Naruto raging whirlpool

Longest chapter yet hope you enjoy

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Shino stood within Mount Myoboku's forbidden zone. Although he seemed to be unmoved, beneath his concealing glasses, his eyes were wide with awe. The world that lay before him brimmed with secrets he desired to uncover. Both him and Ash took a moment to regain their strength; the air itself was brimming with unmatched purity, even compared to that of Konoha. Almost like there was something unique in it.

Shino and Ash took a seat, hoping to regain their strength. Shino gazed curiously at the forbidden zone. Knowing that Ash wouldn't be able to provide him with any answers, he spread out a portion of his Kikaichū beetles to scout the surroundings and then proceeded to use his clan's secret technique, the Insect Gathering Technique.

Placing his hand on the ground, he channeled his chakra, which spread out like a spider's web, calling forth the local insects. This technique allowed Shino to summon and communicate with a variety of insects native to the area. It wasn't just limited to beetles; his call attracted a myriad of insect species, each with unique characteristics and valuable insights. Ants, spiders, dragonflies, and even butterflies responded to his chakra's pull.

Among them, there were insects that were like nothing he had ever seen before. Some had wings that shimmered and changed color subtly in the sunlight, not for beauty, but for deception. As Shino observed one such insect, its wings created a mesmerizing pattern that put him into a brief, hypnotic state, momentarily dulling his senses.

Some insects defied logic entirely. One appeared to fly without wings, hovering effortlessly in the air with a long, flexible body covered in a tough segmented exoskeleton. Through out it's body there were no legs nor eyes to bee found, only a set of sharp pincers lay bare on its face. As it approached Shino, the front of its exoskeleton shifted, revealing hidden eyes that gleamed with an uncanny intelligence, and a spiraling maw covered in triangular blades of teeth between its pincers. Another insect blended seamlessly with any surface it touched; its body shifted colors and textures as it moved, perfectly camouflaging itself with its surroundings. A third insect moved with remarkable bursts of speed, darting quickly from one spot to another in short, rapid movements to outmaneuver threats and catch unsuspecting prey, all while deliberately avoiding and running from Shino's gaze.

As the summoned insects gathered, Shino's connection to them was almost tangible. Without words, he transmitted his inquiries through subtle pulses of chakra, and the insects responded in kind, conveying their findings through movements and vibrations. This non-verbal communication was second nature to Shino, a symbiotic dance of understanding between him and the insect world.

From these insects, Shino learned about the diverse ecosystems of the forbidden zone, a forest in constant turmoil, dominated by bugs of all sorts. This rich tapestry of life painted a vivid picture of the area's dynamics.

The forest wasn't just a typical woodland; it was a patchwork of extreme and varied environments. There were areas where the ground was scorched and cracked, with bubbling lava pits radiating intense heat. Nearby, there were expansive lakes and marshlands, teeming with life. Other parts of the forest were dense with thick, almost impenetrable foliage. In certain secluded pockets, the climate turned arid and sandy, resembling a miniature desert.

The insects conveyed to Shino that there was a path nearby that cuts the forest in half that he must avoid crossing at all costs, indicating that traversing it could be extremely dangerous...

Just then, one of Shino's Kikaichū beetles returned; Shino extended his index finger, allowing the beetle to perch itself apon it. The beetle's movements conveyed a silent report, relaying critical information about the surroundings it had scouted. Through the beetle, Shino caught wind of an unsettling presence. Alarmed, he immediately went on high alert, they were being watched by none other than Kidomaru.

Shino, searching his surroundings, spoke to Ash, "We're being watched, and we're heavily outnumbered. Prepare yourself." Ash's eyes shot open, and he quickly got to his feet.

Suddenly, without warning, they were swarmed by countless spiders that varied in size, some as small as a fist, while others were as large as wolves. Their mandibles clicked menacingly as they advanced, their frenzied eyes reflecting the fear they intended to instill.

