Hello my dear readers, I have come to you today with another chapter of Along came a blonde. This one will be like a filler chapter since I want there to be a little more than there is in the show. I also wanted to develop the love triangle that I have going a little more too. Hope you all enjoy!

Disclaimer – I do not own Naruto or Sengoku Basara.

Chapter 13~

About a week and a half later, things had begun to take a turn in the land of the rising sun. Though it was peaceful now, everyone knew that Oda and his army were watching and waiting patiently to strike. Narumi knew this yet she could not help the feeling of dullness dwelling up within her.

Ever since she, Koujirou, Yukimura, and Sasuke had rescued the three retainers she had been somewhat adamant over the whole ordeal afterward. She thought it strange that she could feel this way after rescuing someone. So she took it upon herself to meditate on everything that has happened since she came to this world. All of the strife and pain that she had see on the battlefield, and all of the brave men who gave their lives for their lords cause. It was all so much to handle in such little time and she had no clue how to filter any of this out of her system.

She sighed as she stared up at the blue sky from the porch, sitting cross legged with her hands laying on her knees. "Though my head feels clear, my mind still feels a bit heavy," she murmured softly.

"What sad words coming from someone such as you." Narumi jumped up from her spot with a yell, turning her head to see who had scared her. She saw Takeda himself standing behind her with an amused grin on his face.

"My goodness, I almost had an heart attack," she breathed out and gave the large man a small scowl. Takeda burst into laughter and gave her a not so soft pat on the back.

"I had not intended to do so but your reaction was too hysterical to miss. I am truly sorry for frightening you though," he apologized giving her a softer pat on the back this time. She nodded her head up at him.

"Um that is okay, but um, what is it that you needed from me if I may be so bold as to ask." She ignored the sounds of laughter coming from Kurama as she stared intently at the man. He looked down at her with an eyebrow raised then grinned again.

"I have come to ask if you would be interested in participating in my 'Takeda Menstraviganza'," he announced with a boom of his voice. Narumi moved her hands to her ears to cover them. Why the man was so loud she had no clue, but she did know that there was some type of training that the men had been muttering about to themselves. It wasn't for woman though, so why was he asking her to participate in it?

"Uh Lord Shingen, sir, isn't this 'Menstraviganza' thing for 'men'? I see no point in going along with this since I am not of the male gender." Takeda said nothing for a bit then he burst into laughter again.

"Nonsense! You are a warrior born and bred, a reason I see fit for a young woman such as yourself to join in this training." He moved his hand behind him and took out a mask out of nowhere. "Here, this is a mask for you so that you may conceal your identity at the contest. Your second in command has already been informed of this along with Sasuke." Naru ami blonde eyebrow at that as she took the mask from the man's hand.

Koujirou was participating in this?

She looked down at the mask questioningly then frowned. A fox mask that covered her whole face. Oh the irony, she thought as she put it on.

"Heh, it looks good on you Kit," Kurama chuckled out.

"Shut it." Narumi couldn't believe she had to do this. It was embarrassing, but also kind of interesting.

Takeda nodded at her in approval. "It suits you well, now you best be off to the training hall. I'll be over their shortly, after I inform Yukimura and Masamune." He jumped away with a wave, then was gone out of Narumi's sight.

…

"This, this is going to be interesting," she said as she walked away, heading to the training hall.

Narumi couldn't help but laugh at the sight that she beheld before her. Her giggles were so uncontrolled at the moment all because of Yukimura. That guy was so oblivious to the fact that Sasuke was 'Tenko Mask' the entire time. This was just too funny not to laugh at.

Then there was Koujirou in that tengu mask...now that was funny. If the man saw her laughing at him then he would surely try to accuse her of doing the same thing, but she didn't care. Her time to shine wasn't here yet, so she decided to watch the show. And what a show it was. Koujirou got super hyped up out of nowhere from just the tiger cubs words alone. Their battle looked to be something spectacular to watch, seeing fire and lighting dance around the room.

