Naruto – The SERIES
Disclaimer: See previous chapters..
A/N: Hello!! It took a while to write this one, because I needed a few new ideas for this one.. I think you will see at least one thing as a surprise, but I am going to enjoy writing that… Oh well, on with the story..
"Looks like we're finished.." Kakashi said as he crouched and observed his surroundings, he looked up to his left to find Gai standing there.
Gai smiled a warm smile towards Lee, who had trouble walking and therefore he was receiving some supporting from Ten-Ten. Then he turned toward Kakashi, "Yes.. I took some nice hits to the face, though.. Your student, Sakura, surprised me too.. She did a good number on me.."
Kakashi let out a "Huh?" as he rose and watched the Genins he and Gai taught before him resting, leaning against pillars.
"What?" Gai asked, confused at Kakashi's reaction.
"What did she do, then?" Kakashi asked, genuinely curious.
Gai closed his eyes and scratched the back of his head. "She did, uh, Sakuran no Jutsu…"
Kakashi frowned. "And she hit you? Sakuran no Jutsu is a very slow attack… you actually got hit, Gai?"
Gai frowned right back at him. "Hey, I didn't see it coming, ok?! Orochimaru was blocking my view.."
"Oy.."
Kakashi and Gai turned at the sudden interruption.
Sasuke looked really bored as he looked at them. "I think there's nothing left to do for us here…"
"It's weird, though… There weren't many Jounins….." Gai said.
"Yes. And all of the ninja's here, weren't really strong…" Kakashi continued.
"Kakashi-sensei, are we going home?" Sakura asked, as she was standing behind Sasuke.
"Yes. But first, we have to pick up someone I left behind.. down there." Kakashi said, pointing downwards, as they were all standing on a rooftop.
There Where When is Now
- Chapter 7
by TokehGecko
"They are after you and your potential to grow strong so fast. But, I'm here to prevent that of course."
When he received no response but silence, Jiraiya continued.
"I'm asking you, will you join us? I'm training them to become strong enough to defend themselves against the Akatsuki. I want to train you too."
Gaara looked at him for a moment and then stared right ahead again. "I… need to think about it.."
Jiraiya nodded. 'Poor kid… he's been totally discarded ever since birth.. He doesn't know how to express himself that good yet.'
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"Heh. Looks like a Mission Failed."
"Indeed." Kakashi frowned. "Orochimaru must have helped him out while I was fighting here… or up there with you guys.."
"Hm." Sasuke let out.
"I guess the only thing we can do now, is return back to our village."
They all nodded at Gai's proposal.
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"Well, I do see a Ramen Stand.. but…. I also see something else.." Neji said, with his Byakugan activated. 'Hinata-sama?'
Naruto groaned loudly, making Neji flinch. "Hurry up already!! I want Ramen!!"
'They're heading this way..' Neji thought and turned towards Naruto. "Wait, we have… visitors…"
"Uh?" Naruto gulped barely audible. "Visitors?"
"Look." Neji said as he beckoned right behind Naruto.
Naruto turned around and saw them just rounding the corner. "Oy, Oy! They are the other teams!"
Neji frowned, not knowing the reason why they are here. 'Shino Aburame… He's the only Genin with them that deserves respect.'
Kurunai and Asuma stood right before the duo. It was clearly Neji and Naruto had just fought each other.
"You two.. are you with Jiraiya-sama?" Asuma asked, putting his cigarette out and grabbing a new one.
"I'm…. hungryyy…" Naruto responded, and let his stomach know his opinion as well.
Neji didn't answer him and simply sighed.
"Naruto! Answer my sensei!" Ino asked, annoyed at him for ignoring her teacher.
"Wha? Oh, Jiraiya is busy right now.."
Kurunai frowned. 'He acts so casual about it.. It's clearly these two know that Jiraiya just fought Shukaku.. Yet, they don't seem worried at all.'
"Jiraiya is already heading back here.." Neji said, glancing at Hinata for a slit second before continuing and turning towards Naruto. "It seems he… succeeded."
"Succeeded?" Asuma asked.
