Hey everyone,
Quick heads-up: I just started translating a brand new Naruto fanfic, Naruto: The Shinobi Hive, and honestly, I think it's the best Naruto fic I've worked on so far.
It's set during the Second Shinobi World War. The MC is an orphan Genin who can split his soul and take over empty bodies, stealing their memories and jutsu along the way. Expect dark plotting and a lot of canon characters.
I've tagged it in the author's thoughts. If it sounds like your thing, give it a try and add it to your library.
.....
"Activate Spell Card Kuji-Kiri Curse. By its effect, send 1 face-up Level 9 monster on my field to the Graveyard to activate. Draw two cards from my Deck."
"I send Yoko to the Graveyard."
The seductive nine-tailed fox left the field. But the strange blue ghost fire still remained on the field, even becoming more intense!
"If I control a Mayakashi monster other than this card, this card can be directly Special Summoned. After that, I can also send 1 Zombie-Type monster from my Deck to the Graveyard!
Special Summon, Yuki-Musume, the Ice Mayakashi!"
A black little snow maiden appeared behind the ice crystal, carefully looking around.
"I send Mezuki from my Deck to the Graveyard."
"At the same time, because a Zombie-Type monster was Special Summoned, Bone Tower's effect activates, sending two cards from the top of your Deck to the Graveyard."
Whoosh whoosh.
Another two cards.
Hikaru glanced over and raised his brow.
Gem-Knight Nepyrim, sent after it had been milled. No search possible anymore, nothing useful in hand either. Just let it be.
"Activate Mezuki's effect in the Graveyard. Banish it from the game, revive Tsuchigumo, the Poisonous Mayakashi in the Graveyard."
"At this instant, Bone Tower's effect activates, destroying the top two cards of your Deck. At the same time, Tsuchigumo's effect activates. When this card is Special Summoned from the Graveyard, activate. Send 3 cards from both players' Decks to the Graveyard."
The giant spider yokai reached out, grabbed Hikaru's Deck. Under the pulling of spider silk, another 3 cards were sent to the Graveyard.
"Mm, Shaddoll Core's effect. I add Shaddoll Fusion from my Graveyard to my hand." Hikaru casually recovered Fusion.
"Bad." Yuto's expression grew grave. "Another 7."
Hikaru's deck was about to hit the bottom!
"Not only that..." Shay Obsidian's expression was grave. "Misawa's field has again gathered Level 1 monster and Level 2 Dakki..."
If Misawa had a second yokai set in his deck, this time he could conduct multiple Synchros again!
But fortunately, Misawa seemed to only have one set of Mayakashi Synchros, no way to continue Synchro Summoning.
"Hikaru's deck still has a few cards left. This duel isn't over..." Atticus Rhodes said.
"Also, Misawa's field no longer has Monster Zone room!" Syrus kept nodding, cold sweat beading on his forehead, encouraging himself inwardly.
"That's why I said, my calculations will absolutely not have errors." Misawa had an extremely confident expression. "Continuous Spell Card, Mayakashi Winter. Send it and Dakki on the field to the Graveyard, draw a card."
A rare cool white female yokai lightly exhaled, taking away Dakki, leaving a gap on Misawa's field.
"Spell Card, Infernal Punisher."
Hmm?
Hikaru saw something familiar.
Wasn't this Water Dragon!?
"Tribute 1 monster on my field to activate. Special Summon 1 Level 6 or higher FIRE Attribute monster from my hand, Deck, or Graveyard. I tribute Yuki-Musume, Special Summon Yoko, the Graceful Mayakashi. The monster Special Summoned by this effect has its effects negated."
"But regardless, Bone Tower's effect activates, destroying the top two cards of your Deck!"
Hikaru raised his brow, watched half of the last few cards in his deck disappear, shrugged.
"Quick-Play Spell Card, Ghost Meets Girl - A Mayakashi's Manuscript."
"This card can be activated during my or the opponent's Main Phase, target 1 Zombie-Type Synchro Monster on my field. Select 1 Zombie-Type monster with the same Attribute as that monster from my Graveyard, Special Summon it. The monster Special Summoned by this effect is banished at the End Phase. After this card is activated, until the End Phase, I can only Special Summon Zombie-Type monsters.
I revive Dakki in the Graveyard. This way, I win!"
