Ch. 5

A lone swordsman walked alone through the mountain passes. Sleeping when needed. Eating when needed. Constantly training. He had lived nomadically in this harsh terrain for some while. He had lost track of the exact length of time. He met travelers passing by from time to time. He had heard news of the world outside his self-imposed prison of high altitudes and jagged peaks. Most of the news was regarding the Kyuubi container, and how the Jinchuuriki had risen to the top of the ninja world, feared and respected. The lone swordsman slightly smirked. It seemed as if Naruto would realize his dreams. The smirk turned into a half-frown as he thought of how his own life was turning out. The last of the Uchiha walked alone through the mountain passes.

Naruto silently began his patrol with Neji. He was in no mood for idle talk so he had chosen the stoic Hyuuga as his partner instead of Kiba. But Naruto didn't always have the best luck it seemed.

"Captain-"

"Just Naruto."

"Captain Naruto," The aggravated blonde sighed, Neji continued. "I wish to speak freely."

"Just talk Neji, geez we've known each other since we were 12." Naruto chuckled.

"I believe your treatment of Haruno-san has become unacceptable. You are an ANBU Captain and you should act as such." Whoa, Naruto wasn't expecting that one. He pulled to a stop on the next branch he landed on.

"How so?" He asked incredulously.

"She is a team member, and an accomplished medic, she should be treated as such." Naruto sighed again. He had been getting this kind of talk from Kiba for the past few missions that the team had been on.

"My personal-"

Neji cut him off, "That's exactly it. This is an ANBU team of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. We are not allowed the luxury of personal feelings." Naruto just stared through the eye holes of his mask into the dark ones of Neji's. He couldn't see them but he felt the stare of those all-seeing eyes.

"I'll take your thoughts into consideration." Naruto replied in monotone. "Go back to camp and help her set up if you like. I'll continue this patrol alone." And then he was gone, not even a puff of smoke, just a flash.

Neji just stood there remembering how he had been defeated by that same flash at their first team sparring match. He witnessed Naruto using it to take out many enemies since. But the jutsu was still untraceable, even for the Byakugan. Neji decided to take a slow stroll back to camp instead of running. He just couldn't get why things had turned out between the two like they had. He had his own theory. It was the leading among the 9 outside of the loop. That Sasuke had caused the rift when the three of them had their final confrontation. But an outright betrayal of one towards the other didn't seem logical, but then again Sasuke had betrayed them.

He then thought about what Kiba was holding when he and Naruto left, a picture of the dead Nin's family. Kiba seemed distraught about it. Neji didn't know what to think, and his family didn't have such things. He also had no girl waiting at home. He wondered what it would be like to have a family more like a regular civilian and not the Hyuuga. The only one he could see in that way was Hinata. He smiled to himself. His cousin had become strong. She was a good Jonin instructor, as were the others. They all had a team right now he thought, but it seemed as if Shikamaru's team would become Chuunin soon and he would be given a new cell of three. The kids that got one of the Konoha 11 always seemed to brag that they had the best sensei, and if any of the 6 that were not sensei were seen in the street they would be followed by awe struck children.

Neji finally came upon the camp. Kiba and Shino were resting against Akamaru while Sakura was cooking the meal. He took a place beside her and began to help her with the cooking.

A gang of thieves had just gotten one hell of a score. They had destroyed a noble's caravan and took everything that they could get their hands on. They retreated into the nearby mountains to celebrate. They had a huge fire and a big meal. They divided up the treasure and began looking through it all. They had been on a roll lately. Little stood in their way and the best that the Ninja villages threw at them were Chuunin with Gennin support. It was going to be a good summer and then they could take their spoils and go somewhere warm for the winter.

All of a sudden a large bolt of lightning shot through the group. They tried to run but they were picked off one by one until the leader was the only one left, cowering in the dark.

"You shouldn't be killing and pillaging in my mountains." The voice was cold. No emotion. The bandit was about to soil himself.

"I-It was easy picking. The Ninja have bigger things to worry about." He stammered out as the Uchiha's eyes kept penetrating, as if they were telling the bandit that he could not be.

"Why?" Sasuke was intrigued. What was this threat that had the Ninja Villages scrambling? He had not gotten any news from the outside world in some time.

"The Sound and the Rain are planning something, against the Leaf and Sand."

"The Rain are weak. Pain is dead."

"No, they're growing, and there is a strong warrior in the Rain that's gaining support. He is said to be the only one to best the great Naruto of the Leaf. The last Uchiha, Sasuke Uchiha."

Sasuke Uchiha was leading forces in the Rain and gaining support from the Sound to defeat Naruto? The new information Sasuke had just learned of was intriguing to say the least. He quickly dispatched the bandit leader and turned towards The Land of Fire. Maybe it was time to pay Konoha a visit.

Author's Note

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