I don't own Naruto or any of the characters. Kishimoto-san does. If he gave me the Naruto franchise, THEN I'D OWN NARUTO!

Don't sue meh. (￣▽￣)ノ

Nineteen

"You promised Sasuke!"

"I didn't promise. I lied."

Mitsuko

"No, Naruto."

"Come onnnnnnn I'm tired of walking!" He whines. Naruto dragged his feet as we walked along the dirt road. It was already the afternoon and we still hadn't found team 10. And of course, Naruto being Naruto, wanted to ride Mayonaka.

"So how long until we catch up to team 10?" I ask Yamato.

"Well considering they left a few days ago.. I'd say we're pretty far behind."

Naruto groaned and dragged his feet even more. Mayonaka nipped at my hand.

"Your friend is a baby. Always whining.. hmph."

I giggle as Naruto whined once again. "Sheesh, get excited! Don't you have a new justu to show me?"

Naruto instantly perked at the mention of his new technique. That was exactly what he needed to get moving along. I had watched him train long enough to know that he was indeed getting stronger. Definitely stronger than me.

You're only at the peak of your powers. The blonde boy might be catching up but he'll still be nothing compared to us.

"I suppose." I mutter to myself.

"It took a few days, but I perfected the rasengan." I gave him a noble nod and a congratulations. "May I ask what this perfect form is?"

Naruto went on to explain the whole chakra nature control thing. But my mind was troubled with an aching thought. We have to kill..dont we? Sometimes killing is the only way. If you wish to protect your home then you must do what must be done.

But taking someone's life! That's..that makes us- Orochimaru wasn't the only human who has killed. Your mother has. Your father. Humans kill in order to survive. Your world has no peace..the only peace being to kill to rid your problems.

No such thing as peace? Was she serious?! Peace was the sole thing we search for. Others bring destruction to peaceful environments. And I will be damned to kill, no matter how wrong these Akatsuki are. They have already killed many and you rather baby the idea of causing them pain? You are no true ninja Mitsuko..

"I am a ninja!" I snap.

Naruto and Captain Yamato both give me a perplexed look. Mayonaka looks back at me but continues walking.

"What's wrong Mitsuko?" Naruto asks.

Yamato gave me a look as if he already knew what was wrong. "Are you afraid, Mitsuko?"

"..Not exactly.. I'm afraid t-to ya know..kill someone."

"Now who said we would be killing, hm?" Yamato looks forward as he spoke. I could tell he was slightly troubled as well. "You don't have to kill. But if your loyalty lies with Konoha.."

Is he trying to say I have to kill others to prove myself?

"I don't know what the hell you're talking about Captain Yamato." Naruto folds his hands behind his heads as if this walk through the forest wasn't to a death match. "The way I see it, I'm protecting my friends and village. That's all you have to keep in mind." Naruto pats my shoulder reassuringly. It didn't make me feel a whole lot better.

Just keep in mind that this is all for the village..

I repeat in my head over and over again.

Third

Both Akatsuki members sensed Shikamaru's shadow. They jump, barely missing the slippery jutsu. Just fuckin great. Hidan thought as two explosive kunais were thrown at him and his partner. Once they were back on their feet both members couldn't move. "What the-" Asuma's chakra blades were both planted into the ground to reflect Shikamaru's shadow and capture Hidan and Kakuzu's.

"I can't move." Kakuzu grunts.

Shikamaru jumps down from the tree he was perched on. "Kagemane Shuriken no Jutsu, achieved."

"You bastard! I dodged the shadow, so how did you-" Shikamaru gave both his victims a smirk. "The thing I threw is a Chakra Blade. I bet you know that it's made from a special metal that absorbs the user's chakra characteristics."

"Kakuzu, what is he saying?" Hidan yelled as he continued to struggle.

"Baka! Shut up, Hidan."

"It's a little gift from Asuma sensei. The man you killed." A strong force of lighting peirced Kakuzu's chest. Hidan widen his eyes as Kakashi stood with his Raikiri in his partners chest.

"H-how..? I didn't even sense your a-approach..!" Kakuzu spat up a blob of blood.

"Sorry about that." Kakashi patronized.

Just as the battle seemed over Kakashi was kicked in the chest. His body flung into a dead tree that broke to smithereens upon impact.

Kakuzu still stood even with the gaping hole in his chest. "And even with all of that big talk, look who's done now!" Hidan chuckled evilly.

