IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING, THIS WILL BE EITHER THE SECOND OR THRID TO LAST CHAPTER LEFT IN HEART'S GAME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
Key
"words" characters talking
words characters thinking or simply italics
(words) author's notes/my thoughts
look at the bottom
January 2. Outskirts of Konoha. 6:00 P.M. Reign of the 3rd Hokage (2nd Term)
When he walked into camp, he was given a generally wide berth. When the younger boys came out to congratulate him, and the women came to cater to him, he gave them a look that sent them scurrying elsewhere. He parted the flaps to his tent, and closed them behind him as he entered. Inside, he loosened the belt around his waist that held all his gear, and let it fall to the floor. Sighing heavily, he pulled his sweaty shirt off and took a sharp breath when the cool air hit his bare chest. Resuming his undressing, Naruto shed his pants and undergarments. He had no sooner finished sliding on his crisp, dry slacks then he heard a cough outside of his tent. Naruto did not recognize the cough immediately, so he called out "Who goes?"
"Shiden Hideki, from the Medical Corps, Designation Number 49X08-"
Naruto didn't have time for official crap. "I don't care Hideki. Come on in."
The flaps parted to show a very tall bald man in the standard white jump suit of the Medical Corps of Konoha. "Master Uzumaki-"
"I'm nobody's master." Naruto smiled kindly (or at least conjured up the kindest smile he could.)
Hideki consulted his clipboard momentarily, and then continued. "Naruto, The Konoha Medical Corps wishes to inform you of the grave situation your friend is in. Hyuga Neji? Is he not your friend?"
Naruto ground his teeth. He looked away from the messenger. "Yes. He is a friend of mine. Where is he?"
"He's currently in the medical tent. I am here to tell you his physical condition. Might I suggest sitting before I tell you the news?"
Naruto picked up a dry shirt and put it on, heading for the exit. "Take me to him. I want to see him."
"Of course," Hideki stepped aside to let Naruto by before taking the lead to the medical tent located on the eastern side of the encampment.
Sasuke stood unmoving above Neji's hospital bed as if he was chained to it. He still had blood on him from the day's fights. It was not long before a nurse grabbed his arm and forced him to sit on a white bed as she inspected his cuts and bruises. He insisted they were nothing more than mere scratches until the nurse took an instrument and poked a particularly nasty bruise. Sasuke groaned at the jolt that sped through his shoulder.
Hinata and Sakura were on the opposite of the bed, Hinata on her knees, holding Neji's motionless hand. She was saying hopeful things in a voice choked by tears. Naruto stood next to where Sasuke stood before and looked down at his teammate. He seemed to be sleeping peacefully. His eyelids were closed gently, and his mouth was unperturbed. Neji reminded Naruto of a new-born baby. Then, he walked up to Neji and knelt down onto one knee.
"Neji, I did not know you all too well, but you are a fine friend, and I know that to be true regardless of what others think. You are an even better fighter. You would never give up, not even for an instant, until your goal was met. I know you can't hear me, but I need you to know that I hold you with all respect possible."
As Naruto turned, Neji mumbled something. Naruto reversed his spin, and looked at Neji. "What?"
The doctors shoved him aside as they erected a translucent screen around Neji to conduct tests on various aspects of his health, especially his side. Both Sasuke and Naruto friend fought to get to Neji, but the barricade of nurses was too thick. Dejected, the young ninja was about to leave the tent with Hinata and Sakura when he suddenly remembered.
He pulled a doctor aside and asked him, "Where would a patient named 'Rock Lee' be kept?"
Sasuke was about to stand up, but the nurse pushed him back down firmly.
The doctor answered as if he was in a hurry. "He'd be in the 'R' ward."
"Naruto-" Sasuke began to say.
"Where's the 'R' ward?" Naruto asked, getting impatient.
The doctor pointed with his pen. "In that direction. You'll see a big red 'R' on your top right."
Naruto didn't even say 'thanks'. He just pushed past the doctor heading in the direction the official had pointed.
Sasuke spoke again. "Naruto."
"Tell me later. Hinata, Sakura and I are off to see how Lee's doing," Naruto called over his shoulder.
"But it's important."
"Not as important as Lee's condition." Feeling that the "conversation" was over, Naruto increased his pace.
"Naruto!" Sasuke yelled, making everyone in the tent turn.
