DISCLAIMER: I don't own Naruto. I don't own Headstrong by Trapt, either.


AUTHOR'S HEARTFELT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: I would just like to give my million thanks to Blitz Magnus and Aikuchi Shikaku, who, helped me make this fanfiction possible. Thank you so much! I wish I could repay you for your kindness someday.

Please pause for a moment as I address a message to an anonymous reviewer, AGAIN:


DEAR LONE WOLF (ANONYMOUS REVIEWER/READER),

I am… stunned. I don't know how to react with your counter-review, really. I don't know if I should laugh at you, pity you and let you off that easily, or should I bash you a bit more. But really, when I did read your review for the first time, I was laughing so hard I thought my gut was going to rupture. Man, you made a fool of yourself.

For an English snob, you don't know what SENTENCE INTENSITY means. Then let me tell you what it is: sentence intensity simply means what mood you're trying to put into the wordplay. And you got the wrong sentence intensity if you were "trying to be polite" in your previous review. It really ticked me off. I didn't see the politeness there.

AND WHAT THE HELL? YOU'RE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE AN ACCOUNT IN a kid English snob scolded me? WHAT THE!

Hey kid, in two months I'm turning 15, how about you? Damn, not old enough? What's up with that? So if you said you're not old enough, you should know that since I'm registered here, then I should be a bit older than you. If so, could you please give me a little respect, being as someone older than you?

Look kid, I don't mind people younger than I am bugging me about my grammar or any of my flaws, AS LONG AS THEY RESPECT ME, as long as they tell me what's in their minds politely. If you only did the same thing, I would've never posted any of these things to get things straight! If you respect me, I'll respect you. Even if you'd meet me in person, I'll demand the same thing from you.

I'm really, really stunned.

Fine, redemption is what you want. Redemption's what you get. You already apologized for your mistakes, so consider it accepted. You may read and review this story again.

But you do know what happens when you pluck a wrong nerve from me, so pick your words wisely.

Again, I apologize if I'm just being blunt. It's already in my nature.


Alright, enough of that.

To those who have a copy of Headstrong by Trapt, please play the song while reading this chapter!


(From the last chapter…)

"Does this mission have anything to do with the Hokage's concern?" Shio asked.

"We'll answer your questions when you get there. Mr. Hyuga Neji will be the one to answer you. But right now please, I need your answer. Would you come with me or not?" Takari said in the most patient and polite way with his eerie tone of voice.

(Chapter 56 – Headstrong)

Shio remained silent. He didn't know what to answer.

"The apprentice of the Hokage has gone berserk with the cursed seal. Konoha is worried about her condition. She is Haruno Kashime's cousin, Haruno Sakura." Takari added, just for some convincing.

"Kashime's cousin, you say?" Shio smirked underneath his mask, "Well, all right. I'll come with you."

"Let's go, we'll leave now." Takari wore his mask and hooded himself again, "Preparations have to start immediately."

"Don't I get to rest?" Shio shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm sorry but you can't because we have to go as soon as possible." Takari told him.

The next day, in Konoha…

"We have to do this plan perfectly." Yamato told Jiraiya, Neji, Tenten and Sai who are hooded and masked like Anbus. They were in the bushes just a few yards away from the Konoha gate.

Circling your
Circling your
Circling your head
Contemplating everything you ever said
Now I see the truth, I got a doubt
A different motive in your eyes and now I'm out
See you later

Yamato leapt from tree to tree until he was able to land near the guards of the gates.

The 2 Anbus saluted to Yamato and he just nodded.

"You may leave now." Yamato said.

"Captain, there had not been any change of orders from the Headquarters. We will still guard this gate." The one with the eagle mask answered.

"Report to the Headquarters. There are reported foreign missing nins to be just around this area." Yamato told them.

"If that's so Captain, there's all the more need to guard this gate." The one with the hawk mask replied.

"It's an order. Are you going against me now?" Yamato told them.

The two stared at each other.

"Report to the Headquarters, quickly now." He added.

The two nodded and leapt from tree to tree to go to their Headquarters.

