DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.

NOTE: Ahhh. . .yet another chapter. God, how this chapter gave me a pain. Most of this is a fight scene, and I HATE writing fights scenes. To me they never come out right, and are never that good. But the good thing is, is that--thanks to this chapter--I finally figured out how I'm going to do the rest of the story. I also knew how I wanted to start, end it, and certain sections that I wanted in, but the encounter with the enemy I could never come up with. So basically I know what's going to happen throughout the rest. Not the minor details, of course, but now I have at least an idea. This story is almost done. Though don't get too worried, that's probably ten or so chapters from now.

It might take a little while for the next chapter, because I already know it's going to be another pain in my head like this one. . .

Webs of Deception

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Boxed In

Part One

Four figures jumped from tree branch to tree branch at top speed, crossing the forestry terrain without difficulty. Their speed taking them closer and closer to their destination. The white masks they wore glinted eerily in the darkness of the looming darkness, as their bodies clad in their cloaks mixed perfectly in their surroundings.

The small group of four stayed alerted and refrained from talking, since the silence from the animals inhabiting the forest sent an unnaturally chill through them. Something was terribly wrong; it filled the atmosphere with uneasiness and menacing. The person with the Weasel mask; Itachi halted on a tree branch and signaled with lifting his hand for the others behind him to do the same. They did; with Neji on his right, Miki on his left, and Kyoko on Miki's left.

Itachi stared ahead, where the closed gates of Yuugure stood. On normal occasions, two guards stood on either side of the tall pillars that held the large gates in place. But now, there was no one; void of any civilization that once brimmed the villages' walls. He turned toward Neji, and nodded once at the brunette. Who took the silent meaning, and activated his byakugan. He looked for any chakra systems within and around the village of Yuugure. But as a result, there were none. He shook his head in a negative motion; telling the older Uchiha what he probably already knew.

"Well, it's not like they're gonna stay around and wait to introduce themselves, right?" Miki said lowly, only to receive a smack on his arm from Kyoko. "Why must you always open your mouth when it's not welcomed?"

He snorted at that comment, and murmured, "You're one to talk."

Her jaw tightened underneath her mask in annoyance, but before she could retort to the person who caused her annoyance, Itachi said curtly, "You two, don't start." She clicked her mouth shut, ensuring that nothing would accidentally slip out and anger the oldest Uchiha.

They each dropped themselves to the forest floor, and stepped out onto the path that led to the Yuugure's entrance. Cautiously, the four approached the tall gates side by side. Keeping their senses alerted to their highest just in case of any unexpected action that might be taken against them. Once they reached the gates, Miki was the one that placed one hand on each gate and pushed them open. He only opened them partly, but it was wide enough for everyone to walk through one by one.

When Miki was in viewing of the wide space right after you enter the village, he stopped in his tracks; eyes wide and mouth hanging open in shock. Itachi was the next to enter, then Neji. Both, like Miki, froze once they viewed what was just behind the gates. But once Kyoko passed the threshold of the village; she took one look at the bloody sight, and screamed in utter anguish. . .


Sasuke glared up at the three mask wearing individuals, finding his irritation with them coming to its boiling point. There was one thing that you just don't interrupt Uchiha Sasuke in, and that's his personal time with his blond. Personal time that involves little to no clothes especially. So when his sharingan began to bleed into his eyes out of his immense irritation that was turning into anger, there was just nothing he could have done. Because at this moment in time, he wanted to kill the three in front of him, and go back to continuing what he was doing. But like the good shinobi he is, he caught the process in his eyes changing before it became noticeable, and forced them back to the brown of his disguise. He gridded his teeth to keep his—now—anger under control, and sneered, "Excuse me?"

Naruto—like Sasuke—was irritated. Although not as irritated where it turned to anger, and then to homicidal imagery—but irritated non-the-less. He growled deep in his throat. The feral sound of it only reaching Sasuke's ears, who discreetly glanced back at him with a lifted eyebrow. Thinking, 'I really need to ask him about that growling thing.'

