V 10 ch 2

Illusions and Shadows

The night approached the forest village with anticipation and uncertainty. The Morikage had been using all of his strength to keep the village afloat from the crumbling tree. Kasha invading the large structure had left holes in its bark. The sun's orange rays cascaded over the tops of the trees, the village waiting for the onslaught of the Kasha. In the distance, the demons moved through the dark forest, their eyes wild with revenge.

Ateru Yotsuka stood with his foot on the branch body leaned over. He stared endlessly at the ground below. Team 11 followed Team 6 on the ground, their forms small in the distance. He was hoping this plan of Idai's worked. The rest of the shinobi gathered to go over the plans to stop the Kasha from getting up the tree. Women secured themselves with the children in their houses. Parents marched away to the top of the tree where the dead crowded the branches.

Kaiya glanced over her shoulder stopping for a moment. She could see the lights of the forest village glimmer as the night sky took over. "This is our last chance to protect the village," she said standing in solemn refinement. Everyone was counting on this to work. The Morikage had been told by Ateru sensei what his team planned to do. It was with his blessing they were able to leave the tree – their sanctuary- their home.

Masaru stopped also noticing Kaiya was not moving. He walked to her putting his hand on her shoulder. "We won't let there be another night of torment for your village," he said, his hollow gray eyes seeing the expression on her face. "I know what it means to feel responsible for those around you. My father's the Hokage," he told her.

Kaiya didn't half believe him until she saw Masaru was serious. From the past day being around Team 6, she had thought they were just dismissing her authority with her team. "If your father is the Hokage, why are you here? Shouldn't you be at home?"

Masaru shook his head taking his hand away. "No, my place is here with Idai and Yanagi. They depend on me as much as I depend on them. I can't let my team down. Or you," he said with a soft smile. "Being under my father has taught me to protect everyone around me – not just in our village." He turned around to keep walking through the grass.

"We have to be careful," Tachiba said looking at the dark trees. "I'm not sure what direction they will come from, but night is upon us." As if hearing his words, the wind blew through the trees at high pace. Tachiba lowered his head.

Kinari sniffed the air. "It's going to be problematic for those back at the village. I smell rain."

Yanagi felt the soft raindrops fall from the sky. "I won't be able to use my scouts in this rain," she said looking at Idai. "And I don't think Nuguru will be much help either. How are we going to follow them now?"

Idai smiled wickedly, his eyes staring into the darkness. "A demon can follow another demon with ease," he said his voice sounding cold, hard, and vacant of his own personality. His eyes became dilated, head hanging forward.

"What the hell is he talking about," Kinari asked jerking a thumb at Idai. "Has he gone mad?" He was pushed aside by Yanagi who passed him abruptly. "Hey, a little gentler next time, babe."

Yanagi put her hand on Idai's face making him look at her. "Idai, please tell me you didn't do what I think you did." But it was too late. Idai was not the one residing in his body. The demon looked back at her with a sinister smile. "Who are you? What contract did he make with you?"

Kaiya stepped back kind of uneasy. "Now I know why your team was summoned here," she said, her eyes staring at Idai's weird facial expression. "He's not normal."

Tachiba put Nuguru in his clothes as the rain increased. "Yanagi, we swore to follow your team through this. Now what is wrong with him?"

Yanagi ignored their concerns her eyes locking with the demon's. "Answer me. I'm not afraid of you," she said not faltering.

Idai's face contorted. "Eh..? Tell you the contract he made with me? Who do you think you are, sister? That's between us," he said laughing at her as if she'd ask a rhetorical question. "Unagi," he answered her. "That is the name I choose for myself in your tongue."

"Would someone please explain why he is talking with that sort of voice," Kinari asked.

"It's obvious that Idai has gone behind our backs to make a contract with a demon," Yanagi said as thunder crackled overhead. "I'm not sure why he has done this. We've already had enough problems out of your kind."

Unagi swayed Idai's body to the side, the long red hair hanging. "Such a blunt unattractive human female, you are," he said aloud. "What one does is for one's own benefit. That is not my concern."

Masaru quickly got into the demon's face, his eyes full of hatred. "I won't let you harm Idai! Get out of him! We don't need you! This is our matter to deal with!" Yanagi pulled him back as Idai's eye twitched. The demon wasn't regarding his presence much.

"There's no helping it, human male. He has surrendered everything to me," Unagi said holding Idai's arms out. He pointed to Idai's head, his eyes glistening. "This mind is a troubled web of uncertainties and confusion. Wouldn't you like to know how the darkness calls his name when he sleeps?" Unagi smiled showing all of Idai's teeth. He laughed enjoying himself with this ploy.

Yanagi stomped her foot on top of Idai's, it was enough to cause the demon to howl in pain. She stuck her finger in his face. "I don't know what Idai has done to be swindled into this, but I won't have you jeopardizing this mission!"

"I hate to break this up," Tachiba said as the rain increased. "But we have to find the Kasha's hideout! That's our objective right now. If he's no use to you leave him!"

"He's right," Masaru said hating to go against his friend and team mate. "We'll have to come back for him."

"I don't know… what to do," Yanagi said looking at Idai's possessed form. "Why would he do something like this," she asked aloud with a soft voice. "This is the worst thing he could have done."