I see your fantasy
You wanna make it a reality paved in gold
See inside, inside of our heads, yeah, well now that's over
I see your motives inside
Decisions to hide

Yamato positioned himself near the gate and eyed the area where the 4 hid. He nodded at them and the four got out of their hiding places and ran at full speed until they got out of the gate.

"Neji, where is Shio?" Tenten asked in a hush-hush voice as they ran.

"He should be with Takari at the shores now." Neji replied.

"Not so fast." A brigade of black-hooded masked Anbus blocked their paths.

The four stopped and froze on their ground.

"There are no missions for the ordinary Anbus like you today. We have been informed by the Headquarters that only the elite Anbus have missions today." The one who seemed like the brigade captain said.

"Anbu Special Guards," Sai whispered, "they are positioned outside the gates of Konoha to make sure that an Anbu platoon who has a mission for the day has left to do the mission."

Back off I'll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
I know that you are wrong
Headstrong, we're headstrong
Back off I'll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
I know that you are wrong
And this is not where you belong

"By the looks of it, you're not elite Anbus." The captain added, "You don't have a silver lining on your hood, so you're not elite Anbus. You're regular Anbus, right?"

"We're scouting." Neji answered.

The captain looked at his clipboard and looked at them, "A four-man squad scouting is not until sunset. Right now, only 2 Anbus are positioned to scout outside Konoha at daylight. And if you are 2 pairs scouting, why are you together?"

"It was just a coincidence." Jiraiya replied.

"Coincidence? We caught the four of you running at full speed. Turn around and go back to Konoha." The captain ordered, "My platoon has a higher position than you, so we control traffic of every Anbu going out of Konoha. Now, go back to Konoha."

"What now?" Tenten asked.

"Fight." Sai and Jiraiya said in unison.

I can't give everything away
I won't give everything away

The four 'Anbus' readied their weapons and so did the brigade.

"Surround them. I got a feeling that these guys are not really Anbus. As much as possible, try to break their masks and one of you guys should escape and tell the Hokage who these people are." The captain told the vice-captain who confirmed his command.

Conclusions manifest
Your first impression's got to be your very best
I see you're full of shit and that's alright
That's how you play; I guess you get through every night
Well now that's over

The Anbus clad in black surrounded the four ninjas.

"We should just try to escape them." Neji commented.

"That's no good. They are highly trained with long rage attacks." Sai added, "These guys work secretly for the Hokage."

"So that's why not many people take note of them." Tenten replied.

"When I throw my kunai, just leap from tree to tree until we reach the shores. Try to ignore all attacks." Neji told them.

"Can't we just put up a fight?" Sai remarked, "Like I said, they are highly trained with long rage combats and even with moving targets. We might not stand a chance with them-"

"Let's just do his idea." Jiraiya commented.

"Tsk. I can't do any ninjutsu. If I did, I'll just blow my cover." Jiraiya thought.

"Ready yourselves." Neji implied.

I see your fantasy
You wanna make it a reality paved in gold
See inside, inside of our heads, yeah, well now that's over
I see your motives inside
Decisions to hide

At the instant Neji threw his kunai on the ground, the four of them were gone in a split second. But the special Anbus were able to eye them and began their pursuit.

They had begun throwing kunais and other weapons with high precision. Tenten prepared her scrolls and different weapons appeared with a puff of smoke. She collected them and quickly interlaced a string onto the weapons. With deadly accuracy, she threw them towards their pursuers, but only injured them.

Back off I'll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
I know that you are wrong
Headstrong, we're headstrong
Back off I'll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
I know that you are wrong
And this is not where you belong

Tenten stopped on a branch of a tree and pulled the string, causing the weapons stuck from other branches of trees to jerk up in the air under the command of the string. Tenten grabbed a kunai from her holster and pulled the string upwards, making the weapons onto the string fly in midair.

With her kunai, she cut the string connection from her hand to her weapons and pulled away the remaining string from the branched strings, causing a rainfall of weapons onto her enemies.

"Tenten, quickly now!" Neji went back and came to his wife's aid, "Let's go!"

