Preparations

Normal Monologue

Thoughts

Jutsu

Kyuubi

Kyuubi's Thoughts/Summoning

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

The room was filled with intense silence and fear while Sakura worked; her eyes strained and sweat beading her brow.

"How do you not understand what's wrong? Why can't you heal him?", Sasuke asked, his voice panicked.

"I don't know! It's all different from what I studied…no way." Sasuke glanced up from his hands and stared at his team mate.

"What?"

"It's…this old poison, only made in this era of time. It was wiped out when the plant they used died after a nearby volcano erupted.", Sakura said, her voice quiet. A look of relief washed over Sasuke's face.

"So, that means you can cure it now, right?", the Uchiha wondered, his tone hopeful. Sakura only grimaced in response. The smile slipped off the teen's face. "You can't, can you?", he whispered. Sakura sighed.

"The cure was lost only years before it was destroyed. Lots of people died from the poison in the five last years it was in existence. Not only was the sure lost, but it was almost impossible to learn. Even if we had the cure here, it would take me months just to learn how to do it properly.", Sakura explained, sorrow etched into her face. Sasuke slumped into his seat and just stared at the wall behind her, his expression unreadable. The glowing from Sakura's hands stopped and a tear slid down her cheek.

"It's no use and there's no point in avoiding it; we're going to lose him."

Mindscape—

"Ahhh! What's going on!", Naruto cried, his voice laced with pain, his heads scraping at his chest, trying to find the source of the intense fiery sting that tore throughout his body constantly.

"That Tigerstar figure warned you that you'd regret doing anything stupid. I knew something was different when the sword was impaled in your chest."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm saying that maybe the poison had been for his intended target."

"You mean Hiraku."

"Exactly. But, maybe he was only testing it out. I can see now that it was only a small dosage; a bigger one would have killed you instantly. Maybe he would've…"

"You think he was planning to use it on me all along?"

"That's a possibility."

"Well, that's interesting...so, what now?"

"Umm…we're scheduled for an appointment with the Grim Reaper."

"What? Well fuck, if I knew I was going to die all along, then I should've just given up back on the field!"

"Don't say that, I'm not going to let us die! I have an idea…but it might cost us in the future."

"What?"

"I might just be dreaming and I might just cause us and your friends some deep shit."

"What?!"

"Well, I was thinking…

Outside—

After everyone was done wallowing in their sorrow, they decided it was time to get some sleep. Sakura predicted that Naruto would die during the night, so everyone camped out in the room, wanting to be near each other when the final hour came. Unfortunately, they all fell asleep somewhere near mid-night. So they were pretty shocked when they woke up and the bed was empty.

Sakura was the first one to notice, seeing she had been sleeping on the boy's arm the entire night. She was quick to wake the others when she came upon her discovery.

"What could have happened?!", she yelled.

"I didn't know your body disintegrate when you died.", Ishiko commented, his green eyes weary and dull from a night of poor sleep and a day of grief that was coming.

"Could someone could have come in the middle of the night and stolen him?", Sakura wondered. Sasuke scoffed.

"What would anyone want with a dead body?"

"I don't know! But there has to be something to explain for this!!"

"What are we all freaking out about?", a voice called from the doorway. Everyone's eyes widened; they all reckognized the voice, but it was impossible…

Sakura turned slowly and her eyes met a pair of kind, joking cerulean ones. A smile grew on her face and her jade eyes glowed with joy.

"Naruto?"

The blonde smirked. Everyone did a double-take. Was this real, or was it a cruel joke? Maybe a dream?

"Could you stop staring at me like that? It's freaking me out.", the teen commented, grinning jokingly.

After a moment of shock, Sakura ran to his side, enveloping him in a hug.

"You're ok!", she said softly, her voice brimming with emotion. Sasuke came over and smiled at him.

"Glad to see your up and about.", he said. Naruto smirked back and glanced at the rest of the room.

"How are you…alive?", Ishiko wondered, his eyes full of confusion. Naruto grimaced.

"Long story, but now's not the time. We have some things to work on first.", the blonde said, starting to walk out the room.

"What are you talking about?", Masuru asked.

"The final preparations need to be finalized. Tigerstar isn't just going to stand around and wait for us to be ready. He'll attack while we're down…which is why we need to get to work.", Naruto said.

Planning Tent—

"So, what do you propose we do?", Ishiko wondered, sitting back in his chair. Naruto sighed.

"Well, this is where Kyoto's training base was located all those months ago.", he said, pointing to a small space in the trees on the map. "By now, I have no doubt that he's picked up and moved by now, or maybe returned to the main headquarters. But my guess is that the main place in within a 7 mile radius of that training cam; they'd need to stay close for supplies and medical stuff. The defenses on the base are probably tight, guards heavily armed and plenty of warriors swarming the place. Attacking from the front is going to be our best go.", Naruto explained.

Everyone's jaw dropped and the shinobi shot him an incredulous glance.

"So, you expect us to go right up to Tigerstar's doorstep?", Masuru asked, the shock and disbelief in his tone bare. Naruto nodded.

"And why would we attack from the front? Wouldn't the side or back be better?", Ishiko pointed out.

