AN: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING. SO THERE.
It's amazing, it really is. One minute there is a great battle between the Leaf, Sand and the Sound and the next there is an eerie calm. The battle field is littered with ninjas from both sides, some alive and some dead. The smell of freshly spilled blood lingers in the air and the stench of death permeates the clothes. Today was the day when one's fate was changed forever. The Leaf and Sand have won the battle after the last year against Orochimaru and his now fledgling village. But the damage to the Leaf will take years to repair and many families have been destroyed. It has been rumored that this battle was the equivalent to the Great Wars. On a rise overlooking the vast carnage, the Rokudiame of the Leaf and the Kagekage of the Sand stood. Looking up at them on top of that plateau made me realize how lucky we were to have those allies on our side. After the inauguration of Naruto-sama and Gaara-sama, the Sound assumed that both countries would be weak with the naive and inexperienced Kages, but they were wrong. Sand nin and Leaf nin united and fought for life and country and triumphed. I think that if we'd never met Gaara-sama, Temari-chan and Kankuro when we were all Genin, I truly believe the Leaf would have lost. The Sound was just so unknown to us, that their battle skills required everything we knew and yet they still bested us. The war took a turn for the better when our commander reminded us that we just have to keep trying and eventually we will succeed. "Believe it" he said. I did believe it.
Looking back on my life, I realized his nindo really changed me. I tried fighting my place in my family and then, I realized I could change my destiny. I worked harder and eventually gained the respect I felt I deserved. "Success," as our Rokudiame says, "only comes to those who truly believe in what they are doing. The Sound will lose because they are divided. They don't believe in what Orochimaru is doing wholeheartedly and that is a big mistake." The Sound underestimated our Kage and our ninjas, and ego drove them. Dissension and lack of order in the ranks broke them apart and the Leaf and Sand exploited that weakness.
Now as I look around me one thought comes to my mind. My team. "Teamwork was taught to us by our Jounin instructors and it will be the turning point in the war." Naruto-sama was right after all. We worked together to overcome the enemy. If we died, we died heroes. Amazingly, because of this basic technique that Orochimaru forgot, we won. I look down at my feet, Kabuto is dead, by my own hand. He was a traitor through and through. I did it to protect my team. Gai-sensei went with Kakashi-sensei and Asuma-sensei to fight on the front lines. TenTen, Lee, and I worked the flank and I realized then and there how much we had all changed in one short year. We were no longer ex-students of Maito Gai, master of Taijutsu, we were an ANBU, a Special Class Jounin, and a Jounin insturctor. We were no longer spending days pulling guard duty or enjoying dinner with friends at Ichiraku mindlessly lazing the nights away. We were fighting for our freedom and everything that we held dear. We weren't fighting for the philosophy of one twisted man, we were fighting for the future generations of Konoha, and I had never been more proud of my teammates. I was proud to have them by my side like old times.
"Neji-kun," a rattled and scratchy voice said somewhere behind me. Underneath a pile of bodies lies the rational half of my team. TenTen. She's covered in blood and dirt and is still gripping the kunai she used to end the life of her Sound attacker. I walk over and pull the dead bodies off her. Somewhere a piece of me thanks all that is holy that she is Ok. I help her to her feet and she almost crumples. Her knees start to buckle and she is very pale. I put her arm around my shoulders and she leans into me. Her traditional buns are down and her hair is shorter in a few places. I give her the once over with my Byukagan. She has lost a large amount of blood from the wound on her back and her chakra supply is very low. Mine isn't much higher. As we stumble to the MNSU(Mobile Ninja Surgicall Unit), I see Lee slung over the shoulders of Sasuske. Kiba and Shino are following as well as Choji who is holding up a very beaten Shikamaru. Guess he didn't get by with just a scratch this time. I laugh to my self and nod my head towards the rest of my squad. I look over at Sasuske and send a silent thank-you to him for grabbing Lee. I had planned on looking for him after I dropped TenTen off, but it seems my work was done for me. His jounin vest was torn, his Genin cell were rushing from the medical tent with a stretcher and a few other genins who were senselessly pulled into the fight were heading my way. I guess they learned the hard way what it is a ninja actually does.
"Hyuuga-sama, let me help you." a blonde haired boy wearing a familiar green suit said to me.