Kakuzu unzips his cloak to reveal five (one of which broken by Kakashi) masks. What the hell is that?! Choji could only repeat his question internally as Kakuzu's body protrudes and stretches beyond his skin. The little thread that held his hearts inside him ripped and bursted as the creatures stood to their full height. Even Shikamaru's mind had to catch up with what he saw standing in front of him.

"Well would you look at that!" The shadow possession justu was starting to fade away.

"Damn; my justu can't hold any longer." Shikamaru mutters.

Hidan flexed and held a devilish smirk. He stood next to his partner who also held a glare that could kill. "Shall we let the slaughter begin?"

"Oh yes."

Mitsuko

"Explain how this is supposed to help?!" I shout over the roaring flames. Shomei rose to her full height.

Her wings slightly opened as she glared down at me. "You are training in your head to better your combat abilities in the real world!"

A gulf of hot blue flames come my way. I scream, rolling over to barely missing them! My neck and some of my precious hair got singed. Shomei chuckled lowly. "I suggest you get prepared."

I grip a chunk of Mayonaka's fur. In the midst of my mind battle, Shomei had fully engulfed my body in her hot flames. "I'M ON FIRE!"

I fall off Mayonaka who viciously snapped at me. I come back to the real world where Naruto and Yamato both gave me perplexed looks.

"What?" I question innocently.

"You pulled out some of my fur!" Mayonaka snapped.

"I am so sorry-!"

She quickly turns and trots away. "Walk on your own Oshiro!"

"B-but but-!" I shake my head. No point in chasing after her considering I did pull some of her fur.. Naruto helps me to my feet. I dust myself off, blushing slighting when both of my team members stared.

"Your ninken seemed upset." Yamato points out.

I roll my eyes. Why does nobody understand that Mayonaka was nowhere near a ninken? "She's not a nin-"

A dangerous explosion shook the earth under me. My senses told me to run like hell but my own will was making me stay. I heard Mayonaka bark behind us.

"North East. That's where your friends are!" I nod once.

"What was that?" Naruto asked.

"Seems the party's getting started without us!" I hop on top of Mayonaka with a wolffish grin. I was kinda excited. The whole killing thing was in the back of my mind as me and my team raced to help Team 10.

"Mitsuko." Yamato called.

"Yes?"

"Whatever you do..don't hesitate in this battle. The Akatsuki will not hesitate to kill us so we must think the same." The smirk plastered on my face wouldn't go away. Yamato probably thought he was giving me the best advice. But little did he know, I wouldn't hesitate either. Hopefully. The more I repeated it in my head, maybe I would start to believe it?

Another deafening explosion shook the earth. I summoned my yumi just as Mayonaka stopped to the scene before us. Kakashi barely managed to dodge the devil's creation in front of him. It's distorted black body screamed danger. The massive chakra coming from it was unbelievable, it even left me wondering how Kakashi lasted this long. Shikamaru on the other side of the battle field seemed to be fighting a tall Akatsuki member. Except his cloak seemed to be ripped to shreds. He laughs maniacally as Shikamaru's kunai clashes with his scythe.

"Give it up kid! Don't you see? You'll never win! And in the moment when you fuck up, I WILL sacrifice you to JASHIN!" The crazy bastard managed to get a hit on Shikamaru whose body flew a few meters back.

"HEY!" Ino shouts, a kunai in hand. Her chakra was depleted.

Oh no.

Any chance of her taking that man down was close to none. At the same time, Choji seemed to be getting pushed back by that monstrosity. Two more of those creatures appeared and charged different element blasts. An older man with stitches covering his upper half attacked Kakashi-san head on. Naruto and Yamato both look at me. This was our time to do our job.

"Mitsuko! Help Kakashi and I'll-" Everything Yamato said was slowed down to a slur.

My senses heightened. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Ino seemed to be in more imminent danger than Kakashi but I wasn't willing to take the risk. I summon two clones, one of which took off for Kakashi. The other clone grabbed my arm and with a strangled grunt, threw me right into the scythe man's pathway. My summoned yumi blocked his hit from Ino and myself.

"Mitsuko?!" I hear Ino gasp.

The world slowly caught back up to me. I struggle with the man's strength but manage to hold our weapons in a stand still.

"Who the fuck are you?" He crudely asks.

"I'm..the one who's going to personally..beat your ass!" I pull his scythe towards me and raise my knee. As quick as I made contact with his gut, my closed fist blazing with blue chakra connected with his cheek. The man flew back a few meters but landed on his feet. Blood dripped from his nose.

"Oh..oh Jashin I'm going to rip this bitch into pieces."