Shino's beetles flowed out from his sleeves in an explosive stream of darkness. With unwavering precision, they flew directly into the storm of advancing spiders, intent on draining their chakra and taking it for their own purposes. The beetles swarmed the spiders, targeting the unarmored weak points between their exoskeletons. They swarmed over the delicate joints along their legs, crippling their limbs and leaving their chakra reserves dry. Despite the beetles' relentless assault, the spiders' numbers seemed inexhaustible.

Ash, reacting swiftly, performed a series of hand signs in a blurring motion—Inu, Hebi, Tori, Hitsuji. The surrounding air shimmered as moisture gathered within his hand and formed a tendril that followed his will. The whip lashed out at the approaching spiders; its sharp, watery edge sliced through their tough exteriors, spilling their viscous green blood on the ground. Yet, the spiders pressed on.

Undeterred, Ash formed Water Shuriken in his free hand and launched them at high speed towards the enemy. The Water Shuriken carved through the spiders, its vortex-like motion curved their trajectories, maximizing their range of devastation. Meanwhile, Shino led his beetles to attack key points within the spiders' formation, amplifying the damage inflicted.

A second wave of spiders lunged from the trees above, Ash's instincts kicked in. He swiftly reacted, the water whip in his grasp disassembling and, along with extra vapor from the air, reforming into a curved barrier. This shimmering, semi-transparent barrier intercepted the spiders' descent. The barrier absorbed the impact, rippling like the surface of a pond amidst a heavy rain. As the spiders clawed at the barrier, countless drops of water separated from it and hovered above its surface, suspended beneath the spiders above. These drops then began to spin in place, their forms transforming into that of delicate senbon. The senbon were shot forward at a rapid pace, firing in large numbers and pierced through the spiders that foolishly attempted to tear through the barrier's ever changing surface, drilling gaping holes throughout their bodies.

Despite their efforts, the spiders' almost unending numbers began to take a toll.

Ash and Shino fought back-to-back, their coordination and skill the only things keeping them from being overwhelmed. The spiders swarmed around them, their mandibles snapped and their legs clawed at the earth as they relentlessly advanced.

From the shadows, Kidomaru watched with sadistic glee. "Unbelievable... how unlucky can you get?" he sneered, reveling in the spectacle before him. In this forbidden zone, Kidomaru commanded a near-endless army of spiders, no longer needing to expend chakra to summon them. The spiders multiplied, their numbers and size swelled exponentially as they surrounded Ash and Shino.

The spiders grew more aggressive, climbing trees and using their webs to maneuver through the dense foliage with alarming agility. They descended from above, their silken threads glistening in the dim light, creating a nightmarish web of death. Ash and Shino could feel the oppressive presence of the arachnids closing in from all sides, their massive forms appeared to be eerie shadows in the sky as they skittered along their webbed paths in the trees. The air grew thick with the scent of the venom as it dripped down their fangs. The spiders advanced, their legs marched rhythmically against the ground out pacing that of a thousand soldiers.

The two shinobi fought desperately to hold their ground. Kidomaru's laughter echoed through the trees. Like a sinister puppet master, he orchestrated the attack with the intent to kill! Ash and Shino, their backs pressed together, exchanged a brief glance of determination before launching into a coordinated assault against the encroaching horde.

As the battle raged on, it became clear that conventional tactics wouldn't suffice against the relentless onslaught. Ash and Shino, panting and weary, fought desperately to hold their ground.

Realizing he needed to unleash a powerful technique to turn the tide, Ash called out to Shino with a decisive "Fro!" Shino nodded in understanding and replied, "Leave it to me," swiftly moving to defend Ash. He intercepted a spider that was about to attack him from behind just as he formed a water clone.

With Shino providing a steadfast defense, using his beetles to hold the spiders back. Ash and his clone were given the space they needed and begun weaving signs in unison, a process that took time to perform.

Both Ash and his water clone performed the Water Dragon Jutsu, each summoning a large dragon made entirely of water. As the dragons materialized, Ash and his clone channeled their chakra as they dove within their respective dragons, spinning rapidly within their forms. The water dragons mirrored their movements, intertwining with Ash and his clone's lead. The bodies of the water dragons spun with the force of of a raging whirlpool, blades of pressurized water formed along their lengths, enhancing their destructive potential and speed.

