A/N: Once again I know I'm updating later and later but I just haven't had much time. I have work now which is hectic and I had my exams which meant more and more homework and revision. Then my parents went away and I was sent to my Nan's where there was no internet so I couldn't upload any chapters. So I really am sorry but I made it up with an extra long chapter.

Disclaimer: I honestly don't think anyone would believe that I own Naruto, because if I did I wouldn't be writing fan fics on it now would I, so therefore me no own Naruto.

Previously

"Naruto" he said as the man tuned to him.

"Yeah teme"

"I need your help" Naruto grinned at Sasuke.

"Of course teme" he replied as Sasuke smirked.

"I'm coming to" Sakura declared as Sasuke shook his head.

"You're needed here"

"I'm coming" Sakura repeated as Sasuke looked at her.

"Sakura be reasonable, our team needs you. I want you to stay here until the rest of done then heal all who need. Then come after us. Please" Sakura looked into his eyes and nodded.

"Ok Sasuke but be careful, both of you" Sasuke nodded as Naruto grinned. Then she watched as the two headed off after Itachi, and she stayed their, eyes glued as two of the most important people to her disappeared from her sight.

……………………………………………………………………………………

"No one can defeat me" Pein said one more time but she simply replied…

"There you are wrong"

"Really" Pein asked with amusement. "You think you can defeat me"

"No, but I no some one who can"

"Really" Pein asked lifting his hand ready to attack.

"Don't you dare lay a hand on her" a male voce said as Pein's eyes widened in disbelief before he grinned.

"How kind of you to join us Zetsu"

"Yes I thought I would see if I was needed" Zetsu replied. Neji watched as Pein took a step away as the girl in front of him turned, and their eyes met. He looked at her and in barely a whisper he managed one word…

"Tenten"


Its time for a change

"Neji" Tenten replied, her face full of sorrow and guilt. Zetsu's shouts brought them both out of their trance as Tenten narrowed her eyes.

"You caused this" she growled, looking with pure hatred at Pein. "And it all ends here" she shouted as she jumped in to assist Zetsu. Neji watched as she used her weapons to detract Pein from a distance, while Zetsu attacked from close proximity. The two were a good team, as much as Neji hated to admit it, but he wasn't sure whether they were good enough.

"Neji" a voice called and he looked to see Sakura running up to him.

"Is that Tenten" she asked as Neji nodded.

"Well it's about time" Sakura said as Neji smirked.

'It is' he told himself. 'And this time I won't lose her again'

"Sakura" he said as the said girl looked at him.

"Heal me, please" Neji ordered. He knew what he had to do, somehow this was all Pein's fault and although he didn't understand why yet he knew one thing. He would not loose her again and even if he had to fight along both Tenten and Zetsu he would do it.

"That's why I'm here" Sakura replied as she knelt down, her palms alight with green as she ran them over his injuries.

Neji watched as Pein appeared beside Tenten, who quickly jumped out the way. But he was faster and attacked her mid flight forcing her to the ground. Zetsu attacked Pein as Tenten got up and glared at him. She was ok, for now.

"All done" Sakura told him as he nodded and allowed her to help him up.

"You need to rest"

"I need to fight" Neji replied.

"No, you can't."

"Sakura I must" Neji said. Sakura watched as he studied Tenten closely and understood. It was hard for her knowing Sasuke was battling for his life but at least he had Naruto whom she trusted and at least she had enough to keep her preoccupied. Standing in the side lines must be like torture.

"Do you need my help" Sakura asked as Neji looked at her closely. He trusted her and he knew that she had developed fast as both a ninja and a young lady.

"I need to ask you a favor"

"Course what is it?" Sakura asked.

"Please go help Hinata, I don't want anything to happen to her and I trust you. I would go my self but I'm needed here"

"I understand, I will go right away." Sakura said with a smile as Neji nodded in response and stated running to attack Zetsu.

"She is stronger than you think Neji" Sakura called as Neji stopped and looked at her.

"Huh?"

