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Dragonheart	By : UmbreonMessiah Category: Naruto > General Views: 1644 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Dragonheart

Chapter 13

�� His
name is Akamaru.� You�ll be taking care
of him.�
�� Eh?
Mom? Sister?�
�� From
now on, you�ll be looking after him, got it?�
�� Me?�
�� Arf!�
�� Heheheh�I�m
Kiba.� Nice to meet you, Akamaru.�

�� Be more
serious!�
�� SMACK!
�� Gah!�
�� You
can�t be fooling around all the time!�
�� Mom��
�� Listen
Kiba.� It is not just you.� You and Akamaru have to grow strong together.�
�� Together
with Akamaru�?�

�� Alright,
so I guess this means it�s time to introduce yourselves.�
�� I am
Aburame Shino, member of the Aburame clan.�
My family�s jutsu focuses on our communion with insects.� They are to us as the remora is to a
shark.� They rely on us as much as we
rely on them.� My insects live inside my
body, and listen to my commands only.�
�� That�s
pretty nasty if you ask me.�
�� To each
their own.� As an Inuzuka, I believe you
spend your life with a dog at your side, do you not?�
�� Yeah, I
do.�
�� It�s
the same thing in principle really.�
Only�my friends are smaller and in greater number.�
�� Yeah,
but can your friends do back flips, swim with you and track down people with
just their noses?�
�� Not
exactly��
�� Hah!
Then we win!�
�� U-um��

�� Wh-what?!
There�s no way!�
�� I told
you�don�t ever underestimate me��

�� This is my special assassin�s ability.� Even with that nose and brain of yours, you
will not be able to win against me.� My
cells are roaming freely in your body, and I can isolate a portion that is you
only.� That means it�s a state of
fusion.� I guess you could say we�re
sharing the same body.�
�� Sharing
you said?�
�� That�s
right, and a kind of brutal killing that I can do to you is tearing off cells
that belong to you.�
�� I
see.� In that case��
�� STHK!
�� If I do
this, I wonder what will happen��
�� Suicide?!
What a fool!�
�� Hehe�Let�s
die together.�

�� Now
that I�m in front of you, can�t you even cry for help?�
�� Hehe��
�� Don�t
you dare laugh before you die!�
�� THUNK!

�� Hinata,
are you going to eat that, or just beat it into submission?�
�� Slurrrrp.
�� Listen
Hinata, I know you don�t approve, but Shino and I made you come here for a good
reason, and you know it.�
�� H-Hai�I
know.�
�� Then
would you please stop fidgeting all the time?� It�s starting to make my nose twitch.�
�� G-Gomen,
Kiba-kun��

�� Disgusting!� Kiba, get your damned mutt off me!�
�� Don�t
be such a wimp.� Maybe if you were more
of a man, women wouldn�t walk all over you.�

�� A-ack!
What the hell?�
�� Alright,
out with it!� Who are you?� Where is Uzumaki Naruto?!�
�� Eh?
Guys, it�s me!�
�� The
hell it is! Naruto never passes up ramen!�
�� Kiba-kun!
Shino-kun! Stop it! This is Naruto, trust me!�
�� I still
think he�s a fake!�
�� POOF!
�� Satisfied?�
�� T-Totally��

�� You bastard!� You said you cared about her�you said you
loved her.� But you did this to
her! You�you demon!� You monster!�

�� Y-You�ve
changed since that day�y-you look at me the same way you look at Naruto�and�You
think I�m a monster, don�t you?�
�� You�re
not a monster Hinata.� You�re anything
but.� If anyone here is a monster�it�s
me.�

�� Inuzuka Kiba sucked in a cold breath of the night�s air.� His insides twisted and his chest stung as
he desperately grabbed for breath.�
Something warm filled his mouth and dribbled past his lips while he
sought to breathe clearly, dripping onto his jacket.� He didn�t have to look at it to know it was blood as the metallic
tang assaulted his taste buds.� His dark
chocolate eyes angled downward to see the pitch black spike sticking through
him, more of his crimson essence spilling out into the fabric of his clothing.� He turned to face his attacker, unable to do
more than move his head to the side.�
There he locked gazes with Kongouseki Katai who was wearing a makeshift
smirk upon his features.
�� Y-you�b-bastard��
�� Spare me.� You
should be saving your breath.� There was no hint of amusement or sarcasm in the
long-haired teen�s voice.� He was deadly
serious, focused with killer intent.
�� KIBA!!!!�
�� Naruto�s shout drew Katai�s attention swiftly.� The blond�s incredulous stare was mimicked
by each and every one of his companions as they looked on in dread.� Katai�s lips curved upward more in a sick
sort of delight before he threw the Inuzuka boy across the dirt behind him.
�� Katai, what the hell
are you doing!?� It was Yakusho�s voice that scraped across the ex-suitor�s
ears this time.� His throat trembled as
an unfamiliar rage coalesced inside him.
�� My job.� Were I
to let him live, it would be far too easy for you all to track us down.�
�� So you�re with them,
is that it?� Jiyumaru moved to the front, brandishing his katana.
�� How astute.� It
seems at least one of you put the pieces together.�
�� H-How could you do this!? We trusted you! Hinata trusted
you�how could you do this!?� Naruto trembled, his eyes beading with water as he
shouted.
�� You don�t quite understand my position, do you?� Katai�s
face showed no remorse for his crimes, turning back into the forest
beyond.� �Not that I�m required to
explain myself to you.� I have more
important things to be doing.�
�� The attacks both came at once.� Akamaru howled and leapt at Katai, jaws poised to rip out to
treacherous shinobi�s throat.� At the
same time the Dragon Fang spun through the air, flames dancing off the blade as
it ignited in mid-flight.� There was no
fright in Katai�s eyes as the assaults came. He struck out with one hand as his
body turned solid and black, sending Akamaru flying into a nearby tree with his
fist, a sickening crack filling the air
along with a pained whimper.� Yakusho�s
sword simply bounced off Katai�s solid exterior, landing blade-first into the
ground some three feet behind its target.
�� Well that was reckless.�
You should know better than to fight something you can�t beat.� Katai�s
eyes flickered with contempt as he spoke in a reprimanding tone.
�� Stop preaching you asshole!�
�� The Dragon Ninja burst from the group, charging towards
his former friend with focused rage.�
His hands were a blur as they snapped together his trademark seals, the
Ryuuken humming to life as he bore down on Katai.� Dust flew into the air from his harsh footfalls as he prepared
his claw for a furious blow.� Katai�s reaction
was voiceless, pulling his own arm back to strike.
�� �Hishigata��
�� Yakusho instantly halted his attack and skid to a
stop.� Using all the energy gathered in
his leg from the forced stop he leapt backwards in an attempt to get out of the
road in time.
�� ��Mori!�
�� Katai�s fist impacted with the earth powerfully, causing
large spikes of black diamond to explode from the ground.� The soil upturned rapidly as his jutsu
nettled the forest, forcing the group of shinobi from Konoha to retreat
backward to avoid being skewered.� Now
thoroughly separated from his enemies, Katai removed his hand from the ground
with a loud crack as his skin returned
to normal.�
�� I suppose that�s enough of that.�
�� Katai turned to leave when something grabbed his
leg.� For a moment the long-haired ninja
was struck with fear.� Upon closer
inspection however, he found he had nothing to be afraid of.� Kiba�s hand had attached itself to his
ankle, but in his weakened state the Inuzuka boy was no threat to one of the
Earth Country�s most powerful ninja.
�� You won�t�get away�with this�� Kiba gasped.
�� They certainly don�t teach you Konoha shinobi how to die
gracefully, do they?� Katai kicked the hand off his leg with a sigh, heading
off into the forest after his compatriots.

