A/N: I would like to make a real quick shoutout to all of you great people who have added this story to their Story Alerts! We hit a fullround 60 Story Alerts yesterday! 60! I'm so psyched! Thank you all so much! (L)

Alright, it took a while again, but I uploaded this chapter and the next a while ago but somehow couldn't edit them. Q.Q

But the problem's fixed, so enjoy two action-filled chapters today! :D


"Kaede…"

Kakashi's voice…

"Kaede."

Kakashi's smell…

"Kaede!"

Kaede almost jumped up. She'd almost forgotten where she was until she looked around.

"Kaede, are you awake?"

"Huh? Oh, yes, I'm awake!" she called back.

Her vision sharpening, she saw Kakashi's silhouette in the tent.

"We're leaving soon," replied Kakashi. "Come out as soon as you're dressed; then you can have breakfast and we'll be on our way."

"Okay," replied Kaede. She collected her clothes and when she was just about to take off her pyjamas, she remembered she was wearing Kakashi's shirt. She stayed unmoving, remembering last night. Kakashi holding her, touching her, kissing her… It made her feel tingly inside. She was wearing his shirt, with his smell. She took a moment before she finally took it off and changed clothes. Getting her hair brushed properly was always the biggest task.

With bed hair like mine, maybe I should just cut it short…

When she stepped out of the tent, Naruto and Kakashi had already packed their stuff.

"S-sorry for being so slow," she said softly.

"Ah, morning," said Naruto with a smirk.

"You're not slow," said Kakashi. "We are shinobi. We're supposed to be faster than other people." He smiled at her.

Kaede smiled back at him, feeling a little awkward.

And I've still got his shirt in my backpack… When am I supposed to return it to him without Naruto noticing? He'll definitely suspect something, and not even the right thing.

Another flashback from last night crossed her thoughts for less than a second. She fought against the blush that crept up her face.

Naruto came to stand beside her with a smirk from ear to ear.

"W-what?" asked Kaede. "Stop grinning like that. You're creeping me out."

"Slept well last night?" asked Naruto.

Oh, crap…!

Kaede managed to oppress a shiver.

"Don't worry," Naruto continued, "I made sure he wouldn't sneak away and molest you in your sleep or somethi-"

He was interrupted by a hit from Kakashi, which was so fast, Kaede couldn't even see it.

"Stop that," said Kakashi, clearly annoyed.

He'd startled Kaede, but somehow this was kind of amusing. Naruto protesting, Kakashi not paying attention to his protests and lecturing him…

You haven't noticed that Kakashi and I were gone at all, she scolded Naruto mentally, smiling in spite of herself. You were fast asleep. You call yourself a ninja?

Kakashi looked in her direction again, and smiled at her while Naruto was still protesting.

Kaede felt another blush rise up her cheeks, but this time, she didn't mind.

I'm going to miss that smile…

As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she felt her own smile disappear and the tingly feeling inside of her made room for sadness. She was really not looking forward to separating from Kakashi… and Naruto, for that matter.

Naruto will be fine, though, she thought. He's spent his whole life without a family. And he's got great friends who take good care of him…

It's Kakashi I'm worried about.

"I don't know what I'd do if I lost you again."

He must have been so lonely after the Kyuubi's attack. I just have to do my best and return to Konoha with him as soon as possible.

"Kaede?"

"Nee-chan?"

Kaede looked up to find two worried-looking faces.

"Oh, sorry," she said, forcing a smile. "I was just spacing out just now."

"Are you feeling ok?" asked Naruto.

Kaede faked a chuckle. "You guys worry too much," she said.

"You look pretty worried yourself," retorted Naruto.

"I'm not really…" muttered Kaede.

"If it's about Kakashi-sensei, I was just kidding," said Naruto so seriously it was almost hilarious.

"I know," Kaede replied. She looked at Kakashi and smiled at him. He was still giving her a suspicious look.

Sometimes I think he really can read minds…

Kakashi's expression didn't change when he walked past her. Kaede followed his movements until she found him kneeling next to her tent.

"I'll help—"

"Nee-chan," Naruto interrupted her. Kaede looked back to him. "You think I can go visit you there from time to time?"

It fell silent, even behind her.

Kaede stared at her brother. With this one question, he made her realize she didn't know a thing about this clinic.

"I… don't know," she replied softly. "I'd love to see you every once in a while, but… I don't know if I'm allowed to have visitors."

"I'll ask them when we get there, first thing," said Naruto.

"That's fine, but Naruto, please don't do anything stupid," said Kaede. "I understand that you're in some kind of danger. The last thing I want is for you to get hurt, or worse." She paused. "Do you understand what I'm saying? Don't take any rash actions, even when you're planning to visit me."