"Jeez, you look messed up, Naruto… What the heck were you doing? It looks really tiresome.." Shikamaru asked, frowning at Naruto.
"We trained, that's all…" Naruto grinned, and suddenly turned towards the silent Kiba, who was worriedly looking around Sand Village. "Oy, Kiba! Want to take me on?!"
Kiba flinched at the sudden question and didn't answer with his usual confident voice. "N-not here."
Naruto frowned and looked at Shino and Hinata, who were also nervous. 'What's up with them?'
Neji, seeing Naruto frown at the three nervous people, Kiba, Shino and Hinata, spoke up and answered Naruto's unspoken question. "Their facial expressions show that they are feared, Naruto. It seems something in this Village scares them.." He ended with a smirk.
Kurunai frowned and turned around to look at her students. 'Neji is right… They are afraid…. But what for?'
All thoughts were ended as Jiraiya was approaching them.. New thoughts, however, entered three minds, as they saw who was walking next to him.
Kiba swallowed deep and his eyes widened as never before. 'Tha-That's him!' Akamaru who was just sitting next to his right foot, quickly got up and hid behind Kiba's coat.
Shino's eyes widened as well, though it didn't show because of his sunglasses, but his mouth was opened slightly and his teeth were clenched tight on each other.
Hinata had her eyes closed and was stammering and trying to remain standing.
Neji grinned. 'So, they fear Gaara…'
Kurunai noticed the change in behaviour from her students and looked closer at the boy beside Jiraiya. 'They seem to know and fear that boy.. Even Akamaru hid himself.. Why?'
Asuma watched on as Jiraiya and Gaara came to a stop before them. "Jiraiya-sama… I know what you did, I saw it."
"Magnificent, huh? I think it went great!!" Jiraiya almost yelled as he gave Neji and Naruto a thumbs up.
Asuma frowned. "Don't you think you went a little overboard? To use the 4th's Seal just like that?"
Jiraiya turned serious. "No, I think it was needed. I want to stop the Akatsuki. And with what we now have we can't do that.."
Asuma sighed. 'I see what he's planning.. I'm guessing Naruto and Neji are already much stronger than before… And now he's going to make Gaara stronger..'
Kurunai also figured that out. "Jiraiya-sama. We have a mission as well…."
Jiraiya nodded. "I know. You didn't encounter any problems on the way, right?"
"Not really.."
"OY, Hinata!!" Naruto screamed. Neji rolled his eyes and folded his arms.
"Na-Nu… Nuh-Naruto.... kun…"
Kurunai smiled. "You three can wait here, Asuma and I can handle this.."
"The same goes for you two.." Asuma said.
Shikamaru folded his arms. "I'm going to stay here as well."
Kiba looked frightened as his teacher left with Asuma. He nervously glanced over at Gaara, who was too busy staring straight ahead of him to notice.
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"Itachi… DO you think we need another besides Hyuga with us?" Kisame asked, boredom sketched on his face as he was leaning against a tree.
Itachi was just standing there, his Sharingan not activated. "No… This will be enough.."
Mokito turned a few times from Itachi to Kisame and repeated it several times. "Oy, what are you two up to?"
Itachi didn't bother answering and just remained there, waiting. Kisame looked annoyed at the girl but answered nonetheless. "We're going to kill a few strong enemies.. Maybe even that Tsunade you were gushing about.."
Mokito pouted, annoyed at the way Kisame answered her. "Jeez, you two always act so superior.. It's getting boring.."
Kisame sighed. "Mokito, who do you think is the strongest in the Akatsuki?"
"Considering the geniuses in out organization, it's hard to decide.. But Itachi and Dareda have already come so far and were already far stronger than most members when this organization had just started. I think it's either Itachi or Dareda."
Itachi's left eye twitched. And again, for he saw two Akatsuki members approach. 'And there he is…'
"Itachi Uchiha… Did you fail on your mission?" The Hyuga asked as he approached them.
Kisame shook his head and answered for Itachi. "Yes. What about you two?"
Sinobi Raidou, the ninja from the Lightning Country, answered. "Well, considering this mission was nonsense, it doesn't really matter. Some Hunter-nins from Hyuga's village came after us."
