Ok, this will be my last short chapter, my future chapters will be about 2,000 words. I already have chapter 11 done, but i want to get at least a chapter ahead so i will post it tomorrow.

I want to thank you all for the reviews, i love you all:)

Ok, enough blabbering. To the story!

The group had risen late in the morning, giving the children and gennin time to recover from the past few days of intense running and lack of sleep. After finishing a large hurried breakfast they were on their way again, Jiraiya informed them that they would arrive at the town late afternoon. Naruto smiled as he looked over at Hinata who was talking gently with the shy 7 year old, Akemi. The weird feeling had made it's way back in to his stomach as he found himself glancing her way more often as they ran. He could hear her talking to the little girl about flowers, obviously trying to keep the poor girl distracted from the speeds they were running at. He peered over his shoulder and noted that Kiyoshi had fallen asleep, he smiled softly – he knew that the boy had been talking with the young girls last night until Akemi and the rest had fallen asleep. Kiyoshi was obviously brought up with great respect for people, he had rambled on about god knows what in hopes of comforting the other children.

Naruto had realised last night that the group of children all seemed to know each other somehow, whether they were related or just friends, it reminded him of the rookie 9. Hinata looked across to Naruto, pausing her talk with Akemi. She noticed that Kiyoshi had fallen asleep on Naruto's back – She couldn't help but giggle.

"W-what are y-you laughing at H-Hinata-niichan?"

Hinata had insisted that the girl refer to her as a sibling, in hopes of bringing the girl out of her shell. Akemi looked at Hinata with questioning eyes, in response to the little girls question Hinata pointed over to Naruto.

"I was laughing at how Kiyoshi reminds me of Naruto-kun, and how cute he looks when he sleeps."

Akemi let a small smile grace he face, though she was in training to be a ninja herself, she had always thought that all ninja's thought about their duty no matter what. But being around the Rookie 9 and team Gai, she realised that they all cherished their friends and others above all else. Though Akemi was shy, she was amazingly observant and friendly, much similar to Hinata.

The group came to an abrupt halt, mostly due to the huge wall of earth that had started to form in the middle of the group. The front half of the team were forced to leap forwards as to not get hit by the still growing wall of earth. The back half of the team were forced backwards, they formed a semi circle against the gigantic wall of rough rock around the children, hoping to block any attack that could reach them.

(Front half of the group: Jiraiya, Shino, Kakashi, Neji, Tenten, Shikamaru, Temari, Ino, Sasuke and Lee.)

(Back half of the group: Naruto, Hinata, Sakura, Kiba, Akamaru, Gaara, Chouji, Iruka, Anko, Hanabi, Konohamaru, Moegi and Udon.)

Jiraiya cursed, he hadn't sensed the ambush in time. His make-shift team was surrounded by a good 30 Cloud shinobi from Kumogakure, who had undoubtedly joined Orochimaru's forced against Leaf and Suna. He was certain that his group could take them, even if they were all jounin level; what he was more concerned about was the group that had been separated on the other side of the wall. As Jiraiya's group started their battle with the offending shinobi, the other group were being taunted by a further 30 enemy shinobi.

"You might as well give up now, we have you outnumbered and out ranked."

The commanding voice came from within the tree's as the 30 visible shinobi sneered towards the young ninja. Just as the man finished his sentence hundreds of Naruto clones appeared from the tree line, taking on any and all enemy shinobi they could. Simultaneously Iruka, Anko, Kiba, Akamaru, Naruto and Hinata charged forward as if they had planned for this. Sakura and the others hung back to protect the children, All ready to deflect any attacks at a moments notice.

"Juujuin bunshin!(Beast Human Clone)"

Two identical Kiba's could be seen side by side on four legs, ready to pounce. Two unknowing cloud shinobi charged towards them as the two simultaneously jumped towards them with blinding speed.

"Gatsuuga!(Piercing Fang)"

The two cloud shinobi could be seen flying away from the spinning Kiba's in to the surrounding forestry. Meanwhile Hinata was surrounded by several men looking on at her with eyes tinged with madness.

"Well, looks like we got ourselves a lovely little Hyuuga."

Hinata frowned; it was one thing being called "Hyuuga" in a disconcerting tone that held no respect. But underestimating her was not a good idea, especially when they were this close and surrounding her in a circle at that.

"Hakke Shou Kaiten!(Heavenly Spin)"

Hinata rotated at amazing speed, sending the advancing men flying in to their comrades. 'Shouldn't cloud shinobi do their homework on Hyuuga's especially since they were determined to obtain their Byakugan?' She thought to herself while readying her attack for a man who had charged carelessly in to her divination.

"Hakke Rokujuu Yonshou!(Sixty-four point hands)"

Hinata's opponent dropped to the floor, mouth agape and eyes showing the amount pain he had just gone through. Hinata gasped for breath, using Kaiten was draining enough, but sealing off all 64 tenketsu's was extremely hard. Suddenly she was grabbed from behind, the enemy had taken advantage of the Byakugan's blind spot and roughly yanked her to him as he jumped away from the battle.

"Now, now my little Hyuuga, calm down – with the chakra binds you can not harm me."

The creepy hooded figure whispered in to her ear as he attacked the binds to her wrists without hesitation or care. Hinata did her best to break free of the man's unnaturally tight grip but to no avail, once he had placed the binds on her she could feel all of her energy slip away.

Meanwhile Naruto and the others where busy with their own opponents, though they had defeated more than half – most we're running low on chakra. Gaara had put up his Suna no Tate (Sand shield) around the children but was hard time keeping it up while fighting several opponents who had advanced on him and Sakura. Sakura had used up a good deal of her chakra trying to keep advancing shinobi away from the children, her immense strength had demolished the surrounding area and several enemy nin.

Chouji, Kiba and Akamaru we're out cold, and being absorbed by Gaara's Suna shield as Konohamaru and his friends had aided Iruka in bringing them over to relative safety. Anko was still fighting, though only in Taijutsu as she was also depleted of chakra – giving Iruka and the gennin time to save Chouji, Kiba and Akamaru from further damage while they lay unconscious.

Ok it may seem like the Kiba etc. were defeated a bit easily - but they have been running for several days with little food and rest. and the enemy are all jounin/special jounin level.

Heh, written while listening to Paramore - Decoy. Woo.

Dedicated to NinaNatsu and RoseTiger who have been with me from the start and have reviewed with their ideas and encouragement.

Please review, Major fight scene next chapter!

Ja. (Sorry, Nina you've got that in my head now lol)