Chapter 4: The Rescue Squad Arrives

Naruto looked down at his feet as he stood in the centre of the Great Hall, Kakashi staring down at him with his one visible eye. Snape and Dumbledore stood off to one side slightly, Snape looking furious and Dumbledore grave. The rest of the hall was empty, the students having retired to their rooms and Sasuke and Sakura having gone with the Gryffindors.

"…completely irresponsible and reckless! What were you thinking?" Kakashi sensei demanded, "Using a jutsu that powerful on a civilian non combatant? Don't you realise that you could have killed him?"

"Indeed we are very fortunate that you did not." Snape sneered, "As it is he will require a lengthy stay in the Hospital Wing at the least, and I shall almost certainly have to answer to Flint's parents. If you were a student you would be expelled, but as it is,"

"They are not students, Severus," Dumbledore said, "and it is up to their commander to decide on the appropriate punishment."

"Yes it is." Kakashi said, "And give me one good reason why I shouldn't rip that headband off you right now on the grounds that you're too irresponsible to be allowed to keep wearing it."

Naruto froze, he wouldn't, would he? Take away his headband and he'd be…

You'd be nothing. Just like you were before.

"Kakashi sensei," he begged, "please,"

"You don't want me too? Then explain yourself." Kakashi demanded.

"The guy was being a jerk, I just wanted to shut him up and wipe that smirk off his face." Naruto said.

"By using the Rasengan? Why did you use a jutsu that powerful on someone who couldn't defend themselves against it?"

"They weren't taking us seriously, you know that as well as I do sensei." Naruto said, "I wanted to show them what we were capable of, so that they knew we meant business."

Kakashi sighed heavily, "Naruto; jutsu that powerful aren't there so that you can prove a point or show off in front of idiots. That's not the Leaf Shinobi way, and I'm afraid that I'm going to have to-"

A bright blue light flashed behind Snape and Dumbledore, who both turned just in time to see Guy bearing down on them, leg drawn back for a kick.

"Leaf Hurricane!"

Guy kicked, and his foot was stopped in mid swing by Kakashi who suddenly appeared between the jonin and the two wizards and swung Guy in a wide arc that threw him across the hall where he landed and skidded to a halt just before he crashed into the wall.

"Guy?" Kakashi said puzzledly, "What are you doing here?"

Guy straightened up, "Rescuing you, or trying to. But why did you block my kick?"

"These people aren't our enemies, not unless we keep going the way we seem to have started at least," Kakashi said, "did you come alone? Do you have a way to-"

By now the rest of the rescue squad had started to appear in the Great Hall, looking about them in bafflement.

"Hinata, is that you?" Naruto said.

Hinata blushed furiously and began to play with her fingers, "Oh, hey Naruto. I came to, I mean I wanted to make sure that, I'm glad to see you're OK."

Naruto chuckled, "Never better."

"Naruto," Lee said, "these people did not kidnap you?"

"Course not Bushy Brow, they're just as clueless as we are."

"Well that's a pain, I almost would have rather they were kidnappers." Shikamaru said, "I hope I'm not the only one who realises that we all come this way with no way of actually getting back home."

"Do not worry, Guy Sensei will think of something." Lee said.

"You trust that guy to figure something out?" Shikamaru said, "We are in trouble."

"Hey!" Lee yelled, causing Shikamaru to wince and pull back, covering his ears, "You may be a chunin but I will not tolerate insults to my sensei!"

"All right, all right, pipe down before you deafen me."

"Lee is correct," Neji said in his cool, calm voice, "regardless of any impression he might give you Guy did not become a Jonin by accident."

"I guess." Shikamaru said.

"Relax, Shikamaru, don't worry about a thing. The power of Youth will overcome somehow. With enough passion and hard work there isn't anything that can't be accomplished." Guy gave the thumbs up, and his teeth sparkled.

"Oh god," Snape groaned, "not only more of them, but of a kind even more infuriating than the first."

"Tact, Severus, tact."

"So, Kakashi," Guy said, "where is this place anyway?"

"Yeah, and where's Sasuke?" Ino said.

"He's up in the tower with Sakura." Naruto said.

Ino's eye's widened, "You left Sasuke alone with billboard-brow what are you an idiot? Come on guys, we have to save Sasuke right now!"

"Save Sasuke," Shikamaru said, "from Sakura?"

"Yes! I mean no. I mean, shut up and let's go okay?"

"Okay team, let's move out." Guy said, "Kakashi, you can explain everything along the way to check on Sasuke and Sakura."

Kakashi sighed, "That tower is going to get very crowded."


Snape paced irritably up and down in front of the Headmaster's desk, fuming mentally as he did so.

"Do sit down, Severus," Dumbledore said, "it's very distracting the way you keep walking up and down like that."

"But how!" Snape snapped, "How could you allow it. When in was just the four it may have been tolerable but fourteen! Twelve of the little brats and two of their unbearable instructors it is impossible. It is outrageous, why do you continue to play host to them here?"

