AN: WOW! Five Hundred Reviews! I'm halfway to my goal for this story – you guys rock!

I think I've done a poor job of making it clear how much time has passed. It has been two years since they graduated from the academy making team seven 14 years old.

For my next recommendation some good light hearted fun. "It's for a good cause, I swear!" by Sarah1281. It's a funny time travel fiction that ended at just the right time. If you like light hearted fan fiction this is a great one.

Chapter 36: Sakura vs. Asuma

Sasuke had watched the jonin trials with his Sharingan to see if he could uncover any new jutsu. Sadly the field was rather limited when it came to jutsu he would find useful. Iruka used his Suiton jutsu effectively and efficiently but it was primarily C and B ranked.

Shikamaru used his clan jutsu that Sasuke was not able to copy. And Neji Hyuga used his clan's gentle fist. There were a couple of civilians who had made it to chunin and were trying to take the next step up but were simply not ready for the jump to jonin. An Akimichi was talented but had been utterly outclassed by Neji. Sasuke doubted he would get the nod but there was potential there.

Kotetsu had an interesting skill set, a bit of fuinjutsu, Genjutsu and he also wielded in odd weapon in close combat. However Iruka breezed by his Genjutsu and proved superior in close combat. Bekko, a chunin who favored close combat had been outplayed at every part of his match by the genius Nara.

The jonin exams were not like the chunin exams. One on one fights occurred but also demonstrations of particular talents and ninjutsu outside of combat were assessed. Unlike the chunin exams that were a spectacle the jonin exams tended to be private and only trusted shinobi could observe them. Sasuke understood that a jonin's secret technique should be hidden until used against an enemy.

'Well that was useless. Neji would be fun to match in close combat. His Kaiten isn't nearly as perfect of a defense as he likes to think. Naruto will be happy that Iruka was one of selections.'

It was unlikely Anko would join him for training as she was going to be 'celebrating' with the newly minted jonin. Sasuke returned to his snake training alone. As per Anko's instructions he had started summoning relatively unintelligent snakes. They ranged from tiny grass snakes that could be used to spy to massive building sized constrictors. Manda's direct family was not summoned by Sasuke, at least not yet. For now he was content with having another tool in his arsenal. Eventually he would summon more intelligent and therefore dangerous snakes. While he doubted any of them save for Manda himself could kill him there was no need to take chances. When he did summon one he would do so under conditions that favored him completely.

***BREAK***

Kiba had been upset, angry and rude when he lost his mother. He didn't act like that when Kurenai-sensei was killed. Hinata almost wished he had. No, instead of acting out in anger he had become extremely withdrawn. The once boisterous boy had lost all energy. His sister had to bully him to the table for meals. Even Akamaru couldn't get a smile out of him.

Hinata was concerned and confronted Kiba directly. Hana smiled at her as she entered the Inuzuka home. "Thank you for coming Hinata. Kiba… isn't Kiba right now. I've never seen him like this and I really don't know what to do."

Hinata wasn't sure what to do either but she owed it to her teammate to try to get him out of his funk. Yes Kurenai's death had been recent but what he was doing was unhealthy. Hana took Hinata to Kiba's room. There they found Kiba staring out the window. Akamaru barked when they entered and greeted the two. He then looked toward Kiba and let out a whine.

Hinata moved next to Kiba and said, "Kiba it looks like Akamaru is worried about you." Silence was Kiba's response.

Hana growled, "Kiba! You have a guest do not shame our family."

Kiba twitched and looked at Hinata, "Oh. Hello Hinata."

"I'll be fine Hana can I talk to Kiba alone?"

Hana nodded and left the area while Hinata turned back to Kiba. "I have barely seen you since the funeral. What have you been doing?"

Kiba inhaled sharply, "Why do you care? Our team is broken and we'll be split up. It's probably for the best."

The old Hinata would have recoiled as if she had been struck at such a remark but Hinata had been trained by Kakashi. When you are surprised is when you should have the most control because that is when you would tend to be most vulnerable. Instead Hinata didn't react and after a moment or two asked, "Why would it be for the best?"

"Because maybe you and Shino will join a team with someone who can protect you."

Hinata sighed, "It wasn't your fault. Kurenai-sensei ordered all of us to leave."

"Because I was too weak! I was the team's muscle; if I was a shinobi like Naruto or Sasuke I could have protected her and the entire team."

