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Hey all! It's Devil Seifer. Oooohhh yeeeaaaaahhhh! You know it! This is the third chapter of Legend of Zelda: Arrival of the Shinobi! (Sniff) ain't it beautiful? (Wipes a tear off of her face) Sorry I didn't update sooner, I had some things to deal with... MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Yes! The game of insanity… Dungeons and Dragons! (DUN DUN DUN!) I also had an art festival to go to! It was so fun! (Grins in the feeling of self-accomplishment) Well…I had got one question in a review about Link and Zelda's age…if Link was young…how could he get jealous over being replaced by 17 to 18 year old ninjas? It was something I put into account and assumed that the reader would pretty much know how old they were. So in the answer to the question… he is…three. (aka. mid 20's) Well…I don't own Zelda…and Masashi Kishimoto stole my idea for a manga so (DAMN HIM! Just kidding…) I guess I don't own Naruto either. Anyways, on with the show!

Chapter 3: The Runaway Hero!

"We need to hurry!" said Link as they ran past the gate up to the towering castle.

"Why?" Huffed Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto had been wondering the same thing.

"Because, it's almost dark."

"Do you have curfew?" Asked Naruto incredulously. Link glared as if he was saying that's veeerrrryyy funny.

"We have to hurry because the gate closes in…" Link looked at the sun, "One minute." They quickly ran across the drawbridge and into the grand throne room.

"Wow…this is amazing." Gasped Sakura.

"Intricately decorated." Said Sasuke.

"Do you guys have a cafeteria!" moaned Naruto as his stomache growled precariously.

"Dinner is ready if you are hungry." Said a voice from a door behind the two thrones at the front of the room. Everyone focused their attention to Princess Zelda. "We have prepared your rooms, but before you retire I promised your teacher that I would explain everything when you came." Naruto sniffed the air and immediately smelled cooked meats, veggies, and baked goods. His mouth began to water, and gave his typical battle cry.

"DINNER HO!" Naruto charged for the dining hall. Zelda laughed and followed the excited ninja. Link wondered what he had done to deserve punishment, replacement, and the complete humiliation of the fact that three kids are replacing a twenty-three year-old man. Link sighed and stumped after the group of people.

The Dining Hall

"And that's why you are here." Said Zelda as she finished her story, and lemon-garlic roasted Cuckoo. Naruto was nodding as he stuffed his face full of broccoli and beef. Kakashi listened quietly to Zelda's story and noticed that Link hadn't touched his food one bit.

"So, why would Link need help?" asked Sasuke, his hands folded under his chin in his usual, thoughtful pose.

"I'm just worried that something will happen, and if Link were to die, Hyrule would be without a Hero of Time." Answered Zelda, sadly. "Link is the main reason that Hyrule is still around and free to this day." Link rolled his eyes as he heard Zelda's reply. Link pushed back his chair and yawned loudly.

"I think I'm going to bed early." He said as he rubbed his eyes, he bowed to Zelda. "Good night, Princess." She nodded her head in a bow.

"Good night." Link walked out of the hall and back towards his room on the second floor; he opened the door and flopped on the bed. A ball of light flew and smacked him on the head.

"THANKS FOR LEAVING ME BEHIND! GRAAAAHHHH!" Navi, His guardian fairy, started to attack the hero and scream about how he seemed to never care for her anymore. Link changed out of his tunic and went into his nightwear, crawled into his covers and ignored the annoying ball of light. "DON'T YOU HAVE COMMON CURTESY!" Screamed Navi pulling on his long bangs.

"Leave me alone." Moaned Link as he pulled the covers over his head. Navi realized he wasn't feeling well, and said sorry to him and said she would lecture him in the morning, he was grateful that Navi understood he was depressed and turned out the torch on his stand.

Naruto's room

"Do you think he's alright with this?" asked Sakura. Sasuke and Naruto frowned as they thought over what kind of situation they were forced into.

"No." Sasuke answered finally, "Kakashi Sensei pointed out to me that he hadn't touched his food at all during the conversation. I have a feeling that he's either jealous, or feeling replaced."

"We're just kids, why would he feel threatened though?" Naruto asked almost to himself.

"He can't help it." Said Sakura, "He wants to feel fine with it but he feels as if Zelda has no faith in him. Am I correct?"

"Yes." Sasuke said, as he seemed to be staring off into space. "He's almost five years older than us and Zelda feels we can do better against this, Ganondorf, than he can when he defeated him before and feels he can do it easily again."

"I feel bad." Sakura said, her head bowed, "I feel like we're taking his pride as the protector of this country."

"This is Zelda's idea." Naruto said reassuringly, "Eventually they'll work it out."

"Yeah." Sasuke added, "We need to get to bed. The mission starts tomorrow." With that, Sasuke and Sakura left Naruto's room and went to their own.