�� Wood thumped
hollowly in the dense woods as Rokujoyu leapt from branch to branch.� Sakai was purposely keeping a good few feet
ahead, setting the pace for their journey.�
They had discussed well beforehand that Rokujoyu became too complacent
at times.� This was not the place for
relaxation.� With a grudging smirk he
had accepted the orders, and was now forced to move at double his regular
running speed just to keep up.� It
wasn�t easy in the least bit.� The
injury to his leg still hurt, though less so than it had a little while ago,
and that was causing him untold amounts of difficulty.� Still, it was better to move through the
pain than defy their orders and suffer �his� wrath.� There were things in life Rokujoyu had learned that, even with a
laid back attitude, you did not screw around with.�� He� was one of those things.
�� A deep shaking struck the forest suddenly, followed by a
loud rumbling from a far off distance.�
Rokujoyu and Sakai stopped their progress and turned to gaze where they
had come from, watching a flock of birds scatter unto the winds in fright.� A large cloud of dust slowly billowed out
from the trees, blown about gently by the breeze that graced Konoha�s night
sky.
�� Fuck, what the hell was that?� Rokujoyu leaned against
the tree whose branch he was currently standing on.
�� I believe that was the contingency you were talking
about,� Sakai muttered.
�� Damn, you think he could have been a bit more subtle?�
�� It�s Katai.� What
do you want?�
�� Yeah, I suppose that makes sense.� Rokujoyu turned
around to meet Sakai�s empty gaze, shuddering as the other�s pale eyes bore
into him.� �Well I guess we shouldn�t
just stand here, huh?� Knowing Katai
he�ll close that distance pretty fast.�
�� Yes, and we should keep the package moving.� I don�t know how long that gas will
last.� The last thing we need is for her
to wake up and fight back.� Let�s move.�
�� Just give me one second, I�ll be right there.��
�� Rokujoyu smirked and pulled something out of his
pouch.� Holding it up to his mouth he
bit down on it and pulled.� Light
glittered off the thin surface of durable wire in his hand, a smirk of
satisfaction playing across his ragged features as he set about his task.