"Dareda Hyuga… " Itachi looked up and had his Sharingan activated. "I wish to battle you.."
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"Sakura.."
Sakura, totally surprised Sasuke actually asked for her attention, looked dumbfounded at him, "Uh, yeah, Sasuke-kun?"
"… You've become stronger… How?" Sasuke asked only sparing her a glance from the corner of his eye as they were following Kakashi and the others back to Leaf Village..
Sakura blushed visibly. "Well… The 5th Hokage… she trained me, taught me new things."
Sasuke didn't react at all at that. "I see." He shrugged all assumptions he had made off in a split second.
A little up ahead..
"You guys were GREAT!!" Gai yelled, giving his two students a big thumbs up. Kakashi shook his head and chose to ignore his rival.
Lee smiled proudly and Ten-Ten just smiled. "Thank you, Gai-sensei!!" Lee shouted.
'It's the same with Sakura… To think she would be able to Sakuran no Jutsu.. Impressive..' Kakashi thought, ignoring the incessant noises Lee and Gai were producing as always when those two were together. 'And Sasuke suppressed the Curse Seal, even after facing Orochimaru head-on… My pupils are growing harder than ever before.. I wonder how Naruto's doing?'
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"Gaara… you're leaving?" Temari asked, as she saw Gaara packing a few things.
Gaara looked at his older sister for a moment before turning back to the task at hand, him packing his stuff. "I'm going with them."
Kankurou frowned. "But why? Now that you can finally control your anger.. you're leaving?"
Gaara finished up and sighed. "Yes. They are after me, and I have a great need to become stronger. No one in this Village can give me what I want. But that man outside can."
"But…"
"I have something to ask you two…" Gaara began, interrupting Temari's 'But…'
"Jiraiya, that's the name of the older man, told me the Chuunin Exam is being re-established. The previous permission still counts. It's up to you two to come to Leaf Village."
Temari and Kankurou looked at each other before turning back to Gaara, who let out his last words before leaving. "Farewell… or maybe till we meet again in Leaf Village.."
But those were would-be last words. "Wait! I… I'm coming along!" Temari said.
Kankurou sighed and hung his head low. "Fine.. This could be a little entertaining, I guess.."
Gaara simply nodded.
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"Naruto, Neji… I see you two have been fighting again… " Jiraiya smirked. "So, did you two went all out?"
Naruto grinned like a little child, while Neji smirked like someone who was very satisfied with himself.
Kiba frowned at the situation. "Oy, Naruto! What are you and Neji doing here anyway? Are you two in the same team all of a sudden?"
Hinata's ears perked up at the question and also wanted to know the answer.
Naruto looked at Kiba but hesitated in answering. Neji answered for him. "We were just teamed up for this mission, there is no need for you to know more."
'Heh. The arrogant guy hasn't changed one bit.' Shikamaru thought, turning his gaze from Neji to Naruto, to find him with his hands folded behind his head and grinning like an idiot. 'And Naruto hasn't changed either.. But he has become a lot stronger..'
"Heh, like I care." Kiba said as he turned his back towards Neji and Naruto. Hinata carefully looked at Neji, to find him staring at her too.
Neji sighed. 'I guess we have issues…' He walked over to Hinata. "Hinata-sama… we need to talk.."
Hinata, with her nervousness now tripled, stammered and fumbled for words that she would never find.
"Just follow me and stop squirming like that.."
Ino who had just watched it all, suddenly walked over towards Naruto, followed by Shikamaru and Kiba. "Ok, Spill!"
Chouji just continued eating.
"What?"
"What rank is your mission?" Shikamaru asked.
"Uh, I don't know.." Naruto said, immediately receiving unbelieving stares. "Honestly!!"
Ino folded her arms. "Where's Sasuke-kun?"
"I don't know! Honestly!" Naruto said, backing away from Ino's almighty bitch-glare.
"Naruto! How strong are you?" Kiba asked, pushing Ino aside and facing Naruto.
Jiraiya, who had been leaning against a wall, stepped in before Naruto would start another fight or tell them how strong he was. "Ok, listen up! I've got something to tell you guys.. Even for you, Chuunin." Jiraiya said.
