AN: Thank you to everybody for your reviews and feedback.
As promised, a deal is a deal, enjoy the double release this time around.
Eagleman~ in regards to your 'ah' question, I use it as another way of acknowledgment, or saying yes/yeah. I didn't think it was annoying (or at least, no where near annoying as the dattebayo's), but I will try and reduce them if so.
TotaltheTERRIER~ ahh, I am sure after these two chapters, you may have a fairly rough estimate to how much further there is to go.
Also, a special thank you to Goku90504, for spending some of his time to preread most of chapter 46 to ensure I haven't made any embarrassing mistakes (the 'ammonia' incident will not happen again *wink*)
On a report of my 'clean up' my grammar beta has been spending quite a bit of time on current releases instead of past chapters, so apologies on the delay's of that. Also I have updated an error (i hope) and dattebayo free version of the prologue, since it seems to me in my proofreading, that was the chapter he 'spammed' it the most.
update: message received then, baka 'spam' removed
Chapter 46 The right to express yourself
It was quiet in the outpost, with the group huddled around the lantern in silence, the small dim glow of the light warming their otherwise cold selves. Shikamaru was staring at the small ember, as if it was the most interest thing in the world.
Kakashi, who was next to him, was sharing the same interesting, "Shikamaru, you should not take responsibility for this. You weren't to know."
"...That's what I seem to keep hearing. I also hear it is the leader's responsibility to-"
"Many things change in the shinobi world, nothing is ever expected, nothing ever goes to plan...no leader alive can change that, not even you."
Shikamaru let out a deep sigh, "...Troublesome."
"Who was the shinobi that attacked you?"
A contagious wince from team 8 travelled around the lantern , but Shikamaru answered, "We don't know who he was. We know he was a nin from Kiri, and had a great sword bigger than him on his back. The sword had this strange orb as part of the blade just above the hilt....His jutsu...I have never seen it before."
Kakashi's lone eye grew full of shock, "It can't be." With everybody now looking at Kakashi, said scarecrow reached into his weapon pouch and pulled out his bingo book.
Flicking through the pages, he found his mark and turned the book for the others to see a profile, along with a picture that screamed familiarity, "Is this him?" The shaken nods were all that was needed as the Hatake sighed in frustration.
"Hozuki Mangetsu, a defiled member of the once Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, he is an S ranked missing nin. He is the wielder of the Zanbatou, Ryujin, or dragon god. The sword itself is a mystery of its own. It is in legend long ago, that cities in the north, south, east, and west, were protected by four great spirits. These spirits were dragons, that guarded the cities. The orb on Ryujin is said to contain the soul of the dragon of the east, Seiryuu. Nobody knows if the legend is true, but it is known that the sword is practically indestructible, never even receiving a chip from clashing against other swords. The soul of Seiryuu is also said to contain the dragon's own chakra nature...Fire. Few wielders have been able to use this nature to combine with their own, effectively creating a hybrid element that is impossible for any lone shinobi, with the exception of those with Kekkei Genkai's."
The stunned Shikamaru shook his head clear, "So molten rock...-"
"Mangetsu is the only known shinobi alive to ever have created not one, but two hybrid elements with three different chakra natures, with no involvement from a bijuu or a kekkai genkai...the creation of Lava and napalm."
"Wait...what natures is that?"
"Fire and earth creates lava, and fire and water create napalm."
Shikamaru shook his head, "How is napalm created from water element, isn't it a type of gasoline? But more importantly, how is the combination of two opposite elements even possible?!"
The silent Kiba scratched his head, "But there is the other thing too. We all saw him, he was calling out doton and suiton jutsu by their names, but lava and this napalm replaced it instead?"
"The sword must be acting as a converter for his chakra, how it is even possible for the two conflicting elements to combine is beyond me, but it would follow why Hinata saw him flow his chakra into the sword with every jutsu he used."
Shino explained, to have the Nara nodding his head in agreement. "That is probably the most likely case...what a frightening ability."
'So not only do we have a nin that can use some kind of clay to create explosives, but one of the seven swordsmen as well...this is getting worse by the moment.'
"...It took us so long to get here, because we tried as best as we could to ensure we weren't followed. I hope we weren't trailed this time..."
-
Flashback, border of Taki, three days ago
-
"JIRAIYA-SAMA!" Shikamaru shouted at the top of his lungs, but it was too late when the sannin was completely blocked from his view by the blinding red lava.
Bursting out of his hiding spot, he tried to get as close as he could to the sizzling pit, the others sharing the same idea. On closer approach, all of the teens suddenly felt as if half a lung had shut off, as they breathed in the dry air from the radiating heat.
Shikamaru rubbed his watery eyes and turned to Hinata, "Anything?!" He half shouted, but Hinata already had her byakugan activated and darted all around.
Her trembled gasps made him twitch, "S-Shikamaru-kun...I-I...I can't..."
Not wanting to accept the truth, Shikamaru desperately turned to the other two, "ANYTHING?!" He shouted this time.
Kiba tried to sniff the air, but instantly covered his nose, as he began to cough from breathing in the burning air, "I-I can't smell, anything, but, ash!" He cackled between his coughs. Shino was about to respond, but Hinata gasped and stood up straight in fear.
"Now then..."
Shikamaru slowly turned his wide eyes to see Mangetsu walking so casually across the lava pit as if it was water, the heat not even making the giant sweat.
Standing a few meters away, Mangetsu smirked, "Which one of you will be kind enough to inform me of where the jinkuriki is located?"
Mangetsu's question made all teens and dog freeze, but Kiba recovered first and glared, "Go to hell!"
The swordsman burst into laughter, "So little fear, even after seeing one of the legendary sannin fall to me...oh, I like you."
"He is not dead!"
The swordsman perked an eye at Shikamaru's gritting teeth, "Heh, believe whatever you want then. Looks like Ryujin will have some more souls to feast upon then."
Nobody was expecting such a giant to suddenly bolt from his spot so quick, closing the ground in a mere second, and reaching for the sword on his back to take a large arced swing at all of them from the right.
"Tsuga!"
