DISCLAIMER!: I DON'T OWN NARUTO! Thought you'd know by now...

(A/N): Well guys it's Sunday yet again, so there's a new chapter of "The Caged Bird" out, go check it out ;)

Oh yeah, don't forget to get a question in for the Q&A tomorrow, it will be my last Q&A, so don't waste this chance. I will also be making a few announcements tomorrow as well, so keep an eye out.

But anyway,

TO THE STORY!

. . . .

Chapter 99: A Long Battle Begins

. . . .

All around them, hundreds of white Zetsu clones emerged from the ground. They stood amidst a sea of white, back to back they looked at the army before them.

They all knew what would come next.

All out carnage.

. . . .

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" four voices roared out in the sea of white Zetsu. Gamabunta, Gamahiro, Enma the Monkey King, and the Manticore all appeared in the center of the mass amount of Zetsu's. Cole sat atop the Manticore and leveled his cleaver before him. "Reek havoc!" Cole yelled as the Manticore released it's genjutsu enhanced roar. Several White Zetsu froze from the Fear Genjutsu the beast used and were quickly torn apart by the lions spike attacks.

"Well Jiraiya, what kinda shit did you get us in now?" Gamabunta said as he swung his tanto down on top of a group of Zetsu. The Toad Sannin laughed nervously from his perch on Gamabunta's head. "All out war I guess. Just what the hell are these things!" he yelled as he observed the Zetsu army.

Naruto, Gai, Kakashi, Sakura, and Hiruzen stood atop of Gamahiro. Naruto brandished a Hiraishin Kunai as Enma turned into his Adamantine Staff form. Kakashi revealed his sharingan and Gai started to psyche himself up. Sakura was adjusting her leather glove and grinning like a madwoman before Naruto turned to her. "Sakura, stay with Gamahiro and act like a base camp in case one of us gets injured. I have a feeling we'll need you on active medical duty." he instructed the field medic.

Sakura scoffed at him. "Like I'm just gonna sit back and do nothing!" she said before she jumped off of Gamahiro's back and high into the air. "SHHAAAANNNAAAARROOOOO!" she roared as she descended to the ground and punched. As soon as she made contact with the ground she formed a massive crater that sent dozens of Zetsu's flying.

All of the males on Gamahiro's back, including the toad himself, were openly gawking at the sheer strength of the 'field medic'. Naruto turned to them, a bit pale. "All in favor of never pissing Sakura off say 'Aye'!" he asked the group in a shaky voice. "Aye!" "Aye!" said everyone in attendance, including Kurama and Gamahiro.

Naruto nodded to the group. "Good, now. Kakashi, Gai, you guys handle the blond guy. Jiji, you and me are up against the weird looking guy with the tail." he instructed. He then looked down to Gamahiro. "Alright big guy, help Sakura out as much as you can. And if the enemy has any summons, you know what to do!" he told the summons.

Gamahiro unsheathed his katana's and gave a wicked smirk. "Make mince meat out of em'!" he yelled happily as the groups went off to attack their targets.

Cole and the Manticore ripped through the hordes of White Zetsu as they charged towards their target, Pein. He was within twenty yards of him when he saw the Akatsuki leader raise his arms towards Cole. Cole raised his own arms at the two exclaimed the same technique. "Shinra Tensei!" they yelled at the same time, creating a shock wave between the two, sending a group of Zetsu's flying.

Cole jumped off of the Manticore and left it to battle with the Zetsu army. The Animal path stepped forward and slammed his hands onto the ground. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" he exclaimed as a cloud of smoke enveloped the group of Rinnegan barer's. Cole stopped moving forward and jumped high into the air to avoid the stream of boiling bubbles shot out from the cloud.

Cole used his Deva path to remain floating in the air as the cloud dispersed. As soon as the smoke dissipated, a spiral beaked bird came flying towards him. Cole made a single hand sign before taking a deep breath. "Katon: Goka Mekkyaku!" he exclaimed and sent a torrent of flame towards the bird. The bird stopped moving, but the fire was absorbed before it made contact.

Cole cursed as he noticed that the Preta path of Pein was riding on the bird to act as a defense. Cole leveled his hand towards the bird and launched three of his Truth Seeking Balls towards the beast with bullet like speed. The giant bird was able to dodge two of the projectiles before the third smashed into it sending it falling out of the sky.

