Thanks for your reviews! In response, here's the next chappy early for you guys :) It may seem like a bit of a filler, but it's not don't worry! DreaminginOctober thanks for your constant reviews! And K.999999999 Don't worry there is a whole chapter dedicated to NaruHina very soon! Either chapter 12 or 13.. can't be bothered to check lol :']

Ok enough of me rambling,

Enjoy.


Why did this have to happen now, just when they had been getting the village's forces back up to standards since the last invasion when the Third was killed? She had worked so hard on repairing any and all damage that had been left by the traitorous snake the last time he decided to attack. Why couldn't that damn disgusting excuse for a shinobi just leave them be, he already had his lovely little Uchiha brat.

She had just started to plan an all out attack on the snake's forces 1) To retrieve the Uchiha, and 2) as a counter attack from the last time he attacked. But no, that damn obsessive compulsive had to ruin her plans and attack from out of the blue. Now she had no idea where more than three quarters of her shinobi were. She knew that most gennin and veteran ninja had helped to evacuate the civilians; all three groups would go to surrounding small inconspicuous village's and stay there. She knew that the probability of half of her active Shinobi would be dead thanks to the slime-balls forces.

With her now hiding out in a large cave they had found past the south border of the fire country, she had 13 jounin: Shizune, Shibi, Chouza, Shikato, Inoichi, Gai, Kurenai, Yamato, Ebisu, Ibiki, Tsume and Hana. Also 3 chunin: Sai, Izumo, Kotetsu. She sighed to herself, she knew she had some of the best of her forces here with her and she even had several shinobi from Suna including Baki. She had enough faith in Jiraiya for him to have found some of the leaf's shinobi and taken them to a safe place, she just hoped he could come up with a plan or even find them somehow.

Tsunade got up from her make-shift seat within the cave for some fresh air and to check the surroundings of the cave.

"Tsunade-sama."

Shibi, Shino's father, greeted her with respect as he had felt her presence behind him while he was on watch.

"Shibi-san."

Tsunade returned the greeting as she sat down on the ledge of the cliff-face looking out over the expansive forestation below.

"Shibi-san, did you and the others come up with any plan that could help us out of this situation alive?"

Tsunade rubbed her temples delicately to prevent her from getting a headache with the amount of stress she had undergone these past few days.

"The only plan of action we have found worth risking is hiding out in this cave formation until we come up with any further plans or even a counter-attack."

Shibi pushed his sunglasses further up his nose and continued to speak in his placid tone to the Hokage.

"I believe the best course of action is to camp out here, at least until we can figure a way to get in touch with any other leaf forces that have made it out. I already have a large amount of my bugs in the forest searching for any signs of fellow leaf shinobi; I have also sent a generous amount over the mountains towards the north and east past the edges of the borders."

Shibi disturbed Tsunade even more as usual; he seemed to speak without even taking a breath. Tsunade shivered and decided not to dwell on the creepiness of one of her fellow leaf shinobi.

"Good, hopefully we can somehow come out on top of this sudden war. Arigato Shibi-san, I will take over the watch from here."

"Hai, Tsunade-sama."

With that Shibi entered the temporary home of the escapee leaf shinobi to rest and communicate with his scouting bugs.

xx-xx-xx

"Kabuto, what do you suggest we do about the loss of my new body?"

Orochimaru was not pleased that his prized possession and soon to be new body, Uchiha Sasuke had escaped from his grasp.

"Orochimaru-sama, please let me prep another body in case we cannot find Sasuke-kun in time-

"Tell me Kabuto, if I wanted any other body but Sasuke-kun's, why would I spend almost three years training him?"

The rhetorical question was left to hang in the air filled with killing intent coming from the founder of the Sound village, Orochimaru.

"Who have you sent to deal with our little problem, Kabuto?"

Orochimaru was not pleased, he had spent almost three years training that damn spoiled Uchiha brat, and this was how he repaid him? By running away, back to that damned leaf village. Orochimaru chuckled at the foolish child, he had no home to return to now, and the leaf had long since fallen to his forces with help from Kumo. The only place for Sasuke to go to would be back to Orochimaru, his 'friends' wouldn't accept him back now would they?

No, he was certain they wouldn't, the Kyuubi brat was probably killed by Sasuke to achieve the Mangekyou Sharingan and Sasuke would come back to Orochimaru soon.

"I have sent your most capable men to find Sasuke-kun and help him in his search for the Mangekyou Sharingan, and escort him back here safely."

Kabuto pushed his glasses back along the bridge of his nose as he finished informing Orochimaru of the precautions he had taken in insuring the return of his prized possession.

Orochimaru merely waved his hand in acknowledgement and dismissal as he made his way to vent out some of his frustration on some of his subjects. Kabuto closed his eyes and sighed, at least he was still alive with all his limbs intact.

xx-xx-xx

"Tsunade-sama."

Tsunade turned to the voice of Shibi and nodded to him to continue voicing the concern his usually placid features now showed.

"My bugs have confirmed that there are several leaf shinobi on the edge of the mountains towards the south about 6km from our camp."

Tsunade's eyes widened if only a fraction, it could indeed be a trap but if they we're other leaf shinobi in need of help she would have to do whatever was in her power to ensure their safety, she was still their leader after all.

"Inform Chouza, Inoichi and Shikato that you four will be leaving at sunrise to their location. You are to avoid any situations with enemy shinobi if possible, if there are any signs that it is a trap retreat at once. Make sure you cover your tracks well, we don't want anybody to know we are here."

