AN: Hey guys! Long time no see! So I have a few reasons why this update took so long, though they are kind of pathetic. First off, I had a summer assignment to start and finish. Then school started and I got so wrapped up in my school work and what not. Being a sophomore is stressful and annoying :) And I am pretty lazy. So lazy that when I thought about updating, I blew it off. So sorry guys! But I'm back! Not dead or anything like that. Now enough of my gibber jabber and on to the chapter!

"I don't know where he is all the time. He rushes around like his name implies," Naruto replied. This in turn caused Zabuza to step forward and pull his sword from his back. Naruto and Natarii tensed, anticipating a fight to break out; Naruto was smiling, excited for the fight, and Natarii was cautiously watching them, no emotion on her face. The masked shinobi stepped in front of Zabuza, blocking his view of the blonde brat.

"Zabuza-san, we are only looking for the Yellow Flash, not his brother. There is no need to fight these kids," he calmly reasoned. Zabuza finally put his sword away after having a staredown with the masked shinobi.

"Fine, Haku. You tell your brother we will be back, brat," Zabuza threatened before he and the newly named Haku jumped into the trees and disappeared. The duo relaxed after they were sure their new enemies left. Just great. Now we have more problems. Why do they want Minato? I sure hope and Kenshin and the others are doing okay.

The clock was reaching closer and closer to 12. Mr. Tani sat in his chair, anxiously looking at the clock back to the window. Around him were all the bodyguards he had hired, as well as outside around the mansion. But that was not all he had protecting him. Also present in the mansion were the Police Chief, Kenshin, Sanosuke, and Minato. They were standing behind Mr. Tani looking directly at the window.

"I'll give any amount of money to the person who kills the assassin," Mr. Tani announced. All of the bodyguards cheered loudly, Sanousuke grinned like a child, Kenshin sighed, and Minato rolled his eyes. The clock began to sound off 12 times as it was now midnight. Everybody inside and outside the mansion tensed. Some began to sweat like Mr. Tani, who appeared to be sweating buckets. On the twelfth chime, the lights went out. It was pitch black in the whole mansion including the room where Mr. Tani and our heroes were residing in. The clouds that had gathered were dark and began to show lightning and sound off thunder. As the lightning cracked throughout the sky, it lit up the room. On the windowsill stood Kurogasa. He was dressed in a black bodysuit that covers his body up to his face. A white/tan kimono with a red scarf and brown belt covered the bodysuit. Along with that, he wore black boots and a tan hat. The most unsettling thing about this man, was his eyes. They were a dark blue color with while pupils. Kurogasa smiled sickly as it went pitch black again. The sound of metal clashing was heard, causing everyone to gasp minus Sanosuke and Minato, who knew who was behind the sound. As more lightning cracked across the sky, lighting up the room, two figures could be seen clashing against each other repeatedly, neither one gaining the upper hand. Those two figures were none other than Kenshin and Kurogasa. As the room went from being lit up to being dark, they continued to clash. Until Kenshin missed a strike and left himself wide open. Kurogasa went in for the kill to be thrown into a wall by a Rasengan given to him courtesy Minato, who had teleported to the scene. Kurogasa picked himself up from the ground and looked disappointedly at Kenshin and Minato.

"I would have expected more from Battousai the Manslayer. Pity, really. I wanted to fight him and I only got Kenshin Himura. No matter. I challenge you to a fight to the death tomorrow evening at the abandoned shrine in the forest near Tokyo. It would definitely be wise of you to show up, Battousai. Until then, farewell," Kurogasa stated as he jumped out the window and disappeared into the shadows. Kenshin, Minato, and Sanosuke immediately began discussing Kurogasa's proposal after they were thanked by both Mr. Tani and the Police Chief.

"I say you go and you beat the crap out of him Kenshin!" Sanosuke growled. Kenshin smiled at his friend's choice of words, but Minato had some other points.

"Do you even know that you can beat him the way that you are now? And if you can't, are you going to have to revert to the Battousai to win?" Minato questioned.

"I believe currently that I cannot. However, I also believe I will find the strength within me to win the battle without having to kill again," Kenshin finally responded. Sanosuke gave a grin and Minato nodded his head, content with his friend's answer. As they made it up the hill to the entrance of the dojo, they noticed two figures sitting on the porch. When they got closer, the figures turned out to be Naruto and Natarii. The younger Himura had fallen asleep on Naruto's shoulder while the blonde jinchūriki watched the darkness for any signs of danger. Naruto noticed them almost immediately and waved at them with the arm that wasn't occupied by Natarii.

"Hey guys! How did your night go?" the blonde asked. Sanosuke grinned again while Kenshin and Minato sighed.