"Hinata, she is a lot stronger than she looks and most treat her like. I know she looks young but you would be surprised."

"I know" Neji told her. "It's just hard not to worry"

"I know but trust me, she is the one who trained me so I know, and you don't need to worry about her."

"Thanks" Neji said as Sakura smiled then left to search for Hinata while Neji turned his attention to Pein.

He started to join in and attack, making sure to cover Tenten at all times who was still trying to use all her hidden weapons to attack and was starting to manage to cut Pein here and there.

"What are you doing?" Zetsu snarled as Neji landed a kick on Pein.

"I'm fighting what does it look like?" Neji hissed back.

"I don't need your help"

"I'm not helping you" Neji told him as Zetsu frowned.

"Then what are you doing"

"I am fighting to help and protect Tenten"

"She doesn't need you, she has me"

"I am her boyfriend, and I am her best friend. I'm not going anywhere" Neji said loudly.

"Well ether am I"

"Listen I don't like you but for now I don't care, can we put aside our differences and kill this son of a bitch then go back to arguing" Neji asked as Zetsu growled in return.

"Fine but I'm only doing this for Tenten's sake"

"So am I" Neji replied as they both leapt to attack.

It was hard and even with the three of them it was challenging but slowly Pein was weakening and the three were able to land more attacks on him.

"Let's finish this" Zetsu growled as Neji nodded. But they had both failed to see one thing. While they were attacking Pein's clones, Pein had figured that the only way to stop them was through Tenten and now without the boys knowledge had started attacking her. But Tenten was more skilled in weapons then combat and without noticing Pein had one of his clones attack her from behind.

She screamed in pain just before Pein jumped on a nearby tree, nearly all his charka depleted.

Both boys turned to attack before another cry from Tenten alerted their attention to where one kunai was embedded in her arm, another in her leg while another was being help by Pein's last clone and was about to slit her throat.

"Attack me and she dies" Pein told them both as both boys hesitated.

"No, don't." Tenten screamed. "Kill him, do it now"

"You heard her" Zetsu shouted as he jumped to attack Pein.

'Tenten" Neji shouted as the clone started went to cut her throat, but that was before Tenten used a concealed blade and hit the clone's leg. Using this distraction Neji was able to use his Byakugan to diminish the clone to pieces while Zetsu instead of attacking Pein attacked the tree, causing it to blow up in bits as Pein fell to the ground.

"This is for Torak" Zetsu yelled as he used a sword to cut Pein's head off.

Neji wasn't paying any attention as he reached and helped Tenten to her feat. Her injuries were minor and didn't need immediate attention. Still in his arms he faced her and their eyes met.

"I'm sorry" she whispered as Neji looked at her and without thinking embraced her. He put his hands tightly around her waist as she hugged him back.

"I know" he told her as they separated a little and before Tenten could say another word his lips were on hers as he eagerly kissed her. Slowly she responded and deepened the kiss as Zetsu just stood and watched in shock.

The two broke apart and just looked at each other. He needed to know the truth and Tenten saw the unspoken question in his eyes.

"I guess I should explain"

"That would be nice" Neji said with a smile as she nodded and looked up at him.

'I have to tell him, he deserves to know the truth' Tenten told herself as she took a deep breathe and began.


"Troublesome" Shikamaru muttered as he wiped blood from his mouth. Their opponent was tough he gave him that and a lot stronger than he was, and maybe more skilled in some areas to. But he didn't have Shikamaru's IQ or his skill of being able to plan ahead. Not this guy was an act now think later type so Shikamaru was easily able to asses his strengths and weaknesses and develop a full proof plan according to these statistics.

"Got you their boy" Yura laughed as he charged for Shikamaru again, a tactic Shikamaru had over seen him using and being prepared was easily able to not only dodge but land a full forced kick to his stomach as well.

Yura growled as he got up and attacked again. True he had overlooked his opponent. He had been able to land a few punches on Shikamaru while he was assessing his opponent but now Yura was coming to see that Shikamaru wouldn't be as easy to defeat as he first thought he would.