�� The thicket of jagged ebon was traversed with frenzied
haste.� Not a single person in the
rescue group cared for questions or answers at that moment.� Sakura moved with the greatest speed, her
ingrained training forcing her to move as fast as her feet could go.� She almost missed her mark as she came
hurtling out of the dense grove of black spears, skidding across the dirt in an
attempt to stop herself.� Even then, as
the rest of the team made their way to her kneeling form, she knew there was
nothing she could do.� Naruto made it
there first and looked at her with his searching gaze, causing her to cringe.
�� There�s nothing I can do.� I�m sorry.�
�� Her hands were clasped over Kiba�s chest, pouring as much
of her chakra into her healing techniques as possible.� The wound was not closing, nor was his
condition improving.� The more Sakura
tried the more tears fell from her face.�
She was crying openly at her failure now, unable to do anything except
watch her friend die, despite all her training.
�� D-damn it�there�s got to be something!� Naruto�s voice
was hoarse.� Shouting would do nothing,
he knew that.� Standing there doing
absolutely nothing was even worse than trying to do something that wouldn�t
work however.
�S-stop�you�re
wasting time�� Kiba�s voice barely made it to their ears.� Tenten and the others rolled up just as
Naruto fell to his knees, leaning over the nin-ken trainer�s bloodied body.
�� What are you talking about?� We have to save you damn it, stop being so stubborn!�
�� You�can�t save me.�
It�s�too late�for me already.� I
knew that before you did.� Kiba coughed, blood spilling out across his chin as
he did.� �Stop wasting your�time.� Go and�save her.�
�� But we can�t leave you here!� Naruto was frantic, his
own tears mimicking Sakura�s.� �If we
get you back to Tsunade-baa-chan then��
�� Naruto�s voice was cut short as Kiba grabbed his hand
tightly. �The dog ninja�s skin was
chilling to the touch, a sign of his rapidly decaying life.� For a moment silence prevailed at the fork
in the road, the wind howling across the night sky in protest to the dying
man.� No matter how much of his essence
faded, Kiba�s grip did not falter.� He
squeezed Naruto�s hand as roughly as he could, dragging the blond�s blue eyes
towards him.
�� You have to�promise me�� the Inuzuka boy coughed.� �You have to�promise me you�ll save
her.� No�matter what, understand?� You can�t�let them take her away.�
�� But Kiba, I��
�� You�have to�promise me, Naruto.� I�m�not gonna die�without regrets.� You�can�t let me go without this.� Promise me, damn it.�
�� There was a moment of silence as the wind continued to
rustle the leaves of the nearby trees.�
Kiba�s grip did not falter or lessen, the last moments of his
consciousness hanging on for Naruto�s response.
�� I promise Kiba.�
I�ll bring her back.�
�� G-Good�now get�moving.�
I�m gonna�haunt you if you fuck up�got it?�
�� Got it.�
�� Kiba looked as though he had more to say.� He looked that way for several moments
before Naruto realized he�d stopped breathing.�
His hand was ice cold, stuck gripping the blond�s fiercely.� Naruto felt his insides turn and quickly
pulled himself from the dead shinobi�s grip.�
It took him a moment to place the hand down and stand up, his mind
trying to grasp the situation.� Sakura
remained on the ground, clutching Kiba�s chest as she cried, openly and
loudly.� The others steeled themselves
against their emotions, as shinobi were trained to do.� It was impossible for the tears to not form
though.� Most had grown up together,
known each other for their entire lives.�
To not cry was to not be human.�
Tears fell from Naruto�s cheeks in those moments as well, silent and
restrained in the dark of night.� His
fists clutched to his promise even as his hope wandered.
�� For Naruto understood that despite his promise, he could
not find Hinata.� He did not lack the
faith to do so.� He did not lack the
resolve.� Kiba was dead.� They were too far behind now.� Without his tracking skills, it would be
almost impossible to find them.� Hope
was fleeting and disappearing quickly from him, leaving him in a sea of dread.
�� We�re
screwed.� There�s not a thing we can
do.� They�re going to get away.
�� What
kind of talk is that?
�� Without warning, Naruto found himself before the iron
gates of the Kyuubi�s prison.� The real
world had ceased to exist before the massive jail, from which dark malevolence
poured out in droves.� Crimson burst
through the bars behind the seal that kept the demon-beast at bay, its eyes
forming in the never-ending darkness beyond.�
What could be called its face twisted into a sick grin as it began to
laugh at its unfortunate host.
�� Now
come on, in all the years we�ve been together, giving up has never been your
thing?� Why start now?
�� What do
you want me to do?� Kiba�s dead.� You saw how easily Katai murdered him.� Without him, we only know the general
direction they went in.� None of us are
tracking specialists like him.
�� The Kyuubi�s eyes narrowed on the blond with disgust, his
snort causing tendrils of red chakra to billow and twirl in the air.� The landscape of Naruto�s mind seemed
dangerously real at this point.� The
Jinchuuriki almost felt that the seal was not enough to separate him from the
creature he withheld.� If those bars
were to break, the Kyuubi could probably kill him where he stood.
�� You
sicken me.� It�s not that you don�t want
to try�you�re afraid.
�� What did
you just say to me?!
�� The red fox cackled, forcing his energy through the gaps
in his cell, encircling the golden-haired boy in its essence.� It was an intimidation tactic, used
deliberately to get the demon�s point across.�
Naruto conceded the trick worked, as his body was already shivering.
�� You
can�t hide your feelings from me, remember?�
I can tell little boy�you�re scared.�
For the first time in your life, you�re scared to die.� Which to me, makes no sense.� Is it because you�ve never actually seen
someone you care about die?� Is that why
you�re suddenly so frightened?
�� It�s not
me I�m worried about, you son of a bitch.
�� That�s
rich, it really is.� What did I just
finish telling you?� You can pretend to
always be benevolent if you want�but you�re afraid to die, aren�t you?
�� Shut up
you bastard fox!
�� There was a silence between them then.� For the first time, Naruto felt truly
ill.� His insides turned on him.� He hit the floor a moment later and saw his
insides hit the ground from his mouth.�
There was no food or blood for him to spill, yet there it was.� In his head he could see himself dying, the
blood pouring out of his skin and mouth.�
He saw himself in Kiba�s place.�
It was maddening.� To be forced
to see it a second longer would have driven him mad.� As soon as it seemed too much for him to bear, the images stopped,
and he was before the Kyuubi once again.
�� Do
you see now?� You cannot escape this
fear.� It�s human nature.� In every human there is an inescapable fear
of death.� Yours has been delayed
because of me.� I have suppressed it,
swallowed it, bore it for you.� In times
that you should have died, I have rescued you.�
Do you see now why you feel this terror now?
�� But�against
Zabuza back then, I�
�� That
fear is not the same.� Certainly back
then you knew that you would die.� You
knew nothing of me back then, the true influence I had on you.� Back then you were still but a child.� Life and death�they had no real meaning to
you.� That is why it was so hard for you
to take life�because you did not understand what it meant to keep it.
�� What are
you trying to tell me, you stupid fox?
�� You
cannot fight to the death while being afraid to die.� This is life�if you don�t fight to win, then you will not be the
only one to lose.� I�ve seen you kill, I
know you�re capable of it.� You are no
longer some stupid child that can simply run away from Death.� Do you understand?
�� Not at
all.� You�re talking like a crazy man.
�� The Kyuubi sighed, relinquishing its power from the
damp confines of the room.� From within
the bound gates of its containment Naruto could almost make out the beast�s
full form.� It paced away from him
slightly before turning back to face him, no longer sneering.
�� We
fight together, understood?� Our vixen
is in danger, and I won�t sit by and just let you run away because you�re
scared.� That�s what I�m trying to
say.� You may be terrified of dying, but
I won�t something that belongs to me be taken by anyone.�
�� Silence prevailed once again.� Naruto was at a loss for words in front of his charge, unable to
find the right thing to say at all.� The
Kyuubi was a being possessed by a thirst for blood and the urge to kill.� When consumed by that energy, Naruto became
much the same.� How was it that
something so devoid of compassion for living things could want to see Hinata
safe so badly?
�� I don�t
get you sometimes, Bastard Fox.� Why are
you�
�� Do
not concern yourself with my doings, boy.�
Simply do what you know needs to be done.� Stop quivering in fear.�
Stop crying over the lost.� Do
what you have promised to do.
�� But how
can I?� Without Kiba we�
�� Are
you truly that stupid?� Or is it just
that the last few moments have made you forget what gifts I�ve given you?
�� The realization struck Naruto quite suddenly.� Just as quickly the world of his
subconscious faded, and he was back in the real world.� Gone were the dripping pipes and cracked
stone walls, returning the blond to the tall trees and soil of the Fire Country
wilds.� The others were around him
still, looking over Kiba�s dead body.� Akamaru
had since stood up, and was gently nuzzling the cheek of his fallen partner.� In the conversation that felt eternal, only
seconds had passed.� Naruto felt the
water in his eyes dissipating as his determination returned.
�� Let�s move.�
�� Naruto�s sudden words shook the rest of the team from
their mourning.� Sakura turned her face
from the pale skin of the fallen shinobi and looked at him as if he were
insane.� The atmosphere shifted from
sadness to confusion as the young ninja took lead of the situation.� Any moment a protest was bound to
occur.� When it did, the words came from
the most expected source.
�� Are you
crazy?� Yakusho snapped.� �Someone on
our team just died.� This isn�t
the time to��
�� We have no choice.�
If we stay here, they�ll get away.�
I know it�s not right�but I promised Kiba that I�d get her back.� I�m not going to fail him or anyone
else.� It�s not going to be like last
time.�
�� Have you noticed that we have no tracker anymore, too?�
Yakusho was snarling at this point.� His
rage was palpable, an anger burning across his skin that no source but revenge
could douse.� �What, can you smell
her?� Is that your plan?�
�� No, I can�t smell her,� Naruto confessed.
�� That�s what I thought.�
�� I can feel
her.� Now move, unless you wanna get
left behind.�
�� Naruto didn�t even turn to face the direction he
disappeared into.� A moment after his
words he was gone, racing through the trees at unheard of speed.� Foliage fell to the ground in his wake,
leaving the rest of them only moments to start moving if they were to even hope
to catch up to him.� Sakura and Tenten
didn�t think. �They were on their feet
and moving in moments, leaving behind the body of their fallen comrade.� Yakusho slowly padded past the dog and the
dead shinobi, picking his sword up out of the ground.� Though he said nothing, the steam rising from the blade of the
Dragon Fang spoke volumes.
�� Are you going to be alright, Yakusho?� Jiyumaru asked.
�� I�ll be fine.� Yakusho�s gaze never left the direction
in which Katai had fled.� He too ran
after Naruto, pelting the treetops with his footsteps as he hurtled through the
branches.� Jiyumaru followed, but not
before leaning down to close Kiba�s lifeless eyes and to say one final prayer.