In a lazy manner, Naruto lowered his arms to his side. Lowing his growling and replacing it with his own small glare to show the three of them his displeasure at being interrupted in an act that he's been only dreaming about for years. He took deep breaths in and slowly let them out, while at the same time, imagining something that severely disturbed him to get rid of his erection. But it didn't help much that Sasuke was still in the same position—leaning against his bent leg—with his knee still near his crotch, and it didn't look like the raven had any plans to move.

"I think what we do is none of your business." Sasuke continued in the same tone of contempt as before. "We're not doing anything that's against the exam's rules. So, you can leave now. And try not coming back."

Akamaru growled from on top of Kiba's head at Sasuke's obvious show of hostility. But Kakashi—on the other hand—chuckled at Sasuke's behavior. Though his chuckle held no humor. He shut his book with an audible slap of its pages, and lifted his eye to stare at the two boys. "No. You haven't broken any rules of the Chuunin Exams, Sasuke." Clearing pointing out that he knew who he was, and that he wasn't going to bullshit around. "But you have endangered the village by knowingly assisting a missing nin."

'Knowingly assisting a missing nin.' Naruto repeated over in his mind. Almost laughing out loud at the other's choice of words. But he refrained himself from practically taunting them. Instead, he lifted his eyebrows like he was insulted, but he had a distinct feeling it didn't come off that way. Since Kiba's and Sakura's postures stiffened further.

"A missing nin?" Sasuke repeated questionably. Not confirming or denying the name Kakashi called him. Although, his hand that still laid on Naruto's leg, tightened its hold from the apprehension of Kakashi's possible knowledge of who the boy behind him actually was. "I don't believe I know what you're talking about." He formed a smirk on his face, but made sure it was different than his usual one. Even though, Kakashi probably has already seen his normal smirk. "I can assure you, sir—" Putting as much sarcasm in that one word as he could, while ensuring to keep with his act. "—that neither one of us are missing nins." Which was the damn truth. Naruto is listed as being dead, not a missing nin. And since Ruri wasn't currently out here, there were no missing nins in a three feet radius.

Nothing changed in Kakashi's expression, but when he snapped his book shut with an audible slapping of the pages, everyone near him knew he was angry. He lifted his visible eye up so he was now looking Sasuke head on. And within that one iris, they clearly saw the cold fury that was floating beneath the surface of his nonchalant facade. "Sasuke, I'm disappointed in you. Here I believed you were loyal to the village again. Then this. Betrayal must run through your blood."

'He did NOT just say that?!' Kyuubi yelled in Naruto's mind. The blond's small smile that adorned his face, was long gone with those words. He pushed himself from the tree trunk and leaned up toward Sasuke's ear. Who was doing his best to keep his control on his anger and not blow their cover. Though right about now, he didn't see the point in keeping it. Since Kakashi seemed to already know, and the two behind him probably had their own suspicions of their identities.

Naruto put his lips right next to Sasuke's ear, and whispered. "Get up, teme." His hot breath falling pleasurably on his skin. Sending a shiver through the raven's body.

Those three simple words were clearly heard by Kiba and Akamaru. "Holy fucking shit." he said astonished, "He really is Naruto."

Sakura gasped, and turned to the Dog mask wearing male. Then returned her attention back to the blond before her. 'How. . .? Why. . .? Naruto. . .'

Sasuke stood up from the bent knee he was comfortably sitting on, and held his hand back to Naruto without taking his eyes off of the three in front of him. Naruto grasped his offered hand, and with a little help from Sasuke, he hoisted himself up onto his feet. He deliberately dusted non-existent dirt from his clothes before grinning at the three in a patronizing way. "I can see Kakashi-sensei that your tact hasn't improved."

