Alternate RedSkys: Kurama: OI! I DON'T HAVE TICKS EITHER! Those two chowder heads were more like -

Me: Tape-worms? :)

Kurama: SHUT UP!

x

Final Guardian: Thanks alot, I'm really trying to take it slow with this story, and make sure the build up is just right for the storyline.

Demonick Angel: I thank you form the bottom of my heart on that. I was really worried how it would turn out since I haven't seen that filler in a while.

DragonPony022: Thanks a lot, with Tayuya's and Naruto's similar attitudes, it'd be hard for them not the get along, if not fall for each other. She's basically a female Naruto with a quicker temper, and a more colorful vocab. And as for that weapon's seal, she'd bug him until he gave in :D

Guest: So far, the seals he's used are the simplest out of his arsenal. For seals like the one he used on Tayuya, he'd have trouble with them. Not to worry though, a seal is coming up he's really gonna have to work on. :)

RAGNAROK: I'm not really sure if their relationship has progressed that far yet :P

firetemplar415: I'm honestly trying to make them longer T-T

Kishinokurobi: Only in Konoha could people hate a 4 year old as cute as Ranmaru. And don't worry about Tayuya. She get's one hell of a spot light in this chapter.

SeerKing: Thanks so much. The sympathy is really appreciated T-T

Kooloowarrior: Sorry to say we haven't gotten to the really dark stuff yet, but thanks anyway :D

EndlessChains: Thanks. I find Ranmaru, in the entire Narutoverse, to be quite possibly the most innocent character of all, except maybe Naruto or Hinata, come to think of it. The sword idea came from the concept that some of the Mist Swords show sentience like Kisame's sword to the point that they're practically alive. The Kiba choosing Naruto in such a way also taught Naruto to look before he touched ;) Also with Tsunade, of course after Gamakichi's half explanation she'd jump to the totally wrong conclusion, and rush to help her only family.

Purple Hokage of Konoha: Actually yes, I was. Kisame and Itachi will be paying our favorite team a visit down the line, after a confrontation between Naruto and Jiraiya.

61394: Well, Raiga wouldn't, of course, but that won't stop him from blaming the poor kid, and lashing out at the one's responsible.

Shark42: You'll see an Uzumaki Ninjutsu in this one for sure!

Jose19: Actually no, I didn't have any intention. As I said, something will stay the same in this story, but it is, for the most part, something entirely new. Speaking of Saiga, we'll get to him later. That's chapter has changed up quite a bit too.

animeman12: Yup, I write on the site. And to your statement, let's just say that things get very complicated soon.

Kagemaru Okami: That's very useful, thanks for the tip, and it's given me an idea on how to change that in the next chapter. I recently found another Doujutsu that is remarkably like Ranmaru's, and it would, sorta fit.

Tonlor: Thank you, thank you, praise is always welcome. To answer that question. Of course, how could I pass that chance up? I still have that surprise pairing set up for Hinata later.

Author Note: Remember, folks this is not a harem! :)

9: Mission: pt. 3 : She Who Guards the Northern Gate


"Shishou, please slow down!" Sakura cried out from behind her sensei, "We can't keep up!" Tsunade was outpacing both her apprentice and the members of Team Gai, who were lagging behind almost as badly as Sakura. Lee was in the lead of the pack, tailing right behind Tsunade as Neji struggled to keep up with his excitable teammate while Tenten was closer to Sakura.

Tsunade glanced back at them, "I'm sorry, Sakura, but we've little choice. We can rest a little when we reach Kawa. I know of a short cut that'll take ust through one of the smaller mountain paths."

"Tsunade-sama, how much further is Kawa no Kuni?" Lee question, little strain in his voice, though he was obviously tired. "We have been going for nearly twenty-four hours straight, but I know not where the border is."

Tsunade glanced up, looking at the stars, "We should be at the border within the hour at the rate we're going." She looked back at the Genin team, "I'm honestly impressed with all of you for keeping up with me this long. You especially, Sakura."

