A/N: I'm Baaaack! Yes here I am Still alive and kicking and with a new chapter, a little late for the Xmas but just in time for the New Year. This story was perhaps one of the easier ones to write so far. As always many thanks to my beta Tsuyu-the-Hanyou and my new one Kirallie without whom this story would suck.

Also to some of my reviewers out there, I don't care if you correct my spelling or grammer mistakes in reviews but don't be a chicken and do it in an anonymous then leave no e-mail adress. That is just rude.

And to Bobboky thanks for reminding me about the Two tails, that will make things alot more interesting when I introduce my OC big bad next chaper. (AUGG! I shouldn't have said that!)

Finally the shameless plug for DragonMan180 story Hanyou Trials in which Zen has a part in.

"Normal"

Thought

Jutsu

"Demon/Lord Beast speaking"

Demon/Lord Beast thought

Ch. 5: Strength of a Tiger, the Heart of a Hero; the Power of the Watch-Were Reveled

It was an hour past dawn when the Kumo taskforce second in command finally awoke from his sound sleep. It had been one of those nights, he had only just set down to eat something when he felt a wave of chakra pass over him and he collapsed into blissful unconsciousness. When he awoke he found that the taskforce's so called "Leader" had left with the two specially assigned Chuunin on an apparent scouting mission. "Yeah and I'm next in line for Raikage, not likely" he said to himself as the Chuunin gave him the status report. "Suppose to be a simple retrieval mission, go in get the parcels and get out. Now the curriers are late and our "Leader" isout scouting the area."

"You know what they say boss, a shinobi's life is anything but simple" remarked the Chuunin officer as they made their way through camp.

"That's why I'm retiring once this mission is over with, besides if our so called leader is the kind of man that the Raikage is dealing with nowadays I'd rather hang up my forehead protector and get out while I can" said the 2IC coldly as they checked on their six currently unconscious prisoners.

Well at least the mission is not a total loss. We have the head of the Hyuga clan and his eyes should prove to be even more valuable then that brat of his and not one but two Uchihas, the legendary Shisui of the Body Flicker and the Crimson Dragon of Konoha's ANBU also know as Uchiha Itachi. That should more then make up for the loss of the two parcels he thought to himself. He then looked over to where the two other Jonins they had captured once were detained; they were veterans and had proven troublesome by attempting an escape just prior to last night's strange occurrence. The Leader had at least been merciful and had granted them a quick death, before feeding the corpses to those damn leopards of his. Then there was the female, she was a relatively new not even having a bingo book entry yet but he had heard the rumors of young up and coming Genjutsu Mistress out of Konoha and couldn't help but wonder.

He was about to head back to his tent at that point to change clothes when a fellow Jonin appeared breathing heavily, "Sir huff you must puff come quickly pant."

"What is it?" asked the 2IC curtly.

"You need to see it for your self sir" said the Jonin with a smile. He quickly led the two to the heart of camp and there tied, bound and unconscious was Hatake Kakashi, and the two missing parcels Hyuga Hinata and Uzumaki Naruto.

The Chuunin aide couldn't help but smile broadly, "What happened, how did…"

"Found the two kids down by a stream from the looks of it catching breakfast. We moved in and split up to catch them in a pincer when one group got caught off guard by the Great Copy Cat. The other group detained the two kids and let one of them scream to catch the Copy Cat off guard enough to over power him" said one of the Chuunin proudly.

"Good job men" said the 2IC with a smile as he checked the prisoners. He had only reached over to check the Hyuga girl's face when her eyes snapped open. But instead of lavender pupil less eyes, he found a pair of cold golden cat's eyes staring back at him.

"Boo" was only thing the"girl" said before things went straight to hell.

0o0o0o0o0o0o

"Are you sure it's safe to just walk into their camp like this?" asked Kakashi as he followed Zen into what once was the Kumo base camp followed closely by Naruto who absolutely refused to stay behind with Kurga or Neji much to Hinata's dismay.

"Yeah the girls and Scarr should have had enough time to clean things up" said Zenith as they continued through the camp. They were about a quarter the way through when they halted to what was a surprising sight. There leaning up against a tree picking his fingernails with a kunai knife without a care in the world was an exact duplicate of Kakashi.

"Whoa but how…" asked Naruto looking from one Kakashi to another confused.

"Good Henge, almost had me fooled" chuckled the real Kakashi.

"I'm no Henge Copycat" said the duplicate with what could've passed for a cocky Kakashi tone. The original looked confused, a basic Henge only had the form not the voice of the person being duplicated, only a more advanced Henge could voice mimic but the chakra being given off was minimal at most so how…?

