I apologize for the late update. My new job is more time consuming than I previously thought. In fact, I may be changing the way I write this story. I'm not abandoning it, but I'm trying something new. Instead of long chapters, I going to to publish chapters that are only about three thousand words long. Let's see if I can create an impressive story with limiting the amount of words.

If you would ask any of the Waterfall villagers or Taka if they had every seen Fu as happy as she had ever been, they would have believed it was impossible. Everyday during the festival, the girl would walk in the streets with a big smile on her face and be completely oblivious to the glares and harsh whispers. It was such a mystery because one day, a man screamed 'demon insect' at her in the streets and all she did was smile. Then skipped back down the road.

Taka was just as happy as she was. Never did he think the day would come when he would see Fu this happy. And he owed his thanks to Naruto.

The boy was always at Fu's side whenever he could, laughing and goofing off. The villagers only knew him as the hired Leaf-nin who helped start a successful ramen shop. They wondered what he did to help change their village outcast.

Shino and Ino wanted know that was well. The duo decided that it just Naruto being Naruto. He could bring out the best in anyone. They enjoyed her company as much as Naruto did. Shino was impressed about how much knowledge she had about the insects around the forest area and she gladly gave him a tour to help him add to his collection. Ino and Fu spent time together in the fields, where they pulled seeds from exotic flowers to collect for the Yamanaka flower shop. Ino also tried jokingly to get the secret of the Waterfall's secret weapon, but Fu just laughed and said she didn't know about it either.

Shikaku was happy as well, but he couldn't help but worry about his students and the situation. He was truly proud of his team and they way they handled Fu's discrimination, but he was disturbed about what the villager's opinions might become of the Leaf Village. A majority of villagers saw Fu as a monster and from the whispers he heard, they would be glad to get rid of her. And if the Leaf shinobi were becoming friendly with her, they might find allies in other villages.

Shikaku told his concerns to Taka, who toke them in stride. He knew what was on the mind of his village and always tried to find a way to solve it. Taka told Shikaku he would have a solution for Fu before Team 10 left.

"We're running out of time!" Dario yelled at Kakuzu. The man's patience was wearing thin for the past week as the group of mercenaries waited for their leader's decision to strike. Dario was getting the most impatient of the group and was about to go nuts.

It was afternoon and the villages festival was on its last days. Suein had sent a messenger at least twice a day to find out when Kakuzu would make his move against the Waterfall. And each time, Kakuzu told them to wait.

"The time is almost near," Kakuzu calmly said every time.

Dario growled in frustration. "Suein told us that the Konoha team will be leaving in two days. We need to strike now if we to have any chance of getting the Kyuubi while he's with a small group of brats. It will be harder later when he's in the Hidden Leaf Village surrounded by shinobi!"

"We will not let the Kyuubi get away," said Kakuzu. "We will obtain it along with the Nanabi."

"You're pushing it awfully close."

At that moment, a waterfall jonin shushined into the campsite. He bowed to Kakuzu. "My lord, Suein wants to know if there's any progress on the invasion."

Dario scoffed. "Lord Kakuzu isn't ready for-"

"Actually," Kakuzu interrupted, "if you can wait a little longer, we begin the first phase of our invasion.

"We can?" asked Dario.

Kakuzu nodded. "The need for your 'useful' talents is once again needed. I want you to make tasteless, traceless poison gas that will knockout the village for at least 12 hours and disperse easily once released. Along with that, I want you to make an antidote for the Waterfall shinobi so they do not succumb to the poison as well. When the village is asleep, we will move."

"Why should I?" Dario growled. "Why not just make a poison that will kill everyone?"

"We only want to immobilize the village, not wipe it off the map. If we do, it might draw attention to our organization. As much as I hate him, I don't want to our leader to focus his attention on us."

"You're just saying that because you're scared of him. Again, why should I do this?"

Kakuzu growled and reached out for Dario. His hand, separated at the wrist, stretched ten feet across the campfire, wrapping around Dario's throat. Dario gagged as he was lifted off the ground. The jonin took a step back in fear as he finally began to see Kakuzu's power: Earth Grudge Fear.

"Don't forget who I am, Dario," he whispered. "Remember, I have no problem with ending your life."