Mangetsu halted his sweep, and instead shifted the sword to shield himself from the sudden drill like blur crashing into his sword. While he was distracted, Shikamaru and the others jumped back, with a groaning Kiba following. Looking at his hands, he winced at his bleeding finger nails, then looked up to see that his jutsu had not even marked the sword.
"Hehehe, I really like you." Kiba gritted his teeth, while Shikamaru tried to think of what to do.
The swordsman however, was not in a waiting mood, as he ran through seals, "Daibakufu no jutsu."
All teens froze when the pool of lava began to rise a good twenty feet into the air from Mangetsu's side. Like something had then switched, the monstrous wave of lava collapsed over them like a tidal wave.
Quickly reforming, Hinata closed her eyes, "Please nobody move, and get down!"
Opening her eyes, she began twisting and turning her body, while her hands were moving in a blur, "Shugohakke rokujuyon sho!" she shouted, as the Nara watched the lava disintegrate on touch of the glowing blue, net like sphere covering over the top of them.
When the wave ended, the chakra sphere fell, revealing that they were clear from behind of any lava, otherwise they had a good six meter gap between them and the lava on their sides, and front. Hinata fell on her knees to try and gasp in some air, which resulted in furiously coughing from breathing in the poisonous like heat.
"I have never seen a Hyuuga use such a defence before, and even use it to shield several people from my jutsu...I guess what they say about Konoha's youths are true." Mangetsu commented, as Hinata tried to stand, but collapsed from exhaustion.
Taking a step forward, Mangetsu smirked, "Make it easy on yourselves, tell me-"
He was cut off when the ground under his feet crumbled, and before he knew it, a swarm of bugs completely covered every inch of his body.
"Hinata gave me more than enough time to prepare." Shino commented, the Nara looking back to see Shino's hands releasing a swarm of insects from under his sleeve, which were digging through the ground.
'I see...using Hinata to set up an absolute defence, then tunnelling underneath both her jutsu and the lava to get him by surprise.'
"In a few moments, he should be out of chakr-...wait!" Shino stood up when he saw his bugs shriek loudly, when a red glow could be seen through the thousands of bugs, which soon exploded into a ball of lava.
'A...lava substitution?!'
"What was that about my chakra again?" A voice shouted behind them, but Kiba intervened while Shikamaru and Shino tried to evade the otherwise fatal sword slash.
"Akamaru! Jujin bunshin!" Kiba ordered, dodging Mangetsu's fist several times, and quickly darting to the side, when he caught sight of his dog companion, "Gatsuuga!"
Quickly looking back, Mangetsu noticed that he was sandwiched between two rapidly rotating drills, which then began to bounce back and forth over him, kicking up a violent amount of dust to block the other's views.
'Did they get him?'
"I grow tired of these games." Mangetsu voiced, as the sound of steel meeting flesh was heard, sending a now cut across the torso Kiba to hit the dirt with a crash. The remaining drill was parried by the sword, causing Akamaru to jump back, and turn back into his dog form.
Twirling his huge sword around in his hand, Mangetsu readied to strike down at Kiba, but suddenly froze, 'Damn it!'
Shikamaru rubbed the sweat off his head while concentrating to hold the swordsman in his jutsu. While Akamaru dragged the wounded Kiba out of harm's way. Still with his sword raised, Mangetsu inwardly cursed when he saw the tendrils of his shadow rise slowly around him. Shikamaru was taken aback though, when the swords orb began to glow brightly again, causing his shadow to weaken.
'This guy is too much for us!'
Trying to not let his shadows hold break, he reached into his weapon pouch and pulled out one of Asuma's chakra blades, 'Sorry Asuma-sensei, but I have a feeling we are dead if I don't do this.'
Grunting at the amount of chakra he poured into the blade, he then threw it at Mangetsu's shadow, successfully continuing the jutsu for him.
"Shino! grab Hinata, we are retreating now!"
"Understood."
Shikamaru ran over to Kiba and Akamaru, and heaved him up, quickly glancing to see the blade's glow was quickly fading, "Hurry, let's move!"
-
Present time
-
"...Having that guy come here without some way to fight him would be beyond very troublesome." Shikamaru concluded, wincing at the memory of their escape.
"What are we going to do?" Hinata whispered to herself, but all the shinobi heard it loud and clear.
Kakashi sighed, "It would be probably best to think about this later. Since all of us are not thinking straight."
The room filled with silence and everyone looked at the dim lantern as Shikamaru lazily nodded, "I think that would be the smart thing to do."
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How long had they sat here just looking up at the stars in serene silence, now, one hour? two? not that either of them cared. Every now and then Naruto had a tear escape, but a quick whip from Sakura's warming hand never let them stain. Sakura decided not to try and avoid the matter, and asked Naruto to tell her some more about his times with Jiraiya. She was glad to see her tactic had worked, as he was smiling more than holding pain, while telling her stories of fond memories.
Once Naruto had concluded his fifth story, Sakura felt he was ready to go back, "Are you ready to go back now?"
"Yeah..."
Standing up, the blond stretched his arms before resting them on the back of his head, "Let's go Sakura-chan. I want to say sorry to Shikamaru."
Naruto then started to walk away, "Naruto."
He turned back to see Sakura standing there as if waiting, and looked down to see her opened hand.
Moulding a blush baring smile, he took her hand and they walked side by side out of the school.
Giving his hand a squeeze got his attention, "I hope you will talk to me if you need to, because trust me, I will know if you are bottling something up."
"I know."
"Heh, you know, but you still try to anyway."
"Sakura-chan."
She giggled at his light whine, "Fine I will listen to you this time."
Sensing his hand not following, she stopped a step ahead and looked back, "Something wrong Naruto?"
"...I want to avenge Ero-sennin."
Her emerald eyes flickered, but nodded, "I can understand why...and you aren't alone in that either."
The puzzled look made her scowl, "Jiraiya-sama meant something to me too baka. Or do you think the last couple of weeks I have spent with him are-"
"No, No, I get it...sorr-"
"Baka."
