Author's Note: I mentioned in the last notes in the last chapter that the X-Overs portion is soon, and by soon I mean this chapter. With this said, hope y'all enjoy.

Date: UNKNOWN

Time: 1213

Location: South West of Kunduz, Afghanistan

Days in OP: Day Three

POV: Pvt Neji Huga, USMC

Three days, that's how long we have been pushing our way to the city. I take my time as I sweep the horizon for any and all movement as the top half of my body sticks out of the humvee on the Browning M2 50 cal.

"Marines be advised, we got a company of the Army in deep shit just south of the city. From what I heard, they got mortars and heavy armor. We are the closest to them, so we're going to give them the help they need, pedal to the metal men." One of the NCO's says over the radio as we pick up the pace. "Hotel Company, this is Sargent Jack Thomas of the Marine Corps, I got Marines from Sierra Company and we are on our way to assist ETA, 30 minutes."

"Hey, buckle up boys. This is what we signed up for." I look down and say as I barely see Sasuke check his M14 EBR and M4 Carbine, as well as Shikamaru finishing off what little he had of his breakfast. "Should have woken up when I told you to."

"Don't blame me for the FRH not working, shit sucks to eat cold." He retorts as I swing back around to the front.

"I hear you on the coffee, but the food isn't bad cold, it is pre cooked." John Doe, someone we would now consider a friend, says. "Anyone want to say a prayer?"

"Dear god, please don't let us or the Army folks die today, amen." I say as we continue to push forward. After some time, I lean slightly forward and narrow my eyes, and notice some black smoke. "I got visual on friendly position. About 15 minutes out."

"Listen up, we need to find the CO, his name is Captain Alburn. Got it?" The Sergeant says as I hear some rifles being racked from below.

"OWRAH." The men in the Humvee, and every gunman, myself included, shout in unasance as we start getting close enough to hear gunfire in the distance.

'Most run from the sound of gunfire. Meanwhile, we are the men and women who gleefully run to it.' I think to myself as we make our approach. Next thing we know, we're in the thick of it. I spin to my right, where a group of three men stand up behind a short wall, so I press down on the thumb triggers, the rounds hit one of them in the head, and two in the body, all three falling down, never to move again. I feel one of the men in the front tap my left leg.

"I'll take the deuce, good luck Marine."

"Thanks, give us cover."

"I'll do what I can." I get down and the passenger takes over the M2 as I grab my M4 Carbine, and rush to the building just behind Doe.

"Friendlies on your rear." Sasuke shouts as we make our way to a small squad of about five. "Private Uchiha, USMC. The fuck happened?" He asks as he crouches down behind cover next to the soldier in the center.

"Intel was fucked. We were pushing into the city and as we got about two blocks in the tank leading the column got hit by a mortar round. Shit went from bad to worse ever since." The young woman gives an abridged summary to fill us in. "And that's when the old T-55's and T-62's rolled in."

"We got any AT-4's, Javs? Anything to fight the tanks?"

"Other than the handful of Abrams you guys brough, we got at least one Javelin, but the mortars and machine gun nest has kept our heads between our asses. Unfortunately, Star has both the Javelin and the SAW, so we can't have both going at once."

"I can take one of them off him if need be." I speak up, getting to the side and between them.

"That could work, you know how to use either?"

"Not so sure about the Javelin, but I used the M249 back to basics a few times."

"Good enough. Black Star, give the Marine here the SAW." She shouts to a man just taller than her, and I make my way to him.

"Just reloaded the thing, give em hell." He says as he lifts it up to hand it over and I hand over my M4.

"I'll let you use my rifle that way you got something."

"Sounds good." I run over to where there aren't many bodies and lay prone, putting the bi-pod up and sending out bursts of five to six shots, enough to give Star enough time to poke out and lock onto a tank.

"Check the back blast." He shouts as whoever is behind him moves out of the way.

"Clear." I hear Joe say between burst and the sound of a missile being fired, and see the rocket shoot up into the air out of the corner of my eye.

"That thing always impresses me." He says before falling onto his ass from a stray bullet. We look over and see his hands up, arms bent at the elbows.

"Black Star." The woman screams as he shakes his head.