Kakashi's eye turned into an upside down U, but it was obvious that it was fake. "It's been a long time, Naruto." The smirk that crinkled the material of his mask revealed the triumphant-ness the man felt for the verbal confirmation of the younger boy's identity. He looked Naruto up and down. "And you appear to be perfectly healthy compared to someone who's suppose to be dead."

"Don't I though." Naruto said with his grin widening. "It must be a miracle or something." Ending with a chuckle at the ridiculous concept.

The hand on Kakashi's book tightened to the point that the book was bending from the stress. But that was the only sign of his anger, besides the hostile waves flowing off of him, as his expression remained calm. "I'm surprised. I didn't know you were capable of—"

"You have no idea what I'm capable of, Kakashi-sensei." Naruto sneered, his demeanor flipping to the opposite from what he was faking before. He had no right to judge him. He knew nothing as to the reason why he's the way he is now. To why he had to find a new home and people who he could mostly trust. His eyes began to change back to their original color, except they held more red than usually. He felt Sasuke's hand on his arm, which immediately calmed him down. He glanced over at Sasuke, who was looking at him from the corner of his eye. Silently telling him he needed to stay calm.

He moved his head in a barely noticeable motion, and apologized by lifting his eyebrows and tilted his head to the side a small bit in an action that said, 'Can you blame me?'. Sasuke smirked, and returned his attention back forward. Keeping his hand on the blond's arm to ensure he didn't get a sudden impulse and cause a whole scene. That would be just like him to start a fight with them.

All three before the two shorter boys noticed the quick exchange between them. Kakashi lifted an eyebrow in mild surprise, vaguely wondering how long this has been going on. "I think I have an idea what you're capable of, Naruto." He paused shortly. "Don't you think, Tatsuo?"

Naruto grinned sadistically, while Sasuke's eyes narrowed. His hand spasming toward his weapons pouch. This wasn't going good in Sasuke's mind. If he connected all the pieces that have been discreetly spoken. Then he would guess that Kakashi suspects that Tsunade—who personally hired Tatsuo and his team, in which he knows this—doesn't know that Tatsuo is actually Naruto. And since he thinks that Tsunade doesn't know of this, he automatically assumes the worst. Which obviously involves himself in assisting Naruto in some non-existent scheme that has a high possibility of endangering the village. God, if only he knew. . .

"Kakashi. . ." Sasuke began in a growl; his eyes slowly bleeding into their sharingan. "You are speaking of classified information. As your superior, I'm telling you to shut up."

"Classified?" repeated Kakashi like he didn't hear the superior comment. He wasn't going to listen to someone, who sides with a person that's been assumed dead. Then that same person making sure it stays that way. Not considering the people who might have cared for him in the process. "Is this information only classified because you want it to be, Sasuke?"

Before Sasuke could start mouthing off at Kakashi, Naruto touched his clenched fist and said in a playful tone, "Teme, now who needs to calm down?" Sasuke snapped his head toward Naruto, and glared at him. "Shut up, dobe."

Said dobe only grinned further as he lifted his hand and placed the palm of it over Sasuke's sharingan adorned eyes. He pressed his hand gently across the other's now closed eyelids and rubbed softly. The touch of the blond's calmed him down significantly, and by the time the other lifted his hand off of his eyes, his sharingan was gone. He continued to glare at the blond for a bit longer, before he turned his attention back to the other three. Showing them the effect Naruto has on him.

A sob came from Sakura at seeing the interaction between the two boys. "H-How could you d-do t-t-this?"

Naruto leaned his head against Sasuke's shoulder, and looked at Sakura with the most mocking expression he could muster. "Ah, what's wrong bubblegum? Did the truth finally smack you in the face?"

Sakura sobbed again at the nickname that only Tatsuo has ever called her. The cruelness of his tone causing her to tremble uncontrollably. Finally letting it settle in that everything up to this point was all Naruto. Her old teammate. The loud blond that was always obnoxious and had a personality that was bright and cheerful. This boy she used to love, who she didn't want to believe has turned into the ruthless Tatsuo. Yet the facts were in front of her, pushing her to believe in the truth she didn't want to see.

