Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Heading home ❯ Bites and Jutsus ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, not anything belonging to that series. Nor do I own anything else. Unfortunately.

 

Warnings: Just another annoying reminder that there will be various pairings, Yaoi, normal, and perhaps even some Yuri, though I haven't thought that far yet. Also this fanfic will contain course language and violence, after all this fic DOES have ninjas in it. ^.^

 

Pairings: A major change of plans involving the character pairings. This will definitely be a Naruto/Neji pairing, no worries there, but it will also feature Sasuke/Shikamaru. Later on, and I do mean LATER on, those two pairs will join up into a foursome containing Naruto/Neji/Sasuke/Shikamaru. Of course there will be plenty of other pairings as well. Such as Kakashi/Mysterious person, Ino/Chouji, Lee/Sakura, and Kiba/Hinata. There may be more pairings added in the future, so keep reading these since they seem to be ever changing.

 

A/N: A special thank you to ALL my lovely reviewers. I am deeply thankful for all your responses and such, even though my computer is evil and refuses to show me all your beautiful and encouraging posts/ or possible flames. This chapter is dedicated to all my Reviewers as my way to thank you. You guys made writing this chapter possible, so keep up with the lovely in coming comments or Flames.

 

Chapter 5

 

In a clearing with a river stood a raven haired teen, eyes closed and hands raised in a seal of sorts. Concentration seemed to seep from his very body causing mini waves to appear on the water's surface where he stood, as he was using his chakra channeling abilities to keep himself afloat.

 

Dark blue eyes opened and the boy whipped his entire body to the side before launching five kunai knives towards his silver haired sensei who had just appeared out of seemingly thin hair.

 

The men easily caught the kunai and half-heartedly twirled them in his long yet strong fingers. "I thought I'd find you here Sasuke." The man said as his only visible eye quirked in what could have only been a smile, though it was difficult to tell with his Hidden Leaf band covering his left eye, and his black mask which covered just below his eyes down.

 

"Hnn..." Was the only sound that the onyx eyed boy said as he walked to the rivers edge and onto solid ground, not a speck of water on his dark clad form.

 

"Well it seems you and I have a mission to tend to." Kakashi informed his only pupil. Ever since Naruto died and Sakura was brought under Tsunade's wing to become a medical ninja, Team Seven, which isn't really a team anymore, has been quiet, dull and for the most part uneventful.

 

Sure the surviving member of the Uchiha clan had improved vastly in the last nine months or so, after the incidence that brought the team to one student and one teacher for numbers. Almost as if you was training extra hard for a purpose other than to just off that certain someone who destroyed his entire family. Kakashi was certain that the boy who stood before him was at his level, perhaps even beyond. 'What are you trying to prove?' Kakashi silently questioned.

 

"What is the mission?" Sasuke inquired apathetically eyes boring into his sensei's only visible eye.

'Typical... Straight to the point. Not loud, no excitement and no pleasantries. I am beginning to miss that blond idiot....' The jounin thought to himself as he studied his pupil. "We have received reports that one of our scouting teams has gone missing. It's out job to find them and see what delayed them." He said before momentarily pausing. "Their last known location was about five kilometers from our current position."

 

The raven haired beauty took off without waiting for his instructor who in turn merely shrugged before taking off at his rapidly departing student. Like Sasuke, Kakashi took to the tree tops, and the two ran side by side at a blinding pace through the green foliage, neither stirring the plants nor birds, nor did they utter a single sound.

 

Within moments they arrived at the place, and they could easily tell it was the correct location due to the tore trees, the upturned earth, the charred ground and plants. Not to mention the hoards of shuriken and kunai were visible nearly everywhere within the small nor lifeless clearing.

 

Blood was splattered around the trees and body parts littered the area, each soaked in its own pool of blood. It seemed somewhat had massacred the scouts, though after closer inspection that would have caused any other to vomit, they noted that all together the pieces where only enough to form two people, and not the customary three.

 

One of them was somewhere else, wether alive or not, they had no honest idea.

 

"This way." The jounin said as he pointed out a blood trail, one that showed that whoever passed by this way was severely injured, for the patterns of thick blood fall indicated a massive amount of staggering, in a rushed manner.

 

Whoever ran this path was attempting to escape the assailants.

 

They followed the trail for a healthy ten minutes leaving the bloodied clearing as it was, simply discarding it as though it was any other clearing that wasn't filled with lifeless limbs and pools of congealing blood that seemed to reek more than anything either had ever before smelt.

