Chapter 11: Into the Fray

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or HSDK, or any characters or logos associated with either series. This fan story is made for fun, not profit.

During the last five days the others had actually told Hinata about their struggle against Team Hebi, although they had approached the subject in a way that made it seem more like a minor annoyance than a real threat. Sakura could tell their newest member was timid and somewhat withdrawn, and it didn't seem wise to say too much for fear that she would panic. As such they had taken her safety into account while planning the traveling arrangements between school and Konoha so that she wouldn't run into any trouble.

Right now, things were going pretty well and the danger was the last thing on their minds. She had gotten to know her new classmates reasonably well during the last few days, and everything was beginning to look up for her. So far the school seemed like a pretty peaceful place. Her fellow disciples were quietly keeping an eye on her in case the enemy tried to target her next, although it seemed unnecessary since even the minor attacks by the common grunts had ceased since their meeting with the Shinpaku Alliance.

"So, what do you think of Kouryou High so far?" Sakura questioned the timid girl.

"It's a lot different than what I'm used to." She replied quietly, causing the others to stop.

Ino put her hands on her hips and leaned in. "That's surprising to hear… People might start thinking that you've never been to school before."

"No, of course not!" Hinata raised her hands and shook her head embarrassedly, her gaze moving towards the floor. "The truth of it is that my family always sent me to elite educational institutions when I was growing up. Before this week, I've never actually been to a public school, let alone attended one."

"Wow, you must've lived a really sheltered life." Sakura began, her eyes wandering towards the ceiling for a moment. "Not that there's anything wrong with that!" She added hastily upon seeing her companion's look.

"Everything you said is true, but admittedly I've been blessed with the good fortune of being born to the Hyuga Clan. Even though I was considered a disgrace to our family, my father never stopped providing the best for me. I am grateful that he was still willing to consider me his daughter even after I failed to meet his expectations."

The pink-haired girl leaned in anxiously. "Your father seemed a little strict, but why would he consider someone like you a disgrace? I've seen you training with Master Kurenai, and you've definitely got some pretty good moves for a new disciple."

Ino glanced over her shoulder. "Yeah, you really oughta have some more confidence in your own abilities! You're at least as good as me, and I've got the toughest master at the dojo by a long shot. Looking down on yourself is like calling me a weakling!"

"You don't understand…" Hinata replied with a sad frown, her cloudy eyes sliding towards the sidewalk. "The Hyuga Clan has produced some of the greatest martial artists in history over the years. While I was growing up, my father trained me to carry on the legacy of our family. My progression was much slower than expected, and such a thing was considered unacceptable."

Sakura shrugged with a look of confusion. "I don't see what the big fuss is about. Even if you're not some kind of super prodigy, that doesn't mean you can't learn if given the time."

The timid girl exhaled deeply as a stream of unpleasant memories flooded back to her. "Five years ago I struggled to learn some of the basic techniques of my family's preferred fighting style. My father found it an insult to his teachings and intensified my training, but when he saw no immediate improvement in my skills, he proclaimed that I was unworthy to inherit the clan's secret techniques."

Ino stroked her chin with a puzzled expression. "I remember you saying that only the eldest child of the Family Head was allowed to learn those moves… Since they were too impatient to teach you, does that mean that the entire family will simply forfeit their traditions?"

This only seemed to hurt her more. "My younger sister was chosen a year ago as the new heiress of the Hyuga Clan due to her superior abilities. When her training first began, the others noticed how quickly she grasped things that took me years to understand. Everyone back home believes that she has far more potential than I ever did."

"So what…" Sakura added with a casual shrug. "As far as I'm concerned, talent only takes you so far in life. What really matters is how much you're willing to work in order to better yourself in a fighting discipline and in life."

"Even the most intelligent person on Earth reaches a point where it's not that much of a defining trait." The blonde-haired girl replied confidently. "For example, a child genius is considered amazing by everyday standards, but when they become an adult, their intelligence becomes less noticeable."

Hinata glanced at her with a curious expression. "Perhaps, but people in my family are judged by their aptitude in the martial arts. We consider strength of body and mind as a representation of a person's inner strength as well. It's been like that for several generations of the Hyuga Clan."

"You're here with us now, so try letting go of what people thought of you in the past and start looking towards the future." Ino smirked at this thought as she remembered a certain friend of hers. "Our buddy Shikamaru is a genius, but he doesn't have a single ounce of motivation most of the time. It's not having the talent that matters, it's how hard you train."

"I guess you have a point…" The cloudy-eyed disciple turned her gaze towards the ground again.

"We just hope you really believe it for yourself!" Sakura replied with a friendly smile. "Take me for example… I had no major talent for the martial arts, but I'm always practicing. I joined the swim club here as a way of getting some good exercise even outside of the dojo! There's actually a lot of ways you can better yourself!"

Ino poked her face in between them with a cheerful look. "Speaking of which, there's actually another reason why we decided to give you a tour of the school after hours."

"What exactly do you guys have planned?" Hinata questioned with a curious expression.

"The two of us figured it would be a good idea if you joined an after school club." The blonde girl explained brightly, earning a blank expression from her newest friend. She wrapped her arm around the Hyuga heiress, eagerly pulling her closer. "Look, we noticed you seemed like the shy type, so what better way to step out of your shell than meeting new people!"

Sakura thrust her fist out with an air of confidence. "There's a load of clubs to choose from for the students body… Kouryou High offers sports, recreational activities, home economics, martial arts groups, and everything in between. With so many awesome options available, there's gotta be something you'll like!"

The darker-haired girl tapped her fingers together nervously. "It seems like a lot to process at once. Maybe if we go home I can think about the choices a little, and decide when I'm ready!"

"No way… Consider this a big part of your training!" Ino spoke kindly, but a note of aggression could be heard hiding underneath. When their new companion didn't answer right away, she decided to elaborate. "A martial artist has to be the decisive type. One moment's hesitation in the middle of battle and you'll be dead in three seconds flat!"

"Even if you're hesitant, there comes a time when you just gotta dive in headfirst! When I first started training under Lady Tsunade, she noticed I had a similar problem." Sakura added with a sense of nostalgia. "As it turns out, she hammered all the basics into me until she was sure I had gotten over my lack of confidence!"

Hinata nodded slowly, having come to terms with what they were trying to say. "Okay!" she replied with a reserved but gentle smile. "Why don't you start by telling me what kind of clubs you guys like to attend? It might be a good place to start."

"I already mentioned being a member of the swimming club. It's a good place to go if you like the workout, but there's been some problems recently with a group of boys sneaking into the girl's locker room after practice to take peaks."