"The school has survived Dementors Severus I daresay that a few ninja should not prove too destabilising."

As much as Severus Snape yielded to no one in his respect for Albus Dumbledore, there were times when he felt that the Headmaster lived in a world that was all his own. Such a feeling he had now, as his black eyes stared into Dumbledore's blue ones, "Not too destabilising! Not too destabilising! They have only been here one night and already they have caused more trouble than they are worth. Why not turf them out right now."

"They have not yet served their purpose." Dumbledore said calmly and quietly.

"Purpose?" Snape couldn't think what he meant, "What purpose, do you mean that you brought them here deliberately?"

"Don't be ridiculous Severus," Dumbledore said, "I did not know they existed until earlier today. But when you are as old as I am you begin to appreciate that events play out the way they do largely because they were meant to. These people are here now, and I believe that they have some task to perform here. Of course I may be quite wrong, I can make mistakes as easily as the next man, but in this particular instance I do not think I am."

Snape snorted, "What could these children possibly accomplish? What need have we of such as they."

"Frank Bryce." Dumbledore murmured.

"Frank who?" Snape said.

"Frank Bryce, a muggle resident of Little Hangleton, disappeared shortly before the Quidditch World Cup; disappeared Severus from the family home of Voldemort's father. Bertha Jorkins, a ministry official privy to the knowledge of the Triwizard Tournament, disappeared in Albania the last known location of Lord Voldemort. And the Tournament is being held at Hogwarts, this year, and with the sudden influx of guests, spectators, and the like-"

"You see the Dark Lord's hand in this?" the idea was enough to chill Snape to the bone.

"I have my fears, nothing more, but yes, I do believe that Voldemort is on the march again. To what purpose I do not know, but I am afraid: for Harry, for Hogwarts, for the entire Wizarding World. I am afraid for us all."

Snape frowned, "And you think that these, Leaf Ninja, may be able to-"

"I think that Voldemort has mastered almost every aspect of our magic." Dumbledore said, "The only thing he fails to understand is love, and the peculiar powers of these strange Shinobi who have been brought here by some power that we know not. They do not use magic, but they have power of their own that is almost as powerful. In fact it might even be greater. If they can keep Harry safe, if they can hold Voldemort off even for a little while, then I will forgive them any insults that they might offer us."

Snape nodded, Dumbledore's logic was unimpeachable, "As you wish, Headmaster, I will attempt to tolerate them," after all, he had endured Potter and his friends for four years this should not be too much more difficult, "so long as they do not think to stray into my potions classes."

Dumbledore chuckled, "I hardly think that likely. In fact I doubt that you will find them attending any of our classes at all, there is nothing that they could possibly get out of them."

"Good." Snape said, he had enough trouble trying to instil knowledge in the dullards that he was lumbered with without that added disruption to deal with as well.


"So," Ron said, stretching out across one of the sofas in the Gryffindor common room and trying to ignore that bloody Sasuke sitting not too far away, staring blankly into the fire, "the Triwizard Tournament eh? What do you think about that then?"

No one said anything. Not Harry, nor Neville or even Hermione. And Ron reckoned he knew what they were thinking.

"Oh for god's sake!" he snapped, "Can we not forget about these bloody ninja for three minutes and talk about something that actually concerns us? Honestly."

"Sorry Ron," Neville muttered, "I suppose, seeing that yellow toad at the feast…do you reckon Trevor really hates me?"

"Of course not Neville, it was a cheap trick with a toad, don't take any notice of it." Ron said, "These people aren't worth our time."

"That wasn't what you sounded like when you wanted to know how to do that Rasengan thing." Harry struck rather too close for comfort.

You're supposed to be my mate. Who's side are you on anyway? Ron thought sourly, turning even more sour as he tracked Hermione's gaze to see what she was staring at, "Yeah, well, that was before wasn't it?"

"Before you realised just how much of a hold-"

"Okay Harry you're my best mate and all but seriously, shut it." Ron snapped, "And Hermione will you please get a grip?" What's so special about this Sasuke anyway? All he does is sit there, brooding with his dark, intense eyes and acting all cool. I could be that cool if I wanted to. I could grow my hair long and stare at everything as well. Just because I don't that makes no difference whatsoever.

"Hmm," Hermione muttered, "sorry Ron, I wasn't listening."

Ron could feel his ears burning up, "I was just wondering if we could have a conversation that doesn't revolve around ninjas. Maybe we could talk about, y'know, the Triwizard Tournament and how cool that's going to be once it all kicks off?"

"Why do you hate me Trevor?" Neville was stroking his toad pathetically, "What did I do wrong."

"Oh that's it, I give up." Ron yelled, standing up and throwing up his hands in exasperation, "Sit there and moon over these strangers, talk to you toad, do whatever you like, I don't care. I'm going to bed, perhaps by morning you'll all have come to your sense." he stomped across the scarlet carpeted common room and up the stairs of the Fourth Year boys dormitory, slamming the door behind him.


