Chapter 36: Road to Nowhere

Katana jolted awake, eyes flashing open and a sharp inhale passing her lips. She looked wildly around, disoriented by the dream she had been enduring. There was a loud snore from the other room, and Katana sighed as she relaxed her tense muscles, identifying Anko as the source of the noise. The sun was slowly bleeding light into the sky, the dawn sluggishly claiming the previously dormant world. Katana stared at the ceiling, struggling to separate her dreams from the reality of the night before. She longed to close her eyes and submit to the torturous nightmares her sleep was plagued with, but knew she needed to define what had actually happened and what her nightmare had warped.

Sitting up, Katana looked out the window, feeling a sinking sensation in her stomach. She could distinctly remember what Neji had said, the words beginning to show their true effects. She was forbidden to see him for reasons that were not her fault, false accusations and misunderstandings altering her true nature. The Hyuuga Clan wouldn't see reason, and Katana could hardly blame them. They had every right to fear her clan, they had every right to want to separate their best shinobi from the demons of her family. But Katana was not one of them. She was the outcast, accepted by no one and hated by all. All except Neji and Anko. But only the Crazy Snake Lady was left for her now.

Katana set her feet on the floor and sat on the edge of the futon, staring at the floor as her thoughts whirled. She set her jaw and stood up, changing into her typical attire quickly and heading out of the apartment swiftly, carrying no weapons. She bolted out into the crisp morning air, springing over rooftops to reach the training fields in minimal time. She searched for the chakra flare that she was so familiar with, scanning the wide range of fields before detecting the slightest essence at the edge of one of the furthest training fields.

She leaped into the trees, taking as little time as possible to cover the distance between her position and the chakra flare. But as she neared the source of the energy, she realized that it had the same base as Neji's chakra, but it was different in several ways. Katana reached the training field and paused in the tree, catching her breath in great gasps before she dared reveal herself to the owner of the chakra flare. She couldn't be sure if the person was docile and would not attack her; she knew that it wasn't Neji.

Slinking through the foliage, Katana carefully crept closer to the person, eventually perching on a branch just outside a clearing. The single person had his back turned, his dark hair trailing slightly past his shoulders. He turned slowly and looked up, Byakugan activated and stared directly at Katana. She lowered herself to the ground and stepped up to the Hyuuga, noting that he tensed with every step she took.

"It seems that Neji and Hiashi-sama were correct about your haste to test how serious we were," the Hyuuga said coldly, taking an uneasy step back as Katana stopped only several feet adjacent to him.

"Where is Neji?" Katana said without addressing that he had spoken.

"As if I would tell you. I'm sure you were told that we would keep him away from you by all means possible. Even the Hokage has been told and she has made sure that you two will never be placed on the same team for missions."

"Why do you do this to me? What do you know about me? What gives you the thought that I'm the same as the rest of my clan? Why must you stereotype me as being like the rest of them? Why do you hate me when I've done nothing wrong?"

"You have done us wrong," the Hyuuga snapped, his hand sliding toward his leg holster. "Neji is one of the strongest in the clan and you've tampered with his mind. He was always impervious to the effect of emotions, but ever since he's met you he's been unable to focus on what's important in his career as a shinobi. You will be the downfall of him if you continue distracting him. It's better for the both of you this way."

"Do you seriously expect me to believe that?" Katana growled, watching the Hyuuga flinch and loosen a kunai from his leg holster. "No one had any consideration for me when the decision was made. Neji is the only one you wish to protect, but what are you protecting him from? I can do him no harm. He once told me that emotions are a human experience and can't be denied completely. Separating us will do nothing."

The Hyuuga gave a tight, mocking laugh. "You think he it matters to him if you're together or not? He's already pushed you out of his mind. He cares nothing for you anymore, so don't bother believing that he would care if you met again. Neji has much more important matters to dwell on."

Katana kept the Hyuuga's gaze, glaring into his white eyes to detect any trace of a lie. But she didn't know the Hyuuga and ruled him unreadable, unable to uncover any signs that he was telling the true or lying. Katana took a step forward and the Hyuuga, in turn, stepped back.

"You speak quite defiant words for being so fearful," Katana murmured coldly. The Hyuuga pulled a kunai and held it at his side, watching her every move closely. "You don't need to be afraid of me. I'm not like the others of my clan; I don't kill ruthlessly for sport or simply because someone angers me. I've grown out of that."