"Kurogasa showed up and I recognized him as Jin-e Udō from the war. We clashed swords for a bit until I missed and left myself unguarded. Luckily for me, your brother teleported to me and put a Rasengan in his stomach. He said he was disappointed with my swordsmanship and has challenged me to a duel at the abandoned shrine in the forest tomorrow night. I'm not sure how it is going to go ,though," the older Himura explained. Naruto nodded here and there, listening to the end.

"I know you will beat him! No doubt about it! Anyway, we have another problem. Tonight, Natarii and I were confronted by two figures who turned out to be Zabuza Moimochi and his partner named Haku. Zabuza was looking for Nii-san, but he didn't specify why. After they left, all was quiet," Naruto responded back.

"More fights! Yes!" Sanosuke cheered.

"Hmm, bet you he is going to fight me tomorrow. I'm excited!" Minato admitted, while showing a cheeky smile. Naruto and Sanosuke smiled in response while Kenshin just chuckled at the display in front of him. All of the noise startled the red-haired jinchūriki. She quickly sat up and looked around wildly for a second before realizing where she was. Natarii smiled and greeted the boys.

"Hey Kenshin-nii, Sanosuke, and Minato!" she spoke. Minato and Sanosuke greeted her back before returning to their conversation. Kenshin did the same, but for quick second, he looked guilty as their eyes met. The only one who saw everything and was very confused about it, was Naruto.

'Hey Kurama, why did she wake up startled and afraid, like she was looking for something?'

'I have a hunch, but it's for her to tell not me kit,' Kurama replied. Naruto huffed in frustration, making the demon fox rumble from a chuckle. The blonde broke the link as the group went inside for sleep. The next morning, the group explained the events of last night to Yahiko and Kaoru; Kaoru was worried and Yahiko was plain excited. The day went on as normal. Everyone did chores, Yahiko and Kaoru trained in the dojo, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner were served. After dinner, Kenshin went to sit at the river to think about his upcoming battle. He was only given a few moments of silence, though, as Kaoru soon joined him at the river.

"Wha'cha thinking about?" the blue-haired girl asked. For a minute it seemed he didn't hear her, but he answered the question while staring out at the water.

"Thinking about how the battle will go and if I am strong enough to defeat Kurogasa without reverting back to my Battousai self."

"I know you can do it Kenshin! But for good luck, I will give you my favorite ribbon," Kaoru decided, pulling the ribbon out of her hair and giving it to him. "Now after the battle, you have return it to me, understand?" she asked seriously. Kenshin, surprised by the gesture, smiled and promised to return it after taking the ribbon. Unbeknownst to them, our favorite duo had heard and seen the whole thing, as they didn't want to disturb them even though the skies were beginning to darken. Out of the blue, hands grabbed Kaoru right off the river bank. Kurogasa was on boat, sailing away with Kaoru in his hands. Kenshin and Naruto didn't react as fast Natarii did. She stole one of Naruto's tri-pointed kunai, hopped on the water, and began to chase the boat. The boys watched as she increased her speed rapidly, jumped on the boat, and barely blocked a sword strike from Kurogasa. Natarii was becoming increasingly annoying to Kurogasa as his Shin no Ippō wasn't working on her and she was effectively blocking or dodging each of his strikes. Kurogasa managed to pin her down and quickly stabbed her in the stomach. "Natarii" disappeared in a puff of smoke and neither her or Kaoru were to be found. Back at the river bank, Naruto appeared with Natarii and Kaoru at his sides. Kenshin, relieved, walked up to them and pulled them all into a group hugs that ended with all of them laughing. Once they had calmed down, Kenshin asked Natarii and Naruto what had happened after he lost sight of Natarii, Kaoru, and Kurogasa.

"It went something like this..."Natarii began.

Flashback No Jutsu

When Natarii had jumped on to the boat, a clone she had created while she was chasing the boat, took her place. While her clone had Kurogasa occupied, she quickly grabbed Kaoru and jumped off the boat, heading back from where she had came.

'Naruto! Come get us please!' Natarii mentally screamed at the blonde. Naruto quickly complied with her request, teleporting in front of them on the river, grabbing them, and teleporting them back to the river bank.

End of Flashback No Jutsu

"So you guys can speak mentally to each other?" Kaoru asked, perplexed.

"We found out the first day we met. I was think about something and Naruto answered for me in my mind. It was kinda weird and cool at the same time. It still is actually," Natarii confirmed.

"Very good teamwork you two. With that skill, you guys should excel way beyond the normal boundaries of teamwork," Kenshin complimented. The duo nodded in agreement.

"Nii-san, you are still going to have to fight that guy, you know," the younger Himura pointed out as the group headed back to the dojo. Funny how cruel life could be sometimes.

AN: Sorry guys if you were expecting fights this chapter and for it being short. I just felt that I should end it there. I promise next chapter that there will be at least one fight if not two in that one. Until then, sayonara my readers!