"Don't try that little trick again boy, because I know you will." Yura said as Shikamaru started moving his hands.

"I wont be taken over again, bedsides you don't have your little blonde friend here to help you" Yura laughed as he saw Shikamaru hesitate. "Yes that's right she's probably fighting for her life"

"Troublesome but I doubt it" Shikamaru told him though he felt like someone had thrown a bucket of cold water over his head. He hadn't once thought about how Ino was fairing and except for knowing she was somewhere west of his position he had no idea where she was.

"Oh yes she wont last much longer" Yura continued as dread started to claw at Shikamaru's heart. He tried to stop these thoughts and focus but he couldn't. Each statement by Yura was only adding to the anxiety. God women were troublesome.

"She may even be taking her last breath as we speak" the instant Yura said this Shikamaru stated having flashbacks to when Ino was injured last time and barely made it as she struggled between life and death. He couldn't loose her, he just couldn't.

'I need to get to her, I need to help her' Shikamaru told himself. 'But the only way to do that is to defeat him.' Shikamaru smirked when he realized this.

"She may be" Shikamaru said. "But to help her I have to defeat you."

"So?"

"So you just made me more determined to finish you off quickly" Shikamaru informed him as he put his plan into action. Carefully he attacked, managing to dodge most of Yura's attempts to stab him, though he was unable to land a punch on Yura. That is until he had him right where he wanted him. Then using his shadow possession jutsu he took over control and was able to make him incompetent to move.

Letting go he watched as Yura fell to the ground drained of chakra. He quickly tied him up feeling that he would make a good hostage then set out to track down Ino. He soon spotted her close by. She wasn't fairing to well but either was Hidan. He watched as she was thrown up and landed close to himself. He helped her to her feat as she stared at him.

"Where is Yura?"

"Troublesome but I defeated him"

"Good" Ino said as she went to attack Hidan.

"Let me" Shikamaru said as Ino frowned.

"I have it"

"Yeah and so do I" Shikamaru replied.

"I can do it to"

"Yes and so can I"

"But why?"

"Because I'm helping you out" he informed her, "no matter how troublesome it is."

"Well fine if it's that TROUBLESOME then I don't need your help" Ino said firmly.

"Whatever it looks like you need it"

"What" Ino shouted as Hidan stopped to stare at the two as they bickered.

"Um excuse me but may we continue" he asked.

"Shut up cant you see I'm busy" Ino snapped as she turned to face her boyfriend. Hidan took a step back and frowned. Why oh why did he have to fight a girl, they were so annoying.

"Do you really think I'm that incompetent that I can not win this?" Ino asked as Shikamaru sighed in response.

"Do you really think I'm useless and will lose?" she continued.

"Yes" Hidan said as Ino glared at him before turning back to Shikamaru.

"Well" she demanded.

"No"

"Really because I think you do"

"No I just don't want to see you get hurt" Shikamaru told her in a very unconvincing voice. He was actually just tired but realized a second to late that his bored voice wouldn't help calm her down.

"No I don't think it's that. You know what I think it is. I think that you think that I can't do it"

"Think you could say think one more time" Hidan mumbled, getting a little tired of waiting around for them to finish arguing.

'Wait why am I waiting again, I'm not afraid of some girl'

"Troublesome" was Shikamaru's response to Ino's accusation, which again was probably the wrong thing to say.

"But I have news for you Shikamaru" Ino said and Shikamaru could tell she was mad on the fact that she hadn't used his nick name but his full name. "I am just as strong and skilled as a ninja then you and if you can easily defeat Yura then I can easily defeat Hidan"

"Ino"

"And another thing..."

"INO"

"You may have an IQ…"

"Troublesome" Shikamaru yelled as he pushed Ino to the ground just as Hidan lunged at the two. His shuriken logged itself in Shikamaru's shoulder as Hidan laughed and Shikamaru gave a short cry of pain and fell to the ground. Ino stood and watched in shock, before that tuned quickly to anger.