"Ok, ok," Dario gasped. He fell to the ground when Kakuzu let go and began scrambling back to his tent/lab. "I'll get right on it."

Kakuzu chuckled darkly and turned to the jonin. "When he's done, I want you distribute Dario's weapon to every key point in the village. We want this to be fast and clean."

"Yes, sir," the jonin answered.

While the enemies were fighting amongst themselves, Fu and Naruto were out on patrol again. The two had really bonded over the week and were sharing everything about their lives. From Naruto's justsus to Fu's pranks. She marveled at the use of his creations while Naruto laughed about the way she pulled practical jokes. Everyday together made them even closer as friends.

But the real bombshell is when Naruto shared his biggest secret after the Kyuubi.

"Your father was Fourth Hokage?" Fu asked shockingly. "But didn't he seal the Kyuubi in you."

"Yes," Naruto admitted. "It's something I'm trying to figure out ever since I discovered the secret."

"What do you mean?"

Nartuo took a breathe before he began. "The night I was born, the Kyuubi was freed from the previous jinchuriki. Before it could destroy the village, the Yondaime sealed it within me. I was told by the Sandaime that the Fourth couldn't seal into just anybody. It had to be me."

Fu frowned. "Why?"

"Apparently, the answer is in my mother's journals," Naruto explained. He reached under his jacket and pulled out his mother's book. "When the Sandaime told me who my parents were, he gave me these. Maybe I'll found out why I'm so special."

Fu smiled. "You don't need a book to explain that. Anybody who spends time with you will clearly understand that."

Naruto returned her smile. "Thanks, sis." He opened the journal to his latest date. It was a year after she left her village and her first day at the ninja academy.

September 1

I had real weird day. My first day at the academy and already people think I'm weird. It didn't help that the foster parents I'm staying with made me dress up in a 'nice' kimono and did my hair up. They said I looked nice, but I looked like a TOMATO! The kids in class where nice enough to comment on that. And now they're on my hit list.

When I showed up, the teacher introduced me to class. Then asked me to share my dream with the class. That kind of stumped me since my dream was to become the strongest I can. I thought that wouldn't be impressive enough so I told everyone I was going to become the first female Hokage.

Them laughing a second later didn't help. Then some kid stood up and said he was going to be come the greatest Hokage there had ever been. The kid really looked familiar. He looked almost like the kid who came with the jackass who was assigned to pick me up from my home village.

I wonder if the perv is still feeling that blow to his balls I gave him when he tried to hit on my mom.

Fu laughed. "Sounds like you mother was a real terror."

"She was," Naruto grinned. "Listen to this part."

September 4

Today was the final straw. I got real sick and tired of every calling me a 'red tomato'. I haven't worn my hair like that since my first day, but the boys in class won't let me forget it. Today at lunch, three boys kept calling me that name. So, I beat them within an inch of their lives. Well, not really. Anyway, nobody is messing with me now. Everyone is keeping a clear distance from me and now gave me a new nickname. 'The Bloody Habanero'.

I kinda like it.

"Wow. Your mom is really tough," Fu commented.

"I know," Naruto smiled and put the journal back into his jacket. "Reading her entries is almost like reading a story about my life. Even though we've never met, she almost sounds like she is an exact copy of me."

"What about the Fourth? Any traits you acquired from him?" Fu asked cautiously .

"Besides the blonde hair, no," Naruto frowned. "All I know about him is that he was considered a prodigy and a genius. He was also the hero of the Third War. Other than that, I really don't know much about him. I'm not exactly a genius or anything like that."

"I think creating several jutsus out of ramen dough qualifies as genius," Fu chuckled. Ever since her first bowl, she had become addicted to the soup as much as Naruto.

Naruto snorted. "Maybe."

Fu then grimaced. "You don't think he meant to turn you into a weapon like my village did, do you?"

Naruto thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't think so. Like I said, he sealed the Kyuubi into me after the fox escaped. I think it was a last second effort to save the village. But however heroic it was, I still don't like though. It sounds like that destiny crap that Neji is always spewing. 'I was chosen by fate to be a vessel,'" Naruto said in a monotone voice.

Fu rubbed his shoulder. "It's not easy being a host, is it?"

