Flaming Heart

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO.

Minato chuckled and nodded, "Sorry, I'll leave the next ones for you?" he asked with a smile. His smile was soft and sincere, and Kushina found herself nodding in spite of herself as a faint weird sensation took over her stomach. She looked away from his intense staring and turned her back on him.

By Kami, this couldn't be happening. She couldn't be possible be blushing, could she?

"I can't believe this," Minato voice sounded outrageous and all her previous thoughts including her crimson blush instantly faded away.

"What? What is it?" She asked as she approached the blond-haired who was holding on to something.

"This," he told her as he threw it to her.

Kushina mouth opened in shock as she looked at the headband. It was the same headband she had on her head.

"W-what?" she whispered as her eyes stared at the headband she was holding.

Minato frowned slightly, "Look… this guy's from Grass,"

"They all have different headbands…" Kushina added as she dropped the headband on the floor as if it was cursed, "Traitors… missing nins probably,"

"Hai, so it seems," Minato said as he stared at the fortress, "Hold on Rin… Kakashi… we're coming."

"Ne… Minato, do you… do you think that new girl had something to do with this?" Kushina asked as she followed the blond-haired man towards the front gate.

Minato did not answer. Kushina could read his intense blue eyes and they had danger written on them. Kushina could only hope for the new girl sake that she was not involved, because the red-haired nin knew that Minato would not spare the new girl, especially, if one of his students got hurt.

Kushina stopped as she bumped against something solid, "Oww!" She slowly raised her head and stared at Minato's back.

Minato rolled his eyes, "Do you even stare at where you're going?" he asked as he stared at the wide opened gate.

"Watch out!" Kushina replied as she pushed him to the side as a shuriken flew right past them.

"OOooOh just look at what we have here…" a cold feminine voice echoed.

"Aha, seems like we get to have some fun as well," another voice replied, this time a male rough voice.

Minato's jaw hardened as he stared at his surrounding area. He couldn't see where the enemy was. Kushina stared ahead, her both hands were already clutching to a kunai.

"Leaf… and Whirlpool?" the male voice asked, his tone was filled with surprise.

"Interesting, isn't it?" the female voice added in.

"Show yourselves!" said Kushina as she tried to focus her hearing on their location.

The female giggled which made the red-haired nin twist with anger.

"Calm down," Minato whispered as he stared straight ahead, "Don't go using-"

"Kage bunshin no jutsu!"

"Right…" said Minato as he watched dozens of red-haired replicates jumping around.

She never listens… he thought as he watched one of the clones disappear into a mass of cloud.

The female voice kept giggling as the red-haired nin clones disappeared. Kushina groaned in irritation. Minato narrowed his eyes as two shuriken came in his direction. He raised his arm and with a swift movement he had a kunai in his hand and he deflected the shuriken with ease.

The female irritating voice stopped giggling and silence ruled over.

"Nice one blondie!" Kushina replied as she gave him the thumbs up. Minato shook his head at her easy-going attitude.

"Kushina…" Minato said as he could feel that something wasn't quite right.

"Hai," Kushina replied without even letting him finish. Her laid back attitude vanished at once as she straightened up, all of her senses in red alert.

Minato quickly placed himself in a defense position. The enemy had the upper hand. Their position was unknown and they could attack at any moment. Not only their position was unknown but also their ability to mask their chakra was perfect.

"Hmm,"

"Hmm?" Kushina asked as she spared him a worried look.

"Shh! I'm trying to think here," Minato said earning a glare from the red-haired nin.

"Well hurry up!" she answered quite innerved with the lack of sound or movements.

"Well if you'll just shut up then I might be able to-" Minato stopped abruptly leaving Kushina to stare at him while her foot tapped the floor in an impatient manner.

His blue eyes scanned the area one more time. He observed the tall trees, the leaves were calm and the fact that a few birds were taking the tree branches as a shelter from the rain indicated that they couldn't possibly be there. His eye then darted away to the main gate and then to it's left where a tower was standing. His jaw hardened and his eyes narrowed at the lack of evidence.

A gasp interrupted Minato's thoughts; he spared a look at Kushina who had her hand on her cheek. Red colour decorated her fingertips.

"I must say I am truly impressed that you've managed to dodge that one in time," the rough male voice spoke and Kushina tensed. The voice was right behind her and yet she couldn't see anyone.

Suddenly, she felt something grab her arm. Minato had pushed her towards him. His eyes widened and his lips parted in surprise as he noticed the movement of the enemy kunai cut through the air, sending the droplets of rain in an unusual direction.