She whispered over him, pulling on his hand to continue walking, "We will let these guys know just how much Jiraiya-sama meant to all of us, but they are no pushovers Naruto. "
"Neh, we got Shikamaru on our side, we have nothing to worry about."
Sakura lightly chuckled, "If you want to look at it that way then by all means."
Seeing the dim light of the outpost coming towards them from down the long street, they looked at each other.
"Well, this is it, Naruto."
"Yeah..."
Looking down at their bound hands, they reluctantly pulled apart to feel the empty cold space of the night.
Dissatisfied, Sakura sighed and starting walking, "Let's get back then, it's freezing out he-"
Sakura was caught by surprise to have a warming hand spin her around by the shoulder to have her lips captured and held in an affectionate embrace. Once the shock and surprise wore off, she gripped and pulled on his jacket, deepening the kiss. After several heart skipping beats, she felt the warming lips pull away and opened her eyes to see a sheepishly grinning Naruto, who was threading his fingers through the hair on the back of her head.
"NOW, we can go back, Sakura-chan!" He beamed, with his fox smile wide as ever, that it almost sparkled in the night.
She blushed, but couldn't hold back her own similar gesture, "Why can't you be like this all the time?"
"Neh?"
Snuggling her head into his neck, she continued, "Just like that, completely out of the blue, you sweep me around and kiss me...maybe you do have a romantic sense after all."
"Eh? What are you talking about?"
She groaned and pulled out of his secure hold, "Forget what I said, you are hopeless."
"H-Huh?!"
Naruto put up his finger to issue 'wait' at her retreating form, "I-If you are asking for another kiss, I will happily-"
"No, you killed the mood, go away."
"But Sakura-cha-"
"No!"
Their bickering carried on till the small light was now only a couple of houses away, when both looked at the light as if it was some kind of boundary where they now had to pretend they were just teammates.
"Naruto-"
"If they work it out, who cares? I am up for at least trying to do what we agreed, since it looks like we both suck at keeping this quiet."
Turning her head, she grinned at the blond, "Fine by me."
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Sasuke sat up on his bed, while still looking at his now healed and partly bandaged hand that got struck by the lightning. A knock on his door pulled his attention to it, as without his approval, it opened to reveal Kabuto.
"I trust you are feeling much better Sasuke-kun? You are very fortunate the lightning seemed to pass through your body instead, otherwise you may have been killed."
"Hn."
"However pressing on, I have some urgent news from Orochimaru-sama-"
"Spare it, I am going to resume my training." Sasuke over talked Kabuto, rising from his bed, and grabbing his sword as he walked past the henchman by the door. Watching the Uchiha's retreating back, Kabuto lifted his glasses, and decided it was time to follow Orochimaru's instructions.
"Itachi-san has been sighted in the area close by this hideout."
The moment the older brother's name escaped his lips, Sasuke instantly froze on the spot. After several tense seconds of silence, Sasuke turned his head so Kabuto could see his onyx eye, "You are lying."
Kabuto's innocent chuckle did not make it sound clear, "Why, I am simply informing you of news our spies have discovered Sasuke-kun. It is your ambition is it not?"
Walking up to Sasuke, Kabuto shrugged, "Whatever you see it as, I have done what Orochimaru-sama instructed me to do."
Kabuto then continued walking down the corridor, knowing the Uchiha was still staring at his back, until he turned a corner.
Sasuke still had not moved, as he stood in the silent corridor for what felt like minutes. The sound of thunder rumbling the hideout from above, brought him out of his blank, and stunned form, as he took a turn and started heading down the corridor. Upon reaching a door, he knocked several times loudly.
After a minute, the door opened to reveal a half dazed Karin, who was rubbing her tired eyes, "What is it?"
"Karin."
Sasuke's voice made her jump wide awake, slipping on her glasses to confirm that her senses were not imagining his cologne like scent, or his husky, but neutral as ever voice.
"Y-Yes Sasuke?"
"I require your assistance once again."
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The night went by on a warmer note on Naruto's return. While it was clear that he was still mourning the news of Jiraiya, his friends usually were able to cheer him up within a moment's time. On the next day, Naruto had woken up and gone straight back to the school yard to train, he did not go alone though. Hinata and Sakura were by the benches, with Sakura trying her dual jutsu exercise again, and Kiba had tagged along with Akamaru.
"Heh, did you cause that Naruto?" Kiba asked, pointing to a collapsed building he could tell had only happened recently.
"Err, maybe."
"So I see you are still as ever out of control."
"Hey! I didn't expect my new jutsu to be so super after some training."
"Yeah...as 'super' as the mockery of my clan fighting style you conjured up?"
"You-"
Naruto gritted his teeth while shaking his fist at the smirking Kiba, "That's it! I am going to wipe that annoying smirk off your fanged face!"
"That sounded like a challenge, eh, Akamaru?!" The dog's bark did not phase the blond.
"I whooped you once, I will do it again, teme!"
"Baka! do you want me to remind you HOW you won that?!"
"You never saw my plan coming."
"Plan...YOU FREAKING FARTED!"
"Hehe, a ninja must expect the unexpecte-GAH!"
Naruto's smug claim was harshly cut off by the sudden impact of something semi wet and slithery smacking into the back of his head.
Rubbing his head, he saw the projectile to be a fish, "That's because I can't be bothered to get up and hit you for being such an idiot!"
Turning to the offender, he pouted, "Sakura-chan!!"
Kiba's laughter made him twitch and turn with an accusing finger, "You stay out of this!"
Picking up the foot long fish by the tail, Kiba shook it in front of Naruto mockingly, "Or what, you will hit me with a fish?"
Shaking his fist in the air, Naruto whacked the fish out of the Inuzuka's hand, "That's it! I am going to kick your ass all over this yard by the end of today. Starting right now!"
"You're on knuckle head, let's go, Akamaru!"
"Huh?!"
Kiba gave a toothy smirk, "Yes?"
"It's two against one! that's not fair!"
"Want me to repeat the chuunin exam rules?"
"...Sakura-chan, Hinata, help me!"
Hinata blushed, but shook her head, "M-My apologies Naruto-kun, b-but I will only get in your way."