They all listened "Well, The 5th Hokage decided to retry the Chuunin Exam, All of you had passed to the Last Test, will need to show up."
"What?? But, I've already become a Chuunin…"
"Indeed, but you are needed to keep the fights as much to the original as possible." Jiraiya explained.
"I see… So even if I get pummelled, I still remain Chuunin." Shikamaru asked.
Jiraiya rolled his eyes, but nodded. "Yeah."
Ino frowned. "This is stupid, me, Kiba, Chouji and Hinata all failed."
"Well, that's unfortunate… I guess you'll have to wait another year, ey?"
Chouji was still eating.
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"It's good to be home again, right, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked as they entered Leaf Village.
"Hm." Was all Sasuke let out.
"Well, I must report back to the Hokage, now, and so has Gai. So, farewell." Kakashi said, as he disappeared, leaving some smoke.
Gai nodded, "He is right... Lee, Ten-Ten, I am proud of you guys." Gai nodded proudly. "Bye!" Gai left in the same way Kakashi left.
"That was quite the mission…" Lee said, looking at the others. "I'm going home." Lee said, as he leaped away from the little group. 'I have to train, train harder and better than ever before…'
Ten-Ten sighed. "So unpredictable sometimes.. I'm going home as well. It was nice working with you two. Goodbye." Ten-Ten waved, receiving waves back, and left.
"Sasuke-kun.. Are you.. ok, now?" Sakura asked.
"Of course I am." Sasuke sneered. "I'm going home as well.. It's already late.. Good night." Sasuke said as he walked away.
"Good night!" Sakura yelled out at Sasuke's back. "Sasuke-kun" She ended with a whisper. 'I can't reach him….'
She walked back home too, pleased that she would see her parents again.
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"Well, I guess we're ready to go now." Jiraiya said, as he saw Gaara with his two siblings come outside. "So, you two are coming along?"
Kankurou and Temari nodded shortly.
"Very well, the more, the merrier. Oy, Chuunin!" Jiraiya asked for Shikamaru's attention.
Shikamaru responded by looking up at Jiraiya. Not daring to whine that he didn't just call him Shikamaru.
"Tell the two Jounins that we left, ok? You are to remain here..'
Kiba swallowed as Gaara walked past him. Akamaru was deep hidden in Kiba's clothes. Shino watched them all leave and sighed a sigh of relief as Gaara was out of sight.
"Why are you three so uptight, ey?" Shikamaru asked the three students of Kurunai.
Kiba frowned at Shikamaru. "I don't know you became a Chuunin, whiner. But couldn't you sense the power of that Gaara-guy?"
'Whiner?' Shikamaru thought. "I've seen Gaara in the Chuunin Exam. Yes, he is strong, but why are you guys so afraid of that?"
Ino and Chouji were also questioning Kiba, Shino and Hinata. "Are you guys afraid of him?" Ino asked.
"Y-yes. He's.. he.." Hinata began and let Shino continue for her. "His killer instinct is abnormal… You'd do well to know your place with him around.."
Shikamaru frowned. "Know your place? You seem to respect him more than fear him…"
Kiba growled. "Shut up, Nara! We are all stronger than you! And if we fear him, you should fear him even more!"
"Stronger than him? He's the only one that became Chuunin remember?" Ino asked, looking a bit mad at Kiba.
"So? Doesn't change the fact that we're still stronger than him!" Kiba all but yelled back.
"It is true. He has been chosen because of his intelligence. They seem to have ignored his true capabilities in a battle. His power and speed are lower than the average Chuunin. An opponent can easily dodge the Kage Mane no Jutsu and knock him out, if he attacks with killer intent." Shino said, as if Shikamaru was not standing anymore.
'Jeez… I'm being dissed here…' Shikamaru thought. "Perhaps, but you can't win with strength and speed alone!"
"True, but with intelligence alone, you can't either." Shinji replied. "Therefore, know your place.."
Shikamaru snorted. "Heh. I bet he could beat you!" Ino yelled at Kiba, Hinata and Shino.
"Very well! I will fight him!!" Kiba growled. "Just you and me, Nara!"