�� Are you almost done?�
That has to be the fifth stop we�ve made.�
�� Third.� Jeez,
you�re really impatient, you know that Sakai?�
�� Rokujoyu tensed another wire against a tree branch,
pulling it tight and fastening it to a predetermined point.� He had already loaded the trap and was
simply putting the final touches on it.�
As soon as he was finished he pulled a note out from his pocket and
scribbled the word �three� on it, infusing it with a burst of chakra before
fastening it to his belt.� Already
before it were papers with the words �one� and �two� written on them, all
aligned at his hip.
�� In case you hadn�t noticed, we�re on a tight schedule
here.� Each time you stop to place one
of those traps, we lose more and more of what little distance we gained.�
Sakai�s pale eyes were narrowed, drilling his point into his partner.� Rokujoyu only evaded the piercing due to
years of experience with it, deflecting his gaze to the right quickly.
�� You worry too much.�
Did you forget that Katai�s dealt with them?� I�m willing to bet they�re all dead already.�
�� Only one of them, sadly.�
�� Rokujoyu leapt with a surprisingly loud wail of fright as
Katai materialized from thin air behind him.�
The long-haired shinobi chuckled as his friend came back down, wobbling
on the edge of a tree branch comically.
�� Would you not do
that?!� Rokujoyu shouted, pointing exaggeratedly at Katai.� �That�s seriously like, the eighteenth
fucking time you�ve done that to me!�
�� Twenty-eighth, actually,� Katai corrected.� �But it�s not like I�m keeping a tally or
something.�
�� Yeah right.�
Knowing you it�s in your back pocket.�
�� Thanks for reminding me.� I�d forgotten where I left it.�
�� You�re more of a cock than Sakai is, you know that
right?�
�� You�ve said that almost more times than I�ve scared
you.� Katai�s face turned into a wide smirk as he inspected the wire Rokujoyu
had set down.� �Three triple
layers?� You got pretty serious, didn�t
you?� I almost didn�t avoid the first
one.�
�� Hah�sorry.� But
you know when I get serious I don�t leave any signs to mark them.�
�� I know you two would like to reminisce some more, but we
don�t have that luxury.� The moonlight still refused to shine on Sakai, who was
speaking honestly and deeply about the situation at hand.� �Katai, did you really only get one of
them?� That�s unlike you.�
�� What do you want from me?� The Tsuchikage�s prot�g�
sighed angrily at his ally.� �You�re
vastly underestimating Konoha if you think I can just kill their best at a
whim.� I saw the opportunity to take out
their tracker and took it, that�s all.�
I had to be careful you know.�
The Takaibattou was there after all, things could have gotten messy.�
�� Jeez, they sent him
of all people?� Rokujoyu whistled in admiration, whirling a kunai on his index
finger.� �We must have really pissed
them off.�
�� She happens to be a member of the Hyuuga clan, and she
has a plethora of dreadfully loyal friends.�
Did you honestly think this would go by easily?�� Katai approached Sakai and inspected
Hinata�s prone form, pressing his finger against her shoulder to test her
vividness.� Content with the fact that
she was indeed out cold, he turned around to face Rokujoyu with a smirk.� �Not that it matters.� Without their expert tracker they�ll have to
rely on basic training to find us.� Even
if they manage to find the path, it will take them too long.� I imagine with the complexity of your traps, we should be fine.�
�� I would still prefer to get moving quickly,
senpai.�� Sakai trained his lifeless
sight on Katai, his voice hardly audible.�
�You know how he�ll react if
we�re late.�
�� Yes, I�m quite aware Sakai.� The member of the
Kongouseki clan steeled himself and tapped Rokujoyu on the shoulder twice.� �Let�s move.� I don�t want to just sit here and wait to see if they fall for it
all.�
�� Don�t gotta tell me twice!� Rokujoyu exclaimed.
�� Together the three teammates took off into the night,
shaking branches as they continued off northwest.