Sakura grinned at her weakly, "I didn't ask to be your apprentice without knowing I'd have to change a little."

Lee flashed her his good-guy pose, "Yosh, Sakura-san, your youthful flames shall indeed burn brighter than the brightest - "

"LEE LOOK OUT!" Sakura yelled in warning, but it was too late. Lee turned around, and promptly came face to face with a particularly thick tree branch.

KONK

Even Tsunade winced when she heard that one, then sighed as she heard Neji and Tenten go after their falling comrade, "Scratch that, we can take a break here for a little while."

A few minutes later found the group on the ground around a small campfire with Lee knocked out. Though it was a much needed rest, Tsunade couldn't help but feel anxious about Naruto's wellbeing. Then again, Gamakichi had only said that the boy had been roughed up, not injured, so there was no solid proof that it was Naruto that needed the help.

"Shishou," Sakura said after a few moments of her brooding, "You never explained exactly why we were rushing so much?"

Neji looked over at her with disapproval, "Sakura, it's rude to question a mission, let alone a mission given and directed by the Godaime."

Tsunade sighed, "It's fine, Neji. I was given information that the mission I hade sent for Naruto to complete had been bumped up from B to S rank, but I was confident that Naruto could handle it with Jiraiya by his side. Then just about fifteen minutes before I sent for you all, Gamakichi, Naruto's personal summon, gave me a message about someone being hurt on the mission." She said, sighing again, "He said that Naruto did indeed look roughed up, but didn't specify how badly."

Tenten smiled at her, "You must care for him a lot to just drop everything like this and come out her to help him."

"I do," she nodded, "He's the closet person I have left to a living relative. My grandmother was from the same clan."

"Clan?" All of them questioned.

Tsunade looked a little shocked, "None of you have ever heard of the Uzumaki clan?" They all shook their heads, and the blonde growled, "It had to be those dottering old bats on the civilian council...The Uzumaki were one of the founding clans of Konoha, but remained apart from us so they could live their way. But our villages were always close. You see, though it's become distant. My clan, the Senju, and the Uzumaki are distant relatives."

"But if that's true," Neji said, "Then why were we not taught? Surely they were important if they helped the Senju and Uchiha build the village?"

"They were damned important," Tsunade smiled, "And feared. The Uzumaki, though powerful, were savage. In battle, even those of Kumo feared them."

"The people of Lightning feared them?" Tenten asked in wonder, "Why? Lightning is one of the most powerful lands in the country!"

Tsunade gave the girl a wry smile, "It's what made them unique that made them feared. They were not master of nin, or genjutsu. They were ken, tai, and fuinjutsu masters. But it was the art of sealing that placed them at the top. Nothing could undo one of their seals once it was locked, and nothing could withstand the destruction one of their seals could cause. It was a seal that took out half of the combined armies of Kumo and Iwa when they laid seige to their island when the Uzumaki made their last stand."

"Last stand?" Sakura muttered, "So...there aren't any left?"

Tsunade shook her head, "They are scattered all over the world, Sakura. If any full-blooded Uzumaki still live, then they have good reason to hide. You know what Konoha is like with Kekkei Genkai. You have no idea what I had to do to make sure Sasuke wasn't made into a breeding stud for his eyes."

"That's disgusting!" Sakura snapped, "Who - "

"The civilains, of course," the blonde sneered, "Those three have set the normal people against me so many times that I can't believe I've lasted this long without killing someone instead of just throwing one through the door!"

Sakura giggled at the memory. Homura was one of her least favorite people...starting right behind Orochimaru.

Neji growled deep in his throat, "Am I to take it that if a pure-blood Uzumaki would be used as a brood mare or a stud horse if found?"

"By any village," Tsunade growled equally, "Naruto's mother got lucky. She was already married by the time the fall came...or as close to married as she was going to get at that point." She chuckled, seeing the looks of curiosity on their faces, "Before you ask, I won't tell you who he was, because Naruto's father was a great man with many enemies. But his mother...she was a vibrant and beautiful woman that had the worst temper of any human being I'd every seen!" She laughed outright, "But I'd never met a more wonderful woman in my entire life. It saddened me greatly to learn of her death at the claws of the Kyuubi. I wish Naruto could have known her."