"I think I'll pass… Honestly I was never all that fond of swimming anyway." the timid girl shuddered slightly at the thought of wearing a swimsuit in public.

Sakura seemed to read her mind and smiled. "I for one have nothing to worry about! If anyone tries peeking on me, the only think they'll get is a sound beating from my fists!" She nudged the darker-haired girl and smirked. "And besides, have you seen the way guys look at you in class? As far as we're concerned, you've got noting to be ashamed of!"

Hinata's face turned the color of a tomato at the thought, having remained blissfully unaware of anyone staring at her until this moment. "You mean boys have actually been…"

"There's nothing to be ashamed of. You've got a great figure, and some nice assets that most girls would kill to have!" Ino glanced over at her pink-haired friend and snickered. "Unlike some people I would care to mention. That's one way she'll never be able to live up to her master."

It took a second for the notion to process. "Will you stop that? Not everyone can have a giant pair like Master Tsunade!"

The blonde girl shrugged with amusement. "I imagine it took some adjusting for her to learn how to fight with so much extra baggage. No wonder the old lady started using those longevity techniques around age thirty, or else she would probably be sagging by now."

Sakura snickered at the thought. "Tell me about it… I guess in her case, growing old gracefully really wasn't much of an option at all."

"Don't say that in front of her unless you want an early trip to the morgue!" Ino replied with a playful punch to the shoulder. She wrapped her other hand around her neck in a mock choking position and made a playful gagging noise. "Master Tsunade would throttle someone if she ever heard us talking about her like this."

"That's an understatement." Sakura let out an uneasy laugh and sweat-dropped at the thought.

Hinata cringed slightly at the thought, having seen quite a few crazy things in her first days as one of Konoha's students. She noticed that each of them had their own little quirks, including several of the masters. Scariest of them was probably Anko Mitarashi, who had a certain sense of bloodlust and a sadistic love for terrifying the students on a regular basis. Because of that she had become a regular victim, but even more disturbing was the strange feeling she received while using he hot springs the previous night, almost like there were eyes boring into her back.

Rather than address the current subject further, she decided toe change the subject. "So Ino, what kind of club do you usually attend?"

"Remember how I said my family owns a flower shop?" the blonde waited for her new friend to nod before continuing. "Because of that I always had a major love of making things grow, so I joined the school gardening club. Lately we've been experimenting with different types of fertilizer and conditions to see what works best on certain types of plants."

"Did you make any friends there?" the darker haired girl questioned.

Ino stared off absent-mindedly before smiling. "There's only three members including me, but it's a great place to relax and relive some tension."

"What are they like?" she placed a finger to her chin with a minor note of interest.

The blonde girl thought about it for a moment, trying to condense her personal thoughts into a few brief sentences. "It's pretty valid to say you won't meet nicer people." She snapped her fingers with a cheerful wink. "The club president's a bit shy, but she's pleasant to a fault. The same can be said for the guy, except he's a much better conversationalist. If you ever need a friendly face to talk to about something, he's definitely the right man for the job!"

"She's not kidding, I've met them myself." Sakura kindly patted here new friend's elbow.

Hinata paused again and considered it before giving them an uneasy smile. "All right, I think I'll try the gardening club first."

"Excellent choice!" Ino replied with an enthusiastic smile. She reached out and wrapped an arm around Hinata before marching her towards the greenhouse on the edge of the grounds.

"We'll meet up here after our activities are over, all right?" Sakura called out, looking rather amused at how easily the personalities of her two friends clashed.

One was so outgoing, while the other had a much more reserved approach to life. Needless to say it was interesting to watch them interact like this. Looking at them trek across campus, Ino was practically dragging the darker-haired girl along like a rag doll while she clumsily attempted to keep up. From her vacant expression it looked as though Hinata was experiencing some second thoughts about going with her, although the blonde girl took no notice and continued along with her willing captive in tow. A bead of sweat ran down Sakura's face as she watched them leave, before quietly walking off to her own club.

As the others neared the greenhouse, Ino thrust the door open with both hands, allowing them to step inside. After rounding a row of freshly potted plants, she caught sight of her two fellow club members working on their own projects. Kenichi stood off to the side with a watering can, gently tending his flowerbed as usual, while the leader of their group was examining several boxes of seeds and searching for something new to plant. She was calmly humming to herself in a pleasant manner, a smile lighting her face as she found the right package.

"Hey guys, the queen of the club has arrived!" Ino shouted, causing the others to jump slightly.

Ryozanpaku's disciple rubbed the back of his head with a groan. "Gee, do you have to pop in like that every day? Keep it up and eventually you're gonna give me a heart attack."

Izumi straightened her glasses as she caught sight of the new girl. "Hey Ino, who's your friend?"

"Meet Hinata Hyuga! She's a new disciple at the dojo, and just transferred to Kouryou High from some fancy private school."

The timid girl pressed her hands together and bowed. "It's a pleasure to meet you all. It would be an honor if you would allow me a chance to join the gardening club."

"Sure thing, we're always in the need of more people. As you can probably see, there's only three members right now." The club president replied with a small blush.

"I don't have a problem with it, especially since you're one of Ino's friends!" Kenichi stood up and walked over to greet them.

Hinata nodded towards him with a reserved smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

He gave the newcomer a quick glance over, quickly noticing that she was quite pretty, although her light-colored eyes reminded him briefly of Akisame. "Anyway, my name's Kenichi Shirahama. If you're a student from Konoha, you must be a fighter like the others. I'm actually a practicing martial artist myself."

The timid girl blinked with a puzzled look. "Forgive me, but you don't seem like the type."

"As if! Believe it or not, this guy's actually the number one disciple of Ryozanpaku… He's got a killer fighting technique based on the styles used by of some of the world's greatest masters! You'll never see anything else like it, I guarantee!" Ino explained boastfully.

Hinata turned her attention to the boy, her eyes widening slightly. "You must be very talented to have been granted such a prestigious honor."

"Trust me, that's not the case at all…" Kenichi answered with an embarrassed frown, his thoughts returning to his painful training sessions. Shuddering at the prospect of what awaited him back at the dojo today, he decided to change the subject. "So, uh… Hinata was it? Is there any particular reason why you wanted to join the gardening club?"

"Ino sort of recommended it, so I decided to give it a try." She replied quietly, her head turning in the opposite direction.

The blonde slapped her on the back with a gutsy look. "Actually, Hinata was looking for a place where she could relax and take a breather, and I figured this was the best fit compared to all the other crazy clubs in this school!" she considered the truth of her own statement before sticking out her tongue. "I mean the sports teams are a bit rowdy, and Lee was attacked by those moronic Neanderthals in the karate club when we first enrolled here."

