Vidina stood fast with his flute ready. He quickly glanced back at Tapion with a serious look; Tapion immediately understood and managed to get back on his feet. He grabbed and rubbed his neck remembering Roosta's grip. He looked at both Vidina and Roosta. They way they stared at each other, Tapion could tell they knew each other well. He bent down to check on the others. At that moment Saitou regained awareness. He sat up and shook his head. He turned and saw Tapion stare at him. "I feel like I just got ran over by a bus. What's going on?"
Tapion had a look of relief that his friend was okay. "He saved us, see if you can stand. We need to get out of here." Tapion gave him a serious look and Saitou nodded understanding what he meant. Tapion then moved over to Hikari, she was lying on her stomach. He grabbed her shoulder and turned her over so that she lay on her back. Her eyes remained closed. He put his across her cheek, no reaction. He was relieved that she was still breathing, that meant she was only unconscious. Tapion then looked up at Vidina.
Roosta's smile vanished as he realized Vidina's resolve. "I consider you my friend but if you stand in my way, I will kill you." He spoke in a cold unemotional voice. He unclipped a circular metal piece holding his cloak together. The cloak fell to the ground reveling a tall figure dressed in simple clothes, a long sleeve blue shirt and long black pants. His glaze never left Vidina's.
"I made a promise that I intend to keep." He blew into his flute a single note. The two guardians shifted their weight and held theirs spears with both hands, pointing at Roosta's direction. "If that means fighting you, I will."
"You won't win, you never could." He sheathed his blade and held his hands at his sides in fists.
Vidina's face lightened up and he cracked a smile. "But who would I be, if I didn't try." Roosta smiled hearing those words. And as quickly as the air thinned up, the air soon became thick and tense. Vidina then began to play his melody keeping his eyes open. The Two guards separated and charged at Roosta. The left on raise his spear above his head and slammed it into the ground causing a great amount of dust to circulate the air. Roosta looked around completely blind for a moment. He heard footsteps to his right and quickly turned to that direction. A Spear emerged from the dust straight at him. He unsheathed his blade hitting the spear away but as it was being diverted it pierced his left shoulder. As the spear flew past him the guardian holding the weapon approached at high speed. Roosta saw this and spun his body to avoid the collision landing on one knee. With his free hand he grabbed his wound. The dust began to settle, the guardians stood on his flank and to his left and Vidina never moved from where he stood. Their eyes might with intenseness before Vidina began to play with song again. Roosta and the blind guardians resumed their battle.
Tapion looked on the battle in amazement. He always knew there was a large difference of power between a genin and a jounin and Hinata had always painfully showed that to him but not like this. He knew he was not watching two jounin fighting; this was more. He wondered if this was what a kage battle was like. He then placed Hikari on the ground. The genins managed to get out of the line of fire but remained close in a nearby building. Saitou still shaken by Roosta's blow was able to walk but Hikari was still unconscious so Tapion had to carry her to the building.
The westside of the village
Kiba ran through the streets with his counter-part. Several enemy shinobi ran along side them. Akamaru jumped at the closest one mauling the ninja. Kiba threw several kunai at them before forming a seal with both hands. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu" Several Kiba clones emerged from the cloud of smoke and tackled each of the shinobi. Most of the shinobi were able to counter and dispose of the clones easily. They then began to perform seals. The real Kiba was then hit with several bullets completely made up of wind. Using his beast jutsu he easily dodged them, knocking them down one by one with his claws.
Above them on the rooftops Sakura was in a fight stance facing another shinobi who held a short sword. He came at her spinning the blade. Sakura loosened her grip on the kunai she held in each hand. She raised both of them and blocked the initial attack. He spun around swinging the sword toward her head. With her right kunai she deflected his attack, then with her left kunai slit his throat. Another shinobi appeared behind her, Sakura twirled around and took him down the same way. She turned around and saw more shinobi. She dropped her kunai and then began to perform several hand seals. "Fire Dragon Blast no jutsu." Sakura took a deep breath, filling her chest full of air. She then exhaled, producing a very wide stream of flames that engulfed her enemies. When the flames diminished and revealed several bodies on the ground. She let out a breath. At that moment Kiba jumped up to the roof. She bent down and picked up her kunai. Then she turned to face him. "How many left?"