"I don't think I should complain. I mean, you've had it worse than me," said Naruto. "You've had Taka, but after him you didn't have anyone else. I've had friends who I really care about. I have an two adults i loved as a father and grandfather. A kid and teacher I look to as my younger and older brothers. And I have a girl who loves me. What do you have?"

"I have you now," Fu chuckled. She reached out and messed up his hair. "The loneliness is a lot easier to deal with now that I have someone to share it with."

Naruto smiled. "You're right. Maybe being a vessel isn't so bad at all."

"It's not," Fu smiled. "Now tell more about this family of yours."

"Who exactly?"

"Let's start with Teuchi," Fu suggested.

Naruto smiled as he thought of his adoptive dad. "Pops said that he came to the Hidden Leaf village when he was seven. He and his parents arrived here from the Hidden Mist Village, just before the civil war broke out. His father tried hard for nearly a year to find a job to support his family, but nothing was available for a former baker. Especially one from the Hidden Mists, who were on shaky terms with Konoha at the time."

"Do you think that's where Teuchi began to see past discrimination and help you at a young age?"

That made Naruto chuckled. "Maybe. He was looking for a job as well. Pops learned responsibility at a young age and really wanted to help his family out. He was able to get a job at a ramen shop with an owner who was willing to look beyond Pop's heritage to help a young child and his family. So at the young age of eight, Pops got a job and learned a life lesson."

"So he had grow up real quick, did he?"

Naruto scowled. "More than you know. About a year after Pops got the job, his mother died of a disease that swept the village during the war. The death was a hard blow to his father and he took up drinking heavily every night. Then, about six months after his mother's death, his father was killed in a bar fight."

"How horrible," Fu gasped.

"I know," Naruto said softly. "It really tore Pops up. Eight and a half years old and an orphan. But he was really lucky, more than most kids. His boss took pity on him once more and adopted him into his family. He was with them till their deaths nearly twenty-five years ago. He visits their grave every Sunday to give offerings on their tombstones, along with offerings for his wife, Hana."

"How did she die?" Fu asked cautiously.

"From the same disease that his mother did. It seems that fate is not without a sense of irony." Naruto took a deep breath. "Pops hides it well, but I can tell he misses her very much. They loved each other deeply."

"Do you love Ayame as much?"

Naruto smiled. "I do. She's the greatest thing that's happened to me as long as I been alive. She's beautiful, funny, and very supportive throughout my academy years. Although, she was very upset when I left for this mission. I can't blame her though."

Fu frowned. "Why?"

"Probably from all the stories she hears from mothers, wives and sisters who have lost loved ones in the war. She's worried I won't come back." Naruto pulled his pendant from under his shirt, with a grin. "I will though. It's a promise of a lifetime." He pushed his chakra into the pendant, watching the emerald glow for a moment.

Fu was curious about the pendant and reached out to touch it. When she made contact with the emerald, she felt a rush of a warm feeling wrapping around her body. It felt like a hug. A hug that warmed her soul and made her heart feel like it was floating."

She pulled back. "Wow. What was that?"

"Ayame's responding to the love I'm sending through the emerald. She's sending a response back through her pendant back in Konoha."

Is this what love feels like? though Fu. She had never felt anything like that before. Sure, felt something similar whenever Taka was helping her with her problems, but not like this. That was more of a fatherly love. None of the boys in the village made her feel all fluttery before.

"I wish I could feel that loved," said a depressed Fu.

Naruto put his pendant back into his shirt and grabbed her hand. "You'll find someone one day. I guarantee it."

Fu scoffed. "With the bug in my stomach. No way."

"If I can, you can," Naruto countered. "It's not impossible."

The two didn't say anything for a while. They watched the sun sink lower and the shadows grow even longer. The faint songs of the crickets and the tree frogs were just beginning fill the air. The even fainter sounds of the festival told the two the party was still going strong. Along with the smells of the trees and the feel of the wind made the two vessels, feel even more alone in the world than they already were.

The silence was broken by Fu chuckling. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I can find someone who can return my feelings like you and Ayame can."

"That's the spirit," Naruto smiled.

"After all, if a bonehead like you can get a girl, how hard can it be for me to get a guy," she laughed.

