Naruto vs Sasuke: The Aftermath Chapter 76: Sasuke Attacks!, a naruto fanfic

Summary: As Naruto, Kakashi, and Jiraiya settle into their new roles as husbands, the massacre at Usuki on their wedding day by their respective mortal enemies, has cast a pall of sadness over what should have been a joyous day for them. What the future holds for them and all those around them nobody knows, but one thing is for certain. They will have to fight to protect not only their friends and loved ones, but for their very lives as well.

Naruto vs. Sasuke: The Aftermath

Chapter 76: "Sasuke Attacks!"

As Naruto leapt from tree to tree making his way to the frontline border with the Rice country, he was not in the best of moods. Leaving Hinata to go on missions was always difficult for him, but especially so this time around. As Hinata had begun to show the telltale belly-bump indicating to all her pregnancy. However, along with the growing belly-bump her hormones had also become…erratic. As one minute she would be happy and smiling and the next minute in tears for usually some bizarre reason as far as Naruto was concerned. The young shinobi felt guilty that she now had to deal with her pregnancy without him being there. But he had to admit the mood swings his wife was now prone to was something that he wasn't going to miss, while he was guarding the Fire Country border with the Rice Country. Up ahead, he saw Kakashi signal to everyone to halt the advance, as he veered off to an open field in the forest to take a short break.

Landing deftly on the field Naruto took a look at the rest of his comrades that Kakashi and Shikaku had chosen to bolster the Leaf security forces along the border. Judging from the sad and sullen looks on their faces, they appeared to be feeling as bad as he did. All except Shikamaru who bore an unusual calm and serene visage upon his face. Walking over Naruto asked Shikamaru in curiosity.

"Hey Shikamaru, why are you so happy?"

"Why shouldn't I be happy? Aren't you happy?" The Nara heir answered in a carefree tone of voice.

"No, I'm not happy, I've got to leave my hime back at the Leaf village and it might be months before I get to see her again. And if that's not bad enough, I won't be there to help her with the pregnancy. So I kind of feel like crap right now." Naruto bitterly replied.

"Yosh, I understand what you are saying my friend. My flames of youth are burning very low and is quite dim right now, at having to leave my sweet cherry blossom Sakura-chan." Lee proclaimed in sadness.

"I can echo Lee's feelings, as leaving my Ten-chan for such an extended period is more difficult than I thought it would be. Neji stated in agreement with his friend.

"Yeah, I'm not feeling that great about not being able to see my Ayame-chan!" Kiba openly spat in angered disgust.

"I too must admit I am not relishing being away from my beloved for such a long time either." Shino announced to his friends.

Everyone looked at Shino with mouths agape in stunned surprise upon hearing this from their usually stoic friend that he too was in a relationship.

"What?" Shino questioned in confusion, as he stared at the shocked looks upon his comrades faces.

N, nothing." Naruto stammered, before he then turned back to Shikamaru and posed his original inquiry once more to him.

"So why are you so happy?"

"Yeah, we're all bummed out at having to leave our girls behind, why aren't you?" Kiba followed up.

"Are your flames of youth not dimmed, because you had to leave your wife behind?" Lee then added.

Shikamaru looked around at his friends all staring at him critically, before he then held his hands up in mock defense and declared.

"What a drag, of course I'm not happy at having to leave my wife back in the village. But I will also admit that this mission to the front lines does have some positive…...aspects for me shall we say, because of her pregnancy right now."

Everyone continued to stare at the Nara heir, but now with a confused look on top of their already stern scowls they had been leveling towards him.

"I don't understand?" Naruto finally uttered.

"Look, don't get me wrong. I do love my Mari-chan, but this mission couldn't have come at a better time for me, as I don't think I could have dealt with her mood swings for much longer because of the pregnancy."

"Please explain." Shino asked.

"Ok, as most of you already know my wife is already a very highly strung and temperamental girl and that's how she was before she got pregnant. Now imagine that personality suddenly kicked into overdrive because her hormones are now running rampant and out of control because of the pregnancy. And believe me guys, when I say that's a whole new level of crazy you do not want to deal with. Her mood swings have gotten so out of control lately, and I've been smacked with that battle-fan of hers so much, that I believe I'm safer out here on the frontlines, than I am with her back in the village. So if I seem a little…..relieved not to be back there, it's because I am."

"Oh come on, what a bunch of crap, it can't be that bad!" Kiba exclaimed with skepticism.

"What a drag, just you wait Kiba, when you knock up Ayame you'll find out!" Shikamaru fired back in annoyed response, before he then asked.

"Help me out here Neji, you had to have gone through some of this when Tenten was pregnant."

"Alas you forget my friend, I was incarcerated while she was pregnant. However, I will not outright dismiss what you are saying, as Ten-chan's father Hanshiro-sama has told me some…...disturbing tales of the mood swings he had to deal with during her pregnancy. So it is something that I am…...concerned about the next time she is pregnant." Neji answered with a hint of trepidation in his voice.

"You guys are unbelievable!" Kiba scoffed in derision, before he then turned towards Naruto and asked.

"You're not buying any of this are you?"

For his part, Naruto remained silent and merely scowled off into the distance in deep thought.

After a minute of getting no reply from him, Kiba asked once more a little more forcefully.

"Hey Naruto, Naruto! You're not buying this are you?"

Finally Naruto looked up and said.

"I don't know Kiba, I'll admit that Hinata has been going through some mood swings lately, but it does possibly explain why she got so mad at me last night."

"Is there something wrong with Lady-Hinata?"

"Well, lately she's been….I don't know….acting sort of…..crazy at times."

"How so?" Shino asked in concern for his former teammate.

"I don't know, it's hard to explain. I mean one minute she's happy as can be, and then a minute later she's all of a sudden crying. And when I go and try to comfort her, I'm never sure what sort of reaction I'm going to get."

"Yup, that's just how it started with me and Mari-chan. In fact, she was depressed among other things about me leaving for this mission this morning. So I tried to comfort her last night and damn near ended up in the hospital because of it. Shikamaru openly lamented.

"What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything! At least I think I didn't….I'm not sure?"

"So what happened?"

"Ok, so Mari has started to show…...significantly that she's pregnant. So as were getting ready to go to bed, I'm in the bathroom and all of a sudden, I hear her weeping in the bedroom. So I come out to find out what's wrong, and I ask her. Then from out of nowhere, she goes off in a tear-filled outburst about how she's fat and ugly and doesn't understand why I would even want her anymore and blah, blah, blah. It was all just irrational gibberish from her."

"So what happened next?"

"I tried to make her feel better by complimenting her, but she did not like what I said at…...all."

"What did you say?"

"Well, she kept crying and complaining that she was so fat and all I said was."

"Mari-chan, that just means there's more of you to love."

"Man, I barely made it out of the bedroom, before a kunai impacted into the bedroom door a second after I went through it."

Everyone was silent, as they all contemplated what Shikamaru had just shared with them. After a couple of minutes, surprisingly it was Neji who offered up in reply.

"It's not exactly the most poetic verse I've heard as a response, but I fail to understand why that would set your wife off so badly."

"Yeah, I don't get what's so bad about what you said." Kiba stated in agreement.

"I know, I don't understand it, I thought it was the perfect thing to say to get her to feel better." Shikamaru exclaimed in frustration, before adding.

"There is no understanding it, that's what I've been trying to say. I've said similar things to Mari, when she's in one of her weepy moods and what have I gotten for it. A battle-fan slammed up against my head that's what!" Shikamaru groused with discouragement. He then looked to Naruto and stated.

"Look on the brightside Naruto, it may not seem like it to you right now, but believe me you lucked out with this mission same as me from having to deal with our hormonally psychotic and possibly homicidal wives for the time being."

"Yeah I guess, but I'm still going to miss my Hina-hime no matter how crazy she got." Naruto declared with longing etched in his voice.

As Naruto was lamenting being away from his wife, Hinata and Kurenai were walking upstairs towards Shikamaru and Temari's bedroom, after arriving at their home on Nara compound. They both paused and cocked an eyebrow in puzzlement, as they stared at a kunai impaled into the bedroom door. Knocking on the door while still gazing at the weapon, they heard Temari call out and ask who it was, before the Genjutsu Mistress answered.

"It's Kurenai and Hinata. You invited us over for lunch remember."

"Oh, that's right, come in please."

The two kunoichi entered the bedroom to find Temari standing in front of a full length mirror turning and posing from different angles to look at herself.

"Temari, what are doing?"

"Oh, I'm just trying to get an idea how much bigger I've gotten."

"Well get used to it, because you're only going to get bigger." Kurenai said with a chuckle.

"I know." Temari stated with a heavy sigh.

Kurenai heard the depressed tone in the Sand kunoichi's voice and walked over and put her arm around her shoulder and said in a comforting tone.

"Don't be sad, remember I've been through this before, the physical change is only temporary and once you have the baby, you'll forget all about how you looked."

Temari could only nod her head, before the women heard the doorbell ring and Kurenai proclaimed.

"That must be Anko and the others here for lunch. Are you ready?"

"I guess so." Temari replied in a subdued tone, as all three women left the bedroom to go greet their friends.