"Not that many." He wiped the sweat from his brow and took off his flat jacket. "They seem to be retreating. I think we may survive this yet." He laughed. Sakura could only join him in the brief moment of humor.
"Come on." Sakura stopped laughing and looked out onto the village. "We have a home to save." She pulled out a blue ribbon and tied her hair up in a ponytail. Kiba just looked at her. "Would you stop staring at me and come on?" She jumped to the next rooftop.
Kiba snapped out of it and smiled. "Akamaru. Come." The faithful dog heard him and lifted its head up toward the rooftop. Kiba then jumped to the next rooftop and followed Sakura. Akamaru followed them on the street level.
Another part of the village
Vidina continued to play his melody. The blind guardians were fast and moved with fluidity and symmetry. One of them would attack while the other defended, but no matter what Roosta's own defenses held. Roosta landed several feet away from them. Dam I underestimated him he thought to himself. Roosta couldn't get near Vidina. He used the guardians well. Roosta looked up and saw one of the guardians charging at him. He glanced to the side and saw the other one flanking at the same time. He quickly did several seals. "Star burst no jutsu!" His entire body became illuminated. He then charged at the one charging at him. In a bright burst of light Roosta disappeared and reappeared behind the guardian. He slowed down and returned to normal but the blind man dropped his weapon and the fell to the ground before disappearing in a cloud of smoke. Vidina saw this and followed up with several notes. The remaining guardian performed seals and threw his spear at Roosta. In mid flight it began to glow and separate into a hundred tiny pieces. Roosta put up a circular mud wall around himself to absorb the attack. He then leaped over and with a strong thrust; his blade went into the heart of the blind guardian creating a cloud of smoke.
Roosta then held the knife in reverse grip with the sharp edge faced outward. He turned his attention to Vidina. Vidina dropped his flute and unshealthed his own blade. It was about six inches long. He held it in the same fashion as Roosta. They two charged at full speed at one another. They clashed blades. Roosta quickly turned around, doing hand seals with his free hand. "Star fire no jutsu." He then released a blue ball of flame at Vidina. Vidina slowed down and countered with his own technique using his free hand to perform several seals.
"Black shell no jutsu." A large black turtle shell emerged from the ground taking the impact of the fireball. Roosta jumped up over the shell with his knife in hand. Vidina parried the blade with his own throwing him to the ground. Roosta got up on his feet and jumped back.
"You have improved." He wiped the blood from his lip. He then channeled some chakra though his hand and to the blade itself making is glow a florescent blue. He threw it at Vidina who dodged it. The blade struck the turtle shell behind him. "But you can't win. The real kick is that you know this." Vidina stood fast expecting some sort of attack. Roosta smiled and then snapped his fingers. The knife behind Vidina then suddenly released its chakra in a form of a bubble. Vidina turned around at that moment ready to block the attack. The bubble hit him but did little, only pushing him back a couple of centimeters. He readjusted himself to remain in balance. Roosta then appeared to his left inches away. "Solar Sphere no jutsu." Roosta released a bright bolt of light hitting Vidina and sending Roosta a few feet backwards because of the recoil and the closeness of the attack. Vidina felt a surge of pain coursing though his body.
Tapion and Saitou could hear his scream. That was going to be our fate a few moments ago if it were not for that man Tapion thought to himself. After the explosion, Vidina fell limp to the ground and after a moment had passed he opened his eyes. He looked down his body was done, he had little left in him to even move. He saw Roosta standing over him. "So why? Before you die I must know. Why fight a losing battle."
Vidina managed with the rest of his strength to sit up and look Roosta in the eyes. "Because a friend asked me to." He said weakly as blood dribble out of his mouth and down his chin. Roosta closed his eyes, smiled and nodded. At that moment a figure appeared behind them. A woman with dark hair wearing a white cloak, he turned to look at her. "Do you have something."
She nodded. "Most of our forces are either dead or severely wounded. I suggest we withdraw before we lose more." She bowed.