Next day in the dining hall

Everyone was finishing up their breakfast when Sasuke saw Link walk past the door of the dining hall pulling on a pair of gauntlets and fixing his hat. Zelda seemed to see Link trying to sneak out of the castle too.

"Link!" Yelled Zelda. "Where are you going?"

"On my rounds." He answered simply.

"You're not going alone, are you?" she asked parentally, Link frowned.

"I always do."

"Not now you don't!" she said walking over to him. "The guests are here for a reason and that reason will come to motion today."

"BUT-"

"NU-UH!" she said firmly, to silence his protests. "I didn't bring them here for a vacation so you are going to take them with you on your rounds and you're going to LIKE IT!"

"If one of them can beat me in a match, I will willingly let them follow me to the ends of Hyrule." Link said grinning. I want to see really why Zelda brought these guys here! But you never know what they can do so I better be on watch. Just then Link heard Kakashi's voice float from the dining room.

"I'll challenge you."

"Heh! You couldn't dodge a like-like!" Link taunted.

"We'll see," he said, "won't we." Kakashi put out his hand to beckon Link to attack.

"You're the challenger," Said Link as he pulled out his sword. "Why don't you go first?"

"Sure." At that moment, Kakashi disappeared! Link panicked for a moment and looked around quickly trying to find the instructor. Could he be? Link looked down and saw a hand rise from the tile. Link flipped backwards to avoid being grabbed when two arms latched around each of his shoulders. Link's sword dropped to the ground as he looked up at his captor to find that the hand was just an illusion. Kakashi went into a nosedive, but was stopped when Link slammed his shield into Kakashi's face. They both fell to the ground, Link grabbed the Master Sword and lunged at Kakashi and stabbed him in the side of the head, blood spyoo-ed everywhere but to Link's amazement Kakashi turned into a statue and he found that the Master Sword was stuck. A small dagger slipped under his throat and Link let go of the sword and put his hands in the air. I see why this guy is teaching these kids now. HE'S GOOD! He won't win this easily! Just then, Link withdrew his magic and performed Din's Fire. Kakashi jumped back and saw that Link was a power to contend with as well. Link summoned The Master Sword and faced his opponent.

"I see you work on illusions." Link said as Kakashi calmly went into his side-bag for something. He's going for a weapon! Link thought quickly. I've got to keep on guard; this guy is all about fooling people!

"Here it is!" said Kakashi happily, he had pulled out…Make Out Paradise… Link stared in amazement.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU TAKE ME FOR?" yelled Link; he lunged at Kakashi and tried an energy slash. Kakashi jumped away and was still reading the strange book. "RAAAHH!" Link jumped upward as Kakashi was in mid-air and did an upward flat thrust with his sword. Kakashi threw up the book and caught the sword with the palms of his hands, pulled the sword out of Link's grip, and threw it to the other side of the room. They both landed and Link found himself only armed with a shield.

"Do you give up?" asked Kakashi pleasantly.

"Hell no." huffed Link.

"You don't know when to quit, do you?" said Kakashi. "Even though you're unarmed, you are still willing to fight with nothing but a shield."

"If that can keep me going, then yes." Said Link knowing Kakashi was mildly lecturing him as if he was some idiot pupil. Yet, he seemed to act the part quite well.

"Next person to make an injury on the opponent wins, okay?" asked Kakashi.

"That seems well enough." Said Link, going into a fighting stance instead of the fact that he was only fighting with a shield. They both lunged and the clang of metal on metal resounded in the castle. Kakashi and Link bounced off of each other's attacks and landed on opposite walls and lunged again. Link sliced with his shield, Kakashi dodged and Link felt his arm sear with pain as a small blade streaked past his right arm, leaving a shallow cut along the bicep. Link winced in pain and landed on the ground. DAMN! Why did I let this happen!

"Guess I win." Kakashi said happily, "and you get to let us follow you around as we like!" Link groaned in misery as he remembered his deal with Zelda. And it just got worse! DAMN!

Later that afternoon…

Link tiptoed down the hills of the castle walkway to the town entrance as he saw Naruto and Sasuke sparing on top of a hill as Sakura watched. Link ducked a little further just to make sure that they didn't see him walking out the gate. They'll hear the gate open, thought Link desperately, I'll go up the latter in the guardhouse and quickly jump down the cliff and run to town. Hehehheh! It's perfect! I'm brilliant! Link went to the guardhouse and climbed up the latter inside of the room and pulled himself on top of the bridge that he remembered so well. He ran to the edge and jumped as he saw Naruto notice him in his 'perfect' plan.

"Hey! It's Link!" Naruto pointed to the Hylian Hero of Time. Sasuke squinted and realized that Link was trying to do his rounds alone against Zelda's orders.

"We need to catch us a runaway hero." Sasuke said, he ran to the cliff and jumped off the edge and ran after Link with Naruto and Sakura close behind.

"He's fast!" said Naruto in astonishment.

