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Italics thoughts or simply italics

(words) authors notes/my thoughts

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January 1. Outskirts of Konoha. 7:45 Reign of the 3rd Hokage (2nd Term)

The last ray of sun, which was so far the only visible source of light, seemed to be directed straight into Kaine's eyes. It was almost an omen. As though someone didn't want him to see what was coming.

His back was to him. Naruto tapped Sasuke on the shoulder. "I need you to cover for me while I'm away."

Sasuke dealt one soldier a crushing knee to the ribs, and finished him with a crescent kick. "Go ahead, but make sure that it's damn important. These guys are dangerous." He bobbed under a hacking Ashigaru, and counterattacked with a crouching sweep.

"Don't worry yourself. This is as important as the word 'important' permits." Naruto said with clenched teeth.

Kaine felled an enemy with a sweep of his Naginata. The shinobi lay defenseless on his back as Kaine let his horse finish the job with a stomp of its hooves. That was definitely not a peaceful way to die, but then again, is there a peaceful way to die in war?

His further contemplation on the matter was stopped short by the oncoming enemies. They were harder to kill than he had imagined it. Most of them had the energy of animals. Even more of them were as relentless as the next.

Hinata had been fairing better than Neji had been wishing for. In fact, Neji began to grow envious of his cousin's spirit. However, he did notice a weakness in her fighting. She wouldn't make any fatal attacks. Hinata was only worried about keeping the enemy at bay, not getting rid of them for good.

Once a softy, always a softy. Neji thought to himself.

Sasuke was noticing a similar pattern in Naruto's fighting. He refused to kill anyone. He too, would only knock enemies down and continue his progress to the man on horseback. He didn't use any of his lethal weapons, only using his kunai and an assortment of shuriken.

"Come on Naruto!" Sasuke muttered under his breath. "Kill someone. Otherwise they'll keep on coming."

Sasuke wished he hadn't taken that moment to worry about his friend, because just then a blade cut down the length his forearm. Cursing silently, the Genin turned and gave his attacker what he deserved.

Naruto averted his eyes just quick enough from the sun to see a rather small enemy soldier rushing at him with an axe. He grabbed the shaft of the axe, and wrenched it out the would-be assaulter's hands and gave him a straight punch to the jaw, knocking him out.

With his knew found weapon, Naruto hooked it around an enemy's shield, tore it from his grasp, and swinging the axe around, cut the soldier's Achilles tendon. Blood seeped down the blade, into the seems between the handle and Naruto's hand. He shuddered and dropped it.

Kaine saw a white-haired enemy several yards away, and took his mark on him. Turning his horse around, the Samurai raised his weapon, and charged towards the unlucky Konoha warrior.

Kakashi was looking the wrong way, concentrating on finishing off the enemy to his front. Dodging the blows brought upon him by the enemy was no problem at all. It was the counter-attacks that were quite the dilemma. There was never an open spot.

For a moment, Kakashi was almost contemplating whether he'd be able to win this battle.

Then, a familiar voice emerged from the indistinct din of war. "Kakashi-sensei! Get out of the way!"

Naruto witnessed the man he swore to kill, Kaine, swing his Naginata in a downward arc. The horse blocked his view, causing Naruto to hope that only his sensei had time to dodge out of the way.

There was only one way to find that one out. Gulping down the ebbing lump in his throat, Naruto raised his head and barked out.

"Kaine!"

Kaine had missed. His original target rolled just in the nick of time. The ending result was the death of one of Kaine's favorite subordinates, Ryu Horosaka, the man who the opposing soldier was dueling with before he moved.

Kaine gritted his teeth and pulled the blade out of his friend's chest, wishing he wasn't so reckless.

Then his anger was redirected. Someone had warned his target of the oncoming danger. Where is that bastard?

Almost like an answer to his musing, he heard a boy yell, "Kaine!"

Kaine turned his horse about, facing the source of the noise. It was a boy. A mere boy. Kaine almost felt sorry for having to kill this child, but he knew it must be done.

"Are you the one who robbed me of my kill?" He said hoarsely.

"Depends." Naruto smirked. "Do you enjoy killing your friends? If you do," The smirk disappeared and Naruto narrowed his eyes in an icy glare. "then I'm as innocent as that girl you tried to drown a few weeks ago. Remember me?"

Like ants, a cold shiver crept up Kaine's spine, ending to burry itself into the back of his mind. He couldn't shake it loose.

Swallowing his pride, and making sure not to lose face in front of his soldiers, Kaine leaned forward on his saddle and chuckled. "Why if it isn't little fox boy? How have you been? Is your girlfriend doing okay?"

Naruto ignored the mockery and ground his teeth. "You'll never be forgiven for what you've done." Removing the hookswords from his back, the juvenile ninja twirled them deftly and gripped the handles tightly in anger. "Now come and accept your punishment!"

Kakashi could only see his back. From this angle, the Jounin could easily kill him and the enemy wouldn't know what hit him. Kakashi began his move, slowly unsheathing his kunai.

"Kakashi!" Naruto glared at his teacher. "Stay out of this one!"

Kakashi was insulted at his subordinate's lack of respect. But that look in his eyes… That look was one he had seen before. It was a protective, almost vengeful look. He was fighting for a purpose of his own. Not one that was appointed by a leader of his country.

Kakashi smiled. Naruto was never one to take orders smoothly, but this…! This was what gained one the respect of a true warrior.

Kaine turned in his saddle to see the one called Kakashi. Taking the opportunity, Kaine laughed whole-heartedly. "You heard him! Stay out of this fight!"

Naruto bellowed at the top of his lungs. "Kaine! Look at me!"

Shaking visibly, the man obeyed.

"That's more like it, coward. Now come and face me like the warrior you claim to be." The shinobi crouched, waiting for his assailant to make the first move.

Kaine flexed on the back of his horse and sighed, trying to act tough. "You asked for it kid. I'll be done with you in ten minutes."