Kai: Yo! Yes, it's me again! And I'm here to make the interview with...

Shang: I think by that time everyone knows why you're here. But didn't you told me you don't wanna do this anymore? So how come you're interviewing me this time?

Kai: Simple: you starting to get less reviews! You're pathetic! Hahahahaha!

Shang: Yeah, I know. I feel sad due to that fact. So before I start answering your reviews this time, I'd like to ask you to leave a review once you're finished with this chapter. I'd really like to hear your opinion about it.

Kai: Blah, blah, blah... yeah, like anybody's gonna listen! Just answer the question and let this agony come to an end. firstly - most of the readers liked the drawing to which you placed the link.

Shang: I'm glad you liked it, but the whole credit goes to my friend, Hytokiri. I only think of the design, he drew the whole thing. And using that ocasion I'd like to remind all the drawers that they can make their chapter covers as well. Once they're done, just let me know in some way and I'll place the right link or something once the new chapter will be released.

Kai: They won't draw, coz nobody likes you! Moving on: Kakashiclone1120 wish to know was that the cursed seal appearing on that kunoichi Naruto-sensei is fighting?

Shang: Not quite. It's explained in this chapter, but there's a bit more to it then you'll read in this chappie.

Kai: Okay, now it seems we have a new reader, who's moved by your story... and he wants you to allow him to use the chapter covers idea. Along with the jutsu encyklopedia. So, will ya?

Shang: Of course. As said, you're welcome to use them. I'm glad that other writters like them so much they wish to copy them.

Kai: Well, I think that covers the review answers. Any last words before we launch another chapter?

Shang: Yes: please leave me a review. I really want to improve and hearing the readers opinion is one of the best ways to do it.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Well, I manage to submit the new chapter before I go. But keep in mind that the 20th chapter may take longer then a week. I'll try not to make you wait longer then two weeks, but I can't really promise anything. Hope you'll keep on reading and that you'll drop me a review from time to time. Take care.

P.S. Just so that you won't say I leave you guys on ice, I've decided to upload the first chapter of my newest fic before I go. It should appear soon after this chappie. The title will be "Love, Demons and Bloodlines". As usual you'll find there action, but no OC's (later few will appear) and it'll be more of a romance too (action/adventure/romance). Read if you like.

Chapter #19: Difference in Level

Chapter Cover: this time it's Kumiko winking and holding five cards in her hand: Kai is the joker and is in front of other cards, then Takaru makes the king, Ibukiqueen, Kusari is a jack and lasly is a ten.

"Looks like time for running has ended" announced the swordsman, pulling out his blade. "We came here only for the princess, so if you brats stay away, you won't get hurt."

"You know, Kataki said the same thing" replied Kai. "What do you think we answered?"

"Figure" sighed Ryu. "Brats will always stay brats. But I'm not like Kataki. I will kill you…"

"Ryu-san, may I have them?" asked the red head. "These shrimps aren't even worth your time. Besides, killing them all shouldn't take longer then few minutes."

"Fine, have your fun" replied the swordsman after a moment of hesitation. "But don't over do it like last time."

"I won't" promised Karuto with a smile as he reached for his cards.

As few of the cards flew right at them, the gennins jumped to the side, Kusari grabbing Deji and Takaru Recca. Only Ibuki kept standing and picked out a kunai. When the cards came dangerously close, she deflected them with her knife and her eyes widen when the cards stayed in one piece.

"How…?" was all she was able to say.

"It's chakra" explained Karuto. "Once the card is in my hand I give it some of my chakra, thus making in sharp and harder. Of course, thanks to that, the cards aren't affected by the wind either. Simple as that."

"Dammit, stop looking down on us!" yelled Kai as he charged at the red head.

"What idiot" smiled Karuto and with one, quick move he send the blonde gennin flying back.

"What the hell are you doing?" yelled Kumiko at him, as he landed near her feet. "If they're really at the same level as that Kataki guy, like Naruto-sensei said, we stand no chance of winning! Rushing in thoughtlessly is the worst thing you can do!"