A few minutes later, Temari, Hinata and Kurenai were sitting in Nara living room chatting along with Anko, Ino, Sakura, and Tenten, while their lunch was being prepared. Temari still bore a bit of a depressed demeanor about her, which did not go unnoticed by the others, before Ino finally asked her.

"What's wrong, are you sad that Shikamaru's gone on that mission."

Temari exhaled a heavy sigh, before she finally answered.

"I am sad about that, as we sort of had a fight the night before he left."

"Is that why there's a kunai sticking out of your bedroom door?" Kurenai asked.

This got everyone's attention, as Temari blushed a bit, realizing she had forgotten to retrieve the weapon.

"It, it does, but that's my fault, I just got mad at him for something he said."

"What did my knucklehead of a teammate say?" Ino questioned, remembering some of the idiotic things her former teammate had said in the past to her.

"Well, I was feeling a bit depressed crying about how…...fat I've been getting and I know now he was just trying to make me feel better, but at the time what he said just infuriated me so much, that I threw that kunai at him, but I really wasn't trying to hit him with it."

"C'mon Temari, what did he say?" Ino asked with impatience.

"He said, Mari-chan, that just means there's more of you to love."

Everyone winced and groaned upon hearing this and the general sentiment of all the women whether openly expressed or not was that was most definitely the wrong thing to say and that Shikamaru was an idiot for saying it.

"I can't believe someone with an IQ as high as his is would say…...that to you!" Ino exclaimed in disgust.

"Well believe it, you should hear some of the idiotic things Shika-kun has said to me the past few months in his pathetic attempts to comfort me when I'm feeling down." Temari declared with aggravation.

"Yeah, I remember Iruka-kun stuck his foot in his mouth a few times, while I was pregnant with the twins." Anko wistfully reflected.

"Well, Neji-kun was still in jail during my pregnancy, but my father said some pretty stupid things."

"I hate to admit it, but even Naru-kun has said some pretty dumb things to me as well.

Kurenai was listening intently to all of this and shaking her head in disapproval, before she cleared her throat to gain everyone's attention and unsympathetically declared.

"I think all of you should be ashamed of yourselves, even you Hinata."

Everyone was aghast and turned to stare at Kurenai with mouths agape in shock, before Hinata finally stammered in query.

"Wh-why do you say that?"

"I say that, because all of you had your men here to help and try and comfort you. I didn't have that, but I wished that I did while I was pregnant with Minato-kun. Sure your men might not always say or do the right thing all the time to help and comfort you during your pregnancies, but by Kami at least they were around to try. So before all of you start complaining about what baka's they are, just remember that!" Kurenai critically asserted in admonishment.

All the other women present remained silent and contemplated what Kurnai had just said, before Sakura spoke up and offered up in slight defense of the others.

"I don't disagree with you Kurenai-Sensei, but from a medical standpoint and as I'm sure you'll remember from your own pregnancy. A woman's hormones can get pretty out of whack while being pregnant and it can really mess up one's thoughts and emotions. Especially when it comes to the men who put them in that condition in the first place."

Kurenai pondered this for a moment, before she sighed and acknowledged.

"You're right Sakura, I apologize if I sounded harsh and judgmental towards you all. I just remembered how many times during my pregnancy how much I missed and wanted Kashi-kun to be there with me. So I got a bit angry about hearing some of you complain about whether or not they said or did the right thing. Because at least they were around to try and make you feel better."

"Not anymore." Hinata sadly stated in a choked voice, as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Yeah, not anymore." Temari said in agreement, as she fought to hold back her own tears at the stark realization that Shikamaru was gone.

Ino saw Hinata in distress and hopped over to hug her friend and said.

"Don't be sad, Naruto won't be gone forever, he'll be back before you know it."

"I, I hope so, but I feel bad that I was so mean to him before he left, just because he brought home the wrong flavored ice cream last night. I wish to Kami I could go back in time and change that. I wouldn't blame him if he hated me." Hinata lamented in guilt and sorrow.

"That's the hormones talking. Even if you had thrown a kunai at Naruto and actually hit him with it, he would never hate you. He loves you more than anything, he's told me that himself." Sakura assured Hinata in a soothing voice.

"Ok, I get it, I might have overreacted…...a bit with the Kunai." Temari begrudgingly admitted in exasperation, as she threw her hands in the air.

Ignoring Temari outburst, Ino announced with humor causing everyone to chuckle.

"Sakura's right Hinata, that knucklehead loves you more than ramen, and we all know there's no higher love than that with him."

(Time skip 6 Months)

Shikamaru walked into the Command tent and flopped down into a chair, while uttering one of his infamous trademark phrases.

"What a drag!"

Kakashi looked up from his desk and chuckled a bit, before he asked in biting humor.

"Am I to assume by that comment and your demeanor that you're bored with your current duties Mr. Nara? If so, I'm sure I can find additional work to keep you interested and occupied."

"No, no, there's no need for that Commander. I'm perfectly happy with the duties I have." Shikamaru quickly replied, while waving his hands defensively in front of the silver-haired Jounin.

"I'm certainly glad to hear that." Kakashi stated with a tinge of sarcasm, before he then asked.

"Give me a sit-rep on our forces guarding the border with the Rice Country?"

"Nothing has really changed, aside from the periodic rotation of fresh troops in the villages we're guarding."

"I would like a more precise and detailed report from you to my question Mr. Nara." Kakashi declared, with an edge to his voice that signaled to the Nara heir, that he was no longer in a joking mood."

"Troublesome." Shikamaru mumbled under his breath, before he complied with Kakashi's order."

"As you know Commander, we've distributed our forces in all the villages that are within 10 miles of the border with the Rice Country. The strength of the forces we've deployed in each village is dependent upon how important or strategically valuable that village is. As they would be the most likely target of any incursion by Sound armed forces."

"I understand, do we have the numbers to effectively protect all of these villages?

"We are stretched a little thin, but if a village is about to be attacked, and using the Naruto Thunder God Stratagem for rapid deployment of reinforcements. We should be able to move sufficient numbers of Leaf shinobi into those combat areas to defend said village that is under assault."

"I don't like that we're so dependent upon the Naruto stratagem in guarding the border. I wish we had more Leaf shinobi to do the job." Kakashi openly complained in frustration.

"I agree, and the Hokage is working with my father and Iruka-Sensei to see if we can streamline and speed up the process of training and graduating more shinobi in the future, but it's going to take time to do that. The Leaf village throughout history has always relied upon the power and skills of our shinobi, rather than the number of shinobi we have, as the other ninja villages do."

"I know, it's been that way since I was a lowly Genin, quality over quantity."

After of minute of silence between the two shinobi, it was Kakashi who spoke once more and asked.

"What's the least protected village along the border?"

"That would Hiezu village."

"What's the compliment of our forces there, and who did we assign as Lieutenant Commander?"

"It's troublesome, but we could only afford to use one small 16 man platoon to protect that village, led by Kiba Commander Kakashi."

"That's a very small force protecting that village. Won't Orochimaru think with such a small force defending Hiezu, that it would make for an easy target?"

"I doubt it Commander, the Hiezu village holds no value strategic or otherwise for him to attack it. Although that status for may change for them in the future."

"Why is that?"

"We just received an encrypted report this morning about Hiezu village. Apparently yesterday, one of the Hiezu farmers was digging for a new water well on his property. But instead of discovering water, he actually struck oil. We haven't even had a chance to get any petroleum engineers out from Konoha yet, to go check it out and see how big a strike it is."

"Well you're right, if that strike does prove to be a big one, that's definitely going to change the status of Hiezu from one of being a quiet little village to a noisy big village real fast." Kakashi commented with a chuckle, before he then added in seriousness.

"Won't the discovery of oil now make Hiezu village an attractive and strategic target for Orochimaru and the Sound forces?"

"It will in the future, but right now including you and me, there are only a handful of people who know about it. Kiba, the Hiezu town leader and the farmer at the village. Along with Lady Tsunade and a couple of other people back in the Leaf village. But once the engineers arrive and if they say it's a big strike, your assessment about what's going to happen to that village is pretty spot on if you ask me."

As Kiba opened the flap of the command tent and stepped inside, he immediately flopped down into his chair and exhaled a frustrated sigh. Truth be told, the Inuzuka clan heir was bored to death. He had been assigned as the Commander of a small 16 man (including himself) platoon of Leaf shinobi protecting a small village called Hiezu on the extreme eastern edge of the border between the Fire Country and the Rice Country. The village itself was nice and the people friendly, but its total population was barely over 150 villagers. Kiba thought it was a waste of time to even assign a protection detail to this village. It was so small and held no real strategic value, that he seriously doubted Orochimaru would even bother to attack this village, as he had done to the village of Usuki. However, Head Commander Kakashi had stated plainly that regardless of size, all Fire Country villages along the border would have a protection detail assigned to it. He would not allow the tragedy of what the Snake Sannin did to the Village of Usuki happen again.

'It wasn't just the Snake Sannin that wiped Usuki off the face of the earth, but also that son of a bitch ex-classmate of mine Sasuke.' Kiba thought bitterly to himself, as he remembered the horrors he had seen at Usuki in the aftermath of Orochimaru's attack.

