Chapter 4

Naruto, Sai, Kakashi, and Yamato found themselves once again in the Hidden Leaf Forest. The ninja they were tracking were making it very hard to tell what it is they were aiming for. Obviously they wanted to get to the village, but what village were they from? And why did they want the Leaf?

"Naruto! I'm sensing something up ahead!" Kakashi pointed out.

"All right. Allow me!" Sai commented. He drew his weird jutsu that Naruto would never understand fully, and sent it to see what was ahead.

"I don't see why we don't just ambush them already…it's just a small group." complained Naruto.

"Yes, but aren't you underestimating them a bit Naruto?" Yamato pointed out.

"Ha…no way. I can take these guys alone!" Naruto laughed.

"Then prove it!" said a voice from behind. All four shinobi turned around, but too late. There were five opposing shinobi. One stayed back while the others all attacked Team Kakashi.

"Damn it…they must've used Shadow clones to distract our attention away!" Kakashi explained.

"That doesn't change the fact that I'm gonna tear these guys to shreds!" Naruto laughed.

"Let's just see you try then!" one ninja cried.

"You asked for it pal!" Naruto growled. A shadow clone appeared next to him and started forming a Rasengan. "Now try some of this! Rasengan!"

"Too slow" said the ninja. He swiftly dodged Naruto's attack and kicked him in the back.

"Darn it! I won't miss this time!" Naruto grumbled.

"Your puny attacks won't work on me!" laughed the ninja.

"Hehe…let's see about that. Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto screamed. Hundreds of Shadow clones came from nowhere….and all charged up a Rasengan in pairs of 2. "Let's see you dodge this! Rasengan!"

"Ha…amateur move!...guh!" the ninja cried. He couldn't move…and about fifty Rasengan were headed his way. "W-what the!"

"Naruto isn't the only one who can use shadow clones." Kakashi muttered. He held on to the ninja as all the Rasengan smashed into him…killing the ninja instantly.

"Nice thinking Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto complimented.

"Right…now I believe it's my turn…SHARINGAN!" Kakashi cried out. The other ninja started to back off…except their leader.

"Ugh…useless. Every last one of ya." the leader said, "Bring it on Copy Ninja." Kakashi and the lead ninja clashed in a battle that lasted for about five minutes. They were matching each other blow for blow. Until…

"CHAAW!" Screamed Sakura. A fist came from nowhere and knocked the leader right in the face and onto the ground.

"Sakura! What're you doing here!" Naruto asked.

"I couldn't let you have all the fun…and man does this strength feel good! I wonder when I learned this!" Sakura exclaimed.

"Grr….little brat…I'll kill you!" the leader demanded. He charged something in his hand that none of Team Kakashi had seen. "Get ready to die…with my ultimate jutsu! Wind style: Razor Slash!"

"Sakura look out!" Kakashi yelled as he tried to jump towards the ninja. It was no good. He missed by a longshot…that ninja was just moving too fast…

"Two can play at this game! Wind style: Rasenshuriken!" Naruto cried.

"No! Naruto it's too risky!" Yamato pleaded.

"I don't have much of a choice!" Naruto yelled. He smashed the Rasenshuriken against the Razor Slash attack from the lead ninja…the attacks seemed to halt for a second, then each shinobi cut through the other.

"Gah! What the…what did you do to me!" screamed the lead shinobi. The Rasenshuriken had taken effect and was killing him slowly. Meanwhile, Naruto fell to his knees, with blood starting to gush from his chest.

"Naruto no!" Sakura cried.

"It's too late…I hit him already…in another hour…he'll be DEAD HAHHAHAHHAHA!" laughed the lead ninja. Then he fell to the floor and died.

"Naruto!" Kakashi called. Naruto was unresponsive. Kakashi picked him up and started heading back towards the Hidden Leaf Village. Hang in there Naruto…we can make it! Kakashi thought. But he had his doubts…the wound was really deep. And without the hospital, it was unlikely that they would be able to save him.

"This is all my fault…if I hadn't tried to help-" Sakura started.

"It's not your fault. Nobody could've known what Naruto would do…he's always been that knuckleheaded." Kakashi reassured her. Sakura sort of smiled. But if Naruto didn't make it?

They arrived in the village and immediately rushed Naruto to the medical camp. Shizune went right to work. A crowd started to gather around the tent, which was confusing to Sakura. Didn't people hate Naruto? What did he do to change their minds?

"I'll bet you're curious what's up?" Kakashi asked.

"Yeah, just a little." Sakura replied.

"Well, I'm sure Naruto already told you about the story of how he defeated Pain…there's a lot to that story that gave people faith in Naruto. For one, he came and killed the Akatsuki leader, saving what was left of the village. But then, the dead were brought back to life…nobody knows how or why…but we assume Naruto had something to do with it. In fact, I'm glad that happened."

"Why sensei?" Sakura urged.

"Because, I was dead for a while there as well." Kakashi finished.

"WHAT! Kakashi-sensei! Dead? And then Naruto beat the guy that killed him! Just how strong did you get Naruto!" cried Inner Sakura.

Suddenly, Shizune came out of the tent. She gave a sigh, and then smiled. "Naruto is going to be just fine!" she laughed. "Thanks to the nine-tails inside him..he had already started recovering from the wound…had it been anyone else, they'd be dead right now."

"That's Naruto for you…always pulling off the impossible." Kakashi added.

"Indeed so…and…wait Sakura? Why aren't you in your tent!" scolded Shizune.

"Uhh I was just…uhh…uhh" thought Sakura.

"Mhm…right. Go now!" Shizune ordered. Sakura headed back to her own tent. As she walked, she started to get images in her head of things that could have been her memory. In fact, she was sure it was her memory. She rememebered Naruto coming back to the village after a two year training period, then she remembered going to rescue Gaara…who was the Kazekage. though she wasn't one hundred percent sure who Gaara was. Then as if on cue, she could remember the Chunin exams. Where they first met Team Guy, and the sand shinobi. Naruto had beaten Gaara then…

"Naruto...you really are getting stronger…and one of these days…you'll accomplish your dream of being Hokage…I'm sure of it." Sakura muttered.