"I don't think I'll take my chances," the Hyuuga bitterly spat with mockery, returning his kunai to its holster. "I'll give you a warning. Don't try to meet with Neji again. It won't be me supervising him next time, and they won't let you off so easily. We've been given orders to dispose of you if you make any advances that can be identified as 'threatening'. Neji will have no contact with you, that I can tell you is certain. For once in his life, he is the one receiving protection instead of giving it. You should be happy. Because of you, the caged bird is finally getting a taste of freedom."

Katana's eyes narrowed and the Hyuuga gave a cold laugh. He wove several hand seals and vanished in a puff of smoke. Katana looked up at the sky and sighed heavily. They were not joking or taking any shortcuts; the Hyuuga Clan was determined to keep them apart. Katana turned and began a slow walk back to the main area of the Village, head bowed and eyes on the ground. She heard a loud squawk and looked up to the sky, spotting a bird rapidly circling above the trees over her head. It dove and landed on her shoulder, chirping in her ear before taking off into the air again. The Hokage's messenger birds only directly confronted the ninja they were sent to retrieve if the mission was urgent, and Katana quickened her pace to the Hokage's Tower. She hoped that the mission would take her mind off the current situation.

The three ninja from the previous Cell Eight stood before Tsunade, patiently waiting for their team leader to arrive. The silence stretched between the four of them as the minutes dragged on, Tsunade growing more and more impatient as she rapidly tapped her finger against her desk. There was a knock on the door and Tsunade curtly allowed entry.

"You're sense of punctuality is never the best when I call you for a mission," the Hokage snapped, picking up the mission scroll from her desk. "Just get in here so you can get briefed and on your way."

"My apologies," Katana murmured as she stepped up to the desk, glancing at the collected team. Kiba gave her a grin; Akamaru's tail wagging as he stood beside his master. Hinata and Shino gave her nods of acknowledgment, but turned their attention to the Hokage as she began to speak.

"It's a relatively simple mission, but it must be done swiftly. The Daimyo needs one of his sons to be escorted to the Wind Country boarder. You are to meet him at a given point the Daimyo specified by noon today. The meeting point will take you most of the morning to reach, so you should leave as soon as you can. The Daimyo's son can be reckless and impulsive, and is very outspoken. Just keep him out of trouble and make sure he doesn't get hurt. Get him to his destination safely and your mission is complete. I should also tell you that the boy is the main target of a bandit gang. Take them out if it is at all possible. Now, get going or you're going to be late."

Katana nodded and took the mission scroll, heading swiftly to the door with her team flanking her. They left the Hokage's Tower and Katana turned to the three, ignoring Kiba's grin. "Is everyone prepared, or do any of you need to pick up any supplies? Tell me quickly so we can leave as soon as possible."

Hinata had a panicked look on her face and blushed brightly. "I-I-I'm sorry, b-but I think I l-left something at my clan complex." She fidgeted nervously as Katana held her gaze.

"Be swift and get it," Katana muttered as she turned away. "Meet me at the Village Gates when you are ready." She shot off through the Village, knowing that it wasn't the best choice for her to go near the Hyuuga complex.

Neji silently walked through the halls of the Hyuuga complex, struggling to conquer his seething anger. He had not been expecting the strictness of his clan and was thoroughly embarrassed. He had been given a supervisor as if he were a small child that would go wrong. He had been ordered to leave the training field once his supervisor identified the approaching chakra that could only belong to Katana. He wandered in the general direction of his room, and nearly collided with Hinata as she turned a corner.

"N-Neji-niisan!" she stuttered, her eyes widening and face acquiring a gentle blush. "I'm sorry."

"It is not a problem," Neji said dismissively as he began to walk away. He paused however as Hinata kept her eyes on him for a moment. "Is there something you need, Hinata-sama?"

"No, I just…" she looked down and clasped her hands together. "I'm going on a mission with Katana. I just…"

Neji blinked in momentary surprise before his anger took over. Though he kept his face emotionless as his thoughts spun. Why is Hiashi so strict about me, yet he allows Hinata to be in Katana's presence? Why am I the one that must be kept under watch when Hinata, one of the Main Branch, has no restrictions? They believe that they are freeing me by giving me "protection", but I only feel as if my cage is being reinforced. Neji was about to storm off when an idea came to his mind. He gripped Hinata's arm and she looked up in fear, gasping slightly.