Naruto scowled half-hearted before joining her in laughter.

Two hours later, Dario walked out of his tent carrying a test tube of blue liquid in one hand a bag of white powder in the other. He handed them to the Waterfall ninja.

"Here. All you need to do is mix these two solutions together in small amounts at different points of the village. The two will create a powerful gas and keep anyone down for at least four hours once inhaled. When they wake up, they'll be extremely weak for a full day. The liquid itself, however, is the antidote when taken alone. Share it with your comrades and they will be immune to the poisons.

The ninja accepted them with a nod. However, Kakuzu was not pleased.

"I said I needed the villagers unconscious for twelve hours, Dario," Kakuzu growled.

Dario folded his arms across his chest. "This is the best I could do what I had. Anything more powerful and even the most basic genin would notice the odor of the gas and of the liquid. Besides, do you know anyone else who could create something like this? Deal with it," he sneered.

"We need the extra time just in case something goes wrong."

"Well, if you weren't so cheap on supplies, I could have made something better."

The loud arguments between the two S-rank shinobi had drew attention in the camp. The mercenaries had come to see what what all the commotion was about. Some were sharpening their weapons while others were taking bets on the outcome.

"Your attitude on this mission has been greatly annoying," said Kakuzu. "I've warned you time and time again not to cross me."

"Too freakin' bad," Dario snarled back. "It's about time we did something. And I for one, am tired of your patience crap."

The mist-nin turned to his hired guns. "All right, men. We're moving out. We've got more than enough muscle to take out the Waterfall Village. With us and the traitors, we can-"

SCCHHLLIIKKK!

Several men gasped while others dropped there weapons. Several black ropes had burst from Dario's chest, right through his heart. Blood gushed from his wound in torrents while more leaked from his mouth.

Dario tried to speak, but all that came out what was a gurgle of bloody bubbles. He twitched several times, then was still. The ropes lifted his body into the air revealing Kakuzu with several of his stitches protruding from his wrist to Dario. He threw Dario's body into a nearby pond. The men watched, speechless and afraid.

Kakuzu turned to the mercenaries. "Anybody else have any opinions?" Everyone shook their heads. "Good."

"Lord Kakuzu?" asked the Waterfall-nin.

"Continue with the mission," Kakuzu ordered. "We will signal you when we are ready. We strike today."

The shonibi nodded and shushined away. Silence enveloped the camp as the mercenaries were still scared of what happened.

"Today?" one man was brave enough to ask.

Kakuzu nodded. "We will attack when the sun sets.

The men in the camp were silent for only a moment before giving a loud war cry. Swords clanged, daggers whipped, and all the while, Suein's men secretly released the bioweapon throughout the village.

Taka raised his head from his paperwork. He could hear the laughs and cheers from the festival across the lake, but it wasn't the noise that disturbed his peace. He felt the senses he had honed as a genin prickle on the back of his neck. He always had trusted those feelings. Now, they were telling him that something was going to happen. Something big.

He raised from his desk and made his way to the door. His ANBU leader appeared behind him.

"What's wrong, sir?" he asked.

"Get my son," he ordered, "and get Nara-san as well. I'll meet you in the tree."

"The tree?"

"Yes, the tree. After you're done, gather the rest of the ANBU and meet us there. There's a feeling in the air that I don't like and I want us to be prepared."

"Yes sir."

Taka watched his guard vanished then gaze out the window at the festival. A sinking feeling was developing in his stomach as he realized Shikaku was right. There was a traitor amongst his ninja. Because only one of his forces would know that tonight he was shorthanded on fighters. A majority of his shinobi were away on missions to help recover their financial decline.

"If that's the case, then I might have no choice," he said as he gazed at the Great Tree. The tree had been there ever since the village was formed and the alliance between the Leaf and Waterfall began. It was created by the First Hokage himself. He said as long as this tree is alive, the village would never turn against their allies. And as long as they remained allies, the village would be blessed with life and power.

Taka thought was more then generous. After all, a long time ago, the waterfall council sent a shinobi to assassinate the First Hokage. He failed, but instead of destroying the village in retaliation, the Shondaime formed an alliance. And sealed the alliance with the Great Tree and an treasure chest that contained the Seven-tailed Beetle.

