A/N: Welcome…new Fic. Let's jump straight into it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto…if I did, you wouldn't be reading my stories…you'd be watching the episodes.
A Fine Line…
Chapter One – Warm Up
It was winter.
It was cold.
It was night…
A cold breeze swept through Konoha with malice…daring anyone to remain outside.
The streets were empty; it was –after all- Three in the morning.
From a shadow cast alleyway, a cloaked figure moved –almost glided- through the streets. It moved silently, and slowly. One might imagine it didn't mind the fierce winter cold that Konoha was experiencing. The very few people that were wandering about Konoha at this time, paid this cloaked figure no mind…it was practically invisible.
The figure halted at the cross street and raised its head to view the Hokage monument. Five faces watched Konoha intently…The figure looked to each face before silently continuing.
It had an appointment to keep.
The figure moved through the village…un-faltering. It approached its destination and began to slow.
The figure halted completely as it reached the door…its hidden eyes lingering on the handle.
A full minute passed before it reached out and slid open the heavy door.
The figure entered the pitch black room and closed the door behind it.
Door shut, it was just as cold as it had been outside. The cloaked figure made a hand seal…the torches that ran the length and breadth ignited themselves…no more than a glow to begin with.
That was fine.
The glow barely illuminated the room…but enough so to know that he was alone.
A steady breath was released…the condensation hung in the cold air.
It would soon warm up in here.
The figure walked forward several paces and stopped short of the sparring mat.
As his eyes adjusted to his surroundings…it became evident that the building he stood in was a training Dojo. The training mat was stained with flecks of grime and blood…the wood flooring surrounding him was pock-marked with signs of weapons practice.
The Torches along the wall began burning a little brighter, the temperature of the dojo was slowly increasing…his breath was no longer visible.
The person lowered himself to his knees before the training mat and knelt in meditation.
The torches increased lighting level again.
The figure could be seen more clearly now. He was a tall person, but difficult to tell his build with the full-length cream, hooded cloak.
The cloak of the Anbu Captain.
His mask was held firmly to his face…he barely registered wearing it anymore.
Minutes pass and the captain is becoming anxious. Something should have happened by now and it hadn't.
His gaze was fixed firmly on the door on the other end of the dojo…he shifted in his kneeling position impatiently.
An eternity passed before he felt an approaching presence. A part of the captain relaxed, another part tensed.
He heard the fall of footsteps, audible…deliberately so.
The footsteps halted and the doors parted.
They revealed a similar looking Anbu.
The cloak on this one was pitch black…and the mask, was that of a bird…blue lines decorated it and it was made to have a small beak.
"You're late…Raven" The captain said neutrally.
There was no response as Raven closed the door and mirrored the Captains posture.
Both were still as their gazes connected.
Breaking the stillness in the dojo…the captain stood.
Raven remained kneeling…Eyes not leaving the captain.
"I had hoped this could have been avoided…had my actions been different, they very well could have been" The captain admitted.
Raven didn't move.
With an audible sigh, the captain reached for his cloak…and carefully removed it. Beneath…was the tactical armour that all Anbu wore…purple metallic plates, a holster for a sword that was not being worn…forearm guards and of course the mask.
The captains upper arms were exposed the temperature of the room.
His gaze returned to Raven…his right-hand man. The one he trusted more than any other.
Raven was always there when on assignment, never leaving his side.
But this was different…this was not an assignment.
The captain stepped onto the mat and dropped into a guard stance.
Raven never looked away from the captain. There was a definite sign of trembling underneath the cloak.
It wasn't fear…the captain knew.
The fox mask the captain wore tilted slightly to the left…waiting for Raven to engage.
Raven went from kneeling to sprinting in a second.
Fox barely blinked before the fist embedded in his gut. He blinked before grabbing the wrist in his left hand and gripping the back of Raven's neck. He then performed a very hard take down.
Raven bounced, rolled and stuck the landing before facing down Fox…this time in a guard posture.
Fox took a deep breath, getting his breathing under control.
Difficult to tell under the black cloak…Fox knew Raven had lost a bit of wind aswell.
Raven held the guard stance…it was Fox's turn.
He dashed forward and began a taijutsu series.
Blocks, parrys and counters…not a single strike got through.
"You're holding back!" Raven seethed through the mask.
Fox back padded a few paces and dropped to a ready stance.
"Feel like speaking now do you?" a tint of emotion entered the captains voice.
Raven once again was on the offensive, throwing strike after strike. Each was perfectly blocked and parried. No attempt was made to attack back.
