Disclaimer : I don't own anything from the series Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto owns it all.

Chapter 2

" Ow… I'm gonna feel that tomorrow."

" You saved me… Why?"

" Uh, I didn't want to end up with a guilty conscience later for not doing something?" It sounded like he was directing the question towards himself.

She stared at him for a second, blinked, then looked away.

" …Whatever."

' SCORE! She bought it.'

Naruto was now lying on his side in front of Tayuya's upper half, with a kunai driven through his right shoulder and another through the back of his left thigh. He hadn't actually meant to save her, it was more of an escape route from being turned into a pin cushion by several dozen kunai; it just so happened that diving to his right was the only possible action that involved living. He figured they didn't throw as much her way since she was already immobile and unable to defend herself.

Reaching behind him, Naruto gritted his teeth as he removed the kunai from his thigh. Sitting up, he attempted to reach for the one in his shoulder but failed miserably from his arms being too short. Growling in frustration, the blonde stood.

" Come out and fight me fair, you bastards!"

Tayuya sweatdropped.

" You Dumbass! Do you really believe they'll-"

She stopped as three shinobi with Sound forehead protectors started to walk out into the clearing.

' I can't believe they came from the same village as me… Wait just a fucking second!'

" Why did you assholes aim for me? I'm from the same fucking village, you know!"

When they started chuckling, Tayuya finally noticed these weren't the regular Sound soldiers. She had only seen these shinobi once. They were wearing what looked like Konoha ANBU attack gear but instead of magenta it was black. All of a sudden, an emotion hit Tayuya that she hadn't felt in years; anxiety.

" We know exactly who you are, Tayuya of the Sound Five."

Naruto looked back at her and noticed the terrified expression on her face.

" What? Do you know these guys?"

" W-Why would he send the STAS… You don't mean…"

Naruto gave her a puzzled look.

" STAS?"

" They're Orochimaru-sama's Special Tactics and Assassination Squad; Special Jounin elite who usually work on the sidelines of battle, being the support for Sound troops within the shadows. They also execute disposing of Sound ninja corpses and the assassinations for the Sound involving lords, heads of ninja clans, and traitors… But if they're here, then-"

The captain of the squad, from what Naruto could tell, interrupted while looking at Tayuya.

" You have assumed correct. Orochimaru-sama sent us to dispose of those of the Sound Five that were inadequate to accomplish their mission. Unfortunately, you're the only live one we have encountered. There is no point in mourning for the loss of your comrades, you will soon join them in the afterlife for being a failure in the eyes of his Excellency."

' Not even her village wants her back? Damn, that blows POW tactics right out of the water.'

He then turned to Naruto.

" And I wasn't informed to expect crossing paths with the great demon vessel who damaged Orochimaru-sama's new container so badly. We shall finish what your Fourth Hokage and Sasuke-sama wasn't able to do, putting an end to the Kyuubi once and for all."

Naruto blinked twice, bent down next to Tayuya, and started in a hushed whisper.

"I don't know, maybe it's the way he talks about killing me as if it's an offhand comment like discussing the weather or what I had for breakfast, but I'm getting the slight feeling that these guys are out of my league. I think we should get out of here, how about you?"

When he didn't get a response, he turned to his side and looked down at her. Her eyes were blank, lifeless.

'Well, that doesn't help me much.'

Tayuya's scope on reality was slowly shattering, leaving her with a black void of emptiness… Loneliness…

For the first time in a long time, she felt like crying.

' That's all we ever were, failures. Tools that he would dispose of as soon as we outlived our usefulness. We were his puppets to manipulate, to control to do his bidding… Just pawns in that sick bastard's game. I told myself over and over ever since I received that damn curse I was expendable, and yet… it still hurts to know that he threw us away. It just harshly reminds me that my life meant nothing to anybody.

Sakon… Ukon… Jiroubou… Kidoumaru… Our futures… Our lives were destroyed when we received these Cursed Seals. He promised us ultimate power, more than anyone could ever imagine. We foolishly accepted it… And in the end, that power was just another lie also…'

With the redhead in a state of delirium and him being surrounded by three 'Angels of Death', Naruto could think of only one thing to do at the time.

" Tajuu Kage Bushin no Jutsu!"

When the smoke cleared, the obliterated forest area was packed with shadow replicants. In response, the three shinobi jumped back and were performing handseals of their own.

" If you had listened to the girl, you would know that quantity can do nothing for you boy."

All three stopped on the tiger seal.

" Katon: Housenka no Jutsu!"

The entire battlefield was covered in a thick, white haze in an instant from the clones' rapid dissipation.

As they popped out of existence, the replicants created a smokescreen to cover his actions from the attackers. The blonde done a quick Kawarimi switch and replaced Tayuya's broken body with a clone Henged to look like her.