"I TOLD YOU TO WAIT YOUR TURN" she shouted at Hidan, attacking him with all the power she possessed. Shikamaru laid there amazed as he watched Ino fight. He had never seen her fight with such anger and fire before though he wished she had because her attacks were far more brutal and accurate.

'Remind me never to make her mad again' Shikamaru told himself.

"Damm" Hidan swore as Ino landed a punch on his face, successfully breaking his nose. Chakra advanced punches were the best. In a blur she quickly kicked him in the gut and crotch then managed to punch him into a tree where he fell unmoving.

Ino sighed and dropped to her knees.

"Some people really need to learn some manners" she declared as Shikamaru sighed.

"Troublesome women"

"Look who is talking lazy arse" Ino mumbled as she crawled over to him with a frown on her face.

"Whatever" Shikamaru retorted as Ino scowled yet still raised her hand to his wounded shoulder and began healing him. Her abilities were not up to Sakura's ability, for she knew she wasn't a natural at this, but she managed to heal him before she sat back exhausted.

"See I'm not incompetent" she managed as Shikamaru stared at her.

"I never said you were" Shikamaru told her.

"Yeah but you were thinking it" she said.

"And you can read minds now can you?"

"That's not the point" she growled as he smirked and leaned closer to her face.

"I never said or thought you were incompetent" he whispered, his breath tickling her face as her heart race increased.

"Yeah but…" she trailed of as he leant even closer so their lips were barely touching. Ino blushed at the close proximity of their faces, wishing he would hurry up and kiss her already.

"I was only concerned about your welfare" he said. "I didn't want to see you hurt again"

Still smirking he sat back and watched as Ino went even redder.

"Yeah right" Ino muttered but before he could reply her lips were on his and he was kissing her back. Her lips were so soft yet her kiss was rough. But Shikamaru still enjoyed every bit of it until they pulled back for air.

"Lazy arse" she muttered as he smirked and kissed her passionately while in circling his arms around her waist and pulling her closer.

"I don't want to loose you" he whispered.

"We better see how the others are doing" Ino told him pulling back a little, at least she was no longer mad.

"Troublesome" Shikamaru replied as he got up then helped her to her feet.

"Come on" Ino said as Shikamaru nodded and gave her a quick passionate kiss on the lips before smirking down at her.

"Let's go" he said as he leapt up to a nearby tree. Ino stood their, touching her lips with her finger before smiling and following him to wherever he was headed.


Hinata was breathing heavily as the man named Kakuzu lunged at her once more. He wasn't one for idle chatter or arrogant remarks. All he cared about was killing his opponent in as little time he could manage. And this girl was defiantly easy.

"Argh" Hinata cried as his blade cut her arm sharply, adding to the many cuts and bruises she had sustained so far. Breathing heavily she clumsily tried to attack Kakuzu only to be punched out of the way.

'I can't do this, he is to strong and I am too weak' Hinata said, feeling tears spring to her eyes.

Kakuzu attacked again which sent her flying. She landed painfully with he whole body aching as Kakuzu slowly approached. She watched him out of one eye, barely moving as she lay their. She was happy to just let sleep overcome her, she didn't care anymore. She couldn't do it, she just couldn't.

"You can't give up" he inner told her.

"Why not, I can't win. I never have been able to have I. I'm useless"

"What about Naruto huh, what would he say?"

"I'm not worthy of his love" Hinata said and it pained her to say those words.

"You won't be if you just give up"

"What am I to do, his to strong"

"Your strong to, you just don't realize it"

"But I'm not"

"You are Hinata, you may not believe it but you are"

"But I'm always having to be rescued but this time Naruto or Neji isn't here to save me"

"That's right so this time it is up to you"

"But what if I fail"

"You won't fail if you believe in yourself. Believe in yourself Hinata just like Naruto and all the others do"

"They….they believe in me?"

"Of course they do so don't let them down"

"Your right I have to fight and I have to win."