"Please, wait here for a moment. I will be right back." Neji released her arm and darted through the complex, rapidly arriving at his room. He retrieved the object he was seeking and returned to his cousin without any further delay, extending the object out to her. "Would you do me a favor, Hinata-sama? Please give this scroll to Katana for me, but don't let your action be known. Make sure that she is the only one to see this scroll other than yourself and I."

"Oh, o-okay." Hinata shyly took the scroll and tucked it away into her waist pouch. Neji nodded and watched his younger cousin continue down the hall, her progress quick as she ran off to collect her supplies to go on her mission. Neji exhaled and set off in the opposite direction in the complex, his thoughts elsewhere as he traversed the winding halls.

"We have to go faster," Katana called back to the three shinobi behind her, hastening her pace as she sprung through the trees.

"Faster?! No way! That's impossible!" Kiba cried as Akamaru gave a whine. The dog, as his master's mount, was leaped through the trees as fast as his four limbs could carry him and was growing tired. "You're going to run us to death!"

"Kiba's right," Hinata said breathlessly. "We can't run any faster than this. Our pace is hasty as it is."

"We need not go any faster than this," Shino muttered darkly, his voice only slightly strained as he sprinted over branches to stay behind Katana. "How do I know? Because the meeting point is close enough for us to arrive punctually. We may even be present before the specified time."

"Yeah, I know the Land of Fire like the back of my hand and I know the place isn't too far away," Kiba called. "You don't need to rush."

Katana sighed and slowed herself, allowing the other three to catch up. She had wanted to run faster than she was capable, hoping that it would warm the chilled feeling that saturated her down to her bones. She felt empty and alienated without Neji's familiar presence next to her, the sensations emphasized because of her earlier meeting with the other Hyuuga. Everything that she had felt seemed to freeze in her bloodstream, leaving only the icy revelation that everything was more serious that she had thought; the Hyuuga Clan was determined to guard Neji from her no matter the cost. She gave a heavy sigh and her foot caught on a branch, making her trip and nearly fall.

"Katana! Are you okay?" Kiba made Akamaru return to where Katana was clutching a branch to keep herself from falling. "What happened?"

"Nothing," Katana snapped, angrily rising to her feet. Hinata and Shino were staring back at her, Hinata's eyes holding concern. "I just wasn't paying attention."

"Are you sure that you're okay?" Kiba pressed further. "You look a little pale."

"I'm fine, just keep moving," Katana growled firmly and leaped off into the branches. She cursed herself for being so foolish as to let her thoughts cloud her attention. Both her mind and body were being affected by the situation, breaking down by the consuming thoughts plaguing her. She was tired from not sleeping well the previous night and felt separated from the team she led; she hardly knew them besides meeting them several weeks prior.

"The meeting point is ahead," Kiba reported, sniffing the air. "And it seems that our client has already arrived." Hinata activated her Byakugan and affirmed the Inuzuka's statement. Katana descended through the branches easily and landed before a large stone pillar set between two large oak trees, the marker that signified the meeting point.

"Jeez, these Leaf ninja aren't very reliable, are they?" a young teenager in the small group scoffed. He was obviously the Daimyo's son; he was dressed in rich clothing and flanked by three guards. "And they have no respect for their superiors in the way they dress. I mean, what's with the short one's ripped jacket?"

Katana's eyes flashed coldly and she fought the urge to curl her lip in a snarl. She had not found the chance to purchase a new zippered sweater so she continued to wear the one that had been ripped by the Rinji Seibutsu's claws. Her back-plate apparatus had kept most of the tears hidden, but the frayed ends were still visible from beneath. The Daimyo's son quirked his eyebrow at her and rolled his eyes, looking to his guards.

"I guess I should be going then," he said to his guards as if it would be a painful experience. "I just hope that you four aren't as weird as your appearances suggest. But as ninja's come, the weirder they are, the stronger they are, right? Isn't that usually how it goes?"

"Just keep your head down, kid," Katana growled. "And if I'm yelling at you to run or duck, do as I say or you're going to die."

"Jeez, what's up your butt? You think you have the right to order me around?"

"Our mission is to protect you, so do as I say and you'll be safe. If I tell you to hide, then hide. If I tell you to run, then sprint like Akamaru, this dog, is chasing you. Otherwise—"

"Wow, how do you three put up with this bitch?" The Daimyo's son was ignoring Katana and addressing the others as if she couldn't hear him.

