Hiya all. Dunno what to write…

Thanks to the reviewers. NoCareChakara rocks my funky colored socks!

I've realized that people don't seem to read the author's note. Too bad….

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. The OC s are mine. Plot is too.

Chapter 14: Survival

Setting: Konoha

Time: Day after last chapter, three days before full moon

Kabuto was muttering angrily to himself as he trudged half-asleep to the door. Someone was pounding on it. Unfortunately, Kabuto had been sleeping very peacefully, so he wasn't too happy about being woken up.

Rubbing his eyes, Kabuto swung open the door to reveal an ANBU member. Kabuto let out a high-pitched yelp before regaining his composure and politely asking what was wrong.

"You've got a mission. Hokage-sama wants you, Tabanachi Kira, Nasu Toboe, and Koizumi Jin to go on a scouting mission again. Clan Tabanachi has disappeared during a lock-down situation. Hokage-sama wants them back here." The ANBU passed the scroll to Kabuto and disappeared, leaving a very confused, cuddly-looking erm I meant tired-looking silver-haired shinobi behind.

---

Kabuto mused on the situation as he raced to the bridge to meet up with Kira, Toboe, and Jin. Tsunade had declared a lock-down, ordering the citizens of Konoha to remain in their homes, which included the guests of Konoha staying inside the gates. Apparently, the head of the Trader clan had opposed this, and forced the gates open to leave. His entire clan, including women and children, were now somewhere in the forest, ripe for Orochimaru to pick. Kabuto and Team Koenma had to get them back before they were killed or worse. Kabuto snorted to himself in disgust at the stupid head's actions. Obviously, the man didn't feel the law held sway over him or his people.

Tsunade's orders in the scroll were to wear all black with masks so that Orochimaru's spies could not tell who they were. This meant that they were not allowed to wear their forehead protectors, or Chuunin vests. Just black pants, shoes, shirts, belts, and preferably a black mask. Kabuto had borrowed the mask from Toboe, who, for some reason, had quite a few of them and was providing Jin and Kira with them as well.

Kabuto looked up when he saw the three figures standing at the bridge. It was Kira, Toboe, and Jin, but to Kabuto they looked a lot more formidable dressed in all black. Toboe had short black pants that fell below his knees, a black-net shirt beneath a black jacket, and his weapons in a black container instead of a white one. (A/N Think Shikamaru's clothes before the time-skip but black) Jin was wearing black pants and a black jacket, like his usual clothes but black. Kira was wearing a Chinese-style shirt-tunic and her standard black capris. All of them had the black masks in their hands, waiting for Kabuto to arrive. When Kabuto landed beside Jin, Toboe tossed a fourth mask to him. All four slipped the masks over their heads and tucked the soft fabric into their collars. (A/N It's hard to explain but the masks are those robber things, the one that Sasame wears in episode 140 of Naruto, but without the whole in the top.)

The four quickly went to the forest, and started their tracking of the wayward clan. Kabuto could hear Kira muttering under her breath as they moved, and finally, because the constant hissing was driving him nuts, Kabuto jumped to her side and asked, "Kira, what's wrong?"

He definitely didn't expect Kira turn and growl "Nothing, just frustrated" and continue as if nothing had happened.

Kabuto frowned, and asked again, "What's wrong? You're talking to yourself again."

Kabuto smirked when Kira winced and replied, "Look, I'm pissed off. That stupid, hollow-headed, bird-brained father of mine has put the entire clan in danger because he can't get off his high horse and wait for the experts to take care of things."

Kabuto quirked an eyebrow and pestered her again. "But I thought you didn't like the clan."

Kira snorted and muttered, "Rina will be there, as well as her mother. They had no choice. It's Rina's job. And my little sister is there. I can't let her die before I meet the chit."

Kabuto whistled lightly. "So you want to save only those three?"

Kira shook her head violently. "No! That's not it. I just care a lot more about them. There are so many lifes at risk, the head should have known better than this."

Kabuto nodded, and left Kira to her thoughts as the four continued tracking the clan. Kabuto felt his insides turn cold when he heard screams and the clashes of battle up ahead. All four Chuunin sped up, reaching the group as the guards slowly fell, overwhelmed by the attackers. Kabuto gulped when he saw a flash of white; Rina was still fighting, standing in front of the head's family as she blocked attack after attack. She was wounded on her side; the blood was dripping down her leg as she continued to move. Kabuto landed beside her, took the kunai from her hand and quickly healed her.