Misawa showed extremely obvious excitement!
Once this Special Summon ended, he'd completely win!
Hikaru's deck had no cards remaining!
He had won!
His heart was full of excitement. Even having lost his memories, this excitement from the depths of his soul still made him couldn't help cheering.
Countless people watching this duel couldn't help freezing on the spot.
Lost, lost?
Seemed there was no method, no resolution left!?
Though relying on Shaddoll Beast and Nehshaddoll Genius's effects, Misawa's tactical components were destroyed. But...
"Set one card. Haha, this way, I..." He cheered, heart full of excitement.
"Clap clap clap."
Suddenly, as Misawa was excited, across from him, Hikaru calmly, lightly applauded.
This confident and relaxed look stunned Misawa, and also made everyone watching the duel freeze for a moment.
What was happening?
Could it be Hikaru was praising his classmate's excellence?
Also, after all, at this point, there was no way...
"Impressive, Misawa. It seems even having lost your memories, you're still that excellent duelist."
"..." Misawa had a bad premonition.
"If it were someone else, at this point, they could only honestly admit defeat."
These words shocked countless people.
What did it mean?
What did "if it were someone else" mean?
"Misawa, didn't you say if I couldn't Fusion, then my duel couldn't stop your milling?
I've already seen your brand-new dueling, so...
Let me show you! My never-ending Fusion!"
"Activate the effect of the Trap Card in the Graveyard!" Hikaru laughed, pointing forward, as always!
What!?
Misawa, Atticus Rhodes, Syrus, Yuto, Shay, countless people watching the duel, even Goodwin, instinctively leaned forward, wanting to see the duel more clearly.
"Salamandra with Chain's effect!"
"Banish this card from my Graveyard to activate. Return monsters from my hand, field, or Graveyard to the Deck as Fusion Materials, Fusion Summon 1 Warrior-Type or Dragon-Type FIRE Attribute Fusion Monster. The monster Fusion Summoned by this effect is destroyed at the End Phase!"
"Wh, what?" Misawa was clearly stunned.
"Return to the Deck!"
"A Trap Fusion activated from the Graveyard!?"
"On the opponent's first turn, while going second, Fusion!???"
Every word, every phrase, every sentence was for Fusion!
But every word, every phrase, every sentence, without exception, revealed a duelist's thought and madness!
Even during the opponent's turn, I can Fusion!
"Return Salamandra and Fighting Flame Swordsman in the Graveyard to the Deck, Fusion Summon, Fighting Flame Dragon!"
Bad!
Misawa was shocked.
Return to the Deck.
Hikaru's deck gained two cards!
This way, the possibility of deck destruction making Hikaru lose became 0!
"Not over yet, Misawa."
"Wh, what?!"
"Activate Predaplanet's effect in the Graveyard!"
More!
More opponent-turn Fusion!
"Banish this card from my Graveyard to activate. Send Fusion Materials determined by a Fusion Monster card from my hand or field to the Graveyard. Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck. When conducting Fusion with this effect, only Predaplant monsters can be used as Fusion Materials!"
So that was it, that moment, that moment's deliberate searching of Predaplant monsters was for now!
"I fuse Predaplant Triantis in my hand and Predaplant Banksiogre in my hand!"
"Come forth! My legendary monster!"
"Level 7, Predaplant Chimerafflesia!"
Boom boom boom.
A giant flower rose from the Graveyard. The massive plant startled countless people.
Legendary Great Flower, dazzlingly appearing.
"Mm mm, this little guy is getting more and more dazzling." Tierra beside him commented appropriately.
Felt like compared to the Fusion Dragon, this little guy was the one most likely to transform into a brand-new spirit.
Predaplant Chimerafflesia. Level 7, DARK Attribute, Plant-Type. ATK 2500.
"Continuous Fusions during the opponent's turn... tch."
"Heheh, if you're only this shocked, it's too early, Misawa." Hikaru spread his hands. "I still have follow-up effects to resolve."
!!
"Triantis's effect. When this card is sent to the Graveyard as Fusion Material or added to the Extra Deck face-up, select up to a number of monsters equal to monsters on my field. Place 1 Predaplant Counter on those monsters. Monsters with counters that are Level 2 or higher become Level 1.