Kaiya whirled around. Voices shouting drifted to her ears in the night. "It's begun. We have to find their hideout and now!" She grabbed Kinari by the collar pulling him with her. "Come on, Tachiba! We can do this without them!" Kaiya darted off with her team through the dark rainy forest.

"Are you sure it's alright to leave them as they are," Tachiba asked with Nuguru flying behind.

"What other choice is there? They're no good to us with a team mate who's a danger to himself," Kaiya said angrily. She couldn't believe this had to happen. Idai had seemed like he was a good leader, but even she had to question his sanity.

Unagi hung from a branch with one arm his face tilting up to look at the night sky. The rain dropped onto his face. He held out Idai's fingers, letting the rain cascade down the boy's skin. "What a strange substance this is," he said to himself.

Masaru growled. "Stop hanging around like a monkey! If you have some use, do what you're supposed to!" He clenched his fists. Unagi looked at him with a confused expression. "Don't give me that! Idai had some reason for summoning you here! Whatever it was, fulfill your obligation!"

Unagi dropped from the branch. He walked up to Masaru his head craning forward. "Fulfill that obligation? You want me to do it now?"

"Yes, just do what he wanted you to do and get out of here," Masaru said annoyed with this.

"Masaru," Yanagi said, her wet hair dripping. "We don't know what that is. Idai could have promised him anything in return for his help." She looked at him over her shoulder.

"But-" Masaru turned around grabbing his hair trying to pull it out. "This is insane! We have to help Kaiya's team! We don't have time for this!"

"No, we don't," Yanagi agreed. She turned around fully. Unagi was licking Idai's teeth in a weird gesture. "It wouldn't do any good to tie you up. Demons are stronger than human's." Unagi stopped licking Idai's teeth to glance at her. "What if I make a contract with you…"

Unagi placed his hands together. "I'm listening, unattractive human female. What deal is it that you would like to make?"

Masaru's mouth dropped. "Yanagi, you can't be serious! There's nothing you can offer this thing that it will want!"

Yanagi swallowed. She could only imagine what Idai had promised this creature. For some time, she had sensed that his mind had been troubled. The demon Gin had banished had only opened the gateway for others. Idai was constantly having nightmares as of late. He dreamed of his father, of killing the man himself. "For this exchange, I want to wipe out what Idai has promised you." Unagi watched her curiously wondering what she could offer. "You're not going to claim him."

Unagi put the hand on Idai's chest. "This is mine. There is nothing you could offer me that would replace what lies here."

She was a clever girl. Her mother hadn't raised her to not use her head in tough situations. Yanagi held out her hand as Unagi examined it. "In exchange for Idai's freedom from your contract, I offer you to take something from my unborn child."

Masaru's heart leapt. "Yanagi…" He couldn't believe she was doing this.

Unagi's smile widened. "Anything," he asked his voice caressing each syllable with fondness and an alluring attitude. He tried to reach for her hand but Yanagi jerked it back.

"One exception," Yanagi said once she had lured the demon. "You're not allowed to claim my child's life. And it must be healthy. But you may take whatever you like from it, if it will please you and get Idai out of this mess."

Unagi slammed his hand into Yanagi's, their fingertips burning. "Deal," he said his voice sounding purely evil. "I will take the one thing from your child that will make it impossible for him to be a proper shinobi." And with that contract sealed, Idai's pupils returned to normal.

Idai came out of the darkness groggy, his head clouded with pictures of the surrounding forest. He looked at Yanagi and Masaru, their faces watching him intently. "Where… are we," he asked his voice unsure of what he had been doing previously.

Masaru walked up to him raised his arm bringing it down upon Idai's head, but stopped halfway. He scowled swearing. "You're the worst person," he said under his breath walking away. He shot up to a branch. He had to find Kaiya and her team.

Idai looked at Yanagi wondering what was going on. "What did I do now?" Yanagi's expression became sad, her eyes drifting away for a moment. When she looked back at him, Idai froze. "You already know," he said pushing himself up further with his hand upon the wet bark of a tree. He looked at the ground. "The mission wasn't completed."

"No, it hasn't been," Yanagi answered. "How could you trust a demon," she said making him feel foolish. "What did you promise it to aid us?"

Idai shook his head. "It's nothing. Don't concern yourself over it. Besides, it didn't complete what I asked of it anyway."

Yanagi watched his posture. He seemed disappointed. "I wasn't going to let it get pass me, Idai. I cancelled your request." The second she said the last sentence, Idai looked at her bewildered. He grabbed her arms hard, firmly. Yanagi tensed. His eyes were wild.

"What did you do, Yanagi? You can't cancel a bargain I made with it!" Idai shook her. "What did you promise it? Don't you understand? It hasn't completed what I asked of it! I'm still under contract! Now it has you also!" He let her go turning away hanging his head. Idai placed his hands to his face. "No, no, no!"

"It agreed to let you go if I promised it-," she stopped.

Idai waited. "What did you promise it," he said stressing his words. "It only let me go for the time being. It wasn't specified. What did you promise it, Yanagi Lee?"

"I told it if it let you go, that it could take something from my unborn child," Yanagi said the words becoming acid on her tongue.

"You said that," Idai said in a hushed voice. "You can't sucker it. It's as old as darkness. What were you thinking?" Idai's concern grew. "You would do that to your child? It's going to take what it wants from it, Yanagi. You can't erase this. Never give a soul for a soul! Have you never heard that!"

