A/N: I'm so sorry for the lull, but i had a regrettable case of the writer's block. Hopefully it won't be back in a while. I hope you enjoy the chapter. As always, reviews and constructive criticism is most welcome.

Chapter 10: Course of Action and a Hiccup

As Genma took up his stance on a tall tree in the forest that formed the western frontier of Kiri, his eyes locked onto the tall figure of Kakashi, who was stationed a few metres ahead of him. The two of them, along with Gai, Anko and Naruto were supposed to be looking out on this side. All the Kiri shinobi were looking after the interior of the village, while the Konoha nin were at the frontiers. Genma took a deep breath in, observing the area around him intently. Absently, his hand touched his weapon pouch, in which were kunai, shuriken, scrolls and of course, scores of senbon. In spite of himself, he grinned. This was going to be one interesting battle. Kiri and Konoha – how well could they work together?

Kakashi was also thinking the same thing as he lifted his hatai-ate to reveal his Sharingan. Maybe the two villages would mesh well together after all. That was precisely the reason why he was engaged to a Kiri royal, after all. It was funny, since they were officially affianced but had not yet exchanged rings. In fact, if his assumption was correct, the rings hadn't even been chosen yet! Anyway, he had to be focused on the task at hand. If Rock Lee was to be believed, then there were quite a few of them. But their side wasn't exactly weak either. It was going to be a tough fight.

Suddenly, Kakashi heard a twig snap at a distance of about five metres behind him. Immediately, he stiffened to attention. He could detect the presence of very strong chakra. Silently, he turned around and then swiftly bent to the side as a kunai whizzed by him, narrowly escaping his ear. Quickly, he responded with two of his own and heard them get embedded in a tree about five metres behind him. According to his calculations, that should be the very tree on which Genma was. Sure enough, when Kakashi strained his ears, he heard a few senbon going through the air and making contact with the ground. Hmm…The enemy must be deft and agile if he had dodged both their attacks. Finally deciding that he had had enough, Kakashi readied himself, took a deep breath in and screamed, "Raikiri!" Immediately, a large and intense ball of crackling electricity formed on his right hand. In its light, he caught sight of a shinobi who tried to run away, but was quickly intercepted by Genma.

"Who are you?" The Senbon Ninja interrogated as Kakashi swooped down beside them. The shinobi remained silent.

Genma fished out a senbon and held it poised a few centimetres away from the shinobi's throat. "You know what's going to happen if you remain clammed up like that," Genma said, his tone quite conversational but with a deadly tinge to it. When there was still no reply, Genma moved the senbon closer so that it was brushing against the shinobi's throat. "I need an answer," the Senbon Ninja whispered dangerously.

The next second, the clone vanished in a puff of smoke. "Drat it!" Both Kakashi and Genma leapt up onto their trees again. That had been just a ploy to let them disclose their location. Now they could expect some serious fighting. Quickly, the two shinobi contacted Gai, Anko and Naruto through their lapel-microphones. The air was so thick with tension that it could have been cut with a knife.

For many minutes, nothing happened. Kakashi scowled. The Hanransha was keeping the Konoha shinobi on tenterhooks, which resulted in their mental condition escalating towards jitteriness. It was fundamental to keep one's cool in battle and the Hanransha was doing a sterling job in putting them off-balance. Well, Kakashi wasn't willing to let them go that easily. He had a plan ready. Quickly, in crisp and brief terms, he relayed it to the other four, who were full of admiration, but Kakashi had no time to listen to all the superlatives being heaped upon him. They all had work to do.

Quickly, he disconnected his lapel-microphone and chucked it onto the ground. A stream of silvery moonlight fell directly upon the spot where the device lay, putting it into clear view of anyone who might chance by. And then, hoping fervently that this would fly, he disappeared.

Blood splashed onto Shizune's face and clothes as she severed a few arteries with utmost care using the thinnest surgery wire available. She had to be sure that she cut the correct ones. After she had done that, she put away the wire and picked up another one and took a deep breath in, surveying her work. Up until now, everything had gone along well. If they continued that way, Neji would surely recover. However, night had fallen and both the women were tired. They couldn't afford to stop, they knew that. Shizune eyed the kunai that Hina had placed on the side table. In case if any one of them felt sleepy, they could lightly prick themselves on the leg with it. Mild pain drove sleep away and also enhanced concentration.

Just then, something to the left of Neji's heart caught Shizune's eyes. Suddenly, she said, "Hana! You reviewed Neji's latest medical application before starting to do anything, right?"

"Yes," Hana answered, coming right beside Shizune.

"These veins," Shizune explained hurriedly, her finger pointing to a set of the blood vessels, "have weak valves."

Hana's green eyes grew round. "You mean to say..." she faltered.

"They're fine for normal activities or activities involving a level of strain below a critical point. Neji wouldn't have lasted very long in that fight against the Kiri shinobi. These veins are straining now, see, and if I cut the veins beside them, then by gravity the deoxygenated blood will flow into these veins!"

"And since the valves are weak, they will burst!"

Shizune exhaled loudly. "We need to work quickly!" She exclaimed, "Hina, go and gargle with the sanitised water kept near the basin immediately and bring Tube No. 7 here at once!"

Hina obeyed these orders to the T. And then, Shizune uttered just one word. "Suck."

Instantly, Hina carefully aligned the tube with the group of veins and began to suck the deoxygenated blood out as Shizune quickly repaired the valves. In thirty seconds, the deed was done and Shizune returned to the major surgery while Hina went to rinse her mouth.

"That was a close shave," Shizune sighed, "we're still doing fine."

"Extremely close," Hina acquiesced.

Shizune's eyes narrowed as she continued the operation. "Are you sure there were no disabilities or anything of the sort reported on his medical report?" She cross-checked.

"Positive," Hina frowned, "I myself went over it once, as did Sakura-chan."

"Then why weren't these weak valves reported?" Shizune questioned.

"Er, Shizune-san, are you sure that these valves didn't weaken due to the impact of this attack?"

"Yes," Shizune answered firmly, "Since the impact of the attack wasn't wide but concentrated, as the weapon was a spear. Besides, these valves have been weak for quite a while."

"Maybe Neji-kun didn't realise," Hina suggested.

"Now that is impossible. He would have definitely felt strain in that part and reported it."

For a few minutes, silence reigned in the room. Suddenly, Shizune stiffened. "What is it, Shizune-san?" Hina asked urgently, fearing another problem.

Shizune's jaw tightened. Hina actually took a step back. She had never seen her senior this vexed before. "He did it," Shizune said in a low voice, "because of only one thing."

"Uhm...What's that?" Hina asked cautiously.

"THAT STUPID, IDIOTIC AND ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARY MACHISMO THAT KONOHA MALES SEEM TO BE BORN WITH!"

A/N: Thank you for reading this! Review/PM all you want, they only encourage me to write!