"M-Minato?" Kushina asked as Minato jumped backwards and watched as his kunai stopped in mid-air. The sound of metal clash together.

"What?!" the female voice sounded beyond shocked.

"Aah… camouflage technique," Minato said as a smirk adorned his lips, "Very clever,"

Kushina eyes widened as she stared at the blond-haired man in front of him. She couldn't fight the small feeling of admiration swim through her. He was indeed one of the best shinobi of their generation. Kushina lips formed a shy smile as Minato smirked.

Now that the blond had figured out their trick, there was no possible escape route for them.

Kakashi spat the amount of blood inside his mouth to the floor as he glared at the blank masked nin. His free hand trembled slightly as he moved it towards his headband.

The masked nin remained quiet and silent as he watched the panting silver-haired teenager remove his headband revealing a crimson eye.

"Sharingan?" the masked nin asked. If he was surprised nothing in his tone of voice demonstrated so.

Kakashi did not reply. Instead the grip on his kunai increased.

"My… my! Things are getting more interesting!" the masked nin added cheerfully, earning a confusing look from the leaf teenager, "Here I was thinking that this fight would be a total bore! I guess I was wrong. Come on now… show me what you've got!"

"Bastard!" Kakashi groaned as he took a step forward.

The masked nin dropped his stance while sliding his right foot forward to even out his balance. He turned his right shoulder in and strikes a combat pose.

Kakashi remained calm as he watched the enemy shinobi hand grasp something from his robe.

"You know what this is?" the masked nin asked as he showed the odd metal ball that he was holding to, "Of course you don't know what it is. Allow me to explain. This is my weapon." The masked nin laughed and Kakashi merely stared at him as if he was insane, "you're friend over there and my weapon have already met each other,"

The masked nin squealed in delight as Kakashi came running at him.

Kakashi ran towards the other shinobi who dodged his attacks. Kakashi moved as fast as he could but he still couldn't land a single hit on the masked nin.

"My turn!" the masked nin exclaimed excitedly.

Kakashi jumped back as the small metal ball hit the floor. His eyes widened at the sight of the wide whip that the masked nin was now holding in his hands.

Laugher and a scream of horror echoed in the room. Rin brown eyes widened as Kakashi was caught off guard and was hit by the spiky metal of the masked nin whip. It had hit Kakashi left arm, leaving it bleeding.

Kakashi head turned toward a heavily injured Rin who was stubbornly trying to stand up, her left hand glowing green healing her right arm which was broken.

"Stay there!" Kakashi ordered roughly.

"Fool! Pay attention to the fight!"

Kakashi returned his attention to the masked nin and a gasp left his mouth as another hit landed on the same spot.

"Shit," Kakashi cursed as the masked nin laugher still echoed in his ears.

The silver-haired nin watched carefully as another swing of his whip was coming right in his way. Smirking Kakashi suddenly vanished and reappeared behind the other shinobi. By the time that the masked nin noticed, Kakashi had already carved his kunai on the shinobi's back. Then jumping, he managed to land a kick on the masked-nin head sending him flying across the room towards the wall.

Kakashi turned his back on the broken wall and walked towards his team mate.

"Kakashi!" Rin screamed in horror.

The silver-haired nin quickly dodged the multiple shuriken.

"You're pretty fast!" the masked nin said as he cleaned his robes from the dust.

Kakashi did not reply. Instead he launched himself through the air towards the other shinobi. The masked nin held his whip and stared ahead with a smug look on his face which only annoyed the silver-haired teenager further.

The moment Kakashi came down, the enemy shinobi gasped as he noticed something form on the silver-haired nin hand.

"KAKASHI NO!" Rin yelled as her brown eyes widened in shock.

"RAIKIRI!" Kakashi cried out as a blue-whitish light took over the badly illuminated room.

Rin cried out as an excruciating pain took over her entire body. Every step she made, it was as if she was still being tortured. She could even hear her bones cracking softly.

"Kakashi!" she cried as she watched the silver-haired nin fall down on his knees.

The silver-haired ninja on the other hand completely ignored Rin's cries as he was to busy to stare at the other man whose mask had fallen to the floor. His dark and crimson eye stared in pure shock at the familiar face.

"Hitoshi?" Kakashi asked as the other shinobi also fell down on his knees. Kakashi dropped the kunai and held on to his stomach which was bleeding due to Hitoshi cut.