"Be careful on that side, Rina-chan. Stay by the head. We'll take care of the rest."

Rina nodded. "Thank you, Kabuto-kun." Taking back the kunai, Rina allowed Kabuto to slam his chakra-scalpel into the chest of the offending ninja, effectively killing the man where he stood. Kabuto could hear the sounds of metal slamming into flesh as he, Toboe, Jin, and Kira defeated the attackers.

After finishing off his few, Kabuto healed the living guards and the clan members that were injured as Jin removed the corpses from the clan's sight. Toboe was finishing off an enemy, as was Kira. She quickly formed a now familiar seal, and shrieked, thus stabbing the ninja with a sound. Kabuto noticed that no one from the clan was paying attention; they were all focused on their head, who was coughing into his hand as he shouted orders out that no one seemed to be following. Well, Kabuto amended, Rina noticed and she didn't look happy that Kira was anywhere near the clan.

Toboe, Jin, and Kira joined Kabuto near the head's wagon. He glared down at the three, and shouted at them to get out of the way. Kabuto could see a younger girl pulling on his sleeve, pleading with him to be polite. The young man standing beside the wagon just stared without emotion at the four masked shinobi; he didn't seem to really notice or care that they had just gotten attacked.

The man continued yelling, his daughter sitting down in defeat with her head in her hands.

"Shut up, old man." Kabuto winced when he heard Kira's cold voice slid over the crowd; the silence pervaded the area while the head stared at the unrecognizable shinobi that had just insulted him.

"How dare you! Do you-" A high-ranking clan member quieted when the head stuck out his hand, preventing the man from speaking.

"Who are you? How dare you presume that I, Tabanachi Yura, will listen to such an insignificant…thing as yourself?" The head sneered down at the four, waiting for them to bow down and beg his forgiveness.

"Go back to Konoha. This is a lock-down situation. It is too dangerous to be in the forest at this moment." Toboe's voice rang out in the silence.

"I will not. You have no right to tell me what to do. My clan is leaving and that's-"

"I SAID shut up! You, and your clan, will turn around right now and return to Konoha. It is the Hokage's orders." Kabuto gulped when he heard Kira's voice. Slowly turning his head towards her, he saw that her eyes were gleaming red in the shadows of the forest.

'So that's what attributed to half the clan turning towards Konoha without thinking about it…Now I know what they were talking about, that her Kekkei Genkai is good for a leader to have. It can make people do what you say without thinking…Sweet.' Kabuto smirked beneath his mask as he watched the head get redder in the face. The man glared over at the clan members who were waiting for him to lead them back to Konoha.

He turned back to the four and growled, "Who are you? Answer me!"

Kabuto rolled his eyes at the gasps of the clan members when Kira pulled off her mask, revealing her identity. He cringed when the head laughed and said, "Did you really think that I would listen to you, outcast? I would never listen to what someone like you tells me to do. Filthy outcast!"

Kira's eyes returned to their natural color as she replied quietly, but firmly, "I'm not telling you as a Tabanachi outcast. I'm ordering you as a Chuunin of Konoha. Return to the city. You will be allowed to leave after the danger passes." Kira turned to Toboe and Jin. "Toboe, Jin, stay here with Rina. Make sure Tabanachi-san and the clan return. If they don't, contact me and I'll take care of it."

The two nodded and walked over to where Rina was standing to discuss with her the best way to guard the clan. Ignoring the bulging eyes of the head, Kira turned to Kabuto and said, "We'll be scouting around the area to ensure that there are no attackers." Kabuto nodded, and the two vanished to take care of business while Toboe cheerfully convinced Kira's older brother to take the reins and turn the company around. The head was speechless, and remained quiet for the rest of the trip while Jin efficiently reassured the crowd that no, their head was not dead, and no, Kira was not a figment of their imagination, and yes, she had the Kekkei Genkai, and no, she wasn't a psychotic murderer out to kill them for revenge. (Where on earth had they gotten that idea?)

---

Kabuto watched as Kira killed the last of the ninja they had found trailing the clan. Kira ruffled through the man's pockets, and pulled out a forehead protector. Snorting delicately, she showed the symbol to Kabuto. "Cloud. Orochimaru also has Mist and Rock involved. This should be fun."

