Sorry about the cliffhanger last time! Mwahaha.
Hope you guys are enjoying it so far.
Ok, i'll shut up now :)
Naruto's breath caught in his chest, he knew whoever yelled that it wasn't Kakashi, and he only knew one other person who could perform that jutsu.
"You guys stay here and guard the kids, I'll be back."
Before Hinata could argue he disappeared, though not before setting up several genjutsu traps around the group. The gennin gathered the children around Hinata who was still resting from chakra depletion. Udon and Moegi set up complicated traps surrounding the group, close enough for them to know when they we're triggered but not too close.
"Hanabi, check our surroundings every few minutes with your Byakugan. Konohamaru, have your clones spread out evenly around the perimeter of the traps."
Hinata knew she had to do her best in organising a defence until Naruto came back, only when he was back could they move any further away from the village. She smiled towards the children, hoping to give them what little comfort she could at that moment in time.
As Naruto appeared in an unnatural clearing he realised he was right, it was Sasuke who had called out his ex-sensei's signature move. But what caught him by surprise was the fact that he was fighting sound shinobi. The numerous dead bodies of sound nin littered the area around him mounting up to at least 60, Sasuke stood panting slightly in the centre of the clearing.
Sasuke turned to where he sensed movement a split second ago, only to see his former team mate, Naruto staring at him with bewilderment evident in his cerulean eyes. Sasuke felt a mix of relieved and scared, he knew he had almost killed Naruto once but he was back to explain and to ask for forgiveness. True Sasuke had gone to Orochimaru, but not entirely of his own free will the curse seal given to him by Orochimaru in the forest of death had greatly affected his mind and thoughts. The seal had practically made his mind think that it was for the best, and that everything would be fine as long as he stayed under Orochimaru's tutelage.
Though he had trained with Orochimaru, in the back of his head he regretted every moment of it; he regretted leaving his friends, no, his Family. But those thoughts did him no good, as the seal just repressed them and turned his thoughts against him. But when Sasuke had found his new lever of power, after all his training under Orochimaru; he finally had it. Sasuke had gained the Mangekyou Sharingan, not easily nor by simple hard work, but by practically torture. Orochimaru had made him watch many gruesome things that even most ninja would not see in their life time.
Though for Sasuke it was a relief, to know that he was more powerful and he could finally avenge the death of his clan. That wasn't the only relief he got from gaining the Mangekyou Sharingan, somehow his newly acquired form of Sharingan had a side affect with the curse seal he was marked with.
After hours of unimaginable pain endured alone in his quarters, Sasuke was free of the curse seal. He did not know how to explain it himself; it was as if the Mangekyou Sharingan was not a power to be contained by a curse seal. The breaking of the curse seal had allowed Sasuke to think clearly for the first time in almost three years, and he was beyond relieved. The first thing Sasuke did was flee Orochimaru's hideout and head towards Konoha, but on his way he had sensed Sound's forces heading in the same direction as him. The snake must have found out quickly just what had happened to his prized experiment and soon to be new body; Sasuke blamed himself for the ruins Konoha must be in right now.
"Sasuke, why are you here? And killing sound shinobi at that?"
Naruto looked confused yet unwavering as he spoke to his former team mate, he would not speak until he knew just why Sasuke was here, and seemingly helping Konoha.
"I-I'm sorry. There isn't time to explain we have to get away from Konoha, but please trust me I am no longer marked with that blasted curse seal"
He showed Naruto his plain, cream coloured shoulder as proof. He just hoped it was enough to earn his trust for now; they desperately needed to get away from the war zone.
Naruto studied Sasuke's usually blank features, now he could see several emotions he rarely, if ever saw on the face of Uchiha Sasuke. Fear, regret and sorrow were the three emotions that set themselves apart from any others that may have been portrayed on his face at that moment.
"Fine, come on there are some others I told to wait for me a little ahead. But I swear, if you so much as hint that you're going to hurt any of them; I will not hesitate to incapacitate you."
Sasuke nodded in agreement, knowing that Naruto would follow through with his threat, after all this is Naruto and he never goes back on his word.
As Naruto and Sasuke entered the clearing they we're met with two Hyuuga's in similar, yet different taijutsu stances, and a group of three gennin in tree's above them also several shadow clones coming up behind them.
"Nice defence you set up Hinata-chan, but don't worry I'll fill you in on why he's here once we're further away from the danger zone."
