Yo!! I have been busy making sure all my work is getting done, and hanging out with friends who have better tolerances of alcohol than I do. Its been all fun though. But I digress from the purpose of this fic. Read and Enjoy.

Chapter 25: Blade vs. Neji.

Moon knew that something bad was going to happen. Blade looked genuinely pissed. That was a bad sign. (Blade is the last person who anyone wants to anger.) Moon thought, as he thought back to a bad falling out him and Blade had. Blade's eyes took this dark look, and his iris slitted, making Moon feel very intimidated. He just hoped that Neji wouldn't envoke that kind of wrath.

"This isn't going to end well…" Moon said, and Artemis looked at him confused. "Blade gets to be really scary when he is truly pissed." Moon said, and Artemis shrugged. "I wouldn't know." Artemis said. "Then you are lucky. When he showed those eyes at me, I thought I was staring into the face of death….."

Neji stood in his stance, while Blade was flinging his blade up and down, which Moon knew was him relieving his pent up anger. "Hyuuga. Last warning. Take back everything you have said, and you-" Neji cut him off by scoffing.

"You are the one making threats after you started this fight. I think you are the one who is having second thoughts." Neji said, as Blade swung his katana, and it transformed, slashing right by Neji's head. The Hyuuga Genius didn't even flinch. "I felt no kind of intent from that attack." Neji said. "Then you are lucky. When I unleash my intent, you will be stunned silent." Blade said, as he returned his blade. Neji took that as a start, and charged.

(Elsewhere)

Sasuke and Hinata were walking around, which was different for the Uchiha since he preferred to train. But go figure. Naruto was out with his girlfriend, (Sasuke would never believe it if he hadn't seen it himself.) Kakashi was cleaning something that looked like it was leveled by wither Sakura or Tsunade, (If only he knew) and Sai disappeared.

So he was forced to train by himself, till he saw Hinata wandering the town, and decided to follow her. (I should be training and making myself stronger than the dobe…) Sasuke thought to himself. Both nin felt a strong chakra spike, and Sasuke glanced at Hinata, whom already had the Byakugan activated.

"Neji-niisan." Hinata muttered, and Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Hyuuga? He doesn't seem the type to pick fights in the middle of a town." Sasuke said. "Blade is with him." Sasuke slammed his hand into his face. (Blade is the kind of guy who pushes peoples buttons…) "Hyuuga should be able to manage himself, but just in case, we are heading over there right now." Sasuke then took off, and Hinata followed right behind him.

(Elsewhere)

Inside a jail in the Border Village, Raven sat, contemplating everything. (Friends…why are they so important…)He looked over to the bars, and sighed. (I shouldn't be allowed anything like friends. I don't even believe I should have friends…) Raven closed his eyes, and chuckled sadly.

(There is no room for friends in my path. I am an avenger, and a protector of America. I have to stop Krad before he kills the entire country…) Raven opened his eyes, and shook his head. (1 month huh? Someone like Itachi Uchiha would teach me so many jutsu and to control my Sharingan better.) Raven then ran his head into his palm.

"But to betray people who were nice enough to help me and my friends?" Raven muttered. "Friends and debts are the last thing you should want to repay." Raven turned, and outside stood Krad, smirking.

(Blade and Neji)

Blade sat on the ground, panting. Neji wasn't a genius for nothing. The boy had gotten past Sky Dragon and counter struck him more than he got him. (Damn him.) Blade thought to himself.

"Call the fight. I don't want to accidentally kill you in cold blood." Neji said, and Blade frowned. "What makes you so sure you can win?" Neji smirked. "I am looking at your chakra right now, and I have to say that it is no better than it was when I was Genin." Neji said. "Give up. You can't win. And hopefully, you learned something." Neji slacked his stance a little.

"Damn Hyuuga. Arrogant and full of shit." Blade said. "Just because I don't go flaunting my emotions around like some kind of loose cannon doesn't mean I don't have them, you idiot." Neji said, and Blade frowned.