Kabuto shook his head as the two waited for the clan to be completely inside the gates before they too slipped in. Toboe and Jin met them there, and together the four reported to Tsunade what had occurred and Kira and Kabuto pulled out the forehead protectors they had found, as well as recounted the attacks the ninja had used to show who was on Orochimaru's side, and who was on theirs. So far, the only village they knew they could count on was Sand.

(A/N I don't know if anyone noticed, but I'm referring to Konoha ninja as shinobi and all the others as ninja so that you guys can tell who I mean. Good guysshinobi, bad guysninja. Not that I have anything against ninja, it just turned out like that…)

---

Two days before the full moon…

Kabuto shifted uncomfortably during the meeting. All the shinobi had been called so that Tsunade could discuss the battle plans that she had laid out using the knowledge they had. She continually emphasized teamwork and flexibility; she wanted them ready to change plans quickly and be able to improvise.

"Remember: some of us may die, but I have faith that we can defeat Orochimaru. Just stay calm, don't overwork yourselves, and believe in yourselves. The power to believe in yourself is the power to change our fate." Tsunade smiled slightly at the eager nods of the crowd and shouted, "Alright, shinobi of Konoha, let's go kick some ninja butt!"

The shouts of agreement echoed in Kabuto's ears as he sat quietly, miserable at the internal conflict that he was going through. Should he fight for Konoha? Would Orochimaru want him back now that he was Chuunin? Should he betray his friends if Orochimaru did want him back? What would he do? Kabuto shook his head fiercely, a determined look on his face. 'I make my decision when the time comes. I do what feels right at that moment.' Immersed in his conflict, Kabuto did not notice Kira's sad sigh beside him, nor Tsunade's calculating stare as she prayed for the silver-haired shinobi to make the right decision.

(A/N I wanna cliffie, but the battle needs to begin. Think people! This fic is going to be over in two-three chapters! REVIEW for me here!)

---

Sasuke watched sullenly as Orochimaru ordered the ninja around. The Rock village was putting up a fight; they didn't want to wait for Orochimaru's signal, they wanted to attack now! Waiting for Orochimaru to resolve it, Sasuke offered no help and merely stared out the window. He felt excitement begin flowing through his veins at the thought of fighting his former friends. He was sure he could beat them easy. Unconsciously, Sasuke moved his hand over the curse seal Orochimaru had bestowed on him almost three years previously. Sasuke had mastered the level two, and without Orochimaru's knowledge, had found a way to manipulate the seal into giving him more power, pushing the effect up to a level two-and-one-half. Sasuke grinned evilly as he thought, 'Oh, Naruto. I can't wait to see you writher in pain as I slit your pathetic throat…'

(A/N I made up the level two-and-one-half for my own purposes. I don't think it's part of the anime.)

---

Kabuto twitched nervously as he watched and waited for the enemy to arrive. The sky was covered with dark clouds; the sun could just barely shine through. Kabuto was placed with Uotani and Toboe while Jin and Imai were just yards away from the three. They all waited patiently for the signal. Kira was nowhere to be seen. She'd been called up to Tsunade with a few other girls while the rest had been sent to their appointed stations. She hadn't turned up again. Kabuto figured that Tsunade had placed her elsewhere, but he wished that the six were together for this battle.

Suddenly, Kabuto heard the ANBU member near them give the alert sign. The first of the enemy had been seen. It was time.

---

(A/N I don't think I can write battle scenes too well, so this is going to be a series of flash scenes. Quick, explicit, and easy. I think.)

Kabuto's arms were numb from the constant throwing of shuriken and hand-to-hand combat. The blood of a few now dead ninja was beginning to crust beneath his fingernails as Kabuto continued using only kunai to kill. He didn't want to waste his chakra yet. Toboe was behind him, his discomfort with blood obviously over, shown through the blood that caked his arm from dragging his kunai from bloody wounds. Uotani was untouched, yet his enemies lay fallen around him from the multiple weapon attacks he'd used. Kabuto could see Jin, who was still as fast during his taijutsu as he had been in the beginning. His stamina rivaled Naruto's, at least until he ran out of chakra. Glancing over his shoulder across the battlefield, Kabuto could see bodies strewn across the ground, both of Konoha and of the other villages. Imai was using the mind-confusion jutsu he'd picked up from Toboe to stop his enemies before he dispatched them to kingdom come.

