A/N: Some long awaited action is about to unfold. We'll see some of the differences that have popped up indirectly due to the change in the space time continuum, especially here. Hope you like the fourth installment of Timebound! - Hollowfied
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.
Chapter 4: First Clash – A Display of Prowess!
"Naruto, it's urgent, get up!" Kiba called, forcing Naruto out of the comforts of his makeshift bed.
The blonde ninja's eyes snapped open.
Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, Naruto donned his flak jacket over the blue jumpsuit he slept in. Slipping on his weapon pouches and tying on his Konoha headband, he quickly nodded to Kiba, proceeding to exit the tent with him.
The two shinobi walked briskly towards a stump where Kakashi and Shikamaru sat, drawing up apparent battle plans. They slowed to a halt within a ring created by the other members of the platoon.
"… from here, we can engage and actually ambush the ambush," Naruto heard Shikamaru claim as he walked into hearing distance.
"Nice of you gentlemen to arrive," Kakashi said nonchalantly.
"What's going on?" Naruto yawned.
"A few minutes ago Hinata spotted enemy shinobi approaching this way," Kiba said, tensing for the battle to come, "at this moment they're setting up and ambush, that is, unless we get them first."
"Which is what I was explaining," Shikamaru added, "I've divided our platoon up into groups to intercept the ninja headed our way. We're engaging in a five-pronged attack: striking successively and leaving no room for retaliation. I haven't actually accounted for you yet Naruto…"
"No problem," Naruto stated, "I'll take out the hidden ninja not in the frontal assault."
"Can you do that?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow at the young ninja's bold statement.
"Easily," he claimed in response, "I'll just need Hinata."
"That can be done," Shikamaru nodded, "This could work. Here's what we're going to do…"
The group of ninjas sat as they revised over Shikamaru's plan. For clarity, they repeated their positioning and different responses to different situations several times until the plan was practically ingrained in their minds. On the insistence of Naruto, Shikamaru focused primarily on the frontal assault, leaving Naruto to his own devices on how to handle the other shinobi.
With Hinata checking every once in awhile to make sure that the ambush wouldn't strike when they least expected, the platoon ate their breakfast warily. Even Chouji, who could devour multiple breakfasts in one sitting, seemed to be on edge as he ate less than his fill.
"They're on the move," Hinata warned as the group finished eating.
"We'll clean up later," Kakashi called, fitting his ANBU mask over his face, "show me your competence as Konoha ninja, team. Disperse!"
With the command, the team split up into their fractions.
Naruto lay in wait amongst shrubbery with Hinata at his side. Tension filled the air as the team lay in wait to ambush the ambush. His teammates had hidden well – Naruto couldn't spot a square inch of any of them amongst the trees and greenery.
"Be careful out there," Naruto whispered, squeezing Hinata's hand.
"I will," she responded quietly, "you too."
They released their grip as the sounds of twigs snapping and leaves rustling filled the silence. They're coming, Naruto thought.
Suddenly, a group of shinobi burst forth from the foliage. More than ten strong, they paused at the signal of the ninja in front. His face was hidden behind a mask, as was most of the shinobi in his band. The lead ninja seemed to sniff at the air. Naruto could feel chakra pouring out of the man.
It's a sensory ninja, he thought to himself, take him out quickly!
Naruto was beginning to doubt the senses of his teammates when the leaves in the tree above him rustled violently and a figure burst forth. Before the sensory ninja could react, a piercing scream rang through the air: "Gatsuuga!"
The whirling mass of fangs and claws of Kiba cleaved through the band of enemy ninja. Naruto watched as the sensory ninja was quickly struck down, blood flying in multiple directions. The other surprised shinobi quickly dove out of the way of the deadly whirlwind.
Turning around to engage it, their backs were laid bare to another identical slashing whirlwind of death. Akamaru! Naruto thought to himself as the fangs and claws of the usually friendly dog met flesh. Screams pierced the air as the remaining ninja retreated to the ground to assess their situation. In no time at all, reinforcements burst from the trees to join their stricken comrades.
Looking around above them for signs of the two deadly whirlwinds, the ninja were caught off guard once again as, rolling straight towards them, was what appeared to be a giant porcupine.