I growl menacingly. "I got it from here Ino."

"But-" I cut her off before she could protest. "It's okay Ino. Like you said before, these bastards need to become distant memories in our heads."

The man before me, who's name I had figured out to be Hidan, wiped his nose wearing a smirk.

"T-that's the thing Mitsuko! He's immortal."

My eyes go wide like saucers. How the hell was I supposed to compete with an imortal man?! And it didn't make sense. How could an ordinary ninja become..immortal? The necklace around Hidan jingles slightly. Jashin. That devil son of a bitch. Praising himself like some god when he is nothing but a coward letting humans do his dirty work!

Shomei's rage was bubbling and forming into my own. I felt my canines elongate as my eyes shift to her's. Look I get it. I don't exactly know who this "Jashin" is but I do know he's evil. So let's clear our mind and help our FRIENDS. ... fine.

My canines recede and my eyes shift back to normal. I glare in Hidan's direction hearing a chuckle.

"Jashin-sama.. grant me a good kill with this bitch's blood." His smile drops when he sees me smirking. "Fuck are you laughing at?"

My yumi poofs away and instead I held a katana. "Because the only person getting sacrificed, is you."

Hidan takes off and with a war cry swings his scythe in my direction. I push Ino out the way quickly block his oncoming kick. I spring forward, slashing my katana in different directions. Our weapons clash and clink but neither of us slow down on the assault. Each swipe of my sword was either blocked or dodged by Hidan. Just as Hidan swung his scythe I duck and land a hard blow to his ribs. He bends over and receives a knee to the face. With one swift kick to the jaw, I send Hidan flying. With a huff I threw my katana down and summon my yumi. Rage seethes in Hidan's eyes as he held his jaw.

"Youv bith! Youv knockth one ofth my teeth outh!" I watched as Hidan spit what appreared to be a molar up.

I shrug still wearing a smirk. "Whoops."

Hidan sprints towards me with another war cry. I shoot a ya towards him, which he dodges. He dodges and deflects half of my arrows. The very last one I shot he grabbed right before it hit his eye.

"You'll have to do better than shoot sticks at me." Hidan breaks the arrow in half.

I jump into a nearby tree that surrounded us. Hidan laughs and taunts me. "Running away? HAHAHA!"

"You underestimate me..Hidan. You should probably know that I never miss." Hidan immediately stops laughing. Looking to his left he finally noticed the paper bombs attached to my arrows. "Oh sh-" I held up a hand sign setting the bombs off.

The ground crack and crumbled. Smaller trees fell over and a cloud of smoke blinded me temporarily. My yumi poofs away as I jump down. I don't sense anything. Seems your friend was exaggerating about his "immortality".

As soon as I dropped my guard a punch connected to my cheek. I was sent flying as the smoke cleared. I pick myself up hearing Hidan chuckle. I wipe the blood dripping from nose. That would most likely leave a bruise.. Right. I grab Hidan's kick, holding him in place. He struggles, but not enough for me to let go. We lock eyes momentarily.

He smirks as if he had won. Hidan twirls bringing his other leg up and across my jaw. I summersault to my feet breathing heavily. All of my plans of attack are either being met are made impossible from Hidan's unreadable moves. Some I could predict, others I had to go on the defense. In his other hand Hidan grabs his scythe and hurls the giant weapon at me. I barely miss, feeling a few hairs get skimmed off. I didn't realize but now my back was to a tree. Baka he has you trapped! No he does-

Hidan gives me a deadly kick to the throat. He held his foot and constricted me of oxygen. I try to push him off but the lack of air was getting in the way. "Hehe..I have a feeling Jashin is going to love this sacrifice the most! ..you being the guardian and all." I go still. How the hell did this psycho know I was The Guardian?

Hidan chuckles lowly. "You don't even know.. you've been on the Akatsuki radar for years..! Too bad you'll have died to ever know more hehehe!" In the midst of my shock Hidan grabs his sycthe. Holy hell Shomei-sama..how do they know-

WATCH OUT!

I couldn't even dodge Hidan's attack. So I was surprised when he stopped out of nowhere. I watched him strain against some type of force. "T-that..fuckin..b-bastard..!" He grit.

Hidan removes his foot from my neck. I look down and see a little shadow holding him in place. "Kagemane no Jutsu..complete." I look at Shikamaru as if he grown two heads.

He had saved me from getting beheaded. Just in time. "I didn't know you were here Mitsuko. I saw Naruto but.."