The other was less sensitive, or shy in answering, "Fight your own battles, baka!"
"B-But Sakura-ch-"
"No!"
Shoulders slumped at his rejection, he turned back, "Traitors."
Sakura suppressed her giggles so only the Hyuuga heard, "He is such a baka, hey Hinata?"
Hinata lightly chuckled, "I guess so Sakura-chan."
Sakura's groan in frustration made Hinata go blank, "Damn it!" She hissed, when the foul smell of burnt fish then hit the heiresses nose which she covered.
Shaking her head, she repaired the damage she had done again, "I literally feel like I am just burning chakra."
"What is it you are trying to do Sakura-chan?"
Explaining to Hinata the situation, she nodded, "I see. I am sure you will get it in time then Sakura-chan."
"Thanks."
Looking back to the lively smirking Naruto, Hinata sadly smiled, "Naruto-kun should not have to put up with such troubles."
Sakura looked up at the heiress to see her sad expression, and shared a frown, "I know Hinata. He has done nothing wrong to deserve any of this-this crap! Naruto has had it rough for too long, it really pisses me off when I think about it." Both kunouchi watched the blond waving his arms frantically at Kiba and Akamaru.
"But you know what Hinata...I am coming around to not caring anymore."
The heiress looked back to see Sakura's smile, "The only thing it does is make him frustrated, and at times he even gets afraid of what will not happen to him, but to others like you, me, and all of us. Naruto has a life to live, and he does not need it to be full of fear. I believe deep down, that is something Jiraiya-sama tried to show him beyond his training."
Remembering a few stories Naruto shared with her the other night, made her continue, "Jiraiya-sama meant so much to Naruto, not only because he had faith in the baka, but because he practically was the caring father Naruto never had the chance to know."
"Sakura-chan..."
Sakura's smile broadened, as she blinked several times to hold back any coming tears, " That is what Naruto needs more of, not this. It is something I will do everything in my power to continue what Jiraiya-sama did for him, as we all should...and if anybody tries to come after him to hurt him, I will make them pay."
The heiress stared in surprise, at just how protective Sakura was sounding, but grew a soft smile, "He is very lucky to have somebody there for him like yourself, Sakura-chan. "
Sakura sheepishly muttered, thanks, and got back to her training with new found determination.
The heiress simply studied the rosette with her soft eyes, 'Sakura-chan...you really do love Naruto-kun.'
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Dreading the shelter of inside the outpost, Shikamaru and the others decided to take their conversation outside. Kakashi was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, while the rest stood around him.
"So...what are we going to do?"
"Well, staying here sure won't solve anything, and from what you told me, it is dangerous being here any longer for Naruto with the Akatsuki now involved." Shikamaru groaned out.
"What do you suggest then?"
"We should confront them head on.-"
All three turned to Lee, "-If we continue running, they are only going to keep coming after Naruto-kun. We all heard and saw how determined he was last night when he claimed he would avenge Jiraiya-sama...he is through with running."
"We all can see that, but despite what he says, they are too strong. I am not saying that because I doubt Naruto and everyone here, I am saying that because it's the truth. Even if we have double their number, from what we have seen, these guys can handle opposing odds with ease. Not only do they have the summoner, they also have the explosives user which we still know little about, and that freakish swordsman...and we don't know still if there are others."
"From what we know of Naruto though, he obviously does not care about that, Shikamaru."
Shino pointed out, earning a frown, "I know that."
"Alright, so let's talk about other options then."
Kakashi added, then looked to Shikamaru, "Have we been given the clear to enter Suna?"
"Judging by the time frame, I would say Suna have confirmed Temari is ok. So we would be able to move to Suna if need be."
"Suna would indeed be much more secure than out here, and with a team of dedicated trackers, it would not be difficult to get there without being discovered."
Kakashi voiced his thoughts aloud, then turning to Shino, "That reminds me. Anything?"
"My bugs have spread themselves all around the border of this town. So far, there has been no signs of either the Akatsuki or the ANBU." Shino explained, raising his finger as a lone bug landed on it.
After several moments of silence, the insect flew off, "There still has been no signs."
"Perhaps the Akatsuki do not know where we are?"
"Oh they know. Itachi at the very least would know we are here. It concerns me though that after Itachi's attempt to take Naruto, we haven't seen him since."
Shikamaru ran his hand through his hair, "Do we know their true intentions?"
"My guess, if anything, is they are here to protect Naruto. Since if something happens to him, Akatsuki's plans will be thwarted."
"That sounds to be the most likely case, although we still should not trust them." Shikamaru added, while deciding to bring the topic back to what they originally were discussing.
"Suna would be good, however, we are now shifting the danger to not only ourselves, but to Suna as well. That explosion crater and lava...-"
Shikamaru winced at the memory and shook his head, "-We cannot bring these guys to Suna, the risk of losses would be far too great. Naruto won't allow it...and neither will I."
He concluded lowly, but the others sharply nodded in agreement. "So we will engage them yet again?"
Shikamaru formed his famous seal, while responding to Lee, "As much of a hassle as it is, it really looks like we are out of options."
Kakashi sighed, "Very well...let's discuss how we are going to fight them."
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"Fine then you baby, Akamaru will sit and watch me beat the crap out of you." Akamaru whimpered in protest to his master, but soon growled when Naruto poked his tongue out at him.
"Don't worry Akamaru, I will make him pay for that." Letting out one more growl at the still mocking blond, Akamaru went and sat next to Hinata by the bench.
Naruto and Kiba walked out to a more opened part of the yard, still just under the tree's covering reach, "What are the rules then Kiba?"
"No rasengan, no kage bunshin."
"W-W-WHAT?! WANT ME TO TIE MY HANDS BEHIND MY BACK AS WELL?!"
Kiba simply blinked and whistled, "Oi, Akama-"
"FINE! No gatsuuga or whatever it is from you then."
"Heh, whatever you say, and oh yeah...no farting you cheapskate."
"Are you sure you don't want me to just tie my hands and feet for you as well?" Both shinobi then took several steps back, and stared off between blue irises and onyx slits.
