Yes, I know it takes me forever to update… sorry, I have a lot of things on my head and collage is just the beginning, so I really cannot update that often… and I'm afraid the situation won't change sooner then in about four months… I'll still try to keep updating (hope I'll be able to finish the Mission part before the end of June at least)… but I can't say when the next update will happen.

Thanks for all the reviews last time. With the little time I have, here are the answers to the questions I've noticed. I hope I catch all of them:

How come Hongen can use Mokuton: to answer simply: you'll find out in this chapter.

The fights seem to take too long: well, I guess it may seem that way… but you can be sure that every fight that's going on at the moment (meaning Naruto vs. Genko, Urusai vs. Hekireki, Ayame and Inari vs. Ouda and finally Jun vs. Hongen) will help you see main character goals, the way they look at things and some of the mystery behind them… the mission won't take much longer now and more important OC will be appearing… after all, there's always the chuunin exam.

And without further to do, here's another chapter of "Naruto: Beyond":

Chapter #15: Young Talents

Chapter Cover: Jun is walking through the street in a tuxedo with sunglasses on his face and is talking through the cell phone

Naruto came to a sliding stop and glared up. There, on a nearby rooftop, stood Genko with his body surrounded by yellow chakra, which formed itself into claws in places it surrounded his fingers. A huge smirk was visible on his face as he looked back at the blonde.

"What's the matter, Uzumaki?" he asked with satisfaction. "Even though I used the Demon Scroll I'd figure someone who carries a real demon inside will put up more of a fight against this…"

"I have to admit that until now I never believed those really existed…" announced Naruto as he got back to his feet, still surrounded by his red chakra. "When Mizukage told Kakashi-sama that they were stolen I figured he just lied, because there were no scrolls in the first place… but for someone to actually try using artificial, demon chakra…"

"The Black Flame has to be prepared to fight Jinchuuriki…" replied Genko simply. "There were speculations that if we were to battle against demon vessels, we might lose, that's why Uragiri-sama ordered Reiko to steal them… I'm not sure how this is done, but I couldn't care less anyway… what's important is that with this I can catch up to you… or demon strength is almost the same so once again the one who possessed greater power as a human will be the one to win this fight… and that will surely be me…"

"If you think I ever counted on Kyuubi alone to win my battles, then you're greatly mistaken…" announced the blonde jounin calmly as he reached for a small scroll. "I have some tricks of my own, that I forgot to show you last time, up my sleeve… I'll show you how I've beaten Hoshigaki Kisame in the land of Grass…" and saying so he unwrapped his scroll.

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Ayame jumped back in order to avoid another punch. The floor where she stood just a second ago cracked after Ouda's fist hit it. The missing-nin raised her head towards the Leaf kunoichi and smiled evilly:

"You should stop avoiding it… I can still go a little bit faster… and put more power into my attacks… I also won't feel tired… sooner or later I'll get you…"

"So I figured…" admitted Ayame. "But you're still just taijutsu user… so far you haven't performed any hand seals, so I assume you know nothing about nin nor genjutsu… you can however see through my illusions… the explanation to all that is rather simple and it makes me wonder why I wasn't able to noticed it immediately… you're not so different from that other man, Genko was it?"

"So you really are a smarty pants…" nodded Ouda with a smile. "Well, I'm not as good as Genko-san, but it is true that I was once a medic-nin and as such I know a lot about chakra flow… having it mastered you won't be able to fool me on your low-level genjutsu…"

"That is what it seems…" replied Kakashi's daughter.

"So what are you planning?" Inari asked the Leaf kunoichi.

"I have only one way to defeat her…" she responded calmly. "Sorry mom, but I have to use that jutsu…"

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Urusai's clones disappeared in the cloud of white smoke as Hekireki unleashed electric waves into the air, each hitting one bushin. The blonde gennin looked at his opponent, starting to breath heavily.

