Chapter 3: The Masked Ninjas

Domain

They followed the ninja to what seemed like another part of the woods. The ninja whispered a few words and the trees to moved to one side of the woods, to reveal a city full of masked ninja.

"Cool!" Sakura said.

"What kind of jutsu was that?" asked Sasuke.

"It wasn't a jutsu. These trees are artificial but they were built to look real." Answered the ninja.

"Kojiki! We thought you were lost with the others!" came a small voice closer to a child than a man. Then he noticed Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi, and Sakura.

"How dare you bring Jonin into the domain of Rogues!" came a much older and mature voice.

"Sensei I had to or he was going to kill me." Kojiki said pointing at Naruto once again being cowardly.

"You must never speak of defeat in our domain. You know that!" yelled the sensei, his head practically steaming.

"Yes sensei." Kojiki said as he focused on the Jonin.

"I expect you have a reason for coming to Dendar." The sensei said

"Dendar? This can't be Dendar." Said Kakashi.

"Dendar is located to the north." He added.

"Whoever told you that lied." Said the sensei.

"Yeah we know that, but why?" asked Sakura.

"Hmm… I think I know!" exclaimed Naruto. " Someone or something was imitating the masked ninjas to turn us off course, then we encountered the real masked and they thought we were intruders. That's why they didn't have the food when we wanted it back!" exclaimed Naruto as he finished his sentence. (Which by the way was in one breath.)

"Whoa Naruto, be careful not to use up all your brain power before you pass out or something." Said the obviously jealous Sakura.

"You know what, I think he's right!" said Kakashi. He explained how the entire mask on the "fake" ninjas was covering the right eye but the "real" ninjas wore them on their left eye. Naruto waited till the end of the explanation to faint.

"Sniff, Sniff…Mmm—ramen!" said Naruto as he woke up. He saw the ramen and went ballistic. He ate about five bowls in a matter of seconds. After he ate about ten more bowls (without chewing might I add) he sat back and rubbed his stomach. BURP!

"Eeew, your disgusting Naruto!" said Sakura as she walked in. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

"What was that?" they asked at the same time.

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out." Proclaimed Naruto. He walked outside and saw houses on fire everywhere, and the real ninjas fighting the "fake" ones.

"What the world is going on out here?" yelled Sakura as she walked out. "Aieeee!" She yelled for no apparent reason. Naruto turned around and saw that she was surrounded by six masked ninjas. Thee were "fake" ones because they had the right eye protected instead of the left eye. Naruto reached for his throwing knives, but realized that the ninjas still had their weapons.

He immediately produced about 200 Shadow Clones to help the real ninjas and destroy the fake ones.

"Naruto! Sensei and Sasuke are in trouble!" SAID Sakura more worried about Sasuke than anybody else. About 400 ninjas were surrounding Kakashi and Sasuke. Naruto tripled his clones and sent half of them toward their troubled companions. Within seconds all of the "fake" ninja were dead.

"What was that about?" asked Sakura.

"I don't know, but I'm glad Naruto sent those clones over. We were losing—badly." Said Kakashi who almost never who almost never talks about being defeated.

"No problemo! I'm just glad it's over." Said Naruto.

"Those ninjas came out of nowhere and set the village on fire." Said Sasuke." I wonder if they are after the scrolls or if they are after us."

"I think it's both." Said the sensei of Dendar. "They got the scrolls, there is no telling what danger we're in now." Said the sensei as he slowly fell on the ground revealing at least 200 shuriken sticking out of his back.

"We've failed sensei." Naruto said his eyes watering. "I've tried so hard…"

"It's okay." Said Sakura, sounding as confident as a fly would if he was challenging an elephant to a duel. That's what it seemed like as the four ninja trudged warily homeward.

THE END