"What!" Naruto spun around annoyed.
"Lee is dead…"
"You're a sneak Itachi," Shintaro said around a bite of fried bird. The mess hall was loud and obnoxious, so he and Itachi were eating outside, watching the sun slowly sink into the horizon.
"I'm nothing more than an opportunist and a realist," Itachi replied smoothly with a hint of a smile. "There's no shame in attacking an off-guard foe. It was his fault."
"While it was by all means his fault, do you find killing young Genin fun?"
"Did I ever say that I did?"
"You smiled."
"I smirked."
"That's beside the point." Shintaro threw aside the carcass of his finished dinner.
"Then what is your point?" Itachi almost growled this sentence.
"My point is that there was no honor or skill in that kill. You cannot escape that fact."
Itachi chuckled. "When have I ever been known to be honorable? I am no samurai. You know my profession does not include honor or glory. My profession includes victory by any means."
The doctor droned on about how Lee's neck had swollen, cutting off his windpipe and suffocating him, but none of the doctor's audience was listening. Sakura would have collapsed if it were not for Hinata to hold her up. Naruto licked his dry lips and spoke with a hoarse voice.
"Shut up." He told the doctor.
The doctor stopped in mid-sentence. "But you need to understand that denial w-"
"I said shut up!" Naruto barked. Then, without another word, Naruto left the tent with Sakura and Hinata trailing behind him.
Naruto sat on his cot in his tent, staring at nothing. His posture was that of a statue: neither slack nor rigid. It just… was. He did not move, and he did not blink, not even when Hinata and Sakura entered did he give them a glance.
Sakura was crying, not bothering to wipe away the tears that slid down her face. She did not make any sounds, but silent crying. Naruto continued to stare. Hinata left the tent and returned with two cups of hot tea.
Sakura declined hers with a wave of her hand. Hinata placed one of the cups into Naruto's semi-open hand. He did nothing with it, but he didn't decline it either. Hinata sipped hers without as much as a sound.
The silence carried for a long time. It was finally cut by the sound of clay being smashed. Looking over at Naruto, Hinata saw tea drip from his bloodied hand and the remains of the clay mug on the ground beneath.
Then he spoke. "What do you think Lee had on his mind, before he died? What do you think he wanted to do as adult? Do you think he had the thought of his own death on his mind when he stepped onto that battlefield?"
He didn't expect an answer, and he didn't get one.
"I'd be willing to bet that those answers would not have been very different from the boy's."
January 3. Outskirts of Konoha. 7:45 AM. Reign of the 3rd Hokage (2nd Term)
Naruto splashed cold water onto his red-rimmed eyes. He could no longer think of Lee's loss. After eating his breakfast of fish and eggs, he began to suit himself up. Today would be ended early, he said to himself. Naruto chose only the bare essentials. He stripped off his red clothing and decided to fight as a Ninja of Konohagakure.
Regardless of the rules he was breaking, Naruto donned the outfit of a true ninja for Konoha. The uniform came from one of the dead Chunin from the first day. It happened to fit perfectly. Slipping on the green jacket, Naruto filled the pouches with his equipment. A kusari fundo went into one of the breast pockets, a ninja-to was strapped to his back, and kunai went into the pouch on his thigh. The final thing he added were two sheets of wrought iron into the sleeves of his forearms.
Ready for battle, Naruto stepped out into the sunlight on what he knew was to be the last day of this stupid war. The ninja decided that vendettas and unjustifiable points of view were stupid. Too many lives were lost on some of the stupidest things, he thought.
Before he left the vicinity of the camp, he met up with Hinata who wasn't going out to the battle that day. She looked at him. "Are you okay?"
Naruto nodded, but no smile was upon his face. "I'm fine."
"One thing before you go?"
"Sure." Naruto spoke. "What?"
"Tell me," she said levelly. "what is on your mind right now?"
Now Naruto smiled. He planted a kiss on Hinata's lips and hugged her. "I thought you knew me better than that."
"The fighters are counted at eight. Four from Konohagakure, and four from The Land of the Jagged Mountains," said the Shogun. It was good for Naruto to finally know where his enemies were from.
"Will Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, Hatake Kakashi, and Maito Gai please step forward?" Hokage bellowed.