"Then what? What is the reason you are so reluctant to follow this through? Everyone around here knows the relationship you two have. Your closer to her than anyone else! And I bet shes the closest person in your life, next to your cousin! What more do you need to see this through!?" Blade yelled. "I don't think you have any right to be telling me about my relationships with anyone." Neji said coldly, and Blade sneered.

"You are scared, aren't you?" Blade asked, and Neji scowled. "I am more comfortable with things being the way they are because I know what will become of it. If it changes, who knows how the end result may be? I'm not someone who would be wiling to take a risk on something with other people." Neji said.

"Way to say that you are a coward." Blade said, and Neji clenched his fists. "I could say the same for you and your friends." Blade's eyes narrowed, along with Moon's. "You should have been back in America fighting whoever the hell it is you should be fighting, but here you are, on our continent. They've followed you here, and now they have attacked Konoha Ninja. Your damn cowardice has caused our continent trouble!!" Neji yelled, and Blade's eyes took a dark look.

Neji thought that what he had said was more harsh than he meant, and he was about to speak again before he felt a powerful force that didn't feel like chakra. His eyes widened, and he felt his ninja senses going crazy. He didn't feel safe at all.

(That force. Where is it coming from?) Neji looked around, until his eyes landed on Blade's eyes, and widened. Blade's eyes didn't look the same. They now were slitted across vertically, and looked animalistic. (What the? That kind of dark cold fury…) Neji was broken from his thoughts when the sword transformed into a dragon.

"What!?" Neji said, his eyes looking both confused and scared out of his wits. "You seem to be scared, Neji Hyuuga." Blade said in a detached tone. "You should be. You face your death now." Blade swung, and the dragon roared, and charged at Neji. Neji panicked, and hopped away, along with a few of the ninja bystanders.

"Run run as fast as you can. No one survives a dragon's wrath, man." Blade chanted in a dark detached tone. Neji hopped from house to house, and Blade's Dragon was leveling them in pursuit. (I need to knock him out before someone gets seriously hurt.) Neji said. "Other than us." Angel Neji said. "True…" Neji hopped off a roof, and charged at Blade.

"Foolish human. You would dare to face a dragon's wrath head-on?" Blade said, as the dragon came down, and slammed where Neji was. Neji managed to dodge it, and ran at Blade, Gentle Fist ready. Before Neji could strike, it felt like a kunai hit his shoulder, throwing his concentration off. Neji regained enough sense to hop as the dragon shot from behind him.

(At this rate, he will kill me before I can finish this without either of us dying. He obviously isn't in the right state of mind.) Neji thought, as the dragon shot at him again. (I can't do this forever. He's either going to catch me, or I will find some way to beat him.) Neji thought, as his eyes widened, as the Dragon broke off into 8 heads. "Ng!?" Neji was caught off guard.

"Galaxy Hydra go." Blade said, and Neji took a stance. "Rotation!!" Neji created his Heavenly Spin, and the dragons were launched back. Neji didn't count on one of them not charging, and it came around and slammed Neji into a wall. Neji spit up blood, and fell to his back. Neji groaned in pain, and tried to stand, but found it hard.

"I'm….done for…." Neji looked up, and saw the 8 dragons charging at him. Before they could turn him into dragon chow, 8 quick flashes of something sliced all the dragon's heads were sliced off. Neji's eyes widened as Sasuke appeared, his Chokuto unsheated, Sharingan blazing.

"You better have a good reason for Hinata to tell me to fight my cousin's friend." Sasuke said, and Neji frowned. "I was doing just fine." Neji said, and Sasuke sneered. "Could have fooled me." Sasuke said, as Blade shook his head.

"You would get in the business of a dragon?" Blade said, and Sasuke frowned. "Something wrong with him?" Sasuke asked. "Some kind of demon?" Neji asked. "Well, a dragon formed from his blade and attacked you. I wouldn't rule it out." Sauske said, as the dragon's heads began to regenerate. "Well, it's definitely not normal." Sasuke said apathetically.

