Okay here is chapter Twenty One of Second Best. I hope you all like it. There should be plenty for all in this chapter.
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Second Best.
Chapter Twenty-One – The Battle Begins.
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Naruto stared down at Aoiyuki confused. "What do you mean? Have you seen him?" Naruto asked. Aoiyuki nodded.
"He's my brother Naruto-San! I wanted to try and get him to reconsider but he won't! I didn't want to just turn him in without giving him a chance! He's my older brother, I had to try!" Aoiyuki exclaimed. The tears still poured down her cheeks. Naruto hugged the girl tightly.
"It's alright Aoiyuki, I get what you're saying okay. I don't blame you." Naruto said softly. Aoiyuki rubbed at her eyes.
"You don't? I sure as hell do!" Aoiyuki exclaimed.
"If I had a penny for the amount of times I tried to get Sasuke to turn the right way when we were younger I'd be rich by now." Naruto stated. Aoiyuki smiled weakly, as she wiped away at the tears that were left on her cheeks.
"We need to go and tell Tsunade-Shishou right?" Aoiyuki said meekly.
"Yeah, then you can go and warn your Uncle." Naruto replied.
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Rokijuii was back at his camp, glaring angrily at a tree. "Otokage-Sama, we're ready to attack." One of his generals stated.
"No wait. I'll go and speak to the Hokage and see if I can get what I want without bloodshed." Rokijuii said softly.
"But Otokage-Sama?" The general made to speak, but Rokijuii made a hand gesture that silenced the man straight away.
"It'll give our troops more chance to rest. That and I'd rather not destroy a whole village for one man." Rokijuii stated. The general nodded his understanding, and Rokijuii left the camp. The general waited until Rokijuii left, before he went to see his fellow generals. He explained what Rokijuii had said. The group were outraged.
"He's completely mad. If he goes and tells Konoha we're at their gates. We'll get all their ninja headed for us in minutes." Another General stated. The first one nodded.
"We need to attack now, while we've still got the advantage." The group of generals turned to the speaker to see a high general.
"We agree with you lord Jakiro." The first general stated.
"Then lead the men into battle." Jakiro said.
"It's time for battle men!" The general yelled. The troops cheered loudly as they grabbed their weapons.
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Rokijuii crept towards the Hokage Tower. He saw Aoiyuki, a blond male he had heard was called Naruto, and the female Hokage, Tsunade. Also, Sasuke was there. Rokijuii jumped in through the window, causing everyone in the room to be on alert. "I've only come to make my demands, and I'll be leaving." Rokijuii stated formally.
"You think Konoha would bow to your demands?" Tsunade asked angrily.
"Well, I can go and leave your village in peace or attack it. It's better to listen to what I have to say now isn't it?" Rokijuii questioned.
"What is it that you want exactly?" Tsunade asked.
"I want to take Sasuke Uchiha back to Oto and finish him off myself. Apart from that, the village would be safe. I've no reason to attack if you hand Sasuke over." Rokijuii hissed. The group looked at Sasuke.
"I don't know why you want me, but I'll be happy to fight you one on one if that's what you're here for." Sasuke replied.
"No!" Aoiyuki yelled. The two Uchiha males looked at the girl. "I'm not letting you fight. My Uncle and my older brother? It's not right! Please Uncle, don't agree!" Aoiyuki begged.
"How can I let the village be attacked when I could stop it by agreeing to his terms Aoiyuki?" Sasuke asked her. She bit her lip, as her body trembled. That was when they heard a resounding crash, as a wall went down at the gates to Konoha.
"What was that about you not attacking us?" Tsunade asked.
"I didn't command them to do this." Rokijuii hissed.
"Then you've got a traitor in your midst Aniki." Aoiyuki stated seriously. Rokijuii glared hatefully.
"I told them not to attack." Rokijuii said angrily.
"Well it doesn't look like they listened to you." Tsunade stated. She looked at Naruto, who nodded firmly.
"Konohamaru?" Naruto called. The young man ran into the room. "Go and tell the teachers to evacuate the academy. Aoiyuki, go and get as many ninja outside as you can, and start helping to evacuate the citizens immediately." Naruto stated. Aoiyuki and Konohamaru nodded and ran out. "Sasuke, we'd better go and fight them off." Naruto said softly. Rokijuii made to disappear, but Tsunade grabbed hold of him.
"Sorry kid, no chance. There's no way that you're running off to join in this attack. You're going to a nice holding cell, where Naruto will interrogate you later." Tsunade stated. She then left the room with the teen herself, in order to ensure he was locked up safely in the secure holding cells. Sasuke and Naruto looked at each other. "Well, peace never lasts forever Teme. We've got to go and fight." Naruto stated. Sasuke nodded and the pair headed out of the building to fight back to back, as they had when they were younger.
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Ryo and Hiroki heard a crash. Iruka stared incredulously at the direction of the noise. "Come on kids, we're going to evacuate." Iruka stated. All the children got up from their desks calmly and started to leave. Ryo and Hiroki followed suit, as Iruka led them to an underground tunnel. "I hope Mum and the others are okay." Hiroki whispered to Ryo, as he gripped on to his hand for support. Ryo squeezed back, trying to reassure his little brother that everything would be fine.
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Aoiyuki had recruited ten Shinobi. She was going through each building in her area, and getting the people to evacuate. She had a group of people with her, when she passed Naruto's home. She knocked on the door, and Hinata answered. "What's wrong Aoiyuki?" She asked as she saw the people gathered around.
"We're evacuating all the citizens and anyone not able to fight. We're under attack." Aoiyuki stated softly. Hinata nodded and pulled on her ninja sandals.
"Arashi and Fuuko are with Sakura at the moment." Hinata stated quickly, as they left the house.
"Well, we have to go past her house anyway. Everyone needs to be evacuated now." Aoiyuki said softly. The group carried on knocking on doors and collecting more people as they went.
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Naruto and Sasuke were back to back, being aimed at from all sides. Both males were grinning like lunatics. "This is just like old times right Dobe?" Sasuke questioned.
"Maybe not exactly Teme. You always thought you were too good to need my help!" Naruto exclaimed. Both men dodged blows from Shinobi, as well as their weapons.
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Sakura had just fed Akina, who was now sleeping happily, when she heard the knock on her door. She walked downstairs, and opened the door to reveal Aoiyuki and Hinata, with a group of people. "What's going on?" Sakura asked.
"Evacuation. We've been attacked by Oto. It's still going on." Hinata stated. Sakura nodded. She ran into the house to the front room where Arashi, Fuuko and Shinji were playing a game.
"Kids, go put on your shoes. We're going somewhere with Auntie Hinata and Aoiyuki-Chan." Sakura said kindly. The children grinned and ran over to the door to put on their shoes. Sakura could hear them talking animatedly as she ran upstairs and picked up Akina. Wrapping her sleeping daughter in a blanket, Sakura rushed back downstairs, and pulled on her shoes haphazardly before leaving the house. Closing the door behind her. The group made their way to the nearest underground entrance to the evacuation shelters. As they were moving, Sakura could hear the battle going on around them. "I hope Sasuke and Naruto are alright." She thought to herself as they disappeared underground into one of the many tunnels in the village.