Yo!!! Sorry about the long wait. Life caught up to me, and the roughest part of being a Senior has arrived: College Apps. My time is caught between getting stuff for College, so I might not be able to update every two weeks, but I will try. Till then, Read and Review.

Chapter 13: Raven Takes Konoha's Slug Princess by Storm!!!

Raven knew this would be the toughest fight of his life. Sakura was known as the Hokage's Apprentice for a reason. Raven could feel the power she had radiating off of her, and he smirked. "You ready for this? I don't like to hold back." Sakura said, and Raven smirked even broader.

"You think you could take me?" Raven asked. She glared, and Raven stood on the branch he was sitting on. "I say bring it. To make it easier for you, I'll leave my headband on this branch." Raven said, and smirked when Sakura scowled. Before he knew what was happening, he had to hop away as the tree he was in shattered thanks to one punch. He zipped into another tree, and stood there.

"Such a fiery temper for one so feminine." Raven said, and Sakura threw a tree stump at him, which he ducked under. He hopped to the ground, and landed across from her. "You ready, Sakura? I don't like to hold back for long." Raven said, as he slowly released his chakra. "You face the American Demon. Think you can win?" He unsheathed Fenrir, and let the dull end rest on his back.

Sakura took that as the go signal, and charged. Raven took his defensive stance, and waited. A few yards away, Sakura hopped into the air. (Trying an aerial attack, huh?) Raven thought to himself, smirking. But that sadly wasn't the case. When she came down, instead of flying at him, she slammed her fist into the ground, and rocks began to shoot up from the ground.

Raven's eyes widened. (Using the rocks to conceal her movements? That wasn't what I thought she would do.) Raven thought, and since there were rocks everywhere, he couldn't see where Sakura had run off to. He maintained his wary aura, and was using his chakra to see if he could scope Sakura out. He got his answer when a fist came from underground, and caught his foot.

"!?"He let out a surprised yelp, before he was dragged underground, only his head staying above ground. It took a few seconds, but Raven began to frown. "You know, I don't like being your joke, thank you very much." Raven said, and Sakura began to chuckle. "You said you could beat me? Seems like I already won." Sakura said, and Raven closed his eyes and smiled.

"Ah, but my young Sakura-chan. You've only captured a log." Raven said, before he poofed into a log. Sakura's eyes widened, and Raven chuckled. "So Sakura. Catch me if you can." Raven said, as his voice traveled across the forest. "Come out and fight!" Sakura screamed, and Raven chuckled, which cause Sakura to get angry.

"Yes. It would be so smart of me to come out just because you told me to." Raven said, and chuckled again. "Well…okay!!" Sakura didn't feel his chakra, and he appeared right behind her, with his katana pressed into her back. "You rang?" Raven asked, smirking. "I did." Sakura said, and slammed her foot into the ground, creating a crater.

Raven lost his footing, and Sakura kicked him dead in his chest, causing him to fly through 5 trees before he hit the side of a cliff, leaving a pretty deep dent. Raven slumped to the ground, and coughed up a little blood. (I think she got a rib.) Raven thought, and coughed a little.

(Strong kick.) Raven chuckled to himself. (That was careless. I didn't consider she could do that Super Strength Jutsu with her feet also.) Raven stood to his feet, and faltered. (That really hurt. One more of those and I'm a goner.) Raven thought to himself, as Sakura walked to him. "You ready to quit?" She asked smirking, and Raven smirked right back, which caused Sakura to give him a wary look. "I'm ready for Round Two!!" He said, as he activated the Frosty Eye.

Sakura looked at his pupil-less blue eyes, and smirked. "No Sharingan?" She asked. "If I need it, I'll use it. For now, you don't seem like you're worth it." He said offhandedly, and she scowled at him. She growled, and charged again. This time, Raven sheathed his sword, seeing as if he used it at this point, he may accidentally kill her, and created an Ice Clone.

Taking charge, the Crystal Raven attacked Sakura. In one swift punch, it was shattered. But behind the clone came a pillar of Ice shooting from the ground, and landing a hit on Sakura's gut. She flew into the air, before she recovered, and landed on her feet. Raven then closed his eyes, as two more Ice Clones appeared.

"Now, let's dance!" Raven said, and his clones charged. Sakura once again, wasted no time in getting rid of the Ice Clones, and she then jumped away when some Crystal Ravens (the bird) dive-bomb where she was standing. She continued jumping, and landed in the trees, as the forest was turned into a frosty wasteland.

"Ah. I feel much better." Raven said, as Sakura could feel the cold biting at her. "You cold?" Raven asked, and Sakura scowled. She jumped off the tree, and landed on the ice, which caused her eyes to widen. She brought her hands into a seal, and chanted 'Release.' Immediately, the ice forest turned back into the regular forest, and Sakura smirked.