"Shouldn't we tell Kakashi-Sensei?" asked Sakura.

"We don't have time!" said Naruto hurriedly. Sasuke saw Link hop on Epona and ride through town like the wind. Link looked back and saw the three children following him. So they think they can keep up, huh? Link thought, smirking at their incompetence, when their teacher beat me I said that I would let them follow me, but I didn't say that I wouldn't run! Nehehehe! Link whispered a plan to Epona and kicked her forward and gave her a carrot for initiative. Sakura saw that Link was up to something and realized that somehow he would try some half-baked plan to get rid of them; Naruto seemed to have cooked up an idea as well. He suddenly stopped and thought for second.

"Do you think Link is a pervert?" He asked.

"HIM? Maybe, why?" asked Sakura.

"I've got an idea."

"We're doomed." Said Sasuke. "Let's hear it before putting it in motion, so we can at least maybe save the bystanders." Naruto scowled at Sasuke and told his plan and Sasuke and Sakura actually found that it might just work!

Kakriko Village

They didn't try really hard to catch up with me, thought Link, holding his chin with a hand. Wonder why, 'cause isn't it their job to keep up with me? Hmmm…I didn't do anything to throw them off. (Didn't us the plan since he saw the three stop and watch him ride away earlier when he had got away from the castle) it's a real shame too! That was the best plan I ever came up with! Link frowned.(Planned on leading them away and eventually when time was right, catching them, tying them together, and leaving them, as they're screaming and yelling for him to come back and untie them, for someone else to deal with) Link grinned at he thought of three screaming teenagers tied to a tree at for five hours, before finally being noticed by someone walking by somewhere.

"Link-Aniki!" (Aniki is honorific for 'big brother' in Japanese and is used in the LOZ manga by the kids in Kakriko) Link spun around and was toppled by three younger kids that lived in the village. "You didn't come yesterday!" yelled a boy that was sitting on Link's stomache.

"Sorry Anjero, I was busy at the castle with some business!" said Link hesitantly rubbing the back of his head where it slammed to the ground.

"Doesn't matter, Link-Aniki!" Said Anjero, "You promised you'd take us up Death Mountain to see the Gorons!"

"I know…" said Link sadly, "And I'm going to have to ask you guys to take a rain check today as well."

"Why?" asked another boy who was sitting on Link's arm. "You promised!"

"I know, Arenikos." Said Link struggling to get out from under the kids. "But- I just got to talk to Darunia about some business; also, have you asked your mothers?"

"I have!" said a girl, "But THEY haven't and are just trying to get out of asking!"

"Rinika, Arenikos, Anjero." Link saw three figures coming up the stairs of the village, "I need to go. I'll see you guys when I come back down, okay?"

"Okaaay…" they said bowing their heads.

"I swear on my position at the castle that I will take you tomorrow! How's that sound?" Asked link backing out of sight of the figures.

"OKAY!" They yelled, waving, as he walked up to the gateway to Death Mountain. "Bye, Link-Aniki!" Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke heard the kids' good-byes.

"Link-'Aniki'?" Sakura questioned.

"I'm guessing that Hylian is some elvish sounding version of Japanese." Said Sasuke.

"Who was that, that you just said good bye to?" Sakura asked the kids.

"That's Link!" Answered Rinika, grinning wildly she continued with a sentence that greatly disturbed Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke. "I'm gonna marry him when I'm old enough! Tee hee hee!"

"Erm…Does he know that?" asked Naruto.

"No." Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke all fell over at the thought of the 10-year-old girl marrying a 23-year-old. THAT'S JUST WRONG! They thought in unison.

"So, where is he going?" Sasuke asked.

"Up to Death Mountain," said Anjero. "Did you know that you're really scary looking?" Sakura gawked at the boy's blunt thought workings, Sasuke just ignored the last comment; the conversation was cut short when the three children's mothers called them inside. The kids ran inside without saying a word to Naruto or his friends.

"They were kinda rude, weren't they?" Said Sakura thinking of trawling the little boy for calling Sasuke 'scary looking.' But to any boy, Sasuke would be scary looking to some extent. Naruto motioned that they should follow the hero and the trio walked up the road to Death Mountain.

A/N What dangers await Link, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura on the feared Death Mountain? Will the four survived the trip? Will I get a rubber chicken and use it as a weapon on the game Runescape? Will I ever know when to quit! Why am I such a dumbass! Why must I always ask stupid questions! Will people ever review! Will I get attacked by many, ravenous, temporal piggies! (Invader ZIM) Will I get locked in a room with a moose! OH THE HUMANITY! Thanks for reading you minions to the Undead Armies of Doom! I'm gonna sing the doom song now! Dooom doom doom dooooooommmmm, doomy doomy doomy dddooooomm! Thanks you human worm babies! Now…REVIEW IF YOU WANT YOUR LIVES! MWAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAA!

Yours truly,

D.Seifer