Her broken response resulted in Kiba to give the blond a warning growl with Akamaru accompanying him. Which in turn caused Sasuke's sharingan to flare up again. His own warning to them to keep their distance.

"Enough!" snapped Kakashi. "You two will come with us to the Hokage's office, without—"

"Mou. . ." Interrupted a voice coming from behind the three Anbu. Who abruptly turned around to see who had managed to sneak up on them. ". . .Taichou, why can't you ever keep yourself out of trouble." said Ruri with a sweet smile gracing her features. Her hands were interlaced behind her back, giving her an innocent childlike appearance. But the three Konoha Anbu were far from fooled. And they shouldn't be, since hidden within her interlaced hands were senbon's—ready to use if the matter came up to do so.

Naruto's grin grew in an eerie way. His head remained on Sasuke's shoulder as he said loud enough for Ruri to hear at the far end of the tree branch. "Maa maa Tara, you know me—always attracting a crowd." Which caused Sasuke to roll his eyes at the statement in this kind of situation.

"Dobe. . ." began Sasuke, ". . .speaking so lightly."

Naruto repositioned his head on Sasuke's shoulder, so he was now looking at the other's neck and could see his profile. "What? You want me to threaten them?" This attracted the three's attention back to them, but kept their senses alerted to the one behind. "Because I can." Naruto continued, "If you want me to?"

Sasuke only moved his eyes sideways, and glared down at the blond, who was also grinning playfully up at him. He sighed in an annoyed fashion. "You never take anything serious when comes to your own safety." he muttered low enough, where only Naruto would be the one to hear it. Naruto's smile faltered as the jesting in his eyes dimmed into loving softness at the other's caring.

Lowly, he tried to comfort the raven a little, "Sasuke, don't worry 'bout this. Once we get to Baa-chan, she'll make sure they don't say anything. The old fart council are the ones that—" He abruptly stopped and snapped his attention to his right—away from Sasuke. His sharp hearing, hearing the distinct sounds of a jutsu being conjured and being released towards them. But that wasn't what caught him so suddenly, it was the fact that there was no one there to even perform the jutsu. Absolutely no signs of a chakra signature within yards of where the jutsu was coming from. 'Impossible. . .'

Without thinking, he threw his whole weight against Sasuke's side. Sending them both off the tree branch and falling toward the ground below. Not a second after he pushed them both off the branch and were falling, Naruto yelled over his shoulder, "Tara jump!"

She stepped off the branch and willingly let her body fall from the branch in a graceful decent. While Kakashi, Sakura, and Kiba took Naruto's warning as well, and jumped off the tree branch just in time to avoid the hundred ice needles that plummeted through the space, where they were once standing.

Naruto and Sasuke flipped their bodies in mid-air and easily landed on their feet. Ruri landed right beside the two and asked upon landing, "Who performed that jutsu? I didn't feel any other chakra signatures nearby besides the Suna team's."

Sasuke searched through the forest with his sharingan, while Naruto answered Ruri, "Your guess is as good as mine."

"There isn't anyone." stated Sasuke, once he was done scanning the surrounding forestry. "Then where the hell did it come from?"

Another swishing sound caught Naruto's attention, and he quickly alerted the others, "Behind!" Upon his shout, Sasuke and Ruri jumped one way while Naruto jumped the other way. Sasuke made sure he focused his eyes in the direction where—this time—several water tornadoes came from. But all he saw was the location where the jutsu was created, and it seemingly came out of no where. 'What the fuck. . .? What's going on?'

Naruto skidded to a stop on the ground to try and pinpoint where their opponents were; but no matter how hard he stretched his senses, there was no one to be found. He leaped up into the dense tree branches just as another jutsu was sent in his direction, and landed on one close to Kakashi, Sakura, and Kiba.