"That's my girl"

"I am not weak and this time it's my time. My time to prove what I am capable of. My time to show everyone what I ca do. I have to prove myself, to the gang, to Neji, to Naruto…and to myself" Hinata said as she used all her strength to get up and stand shakily on her legs.

"I'm not a little girl anymore" she shouted. "I will make you proud Naruto. If you can do it then so can I. You won't have to feel guilty about protecting me no more"

With this mind set she leapt to attack, activating her Byakugan she narrowed her eyes and lunged forward, dodging the punch aimed for her and managing to strike and block one of Kakuzu's chakra points. She went at it again and soon his left arm's charka flow was so disturbed that he couldn't use it.

Growling Kakuzu started becoming more brutal, a fact that greatly scared Hinata. But she wasn't going to show any weakness now. No she wasn't the shy little girl anymore. She was a string determined woman worthy of Naruto's love.

Her arm hurt as did her ribs which Hinata knew were both broken but this didn't stop her. Again and again she dived to attack before Kakuzu fell to the ground unconscious, his chakra flow being so disturbed that it had stopped functioning all together.

She fell to her knees with a smile.

"I did it, I did it" she said out loud.

"Yes you did" her inner replied as Hinata smiled in response.

"You ok?" A voice called and Hinata turned as Sakura leapt down by her side. Immediately Sakura's palm turned green as she started healing Hinata's injuries.

"Yes" Hinata told her with a grin. "I'm fine"

"Good" Sakura said once she was finished. She helped Hinata to her feet then embraced the girl that had become like a sister to her. Hinata returned the hug as Sakura quickly filled her in on what was happening.

"We better go check up on Ino and Shikamaru then make our way back to Neji" Hinata exclaimed as Sakura nodded.

"Good idea" she agreed. "Let's go shall we"


Tenten looked at him closely, aware of Zetsu only feet away.

"Why did you leave" Neji asked as Tenten looked away.

"I had to, I had no choice"

"You always have a choice, you taught me that" Neji told her.

"This time I didn't, I couldn't, I had to keep my promise."

"To who, not to the Akatsuki guy" Neji growled referring to Zetsu.

"His not, well not anymore and the promise was to my friend, my brother Torak"

"You don't have a brother" Neji said as Zetsu stepped in.

"She did, until Pein killed him"

"I wasn't talking to you" Neji snapped.

"He is speaking the truth" Tenten admitted sadly as Neji stared at her. How much didn't he know that this creep knew? He felt anger boiling up inside and turned to Zetsu.

"Who are you anyway and how do you know Tenten?"

"I'm more important than you, I'm her…"

"No Zetsu please, let me explain" Tenten asked as Zetsu looked at her and sighed then without replying he walked away and left them alone though made sure to keep them within his lone of sight.

"Go on" Neji prompted as she nodded.

"Zetsu use to be my best friend"

"Best friend" Neji asked as Tenten nodded.

"Yes and more. He, my brother Torak and I were best friends. We had lost our parents when I was younger and both had received medals of Honor. They died sacrificing themselves to save leaders of our clan and as such our whole extended family became included in the royal family. My brother and I grew up with Zetsu, his parents acting like ours. Torak was to be not only his best friend but his second in command, advisor and protector when Zetsu took control and I was to become his wife."

"What!" Neji yelled as Tenten sighed.

"Please let me continue"

"Fine" he muttered as she managed a small smile.

"I loved them both like my brothers and they both looked out for me. Torak and Zetsu were the best of friends to and Torak was always happy to stand by him and allow him to take charge. But then Pein heard of Zetsu's abilities. Zetsu was always strong and destined for greatness. Though at the time he was kind of in his rebelling years with Torak always having to help him out of trouble. So you can see why Pein's offer became some what tempting. He only planed to go for a little while but once you join there is no going back and he wasn't fully aware of what the organization did when he agreed." She stopped briefly to take a deep breath before continuing.

"That night the Akatsuki attacked our village. Many lives were lost and I desperately tried to stop him leaving, but I couldn't. Pein tried to kill me because he viewed me as a threat, but Torak stopped him though he lost his life in the process."

