Naruto : Monsters

The solution, Shikamaru explained, was to create reasonable demands. Something simple and easy for Kakashi to fulfil. Demands meant to distract him while we prepared for our real attack.

And Shikamaru had just given me the signal to spring it.

...

"You know what?" I glanced at the book in my hands before giving Kakashi an exaggerated shrug, "I don't want the stupid book anymore. Here, you can have it back. Catch." Pulling my arm back I threw the book at him, aiming for a spot just a little in front of him.

Suspicion warred with eagerness on Kakashi's face, knowing this was too good to be true but the prize was simply too much for him to risk losing, and in the end, his eagerness ended up winning.

Kakashi made sure not to shift his feet as he leaned forward to snatch the book out of the air, still mindful of the tags. Kakashi made sure to keep his one eye on me while he stretched his hand, never once lowering his guard or looking away, weary for any trick or attacks

That was his mistake.

It wasn't me that he should have been looking out for, I wasn't the one who was going to be attacking.

Kakashi's fingers had barely brushed the book's cover when the treetops burst into motion. There had been no warning, not so much as leaf steering that may have indicated that anyone had been hidden there when they suddenly leapt out from the trees as one and came raining down upon our heads like the rain.

Hundreds upon hundreds, they fell from up above, leaping from every surrounding tree the Shadow Clones filled the sky with their number, blotting out the sun and casting us in their shadow as they came charging down.

Their sheer number was the stuff of legend.

No one in the entire history of the Shinobi world had ever been able to produce so many, and for a mere twelve-year-old girl to achieve something that even the Kage of old could not was astonishing.

Yet that wasn't what had startled Kakashi. No, what Kakashi's single eye was riveted on were not the clones themselves but what they held in their hands.

Blue spheres of destruction - spiralling balls of revolving energy.

The personal jutsu of his former teacher, the Yondaime Hokage.

"RASENGAN!" A hundred and more voices called out as they thrust their arms forward as one, raining down death and destruction on our heads.

And still, Kakashi reacted.

Through the shock, through the sheer impossibility of what he was seeing, he moved, reacting to the danger. Even as he stared up at the hundreds of clones using a technique that they had no business knowing, his hands were already forming into the seals he needed to begin his counter attack-

"Shadow Possession Technique - Successful."

-just as Shikamaru predicted.

Kakashi's hands froze halfway through forming a seal, his entire body going rigid still. Genuine shock filled his expression before he glanced downwards, his single eyes widening, "What?"

It was then that he saw it –

The hundreds of shadows cast by the clones.

Kakashi's mistake was that while he was busy defending himself from the threat above, he failed to realize the threat that came from below.

All around us the Naruto clones landed softly on the ground, carefully placing their feet away from the traps they had planted earlier while the Rasengan dispelled from their hands.

"Someone, as experienced as you, is no doubt familiar with my Clan's jutsu," Shikamaru's voice echoed out of the forest from my right, where he laid hidden from sight in the foliage and shadows. "So you should already know that I can extend my jutsu's range by using other shadows."

I had lied when I told Kakashi that Shikamaru was hiding far away. He had been hidden alright but far closer than I ever let on. Waiting and ready to spring this trap when Kakashi would least expect it.

Kakashi's eye traced the shadow from his feet as it stretched from shadow to shadow of a dozen and more clones before it disappeared into the darkness of the forest, "But using other people's shadows would only increase the strain of the jutsu. You shouldn't have anywhere near enough skill or chakra needed to pull off capturing and restraining this many people."

"Normally that would be the case but only when my victims struggle. If they remain perfectly still like Naruto's clones are doing then I can use their shadows to help anchor you down. With their help then even someone like you won't be able to break out fast enough to matter. I'm afraid this is checkmate, Hatake Kakashi."

The entire Shikamaru spoke I hadn't just been standing idly by, I'd been racing towards Kakashi. Unfortunately with all the clones in the way, along with making sure not to accidentally trigger any of the traps, it took me far longer than I would have liked but I still managed to reach Kakashi's side just as Shikamaru finished speaking.