"I'll just… never have children," she said overcoming her racing mind. "It can't take what is not there to offer." Yanagi saw Idai go to his knees, his forehead resting, hair hanging slightly. "Idai?"

"A decision I make is for me to handle, not you, or Masaru. I'm in touch with the darkness where demons dwell. Peace has never been entirely in my view. Even Gin doesn't know how they call me – talk to me. It's not as constant, but I feel them," Idai said regrettably. "I won't have you endangering a child that is not even… here to defend itself. It was the stupidest thing you could have done," he said getting up shoving pass her.

&&&

Azayaka stood with a large crescent shaped blade overhead and one in front ready to strike. Her green eyes followed the man as he walked in front of her pacing. "Are you going to attack or stand there contemplating?"

Fushoku's long gray bangs swayed in the night air, his yellow eyes watching the girl intently. His thumb washed away the sweat on the corner of his mouth. Smiling at the girl's rashness, he unequipped the cement spiked nunchuck held together with a long metal chain. Fushoku let the nunchuck drop to the ground the sudden shift in weight making a deep dent in the dirt road. "Alright, little girl," he said the last word as an insult.

Azayaka flew backwards as Fushoku came at her twirling the cement nunchucks over her head, their spikes slicing through the air. She had to be careful or she was going to lose her head! Azayaka had to learn about her opponent before she could fight him properly. Darting left and right made it harder for him to target her. She noticed it took a lot of strength from his shoulders to lift the heavy cement putting pressure on those muscles. With that amount of force against his body, he's quick to release it. Azayaka bent backwards the block coming around to where her torso had been. She lifted her hand to her mouth blowing a soft white powder at Fushoku.

Fushoku held his breath the powder going straight into his eyes. He griped closing his eyes with his nunchucks still swinging at the girl. He could hear her movements, if not see her. With each pass of the weapon, he was able to wipe at his eyes to rid himself of the substance. Opening his eyes, he swung his weapon again in a sling motion trying to catch her off guard.

All she could do was avoid Fushoku the best she could. His weapon would mortally wound her if it caught her anywhere on her body. Every so often she retaliated by kicking his legs, or punching his chest. But no matter how close she got to him, Fushoku was still going strong. I had forgotten that since he's used to wielding this type of weaponry, his endurance is high. It's going to take a while to wear him down. And right now I don't have that kind of time.

"Getting tired yet, little girl," Fushoku said as he swung it again at her, the spikes of the cement taking out a pole. The electrical pole splintered, its tall frame coming down to crash into a building. "I can keep this up longer than you think I can!"

"Don't I know it," she said under her breath. Azayaka panted, her form turning to the side to avoid another attempted hit. The nunchuck slammed into a barrel causing water to spurt out. She covered her face from the flying wood. I hope everyone is having an easier time than I am! Azayaka threw kunai at the man trying to get him to back off. The kunai only ticked him off more.

Fushoku got a second wind his anger seething. "I don't suppose you thought that was going to do any good?" He swept the kunai away with his foot, kicking the weapons aside. He breathed hard, the sweat blistering on his forehead. The girl was also taking a breather, her arms hanging. "What's wrong? Don't like the hardcore training I'm giving you?"

"Actually, I'm quite enjoying myself," Azayaka said to the point. "You're only showing me you're a one trick pony," she taunted. Fushoku fumed at the mention of this. "I don't suppose you have anything else you'd like to add?"

Fushoku narrowed his eyes. "Why don't I oblige to a fan," he said his form melting to the ground from the shadows surrounding them. He blended his body into the darkness, his dark eyes watching her from every angle. Fushoku snaked his shadowy form towards Azayaka, grinning. His shadowed hands went under her feet growing to where they latched a hold of her.

Azayaka looked down alarmed at something grabbing her. She saw his fingers curled around her ankles. "What the-?" She was baffled. Suddenly, Azayaka felt a hard lurch. The buildings in her view grew bigger as she was sucked into the ground, her hands trying to find an object to grab onto.

Before she knew it, she was thrown out of a large shadow her body flying through the air. She screamed at the top of her lungs. Azayaka was headed straight for a burning building. Her heart raced. As she neared it, she could feel the heat burning the hair off of her arms. Azayaka curled into a ball trying to protect herself, and just as she did so, she was grabbed. Someone had caught her. She turned her head around to see a green hooded figure holding her. Azayaka's face turned to panic.

"I rescued you, didn't I," he said his voice deep, with a hint of annoyance. "The least you could say is 'thank you'." The hoodie from his coat flapped in the wind. They were coming down. He touched down with Azayaka in his arms. Setting her down, he stood up, turning away from her.

"Who… are you," she asked her eyes not leaving his form.

"Don't worry. I'm one of the good guys," he answered before he leapt off to help the others. Right now, formalities were not in order.

Azayaka looked around her, her tied hair neatly behind her back. Konoha was burning. People all around her were involved in endless battles. "Who are these lightening-nin," she asked aloud. "What do they want?" A building crumbled to the ground, the noise causing tears to her eyes.