"Just like Sasuke-kun," Sakura muttered.

"No," Tsunade said, giving the girl a hard look, "Sasuke, while he did feel some of the loneliness of being without a family, will never understand what it means to be without it completely."

Tenten looked down into the flames, remembering time after time she would see Naruto sitting on the swings alone in the park. No one would play with him. No one would even go near him except Shikamaru, Choji, and sometimes Kiba. But no one really knew him. She'd been an orphan as well, but had been adopted by the owner of the weapon's shop owner, giving rise to her love of all weapons.

Neji, however, was thinking things over. He knew that Naruto's parents had dyed in the Kyuubi attack. And that Naruto's age, now thirteen, coeincidently matched up with the date of said attack. Meaning that he was born on the very day that his parents had been killed. And there was something else. During the Chunin exams, and their fight, Neji had seen something that he couldn't possbily explain. That deep, dark, red chakra he had summoned when Neji had knowingly close off all his chakra points, only to be forced back open moments later with that monstrous power.

Tsunade, by the look on Neji's face as realization set in, knew that she had said too much. Neji wasn't stupid. He knew of Naruto's Jinchuuriki status, or thought he did, at least. His eyes were wide as he looked at the Hokage, and she shook her head, signifying that she already knew, and for him to say nothing. Neji, understanding, nodded back.

It was at that moment when Lee finally began to stir, "Ugh...why does my head hurt so much?"

Tenten giggled, "Your flames of youth got a little out of control. You forgot to watch where you were going."

"A thousand apologies," Lee staggered to his feet, "I have surely set us back by quite a while. Let us be off!"

"Cool down, Lee," Tsunade smiled, "I admit that I was rushing things, so just take a moment longer to rest. And all of you need to eat something. I have a feeling we won't get another chance once we hit the pass."

=x=

"They're either going to be coming for the Northern passage, or the East, from the river where we pump our water to the slews," Sukeza said, point to the locations on the valley map, "My bet would be the Northern passage. But seeing as you have trip wires on all possible entries, I think we'll be seeing less of Raiga's army very soon."

Jiraiya hummed in thought, "How many men does he command?"

"Hundreds," the old man sighed, "Thugs, mercenaries, nuke-nin, all of them greedy to the core for our gold."

"How many of them are skilled enough to really cause trouble?" Jiraiya asked, hoping it was only Raiga he had to worry about, "Did you notice anyone with strange abilities?"

Sukeza shrugged, "All shinobi have strange abilities to me."

"What I mean is did any of them use something like lava, or an extremely powerful elemental jutsu?" Jiraiya clarified, "We don't generally see it in water country, but Shakuton, and Yoton are not uncommon. Or perhaps another Raiton user?"

"None that we've seen," Sukeza said much to the relief of the Sannin. If none of them had a particularly powerful justu style besides Raiga, then he only needed to worry about how many bodies he could handle. "Tell me, Jiraiya-sama, do you really think you can handle these men?"

Jiraiya gave the man a small smile, "I'm not worried about myself, Sukeza-san, it's my two...three youngsters I'm worried about. Naruto's been a little too cocky for my liking lately, and having that new sword isn't helping his ego."

"An understandable woe," the old man nodded, "What about that girl he seems so fond of? The one that played such a lovely melody earlier?"

"Tayuya?" Jiraiya grinned, "She's more of a long range fighter, using genjutsu for illusions and whatnot. She's fair in close range, though. She won't go down easily."

"And the little one?" He asked, meaning Ranmaru, "None of really ever blamed that child. A man like Raiga can easily corrupt the mind of a child like him when he's such a trusting child."

Jiraiya chuckled, "I don't think you have to worry about him. He's clinging to Naruto and Tayuya." He smiled, "I know he refers to them like older siblings, but I think he sees them as more parental figures than anything."

Sukeza could help but laugh at that, "He really is just a child, isn't he?"