Kakashi was oddly silent as he watched me approach, not saying anything even as he saw me reach for the bell on his waist. It was only when I was about to grab it did he move.

He didn't attack, he didn't even say anything, he just smiled proudly down at me. Not mockingly like he was prone to do but a genuinely proud and honest expression on his face that I never seen the like of in all the years I've known him.

I instantly knew something was wrong.

I threw myself backwards, not even waiting to see what he had in mind as I leapt away, desperately trying to put as much distance between us as fast as I could. And it was a good thing I had for only a heartbeat later-

"Chidori Nagashi"

Electricity bloomed around his form, encasing his body in a cocoon of living lightning. The clones around him immediately erupted into smoke as lightning leapt from his form and struck the surrounding clones, dispelling them instantly – along with their shadows.

Momentarily freed from the Shadow possession, but still surrounded by the tags, Kakashi didn't hesitate to place his fingers between his lips and blow.

A sharp whistle rang through the clearing, so loud that I wouldn't be surprised if it could be heard for miles. And no sooner had the whistling died out that it was replaced by answering howls.

Kakashi's summoned dogs leapt into the field.

Clones popped by the dozens, ringing the clearing with smoke while the sounds of explosions filled my ears as the dogs triggered the explosive tags. 

Not by accident either, the dogs seemed to be deliberately tripping the tags as they ran before leaping quickly away, their speed and weight allowing them to escape unharmed. A few were even knocking surprised clones onto the tags, setting them off and dispelling them using their own traps.

Only a few seconds later, it was over.

Twenty or so dogs encircled around the now freed Kakashi. They stood protectively by his side, ready to attack or defend in a moment's notice. Kakashi looked as composed as ever as he tucked the Icha Icha book into his pouch and smiled at us.

It happened so fast I could barely process it.

It couldn't have been more than ten seconds. In just ten seconds Kakashi had managed to flip things entirely around, going from being totally trapped by the shadows to having us on the back foot. 

Without Naruto's shadows to help him, Shikamaru knew he wouldn't be able to do anything to stop Kakashi and was forced to withdraw, slipping back into hiding.

Really, Kishimoto, how much did you nerf this guy?

"You know," Kakashi looked over me and the dozen or so remaining Naruto clones. "I'm really starting to like you kids."

"Well if you like us so damn much," one of the clones spoke up with a cheeky grin, "how about you give us that bell of yours as a reward."

"Hmm," Kakashi scratched his chin and actually seemed to consider it for a moment before shaking his head. "Nice try but no dice. I don't like you that much. Besides, you guys stole my book. I'm afraid I'm going to have to discipline you for that.""

The clone closest to me turned to flash me a grin, "So I guess that means we're going to stick with the Plan A then."

I was just about to nod in agreement when I paused, furrowing my brows at her in confusion. I asked, "Plan A? What the hell is plan A?"

"Ass kicking of course." Naruto cracked her knuckles before leering at Kakashi, "Looks like I'm gonna have to beat you black and blue and just take that bell off of you Sensei."

Shadows began to move in the woods around us before the figures of a hundred newly created clones emerged from the trees and walked onto the clearing, replacing their fallen brethren and looking eager to avenge them.

The dogs, seeing the new arrivals, bared their fangs at us. Kakashi said nothing, he simply pulled out a kunai and dropped into a combat stance, having decided to take us seriously.

I too took up a fighting pose and began moulding my chakra in preparation for the fight.

An unusual battle line began to form on the clearing. One half of the field was filled with clones who glared at their counterpart while the summoned dogs formed a line across from them.

Only Kakashi and I were the odd ones out from our respective armies.

I flashed Kakashi a cocky smirk as I received Shikamaru's new orders. "Now, let's begin round 2."

The dogs let loose a howl while the Narutos yelled out a battle cry of their own as they both charged at each other and clashed.

...

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