With an affirmative nod Shibi returned to the cave to inform his comrades of the Hokage's decision and to get some rest for the following morning. As Tsunade turned back around to face the forestation she was joined by a stressed Shizune, who without grace simply slumped down against a rock to her side.

"Tsunade-sama, do you believe Jiraiya may have found Naruto-kun and the others?"

Shizune wouldn't let on but she had begun to see Naruto as her little brother, and cared for him as such. She knew Naruto and his friends could handle themselves against even jounin and special jounin, but Naruto was the target of both Sasuke and Akatsuki. She couldn't help but worry, deep down she knew he would be able to defeat Sasuke if he needed to, but what about the Akatsuki?

"I'm sure Naruto and his friends are the least of our worries, they are the strongest generation that Konoha has seen for many years."

Shizune nodded in agreement, even she and Tsunade had been amazed at some of the things the rookie 9 were capable of. She had witnessed herself how effective the new batch of the Ino-Shika-Chou formation had become, especially with Shikamaru's brains, Ino's medical knowledge and Chouji's brute force and protectiveness of his friends. She also knew that team 10 were a known force to be reckoned with even outside of the village, Kiba had become one of the strongest in his clan, that said so had Shino and with his intellect he could keep Kiba in line in most situations. Hinata had surprised Shizune the most out of the rookie 9; she had seen how dedicated to training she had become when her blonde crush had left on the training mission with Jiraiya. Hinata had been training with both Haishi, Neji and even herself and Tsunade on regular occasions. That said Sakura had also surprised her, with the dedication she had shown to becoming a Med-nin. Within a couple of years she could easily match her own skills, and she believed that given time she would be as good, if not dare she say, stronger than Tsunade.

Thinking about the rookie 9 her thoughts moved on to team Gai, who had grown as much as the 9 and even become part of 'the group' despite the age gap. Neji had become kinder, even though he still held up the cold demeanour he was friendly with those of the rookie 9 and people close to him. His relationship with Hinata had gown leaps and bounds since the chunin exams; they had become almost brother and sister despite being only cousins. Though Neji would not admit it, he was very protective over his younger cousin but that would be where Tenten helped. She would distract Neji to free Hinata from her over protective cousin that in turn had seen the two grow closer Tenten now being Neji's girlfriend for the past year. Lee had taken it upon his self to yell about the 'youthfulness' his team mates were showing and that in turn earned him a trip to the hospital looking like a red blotchy pin cushion. Lee had also grown, Gai would gladly admit that Lee had given him a run for his money several times when only Gai had had his weights on which in turn led to more yelling of 'youthfulness'. Though she had gladly noticed that the girls of the Rookie 9 and his own team mate Tenten had seen to it that he did not take after Gai, too much.

After some harmful threats about detaching his 'youthfulness' from him via methods unknown he had agreed to the changes forced upon him. He still held his shining bowl-cut hair style proud, but they had managed to change his attire. He now wore a black spandex-suit and his chunin vest open with dark green leg warmers; she had to admit he looked a hell of a lot better. Tenten herself had grown as a kunoichi, and was even asked to give lessons on weapon throwing to the academy students, though not permanently she had visited often much to the excitement of the children. Shizune laughed at a rather recent memory of the girl and her weapons. Tenten had dragged Lee to one of her lessons and allowed the children to practise their aim on a moving target. Though she had a trick up her sleeve, she had made Lee where weights of five times what he usually does and also gave him a weighted jacked to wear. But being Tenten, she also had him use only his arms to move, convincing him that he would be 'helping the youthfulness of Konoha in becoming great shinobi' if he did as she said.

Tenten of course would not wish... Too much harm to her team mate, so she had the children use blunt weapons designed for practise that would simply bruise the target. Though still painful it was much better than being turned in to a pin cushion again.

Shizune still held the vision of a black and blue Rock Lee in the 'good guy' pose ranting about 'youthfulness', she shuddered; maybe he hadn't changed that much.

"I know they will be alright, but I just worry about Naruto-kun, especially when he has the added threat of Akatsuki."

Tsunade nodded, understanding her apprentices concern not that she wasn't concerned about it herself.

"Don't worry Shizune; Jiraiya informed me that Naruto-kun could give him a run for his money, easily at that."

Shizune's eyes widened to the shape of saucers, could Naruto have improved that much over the two and a half years spent training with the old pervert?

She smiled remembering one Naruto's sayings; "Never underestimate me" She sighed, he would be ok, and he would make sure his friends were as well. Getting up from her slouching position she walked over to Tsunade's position and stood with her hands on her hips, looking down upon the blonde.

"You need to get some sleep."

Tsunade frowned, what was she, 8? Turning to look at Shizune he noticed the look she was being given and sighed, there was no fighting with Shizune when she had her mind set and her hands on her hips. She shivered when she remembered last time she had gone against Shizune, lets just say she would never see Lanterns in the same way again; they could hurt.

Getting up she nodded towards Shizune and entered the cave, she just hoped that what she said was true; no, she wouldn't underestimate him, not again. She knew Naruto was alive and well, and that he would do his best for any Leaf shinobi he may come across. With that determined in her mind she slipped in to her dreamland of sake and hurting poor Jiraiya, just for fun.


Now we've caught up with some of the other survivors, back to the rest in the next chapter which will be up soon!

Please review, i'll give you oreo's?

Marie x