Kiba shook his head to try and drive those memories away and think of something more pleasant like his girlfriend Ayame waiting for him back in Konoha. Just as he leaned his head back and closed his eyes to dream about her, his NCO and second in command, a young Chunin named Renzo burst into the command tent and in a slightly agitated voice called out.

"LT. Inuzuka, our northern most lookout shinobi Taji has spotted something you need to see immediately!"

"What's he's seen Renzo?"

"I'm, I'm not sure, all he said over the radio was that there were…...monsters heading this way!"

'Monsters?' Kiba thought to himself in confusion, as raced out of the tent followed by Renzo and both shinobi sped away to where Taji was currently stationed.

(Flashback 6 Hours Earlier)

As Orochimaru and Kabuto watched Sasuke lead an army of 500 Cursed-Sealed monsters out the main gate of the Hidden Sound village. Kabuto asked his master with concern etched in his voice.

"Do you think it's wise Lord Orochimaru to send Sasuke without any supervision to lead the attack on the Fire Country village of Hiezu?"

"I don't froseeeeeeeee any problems that should arise from it. The Hiezu village holds no value other than when we decimate it as we did Usuki, it will send another powerful message to Konoha." Besides, Ssssssssasuke-kun has been pestering me for weeks to allow him to take another Oto strike force into the Fire country and lay waste to yet another one their pathetic villages, as I had promised him."

"Yes his bloodlust seems unquenchable and I apologize my lord if his whining to do so has irritated you. I'm afraid it's my fault that happened. I know you had promised him he could lead another strike force against our former homeland, six months after what we did to the Village of Usuki. I was the one who made you break that promise." Kabuto stated in a remorseful tone of voice.

"Kabuto, you did not make me do anything, I do as I want!" Orochimaru curtly snapped back.

"Yes milord, I apologize, a poor choice of words on my part. I just meant that initially I was in agreement with Sasuke that another attack so quickly after the Usuki massacre would weaken the resolve and morale of Konoha even further than what it is then. It was only after I thought about it awhile, that I realized another attack would provide a perfect opportunity to battlefield test our new Cursed-Seal soldiers were developing. Unfortunately, at that time we had only created a few and needed more time to create more to a sufficient number where we can now launch an assault force such as this. And even though we've delayed our attack a few weeks. I believe when we are successful in wiping another Fire Country village off the face of the earth as we did the Usuki village. It will still demoralize Konohagakure even further, as what happened to Usuki should still be weighing upon their minds."

"Yes, Ssssssssasuke-kun has been quite annoyed these past several months waiting to try some of the new ways he's come up with to rape, torture, and kill more people. However it was a logical proposal on your part, as we do need to field test my creationssssssssssss. For they will play a vital role in our conquest of Konoha in the future. Tell me Kabuto, what are the results you are ssssssseeking from this attack?"

"This attack on Hiezu village is merely a test milord to see how well the soldiers conform and follow orders from our human shinobi accompanying them."

"Why did you choose the Village of Hiezu?"

"That village is protected by a very small platoon of Leaf shinobi and is still far enough away that the larger contingent of ninja Konoha has placed among the more populated villages along the border will not be able to send reinforcements to Hiezu in time to prevent its destruction. If our Cursed Seal creations, do not obey as we hope the village still dies. We are just trying to find out if its death will be orderly and efficient or chaotic and inefficient. My only concern is if Sasuke understands this."

"Ssssssssasuke-kun has been ordered that he is only to attack and crush this village using my Cursed Seal soldiers and then return once the task has been completed. However, you made an excellent point earlier about his unquenchable bloodlust. Perhapssssssss, it would be wise for you to follow and keep an eye out on young Ssssssssasuke-kun…...discreetly of course. If you see that he is about to exceed my orders, you are to step in and bring him and the rest of my forces back to the Hidden Sound village at once!"

"As you command Lord Orochimaru." Kabuto answered contritely with a bow, before he shushin'd away to gather some men and follow Sasuke.

(End of Flashback)

When Kiba and Renzo arrived at the northern lookout post Taji had been assigned to. The Inuzuka commander gruffly ordered.

"Shinobi Taji, report!"

"Sir, I, I don't know how to describe what I saw earlier when I was out on patrol north of this position, but I don't think I have to, take a look for yourself." The young shinobi stammered in response, before he handed over a pair of field glasses to his Commander.

Kiba grabbed the field glasses and scanned the plateau below the hill Taji's lookout post sat atop of. What he saw once he got the field glasses in focus sent a chill down his spine. The Inuzuka heir knew what he was looking at and he also knew everyone, including his own men back at Hiezu were in deep trouble. Handing the glasses over to his second in command Renzo, the young NCO took a look, before he gasped in utter shock.

"Kami help us, those are monsters!"

"Yeah they are, cursed-seal monsters created by Orochimaru." Kiba grimly declared.

"At the speed they're moving, they'll be at the village in an hour."

"We need to get back to the village now and prepare for an attack."

"Get prepared! How are we supposed to get prepared and fight something like…...that! The must be at least four to five hundred of those monstrosities heading are way!" Renzo voiced out in disbelief.

"What would you have us do, abandon Hiezu and run away?" Kiba snapped angrily at NCO.

"No sir, I apologize for my outburst. I know we can't abandon the village. I'm just wondering how were going to be able to stop an army of those things. They outnumber us by 30 to 1."

"We just need to buy some time for Commander Kakashi to get here with reinforcements."

"How are we going to do that? Once we let him know what's happening, it will take at least 30 to 45 minutes for Commander Kakashi to marshal up a sufficient number of our shinobi to get here and reinforce us. Even with the defenses we've already set up at Hiezu, I doubt we'd be able to hold out for 5 minutes, before those things overran us. That means we somehow have to keep those monsters at bay for another 30 minutes minimum and I just don't see how we're going to be able to that."

Kiba silently pondered what Renzo had just said and begrudgingly had to admit to himself his NCO was correct in his assessment of the situation. They did need an additional 30 minutes of time maybe more, before reinforcements could arrive and right now, the Inuzuka heir was at a loss for any ideas on how to accomplish that. Kiba was broken out of his train of thought by Taji, who was looking through the field glasses and shouted.

"Who's that Lt. Inuzuka?"

Kiba grabbed the field glasses and turned them towards the small army marching towards them. As his gaze fell upon the individual Taji was asking about, he grit his teeth in furious anger. For there riding upon a throne type chair on a two-poled litter carried by four cursed-seal monsters was none other than Sasuke Uchiha himself. Seeing his ex-classmate, Kiba let loose a small growl, before a disturbing idea popped into his head. Handing the glasses back to Taji, Kiba turned back to his two subordinates and declared with conviction.

"I have an idea how to buy us those 30 minutes, but we need to get back to the village now. Renzo get on the radio and order our other lookouts back to Hiezu at once. Taji, when we get back to the village, get on the telegraph and send out the Uchiha message back Commander Kakashi and also give him a current sit-rep."

Both Renzo and Taji gulped nervously upon hearing Kiba utter the Uchiha name, as they both realized that must be the individual Taji saw. Renzo and Taji looked at one another with slight confusion and a little fear. The situation was bad enough just facing that army of monstrosities, but to now know that the Leaf village traitor Sasuke Uchiha led that army. They both wondered how the Inuzuka heir was going to be able to buy them the time they needed. However, both shinobi trusted their Commander implicitly and immediately carried his orders, as all three men rapidly leapt away back to Hiezu village to prepare for the fight of their lives.

Meanwhile, paralleling Sasuke's army a quarter mile away, Kabuto stood in a small grove of trees on a hill gazing covertly at the marching army. Suddenly, a Sound shinobi shushin'd in next to the bespectacled apprentice of Orochimaru and took knee in respect.

"Report shinobi Yori."

"The telegraph lines from Hiezu village have been cut, as per your orders Commander Kabuto. I was surprised that they were still intact and functioning. I would have thought Commander Sasuke would have already done this, before he attacks the village."

"You give the Uchiha brat too much credit for thinking strategically." Kabuto spat with disdain.

"Yes, Commander." Yori answered contritely.

"Have you positioned our lookouts in their designated areas around the village?"

"Yes Commander, they will be able to observe the upcoming battle without any obstructions."

"Very good, well Yori let's get to our designated front row seats for this show. We wouldn't want to miss anything by being late now would we?"

"No Commander."

Both Kabuto and Yori then shushin'd away.

When Kiba returned to the village, he immediately ordered some of his Earth jutsu shinobi to dig a trench 100 yards away from the village and to make it 12 feet wide and 10 feet deep surrounding Hiezu. However, he knew that by doing this he was effectively taking those shinobi out of the upcoming battle, as they will have depleted most of their chakra to create this trench so quickly. However for what Kiba had planned he wasn't going to need them or any of his other ninja to buy the time he needed. Kiba then ordered that the trench be filled with as much crude oil as was on hand in the village. It took a brief bit of arguing by Kiba with the Hiezu town leader to authorize the use of the oil and essentially break the news of the discovery of it to all of the villagers. However, once Kiba pointed out that without him making use of the oil in his defense of the village. Then no one stood a chance in hell of coming out alive from this attack. Upon hearing that was enough for the town leader to quickly grant his approval for its use.