"You can't blame yourself for not being a powerful prodigy. Not everyone can be a genius."

Kiba snarled, "Bullshit. Naruto was the dead last of our class. He was a moron. But you know what? He worked hard and look at where he is now. Strong enough to fight the bastards we ran from."

"So if that's the case why are you moping about and not getting stronger so you can protect everyone?"

"IT'S TOO LATE!"

Hinata's hand blurred as she slapped Kiba across the face. Kiba backed up stunned.

"Is Akamaru dead? Is Hana dead? Is Shino dead? Am I dead? Do you care about any of us?"

Kiba shuddered, "I don't want to care. I don't want to feel like this again. I just want to be left alone."

Hinata's heart was breaking for Kiba but she kept her mask firmly in place. "Kiba you have been a good teammate. You were wild, you didn't' care about rules and you made me laugh. But you know what I respected the most about you? Your courage."

Kiba flinched.

"Yes, courage. You would throw yourself at any danger to protect the team, your pack. You were willing to fight two S class shinobi that would have killed you. Can you still be courageous? Because if the reason you are acting like this is because you are afraid of pain then you aren't Kiba Inuzuka, you're a pathetic coward that is a disgrace to the village, his clan, his team and to the sensei who sacrificed her life for him."

Kiba was shocked. Hinata never spoke like that. After Kakashi's training she no longer stuttered and acted in the confident manner one would expect form a Hyuga heiress but she was never like this. Kiba's hand trembled and he clenched it into a fist.

Kiba was breathing heavily. He closed his eyes and felt the pain in his chest amplify. It screamed to get out. He let loose a howl of mourning for what he had lost. His mother and then his surrogate mother. He never wanted to feel this kind of pain again but he wouldn't be a coward. That wasn't Kiba Inuzuka.

He looked at Hinata and saw a proud kunoichi. She was beautiful, strong and would make a worthy mate. Kiba's emotions were on a rollercoaster but he knew one thing. A woman who could break the suffocating despair was a woman he wanted at his side forever.

"You're right Hinata-chan. Enough moping I haven't sparred since that mission. Let's go, now."

Hinata was perceptive and saw the change was tinged with a desire for her. She loved Naruto not Kiba but Naruto was obviously still infatuated with Sakura. Neither would be a choice that the Hyuga family would probably accept anyway.

'Why must things be so complicated?'

Hinata let none of her thoughts show on her face instead she nodded, "Hai let's go train. If we prove that we can work as a team I know we can persuade the Hokage to keep team eight together."

***BREAK***

Asuma had spent the week practicing on his Genjutsu detection. He figured that the pink haired girl's only hope was to catch him in an illusion. Being aware of the potential made it unlikely to be successful but he was damned if he was going to let Kakashi's student beat him.

The area Kakashi had set aside for their battle was a large circle in training field forty one. It left plenty of room for both fighters to spread out. Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, Shizune, Iruka and Anko were already present. Asuma had told his old team about the fight and they had come with him. Ino had lectured him on not hurting Sakura too badly.

Sakura appeared relaxed wearing a modified chunin vest that had additional pockets. Asuma's sharp eye caught that and he thought o himself, 'Ah she must have packed a bunch of the fuinjutsu scrolls team seven likes to use.'

Kakashi explained the rules. The fight would go on until one side gave up, dropped unconscious or stepped outside of the circle. Kakashi could also call the fight if the lives of the participants were in too much danger. Shizune was present to provide immediate medical attention if it was necessary.

Naruto shouted out, "Kick his ass Sakura-chan!"

Shikamaru looked very thoughtful as he glanced between Sakura and Asuma.

The two started at opposite ends of the battle field. Kakashi gave the signal to go and Asuma pulled out his trench knives and waited for the inevitable Genjutsu attack. Sakura's hands moved fast and she pulled out a scroll and opened it. The scroll expelled a sizeable amount of fog that soon covered the circle.

As Asuma expected he felt a tendril of Genjutsu try to alter his perceptions. He easily shut it down and called out, "You'll have to do better than that Sakura." Asuma's keen hearing and awareness allowed him to sense the kunai streaking toward him.

'The infamous kunai scroll, dangerous to a chunin but not to someone like me.'

The first kunai entered his field of vision and he saw the exploding tag on it.