"It was Daimonji, right?" Ryozanapku's disciple groaned at the thought, prompting a small nod from his friend.

"I think that's the name Lee mentioned. Apparently that stupid oaf was the ring leader of those karate disciple wannabes." She mused out loud.

The conversation was a bit lost on Izumi, who preferred not to get involved in the business of her friends for obvious reasons. "All of that aside, perhaps we should start by formally welcoming our new member in the club?" she bowed her head to the blue-haired girl. "I don't believe we've been introduced yet… My name is Yuka Izumi, president and founder of the gardening club."

"It's a pleasure, Ms. President" Hinata returned the gesture with an uneasy but sincere smile.

"Th-Thanks…" the other girl stammered, looking slightly taken aback by the reference. "I can honestly say that no one's ever referred to me like that before. I guess that's what happens when your club has less than five members."

Kenichi shrugged off the situation before facing the others. "So, why don't we start by getting Hinata settled in? There's still a small patch of dirt in the corner where she can start, and a series of tools in the gardening shed out back. That's everything she'll need to get started, right?"

"I think so." Ino replied with an upbeat expression before gesturing forward with her arm. "All right newbie, let's get this party started!"

The gardening trio quickly set to work, helping their newest recruit get adjusted. The club's leader started by rummaging through the cabinet in search of something simple to start with, while retrieving a few books in case Hinata needed some basic tips. Meanwhile, Kenichi started preparing the soil and adding the fertilizer with an old rake. As they pulled weeds and took care of the basic preparations for gardening, Ino went outside to the shed and retrieved a series of tools to get them started. Plant food was a good way to start, especially since they were using a patch of soil that had been vacant for some time.

At this time, the Hyuga heiress watched from the sidelines in fascination as her fellow students worked, surprised at how smoothly everything went. They worked like a well-oiled machine. Once everything was set up, they helped her begin her first project. She had chosen a random of assortment to flowers based entirely on their aesthetic appeal, although the others seemed more than happy to help her out. Hinata carefully placed her seeds out and began placing them in small holes she dug, but was stopped by one of her fellow members.

"It looks like you could use a little bit of help down there." Kenichi bent over her shoulder with a friendly smile.

"No, it's just fine… Thank you for being so considerate." Hinata replied courteously.

He inspected the project more closely and shook his head. "I don't mean to pry, but it looks like you're planting the seeds a little too close together."

The timid girl looked slightly ashamed of herself. "Is that necessary a bad thing? Wouldn't there be more flowers if I place the seeds closer together so that there's more room to plant the seeds?"

Kenichi squatted down beside her and pointed to the patch of dirt. "Actually you don't seem to be taking into account the growth of the roots." He reached down and retrieved the package she had used earlier. "Besides, when these types of flowers produce very large blossoms, so they will naturally occupy more space when in bloom. Do you understand?"

"I guess so, sorry for causing you the trouble." Hinata used her gardening trowel to remedy the previous mistake, earning a nod of approval from him.

"There's no need to look so nervous around here… We're all in the same club." Kenichi smiled in an attempt to put her mind at ease. "It's good to trust your teammates and help them out in any way possible. That's just what it means to be friends."

"Do you really consider me a friend already?" she asked with a surprised expression.

Kenichi looked away with a pensive expression as if he were mulling over the situation in hid head before answering. "You seem like a nice person, especially since Ino seems to like you well enough." He refocused his gaze back onto her. "I'll admit we just met, but every friendship has to start somewhere."

The timid girl looked away with a frown. "I can't say I ever had many friends growing up. My father was strict and I was too focused on my studies and martial arts training to worry about these kinds of things. He considered such matters to be trivialities in the face of responsibility."

"Can't say I can put myself in your shoes, but I'm here if you ever want to talk." The boy stood back up and turned his back to her. "Even if we're not friends yet, I'm still more than willing to help out my fellow club members."

She glanced up at him with an innocently puzzled look, silently wondering what kind of person he was. Truthfully she had never met a fighter with such a gentle exterior and soft personality, and would never have guessed he was one had she not been told. Her fellow disciples back at the dojo were all very nice people, but they seemed very brash and quirky in their own ways while this boy seemed just like any ordinary person she could pull out of a crowd on the street. As she watched him walk in the opposite direction, she remembered something he had said only minutes ago and it only incensed her own curiosity.

"If it isn't too much trouble, could you answer one more question for me?" she added shakily.

Kenichi turned around mid-step with a neutral expression. "Um, I guess that's fine with me."

Hinata swallowed the lump that had begun to form in her throat. "Well, I remember when Ino mentioned you were Ryozanpaku's disciple, you said that it had nothing to do with talent. Yet my father once said to me that the masters of that dojo were some of the greatest in the world." When his expression didn't change, she hesitated as if afraid to insult him. "What I mean to ask is, why did they choose you as a disciple if talent wasn't the reason."

To her surprise, the boy gave her an embarrassed crooked smile. "Well, I honestly think they felt kinda bad for how much of a weakling I was. My jujitsu teacher Master Koetsuji said that he was also bullied as a kid, so I suppose he understood what I was going through when we first met."

"Well you must've had some kind of natural aptitude for the martial arts to train under such powerful masters?"

Ryozanpaku's disciple shook his head with a grimace. "Nope, they remind me everyday that I don't have a single ounce of talent.

"Then how do you possibly keep up with learning their disciplines? Ino did say that you were a skilled fighter." She pondered out loud.

"I managed to become stronger because it was what I wanted." He stated as if it were that easy to understand. "Because I don't have the talent that a lot of people possess, so to compensate, they put me through horrific, life-threatening training that most people could scarcely imagine. I struggled through Hell to get where I am now!"

She saw a strange fire in his eyes for a second and found herself smiling. "Do you mean that?"

Kenichi frowned and cringed violently as if he was experiencing a particularly painful memory, but did his best to suppress it. "Can't say I haven't wanted to at times, but no matter how hard it's been, I've never given up! I won't stop training until I'm strong enough to protect everyone that I care about! That is my dream!" When she simply stared at him wide-eyed, the boy felt slightly embarrassed by his own bravado and turned away.

"It's not a problem." Hinata blushed slightly in admiration, looking slightly uncomfortable at the same time. "You have a wonderful dream and I hope you achieve it one day. I hope one day I can find that same inner strength."

"Just remember what I said before: Hard work can beat talent any day if you're willing to endure the trials head-on!" The boy replied as he walked away, leaving the girl alone with her thoughts.