The gama sennin said nothing. He couldn't. Ranmaru was like a newly budding flower about to open for the first time. Add to the fact that he could very well be the first of a long line of new Dojutsu users, and Jiraiya wanted nothing more than to raise the boy right. But that wasn't going to happen. Seeing how attached he'd become to Tayuya, and Naruto, there was no telling the child to be with anyone else.

Then again, there was his village's love of Kekkei Genkai, Doujutsuo in particular. If the boy went to Konoha, Danzo and the civilains that followed him would undoubtedly try to use him as a stud horse. On one hand, Jiraiya thought that could work in his favor if he was allowed to choose his bride or brides, but if the council had their way...

I won't let that happen, Jiraiya growled, and turned toward the window. It was a quiet evening. Too quiet for his liking. There wasn't even the sound of crickets chirping.

Suddenly a loud explosion erupted and shook Sukeza's home to the foundations. The older man staggered, leaning against the wall for support, "Th-that came from the cliff!"

"Impossible! Naruto planted mines all over the walls!" Jiraiya roared, and ducked outside, looking all around himself for the source, and noticed a dust cloud rising from the platuea Naruto was using for training...oh, yes, that would explain a lot...

"That damn gaki," Jiraiya sighed, "He nearly gave me a heart attack!"

=x=

Naruto stood on shaky legs as he held the Kiba blade in his hands, badly scorched from the technique. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all?

What did you expect? This is a high level kenjutsu, Runt, you can't very well master it in a matter of hours! The Kyuubi snipped at him, being roused from his nap when he was forced to heal his vessel, Though seeing you get shocked like that is quite amusing.

Glad I could be of use to you, Naruto grumbled. Off to the side were Tayuya and Ranmaru, both watching the blond's progress with technique.

"You sure you wanna keep goin'?" Tayuya called out, Ranmaru in her lap, "You look like a crispy critter!"

"I'll be fine," Naruto called out, "I think I've almost got the form down!"

Tayuya just sighed, "Stubborn jackass." But she could keep a smile from her face as she watched him go through the motions of the teechnique again. So far it looked like he was simply channeling his chakra into the blade, and then unleashing it in the form of a lightning bolt, but the problem was releasing the energy created a widespread area of destruction. Hence there reasoning for being up on the platuea in the first place, and Naruto being about three hundred yards away from the pair.

"Okay, Aizen said the key to this was will power to master it," Naruto muttered to himself, "The stronger the desire, the stronger the attack...but..." he glanced over at Tayuya and Ranmaru...they were too close. He shook his head, "No, this will not hurt them!" He growled and got down into his first Ryu no Mai stance, pushing as much chakra into the blade as he could manage. Kiba seemed to welcome the chakra, glowing bright blue, and sparking small bolts of lightning to the ground. This felt right. This felt like it would work! "Raiton: Soryuha!" He whipped around and brought the blade up and over to strike the ground.

This time, instead of being blasted himself, the bolt shot out of his sword in a long, deadly arch in front of him, shredding the rocky ground to dust. As the bolt continued on its path and shot off the cliff, it turned skyward and left the tip of the blade, disapating into nothing.

Naruto grinned tiredly, "I...I did it..." and promptly fell over on his back.

Tayuya hurried over with Ranmaru, "You okay? You're not dead, right? You still have to put that weapon seal on me, you know!"

Naruto grunted, "Gee, so nice to hear you concerned about my health, Tayuya-chan."

Tayuya growled at him, "Keep calling me chan, and we'll see about that health of your's."

Naruto lifted up a hand and waved it aimlessly, "too tire to give a damn...wake me when Raiga and his goons get here." He gave a loud yawn and rolled over, falling asleep instantly.

"O-oi! Don't fall asleep here!" Tayuya roared, "i can't carry you and Ranmaru, Shithead!"

"You won't have to," Jiraiya's voice said next to her, making the girl jump, "Man, he's really been working, huh?" He asked, taking in the devastation to the area.

"Dammit, Jij! Don't spook me like that!" Tayuya snapped.