Kakashi had time to dodge the whip thanks to his sharingan as he used his Raikiri, however, not dodging the hit would make his lightening blade more efficient.

"Hehehehe!" Hitoshi giggled as blood came out of his mouth, "Just what I'd expect from yellow-flash pupil," then he closed his eyes and fell on his back, lifeless.

"Kakashi-kun!" Rin cried out as she allowed herself to fall next to him, her good arm pulled his bloodied form towards her, "K-kkka-kashi-kun!"

The copy-nin groaned softly as some of her tears ended on his shoulder, "I'm fine… really,"

"Y-you baka!" said Rin as she looked straight at him, "The sharingan still takes a lot of you, and then using that s-stupid t-technique of y-yours-"

"Rin… shhh," a small smile formed underneath his mask.

"Baka…" Rin repeated as she focused more chakra on her hand, "let me see your wound,"

Kushina smiled broadly at the two dead bodies in front of her, "Aha! Take that!" she cheerfully said as she pointed her index finger at the female body.

Minato blinked stupidly as he stared at the red-haired woman who seemed to be enjoying herself, "You do realize she's dead and that she can't hear you now, right?" he asked as cleaned his kunai to the dead male body clothes.

"Yeah, so?" said Kushina as she turned to stare at the blond, "It still makes me feel great!!"

Minato rolled his eyes and stood up, "Let's go,"

Kushina nodded promptly and hurried to catch up with the blond-haired man steps. She placed herself in his right side and stared at him with a wide smile gracing her expression. He looked back at her with a curious expression, his deep blue-eyes beaming at her smile.

They both stepped inside the front gate and immediately focused on their surroundings. They came to a circular area where there seemed to be a mass of doors as they walked further inside. There were also three different paths, one to the left, one in the middle and other in the right. They were long corridors which contained many different doors.

"Well, this sucks," Kushina said as she evaluated their situation.

"I guess we just have to check all them out," Minato answered as he stared at the corridor in the middle.

"It would be faster if we just split up and then-"

"No," said Minato as he spared her a serious look, "You're not leaving my sight,"

"Really Minato, now's not the time to try and use flirting techniques of yours-"

"It's not that," Minato quickly added, "We don't know what type of enemies are they, and besides we are obviously out numbered,"

"Pfft," said Kushina as she crossed her arms around her chest. Whether displeased that he wasn't going to try to flirt with her or his lack of confidence in her abilities.

Suddenly, all her bad mood vanished as an alarm sound echoed through her ears. Minato and Kushina traded worried looks as they stared at the now opened doors, revealing more and more enemy shinobi.

"Out numbered you said?" Kushina asked as she positioned herself into a defensive posture.

"Seems like I'm always right," Minato added as he shrugged his shoulders. His back touching her back as they both eyed their enemy.

"Don't get so full of yourself," Kushina snorted and her hands came together, "Kage bunshin no jutsu!"

"Well… I guess that makes it even," Minato said as two of Kushina clones took one of the enemy shinobi down.

"Sakura… Sakura Haruno," Sakura said her name but Tarou didn't quite hear it as a loud bang was heard not too far from them.

"What the-" Tarou didn't have time to finish his sentence as his office door was opened without any ceremony revealing two tall shinobi.

"Someone's here!" one of the shinobi said as he stared at Tarou which features twisted in absolute anger.

Sakura bit her lip as Tarou stood up and walked towards the other two shinobi. His back turned on her. Her rosy lips suddenly curved into a sly smile as she could feel it run through her.

Her chakra.

The pink-haired girl hands turned into fists and Tarou tensed as he could feel her killing instinct.

Sakura quickly launched herself towards him, her punch ready to hit the back of his head when something burned her arm. She quickly pulled her arm back and stared at Tarou who had a satisfied smirk on his features.

"Congratulations, you almost… got me,"

"Hn," Sakura simply said in a cheap imitation of Sasuke's grunt and glared at the man in front of her while the other two shinobi simply stood at the door entrance, staring, and awaiting for orders.

"How disappointing," said Tarou as his eyes fell on Sakura emerald ones, "I was getting quite excited to be able to work with the Rain country… but it seems that you won't be able to make it possible for me… since you are no spy, correct?"

Sakura did not answer as she stared at the horrible man in front of her. The pink-haired girl furrowed her eyebrows as she pondered on her chances to escape. They were none. The odd old office had no windows and to make it worse, her way out was blocked by other two enemy shinobi.

