It's finally here! After weeks (or week I haven't been counting) of waiting Chapter 8 is out. A showdown between Team Twilight and Team Neji!

Chapter 8: Neji vs. Kirdei

Land of Lightning

"Thanks guys. That means a lot to me." The Trio grinned at him. Nearby bushes began rustling and four Anbu emerged into the Camp.

"Naruto!" One of them called out. She tried to run at them but was restrained.

"Damn, we just can't catch a break with these guys." Kirdei said. "Well there's four of them looks like your helping this time." He said to Rosuto. Rosuto drew a kunai.

"Let's see what I can do."

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Sakura ripped her mask off. "Naruto it's me! Sakura!"

"Troublesome woman! We're on a mission! We aren't supposed to show our faces. Doesn't matter now I suppose," Shikamaru said. He removed his mask and faced his comrade. "Naruto, come on, it's time to go home." The black haired Naruto's face scrunched up in confusion. Neji and Ino followed suit and removed their masks.

"Come on knucklehead! Don't you wanna go get some Ichiraku?" Ino yelled. Naruto looked blankly at her.

"Naruto, we don't want to fight, but we need to get you back to Konoha." Neji said calmly.

"Heh, yeah right! You're with that last group! You can't fool us!" The tall blond standing next to Naruto yelled.

"And for the record his name is Rosuto Nagori." The shorter blond on the other side of Naruto yelled. Naruto whispered something to the group before facing them.

"Who are you and what do you know about me!" Naruto yelled, stunning them.

"I can answer that." The tall blond said.

"Wolf…" The girl said in a warning tone.

"No harm in letting Rosuto what we're up against. Right, Kirdei?" The shorter blond nodded. "Seems this is Konoha's most infamous ANBU Black Ops team. On the right we have Neji Hyuga, genius of Konoha's Hyuga Clan. They say his Byakugan out strips all other members, even of the main branch. Next we have Shikamaru Nara, the pineapple head. He's a master of battle field tactics and has nearly mastered his clan's shadow manipulation jutsu. Beside him is Sakura Haruno. She's likely the greatest medic-nin in the world, and the most dangerous. She could level a mountain with her fists alone. And finally we have Ino Yamanaka. She is second in command of their villages ANBU Torture and Interrogation Squad."

Naruto suddenly gripped his head and began stepping backwards as if he'd been hit by something. Sakura's eyes widened in panic and she tried to step forward but was restrained by Ino's hand.

"Go, Ino!" Neji suddenly shouted as he and Shikamaru flung Kunai at the girl and the two blondes, forcing them to dodge. Ino dashed towards Naruto while he was still distracted. When she got close enough she dived to tackle him, but when she was just inches away he flipped backwards, planted his feet on her stomach and flung her behind him.

'What the hell…' Ino thought as she flew through the air. Naruto landed on his feet and slowly looked at her with a bit of recognition for the first time since her squad arrived.

"Who…" he began.

"Rosuto! We've got to finish this up and get out of here before more of these guys show up. Think you can take her?" The shorter blond yelled. Naruto glanced at him then nodded. The recognition was suddenly replaced with fierce determination.

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"Alright Rosuto is all set. Now I want Kirdei to…" Wolf said.

"Dibs on the Hyuga." Kirdei said, interrupting.

"What? Oh, hell no! I get the Hyuga!"

"Bye!" Kirdei yelled as he took off towards Neji.

"Damn it!" Wolf muttered as he got up to give chase. Kuroiaki suddenly gripped his arm and shook her head.

"Wolf… leave it alone. You can have the other guy, I'll take the girl." Wolf walked toward Shikamaru, grumbling about some people getting to have all the fun.

"Looks like it's just you and me, pineapple head"

"Thank God. For a second there I thought I was going to get stuck fighting another troublesome girl." A kunai grazed his ear but he never even glanced in Kuroiaki's direction. "Well let's get this over. This is such a drag."

"Kick his ass, Wolf!" Kuroiaki yelled before rushing her own opponent.