"Enough Scarr, you keep this up and the Scarecrow here is liable to have a stroke for all the thinking you're making him do" said Zenith with a chuckle.

With a snort the doppelganger moved towards the group and as it did seemed to go fuzzy and unfocused before turning back into the form of Scarr who gave a throaty chuckle as he sat on his haunches in front of Kakashi. "It's called Shadow Bending, members of the Panther clan can manipulate their shadows and through them their bodies into any living thing. Scarr is the best there has been in the last century, he only has to see a person and hear their voice once in order to become that person" responded Zenith to the unspoken question written on Kakashi and Naruto's face.

"But Furball said that Scarr can't talk" said a confused Naruto.

"That is true, in his true form Scarr can't talk but when he becomes someone else, he physically becomes them. Anything that person can do physically he can do, if said person has a Kekkei genkai then Scarr can copy it as long as he remains in that form" said Zenith proudly.

"Impressive, with the amount of Chakra he used I suppose he can hold a form indefinitely" remarked Kakashi with a small note of envy.

"Kakashi, don't you know nothing is perfect, everything has a draw back, a price. While Shadow Bending the user halts his or hers chakra reproduction leaving the person with only the chakra in reserve and what ever is being used by the body naturally" said Zenith gravely.

"So what you are saying is that if he lets the jutsu go too long he'll die" said Naruto with a gulp. Zenith only nodded gravely in responses. Naruto gulped at that thought. Jii-san had taught him the basic's of chakra during one of his visits and knew that everything need chakra to survive. Jii-san had even told him that chakra could be considered the spark of life that all things from small ants to huge trees had in common and to manipulate it was what allowed Ninja's to do the amazing things they did. But if one used up too much then the effects could be very bad.

Zenith could see the concerned look on the cubs face, he quickly shifted attention away from such dismal matters that shouldn't plague such a young mind and had them move on towards Shar'rei and Tela's location.

0o0o0o0o0o

"None of them were very talkative Zenith-sama when we tried to interrogate" said Tela grouchily as she led them past the currently unconscious former hostages. "They also put up some type of barrier, they didn't tell us what it's for.

"We hope that you might have better luck" said Shar'rei as the pair escorted the group to where the Kumo Nins where being held before resuming the work of untying the hostages. Save for a few of the Nin, they were all unconscious.

Zenith smirked slightly as crouched down next to one of the conscious Kumo Nin, one that was obviously one of the leaders. Lead ninjas had an air or aura about them that was easy to pick up if one knew what to look for, Kakashi had picked it up also since he was standing behind him giving the Nin a cold look. Said Ninja chuckled sarcastically, "Well, well. Should I be shaking in my boots, the famous Sharingan Kakashi and surprisingly enough the highest non shinobi bounty in the Bingo Book of the Five Hidden Villages, Lazura Zenith, I'm overwhelmed" he said with a laugh.

"You will be, now why are you here and why did you kidnap two Konoha citizens" asked Kakashi coldly.

"I said I was overwhelmed not struck dumb Copycat. I have nothing to say except that me and my men where on a training mission and have no knowledge of a kidnap attempt" said the head Nin with sarcastic innocence.

Kakashi scowled and looked ready to pounce on him, Zenith however burst into a fit of laughter. "Forgive me but you got to love shinobi; so prideful, so arrogant, so sure of themselves. Don't worry my Kumo friend, if your story clears, you and yours will be free to go" said the Watch-Were with false reassurance.

"And just how do you intend to verify my "story"?" asked the Nin.

Zenith only smiled briefly before his hand moved quickly to the sides of the shinobi's head, his thumbs placed on his eyelids holding his eyelids open. The smile vanished like a breath replaced with a mask of cold concentration. The shinobi struggled briefly before he gasped as Zen activated his dojutsu and began to chant. The Shinobi soon went completely slack, his eyes staring back at Zeniths. After a moment Zen stopped and dropped the now unconscious Ninja's head before standing up and turning to Kakashi.

"Well?" asked the ANBU.

"The barrier is to ensure that the hostages remain unspoiled, it'll let people through it but any projectiles or jutsu will be deflected; also the team leader left this morning on patrol with what appeared to be two ninja he brought with him and from what I can read; this guy was not exactly loved and respected by his teammates. Get Naruto with the hostages and get ready for company" said Zenith seriously.

"Too late, company is already here" said a weak husky voice from behind them. There battered to near death was Kurga. The usually proud panther was had a pronounce limp and a one eye swelled shut. He took a few more steps forward before he collapsed in a heap.

"Kurga!"