"Ino! Why did you have to go and say that?!" Shikamaru screamed. "This will be…. very… troublesome.."
"What, taking back your words, coward?!" Kiba said as Akamaru came out of his coat.
"Hell NO!!! Shikamaru, kick his ass!!" Ino shouted, while pointing at Kiba.
"Ino!!"
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"Neji, Naruto, We're heading back to Leaf Village… But first, I have to teach Gaara certain things. Why don't you… spar… with Temari and Kankurou, ey?"
Neji snorted. "Spar with them? They couldn't last a second with us."
Though insulted, Kankurou and Temari had nothing to say back. They knew how good Neji Hyuga was. And they had also seen that Naruto had beaten Neji, so Naruto was even stronger. They chose to be silent.
"But I wouldn't mind… Maybe they will toughen up a bit too.." Neji said with a mocking smirk. "Though I doubt that."
Jiraiya sighed. "Well, have fun. Let's go Gaara. Take your time, guys! Cause we will.."
With that said, Gaara and Jiraiya left the four alone.
"So.. we train.. by fighting each other?" Temari asked.
"That's the idea." Neji answered. "Don't tell me you're afraid?"
"Oy, let's fight two on two…" Kankurou said. 'From what I know, these two aren't originally in the same team.. they must not know how to work with each other yet… Unlike me and Temari… We might stand a chance..'
"Hmm, could be entertaining, what do you say, Naruto?" Neji asked, turning his head to look at Naruto.
"Ok!! Let's go!!" Naruto screamed.
"Kamaitachi!!" Temari screamed as she created a huge whirlwind.
But Neji and Naruto were long gone. "Do not underestimate us!" A voice shrieked around Kankurou and Temari. It was clear it was Naruto's voice.
"Temari, we should spread out as well… I've already released Karasu. He's on the hunt.."
Temari nodded as she revealed all three stars on her fan and stepped on it, disappearing with the fan. Kankurou nodded and leaped upwards, vanished in the trees.
Neji and Naruto had split up. Naruto had his foot stuck in a hole on a big tree branch and was trying everything to get loose. 'Damn it!! Stupid freaking HOLE!! Let me go!! I hope they don't find me here…'
Neji was sitting on a tree branch with his hands folded, leaning against the tree. His Byakugan was activated. He sighed and grabbed a few pieces of bread he kept in his pocket. 'They are so obvious… I can see them so easily from here….' Neji smiled as he bit off a piece of bread. 'Naruto… just get out of that hole already…'
Temari was flying on her fan over the trees, using her keen eyes to try and spot Naruto or Neji. 'This wasn't a good idea… Naruto was the one that beat Gaara.. And Neji Hyuga, he was the best Genin in the Chuunin Exam. I fear we're going to receive some major damage now.' Suddenly, Temari smirked. 'Never underestimate your enemy, but then again, never overestimate them either..' She thought as she was flying straight for Naruto, who was still stuck.
Neji frowned as he saw all around him in a radius of 2 miles. 'She's actually going to fall for it…'
Kankurou, in the meantime, was approaching Neji, and was using Karasu as back-up. "You're…. eating?" Kankurou asked as he jumped on the same tree branch Neji was on. He narrowed his eyes as he saw Neji had his Byakugan activated. "Byakugan, huh? It sees all, but it doesn't know all."
Neji chuckled and stood up. "Actually… you could be right there.. But then again, one doesn't need to know everything, does he?" Neji said, before vanishing.
Kankurou was confused as he looked all around him. He checked his Chakra lines that were attached to Karasu a few times over but didn't find anything strange about it. 'Where'd he go? Damn it.. I can't sense him at all..'
A loud shriek filled the air and Kankurou's eyes widened as he found out what had just happened. 'Karasu… Damn it.. How could I have missed it?'
Neji appeared in front of Kankurou again. "I hope for your sake you have another one of those stupid dolls. Since I haven't seen you use any other skills."
Kankurou gritted his teeth. "Damn, clever.. But, you should know better than thinking I only have one skill.."
Neji folded his arms. "Is that so? Show me, then."
