Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto but many of the characters in this story are of my own design. As well as the entire premise. Hope you enjoy.

" Fight?" Naruto exclaimed, with a puzzling look on his face, " You're good enough for all ten of these here Hyuuga. There's no need for me to dirty my hands." Reaching behind him Naruto glanced over at Neji. " I'm going after the boy." he said stern faced, at the same time tossing a smoke pellet to the ground engulfing them both in a thick cover of smoke. Using the smoke Naruto quickly made a hand sign and muttered in a low voice, " Kage bunshin no jutsu." As the clone appeared he immediately changed the hand sign and whispered again, " Henge." ( Transformation). As the Naruto replicate dropped to its feet he launched an outstretched arm to his right grabbing hold of the windmill shuriken in mid air beside him. Launching it out of the smoke he watched as it missed it's target. Just as planned. Waiting till the smoke cleared it clasped its palms together, made a hand sign and turned to Neji grinning, " Try to keep up." On finishing its sentence it disappeared leaving a puffy white smoke in its wake. Completely confused by the disappearance no one took notice of the windmill shuriken, still traveling release a puff of smoke to reveal Naruto as he transformed once again lightly sliding on his feet as he landed. No one but Neji that is. There wasn't much that the byakugan could not see and Naruto knew it. A perfect execution of jutsu, the kage bunshin and the henge jutsu, Naruto was sure that Neji would be impressed and a little envious. Bounding forward now with no thought of what was to become the hyuuga's fate he sped off in the direction Neji pointed out. He had to get to the boy, to Masahiro.

Masahiro finally stopped. He had been running with a heavy heart. The Anbu ninjas had stayed behind to protect him as he escaped and here he was, running for his life like a scared little child. He clenched his fists and smacked it onto a tree.

" DAMMIT!!" he belted out. " DAMMIT, DAMMIT, DAMMIT!!! I can't do this!"

He carried on as if reasoning with himself, he was no child anymore. He was now a ninja. What ninja would run off and leave a comrade behind. Not him! Certainly not him! Turning in the opposite direction now he growled, " Byakugan." Peering through the trees he saw in the distance a lone anbu ninja fending off a single attacker with the other lying motionless on the earth. Releasing the byakugan he hastily ran back in the direction of the fight. His spirit stirred he was prepared to join the battle and assist his fellow ninja.

Naruto had reached the scene of the fight. He looked on, perched on the branch of a tree he watched as the anbu ninja was being overpowered. His opponent was strong. Almost seven feet tall the man stood, his body well built, he weilded an unsual waepon. An anourmous sickle attached to a steel bar, at the end of it was a huge steel ball hanging from a chain. It was a frightening weapon. A direct blow from this was sure to finsh off any opponent as there lay on the floor with his head bashed open a dead ninja, a testament to the weapons awesomeness. It wouldn't be long now till this other ninja was dead. Too bad. Naruto had no time to take on a fight now. Reaching Masahiro before he entered the village was his only priority. He had come to claim the boy not to run to the aid of a ninja he didn't care to know. Standing to his feet he prepared to launch forward when there came a loud cry and a flurry of shuriken coming out of the trees below. The anbu's opponent skipped back avoiding the flying death blades, parrying and skillfully dodging Naruto noticed that me moved quite well for a man his size with that huge a weapon. Pushed back by the shuriken the attacker looked up to see Masahiro standing between him and the anbu ninja who was about to be dealt a final blow laying motionless behind him. His eyes firey red the boy stood infront of him. His hair standing on end, spikey, sharp even, with claws and bearing fangs that gave him quite a feral appearance.

" YOU WILL DIE FOR THIS!!!!" the boy growled loudly, his voice indicative of some kind of creature and not that of any human.

The muscle bound assailant looked not at all impressed. Pointing his sickle at Masahiro he proclaimed, " I am a true ninja boy, your abilities are wasted on me. You will die today and soon that which is within you will be returned to my master." His master? Who was this master that he spoke of? Did he mean,... could it be? Naruto studied the man's words. It had to be him. Who else would want the boy that badly. Who else but... Naruto eyes flared. His interest peaked, his anger riled, Naruto glared at the man with crimson eyes, letting out a word that carried with it the stain of malice in his voice, " KYUBI!"