'I wonder if Kiba has gotten any better the past two years?'
'Without his stupid kage bunshins, I got this in the bag.'
Kiba formed a seal, "Shikyaku no jutsu!"
Naruto watched as Kiba's small clawed nails grew an extra good inch in length, along with his fangs and hair going more wild. Falling into his four legged stance, Naruto could not help but see the slight resemblances to his own.
'If it is anything similar to what Ero-sennin taught me, then I am going to get shredded like bloody paper, unless I find a way to block those claws.'
Gripping on a kunai now in each hand, he brought them up to his defence, 'These will have to do.'
"Let me show you the PROPER way to use my family's taijutsu you wannabe!"
Naruto watched as Kiba began to scurry in a blur around him, 'Damn it, he has gotten even faster.'
Shaking his head, Naruto started to run forward, but then quickly change direction, 'My training with this jutsu showed me how badly you could be screwed if you don't move.'
As if true to his musing, Naruto felt the sharp wind of Kiba's claws just missing him on a pounce, "Well I'll be damned, you aren't just going to stand there this time!"
"Meh, not my fault you are moving so slow." He baited, and succeeded with a smirk when he heard Kiba growl and go for another slash.
Naruto was surprised though when Kiba instead of blazing past him, instantly stopped and corrected his course to deliver a head butt into his nose. Naruto then was met with two solid sandal wearing feet into his chest, as Kiba balanced himself on one hand while doing so.
Backing away slightly dazed proved a mistake, when Kiba continued his bombardment of attacks, ending it with a slash that, Naruto backed away from as Kiba partly tore into his jacket.
"So who is the slow one here?"
"Shut up." Naruto replied back, rubbing his nose that had a little line of blood running down. Kiba again soon was back to darting around Naruto, who twirled around his two kunai. Steel met claw on the next dive in by Kiba, who continued his push against Naruto. After several clashes, Naruto winced when a sharp clawed foot scrapped his shin, then quickly was met with a fist in his face, but once again before he could counter, Kiba had fallen back and was circling around him like a predator.
Naruto this time tried to engage, but Kiba snorted, "You are joking right?"
Naruto's attempted slash with his kunai was met by a smooth dodge, and an upper cut to his jaw which sent him off his feet. The two now observing kunouchi winced at his hard landing on his back, while Sakura inwardly was fuming, 'Damn it Naruto, at least hit him once!'
Naruto stumbled to his feet with a groan, soon seeing the sitting on all fours Kiba snicker, "So, looks like you still need your kage bunshin's to fight decent after all."
Naruto rubbed his jaw and chuckled, "I don't need kage bunshin to beat a mutt."
"Talking big as always eh? then prove it to me, since it seems to be your habit to do so."
"Yeah! kick his K-9 ass Naruto!" Both shinobi looked over at their audiences to confirm that was the heated shout from Sakura violently waving her fist in the air.
She herself was surprised by her outburst, and sheepishly got back to her training, trying to ignore Hinata's soft giggles.
After several seconds had passed, both Naruto and Kiba looked at each other, "Well I am waiting knucklehead?"
Ignoring Kiba's remark, Naruto sighed, "I guess I am going to have to use 'it'."
The chorus of 'it's' were heard flash across every one's mind, while Naruto scrutinised his hands, 'I need claws...'
Reaching into his holster, he brought out four kunai, and threaded them between his fingers, making three clawed fingers between his own.
Kiba perked an eyebrow at the sight, while Naruto took a half hearted swing in front of him, 'Bleh! Not the same as real claws, but I will have to go with it.'
Falling into that familiar stance, Kiba laughed, "You got to be kidding me! you really think that pathetic stance is going to let you win this?! although I might actually die of laughter at this rate!"
Naruto payed no attention to his bait, as Kiba snorted and charged. On the attempted pounce though, Kiba never expected Naruto to so freely hop to the side and attempt to slash down at his side. Kiba kicked away on the ground in time though, and looked in surprise, while Naruto inwardly groaned, 'I am not as fast with this without the Kyuubi.'
'That was close.' Kiba mused, deciding he better take this style of fighting Naruto had learnt a bit more seriously.
Naruto this time dashed, still running on two unlike Kiba, but he was leaned low enough that his hands could touch the ground within an instant. The Inuzuka met him half way, and as he predicted, Naruto quickly pushed to the side with one of his hands, and span around to deliver a wide arched slash at chest height. Kiba quickly ducked and tried to exploit Naruto's opening with a solid kick, but Naruto kicked off the cement, jumping back from the kick.
Kiba came in again, while Naruto bent down in a squat, with his 'clawed' hands crossing over each other.
Real claw met steel claw, as they struggled for dominance, "Heh, maybe you aren't insulting my clan that much after all."
"Is that the sound of giving up I hear?"
"Hah! in your dreams Naruto!"
Pulling back, Kiba began to evade Naruto's swipes, 'Interesting modification. It is still based around hitting and running style fighting, but since he isn't as agile, he is using his hands more so for the quick thrusts of movement instead of crawling like I do.'
On the next sweep, Naruto jumped back and threw one of his hand's holding kunai's, making Kiba jump to the side while Naruto quickly grabbed some more in replacement. Naruto then lunged in again, pushing Kiba further back, 'What is he doing?'
Kiba gasped when he heard Akamaru's warning bark, but his back already met the concrete wall of a building, 'SHIT! THAT'S WHY HE THREW THE KUNAI!'
Naruto slammed his left hand into the Kiba's side, blocking him of escape with his kunai kicking out dust from digging into the rotting building.
"YOU LOSE KIBA!" Naruto shouted, his other hand coming in for a slash.
He gasped though when Kiba in a split second ducked the kunai, resulting in dust kicking out from the long slash, "DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO!" Naruto tasted sandal from a foot to the face, knocking him off his feet as his back hit the concrete again.
Grunting on his landing, Naruto pushed himself up again and rubbed his nose, 'Damn it...I am too freaking slow!'