"Don't worry, Nee-chan," replied Naruto with a self-assured smirk. "I don't die before I become Hokage. I've given my word on that and I always keep my word. That's my way of the ninja."

Not going back on your word…

Kakashi had said the exact same thing to her. Did Naruto learn that from Kakashi? Or was it the other way around?

Even so, you shouldn't make promises you can't keep. You're not sure how long you'll live. You're a shinobi.

Kaede sighed. "Kakashi, want me to help you stash away… the…" She trailed off when she turned around to find that the tent was already packed up, and Kakashi was just standing there, smiling at her.


She sure was something special. Not only did she almost make him lose control last night, but now he couldn't even get it out of his mind. The feel of her, her touch on his chest, her words…

"If it's you, Kakashi, I wouldn't mind…"

He couldn't help but be a little concerned about those words, though.

After all these years, do you really think you'll be fine even sleeping with me? Or is it that you've been forced so many times that you're afraid to reject me?

Her upper body was leaning against his back, like it had last night. The memory of the feeling of her soft, cold breasts against his bare back was still fresh in his mind. How could he ever let that go? How could he ever let her go? They would arrive tomorrow and then what? He'd rather turn around right now and take her home, protect her from any more harm from outside.

He soon forgot his feelings of regret when he sensed something.

"Kakashi-sensei…" Naruto caught up with his pace and look at him firmly.

"You're sensing it, too?" asked Kakashi with a nod.

"Hm?" Kaede's chest rumbled against his back as she spoke up. "What? What's going on?"

"We're being followed," replied Kakashi as calmly as he could. He didn't want to upset her.

"W-who…?" asked Kaede, sounding worried.

"I'm not sure," said Kakashi. "Let's stay alert, Naruto."

They dove into the bushes. Kaede pressed her face against his shoulder; the branches were probably bugging her.

Kakashi sat down and carefully let her down. He then turned around to face her and whispered: "Stay here and don't make a sound, ok? We need to check whether this person is friend or foe. You'd better stay out of sight if we're gonna have to fight. I'll pick you up when it's over. Got it?"

Kaede watched him, her eyes wide open and conveying her worries.

"We'll be back," he reassured her. "Whatever you do, do not move from this spot, ok?"

Kaede nodded slowly. "Please be careful," she whispered.

Kakashi smiled. He quickly pulled down his mask and kissed her on the forehead. He watched as her face turned red.

She's so amusing, he mused. He pulled his mask back up, winking at Kaede, and took off.

Naruto approached Kaede for a moment, probably saying their 'see-you-laters' – he hated the word 'goodbye' – and then he followed him.

"I don't think these guys are friendly, sensei," muttered Naruto.

"I know," said Kakashi. "But I don't want to upset Kaede."

"Let's go for it," said Naruto, increasing his speed. Kakashi did the same, dashing forward towards the approaching enemies.


Whoever was following them, they didn't make an attempt to withdraw or conceal their whereabouts. They were prepared to face them.

Naruto caught the first glimpse of a middle aged shinobi and two younger men – about Kakashi's age – standing next to each other on a thick branch, waiting for him and Kakashi. As they approached, Naruto could tell from their forehead protectors that they were from Kirigakure – the Hidden Mist Village.

Naruto and Kakashi stopped at a safe distance and Kakashi spoke up.

"Why are you following us?" he asked. "We have no business with you."

"True," answered the eldest ninja. "But that girl you're taking up north does."

What?

Naruto felt a twist in his chest. What could Kaede possibly have to do with shinobi from the Hidden Mist?

"You are Uzumaki Naruto," said the younger shinobi on the left. "Aren't you?"

"That's right," replied Naruto. "Who the hell are you?"

"I am the first commander of the Silver Ring Group," the eldest ninja spoke up.

Naruto saw Kakashi frown from the corner of his eye.

"Silver Ring… Group?" repeated Naruto.

"It's an organisation that scouts ninjas with the best potential in the Country of Water," Kakashi explained. "The scouts travel all over the country, convincing only those worthy of being called an 'elite' to join their group. It's like the ANBU, only more exclusive. And once you're in, you can't get out."

"I see you've done your homework," said the eldest ninja. "Is it possible that you're the infamous Copy Ninja: Hatake Kakashi?"

Kakashi didn't reply or make a move.

"I see," the man continued. "You could've become an excellent addition to our family, weren't you from the Country of Fire. Oh well, every country needs strong shinobi to compensate for those… weaker." He looked at Naruto with that last word.

It pissed him off. He was about to snap back at the man, but Kakashi spoke up before he had the chance to.