True to his word, the village always flourished. They never had a bad season with their crops, the water was always clean and plentiful, and the trees deep roots had pushed up a mountain barrier to protect the village. And every one hundred years, the tree would produce a special water that was collected in the very heart of the trunk. Since the tree was grown with a special combination of water, earth, wood and the very essence of nature, the water was the purest form of energy that existed anywhere in the Elemental Nations. When drunk it boosted a shinobi's chakra to furthest limit depending on powerful the shinobi was. Sometimes nearly ten times more than a shinobi's regular chakra amount.

However, it had a double-edged sword affect. Whoever drunk the water would lose a good portion of their life-force. Taka was beyond his prime. So now matter how much of the water he took, he was sure he was going to die.

Despite that fact, Taka shishuned out of his office.

The sun was halved by the horizon when the mercenaries made their move. They split into two halves: those who were missing-nin or other fighters took the waterfall entrance. They were led by several Waterfall shinobi and guided to the correct water pools. These pools would lead them into the lake in the center of the village where the would meet with the Suein's jonin to defeat Taka and steal the Heroes Water. All Waterfall traitors had scratched through their headband symblols.

The second group, composed of thieves, bandits, and several samurai, were taking a secret entrance hidden behind a genjutsu on the other side of the valley. One of three skilled genjutsu masters was always performing the jutsu to the hide it. The one there now was one of the traitors.

The main goal of this group was to rendezvous with the other group to subdue the villagers when they awoke. And, if needed, cover a retreat. But they were confident in their leader's plan.

One samurai was so confident he was swinging his sword around in anticipation, making grooves in trees and in the grass. His last chop almost cut his comrade.

"Watch it!" the man barked.

"Sorry," the samurai smirked. "I hope we get to see some action. I'm really anxious to cut someone."

"Lord Kakuzu said any fighting would be handled by the jonin captain, not us," said a bandit behind him.

"Why should we leave the action to them?"

A Waterfall chunin who was leading the group turned over his shoulder to speak. "Captain Suien has offered each of you a pardon and a bounty when you help us. It would be wise to follow his orders."

The samurai sighed and sheathed his sword. "Fine."

The group was relieved. The noise the man was making was echoing through the forest. They were sure someone would have heard it. However, someone did.

"Halt!" a voice called out.

The group stopped and grabbed their weapons. A blonde-haired teen with a giant scar on his face had landed in front of the group. He was wearing a Waterfall chunin outfit with the Waterfall symbol on his headband. The Waterfall traitor stared at the teen, wondering who he was. He had never seen this boy before.

"Who are you?" the traitor called out.

"You are trespassing into the Hidden Waterfall village. I order you to stand down," the blonde ordered.

The chunin traitor was now even more suspicious. That wasn't the proper protocol win encountering an intruder. The newcomer should have radioed for help and tried his best to destroy them from the shadows, not confront them.

"Kill him," the traitor ordered.

The samurai howled with anticipation and leapt forward with his sword drawn. The blonde shinobi's eyes widened at the man charging him. He dodged three of the samurai's killing strokes before the fourth one caught across the neck.

But instead of blood spewing from the wound, the blonde disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"What the hell?" the samurai cried out. The other mercenaries started jeering the swordsman.

The chunin traitor, however, realized what had just happened. "Forward to the village, now!" he yelled.

"Why?" one of the bandits asked.

"They know we're coming!"

Naruto was laughing at another one of Fu's pranks when the memories of his clone came to him. He immediately jumped up and took off through the trees.

Fu, confused, was right behind him. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"We need to get back to the village. There's going to be an invasion," he said.

"How do you know?"

"One of the invaders dispelled my clones. They're invading from the other side of the village," he explained.

"That's where the hidden exit is," Fu exclaimed. "We use that for the civilians to escape in case of an emergency. How did they find it?"

"One of the Waterfall chunins let them in," Naruto said darkly. "I saw one of them leading the invaders."

The two landed on the ground and began dashing at high speeds towards the lake.

"So what do we do?" asked Fu.

"I need to regroup with my team." Naruto tapped the microphone on his shirt. "Sensei?"

"Yes, Naruto?" said Shikaku through the tiny earpiece.

"You were right. They're moving now."