The Hyuga heiress absent-minded continued her work in the greenhouse, her thoughts revolving more around the previous conversation than the physical activity she was doing. Thinking back she had heard the same notion from her friends at the dojo earlier, but hearing it from someone like Kenichi made her truly wonder if there was any validity. Hinata had been born with a certain level of talent for the martial arts, although compared to the majority of her fellow clansman she had very limited abilities. What her father had always expected of her was so different from what her fellow disciples had been telling her, but today's meeting was a strange one for her.

Having grown up in a family with a strong lineage of fighters, she had never once imagined that someone with no aptitude for the martial arts could ever be fit to be a disciple, and yet here this boy was learning from people acknowledged by her own father. Although they were generally a kind and respected family, the Hyuga believed that certain people were born with the ability to achieve greatness while others were not. What she had learned today was such a contradiction to everything she had always been taught, that it felt strange, yet oddly comforting.

"Maybe I can walk that path one day too." Hinata muttered to herself quietly, an unusually peaceful expression adorning her delicate features.

Meanwhile…

Mangetsu Hozuki sat back with a bored expression as he polished his sword, looking completely bored by the daily proceedings. It was true that the higher ups had tasked him with keeping an eye on Orochimaru's division, but being around the Serpent God sickened him, and the swordsman was doing his best to take advantage of this brief reprieve from being forced into his company. Truthfully, he had been suspicious of the experiments that had been done on his brother, and was looking for any excuse to cut down the snake responsible for it.

He had spent the entire day hanging around without anything to do, having been told to stand by until further orders were given to him. The elder Hozuki brother had spent the day lounging in his personal quarters, doing his best to enjoy himself in the meantime. Yami's Weapon Division was known for possessing a large variety of quality blades, and as the strongest swordsman of the group, he had been personally tasked with protecting and wielding the organization's most powerful weapons.

As a wealthy worldwide syndicate, the masters had amassed quite a collection over the years.

Only a select group of fighters were allowed access to these swords, and he was in charge of keeping them safe. Among these were seven powerful blades of varying design and usage, each of which had been forged during the Sengoku period in Japan and had survived the test of time. Forged by some of the most legendary smiths of the day, these swords never seemed to dull and remained just as powerful as the day they were forged.

A knock on the door pulled him from these thoughts as a ninja-like guard wearing a mask stepped into the room. "Master Mangetsu, sir! You have visitor that demands your attention."

"What the Hell are you going on about? This is my day off! Tell whoever it is to come back tomorrow." the sharp-toothed swordsman barked irritably.

The guard cleared his throat nervously and bowed his head low. "I apologize, but it is beyond my authority to make such a command."

Mangetsu did a double take, since most of his subordinates were usually too afraid to deny his orders. "You really must be curious to know how it feels to lose your head!" his eyes narrowed dangerously. "I don't have the patience to deal with guests today, especially after spending the last week with that bastard, Orochimaru!"

"I'm certain you'll have time for me…" a feminine voice answered from behind the door.

The elder Hozuki felt a powerful sense of dread fill the air as his subordinate was stuck down from behind, leaving a blank-eyed corpse lying on the floor of his room. The woman who entered stepped into the dim glow, her well-endowed figure and large bust easily visible even in the poor lighting. She was a tall woman wearing a Japanese-style hakama and bead necklace, giving her the appearance of a priestess. She had pretty dark features and long hair reaching to her waist, her eyes strangely warm and a mysterious smile on her face.

"Are you surprised to see me again so soon, little boy?" She addressed him like a child.

"It's not often a get a visit from one of the brass, much less Yami's Bewitching Fist: Mikumo Kushinada." He looked slightly apprehensive as she sat down on the couch across from his chair.

She took a moment while to make herself at home before speaking again. "So, I trust you've been handling your job well."

"Just as you asked, I've been babysitting that snake. Personally, I don't understand why you seem so interested in learning more about his experiments. Some of things he does are a mockery to the martial arts!"

"And therein lies the problem." She answered calmly, her tranquil expression remaining firmly in place. "I am not allowed to reveal the specifics, but there is reason to believe that Orochimaru may be a liability to Yami in the future due to his unscrupulous tactics."

Mangetsu rested his blade against the nearby wall and released a low groan. "Can't say I ever trusted the freak personally." He leaned forward slightly. "Give me the details…"

"Right now the One Shadow Nine Fists are debating whether or not to allow his experiments to continue. Unfortunately, our leader has remained neutral thus far, and the majority of the others have been keen to avoid the subject for their own reasons."

"Among the members of the top brass, the Great Sage Fist seems to be actively supporting that snake's endeavors for his own reasons."

She dismissed the thought, looking slightly amused nonetheless. "Ogata was always a naughty child. I've suspected his involvement for quite some time."

The swordsman did his best to relax, despite the woman's intimidating presence. "Care to explain the rest, or is this also classified information?"

Mikumo nodded in agreement. "We are not allowed to speak of it to anyone outside of the Nine, although there is reason for us to be concerned about Orochimaru's continued affiliation with the syndicate." She paused maddeningly before giving him a hollow smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Bearing this in mind, I need a favor of you."

Mangetsu complied with a small nod, quietly fingering the handle of his sword. "Assuming this is about getting rid of that pest, I'd be more than happy to handle it discreetly."

"If it comes to that, than yes." The Bewitched Fist replied rationally. "For now I would prefer that we handle things without garnering too much attention. If you find a way to discredit his work in the eyes of the One Shadow, we may yet be able to remove him before he becomes a major liability to Yami."

"How do you propose I do that?" the swordsman enquired with a grumpy expression. "This kinda sneaky stuff just isn't my forte."

"Keep an eye on his subjects and report back anything that may benefit our agenda. Since the others are unaware of these plans, I must not give them a reason to suspect my involvement." she stood up and swept towards the door, her robes swaying gracefully as she stood on the threshold.

He lowered his head and fell on one knee, his hands still grasping the hilt of his weapon. "Since this is an order from my humble elder, I will do as you wish…"

"Do not disappoint me, Mangetsu…" she replied coolly before closing the door behind her, leaving him alone in the darkness once again.

Meanwhile…

For several days now, Kiba Inuzuka had been forced to tag along with Karin while doing their scouting, and then report any movements made by their targets to her. He disliked the perverted woman immensely, but running around town was also an excuse for him not to spend time with her. In a way it was much better than being cooped up in their hideout tolerating the members of Sasuke's inner circle. At least accepting this mission had given him a chance to sit back and relax away from their prying eyes.

The man placed his hands behind his head as he lay on the roof of the local house, his eyes moving up towards the sky as he watched the clouds go by. The dog kung fu user had long grown tired of the eventless meetings and boring session he had to attend as a member of Team Hebi. Of course he had been forced to join against his will upon losing to their leader, so it didn't much matter whether or not he particularly liked the position. Not only was it boring, but he honestly didn't care what the others did so long as they left him alone.