Sakura, through her bubbling emotions, spoke to Naruto with chosen anger. "How could you bring this upon Konoha?! You betray everyone and now you only bring trouble with you! You are nothing but a traitor." She finally admits not only to everyone near but to herself.

During her. . .speech, Naruto slowly turned his head toward her. Looking down right bored with what she was spouting. "Are you done?" he asked with annoyance dripping from his voice. "'Cause personally your traitor issues aren't something I don't want to hear right now. . .or ever." He saw her bristle in deeper anger, but he ignored her furious mumbles and focused back on the suddenly still and quiet surroundings. 'Never good.'

Sasuke crouched on a branch, his sharingan adorned eyes rapidly glancing around for their invisible opponents. He was back to his original form—doing so as he was evading attacks—still the same outfit as his disguise, only bigger. To his right, on a branch lower than his, Ruri stood in a fighting posture. Her disguise as a thirteen year old genin still in place. He shifted his weight slightly, putting more weight on his left foot than his right. The eerie silence only made him more disturbed. Knowing this was only the calm before the storm burst to life again.

His hands moved over to the kanji on his wrists, and let them hover there for a second before he summoned two windmill shurikens to his hands. He positioned his arms, flicking his thumb across the blades to cause them to spin; ready to throw them right when another jutsu was released. Whoever their opponents were, he'd be damned if they got out of this unscratched.

Movement from the forest floor caught his attention, and he immediately focused on who caused it. His vision landed on Jun, Yuuto, and Cho cautiously walking closer to where everyone was scattered in various areas. He growled low in his throat at their stupidity. They needed to be moving away from all this, not moving closer. But then again, that arrogant Jun is on their team and he's most likely bouncing on the balls of his feet to join the fight. Glaring a second longer at the three, he turned and looked over at Naruto to see if he noticed the new comers to the already crowded party.

At first he didn't think the blond did, but then he saw the single glance he took in their direction and the darkening of his blue eyes. Showing the anger burning within the double depths. He stared at the blond longer; concern swimming deep in his own red eyes. Easily connecting the dots and realizing that their opponents were after Akuma. It didn't really take much to come to that conclusion, really.

Personally though, he wanted to deny it. To try and convince himself that they weren't after the Akuma members, and were merely some random team looking to gain some kind selfish goal out of all this. But apparently, he couldn't. He couldn't force himself to believe the lie. Because he's believed in lies for too long. And he would be a fool in denying what's right in front of him. That's why his heart was pounding in his chest. It wasn't because of the battle that was currently in a standstill, it was because he's facing the truth head on, and seeing the small subtle hints that these opponents were aiming for non-other than the present Akuma members.

Although now, he's intently wondering how they knew that Naruto and Ruri were Akuma members?

Meanwhile, Kiba stated to Naruto in a monotone voice, "I don't smell or hear anyone where these jutsu's keep coming from." Putting his feelings about this whole Naruto business to back of his mind to deal with later. Since right now, they have a serious problem that needs to be dealt with. Naruto only peered over at the dog lover for a second. "Neither do I." he answered in the same tone as the other. "Which I would have to say is unusual."

Kiba snorted, "Unusual? I'd say it's down right strange!"

'It's neither of the two, you idiots!' came Kyuubi's voice in Naruto's mind. 'This is why you always get in so much trouble, you never EVER listen to me!'

Naruto's eyes narrowed in an annoyed manner. 'So, finally decided to join the commotion, huh?'

'Do you want to hear what I have to say, or are you going to be a smart ass as usual?'

Before Naruto could answer the fox, his attention was taken by the Suna team, who were coming closer to the danger. His mouth formed a thin line as the rising anger flowed through him. Wondering where they're common sense went in just a short time. They should be able to sense that this. . .battle was out of their ledge. That they stood no chance in being triumphant in this fight. Nor did they have the ability to help; they would only get in the way. They were being foolish!

"Are they anyone you know?" Kiba interrupted, snapping Naruto out of his fuming.