I have 3 monsters on my field. So Tsuchigumo, Yoko, and the first Bone Tower become Level 1 monsters.
At the same time, Predaplanning's effect in the Graveyard!
While this card exists in the Graveyard, when I successfully Fusion Summon a DARK Fusion Monster, banish this card from my Graveyard, target 1 card on the field to activate. Destroy that card.
I banish it, destroy your Set card, Misawa."
Swoosh.
The Chimerafflesia's vines instantly wrapped the Set card, instantly flipping it open. It was Threatening Roar.
"Ha. What a shame. If activated during my turn, you might have held on for one more turn and continued destroying my deck."
Misawa instinctively swallowed.
Without realizing it, a drop of cold sweat dripped from his chin.
Bad, bad.
Seemed, seemed he was going to lose?
He vaguely felt that something very unfavorable to him was about to happen next.
"Because the chain was in the End Phase, after this, my Fighting Flame Dragon will be destroyed. Similarly, your Dakki also gets banished."
Boom.
Whoosh.
Two FIRE Attribute monsters burned in flames, slowly dispersing.
"Beautiful... no, more like terrifying." Shay Obsidian's expression was grave. "This way, the Threatening Roar he'd kept just in case also can't be activated. Next turn, Misawa's monsters will almost unobstructedly face Hikaru."
"If he can find a way to deal with those monsters..."
Misawa was done for!
"But I haven't lost yet." Misawa forced himself. "Though you did deal with my monsters, held on until the next turn, even recovered monsters, but..."
"But Mayakashi also has Graveyard effects, right?"
"!!" Misawa froze.
"Zombie-Type monsters have Graveyard effects. It's completely obvious. Like Dakki, able to keep reviving." Hikaru raised a finger. "But for me, these aren't important.
In this duel, I only care about one thing. That is whether you can recover your lost memories.
As for other things, it doesn't matter.
And now, I've already seen the root of your memory loss. So I won't hold back anymore."
"My turn, draw."
Hikaru drew a card from the Deck.
"I bet it's Fighting Flame Swordsman." Tierra softly commented from the side.
Hikaru glanced at it.
"Actually is."
"Hahaha, impressive, right?"
Hikaru smiled lightly.
Half chance, but very interesting.
Hikaru casually put Fighting Flame Swordsman away.
In his Graveyard was Predaplant Drosophyllum Hydra, which could directly tribute 1 opponent monster with a Predaplant Counter to Special Summon from the Graveyard.
Hikaru looked at the field.
"Drosophyllum Hydra can directly tribute 1 opponent monster with a Predaplant Counter, Special Summon from the Graveyard. I tribute Tsuchigumo, Special Summon."
Tsuchigumo, which had been lurking, ready to swallow enemies at any time, felt a chill behind. Just as it was about to turn its head, it saw a giant alien-like plant grab its face, instantly crushing it.
"Mm..." Misawa's expression grew somewhat bad.
Because he hadn't directly won, his previous behavior of madly sending Hikaru's deck cards to the Graveyard became the last straw killing himself.
Now, in Hikaru's Graveyard were hidden who knew how many Drosophyllum Hydra-like cards, hidden who knew how many terrifying monsters. Maybe even cards like Salamandra with Chain or Predaplanet existed in good numbers!
Hikaru opened his Graveyard, glanced for a moment, pondered.
"Flip Summon Shaddoll Falco. When this card is flipped, I can target 1 Shaddoll monster in my Graveyard, Special Summon it face-down. I choose Shaddoll Beast."
"Then, activate Aroma Blend's effect in the Graveyard."
"All Graveyard effects..."
"Really, really terrifying..."
Many instinctively muttered.
Honestly, this duel played out to this point, Misawa's performance had already made many people impressed, sighing that as expected of Misawa, could easily do what ordinary people couldn't.
But Hikaru was too insane!
How much stuff was in that Graveyard, really hard to say!
"Aroma Blend's effect. Banish this card from my Graveyard to activate. Banish monsters from my hand or field as Fusion Materials, Fusion Summon 1 Plant-Type Fusion Monster. I banish Predaplant Drosophyllum Hydra and two Shaddoll monsters.
Fusion Summon!
Level 9!
Predaplant Triphyoverutum!"