Tarou smirked as he watched the pink-haired kunoichi frown. It seemed that she was not as stupid as he previously had thought. Of course, he suspected that she was not from the Rain Country. First, there weren't many kunoichi of the Rain country and with the current war happening, there was no way that the Rain country would allow themselves to send a spy all the way to fire country while they were needing every single shinobi at the battle field.

Grinning broadly, he raised an expectantly eyebrow.

"That would have been quite a punch," he said as he noticed her fiery emerald eyes on him, "I dare to say that it would have probably knocked me out if the hit had landed on me,"

I have to fight them if I want to get out of here… my chakra is still low… dammit! Sakura thought as she burned holes with her furious glare on the man in front of her.

Then you have to make sure that you do not miss. Sakura eyes widened at the other voice inside her head. What? Missed me haven't you? The pink-haired girl shook her head softly. She couldn't be allowed to have any distractions if she was going to fight. Perhaps you should play safe, you know? You have to win time and then… you strike… yes… you know exactly what I'm talking about.

There is no way I'll have enough chakra to do it, Sakura thought as she considered her inner self suggestions.

"Hahahaha! You're considering to fight me?" the man asked with a disdain tone of voice. His eye grew and Sakura would be sure that his eyebrow would have risen in a mocking way, if he had one. Due to his extensive burnings, he had no single hair.

"Shut up," Sakura whispered threateningly. Her heart was beating strong against her chest.

"I beg your pardon?" Tarou smirked inwardly.

"I said shut up!" Sakura cried out as she ran towards him. A frown came to her pale features as the man blocked every hit. She had to rely on her taijutsu until she had enough chakra.

"This is all you got?!" Tarou added as a mocking laugher escaped his mouth.

Groaning and pushing herself forward, Sakura managed to land a kick on the man's stomach. She smiled and inner Sakura cheered, however, the small victory ended soon enough as Sakura green orbs widened in shock as a sharp pain took over her leg.

Tarou had his both hands around her ankle, a sick smile adorning his torn features. His hands were surrounded with chakra and Sakura felt something burn her legs. Her eyes widened and she tried to pull her leg back but the man's grip was too strong.

The burning sensation kept increasing even though there was no flames or fire.

"Hahaha! How you like that?" the man asked with a taunting look on his dark eyes, "It's a quite famous trait of my clan!"

Shit! Shit! Shit! Sakura cursed mentally as her whole body trembled. Her leg was becoming sweaty and she could see tiny bubbles of burnt grow on her skin. How the hell he does that? I don't see any fire…

Now! Do it NOW! Inner Sakura shouted as her arms waved in the air, her mouth hanged open in desperation.

Clenching her teeth together, Sakura forced her chakra down her leg. A satisfied look crossed her painful expression as Tarou's grip on her ankle vanished.

"What did you do?" Tarou asked in irritation.

Sakura jumped backwards in order to keep a safe distance. She regained her posture and ignored the sharp pain on her leg. Her eyes were fixed on the monster standing in front of her. She had to be careful now. It seemed that Tarou possessed a dangerous technique. He could burn things without creating a fire. Furrowing her eyebrows she glared at him. She would have to avoid to be touched by those hands of him. However, it seemed that her chakra was able to repel his technique.

Smiling slightly, she spared a cautious look at the other guards who were still standing at the door waiting for orders. Perhaps, if she was lucky, she would be able to take the three down at once.

Sakura cracked the knuckles in her fist. Her green orbs beamed dangerously as she dodged Tarou's attacks. The man's expression was a mix with anger and shock.

"You're good," Tarou said as he tried another punch.

Sakura snorted as she easily dodged it, "Anyone could dodge that," she answered as she added her fist causing the man to jump backwards in order to avoid it. The pink-haired girl bit her lower lip in annoyance as Tarou hadn't yet fell on her trap.

The pink-haired girl readied herself for one more time when suddenly Tarou waved good-bye at her.

"Hah… well enough of this," Tarou said as he stared at Sakura in amusement, "thank you for providing me enough entertainment for today. It seems that my guest has finally arrived,"

"What?" Sakura asked as the man turned his back on her, "Where do you think you're going?"

"Me?" Tarou replied with a mocking tone, "To greet my guest of course,"

"But we're not done here!" she growled in anger at the man's nerve.

"Oh?" said Tarou as he looked at her, "Is there more? All you can do is dodge my attacks,"

"Bastard," Sakura cursed under her breathe as she stared at his mocking smile.

"My… my! No need to get so ang- hey! What are you-" Tarou eye's widened at Sakura's hands signs.