"Actually, the back and sides will probably be tougher to get through. They've most likely put up more defenses on those sides in case of a surprise attack. When someone is expecting an ambush, they figure that they'll go for the obvious; back or sides. But if we charge them from the front, it'll be out of the ordinary and catch them off guard."

"I don't think they believe anyone is dumb enough to do that.", Aylia scoffed.

"Exactly. Which is why they wouldn't see it coming", Naruto added. Ishiko's jaw clenched in thought; he hated to admit it, but the blonde's crazy idea…just might work.

"Are you sure it's wise to come to them? I mean, wouldn't it be better if we drew them out into the open?", Kaiya said.

"If we had them all out in a clear space, that would give them more area to attack us. But, if only a few of us went into their base and drew them all out to the line of trees, our army would have the upper hand. If only half of them followed, they'd call for help and eventually, we'd be dealing with the whole thing.", Naruto explained.

"But what if the forest line goes to their advantage? This plan could totally backfire.", Ishiko said. Naruto shrugged.

"Better to try and fail then to never try at all. Besides, we only have a limited amount of time before Tigerstar tries the same thing.", Naruto said.

"Do you really think he'd try the same idea?", Ishiko wondered.

"Well, I'd rather not sit here and find out.", Naruto commented. The green-eyed leader bowed his head in thought and after a few minutes of silence, he looked up, boldness shining bright.

"Prepare the warriors; we have a battle ahead of us."

Later—

Hiraku was alone in a corner of a training field, sweat glistening on his forehead and his breathing ragged. He'd been working on his sword work for hours, trying to get his mind off the lecture and punishment he knew would be coming. Ishiko knew what he had said to cause Naruto to betray them, and he was sure that he blamed him for everything that's happened.

While he was wallowing in his thoughts, he didn't notice someone approach.

"You're really talented with a sword you know.", a voice said, shocking the boy out of his daze, causing him to jump and drop his blade. He recovered almost immediately, catching it before it clattered to the ground. Hiraku turned around and was surprised who was standing there.

"Naruto.", Hiraku muttered, lowering his eyes. He still could look at him for every long. Every time he did, he was filled with an immense sense of guilt. The blonde smiled and came closer. The brunette stood rigidly in place, wanting to run but couldn't.

"So, you want to scrimmage or something? I'm way out of practice and watching you might give me some knew knowledge.", Naruto offered, his smile warm. Hiraku only watched him, his eyes wary.

"You're kidding right?", Hiraku murmured.

"No. What, am I that bad?", Naruto joked, his sapphire eyes gleaming with humor. Hiraku only looked at him sadly.

"You don't have to pretend to be ok with it. Well, I'm waiting. Aren't you gonna chew me out for betraying you, lying about every one wanting you gone so you'd leave? For getting you almost killed two times now?", Hiraku said. Naruto sighed.

"I am ok with it because I know why you did it.", Naruto admitted. Hiraku looked at him skeptically. "I overheard Tigerstar gloating about it to Kyoto. About how he lied about your father being his prisoner so you would kick me to the curb. He wanted the power I had used at the village for himself and he knew that if he offered you a trade…you'd do it.", Naruto said. Hiraku lowered his eyes.

"That still doesn't mean it was right. You'd been nothing but kind and helpful to me, and I deceived you and every one here.", the brunette sighed.

"Hey, you were doing what your heart was telling you. I would do everything in my power to save my dad if I had the choice; you were doing what you thought was right.", the blonde said.

"But that still doesn't excuse it! And I should have known that he was lying; since when has a Muromachi been true to his word! I guess deep down I knew it too, and yet I did it! I'm so stupid. My choice almost got you killed and the Kamakura almost lost the war. I deserve to be banned.", Hiraku moaned miserably. Naruto smirked.

"Who said you were gonna be banned?", the teen stated. Hiraku glanced up.

"Don't try to male me feel better, we both know its coming. I did something that's unforgivable, and Ishiko won't hesitate to expel me from the troop.", Hiraku assumed. Naruto's grin only grew.

"I wouldn't be so sure."

"What are you talking about?", the Kamakura asked.

"I'm saying I talked to Ishiko earlier; I told him everything, from Tigerstar's proposal to his deception. He understands, and though he isn't too happy and there will be a penalty, you aren't going to be booted off the force.", Naruto explained. A small smile lit Hiraku's face.

"Really? He's willing to give me a second chance?", he asked, hope in his voice. Naruto nodded. The brunette's smile wavered a bit. "Are you willing to give me a second chance?"

Naruto smirked.

"Of course."

Naruto stood up and drew his sword from his sheath. "So, are we going to practice or what?", Naruto asked. Hiraku smiled.

"Let's get to it; we only have a limited amount of time before we move out.", the boy replied, falling into a stance. Naruto answered with his personal defensive position.

"And Hiraku? Nothing is ever unforgivable."

~Well, here we go. Maybe 5 more chapters and we're done. Then of course, I'll be giving you a preview of what the sequel is going to be, though I probably won't be starting it for a while.

Kyubbi-Kitsune

Next Chapter: Ambush

"I think I should go in…alone."

"Are you insane?! You just got off your deathbed!"

"And I don't want to see any of you on yours! I'm going to do this by myself, whether you agree with it or not."