Only recently, had the discovery of oil been made at the village. So Kiba was counting on the fact that Sasuke probably knew nothing about it. When it was done, the trench was over half filled with the oil, before Kiba then ordered everyone to cover the sticky substance with as much forest refuse and litter as they could to try and hide what resided in the trench. As the Inuzuka heir watched this flurry activity take place, he felt a sense of admiration for the Hiezu villagers. Instead of running away and cowering in the designated shelters of the village. They were all on hand helping the Leaf shinobi complete this undertaking. Kiba was grateful for this, as he seriously doubted if just his ninja alone could have completed the task in time. Now they just might make it, before the Uchiha asshole arrives.

"Lt. Inuzuka!" Taji shouted as he ran up to his commander.

"What is it Taji?"

"I'm sorry Commander, but the telegraph lines are down, we can't transmit out."

Kiba heaved a heavy sigh, as he wasn't surprised to hear this. It was basic battle strategy 101 to disable the communication capabilities of an enemy under siege. Fortunately, thanks to Shikamaru and more importantly Naruto, they had a backup plan for this circumstance.

"Taji, go help Renzo with the defenses I've ordered, I've got to go talk to a friend."

"Hai Commander." The young shinobi replied, as he watched Kiba walk off towards a certain building and he then knew who the friend Kiba was going to talk to.

Opening the door, Kiba stepped inside the building and briefly looked at all of the candles illuminating the room. Turning his attention to the center of the room, Kiba cracked a smile and slightly shook his head in amazement. For their sitting atop a large pillow in the full lotus position was one of his closest friends Naruto. Or to be more accurate, one of Naruto's shadow clones. It was still mind blowing to the Inuzuka that Naruto could maintain a shadow clone for such a long a time. As this clone had sat in this room in Hiezu for nearly 6 months since their arrival. And not just here, but at every village the Leaf shinobi were protecting along the border.

Kiba understood the plan the Shikamaru had come up with. Which was to use two-man squads of Naruto's shadow clones in each village, as well as in a series of additional outposts along the border with the Rice country in between the villages where they were the weakest. By doing this, Shikamaru surmised that if Otogakure sent another strike force to raid the Fire country once again, they'll be quickly discovered. At which point, one of the clones will disperse itself, immediately alerting Naruto as to when and where the incursion is happening. Naruto could then utilize the Hiraishin no Jutsu and gather up sufficient forces from the other security outposts and villages to meet the threat, before then transporting everyone to where the attack is taking place.

It was a good plan and for the first few months and it worked flawlessly. However, even with Naruto's immense chakra reserves and even augmenting that with additional chakra from the Kyuubi no Youko. It started to overtax even Naruto limits. So a new plan was developed in which Naruto would create and maintain his shadow clones with only the minimal amount of chakra needed to keep it in existence. And instead of two-man squads of clones, that number would be reduced to one. Also the clone assigned in each village would literally do nothing other sit in a meditative state, as the amount of chakra it had was only enough to keep it alive. Doing all of this reduced the stress of maintaining the clones for Naruto, but now Kiba needed to send this clone away to alert the real Naruto and everyone else of what was about to happen here at Hiezu village. Exhaling a weary sigh, Kiba pulled out a kunai and approached the clone calling out.

"Naruto, it's time."

The Naruto clone snapped its eyes opened and gave a small smile, before it asked.

"What's happened?"

"It's Sasuke, and the little bastard is heading towards us with what looks to be about 500 cursed-seal monsters with him. I estimate them to hit us within 30 minutes. My men and I will do what we can to delay them, but that won't be very long unless you and Commander Kakashi get here pretty damn quick, or Hiezu village may go the way that Usuki village went."

The Naruto cloned frowned upon hearing this, before it nodded his head and looked to Kiba and said.

"I understand…..Do it!"

Kiba nodded to the clone in response and then thrust his kunai directly into the shadow clones chest causing it disperse. Kiba sighed and knew the real Naruto would receive the message immediately. He just hoped his friend would be able to arrive in time to save the village. Because Kiba was almost certain with what he was about to do, that Naruto wouldn't be able to arrive in time to save him, as he quietly lamented in thought.

'I just wish I could have gotten a chance to see Ayame-chan one more time.'

As Naruto and Shikamaru were walking along together inside the village of Ogata. Naruto openly commented to his friend.

"I think you and I need to request to Kakashi-Sensei for some leave to go back to Konoha. I mean both Hinata-chan and Temari have got to be pretty close to their due dates by now."

"Actually Temari is a couple of weeks overdue."

"Whoa, what the hell are you still doing here then?"

"It's not a big deal, I've already setup with Commander Kakashi that if we hear from Lady Tsunade that Temari or Hinata for that matter have gone into labor. We'll just use your Hiraishin no Jutsu to zip back to Konoha asap."

"Yeah, that could work, I mean it shou….Argh!" Naruto began to say, before he dropped to one knee and grimaced in pain.

"Naruto, are you alright?" Shikamaru asked with concern, as he helped his friend back to his feet.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm ok, it's just one of my shadow clones has dispersed and we need to get back to Kakashi-Sensei at the Command post at once."

Shikamaru heard the tinge of panic in Naruto's voice and questioned.

"What's going on?"

"It's Sasuke, and he's about to hit Kiba at Hiezu village with 500 cursed-seal monsters and he's going to do it in 30 minutes!"

"Shit!" Shikamaru loudly exclaimed, before he and Naruto disappeared in a swirl of leaves.

A scant half an hour later, back in Hiezu village. Sauke's forces reached the outskirts of the village and stopped. A few minutes later, one of his scouts returned and reported to his Commander.

"The village has been fortified Commander Sasuke, including what appears to be a large trench moat surrounding Hiezu. They must have gotten advanced word that we were coming."

"You will address me as Lord Sasuke!" The Uchiha snapped angrily at his subordinate.

Cursing inwardly at himself, for Sasuke had already announced to all of his shinobi how he wished to be addressed. The man just prayed that his slip of the tongue wouldn't cost him his life.

"Yes Lord Sasuke, my apologies." The Sound shinobi replied as penitently as possible, as he knew it was not wise to anger the Uchiha.

Satisfied with the repentant tone of his shinobi, Sasuke then asked.

"Are these defenses going to cause us any problems?"

No Lord Sasuke, they might delay us for a bit, but our forces should be able to overwhelm them without too much difficulty. Also our reports were correct, the number of Leaf shinobi defending the village appears to be quite low, maybe a dozen or slightly more at most."

"Very good, we'll attack in the next few minutes and destroy them all, none shall escape!" Sasuke confidently boasted with a smug look plastered upon his face.

It was at that moment, another Sound shinobi scout appeared and bowing reported to his Commander.

"Lord Sasuke, one of the Leaf shinobi has appeared on the field between the moat surrounding the village and its main gate."

"What's he doing?"

"He's calling out to fight you Lord Sasuke."

Sasuke was taken aback for a moment and a look of confusion spread across his face. Before he then began to march determinedly towards the front line of his forces and see what shinobi would be so foolish as to invite death upon himself, by issuing a challenge to fight him.

Both Renzo and Taji stood nervously upon the outer wall of Hiezu village and gazed at their Commander in utter disbelief. Kiba with Akamaru by his side stood tall and proud with his arms crossed glaring defiantly at the Sound forces a mere 300 yards away.

"This is nuts! What the hell is the Commander doing standing out there all alone?" Taji finally exclaimed, breaking the unnerving silence surrounding him and Renzo.

"You know exactly what he's doing, Lt. Inuzuka already explained it to us. He's going to fight Sasuke Uchiha one on one and try and buy us the time we need for Commander Kakashi to arrive with reinforcements."

"I know, I know, but that plan is insane! Does the Commander really believe that he can take on the Uchiha and survive?" Taji questioned in frustration.

Renzo paused and bowed his head slightly as his face took on a grim visage, before he answered on a somber tone of voice.

"No Taji, I don't believe the Commander does believe he's going to survive. He's just hoping he can buy us the time we need, before that traitorous Uchiha does kill him."

Taji could only nod his head in sad acceptance, as he remembered that Kiba had entrusted to both him and Renzo letters to be delivered by them to his family and his girlfriend should he not make it back. The young shinobi prayed to Kami he would not have to fulfill that request. Taji train of thought was broken, when he heard Renzo say with hope.

"However, Lt. Inuzuka is the one most likely to be able to survive a fight with Sasuke Uchiha. None of the rest of us would even have a chance against him. We just need to be ready and follow the orders he left us."

"We're ready and maybe the Lieutenant will catch a break and the traitor won't fight him at all. I mean strategically it makes no sense to waste time in a one on one fight. Not when you've got the forces to overpower an enemy in quick fashion."

"You'd better hope that doesn't happen, because you're right. Sasuke and his army of monsters could roll over us pretty damn quick. Unless the Commander is right and that the Uchiha's ego and overconfidence will make him halt his attack just to fight him.

Both Kiba and Akamaru stood in silence in the field outside the village and waited patiently for Sasuke to make his appearance. While waiting, the Inuzuka heir, looked down at his hand or more specifically at the Tungsten Carbide ring on it. As his thumb rubbed the Namikaze clan insignia engraved onto the ring, Kiba's thoughts traveled back to the dinner party held before Naruto and Hinata's wedding, when he had received this gift and its purpose behind it from his friend. And he also remembered the promise he had made to his friend. A promise he was now going to…...break.