"Will Nii-san be alright?" Ranmaru asked, activating his Doujutsu, "His chakra's almost gone."

Jiraiya just sighed and bent to throw Naruto over his shoulder, "He'll be fine. Never met an Uzumaki that later died of chakra exhaustion. He just over did it with that last jutsu." Naruto gave a loud snore in reply. "Oh, boy, if Raiga hear's that, the plan's gonna go to shit."

=x=

Raiga looked upon the valley pass in suspicion. In the short time he'd been away, someone like Jiraiya would have prepared for soemthing like his attack. "Kusakabe, take fifty men and head to the Northern pass," Raiga said, "The rest of you will be with me. If anyone finds that brat, you bring him to me."

"Right, Raiga-sama," his men grinned, and took to the walls.

"Let's go," Raiga said to the remaining men, "But watch out for traps. This is Jiraiya we're talking about here. Kill him, and we'll be rich men." The men laughed, the mention of money alone enough to quell their fears for the moment, and advanced into the mountain pass.

In the lead, one of the men noticed something sticking out from under a rock...a piece of paper...a piece of paper that was smoldering! "Paper bo - "

BTOOOOM

=x=

Tsunade and her team were passing through the small tunner that would lead them to the valley when the explosion rocked through the ground, "What the hell?!"

Neji activated his Byakugan, checking for signs of a trap, "I don't see any bombs around...that came from the other side of the - "

BOOOM

Neji was nearly knocked off his feet as the second explosion followed, "What on Earth is going on?!"

"That's either got to be Jiraiya or Naruto!" Tsunade grinned, "No other people I know like to be that flashy!"

"Should we be worried?" Sakura asked, "They could get caught in that!"

Neji shook his head, "They are no where near the explosions." He said as he scanned with his Byakugan, "I can see them in the valley up ahead."

Tenten came up to him, "Do you see Naruto?"

He nodded, "His chakra signature is slightly weaker, but he's recovering fast." He looked at Tsunade, "Jiraiya and two other's, a young woman, and a child, are with him."

"Then we should hurry," Lee said, "Let us not keep our friends waiting any longer!"

=x=

Back in the village, the explosions had set everyone on edge as the three shinobi readied themselves. Naruto had recoverd quickly, waking from the shock of the first explosion. That had come from the East, then the second had come from North. They were coming from two fronts, easy enough to cover for the three of them, considering one of them was a one man army.

"I'll take the Northern pass," Tayuya had volunteered, smiling, "It's only right since they called me the Guardian of the North Gate while I was with my old team." Now she stood at the edge of the village, simply listening to sounds of the explosives going off. She thought about what she should do before hand, and now, under three large mounds of dirt lay her three demon puppets. In her hads her newly gifted flute rested, waiting for her to play.

She could hear shouting and swearing that was getting closer with each passing moment, meaning that they had by-passed Naruto's remaining tags. That made her smile. The more she played, the more her former shinobi self shone through.

And then there they were, twenty or thirty men remaining, all of whom were scorched and injured from the explosions. Upon seeing her, they all started grinning madly, "Well, lookie what we have here, boys. We got ourselves a little lady to play with!" Laughter sounded from the men, making Tayuya seethe with rage.

Instead, she gave the men a small smile, "Sounds fun to me, but before we start, won't you please listen to my song?" Her voice was innocent enough, but her flute was already to her lips before anyone could reply.

Another wave of laughter rolled through the ranks as Tayuya started to play.

The haunting tune chilled many of the men to their bones before she shifted into a quick, lively tune. Suddenly the ground in front of her erupted and three monstrous ogres rose from the ground.

"What the -?!"

Tayuya stopped playing to smile sweetly at them, "Now, won't you allow me to listen...to your screams?"

As she started playing once more, her ogres attacked. One swipe of a club wiped out five men, and the smash of a fist took down two more. Jutsu bounced off their thick hides like it was nothing. They couldn't feel anything, of course, because they weren't alive. But the fear they inspired was very real.