&&&

Naruto Uzumaki stood surrounded by the ANBU body guards atop his tower. "Put out the fires before they spread," he ordered his arm outstretched. "We can't have it causing anymore damage. Take the injured to the hospital as quickly as possible. Do not go anywhere in the village by yourself. Stay in a 2-3 man squad at all times," he ordered.

"Yes, sir," several of the ANBU bowed before they poofed into thin air.

"Are there anymore reports of who these ninja are looking for," Naruto asked the men standing behind him.

"There is of one report," Sendo said behind his snake mask. "It seems one of the Genin were fighting one of them. The man told him they were searching for 'the little bird girl'." The expression on Naruto's face told him the Hokage knew who it was. "Master?"

"The one they are searching for is no longer here," he told his men. "It's the girl Sasuke Uchiha took in. The one from Rock Lee's team."

"They're looking for the girl who deserted at the Chuunin exams," Koshii asked confused from her ox mask. "Whoever their source of information happens to be is not correct. They have no business here."

"Not if she isn't the only one they are searching for," Naruto answered. "There are three others in the village that possess links to the celestial beings of legend." He turned around with his hands behind his back thinking. "Of course they have been forbidden to summon those from another plane."

The ANBU looked at each other confused. "Excuse me for saying this, Master, but if they can defend the village, why are they not being ordered to do so," Jigen asked. He wondered for a moment who the other Genin were that possessed these kind of links. It would be swifter to wipe out their enemies in one full stroke.

"You are correct to think the village would be immediately protected, but that protection comes at a price. They are still Genin and I do not believe they possess the skills or maturity to summon creatures of that magnitude here." Naruto took off his Hokage hat, but remained wearing his robe. "Has the leader of this assault been confirmed," he asked an ANBU from the sidelines in the shadows.

"Yes, sir," Itaru answered bowing low to the Hokage, his rabbit mask equipped on his face. "We have managed to find out there are two generals who are giving orders. The main one is called Kakumei Eimino. He is an ex-guard for the lightening country."

"Well, now, it seems this Kakumei Eimino has underestimated our village," Naruto said rolling his shoulders. "Who is the second general," he asked as he stretched a bit. It was time to get busy.

"The second general is named Senko Eimino," Itaru answered again. "But it seems someone already has dibs on him," he said with a smile behind his mask. "Forgive me, Master, I could not stop him."

Naruto's grin widened. "No, let Sasuke have a little fun. He's getting stiff in his ripe old age," he said as he shot off the roof.

"Is it wise to let the Hokage just approach on his own," Jigen asked Itaru from the shadows, but Itaru was already gone. "Oh, well, nothing gets by him. Protect the Hokage, do not interfere," he said to the others around him. They poofed.

Kakumei threw the unknown ninja away from his form, his legs moving swiftly with the tiger fork in his hands. Aiming at a nearby ninja, he charge and leapt. The charges went down the tiger fork striking the man. His body shook as it smoked. Kakumei's eye lit up, his smile growing. As the man's body fell, he stood on a pole just above the street, his eyes overlooking the dark village – save for what was burning. "You could at least hand over the girl," he said to the Hokage standing off to his left. "That's all we really want. Wouldn't that be easier for you and your precious village?"

Naruto bit his thumb. The blood dropped onto the roof where he stood, splattering the structure. "I don't take to threats," he said writing symbols on the roof top. Behind him a large toad wearing a yukata appeared. It eyed Kakumei as a frown appeared on its face. "I have a lot more force than you think I do."

Kakumei smirked seeing the true power of the Hokage from the Hidden Leaf village. "Ah, but so do I," he said lowly. He shot towards Naruto without a moment's hesitation. As he neared the man, the large toad Gamabunta stuck his tongue out aiming it for him. Just what I wanted you to do. Protect your precious Master. Kakumei split into three forms of lightening energy, his body darting around the pair.

Gamabunta tried to pull out his extremely large knife to go at it with Kakumei, his tongue already stuck to the pole where the man had been. "Scoundrel," he said pulling his tongue back. His yellow and black eyes looked around trying to find the ninja. It wasn't so easy with how fast Kakumei had become.

Naruto stood under the toad his guard up. He sensed the man's chakra bouncing around the area, waiting for him to give an order. He's wanting me to rely on Gamabunta to defeat him. However, I'm not playing that card. "Gamabunta, stand down."

"And what is your reasoning after you summon me," Gamabunta bellowed, his stubbornness going into full effect. "I say let's be done with this and wipe them all out. They're only flies to me. I can handle them easily."

"Yes, I know you are capable. But right now, this has to do with two grown men fighting," Naruto said touching his nose. His current form remained still leaving a shadow clone of himself standing under Gamabunta. He, however, was on the move. Naruto's eyes darted. It was hard to pinpoint where Kakumei was going. He only stayed in one area for a hair of a second. Also, there were the two clones he was using that were also branches of his chakra. Naruto frowned. It was proving to be difficult. Which one was the real Kakumei?

&&&

Hinata brought her arm up to shield herself as the ground above gave way to the hidden tunnels below the village. A metal scorpion the size of a small shop whirled its claws. It started to make its way through the dirt. The children froze. Their eyes bulged out of their heads as the teachers surrounded them going into a defensive stance. Their objective at this moment was to protect the young. A man with shaggy green hair and silver eyes made his way down the landslide his eyes fixated on the group.