"I thought I wasn't worthy of your Frosty Sharingan." "Don't be quick to undermine me. I don't need Sharingan to use my Illusion Arts." Sakura's eyes widened, and she looked around, looking for Raven. "Indulge me, how did you know it was a Genjutsu?" Raven asked. "If it were truly ice, I would have been able to see my reflection, since the sun is still out." Sakura said. "I see."

That was all Raven said before he launched from the trees, with an Ice Bo Staff in hand. Sakura turned and tried to punch him, but he launched himself into the air thanks to the staff, and the sun glared at Sakura, blinding her a little. "Lightning Style: Lightning Gun Beam!!" Sakura could see the outline of a beam of electricity nearly hit her. She brought her hand up, and blocked an ice powered fist, and punched Raven in the side of his face. His eyes widened in pain, as he flew head first into some trees.

Sakura thought he was waiting for her to let her guard down, but when he didn't move after 30 seconds, she was worried she killed him. Going into Medic Mode, she ran after him, and began to take a look at his condition. He was out cold, and wasn't moving, but he would live with no serious damage.

"Oh man. I didn't mean to do this to you!" Sakura said panicking a little, as Raven opened his eyes a little, back to their brown color. Raven didn't acknowledge what she said, because his head felt like it was just split by an axe. "Okay. You aren't dead, or comatose." Sakura muttered to herself, as Raven chuckled a little. "But I am in some extreme pain." He said, as he brought his hand to his head.

"I didn't come with the intent to kill. Inflict serious wounds maybe, but that last attack could have killed me." Raven said, or groaned, Sakura couldn't tell. "Your fault. Shouldn't have challenged me." She said, though playfully. "Bite me." Raven shot back half-heartedly. Sakura chuckled, as she healed him.

"You know, I could take your headband, and there would be nothing stopping me." Sakura said. "I still have one trick up my sleeve in case you decide to jump me for my band." Raven said, as he smirked his usual smirk. Since the sun was flashing at just the right moment, Raven's face sort of glowed. Sakura blushed and turned away, and Raven looked to her confused.

"You sick or something? You turned really red just now." Being raised from childhood as a warrior for the President had shot any knowledge of girls out the window. In short: Raven was painfully oblivious to the reason Sakura blushed. She merely shook her head, and jumped to her feet.

"I-I-I gotta run!!!" She said, as she disappeared in a poof of Sakura Leaves. Raven looked confused for a second, before he shrugged, got to his feet, and headed for the place the boys were to meet at. "Meh. I failed, but I didn't lose my headband. I call this one a draw." Raven said, as he walked, chuckling.

(Meeting Place for the Boys)

Blade and Naruto were the first to arrive. They saw each other's lack of headbands, and both of them lowered their heads in shame. "Defeated by ramen…" Naruto said. "Defeated by Ino…" Blade said, and both sighed. "Who took your band?" Blade asked.

"That girl who isn't part of the Konoha 12." Naruto said. They both then chatted about miscellaneous stuff, before Neji walked in, his headband on his head proudly. "Knew you wouldn't lose genius." Blade said. "Knew you two would lose." Neji said smirking, and both blond nin glared. "Shut up!!!" They both said.

"I figured you two would lose. You weaknesses are so obvious, it's sad." Neji said, smirking. "Naruto, even someone like Hanabi could control you if they gave you ramen." Neji said, and Naruto flipped him off. "If anything, the last person I would worry about is Sasuke." Neji said, as Sasuke walked in. They all turned to him, and sweat dropped.

"TEME!!! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOUR HEADBAND!?!?!" Naruto screamed, and Neji and Blade looked like hell froze over. "Don't tell me you let Sakura take your headband…" Neji said, and Sasuke looked away, glaring at nothing. "It wasn't Sakura." Was all he said.

"Tenten!?" "No. She came after me." Neji shot down Naruto's next guess, and they all sat down to think. Then, lavender eyes filled their minds, and they all had wide eyes. "Don't tell me…" Naruto said. "She couldn't have…" Neji said. "How would she…" Blade muttered, before Naruto shot to his feet, eyes white, glaring at Sasuke.

"HOW THE HELL DID HINATA GET YOUR HEADBAND!??!" Naruto screamed, and everyone turned to Sasuke, who blushed a little bit. Everyone's (including Neji's) eyes turned white (anime white) from shock.

"PLEASE TELL ME YOU DID NOT JUST BLUSH!!!!!" Blade screamed. "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO MY COUSIN!?!?" Yes, even Neji had to scream at Sasuke. "Nothing happened. Though, if things had been different…" Sasuke began to muse, before Neji glared at him. "Knock it off, pervert." Neji said in a cold voice, and Sasuke looked to him, smirking.