"Yeah well..glad I could help." Hidan grunts again as I walk past him. I gave Shikamaru a "what do we do now" look.

"I have a plan..but I can't hold this jutsu any longer!" His shadow breaks and Hidan regains movement.

I preform a hand sign watching as huge roots grew out of the ground and wrapped around Hidan's body. "What the fuck?! Let go you bitch!" He flails his scythe around, randomly cutting at the roots. Each time, the roots grow stronger and wrapped around his arms even tighter.

"I suggest you don't move. One hand sign and you'll be a pincushion." I break our heated glare to pay attention to Shikamaru. "Okay spill it."

Shikamaru opened his mouth to begin talking but a certain thought drifted into my head. They think I can't hear?! Once I know this plan I'll rip that bitch to pieces and kill the stupid kid. I grab Shikamaru's head. He looked at me with wide eyes but I mentally told him to relax. With a long sigh I focused on his thoughts. Most we're alarmed by the proximity of us.

"Don't worry, I'm only doing this because Hidan believes we're idiots. I'm going to open a mind link between us. You'll hear my thoughts and vise-versa. Just focus on telling me your "brilliant" plan."

Shikamaru blinks a few times before raising an eyebrow. "You're really crazy ya know that?"

"I'm just using resources.. Now, plan please?"

It was a lot to take in that's for sure. From probabilities to that old guy's blood to Hidan "sacrificing" Shikamaru. I had gotten the gist of it, at least everything I could comprehend. But I already knew one fact; Shikamaru was a genius and a damn good one. His strategies top all others, so of course I gave him my trust.

"Alright first thing's first." I look in the direction of my clone. She looked worn out and ready to poof away at any second.

"You handle your end, I'll handle mine." Shikamaru gave me the ok to let Hidan go. I look back one last time before coming to aid my clone. The black demons with masks roar and come in with a fatal lightning attack. The kaze-ya I sent through the current dispersed the justu to nothing but an explosion. My clone takes a deep breath.

"About damn time!" She immediately poofs away. The information I gain from her was intense. Naruto's new justu failed, Kakashi was low on chakra, and those masked demons continued attacking. I think it's time you used what you learned. Alright. Get ready Shomei!

I release long breath.

Shomei's warm cloak envoles me. My eyes shift to hers and before I know it, I held a katana ready to fight.

"What's our plan Mitsuko?" Yamato-san asks.

I hid my excitement. Yamato was asking me what the plan was!

"I'm going to take those demon things out. During that time, Naruto can charge up his jutsu and come in for the final blow." Everyone nods in agreement.

"Well, I'll fight with you." Ino held a kunai in her hand, determination clear in her green eyes.

"So will I." Choji stood on the other side of me.

"I know most of those thing's attacks, I'll watch your back." Kakashi flanks one of the masked demons whilst I head striaght for the source. Kakuzu dodges my multiple punches but quickly retaliates with a nasty uppercut to my jaw.

I backflip back onto my knees. Kakuzu chuckles evilly. "Don't think I don't recognize you, Guardian!" I wipe a bit of blood from the corner of my mouth. Well it's official. The Akatsuki are really after me.

"Sorry but I don't know you. But I do know you're not walking out of this fight alive."

"Isn't it your pitiful job to make sure everything lives? My, you're quite the contradicting one aren't you.."

My newfound irritation for the man in front of me elicits a deep growl. People like him who don't value life had no right to disrespect me and what other Guardians have done before. Calm down. He knows how to get under your skin.

I smirk, pointing my blade at Kakuzu. "You're right..it is my job to make sure everything lives happily in peace. But that involves me making sure scum like you don't disturb that peace!"

I slam my katana into the earth. It cracks and crumbles making Kakuzu jump out of the way.

"Your first mistake."

I send kaze arrows after him. One goes through his shoulder and sends Kakuzu's whole body into a tree. While he tried to pry the ya out of him I came from his left and lashed his arm with my katana. Instead of blood coming out like a normal human, these thread-like appendages latched onto my sword. As I tried to tug myself free, the very force broke my katana in half and made me lose my footing on the tree branch.

Kakuzu took the chance to rip his shoulder out of the arrow and follow me down with a brutal kick. I grab his leg and used our unequal momentum to toss him into the earth.

"Your second mistake!"