"Now, now, what have we found here?" Buitai scratched his face, his body hanging a little to the left as if he were a dog trying to figure out the situation. The trainers were standing him up in a line to guard a woman with dark long hair. She stood behind them in front of the children. "So it goes without saying you must be the Hokage's woman," he smiled as Kyu, his metal scorpion, moved forward.

Hinata gasped the moment the scorpion started rotating its pincers ready to drill any ninja that stepped in its way. The teachers in front of her were not going to let it pass, even if it meant them dying to protect her and the children. She looked over her shoulder to see Niru frightened so badly she was crying. Hinata whipped her head around, her eyes narrowing. "I won't have you threatening them," she said activating Byakugan.

"Kyu, destroy them," Buitai said not having a bit of humor in his body. He had a job to do. The scorpion moved with lightening speed towards the group of children and ninja.

Hinata concentrated her chakra to her palms, her eyes fixated on the scorpion moving closer down the hall. Moving her arms around her body in full three hundred and sixty degrees, her chakra started to stretch outward. She concentrated harder moving the barrier defense outward to protect the teachers who where lined in front of her. The scorpion didn't hesitate to strike the shield with its tail several times. The metal head of the creature turned to look at its master for further instruction.

"She can't hold it forever," Buitai said to the scorpion. Kyu went back to striking the barrier with all of its strength, the tail rearing back coming back even more powerful than the previous strike. Each time it struck, the barrier would sizzle with the chakra charge. Buitai was growing impatient. He hadn't come across a barrier like this before. Usually there was nothing that stopped Kyu from completing his assignment. "Well now, if we can't get through there, we'll just go under you." He gave the signal for Kyu to start digging.

Hinata swallowed. She was afraid Buitai would try to come underground. If she were to open the barrier he was going to strike them from the front. The scorpion was going to claim them underneath. Her mind searched for a way to protect the children from its wrath. The teachers were prepared to fight, their kunai withdrawn as they focused all their attention on Buitai. Masaru. Naruto. Both of you have assignments to complete. We must protect the village. But if I drop my defense, we'll be slaughtered. If I hold out, we're only buying ourselves a little time. What do I do, Naruto?

&&&

Kaiya put up her hand signaling the ones around her to be still. Her eyes followed the small moments through the dark bushes. The bushes swayed ever so slightly, leaves rustling. Her finger pointed down. Tachiba put his finger to his mouth silencing Nuguru before the bunting could voice his opinion. He carefully rotated his wrist, his finger in the air. Nuguru moved his head around following the gesture. He hopped on his master's finger until he flapped his wings to dart off down below. Nuguru fluttered around the bush, his eyes trying to make out what was underneath. They were unsure if it was a Kasha or if it was a small animal. The eye of the creature turned to focus on him. Nuguru twittered, his feathers flashing electric blue colors as a signal. He flapped his wings higher to get altitude as the small Kasha leapt out at him, snapping.

Kinari swore, "Dumb bird," before he leapt down his chrome Sais at the ready. He caught the Kasha's mouth with one of his Sais. The beast turned hits head trying to loosen his mouth from the weapon. He brought his other Sai around to push back its claws as it sliced the air trying to rip him apart.

"Not good," Tachiba said running down the tree. The Kasha was getting angry. Even if it was smaller than a normal sized one, it still had the ability to spit acid. Tachiba unsheathed his Kwan da sword, coming down in full strike at the creature's head. It spit acid out of its mouth in defense, the liquid splattering onto his clothes. Tachiba ignored the burning sensation on his skin as he sliced the Kasha's head off.

Kaiya hopped down also. "Don't be so careless," she scolded Kinari. She began to check Tachiba's arms and chest, the holes in his clothes noticeable. "Thank goodness it was only a runt," she commented as she reached in her pack to bandage his wounds. Her fingers caressed his skin, touching him delicately as she mended.

"Still, it was only a little one," Tachiba said as Nuguru came flying back to him. "Why was it left way out here? It's not with the others that went off to attack the village." Just as he asked the question a form dropped behind them a ways. It was Masaru. The Hokage's son was inspecting the area. "Oh, you're back," he said not knowing what to think of Masaru being by himself.

Masaru glanced at Tachiba and his crew, his eyes in full Bakugan mode. He was busy scanning the area searching for any signs his normal eyes could not see. "There are traces of acid around this area," he said pointing to a few spots on the ground. "This area is well traveled by the Kasha."

Kaiya walked over. She lifted her hands lowering her goggles onto her face. "He's right," she said the goggles having the technology in them to see heat and different body fluids. "In fact, it's everywhere. Even in the trees way up there."

Tachiba whirled around with his Kwan da sword straight into the face of Idai. He looked at the guy with untrusting eyes. "Now why should I lower this?" He was seconds away from taking his head off, but Idai only stared at him with a blank expression. "Are you yourself, or that thing you were before?"

Idai withdrew both of his swords so quickly Tachiba was caught off guard. He whirled them around hitting the Kwan da sword several times slicing at its handle. His arm went up to block the blade sliding down his sword until he flipped his wrist. The blade of the Kwan da sword went into the tree behind him. Idai dropped backwards, kicking his leg up. The sword went out of Tachiba's hand, dislodging from the tree to spin in the air. It soon found its way to the ground some distance away.