The two dragons enacted a dance of perfect unison, attacking the horde of spiders from multiple angles with devastating efficiency. This coordinated assault was dubbed The Twin Water Fang Dragon Fang Formation

The dragons' blades and surging waves framed an ode to destruction, tearing through the mass of spiders and thinning their numbers significantly. Hundreds fell under the relentless assault of the Twin Dragons; they obliterated everything in their path, leaving behind a trail of devastation. As Ash poured the last of his chakra into the attack, the Twin Water Dragons spun together and made a final destructive attack, drilling away more than half of the remaining spiders. With this devastating blow, the Twin Water Dragons exploded at the end, sending the remaining survivors scurrying away in fear, their screeching screams echoing through the woods.

Kidomaru, who had been lurking in the shadows, made his presence known with a dramatic leap from a high tree branch. Landing with a thud, he taunted, "Out of juice already? That last-ditch attack almost had me worried for a moment. Haha~ Well, I guess it's my turn now." Ash, brought to his knees and out of options, glared daggers at Kidomaru, who relished at the sight of his adversary's despair. Kidomaru's smirk grew wider as he spat out a golden-brown resin that quickly hardened into the frame of a great bow. With practiced ease, he fashioned a bowstring from spider silk. Continuing the process, he spat out a mouthful resin, which he moulded into a set of arrows as soon as it left his mouth. He took aim, his newly crafted weapon met Shino within its crosshairs. Kidomaru sneered as his focus shifted almost entirely on Shino, "Don't think I forgot about you."

Kidomaru fired the arrows in rapid succession. Shino dodged the first few, but then multiple arrows struck him, impaling his body in several places. Ash flinched at the sight, the implications of the wounds hitting him hard. However, relief washed over him as he noticed beetles squirming within the gaping wounds. Kidomaru's eyes widened in shock, and paranoia began to creep in as he realized the true nature of his target.

As the true nature of Shino's decoy was revealed, the insect clone began to dissolve, breaking apart into a swarm of Kikaichū beetles. As its integrity crumbled, a singular resin arrow lodged in its body clattered to the ground, signaling the moment the beetles took flight, swarming towards Kidomaru.

Kidomaru countered by spitting out a barrage of webs, forming a net-like structure that caught some of the beetles while others deftly flew through the gaps. The forest around them fell eerily silent, the once vibrant sounds vanishing gradually, as if a wave swept away their voices one by one.

This was no illusion. From the dense shadows of the forest, Shino stepped forth. To Ash "f-froo~", he resembled a hero's guiding light in the darkest hour. Shino's presence commanded immediate attention, a figure of calm amidst the chaos. Behind him, an army of insects twice his size followed, their forms a blend of various species with imposing and otherworldly appearances. Shino spoke, his voice steady, "Sorry it took so long. It's not as easy to reason with them as it is with the smaller insects."

"Ha! You think that'll scare me? Think again" Kidomaru refused to retreat and launched a preemptive attack, firing arrows in rapid succession from his bow. The arrows pierced through the exoskeletons of several giant insects, causing them to collapse before Shino even sent them out to attack. With a commanding presence, Shino issued an order through his beetles, "Go..." The insects moved swiftly; some burrowed underground, others took to the air, and a few charged directly at Kidomaru. The diverse attack patterns overwhelmed Kidomaru. While Kidomaru was momentarily distracted, Shino formed another insect clone and sent it out to fight, vanishing once more with his location unknown.

In a desperate move, Kidomaru spat out a massive web, attempting to trap the advancing insects. The web ensnared several of them, but Shino's insect clone deftly avoided the attack and continued the assault. Shino, from a safe distance, used his beetles to relay intricate commands to the giant insects, creating a coordinated attack strategy. The beetles acted as a communication network, ensuring that the giant insects charged at Kidomaru with the precision of a well-oiled machine.