Sand had arrived, and the shinobi were fighting with Konoha to defeat the man they'd been tricked by three years before. Many of the shinobi had been there three years previously, and wanted to atone for their screw-up. The Kazekage, Gaara, was using his sand to kill the ninja, Kankuro was using his newly-made puppets to stab and poison, and Temari was using wind to slice her opponents.

Kabuto shivered as he watched Tsunade and Orochimaru's fight; both had summoned their respective animals. Orochimaru could only stand there as Tsunade beat him to a pulp with her amazing strength. It reminded Kabuto of the first time he'd seen her fight Orochimaru. Jiraiya was close behind; making sure Manda didn't kill anyone and stopping Orochimaru from fleeing. Sasuke was nowhere in sight.

Rina fought alongside the Konoha shinobi. The heir to the Tabanachi clan ordered her to support the battle. After fighting for what felt like hours she slipped during a dodge, and feared the worst when her opponent took advantage of the moment. Rina blocked the cut, but couldn't stop herself from flying backwards. She screamed internally when the ninja used Kanashibari no Jutsu, or Temporary Paralysis Techinque, to stop her from moving as he went to stab the defenseless kunoichi. Suddenly, the man exploded, sand soaking up his blood as Rina slammed into a hard body. Arms wrapped around her as the girl caught her breath and looked up at her rescuer.

"T-thank you, K-Kazekage-sama…" she breathed as the redhead carefully let her stand.

As he turned to leave, he smirked and grunted, "Just Gaara."

The white-blonde kunoichi stared as the Kazekage left, and then she shook herself and continued with the battle.

(A/N There's your Rina Gaara pairing, Tam! I love it! It will continue on in other chapters!)

Hours later, the battle ended abruptly when Kira, Tenten, Ino, Hinata, and Sakura showed up, fighting with everything they had to defeat the remaining enemy ninja. Kabuto found out later that they had been put in reserve, just as Orochimaru had put his Sound ninja in reserve. When the Sound ninja showed, the girls appeared to beat them. Kabuto watched as Ino, once she had employed the Kanashibari no Jutsu, or the Temporary Paralysis Technique that ANBU were famous for, used her Shinranshin no Jutsu, or Mind Body Disturbance Technique, to make the enemy attack each other instead of Konoha. She had upped the strength, making it apply to not only one enemy, but three. Sakura punched her way through the ninja, using her massive strength to plow her way through. Hinata used her Shugohakke Rokujū Yonshō, or Protection of the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, to slice through any attacker and protect herself at the same time. Tenten, using her Sōshōryū, or Twin Rising Dragons, to bombard the enemies with weapons until not one was left standing. Kira, predictably, used her Kekkei Genkai to slice through attackers with sound. By the end, the enemies were done for.

Before this, the Rock ninja revealed a secret treaty, and sided with Konoha in the battle. Because of their small numbers, they did not make much of an effect, but it's the thought that counted.

Finally, the enemy had been defeated.

---

Tsunade gazed over the carnage as she instructed Kabuto, Kira, Toboe, and Jin to scout the area again. Orochimaru had disappeared, and Sasuke had never shown up. Naruto and Sakura were disappointed, but they figured they could find him sometime else. Kabuto stretched slowly, and waited for the other three.

Suddenly, Kira coughed softly. Kabuto raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is the lung wound still hurting?" They had decided to allow the wound to heal the rest of the way by itself. It was better for the wound, and less scarring would occur.

Kira shook her head. "Just had a dry throat." She quickly pulled out her canteen, and quenched her thirst.

The four took off, prepared to scout the area and report if they found any evidence of stragglers.

Kabuto lazily looked over the area, assuming that any one left over would have scattered by then. Kira was up ahead, with Toboe close behind. Jin had opted to be in the back.

Suddenly, the four froze. Blood splashed before their eyes as they foresaw their gruesome demise. As suddenly as it had begun, the Shikumi no Jutsu, or Death Foreseeing Technique, was over. Kabuto clenched his teeth painfully as Toboe dry gagged and the other two shivered uncontrollably.

"Kukukuku…Look, Sasuke, at the little birds that have fallen into my nest. Did you like that, birdies? How was your untimely demise?" The gravelly voice echoed around the clearing, causing Kabuto to freeze as he waited for certain death.

---

A/N

I am SO evil… Muhahahaha…

Next chappie should be up soon.

REVIEW! Type MONKEYS ARE CUTE when you do!

Thanks for beta-ing, TamX2!

MWAHs to y'all!