 

Just ahead, at the base of a tiny shrub covered hill lie a deeply wounded, and surprisingly still living person. It was a man, though not a full man anymore. For he was missing a section of his right foot, and his entire left arm was severed and no where near in sight.

 

Blood, both fresh and old, was caked on his pale flesh, and a massive pool of crimson life substance was all around him, signifying to the two that he had been in that position for quite some time.

 

Sasuke and Kakashi hurriedly approached the man, and the silver haired jounin gently turned the man face up and gasped. The very skin on that man's face had been peeled away, just like one would peel the skin of an orange or apple. He no longer had a nose, for it had been clearly severed from his face, and just like his arm, it was no where in sight.

 

"My Gods...." The perverted sensei whispered as the man looked at him through eye lidless eyes which were filled with pain and the lingering darkness which clouded the eyes of all who had death's shadow looming over their souls. "Who did this?" Kakashi questioned, knowing full well he could not save this brutalized man, not could anyone for that matter.

 

"A....a...mon...monster......" The man answered in a raspy broken voice, as blood leaked out of his mouth joining the blood on his face in its travel down to the crimson puddle below.

 

"What sort of monster?" Sasuke questioned, wondering vaguely over all creatures that had the ability to destroy living things so cruelly, almost sadistically.

 

"It.....i....it...was...Ita....Itachi....Uchiha......" The man finally said, with chest which was riddles with deep gashed rose and fell quickly, as he struggled to get air into his lungs which were filling with blood.

 

His response caused the raven haired boy to tense, and a dark light to enter into his normally emotionless eyes. "Which way did he go?" The teen asked tensely, a deep frown marring his brow.

 

"No...nor...th...." The man answered on his last breath before his brown eyes glazed over in death and his body grew both cold and limp.

 

The words had barely escaped the man before the young prodigy child raced off in said direction, his eyes no longer its onyx color, for they were a brilliant crimson with three black spinning wheels in them, his Sharingan was activated.

 

Sasuke didn't hear the shout that was directed at him courtesy of his teacher who quickly tore off after the boy whose thoughts were centered on finding his elder brother and killing the bastard for all the crimes he had committed. Which were many more than any sane person would care to list.

 

The younger of the two easily outstripped the elder, being hot on his brother's trail seemed to spur something in the boy that caused his adrenaline rush to kick into overtime allowing him to easily outran and loose his tracker, while he headed due North. 'I will finally get my vengeance.'

 

Sasuke moved from running to a sideways leap in less then a heartbeat as two kunai knives were launched at him, imbedding themselves in the tree where the raven haired teen would have passed. Crimson eyes scanned the area, something didn't feel right. What ever it was, he didn't know.

 

"Aren't you the predictable one, Sasuke." A man said as he stepped into the teen's line of vision.

"Who are you and what do you want?" The crimson eyed beauty demanded impatiently, wanting to hurry up and get back to hunting his 'beloved' elder brother.

 

"And impatient...." The creepy looking male added, his voice sounding much like a snake's. His comment earned him a typically glare, one that caused many to shrink back in either extreme intimidation or fear, though this man was unfazed.

 

"I am Orochimaru. I have come to get you to join my ranks. Become a new member of the Akatsuki." The man now identified as the cunning leader of the ruthless Akatsuki, stated his eyes hungrily roaming the teen's flesh with an almost sinister smile playing about his pale lips.

((A/N: I am sorry if this Orochimaru IS SO OUT TO LUNCH!! I have no idea as to his mannerisms or anything. So please do not be upset. Also I apologize if you do not like how he is being portrayed here, but this IS a fanfic, meaning it is allowed to be different.))

 

Sasuke tensed, he was ready for a fight, even if it was against the leader of one of the most notorious gangs, the very gang of ninja's that had caused both Naruto and Neji to die. He would show this man as much mercy as he'd show his older brother Itachi, none. He would die a painful death as a way to attempt to repent for all his horrid deeds.

 

"Why?" He demanded, wanting to know why they wanted him of all people. Sure he wanted to kill this bastard too, but he was rational enough to know when to talk and when to fight.

 

"Simple... You have potential, and I can give you power enough to kill your brother...." He drawled on, his voice carrying a strange note to it, but Sasuke knew better. This man was trying to trick him. Power couldn't just be granted, working hard and training diligently is what brings forth power. Determination and the will to never give up brings power. Strength only comes from yourself, it is not something to be granted to you. A certain blond haired idiot had taught him that.