"I'm good Maka, just got the wind knocked out of me, the plate took it." He says as he gets up and Shikamaru rushes over to him.

"You good, how is your breathing?"

"I'm fine, but thanks for the concern."

"Alright, I'll be keeping check on you soldier." Shikamaru tells him before going back to returning fire. Soon after one of the T-55's is taken out by the Javelin's rocket.

"One down, Do you guys have a way to get air support?"

"Don't know. Have to see with the CO." Another man, to Maka's left says.

"Captain Albarn?" Where is he?"

"Over there, he took a round to the leg, stopped the bleeding but it seemed to mess up the bone." Maka answers, pointing towards the back of the building.

"Take me to him, I got some medical training, so I can see what's wrong." Shikamaru says while reloading.

"Yeah, follow me." The two hussle off as the SAW stops firing.

"Gotta reload. Star, got any more ammo?"

"Yeah, but I'll take it back now."

"Fair, here." We hand each other back our main weapons and return to the fight again. I look through the sight and pick up someone blind firing. He takes a bullet to his left forearm, and he grabs it in pain, sticking his head out and I squeeze the trigger, putting the 5.56 NATO round into his head.

"Hell of a shot."

"Says the sniper." We both get a chuckle as Shikamaru and Maka come back.

"We got medivac in route to pick up any wounded and bring more men, ETA 15 minutes. As for now we make a stand, put down grean smoke once they arrive in the AO." She says as they get down again.

"How is your old man anyways?" Someone else next to me asks.

"Fractured bone, but the bullet barely missed an artery so dad will be okay."

"Hold up, you his kid?" I say after sticking my head out to take a few shots downrange.

"I'd rather not talk about it all that much." She says, sighing as Shikamaru grabs his radio.

"This is private Nare, we found Albarn, but he took a round to the leg, he's stable and medivac is on the way with some more reinforcements."

"Copy, good work private, stay put and wait for evac to arrive."

"That's the plan sir, over and out." Shikamaru finishes the relay of information as we all catch a whistling sound from above.

"Mortar, move." The man next to me says as we rush and get away from the kill radios, and I noticed that it landed just in front of where we were.

"Shit that was close." I say as I shake my head, hoping to get the ringing out of my ears.

"We got to take out that mortar nest." Sasuke shouts, getting everyone's attention.

"We gotta keep the SAW down here." I add, and everyone nods.

"Doe, Nara, Huga. Let's go." Sasuke says before thumbing his radio. "Private Uchiha, question Sargent."

"Go ahead."

"We have mortars zeroing on our position, request to take it out. I've got Nara, Doe, and Huga with me."

"Request granted, happy hunting. Over and out."

"You heard him, let's move." We get up and follow Sasuke as we get behind a building just to the left of the one we were just in.

"Any ideas on where they are?" John asks as he checks his ammo.

"I saw the flash and the trail for that three story building at our one o-clock." Sasuke answers as he points to a white build with red Arabic writing on the side facing us. "Keep it tight gents." We stack up on the wall with me on rear, and Sasuke on the point. He posts up on the corner of the wall and covers the space between us and the building. "Shikamaru, push past and hold the corner of the target building."

"Moving." Shikamaru taps his shoulder as he pushes past. Once he is one the other side, he trips over his feet and falls face first, before getting set and giving the thumbs up. Doe taps my shoulder and points to the other side.

"Go Huga."

"Alright, moving." I say as I roll past them and start hauling ass. Even at a full dead sprint, it felt like eternity, and I swore someone turned and saw me running, but no shots were fired. And I finally made it to the other side. I catch my breath as John makes his way across and just before he makes it, he takes a stray round of 7.62x39 to the lower abdomen, right behind the plates.

"AHH FUCK. I'M HIT." He screams in agony as he falls down, just out of reach. Shikamaru and Sasuke must have seen where it came from as they both swing and fire at the same general location.

"Neji grab him and get him to cover." Shikamaru yells as I reach out and drag him behind the wall. "He's done, Neji, switch with me so I can apply aid and so you can cover Sasuke as he crosses." We switch positions and I check and see it's clear, so I wave him over, and he safely gets to us.