Picking up his scattered kunai, Naruto fell back into his stance. Kiba didn't give Naruto any time to think, jumping onto the wall and pushing off with new found momentum. Naruto tried to push back, but Kiba again pounced on landing on the ground and closed the distance to knock Naruto off his feet and hold a claw to his cheek.
"You lose this time!"
'poof'
Kiba pushed off the ground when he discovered his pinned target was a bin. Audibly sniffing the air, he smirked, "You can't hide from my nose Naruto, not this time!"
Kiba lunged again at the bin, and kicked it hard in the centre, causing a thick cloud of smoke to blind everyone's vision.
Now fully watching, Sakura gasped, 'Naruto used henge, but Kiba could still smell he was there.'
She inwardly mused, watching as the smoke cleared to go wide eyed, 'W-What?!'
Kiba blinked in pure confusion to see the 'bin' change into a branch, with Naruto's jacket covering over most of it. Sensing a presence from above him, Kiba looked up to be greeted by a foot to the face that belonged to a jacketless Naruto.
Sakura understood what he did, 'He henged into the bin, then on Kiba's kick, he performed Kawarimi, and left his jacket behind so Kiba would think he had him.'
"Looks like I can still fool your dumb self over and over again just fine!"
Kiba's face met the ground with a loud impact, as Naruto stood smugly on top of the Inuzuka's head, "Hehe, told you I wouldn't need kage bunshin to beat a mu-"
Naruto was sharply cut off when Kiba had at unreal speed, slid off Naruto's pushing down foot, and while raising, span around and cut in a diagonal swipe across Naruto's black shirt.
Naruto ignored the sting of pain across his chest, and jumped back and growled, "What the hell?! Did you have to cut me?!"
"Eh?! you didn't seem to have a problem when you tried to slash at me before."
"Whatever, I can't even feel any pain anyway."
Kiba's eyes narrowed to slits, "Still talking big! I swear your ego pisses me off sometimes!"
Kiba formed a seal while closing his eyes, "Who cares, you won't be talking big after my new jutsu."
Naruto's ears perked, but soon glared, "What is this?! the chuunin preliminaries?! now you are just trying to copy me!"
"Keep talking all you want. Don't worry though, I won't cut you up too bad."
Hinata's eyes widened, 'Kiba-kun is going to use...'
Kiba opened his eyes and smirked, "Tooboeno kenshi!"
'Howling fang?'
Naruto blinked, but gasped in surprise, when Kiba began to circle around him at an amazing burst of speed, while letting out a low howl. Naruto's eyes held shock when several afterimages were trailing behind the on all fours Inuzuka, which after several revolutions around him, were circling him like a pack of wolves.
"YAHOO!" Naruto heard all around him a second time, making his ears ring by the sharp stretched note at the end that sounded like the howl of a wolf.
Naruto again gasped when the several after images instantly changed course, and all shot towards him in the centre of the circle. Naruto didn't know if the afterimages were real or not, but something had kicked him up a good several feet into the air, as a violently spinning blur came up from under his feet.
Sakura watched agape as she saw Naruto suddenly get slashed in several areas in an instant by an invisible force, resulting in his cry in pain as he fell on the ground yet again. Kiba soon dropped to his feet close by, furiously panting while trying to stay in his stance.
Seeing Sakura's shock, Hinata explained, "Kiba-kun wanted to learn a jutsu similar to how Naruto-kun defeated him, but since Kiba-kun cannot create kage bunshin's, he spent some time with Kurenai-sensei. He eventually was able to learn how to cast a weak level genjutsu to create afterimages of himself as he moves using his voice, making it hard for the opponent to determine which is the real him. By using more chakra into his shikyaku no jutsu, he can increase his speed and senses momentarily, despite it physically straining him after using it. Like Naruto-kun's jutsu, it kicks the opponent up into the air, and then Kiba-kun delivers a combination of various attacks...I believe he learnt it just for Naruto-kun."
Naruto was covered in several bleeding cuts all over, but sat up to glare at Kiba, "YOU ARE A DAMN COPY CAT, AND YOU KNOW IT!" He shouted full of energy, with his wounds seeming to not affecting him in the slightest.
The Inuzuka shrugged, "Yeah..like you copied Sasuke?"
Naruto growled in response, "That's it! I am using rasengan n-"
"NARUTO!"
Naruto was cut off mid sentence by the semi demonic voice of one extremely angry woman, who was now marching over to the paling blond.
Naruto didn't know when he had pushed himself back as quick as he could with his hands and feet, but the moment his back met the tree, the rosettes figure now got bigger and bigger until she was in his face.
"You reckless baka! why do you have to take just a stupid spar to the point where you're now hurt?!"
If possible, Naruto was sinking into the tree, and somehow was getting smaller under her glare, "B-B-B-B-But K-Kiba-"
"I DONT CARE, YOU STARTED IT!" Kiba watched the horror movie unfold, while the sweating blond continued to get a mouth full from the heated Sakura.
Walking over to Hinata, he scratched his head sheepishly, "Ermm...why is she angry at him again?"
Hinata was smiling at the sight, and laughed when Sakura started poking Naruto in the chest while spelling out ' You. Are. A. Reckless. Dumb. And. Stupid. Baka!'
"She was worried Naruto-kun was going to get seriously injured, Kiba-kun."
Kiba blinked and watched Sakura still continue to scold Naruto and shrugged, "Isn't she just a little...overreacting? it's not like I was trying to kill him or something?"
Lightly laughing, Hinata shook her head, "You wouldn't understand I'm afraid, Kiba-kun."
----------------------------------------------
Once Sakura had healed up Naruto, the group started to walk back to the outpost.
"You handled yourself well, as I expected, Naruto." Kiba admitted, earning a smirk from said blond.
"Heh, thanks Kiba, right back at yah...next time though, you are going down."
"Sure, just keep telling yourself that."
"Neh?! You made me fight with no kage bunshins or rasengan! how was it fair?!"
"You made me fight without Akamaru..."
"Fine then, the rematch will be all ou-"
The murderous intending glare from Sakura made the blond freeze and crumble in fear, "E-Ermm ok...m-maybe let's just say you win, and be done with it." Kiba snickered, along with Akamaru's amused filled bark.