Not willing to wait any longer the sickle wielding ninja lauched himself at Masahiro. Swinging at the boy's head with the blade of his weapon he watched as Masahiro leapt backwards into the air. With an evil grin on his face he spat out, " DIE YOU PATHETIC LITTLE WHELP!!" The steel ball already making its way to Masahiro as with a skillful flick of his wrist the man flung the chain like a whip to send the ball crashing into his body. On contact, Masahiro dissapeared as the ball traveled through a white smoke. On the floor before him the previously motionless anbu ninja quickly brought himself to his knees. Changing his form right before the ninja's eyes Masahiro stood up. Reaching behind his back he began launching shurikens at the monster of a man. As if unaffected the ninja quickly brought the ball of his weapon crashing down to the earth in front of him leaving a large crater where Masahiro was prevoiusly standing. Masahiro had eluded it just in time. A second later and he would have been dead, crushed under the weight of the ball. What he found most alarming was that although the ninja's body was riddled with shurikens he still had the presence of mind to counterattack. As if his attack meant nothing. Looking at the little child before him the ninja was clearly incensed. How could he allow this child to outsmart him so easily. While he had been dodging his innitial shuriken attack the boy not only got his comrade out of the way but also assumed his fallen position with a henge sending his kage bunshin to face off against him.

" BASTARD!!!" he hissed through clenched teeth. Then tensing his muscles Masahiro watched as the shurikens that were once buried in his body started falling off to reveal the true depth of his attack. The shurikens had bearly pierced his skin. His muscles so developed were like armour. It would take a lot to put him down. Masahiro could feel his courage waver for a second as he took a step back. Seeing the hesitation in Masahiro's body the ninja took advantage. He tossed his sickle holding on to the chain as it extended. Masahiro still a little shook up could only manage to drop his body to the floor as the sickle flew pass him. Scampering to get himself back to his feet he was totally unaware of the sickle coming at his back as the ninja tugged on the chain to draw it back to him. Masahiro now seeing this turned to deflect the weapon but it was already too late. His body was half turned when Naruto appeared behind him and with a kunai, skillfully positioned it into the loop of the chain and drove it into the ground stopping the sickle dead. Turning rapidly he pulled from his back two more kunais and launched them at the ninja. The ninja was unmoved at first but then noticing the trajectory of the kunais, coming at his eyes had to act. They were coming at him too fast too deflect them both, his only chance was to jump back. Naruto knowing this stuck two more kunais into the chain of the sickle and placing his full body weight on it watched as the ninja jumped backward trying to pull his weapon back to him with one hand and deflect the kunai with the other. An act which he paid for as one of the kunai found itself lodged deep into his eye.

Without hesitation Naruto rushed in attack at the ninja. Masahiro stood in awe. This man clearly had been trained as a ninja but carried no mark identifying him to any village. He was so impressive. He had a primal rage in his attack his eyes a crimson red and baring fangs as he... Fangs? He didn't have fangs before. His eyes weren't bloody red before either but were blue. Masahiro looked on at the newly transformed figure of the man. Looking at his hands, now fully clawed he felt with his finger the fangs in his own mouth. " What was this?" he thought and who was this man that shared so many characteristics with him?

Naruto was pummeling the man but it was as if hitting a wall. His attacks were fierce but were having little effect. His one eye gone the ninja was under attack, being pushed back Naruto was giving him no chance to counter. Through the relentless barrage the ninja thrust a hand forward and caught hold of Naruto's shirt. Pulling away Naruto ripped the shirt in order to escape the ninja's hold. Launching forward in attack again he was met with a kick to the side of his face that left him sprawling. Recovering to his feet quickly he sprung to see the ninja above him with his fists held high and like a hammer coming down onto his head forcing him to his knees. Before he could get up he was again struck down with another crippling blow to his back. Then another and another. He was still. His body numb from the blows he regretted not having the strentgh to fight on. The power he possesed was nothing now more than a shadow of what it was before. The ninja above him placed a foot on his back in triumph. Laughing hysterically he boasted. " How lucky am I," he began. " Today I have defeated both my masters enemies. He may have preferred to have you alive but too bad for you I'm in a bad mood today." Still laughing insanely the ninja lifted his foot above Naruto's head ready to crush it when he let out an agonizing cry of pain.