'Man it would be so easy to channel some of my chakra into this and Naruto would be here in an instant and I wouldn't have fight that Uchiha prick. But if I did that, I would just be saving my own ass and dooming Hiezu village to the same fate that the Usuki village suffered. So that's why I have to break my promise to you Naruto and I hope one day you'll understand and forgive me as to why I did it. I just hope it isn't a futile gesture on my part and that I'm good enough to keep that bastard occupied long enough for you and the others to arrive to save everyone else.'

A sudden commotion broke Kiba form his musing and then he finally spied some of the cursed-seal monstrosities step aside, as Sasuke arrogantly stepped out onto the field in front of his forces. Taking a moment to gaze at the Leaf shinobi standing 100 yards across from him. A self-aggrandizing smirk appeared upon his face, as he recognized the large white dog standing next to the man and knew immediately who this shinobi could only be, as he called out in a mocking tone of voice.

"Well if it isn't Kiba Inuzuka, the heir of that mutt clan and his little doggy!"

Kiba gritted his teeth angrily at Sasuke's insult of his clan, before he responded in like kind and shouted back.

"Sasuke Uchiha, I'm surprised to see you here. From what I've been told, you usually spend most of your time keeping Orochimaru's dick warm with your ass! So what brings one of the last few members of a useless and …...dead clan out here?"

Sasuke's faced flushed red with fury and he screamed back in a voice dripping with rage and venom.

"I'm here to destroy and kill everyone at this miserable speck of a village and I'll take great pleasure in crucifying you onto a cross just like I did to those four bastards at Usuki village!"

Kiba stiffened upon hearing that, as he remembered that horrific sight and thought to himself.

'That fucking bastard, he's the one who did that! Damn that just makes me want to kill this piece of shit even more now. I'll do my best if for nothing else than to give some payback for Commander Mamoru Soto and the rest of those guys for what he did to them. No shinobi should have to suffer and die the way they did!'

Meanwhile, as Kiba was in deep reflection about those men in Usuki. Sasuke's NCO was hastily trying to calm down his Commander who was openly growling out in maniacal anger.

"I'll kill that miserable mutt and his dog to! I'll rip his beating heart out of his chest and make a rug out of his dog's hide!"

"Lord Sasuke, there's no need for you to fight this Leaf shinobi. You already have sufficient forces at your disposal to overwhelm him and the village."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, as he glared at his NCO, before he asked in an icy tone of voice.

"Do you not think me capable of defeating and killing that Leaf village scum?"

Sasuke's second in command gulped nervously, as he could feel the Uchiha's killing intent directed towards him. The Sound shinobi knew he was precariously close to death at that moment and he knew he had to choose his next words very carefully, as his very life would be dependent on how he answered his enraged commander.

"No Lord Sasuke, such a thought never occurred to me. I merely felt that it would be beneath you to engage such a lowly opponent in battle. His power and skills pale in comparison to someone of your noble stature and elite strength and abilities. Any battle between the two of you would be absurd and laughable, as you would destroy him in mere minutes if not seconds my lord."

Sasuke took a moment to process what his NCO had just contritely stated, before a smile spread across his face and his killing intent lessened considerably, as he stated with conceit.

"You're correct, it would be beneath me to fight that miserable mutt from such a lowly and worthless clan. I'm an elite, and he is undeserving of the honor of being able to face me on the field of combat. Order 100 of our Cursed Seal soldiers to attack the village at once. That should be sufficient numbers to overwhelm the Leaf shinobi protecting Hiezu. And then we will follow up with the rest of our forces and wipe out everything and everyone that resides in that wretched village forever!"

"As you command Lord Sasuke."

As the man hurried off to carry out the Uchiha's orders, he exhaled a sigh of relief. He knew he had escaped certain death, by how he had responded to his Commander. By placating and stroking Sasuke's vanity and ego, he believed had literally saved his life. And while he did question the wisdom of an all-out attack without gauging what type of defenses the village had to combat them. He wasn't about to tempt fate twice, by questioning Sasuke's orders.

"Sasuke you idiot!" Kabuto sneered with disgust, as he saw 100 of Orochimaru's Cursed Seal soldiers rush forward to attack Hiezu village.

"I, I don't understand Commander Kabuto. Why isn't Commander Sasuke using probing attacks to determine what type of defenses his forces will be facing from the Leaf shinobi and from the village itself?"

"Because Yori, when it comes to strategic thinking and battle tactics, Commander Sasuke has the abilities of a 10yr old with a hammer!"

Yori could only nod his head in agreement, before Kabuto added with aggravation.

"Alert the rest of our men to stand ready. Because even though Sasuke has sufficient forces to still destroy Hiezu village. I have a strange feeling that I may yet have to intervene to save his worthless ass yet again!"

"Damn it!" Kiba shouted in frustration, when he saw roughly 1/5th of Sasuke's monstrosities surge forward toward him and the village. However, he allowed himself a brief smile when he saw the creatures jump and fall into the oil-filled trench surrounding the village. Kiba had surmised that due to their huge size and weight, as well as their cumbersome gait. They would be unable to leap across the channel, as a smaller, normal shinobi would be able to do. The Inuzuka Commander was quite pleased at the sight of these hideous freaks flailing away and attempting to trudge through the sticky mire they found themselves in. When Kiba saw no more of the beasts were attempting to leap across, he turned and shouted out.

"Renzo, do it now!"

Kiba's NCO waved his arms towards the two leaf shinobi on each side of the village near the oil-laden trench. Both ninja quickly went through a string of hand seals, before bringing their hand up to their faces and shouted.

"Karyuu Endan!" (Fire Dragon Flame Projectile)

Instantly, a large jet of fire blew from their mouths into the trench. Almost instantly, the entire ditch erupted in flames and quickly raced around the channel engulfing the Cursed Seal soldiers trapped within it.

The screams and shrieks of both anger and pain coming from the Oto monsters was so loud it seemed to echo for miles around the village. Enraged at what he just saw happen, Sasuke quickly shushin'd onto the field where Kiba and Akamaru stood outside the village and quickly went through a series of hand signs.

"No! You can't possibly be that stupid Sasuke! Do not use the Daitoppa ninjutsu!" Kabuto shouted in disbelief at what he was seeing.

Unfortunately for Kabuto, Sasuke completed his hand signs and brought his hand to his mouth, as he cried out.

"Daitoppa!" (Great Breakthrough)

Suddenly, a large blast of wind capable of leveling almost anything in its way, blew from the Uchiha's mouth, as it was his intention to blow the flames out. Regrettably, Sasuke had failed to realize that adding wind of such concentration to the fire only fanned the flames to an even hotter degree, turning the fire-filled trench into a scorching inferno. Realizing his error, Sasuke immediately ceased his jutsu, as his Cursed Seal soldiers screamed in agony.

Fortunately, those screams didn't last very long and when the smoke cleared, all one could see was the blackened, charred flesh and bones of what once had been Sasuke's Cursed Seal soldiers. Many of their faces still bore, as if frozen in time, their final agonized pain-filled scream visage. As the flames began to die down, an eerie silence seemed to envelope the field Sasuke was standing in, as he gazed in shock at the carnage he had inadvertently wrought upon his soldiers. The Uchiha was only brought out of his stunned contemplation, when he heard the sound of laughter.

Looking across the field less than a hundred yards away, he saw Kiba doubled over with his hands on his knees laughing hysterically with tears running down his cheeks, before the Inuzuka looked up and shouted with merry derision and ridicule.

"Thanks Sasgay! I mean those mutant bastards of yours would have died eventually, but I do appreciate you helping to send them to hell that much quicker! And the way you did it too was beautiful! I mean it brings a whole new meaning to the term Friendly Fire, ha, ha, ha, ha!"

Several of Kiba's men manning the defenses of the village joined in with their Commander of his mockery of Sasuke.

"Thanks Uchiha!"

"Appreciate the help!"

"Could you do us a favor and just kill off the rest of your soldiers, while you're here?"

Meanwhile, a short distance away upon a hill overlooking the battlefield, Kabuto could only drop his head in disgust, as he openly groused in amazed disbelief.

"I can't believe this, he tried to put out an oil fire with wind and singlehandedly wiped out 1/5th of his forces in the attempt. I don't even know how I'm going to explain this to Lord Orochimaru."

Hearing Kiba and his men mock and ridicule him pushed the already unstable Uchiha over the edge. Kiba stopped laughing and took a deep breath, as he could feel the killing intent radiating off Sasuke and thought to himself with anticipation.

'Ok, he's about to lose it and attack me. I just hope I can last long enough against him for Naruto and the rest of the guy's to get here in time.'

Kiba popped a soldier pill into his mouth and then gave one to Akamaru to ingest to help increase their strength and stamina for the upcoming fight. The Inuzuka heir then looked down to his partner and asked.

"You ready for this boy?"

The large white canine familiar barked once in response, before turning his attention back to the evil human standing across the field from him. He too could feel the killing intent rolling off of Sasuke and knew the man would attack at any moment.