However, that is not all they did, an insect with a tough exoskeleton, vibrant orange wings, piercing green eyes, and three sharp pincers around its mouth, approached Ash. He didn't know how to feel about this; Ash had been fighting these very insects to the death just the other day as a means of training. The creature, laden with a natural beauty, lowered itself gracefully as if it were a majestic steed, and Ash reluctantly mounted her. The insect took him to safety, flying high above the trees, keeping him a safe distance from the battle.

Under constant pressure, Kidomaru activated his cursed mark's first stage. Tendril-like tattoos, resembling a growing plant, spread around his body, covering him with a sinister pattern. With that, he dominated momentarily, propelling himself from place to place using his webs and firing arrows of condensed resin.

Ash, flying on the insect's back, became Kidomaru's target once more. He dodged the attacks Kidomaru sent his way, ranging from resin arrows to sticky spider web nets. The insect executed intricate aerial maneuvers, twisting and turning to evade the relentless barrage. Kidomaru's eyes narrowed with determination as he anticipated their movements. Eventually, one of the spider web nets managed to trap one of the insect's wings, causing it to be sent hurtling down and crashing to the ground with a thunderous impact. Ash was thrown off its back upon collision, tumbling across the forest floor. He winced as pain shot through his body; the crash had left him with a deep gash on his leg and bruises forming on his arms. Ash stumbled and fell when he first attempted to get up. Determined, he lifted himself off the ground, using the tanto he carried with him out of the sheath tied to his back as a makeshift cane to stay on his feet, adopting a defensive stance.

Shino manifested another insect clone to aid Ash and defend him. The second insect clone sent a few beetles to Ash, and they fed him some of their chakra, restoring a bit of his strength. Shino then directed a counterattack, sending the beetles to swarm around Kidomaru, disrupting his movements. Some of the beetles landed on Kidomaru, draining a portion of his remaining chakra. In a frenzy, Kidomaru swatted at them, killing several in the process. The army of giant insects led by Shino overwhelmed Kidomaru once more. The insects that tunneled underground attacked out of the blue from right under his feet. The first to strike emerged swiftly, its claw-like appendage slashed across Kidomaru's leg, cutting deep into his calf. "AAAAAHHH DAMN IT!" Kidomaru groaned in pain, Summoning his strength, he quickly used his webs to cover his bleeding calf as a temporary first aid measure. He then attacked the beetles around him with his webs, creating a temporary gap for his escape. He cleared a path through the Kikaichū beetles, dodging the relentless assaults from below. Kidomaru's attempt to finish off Ash was hindered not only by the insect clone next to Ash but by the army of insects. He fired more resin arrows in desperation, but the sheer number of attacking insects began to take its toll.

Suddenly, crunching noises echoed around them. The insects attacking Kidomaru froze and turned towards the noise. Kidomaru, Ash, and Shino, confused, followed their line of sight. There they saw a lone mantis, slightly larger than an average human, wearing a dark cloak. Within its claws was a spider, its head submerged as the mantis devoured it. The mantis raised its head and groaned in delight, as if it had finally eaten after a long time.

Noticing it had drawn everyone's attention, the mantis said, "What?... He was already dead." The giant insects under Shino's control broke free, their survival instincts overpowering Shino's hold. They ran, crawled, flew away, and dug underground as fast as they could.

Shino, Ash, and Kidomaru were left alone with the mantis. Kidomaru launched a web towards a retreating insect and pulled himself towards it, escaping. Kidomaru, riding on the insect, turned back and said his goodbyes with a smirk on his face, "This is getting a little too dangerous so I'll be on my way."

Shino stepped in front of Ash in a defensive stance as he intended to protect him to the end, thinking to himself, 'Who exactly is this... mantis? Things just keep going from bad to worse, need to find a way out.' He kept his eyes focused on the mantis. The mantis dropped the spider and wiped its mouth with its claw, "Jeez, he wasn't coming back to life anyway... Bunch'a cry babies." The mantis then laid its eyes on Shino and Ash, "Oh, you're not gonna run."

Shino stood his ground, his eyes tensed as sweat poured down his brow. "But you know, when your gut's screaming, you should listen." The voice came from behind. But how could that be? The mantis was still there, standing in front of him.

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