"You mean retreat." He corrected her. He paused for a moment thinking about the situation. "Very well. We've accomplished our objective. Go tell the others." The woman nodded again and left the area. "They have won this battle but it is far from over." He said to himself. Roosta turned his attention back to his fallen friend. "Do not worry, I will give you the death you deserve, just remember in death that this was your choice not mine." Vidina nodded. Roosta retrieved his knife and then jumped to the nearest rooftop and looked down on Vidina.
"He's going to kill him." Tapion stated. His thoughts were going at light speed trying to figure out a way to save their savoir. Saitou saw this as he glanced away from the battle and at his friend.
"There's nothing we can do. They are out of our league, hell that Roosta guy beat us up as if we weren't every there." Saitou put a hand on Tapion and tried to shake some sense into him.
"I have to do something." Tapion stared intensely at the battle before them.
Roosta opened his right hand and with the other took his knife and cut a small line into his palm. He then put away the blade and began to perform several hand seals. When he was done he closed his eyes and held his arms into the air. "Divine strike no jutsu!" He called out. At that moment his hands and eyes began to glow intensely.
Tapion took this moment and ran out of the hiding spot. Saitou reached out for him but could not grab onto him. Tapion made it to where Vidina laid and then looked up at Roosta. The next moment the entire area exploded in one bright ball of light. "No!" Saitou yelled out. He then saw the approaching shockwave; he hit the ground trying his best to shield himself and Hikari from it.
The eastside of the village
After many attempts, Bunt finally locked his jaw around the grizzly's neck. The bear let out a loud growl and shook his head back and fourth. The dog let go and landed on its feet showing its teeth. The bear raised itself onto its hind legs casting its shadow over the dog. Bunt lowered itself and then leaped right into the bear's chest forcing the giant to fall backwards onto its back. The impact shook the ground. Bunt's teeth were inches away from the bear's face. "I'm going to bite your face off!" He growled. Dam, I've used up most of my chakra the canine thought to himself.
The bear suddenly with a great burst of strength threw the dog several feet in the air. Bunt landed on all four of its legs. The bear got back on its feet staring at the canine. Both of them stared at each other for a moment. The grizzly let out a growl before disappearing in a cloud of smoke. Bunt stumbled and sat down for a moment panting heavily before disappearing as well.
Sasuke and Gouda clashed several times. Sasuke jumped back breathing heavily. Blood was dripping from his uniform in several areas. He dropped his kunai unwillingly. Sasuke looked down to his hand, it was shaking from lose of blood. He made a fist with the hand and flinched at the pain but held it until the shaking stopped. Gouda saw this. He yelled out. "Having trouble keeping up." Sasuke closed his eyes and slowed down his breathing in response. He reached into his pouch and pulled out a blood-clotting pill. He brought the pill up to his mouth and swallowed it, never taking his eyes off of Gouda. "Stop holding back!" Gouda charged at him knocking Sasuke to the ground several feet away. He stood with anger toward his opponent. Blood was dripping down his face, Gouda was not unscathed; he had just as many wounds as Sasuke but the emotions raging through his mind had masked all other senses.
Sasuke seeing the rage around his foe smirked as he slowly got up. He brought his hands up and held a seal. "What's the matter Gouda, not satisfied with the battle?" He began to perform several seals. "Web of deseption no jutsu!" The area around them darkened and several vines sprouted from the ground wrapping them around Gouda. Gouda struggled but couldn't break free. Sasuke got up from off the ground. Gouda noticed that his eyes had changed. The Sharingan, he thought. Sauske grabbed his right wrist, collecting a large amount of chakra into his hand until. Gouda could hear a flock of birds from Sasuke's right hand. Sasuke walked up to Gouda. "Now you die." He pulled his arm back and was about to thrust when Gouda broke the vines. Sasuke saw this and immediately attacked with his technique. He missed his chest but landed a direct hit on Gouda's left shoulder. Gouda stumbled back holding his shoulder; he had never felt such pain. Sasuke let his arms drop to his sides as he took a few steps to the right to regain his composure. Both shinobi were depleted of chakra and exhausted. The area around them returned to normal.
A girl appeared on the battlefield. She had jet-black hair and ocean dark eyes. Gouda glanced back at the woman and then returned his attention to Sasuke. "What do you want?"