Masamune, well he wasn't amused by any of this, until Sasuke had to go an change into Yukimura. Not a good chose there buddy, Narumi thought with a wince. She was a little surprised to see the red haired ninja turn into the very man he was fighting, then he had to go and make shadow clones too. Talk about overboard, but it looked like Masamune was enjoying it now so that was good.

"Alright One Eyed Dragon, I've evened the playing field, but it looks like I need to add one more person to the equation," Sasuke announced and raised his hand up again with the same hand sign from before, then with a poof he changed. Masamune squinted his one eye to get a good look at who he turned into this time. When the smoke cleared his eye widened in surprise. There before him stood a perfect copy of Narumi herself. The man couldn't resist letting out a whistle of approval.

"Wow, you got all of her features right," he stated giving the ninja's new form a once over. From her sun kissed blonde hair and bright blue eyes, to her tanned skin, whiskered cheeks and clothing It was a form worth appraising.

Sasuke let out a giggle in his new form, putting a hand on his/her hip and flipping his/her blonde hair. "You think so," he said in Narumi's voice, batting his/her eyelashes at the One Eyed Dragon. The female herself could feel her face heating up at what Masamune said after.

"Yeah, you're as gorgeous as she is," he complimented. There went Narumi's brain, feeling it melt inside her head as her face turned beet red.

Sasuke looked taken back by that compliment. Not really sure how to take it, he just smiled again and took out some of the kunai he had stowed away. "I'm flattered boss." Narumi sputtered at that. She doesn't call him that!

Koujirou and Yukimura stopped at those words and turned to look at Masamune and Sasuke. The tiger cub couldn't help but stare at Sasuke's new form, neither could he help the blush beginning to bloom on his face. He had to agree with Masamune though, Narumi was gorgeous. He shook his head realizing that he was getting distracted.

"I need to leave before my face stays this way," Narumi muttered to herself, poofing away to her station. Once they were done here, Masamune and Yukimura would move on to the next room which was where she had to be.

"Get ready boys cause this fight won't be as easy as you think."

"It seems that there is yet another challenge to be completed," Yukimura registered as he and Masamune walked through the giant door.

"I guess," Masamune said, sounding a little more amused then he did before. He wondered to himself why Narumi hadn't shown up yet. He had hoped that she didn't get herself roped into this "Menstravaganza" thing like Koujirou did.

"Oh, so you have arrived brave warriors," a feminine voice spoke out as her words echoed around the room.

"Who goes there," Yukimura called out, taking his spears out to fight.

"Fufufufu," a random spot light beamed down on the figure of a young woman in orange in black with long blonde hair, a red fox mask covering her face, "I am Kitsune Mask, your next opponent. I hope you're ready to fight me cause I will not hold back," the woman chuckled to herself again as she took out several kunai and shuriken.

"Too late," Masamune sighed out.

"So you're our next opponent. I will not hold back then either Kitsune Mask!" Yukimura, ever the oblivious one, ran straight towards the 'unknown' masked women with a battle cry. He swung one of his spears at her followed by the next one. Narumi dodge both attacks, jumped up into the air and threw some of her shuriken down at him.

"Yah!" Yukimura deflected them all and spun one of his spears in a circle, causing fire to engulf it, then ran for the blonde again, swinging his spear in a wide arc.

"You're going to have to do better than that," Narumi mocked playfully. She bobbed and weaved away from his strikes with great speed, going in for a strike of her own with a kunai and swiping his spear, managing to hit it away. She smirked at his shocked face. "Come one tiger cub, show me how strong you are! It isn't just Tengu mask that you had to prove yourself to. As the One Eyed Dragon's ninja you gotta prove yourself to me as well. Show me the mighty power of a tiger!"

Masamune smirked. "Looks like she's having a ball too. Yo, Yukimura don't hog all the fun!" The one eyed man rushed in from the side with one of his swords out. He swung outward at the woman as she was distracted. "Take this blon- I mean Kitsune Mask!" Narumi clicked her teeth, struggling with the interlock that she and Yukimura were already having with his spears and her kunai's. With the quick movement of her hand she made a clone of herself.