He had intended to block the kunai with his knives but that would be risky with explosive tags trailing from their hilts. Instead Asuma used Futon: Reppusho (Wind Release: Gale Palm) to scatter the projectiles away from him. Asuma watched in horror as a massive fireball crashed into his wind jutsu.

If Asuma wasn't as elite as he had claimed he would have badly burned and in need of Shizune's medical attention. But he was one of Konoha's elite and so he used the substitution jutsu without hand seals that took him away from danger at the last instant. Even so he still had mild burns from the heat.

Asuma realized he had been played perfectly so far. The fog blocked his line of sight so he couldn't see Sakura use complete Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique). With Asuma being a Futon specialist it would have been natural for him to use the Gale Palm to defend against a swarm of explosive tag laced kunai.

'She must have already started the jutsu even while the kunai were travelling.'

Asuma growled in irritation. He saw Sakura still pouring on the flames; the heat had dissipated much of the summoned fog. He rolled smoothly and threw one of his chakra conducting kunai at Sakura's shoulder. He didn't want to kill her after all. But to his horror Sakura saw the kunai at the last second and dodged the wrong way.

Asuma could only watch in despair as the futon covered kunai speared right through Sakura's heart.

Ino's scream came with a surge of horrendous guilt. 'What have I done?'

Asuma was still with shock and only his preternatural senses allowed him to feel the danger incoming. The kunai had almost reached him when he broke free of the Genjutsu. He didn't even have time for a near instantaneous Kawarimi. Instead he turned to the side with every ounce of his battle hardened reflexes. The kunai exploded into a pile of noxious gas as it sailed past him. The gas enveloped him and he exhaled sharply to avoid breathing any of it in.

His eyes watered badly whatever the poison was it was nasty. He was confident it wasn't lethal but breathing any of it in would end the fight. Asuma leapt away from the cloud and turned his blurry vision toward Sakura. The young chunin hadn't been idle, in fact she had five scrolls open in mid air held up by nothing but chakra strings.

One of the scrolls opened up with a hail of kunai. Asuma dodged to the side, his speed quick enough to avoid the swift moving kunai. Another scroll opened sending a second wave. Asuma dodged again and went on the offensive. Futon jutsu would be dangerous against a Katon user so he went with his second affinity.

"Katon: Goenka" (Fire Release: Great Flame Flower).

Three large blasts of flame leapt toward Sakura. Sakura used the body substitution technique to avoid the blazing fireballs. Asuma saw where she went and saw the rapid hand seals she was using. 'That isn't any kind of Katon jutsu!'

"Kekkai: Yon Koatari!" (Barrier Art: Four Parts)

Four kunai that were on the ground shone with purple light that in an instant connected to each other and created a four sided rectangular shape around Asuma. The light extended to each of the kunai and then became three dimensional. It was roughly eight feet to a side and eight feet high. Asuma found himself trapped in a barrier. In shock he saw the other kunai on the ground start to expel more poisonous gas, several of the kunai were inside the barrier.

The first thing Asuma tried to do was cut through the barrier with his chakra blades. The blades seemed to cut into the barrier. He could sense chakra being redistributed from around the barrier. If he could cause enough damage to the barrier it would be break and he could get free.

He only had a limited amount of time to do so since the gas was quickly filling his fuinjutsu created prison. Asuma held his breath as he cut into the barrier over and over again. He had slashed the barrier numerous times in the first 15 seconds until he changed tactics.

He used Futon: Reppusho (Wind Release: Gale Palm) to clear some of the poisonous gas away. Unfortunately the barrier was air tight and the gas just rebound from the barrier walls. He sipped a tiny bit of air and felt the noxious chemical compound filter into his chakra system. With little time he unleashed a powerful Katon jutsu at the far wall of the prison. The fire seemed to scorch the purple walls but again chakra was redistributed and the prison remained intact.

Asuma fell to his knees as the gas choked him and in another few seconds he was unconscious.

Sakura waited another minute before releasing the barrier jutsu. The gas dissipated and Shizune rushed over to the fallen Asuma and demanded to know what was used.

"Shizune-san, it was not lethal. He'll be all right with a day's worth of rest."

Shizune checked to be sure but Sakura was correct. The gas was not lethal it just caused unconsciousness and interfered with the chakra network. It was actually used quite a bit by Moyagakure (Village Hidden in the Haze) when they had to take targets down alive.