"How is he?" I ask as I pull off the corner.

"Got him patched up and put some morphine in him to help with the pain. He's drowsy though, what's the call?"

"Still gotta take that mortar out, fuck." Sasuke says as I look ever and see a chopper swooping in and hitting a strafing run on the top of the building with the Auto Cannon. "Woah, hey friendlies at the bottom of that building." Sasuke shouts as the chopper slowly lowers and out hopes a few Marines, three of them grab John. The fourth however, walks up to us with a big shit eating grin, as if you show off his "cool new battle scars" that he will brag about probably to the end of the world to a member of my extended family. But that didn't matter, we were just as happy to see him.

"You son of a bitch." I say, also forming a grin as we high five.

"Good news, Hinata misses you too Neji." Naruto jokes as the chopper lifts up, not before I notice John giving us a thumbs up as thanks.

"Nice, has she gotten to the, fucking other dudes while you get shot at part of being a military members significant other yet?" Shikamaru jokes as we head to where everyone is as Yad Allah has retreated, for now.

"What I miss by the way?"

"The welcoming party." I answer as we get with the rest of the group.

"How's your father doing Albarn?" Shikamaru asks as she turns to us after the chopper carrying her old man lifts off.

"A lot better, I thank you guys, saved his life, probably ours as well." We shake her hand, she has a strong grip, which shouldn't surprise me considering she's in the Army, but still.

"Just doing our jobs, we would expect the same if we were in your position." Sasuke says as he puts his left hand up, and still shakes hers with his right.

"I don't believe we've met yet?" She says, turning to Naruto.

"We have not, Private Naruto Uzumaki, United States Marine Corps."

"Maka Albarn, Army."

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance." He reaches out to shake her hand.

"Likewise Marine."

"What's the plan?"

"Keep pressing forward, gottem on the ropes. Can't let up now."

"Good, we brought ammo and medical supplies, so stock up. We aren't out of the shit just yet." Naruto and Maka finish their conversation as well run over to grab extra mags. He looks over to the Sargent and heads his way.

"The hell is he doing?" Sasuke asks as takes a big swig of his canteen.

"Probably asking where we are going to be." Shikamaru asks as he takes his helmet off to wipe the sweat off his face.

"Got some of Doe's blood on your face." I point out the blood that appeared on his forehead.

"Ah fuck."

"Guess that's a price for being a medic huh." I look up and see Naruto waves for us. "Come on, Naruto's got something." We hustle over and he smacks one of the tanks.

"Got you three a comfy ride for a bit."

"I wouldn't call an M1 Abrams comfy, but it beats walking." I respond, hopping onto the tank.

"I thought you guys would think it's like your bed back home." Naruto adds as the column moves forward.

"What did you do to convince them to let you get back out on the field?" Sasuke asks as Naruto walks alongside the tank.

"They asked for volunteers to assist in the push to retake the city, and I was the first one to do so."

"That sounds about right." Shikamaru says as we hear someone running up and I turn to see Maka jogging to catch up. Seeing her small stature carrying her gear in a sprint was somewhat humorous to me, don't know why.

"Mind if I join you puppies?" She asks, and due to her wording, I assume Naruto bursts out laughing. "The fuck's the problem?"

"I don't care if you join us, but calling us puppies. Jesus fuck."

"They call you guys Devil Dogs right?"

"I understand what you meant, but. Ah well fuck."

"What?"

"You wouldn't understand." She gives him a 'please do tell' look, and the three of us on the tank start to chuckle a bit.

"The fuck's funny now?"

"Puppies, I guess you could say it's slang." I say, getting her attention.

"For what?"

"I don't know if I should tell you, taking that you're a lady."

"Is it slang for whore?" We shake our heads no. "The fuck is it then private?"

"I feel uncomfortable telling you." Sasuke says, and we nod.

"Soul, get the fuck up here." She looks back and shouts, and maybe 20 or so seconds up comes one of the men from before. "They're telling me puppies is slang, what for?"

"Well Maka, the only reason you don't know what it means is because you don't have it."

"The hell you mean?"

"It's slang for tits."

"And that's why we didn't want to tell you, it's boobs." Naruto says, and she scoffs.