"Zetsu then left with him for reasons I still don't understand but that doesn't matter now. His father shunned me, blaming me for the situation. But since I was engaged to him and since his mother saw me as a daughter to her she convinced him to give me a choice, leave the village until my twenty-first birthday in search of Zetsu and to bring him home. Otherwise if I return without him I must take up the title as the head of the clan. I couldn't do that by myself, I couldn't do that at all so I left"

"And that's why you followed him, to convince him to go back home" Neji asked.

"No it wasn't just that. Torak loved Zetsu like a brother and couldn't bare the thought of him leaving his family, his true destiny for the Akatsuki so he made me promise, just before he died. He made me promise that not as the leader, but as our brother I would track him down and convince him to return home. I didn't do it for my clan, but for him."

"Hn" Neji remarked as Tenten looked at him.

"I was only thinking about the promise I made to his family, to Torak and to myself. I left and arrived at Konoha at the age of twelve and continued my ninja training from their."

"So all this time you have been lying to me" he whispered as she shook her head.

"No my goals were still the same. I guess it was the result of what Pein did, of loosing both my brothers and from being considered worthless by my family that has made me determined to be as great as Tsunde. That wasn't a lie, and neither was my friendship with you and Lee. You became more than just my team, you really did. You have to understand that when I was put into team Gai I decided to start fresh. I may have not told you about my history but I never lied to you, not once. I am the same person you have known all along." Tenten turned to face Zetsu and continued loudly so he could hear.

"I may be different to how I once was, but who I have become now is the real me. It is who I choose to be" She looked back at Neji.

"Please forgive me"

Neji looked down at her, the woman he loved and had missed so much. She had always been by her side and yet he never made an attempt to get to know her. So in a way this was his fault as well. But he didn't care because he had her back and that's all that nattered and instead of responding he did something else that was his way of expressing his feelings.

He crashed his lips to hers and she instantly responded. He wrapped his arms around her waist. Pulling her closer as she snaked her arms around his neck and allowed his tongue entry into her mouth. He moved his hand to her head and forced the kiss even deeper as she moaned softly in response. Oh how they both had missed this.

They broke away for air as he turned to look at her.

"I forgive you" he whispered as she smiled and leaned forward to capture his lips in another passionate kiss.

Zetsu watched this little interaction and couldn't help but stare. The girl whom had once man so much to him had changed and he barely recognized her anymore. She had grown up into a fine young lady and she was no longer that little girl who followed him and Torak around. She was a dependant, strong willed woman who had fallen in love with her team mate.

The two parted again as he smiled softly at her.

"I thought you were already twenty one?" he asked as she smiled.

"I had to fake my age when I arrived at Konoha" she replied as he nodded.

"Understandable" he exclaimed as he embraced her until Zetsu cleared his voice and Tenten turned to stare at him.

"We must go" he announced as Neji frowned.

"She isn't going anywhere" he told Zetsu firmly.

"I'm afraid she has to, she must return home"

"I will not let her go" Neji said as he turned to look at her.

"I have to" she replied weakly as Neji shook his head.

"No you can't. Tenten I…" he stopped and once again found himself unable to speak.

"You have to, or you will lose her again" his inner said and he nodded.

"Tenten I love you, more than anything and I want you to stay with us, with me. I missed you more than you can ever understand and I don't want to loose you again. Please don't leave, stay" he begged as Tenten felt tears reach her eyes. She ran into his open arms as he hugged her and kissed her once more and she knew this was where she belonged.

"Stay" he said as she looked up at him.

"She cant she promised me that if I returned to fight Pein and help her friends she would come home with me" Zetsu informed them.

"I don't care, I will not watch the only woman I love walk away, whether I have to kill you or not" Neji warned and Zetsu looked at him then at Tenten who was still holding onto him as if she was made their. And he knew that this defiantly was truly where she belonged. She didn't belong with him, but with the man she loved deeper than anyone before him.