Masaru darted going in between Tachiba and Idai. Tachiba's kunai were already drawn. Idai was also ready to strike. Masaru's large shuriken star came around to block Idai's attack as he kicked at Tachiba's wrist forcing him to drop the kunai. "We don't have time for this. We need to find these things before the village crumbles. Knock it off."

Yanagi shook her head as she stood in the tree overhead. Her butterfly scouts swirled around her, their small pink wings beating against the mist surrounding them. She couldn't afford to wait on those two to settle their differences. Yanagi held up her finger in front of her nose concentrating. The scouts awaited her command. "Soar to the trees. Find out what you can," she told them. The swarm of butterflies broke apart into several ranks, their forms lifting into the darkness overhead.

"You expect us to wait until those come back," Kinari said his chrome sais twirling in his hands.

"Yes, unless you'd rather face the Kasha by yourself," Yanagi said matter-of-fact. She kept her head tilted upwards watching. "Who says that what we're looking for is on the ground? They are exceptional climbers, from what you've told us."

Kinari stopped twirling the sais, his head tilted. "Yeah, I know what we said," he confirmed. "But what makes you think those things will get close enough to them to know what they are?"

"Butterflies have a keen sense of eyesight. They eat aphids, after all," Idai said his swords not lowered. Masaru scowled at him. "Fine," he said putting them back in their sheaths. "I don't want to damage their blades anyway."

A butterfly scout came back some time later, its wings fluttering oddly. Yanagi could tell by the looks of its movements, its wings had been damaged. "I think we found them," she said holding her hand out. The small butterfly crash landed into her palm. It fluttered its wings in Morris code. "It says that the Kasha haven taken residence in a hollow tree that has been ate by termites. Go down the tree until you come upon a hole in the earth. That is where we will find the Kasha."

Idai crossed his arm. "They're hiding in an illusion that leads to their real place of refuge. Reminds me of Gin," he said absentmindedly. His girlfriend used plants in most of her jutsus. She had the ability to communicate with the wilderness around her. It made her a worthy adversary.

Kaiya didn't like being outdone by the Leaf team. She took out a scroll from her vest. The small scroll held a special item in it for her to use for such occasions as this. She opened the scroll, forming hand seals to release the boy puppet she had conjured. Its form crumpled to the ground. She coughed slightly embarrassed at her skill. Kaiya picked up the puppet, holstering him onto her back. "Team 11, lets go," she said. They flew into the trees in the direction the butterfly scout had come from.

"She doesn't want us to help them," Yanagi said as she watched Team 11 depart.

"No, perhaps we shouldn't," Idai said. She looked at him quizzically. "We've led them to where the Kasha are hiding. We should be respectful enough to let them be seen as saving their village."

"If it were us, they would be in our debt," Masaru coincided. He turned his head to look at the leader of his team. Idai's head was turned back to the way they had previously come. "Should we go back to help the others at the village?"

"They're going to need every bit of help they can get until the Kasha are wiped out," Idai said. He snapped his fingers, Team 6 poofing from view. The forest smelled heavily of rain, the droplets hanging onto the plants. Darkness blanketed the surrounding trees and bushes as Kaiya and her team went straight for the source of her village's problems.

&&&

Izumi Uchiha stood atop her house, her eyes seriously alert. A frown was on her face. The village around them smoked in the darkness. However, her home had been left untouched for one soul reason. Suiren slithered around her, her tongue escaping her mouth several times hissing at her master. Izumi twitched. "Gather your children," she told the snake as she shot off the rooftop. Izumi darted from building to building her eyes focused on a particular part of the village near the Hokage's tower. If she let Naruto or his family fall prey victim to the onslaught happening around her, then she would be shamed in her house.

Her eyes befell upon a large part of the earth sunken in. The hidden tunnels underneath the village were exposed; which meant their enemy had penetrated the defenses. "The children," she said out in the open air. Izumi's heart raced. She dropped to the ground, her legs moving swiftly without another moment's thought. She had to protect them. She was only hoping she wasn't too late.

Hinata Uzumaki, wife of the Hokage, stood motionless her eyes watching the scorpion disappear underneath the ground in the tunnels. Niru clung to her leg, her daughter's grip so tight, her knuckles were white. The teachers started to turn around as the floor in her protection shield began to give way.

Buitai smiled. "Well I guess you made your choice," he said feeling confident in himself. "Kyu, annihilate them," he instructed. Buitai waited a breath longer, wondering what was taking the metal scorpion so long. "Kyu, don't tell me you got snared on something," he said regrettably. Sometimes it happened because the scorpion was so big. Its tail was liable to get stuck in wires or piping under the ground.

Niru screamed as she heard the ground shifting more. "Mama," she said. Her friends from the various classes scrambled around the shield moving as far away as they could near the teachers. The teachers were caught off guard as they were knocked over.

A large black head lifted from the hole, a tongue coming out to check the area. It wasn't the metal scorpion, but a large black water moccasin.

Buitai seemed confused. "Where the hell-" Before he could react, he was attacked from behind. A figure whirled at him with two kunai in each hand spinning. He brought his arms up the kunai clanging against his metal armor. Buitai charged firing a warning at the assassin. The figure darted back but did not go far. He narrowed his eyes. "Who are you," he asked. The figure lifted his head momentarily to look at him with orchid colored eyes. Long white hair was masking the face. All he could make out was the figure was smaller than what he anticipated.