Ino was positively shocked at the outcome. It had only been two years since they had graduated from the academy. They were all chunin now and they had heard stories about team seven… but this? Sakura had taken down her sensei! Ino loved to gossip and she knew by reputation Asuma was considered by many to be part of the top ten most powerful shinobi in the village. Either rumor was wrong or Sakura had completely eclipsed her when it came to ninja talent.

Kakashi congratulated Sakura and then turned to Shikamaru.

"Shikamaru you are now a jonin of Konohagakure, can you tell me why Asuma was defeated?"

Shikamaru yawned, "It should be obvious."

"Indulge me, Shikaku speaks highly of you and I'd like to see if it is more than a father's pride talking."

Shikamaru shrugged, "Asuma-sensei lost for a lot of reasons. From the start he underestimated Sakura's abilities and was far too passive."

"Go on," Kakashi instructed.

"Sakura did her research, she planned for the fight. She knew he was a Futon user and with that knowledge she set the stage to counter his wind jutsu immediately. More importantly it allowed her to dictate the fight. Every move she took was part of a larger goal. Asuma just took the fight as a series of exchanges. It's probably why his Shogi game needs work."

"Could you do better?"

Shikamaru was surprised by the question, "Probably not. The problem is her Genjutsu and fuinjutsu are so versatile."

Kakashi respected the boy's opinion. Shikamaru was one of the people he had been able to influence peripherally. While Shikaku disagreed with Kakashi's enforced training schemes he had pushed his son to take his training seriously. The fact that Shikamaru was a jonin at 14 was a testament to Shikaku accepting Kakashi's argument that war was coming. Genius without effort made Shikamaru a dangerous target for enemy nin attempting to gain intelligence. By being able to defend himself adequately it made Konoha's secrets far safer.

Naruto walked up to Sakura and said, "We should celebrate! Where do you want to go? My treat."

Sakura was still coming off the post victory high. She had done it. She had defeated an elite jonin of the village. She would have never thought two years ago she would be this strong. Her hope at the time was to snag Sasuke and become his girlfriend. Now she had a passion, a true passion.

"Sure Naruto but everyone from team seven is invited." Sakura had easily seen through his attempted offer of a date.

Naruto snapped his fingers, "Hey a guy has to try right?"

Kakashi slid in next to his two students, "It sure was nice of you to offer to pay for everyone."

Naruto groaned theatrically. Team seven was by no means short of funds. Their equipment came from the village budget itself and that included the largest expenditure, fuinjutsu scrolls and ink. Sasuke had also been watching and only now appeared.

"Nice work Sakura. I'm glad you're on our team."

Sakura felt a warm glow fill her. She had earned Sasuke's respect a long time ago however to actually have him say it was nice.

Sasuke turned to Kakashi, "Gai's training camp for Asuma huh? What's the plan?"

"Not here I'll tell you more back at our training grounds."

***BREAK***

Team seven returned from their dinner and headed toward their base of operations. At the gates of Konoha they were met by Neji Hyuga, Gai and Shizune. At Kakashi's signal Naruto created clones and transformed them into his teammates and sent them running in multiple directions. It was standard operating procedure.

They arrived at their base and gave the appropriate signal to the ANBU stationed there. Once inside Kakashi said, "Now I can answer your question Sasuke as well as explain why these three are here."

"Jiraiya-sama has appreciated the results of our rapid response force. We are going to be gaining a second team. That team will consist of Asuma Sarutobi, Shizune, Neji Hyuga and Maito Gai. This will allow us to go with Jiraiya when he meets with the Mizukage while the second team fills in."

Sasuke analyzed the team. Gai and Neji were lethal in close combat, Shizune was support as a medical nin and Asuma had two strong elemental affinities. While they lacked a Genjutsu specialist they were quite strong. Not as strong as his own team but worthy to fill in their shoes while they completed other tasks.

"For the next two months we will also be conducting intense training. Gai will train them in taijutsu and I will train them in ninjutsu and Genjutsu detection. During this time my own team will also be tutored in Gai's specialized fighting style."

Sasuke guessed, "Goken?"

Kakashi seemed amused, "Ah no he'll be teaching a style that has no real name."

Gai laughed, "I invented it so I would not lose our spars automatically to Kakashi's Sharingan eye."