"I know you want to stay Tenten but think of what you will be giving up. If I let you stay then you will be shunned from the village and no longer be apart of our clan. It's all I can do to keep you alive. You will never be aloud to return home again and no longer be a member of our family or the clan. You will be a nobody" Zetsu explained as she looked at him.

"I…I know" she muttered.

"Tenten I love you and I caused you more grief than I wanted to so I will do this for you., I will give you a choice, come with me and take your position as clan leader with me or stay here and be banned from our village and shunned from our clan." He offered as she looked at him wide eye.

"It is your family or him. What" he asked "is your choice?"


The boys ran as fast as they could, both following Itachi's chakra signature as it got closer and closer.

"Damm his fast" Naruto exclaimed.

"Hn" Sasuke replied as Naruto fell quiet. He knew from talk that Itachi had always received a lot of praise for his abilities while Sasuke was left to follow in his shadow. He kind of felt sorry for his friend in that respect and he knew that despite his cold and emotionless appearance he was probably more than nervous at this moment. Not that Naruto could really blame him of course. Last time the brothers had met Sasuke had nearly lost his life and Itachi had just killed the only other Uchiha Sasuke had left.

Naruto looked at his friend, his face set in a hard straight line and Naruto wondered how he could appear so calm when he was about to battle to the death with his only brother. He couldn't even imagine what it might be like and he was a little concerned. Hinata had explained that the grief of loosing everything and everyone he had at such a young age had left him incapable of dealing with emotions.

That he had hid this pain in his desperation to track and kill his brother and Naruto couldn't help but wonder what state Sasuke would be in once he did do. After Itachi was gone and he had completed his goal, after Sasuke had nothing left. Naruto knew that this would deeply affect him in more ways than one. He also knew that Sakura would do whatever she could to help him and steer him away from the darkness.

But as Hinata explained Sakura couldn't do it on her own and he himself would have to play an important part. After all Naruto looked to Sasuke like a brother and although he didn't say it he knew Sasuke saw Naruto as one to. Sasuke had helped him a lot and had given him friends and people who accepted him. He owed him big time and he would do whatever it takes to make sure Sasuke knew that to. Make sure he knew that he had people who cared for him and saw him as more than an Uchiha, but as a leader and most importantly a friend.

"Naruto"

"Yeah Sasuke" Naruto asked, knowing the situation must be serious if Sasuke was referring to him as 'Naruto.'

"We have nearly caught up"

"Ok" Naruto replied.

"Remember to avoid eye contact"

"Yep"

"And that he is allot faster"

"Yep"

"And a lot stronger"

"Yep"

"And a much more skilled ninja"

"Yep"

"And that I must be the one to finish him off"

"I know that" Naruto said with a grin, "anything else?"

"Yeah and don't die" Sasuke said and Naruto knew it was his way of telling Naruto to be careful and to stay alive

"I wont, I'm stronger than that believe it" Naruto yelled as Sasuke smirked as he looked at the road ahead, secretly glad he wasn't on this path alone.

"I know" he replied, "I know"

A/N: There you have it the second last chapter. I have already written the ending already so the next update should be a lot faster. I wanted Hinata's inner to be a little kinder than the others because I think she needs someone to push her. Basically her inner holds all her confidence. Oh and I apologize if that story was ridiculous to some people but meh its what I came up with and it is my story so no flames about that please and yes that means Tenten is only twenty. It does have significance in the sequel.

Anyway I hope you liked it and sorry for the lack of fighting but I'm not very good at it and I don't really enjoy writing it. Besides I think it was long enough anyway, eleven pages the longest yet, and I really want the story to finish at chapter 50 because I think anything over will be to long. Besides chapter 51 the finale sounds funny.

So please review and get ready for the final chapter of outcasts. While ill be so sad when it's over. This is my favorite story and the one I have been dedicated to the most. Hell it lasted long enough didn't it. Please review with any comments or support because it will be greatly appreciated and I may need some help getting the last chapter up cause I really don't want it to end lol.