A Jinchuuriki's Tale Ch 36: Disadvantage

(Italics: Thoughts / Flashbacks / Dream sequence. Bold: Title and Kyubi's / Demon's / Inner Characters's Speech. Underline: Time Skips)

Ino jumped from tree branch to tree branch, her thoughts drifting to Naruto as she effortlessly continued her journey toward the Wind Country, nearing the border. Unaware of the dangers that lie before her. As the seemingly endless thick forests protecting the Fire Country came to am abrupt end so did Ino as she stood before an enormous fissure, the sheer size of it matching that of a small, yet very deep canyon. Before Ino could react five powerful chakra signatures surged from behind her.

Turning around slowly she came face to face with who she assumed would soon be her enemy... If they weren't already. Five cloaked figures wearing black traveling cloaks, their hoods keeping their facial features hidden. "What do you want?" Ino asked in a calm, yet demanding tone. "Do not worry we'll go easy on you, our boss wants you alive..." The cloaked figure in the center of the other four replied. Ino laughed slightly at the cloaked figure's words in response. "Maybe you misunderstood me... I'm not the one with the disadvantage here, bring five more guys with you and it'll be an even fight!" Ino replied with a sly grin on her face, pulling an enormous scroll from her back and unraveling it slowly.

Naruto sat in the corner of a Sake bar, sipping his drink as the sweet and bitter memories of his past resurfaced in his mind. His eyes seemingly lifeless, if any emotion at all was reflected in his gaze it was regret. "Hey Naruto long-time-no-see, the report said you had returned but I couldn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes." A voice said from Naruto's right. Naruto lazily shifted his gaze to see an older, more defined looking Neji Hyuuga standing in front of him, clad in plain white robe and an ANBU mask temporary pulled to the right of his face. "Hey Neji you the captain of your own squad of ANBU too?" Naruto asked before he took another long sip from his drink.

"You're correct their is a squad of ANBU under my command. And you're Naruto correct? You never answered my question." Naruto nodded his head in response. "Yes that's my name but regardless I'm a different person from my younger self..." Naruto replied in a distant tone. "I don't believe you." Neji stated simply in response. "Believe what you want Neji just please leave me to my drinks..." Naruto replied in a distant and seemingly emotionless tone. "I won't let you disgrace a great Ninja's name, now step outside and prove to me who you are." Neji replied, a visible blade of chakra protruding from his wrist and pressed gently against his neck, lightly scratching his flesh in warning.

"Fire Style! Great Flame Barrage!" A voice called out, a barrage of fireballs projecting forward, Ino barely avoiding the attack, launching herself upward, turning herself around as she quickly performed a few short hand signs. "Ninja Art! 1000 Poison Bombs!" Ino announced, the incantation echoing as countless smoke bombs manifested in clouds of white smoke, dropping to the ground as multi-colored poisons released in the entire area around her. Ino quickly put her ANBU Gas Mask on her face, making sure it's perfectly sealed as she made a few hand signs, vanishing instantly without a trace.

"Ninja Art! Wind Vortex Jutsu!" A deep voice announced, the incantation echoing as a small vortex of wind dissipated the poisons instantly. Not more than fifteen seconds later five shadowed figures stood at the spot Ino had been mere moment before. "It appears this one is quite the escape artist, I think she's underestimating us... Let's show her a portion of our true power..." The figure from the middle said, the other four nodding their heads in agreement as they too vanished instantly without a trace.

Naruto narrowly dodged a chakra blade to his stomach, moving in strange, unpredictable movements as the Hyuuga attacked him mercilessly. "What the hell do you want from me!?" Naruto said as he ducked, avoiding Neji's chakra blade by a mere number of inches. "I have already answered your question, show me the resolve that only that of the Ninja you claim to be possesses." Neji simply stated, holding his chakra blade out in a fierce offensive stance. Naruto closed his eyes, smiling to himself as he looked upward. A moment later he began to laugh. "Show him my resolve he says? If you really want to get your butt kicked you should have said so in the first place!" Naruto replied with a fox-like grin on his face.

Damn it! Are they still on my trail? I used almost all my chakra on that last escape Jutsu... Just who are these guys anyway? Ino thought to herself silently as she stealthily escaped the best she could, making little movement as possible. Before she could react pillars of earth protruded upward from the ground, blocking any and all escape points. All five cloaked figure surrounded her, performing the same hand signs all in synchronization. "Ninja Art! Great Elemental Prism!" All five cloaked figures announced, the incantations echoing as a barrier of earth, water, wind, electrical, and fire-based chakra surrounded their target, the elemental chakra literally crystalizing as it fell to the ground, the impact not even leaving a scratch. "Alright lets bring the target back to the boss." The other four cloaked figures nodded their head in agreement and acknowledgment. Vanishing instantly without a trace a moment later

Narutocaught Neji in an uppercut, slamming his fist upward into the Hyuuga's jaw. Connecting the blow and punching him hard into a wall, a gathered crowd of observers circling them yet remaining a safe distance away. Neji rolled sideways and got to his feet, spitting a tiny bit of blood on the ground. Grinning slightly. "Only Naruto could have landed a blow like that on me, I'll believe you now, come on let's go back inside I'll get you a drink." Neji said with a smile on his face.

Ten Minutes Later...

"I really fucked up Neji, I thought about doing what was best for the village but in return I didn't pay attention to what was best for Ino... I feel selfish to want her forgiveness..." Naruto said, sipping an entire bottle of Sake, ignoring the need for a glass. "Well it seems to me Naruto that the only way for you to fix this isn't for you to give Ino space, you need to confront her and let her know you love her, whether it's through words or actions you need to express it to her." Neji stated, sipping his glass as he closed his eyes, a look of serenity dominating the Hyuuga's facial expression.

"Say Neji how has Hinata been? I haven't seen her in so long and my last words to her weren't very kind to say the least..." Naruto asked Neji, a look of curiosity reflected in his facial expression. "Naruto didn't you hear? Hinata-" Neji was cut off as three ANBU appeared around him. "Naruto Uzumaki Lady Hokage wishes to speak with you immediately." And without even waiting for a response they grabbed Naruto and vanished without a trace.

TO BE CONTINUED...

A/N: Hey everybody DL555 Back with a new chapter, please don't complain about the shortness of the chapter because it's the same length of the classic chapters and I worked so very hard to leave you all in suspense. Anyway Review if you care! Peace! - DL555