' That should buy us a few seconds.'

With the girl in his arms and that irritating kunai still in his shoulder, Naruto made his way out of the field in a desperate attempt to make it back to Kakashi before the assassins caught up.

Said Jounin was currently slouched against a tree, reading the latest copy of Icha Icha Paradise. He had read a great deal since Naruto had left, and was about to go searching for the blonde when he appeared out of the thicket from where he'd rushed off, holding a red-haired girl.

" What took you so long, Naruto? And who's she?"

Naruto shook his head furiously while trying to catch his breath.

" I'll explain on the way, we have to get moving NOW!"

Before Kakashi could utter another word, he had already taken off through the trees. Letting out a frustrated sigh, the weary Jounin followed in suit to get some information from his pupil. When he caught up, he kept a steady pace of jumping along side the rambunctious boy.

" You better start that explanation soon Naruto…"

" Okay, here's how it went. When I had left…"

After a good four minutes of revealing the situation to his sensei, Naruto finally finished.

" …And then we ran into you. That pretty much covers it, Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi gazed down at the redhead.

" From the looks of things, she didn't take being told she was expendable very well. She'll be useful later for interrogation, good thinking on bringing her along."

" Uh… Sure. Yeah, that was my plan all along. Wait a second, what do you mean by interrogation?"

" Depending on Hokage-sama's decision, she'll more than likely be sent to the interrogation chambers to extract information from her involving Orochimaru and the Sound."

" Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold on there! She's dying as we speak, she needs medical attention before anything like that!"

" Don't take it the wrong way, Naruto. Marino Ibiki may be a sadist, but even he has some limits. Besides, you can't get as much information out of a corpse as you can if the person is still alive. She'll be tended to as soon as we get back."

Kakashi raised a dubious eyebrow.

" Why would you worry about the health of an enemy anyway?"

Before Naruto could answer, his teacher's face became plastered with an amused grin.

" Is Naruto becoming infatuated with someone other than Sakura?"

" NO! No one could ever take the place of Sakura-chan! I just… You see… It's like… Oh hell, I don't know. Let's stay on subject here. We aren't exactly in the perfect position to talk about this type of crap, you know!"

The Sharingan user gave a content sigh.

" You're right for once. Stay on guard, we may be less than a mile from Konoha's main gate but be prep- GET DOWN!"

Kakashi grabbed Naruto and forced both of them to dive to the forest floor, making a giant shuriken miss them by mere inches. They hit the ground, rolling to their feet immediately. Kakashi turned to face the way they had came from.

" Naruto, go to Konoha and get her within those village walls where it's safe."

He turned to his pupil with a faint smile under the mask.

" If you see Hokage-sama when you get there, tell her I'll be a little late."

Naruto looked at his sensei incredulously.

" You have got to be joking! You're going to take on all three by yourself! That's practically suicide, Kakashi-sensei!"

Kakashi's expression turned into one of all seriousness.

" Naruto. Go. Now."

" But-"

" Get out of here! I'd rather you be a safe distance away so I can perform with my full potential rather than worry about the welfare of you both, now leave!"

Hesitantly, Naruto turned and sprinted off in the direction of the village, leaving Kakashi alone in the small glade. He pulled out his issue of Icha Icha Paradise and leaned against a tree, waiting for their pursuers to arrive.

Said pursuers arrived a few seconds later, stopping at the other side of the glade. He glanced up from his book long enough to take in their appearances.

" Yo."

" Where have you hidden the girl and that demon?" The captain demanded, any traces of patience already having vanished.

The Jounin held up one finger, motioning them to wait.

" Hold on a second, let me finish this last paragraph."

" You will speak now or we will kill you where you stand!" He threatened, hand sliding to the hilt of the katana on his back.

Kakashi looked back up at them with his usual lazy demeanor. He examined each of them, pocketed his book, closed his eyes, and lifted his forehead protector.

" You shouldn't be so quick to judge your opponent, for it could lead to undesired consequences."

He opened his eyes, revealing to them the Sharingan.

" Because you never know what tricks they might have up their sleeve."

The leader's eyes widened before narrowing.

" So… the infamous Copy Ninja, Hatake Kakashi… To kill a legend, this will prove to be most entertaining. Prepare yourself, technique thief."

" I've never considered myself a legend, but thanks for thinking of me worthy of such a title."

Kakashi lowered himself into a fighting stance, preparing himself for a fight to the death against the three Sound Elite in front of him.

' I don't remember the last time I had to go all out. This should be interesting…'

Katon: Housenka no Jutsu - Fire Element: Mythril Fire Pheonix
Tajuu Kage Bushin no Jutsu - Mass Shadow Replication

R&R Please. Constructive criticism welcomed with open arms. So are flames, I need a good laugh.