warning before detonating the clone.

He remained cautious as the dust settled. Amazingly, the gorilla was still alive, albeit with serious injuries. It staggered to its feet, revealing that some of its internal organs had been exposed to the air, with the flesh completely stripped away. He roared feebly, seemingly perplexed, as it searched for its prey.

Naruto decided to put an end to its suffering. He summoned another Rasengan and rushed forward, burying it in the creature's exposed internal organs. Naruto grimaced as he was drenched in blood and shredded organs. That hadn’t been the best move. The gorilla was dead before it hit the ground.

Shikamaru and Hinata emerged from the treeline and approached the corpse.

“That explosion was insane,” Shikamaru said. “Remind me not to get on your bad side.”

Naruto smiled. "I appreciate the assistance. It may not have worked out so well if you hadn’t held it for that crucial second."

“It wasn'thing,” Shikamaru shrugged, before looking down at the corpse. “What the hell was that aura about?”

Hinata shuddered. “I don’t know, but I could see that its entire chakra system underwent a transformation when the aura appeared. I have never seen anything like it.”

“Neither have I,” Jiraiya said, appearing in front of them. "One case is surprising and may be explained away by a unique set of circumstances, but having two appear raises concerns."

"Don’t forget about Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage," Naruto reminded him. "There is a possibility that he has the same condition."

"That is a terrifying thought," Jiraiya replied. He took out a scroll and sealed the gorilla away. "I will take this back to the village so it can be studied."

"Are you supposed to be communicating with us throughout the mission?" Hinata asked.

"This is an exception," Jiraiya explained. "It will not affect your grade. Keep an eye out, because this island is not as simple as it seems."

Jiraiya moved away, leaving them to figure out their next move. Naruto took a spare outfit from his storage scroll and stripped off his bloody clothes.

“Naruto!” Hinata turned around. "Give me a warning next time."

“What?” Naruto looked down at his boxers. “It’s not like I’m completely naked.”

"Nice ducklings," Shikamaru said, referring to the image on his boxers. "I imagined you as a frog man, given that it was your contracted summons."

“Forget about my underwear,” Naruto grumbled. “How are we going to proceed now? We made such a commotion that it may attract attention here.”

“But you took care of the threat,” Himata said, confused.

Naruto shook his head. "The gorilla wasn't responsible for attacking my clones in the forest. Something ambushed them without giving them a chance to react.”

"Then let us find another location," Shikamaru suggested. "We need to take some time to rest and devise another strategy."

“We can’t use my shadow clones,” Naruto agreed. “It would just be a waste of chakra.”

Hinata looked around with a nervous expression. “Do you think the red aura is related to the research facility? It may also explain how the plants are different.”

“There’s a good chance it is,” Naruto said. "Which only makes me want to find it more. To go to the trouble of hiding in such a densely populated forest, it must have secrets it wishes to keep hidden."

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

They moved through the forest to find another place to camp. They remained vigilant for any potential threats but encountered no further opposition. With Hinata on their side, they were less likely to be caught off guard, but they had no idea what they were up against besides what they had already encountered. Naruto considered the threat that remained hidden, waiting for an opportunity to strike, more intimidating than the gorilla. At the very least, it behaved predictably.

After they had settled into another camp, they considered how they would search the island. The obvious conclusion was that they didn't have a set location for a camp, but rather camped out where they had completed their search for the day. It would save them from having to double back through the forest. Because they only had a week for the mission, they decided to take it slow, and they would begin their search tomorrow.

The next morning, they left early and began systematically searching the forest. They encountered more crimson-coloured plants, but they were spread out, and there was still plenty of greenery that was unaffected. If someone had been experimenting on them, they were being selective with their targets.

They encountered some wildlife, but they were limited in number. With the presence of an apex predator like the gorilla, it must have been hard to survive and flourish here.

The first day of searching yielded nothing notable except the discovery of an underground lake that appeared to extend for miles beneath the ground. They had to investigate to ensure that the facility wasn't located there, which took up some of their time. The second and third days ended similarly, and they were growing increasingly frustrated, believing they had missed something. Still, they had covered two-thirds of the island, so if there was a research facility, they had to be getting close.

On the fourth day, they started by exploring the northwestern side of the island. They spent the morning searching in vain, but they had a change of fortune in the afternoon. Hinata called for a stop suddenly, as she had noticed something in the trees above them.

“What is it?” Naruto asked.

“There’s something strange up there,” Hinata said, wincing as she deactivated her Byakugan. “But it’s confusing my eyes, so I don’t know if I am just seeing things.”

Naruto and Shikamaru looked up and scanned the area carefully. At first, he didn’t notice anything out of place. It appeared to be the same as the rest of the forest. He then observed a faint shimmer in the air, between two trees. It was so faint that he wondered if it was real, but Shikamaru noticed it too. The longer they looked, the more anomalies they discovered. Different areas revealed objects that seemed out of place compared to their surroundings. One striking instance was a branch suspended in mid-air with no visible support.

"Is there some kind of illusion covering the space above us?" Naruto questioned. "Maybe a fuinjutsu array is concealing something. It nearly fooled Hinata's eyes.”

"Perhaps this is the research facility," Shikamaru speculated. "But if there is an array hiding it, how do we break through it? Do we head up there and see if we can stumble upon the entrance?"

Naruto glanced back at Jiraiya, but the man didn’t say anything. It appeared that he would have to figure it out on his own. "That’s not a good idea because it may contain traps as well. There should be a control mechanism somewhere nearby. Whoever created this would also need access to it, either to make changes to it or to turn it off so they could enter themselves."

"Then let us look for it," Hinata said, her gaze darting around. "But let us be careful. Something doesn’t seem right.

Naruto nodded. “You should look for anything out of place. Something as simple as a symbol etched into a tree. But if you do find something, don’t touch it, and call for me.”

They split up and began exploring their immediate surroundings. After a few minutes of searching, Hinata called out to them, and Naruto and Shikamaru hurried over to where she was standing. Concealed inside a small encirclement of bushes, was a small platform, with a complicated fuinjutsu array inscribed onto its surface.

“Do you think you can understand it?” Shikamaru asked.

"Not without taking some time to study it," Naruto said, before pointing to several small circles that were etched into the array. "I know they must control the array's functions, but there is nothing that tells me how to differentiate them."

"Then just choose a random one until we find one that disables the illusion," Hinata advised him.

"I doubt it would be that simple," Naruto scoffed. "But I will give it a shot, I suppose."

Just as he was about to take a step forward, he heard a buzzing sound. He tilted his head, trying to figure out which direction it was coming from.

“What is that?” Shikamaru looked around.

Hinata activated her Byakugan and looked around. "Hey, I see a swarm of bees heading our way. There must be thousands of them."

“They are just bees,” Naruto said dismissively.

"No, they aren't," Hinata replied, her voice quivering. "They are emitting the same red aura as before."

“Troublesome,” Shikamaru muttered.

Jiraiya appeared at that moment. "They are going to be even more difficult to deal with than the gorilla. We need to break that array and get inside right now."

The sound of an ominous buzzing in the distance, getting perilously closer, added weight to his argument. What other horrors would they uncover before this mission was over?

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, the team explores the research facility and discovers a secret the Uzumaki clan was hiding.

Thanks for reading.