Harry winced uncomfortably, "Sorry about that, Ron's a good lad but he lets his temper get the better of him sometimes; and he's been in a bad mood all day. He'll calm down by morning."

Sasuke gave a barely perceptible shrug, "It doesn't matter. Nothing much does."

"Why do you say that Sasuke?" Hermione asked solicitously.

"Yeah, Sasuke, what's the matter?" Sakura said, "Is there anything I can do to help?" the message in the glare that Sakura was giving Hermione was clear, Back off, if anyone gets to be solicitous it's me.

Remembering what had happened in the Great Hall, and not wanting to see Hermione hurled across the common room, Harry said nervously, "Um, Hermione, are you sure that you wouldn't like to, um, well to tell the truth you're looking a bit tired."

"Nonsense Harry," Hermione said, "I feel just fine."

"Hermione," Harry said, his voice acquiring a sharper edge,

"What, Harry?" Hermione replied irritably.

Just then a strange voice uttered the word 'Balderdash' from beyond the Fat Lady, who swung open to reveal a host of people, all wearing the same headbands that the original four ninja had worn somewhere about their persons. In fact he could see Naruto standing in their midst, along with his white haired teacher Kakashi. Harry was still registering the fact that more of the troublesome Shinobi appeared to have arrived to disrupt their lives when one of them, tall and blonde and with no pupils in the midst of her green eyes, threw herself through the open portal and skidded to a halt by Sasuke, around whom she threw her arms. Judging by the look on Sasuke's face, he had no real opinion on this turn of events.

"Sasuke! I'm so glad to see that you're okay. You shouldn't have worried me like that, going off without anyone to look after you. But it's all right because I'm here now, and I'm going to make sure that everything is going to be just fine." the girl appeared to notice Sakura for the first time, "Oh, hi there Billboard Brow."

"Hi yourself, Ino-pig." Sakura growled, with a ferocity far exceeding that which she had previously been emanating for Hermione.

"Sasuke," Hermione said, "who is this girl?"

Ino and Sakura turned their baleful gazes on Hermione as one, and a wicked grin spread over the face of the blonde.

"Don't do it Ino." said a mature looking young man in a flak jacket.

"Hmph," Ino snorted, "mind transfer jutsu!"

Hermione froze, her eyes widening and a strange, glazed expression coming over her.

"Hermione?" Harry asked nervously, "What's happened?"

Hermione gave a sickly and very un-Hermioneish smile, "I'm sorry Harry, Hermione isn't here at the moment, but she should be back to her old self by tomorrow morning, assuming she remembers to stay away from my boy. Goodnight." And Hermione got up and trooped happily off to the girls dorm and out of sight.

Harry looked at the closed dorm door and then back to Ino and then to her fellow ninjas, "What did you just do to Hermione?"

"Mind transfer jutsu," Ino smirked, "made her do exactly what I wanted."

"That was very foolish Ino," Kakashi said, "abusing our powers like this is not the way to endear ourselves to people who are, after all, our hosts."

"So this is where we'll be staying huh?" a ninja in an overcoat with a white dog sitting on his head sniffed around, "Not bad I guess."

"Believe it. Make yourselves at home, guys." Naruto grinned.

Harry would have liked to think that he was a person who faced life's difficulties with resolve and determination, but upon hearing those words he succumbed just a little to despair.

He managed to muster, just about, a weak smile, "Well, I'm a bit tired so I think I'll just, go to bed now." go to bed and hope there was some sanity when he woke up.

A man with a pudding basing haircut and the biggest eyebrows Harry had seen this side of Hagrid leaned down a little to speak to him, "Splendid idea son, the passion of youth can only be replenished through regular rest or it becomes depleted, and if that happens then all it's glory will fade away. Get your rest kid and when you wake up you'll be filled once more with youth's unbridled passion, courage and commitment." he gave Harry a thumbs up and his teeth sparkled.

Harry practically fled to the dormitory.


"I guess we'd all better turn in as well." Kakashi sighed, "we all have had a pretty tiring day."

"Sakura," Lee said, "I am glad to see that you are unharmed."

"It's nice to see you to, Lee," Sakura said, "And I want you know, I think it was sweet of you to come after me."

Lee grinned, "I promised to love and protect you always Sakura, and a Leaf Ninja always keeps his promises no matter what."

"That's the spirit Lee." said Guy.

"Naruto?" Hinata squeaked, twiddling her fingers.

"Yeah?" Naruto said, "What is it Hinata?"

"I just wanted to say, I mean I want to tell you, I am glad to see that;" Hinata blushed, "I wanted to wish you a good night."

"Oh, okay. Thanks, I guess. Goodnight, Hinata."

"Goodnight Naruto," Hinata whispered, so quietly that no one heard her, "pleasant dreams."