�� Naruto did not know how long he had been following that
sixth sense of his.� The pull of
Hinata�s demon chakra tugged at the back of his mind and steered him, but
seemed to eliminate his other senses.�
It was as though he were running down a tunnel, and at the very end of
that tunnel he could see Hinata�s form.�
He was unconscious of the speed at which he was traveling as well,
oblivious to the trees cracking under the force of his blasting footfalls, the
way he moved on all fours through the foliage.�
None of it mattered as he homed in on the woman he loved.
�� Had it not been for Tenten�s shrill voice at that exact
moment, he probably would have died.�
Somehow they had managed to keep up with him.� Somehow the weapons expert had seen it just a moment before
Naruto collided with it.� His blood red
eyes saw the glimmer of moonlight on the wire and his body twisted, impacting
with the trunk of the tree where the trap was set instead of heading headlong
into the trip wires.� The hissing sound
that followed his actions caused hope to leap just out of his grasp.� Beneath him an explosive note erupted with
life, giving him but a split second to escape with a well-timed jump.� The tree exploded behind him as he went for
safety that he would not find.� He only
became aware that his body had triggered a second set of wires when the kunai
flew out from the bushes, all aimed directly at him with no remorse.�
�� To his rescue came the precise timing and aim that Tenten
was known for.� Her own kunai whistled
out from behind him and struck each of the ones intent on ending his life,
knocking them to the sides.� Relief
almost made its way to him before another set of wild hisses reached his
ears.� Horror struck him as the
explosives attached to each one of the enemy kunai went off at the same time,
the force sending him downward across the ground.� He came to a stop directly after activating yet another part of
the trap, dislodging and sending a huge tree trunk directly at him from the
darkness of the forest.� Behind him was
another tree, and before him flew that which would most likely crush him and
turn him to paste.� Arms rose themselves
in defiance, hoping to defend against the brutal attack in the only way
possible.� Before Naruto was his death.
�� Before Naruto was forest.� To his side was splintered wood and crushed bark.� Wrapped around him was the forearm of
Kenshin Jiyumaru, who had wrested him from the clutches of doom itself.� Naruto was at a loss to explain how
Jiyumaru, who was by all accounts the furthest behind, had caught up in time to
rescue him.�
�� Be more careful, or you�re apt to break your promise,�
Jiyumaru said softly.� His words were
not an explanation as to the events that had transpired.� They were a warning.
�� Gomen nasai, Jiyumaru�I�ll try harder.� Naruto�s words
were but a whisper as they came to a skidding stop.� The entire mess of trees was in disarray from the explosions,
various members of the team littered between the branches and soil, panting in
an attempt to recover lost air.� Yakusho
peeled up from behind and took a moment to survey the scene before he spoke,
letting his sword rest on his shoulder.
�� Cheh, you sure know how to make a mess, don�t you
Whiskers?�
�� What the hell were you thinking you idiot!?� Sakura
screamed, racing up to smack her teammate across the head.� �You could�ve gotten yourself killed!�
�� Well how the hell was I supposed to know that they would
set traps?!� Naruto�s defense was shaky at best, but it was the only thing that
kept his pride intact.� �I�m more
curious as to how Tenten saw it when I didn�t.�
�� I�ve been trained for years in weapons combat, Naruto,�
the bun-haired girl stated.� �It�s my
job to be prepared for things like this.�
When my squad goes out on missions that require them, I�m the one that
sets the traps.� This though�it�s pretty
advanced stuff.�
�� What do you mean Tenten?�
�� Figures he�d be completely clueless, wouldn�t it?�
Jiyumaru snorted as he let the comment slide from his lips, adjusting his
katana slightly to avoid having to look into the blond�s eyes.��
�� This trap has three layers to it.� Tenten pointed to
each part of the trap as she began to explain, her eyes fixated on the
expertise put into it rather than the actually trap itself.� �The first layer as it were is the first set
of wires.� Those ones are meant to
ensnare and capture once they�re triggered, allowing the explosives that you
set off to finish the target.� The
second set is a backup, set at a slightly lower level.� The kunai are bad enough, but the explosive
notes attached to them are almost guaranteed to finish off their target.� The final layer is the absolute last stand,
and the ground level one.�
�� That�s pretty thorough,� Sakura exclaimed.� �They put this much effort into trying to
stop us?�
�� I would imagine this won�t be the only trap, either.�
Jiyumaru turned his face northwest again and sighed.� �We should be careful from now on.�
�� That�s not really an option now, is it?� Tenten rubbed
her head, humming thoughtfully over the situation.� �This trap must have taken some time to set up.� If we keep at the pace we�re going, we
should catch up to them.�
�� Our pace was rather reckless,� Yakusho interjected.� �Naruto almost got himself killed here.� If we slow down then��
�� If we slow down, we�ll give them the gap they need to escape
us.� Naruto was adamant with his tone, his fists already clenched.� �Whether you want it or not, I�m not slowing
down.� Either keep up or get left
behind.�
�� Damn it, you�re really stubborn Whiskers.� Yakusho
sighed.
�� I agree with him though.� We should keep moving at this pace.� Tenten takes point though.�
I think she�ll have an easier time spotting the traps.� Jiyumaru tapped
his geta on the ground a few times before regaining his place in the
trees.� �Lead on.�
�� Hai!� Tenten took the first spot on the team as the five
of them returned to the chase.� She took
one last look back at the death they had narrowly escaped, still mesmerized by
it.
�� Whoever
made that trap is going to be scary to fight.

�� Rokujoyu�s eyes widened in shock.� He quickly placed a single finger on the
paper tag attached to his belt, turning his face to look at it directly.� No sooner had he done so than the tag slowly
burned away, leaving only �two� and �three� behind.� The scruffy Iwa-nin gulped forcibly and turned his attention back
to the path ahead and his comrades.
�� Guys, we�ve got a problem.�
�� What is it now?�
Leave something behind did you?� The way Sakai spoke made it hard to
tell whether he was serious or joking with his words.� His attention never left the girl he was carrying except to make
slight alterations to his course.
�� Nothing stupid like that, you asshole!� Rokujoyu
spat.� �They�re still on our trail.�
�� Katai�s head snapped back in shock as he heard, looking
into the deep mass of green behind them and then to his partner.� �Are you serious?� How?�
�� I don�t know.�
All I know is they just triggered trap number one.� If they�re still alive�at the rate they�re
going��
�� How are they still onto us?� I thought you said you killed their tracker, Katai.�
�� I did kill him.�
Somehow they�re still following us though.� The ex-suitor bit his lip
and picked up speed, getting ahead of Sakai momentarily.� �We shouldn�t dawdle.�
�� Yeah, you got that right.�
�� The three kidnappers stepped up their pace.� They would not be caught if they could help it.�
Not after everything they had been through.