"Well, as that sword guy said, running away is not in option anymore" interrupted Kusari. "We have to fight. But still charging in alone is suicide…"

"Then lets attack together" proposed Ibuki, picking out her Fuuma shuriken.

"Whatever you're planning, do it fast…" asker Karuto. "I'm starting to get bored."

"Then here you go!" yelled the young assassin as she tossed the shuriken right at the card user.

Karuto dodged the star by jumping to the left but as he turned around he spotted Takaru intercepting the shuriken and tossing it at him once more. Since he was still in mid-air he reached for his cards and threw them at the coming weapon.

The cards didn't stop the shuriken, but changed its trajectory enough for it to miss the red head by inches. As he landed on the ground he spotted Kai coming at him with his fists ready.

Karuto backed away few steps, blocking all of Kai's punches and then gave the gennin a hard knee in the stomach. It was then that he noticed the sharp end of Kusari's chain coming right at his head. He jumped back and then deflected the chain with the card he held in his hand.

Before he knew it, he had to block Ibuki's katana with the same card. As the young assassin furiously kept pushing the card user back, Takaru perform few, quick seals and with pointing the red head with his fore and middle fingers he called out:

'Mori Kasai no Jutsu!'

The same moment the son of Tsunade said those words, Ibuki jumped away. Karuto's eyes widen as he saw a powerful, fire scourge coming right at him. Without a second thought he jumped into the air, barely avoiding the fire lance, but once he found himself in mid-air, he also spotted Kai flying right at him with a kunai in his hand.

Those brats are so annoying" he thought to himself as he prepared one of his cards and threw it at the blonde gennin.

Kai avoided a direct hit but still the card cut his cheek. He looked back at the card that cut his skin. And that was a mistake. As he turned back to look at his opponent, he saw him finishing the chain of hand seals. With a yell 'kawamiri' he switched places with the card he just threw, grabbed the blonde gennin from behind and tosses him right at the surface.

Kai landed hard on the ground and once he tried to stand up, he felt Karuto's cards cutting his hands and legs. The blonde gennin yelled in pain as he collapsed to the ground.

"Kai!" yelled Kumiko, running to her teammate.

"How bo…" began Karuto, but his words froze in his throat as he felt Kusari's chain wrapping around his feet.

As he looked down, he spotted that the chain has already reached his knees.

"We got you now!" announced Kusari, manipulating the chain.

Takaru jumped into the air and after performing the right seals he held out his hands, yelling:

"Insei Tooriame!" and with those words hundreds of fireballs flew right at the red head.

Dammit!" thought Karuto as he threw some of his cards into the air and perform few, quick seals.

Then the place he was standing got completely covered with dust, lifted up by Takaru's meteor shower. As the son of Tsunade observed the place were the card user stood just a second ago, he turned to the other missing-nin and noticed that the swordsman still haven't moved an inch.

"Damn brats!" they heard Karuto's voice coming from the cloud of dust and before they knew it tens of cards flew right at them. Neither Kusari nor Takaru were able to dodge them all, though the chain master managed to avoid any fatal wounds. Tsunade's son on the other hand got the worst of it.

His body got cut by plenty of cards, some were even stuck in his bones. He felt unconscious to the ground, not moving.

"Takaru!" yelled Deji, as she tried to run to the young gennin, but was stopped by Recca.

"We can't help them" reminded the Tree prince. "Go in there and you'll only make things worst. Be best we can do is believing that they'll manage to win."

"You brats really are dumb" announced the card user. "Do you really believe that I'd be defeated by something like that?"

When the smoke cleared young gennins saw some of Karuto's cards flying around him.

"Kirifuda Tate no Jutsu" explained the red head. "By releasing my chakra into the air I'm able to create a sphere in which my cards can fly above the ground. Once another chakra enters the sphere, the cards automatically stand on it's way. Since most of ninjutsu techniques are based on releasing chakra, those cards stops practically any chakra-based attack."

Shit!" thought Kumiko at the sight. "With that thing active, there's no way we can reach him! There is no point in even trying!"