In a flash Zenith was beside his fallen summons, giving him a once over. His breathing was shallow and his voice was huskier than usual. "Sorry Furface, I tried to stop them but he was too strong, he overpowered me and took the gakis. I barely had enough strength to get here to warn you" said Kurga weakly.

"Warn me of what Kurga?" asked Zenith seriously.

"Kenta's alive" and with those words Kurga vanished in a puff of smoke returning to the Summoning Realm.

Zenith could only stare at the spot that Kurga had just occupied in shock when he heard the sound. A sound he hated more than anything. "DROP!" he cried pulling Naruto to the ground and covering him as a pair of huge axes whizzed by barely grazing Zenith's back.

Zenith could only watch with horror as the axes continued their path strait through the captured Kumo nin before turning and returning to the tree tops and the hands of their master who only let out a sickeningly psychotic laugh. A laugh Zenith was familiar with all to well.

"Well, well. Isn't this a pretty sight, I get hired to kill some Ninja and instead I get my hands on you runt" said the laughing voice. Zenith picked his head up and there on a branch above them was what could literally be considered a giant. He was seven and half feet of sheer bone and muscle clad in black and green camouflage pants and a black muscle shirt. He wore heavy boots similar to Zenith's and around his neck was a pendent of red crystal cut like a single glowing eye. In one of his bandaged hands still dripping blood were the offending axes and in the other was a pair of bound sacks.

Zenith stood and growled loudly, "I should have put my sword through your heart personally Kenta."

Kenta laughed again, "Please you Watch-Weres have always been too soft for your own good, if you weren't then you it wouldn't matter that I had them" said the psychotic merc shaking the bags. Zenith didn't need anything more to know that Hinata and Neji were both bound in those bags.

"Lowering yourself to kidnap children now, I never suspected you to fall so far Kenta. What happened to the beast that slaughtered five villages, the monster that caused grown men to tremble, the lap dog of Yoshimaru…"

"I AM NOONES LAPDOG!" cried Kenta violently interrupting Zenith's tirade. "I was ordered to retrieve my parcels nothing more, but I don't think my master will deign me the pleasure of ending you." Kenta quickly snapped his fingers causing two leopards to appear beside, "Deal with the ANBU and the silent one. The Watch-Were is mine."

"Shar'rei! Tela! Protect Naruto!" yelled Zenith as he quickly ran through a series of hand signs ending in the tiger seal. "Tora Kami no Tsurugi (Sword of the Tiger God)" then slammed his hand into the earth and pulled out a shining sword of some kind of blue metal hilted with a silver tiger's head that seemed to be roaring and it's eyes were inlaid with what seemed to be emeralds. "You want me come and claim me then!" roared Zenith his dojutsu flaring to life as a he charged Kenta.

The Merc quickly brought one his axes to bare in a powerful overhead chop that would have cut a normal man, with a normal sword, in two. But Zenith's sword is anything but normal and was able to parry the blow forcing the beast back.

Kakashi meanwhile was playing a game of cat and mouse with one of the leopard summons. "Such a yummy little flesh bag, I wonder should I save that eye of yours, quite a few would sell their souls for such a weapon" mocked the creature.

"You'll have to pry it from my cold dead corpse first" as he ran through a quick series of seals that raised a wall of earth blocking off one of the leopards attacks and allowing him to counter with a quick fire jutsu.

Scarr however was engaged in a battle of wills as the two summons exchanged blows like, well like animals. No words were exchanged only fierce attacks of pure unadulterated blunt force trauma.

The battle between Zen and Kenta however was like a clash of Titans, a clash that Kenta for the moment was winning. "He's gotten stronger since our last fight, there is no way I can beat him unless I transform, but he is one of the few that know THE danger. But I have to risk it for the Hinata's sake and Shar'rei and Tela are here in case that happens. I have no choice" thought Zenith. He made a quick charge at Kenta forcing the merc to hurl him back.

"He's going to do it" Kenta thought to himself as he watched his opponent jam his sword into the ground and bending it back like a spring to catapult him into the air giving him the needed time and distance for what came next.

As he flew Zenith gather his chakra into himself mixing it with the Wind Tiger Lord Beast's power within him and caused him to be shrouded in a green aura. Once he had enough he formed a single Tiger hand sign and cried out "By the Light of Lunanara, RELEASE THE BEAST WITHIN!" At that the chakra shroud exploded out as Zenith let out a defining roar. He immediately felt his muscle constrict and tighten as peach flesh gave way to black on white striped fur, his mouth elongating forming a tiger's muzzle now filled with sharpened teeth, and weather worn hands becoming long nimble claws. In moments Zenith had landed in a low crouch before Kenta, his eyes flaring with the Eye of the Tiger activated and his hackles rose in rage.