�� Look out!�
�� Naruto rolled to the right as the foliage to his left
exploded in a blaze of fire, several shuriken flying out from the insufferable
heat towards him.� Though Tenten had taken
point, Naruto�s rage and will to save Hinata had once again taken a hold of his
senses.� His blind speed had sent him
headlong into the trap, but he did not care.�
As long as Tenten was there, he was fine.� The shuriken missed him by quite a bit, proving that his speed
was beyond what the designer of this latest attack had imagined.� The second layer came into view shortly,
consisting of wildly placed explosive tags.�
This was not something Naruto could simply outrun.� Even if he could, his teammates surely could
not.
�� Thusly it became Yakusho�s job to deal with it.� The Dragon Ninja was barely keeping up as
they reached the second part, sucking in his breath as he littered the forward
area with balls of fire.� Each orb of
flame triggered its own explosive tag, setting the trap off prematurely without
any of them in it.� When the way was
clear, Naruto thundered forward at immense speed, whipping past tree branches
as though they were nothing.
�� For to him, they were just that.� Nothing upon nothing placed itself between
him and Hinata.� Once again the tunnel
appeared with her body at the very end, standing in a glimmering light.� He could practically sense the heat of her
body as he ran, taking himself to a pace that none of the others could hope to
match.� It was frightening how far he
could drive himself when the will found him.�
�� He forced himself back into reality a moment before he
triggered the third step.� The web of
wires was invisible without the help of scattered moonbeams, which only found
their way to it after Naruto had plunged headlong into it.� Wrapped in a net he could not force his way
out of, the blond fell towards the ground.�
As his body spun through the air he could see the ground was littered
with upturned blades, ready to pierce his flesh and body on his way down.�
�� Once again he found himself mysteriously in the arms of
Kenshin Jiyumaru, who had appeared from nowhere to rescue him.� Naruto cursed himself for nearly ending his
own life twice in the same night as the ANBU shinobi cut the wires that were
entangling him.
�� Not the most effective strategy, but it seems to pay off
for you doesn�t it?� Jiyumaru seemed tired now, something he hadn�t been in the
moments before Naruto had started in on the second set of tricks.� �Try not to do that again, eh?� I don�t know how many times I can keep
saving your ass in one night.�
�� Naruto was released, his body hitting the ground
lightly.� He took only a few moments to
rub his wrists before getting back up and taking off into the forest.
�� I�m right
behind you Hinata.� Don�t give up.

�� Rokujoyu was not normally a calm person.� He was usually rambunctious and overly
excitable.� It was hard for him to keep
quiet and not use the foulest language he could at any given moment.� Yet somehow when the second trap had broken
he�d managed to keep quiet about it.� It
meant that at least a few of them had survived the second set, and that was
okay by him.� No one had ever survived
his third set, and he was content in that record.� There would be no need to worry Katai or Sakai needlessly.� Doing so usually ended up with him getting
hurt rather badly.� He wanted to avoid
that right now.� His ankle stung enough
as it was.
�� When the third set of traps were triggered, they were
close enough to hear and feel the explosions.�
That instantly halted their progress, Sakai being the first to hit a
plant his feet for a stop, followed shortly by Katai.� Rokujoyu kept going for a little bit before catching an
outstretched limb and flinging himself onto it.� The flames and glow rose into the air slightly before vanishing,
leaving them all with a mystified look at their past trail.� Rokujoyu did not think it was possible for
the third set to have been finished yet.�
Yet the paper with the word �three� written on it burned away just as
the last two had, leaving his mouth dry.
�� Fucking hell�they�re already at the third one!�
�� This isn�t good.�
At the speed they�re moving, they�ll catch up to us in no time.� It was
Sakai that raised that worry, only the slightest bit of his navy-blue attire
shown off in the pale rays of faux-light.�
�� So what�s the plan then? We could move at top speed if
you wanted.� I can run through the
pain.�
�� Not an option Rokujoyu, sorry to say.� Katai nibbled on
his lower lip shortly, playing possibilities through his mind.� �It would be impossible for us to go that
fast with our cargo.� Plus, if you
damage that ankle any more than it already is, you may become utterly useless
as a shinobi.�
�� So one of us stays behind as a distraction?� That�s pretty fucking clich� if you ask me
man.�
�� You got a better solution then?�
�� Hell no I don�t.�
God that sucks.�
�� So who will be staying behind?� Sakai looked at his
teammates, his half-alive eyes flitting between the two other Iwa-shinobi.
�� Why not you Sakai?�
You�re the one with the insane ninjutsu.�
�� My talents are better used against one or two people,
not five.�
�� Rokujoyu clicked his tongue at Sakai�s quick return,
rolling his eyes angrily.� It was just
like Sakai to pass the job onto one of them.�
He did have a point regardless, but Rokujoyu wasn�t one to argue with
details.� He turned back to Katai and
smirked.
�� So, we gonna decide this like we always do?�
�� Katai�s eyes twitched as a sweat drop rolled down his
cheek.� �You�re kidding.� You wanna do that to decide something this important?�
�� Hey, we use it for everything else? Why not now?�
�� God you�re messed up.�
�� Shut the fuck up and do it.�
�� The man of diamond sighed and stuck his clenched fist out
in front of himself, right before Rokujoyu who had done the same.� With chagrin he followed his friend�s lead
and pumped his arm three times, leaving his fist clenched.� Rokujoyu on the other hand had two fingers
pointing out.� The shorter young man�s
eye twitched as he gave out a defeated growl.
�� Son of a bitch, that�s gotta be the first time you�ve
ever won.�
�� Third really, but there�s not much you can do about it,
is there?� There was a victorious smirk on Katai�s face that he rarely got the
chance to use.� It irritated Rokujoyu to
no extent, leaving him exasperated.� He
shrugged his shoulders before dropping down from the trees, pulling the scroll
from its straps and slamming it down on the ground.
�� Get your asses moving, you got it?� I�ll hold them here.�
�� I�ll see you at the rendezvous point, Rokujoyu. �Try not to take too long.�
�� Yeah, whatever.�
Just don�t let me find you two dead or something, you got it?�
�� Got it.� Katai turned to leave with Sakai when a thought
struck him momentarily.� He turned back
and called out sharply.� �Oh, Rokujoyu!�
�� Yeah, what is it? Wanna kiss me before you go or
something?�
�� You wish.�
Naruto�the one with spikey blond hair�if you feel his chakra start to
change?�
�� Yeah?�
�� Run away.�
�� Rokujoyu was taken aback for a moment.� He spun about to confront Katai about his words,
only to find that his two allies were already on their way.� With a deep sigh he returned to his task,
staring into the depths of the woods intently.
�� Both of you are frigging cocks, you know that right?�

�� None of the shinobi knew exactly how long ago it had been
since they�d triggered the third set of traps.�
The speed at which they were traveling required too much concentration
for any of them to be bothered with a paltry detail such as time.� Naruto hadn�t been paying attention in the
least bit. �He had practically flown
through the last part, cutting through and dodging whatever it was that had
tried to hit him.� He was moving fast,
too fast for everyone else.� Hinata was
close.� So close he could almost feel
her breath on his skin.� If he pushed a
little harder, then maybe�
�� The air to Naruto�s right suddenly exploded.� At first the Jinchuuriki thought it was a
trap, and simply dodged to the left.�
The sudden noise of something cutting the sky clued him into the fact
that this was not a trap, but rather an attack.� Behind him the trees were caught in a flurry of fire as another
explosion went off, cutting him off from the rest of the group.� In that split second he saw where the
assault had come from, which gave him just enough time to dodge the third
kunai.� Planting his soles firmly on an
upcoming tree branch he halted his progress and back flipped, coming to a stop
on the earth below.� The spot where he
had been previously ignited harshly, making him glad he�d chosen this course of
action.
�� Shit, of all the people�I had to cut you out, didn�t I?� It was the voice of the man Naruto
had injured an hour or two previously.�
He couldn�t quite remember the name, but that didn�t truly matter.
�� Where�s Hinata!? What�ve you done with her?!� The leaves
around Naruto began to flutter as his chakra raced out of control along with
his anger.� Rokujoyu could feel
something horrifying locked deep within, making him understand fully why Katai
had given the warning he had.
�� Sorry, but I don�t give out information to shit-heads
like you,� Rokujoyu cackled.� �Now stop
moving.� It�s harder to skewer insects
when they�re always buzzing about.�
�� The shuriken that came for Naruto�s head almost went
unseen.� The young blond only caught it
at the last moment with the dull end of a kunai, using it to deflect the
projectile into the solid bark of a tree behind him.� The second came from behind, triggered somehow by a flick of
Rokujoyu�s wrist.� Protecting himself
became second nature as the second was blocked, then the third, then the
fourth.� Suddenly shuriken were flying
from all directions, forcing Naruto to move in order to survive.� The only path he could take was closer and
closer to Rokujoyu, something he realized was obviously another trap.� There were no other options however, forcing
Naruto to fall slowly into the Iwa-nin�s grasp.
�� Four kunai launched themselves from the foliage, each
bearing a sizzling explosive note.�
Their appearance amongst the storm of shuriken stood out in Naruto�s
mind, making them easy to spot.� Each
knife buried itself in the ground ahead of him, barring his way.� The only way he could escape was to dive
through them, which was precisely the action he took.� Each tag blew up right behind him, the shockwave throwing him
even further ahead.� Loose rocks pelted
his cheeks and arms as he skidded across the earth, coming to a stop five feet
further than his intention.� Gathering
his bearings would be impossible as cold steel pressed against his nose and Rokujoyu�s
snide voice chuckled to him.� The blade
that the Iwa-nin carried was flawless and still had chakra smoke coming off it
from its summoning as it was readied for a decisive blow.
�� That�s one down, four to go.�
�� Five kunai burst from the trees behind Naruto, putting
Rokujoyu on the defensive.� The
projectiles clanged noisily off his sword, giving Naruto the chance to
escape.� The blond backed off as a hail
of shuriken came from the same spot, keeping the dirtied ninja busy staying
alive.� No sooner had the storm of
weapons ended than Rokujoyu was back on his feet, ready to drive his blade
through Naruto�s heart.� The moment was
cut short as a weighted chain flew out and wrapped around Rokujoyu�s katana,
attempting to draw it from his grasp with sharp tugs.� The weapon specialist growled and held onto his blade tightly,
staring down into the eyes of Tenten, whose kusarigama was currently keeping
him indisposed.�
�� How interesting,� the foul-mouthed ninja chortled.� �I was wondering how it was you were all
surviving my traps.� Makes perfect sense
now though�you fight just like I do, don�t you bun-head?�
�� Maybe you�ll live long enough to find that out for
yourself,� Tenten replied with a grunt, pulling at the sword tangled in the
second half of her weapon.
�� The other three members of the pursuing team appeared
from the groves beyond, falling into line behind Tenten.� Naruto found his footing slowly but kept his
ground, standing between Tenten and Rokujoyu in the middle of the kusarigama�s
chain.� His once-blue eyes narrowed in
anger, flickering slightly before they changed color to red.
�� I won�t ask you again.�
Where is Hinata?!�
�� Rokujoyu didn�t respond at first.� His lips instead curled into a wicked grin
before he began to cackle, throwing his head back in delight as he
laughed.� His vision homed in on Tenten
as he suddenly stopped, licking his lips once.
�� Die.�
�� Tenten�s reflexive pulling of the kusarigama�s chain did
not go unrewarded this time.� When she
pulled next, Rokujoyu released his sword purposely and let the blade fly off at
Naruto�s head.� The whiskered blond
ducked below the blade�s trajectory just in time, only to be faced with
Rokujoyu�s sinister laugh again.� The
ground trembled lightly as a blade trap burst from the soil, each sharp tip
aimed at Naruto�s body.� Each one pierced
his body, sticking through him and impaling him in nine different
fashions.�
�� The explosion of Naruto into chakra smoke surprised only
Rokujoyu.� From his left a blur of
orange and black came speeding out of the bushes, holding a swirling ball of
chakra in its right hand as it cried out defiantly at him.
�� Don�t get in my way!�
�� Shit!
�� Reflexes were everything in split-second encounters.� Rokujoyu thanked his lucky stars he had been
born with and honed his expert ones just for moments like this.� The puff of chakra smoke behind him went
largely unnoticed compared to the thick bomb he threw ahead of him as he dove
out of Naruto�s way.� The angered blond
came to a stop at the sight of it and covered his face instinctively.� The orb exploded, showering the immediate
area in a rainfall of kunai.� Everyone
but Naruto got out of the road, leaving the Kyuubi�s Jinchuuriki to be belted
by the sharp knives.� The smoke cleared
shortly, leaving Naruto with four kunai sticking out of his arms and legs.� He pulled the blades from his body without