"I can't understand how you can fight under all that" Fox said "…guess you must be used to that by now though"
Another exchange took place…no hits landed on either party.
Again, they stood facing each other…several paces separating them.
Fox caught himself thinking back to how they'd gotten into this mess.
The tensions had been building up between them for months…the trust between them was still implicit…their lives were in each others hands most of the time.
But that didn't change the fact that outside their profession…there were personal problems.
Fox was brought violently out of his reverie by the fist connecting to the side of his face…almost wrenching the jaw from his skull.
Fox was down, and dazed.
His mask had shifted, obscuring his vision. His bandana had also been shifted uncomfortably.
With a sigh, he raised to his feet and removed his mask.
Blue eyes scanned the room before settling on his target. A single hand reached up to grip the bandana covering his head.
With a deft tug, it came loose and fell to the side…forgotten.
The room seemed to lighten a fraction…the removal of the bandana allowed the release the unruly blond hair that had spiked out in every direction.
The whisker like marks adorning his face twitched nervously. He didn't like being without the mask…he felt naked.
But it wasn't protocol…they were not on assignment…this was not a mission.
This was a personal matter…the mask was not necessary.
Raven once again lunged forward…rearing to strike.
Naruto vanished when Raven came within range and re-appeared behind…grabbing the hood of the cloak and bringing it forcefully downward.
He heard the sharp exhale of air on impact.
However…this was not his goal at the moment.
He didn't like how exposed he was, and how…snug, raven was in all that get-up.
With the downward plunge…the hood of the cloak was ripped free.
A tuft of blue black hair peeked out between the bandana and the mask.
Raven performed a perfect Kip-up and moved swiftly for a roundhouse kick toward Naruto's head.
He merely raised his arm up and the kick was effectively stopped by his forearm guard.
In a flash, Naruto wrapped his arm around the leg, lifted Raven into the air dropped forward…driving his opponent in the mat.
Raven's head bounced off…but being a slightly padded training surface…neither lasting damage nor injury was left.
Naruto's torso felt immense pressure as Raven's legs clamped around him…squeezing the air out of him. He was feeling impacts to his face as well.
An almost steady rhythm of fists was assaulting his face.
Naruto was tasting blood.
He took a breath and grabbed both the offending wrists and dropped his head into Raven's.
His forehead clacked into Ravens mask…stunning them both.
Though Naruto was prepared and immediately returned to his feet when he felt the pressure to his torso loosen.
Raven attempted a leg sweep to bring Naruto back down to ground level…but he was out of range.
Quickly returning to a standing position. Raven lunged forward palms open…about to strike.
Naruto quickly recognised this…and sent his knee out…aiming for Raven's gut. His knee was caught before any damage could be done.
Naruto smirked ever so slightly and used the leverage gained by the grip on his leg to send his opposing knee upward connecting firmly with the mask, sending it flying and Raven's head snapping backward.
Once again…they returned to their starting positions.
Mask and hood removed.
He could see Raven's face un-obstructed.
It had been a while…
But she still looked beautiful…
Another flurry of kicks and punches were exchanged and each was evenly matched.
Their eyes locked fiercely
"I told you! Don't…Hold…Back!" Raven practically spat.
Anger filled her eyes as she ran forward arms outstretched and palms open.
Naruto sent a straight jab at her…his fist was caught…he sent his other at her…again, this was caught.
And Raven had him…She forced his arms apart as she flung her head towards his.
He felt a strong painful impact across the bridge of his nose. He stumbled backward and made no noise.
This was getting to be a bit serious…but he had never doubted it wouldn't be.
"Naruto…you have never been able to fool my eyes…Get Serious!"
Naruto looked at the woman before him. A picture of supreme confidence, eyes smouldering with what he had a feeling was hatred, a stance as firm and secure as a mountain.
Nothing like what he remembered of her when they were younger.
Although…things had been a lot simpler back then.
"Hinata…I'm just getting Warmed Up"
Author's Note: Hey everybody. What's the word? Well…this is my new fic, I've not written in a while and this kinda just popped into my head. I toyed around with it and decided to run with it…see what would happen.
Be Strong Konoha is not…repeat NOT a dead fic, keep an eye on it…maybe it'll magically update with a chapter soon.
Now now now…any thought's on this new piece of work? Certainly not something I remember reading before. And certainly a far removal from my previous and currant Fics.
You're completely free to speculate on what's going on…I'm not giving anything away though.
Hope you like what you've read thus far…
Any and all feedback will be more than welcomed
And to all the folk who still have me on their Author Alerts…glad to see you're still with me.
Take Care