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Neji Hyuga Vs. Kirdei Tatsumaki

"Bye!" Kirdei yelled as he ran off towards Neji. He had been looking forward to this fight ever since Neji and his group revealed themselves. After all, it wasn't often that two prodigies of the great dojutsu using clans met in battle.

"We don't wish to fight you. Give Naruto to us and we can part ways peacefully." Neji said calmly.

"Well I do wish to fight you, plus I have orders. Naruto isn't leaving with you." Neji's eyes narrowed.

"What do you mean orders…?"

"I don't see any point in not telling you, after all Konoha already knows. It is the supreme order of the Akatsuki to capture all Jinchuriki. Naruto is one of 2 left standing between the Akatsuki and its goals." Neji's eyes twitched and the veins around his eyes became more pronounced.

"I see, in that case I must defeat you here and now. The Akatsuki must not be allowed to complete their plans." Neji moved into his fighting stance. "As it is, you stand in the range of my divination." Neji shifted slightly, changing into a slightly different stance. "I won't leave anything to chance, I will get you here and now. Eight Trigrams…" Kirdei quickly formed a hand sign.

"Soshigan!"

"One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms!" Neji rushed forward and slammed his palms in to Kirdei's chest. "Two Palms, Four Palms, Eight Palms, Sixteen Palms, Thirty-Two Palms, Sixty-Four Palms, One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms!" The force of Neji's attack flung Kirdei backward into a tree. Kirdei slowly slid down until he was sitting and coughed up blood.

"D-damn…" Kirdei muttered weakly.

"You're lucky to still be alive, but unfortunately you probably won't be moving for awhile. Excuse me; I have to complete my mission." Neji turned his back and began walking away. "Well that's interesting. You're the second person to stand after taking that attack full on." Neji turned around to see Kirdei standing and ready to fight. "The question is how..."

"My clan's …Kekkei Genkai…The Soshigan." Kirdei said while panting. "Your attacks were dead on, until I perceived them." Kirdei stood straight up and took a deep breath. "Then each attack was pushed off course enough to protect my tenketsu. Well there's no doubt in my mind that you truly are prodigy of the Hyuga clan. This generation was truly blessed. Not only did the three great dojutsu manifest themselves in their most powerful form this generation, but there also is a Rinnegan user. So much potential…" Kirdei's eyes averted. "None the less, The Akatsuki's orders must be obeyed." Kirdei glared straight into Neji's eyes for the first time. Kirdei's eyes were almost exact replicas of the Sharingan…but emerald green and full of determination.

"From what I've been told, the Rinnegan is one of the three great dojutsu."

"Yeah well you're wrong, but that's a story for another time." Kirdei stood up and began performing hand signs. "For the sake of my friends, I have to win. Wind Style: F0 Tornado Jutsu!" Clouds began gathering over head and the wind suddenly picked up. "Prepare to see why we're called the 'Tatsumaki' Clan."

Neji looked up at the violent storm that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. It took quite a bit of power to change the weather. The clouds began swirling directly over Neji's head and decided it was time to move. A funnel cloud slowly began making its way to the ground as Neji rushed towards Kirdei.

"Eight Trigrams: Three Hundr…" Neji said as he began preparing his ultimate attack but was interrupted when Kirdei kicked him in the side of the head. Neji scowled as he flew through the air. 'He's fast.' All of a sudden Neji was pelted by rocks. Neji's eye widened as he realized that he had just flown through the tornado Kirdei had created. Neji hit the ground and rolled back to hit feet. The funnel cloud had touched the ground and began picking up loose pebbles and twigs and Neji had flown right through it.

"Lightning Style: Static Palms" Neji jerked out of the way of Kirdei's surprise attack but was grazed on the arm.

"Gahhh!" Neji felt a sudden jolt of blinding pain before his arm went numb. A quick glance let Neji know that he at least still had his arm. His attack was different from Sasuke and Kakashi's special moves. "What was that?" Neji said, grimacing at Kirdei's hands which were still crackling with electricity.