Kenta only smiled, now he could really let loose. He quickly pulled out his second axe and crossed them before him. His face now a mix of concentration and anger as his pendent flared to life cloaking him in a red aura as his muscles bulged as his veins throbbed and pulsed clearly scene at the skins surface and his eyes now had an unearthly red glow. Now in the full troughs of Magnus' power only thought crossed Kenta's mind, this was going to be fun.

"Have to end this quickly" thought Zen as he let off another roar before pulling his sword out from the ground and rushed Kenta with a cry "Odori no Tsuki Yaiba" (Dance of the Moon Blade) as he slashed at the air releasing blades of chakra forcing Kenta to dodge quickly. Only to have Zenith move in to strike him with an upper cut that lifted the Magnus follower off the ground forcing him to roll with the momentum but also getting him into perfect position for a counter attack.

"Tataku no Kurai Kami" (Strike of the Dark God) called Kenta propelling himself forward and crossing his axes before him and striking in an X pattern at Zenith's chest sending the Watch-Were back several feet "Perfect Hit" was all Kenta thought as he took a moment to observe the damage he caused.

"Kuso…" muttered Zen as he felt the warm blood on his chest, the cuts were shallow thankfully but the force of the blow was enough to crush a normal human. Yet that wasn't what was on Zen's mind, it wasthe small cut to the tie that secured his pendent that currently had his interest. "Can't let him get that close again" he said to himself as he fired off another barrage of Odori no Tsuki Yaiba to keep Kenta off balance. "But I can't keep the Odori up indefinitely. Looks like I only have one choice" thought the Watch-Were regretfully. "It'll be a risk but with luck, it will pay off" with that he dug his sword into the ground and stepped into view of Kenta.

"Finally ready to accept your destiny then furball" asked Kenta readying another attack.

"No, just making sure you meet yours" said Zenith coldly as he began channeling chakra into his right hand giving it a green glow, then the glow intensified into a golden glow until finally Zenith's entire forearm seemed to be engulfed in orange flame like chakra.

Shar'rei and Tela sensing the build up quickly grabbed Naruto and leapt away. "Scarr, Kakashi; leave them and grab Hinata and Neji. We have to get behind the barrier or we'll be caught in the after shock!" yelled the two summonses.

"What after…" started Kakashi as he dodged another strike from his attacker when it hit him. The immense power being drawn on, focused, and honed. What power is this, the seal is intact so it's not Naruto, so who… Zenith. Was all thinking he had time for before he retrieved Hinata and Neji from their sacks before he leapt from his attacker and joined the others.

Kenta however either because of the power that now coursed through him or sheer stupidity didn't run, only smirked. "Is your little light show suppose to scare be runt, I have the powers of a true god running through me, it'll take more then your little hand to stop me!" he cried.

"That's where you are wrong, for this hand burns with the holy power of Lunanara, and her burning cries call for YOUR defeat Kenta. Now face the power of the TATAKU no MEGAMI MOETEIMASU (Burning Goddess Strike)!" cried Zenith as he rushed forward his hand outstretched to strike down his foe as Kenta countered with another Strike of the Dark God.

0o0o0o0o

The group hand only gotten maybe a half a mile away when the blast hit them; the force of the attack kicked up enough dirt and rock to block out the sun. Naruto actually had to bury his head in Shar'rei fur to shield his eyes. When it finally passed nothing of the clearing or the Kumo camp remained and in the distance two figures could be made out. One standing and the other collapsed.

To be concluded

Origional Move list:

Tora Kami no Tsurugi (Sword of the Tiger God): The weapon of the first Tora Watch-Were that contains undiluted chakra from the Wind Tiger Lord Beast. The weapon is as strong if not stronger then Oorochimaru's Grass Cutting Sword. The weapon has a somewhat will of it's own and a Watch-Were who can master it is considered to have a great destiny.

Tataku no Megami Moeteimasu (Burning Goddess Strike): Stage Two of an origional ninjutsu Zen had developed that can be considered a combination of Rasengan and Chidori. Essentially it's concentrated Lord Beast Chakra focused into the dominate hand and used to strike an opponent with amazing force.

Odori no Tsuki Yaiba (Dance of the Moon Blade): Kenjutsu attack that sends blades of chakra at the opponent. The faster the user is the more blades that can be created

Tataku no Kurai Kami (Strike of the Dark God): Corrupted version of Zenith's technique that utelizes the power Magnus bestows on his followers.

Next Time: The Price of Heroism, the Demon Within