"Do you want to run that by me again?" Katana glared at his aloof expression as he turned back to her.

"I would prefer not to, thanks. I just know who not to request next time I need an escort."

"Don't push it, kid," Katana growled as she started off down one of the roads that led to the Wind Country. "I've had a rough day." This is going to be a long mission.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

"Hey, Katana," the Daimyo's son, he said that his name was Yutaka, spoke up. She had reluctantly told him her name, knowing he would only continue his mockery. "How did you get that scar on your face?"

"Don't ask questions that don't concern you," Katana muttered coldly.

"Jeez, I'm just trying to be friendly. Most people like to talk about the heroic ways they get scars. Unless you got that in a foolish way."

"No, this scar is a result of a…disagreement I got into. That is all you need to know. Now just shut up and keep walking."

"You know, you would be a cool person to hang around if you weren't so mean," Yutaka said loudly, clearly trying to annoy the kunoichi. "I'd even maybe date you if you were nicer and dressed neater."

"Shut it, kid," Katana growled. "You're out of line."

Kiba let out a laugh and clapped his hand on Yutaka's shoulder. "Do go after her. Trust me from experience: any forward attempts will end you up in the intensive care ward at the nearest hospital. Or you'll be sterilized. And, besides, she has a boyfriend."

Katana turned to look at Kiba. "What are you talking about? I don't have a boyfriend."

Kiba blinked in confusion. "Aren't you, like, dating Neji Hyuuga?"

"What gave you that idea?" Katana snapped, feeling her chest tighten. "Why would you assume such a thing?"

"Well, I…uh…" Kiba looked to Hinata and Shino for help, panicking as an infuriated look masked Katana's features. "I mean, you two were always together for a while, so I thought…you know…you two were a couple."

"Get your facts straight before you think such things," Katana hissed and turned away, walking forward at the front of the group. "I never had that sort of relationship with Neji. I don't involve myself in that sort of behavior. We were nothing more than training partners and teammates on missions."

"So you're not taken?"

"No, Kiba. Why are you so interested?"

"Do you want to give me a try?"

"It seems you didn't learn your lesson the last time, Kiba. Do you want me to reinforce my point?" Katana looked over her shoulder as Kiba fell silent and moved his hands as if to protect his crotch. Katana rolled her eyes and looked back forward. "Get your head out of your pants and focus on the mission."

"Huh. Is it just me, or are you maybe trying to protect your relationship with that Hyuuga? You're denying the obvious and turn other men down. I'm thinking that— I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!" Katana had whirled around and stormed up to Kiba, eyes saying that she wanted to rip his throat out. Hinata, however, stepped between them, stammering out a remark.

"P-please, K-Kiba," she stuttered, trying to ignore Katana's words for her to move aside. "R-remember that I-I'm Neji's c-cousin. I kn-know what goes on w-with him. He's n-never had a re-relationship l-like that with a-anyone."

"Yeah, I was just kidding," Kiba said as Katana let a growl rise from her throat. She turned and felt silent, arms crossed over her chest as she continued to walk forward.

"I'll take your word for it," Yutaka whispered to Kiba. "She's crazy."

Katana hung her head, tightening her arms around herself. She normally would have had tears springing to her eyes, but she held them off resiliently. But the pain in her heart was all the worse. The team walked on in silence for the rest of the day and Katana brooded over what had happened and what was said. The sun was beginning to sink below the horizon when Katana finally spoke, but it was only to declare that they would stop for the night and that she would take first watch.

The night dragged on and Katana watched as the moon slowly made its way across the sky, finally reaching the point when her watch ended. She was reluctant to wake Hinata, who had second watch, but the jounin was drained from the occurrences that she had endured and roused the younger Hyuuga.

"It's your watch," Katana said curtly, as the girl's white eyes stared up at her.

"R-right." Hinata began to rise but grew uneasy under Katana's harsh gaze. "Is something wrong?"

"It's just…I was wondering why I'm allowed to interact with you while I've been forbidden to see Neji."

"Oh, that's right. I heard that my father had said something like that." Hinata cast her eyes to the ground. "It is my belief that, even though I'm of the Main Branch, I'm not as valuable to the clan. My younger sister is more likely to become the heir than I am, so my father isn't as concerned about me."

"That's cruel," Katana murmured, beginning to walk away, but still unsatisfied with the reason.