"Thanks for such meaningful comentary, Uchiha." Neji said, and Sasuke smirked. "I try to keep you Hyuuga in check." Sasuke said. "By dating our heiresses?" Neji asked, smirking back. Neji had come to accept their courtship as long as Hinata was happy. "I am the Uchiha heir. We aren't out of each other's leagues." Sasuke said.

"Die." Blade said, and the 8 dragons charged again. "Scatter!!" Sasuke yelled, and both genius flew into opposite directions. "To face a dragon means death." Blade said. "Ha! I've faced scarier!" Sasuke yelled, as the image of a 4 tailed Naruto squaring off against him. Neji didn't comment.

Blade brought his hand back, but before he could command his dragon, he was slammed into a wall, held off the ground by a strong hand. "You American Nin are full of shit. Thinking you can piss me off whenever is convenient for you." Tsunade had Blade by the throat, and he didn't even look fazed by it.

"You threaten me? You must wish to die." Blade said, and Tsunade gave him a chilling smirk. "Is that so?" Before Blade knew it, Tsunade socked him, and sent him flying through all sorts of houses and trees, till he blasted out of the village itself. Blade rolled, and stopped on his back.

"I am really beginning to hate American Ninja." Tsunade said, and Sasuke and Neji sweat dropped. (That ended the fight….) Both ninja were unwilling to say anything more than that. "Raven has escaped." Tsunade said, and Neji frowned while Sasuke looked confused.

(Raven)

Raven landed some miles outside the Border Village, Sharingan Level Two blazing fiercely. "Where are you!?" Raven yelled in fury, as the night sky held Krad's chuckle of amusement. "So brash, American Demon. What's got you so riled up?" Krad asked, knowing the answer. "You are so full of shit, Krad! Come out of hiding, and fight like a man!!" Raven yelled. "Like a man facing another man? So be it." And so would begin the fight that Raven would pick, knowing he shouldn't.

(Blade)

Tsunade had Blade by his shirt, glaring at him. "Who the hell gave you the right to not only beat up MY ninja, but to level half a village beating up MY ninja?" Tsunade asked darkly, and Blade shook his head. "Hm? Something happen?" Blade asked, and Tsunade frowned. (What is this kid? Got some kind of multiple personality disorder or something?) Tsunade asked.

"Raven has escaped prison." Tsunade said, and Blade frowned. "That isn't true. I feel his chakra nearby." Blade said. Before Tsunade could ask him what he meant, something whizzed by her, slamming into the wall. Raven. And he looked beat up.

(??)

"This doesn't look good, Itachi-san." Kisame said, as Itachi and him witnessed Raven getting the holy hell beaten out of him, and then some. "You are wrong. This will be the spark that pushes him to seek power." Itachi said.

"You mean like your little brother and Orochimaru?" Kisame asked. "Yes. But I won't make the same mistake that power hungry fool has made." Itachi said. "You mean you will go about training Raven a different way?" Kisame asked. "He will be the trump card I hold in case things with Sasuke don't go the way I want them to go." Itachi said, as Raven was taken by Tsunade.

"You have this all planned out?" Kisame asked. "Yes. Down to the littlest of details." Itachi said, and Kisame chuckled. "Well then, let's see if this plays out the way you hope it does." Kisame said. "I have never been wrong up to this point. Hopefully I won't start now." Itachi said, as both nin phased into the shadows.

ShadowRonin: So things thicken. Raven has another encounter with Krad, but there's a significant reason that I didn't show that fight. Itachi and Akatsuki are making their move, and things are going to be different on the Continent of the Elements.

Next Chapter: Raven's destiny takes a turn for the unknown as he is forced to make a decision that will hurt someone in the end. Himself for not putting America first, or his new friends for abandoning them. See this through on:

Chapter 26: Decision.