Hinata raised her hand at the teachers as her shield lowered. Her chakra was running low. The black snake moved around them slowly, its large body going to the front of the line. "No, don't," she told the teachers. "She won't hurt us. I know that snake," she said trying to make them understand.

Suiren opened her mouth hissing at Buitai to back away from her master. Her fangs showed she was ready to strike. But as she made her daring appearance, the metal scorpion, Kyu, resurfaced near the group of children. It spun its claws, his head shaking to rid itself of the concrete debris. Suiren turned around to hiss at the contraption.

Hinata had managed to lengthen her shield a bit more to not just above and around the children, but also below. Her thinking to delay the scorpion from attacking had proved a wise decision. Although, she knew someone would have seen the tunnels exposed, she would not have imagined it to be Izumi Uchiha.

Niru's face lit up. The assassin from the water country had her face covered with a white cloth. She became delighted to know Izumi was going to force Buitai to back off. "Mama, it's Ms. Iz-," her mother put her finger over her mouth to silence her.

"Ms.? So you are a woman," Buitai said taking out his combat sword. He let the weapon slide against the casing letting all of them see how serious he was. "You're not going to stop me."

"My, my," Izumi started, her confidence level well way over his own. "Aren't you the dainty flower?" Little did Buitai know but he was being stalked from over head. She stood slowly, letting her arms hang. Baby water moccasins dropped from the ceiling onto Buitai.

Buitai's ninja sense kicked in, moving his sword around in a sweeping motion, he sliced the snakes. Their dead bodies fell to the ground surrounding his feet. He could hear the large snake behind him hissing insanely. Izumi was moving upon him again, her form darting around. He went after her letting Kyu handle the rest of them.

Izumi whirled in the air her kunai clanging against his armor. The man outstretched his hand firing another lightening charge at her, but she evaporated from his view. She popped underneath him, her form spinning backwards, her legs raised as she kicked him hard in the stomach. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she turned her body at an angle, throwing the man into the floor below. He crash landed, smoke lifting as she landed on the side of the foundation, her hands right underneath her.

Buitai coughed his arm raising. He laid his arm on the floor pulling himself up. His eyes lifted to stare at the figure above him. Buitai charged again, his body starting to glow to show how angry he was. He shot at her again, this time throwing kunai into the structure around her so he could pinpoint a firing range. It was his idea to trap her. Izumi didn't move from her position so he turned around firing the lightening at another space where he found something odd on the wall. There was water seeping through near the structure.

Izumi was hit outright, her form coming loose from the wall. She grit her teeth, her body falling to the floor. As Buitai came back at her, Izumi lay still her clothing smoking from the attack. The scorpion was going after the children, its tail striking the ground powerfully. Suiren was not backing down. She, too, was on top of the scorpion, her body twisted to prevent its tail from functioning.

Buitai made a sweeping motion with his combat sword at the woman as she lay upon the ground. He sliced the back of her kimono, exposing her back. Yet, as he did this, she did not move. Buitai slammed his sword into the ground beside her head. "That wasn't so hard," he said. He kept his eyes upon to make sure she was immobile. "Kyu, stop fooling around," he snapped.

The metal scorpion moved its arms outward its gears clicking as it tried to force the snake off of him. The water moccasin kept pushing the arms down, her muscles tightening to hold him. Kyu released his tail the snakes body whipping back like a spring. He slammed his tail into her side causing her hold to loosen. Suiren hissed, her body curling up in pain. Kyu was now free, his glass eyes focused on the people in front of him. He went after them his legs moving against the ground.

Izumi had her chance. She forced her body up pushing up on her elbows and forearm, her legs coming up to wrap around Buitai's neck. "Call it off," she said her voice raised. She began to strangle him, his air cut off as he wrapped his arms around her ankles.

Buitai gasped the woman's legs tightening the more he delayed a response. He tried to charge to ward her off, but he couldn't muster the strength. His vision was starting to black out. Stars shone in his sight, the sounds around him seeming distant.

Izumi narrowed her eyes putting all of her strength into her legs this time. She began to twist the man's neck at an attempt to break it. If he wasn't going to call the scorpion off, she'd have to finish him first, then handle it. "Make it retreat," she warned a hair of a second's breath hovering in the air before she snapped his neck.

Buitai moved his fingers in a gesture only the scorpion knew. Kyu halted as his tail came down upon several of the teachers, the poisonous stinger at the ready. It turned its head slightly to see that its master was in trouble. Kyu turned its body around, its legs making it move to the side. Buitai had only fooled Izumi. Kyu was now coming straight at them to free him.

Izumi swung her body around, until she swept at his feet making him fall. Kyu threw his mighty arms at her, the pincers lodging into the concrete as she flipped backwards to avoid him. Izumi swore. This metal device was something she had no way of stopping. All she could do now was trust the teachers into getting their children out of here. She went after Kyu at full force, her kunai at the ready.