"Guess you guys can't give me any more entertainment, so I'll finish you all this instant!" announced Karuto as he picked out few more cards.

"Dammit, I won't forgive you…!" they all heard a voice and as they turned in the direction it came, they saw Kai getting back to his feet. "… for looking down on us!" and with those words he began performing a set of hand seals.

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Naruto was backing out, barely blocking and dodging all the kicks and punches launched by the kunoichi, not having enough time to counterattack. Suddenly roots shoot out from under the floor and trapped his right leg.

As he noticed that, Fugou landed a powerful punch on his face and then a few lighter ones on his stomach. The roots let go of his leg and Naruto went back a few meters before landing hard on the ground.

"Well, that was pathetic" announced Kouba, looking at the leaf-nin getting back on his feet.

"I see" replied Naruto, whipping the blood that came from his mouth. "Power-increasing charms. Those tattoos are the chakra containers. Once they're activated, you're able to send more chakra to your feet and hands, thus increasing your speed and strength, right?"

"In short: yes" responded the female shinobi. "What, you can't keep up?"

"And what was that trick with the roots?" the blonde jounin asked the tree-nin, not even bothering to answer the girl.

"Quite simple really" replied Kouba. "Nekko Gyuujiru no Jutsu. The chakra that I send to the ground searches for any roots under it and then surrounds them, thus allowing me to stretch them and turning them anyway I desire. It is a forbidden jutsu though…"

"Quite impressive" nodded Naruto. "You had me surprised there. Guess defeating you two won't be as easy as I thought. But don't get your hopes up, the one to win this fight will be me, whether you like it or not."

"Heh" smirked Kouba. "Even if you'll manage to defeat us, Ryu-san and Karuto will kill the Stone princess before you'll get there."

"No, they won't" ensured the blonde jounin. "She still has my students protection. I believe in them. They're not plain gennins. They know what true shinobi strength is… they'll keep Deji-sama alive even at the cost of their own lives…"

"Really?" smiled Fugou. "And what makes you so sure of that?"

"Because Kai's with them… and until he falls, they'll keep on fighting…"

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The blonde gennin finished performing a short set of hand seals and with the last symbol he called out:

"Kage Bushin no Jutsu!"

And suddenly the place of one Kai took twenty.

And thus ends the 19th chapter of the 'Next Generation'. Please leave me a review with your opinion.

Now it's time for the jutsu encyklopedia:

Kirifuda Tate no Jutsu (Trump Card Shield Skill) - jutsu used by Karuto. It's based on his chakra-filled cards. With the execution of the right seals he releases chakra into the air, thus creating a sphere. After that he throws the cards in the air and with the sphere active the cards travel in it, blocking any, chakra-based attacks. Physical assults aren't stopped by that jutsu however.

Nekko Gyuujiru no Jutsu (Root Control Skill) - just like Kouba said: the user has to release his chakra into the ground in a search for any roots. Once the roots are found, the chakra surrounds them, thus allowing the user to strech and turn them in any way he/she desires. This technique is extremely effectivewhen used in a place with many plants or near such a place. It's one of the forbidden jutsus created by the tree-nins.

And now one of the last character profiles (for now, as later you find more characters):

Name: Gekido Takaru

Age: currently 12 years old

Birth Date: 6th of June

Zodiac: Gemini

Bloodtype: AB

Height: 151,4 cm

Weight: 44,9 kg

Favorite Food: not specified

Village: take a guess... (for those who still don't know: Konoha!)

Current rank: gennin

Bloodline Limit: not specified, but he's the son of Tsunade and seems to have talent for fire ninjutsu

Techniques (used so far): Insei Tooriame (Meteor Shower), Henge no Jutsu (Art of Transformation/Transformation Skill), Mori Kasai no Jutsu (Fire Lance Skill), Kasai Onban (Fire Disc)

First Appearance: 1st chapter

Now this is really the end of this chapter. Hope you enjoyed it and that you'll sacrifice your valueable time to leave me a review.

Take care and till the next submission.