even a trace of pain, adrenaline forcing the pain back.�
�� Damn it,
that was no coincidence, Rokujoyu realized.� That damned bun-head planned this.� I could�ve died right there.�
She�s more trouble than she�s worth.�
Still�it�s not fun when it�s easy.
�� So, you�re not all as clueless as I thought.� That�s okay, I wasn�t looking for the easy
route.� Entertain me a bit more?�
�� Rokujoyu whipped out his large scroll and draped the
parchment over his left arm.� With a
swipe of his hand a hail of poisoned senbon scattered into the woods at the
Konoha shinobi, forcing them to take cover out of the Iwa-nin�s line of
sight.� The incensed ninja snickered as
he used the scroll to summon a second, smaller scroll, putting the large one
away before unfurling the smaller one.
�� You�re gonna make this too easy if all you do is hide.�
�� As much as I hate to admit it,� Jiyumaru whispered
amongst the bushes, �he�s got a point.�
He�s just keeping us up.� We�ve
been stalled long enough as it is.�
�� Well what do you suggest we do then?� Sakura growled.
�� One of us stays behind and deals with him while the
others go ahead.� It�s standard
procedure�and something I think Naruto�s familiar with.�
�� Naruto�s memories drifted back to the day when Sasuke had
defected from Konoha.� The chase against
four of Orochimaru�s most elite shinobi replayed in his eyes like a waning
nightmare.� The people that had come
with him to rescue Sasuke were left behind one by one to fight with the
monsters that the snake had made those people into.� Naruto clenched his fist angrily, trying to suppress the feeling
of dread those thoughts brought him.
�� I�m good with that.� It was Tenten, whose face was a mix
between concentration and smiling.� �I
can hold him off, don�t worry.� I can
tell you where his opening is, and then you can make a run for it.�
�� Are you sure Tenten?� Sakura held the other kunoichi�s
arm firmly, a look of worry passing over her.
�� Don�t fret about me, Sakura,� the dark-haired girl
smiled.� �I can handle myself.� You should make sure Naruto doesn�t get into
anymore trouble.�
�� Just tell us when Tenten.� I�m not going to just sit here and wait to die.� Yakusho�s words
were fueled from yet another of his trademark �cheh�s.
�� Do you really
think you can hide from me that easily?� Rokujoyu�s laughter punctured the air,
causing a shiver to roll up everyone�s spines.�
The whiz of kunai flying through air was detected by five sets of ears
as their hiding spot was covered in a deluge of weaponry, forcing them from
concealment into the open forest.
�� Wait for my signal!� Tenten cried out.
�� As if they�ll all be alive for that! Doton!
Retsudotensho!�
�� The forest around them seemed to come alive as the rocks
and stones that littered the ground around the group from Konoha rose into the
air.� Suddenly the rocks whizzed past
them, crashing into the ground and trees with surprising force.� Instead of a charge, the group was pulled
into defensive measures, dodging the rocks becoming top priority.� Yakusho dove between the hail of stone and
drove the Dragon Fang into the ground, creating a protective barrier of flames
that incinerated each chunk of earth that Rokujoyu threw at them.
�� Suddenly the barrier dissipated, revealing that each
member of the group was wearing a daunting smirk.� Tenten hurled a kunai with a small ball attached to it directly
at Rokujoyu, who was forced to block the projectile with one of his own
kunai.� As soon as the blade made contact
with the surface of his own the tiny package exploded, covering the area in
front of Rokujoyu in a thick smoke.� The
gas stung his eyes and prevented him from seeing, his once laughing voice
crying out in pain.� Over his shout,
another solitary word could be heard.
�� NOW!�
�� Rokujoyu�s vision returned in time for him to see the
forms of four Konoha shinobi escape him and resume chasing his allies.� His attempt to stop them was met by a kunai
pressed to his throat from behind, the dazzling eyes of Tenten staring into the
back of his head.
�� You aren�t going anywhere.� Your fight is with me.�
�� Well isn�t that just wonderful bun-head?� Rokujoyu
sighed.� �I guess I�m more of a fuck-up
than I thought.� At least you�ll be
entertaining.�
�� Rokujoyu�s arm flew up with remarkable speed.� Tenten was already away from him, keeping
her distance as the hidden blades flew from his wrist.� Her distance allowed her to block them with
the kunai she had used to threaten Rokujoyu�s life, but had come at the cost of
the advantage.� With no way to turn back
time the brunette stood slowly and pulled her scroll from its straps, slamming
it down on the ground beside her.
�� From here on out, it�s just you and me.� Don�t even think of turning your back on me,
Iwa-shinobi, or I�ll kill you where you stand.�
�� Rokujoyu snickered and pulled his own scroll, letting it
come to a rest at his side as well.� �I
wouldn�t dream of it.� Try to stay still
though, eh?� I wouldn�t want to fuck up
that pretty face of yours too much.�
�� The wind blew through the trees harshly as Rokujoyu
finished speaking.�� Scattered green danced
through the air currents as the Iwa- and Konoha-nin stared each other down,
trying to catch the first move.�
Together they waited for the perfect moment to strike.
�� Blood splattered across the ground as each of them struck
first.

�� Naruto�s legs moved faster.� He could not outrun his memories, no matter how quickly he chased
down the one he loved.� They continued
to haunt him as Tenten was left behind to fend for herself against one of
three.� He knew he had to have
faith.� Instead of worrying, he buried
himself in the tunnel once again, seeing nothing but darkness and Hinata ahead.
�� I will
save you, Hinata.� I made a promise that
I will not break.
�� Ahead of them lay even more forest, cracked branches and
rustling leaves the only sign of their passing.

�� Rokujoyu panted as he pulled the blood-covered kunai from
his right shoulder.� Tenten did much the
same with the one imbedded in her left one, making the weapon specialist from
Iwagakure chuckle some.� With a sinister
grin he licked his own blood off the weapon before discarding it, turning his
grin on the girl before him.� Tenten
quivered, feeling a wave of bloodlust that she had not noticed before when
everyone else had surrounded her.�
Rokujoyu�s lips curved menacingly as he shouted at her.
�� Don�t fuck around with me girl!� Show me what you�ve really got.� Otherwise�I�ll fucking kill you!�
�� High above the trees, the moon littered the landscape
with its beams.
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Dragonheart

Dragonheart