"Don't underestimate Naruto here," he said. "Trust me. You'll regret it. As for me, I wouldn't join your group even if I were born in the Country of Water. Your group plays foul games. I've encountered some of your men and I have to say, I was very disappointed. They didn't have an ounce of honour in them."

"Battle, my young friend, is a game of winning and losing," retorted the elder. "There is no in-between: you fight, you win, or you lose and die. Some of us die – the ones who do not have the right fighting attitude. It's winning or dying. It's as simple as that."

He calls himself a ninja? And that for a guy his age?

"What does my sis have to do with you guys?" Naruto spoke up.

"Right," said the ninja on the left. "The sweet little girl who killed our boss six years ago."

WHAT?

"Your sister is a serial killer," said the young ninja on the right. "In our group, she's nicknamed 'the kitsune'. The demon fox that takes the shape of an appealing young woman and lures its prey by seducing men, and in the end drags them to Hell with it."

"She's not a murderer!" snapped Naruto. "If she really did kill your boss, it's because he couldn't keep his goddamn hands off of her!"

"Naruto," Kakashi called him in a warning tone.

"Whatever her reasons," the eldest ninja spoke up, "we can't let her go unpunished for this. Our boss isn't the only one she's killed. She's killed people over six nations. Back then, we didn't know who she was and where she was from. But as soon as we heard about her not too long ago, we knew it was her."

Naruto frowned. They're after Nee-chan…

"What do you want with her?" asked Kakashi, sounding very calm.

"What do you think?" asked the ninja on the left. "We want her to pay for what she's done. A life for a life."

"Nee-chan is not a shinobi," retorted Naruto. "Besides, she never meant to kill anyone! It's horrible people like that boss of yours that made her confused like this!"

"Confused?" repeated the eldest shinobi. "She has killed over a dozen people in cold blood and in a perfectly horrid way."

"Uzumaki Kaede has developed an alter ego because she has been abused and humiliated by people like your leader," said Kakashi. Naruto was amazed by how calm he sounded. "That alter ego acts like a defence mechanism. True, this other personality's actions were cruel and sadistic, but Uzumaki's real personality is the opposite. She's harmless. That's why we're having that clinic help her get rid of that other personality."

Kakashi was probably calling her by her last name to hide his personal attachment and feelings towards Kaede.

I'm glad you're together, Kakashi-sensei, Naruto mused.

"There's plenty of people who are like that," retorted the ninja on the right. "And still they get killed for their actions."

"I understand you and your sister are the late Fourth Hokage's kids, correct?" asked the eldest to Naruto.

"What about it?" Naruto asked.

"Are you sure your sister isn't just getting special treatment for being the Hokage's daughter?" the man asked with a frown.

And then something snapped inside Naruto.

"Why you—"

"Naruto!"

Naruto tried to dash forward and attack the old man, but Kakashi grabbed his arm, stopping him. Naruto forced himself to calm down, taking a deep breath.

"It's true that Uzumaki is the Fourth Hokage's daughter," said Kakashi. "But she's not getting special treatment. We see potential in her. We really believe that she can overcome her issues and become a normal person, able to live a normal life between other people. She's not the only one who gets a chance like that."

"Uzumaki has been like this since she was a kid," protested the eldest man. "When a kid starts to kill people beyond reason, you know she'll never grow up to become an ordinary person."

"I see we can't agree," said Kakashi dryly.

The three men grinned. "Looks like it," the ninja on the right agreed.

"We seek no conflict between the Country of Water and the Country of Fire," said the eldest ninja. "We just want the girl to die. That's all we want."

"As if I'd let you kill my sis," Naruto grunted, fed-up with these guys and their big mouths. "You mess with my family, you mess with me."

"Stay out of Konoha's business," said Kakashi. "If you kill Uzumaki, you'll have the entire Country of Fire against you. Retreat now."

"Trust me," said the eldest man, taking an offensive stance, "it's better for all of us. Don't stand in our way."

Naruto couldn't hold back anymore. He needed to shut this guy up once and for all.

He leaped forward towards the eldest man, but all three of them disappeared right when he was about to land a hit on his face.

They're fast!

He looked from the corner of his eye towards Kakashi's direction. Kakashi had engaged the fight with one of the younger shinobi.

But where are the other two?

He heard one on his right. He deflected the attack with his arm, taking a defensive stance. He jumped away from him and formed a hand seal: "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

Two Shadow Clones appeared beside him – one of them launching forward to attack the young ninja; the other one to help him make a normal Rasengan. His opponent dodged the physical attack of the Shadow Clone by leaping aside, throwing kunai at the clone. The clone deflected them with his own kunai and was going to throw some shuriken back at the man, but he disappeared in the shadow of a tree.