Temari approached Naruto in great speed and rammed her fan hard through Naruto, slicing the Naruto to bits. "What? He didn't dodge?" Temari noticed some movements to her left and saw another Naruto jump away. "I see, Bunshin… Kamaitachi!!" Temari performed her own attack. "Gotcha!" Her eyes widened to see the clone vanish with a soft 'poof' and noticed another Naruto was leaping right at her from her right. Temari quickly stuffed her fan in Naruto's face to stop him from attacking. This Naruto also disappeared.
"Why are you letting you clones attack?! Are you afraid of me?" Temari yelled as she landed on the Tree branch Naruto had been standing.
Suddenly, a trio of Naruto's appeared, landing on the same tree branch. Temari turned around to find a fourth one behind her. "Kamaitachi!!"
The three Naruto's easily dodged by jumping to another tree. The Naruto behind her spoke up, "Don't tell me that's your only technique."
Temari, face hidden from Naruto, grinned. "Not really.."
She turned around swiftly and performed seals that were familiar to Naruto. 'I see..'
"Gufuu no Jutsu!!" She yelled.
A huge tornado-like windblast was launched from Temari's hands towards Naruto. It caught Naruto and its result was a tormented scream. Temari narrowed her eyes to see how he was doing against her best attack.
The other three Naruto's, seeing that they were being ignored, all jumped towards her. But Temari had already seen.. "Kamaitachi!!"
All three Naruto's vanished. And judging by the fact that the Naruto in her Tornado was still there, meant it was the real Naruto. After one minute, the tornado stopped spinning and vanished. Naruto fell down a long way and landed on the ground. Temari quickly followed.
When she landed, though, there was no sign of Naruto's body. 'Damn.. Where did he go?'
"Very well.. " Kankurou seemed to be concentrating hard/
Neji, who had his Byakugan activated, could see all around him. 'I see… no, that will not be good enough..' Suddenly Neji took one step forward and jumped back again. Though this would look strange to unknowing bystander, Kankurou was quite annoyed at it.
"I thought you'd know better than to use sand to capture me?" Neji said. "It comes as a surprise, but jut just a little bit. I thought only Gaara controlled the sand?"
Kankurou sighed. 'I guess it's no use against him… Suna Kanashibari won't work.. He detects all movements around him.. Hand-to-hand combat is not good, he's totally mastered the Gentle Fist Style of TaiJutsu. And he destroyed my Karasu…' Kankurou suddenly looked up at Neji. 'I guess I have no choice but to use my last resort.' "Taiyuu Suna Kyanonbo!!"
Neji's eyes widened at the speed he created the huge balls of sand and how fast he made them fly towards them. Neji could do nothing but dodge the humongous balls of sand, that were coming from the sand on the ground beneath them and being formed by Kankurou.
'Damn it, he's avoiding them all… and this uses up too much Chakra.. One touch is enough to freeze him, I guess I'll make it faster..'
Neji was smirking at Kankurou's attack. 'These balls are hardened by usage of Kankurou's own Chakra.. Pretty impressive..' Neji smirked evilly however as he simply disappeared from Kankurou's view and reappeared behind him. "I'm wondering, though, can you still change the direction of your attack once started?"
Kankurou stopped his attack and turned around as fast as he could. He found nothing but empty space, and Neji was, again, behind him. "I thought so, you have to stop the attack to change directions."
Kankurou kicked backwards, but his leg got grabbed and the Chakra points in his leg quickly got hit by Neji. "Sorry, but you won't be able to use your right leg." Neji retorted with a shrug.
Kankurou quickly followed it up with an elbow to Neji's face, but Neji disappeared and reappeared right in front of him. Kankurou flinched by how close Neji actually came. "You are within my field of Hakke…"
"So, you know Gufuu no Jutsu?" A voice yelled from somewhere, Temari couldn't pinpoint it. "I have to say to you, you need to make the power of that attack bigger… you need training!"
Temari snorted. "You remind me of that Shadow guy, always hiding." She frowned as Naruto immediately appeared several meters before her.
"Fine. I will show you my…" Naruto performed seals that were all too familiar to Temari, she quickly did the same seals and both launched their attack at the same time. "Gufuu no Jutsu!!"
