Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters
AN: Well well well. Looks like it's time for another chapter!
Thank you soooo much to all my reviewers. You've made writing this fic something I truly enjoy.
Hi no Kuni
Edge of the forested border
Dread. It was the only way to describe the feelings of the assembled ninja. They had arrived at their destination. Just off the location of where their friend, in all likely, would fight to the death while they stood powerless to stop it.
They stood, quietly. Not moving, not talking. They knew…..this could have been the final time they saw their blond friend alive. Ino, looked across at Naruto. He was standing in between them and the forest. She felt despair and frustration. How would you like it if you were travelling to your death?
Naruto turned around, and took a turn watching each of them, looking them all in the eye….. except one. Each person, had a fire in their gaze. Almost as if they were lending him strength and telling him to come back in one piece. He took a deep breath, before looking at the one he originally avoided. There, blue met green in an intense stare.
'Always the stubborn one,' thought Naruto.
Indeed, Sakura was quite stubborn when she was ready. She was adamant about being on the trip to ensure that if he or anyone else needed medical treatment she would be there. Naruto told her that Kiba needed her attention but was out of excuses when Kiba had woken up and, for the most part, was going to be alright. He was still in Suna since he could barely sit up. But, Naruto calling Sakura stubborn was certainly a case of pot calling kettle black.
In any case, Naruto saw it. He saw the pain in her eyes. The sadness. He would be the same way if it were her in his position. But before he drowned in the emerald sea, he broke the stare and turned around. His eyes, dead ahead. "I'll leave things in your charge Kaka-sensei."
He did not bother turning around to see Kakashi nod his head. Then, he disappeared into the forest.
All was quiet as the nin settled down and waited. Neji used his Byakugan to see Naruto through the forest.
"Can you see Sasuke, Neji?" asked Ino who was allowed to tag along after promising to just play a supporting medic role and stay away from combat shall it arise.
Neji concentrated a little, and squinted. He did this for a couple of seconds before he drew back a bit. "Yes I can see him. I don't see any of his comrades there, but I can barely see behind him so I'm not sure."
Kakashi turned a lazy eye to him.
"Is Hinata there?"
Neji, who had already checked for his cousin nodded. "She seems in good health, her charka is flowing perfectly."
Kakashi, upon hearing this nodded. At least his former student still had some kind of honor, keeping his word.
His last student, looked worriedly at where Naruto once stood.
He sent a silent thought to Naruto. The same thought that went through every one of the nin present.'Please come back.'
Hi no Kuni
Border Forest
"Are you hungry?" was the question.
She looked at him, his hand holding out the fire cooked fish.
"Slightly," was her response.
He got up, and walked over to her. Her hands tied to each other and her waist to the tree.
He stooped in front of her and she looked into his ebony eyes. She thought she was drowning in the bottomless black.
He pulled the chopstick and took some fish. She opened her mouth and accepted it without much hassle.
She stared at him as he looked at the morsel in his hand. Peeling skin away to get another piece to feed her.
"Why are you doing this Sasuke?"
Her voice was neither gentle nor firm. "I'm your hostage. You have no reason to treat me this well."
He looked at her in the eyes, forgetting the meal. She scoffed. "As a matter of fact, I'm being treated better than when I'm in Konoha even."
Sasuke continued his task of peeling away skin. "You're certainly not the shy Hinata anymore. The Hinata I knew would have been afraid that I poisoned this. But of course you already enhanced your sense of smell with chakra and know it's safe."
He fed her another piece of the meal.
Hinata scoffed before accepting. When she swallowed she continued her probe. "I didn't try to hide the fact that I didn't trust you not to poison me. After all, you are the enemy."
She looked at him, deep in the eyes. At this killer. At this traitor. "But that was an attempt to avoid the question Sasuke. So… why?"
Sasuke stopped and raised his head. He studied her for a bit but after a while he resumed his task.
He raised it to her mouth, and she opened. "Honor."
She accepted and chewed, but gave him a perplexed look. He saw this, and decided to humor her. "I'm a man of my word. And I gave Shikamaru my word that you would be fine once Naruto comes. I have no fight with you and thus I have no reason to let you suffer."
Now, it was Hinata's turn to raise an eyebrow. "So you have enough honor to keep me alive, yet you're cruel enough to use me as bait to lure a man who loved you like a brother so you can kill him?"
The fish that was making its way to her mouth never did. But she realized, as Sasuke's arm froze, his arm shook. Maybe there was remorse in this cold hearted killer after all.
"No."
She jolted. Did he just read her mind?
He looked up, his sharingan activated, and a grin on his face.
"There's no remorse…I'm just excited….aren't you? Naruto?"
Hinata's eyes grew as wide as saucers as Naruto, calmly stepped out of the trees and into the small clearing.
Sasuke turned around and looked at his former best friend.
"My my my. You've been such a handful these last few years Naruto."