I landed with both feet stomping into Kakuzu's abdomen, sending him deeper into the ground. The earth crumbled underneath the sheer force of my attack. Dust rose and blocked me from seeing my surroundings. None of it matter because my target was right under me. All I had to do was finish it. I summon another katana, twirling the blade in my hand to prepare myself. Could I really go through with this? I wasn't ready to kill, not yet. Even if was a lowlife like the man under me now. Do not waste your pity on a foul being like this one! Do not become weak Mitsuko. I am not weak, I just can't. Besides, I'm only supposed to immobilize him so there's no need to kill him!

I only hear excuses from you.

Kakuzu must've sensed my hesitation because soon he was laughing. "A child like you shouldn't be a ninja if you can not kill!"

"Tch...!" I slam my foot further into his stomach eliciting an airy gasp from him. Even in pain Kakuzu still laughed on. Think back to what the boy said earlier.

"The way I see it, I'm protecting my friends and village. That's all you have to keep in mind."

I close my eyes and inhale sharply. Sometimes we must take lives to survive and protect those we love. All Guardians must know this lesson well, including you Mitsuko.

"I know Shomei-sama.. That's why this is so hard." The fire that surrounds me trails up my arm to the hilt of my sword. Shomei's chakra surrounds my blade giving off electric sparks of energy. Kakuzu grabs my foot that seemed to be crushing his ribs. "You f-foolish child."

"And this, Kakuzu of the Akatsuki is your final mistake."

I raise my katana ready to pierce his skin when something in my peripheral moved.

"And this, Guardian of Konoha is the mistake that causes your death!"

A blinding light comes from above me. The two headed demon opened it's mouth to let a giant concentrated fireball blast my way. Even with my instincts taking over, I literally had no way to avoid the jutsu. Even if I managed to dodge the blast radius would most likely get me anyway. We're screwed aren't we? Indeed.

I felt my eyes shift back to my own. I was beyond scared at this point. SHOMEI!

"RASENGAN!" My body was held close to Naruto as he jumped back from the explosion. His clones shielded us from the aftershocks of the combined chakras and immediately dispersed afterwards. Naruto huffs before setting me down to give me a worried look.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine. But I coulda sworn I told you to stay put!" Naruto looks to the left with a sly smile.

"I think I deserve a "thanks for saving me Naruto-kun" instead of-" Naruto and I both dodge the lighting attack the demon sent our way.

I jump back, landing next to Ino who seemed to be healing Kakashi.

"Alright. I'm fresh out of ideas."

"That's very un-Mitsuko like." Kakashi tuts.

Well I'm unfortunately doing all the work!

"Oh yeah? Well you try fighting that Kakuzu guy!"

Kakashi deadpans. I already have Mitsuko.. He sighs in his head.

"Damn it all.."

An odd sense came over me. Something was near but I couldn't.. see it? HE'S UNDERGROUND! It was already too late. Kakuzu's hand shot out of the ground to grab my throat and pull me under. My lungs failed to let out a scream from the wind being knocked out of me. The ragdoll man kicked me onto my back.

"Mitsuko!" I hear Ino shout. "Get your hands off of her!"

Kakuzu chuckles lowly. "I could use a new heart. From the way you've been fighting, you must have a strong one!"

The tread from his body clawed at my chest. I could feel each of the strings trying to force it's way to my heart. I quickly summon a katana to fight them off but my body wouldn't move.

"Don't even bother." Kakuzu stops me by putting his foot over my arm. I cry out, feeling the extreme force he was putting on my bones. Do not panic maybe we can- I can't fucking move! I'M PANICKING NOW!

"You c-coward..! You won't even b-beat me in battle?"

"This is battle child! No matter what, I was bound to win." Kakuzu reaches his hand near me. Is this where I die? I could only watch as he came closer.

"Hahahah! Seems that stupid smirk is now go-" Kakuzu goes rigid. His eyes were wide and he overall seemed shocked.

"M-my h-heart..?" He clutched his chest in pain. "Y-you.." Kakuzu never finishes his sentence, instead he fell dead on top of me.

"GET HIM OFF!" I scream.

I lift the dead man's body off of my own.

Ino hovers above me. "Careful! Don't damage any vessels when pulling, I'll heal you immediately."

I pull the limp hanging threads from my body before quickly getting to my feet.

"You alright?" Choji asks.

"Y-yeah. He just..died suddenly." Shikamaru. The gears in my head started turning quick.

I have to find him before he buries Hidan six feet under! For what? That is an unnecessary bat- To gain information. The Akatsuki are after me, I need to know why. ...fine.

Shomei wouldn't admit it but she was proud of me for thinking ahead. "I have to find Shikamaru."

"What? Why?" Naruto asks.

"Because a certain somebody needs to answer my questions."