As if on cue, Sasuke lifted his head to the heavens and let loose a scream of explosive rage and charged with murderous intent towards Kiba and Akamaru.

Letting loose his own battle cry along with Akamaru, both of them rushed forward with no hesitation to meet the maniacally insane Uchiha head on. And although both of them knew their chances of surviving this fight were slim at best. Not taking any chances with Sasuke, Kiba ordered Akamaru to use the Inuzuka clan technique of Juujin Bunshin (Beast-Man Clone). Instantly in a puff of smoke, the large white canine familiar transformed into an exact copy of Kiba.

Kiba then formed a series of hand signs and shouted out, as he and Akamaru raced towards Sasuke.

"Shikyaku no Jutsu!" (Four-Legged Technique)

Suddenly chakra began to emit from Kiba's body physically changing the Inuzuka heir and his familiar clone, as they took on a more canine-like appearance, while simultaneously increasing their power, speed, and agility.

However, Sasuke seemed unfazed by this and merely stood with his arms crossed and waited unconcerned about his opponents charging towards him. And because of this, both Kiba and Akamaru much to the chagrin of Sasuke were able to land two successive taijutsu strikes onto the surprised Uchiha.

Sasuke was startled at the speed and power of the two blows and quickly back-flipped away to create some distance between himself and his opponents. Deciding he could not fight these two in his current human form, Sasuke quickly activated the first stage of his cursed seal and a darkened purple almost blackened color of demonic chakra erupted from his body, while a raging black-flame like pattern began to spread from his seal over his entire body.

Seeing this caused both Kiba and Akamaru to pause their attack, as Kiba thought to himself.

'The bastard is calling upon his cursed-seal to use. I guess I should feel flattered, he's already decided he doesn't want to face me and Akamaru in a straight one on one human fight.'

"I'm flattered Sasgay that after only two hits, you've decided we're too much for you to handle and are already calling upon your demonic powers to use! What's the matter, are you too much of a chicken-shit to fight me and Akamaru without them?" Kiba questioned, in a taunting manner.

Sasuke swung his head up to glare menacingly at Kiba, before he growled out in a deep malice filled voice.

"You wish dog-boy! I just don't have the time to waste dealing with trash such as you from a worthless clan in comparison to my own. So I've decided to end you and your little dog's miserable existence right now!"

"Hmmm, haven't you made that threat before to others? Oh yeah, back when you and your butt-buddy master tried to invade the Leaf village,….unsuccessfully I might add. Let me see, Hinata, Sakura, Lee, Shikamaru, Neji, Ino, Tenten and myself. We all heard that empty threat back then and guess what, we're all still here. So save your hollow scare tactics for someone who doesn't know you've failed to ever follow through on any of them."

For his part, Sasuke merely cocked his head a bit, as a smug and satisfied grin spread across his face and he proclaimed with delight.

"I haven't failed on all of my threats Inuzuka, or did you forget about…...Chouji,... ha, ha, ha!"

Sasuke knew he had just hit a nerve, as he could sense a momentary spike in Kiba's killing intent, before the Inuzuka replied through clenched teeth.

"No you bastard, I haven't forgotten about Chouji, but you never threatened Chouji! You just came in from behind like the coward you are to kill him. But I guess coming in from behind is all you know how to do given who your Sensei is now. Actually, that's probably not right, I imagine he's the one who comes in from behind isn't he Sasgayyyyyyyyyy!"

Both Renzo and Taji using their chakra enhanced hearing winced at their Commanders reply, as the double entendre of his insult was not loss upon them. Both men had been stunned, at Kiba's sheer audacity during the fight so far, in trying to antagonize and disrespect the Uchiha.

"What the hell is the Commander doing saying something like that to Sasuke Uchiha! Is he insane? Taji exclaimed, in utter disbelief.

"He's doing what he has to and it's the right thing to do." Renzo answered in calm voice.

"How the hell can you say insulting and pissing off one of the most powerful shinobi's in all the lands is the right thing to do?"

Renzo exhaled a sigh, before he then replied in explanation.

"It's the right thing to do for two reasons. One, when facing an opponent in battle, the angrier that person is makes it likely that they will be more apt to make mistakes in the fight. And second, the Commander realizes that the more he can keep the Uchiha talking, the more time he is able to buy for reinforcements to arrive. That's why he's doing what he's doing, do you understand?"

"Hai, I understand, it's actually pretty smart what Lt. Inuzuka doing now that you've explained it to me.

"Yeah it's pretty smart, but it does have one fatal drawback." Renzo grimly declared.

"What's that?"

"It also makes your opponent that much more determined to kill you."

Taji's face bore a somber expression, as he solemnly contemplated what Renzo had just declared.

"Enough talking you mongrel, time for you to die!" Sasuke screamed with murderous fury after hearing Kiba's response to him, as the Leaf village traitor charged forth.

For their part, both Kiba and Akamaru dropped into defensive Taijutsu stances and waited impassively for their enraged opponent to arrive. A moment later, he did and a flurry of blocks, punches, and kicks erupted between the three combatants.

Many of the shinobi both Oto and Leaf watching the battle were in awe of the amazing display of power and speed all the fighters were displaying. All three foes were moving so quickly that at times all a person could see were two blurs of brown colliding with a blur of black in the air and on the ground. The impact of these collisions so powerful, one could actually hear the recognizable sounds of punches and kicks being blocked and landed between them.

'Man, if make it out of this alive, I have to thank Lee for helping me to increase my speed in a battle. Because if he hadn't, this fight would have been over in under a minute. I can't believe how fast and strong Sasuke is when he's using his curse seal!' Kiba thought to himself, as he barely blocked another blow from his former classmate.

Unfortunately, for all of Kiba's increased speed and strength, it was still no match for what Sasuke was able to reach utilizing his curse seal powers. As he landed a vicious kick into Akamaru's chest followed quickly by a brutal punch to Kiba's face, which sent both of them airborne to land sprawling in a heap several yards from Sasuke.

Both Kiba and Akamaru rose slowly to their feet, as Kiba wiped away some blood from his mouth and turned towards his canine familiar and asked.

"Are you ok boy?"

Akamaru gave a low bark to indicate he could still fight, before Kiba said to him

"Ok, we tried our best, but we just can't match his speed and strength, not while he uses those damn demonic powers he's got. But since he's decided to call upon them to use, I say we use our own technique to increase our speed and strength. Akamaru barked in agreement, as Kiba turned his attention back Sasuke and he couldn't believe what he saw.

The arrogant Uchiha was standing there 10 yards away with his arms crossed and he bore the most condescending and smug expression Kiba had ever seen in his life, as he thought to himself.

'That conceited piece of shit, he's just standing there like he's already won this fight! Well I got news for you Mr. high and mighty Uchiha, this battle is far from over.'

"Take a look boy, he's not even in a defensive Taijutsu stance, and you know this technique works best when our opponent is showing an opening. Well it doesn't get more wide open than that." Kiba whispered in a low voice.

Akamaru barked once more in agreement, before Kiba then shouted.

"Gatsuuga!" (Dual Piercing Fang)

Instantly, both Kiba and his familiar leapt forward and began to rotate their bodies in a high speed spinning attack. Caught off guard by this move, Sasuke was unprepared, as his two fast rotating opponents suddenly began to deliver a series of rapid body blows onto him. Unbelievably to many of the shinobi witnessing the battle, Sasuke cried out in pain. As both Kiba and Akamaru were causing damage to the Uchiha, when they connected with their claws.

Sasuke attempted to defend himself, but both Kiba and Akamaru over the years had mastered this Taijutsu technique to the point that their attacks were so coordinated and synchronized that they were able to strike from multiple angles. Thus ensuring their opponents had no opportunity to defend themselves. In fact this technique was so powerful, that when Kiba and Akamaru would cross back and forth for this attack, even the surrounding area around Sasuke was damaged as well, as rocks were being crushed and sections of the ground were literally shaved off.

"ENOUGH!" Sasuke screamed out in both pain and rage.

Instantly, Both Kiba and Akamaru found themselves being blown away from Sasuke by a dark purple almost blackened color demonic chakra flare. Landing several yards away, both Kiba and Akamaru could only stare in awe at Sasuke, as his demonic chakra whipped around his body in a chaotic frenzy.

Sasuke still in his level one cursed seal state menacingly stalked over towards them and Kiba noticed that his obsidian eyes narrowed, as they took on a visage of pure hate and rage, as he spat with malice and furious hatred.

"You fucking bastards, you actually hurt me with that attack! I'm done playing with you useless trash, time for both of you to die now!"

It infuriated Sasuke, as he realized that had it not been for his cursed-seal powers already healing the wounds inflicted by Kiba and Akamaru, there was no doubt that their attack would have defeated him. Enraged at actually being hurt by these two mongrels, Sasuke sped through a series of hand-signs and shouted.

"Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" (Great Fireball Technique)

The Uchiha then drew some chakra from his mouth into his chest and then immediately exhaled it blowing a stream of fire, which erupted into a large sphere of flames, as he brought his hand up to his mouth to control and direct it towards his opponents. For his part, Kiba immediately ran through a series of hand signs, before he slammed his hands onto the ground and cried out.