Crap… where is he?

His other clone had finished forming the Rasengan.

"Don't go away yet," Naruto told the clone.

"Got it," the clone replied. "I've got your back."

"Where the hell did he go?" Naruto grunted.

Then, underneath them, the shadows of the trees started to move.

"Wha! What the—"

Something grasped Naruto's feet.

"Ah! Oi! Show yourself, you coward!" he yelled, the Rasengan still whirling in his hand.

"Here I am," he heard from the direction of his other Shadow Clone. The shinobi appeared behind the clone with a kunai in his hand.

"Look out!" called Naruto, but it was too late. The shinobi stabbed the kunai in the clone's chest, after which it disappeared with a poof!

"Ninpo: Kage no Haka," the shinobi chanted. 'Ninja Art: Shadow Grave'? What kind of technique was that?

"We're sinking!" the clone shouted behind him. Naruto looked at his feet and indeed, they were being swallowed by the shadows underneath them.

"You can't match my Shadow Jutsu," the shinobi informed him with a smirk. "I'm afraid this is your end."

"Ya think?" replied Naruto, also with a smirk. He aimed the Rasengan at the ground close to his feet. The ground dissolved and he was able to get his feet out of there. He jumped up, allowing the Rasengan to do more damage to the ground, so that the Shadow Clone was freed as well.

"Hm, not bad," the shinobi hummed. "This could be fun."

Naruto needed to get serious now. He wanted this to end quickly. As long as these guys were around, Kaede was in danger.

"Enough fooling around," he said. He formed a hand seal again. "Taijuu Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

Hundreds of Shadow Clones appeared around them. Naruto sent them all to attack the man, except for the one that had stayed and another clone. The shinobi was slaying about three clones at the same time.

This guy's really good, Naruto thought. There wasn't much time before he'd make all the clones disappear. He had to hurry.

Together with the clone that had just made the Rasengan with him, he made another one, and the other clone added the wind element to form the Rasen Shuriken.

I know you don't want me to use this technique, Kakashi-sensei, he thought, but this guy is not one to mess around with.

He took a brief glimpse at Kakashi's direction. He was in a heated combat with the other young shinobi. His Sharingan eye was uncovered and fixed on every move the man made.

Oh!

But where was the other guy? The old guy?

This is bad, he thought as the Rasen Shuriken was starting to take form. I have to get to Nee-chan! I'll finish this guy off and I'll get to her right away.

"Hurry up!" he shouted to his clones. "We're out of time!"

"We know already!" one clone retorted. "It's almost done!"

The last ten clones fought against the shinobi in order to distract him.

"Guys!" Naruto shouted towards them. "The barrage!"

"Got it!" the clones shouted. A few of them disappeared, others kept fighting the man, only to disappear after a single attack from him.

Now was the time. Two Shadow Clones appeared on each side when the man was distracted, kicking him on both sides. Then another Clone appeared from behind him, kicking him into the air. Thanks to the incredible increase of speed the clones had attained during his training with Ero-sennin, they managed to catch the shinobi by surprise. In mid-air, the clone that had appeared from behind caught him in a full grip, spinning him around face-first towards the ground.

Now!

Naruto's remaining clones disappeared, as his Rasen Shuriken was finished. He ran towards the spot where the shinobi was about to crash, but before he could even get closer to the ground, Naruto jumped up with the Rasen Shuriken fully aimed at the man.

"Fuuton: Rasen Shuuriken!"

"What—No, no, NOOOOOO!" he heard the man shout before the Rasen Shuriken crashed into him and the Shadow Clone, who was still holding him in a tight grip. The clone hung on for a moment, but disappeared as soon as the man was fully attacked with millions of sharp chakra needles.

Naruto took a large leap backward, watching how the Rasen Shuriken did its work just as well as it had done on Kakuzu.

It took a while for the large impact to gradually implode, leaving only the shinobi, covered with blood, on the ground, unmoving. Naruto rushed towards him and found that he was already dead.

Good. That's one.

"Kakashi-sensei!" he called out to Kakashi.

"I'll be fine!" Kakashi replied. "Go find the other guy! He's after Kaede!"

After the last word, the other young shinobi jumped backwards, creating distance.

What's he up to?

"'Kaede'?" he repeated. "Did you just call her 'Kaede'?"

Oh, shit!

"That's very interesting," the shinobi said with a smirk. "You're probably very close, aren't you?"

Shit, shit, shit!

"Naruto! Go! Now!" Kakashi shouted.

"Right!" Naruto replied. He ran as fast as he could towards where they had left Kaede.

Nee-chan…!


A/N: And on to the next chapter! :D