Sasuke instantly put two and two together. Naruto also connected the dots. Sasuke unconsciously let loose his killing intent. Finally all of his training would be put to use. The only reason to be learning Gai's style of countering the Sharingan is if they were going to be going after a Sharingan user. That meant Itachi.

'I will have my revenge!'

Kakashi held up a finger and moved it side to side. "I will have none of that Sasuke. If you cannot control your chakra presence you won't be going along."

Sasuke didn't argue with the rebuke. He simply said, "Hai Kakashi-sensei, it won't happen again."

"Good, let's get started."

***BREAK***

When Asuma woke up he was furious with himself. He had been humiliated by a kunoichi half his age. It wasn't a kekkei genkai or hidden bloodline, it wasn't a mastery of ninjutsu or taijutsu, it was none of those. He was outsmarted by someone with a tenth of his experience. It was humiliating and all together frustrating since he would be sidelined against the Akatsuki.

His temper was reined in when Kakashi had told him that they would still use his talents and that the three month training period was to get him up to par. Three months of the harshest training he had ever gone through was on the table. Blistering taijutsu workouts with Gai followed by rapid expansion of his repertoire in ninjutsu were just the beginning.

Asuma likened combat to a game. He found parallels to it with Shogi and he enjoyed the thrill of the sudden twist, the risky gambit that worked and the pleasure of a good fight. A good fight in his mind had an opening where each shinobi felt the other out, an exciting middle game that brought out more advanced jutsu and skills that ultimately concluded with a dramatic climax with him smoking in victory.

Kakashi's version of combat was far different. Kakashi had the lead in the operation and so Asuma had to play by his rules. If you knew the opponents capabilities you should move to kill within the first minute. If you didn't know the opponents capabilities you learned them by keeping your distance and letting clones feel out the enemy. Kakashi was obsessed with analysis and made Asuma go through every step of his fight with Sakura. Every weakness exposed and every counter explored.

Spars were interesting. Kakashi and Sakura would take on the role of Itachi. In the spars the participants were not allowed to touch Sakura as she simply represented Itachi's Genjutsu while Kakashi moved like he thought Itachi would. It was humbling in how badly he failed to even lay a scratch on Kakashi. He suspected the point was to show that Asuma could not fight alone against their target.

Gai and Naruto rotated taking on the role of Kisame. The tailless beast was strong and wielded one of the legendary swords of the mist. Rumor had it that he favored kenjutsu but had a dangerous repertoire of Suiton jutsu. His sword was said to be able to eat chakra making him almost the perfect foe to go against Naruto, Kakashi and Sasuke. Instead if Kakashi had his way Gai, Asuma and Neji would work together to take him out. Gai did not use ninjutsu and Asuma and Neji would provide backup. His own team would deal with Itachi and Shizune's primary task was to stay alive and provide medical support.

The first two weeks were hell on Asuma. He was being pushed further then even his old man had done when he was younger. But Asuma persevered. He would take part in wiping out the organization that took the best thing in his life away from him.

***BREAK***

A month had passed since team seven had begun their training with the newcomers. Jiraiya looked through Kakashi's report and was satisfied with their progress. Two more events had occurred and both times the rapid response team had saved lives. The economy was booming as the elemental nations looked to Konoha for their missions.

Konoha's teams were kept busy as nobles from all lands sought their shinobi. Naruto Namikaze was requested daily but each time the request was rebuffed. Despite that Konoha's reputation hadn't stood this high since the time of the Shodai. First the failed invasion that proved that Konohagakure could survive a surprise attack from two villages at the same time. Then the return of two of the Sanin. That was followed by the utter destruction of Otogakure. The chunin exams in Kumo, Naruto Namikaze's reveal and the slaughter of the Iwa assassins all built on the past successes.

The Land of Fire was populous and had a strong bond with its hidden village. Konoha had renewed a strong alliance with Sunagakure and was making inroads with the Land of Water. Iwa was defanged and proud Kumo was looking nervously at the growing might of the leaf village.

Shikaku entered and without preamble said, "Four chunin have gone missing. They were on an internal patrol near the Land of Waves." Jiraiya frowned. The Land of Waves hadn't produced anything dangerous since Gato hired Zabuza a couple of years ago. Their economy had recovered and trade with them had flourished but there wasn't anything dangerous in that region.

"Were there signs of combat?"