"Tired already?" asked the missing-nin with a smirk. "We're only getting started…"

"Shut up!" Urusai yelled back. "I won't get defeated by someone who killed his own brother and doesn't feel a thing about it!"

At hearing that Hekireki laughed as loud as he could: "Funny you're the one saying that, seeing that your own family is really screwed-up…"

"My family… is screwed up?"

"So you don't know a thing, do you?" the missing-nin's smile widen even more. "I guess that stupid Hokage of yours decided to keep it a secret from you… for protection or some other, dumb reason… the Leaf's mentality will never stop to amaze me…"

"What do you mean by all that?" demanded Urusai. "You know something about my clan?"

"Maybe I do… maybe I don't… it's not like I'd tell you either way…"

"You will… I'll make you…" and with that he charged at Hekireki.

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Jun burnt more of the roots that shoot from below ground in the attempt to grab him. Hongen kept his jutsu activated, in hope to immobilize his opponent and watched every move of the leaf-nin: "This guy is really good… he's been avoiding my roots for quite a while now… if this keeps up, I'll loose too much chakra… I have only one option left then…" and with that he cancelled his technique.

Jun looked surprised at his behavior and instantly began a chain of hand seals of his own, seeing Hongen starting a new jutsu. As both of them finished, they each called out at the same time:

"Moku Bushin no Jutsu!" called out Hongen.

"Katon: Kasai Nankan!" yelled Jun.

In an instant several bushins literally formed themselves out of Hongen's body that once it got separated from the original, turned into wood, before becoming his perfect replica. At the same time Jun got surrounded with a fire barrier.

"Impressive…" announced the leaf-nin from within the barrier. "Wood Element… I thought the only one who could use that jutsu was Shodai Hokage… mind telling me how in the world are you able to perform it?"

"First Hokage's blood runs in my veins…" replied the real Hongen. "Uragiri-sama created me from his genes… that's the reason…"

"I see…" came Jun's voice. "So this whole Uragiri guy you're talking about… he must be some sort of a missing-nin from the Leaf… I kinda suspected something like that, after all you guys are after Urusai, aren't ya?"

"If that's the blonde brat's name, then you are right…" nodded the missing-nin.

"Right… that's all I wanted to know… no point in making this longer then…"

"You sure talk big, but even if you'll stay within that barrier of yours, I'll…" but then he was cut off by Jun's voice, which said 'Katon: Kasai Bakuha!' and in an instant a huge, fire ring shoot from the barrier and headed straight at the clones, surrounding him.

Hongen instantly jumped into the air, avoiding the attack, his clones however weren't fast enough and all got burnt by the fire attack.

While he was still in mid-air, he noticed Jun coming right at him. His eyes widen as the leaf-nin struck his kunai into his stomach. The missing-nin caught out blood and a second later they both landed on the ground, with Hongen instantly falling to his knees.

"How…" he began, but Jun answered immediately.

"Kage Bushin no Jutsu… I asked Urusai to teach me… that pinhead can be helpful sometimes… the whole fire barrier was merely a diversion; once it covered me from your view I performed kage bushin and left the clone inside to perform the fire blast, while the original, me, dig underground and waited for you to lower your guard… simple as that…"

"I guess I underestimated you…" admitted Hongen. "But I'm glad I got to fight you… now I see what Akusai meant…"

"Akusai?" Jun's eyes widen. "What do you know about Akusai?"

"I'd tell you…" responded the missing-nin. "But it seems I ran out of time…" and with that he caught out blood even more and felt to the ground lifeless.

The leaf-nin stared at his dead opponent for a moment and then went on his way: "I have to help the others…" he thought, running through the town.

And this is it for now. Hope you enjoyed it.

No jutsu encyclopedia this time around, sorry… I'll do a proper one when I'll get a bit more free time. Besides, I figure it's better to update this in stead of making you wait few more days just so that I could place the encyclopedia.

Take care and hope to see ya all next time.