Naruto clenched his teeth while looking at the traitor. He bent his head to the side a bit to look over Sasuke's shoulder.
"Are you ok Hinata-chan?" he asked.
Hinata gave a soft yes while looking at the two nins. She could feel the tension between them. It was so much that it seemed there was a physical change in the atmosphere. These were two of the most powerful nins alive, and they were getting ready for an epic battle. What a moment.
"How about it Naruto?" said Sasuke while nodding his head to the left.
"Wouldn't want her to get caught in the crossfire now would we?"
Naruto moved his eyes from Sasuke, back to Hinata, to Sasuke again. His face was serious and he gave but a mere nod. He would never forgive himself if Hinata got hurt.
Hinata swore loudly as they flashed out of her sight.
They dropped into a clearing not far from where they were before, but enough distance to be able to go all out.
They stood on opposite ends, neither making a move. Naruto looked around, but with no real interest. When his eyes landed back on Sasuke, he couldn't help but let out a dark chuckle.
"It's finally come to this huh?" said the blond. He closed his eyes and thought back to their genin days. The good times they had together. The way they would argue with one another. The way they would compete. The time they all tried to see Kakashi's face.
He opened his eyes and stared at what his then best friend had now become. A cold hearted killer, who had cut all bonds for the sake of power.
"It's going to over after this Naruto, one way or the other," said Sasuke, breaking Naruto out of his daydream.
The leader of 'Hawk' drew his chokuto while looking Naruto in the eyes. "No matter who wins, this is our last fight. I guarantee it."
Naruto drew a kunai from his pouch and held it in his hand, wishing he had his Anbu sword.
"I know it is," he drawled.
"You've been quiet recently and I have not had any reason to fight you again. But involving my precious people like that is where I have to draw the line Sasuke. I need to stop you, for me, and for you."
Sasuke now held his blade at his side and sneered. "Touching."
And then, he was gone.
Naruto dodged to his left and the spot he was on exploded with a loud boom. He rolled and quickly got to his feet in a crouched form waiting to pounce. As the dust cleared he saw what caused the explosion. Sasuke's blade was sparking and making bird like noises. Naruto guessed it was his Chidori being manipulated through the sword.
"That kunai won't stop my sword Naruto!" the Uchiha screamed as he made another quick dash to Naruto. He swung his sword down and almost smirked when he saw Naruto raise his kunai up in his defense. Almost. Because his blade did not cut through Naruto's kunai as he planned. Instead, his sword was parried and Naruto spun to his right and delivered a roundhouse kick which Sasuke ducked before bringing his sword up diagonally. Once again, it was stopped by Naruto's kunai.
As Sasuke looked at the kunai, he smirked.
"Clever."
Naruto, let out a smirk of his own. "You're not the only one who can use nature manipulation in their weapons you know."
"Hn."
Sasuke used his body to overpower Naruto's leverage on the kunai and their deadlock was broken. Naruto was vulnerable.
Sasuke thrust forward with his blade but Naruto bent backward, avoiding it, before dropping to his back then spinning and sweeping Sasuke's feet from under him.
The Uchiha fell as Naruto got up.
Naruto brought his kunai down only for his hand to be kicked away by Sasuke before it reached the missing nin's chest.
As Naruto recovered Sasuke did a cat spring onto his feet and brought his sword from above and right, and brought it down diagonally.
Naruto kicked Sasuke's hand and the sword flew straight into the bark of a tree.
Naruto saw this opening and thrust forward with his kunai only for Sasuke to sidestep it and take hold of his arm.
Sasuke twisted it so Naruto was forced to drop the kunai and bend towards the floor.
Sasuke then brought his foot up to kick Naruto but Naruto blocked with his other hand. Naruto then flipped forward to relieve his arm from the wrench that Sasuke had it in and deliever an elbow to Sasuke's face. As Sasuke was stumbling backwards from the blow he raised his foot and kicked Naruto in the chest, giving him momentum to flip backwards and land on his feet.
Naruto got in his senjutsu stance and Sasuke stood in the stance of the Uchiha.
They were both breathing hard and both were starting to sweat.
"Pant ….Looks like taijustu and kenjustu won't cut it….Pant" Naruto stated.
Sasuke who looked the calmer of the two merely grunted.
This was it. This was the moment, and neither wanted to rush the gun.
They stood still. Watching each other's movements. Looking for some sign that they were making their move. Their breathing stilled, their fingers itching. A bead of sweat made its way down Naruto's face, slowly. A calm night breeze blew lightly and leaves rustled. All was calm.
But, Naruto's hand twitched and that was all that was needed for Sasuke.
His hands were a blur as he ran through hand seals.
Snake, ram, monkey, boar, horse, tiger.
Naruto's eyes widened. 'That's-'
"Katon! Goukakyuu no justu!"