"Understood. Head to the lake and rendezvous with everyone else."

"Got it," said Naruto. He turned to Fu. "We need to meet my team and Taka at the tree."

"Why?"

"Shikaku-sensei told us that's where we would meet with Taka in case an invasion was imminent."

"What about your teammates? Will they be okay?"

"Shikaku-sensei will contact them. They can take care of themselves."

"You really do trust them, don't you," Fu grinned.

Naruto grinned back. "With my life. Shikaku-sensei has been training us to the fullest extent and beyond. We can handle anything."

However, the grin began to fade with each chakra jump he took. The anticipation of a fight, an actual battle, was beginning to excite and terrify him. Naruto always enjoyed a tough spar with Hinata or Shino, but it was only that: a spar. Now, he may have to kill for the first in order to complete his team's mission.

I just hope I don't have to use my secret technique, he thought. That would make everyone ask questions.

Ino, Shino, and their chunin escort were finishing their latest patrol in the east zone when Shino's radio beeped in his ear. He tapped the mic button attached to his jacket collar.

"Yes, sensei?" he asked.

"Naruto's clones came in contact with a group of invaders. Head to the tree immediately."

"Understood," he answered into the mic. He turned to Ino and their chunin escort. "We need to return to the village."

"What's wrong?" the escort asked.

"I'm afraid the village is under an immanent attack. We need to meet with Taka-san for a battle plan."

"Let's go," Ino said and led the way back to tree. Shino and the chunin followed right behind her.

They chakra hopped for a few minutes through the branches. Ino's hand kept drifting to her father's sword in nervous anticipation. She discussed the situation with her father, Iruka taught his students what to expect, and she ran simulations with Naruto and Shino. But nothing could ever prepare her for dealing with the real thing. She always thought her father's stories were something heroic and noble. He always made it sound like he was unstoppable and could fight an army. No fear at all. She always asked him if he was ever scared. Inoichi would just laugh and say he was every time he put a kunai in his hand. Ino never believed him. Her daddy was not afraid of anything.

But now she realized how wrong she was. She was going to get her first taste of what being a real kunoichi was all about.

Shino's thoughts were a little bit more calmer. Although, he couldn't shake the anxiety that was beginning to build inside him. It was causing his hive to buzz louder than usual and it was making him even more nervous.

He took a deep breath and tried to remember what his father had taught him about keeping calm.

We have something most shinobi don't have, Shino. We have an army inside of our bodies. The pact we make with our insects when we are young binds us together in a relationship that's more than symbiotic. Our kikaichu are as much as our family as anyone else in Aburame clan. So remember that no matter how scared you are, your hive will always protect you.'

That's what the buzzing was. His kikaichu was ready to fight. To fight and protect.

But while this was running through his mind, Shino couldn't help but see their chunin escort at the corner of his eye. He saw the chunin slowly reaching inside his flap jacket. Shino's instincts went on high alert.

"Ino!" he yelled as he leapt forward from the branch he and the chunin just landed on.

The waterfall nin stopped as he pulled a kunai from his jacket and flung it towards Ino. Shino, using the momentum from his leap, grabbed Ino and directed them away from the throw. They weren't fast enough and the kunai struck in Shino's right bicep. He grunted with pain as he and Ino landed on another branch.

Ino saw the knife in Shino's arm and turned to the chunin. "What the hell is your problem?" she screamed at the man.

"He's one of the traitors," Shino groaned as he pulled the kunai out of his arm.

"That's right," the chunin sneered as he pulled three kunai from his jacket. "Captain Suein wants you kids eliminated. And as pathetic as wasting you two is, that's what I'm being paid for."

"You traitor," Ino growled. She withdrew her sword and stepped in front of Shino. "How could you betray your village like this?"

"Real simple, girly. Just like killing you will be!" the man yelled as he threw three kunai towards Ino.

Ino raised her sword in a defense block. Then, faster than Shino had ever seen her go, blocked all three knives with three, quick strikes. Ino gave a flourished sword swing and pointed the tip at the chunin's eyes.

"Next," she smirked.

"Ok, you have some skill," the chunin growled. He pulled two more knives out of his jacket and held them in a reverse grip. "So how are at close quarter combat?"