"kyushu no chakra!"

Sakura eyes narrowed and she focused all her chakra on her palm, This is it… she thought as she swallowed dry, If I fail… then… I guess I die?

Well… unfortunately for you that is not an option! If you die, I die! Besides what about Naruto and Sasuke? We are their only hope you baka!

Sakura nodded and ran towards the smirking Tarou.

"I don't know what you did but if you think that you-" Tarou cursed out loud as he barely dodged her kick, "Heh…"

"Hn, don't get so confident,"

Tarou's form tensed and the two watching guards came running towards him. Sakura smiled as the palm of her hand collided with the back of his neck, nearly crushing it. Her emerald eyes widened as she could feel her chakra replenishing.

"W-what… are you…-"

"Don't you move or I crush his neck," Sakura warned dangerously. Both guards immediately stopped. They stared at Tarou expectantly who slowly nodded.

"My… chakra..."

"Ah, yes. You were too busy deflecting my kick that you didn't notice that you were under an illusion," Sakura smiled brightly as her hand still held Tarou's neck as if he was a mere toy. She mentally thanked Tsunade for convincing Kurenai to help her with genjutsu, "And you must be wondering what's happening to your chakra, ne? Is simply really… I'm draining it all,"

"What?" Tarou asked as his eyes widened in absolute horror. He tried to move but the grip of Sakura fingers around his neck simply threatened his life further.

"Yep!" Sakura added cheerfully, "So… I'll just wait until you're completely out of chakra or perhaps I could kill you right now… Hmm," Sakura made a pondering face making the other two guards stare at her in fear.

"You'll never make it out of here alive," Tarou threatened, his eyes slowly closing as he felt himself become dizzy. His sight was becoming nothing more than colorful blurs.

"Heh… do you know who you're talking with?" Sakura whispered in his ear, enjoying the power in making the man shake with fear, "I'm Tsunade-Shishou apprentice,"

The bar was crowded as usual, the waiters rushed back and forth in order to keep up with the clients requests. There was a loud singer on the stage which was getting displeasing insults of some of the drunken men.

On one of the furthest tables, right at the corner of the bar next to the ladies bathroom stood a tall blonde-haired woman. All of her attention was on her empty cup. The waiter, a nice looking man winked at her as he refilled the cup with more sake and she simply missed it or if she noticed it, she didn't seem to care at all.

A dark-haired young girl sighed as she stared at the blonde-haired woman who was unusual quiet.

The blonde woman eyed the cup with new eyes and quickly emptied once again and put the cup back. "More!!" she said as pointed at the wooden cup. Her pale cheeks were already turning slightly pink.

"That's the way to chug it down!" the good-looking waiter said as he chuckled and poured down more sake.

"Shut it!" the blonde-haired woman rudely answered back. The waiter blinked a few times at her rude remark, obviously not expecting to be turned down. He then turned around and left towards another table.

The dark-haired young girl shook her head slightly as if she disapproved the blonde-haired woman manners, "I… I think it is enough for today," the young girl said in what she hoped to be a brave tone of voice. Her dark eyes lingered a mere seconds as she stared at light brown eyes filled with life.

"Nop! I'm just getting started!" the older woman answered as she smiled at the dark-haired girl, "Today we made good money! So we have to celebrate and then- Ahh.. Ahhh… Ahhchoo!"

"Tsunade-sama! Someone must be talking about you!" The dark-haired girl said excitedly.

"Of course! Shizune…" Tsunade added as she laughed, "…I'm pretty famous! I'm one of the Legendary Sennin!"

Shizune rolled her eyes and watched as the blonde-haired woman head went backwards as she let out another sneeze.

"Tsunade?" Tarou repeated, "The legendary Sennin?" The man opened his mouth to say something else but nothing ever came out as he lost consciousness.

"Well… who's next?" Sakura asked and the two guards jumped startled as she closed her hands into fists.

One of the guards quickly turned his back on her and ran out of the door while the other simply sweated and asked for mercy. Sakura slowly walked past him and ignored him. She couldn't waste any more time, she needed to find Kakashi and Rin.

She stopped at the door and looked behind towards the scared nin, "You… can you take me back to the cells?"

The nin face twisted in confusion but nodded all the same.

A/N: First of all I want to thank every single one who has followed the story so far! –squeals in delight- Now this is my first attempt at describing fighting scenes. As you all can realize, it's not that great, but I hope you still could get the hold of it. Please review and let me know what you think! Thanks again for reading so far!!