Kakashi soon bumped into them on the way with a backpack on his shoulder, "Sakura, it's that time again." He said knowingly, handing over the pack to the kunouchi.
"Hai, I take it I need to double the amount of supplies this time?"
"Hai."
Accepting her task, she looked to Hinata, "Want to come along and help me Hinata?"
"I'd be happy to Sakura-chan."
"Can I come t-"
"No, go bug somebody else."
Naruto pouted and let out his 'sakura-chan!' whine, which earned him a smirk from her, "Let's go, Hinata."
Shoulders slumped when they left down the street, Naruto turned to the snickering Inuzuka, "Heh, your girl burned you hardcore!"
Naruto's jaw hung agape, "N-N-NEH?! W-WHAT THE HELL?!"
"I can smell both of your scents all over each other, eh Akamaru?"
The dog as if making matters worse walked up to the blond and sniffed, then barked in his face, "S-She just fixed me?!"
"Pull the other one knucklehead..."
Smirking, Kiba continued his tease, "Hehe, she's your 'this', isn't she?"
Naruto grew a furious blush when Kiba pointed out his pinkie into the air and made a loud whistle, "You are just a bundle full of surprises now aren't you?!"
The wink made Naruto gulp. Perhaps all his time with Jiraiya made him process what Kiba said in a less 'innocent' light, either way, he was not going to risk any false impressions, "I-I-I know what you're thinking! a-and n-no you pervert! I am only fifteen, dattebayo!"
Kiba burst into laughter, "OH! This is beyond rich!"
Back with the two kunouchi, they continued walking through the town in a strange silence. Sakura could not for the life of her put her finger on it, but there was an unknown tension between them...something was wrong.
"Is everything alright Hinata?"
"Of course." Her genuine assurance only baffled Sakura, so she paid no heed to the tension, and tried to start some conversation.
"So how was everybody back in Konoha Hinata? I hope Tsunade-sama was not annoyed?"
"From what Shikamaru-kun and Jiraiya-sama told us, she was quite concerned, but understood the reason."
Sakura's attempt to talk about anything bright ended up failing miserably as she froze in shock and covered her mouth. How could she have forgot? She had been so worried about Naruto, that she didn't think of somebody else that would be affected arguably even worse by the news.
The heiress stopped in concern, "Is something wrong Sakura-chan?"
"...What on earth am I going to tell Tsunade-sama?"
Hinata gasped in realisation, "O-Oh..."
"...Damn it!" Sakura hissed in a sharp whisper, as she started walking again.
She knew how much Jiraiya meant to her master. They were teammates and best friends, and Sakura was almost willing to bet there were other things between them...how would Tsunade take it?
Could she take it?
Either way, the Godaime would eventually ask where the toad sannin was, and Jiraiya was worth more than a 'casualty' written down in the mission report paper.
"...I am going to have to tell her." Sakura voiced her musing aloud.
They continued walking out of the abandoned town, with Sakura in deep thought as to what it was she was going to say to her sensei.
Hinata this time was one to try and spark some bright conversation, "So how have you been, before our arrival Sakura-chan?"
Sakura was pulled out of her deep thoughts with a face that held surprise, but soon morphed to a smile, "It has been great Hinata. I honestly thought it was terrible at first like I told you before, but now, I couldn't be more happy."
"I can see that very clearly. You look like you have changed from before somehow, Sakura-chan."
"I do?"
Sakura sheepishly shrugged at her confirming nod, not knowing what to say to that. Sensing that strange tension from before, Sakura looked to the heiress in question, noticing that Hinata looked deeply troubled about something.
She never got the opportunity to ask what was wrong this time, "Sakura-chan, if I am not intruding, u-umm may I ask you something...personal?"
Sakura perked an eyebrow at the stuttering heiress, but complied with a nod, "Sure, what would you like to know?"
Hinata opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Reluctantly, the heiress tried again, "...Is Naruto-kun an important person to you?"
Sakura blinked in confusion, "Of course he is, he is my teammate and is one of my best friends."
"I-I know. What I meant was umm..." Sakura still held puzzlement as the heiress continued to slur her words, before stopping and trying again.
"...Do you love Naruto-kun?"
Even though the heiress whispered it, the wide eyed Sakura heard it as if it was at full volume, and took a sharp breath in, "I-I-"
"-M-My apologies Sakura-chan! It really is none of my business!"
Shaking her head quickly to clear her shock, Sakura sheepishly chuckled, "T-That's fine Hinata, I just...wasn't expecting you to ask that."
"-I am so sorry-"
"Don't be silly Hinata."
Sakura looked nervously elsewhere, trying to work out how to say it, or more so if she should. Hinata always has been, and still is, a quiet and respectful person by nature, there was no reason in Sakura's eyes why she could not trust Hinata of all people.
Sakura still was curious about not the question itself, but more so how the heiress had said it. Surely herself and Naruto were not that transparent to everyone's eyes, at least she thought that. Hinata always had acted so quietly around Naruto, and always seemed to stutter when talking to him. The heiress back in the academy as Sakura recalled was a mystery to her, being the only kunouchi who did not share the same infatuation or admiration for Sasuke like the others. She labelled it at first glance as it just being part of Hinata's shy nature, but looking in to it more deeply, she was starting to question if her initial thoughts were completely wrong.
"...May I ask why you wish to know that?" Sakura asked neutrally, but Hinata's wide eyed, and partly fearful expression further added to her bafflement. The sound of links literally snapping together behind her emerald gaze made her gasp.
'Oh my god...Hinata...'
How could she have been so blind? how could everybody be? She should know the signs better than anybody, especially since she was a girl too.
"Hinata...you...."
'Love Naruto...'
Both teens just stared at each other, one looking at the floor, while the other was fully agape in shock. The constricting atmosphere fell down on both kunouchi' shoulders like bricks, robbing either of them the freedom to breathe.
"Hinata....how long?"
"...Since the academy."
"..." Shaking her head, Sakura tried to think of what to say, but it was like everything had just completely shut down.