Izumi moved around on the creature's back, the tail coming down every few seconds to stick her like a fork. She kept hitting the scorpion with the blade of the kunai trying to find its weakness. But each time she came within contact with its body, it was retaliating by moving around and sending its tail after her. Izumi rolled to avoid the sharp end of the tail as she grabbed its side. The claws weren't able to get her from that point. She even noticed the tail was only able to go forward and several feet to the side. She was too close to it to pinpoint her. Now's my chance. Izumi reached into her kimono taking out a special scroll. She placed it on the side of the scorpion as it still tried to get her running in circles. "Bye, bye," she said pushing herself off. Izumi rolled away from it as the paper started to spark.

Buitai sent lightening charges at the teachers as he ran at them. He was still in the middle of trying to kidnap Hinata when an explosion from behind hit. He turned his head the fire raining the cement down on top of him. Buitai realized at that moment Kyu had been defeated. He watched in disbelief as Kyu's scorpion body whirred, clicked, then fell to the ground. Its head clicked into place the locking mechanism in effect. Buitai saw Izumi coming at him again, her weapons drawn. He fled out of the collapsed tunnel with her chasing him.

Hinata held her daughter as the smoke drifted out of the tunnel. She looked up to see that she and the surrounding children had been protected by the teachers. A wooden wall had been created in the nick of time. Her eyes gazed at the metal scorpion Butai had had no choice but to abandon. She stood. "Get the children to safety," she instructed taking charge. "He won't be coming back for that," she said confidently.

&&&

Sasuke stood atop the Hokages of past monument his Sharingan eyes pinpointing where General Senko was located. All around him fights were going on into the night. He had seen his wife, Izumi, chasing after one of the lightening-nin, her temper flared. "Naruto's having his own ridiculous luck with that Kakumei guy," he said before his body tensed. There was a figure standing several meters behind him, waiting. "You're not supposed to be here," he said trying to get the boy to go back. "Pick someone else to fight."

"No," Eiyu said with defiance in his voice. "They're after Onari. You know they are," he said as if he'd been lied to about the reasoning behind the attacks. "I want them gone."

"Fighting them will not bring Onari home," Sasuke said shouting at Eiyu Hyuuga. "They're the reason she left, Eiyu. She knew they would find her. And until they are all defeated, there won't be a bit of rest for the village or anyone in it."

"That's exactly my point," he said getting into Sasuke's face. Sasuke grabbed him by the front of his shirt. Eiyu just stared at him, his eyes not faltering.

"I don't have time for this," Sasuke said angrily. He threw the boy backwards until Eiyu landed on his rear. "Go help your team," he said. He flew off the monument his eyes focused on General Senko.

Eiyu wasn't about to listen to Sasuke. He went after the man, his feet moving swiftly against the monument as he glued his chakra to its surface. He darted around until he sensed he was getting closer. General Senko was marching down the street with several of his men. He ordered them to surround him immediately sensing Eiyu and Sasuke coming from both directions.

Eiyu slid on his feet his guard going up instantly. Sasuke did the same. They stared at Senko as the man regarded them for who and what they are. "Get out of here, old man. I can finish him off," he told Sasuke which made the Jounin give him a death glare.

"I see, so I'm a prize to be won," General Senko said his long flowing ponytail cascading down his back. He crossed his arms. "Foolish fools," he said as the Baku demon emerged from behind him. It stomped its feet lightening crackling underneath its weight. "I can handle these two," he told his men. "Continue your pursuit."

Eiyu kept his focus on the Baku. It was a large animal that had the head of a lion and the body of a horse. Radiating off its back was the very aura of shadows. In the shadows he saw it shift as if trying to keep something inside of it. Eiyu went into a Tai chi pose, his arms out. He was ready.

Sasuke wasn't stupid either. One of the buildings behind him seemed to be moving. As it got closer, its shape began to look more slender, its head rounded at the top. He couldn't have Senko sending the Baku after him and Eiyu without a trump card of his own. The slit eyes of Manda hovered at full height awaiting his orders. The snake loomed, its scaly mouth opening to show its fangs.

General Senko brushed off his lightening armor as if he was getting ready for a formal meeting with someone. "I didn't become General to have the likes of you two get in my way." He sent two fully charged waves of lightening at Eiyu and Sasuke. The older a warrior was and the more experienced, the less time it took to charge ones skills – or chakra.

Eiyu rotated fully his chakra going up into the chakra shield his family was so memorable for. The lightening came at him hitting the defense from all angles. Little did Senko know but only two people had broken the shield successfully in the past when his father, Neji, had used it in his battles.

Sasuke had a jutsu of his own. He opened his mouth issuing the great fireball technique as the lightening came. It interacted with the fire heating it as it went straight at Senko. His eyes didn't blink as Sharingan was in full effect. Manda remained behind him waiting for any signal to attack.

Senko reached out grabbing the lion's mane with one hand as the Baku moved with speed to avoid the fireball ailing at them. He lifted his weight onto the beast dodging the flames. As the fireball died down, he was far from the two pursuing him. "This could get interesting," he said to the Baku as it growled from its lion head. Its horse feet stomped the ground impatiently.

Eiyu darted at Senko his arms out behind him. He heard Sasuke yell at him to wait, but he was in a hurry to end this. His anger was seething at the attack on his home. Eiyu Hyuuga had to protect his team, also. He was the leader and had chosen to take full responsibility to keep Takeru Uchiha alive. I promise, Onari, they won't harm Takeru.

Chapter end notes: . This is a site I use to help me determine what martial arts weapons the characters are fighting with. So if you're unfamiliar, check it out.