"Why don't you find out?" Ino mocked.

"I will," the man smirked. He bent his knees and prepared to spring. But his legs suddenly gave out on him and he fell on his stomach. "What the hell?"

Shino walked around Ino with his arm held out towards the chunin. "You made a grave mistake underestimating us."

The chunin tried raise himself up, but his strength had left him. He turned his head to see his limbs shaking as they tried to support his weight. But then he saw several black insects crawling from his sleeves, each one glowing blue.

"What the hell?" he growled. "When did these things get on me?"

"Always be aware of your surroundings," Shino lectured. "It's one of the first lessons you learn as a shinobi. You were so busy taunting us you never noticed my insects swarming you until it was too late."

The chunin laughed as he struggled to stand. "You really think you can stop us? We have a dozen of our best jonin and chunin ready to fight Taka along with several dozen of the worst bandits, ronin, and missing-nin to aid us. And to top it off, we are lead by Captain Suein and and S-Rank Shinobi. You're already dead. Soon, you two shall be the first victims of our war."

Ino flinched at his sentence. They had an S-rank nin leading them? This more than what they expected and definitely out of their league. This mission had just been bumped to a B-rank if not A-rank. She turned to Shino, only to see him raise his other arm and summon more insects. His kikaichu swarmed around his body as though they were a dark wind.

"You're wrong," Shino said. His voice was dark and it made Ino shiver with dread. "You will be the first victim. Swarm."

His kikaichu swarmed by the hundreds towards the fallen chunin. The man tried to struggle, but the insects swarmed on him, wrapping like a black blanket. The chunin muffled several screams, flailing his arms trying to fight off the insects. However, his body slowed and then finally stopped. The kikaichu flew off the body and back into the sleeves of Shino's jacket. The chunin was dead: his body was completely drained of chakra.

Ino stared at the man's lifeless body, witnessing a kill for the first time. She felt her stomach become lightless and try to leave her body. Ino gulped, fighting the urge to throw up. There was no blood or mutilations, but seeing the chunin's lifeless eyes and gaped mouth was disturbing enough. With her stomach churning, Ino felt weak and fell to one knee.

"Are you okay, Ino?" asked Shino in a dead voice.

"I'm…I'm fine," Ino whispered. "What about you? You just killed him."

"I know, Ino. I had no choice. He was willing to kill us with ease. I had to do it. To protect us and continue the mission."

The battle had made Ino temporally forget about the upcoming invasion. "We need to get back," she said.

"I know, let's-" Shino grimaced and grabbed his arm. The wound was bleeding profusely and had already stained half of his jacket sleeve. However, it didn't feel like the bone was broken and there didn't seem to be any heavy muscle damage since he could still move his arm.

"We should get that cleaned up before we move out," said Ino.

Shino shook his head. "We don't have time, we need to-"

"No!" Ino yelled. She grabbed his shoulders and made him sit down on the edge of the branch. "Remember what they said in medical class. We need to get that bandaged up or you're going to be losing that arm."

Shino didn't say anything. He knew what she said was true, he was just still fueled on adrenaline from using his insects and wanting to help his friend and sensei. Right now, he needed to keep calm and get wrapped up. "Ok, Ino. But please make it quick." He grabbed the shoulder of his jacket and with one quick jerk, he tore off the sleeve.

Ino, with bandage wraps already in her hands, stared at Shino's arm. The wound was still bleeding, but did not hit any major veins or arteries. But that's not what made her froze. Shino's arm had three other holes in his bicep and two more on his forearm. The five holes were one-inch in diameter. They seemed to be almost breathing. But neither one of them were bleeding so they were….

"They are fro my hive. It's where they come out of," Shino explained. "They don't hurt, if that is what you are wondering."

Shino's statement reassured her and began to work. The skills the trio learned from Shikaku's training methods were really coming in handy at the moment. It really did help to expect the unexpected.

"You're all set," Ino said as she patted his arm. She couldn't help blush as she noticed after she was done how developed his arm was after a month of hard training. He always wore his jacket so no one had ever seen what he looked like after Shikaku-sensei took over Team 10.

Shino noticed her stare and blush, but did not comment on it. They had more pressing matters to be dealt with. He held the 'talk' on his mic. "Sensei, our chunin escort was one of the traitors so watch yourself."