The heiress soft smile pulled her out of her shock, "You still have not answered my question Sakura-chan." Sakura's jaw hung agape, but that was all the heiress needed.
"I see...have you told Naruto-kun you feel this way?"
Sakura's agape, and wide eyed expression never left her, and Hinata once again assumed the answer as true and smiled, "I am very happy for you both then Sakura-chan. Truthfully, I really am. Naruto-kun always has loved you Sakura-chan, I am sure you knew that already. He must have been so happy when you told him."
Sakura slowly closed her agape jaw, but still did not know what to say, so the Hyuuga continued, "I wish you both the very best then, I know you will look after Naruto-kun just as much as he will take care of you."
Hinata then turned and continued walking towards the town, with the still frozen Sakura staring at her. Sakura could tell by Hinata's voice and expression that the heiress spoke from the heart, but she could see the conflicted pain that also was behind those milky irises...and Sakura had no idea why that made her blood boil.
"That's it?"
Hinata turned in question to see Sakura's hand trembling into a fist, "You aren't going to curse the ground I walk on? or tell me your jealous, and that you won't be beaten?"
Sakura had no idea why her past fights for Sasuke's affection with Ino flashed across her eyes, but the sight of such a selfless, and caring action, really was hurting her in a way she didn't think possible.
"You aren't even going to challenge me for your own right?!"
"I envy you for your courage Sakura-chan. You did something I feel I never would be able to find the strength to do. For that, I will always respe-"
"Shut up!"
Hinata went agape at the amount of anger behind her curse, when Sakura marched up to her and looked at her in the eye with their faces inches apart, "I can see it in your eyes Hinata, you are both happy and heartbroken at the same time. You told me the truth, but are you really just going to walk away and believe that YOUR-"
She poked the Hyuuga firm in the chest, "-Feelings do not have a right to be heard either?!"
"S-Sakura-chan, I don't understa-"
"I am saying you have feelings too Hinata!"
"B-But Sakura-chan-"
"Are you going to tell me you are just going to accept it, Naruto and I are a couple, and you are just going to move on like your heart's feelings meant nothing?!"
"I-I- Sakura-chan, he loves you. I never had a chance, even from the beginni-"
"No, that is crap, and you know it Hinata. Did it stop Naruto from always openly asking me for dates, when he knew I liked Sasuke-kun?!"
She snapped back, the memory of the blonde's simple statement of 'Sakura-chan, you really like Sasuke huh?' ringing in her ears from two years ago.
"Sakura-chan...you are together, I have no right to interfere-"
"Fight me."
"H-huh?"
"Fight me! Prove to me and to yourself, that you really do love Naruto and you have a right to. Or will you accept my claim that he was not even worth tha-"
"N-No! h-h-he is but-"
Dropping her pack and kicking it away, Sakura began to slide on her gloves.
Why was she taking this the wrong way?
Shouldn't she be happy with Hinata's good word?
Despite Hinata's kind action, it was something to do with the Hyuuga's little self value and respect, that was making Sakura feel equally angered and in a way, guilty as well.
The heiress violently shook her head, "Sakura-chan! t-this doesn't make se-"
"Why did you not tell Naruto? Back in the academy, or during the entire year we all had as genin's."
"...He loved yo-"
"Do I have to repeat myself?! Just Naruto even hearing such words from a person would have literally thrown him into shock. A human's feeling is not a light switch Hinata, I know that. But to be told that you are loved by a person can always be the start to the change of a heart, at least, that is what I believe."
Sakura explained on a softer note, seeing the Hyuuga's eyes water, "I-I know..."
"Hinata, I can acknowledge you are shy, there is nothing wrong with that. But shy can only go so far."
"A-Alright, I made a mistake."
Hinata tried to conclude, only to have Sakura come in front of her again, when she turned, "So you are just going to leave it at that?"
"S-Sakura-chan...w-what do you want me to say? I just want the best for Naruto-kun, and in a way, yourself too."
Seeing the Hyuuga rub her teary eyes made Sakura back down with a more softer note, "I understand and respect that, but what I am arguing is that your feelings are not something that can just be slid under a rug and forgotten. You are being kind Hinata...but you are being too kind, and putting yourself last.-"
Remembering what Lee said to Naruto, she continued, "-Being selfless can be a beautiful quality Hinata, but at the same time, it can be just as bad as being selfish...you are only hurting yourself by doing so right now."
"What are you saying?"
"Tell Naruto how you feel."
Hinata gasped and violently shook her head, "S-Sakura-chan! you and Naruto-kun are a couple-"
"I do not care Hinata, I am giving you permission to tell him. You deserve that at the least by your own right. What happens between Naruto and myself because of it...I will accept it."
"I-I cannot do that, it is not right."
"I am not asking you to kiss him Hinata. Just talk to him, tell him how you feel. You have a voice which has equal authority as me to be heard."
"...I can't."
"Why not?"
Sakura watched Hinata struggle to voice something through a trembled lip, but nothing came out as the heiress found the ground interesting. Hinata on instinct though, jumped back when her senses shouted 'danger', just in time to avoid a fist.
As if in disbelief of her attacker, she went agape, "S-Sakura-chan?!"
"Fight me! There has to be a reason Hinata, and I don't care if we are both black and blue at the end of this, I will drag the reason out of you."
AN: I hope I haven't bent the rules of chakra elements too much with mangetsu.
Now to the main point. let me define my view of Hinata
Selfless, caring, a pacifist, kind, and respectful.
Following what I believe of her character, she would never fight Sakura, or even feel jealousy towards her, infact it would be the opposite. She would just bottle her feelings, and try to move on without saying a thing...only as you read above, somebody does not agree with that.
Sakura I believe would relate this predicament a lot with her past arguments with Ino, and would not act in gratefulness to Hinata's attitude, but instead would be angered by it. Not just for Hinata not putting up a fight like Ino would, but for her selfless act for their happiness in return to Hinata suffering...I just strongly feel Sakura would not allow it, and instead would try and make Hinata voice her feelings to Naruto.
Now the next chapter will be up...by the amount of time it takes for your web browser to refresh (yes lame...but cut me some slack already!)