Naruto shrugged stiffly, "It's possible." Then murmured, "It's always possible. . ." under his breath. But Kiba most likely heard him with his canine hearing. And he was proven right when the brunette turned to him with a questioning expression.

'Just tell me what you know, Kyuu without all the god damn difficulty!' he yelled at the Fox out of misplaced anger.

Kyuubi growled at his tone, while he focused his scowling over at the three Anbu to his right. Struggling fiercely with a debate with himself if it was wise to henge back into their original forms with them right there in easy sight of them. Worriedly nibbling on his lower lip, he came to a decision. Ruri and himself couldn't fight to their fullest in these forms. And the safety of the Suna team meant more than their own personal safety.

"Tara!" he shouted over at the woman disguised as a girl. Who turned her head in his direction to show that she heard him. "Henge back!" he continued in a yell, which caused her eyes to widened slightly at the unexpectedness of the request. Would he really take such a risk?

With determination in his eyes, and purposely ignoring the nagging apprehension about doing this, Naruto formed the right hand seals. And in a puff of smoke, he was back to his original form; in the same clothes as his disguise, only bigger for his grown physique.

A loud gasp came from Sakura at seeing the blond's true appearance. But he forced himself to ignore the sound and the intense gazes falling on him not only from Kakashi and Kiba, but from Sasuke also. Whose particular gaze was far from curious. It was more like a glare of stupidity of what he's done. In which, Naruto couldn't really blame the raven in sending in tidal waves.

"That fucking idiot." Ruri heard Sasuke hiss above her.

'So, he would.' she thought dejectedly, paying no mind to the youngest Uchiha's words or ominous aura. She stood straighter, nodding curtly to her Captain as she pulled the hitai-ate around her neck off. She formed hand seals, and in a puff of smoke—like Naruto—she was back to her original form. Her long braided lilac hair being the only significant change in her appearance.

She took even breaths to calm the uneasiness she felt about being in visible sight of others she didn't trust. But once again circumstances have changed what she would normally advise against. Now Naruto and herself have exposed themselves to others, who might use this knowledge to their advantage. To know the true identities of the Akuma members—even if it was only two—is a rare knowledge that hardly anyone knows. And she didn't like the idea of those three knowing. Especially the pink haired woman. . .

Kyuubi's tone filled with aggravation rang in Naruto's head, 'Do you remember about Godai Ryuuki?' In the middle of the fox's sentence, the blond was forced to jump to another branch as another violent round of attacks were issued upon them. While evading everything under the sun, he saw Sasuke's windmill shurikens flying through the air amongst the other jutsu's and weaponry. He couldn't help but to smile at there sight.

Kiba, Kakashi, and Sakura jumped away as well—though in different directions.

Kiba ran from tree branch to tree branch; barely avoiding the needles embedding themselves in the trees just behind his every step. He snatched Akamaru from on top of his head, and fed the canine a pill—tripling the canines' size. Akamaru leaped on forward, following a command from Kiba to find the culprits of this chaos. Although the canine doubted he would find them, if they couldn't.

As Naruto flipped and twisted his legs just so to avoid being struck by kunai aimed at his torso, he answered the fox sharply, 'Yeah. . .what about it?' He landed on yet another tree branch, then took another two steps to his left to give enough room for the several water dragons to soar pass him without any problems to himself. He pointedly looked where once stood a silver haired jounin, who conjured them. Vaguely wondering if he did that on purpose, but dismissed the thought the next second as he watched his ex-sensei evading jutsu's left and right as much as everyone else were.

Kakashi weaved through the dense branches, lifting his headband as he did so to reveal his sharingan eye. He jumped off the branch he was on, and fell to one of the lower branches twenty feet below. Effortlessly continuing his way to the one of the locations where jutsu's were continuously coming from. Someone must be conjuring these jutsu's, he could clearly see the chakra flowing through each of them but not the person who's performing them. But they had to be there. Jutsu's just can't conjure themselves.