There was a second delay before Shikaku answered. "Are you two ok?"

"Yes. We have eliminated our target and are currently on our way to the tree. We though we should warn you about your escort."

"Thanks, for the warning Shino. Meet you two at the tree," Shikaku answered.

"Affirmative," Shino answered.

Shikaku turned around to see his escort with a katana in his hand. His body was poised to strike. This may have been a problem if the ninja had not already been captured in Shikaku's Shadow Posession. That was about nearly five minutes ago.

"So are you final going to tell me who is organizing the attack besides Captain Suein?" he asked calmly.

The shinobi used what movement he had and spat on the ground at Shikaku's feet. "I'll never tell."

Shikaku sighed and put his hands in the Ram symbol. "Suit yourself. Shadow Strangle Jutsu."

Shikaku's shadow began to rise from the ground. It formed into a hand and wrapped around the ninja's neck. The man gave a quick scream before he started to gag. Shikaku tightened his grip even more before the Waterfall nin began squealing.

"Okokok," he squeaked.

Shikaku lessened the grip but didn't let go. "So who else is here?" he asked calmly.

"We hired two men that work together in an organization. They deal with anything who is willing to pay them enough money," the man gagged. "One of the two is named Dario, the plague of the Mists."

Shikaku bit back a curse. Dario was a S-Ranked Missing Nin from the Land of Water. He was labeled a traitor by his village for selling his all types of poison's to his people as well as their enemies. What's more is that his worst weapon could combine his poisonous vapors along with the famed Hidden Mist technique. Dario killed hundreds of his enemies as well as dozens of his own comrades.

"Who is the other?" Shikaku asked, prepared for the worst.

"Kakuzu of the Waterfall."

Shikaku felt his stomach drop. "That's impossible. He died over a hundred years ago."

The ninja shook his head. "No, you're wrong. I've seen him with my own eyes. Solid green eyes. And a voice that would even scare the Shikigami. I've even seen the technique he stole from our village."

There was no lie in the man's voice. The revalation stunned Shikaku so much that he dropped his Shadow Possession. The Waterfall-nin felt movement back into his limbs and charged the dazed Leaf-nin. The man gave a yell of victory as his katana sliced through the man's neck. But then his expression changed to horror when the man poofed in a cloud of smoke and into a log.

"Nice try, traitor," said a voice behind the man. The traitor turned to slice his opponent once more, but was caught again in Shikaku's shadow.

"I'm afraid I don't have time to bring you to the proper authorities for your crimes against the Waterfall. So I'll handle your execution, betrayer. Shadow Strangle Jutsu."

The man barely had time to cry out before the shadow hand found his throat, crushing his windpipe.

Shikaku didn't have time for man to strangle to death with one quick flick of his hands, his shadow snapped the man's neck. Before the man's body hit the ground, Shikaku had created a shadow clone.

"Go back to the village and tell Sarutobi we need a squad of ANBU and as many jonin and chunin as he can spare on the way here. If what the nin said his true, were going to need all the help we can get," Shikaku told his clone. The copy nodded and shushined out of sight.

Shikaku sighed and began running towards the tree once more. Although, he was probably only preluding his and his students' deaths. His shadow clone and reinforcements won't be here for at least half a day if the troops go all out to get here. There was no way they would be here in time to help. Especially if there were two S-Rank shinobi leading this attack force.

Especially Kakuza. If the shinobi was correct about the former Waterfall-nin, then he was probably right about the secret technique he stole from the village.

Earth Grudge Fear.

Shikaku didn't know much about the jutsu, but he did know that it infused the user's body with black, thread-like ropes. With them, he could detach his body parts and extend them to inflict injury on his opponent. It could also be used like is Shadow Weaving techniques. But after that, the jutsu was a mystery. There was a rumor that Kakuzu killed the former Waterfall Shinobi Council and stole their hearts to full his power. There was another that he was immortal with this jutsu. There was no proof, however.

With all the mystery around this mission, Shikaku was probably sure of one thing.

There was a big chance he and his team were going to not survive this mission.

Well there you have it, the newest chapter. Please review. I would love to hear opinions on how the story is progressing.