As if on cue, a red-haired figured landed beside him, a devilish grin on her face. "Wake up dogface, it's about time we get this show on the road!" When he didn't move right away, she kicked him in the side. "C'mon, there's work to be done… Why else would I be forced to spend time with your ugly mug?"

"Yeah, like seeing your face brightens up my day." Kiba replied with an irritated growl. "I'm getting tired of doing all the dirty work for Devil Eyes. If he's so damn tough, why doesn't the bastard get off his ass and take care of the situation personally."

"First of all, this mission is beneath his personal notice. Secondly, I don't think anything you've been doing this week qualifies as work at all, unless you think sleeping on rooftops contributes to the goals of our organization."

The dog-like man groaned in response to this typical answer. "Give me a break, all we've been doing lately is watching the enemy like vultures and watching these losers live their lives isn't exactly the thrill of my day when there's a million other things I'd rather be doing. To top things off, you never even told me how this nonsense is helping the cause!"

"You really are an idiot…" she replied coolly, using her index finger to adjust her glasses. "I've been watching these fools for the last few days to get a grasp on their individual schedule. Due to the efforts of our vast spy network during the past three days, I have currently compiled a standard routine for each member of the Shinpaku Alliance and Konoha respectively."

Kiba wrinkled his nose with a disgusted expression. "Are you even capable of saying something without sounding like a creepy stalker?"

Karin continued speaking as if he hadn't interrupted. "With this new information, we also have signaled out the times of day when the enemy is most vulnerable. It would appear that both targets have taken precautions against our attacks, but we've managed to locate two holes in their safety net."

"Precautions, eh? That could explain why they travel in groups and stay home after dark." He contemplated this for a moment before glancing back at her. "Since you seem pretty confident that now's the right time to strike, do we finally get some action?

Karin glanced at her watch and smiled deviously. "One of our primary targets should be heading this way right now." She turned her gaze down to the sidewalk below. "As a matter of fact, he's coming this way just as I anticipated. While you handle him, I will attend to the second target."

Kiba glanced down with a distasteful expression. "No offense, but that kid looks like an idiot."

"He happens to be the heir to Konoha and currently holds the rank of top disciple." She replied with a smirk.

"Sounds like this could be interesting…" he mused with a look of interest. "So you're leaving this dude entirely up to me, right? None of your dirty tricks to get in the way?"

"He's all yours! I sincerely hope you won't disappoint to the Devil Fist." She replied with casual shrug before leaping to a neighboring rooftop and disappearing into a nearby alley.

He was completely indifferent to her sudden departure, only caring about that fun that was to come. Without so much as a second though, Kiba leapt from his foothold and leapt towards the blonde boy, causing him to leap away to avoid collision. While his target seemed puzzled at best, the attacker's eyes were glimmering with a sense of anticipation. The feral fighter was clearly disappointed when the boy didn't lash out in return, although judging solely from the look on the target's face, he probably thought that the whole thing was an accident.

Naruto blinked once in response to the sudden entrance before firing up. "Dude, be careful to watch we're you landing!"

He dusted off his clothes and drew himself up to his full height before turning to face him. "Let's cut to the chase… Are you the Number One Disciple of Konoha?"

"Yeah, that's me!" the boy grinned widely and thrust his fist forward with a sense of boundless confidence. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, the man who's gonna be the world's greatest fighter! You might wanna get my autograph now before it becomes super valuable!"

Kiba smiled, revealing his sharpened incisors. "Sure, you can sign it in blood once I'm finished tearing you to shreds." He swung a claw-like hand at his opponent, forcing him to sidestep the strike and leap away. "Looks like you can dodge pretty well! Looks like this might be more fun than I originally expected!"

The blonde disciple grit his teeth and took a defensive stance as he distanced himself from the enemy. "What's your deal, buddy?" he considered the possibilities for a second before coming to an obvious conclusion. "Wait a minute! Are you one of those creeps from Team Hebi?"

"While I don't like bring compared to the others, it seems you're not as dumb as you look." The feral fighter straightened up slightly and nodded. "I'm Kiba Inuzuka, the undefeated king of the Underground Fighting Arena and one of the Demons of Team Hebi."

Naruto tossed aside his school bag and discarded his jacket, leaving him standing in a t-shirt and shorts. He raised his fists and changed his breathing pattern to conserve energy, his eyes blazing fiercely. "After what your gang's been doing to my friends, I don't plan on going easy on you!"

"It's insulting for you to lump me in with those idiots. I may have been ordered to fight you as member of the gang, but that doesn't mean my reasons are the same. My superiors might favor dirty tactics, but that doesn't mean squat to a guy like me! Today I'm challenging you, not as one of the Demons of Team Hebi, but as a fellow martial artist."

"I don't care either way, so long as I get to kick your ass!" he replied boisterously.

Kiba let out a dry laugh. "I'm might actually be starting to like you, kid! I respect a man who knows how to cut the crap and gets to the point. Let's hope that you can make this even mildly entertaining, or else this'll be over fast!"

Konoha's top student crunched his knuckles menacingly. "Bring it on, Fangs!"

The two combatants charged each other head-on, neither side hesitating for a moment as their fists collided in mid-air. An explosion of killing intent surged through the vicinity as they made contact, a sense of animalistic ferocity permeating the atmosphere. Naruto did a tiny leap and thrust his leg in the air with a 360 degree spin, alternating between both legs as he attempted to strike at his opponent, but Kiba bent back and rolled sideways, flailing his own legs in a series of powerful spin kicks.

Naruto attempted to take advantage of his opponent's position on the ground and aimed a series of low kicks, but his opponent flipped onto his stomach and shifted onto all fours before using the strength of both his arms and legs to propel himself away from the oncoming strikes. The blonde disciple took a moment to grasp these bizarre movements, but Kiba sprung forward like a wild beast and slashed him across the face with his sharpened nails, following up this first move by thrusting his opposite hand into the boy's stomach.

Konoha's disciple lowered his arm to block the strike, although the force still sent him skidding backwards across the street. He reached up to his face to rub the place where he was bleeding. "I've never seen moves like that before?"

"That's not surprising…" Kiba relaxed his joints for a moment as he faced his opponent. "Dog Style Kung Fu's become pretty rare nowadays, but my family's been practicing it for centuries! We've added to several of our own techniques to make it a unique style to the Inuzuka Clan. We say fuck you to all those critics who say it can't be used practically!"

"You're not too bad, but I wouldn't get my hopes up for a win if I were you!"