"Fucking men." She quickly walks off to the tank in front.

"The fuck is her problem?" Shikamaru asks as ahead of us, Maka is helped onto the back of said tank.

"She has trust issues with men, only trusting the guys in her team, i.e. me, Black Star, Kid, and Killik." Soul answers.

"So she joined a field dominated by men?"

"She wanted to get back at her old man. When she was a kid, he was on tour, and her and her mother found out he was having an affair when some chick tried to use his ID and shit to get onto the base housing."

"Jesus fucking Christ." Naruto responds. "Any hesitation in trusting your brothers and sisters in arms can have deadly consequences. I pray that's not the case." We continue to push and stop so we can rest and get food in us. I got menu seven, beef brisket. Thankfully the flameless ration heater worked, unlike Shikamaru's from this morning.

"Naruto, what did you get?"

"Menu six." Hey answers as he slides his main and coffee, that's in the hot beverage bag, into his FRH.

"Nice, careful though, sometimes the heater doesn't work." Shikamaru says as he sits down next to us. "I should know."

"It was funny, you should have been there."

"For you guys maybe, I was pissed."

"Anyways, Shikamaru, what you get?" Naruto asks as he takes an extra mag out of his plate carrier and uses it as the rock or something.

"Menu three. Hey Sasuke?" Shikamaru asks, looking up the wall we are against.

"Yo." Sasuke's voice comes from the top.

"What did you have for dinner?"

"Two, chicken fajita, I liked it." Sasuke answers as he lays prone and keeps watch. "Still got my brownie though. Anyone want it?"

"I got oatmeal cookies." I say, a moment of quiet as he thinks it over.

"Come on up, but be careful." He says and I stand up, grab my shit, and meet him on the building's second floor balcony.

"Mind if I eat up here?"

"Sure, but keep your shit to yourself." We trade components and not long after, my chow is ready. "Say, how much further until we reach the inner city?" I ask between bits. Sasuke reaches into his plate holder and pulls out a map of the city.

"Let me look." He scans the map, he always had an ability to pick out small details. We all went hunting once with his father back when we were, I wanna say 12. We couldn't see shit, but out of the blue, Sasuke shouldered his 30-30 lever action and shot. His dad scolded him but he persisted that he shot a deer. And by God he was right, a beautiful buck might I add. All four of us got one, none of us would admit that he told us where they were before we saw them. Remembering our childhood gave me a small grin. "The building we believe they're using as a base of operations is due east, see the sky scraper across the way? It's a block down." He folds the map back up and pockets it, and notices the grin. "What are you grinning for?"

"Nothing, just that time we went hunting about six years back."

"Ah, you know. My brother and mother always told me I should be a sniper if I joined."

"And here you are." We stay mostly quiet as I and the other two finish our meals. Sasuke continues to scan the area and I look through the spotter scope he had set up for us to use, it's been a few hours and I feel my eyelids getting heavy.

"Neji." Naruto says in a whisper as he taps my shoulder, so I look back at him. "Get some shuteye, I'll spot."

"Alright, stay sharp brother." I respond a little sheepishly and I grab my stuff to walk away and inside where I see Shikamaru had fallen over dead asleep. I walk out to take a quick piss, keeping the latch on my hip holster undone just in case something kicks off.

"Mind turning to the left a little." A woman's voice whispers and I turn to see Albarn.

"Sorry soldier. What are you doing anyways?"

"Reading. What about you, other than relieving your bladder."

"Gonna try to get some shuteye. Ain't you guys over at that half wall?" I ask as I finish up and point to a wall that a M249 is mounted on.

"When Black Star is on watch, and someone is unable to get some sleep, he tries to hold a conversation." She answers as she flips the page.

"What are you reading if you don't mind me asking?"

"Dark side of the moon."

"The Pink Floyd album?"

"No, but it is funny. It's one of my favorite albums."

"That is ironic. Welp, good night miss."

"Likewise Marine." I walk back in and set myself up to pass out on the opposite side of the room from Shikamaru and close my eyes, hoping I would be woken up by someone telling me it's time to move, or one of the others asking me to keep watch, instead of gunfire.