It was all over very quickly for her. Unlike most shinobi, these men were useless when the started to panic. She stopped playing and surveyed her work. Thanks to her time with the Sound Four, her stomach had grown in strength, so the sight of the bodies that littered the ground didn't bother her...much.

She still felt queasy at some of the gore before her. It had only hit her after she stopped her playing. She looked down at her flute. A gift she had used to play a song in gratitude in one moment, and the instrument of death a moment later. Her long lost demonic flute had been tainted with blood. But the simple bamboo flute didn't feel right being used in such a way.

"Y-you b-bitch!" Growled a man from where he lay, "Raiga-sama's gonna -

She regarded him coldly, "Did you know," she asked, interupting him, and bring her flute back to her lips, "That certain sounds can paralyze muscles in your body? All it takes is the right frequencey, and the right notes." She began to play once more, a soft, lullaby-like tune. In truth, it was her Genjutsu. The last remaining man was on his knees, alone. The girl was gone and so were the bodies of his companions. His arms were held out at his sides as if held by wires or ropes. All he heard was the soft playing of a flute.

That was when his arms starting searing with pain, and the flesh began to melt from his bones. Panic set in, and he struggled to break himself frre of whatever hold was on him, but it was useless. He couldn't move...couldn't breathe. His last thoughts were of the oozing puddle his body had become, while his real body suffocated from paralyzed lungs. Tayuya looked down at him, and the at the flute in her hands.

Tayuya placed the flute in her robes, "Never again."

An explosion rocked the ground beneath her feet. She turned back to the village, letting her orges dispell. There was still work to do. She ran back to the village, seeing villagers running to the mines for shelter as more mercenaries poured in. Naruto had clones running and fighting all over the place. It wasn't a problem, most of the fighters were nothing more than bandits taken in as enforcers, but a few were actually low ranked shinobi that were causing damage to the area.

"Oi, Tayuya!" One of the clones yelled, "I thought you were at the North pass!?"

Tayuya grinned at the clone, "All done. There were only thirty or so...where's Ranmaru?"

"Sukeza-jij took him to the mines!" Naruto-clone yelled and ducked under a sword, and aimed a reverse elbow at the attacker's throat. He fell dead at the clone's feet, and Tayuya saw a look of guilt role across his face.

"Where's the real you?" Tayuya asked, placing her hand on his shoulder. "And what about Raiga?"

The clone sighed, "Boss is at the plateau he was training at earlier. One of the guys got caught by Raiga a few minutes ago, and asked where his sword was. Told him to shove, and he killed him." The clone rubbed his chest in phantom pain.

"And Jiji?" Tayuya asked, worried for Jiraiya.

The clone just grinned and jerked his thumb over his shoulder. Not a moment later an eccentric laugh erupted over the din of battle, and Jiraiya lept over the roof tops with a small group after him. Jiraiya suddenly wheeled around and cloth's line the first one and rammed him into the rest of them with a left handed Rasengan.

Tayuya grumbled, "I really need to get him to teach me that."

The Naruto clone just smiled at her, "Ask us nicely and we might think about it."

Tayuya gave the clone a deadpan look, "You know, since you're a clone, I could vent a lot of anger on you for some of the shit the real you put me through?"

The clone began to sweat visibly, but never lost his smile, "Nah, you like him too much." His confidence was shatter the moment Tayuya plunged a kunai through his head.

=x=

"GAH! Dammit, Tayuya-chan!" Naruto roared, holding his head from the memory he'd just recieved, "Take a joke, would ya!?"

=x=

Tayuya smirked slightly at the puff of smoke, "You're cute, but ya ain't that fuckin' cute, Shithead-kun. She turned back to the fighting, noticing less of the mercenaries, and wondering where Raiga could be

"You," called a familiar voice, "You were with that blond brat that stole my sword from me!" Tayuya turned slowly, only to be met by the sparking tip of the remaining Kiba, and Raiga's manic eyes as he smiled cruely at her. "Tell me, where's your little boyfriend hiding, Aka-chan?"