Shikaku shook his head, "The initial thought is that they went rogue but based on their personality profiles I find it highly unlikely."

It was times like these that Jiraiya wished he wasn't the Hokage. This would be the type of mission that played to his strengths. He was tempted to send Kakashi's team but that would be a waste of resources. Four chunin dead or turned missing nin was unfortunate and he would mourn their loss but it was not something he would send his combat specialist team to look into.

"Have Anko and Iruka draft three chunin each from the pool and send them to investigate."

Shikaku frowned, "You are aware that Anko and Iruka are an item?"

Jiraiya grinned, "Oh I'm more than aware." His sensei's crystal ball was now one of his prized possessions.

"Putting them together could jeopardize the mission if hard choices need to be made."

Jiraiya let his perverted grin fade. "I completely disagree. The strength of Konoha is in the bonds between comrades. Two shinobi in a relationship will know each other better than a random assorting. Iruka is a sensor and Anko has the snake contract that will prove invaluable in an investigation like this."

Shikaku didn't argue the point. Jiraiya was passionate about a few subjects and this was one of them. "We have a month still before the meeting with the new Mizukage. I must still object at the meeting location. On an island a day's journey by ship? If they wanted to ambush us they could just destroy the ship and there would be little you could do to escape."

Jiraiya shook his head, "They aren't going to try anything. They can't afford a war with us. I'm taking Kakashi's team with me so even in the unlikely event something was to happen we can fight our way out.

"You can't fight your way out of an entire village!"

Jiraiya laughed, "If they think they need a village then they aren't going to try anything. If they don't think they need a village we can escape. I know you think I'm being overconfident but I trust my gut on this. She isn't going to try anything."

Shikaku bowed his head, "Very well I'll make the preparations. We'll need to leave in three weeks then." Jiraiya nodded. He was looking forward to getting out of the village for a bit.

***BREAK***

Tsunade, Inoichi and Ibiki had worked closely together. Tsunade felt soiled by the 'tests' that they had performed on Hidan. His healing had slowed after a time and it was obvious he needed something or he would perish. It could be calories from food, sunlight, ritual sacrifices or maybe something else. Either way he was slowly dying.

Chakra was life but it was not thought. At least while a shinobi was on this side of death's curtain this was true. That meant that manipulation of the brain itself could be done. On any other human poking around their brain with metal and surgical equipment to measure the consequences would kill them. In Hidan it wouldn't. They found ways to stop an area from healing, typically through the use of inserted objects. With that done they were able to eventually shut down whatever protective chakra Hidan had around his thoughts.

That accomplished, Inoichi was finally able to glean information from Hidan. His thoughts about the other Akatsuki members were of great use. Sadly Hidan had been kept in the dark about the group's ultimate purpose but they were able to confirm that the capture of the jinchuuriki was one of their objectives.

Other tests were performed on Hidan. Tests that made Tsunade feel like Orochimaru. If parts of the brain were removed could cognitive function continue? Which parts? Could the part of the brain that was responsible for pain be severed? Could chakra be used to deaden that area by a shinobi to make them resistant to torture? What poisons and toxins could cause brain death the fastest? Was total mind control a possibility?

Hidan was their test subject for all of this. They had long since ceased to allow him speech. Frozen vocal cords could not regenerate. Parts of his face and head would jerk during their experiments but they ignored the movements. As Hidan's head starved they wound down their experimentation. Just in case they kept all his body parts sealed in a scroll that did not create stasis. His various parts were incinerated and stored. They created a schedule for when they would check on the ashes to make sure they had not started to bond and revive the creature. However based on their analysis Hidan was well and truly dead.

AN: I hope everyone liked the Sakura / Asuma fight.

I've been going back to previous episodes and reviewing some of the later villains for the story. I really wonder sometimes if the author of the series knows what he is doing. Guess how many years it was between the Kakashi Chronicles episode (Where Obito 'dies' and Kakashi gets the Sharingan) and when Obito attacks the village and is a significant challenge for Minato. ONE YEAR. Really? It takes one year, a bit of Senju DNA and the Sharingan to take a below average shinobi to the level of Minato the Yellow Flash?

That's just crazy. What are some of the silliness that you dislike about the later plot lines of Naruto? Feel free to let me know and I may kill it in this story (like I intend to do for major portions of the later Shippuden parts). As always I love reviews!