TenTen knew what she had to do.

She could hear the sound of combat behind her and she could tell that whatever opponet Neji was fighting was proving to be a very difficult foe. She could hear thuds as kunai knives slammed into trees, the occasional boom of an exploding kunai knife and Neji's occasional shouts of pain. She looked down at the small form in her arms that was looking up at her with a terrified expression on her face.

"It's okay Natsuko..." She said quietly as she continued heading for the hospital where Naruto was hopefully waiting with Hinata. "I promise you that Neji and I won't let whoever that is get you." Natsuko whimpered and buried her head in TenTen's shoulder as they heard a very loud shout and an even louder explosion behind them. Natsuko tried to look over TenTen's shoulders but TenTen adjusted her arms to that Natsuko couldn't see. "Don't look back Natsuko. I promise you Neji will be all right."

But in her heart, TenTen was still terrified for her husband. Was it possible that their daugher would wake up in the next morning without a father?

As she continued running she noticed something after a few moments: The sounds of battle had stopped. She couldn't hear anything she realized after a moment. There was no sound except for the sound of her feet hitting the ground.

Neji...she thought in sudden desperation. Please be alive...

Forest

Kabuto watched with no small amount of satisfaction as Neji's body hit the ground with a thud. The Hyuga clan member had a put up an entertaining fight but in the end had been no match for Kabuto. He had used a technique that had allowed him to shield his chakra pathways from Neji's Byakugan and that had given Kabuto all the advantage that he needed. However, Neji had managed to score a hit with a kunai knife when Kabuto had moved in too close. He looked down at the small cut on his arm and smiled as he turned in the direction that TenTen had gone after and than looked down at Neji's body and saw that althought he was covered in bruises and cuts and he was bleeding badly he was still barely breathing.

Kabuto leaned down and smiled. "You failed. Soon now...both the power of the nine-tailed demon fox and the byakugan will be mine. Remember that when you watch your village burn to the ground. Remember that it's your fault."

Kabuto mockingly waved at Neji's body and than took off in the direction of the hospital with a speed that seemed superhuman.

Enroute to the hospital

TenTen was still slightly disturbed by the eerie calm that had descended over the area. It was as though the animals that lived within the forest were hiding. That they knew something that she didn't. Natsuko was still scared but she wasn't crying. Instead she was constantly looking over TenTen's shoulder.

Natsuko suddenly let out a small whimper of fear just as TenTen heard the sound of running feet coming up behind them. Natsuko buried her head in TenTen's shoulders as they both heard the sound of something flying through the air. TenTen was barely able to move out of the way before a large kunai knife that was attached to a thick rope buried itself in the tree that had been in front of them a moment ago. She could hear eerie laughter getting closer and closer to them.

TenTen couldn't help but look behind and her heart nearly stopped when she saw what was chasing them: A hooded figure wearing a black cloak that covered most of his body. But that thing about the figure that scared her the most were the eyes.

The pale yellow eyes.

The figure laughed again. "If you stop now I may let you live!" He called out mockingly as he quickly closed the gap between the two of them. TenTen could tell instantly that he was lying by the sound of his voice. She had to move faster.

"Hold on Natsuko. We're going to have to go faster." She whispered as she began to run as fast as she possibly could. The figure behind them laughed again and easily matched her pace, running side by side with her. "Nice try."

TenTen was holding Natsuko with both hands so she couldn't reach for one of her kunai knives or any of the other weapons she usually carried.

She was an easy target.

The figure's hood finally dropped and TenTen was able to see the face of her attacker and her heart nearly stopped again.

Kabuto...but he died in the last war! This has to be a trick!

Kabuto laughed again and made a series of handsigns and a massive creature made of earth and stone slowly began to rise up from the ground. TenTen stopped just in front of them creature just as it fully emerged from the ground.

"Nowhere to run...Nowhere to hide." Kabuto said mockingly as he slowly advanced on TenTen and smiled a very creepy smile. TenTen was still trying to find a way to get Natsuko away when she heard a voice shout from above.

"DON'T YOU HURT MY DAUGHTER!"

TenTen ducked out of the way as an orange figure landed between her and Kabuto. Naruto Uzumaki stared at Kabuto with eyes that burned like flames.

"You hurt my wife, and you came after my daughter. Thats the last mistake you'll ever make." He said quietly as a blue sphere formed in his hand.