Author's Notes.

Welcome back. It's finally time for the first fight of the series and what better way to start than with Itachi's former partner in the Akatsuki, Juzo Biwa. As far as my research could find Juzo went rogue sometime after losing to Might Dai. I couldn't find a specific time so I just assumed it was shortly after. If I'm wrong about that then please let me know.

That's all for now. Feedback is always welcome.

I don't own Naruto.

Please Enjoy.

Chapter 4

Reading has always been a hobby of mine. I read a lot of books from various different genres and I like to think that I know a good book from a bad one. One of the most annoying things I had to deal with in Root was the lack of books, other than the Bingo Book which they made us study almost religiously.

The book Kakashi gave me was, as I expected, an adult novel, and yes, I read it. Yes yes, shame on me. But, if we're talking plot, it was actually a really good novel. Not the best I've read, but enough to keep me entertained for the past three days of our journey.

Speaking of which, the trip has, so far, been smooth. With the exception of a few minor hiccups, like one of our carriage drivers who ate some berries he found and then spent the rest of the day in the portable bathroom. Or the one that accidentally slept on poison ivy.

Currently we're passing through one of the Land of Fire's many forests. Me and Kakashi, despite appearances, are especially alert. We both agreed that this forest would be the best spot on our route to pull off an ambush. Of course we don't look like we're on alert with us both reading books and all. It's actually a calculated deception, with my eyes I'm more than capable of reading and keeping watch at the same time and Kakashi has his own tricks for doing the same.

The forest was quiet, unusually so. Usually in a forest you'd expect to hear sounds from animals, could be birds chirping, or some smaller mammals running up trees, or even some bugs flying around. But there was nothing. Not a sound other than the leaves rustling in the wind.

I looked around. Nothing. Just trees and some mist, as if all the animals are hiding from something we have yet to notice. Wait, mist?

The world switched into the familiar grey of my chakra sight. I was right. The mist has traces of chakra in it, but that's not all. Behind some of the trees are several chakra signatures, looks like a stealth genjutsu for hiding people. That mixed with the Hiding in Mist Jutsu means our opponent is cautious.

I looked through the stealth genjutsu, 12 shinobi signatures, they're all exactly the same size so probably one opponent and the rest are clones.

I flared my chakra slightly to get Kakashi's attention. He looked up from his book.

'Enemy shinobi in the trees,' I signed at him, 'Only one but he has clones. Careful of the mist'

He looked back down at his book and signed back at me

'Affirmative. When hostile attacks I'll engage, you protect the client.'

I stood up from my spot. Time to make use of my 10 year old body.

I made my way to the front where Riko's overly fancy carriage was located. In my time as her escort I've noticed she loves to be at the front of things, most merchants would sit comfortably in the middle where it's safest, and they definitely wouldn't visit the shinobi villages willingly, but not her, she likes to lead from the front.

Putting aside my thoughts, I knocked on her carriage door and spoke with a childish casualness.

"Hey Nee-san, you got any food? I'm hungry."

She shot me an annoyed look at me through her window.

"Lunch was just an hour ago, how can you still be hungry? And don't you shinobi pack your own food?!" That's another thing I've noticed about her, she's really stingy. Or maybe she just likes to be organized? Nah, probably just stingy.

I turned to face her completely, leaving my back to the trees.

"We do. But your food tastes better."

If Riko responded, I didn't hear it, I was too busy noticing the two figures jumping out from the trees. One was attacking my now exposed back, while the other was dropping down onto Riko's carriage. They looked the same so I was right about the clones. He was a relatively thin man, not too bad for a shinobi, and was as tall as the obscenely big sword he wielded. I recognized him from the Bingo Book. Jūzō Biwa, former jonin from Kirigakure and wielder of the Kubukiribocho, the sword later wielded by one Zabuza Momochi.

Kakashi was going for the one attacking the carriage so I focused my attention on the one attacking my back.

I quickly pulled out a kunai and deflected the blow. It was heavy, definitely an S-rank shinobi. I moved in for a counter attack, he hadn't expected that I'd react to his attack so he's full of openings. I delivered a palm strike to his exposed side.

He stumbled back, and I was hardly able to react to the giant sword coming through him to attack me. I moved to the side but wasn't able to avoid getting a cut on my leg. Thankfully it was shallow

I watched as the Jūzō I was fighting dissolved into water to reveal another Jūzō. Water clones then. I guess I'm lucky then, I'm at best a low jonin level, I'd be no match for a real S-rank in a fight.

I engaged in combat with the new Juzo. He'd swing at me and I'd dodge while I tried to get close enough to strike. It was scary how easily he can wield a sword that big.

I finally noticed an opening and moved in to strike. But as I moved in, the clone I was fighting was cut through by two more massive swords.

It was a bait. Get me to move in on an expendable clone to then strike me while I'm extended. I quickly shifted my stance and rotated.

Eight Trigrams: Palms Revolving Heaven. A technique reserved specifically for the head of the Hyuga clan and the heir. Out of all the techniques Danzo was able to give me this wasn't one of them. I didn't let that stop me of course. If Neji can learn the technique through mere observation then surely I can do the same. I have the Tenseigan after all.

The clones were quickly blown off of me and dissolved into water, but not before delivering two more slashes to my body. I wouldn't die, but it still hurt like hell.

A new Jūzō appeared in front of me. He didn't move in right away, simply observing me.

Now that I wasn't actively fighting I was able to notice some things I hadn't before, like how he favored his right leg. An injury perhaps?

"Looks like I got quite the catch here. A Hyuga, and the Kakashi of the Sharingan," he said.

"Jūzō Biwa, S-rank missing-nin. What's someone like you doing here?" Kakashi responded. Looks like his fighting has paused as well.

"You know how it is. Got to make a living right? Although it would be a lot easier if you two weren't around."

"Well, unfortunately we aren't about to just leave," I chimed in.

"Looks like it," he said, and as if that was a signal the fighting resumed.

As he charged at me I changed my stance again. But this time it wasn't a typical Gentle Fist stance. I took a breath in as my hands began to spark with electricity.

"Time for round two."