"Doryuu Jouheki no Jutsu!" (Earth Style Rampart Technique)

Instantly, a large earthen wall erupted from the ground to shield Kiba and Akamaru from Sasuke's fire attack, before they shushin'd across the field to put some distance between themselves and their Uchiha opponent and try to regroup. It was then Kiba heard Sasuke mocking him.

"Retreating already dogboy, what a pity, I thought you were the one who wanted this fight. I mean after all you're the one with the audacity and stupidity to call me out, although I don't understand why? I've told you before, I'm an Uchiha, an elite, and certainly no one from a second class peasant clan such as yours can defeat me!"

'Second class peasant clan, I'll show that arrogant bastard what my clan can do!' Kiba thought angrily, before he turned to Akamaru and declared.

"I think it's time to bring out the big guns boy!"

Akamaru gave a series of barks in query, before Kiba replied.

"No, he's too strong, I think we need to bypass the two headed form and go straight to three."

Akamaru barked once in agreement, before Kiba ran through a series of hand seals and yelled.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" (Shadow Clone Technique)

A moment later, in a puff of smoke, a perfect clone of Kiba with form and substance stood next to the original. Kiba then thought with solicitude to himself.

'How long has this fight lasted, twenty minutes maybe, I'm not sure? But since I haven't seen Naruto rush out of the main gate to save my sorry ass. I guess I need to buy more time. I wonder if Sasuke would be willing to agree to a five minute rest break? Probably not, I remember back at the academy the emo bastard never wanted to quit during any of his spars against other classmates. Well, I hope this attack works, because it's my ace in the hole. I've got nothing left after this.'

Kiba nodded his head to his faithful canine familiar, before he and his shadow-clone jumped onto Akamaru's back and straddled the large canine. Kiba then performed a series of hand signs, known only to his clan, as this technique was one of its most powerful.

'What is that mongrel up to now?' Sasuke wondered in curiosity, before Kiba called out.

"Inuzuka-Style: Human Beast Transformation: Three-Headed Wolf!"

Suddenly, there was a huge explosion of smoke surrounding Kiba and Akamaru and when it finally dissipated, Sasuke gasped in shock and actually took a step back from what he was seeing. Gazing in disbelief, the Uchiha suddenly found himself staring at a gigantic 25 foot tall three-headed wolf. Unbeknownst to Sasuke, this Inuzuka clan technique not only drastically increased their size, power, and speed, but also gained the user very sharp claws and canine teeth.

The three-headed beast raised its heads to the heavens and let loose a blood-curdling howl, before it launched itself at incredible speed spinning forward to form a cutting disk towards their Uchiha adversary. Before Sasuke even knew what had happened, he heard the mighty beast growl out.

"Gatenga!" (Dual Rotating Fang)

Suddenly, Sasuke found himself screaming out in agony, as this three-headed monstrosity slammed into him like a giant saw blade. The only thing that saved him from literally being torn to shreds was the demonic chakra that surrounded his body and acted as a shield to protect him. However, the Inuzuka clan technique was so powerful and held such extraordinary destructive power. That even this shield could not protect him completely and although not fatal, Sasuke was still suffering excruciating cuts all over his body from the attack.

"Sir, should we not intervene to save Commander Sasuke?" Yori exclaimed in a panicked voice.

"No, if Sasuke was foolish enough to engage in this fight for no logical reason to do so other than to satisfy his vanity and ego. Let him get out of the mess he has made for himself." Kabuto tersely answered with disgust, at what he was witnessing.

"As you wish Commander Kabuto."

The bespectacled apprentice of Orochimaru heard the concern in Yori's reply, before he then said in a calm and trouble free tone of voice.

"I wouldn't worry too much Yori, Sasuke still has one trump card up his sleeve and when he plays it, this fight will be all but over afterwards."

As Kabuto looked on with contempt, Sasuke attempted to defend himself as best he could, but found that even with his strength and speed enhanced by his demonic chakra, it was having little effect on the huge beast attacking him. Suddenly, the Uchiha cried out in painful anguish, as he suddenly found himself within the jaws of monstrous creature he was fighting, which began to toss and thrash him about like a dog with a new chew toy. It was all Sasuke could do from passing out from the pain, when he was suddenly slammed to the ground with such force, that he could feel several of his bones break upon the impact. The three-headed wolf then began to jump up and down onto the battered Uchiha causing even more damage. Once again, only his demonic shield preventing him from being crushed under the onslaught.

Unfortunately, as Kabuto had predicted. Sasuke played his trump card in this battle and through gritted teeth he concentrated. A second later, there was a massive explosion of purplish black colored chakra, which erupted from Sasuke's body and it was so powerful that it sent the huge three-headed wolf flying through the air, before it landed with a terrible thump onto his back several yards away.

'What the hell was that?' Kiba thought to himself in confusion, before he flipped back over onto his four legs and turned his attention back towards Sasuke. What he saw nearly made him sick to his stomach, as Sasuke's entire body convulsed in a grotesque manner. Kiba had seen Sasuke in his cursed-seal two form before, but had never seen the transformation into it. So he was shocked at the physical changes now occurring in his former classmate's appearance.

Kiba watched in horror as Sasuke's white skin seemed to peel away from his body before the new skin which replaced it, turned an ugly dark-gray color and his hair grew out in length and became a sickly dark blue. The whites of his eyes also turned dark gray, which surrounded his obsidian pupils and Sasuke's face now bore a dark, star-shaped mark appearing across the bridge of his nose. However, the most monstrous appearance on the Uchiha was the grotesque webbed claw-shaped wings, which exploded out in a spray of blood from his back.

After Sasuke's gruesome transformation was completed, he paused a moment to allow the regenerative powers of his cursed-seal two state to mend, heal, and realign all of the bones and organs in his body that had been broken or injured during Kiba's attack in his three-headed wolf form. Once completely healed, the Uchiha lifted his head skyward and unleashed a powerful demonic roar to the heavens so loud it reverberated throughout the village and countryside and actually caused a momentary silence from everyone present when they heard it. Sasuke then glared towards Kiba with homicidal intent, as he was infuriated about the agony he had suffered from the Inuzuka during this fight. He couldn't believe that not only had he been hurt by this Leaf village trash, but had also been forced to call upon his cursed-seal two powers to now defeat this mongrel mutt.

"I'm going to kill you now!" Sasuke snarled in a hysterical rage, before he disappeared in a blink of any eye.

A second later, much to Kiba's surprised, Sasuke appeared in front of him to deliver a ferocious backhand punch from one of Sasuke's wings that he had folded into a giant fist. There was so much power to the blow that it literally sent Kiba even in his three-headed wolf form tumbling backwards for several yards. Kiba immediately righted himself and jumped back onto his four legs and shook his head in an attempt to clear his mind. Unfortunately, Sasuke was not about to let that happened and launched himself towards his Inuzuka enemy.

Using a combination of his cursed-seal enhanced speed and his wings, Sasuke flew all around the three-headed wolf delivering crushing blows all over its body. Kiba, Akamaru, and the shadow clone used their heads and snapped their jaws wildly about like a dog attempting to snatch an annoying buzzing insect out of the air, but it was to no avail. Sasuke's speed was just too fast for them seize him, until suddenly the Uchiha was right in front of them and using his claw-shaped wings grasped the two outer heads around their throats and began to squeeze, choking off their airways, before he snarled at the middle head, which was Kiba.

"Let me show you a new jutsu I've created, you'll be…...shocked at how effective it is!"

Sasuke then flashed through a series of hand signs and called out.

"Raitoningu Gurippu Shōgekiha no Jutsu!" (Lightning Grip Shockwave Technique)

Instantly, lightning discharged from Sasuke's claw-shaped wings and surged into the three-headed wolf causing the enormous beast to convulse in torment. Unable to take this kind of attack, the three-headed wolf exploded in a cloud of smoke, separating Kiba, Akamaru, and the shadow clone from one another, thus ending their human beast transformation. The clone immediately disappeared in a puff of smoke and Akamaru lay unmoving on the ground breathing sporadically. Kiba knew the only reason he wasn't unconscious like Akamaru was the fact that his canine familiar and his shadow clone had taken the brunt of that lightning attack, before it destroyed their transformation. However, Akamaru was in bad shape and Kiba didn't want to risk Sasuke finishing the dog off, so he shushin'd away across the field and then taunted Sasuke to follow him.

"Is that the best you got Sasgay, I've gotten a worst shock from static in my socks!"

Kiba breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that his ploy had worked, as he watched Sasuke turn his attention back towards him, ignoring the unconscious canine familiar. The Uchiha began to stalk towards Kiba, but at a leisurely pace, knowing the Inuzuka had no hope of defeating him.

'That fucking bastard, so cock sure that I can't do anything to beat him. It totally sucks, but he's probably right, but I need to remember it's not about beating that prick, it's about buying time. Damn it, I had really hoped that Naruto and the others would be here by now. Oh well, I can last a few more minutes and if I'm going to die, I'm at least going to go out fighting!'

"You see Yori, you needn't have worried about Commander Sasuke. He played his trump card just like he always does when he's about to get his ass handed to him by someone he's underestimated yet again. Kabuto declared, with hint of disdain etched in his voice.

