Disclaimer: Naruto and all Naruto related stuff is (c) Masashi Kishimoto. All OCs and original storyline/plot/imagination (c) of ME!!!!!
A/N: Sorry for the long delay, I was very busy with a paper that I finally managed to finish and turn in today. I'm going to be getting even busier now with finals just around the corner, but I promise this story will be finished very soon (with any luck, by the end of this week, otherwise there's going to be another delay until my next update) Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! (Happy Thursday to those of you outside the US… lol) Enjoy your turkey! XD
WARNING: Flashback…
THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS!!!
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TIME
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Looking down on the heavily guarded encampment, Neji wondered how they were going to make it through the twenty to thirty shinobi surrounding the area below. For a little over half a day, they had followed Naruto through an unfamiliar area of Fire Country. The encampment the blond had led them to was surrounded by mountains on all sides; ten meter rock formations serving as a natural protection around fortified walls of what appeared to be a large stone fortress. Outside the building, tents and other barriers separated the group from the building.
Neji wondered if Tenten was what the shinobi outside the fortress were guarding. Though Tereya had explained to them how Tekinai had been corrupted by the influence of Uchiha Madara, the true enemy of Konoha, Neji still didn't understand how it was the blond Kyubi-vessel was supposed to have lead them to where that man had holed himself up.
From the looks of the shinobi in the surrounding area, as well as the information Neji and Ryoku had received for their ANBU mission, it seemed likely that the men below were the same group of individuals that the Kazekage had warned them of. Given the dagger that should not have existed, and the warning from the Kazekage, more and more it seemed like there had been a plan in the works for a very long time. But what? And why Tenten? And how had Naruto been able to find the man who had kidnapped Tenten when even the foresight eye-wielding Tereya could not have done so to find her own brother?
.:..:..:..:..:.:..:..:..FLASHBACK..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:.
"Wah?" Naruto disbelievingly exclaimed having just been told that he was the only one who could find Tenten.
"How can Naruto find Tenten?" Sakura worded her husband's unasked question to the older woman.
"There is much I cannot tell you," Tereya replied. "But I can say that my brother has something in his possession that connects him to the Kyubi residing within this boy." She indicated to the confused blond. "If Naruto-san can tap into the nine-tail's chakra, he should be able to sense out Tekinai, and lead us to Tenten-san."
Though Naruto had long since stopped relying on the power of the nine-tails, he was easily able to access the burning power residing within him. In no time, he had managed to identify a general direction of where they needed to head; much to everyone's delight. Still, there was something that didn't make sense…
"Hn." After Naruto sensed out the direction to head to, Neji immediately made his way toward the cabin door; ready to leave immediate.
"Not yet." Tereya rose to her feet, walking over toward the anxious Hyuga.
"We-" Neji began to protest that they had already wasted too much time.
"There is time." Tereya interrupted; guiding the man back to rejoin the rest of the group.
"How can you say that?" Neji protested.
"It has been nearly a week." Ryoku added; agreeing with Neji that there was no time to waste.
"She is safe." Tereya tried reassuring both men.
"How-" Neji began to ask the older woman how she could possibly be sure of that.
"He needs her." Oushi replied for Tereya. "He wants Ryo-san."
Neji consider the ANBU leader's words. If it was true that Tekinai wanted Ryoku, then it would make sense that Tenten would remain unharmed until Ryoku arrived to face the man. The only thing wrong with that theory, however, was that there had been no demand for Ryoku to trade himself for Tenten; how could the three older shinobi be certain that that was what the man really wanted?
"My brother is nothing if not patient." Tereya timidly replied to the question Neji had not asked. "He waited two years after my death to take the lives of the Furi-iki clan as part of his revenge. An additional twenty five years to attempt to take Tenten away the first time. Believe me," Tereya unemotionally looked into the younger man's eyes; trying to remain as distracted from the words she said as she possibly could; but the deep sorrow in her eyes betrayed her. "He is no hurry."
"That may be so," Neji retorted; ignoring for the moment the lingering question of why the woman had not returned before the two years that her brother waited to massacre the Furi-iki clan. That would be a question for another time. "Tenten, however, does not have the luxury to wait at the moment."
"No." Tereya nodded in agreement. "But we do not have the luxury to go after Tekinai unprepared." She warned the anxious Hyuga.
"Tereya-san is correct." Ryoku spoke up from the other side of the room.
"That's right." Oushi agreed. "Tekinai is a highly strategic thinker. With as much time as he has had, he will no doubt have meticulously plotted out every last detail to make any rescue near impossible."
"Then how are we going to rescue Tenten-san?" Naruto excitedly jumped to his feet.
Neji silently agreed with the overly excited blond. With everything stacked against them, how could they possibly hope to reach her in time?
"We have one advantage." Tereya again answered the Hyuga's unasked question. "He has not disclosed his location or made any demand for the return of Tenten-san. This means Tekinai wants Ryoku-san to suffer. Until a message has been sent to the Leaf Village, we have the element of surprise in arriving at his location." She explained to the group. "Yes." Tereya paused; looking over at Neji. "We must hurry, but we must prepare ourselves adequately."
.:..:..:..:..:..:..:..END FLASHBACK.:..:..:..:..:..:..:..
Neji looked down at the fortress, wondering if Tenten was inside.
"Look familiar?" Oushi address his two former teammates; nodding toward the shinobi standing guard below.
"Hai." Ryoku nodded.
"They are the shinobi from Daimyo's palace." Tereya replied.
"Though so." Oushi stared down at the twenty men scatter through the surrounding area; his face marred in concentration. "Neji." He addressed the Hyuga.
"Hai." Neji nodded; already having activated his Kekkei Genkai.
"How many?" Ryoku asked from beside the Hyuga.
"…" Neji scanned the surrounding area as well as the interior of the heavily fortified structure. He could see a number of shinobi inside the building, as well as many hidden outside where the naked eye could not detect. In total, there seemed to be at least fifty ninja, if not more. With his trained eyes, Neji could see them all; but what he couldn't see… what he would have recognized right away…
"Oi." Kiba stepped in between Neji and Naruto. "Don't panic." He advised the older shinobi; sniffing the air briefly before continuing "I can smell her." He informed Neji; guessing what the panicked hint in the Hyuga's eyes meant. It seemed living in the Hyuga compound had taught the Inuzuka how to read the emotionless expressions of the stoic clan.
"I can't-" Neji began protesting that he couldn't find Tenten's chakra system, when suddenly a spike from within the farthest depths of the fortress caught his eye.
"What did you see?" Sakura asked upon witnessing the sudden confusion on the anxious husband's face.
"An irregular chakra system." Neji sternly replied.
"Irregular how?" She pressed the Hyuga.
"It's fluctuating dangerously." Neji worriedly stated.
Every Hyuga was well informed of the frailties of a human's chakra system. Fluctuations were normal, especially under stressful conditions; but there were limits to the range in which a chakra system could ebb and flow. The gentle-fist was a technique that created fluctuations as close to the limits as was safe; though in times of battle could be used to shock well beyond the limits. Still, Neji had never before seen such dangerous fluctuations as those he currently saw in the system hidden within the fortress. He feared thinking of whom the odd chakra system might belong to.
"It's Tenten." Sakura confirmed Neji's dread. "We have to get to her quickly."
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TBC
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A/N: Hope you liked the chapter… it's getting near the end…
Happy Thanksgiving!