"I was thinking the same thing about you! That lame Shaolin style you use is nothing against my Gou Quan martial arts!" the feral man bore his teeth. "Of course, you're more than welcome to try. If you don't, this fight won't be nearly as fun!"

"You ain't seen nothing yet!" Naruto screamed as he aimed a wide sweeping kick to his opponent's ankles.

Kiba laughed at his efforts and performed a small leap and instead closed the distance between them by performing a front flip, moving directly into his opponent's arm reach. The blonde disciple countered by performing a series of powerful punches, moving each arm in and out in a strong-handed motion, but his opponent dropped on the floor, catching himself mid-fall with his hands and kicking Naruto in the jaw with a series of upward strikes. Konoha's disciple fell back with a groan of pain, although being caught off guard by the strike left him wide open.

"Too slow!" The dog-like fighter pulled back arms back and thrust them forward, changing the angle of his arms mid-way and smashing him in the groin.

"Oh shit, not good!" Naruto hit the street with a crash, barely managing to move as a foot came inches from smashing his skull. He leapt to his feet, stiffly cringing as he felt the pain below the belt. "Looks like that Nijima kid was right… You guys really do play for keeps!"

His enemy scoffed at the idea before exhaling deeply. "C'mon kid, this isn't a lame sparring match at the local dojo. There's no placemats and referees to keep anyone from dying and no rules to hide behind if you can't make the cut! In a real fight between true martial artists, giving any less than your best efforts could easily result in death!"

"Is that so?" the blonde boy took a fighting pose, an amused smile coming to his face. "It's been a while since I've seen any real action, so maybe I should thank you for reminding me! No more holding back, it's time you see the full extent of my skills!"

"It's about time!" Kiba swung his arm eagerly, his slit-like pupils shrinking like a predator's.

Naruto blocked an incoming kick with a barehanded punch, using his opposite fist to strike back only for his opponent to grab him by the wrist and maneuvered around him. The dog-like man aimed a palm strike at point-blank range, making it nearly impossible to dodge. Naruto's eyes widened as he turned his head and saw the strike coming. Under normal circumstances he would have been able to avoid it while trapped in a hold, but a fraction of a second before the blow hit, he instinctively moved with the attack.

"Huh, what the Hell?!" His attacker raised an eyebrow, looked stunned for a second, but started hammering him with a series of blows.

It was surprising that he had remembered it now of all times, but the blonde-haired disciple found himself moving with the attacks, his body swaying ever so slightly as they came. He lashed out in a whip-like manner and nailed Kiba with a strike to the elbow and shoulder respectively, disrupting the flow of his attacks mid-way. His arm fell limp, leaving him wide open for a counterattack. Naruto stiffened his right arm and pulled it back before thrusting his fist into the enemy's face, a loud crunching sound filling his ears as he sent the dog-like man spiraling backwards into a parked car.

"Damn!" Kiba ran a hand down his face, wiping away the stream of blood that was now running down his face. He shook his head violently and placed a finger to his forehead, his eyes tightly closed. "Crap, I can't even see straight… That was a pretty impressive punch!"

Konoha's disciple glanced at his fist as if he were surprised by his own strength, but quickly turned his gaze towards the injured man. "So, how do you like that? Good enough for you, or do you need another demonstration?"

To his surprise, the animalistic fighter broke out into hysteric laughter. "Hell yeah, that's what I'm talking about! Just when I was starting to lose interest in this fight, you started busting out a ton of new moves." His cheerful demeanor evaporated almost instantly, revealing a look of interest. "Those last few techniques you used weren't any form of Shaolin that I've ever seen."

"They weren't…" Naruto answered with an unusually serious expression. " As the Number One Disciple of Konoha, it's my responsibility to carry on the legacy of all its masters. That dodging technique was born from the style of Snake Kung Fu, while that last punch was pure Karate!"

"You know what? I'm actually glad the boss forced me to get involved in this mission. You're just the kind of opponent I've been looking for!" the boy declared loudly, his killing intent flaring up like that of a wild bear. "Finally, a fight I can enjoy to my heart's content!"

He rolled forward and began lashing out with his hands, alternating between palm strikes, fists, and slashing movements in a wild frenzy. Naruto countered with a flurry of arm movements and punches, their fists clashing as they exchanged blows. Both combatants took he full force of each other's hits without flinching while launching attacks of their own, but whenever one would go in for a death blow, the other would find a way to counter using their own movements, neither side letting up for even a second.

"Eat this, knucklehead!" Kiba shot his fist through the enemy's guard and extended his fingers outwards to slash with his sharpened nails while aiming for the throat.

Naruto shot his leg into the air in a high kicking motion, smacking the feral fighter's hand away and using his opposite leg to perform and sweeping kick. Kiba leapt sideways and rolled forward towards his opponent, closing the distance left between them and smashed him in the stomach with a powerful palm strike, causing the blonde disciple to recoil and stumble backwards in pain. Seeing an opening, the dog-like man did a front flip and landed behind Naruto will on all fours, using the strength of both his arms and legs to smash his entire body into the Konoha disciple's unprotected back with excessive force.

The blonde disciple went hurtling into the air before landing face first on the concrete sever meters away, a small groan escaping his lips as he struggled to stand up. "I wasn't expecting that…" he hissed, using his hands to lift himself up. "Can't let my guard down!"

"For someone who was talking so big earlier, you sure don't look so good." Kiba replied with a sarcastic sneer.

"I won't lose, especially not to someone like you!" Naruto stood up again, moving around a bit to check if anything was broken. Although his entire body felt as though it was being supported by a creaky foundation, he was in relatively decent shape for having taken such a strong hit. "Let's finish this!"

"I couldn't have said it better myself!" Kiba ignored his own pain and powered on through.

With a new savagery, the brown-haired fighter advanced on his adversary, brings his hands together, and then thrust one overhead and the other from below, alternating between different movements in an attempt to confuse his victim. Naruto stiffened his fingers and performed a series of chops taught to him by Master Guy to counter each strike with one of his own before tightening his left hand into a fist and smashing the dog-like man in the stomach. At the same time, Kiba thrust his sharpened nails into the boy's opposite shoulder, causing him to recoil.

"Like I said before… You lack the speed to keep up with a fighter like me!" the feral combatant screamed with an excited leer.

He took the opportunity to slash Naruto several times with his claws before grappling onto his arm and smashing him into the cement. Once the boy was on the ground, Kiba did a back flip and tried to smash his ribcage by planting both feet into his stomach. The blonde fighter gasped in pain as he felt the full force of the blow, feeling as though someone had just struck him in the mid-section with a wrecking ball. The dog-like man reached down and dug his claws into the boy's leg, tossing him overhead and driving him headfirst into a brick wall with all the strength he could muster.