"Makes you mad that your cousin may start to come on to me?" Sasuke asked. Neji scowled, as his Byakugan activated. Sasuke activated his Sharingan, and crimson glared at light purple eyes. "Will you two knock it off?" Everyone turned, and saw Raven walking in.

"Neji, stop threatening bodily harm to Sasuke. And Sasuke-" Raven got a look at his headband-less forehead, and his eyes turned white. "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOUR HEADBAND!?!?! WHO COULD TAKE IT FROM YOU OF ALL PEOPLE!?!?!" Raven screamed, and Naruto smirked. "You wouldn't believe it!! Hinata took it from him!!!" Naruto said, smirking at Sasuke, who scowled at him. "Seriously!? Quiet, shy, keeps to herself Hinata defeated Sasuke!?" Raven asked, before he began to chuckle, and then he fell to the ground, laughing hysterically. Sasuke scowled.

"Knock it off, teme." Sasuke said, and Raven smirked. "Oh. Little boy mad because he has a crush? Seems like Mr. Stick-in-the-ass may have feelings for Hinata." Raven teased, as Sasuke activated Sharingan, glaring. "Shut up dobe. Shouldn't you be worrying about things like your country instead of trying to play matchmaker? Or have you given it up?" Sasuke taunted coldly, letting his annoyance get to him.

Raven shot up, cold fury on his face as his Frosty Sharingan activated. "Don't try talking about my fight, cousin." Raven said just as coldly as Sasuke had. Before they could come to blows, Neji stood in between them. "Knock it off both of you." Neji said. Both nin deactivated their eyes, and looked away from each other.

"Fine. You're right Neji. We need a plan to get our bands back." Naruto said. "But first, we need to plan Sasuke's wedding. I'm sure him and Hinata would make a great newlywed." Blade said, as him, Naruto, and Raven fell to the ground, laughing in pain. Sasuke began to twitch, and Neji backed away feeling the electricity in the air.

(Girl's meeting place)

It wasn't a surprise when Ino and Mika had Naruto and Blade's headbands, but when Sakura and Tenten showed up with nothing, they shook their heads. "Figures that Neji wouldn't lose his headband." Ino said, and Tenten sighed. "Raven is just as out there as he is." Sakura said. Then they all had disheartened looks.

"It wasn't the best idea to send Hinata after Sasuke-kun." Sakura said, as Hinata walked in, with Sasuke's headband around her forehead. The girls looked utterly speechless. "…" The girls were stunned. "How? How did you get Sasuke-kun's headband?" Sakura asked, awed. Before Hinata could answer, or make something up, they heard an explosion in the distance. They turned to each other, and disappeared.

(With Boys)

"You don't think that was a little much, Sasuke?" Neji asked. Sasuke created a new attack he called Chidori Dome that completely leveled the hideout the boys were using. "No." Sasuke said. They both heard some shuffling, as Naruto came out of the debris he was under. "Damn. The Dobe survived." Sasuke said.

"WHAT THE HELL, TEME!?!? THAT COULD HAVE KILLED ME!!!!" Naruto screamed in anger. "I think that was the point." Neji said, shaking his head. "Should learn to control your temper." Blade said, as him and Raven came out of the debris they were under. "If you are done trying to make life easier for the Kunoichi, can you explain how you lost your headband?" Raven asked.

"I underestimated her." Sasuke said. "Liar. You knew what her skills were." Neji said, and Sasuke scowled at him. "She caught me off-guard, okay!? Damn." Sasuke said, glaring at Neji, who smirked triumphantly. "I see. That's no surprise." Raven said. "How so?" Naruto asked.

"Could any of you honestly sleep at night knowing you beat the hell out of someone like Hinata?" Raven asked. None of them said anything, but they all knew the answer. "Hn." Sasuke said, as Raven chuckled. "Now Sakura, on the other hand. She is a man in my opinion. No woman can hit that freaking hard!" Raven said, as a flash of chakra spiked. Neji, Sasuke, and Raven all caught it, and smirked to themselves.

"Alright. Messing around time is over." Raven said. "Che. I won't listen to anything from you. My time is spent better getting my headband back." Sasuke said. "Listen cousin. If you want to win, it's necessary to listen. I can work the situation into my favor as easily as I can make Naruto my slave." Raven said. "You kid?" Blade asked. Naruto was scowling at Raven.

"I'm no one's slave!!!" Naruto screamed. Raven then pulled out a thing of Beef Cup Ramen, and Naruto began to look at it, salivating. "Naruto. If I agree to give you this cup of ramen, you will agree to do whatever I say for the rest of this battle." Raven said, and Naruto groaned. "Fine fine!! Just give Naruto ramen!!!" Naruto screamed.