The Preta path of Pein was caught out of the air by a massive tongue from an invisible summons.

Cole landed on the ground and cursed. "This is going to be annoying..."

. . . .

With Gai and Kakashi.

The two rivals were making short work of the Zetsu groups that got in their way as they went after their target, Deidara.

The blond from Iwa smirked before putting his hands into two pouches on his sides. "So, you two want to see my art, yeah? Well, I'll send you packing with an explosion!" he yelled with excitement as he pulled his hands out and revealed two clay falcons. He threw them into the air and made a half tiger seal.

The twin falcons burst into smoke before emerging as massive clay constructs that flew towards the two Jonin.

Kakashi saw them coming and started running through hand signs. "Raiton: Raiju Tsuigai!" he exclaimed before a wolf made of lightning formed from his palm and dashed towards the two falcons. The beast slammed into the clay constructs, causing them to explode prematurely. Deidara cursed at his luck. "Of course they send a lighting user after me..." he grumbled as he started to make more constructs.

Kakashi and Gai stood across from him and prepared for battle.

. . . .

Jiraiya made a few hand signs before taking a deep breath in. Gamabunta also took in a breath as the two exclaimed their combined jutsu. "Katon: Gamayu Endan!" he roared as Bunta shot out oil and Jiraiya lit it aflame with his own fire technique.

The burning oil spread across the battle field, burning and melting several hundred Zetsu Clones.

"Still as strong as I remember Jiraiya-sensei..." Konan said as she flew into Jiraiya's view. The old Sage smirked at her and shook his head. "I was right about you. You grew up to be a beautiful young woman Konan...but what happened to Yahiko? Where is Nagato?" he asked in a worried tone, wondering what became of his former students.

Konan remained silent for a moment before spreading out wings made of paper and taking to the skies. "Yahiko died a long time ago...all that is left of Nagato is Pein-sama. Now, enough talk, Sensei, it is time for you to die." she said in her melodic monotone voice.

Jiraiya sighed and shook his head sadly. "I see that war can corrupt even the kindest of souls. I'm sorry Konan, but I can't let you kill me here! Ninpou: Ranjishigami no Jutsu!"

. . . .

Naruto threw his Hiraishin Kunai high into the air and took hold of Hiruzens arm. "Hold on Jiji! Were goin' for a ride!" he yelled as he and the Sandaime flashed up to the kunai. Naruto grabbed onto the kunai and sent it sailing to the area Sasori was in.

The blade struck the ground ten meters from the puppeteer and the two Konoha shinobi flashed to it.

Hiruzen shook his head, a little dizzy from the experience. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that..." he grumbled before getting ready for battle. Naruto smirked and readied his kunai and Kitsune no Kiba. "Eh, it's like that for everyone's first try." he said as he readied himself to face off against Sasori.

The Akatsuki Puppeteer growled as he looked at his opposition. "Well, looks like Deidara got the easy targets...Oh well, this will just be more fun..." he grumbled as he unhinged his jaw. Hundreds of senbon shot from his mouth towards the two Konoha shinobi.

Hiruzen moved forward as he finished making hand signs at blinding speed. "Doton: Doryuheki no jutsu!" he exclaimed and shot forth a mud from his mouth, creating a wall of earth to defend themselves with.

Naruto threw his kunai into the air above Sasori and flashed to it. "Yoko Koga! (Demon Fox Light Fang)" He yelled and slashed through the air with the Kitsune no Kiba, sending a beam of pure Kyuubi chakra out at the Puppeteer. Sasori stopped his attack and quickly jumped out of the way of the attack, losing his tail blade in the process.

The Puppeteer cursed to himself. "This isn't going to be easy..."

. . . .

Off of the battlefield, three figures watched at the fighting raged on.

"Well, do you think you can face them?" one of the figure asked.

"Yeah, do you think you're ready? They are all powerful opponents." another figure said in two different voices.

The third figure looked out at the waging battle before unsheathing a katana. "It will be the perfect way to test myself before I fight...him..." the third figure said, emphasizing the word 'him'.

The first figure turned from the battle field, a Sharingan eye glowing red from behind his mask. "Well then. Strike when you feel ready..."

. . . .

(A/N): To be continued...

Ohhh the battles that are about to happen will be awesome!

Remember to REIVEW! And as always, I'll see ya next time!