Naruto and Sasuke walked into the center of the ring created by the meeting of the semi-circle armies, and were soon followed by the senseis. The only sound that rent the air was the flapping of banners and the soft "crunch" of crisp grass underfoot.
The Shogun stepped to the vanguard with Itachi, Shintaro, Takarashi, and Yinagi at his side. He walked with them to the center, telling them his advice.
"Shintaro, you are far faster with your sword than Itachi is with his fists. However, Itachi is faster on his feet, so let him take the first try. He will render the enemy motionless as you strike them down with your swords. Please try to only use the Ritoren sword when necessary. If you must, use it on the yellow-haired one. Yinagi, I trust you will dispose of the white haired one quickly." The Shogun patted Itachi and Shintaro on the shoulders. "Good luck."
"Thanks." Itachi said. In a flash, he grasped the Shogun's hand that patted his shoulder and twisted it in a circle. The army from The Land of the Jagged Mountains gasped as they saw Itachi break their leader's arm and wrist.
Itachi kicked the outside of the Shogun's knee cap inward. Without hesitation, Itachi grasped his throat and threw him to the floor. Shintaro looked at his ex-leader and slowly drew his sword. Fear reflected from the Shogun's eyes as Shintaro raised the weapon.
"Yinagi! Takarashi! Take your positions!" Shintaro said to them.
No sooner did the two elite soldiers take perimeter positions to hold off the betrayed army than did Shintaro bring his sword down upon the Shogun.
Kakashi, Gai, and several other Jounin were busy holding back the ninja of Konoha who were infuriated by the fact that their enemy would break the rules.
Shintaro and Itachi smiled. "It looks like the end of this war will be decided between us, then."
"Fucking pigs." Naruto said through gritted teeth.
Shintaro withdrew his sword from the dead body as he spoke in a level tone. "He was the blind one. I could tell that he was against this war all along. My spies confirmed that he would betray us once we secured our control over you."
"We'll never fall to the likes of you." Sasuke interjected was an equally level tone.
"You think you have the fight to back that up?" Itachi said.
For an instant, Sasuke wasn't so sure he was… "We'll have to wait and see."
The battle erupted at once. There was no sign, but the slightest hand movement made by Naruto. That tiny sign gave Shintaro enough time to dodge the oncoming kunai and draw his sword. Sasuke leapt into action, breathing a fireball into Itachi's face. Of course, Itachi was gone before the smoke cleared.
Cursing, Sasuke felt the slightest puff of air from behind. He ducked, and Itachi's shuriken sailed right through where Sasuke's neck had been. Sasuke turned, but was offered a kick in the face. He had no time to dodge it, and stumbled back, catching his balance and finally up-righting himself. Now Itachi was in front of him.
Itachi leapt at Sasuke, tackling him backwards. They tumbled a few more feet before Sasuke managed to scrunch his leg between himself and Itachi, and kick out, sending Itachi into the air. The older brother still had his sense of direction, and when he began to fall, he pointed his knee to the ground, aiming to smash in onto the top of Sasuke's head.
Sasuke rolled away and left an explosive note in his place. The note went off, and the place where Itachi stood erupted in flames. However, in place of Itachi was a log. Sasuke expected as much and was completely aware of the fact that Itachi was coming at him from the right. When the blow came, Sasuke already grabbed Itachi's arm and sent one sharp strike to the back of his wrist. The muscle there popped and the synapses between Itachi's nerves became too wide to use his hand.
Itachi was angered, but not disappointed. He turned around and grabbed Sasuke by the throat, hoisting him into the air like a caught fish.
"Shintaro! I have one here for you, ready for the execution!" Itachi grinned into Sasuke's reddening face. "Sorry we couldn't have played any longer Sasuke, I truly am. However, you are a threat to me as of right now, and I can't have that."
Shintaro heard Itachi's call and lashed at Naruto's face with a clump of dirt he picked up from the earth. Naruto was blinded and could do nothing as he furiously batted at the particles in his eyes. His enemy quickly came to Itachi's side.
"I thought you wanted to kill this one." Shintaro said, examining Itachi's catch.
"I don't care about him. Kill him with that green sword of yours."
Shintaro beamed at his luck. He unsheathed the Ritoren Sword and gripped it expertly. He could not believe his luck or Itachi's stupidity. Shintaro drew back the blade, and instead of plunging it into Sasuke's side, he rammed it into Itachi's gut and withdrew it in the time it took for a man to blink.