Chouji's Meat Tank struck the enemy shinobi hard, bowling them over like bowling pins. The pins from his hair that enveloped his body drew wails as they pierced through flesh. The enemy ninjas recuperated faster this time, determined to subdue one of their attackers. With haste, one erected a stone wall to stop the rolling Chouji with a doton jutsu. They proceeded to climb on Chouji when, to their surprise, he threw them all off, growing to well over twice his size.
As the enemies fell like flies onto the ground below, Naruto watched in awe as the shadows around them shifted. Before the enemies could respond, the darkness came alive, weaving to and fro between them. At Shikamaru's command, his Shadow Sewing technique skewered through the enemy shinobi and filling the air with screams of pain. Rooted in place, they could do nothing but watch as a swarm of insects descended on them, finishing the job.
Before long, the team rendezvoused where Naruto had been hiding. Beads of sweat ran down their faces as drawbacks to the chakra they had exerted. Even so, each ninja had a wide grin on their faces.
"Did you see that? I shredded through those losers! Akamaru! Come here! Good boy!" Kiba rambled continuously.
"Shut up, Kiba," Shikamaru whispered, "it'll be troublesome if they figure out our position,"
"Shikamaru's right," Hinata responded, activating her Byakugan, "they're surrounding us as we speak…"
"Naruto," Shikamaru's gaze shifted over to the blonde ninja, "My plan ends here. I could come up with another strategy to bypass the rest of the ambush-,"
"No," Naruto interrupted confidently, "I can handle this. Just sit back and relax. Hinata, are you ready?"
Hinata nodded nervously. Naruto could see traces of doubt lining his other teammates' faces as he prepared to take his leave. He was determined to erase them.
"Let's go," he announced. The pair had practiced their tag team battle abilities to the point where Naruto didn't have the slightest doubt that they would succeed.
Without hesitation, Hinata ran out into the open. She easily deflected a few shurikens thrown at her upon her revelation with her Gentle Fists. She followed up by drawing kunai of her own. Upon closer inspection, they were somehow different than normal kunai…
With her Byakugan, Hinata quickly pinpointed the locations of each enemy hidden among the brush. Taking a deep breath, she promptly launched kunai after kunai, one towards each enemy. Anticipating them, the enemy shinobi were able to sidestep or block them with ease.
Now's my queue, Naruto thought, cracking his knuckles. The others let out short gasps as, before their very eyes, the blonde ninja disappeared.
Hinata stood quietly and patiently as she waited for the next part of their combination attack. She didn't have to wait long. Instantaneously, screams filled the air as final breaths were drawn. The number of screams increased as more and more ninja crumbled to the ground, never to rise again.
"Impossible," Kakashi muttered as the sounds of pains and death continued to fill the forest.
Casually, Hinata stuck one of her remaining kunai in the ground next to her. Gradually, the screams faded and in the blink of an eye, a figure materialized in front of her. She couldn't stifle her giggles as he playfully lifted her off the ground.
"Naruto, what even, I don't…" Kiba stammered.
"Shunshin no Jutsu," Kakashi answered, "the Fourth's technique…"
Naruto beamed proudly as his teammates applauded his performance.
"It was nothing really," he replied modestly to their compliments, "I'm nowhere as fast as dad…"
The platoon left the bloodbath tired and dirty, but with feelings of accomplishment in their hearts. By Shikamaru's count, they were outnumbered at least 5 to 1. Even Kakashi, to some extent, softened his exterior enough to congratulate the team on their success and brilliance in execution of the plan.
"I don't want to have this mission delayed any longer," Kakashi mused, "but you deserve a rest. We'll pick up the pace again come morning."
The young group of shinobi cheered at a chance to rest, taking full advantage of the ANBU ninja temporarily forgetting his resolve for promptness. Naruto, for one, was sure it wouldn't happen again.
Shino took watch for most of the night ("He sat in the corner all night anyways, why not put it to good use?" Kiba joked). Hinata, on the other hand, spent it in the boys' tent, scowling at the mess they made. Naruto draped his arm around her shoulder as he laughed at Kiba's jokes. This is what life's about, he mused to himself, looking around at his group of friends, this is what's worth fighting for.
A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed I herofied Naruto a little bit, but I think he deserved it. For the record, if anyone is interested, Naruto doesn't know Shadow Clones in my little series. If we think back to pre-Shippuden in the first few episodes, he actually learned it due to Mizuki asking him to steal the forbidden scroll. Naruto only complies because he feels left out and wants to prove himself. With the Fourth Hokage as a father, who's going to feel left out? Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think in a review!