"Please, just wait one moment. I have something for you." Hinata said and pulled a scroll from her waist pouch, handing it to Katana. "It's from Neji." Katana's eyes widened in the darkness, looking silver in the moon's light instead of their usual piercing brown. "He said to keep it a secret. Don't read it now, though. You should sleep, and you can't read in the dark anyway. I just wanted to give it to you as soon as I could."

Katana looked down at the scroll in her hand, a faint smirk flickering over her features. "Thank you, Hinata." She walked to where she had chose to sleep and curled up on the ground, forcing her thoughts to calm. Katana closed her eyes and sighed heavily, the scroll tucked into her own waist pouch and pressed against her back. It provided comfort in the night, giving her hope for what would happen, no matter what it contained. Katana welcomed her dreams, no matter what they were; they were her savior in this time and were the only thing that she could depend on.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

"Get up! Get up!"

Katana was jarred from her nightmare and wildly grabbed for one of her swords, staring up at the face looming above her. "Kiba? What are you doing?" She kept her grip on her sword tight and breathed heavily, watching him step back and look over at the others' sleeping figures.

"I smell trouble and we need to either get out of here or get ready to fight," he said quietly in a serious tone, moving to wake Shino and Hinata. "I think it's those bandits Tsunade-sama warned us about."

Katana sniffed at the air, but could detect nothing except for the earthy forest scents, her sense of smell not nearly as keen as the Inuzuka's. But there was a different odor in the air that didn't belong to the woods and she knew that Kiba was correct. Hinata was sitting up and had her Byakugan activated, searching the surrounding area closely. She nodded grimly and sighed, confirming Kiba's suspicions.

"Wass-goin-on," Yutaka mumbled as he was woken by Kiba.

"Just get off your sorry ass and get ready to run," Katana spat, looking up to the trees. "How much time do we have?"

"They approach rapidly from all sides," Shino murmured in his sinister tone, ear pressed to the ground. "How do I know? My insects sense their movement from the forest floor. They are moving carelessly and know little of our abilities. They believe that they will have an easy fight, but they are wrong."

"Our only disadvantage is numbers," Kiba said as he sniffed the air with Akamaru. "The air is so thick with their scent that there has to be a lot of them."

"Don't worry," Katana said with confidence. "We are shinobi and they are most likely just normal people. We will easily defeat them."

"Don't underestimate them," Shino said softly. "An army of ants can easily overpower a predator many times a single ant's size. We must still act with caution."

"Enough with the bug analogies, Shino," Kiba snapped in annoyance. "I can never understand how you can do that."

"Okay, enough, what we have to do is form a circle around him," Katana pointed to Yutaka, "and try to prevent anyone to get through. Unless we make someone take charge and move with him and fight, then the other is our only choice."

"But who would take charge?" Kiba questioned. He suddenly grimaced and shook his head. "Hurry and make a choice. The bandits are getting closer."

"Shino, I want you to guard Yutaka," Katana said suddenly, abandoning her first plan. "Your insects can keep any bandits away from all sides and can warn you of any danger. Your techniques require very little movement on your part, so you won't risk injuring him the way the rest of us could. Now— Look out!"

Katana drew a sword and knocked a dagger out of the air as it flew towards the group. A ring of numerous bandits closed in from all sides, screaming battle cries and waving weapons. The four shinobi instantly flew into action, retaliation catching the bandits by surprise.

"Gatsuuga! Fang over fang!" Kiba and Akamaru whirled into two gray spirals, barreling through bandits with fierce speed and tearing great paths in their ranks.

"Jyuuken!" Hinata moved fluidly in her attack combinations, allowing no opponent to touch her as she smoothly disabled each person who approached her.

"Mushi kabe!" Shino hissed, extending his hands out in front of him. His insects swarmed from his sleeves and formed a wall around himself and Yutaka, attacking any bandit that strayed to close.

"Katon! Gokakyu no Jutsu!" Katana spewed a large tongue of flames, charring bandits in a large radius in front of her. She closed her mouth and scanned the area, wanting to end the battle swiftly so they could complete the mission. "Retreat! Come on!" She received confused glances from the others who were in no danger of losing their battles. She signaled for them to move and she ushered them away, running into the forest behind the group. She urged Yutaka to follow the others, his speed making him fall behind. "Everyone get down!"