"The battle is not going well, over two thirds of our forces or either dead or wounded. I've ordered a retreat." She stated.
Gouda with his back to the woman sneered at her words. "I'm not leaving until this battle is finished." Gouda's was having trouble standing and the pain of his shoulder was overwhelming. The woman looked annoyed. At that moment she disappeared and reappeared below Sasuke. She hit him in the chest open palmed. Sasuke fell to the ground. She then stood tall and turned her attention to Gouda.
"You dare question Roosta's will." Gouda closed his eyes and reluctantly shook his head. The two shinobi then disappeared.
The main gate
The battle began to dwindle and soon all of the enemy shinobi retreated from Konoha. The battle was over; Konoha had survived. Hinata and Tenten stood at the gate watching the enemy troops withdrawing from the village. Hinata unzipped the front part of her flat jacket and took a deep breath. Tenten reached behind her head and let down her hair. She looked at Hinata. "Do you think its over?" Hinata shook her head. "I was hopping you wouldn't say that." She turned her attention toward the forest. They both looked up and saw a large brown eagle fly overhead.
Hinata turned around. "Come one, I don't want to miss Neji's face when Rock shows up."
"I know what you mean." Tenten smiled. "I can't believe he's been gone six years." They two then began to make their way back to the center of the village.
The hokage's meeting room
Neji put down his hat and approached Rock. They shook hands. "We have much to discuss but that can wait." His smile vanished as the rest of the jounin appeared all battle worn. "What's the status of everyone?" He looked over at Shikamaru.
Shikamaru let out a cough. "They battle lasted over 10 hours. We lost over a third of our own." He paused and everyone remained silent for a moment. "Sasuke is in surgery, Kiba, Shino and Chouji are in the medical ward. A man who has been identified by Shino to be our long lost ally, Vidina is also in surgery. He was found a few blocks away from the hospital completely battered and near death." This sparked Hinata's attention. Shikamaru paused. "Hinata, Tapion was found near Vidina and is presently in surgery."
"What?" Hinata and Sakura said at the same time both with surprised looks on their faces. "I personally dragged him to the shelter. How the hell did he get out? Why would he do it" Sakura blurted out.
Shikamaru coughed again. "Well with the help of Hikari and Saitou, the three of them managed to leave the shelter." He looked at the others. Hinata shook her head and made a mental note to talk to them after the meeting. Neji stepped into the conversation.
"Okay, we have more urgent issues to deal with. Until Ino is back on her feet, I want you Shikamaru to be in charge of the Anbu. I am placing all shinobi on patrol around the village. The Anbu will scout the area. They will be my eyes and ears and give advance warning to anything attack." Neji looked around. "The chuunin will help out with the reconstruction and defense of the village." Everyone nodded and left the room. Neji took a deep breath, he knew better than anyone that this was far from over.
One month had passed since that day and to hold true to Roosta's words the war was far from over. The battle lines had been drawn. All of Konoha's shinobi were active and some were brought out of retirement. Roosta's forces had repeatily appeared and committed hit and run attacks along the border of Konoha. Always retreating when reinforcements arrived to counter them. Konoha's forces were on high alert. Most of the city was in a state of reconstruction.
A lone figure walked through the streets. He wore a large black coat similar to Vidina's. It was black with an orange outlining. A design at the bottom of the coat was that of an orange and red fox. The figure looked up at the buildings. "A leave for a while and everyone redecorates." He said to himself as he continued up the street.
A/n: That last part was supposed to be the beginning of the next chapter but seeing how demanding some of you and seeing how is doesn't really affect the story much. I decided to stick it at the bottom of this chapter. Three guess on who the guy is and the first two don't count, think orange and red fox. Lol. Oh I also like to thank all you demanding reviewers that keep asking that annoying, and oh yes it is annoying, question. It got me thinking and I came up with something big that I think people with enjoy. Here's part of it, a simple seed for you guys to dwell on while I'm working. There will be one more chapter in Act I, in which case there be a brief 15-minute intermission before Act two which the title of will be revealed at the end of the next and final chapter or this act.