She nodded and they continued leaping from tree to tree while the special Anbus try to detach themselves from trees because the weapons stuck their clothes onto their barks.

I can't give everything away
(This is not where you belong)
I won't give everything away

When the special Anbus got themselves free from hold of the weapons, they quickly resumed their pursuit. Now, they began throwing a truckload of weapons in different directions towards the four.

Neji stopped and placed his left leg forward, his right leg backwards and placed his left arm diagonally downward and his right arm diagonally upward and bent down a bit.

I know, I know all about
I know, I know all about
I know, I know all about
I know, I know all about your motives inside
And your decision to hide

Mustering his chakra, Neji began spinning at full speed, making a big dome of blue chakra to deflect and disperse the weapons headed towards the group. When he noticed the weapons have been gradually decreasing by the moment, he stopped his Hakkeshou Kaiten and quickly followed Jiraiya, Sai and Tenten.

Other people from the special Anbu team have been greatly injured due to some redirection of the weapons from Neji's Hakkeshou Kaiten, therefore causing them the incapacity to stand up.

… But there were still plenty of them: Roughly around 15 or more, still with their captain.

Back off I'll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
I know that you are wrong
Headstrong, we're headstrong
Back off I'll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
I know that you are wrong
And this is not where you belong

The four were nearing the shores. Sai had been drawing something in 4 scrolls ever since Tenten started to fight back the special Anbus. He pocketed his paintbrush and threw the scrolls in the air and made handseals, "Ninpou: Chojuu Giga!"

The drawings from the 4 scrolls came to life: a giant bear, a tiger, a wolf and a swarm of giant hornets.

The special Anbus were quickly divided into 2 groups: the first half were fighting off the creatures and the other half still pursuing the 4 ninjas.

Jiraiya, Neji, Tenten and Sai finally reached the shores only to find no one there: Shio and Takari had not yet reached the shores.

"Surrender now!" The remaining 7 special Anbus stopped on the shores, 10 yards away from the 4 Ninjas.

Then, ice needles from out of nowhere stabbed 3 of the special Anbus.

"Genjutsu Kai!" a voice from behind the 4 ninjas echoed.

Then, a sea vessel appeared on the shores, with the symbol of Kirigakure. Shio was on the vessel with the Genjutsu Kai (Illusion Technique Cancel) handseal.

They have been hiding using Magen: Kokoni Arazu no Jutsu (Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique).

I can't give everything away
(This is not where you belong)
I won't give everything away
(Where you belong, this is not where you belong)

Then, a hooded person clad in black, wearing a scary smiling mask appeared before them, "Leave now. I've brought Mayonima Shio here, so go now. I'll take care of these people."

"Go." Neji signaled his comrades to get aboard the sea vessel as he recognized the voice of his messenger, Takari.

Takari nodded and Neji turned his back and rode on the sea vessel as well, saying, "Thanks Takari, take care."

Takari turned to the remaining special Anbus and seemed to have caged them all within a huge chakra prison at all sides. He made the final handseal and the chakra cage compressed. Takari walked away to go back to the Hyuga Compound.

… After the chakra cage had gone, the special Anbus became mentally insane.

TBC…
--- --- --- --- ---
An Anbu Special Guard escapes the scene and reports everything that he had seen to the Hokage. The four ninjas from Konoha along with Shio are now on their way to Sunagakure, in hope to find the cure there. After knowing everything, the Hokage brings in Yamato in question. What would happen to Yamato now?

On the next chapter of Homebound: Solutions

"Are you aware of what you've done, Yamato?"
-Tsunade

A/N: Uh-oh… Yamato's in trouble! Is he gonna get toast or is he gonna escape by doing wordplays? Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. We'll find out if those 5 can find the cure for Sakura. Is Tsunade being bad? XD Heeheehee…

Reviews are HIGHLY appreciated!

I'm going back to school in june 5, 2006! i can't believe i'm a high school junior already! this is soooo sad! school sucks!

Well, sometimes!

Fear not, I'll still try my best to stick with the schedule!

+Releina Artemis+