Katana shoved Yutaka to the ground and spun on her heels, seeing the pursuing bandits gaining swiftly. She bit the soft flesh on the underside of her wrist, blood beginning to gush from the wound. She spread the blood over her palm and up her forearm to her elbow and wove hand seals. She set her teeth and slammed her hand to the ground, an enormous seal design spreading on the ground. The bandits halted as a monstrous creature burst from the earth, bellowing to the sky. It was immense and only halfway emerged from the ground, looking like a large elongated toad with thicker front limbs and eyes that didn't bulge. It opened its wide mouth and emitted a gushing flow of molten rock from its jaws. Katana pulled her hand from the ground and held her arms above her head, a large red tinged translucent shield surrounding the group.

The bandits screamed as they were killed even before they were submerged in the lava, the burning heat too great for them to survive. The bandits, being lured into a line by the group's false retreat, were easily destroyed despite their great numbers. The large, toad-like dragon emptied its jaws and the lava hardened, creating a large rocky mass in place of the trees and grasses that it had consumed. The dragon twisted around and looked down at Katana and she dropped her arms, the shield fading instantly. The dragon nodded with a growl and withdrew into the earth, the ground closing up behind it, leaving a large scorch mark in its place.

Katana struggled for breath and fell to her knees. "That was dumb," she gasped, clutching her bleeding wrist. "Summoning the lava wyrm and trying to protect all of us from the heat…" Katana sighed and fell forward, slipping into unconsciousness without any chance to resist.

Of all the things to dream about, why this? Katana thought as her mind cleared. Why must this be a nightmare? She stood in an empty room with a single door, the only way to enter or exit the area. The room was lit with candles lining the walls, shining brightly with flickering flames. And between her and the door, stood Neji.

'Why are you here?' she asked quietly, seeing him step closer to her.

'Am I all you think about?' he replied with subtle mockery, a smirk playing on his features. 'This is your doing.'

'Then punish me,' Katana dared softly, closing the distance between them. 'I don't know if I will be able to endure this. How can I be expected to stay away from you?'

'What about what I asked of you?'

'I can forget on the outside and lie as fluently as if it were my native language, but I can never erase everything from my memory. I cling to the past far too tightly; you know that.'

'Have you read my scroll yet?'

'No.'

'Please do as soon as you can. Now I must leave.' He began to turn towards the door.

'No,' Katana said firmly, gripping his arm before he could move too far. 'I can't watch you leave again, Neji. I'm sick of these goodbyes; they've been tearing us apart little by little.'

'It has to be this way.'

'No it doesn't. Please, don't go.' Katana threw her arms around his neck and buried her head into his shoulder. 'We're on a road to nowhere in this situation. I miss you, Neji.'

He suddenly pulled roughly from her grasp and swiftly moved to the door. 'You need to stop this behavior, Katana. It is disgraceful to your title as a shinobi.'

'Neji, but—'

'Just move on, Katana. It will be better for both of us.' He moved toward the door and Katana made a lunge toward him, but he passed out of the threshold and slammed the door in her face.

Katana fell against the wood and sunk to the ground, staring at the ground with wide eyes. It's just a dream. It's just a dream. She willed herself to believe the words she whispered over and over in her mind. The candles suddenly flared and the flames leaped upwards, the walks of the room igniting. Katana threw her head back and cried out, the fire engulfing her and plunging her into blackness.

Author Note: Okay, bad writer's block, that's my reasons for the late update. Sorry. Onward, ALL THE REVIEWS FOR LAST CHAPTER WERE AWESOME!!!!! I'm glad that everyone like it, much to my surprise. I'm sorry if this chapter was a let down after last chap, but... writer's block...yah. If I could get as many reviews as last week, i would be ecstatic --hint hint-- As for the end of the chapter... forebode? Or not? You shall see mwahahahhaha!! And it was a dream, not a telepathic connection or anything. So translations: yutaka=rich, gatsuuga=Kiba's jutsu with Akamaru, Mushi kabe= literally "insect wall" so its one of Shino's jutsu. You shall find out what's in the scroll next chapter, sorry for the suspense. And sorry for all the little things with Kiba (I still think he's cool and all...but I just love to work with him like that. Shino was fun to use too). So, i felt like I had other things to say, but I've forgotten (it's late so I blame that... but can that count as a valid excuse if I have insomnia? I do by the way). I own nothing, just the usual. Peace out.

-cagedbird361