"Take care of her first, I am fine. I am just depleted of chakra. I just need to sit. She's got a subcutaneous wound on her back and she's lost a lot of blood. Take her to Hinata-sama or Sakura-kun. They'll know what to do. Otherwise, see if Tsunade-sama isn't too busy to take care of her. Though I think they will all be pretty busy. If they ask questions, tell them that Neji-kun sent a direct order. I am the captain in charge of my squad. OH, when you see your sensei, Lee-kun, tell him his team is alright. "
"Yes sir!" TenTen is lifted off of me. She had long since passed out from the physical drain on her body. They lay her on her stomach and get her to triage for an initial analysis of her damage. I look at her one last time as the flap to the medical tent closes. Nothing I can do at this point but hope for the best.
I see Sasuske lift Lee off his shoulders and he helps carry the stretcher with Lee's last genin team member. Lee's weights on his ankles are a bit heavy and quite frankly, he surpassed us all in sheer body mass. His muscular structure is something the females of Konoha quickly picked up on and he now has my old fan club. Not really sure if I was insulted or happy when I found out. Shikamaru just got to triage and now I knew how he felt when we had our first mission together. Man, I can feel the endorphins kick in. I am getting high from the blood rush and the chakra rush. As I fall to the ground, a figure sits down beside of me.
"Choji."
"Neji. I was just thinking about that time when we were a bunch of genin and a chuunin. Kinda weird being on this side of the tent."
"Yeah, I was thinking the same thing too. Heard any news from the front?"
"Nope. I lost contact with Ino and Temari and Kankuro about twenty minutes ago when we got bum rushed by the Sound. I am sure they are OK. Iruka-sensei was near them on their flank, so hopefully they are OK. Plus our dad's were there as well. They should report in shortly I'd imagine. How are you holding up, Hyuuga?"
"Not bad. My destiny has finally been changed forever. Fate has smiled on the people of Konoha and Sunagakure. I am overall thankful, plus, I think a bag of chips would be great right now. I am mostly hungry. Got any to spare? Oh, and try to reestablish contact. I can barely think straight right now."
"I am Akimichi Choji, I always have chips. Oh, we passed Naruto-sama. He and Gaara are assessing damage and meeting up with the sensei's and the ANBU elite. He told us to regroup and meet near the MNSU."
"Well, I guess we all made it afterall." An ANBU came walking towards me wearing a dog mask and a big white dog limping behind him.
"You know, Kiba, the point of the mask is to hide your identity. Akamaru kinda gives you away." Choji replied.
Ignoring him, Kiba looks to his teammate, "hey Shino, do you think they can fix Akamaru's leg? He got hit with an shuriken. I need to see if there is a medic nin available to heal him. My mom and sister are vets, but they are still on the front line."
"Kiba, I am sure there is somebody. Neji, good job on you leadership. I will be happy to work with you anytime." Shino pushes up his sunglasses and sits down on a fallen log. I nod my head in aknowledgement, too tired to do anything else. I look as I hear a loud yell from the medical ward.
"Sasuske-kun! You came back. I've been so worried." We look at each other and laugh. Apparently Sakura-chan has just realized that he was in the tent. As he comes back out, he heads toward our group.
"Yo. What's the collateral?" There was still a part of me that wanted to punch him for the stunt he pulled a few years ago, but, the other part of me said he really was reformed. He fought for us and protected us. Guess having an angry kunoichi hounding your heel for years made him change.
"Few hundred from Konoha and Suna, about double for Sound.Our group sustained minimal damage, but we haven't heard from the third squad yet. They are probably on their way here." I replied. I took off my forehead protector and wiped the sweat off my face.
When Ino, Temari and Kankuro are seen in the distance, a sense of relief washes over me. Those that mean the most to me are finally all together again. Mission accomplished. I got my team home and safe. Well, relatively speaking. Minus those in the tents. Speaking of tents, Sakura came running out of the tent calling my name.
"Neji-kun, I need your help. Hinata is busy and none of the medicines we are using are stopping the flow of blood. The wound in her back is too deep. I need you to shut down a few chakra holes for me, if of course, you aren't too tired. Oh, guys, I am so glad you made it back OK. We've been worried sick. Come quickly Neji. TenTen needs you."
There are about five raised eyebrows at me. I look at them squarely and roll my eyes. She helps me to my feet and I hear Kiba making some comment about Sakura. Something along the lines of "man she's hot.". Sakura rushes ahead of me and gives her boyfriend a soft look. He smiles and winks at her. So the human ice cube does show affection. Interesting. As I am passing by Sasuske he puts his hand on my shoulder and in a barely audible voice says,
"If you need to talk, let me know."
I barely nod and follow his girlfriend into the tent.
AN: The funny thing is, this idea came to me while watching "Bridge over River Kwai."