The Archrival! Dark Appears

Burst Rasengan blocked out the sun!

The weapons hurled at it melted at a visible rate when they met the scorching Burst Rasengan, then were absorbed into it.

"What is that?"

"How is this possible?"

"Oh, gods!"

"Run!"

For the ninja thugs on the shore, it was already too late to escape.

Zabuza grabbed Gato and immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to retreat.

Boom!

The coast of the Land of Waves disappeared.

Everything along the shore was vaporized by the Burst Rasengan.

A massive crater, hundreds of miles across, appeared.

In an instant!

All of Gato's men were dead.

The wooden boat was pushed far away by the waves. Apart from Hinata, who was completely unharmed, everyone aboard was stunned into silence by the power Naruto had displayed.

The seawater rushed in to fill the crater.

Glittering ice spears suddenly shot out of the water.

"Ice Release: Myriad Spear Forest!"

The seawater froze into sharp spears that surged toward Naruto in the sky, covering him from every direction!

"Eight Inner Gates: Gate of Pain, open!"

His chakra exploded, shattering the encirclement of ice spears!

Naruto lowered his gaze. "You're hiding in the sea, and you can use Ice Release?"

Did Haku still have relatives in this world?

On shore!

Gato's glasses had fallen off. He was trembling in terror, and urine stains dripped down his pants!

Zabuza wiped the Kubikiribōchō in his hand. "My lord, the person you took an interest in is indeed powerful. But this is exactly the sort of thing that gets my blood pumping!"

"Zabuza, I'll pay you handsomely. You have to keep me safe. No, get me somewhere to hide first." Gato was at a loss. He could only rely on Zabuza.

Zabuza said coldly, "Gato, I didn't bring you over to save you. You blasphemed against my lord, and that made me angry."

"What?"

The Kubikiribōchō swept through the air.

Gato's head was severed from his body. Even in death, he couldn't understand Zabuza's actions.

The Kubikiribōchō absorbed the iron in the blood, growing slightly longer.

In the sea!

Su's hair hung loose, and a dark glow slowly appeared between her brows. Her bloodline began to burn. "I'll accomplish what my lord asked of me, even if it costs me my life. Naruto of Konoha, you'll die by my hand!"

"Ice Release: Sea Giant!"

A vast amount of seawater began to freeze. A huge figure rose from the sea, standing seventeen meters tall and covered in hard ice armor.

Within the Sea Giant's body, a powerful aura emanated from Su.

Stab!

The Sea Giant swung both spears.

Bang!

Naruto was struck by a spear and plunged into the sea.

The seawater began to boil.

"Eight Inner Gates: Gate of View, open!"

He was at full power.

Naruto burst out of the sea and instantly reached the Sea Giant's chest. "You hiding in there—does being bigger make you stronger?"

Su's eyes could no longer follow Naruto's movements.

"Morning Peacock!"

Naruto's fists pounded the Sea Giant's ice armor at incredible speed. The friction between his fists and the air produced flames, which merged with the rapid-fire shock waves to create an unstoppable force. In no time, he broke through the Sea Giant's defenses and reached Su.

Su's bloodline instinctively unleashed its power, activating the dark glow once more. "Ice Release: Multiple Defense."

"Break!"

Naruto was faster and stronger.

Su's defenses were no better than air.

Thud!

The Kubikiribōchō thrust across the path of Naruto's fist, blocking the fatal blow aimed at Su. But the sword inevitably broke.

Naruto kicked out and snatched up the Kubikiribōchō.

One of the Ninja Swords. The system still had a collection quest for them. Naruto grinned. This was pretty lucky.

Zabuza shielded Su, but Naruto's kick struck his right hand and broke two of his fingers.

"Zabuza, I failed," Su said sadly. Her bloodline had burned too fiercely, leaving her as light as a sheet of paper.

Zabuza watched unwillingly as the Kubikiribōchō was taken by his enemy. In their brief clash, he had been completely outmatched.

Zabuza wanted to keep fighting, but a figure landed in front of him.

"My lord, we can keep fighting," Zabuza said urgently. "Once Su has rested, she can draw out even more of Naruto's strength."

Dark touched Su between the brows, her voice clear and bright. "I've seen your will and your bloodline, Su. You haven't disappointed me. Dying in battle here isn't your fate."

"Zabuza, you need to know your own limits. You don't understand your strength because you haven't found anyone who can match you. I've chosen someone for you."

Zabuza feared his lord might abandon him. "Please instruct me, my lord."

Dark continued, "The masked man on that wooden boat. Your bloodline is too difficult to ignite. If it doesn't ignite, you can't be reborn."

Zabuza stared at Kakashi. "My lord, I won't disappoint you again."

With the new power Dark had given her, Su had regained some of her energy. "My lord, I'll help Zabuza fight at full strength."

"Su, power needs time to settle," Dark cautioned her. "If you can kill Naruto's companions, then do so. But do your best."

Naruto saw Dark, who was covered from head to toe, and immediately recognized her.

Alert!

Dark has appeared. The host may now use all of the system's powers.

Danger!

"I know it's dangerous. You don't have much power left either, so use ninjutsu and taijutsu to subdue Dark as much as possible."

Dark removed her black covering, revealing her true appearance.

Pale yellow hair, light-colored eyes, soft features, and a dark glow flickering between her brows.

"Should I call you Naruto, or Light?"

Naruto countered, "Then should I call you Dark, or by some other name?"

Dark recalled wearing a miko's robes, with a white bell hanging from her chest. Inside the bell was a red stone.

"I'm Dark. I do have another name: Shion."

"Shion was born in a very small country. If I remember correctly, it was the Land of Demons. Unfortunately, no one there could truly ignite their bloodline, so I had no choice but to leave."

Naruto unclenched his fist. "I should have realized you'd come here too."

"Light and Dark were one and the same."

Dark's gaze was cold. "We've been enemies since the moment we were born."

Naruto's voice was gentle. "Couldn't we live in peace and go our separate ways?"

Dark laughed. "Shion was kindhearted. She had two abilities: sealing and prophecy."

Naruto stood on the surface of the sea. "So every mission is a prophecy."

Dark stared at Naruto. "Shion's prophecy was called the Prophecy of Death. She saw your future, Naruto. You'll die!"

Naruto doubled over laughing. "Looks like I really have been influenced by my host. You've got a bit of a chuuni streak too."

Dark knew Naruto wouldn't believe her. "It doesn't matter. You've heard me, and that's enough. I'm the only one who'll kill you. That's fate."

The seawater began to churn.

Naruto shouted, "Kakashi-sensei, get everyone away from here as quickly as you can! Make sure you protect them!"