"Block his way for me." The clone nodded and ran straight to Masamune. The latter smirked in delight. Though he maybe facing off against a clone, at least it looked like Narumi.

"You are a most formidable adversary Kitsune Mask. You're fighting style is a close copy to that of Lady Narumi's. Do you perhaps know her," he asked her eagerly. Her eye twitched. What a question to ask when they were in the midst of battle.

"U-Uh yeah, I know of her. She is uh...a great ninja that I have seen many a time on the battle field. Now I have a question for you, tiger cub. What do you think of this ninja that abides with Lord Masamune?"

"I think she is a wonderful, beautiful and courageous women who is nothing short of amazing," he answered in awe, shocking Narumi a bit. "I do not know much of women as was told to me by Sasuke, but I do know that this particular woman is one that I would, if she is willing, to court."

"What?!" Narumi's face turned red under her mask, her arms weakening little by little. His words struck her like a cord, causing her to stumble a bit. It wasn't only Narumi that heard these words but Masamune as well.

"Looks like I got to up my game on this little showdown then," Masamune vocalized, loud enough for both of them to hear.

Yukimura was shocked by his rivals proclamation. "So, you are after Lady Narumi as well."

Another smirk appeared on Masamune's face. "Yeah, I take it you ain't back'n down either?"

A shake of the head and a smile came from Yukimura as he stepped away from Narumi. " I would do no such thing. In this day in time, a woman such as Lady Narumi would give me great joy. I say this now before you and Kitsune Mask! I will not give up on her so easily," he exclaimed, a new fire burning within his brown eyes.

"Alright, well you heard it for yourself blondie. We ain't back'n down so you best be prepared," Masamune told her as he walked up to her and moved his hand to remove her mask. When he took it off he saw widened eyes, parted pink lips and a very very very red face. He could feel manly pride wash over him at her facial appearance. He sheathed his sword and was about to move his other hand to touch her face but the moment was ruined when Yukimura said something.

"My word, Kitsune Mask's visage looks a lot like Lady Narumi's!" Masamune turned to give the younger another incredulous look. Was the kid really that oblivious?

"U-Um you both best be off to the next room. I hear Lord Takeda is waiting there for you," Narumi tried to say as she snatched her mask back to hide her face.

Masamune chuckled at her embarrassment. "Okay, well we'll be off then. See you later blondie." He gave her a wink as he and Yukimura walked away, leaving through the large doors to he last challenge.

There was silence after that then there was the sound of a door opening again. Narumi turned her head to see Sasuke and Koujirou walking towards her with their masks off.

"Looks like there was quite the fight in here Narumi-chan," Sasuke said giving her a knowing look. Narumi sputtered and stuttered at him, trying to explain. "There's no need to explain yourself, we pretty much heard everything, that includes Master Sanada's declaration of love for you. How romantic right?"

Koujirou gave the red headed ninja a small glare then turned to look at Narumi. "Though the ninja speaks of this matter in such a disrespectful manner, I do agree with him on some account. Lord Masamune had declared not long ago that he would fight for your hand in marriage, and as his Right Eye I completely support him. I believe that with his charm he is sure to win you over, my lady." Sasuke scoffed at that and grinned at the woman, patting her head lightly.

"Masamune has charm, yes, but does he have the same fleeting and ambitious personality like my Master. Heh I don't think so."

"Calm like the wind yet fierce like a dragon, my Lord is all of these things and more. He is much better suited for her."

Narumi could only stand there and watch as an argument of who was best suited for her came into play. Even if she could, she wouldn't be able to get a word in other wise.

Why were these men so difficult to deal with, and why did she have to be the one subjected this?

"Kami help me."

Hey everybody! I am so sorry I didn't update this yesterday, I got sidetracked with something else before I could finish this. I'll try not to make that same mistake next Monday.

A quick announcement before I go. My birthday is on August 13th, next Thursday, I'm turning 20. I'm not begging for anything in particular, but if I could get like 5 reviews for this story and the others I would be so grateful.

As always please R&R.

~Anime hotty lover. 18