In a second, he formed hand seals and faced his palm toward the ground. High voltage electricity crackled in his hand and expanded further out, heating the chilly evening air.

Sidestepping futon-shurikens, he drew his arm back, yelling, "Raikiri!" Then thrusted his arm with his full strength in the empty space where the shurikens were miraculously appearing out of no where. Although, this action was proved to be a mistake. Since his lightning attack merely went through thin air, and the futon-shurikens kept coming. He twisted his body just in time to miss two shurikens aimed at his gut. One caught his side, cutting through his clothes and nicking his flesh. He diminished his jutsu as he put distance from the invisible force.

Naruto dug his foot into the bark of the tree, abruptly changing his direction. Throughout—since the Suna team came into the mix—he made sure he kept an eye on the three genins; making sure they didn't get into any trouble, and prayed they might get some common sense back and step out of this fight. But his prayers have never been answered. Not in past, and he didn't really expect them to be answered now. This was the reason why he was currently running flat out toward the three. Because they were in the path of a powerful jutsu that was heading directly toward them. And even if they noticed it coming right now, they didn't have the speed to get out of its way in time.

Kyuubi huffed at the blond's incapability to put two and two together when it really matters. 'Dammit brat, use your head?!' he snapped at his blond host at his stupidity.

Naruto faltered in his steps when it occurred to him what the fox meant. 'Godai Ryuuki. . .' he repeated, as things began to click together like piecing a difficult puzzle. 'Ouroboros. . .' Automatically came to mind, and he knew. . .he just knew that they were the ones behind everything. How they were able to gather so much information without making themselves known. And now, attacking without any presence at all. This sudden epiphany caused nausea in his stomach at the dread of their situation. 'We can't win this.'

'Not with normal means.' Kyuubi corrected him.

'You don't mean—'

'Yes, I do.' Kyuubi cut in, 'They exist on more than one plane. If none of you can find them, they will.' The fox paused shortly, then continued on with a smugness in his voice, 'That is, unless you want everyone to get killed.' This earned him a growl from his host. 'Because eventually they're going to wear out, and that's probably what they're aiming for.'

Naruto scowled to himself at the prospect of what his demon suggested. It might actually be their only chance in this situation, but he didn't like it one bit. He quickly ducked from soaring shurikens, instantly snapping him out of his thoughts, and causing him to realize his mistake. He was so thrown off with the idea of Kyuubi's that he slowed down his pace toward the three Suna genins; preventing him from getting to them in time. 'Fuck!' he berated himself as he pushed his legs to go even faster. He chose to make those three his responsibility; to make sure they wouldn't get harmed until they had enough ability, where if they got hurt it would be their own damn fault. At least then, it wouldn't be on his conscious like it would be right now.

He was only two seconds away, and he knew he wouldn't make it. Just as he was about to literally throw himself in front of them, sand descended in a blink of an eye in front of the three. Shielding them from the attack that was about to possibly claim their lives.

Naruto breathed a sigh of relief as he came to stop by the three and looked up at the owner of the sand. Gaara stood a few branches from the forest floor, with his arms crossed over his chest and probably was looking down at them with an expression that resembled someone who was bored. Since he couldn't actually see his face, Naruto couldn't be sure.

The five clones of Naruto, Itachi, Tara, Miki, and Kyoko dropped upon the scene also. Jumping down and landing near the scattered shinobi.

The Miki clone flipped in the air, and landed effortlessly on the branch near Kiba. While the Kyoko clone deflected some kunai that were flying in the direction of Kiba behind him. She then grounded on another branch on the other side of Kiba. He nervously glanced between the two; vaguely wondering how he got so lucky to receive two near him. Their presence only made him more jumpy.

The Itachi clone landed by Kakashi, who only gave a single glance at the cloak figure with distaste before disregarding him altogether. He already knew that the cloaked figure was merely a clone with his sharingan eye, so he didn't think that it was worth paying any attention to it. Since from who he suspected created it.