Kiba watched the opponent's form grow limp with a satisfied expression before turning his back to him. "I have to admit you put up a pretty good fight, but your moves are way too sloppy. You may have learned several styles of martial arts, but it's completely useless unless you can apply them all together to make it your own…"

"You don't get it, do you?" Naruto shook off the strike, his body quaking violently as he stood back up. His adversary turned with a look of shock, but he ignored it. "You idiots don't know the first thing about the disciples of Konoha!"

"How the Hell can you even be standing after going through all that?" the enemy screamed, his eyes wide with shock.

"I won't lose to someone like you! That's a promise I made to my friends when your flunkies started attacking us, and I won't let them down!"

The feral fighter felt the pain in his own body return, causing him to wince. "Damn, it looks like you leave me no choice." He choked down the sting of his injuries like bad tasting medicine, the feeling only adding to his rage. "I was hoping to end this fight without actually killing you, but since you seem to keen on dying, I might as well oblige!"

Kiba ran towards his opponent again, but this time he felt a strange chill in the air that made him flinch subconsciously. Naruto's aura had changed considerably and his killing intent gushed out like water from a fountain, feeling as if it were about to explode at any moment. For a second he remembered his first encounter with Sasuke, along with the feelings of dread tat came with it, but this time was different. The Devil Fist had possessed a dark cold aura, but despite it's ferocity, this boy's aura seemed like a powerful resolve rather than a bottomless hatred.

Knowing what hesitation could do in the middle of a fight, Kiba did his best to ignore the wayward power emanating from the boy and resumed his attack. They met midway and began lashing out at each other again, but Kiba felt his own movement slowing down. To make matters worse, he noticed that the blonde fighter seemed completely undeterred by his own injuries, the phenomenon only furthering his own sense of dread. They exchanged blows again, but this time his own attacks seemed to only enrage the boy further.

"This is unreal! What are you?" Kiba screamed as the unfamiliar sensation of fear filled his gut.

"I already told you…" Naruto answered with a strong sense of pride. I'm the man who's gonna be the world's greatest fighter!"

"We'll see about that!" the enemy attempted to strike again, only to be repelled by the force of the boy's rapidly moving fists.

The Dog Kung Fu user attempted to keep up with the flurry of punches, but the rhythm was too fast and powerful to counter, especially in his condition. They had bother sustained injuries, and yet the blonde fighter's well of energy seemed bottomless. As the clash continued, Kiba noticed his own attacks growing steadily weaker, and the large amount of killing intent saturating the air was making his attacks wayward and predictable out of forced desperation. At this point just staying in the battle was becoming difficult.

Kiba aimed a clumsy punch, but Naruto applied Anko's dodging technique to move with the strike and karate chopped the enemy's wrist, smashing through his guard with a series of punches. Konoha's Number One Disciple swung his leg upwards before crouching down and slamming him in the knees with a second blow. Moving low to the ground, the spiky-haired blonde finished the combo by performing a spinning kick to Kiba's ankles.

He watched carefully as the enemy did a frenzied leap to avoid being tripped, but unfortunately the dodge moved him into the perfect position for a finishing blow. Jumping to his feet, Naruto applied some boxing techniques by loosening his arms before releasing a volley of lightning fast punches. Unable to counter on time, Kiba took the blunt of the assault, a stream of blood running from his mouth as several shots smashed away at every inch of is face and torso.

With his opponent still reeling from the storm, Naruto applied his karate technique to one last punch and slammed his fist into Kiba's face, the white's of his eyes showing as his body came crashing to the ground. He twitched violently for a moment before passing out completely, his body falling limp on the sidewalk. Several minutes passed before Kiba woke up, but seeing his opponent staring down at him quickly snapped him out of his groggy state.

"Are you all right?" Naruto asked with a worried expression, extending a hand to him.

Kiba blinked twice with a blank expression, a growl escaping his lips seconds later. "What's your deal, kid? I just tried to kill you and now you're trying to help me! Were you just born stupid or did you take lessons on how to be a dumbass?"

Without warning, the blonde disciple picked him up. "Sheesh, you're a whiner!" he squinted with a distasteful expression before plopping the other man into a sitting position against a nearby building. "You put up really good fight, so the least you deserve is some respect from your opponent."

"Why am I not surprised by this?" the feral fighter resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He tried to move his arms, but found that his body felt much heavier than usual. After finding his center, he decided there was no point in protesting. "So, how long was I out?"

"What?!" Naruto asked with a puzzled expression, gently raising an eyebrow in confusion.

"You deaf or something? I just asked you how long I was passed out!"

Konoha's number one disciple relaxed his shoulders and sat down so that he was sitting across from his opponent. "I'm guessing you were out for at least seven minutes, ten minutes tops. Why's that so important to you?"

Kiba let out a dry chuckle, his eyes lazily moving up towards the sky as he thought the situation over. "Seriously speaking, you could've killed me about a hundred times while I was out cold. There's no doubt about it… This was definitely my loss!"

Naruto followed his gaze for a moment before glancing at his former adversary. "I was expecting you to pull something sneaky while we were fighting, but in the end you kept it clean and put up an awesome fight." The boy picked his ear, casually flicking aside a piece of wax. "That's a lot more than I expected from a gang of thugs, especially ones who've been attacking my buddies."

"If it's any consolation, you're not half bad yourself… The way you mixed styles together in the middle of a fight was pretty awesome!"

"Thanks, you've got some pretty cool moves too!" The blonde disciple spoke casually a smile forming as if talking to his enemy were the most natural thing in the world.

The Gou Quan practitioner found himself laughing again. "What kind of dude helps his opponent and starts making random conversation after a fight? I've never met a fighter like you before…"

Konoha's top student placed a hand behind his head and grinned goofily. "You're not the first person who's ever said that to me." His face twisted into a confounded expression as he thought about the question. "Even while were fighting, I got the impression that you were a decent guy. Don't ask why, it's just a sixth sense of mine…"

"You're a weird kid, you know that, right?" his adversary asked with a serious look.

Naruto took the comment in stride. "That's another thing that people have said to me, especially my masters… What about you?"

"What about me?" Kiba reiterated, sounding slightly confused as to his meaning.

"You seem like a decent person, kinda like Haku, only he told me he had his own reasons for joining Team Hebi. I was wondering why someone like you wanted to be one of those thugs?"

The dog kung fu user considered for a moment before realizing there was no harm in telling. "Heh, you're a lot smarter than you look… The only reason I joined this squad of delinquents is because their boss kicked my ass without even breaking a sweat."

Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. "It couldn't have been that bad… I can't imagine anyone short of a master-class fighter could take you down so easily!"