Raven chuckled, and tossed the thing into the air. Naruto fell backwards to try and catch it, but ended up creating a pile of dust from where he landed. "Unbelievable." Neji and Sasuke said, shaking their heads in shame. "He's good with manipulation. Trust him." Blade said. "Now, let's go." Raven said, as he began to walk away. Neji and Sasuke followed, as did Blade. Naruto pulled up the rear, munching on his ramen.

Hiding a ways back was the girls, listening in on everything the boys said. They had to hold Sakura back to prevent her from assaulting Raven and blowing their covers. "I knew they were going to try something. It's a good thing they didn't sense us spying on them." Ino said. Hinata on the other hand thought that their not knowing was maybe a ruse, but couldn't tell.

(That last exchange felt like it was staged.) Hinata mused to herself. The boys began to walk away, and the girls followed their trail silently. "Told you Naruto could be controlled." Raven said, with what the girls was sure was a smirk. "Only works on Naruto." Blade said. "I bet he couldn't get Sasuke under his thumb." Neji said. "Before this whole thing is done, Sasuke will have him a girlfriend." Raven said. Sasuke scowled at him visibly, and the girls wondered what he was talking about. Only Mika noticed the small blush Hinata had.

"Teme couldn't hold a girl even if she was super glued to his side." Naruto said, as Sasuke scowled even more. "Shouldn't talk, dobe! No girl would come near you when they could smell the stench of ramen." Sasuke said, causing the boys to laugh. "Shut up!!!" Naruto screamed.

"Maybe he should marry ramen. It could be a double wedding. Blade and Ino would marry the same time as Naruto and Ramen!" Raven said, laughing outloud. Neji snickered, and Blade scowled. "Go have your way with Tenten, Blind Eye!!" Blade shot back, and Neji scowled. Raven had tears coming out of his eyes from the laughter he had.

"And Raven. I haven't seen you with a girl at all since I've known you. You gay?" Blade asked, smirking. Raven shot him a dark look, before he smirked. "If you have need to know, I am not gay. In fact, I'm technically not a virgin." Raven said, hoping his confident façade didn't give them reason to call his bluff. "For real!?" Naruto screamed. "You can find out later, right now, we have a job to do." Raven said, as they continued their walk.

"You know, this walk reminds of the time that me and Sasuke were walking around town when I found out that his fan club includes gay people." Raven said, and the other boys nearly face planted.

Flashback:

"Hey Sasuke! What's Konoha like?" Raven asked, as him and Sasuke were walking around the Border Village. "It's quiet and annoying. Fangirls all over the place." Sasuke said. "Like right now?" And sure enough, there was a nice crowd of women ranging from age 12 to 50 (Raven's eyes went O.O when he saw them) following them, with lustful looks in their eyes.

"You attract old people?" "Shut up." "No. Listen to this. You ATTRACT OLD PEOPLE!?!? Please don't tell me you are into pedophilia?" Raven took an awkward step away from Sasuke, who scowled, and glared.

"I am not into old people." Sasuke said. "Okay…are you gay?" Raven asked, and Sasuke scowled even fiercer. "You sure?" "OF COURSE!!!!" "Then what's the deal with those guys?" Raven pointed, Sasuke turned, and nearly vomited. Standing there was what could only be described as Flaming Gays, who were eyeing Sasuke.

"You attract gays as well. Wow. That is very enlightening." Raven said slowly, and Sasuke scowled. "Did Orochimaru or Kabuto attempt to rape you back in Sound?" Raven thought it was a valid question of curiosity. Too bad Sasuke believed it warranted a good punch to the head.

End.

The boys looked at Sasuke with amusement/disgust. It should be noted that Sakura and Ino nearly came in their pants thinking yaoi based thoughts involving a young Uchiha and Sai. (Don't ask. Both sides won't explain, and it saves me some explaining. But if you must know, Team Seven is basically a team of horny pervs. I blame Kakashi.) Even Naruto, who usually had something to say, was shocked silent.

"You gay Teme?" Well, shocked silent for all of two seconds. Sasuke socked him in the face. "Done taking out your anger on Naruto?" Raven asked, as Sasuke nodded. "Good. Because it's time!!" And with that, all the boys disappeared using Body Flicker. The girl's eyes widened, as they hopped from their hiding places.

"What the hell? Where did they go?" Mika asked. "I see we picked up a couple of bugs on the way, cousin." The girls turned to the voice, and their eyes widened. Sasuke and Raven were leaning on two different walls, smirking.

ShadowRonin: The fight is on now. Both sides clash again in a battle that will make or break the rest of the battle. Which side will pull ahead? Find out, and see.

Next Chapter: Raven and Sasuke start a revolution to get their headbands back. Raven has a plan, but it all has to go according to his plan. Will it work? Find out on:

Chapter 14: Counter Assault!! Raven's Gamble.