Predaplant Triphyoverutum. Level 9, DARK Attribute, Plant-Type. ATK 3000 → 3400 → 6300.
"Triphyoverutum raises its ATK by the sum of original ATK of monsters with Predaplant Counters on the field other than this card."
Hikaru casually explained.
This time Triphyoverutum didn't come in person, so the spirit presence didn't look full. But even so, it made Misawa sweat profusely.
Up until now, still using Graveyard cards.
Hikaru finally checked the Graveyard, confirmed what to do next.
"Though there are still many other tactics usable, at this moment, as expected, this is what should be used."
Misawa was somewhat bewildered.
What did he mean?
"Activate Predaplant Chimerafflesia's effect. Once per turn, banish 1 monster on the field with Level lower than it. I banish, Yoko!"
Hikaru pointed at Yoko. The Chimerafflesia roared a few times with effort. Countless vines trapped Yoko, strenuously throwing it out of the dueling arena.
With its departure, that strange red undercurrent gradually began to subside.
Just not enough.
Seemed he had to keep adding ingredients.
Hikaru thought.
Hikaru checked the Graveyard again. Even for him, looking at over thirty cards dazzlingly waiting for him to pick, was a bit of a bind.
"At this moment, I have to thank luck and personal connections." Hikaru couldn't help saying. "If I didn't happen to know friends who use these cards, I might not be able to help you at this moment, Misawa.
Later you must properly thank Gloria."
?
Misawa was more confused. But after this sentence, Tania widely widened her eyes.
Could it be...
"Amazoness Secret Arts' Graveyard effect. Banish this card from my Graveyard to activate. This turn, when I Fusion Summon an Amazoness Fusion Monster only once, I can send 1 Amazoness monster from my Extra Deck to the Graveyard as Fusion Material!"
Misawa's pupils trembled.
A, Amazoness!
"Wow! Amazoness!" Jaden jumped up.
Rarely seen Hikaru use this!
And right, right!
Many realized.
He should use Amazoness!
"So, so great! As expected of Hikaru." Tania also had a sense of daze.
You could always trust Lord Hikaru!
"Activate Spell Card, Polymerization."
"Send Amazoness Empress from the Extra Deck and Amazoness Spiritualist from the hand to the Graveyard, conduct an Amazoness Fusion Summon."
Hikaru spread his hands, laughing brilliantly: "Come, Misawa, look at this monster you're familiar with!"
"Fusion Summon, Level 10!"
"Amazoness Augusta!"
Massive shoulder pads composed of bones, a crimson cape, a greatsword wider than a person, and that ancient brown skin.
A mighty white-haired female warrior appeared before Misawa.
Amazoness Augusta. Level 10, EARTH Attribute, Warrior-Type. ATK 3200.
Misawa froze in place.
A, Amazoness?
Ugh.
Uh.
He instinctively held his head.
But the usually fleeting headache, at this moment, no matter what, wouldn't disperse.
Because the moment he saw this monster, his sealed memories finally couldn't be sealed anymore!
"Amazoness Augusta, when using Amazoness Empress or Amazoness Queen as Fusion Material, can attack twice in the same turn."
Misawa stood dazed for a while, then looked at the field.
He only had two Bone Towers left.
Chimerafflesia and Triphyoverutum's ATK were both higher than Bone Tower's DEF.
Amazoness Augusta could attack twice!
Lost, lost.
Damn it, can I still not beat Hikaru. Huh?
His hands holding his head stopped. He looked at the ground, dazed.
"Battle. Predaplant Chimerafflesia and Predaplant Triphyoverutum attack the two Bone Towers. Then...
Amazoness Augusta, it's time to teach this blockhead a lesson!"
Amazoness Augusta swung her massive greatsword at Misawa. The first strike, the greatsword slashed Misawa's abdomen, making him cry out in pain.
At the same time, the lingering dark red shadow around him also began dispersing.
At the same time, memories from training at the Amazoness camp also returned under this painful slash.
Ah...
I'm, I'm not of this dimension.
I'm from Duel Academy, Ra Yellow, Bastion Misawa!
Misawa, LP: 4000 → 800.
"Once more!"
Amazoness Augusta raised her greatsword high, swinging down at Misawa!
Boom!
Vanishing!
The demonic aura was completely shattered!
Misawa, LP: 800 → 0.