The two tornadoes hit each other head-on, ripping several smaller trees out of the ground. Temari's eyes widened at the size of Naruto's tornado. 'Holy Crap…' Naruto's tornado ripped her tornado to little wind gusts and continued on toward Temari. 'I'm doomed.'
Temari closed her eyes and prepared herself for a lot of pain….
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"Kaihan Kage Mane no Jutsu!" Shikamaru yelled out.
Kiba looked around carefully, careful not to tread some shadow that could very well be Shikamaru's.. "Oy, Akamaru, be careful.. Just to be sure, eat this.." Kiba threw him a Soldier pill and fed himself one too. "Juujin Bunshin!!" Akamaru transformed into Kiba. And immediately after that, both of them performed the same seals. Only the real Kiba spoke up, "Shikyaku no Jutsu!" And then, both Kiba's split up and both chose to attack from above Shikamaru, away from the shadows.
Shikamaru groaned. 'Damn it, I have to wait till they land again… unless… no, not yet, I have to save up Chakra..' Shikamaru's eyes widened as he saw what Kiba was about to do. 'This is going to hurt…'
"Gatsuugaaa!!!"
Both Kiba's were spinning like a top, and both were heading at a very high speed towards Shikamaru, it was unavoidable. Shikamaru was forced to be squeezed between both spinning Kiba's.
Shikamaru was launched towards the air and landed rather harshly back on the ground. "Shikamaru!!" Ino shouted, concerned for him.
'Ughh… Damn, this attack really hurts..' Shikamaru thought as he spitted out some blood. 'My respect for Naruto has grown a bit..'
"Hehaa!! Feels bad, doesn't it? I must say, I expect more resistance from a Chuunin!!"
Shikamaru rose to his feet but his eyes widened as Kiba performed the same attack again. 'Shit…'
"Gatsugaaaa!!!"
'And here I thought I could practise my Kaihan Mane..' Shikamaru quickly performed several seals as Kiba was approaching him. "Kage no Tate!!!"
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"And these last two techniques you must use to escape. They come in handy." Jiraiya explained. "I'm impressed at how well you can control the sand, Gaara. To think you'd learn these so fast and so easily. But… I have one more technique, a very powerful one… It's called Suna no Sekisho.."
Gaara nodded.
Jiraiya continued. "You already know Suna no Yoroi, and you're Suna no Tate is automatically. Suna no Sekisho creates a massive barrier between your Shield of Sand and Armor of Sand. The only thing is, this barrier is even harder than both."
"I see…"
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"Byakugan!!"
Itachi frowned as Dareda suddenly looked a bit frightened. Knowing their power wasn't that different, his own probably was a bit stronger, he knew that was not the reason why he looked a tad afraid. "What's wrong?"
"Hunter-nins.." Dareda replied. "Hyuga Hunter-nins.."
Itachi sighed. "I see.."
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TBC
A/N: Well, I feel I have to explain a few things, huh? Well, for the moves:
Kaihan Kage Mane no Jutsu: Revised Shadow Copy Technique.
Suna no Sekisho: Barrier of Sand.
Kage no Tate: Shield of Shadow.
Gufuu no Jutsu: Huge Tornado.
Taiyuu Suna Kyanonbo: Sand Cannonballs.
As for the others, which were not self-made:
Gatsuuga: Piercing Fang.
Suna no Tate: Shield of Sand.
Suna no Yoroi: Armor of Sand.
Shikyaku no Jutsu: Power and speed boost, animal-like.
Juujin Bunshin: Beast Clone.
Kamaitachi: Blast of wind that is formed into a small tornado.
Suna Kanashibari: Using sand under the feet to stop the enemies' movements.
Well, next chapter will be quite exciting!! Heh heh, I'll enjoy writing it. Itachi, Dareda, Kisame and Sinobi face off against the Hunter-nins. What are Gaara's new moves? Kiba and Shikamaru finally go all out against each other! And how will the fights between Naruto and Temari, and Neji and Kankurou end? Oh well, at any rate, everyone will reach Leaf Village in the end…
Oh well, Farewell.
TokehGecko