Sasuke's hand went to his mouth and he spewed fire. It was coming hard and fast and Naruto had barely registered what was happening in the first place. At the last second, he dodged the fireball, but not completely. This was obvious when he saw his singed Jounin vest.
As he smelt the burning rubber, he stared at the spot he was before. 'His fire jutsus have gotten even stronger than last time. Kuso'
He didn't have more time to think as Sasuke went through more seals.
"Katon! Housenka no jutsu!"
Lots of small fireballs made their ways at bullet speed to Naruto.
Naruto quickly went through hand seals of his own. "Doton! Doroku Gaeshi!"
Naruto's palms shot to the ground and summoned a wall of dirt and rock, shielding him from the fire jutsu.
Sasuke landed back on his feet after the jutsu and Naruto rushed forward to catch him off guard. But Naruto was already forming hand seals.
"Fuuton! Daitoppa no jutsu!"(Wind: Great Breakthrough technique)
Naruto's hands went to his mouth and he blew a huge gust of wind out.
'Shimatta! If I get hit with that I'm out.'
When it was mere centimeters away from Sasuke he barely finished making his seals before sinking into the ground.
The gust of wind carried on and leveled trees in its path making it look like a hurricane had passed through.
Naruto panted slightly while looking at the ground where Sasuke disappeared.
"One of the snake bastard's techniques?"
Sasuke slowly rose from the ground in a slouched position.
When he was finally above surface level again he threw his hair back to reveal his closed eyes.
When he opened them….his Mangekyou Sharingan was activated. The one he had acquired at fifteen.
"This is going to be a long night," he whispered, before the two rushed in and collided once more.
Hi no Kuni
Edge of the forested border
Ino sat on the ground, plucking grass aimlessly. Even though the situation was tense, two hours of waiting would bore anyone. Her gaze shifted to the right. Sakura was sitting as well, hugging her knees to her chest, forehead resting on them. Ino noticed the deep breaths her friend was taking. A breathing exercise taught to all med nin to reduce anxiety. Ino shifted across before placing her hand on Sakura's back. The latter glanced up.
"He'll be ok."
Sakura gave a weak smile.
"I know."
It wasn't even close to believable. Ino rubbed Sakura's back.
Sakura realising she couldn't fool her friend, sighed.
"I'm just fed up of doing this all the time..."
"Doing what?" Ino asked softly.
Sakura stared at the grass in front of her with a downcast expression.
"I'm always waiting. Always only useful after the battle. But I couldn't stand it anymore. I was determined to fight at Naruto's side."
Sakura's gaze found Ino's. Her eyes so fiery now that Ino was almost sweating.
"Which is why…I trained with Gai-sensei and Kaka-sensei in anti sharingan taijutsu."
Sakura closed her eyes as the memory came back to her. Training, giving her all. All of it was so she could protect her precious people….and her most precious person from their former teammate. Yet here she was, yet again, waiting around to do the smallest and stupidest things for Naruto. That is, waiting to heal him when he came back… if he came back. She bowed her head.
Ino just continued comforting the pink haired girl next to her until a thought popped in her mind. She stilled and went wide eyed. Her face then got solemn and she stared ahead blankly for a while. 'Looks like I'm the weakest of the Konoha 11.'
She sulked for a couple of seconds before something came to her mind. She shook off her self-doubts and looked up to the copy ninja. "Ne? Kaka-sensei?"
Kakashi who was walking back to the front of the group stopped and turned slightly.
"Nani?" he asked.
Ino cocked her head. "Why didn't you take up the position of Hokage when you were offered? I mean if you want to protect your precious people then it should be your main goal to be the village's leader."
As she looked at Kakashi, she saw a gentle smile in his eyes. She realized he knew what she was going to ask him before she even opened her mouth.
"The reason Ino-chan… is because of his near infinite chakra and the training method I created for him Naruto has more potential than I ever did."
Ino nodded. It made sense. After all, that kage bushin training Naruto did gave him years of experience in a week.
"So Naruto would have surpassed me in a few of years and I would have handed over the title to him anyway. He might as well get the diplomatic training now instead of me holding the title for him for that time."
Ino nodded again. "Makes sense. Che. That Naruto…always getting stronger. Any stronger and he'll be as strong as all the past Hokages combined," she said while laughing.
Kakashi turned around and started to walk again. "Oh no Ino….by the time he is thirty Naruto will be much stronger than that."
As Ino's eyes widened. She opened her mouth to shout her protests but she was cut off.
BOOM!
A loud explosion was heard and all the nin, Konoha and Suna, jumped to their feet.
Their eyes widened as they sensed the failing chakra of a certain blond shinobi.
Sakura sprinted into the forest with the others closely on her heels.
"Naruto!"
An: …Uh oh….poor Naruto…mu har har hahr! ok I need to work on my evil laugh. R + R ! And hey! I'm a girl so sorry if the fight scenes aren't too great. It's not my best thing.