Sweey:So my interent shut off... but get this... PLAYLIST STILL WORKS! So that means I can still listen to music even when my internet is off! KUPOW! WUTAH! Okay, so I'm gonna be an incredible nerd and listen to Naruto the eve of Christmas Eve... XD haha yeah, eating cheesecake... which I'm not a huge fan of... listen to Naruto music... and write another chapter of what not! XD Dude, this music is crazysauce! Wow... and I'm not even that in to Naruto. Kakashi is a rocking character tho. He's... he's wickedpudding! O_O Okay, enough chitchat, more writing, I know. These chapters don't write themselves you know. I get a lot of help from Kotaro...

Made you think, didn't I?

Nevertheless, continue, please and end this insanity!

Chapter Four: The Dragon, the Demon, and the Monkey

The thundering of hooves could be heard in the distance as the two shinobi lept through the trees and found a perch in a great pine tree that towered over the amy of trees.

"Wow, look at that. You led us right to them," Sasuke said quietly.

Kotaro gave him a sidelong look, the the Koga shinobi was far too engrossed with the movement of the horses.

Looking back down from the tree they were perched in, Kotaro could see the minute shapes of horsemen practicing in the fields. Quickly, he singled out the One-Eyed Dragon in his unmistakable blue armor and infamous cresent helmet emblem. He was riding his horse, practicing on a small course. Over to the side, his right eye, Kojuro was mounted upon his own steed, watching as his young friend went about destroying the scarecrows they had set up with watermelon heads. The One-Eyed Dragon's six katanas, the Dragon Claws, sliced with ease through the juicy, red-centered fruits.

...

"Whadya think of that, Kojuro?"

"As always, you are a master of the six swords technique, Lord Masamune," Kojuro answered as Masamune brought his mount, Slick Jacket, beside Kojuro's.

"This horse could outrun the wind," Masamune said, giving the black steed a heafty pat on its shoulder, taking a moment to stretch his crossed arms. "You know Kojuro, one day you outta try the six swords technique. I mean, what happens if I go? Who will keep my legacy if I'm gone?"

Kojuro frowned, shrugging, "Perhaps you should find an... apprentice?"

"An apprentice," Masamune repeated, considering it. He snickered, "Nah, not now! Too many parties to join without some kid on a pony slowin' the whole herd down!"

The One-Eyed Dragon pulled his steed around and it danced on its back legs until it once again faced the course. His men had replaced the watermelon heads, this time with oranges. Soon, cherries would replace those. Once again, he urged his horse forward.

As his black steed charged forth, Masamune saw something white out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head to look.

WIth his head cocked, mouth agape, and eye twitching Masamune watched as a white horse passed his own, with two mounts. One he recognized one as Sarutobi Sasuke, who lounged on the horse's rump behind a pair of feet. Masamune followed the pair of feet until he discovered what they were attatched to. Another ninja, with his arms crossed, was riding the horse standing up and doing so with relative ease and control.

Masamune stopped his mount, Slick Jacket, to watch this ninja in action. He had a sneaking suspicion that he knew who this guy was.

The ninja easily took out the first orange with a flick of a wrist, resulting in a kunai that sliced it neatly in half. Then as he approached the next two, placed in equal distance on either side of him. The ninja drew out two pinwheels and flipped to his hands in the saddle, somehow sticking the pinwheels between his toes in time to spin them around with his legs, cutting the two oranges in half. Even Masamune had to raise his brow at that, but despite such odd weaponry, his gritty smile told everyone exactly what he thought.

The next obstacle envovled three oranges all placed up high upon a post and lintel. The helmed ninja simply swiped his arm horizontally, resulting in three relatively large shuriken to appear and cut the three oranges in perfect cemetry. The very last target were a series of cheeries placed in different areas about a field. This time, the ninja did not remain mounted, or rather standing. He took to the sky, spreading a pair of slick black wings. After that people had a difficult time following him, even Sasuke had a look of confusion on his face. All they could see were the cherries being sliced and a slight blur where the ninja would pause to swing his blade through a cherry.

It was over before anyone had the chance to blink.

Masamune's smile broadened as he saw that the winged shinobi stood once again upon the white horse. Where had he found it anyhow? Ignoring his own question, he urged Slick Jacket to a canter and approached the two shinobi.

"Whether it's cherry blossoms or blood," Masamune muttered to himself, "They're all the same when splattered."

"Ah! Hey Masamune! Uh we were just dropping by to say hi," Sasuke said as the white horse approached him where he sat mounted upon Slick Jacket.

Masamune grunted, "As if it's not obvious Sasuke. You two came to see what I was up to, am I right?"

Sasuke lept off of the horse and perched on a nearby tree. "Well, kinda. By the way, Yukimura said hi."

"Awe, I was hopen to see the Tiger's cub and maybe have a spin off with him," Masamune said, "Too bad. Well, if you really want to know, we're just heading off to see who the new arrivals are and if they really are as interesting as the rumors say they are."

"Oh, what rumors?" Sasuke asked the One-Eyed Dragon, leaning closer to hear better.

Masamune smiled, "Eh? You haven't heard? What kind of ninja are you?"

Sasuke grinned, "I've been hanging out with a ninja who's taken an oath of silence, so word doesn't get to me very quickly." He jerked a thumb at Kotaro, "If only you knew! This guy is a legend, I'm tellin ya!"

Masamune looked back at the white horse, "Oh? So where's this legendary ninja now?"

Sasuke looked back at the empty saddle again in shock, "Ah damn it! He left me again!" The shinobi stood and placed a hand on his hip, using the other to screen his eyes from the sun, "He's gotta be around here somewhere."

Masamune snickered, "How about you try behind you?"

Sasuke turned and nearly fell out of the tree after he discovered the other shinobi's presense.

"That's sorta sad. Seeing as your a ninja and this guy just snuck up on you."

"Hah hah, very funny," Sasuke said dryly. "Anyways, we better get going. Eh, Kotaro?"

Masamune echoed the name, "Kotaro? Fumu Kotaro?" He looked at the helmed shinobi, "Didn't you work for Hisahide at one point?"

Kotaro looked at him, nodding his head only slightly.

"You employed by anyone right now? We could really use a shinobi like you right about now," Masamune said.

Kotaro nodded.

"Ah, so you are taken. Well, if you know of anyone looking for a job, let 'em know the Dragon of Oshu is highering."

"Yeah he will. Now Kotaro, aren't we supposed to be... you know... heading that way," Sasuke jerked his thumb toward the direction of the coast.

Kotaro didn't even nod his agreement before he dashed forth, Sasuke following closely behind.

"I think I'm starting to understand you better," Sasuke said between ragged breaths.

Kotaro rolled his eyes. There was so much that Sasuke didn't know. So much that this shinobi would never come to learn. In fact, no one would ever come to find out Kotaro's secrets, so long as he was alive.

Sweey: I'm gonna call it quits here for now. But I'll be back with another chap soon. Sorry it was so short... don't worry, hopefully the next will be a might longer! ;D