"Seems that'll have to wait." Both of Kakuzu's hearts came running over. Choji performed a hand sign, quadrupling in size!

"Chōharite!" He slams his hands down destroying most of the earth and possibly everything in its path.

"Look out!"

We all dodge the wind nature attack. Choji turns back to his original size in an instant. I glance at Kakuzu's body knowing exactly what was about to happen.

"They're going to bring him back to life."

"What?!" Yamato exclaims.

Another attack was sent our way, putting distance between us and Kakuzu. The one masked demon jumped into the dead man becoming apart of him, becoming his much needed heart. He popped his neck and slowly stood to his full height. I didn't need to read his mind to know he was pissed. I don't have time for this! I have to get to Hidan before Shikamaru finishes his plan.

Kakuzu's body contorted and expands at each stitching on his body. Threads swayed behind his back, a thick tongue of the black strings spilled from his stretched mouth. He resembled a monster.

"G-guys..?" Ino stutters.

Kakuzu laughs maniacally. "You stupid guardian bitch. Now you've done it!"

His thread like appendages wrap around my body too quick for me to register.

"GUYS!" Ino screams having the same treatment done to her.

We were all held in place struggling to no avail. A bright light brought my attention back to Kakuzu. Two of the masks held their mouths agape with a deadly justu forming. Does this guy ever quit?!

Look up.

"What-"

Right there in a tree was one of my clones. Her yumi in hand with a kaze ya pointed at Kakuzu. Steady..! She chants in her mind. I frantically look back and forth between the two. Why wasn't she shooting?!

"SHOOT!" I shout.

Her ya slips from her grasp piercing through Kakuzu's shoulder. He cries out, diverting the blast upwards and towards the trees. My clone shoots another ya through his other shoulder, but this time a paper bomb was attached to the end.

Kakuzu blew up into flames loosing his grip on us. My clone jumps down wearing a broad smirk.

"Ha! No need for thanks guys, I know." I slap her arm with a frown.

Now was not the time for games!

"Look-"

"You'll have to do better than that!" A huge fire ball came right towards me. You really need to stop getting into these types of situations.

"Gufū Suika no Jutsu!"

My body was grabbed to dodge the water vortex created to deflect the fireball. A light mist was created from the blast, most likely hiding us for the time being.

"You alright?" Naruto held me bridal style in his arms. As much as I wanted to blush out of embarrassment, now was so not the time.

"Yeah I'm fine. Sorry."

He puts me down, his expression changing instantly. "Guys, I want to handle him alone."

"What?!"

"Are you crazy!"

"Naruto that's not a good idea."

Naruto gave us a small smile to silence our protests. "Kakashi-sensei..do you remember what you told me when I was training?"

Naruto..

I look between the pair.

"I know teamwork is important. I also know that this is a very risky path. Even so, I want to take this risk alone."

My eyes widen. Naruto had definitely grown so much, it was as clear as day now. Who would've known that three years ago this kid could barely make a shadow clone? Trust in the blond boy. He has..my faith for the time being. Now I was the one wearing a dumb smirk. I have such great friends, don't I Shomei-sama?

"It's risky but..if Naruto thinks he can do it, I say let him."

Naruto thanks me in his head. Kakashi asked Yamato what he thought of the whole plan. "Yeah..you haven't even seen it yet, after all."

"Then it's settled."

My clone nudges me. Hidan. "If anything happens-"

"Have Naruto's back yadda yadda, just get that asshat Jashinist." I give her a nod of approval.

"I'll be back!" I shout taking off in Shikamaru's direction.

"Mitsuko? YOU'LL MISS MY COOL JUSTU!" Naruto yells.

"I'm right here ya know?" My clone states with a bored tone.

I chuckle to myself. Only Naruto could make me laugh in a life or death situation.

YES! The ACTION! THE BLOODSHED. AND HIDAN'S WONDERFUL VOCABULARY.

HEYO~!

You don't have to say it, I already know. Best chapter written from me, hands down. I put a lot of effort into the fight scenes. From rewatching the whole 40 minute fight to looking up scripts for the EXACT dialogue. (anime exclusive) GAH! I was quaking whilst editing this chapter!

And the plot THICKENS. The Akatsuki are after our dear MC. Next chapter jumps right back into the action and concludes the Zombie Duo arc. (boooo) Hehe..and maybe someone ELSE makes their grand entrance into the story.. Please please pleaseeee! Review and tell me your thoughts on the story so far! You know you want to. ;)

much love,,