Springhing unto his back Masahiro took tke kunais in each of his hands and thrust them into the ears of his opponent. Naruto looked up to see him riding on the ninja's neck. Pushing his body up he was launched into the air by a kick and came crashing into a tree to lay motionless. Reaching over his back now the ninja snatched hold of the boy's leg and slammed him into the ground. Screaming in agony he pulled the kunais out of his ears and with murderous eyes moved towards Masahiro who appeared to be unconsiuos. Taking no notice of the person bounding through the trees he was dealt a kick to his ear that sent him staggering back. Placing himself between the ninja and Masahiro, Neji crouched in a lowered stance. " Now I have you." Lowering his stance even more he shouted aloud " Jyuukenhou, Hakke Rokujuu Yonshou!" ( Sixty four points of divinity). Sprinting forward he stood infront of his opponent, " Eight trigrams two palms," as he struck out at two of the ninjas chakra points, " four palms... eight palms... thirty two palms... sixty four palms..." His final blow thrust, the ninja was thrown back as he was sent tumbling through the trees. Breathing heavily Neji turned to Masahiro still lying still on th ground. Withdrawing his byakugan he moved to Masahiro and bending on one cradled the boy's head in his hands.

" Masahiro, Masahiro." he called out, as he lightly slapped the boy's face shaking him back to life. Masahiro opened his eyes to see his uncle Neji smiling back at him. " You had me worried boy." Neji remarked, drawing a welcoming smile from Masahiro's face. Now lifting himself into an upright sitting position he peered past Neji. His smile instantaneously gone he was helpless as the ninja now covered in blood thrusted his hand grabbing Neji's head from behind. Lifting him to the air he slammed Neji's head into the dirt, face first. He was mad with rage now, grunting in pain and growling like an animal he trounced Neji into the ground who looked almost dead in his hand. Tossing him aside he turned to Masahiro, his single eye maliciously steering down at the boy who seem prepared to attack him with what seemed like a ball of chakra in his hand.

" RASENGAN!!"

The ball of chakra hit its mark as the man, still on his feet was pushed back. He seemed overpowered for a second by it but then rooting his toes into the ground held his position and dealt a back handed slap to the little nuisance that launched him off his feet. " Stupid boy," he said laughing insanely, " Your little ball of Chakra will not affect me!"

" Then how about this one!" From behind came a loud roaring sound like rushing water. Turning he saw two Narutos upon him, A massive ball of chakra between them he stood still ready to take the attack head on. " ODAMA RASENGAN!"

The rasengan thrust into his chest ripped him open. The attack was too much, he was finished. Lifting him into the air spinning his body like a violent tornado he flew back crashing through the trees to come to a crahing stop on a massive rock, dead.

Neji looked up at Naruto roaring in anger. His back arched wit his eyes blood red. His teeth now fangs, his nails now claws he watched his scarred body engulfed in a firey red chakra. Steam rising from his body he looked more like a demon than anything. Turning his attention to Masahiro he staggered to his feet, his body badly beaten and bleeding perfusely from a head wound he made his way to him. Now kneeling before him he made certain that he was still alive before letting out a sigh of relief. Sensing impending danger he turned to see Naruto glaring at him. Still in his animalistic form he came forward demanding. " Give me the boy!" His eyes menacing he no longer looked like himself and sounded even scarier. " Give me the boy, now!!!" His tone even more threatening. Neji knew he could do nothing if Naruto tried to take the child. He was too beaten to stop him. He would have him and there would be nothing he could do. Rising to his feet he stood, ready to die for the boy if necessary. Naruto's eyes peered him as he advanced forward as if not under his own power. He was within arms reach now of Neji when he stopped. Masahiro had awoken. His eyes now back to their natural sky blue he looked Naruto directly in his so sympathetically. Naruto's advance was stayed. He felt his beastly nature being tamed with the eyes of the boy. His body returning to normal he dropped to his knees. He was losing control of himself. With every release the chakra of the fox was taking control. He knew it was only a matter of time before he completely lost himself to it. That's why he wanted the boy but not like this. Not with his eyes steering at him like that. Steering at him, just like she did. Just like his mother. Turning and without uttering another word he qickly slipped out of sight into the trees leaving the two ninja behind.

Turning now to face Masahiro, Neji noticed that he had gone unconscious. His eyesight fading he forced himself to stay awake. With his life slipping away he knew he was Masahiro's last hope of returning to the village. Stumbling forward he fell on his face. He couldn't go on. Lifting his head he heard in the distance loud barking. With his last strength he kept his eyes open long enough to see Akamaru racing towards him and Kiba following behind closely with some other ninjas behind him, crying out loudly. " Hold on Neji!... Hold on!"