"Hai, you were correct as always Commander Kabuto." Yori replied, before he then listened into his radio earpiece. A few seconds later, he informed Kabuto with puzzlement.

"Sir, one of our outer scouts surrounding the village is reporting something strange."

"Strange, what do you mean by strange?"

"He's not sure Commander Kabuto, all he says is that he's been seeing sporadic flashes of golden light coming from inside the village. He says it started about five minutes ago. Do you know what it is sir?"

Kabuto's forehead furrowed in deep concentration, as he pondered Yori's question, before he answered in a troubled voice.

"No, I don't know what it is, and I find that…...disconcerting. Keep the men to keep on high alert and to be prepared to leave as quickly as possible if we need to."

"Hai, Commander." Yori snapped to attention and saluted, before he left to inform his comrades of Kabuto's orders. The Sound shinobi had heard the concern in Kabuto's voice, as he issued those orders. However, like his Commander, Yori too felt unease about these mysterious golden lights and what they may mean.

As Kiba watched Sasuke still stalk slowly towards him, he racked his brain to come up with an effective attack to use, only to realize he had a serious problem, as he thought to himself.

'Damn it, I forgot that using the Human Beast Transformation, especially the three-headed technique and maintaining it during battle depletes ones chakra to almost nothing. I've got enough chakra in me to launch one more attack and that's it, after that I'm done.'

After a moment, Kiba finally decided what attack to use, as he spoke in a hushed whisper to himself.

"A combo technique, it's the only way, he's too strong for anything else. I just pray to kami that I've got enough chakra left to pull it off and hope that it at least slows that bastard down a little bit."

Kiba then went through the necessary hand seals and then kneeled down, before slamming his palms onto the ground and shouted.

"Doryuu Taiga no Jutsu!" (Earth Flow River Technique)

Suddenly, Sasuke found himself falling into the ground, before a quick flap of his wings lifted him into the air and he looked down to see the ground upon which he had been standing had been transformed into a small river of mud between him and Kiba. Growling in annoyance at such a pointless attack to use against him, he spat with derision at his former classmate.

"Really mutt, a river of mud, do you think that's going to stop me?"

"Not really, but used in combination with this it might." Kiba answered, as he slammed his palms onto the ground once more and called out.

"Doryuudan no Jutsu!" (Earth Dragon Projectile)

A moment later, a dragon rose from the river of mud made after using the Doryuu Taiga technique, and began spewing at a rapid rate mud projectiles from its mouth towards Sasuke.

For his part, the Uchiha merely smirked, as he pulled his Kusanagi blade from behind his back and then began to channel his lightning chakra into the blade with chakra flow. By doing this, Sasuke increased his blades sharpness greatly through high-frequency vibrations. This also had the effect of increasing its cutting range.

Much to Kiba's lament and dismay, he could only watch with resignation, as Sasuke used his lightning enhanced blade to put on a clinic of his Kenjutsu skills, as he expertly sliced through all of the mud projectiles, while advancing ever closer to where Kiba stood, slumped in defeat.

Upon reaching Kiba, it took no more than a quick slash of the Kusanagi to destroy the mud dragon, before he then pointed the blade at the Inuzuka's throat. Kiba closed his eyes and waited for Sasuke to end his life in the same fashion that he had done Chouji years before. When he heard the sword being slid back into its scabbard, he tentatively opened his eyes, as he heard Sasuke declare in a sadistic tone of voice.

"No, I'm not going to kill you like I did Chouji. You've pissed me off way more than he ever did. I'm going to give you the most painful beating of your life, before I send you off to Kami!"

Sasuke then delivered a chakra enhanced punch into Kiba's gut, causing the young man to spew out some blood from his mouth, as the Uchiha began to rain down punches and kicks onto him. For the next few minutes, Sasuke mercilessly beat down on Kiba, who could do little to defend himself, as his chakra was nearly depleted and his physical strength was exhausted as well. Sasuke then grabbed his beaten and battered foe in one of his webbed claw-shaped wings and squeezed causing Kiba to cry out in agony, as he felt several of his ribs snap. Sauke smiled at this before he casually tossed Kiba several yards away from him.

As Kiba lay on the ground gasping for air, he cringed in obvious pain every time he took a breath. His lungs burned, as if they were on fire and his insides felt like it had gone through a meat grinder. Kiba couldn't remember getting his ass handed to him this badly, not since he had sparred with Naruto after his friend had returned from his training mission. Only this beating hadn't been a friendly spar, with his opponent offering his hand to help him off the ground afterwards. No, this fight was a life and death struggle, as Kiba craned his neck to gaze at Sasuke who had deactivated his demonic powers and had reverted back to his human state was striding towards him. And judging by the murderous look in those obsidian eyes, which glowed red from the sharingan he bore, Kiba knew the only thing left in this battle was the final blow from Sasuke, which would end this fight and with it his…...life.

Sasuke grinned triumphantly upon reaching Kiba's bloody and beaten prone body lying on the ground before him. Though he loathed to admit it, the Inuzuka had proven to be a much tougher and stronger opponent than he had expected him to be. If not for Sasuke's cursed seal powers and abilities, he might not have gained this victory, as Kiba had managed to hurt him several times during their fight. This angered Sasuke greatly and he relished with excitement that he was about to end Kiba's life, as he stood over him and stated with a sneer.

"I always knew you were a fool Inuzuka when I heard you lost to that dobe teammate of mine during the Chunin exams. However, now I know you're not just a fool, but an idiot as well. Did you honestly believe you could beat me in a fight? How stupid can you be? I've told you before, I'm an Uchiha, an elite. No one from such a lowly clan such as yours could ever hope to defeat me. So tell me, before I end your miserable life once and for all. Whatever made you think that a mangy mutt like you from a low rent clan ever stood a chance against…...me?"

Though his body was racked with pain, Kiba with his last remaining strength still struggled through it to lift himself onto his elbows and glared at Sasuke with defiance. Just as he was about to answer the Uchiha's question, Kiba's eyes grew wide for a fraction of a second. When he saw something behind Sasuke who was facing away from the village. The sight Kiba saw brought a smile to his face and even though it hurt to do so, he began to laugh.

Watching his Inuzuka adversary suddenly erupt in joyous laughter confused Sasuke greatly. He thought maybe since Kiba knew his life was about to end had unhinged the young man. But as the volume of the hilarity began to steadily increase, it was starting to unnerve Sasuke, before he finally shouted in query.

"What's the matter with you? Has the realization that you're about to die made you crazy?"

"No, ha,ha,ha, that's not it, ha,ha,ha, but I will answer your previous question." Kiba replied, while he attempted to stifle his mirth.

After a moment, Kiba was able to gain a modicum of control over his laughter and looking up at Sasuke said.

"You asked me earlier if I honestly thought I could beat you in a fight. Well the answer to that is no, I didn't think I could beat you, but that was never my objective when I called you out to fight."

"What was your objective than mongrel?" Sasuke asked with irritation.

"I was just trying to buy some time and delay your attack long enough, until he could arrive and kick your ass Sasgay."

"He? Who is he?" Sasuke questioned, before a voice behind him answered his question, a voice he hadn't heard since the Valley of the End. Whirling around to face the owner of that voice, Sasuke's face unexpectedly exploded with indescribable pain.

"He…. would be ME TEME!"

Author Note: Yes, I'm still live or so the doctors tell me, lol. I know it's been a couple of years since my last update and for that I do apologize to you all. I won't go into the litany of reasons why I've been away for so long. Other than to say what Sasuke did to Kiba in this chapter, is pretty much what life in general has done to me over the last two years. I hope I haven't lost too many readers because of this. If so, I do hope many of you will return after this chapter. I figured who doesn't love a good fight between a good guy and bad guy. And even though writing fight scenes can be a major pain in the ass at times. I tried to give all of you one that would be both enjoyable to read, as well as being believable between the two characters doing battle. I guess I'll find out if I succeeded or not from your reviews.

Woo boy, let me tell you, I've never been nervous or concerned about writing a chapter, but I'll admit I have a little trepidation about writing the next chapter. I mean a fight between Sasuke and you know who has to epic in its scale and more importantly it has to be enjoyable to read and be believable as well. I won't make any promises about when it's coming out, because I want to make sure that fight meets those parameters I just described.

I won't be doing one of my lengthy author notes this chapter, as I've done in the past. To do one would just cause me to delay the release of this chapter even further. And all of you have waited patiently for so long for my next chapter of this tale.

I will ask one thing of my readers. I really want to know how many of you enjoy this story and want it to keep on going? I know I've got about 30-40 dedicated hardcore fans of this story who have supported this story practically from the beginning and all of you are the best! So I already know your answer, but what about everyone else? As for the majority of my readers, if you would be so kind and please take a minute or several to drop me a review, whether it's on this chapter or the story in general. I look forward to reading what you have to say. Thanks, I wish you all the best!

Take it easy and be good.

Kingkakashi

School Time:

Solicitude

Definition: The state of being solicitous; anxiety or concern.

Etymology: Late Middle English Latin sollicitūdō uneasiness of mind, derivative of sollicitus agitated. 1375-1425a.d.

Part of Speech: Noun