"He wasn't master-class, but this guy must've had some extreme training from an Elite Master!" Kiba looked disgusted by the memory of his defeat. "The Devil Fist outclassed me using some of the simplest movements, and he exuded an aura so dark that being in his presence made me feel like I was drowning."

"This guy sounds like a monster!" Naruto replied with a look of interest.

"The Demons of Team Hebi are terrified of the boss… I'm the kind of guy who respects his opponent's strength, which is more or less the only reason I joined them. Truth is that I had no desire to stick around, but the terms of our agreement were that I would submit if he was able to beat me in a fight." With some difficulty, the feral fighter stood back up and strode past.

Konoha's disciple began following him. "Those wounds need to be treated before you can go walking around! Where are you going now?"

Kiba spit on the sidewalk, not even bothering to turn around. "I'm heading back to Team Hebi!"

"If you don't want to stick with those jerks than why are you going back? There's no point in running to those guys if you hate them!"

"You're missing the point…" he began with a beastly smile, his eyes burning dangerously. "I'm through with those assholes! The promise I made was to join Team Hebi, but old Devil eyes never said I couldn't resign as my own leisure. I'm heading back to the hideout because I've got some personal business to take care off!"

"I thought you said you were afraid of the boss?" Naruto reminded him.

The feral fighter smirked, revealing his fang-like teeth. "Fighting you made me remember my pride, and a guy like me doesn't let himself get pushed around by anyone no matter who! Hell yeah… My mother was scary as they come and I pegged her off more than once!" he swung into the air and grabbed onto a fire escape before hurtling onto a nearby rooftop. "Thanks for knocking the sense back into me, I owe you one!"

"Come back!" the blonde disciple tried to follow him, but by the time he reached the rooftop, he was already gone. Naruto clenched his fists with an irritated look. "Damn, that idiot's gonna get himself killed…"

Meanwhile…

Rock Lee strode through the park doing his afternoon walk on his hands. Before each session with Master Guy, he always prepared by performing various exercises in the local park. While Shikamaru had been hesitant at first to allow it, they had eventually decided to let the notion pass since it was such a public area. Oddly enough the place seemed relatively empty today and was completely devoid of playing children and frolicking couples. If this had bothered him at first, he ignored it and continued with his daily regimen.

The sound of rustling in the bushes caught his attention mid-step, following by the sound sheen of a kunai knife speeding towards him. The green-clad fighter reacted instinctually by flipping onto his feet and twisting his body around. Lee glanced around apprehensively and opened his senses, his eyes staring around for the source of the attack. His eyes caught sight of a robed figure running into the nearby woods, prompting him to give chase.

"You must be the lowest of the low to attack me and flee!" Lee screamed as he followed the enemy through the trees.

The chase continued for a minute or two with him jumping over tree roots and swatting aside branches in an attempt to keep up. Whoever he was chasing was light on their feet, and it was clear from their precise movements that the person had received some martial arts training. While he had yet to remove his ankle weights, Lee was surprised that his attacker was able to outrun him so easily. Even carrying the extra poundage, he was well known for being one of the fastest disciples in Konoha.

As he followed the retreating figure into a clearing, the boy was so intent on pursuit that he came inches from running directly into a trap. Skidding to a halt between two trees, he realized that the path was blocked off by a series of thin metal wires.

"Where are you hiding, cowards? Come out and face me!" Lee shouted into the overgrowth.

A woman with red hair and glasses stepped into view, standing on the other side of the wires. Her expression remained sadistic and evil. "It looks like my source was right… You really are just as impulsive as they say."

The green-clad fighter found her demeanor unsettling, although he remained undaunted. "I've never seen you before in my life! Who are you, and why on Earth would you want to attack me?"

"I am Karin, one of the top commanders of Team Hebi… Unless you've been living under a rock for several weeks, that should've answered both of your questions." She paused for a moment to take in his outrage. "Looks like I struck a nerve just now!"

"You think I'll let you get away with you attacking my friends? We've been under constant attacks by your gang of hoodlums, and yet you seem to have no real reason behind it or remorse for these disgraceful actions!" Lee shouted, his fists quaking violently.

She glanced at her fingernails nonchalantly. "We have our reasons, although it would appear you are too blind to see the truth in more ways than one. You probably don't even realize that this whole thing is actually a trap, and you fell right into it without even knowing…"

Lee glanced around again, realizing that several other trees around him were strung with metallic wires, the thin fibers acting like a sort of spider-web. "No matter what the case, I won't allow myself to be defeated by the likes of you! I'm ready for anything you can throw at me, so go ahead and bring it on!"

"Hold on, bushy-brows! I never said I was your opponent…" Karin placed a hand on her hip and tousled her long red hair with a sinister smile. She placed a finger to her lip and whistled loudly, signaling to an unseen person. "He's all yours! Try to make this fight quick and relatively painful if you can!"

A third figure jumped down from the trees, landing several yards away from Lee. Although the newcomer wore a black cloak like the rest of Team Hebi's fighters, she quickly discarded the garment. The girl was rather petite in terms of height and build, wearing a form-fitting white bodysuit along with a pair of light shoes and what appeared to be a metal ring around her neck. She had pale features, deep purple eye, and very light green hair that ran just past her shoulder, two large bangs framing each side of her delicate face with a stray lock hanging between her eyes. A metal gauntlet covered her right hand, the metal fingers shaped like the claws of a bear.

"My name is Kagero, and I hold a position as one of the Demons of Team Hebi." She bowed gracefully, but her voice remained flat and emotionless. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

The green-clad fighter furrowed his eyebrows and grinned widely. "I am Rock Lee, Konoha's Handsome Devil."

Although her expression remained gaunt and emotionless, her deep violet eyes betrayed a sense of shameless bloodlust. "Indeed, I hope my skills will provide you with a suitable challenge…"

Note to Readers: Naruto's first major fight, and it looks like he's doing pretty well. This was a good way to showcase some of he training so far and give him a chance to use it in a fight. Next chapter, more action and development! Sorry if there's typos, or errors in spelling and grammar, but write chapters for my stories late at night most of the time.

Next time Lee takes no chances and places his efforts into the fight, but will it be enough when he's also facing off against Karin's schemes as well? Also, not all of Yami agrees with Orochimaru's approach to rearing up disciples, but who will win out when the key person opposing him is one of the scariest masters of the One Shadow Nine Fists?

Support feels like it's at an all-time low right now… If you have any suggestions for the story, please share. Also feel free to comment if you liked something, want to see something happen, or have any guesses or predictions as to what will happen next! I love to know that someone is enjoying my story. Overall, don't forget to REVIEW! It motivates me to keep working on this story!