"Static Palms is a special brand of Jutsu that combines Ninjutsu and Taijutsu. It charged my hands with static electricity and when I grazed your arm it discharged. Your arm should be feeling pretty numb right now." Kirdei explained.

"You seem to be tiring out pretty quickly from using all those high level jutsus." Neji observed. Thankfully his Byakugan wasn't disrupted in the exchange and it was providing him with excellent information on his opponent. Kirdei was sweating profusely and he was breathing heavily. 'If I can hold out perhaps he'll collapse from chakra exhaustion.

"I'm just getting my second wind," Kirdei began executing hand signs, "Wind Style: F1 Tornado Jutsu!" Neji looked around with his Byakugan and noticed Kirdei's idling tornado suddenly expand as it grew in size, speed, and power. Neji had to act fast if he was going to defeat Kirdei. He closed his eyes and began pumping chakra towards his feet; he was going to have to improvise. Neji's eyes widened as Kirdei suddenly rushed Neji even faster than before. Even with his Byakugan he was having trouble keeping up with him.

That was when something caught his eye. The tornado, with all its power, was still idling away from the battle.

'Why would he not use that to his advantage…?' Neji thought as he continued dodging Kirdei's electrifying attacks. Neji suddenly had an idea. Kirdei planted a kick in Neji's stomach flinging him back towards the tornado…and exactly where he wanted to be. Neji rolled to his feet and ran straight into the tornado, using his chakra to keep it from picking him up. 'Please let this work.'

"Eight Trigrams: Rotation!" Neji began spinning and sending his chakra out. The effect was immediate. The tornado slowed immensely as Neji spun counter to its rotation. After mere seconds the tornado dissipated.

"What, Damn it!" Kirdei yelled. Neji slipped into his gentle fist stance, though with one arm hanging limp.

"Eight Trigrams: Sixteen Palms!" Neji rushed forward and behind Kirdei. "One Palm. Two Palms. Four Palms. Eight Palms. Sixteen Palms!" Kirdei stumbled forward and fell on his ass. Neji walked forward to deliver his finishing blow. "I'm sorry it's come to this." Neji reached back and aimed at Kirdei's heart…

"Rasengan!"

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Well here is part 1 of Team Neji vs. Team Twilight! Each fight occurs at exactly the same time so next chapter will start just after Kirdei runs off to fight Neji.

Jutsu Dictionary

Wind Style: F0 Tornado Jutsu- This jutsu create a very small tornado that is only capable of winds between 40 and 72 mph. Damage is usually minimal. It is the weakest tornado on the Fujita scale and serves as the opening move to Kirdei's Tornado series attacks. The tornado can be used as a weapon itself or, if left idle, enhances the creator's speed and stamina.

Wind Style: F1 Tornado Jutsu- Gives more speed and power to the F-0 Tornado. Size increases as a result. Gives creator a speed and stamina boost. Was disrupted by Neji's Eight Trigrams- Rotation, when Neji spun counter to the tornado's spin.

Lightning Style: Static Palms- Charges user's hands with static electricity allowing them to shock their opponent, effectively numbing where ever they strike.

Eight Trigrams: Sixteen Palms- An improvised but limited version of Neji's Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms. Neji created this while attempting to compensate for his numbed arm.

Eight Trigrams: Three Hund…- Eight Trigrams: Three Hundred Sixty-One Palms is quite possibly Neji's most devastating attack. It targets all 361 of a person's tenketsu. Interrupted when Kirdei kicked him while in 'Tornado Mode'.

Soshigan- Kirdei was able to keep track of Neji's attacks on his front while his Soshigan was activated. The Soshigan forced Kirdei's tenketsu to emit small barriers of chakra diverting the attacks, but not stopping, enough to keep the tenketsu from being blocked off. However when Neji used the Eight Trigrams: Sixteen Palms on his back the Soshigan was unable to register the attacks and thus unable to block them.