Hinata nodded, and reluctantly stepped out of her stance and the younger ninja followed suit.
After three days of intense running, as fast as carrying the 7 children would allow them and acquiring several other leaf ninja they arrived at Sungakure. But this wasn't the Suna that most of the shinobi had seen countless times before; Suna was just what Konoha had turned in to a destroyed village. As Hinata used her Byakugan to scout around the once powerful hidden village she noted a large battle going on; just of to the south of the city.
"Naruto-kun! There are some Suna shinobi still fighting off enemy forces, we need to help."
This was a time of need; Hinata knew there was no time for her stuttering now. Naruto nodded in response and turned to look at the group that had grown since he had met with Sasuke they had thankfully found some of their friends: Team Gai minus their sensei, Anko and Iruka.
"Iruka, Sasuke and Neji will stay with the gennin and other children over by that sheltered rock formation while me and the rest assess the situation and help in any way we can."
Naruto pointed over to said rock formation that would shelter them from the wind.
"Baka, who put you in charge?"
Anko knew Naruto was strong, but she felt that either she or Iruka should be leading this team with their experience. Naruto turned to her, amusement and determination shone in his eyes.
"Do you have a better idea Anko-san?"
He smirked when she had no come back, instead she just sighed. Neji also did not look pleased with the news that he would not be able to join the fight. As the group of gennin and children followed Iruka and Sasuke towards the rock formation, Naruto placed a hand on Neji's shoulder and whispered to him.
"I only chose you to stay behind to keep an eye on Sasuke, and I trust you to be able to handle him. I trust him, but I'm still wary. Also your Byakugan can reach further than Hanabi's you will be able to see the outcome of the battle"
Neji nodded at him, and ran to keep up with the others heading towards the rocks. Naruto turned towards his make-shift team and nodded, his fellow shinobi nodded with determination in return, they all set off at a fast pace towards the on-going battle against the snakes dwindling forces.
Gaara had his hand raised towards the sun; he looked out over the desert; towards the annoying ninja who had destroyed his village. Not only his village, but their strongest ally, how this could have happened he did not know.
"Suna no Shigure(Sand shower)"
Sharp pellets of sand fell to the ground at a tremendous pace, piercing the now screaming sound shinobi easily. Panting for breath Gaara lowered his hand and glanced to his left as he saw a flash of yellow. He smirked to himself as he noticed Naruto and several other leaf shinobi join his remaining forces and the other leaf shinobi that had already turned up just hours before. Jiraiya, Kakashi and the remaining shinobi of the rookie 9, that weren't with Naruto's group had arrived and joined in the effort of trying to save Suna.
Right now Gaara could only see the Konoha ninja, his siblings and Matsuri still standing and fighting. He had sent a good 30 chunin and jounin level ninja to help Konoha when he received information that a huge army of sound shinobi had been spotted near the boarder of the fire country. He did not expect Orochimaru to have anywhere near enough forces to send sound nin to destroy Suna as well just what was this snake possible of?
Most citizens, gennin and veteran ninja had been evacuated to nearby villages where they would hopefully be safe, with instructions to hide out until this sudden war was over. Gaara now had no idea just what was going to happen to his people; he had failed them as their kazekage.
Hinata glanced around the blood splattered sand, she felt terrible, there was no reason for this war, just pure greed and hatred of one single manl Orochimaru. As she gazed over what once was the busy gate of Sunagakure, the only thing that now resembled the once great Suna was the amount of Sand that was inside the village, and also surrounding it. Buildings were caved in on themselves, no doubt due to the enemy and their powerful jutsu's. Everywhere one looked, there was a mix of Sand, blood and weaponry. As she took in all of this devestation, she could not help but think about her own village that had a similar appearence to Suna; Destroyed building, ground littered not only with blood and weaponry but also the bodies of many fellow Shinobi, and even civilians. A tear slid down her pale face at the thought, her village would never be the same, Suna would never be the same.. all because of one man. One sadistic man bent on the destruction of the Leaf and their allies.
Many thoughts carried on plaguing her fragile state of mind as she, her fellow leaf shinobi and their friends from Suna trudged back to the cave that held the rest of their team, the only remaining people of Konoha that they knew to still be alive.
Please review so i know where im going wrong or right :) Any ideas/advice is gladly taken on board!
Marie x