Tayuya sneered at him, "Go fuck yourself, Raiga!"

Raiga only smiled wider at her, "Wrong answer, Aka-chan!"

Tayuya lept back, drawing a kunai from her pouch as Raiga raised his sword.

"KONOHA SENPU!"

Raiga, at the shout of the attack, lept back just in time for a green blur to come crashing down where he'd been standing not a moment before. Tayuya readied hersef for another attack, but sighed in relief when she saw taht said green blur, with orange leg and arm warmers, was wearing a Konoha hitai-ate.

The boy stood up, setting himself into a Goken stance, beckoning Raiga to attack. "It is most unyouthful to fight like that against a helpless opponent, therefore I cannont allow you to go any further!"

"Helpless my ass!" Tayuya spat at the green-clad shinobi, "I had everything under control, ya fuckin' bushy-browed bean stalk!"

The 'bean stalk' offered her a sparkling smile that nearly blinded her, "My most sincere apologies, Fair Lady, but I could not help myself in joining this battle, as a former swordsmen of the Mist would surely test my limits even more than I can myself at the moment!"

Raiga growled, "I don't have time for this bullshit!" He threw down a smoke bomb and disappeared.

Tayuya coughed angrily as the smoke cleared, "Kami dammit all! He's after Naruto!"

"What was that?" Said a new voice, full, deep, female, and dangerously authoritive.

"Tsunade-sama," the bushy-browed teen saluted, "this most youthful maiden stated that Raiga is after Naruto-san! We must hurry or I fear Naruto will be in more need of assistance!"

Tayuya whipped around when the teen mentioned that name. "Tsunade?! The Godaime?!"

Tsunade stood above them on the rooftops, one of the mercenaries laying over her shoulder unconscious. Beside her was a girl with bubblegum-pink hair, a boy dressed in white and glaring at her with pale eyes. Him she recognized immediately, and grew wary. The other one was another girl, with her hair tied up in buns, holding chained scythe in her hads with an almost mani grin on her face.

Tsunade was easy to recognize as she was one of Orochimaru's old teammates, and the one he talked about most since he was a practiced medic himself, but the Byakugan user was the one that scared her the most. He'd been there when they'd been ordered to retrieve Sasuke. And the way he was looking now?

"Uh...I'm a friend of Naruto's," she said, directing most of it toward the young Hyuuga.

"Tayuya of the Sound Four?" Tsunade asked coldly, and the girl nodded, "Take us to Naruto, now."

=x=

Back on the pateau, Naruto stood and watched the chaos ensue. Thanks to his clones, and their memories, he had learned the most of the forces had been routed and taken care of. And that Raiga was now looking for him. His Kiba was sparking, almost as if it were calling out to the other, begging it to find them. He gripped the hilt tighter. "It's about time you found me," he said, turning slowly, "I was beginning to get bored."

Raiga sneered at him, pointing his blade at the boy, "You have something of mine, Gaki. It's not nice to steal, you know?"

Naruto pointed his own blade right back at him. "I think it likes me, so I'll be keeping this one."

Lightning bolts started sparking between the two blades. Naruto focused his chakra into the blade.

Raiga grinned, "Time for a funeral! Raiton: Raiga!"

"Raiton: Soryuha!" Naruto roared. Both lightning bolts shot from the ends of their swords, meeting in the middle, lighting up the valley as thunder rolled through the clouds above. The storm had begun.


Jutsu List:

Raiton: Soryuha (Lighting Style: Dragon Strike): A Kenjutsu the uses chakra focused into a blade to form an energy blast depending on the user's elemental affinity, or type of blade. The stronger the will of the user, the stronger the attack becomes until it reaches it's final form in the shape of a massive dragon.

Not much can be said about this chapter. Don't forget to review!

Kurama: Dammit, you left me out again!

Preview:

"You can't beat me, Gaki! You're outta your league!"

"I'm stronger than this, dammit!"

"Look out!"

"Ranmaru, don't!"

"TAYUYA!"

Next time: Ranmaru's Eyes Open! Blazing Tenseigan!