The Tara clone settled on the branch in the path of Sakura. Who was agilely flipping herself through the flying projectiles; missing every single one by a hairs' length. Once Sakura was on the same branch as the Tara clone, she suck in a sharp breath when she realized who was next to her. She threw a dirty look at the other, but kept her comments to herself—only because the situation they were in was gradually becoming more dire.

The Naruto clone landed behind Sasuke, as the raven deflected cast iron arrows with his Kusanagi. Upon feeling the presence behind him, Sasuke swirled and was about to cut the person in half on pure instinct. Although, he stopped short when it struck through his mind what and who the clone represented. He let a long breath out, and twisted his sword, so it was now positioned behind his back. "Dammit dobe, I don't need a babysitter."

The clone shrugged, "Never said you did."

Sasuke lifted an eyebrow when the other didn't continue. In an annoyed tone, he asked, "Then what are you doing near me?"

Naruto clone lifted his hand and rested it against his chest in a mock gesture of hurt. "Don't want me near now, teme? That hurts."

"If you were the real one, I wouldn't have any problems." Sasuke said, his patience running thinner. "But since you're only a clone, your presence only suggests—like the others do—that I need looking after. You wouldn't be suggesting that, now would you dobe?"

The clone chuckled at the other, "Damn Sasuke. I only came up here to tell you to keep to the branches and away from the where the jutsu's keep coming from."

Sasuke's brows furrowed at that. "Why?"

"Don't worry 'bout that." commented the clone. "You'll see soon." The Naruto clone stepped closer to Sasuke, lifting his hand to the raven's face and touching his face. His tone changing dramatically serious. "Just please listen to me. Stay up here, and don't do anything that might attract there attention to you."

Sasuke was about to ask the clone whose attention he shouldn't be attracting, but the clone had already jumped off the branch and was heading toward where the real Naruto was. His gaze lingered on the real Naruto as he thought, 'What did he mean by that?'

"Took you long enough!" yelled Naruto up at the Raccoon mask man. Imagining the other's eyes rolling at his comment. He felt his clone land besides him, and without looking at his double, he ordered him, "Watch them." Indicating the three genins from Suna.

"We can watch ourselves, sempai!" came the immediate reply from Jun as Naruto was turning away from them.

A furious growl came from Naruto, which shut whatever Yuuto was about to say to the blond man with an audible click of his mouth. Not wanting to open his mouth where his comments were clearly not wanted.

Naruto turned halfway around to glare daggers at the arrogant boy. "If you had any sense at all, I wouldn't have to worry about all of yours' safety." he spat at the younger three. "You want to know why?" he asked. And without waiting for an answer he didn't want, he continued without a pause, "Because you wouldn't be idiotic enough to fight in a battle that was over your heads! So, if you weren't here, no one would have to watch you!"

By the end of his outburst, Naruto was panting from his over-flowing anger and now was standing extremely close to the three. Who now had their heads lowered to avoid the searing gaze of their sempai. Even Jun begrudgingly bit his lip to kept his mouth shut in minor fear of igniting another round of anger within the older male.

Another moment of just staring down at the three, Naruto abruptly swirled in the other direction and stalked off toward a small clearing a few yards away from him. Yelling over his shoulder at Gaara as he did so, "Cover me!"

Gaara moved automatically at the order, and immediately used his sand to block jutsu's and weapons from hitting his blond friend. The confusion in what Naruto was planning on doing, compelled him to ask, "What are you doing?"

Naruto pushed the fishnet covering his upper forearm up, letting it bunch at the top of his shoulder—so the complete white sealing bandage wrapped around his arm was showing. Taking a deep breath to calm his anxiety, he grabbed the end of the bandage that was securely clipped right under his armpit, and undid it. Unwrapping his arm that held the tattoo of the two six-tailed foxes underneath, as he answered Gaara, "Something drastic."