Blood spewed from the wound and Itachi gargled a sound of surprise. Blood flowed into his lungs and appeared out of his mouth, to finally dribble down the crease of his lip and spatter onto the floor.
"I should have known." That was all that Itachi managed to say before the poison hit him full force. His muscles slackened, forcing him to let go of Sasuke, and then tightened again to the point that they tore at sinew. Itachi howled a howl that no one had ever imagined could have been so blood-curdling. He felt his chest and brain being impaled by tiny imaginary needles. Writhing in a seizure, Itachi fell to the ground in a heap. In a matter of two seconds his seizures stopped and the entire battlefield was dead silent.
Shintaro broke it. "You see that boy? That will be you shortly; I hope you make the most of what's left of your life." He chuckled. "Isn't that interesting? The venom is still on the blade. Not that a drop isn't enough to kill you anyways."
Sasuke breathed in heavy gasps, regaining the air he lost while in Itachi's grasp. When he was back to normal, he glared at Shintaro with a tear in one eye. "I swore to kill him," he said. "I trained long and hard to become par to him! And you kill him! Prepare for the fight of your life coward." Sasuke leapt at him.
"Make my day runt."
Naruto expelled chakra from his eyes and managed to clear them of dust and dirt. He assessed the situation and knew that Sasuke was way over his head. Exploding into action, he flung a kunai at Shintaro's wrist. The warrior spun his blade and knocked it aside. However, this motion with his sword left him open to Sasuke's attack. The kick knocked him flat.
Sasuke kicked again and again until Shintaro fought back with the Ritoren Sword. Sasuke dodged it. Naruto grabbed hold of Shintaro's throat and bent him backwards so his stomach was exposed. Locking his arm around Shintaro's neck, Naruto grabbed his sword hand and shook the weapon free as he smashed his knee into his assailant's spine.
At the same time, Sasuke jumped up and came down on Shintaro's gut with a nasty drop kick. Shintaro broke free and rolled away, seemingly unscathed. Truthfully, it hurt like a bitch, but he wouldn't let them know. His only problem was his lack of a Ritoren Sword.
Naruto and Sasuke (Naruto on the left, Sasuke on the right) attacked at the same time, not giving Shintaro the time to draw another sword. Naruto snap-kicked with his left foot and Sasuke simultaneously snap-kicked with his right. Shintaro opened his arms wide and caught both feet between his elbows and sides. Then he pulled the legs towards him, throwing the ninja of balance.
He thought he had them, but he was wrong. Sasuke grabbed Naruto's right hand with his left and pivoted himself upward as he pushed off with his left hand. Sasuke traveled in an arc, and kicked Shintaro squarely in the ear. The momentum of Sasuke's pulling on Naruto's hand forced Naruto underneath Sasuke. Taking advantage of this momentum, he twisted so he was stomach-down, and used his right shin to sweep Shintaro's legs out from him.
The all fell and Sasuke and Naruto had the sense to recover their footing quickly, waiting for a returned attack from Shintaro. Slowly, the foreigner got up and drew his katana. He brushed the dust off of his pants and looked at his enemies. They were on opposite sides of him. One to the back and one to the front.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto conjured up three shadow clones. All of them were just as deadly as their host.
"Bunshin no Jutsu!" Sasuke's six doppelgangers were not real, but could prove to be a deadly distraction.
Shintaro congratulated them. "Good job you two. I must say, when you two are paired together, you fight as one. Very useful. However…" There was a way he said that word that chilled the two ninja. "…you do not know the half of my might…"
He threw off the black garb he was wearing, but was now torn in several places. His sweaty skin glistened in the morning sun. "Here, you will witness my true skill."
Naruto had one doppelganger silently approach from the rear. When the clone was within striking distance, it grabbed Shintaro's neck. Shintaro plunged his sword in the space next to his side, stabbing the doppelganger at an angle. The next cut a smooth, practiced motion where Shintaro turned the sword's blade parallel to the ground and have himself spin 180 degrees with his sword outstretched. The clone fell in two pieces.
"That can't be all that you two have got for me…"
The Land of the Jagged Mountains sorry for not telling you where Shintaro and his group was from earlier (also sorry for not coming up with a better name… really sorry…)