SailorStar9: Chapter 19 goes up, this is Chapter 20. To all my non-reviewing readers, I love you all! Will love you more if you review! *hugs all round!*

Disclaimers: I do not own both the animes. However, I do own the pairing, I hope.

Chapter 20: Naruto Strikes Back! I'm Not Going to Run Away!

"Good Naruto." Sakura called. You look kind of cool!"

"Naruto!" Sasuke retorted. "You must have come here to show off by helping us, but don't get involved! Run! He's way above our level!"

"Wow, that's gratitude for ya." Keena raised an eyebrow.

The grass Nin looked up and flinched, that face…dear kami…could it be?

"You there…" he looked at the blond, regaining his calm demeanor, "What's your name?"

Naruto smirked, "Isn't it considered polite to give your own before asking?" he asked snidely, his fox-like grin in place.

Kami-sama…even the grin is like Arashi's!, the grass nin smiled, almost sadistically. "Looks like you defeated that big snake. Beat me and I'll tell you."

There hasn't been a situation where things got better when he came. Sasuke growled. What should I do?

Naruto snorted, "That all?", the two Jinchuurikis shunshinned next to Sasuke, "If that's the case, we'll beat it out of you!"

Keena looked at Sakura as Maya bounced in front of the girl, "If ero-hebi there starts any genjutsu, cancel them."

"Ero-hebi..." Naruto snickered at the nickname.

Crap! Sasuke wondered. All four of us are going to get killed at this rate. What should I do?

Sasuke-kun... Sakura looked at the hesitating raven.

Shit. Sasuke cursed. This is the only way I know of.

"Wait." he started, deactivating his Sharingan. "I'll give you the scroll. Please, take his and leave us in peace."

Keena slapped her forehead.

"I see, you're smart." the Grass nin noted. "The only hope the prey has from a predator is to hand over something else to eat to save itself.

"Take it." Sasuke tossed the scroll over.

Naruto grabbed the scroll before the Grass nin could do anything.

"You!" Sasuke glared at the blond. "Don't butt in! Do you understand the situation you're in?"

Naruto hammered the raven with a punch.

"Why you..." Sasuke demanded, landing on a nearby branch. "Why do you do that?"

"I forgot the password." Naruto growled. "So, I can't make sure of this, but you're a fake Sasuke, aren't you?

"Naruto, what..." Sakura gaped. "What are you saying?"

"You idiot!" Sasuke hissed. "I'm the real one!"

"Liar." Naruto heaved. "The idiot and coward I see in front of me right now can't be the Sasuke I know. I don't know how strong he is, but there is no guarantee that he'll let us go even if we hand over our scroll! You're the one who is scared, the one who doesn't understand the situation."

"And pray tell me, what are you going to do if his target isn't the scroll?" Keena reminded the raven.

"You're correct, Keena." the Grass nin licked his lips. "I just have to kill all of you to take the scroll."

"Stop!" Sasuke warned. "Run, Naruto!"

"I've lost faith in you, Sasuke!" Naruto glared at the raven.

"Summoning Move." the Grass nin chanted, summoning a serpent.

"Naruto!" Sakura hollered as the snake came at the two Jinchuurikis.

"Shall we?" Keena gave Naruto a fox grin, the Kyuubi container returning with one of his own.

"Haku!" Keena summoned her ice sprite, the two leapt away to avoid getting slammed by the serpent.

"Tsurara Mai!" she released a hail of icicles at the snake, just as Naruto landed a kick on the snake's head, Kyuubi's charka threatening to overflow.

With a war cry, Naruto hammered the snake with a rain of punches.

"Naruto's gone berserk..." Sakura gaped. "But why is Naruto so strong?"

The Grass nin smirked and released a fireball at the charging Kyuubi container, causing the blond to fall.

"That's Naruto?" even Sasuke was stunned.

Keena sighed, Mental note: teach him how to utilize Kyu-chan's charka better.

This is getting interesting. The Grass nin smirked.

"You're next." he looked at the raven. "Sasuke-kun. How will you fight?"

"Koori Ryu!" came Keena's ice dragon construct charging in, successfully preventing the Grass nin's attack on Sasuke.

"Seriously Orochimaru, what the hell do you want?" the Guardian demanded.

"Now, now." the disguised Orochimaru taunted. "It won't be fun anymore if I..." before letting out a bloodcurdling scream when Haku appeared behind him, both hands gripping onto his shoulder and engulfing him and his snake summon with his ice tornado and freezing both serpentines in his wake.

"Had been wanting to try that out, huh?" Keena quirked a brow at the ice sprite.

"Ouch..." Naruto winced, seeing the Grass nin fall to the forest ground, the snake summon disappearing in a puff of smoke. "That's got to hurt."

"Can't say I didn't warn him before." Keena shrugged, sending an 'Ice Bolt' on Orochimaru's back, before she took off after the serpentine Sannin, both sais drawn and extended into twin jittes, with Naruto following closely behind.

Orochimaru was pleased, not only were the two Jinchuurikis putting up a fight, but he had actually witnessed the ice Guardian's startling power, and much to his pleasure, the blonde's development as well.

To think he would develop so quickly… the Sannin thought. Arashi…your legacy is quite impressive.

He readied the five element seal as he held Naruto up with his tongue. But I can't jeopardize the plan… forgive me Arashi. "Gogyofuuin: The five element seal!"

Naruto screamed as the purple chakra enveloped him. Within him, he heard the desperate cries of Kyuubi as she tried to stay in contact with him. Then nothing, he felt strangely empty…alone.

Naruto began to shiver, since his birth, since the seal was put in place; Kyuubi had always been with him, sending comforting vibes to settle his young mind, like a soothing hand on his shoulder.

Now that presence was gone, the hand was gone.

"Forgive me…" he heard the Grass nin mutter, before passing out.

"Shit!" Keena cursed, sheathing her jittes as Maya caught the unconscious blond on her back.

Turning him over, she lifted his shirt and was stunned to see the very altered seal on his stomach.

Bastard screwed up his charka system! The ice Guardian hissed. Angel-nee's the only one who can correct this seal now.

SailorStar9: Wow, now that's done, read and review.