 

"Nice try, but I'm not falling for it." Sasuke said with an egotistical smirk on his handsome face. In a blurred move, Sasuke launched a handful of shuriken at the snake like man, though he slipped away, his movements were both flowing and graceful. This man had some skill. It would be a difficult fight.

 

They clashed together, a furry of nearly invisible fists and kicks, as they both attacked with all their strength, though they were both evenly matched.

 

Orochimaru went flying full throttle as Sasuke managed to strike him with a upper cross kick to the chin. Barely after impact on the man's chin, the teen started a flurry of hand seals before calling out "Katon Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" ((Fire Type- Empowered Fireball Skill)). A massive flame erupted from his mouth following mere seconds behind the still airborne Akatsuki leader.

 

The fire and man both collided into a tree, causing the bark of the oak tree to be savagely burnt. Once the smoke cleared the only thing visible at its base was a charred log and ashes, indicating that his opponent had used the Body Substitution Technique.

"Juin Jutsu!" Orochimaru's voice rang out behind Sasuke, and the teen hurriedly turned around, but he hadn't moved quick enough. In mid turn he felt two sharp canines sink deep into his neck. A pain unlike any other erupted in the boy, but the pain didn't seem to just come from the bite mark, it felt as if his entire being was being viciously ravaged by an unseen force. Before the teeth in his neck could be removed, blackness gathered at the edges of his vision, and he passed out.

 

*

 

Onyx colored eyes slowly opened, as the raven haired teen stirred from his deep slumbering state. His mind felt fuzzy, and his head was swaying. The light seeping through the window to his right stung horrible at his eyes, and he could only wonder if this was how hung over people felt. If it was he'd never drink, cause he absolutely hated this.

 

If Sasuke was anyone else, he would have pouted and whined, but since he wasn't, he'd just have to bare it with his high and mighty attitude. 'What is that smell?' He silently asked himself, a light frown marrying his brow.

 

From the moment he had awakened a smell, a strong one at that had plagued his respiratory system. He knew the smell well, and despised its unique odor, yet his mind was unable to presently grasp what it was that bore that scent, or what the scent was.

 

'How annoying....' He silently muttered, his haze slightly dulling, and his normalness slowly recovering. He silently pushed himself up and looked around the room he was in. It was white, dull, and sterile. 'A hospital.....joy....' He sounded so displeased by the prospect of being hospitalized.

 

He frowned, his mind suddenly more clear, though he was completely baffled over how he had ended up here. Orochimaru had bite him, and hard, he fell unconscious, yet he was somehow back inside the Konoha hospital. Who had brought him back. 'Kakashi!' He exclaimed in sudden realization.

 

The silver haired jounin must have rescued him and brought him back here. "Damn it..What's that smell?" He asked aloud, the smell pulling constantly at his attention.

 

He turned to the side and saw the cause of his problem. A pickle. A juicy, large, green and pink ribbon wearing ribbon, that was sitting innocently on a white plate. An annoyed twitch appeared over his right eye. He loathed pickles, and here--according to the card-- was a pickle from a fan girl.

 

They were evil, both pickles and fangirls.

 

He moved through a series of hand seals and muttered "Katon Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" ((Fire Type- Empowered Fireball Skill)), though he only used a small amount of chakra so that the fireball would be tiny, and only burn the pickle and nothing else. But something went wrong. Sure he had used only a little chakra, but the fire ball was a humongous size and easily cremated the pickle, the plate, all his get well flowers and cards, not to mention the entire night stand, and it severely charred the floor.

 

Sasuke blinked once, then twice. 'What the....' His thoughts were interrupted as the fire sprinklers came on over head, dousing him with icy cold water. The remaining flames were instantly put out, and all smouldering pieces were left to rest in ashes. ((No really bad pun intended))

 

"If you wanted a shower why didn't you say so." The voice of his former teammate, Sakura, rang through the air as she giggled at the soaked Uchiha. After Naruto passed on, the girl had moved on from her pathetic crush on the uncaring boy before her. And now she was dating someone, and happier than she ever thought possible.

 

For about the last month or so, she and Lee had been dating, and were basically a hot couple, despite Lee's strange affection towards green spandex. Since the pink haired young lady liked him so, she would put up with his fashion tastes, though she did wax his eyebrows, and change his hairstyle, making him fair more handsome then any would have ever thought possible.

 

A lot can change in nine months. ((A/N: For those of you who have noticed the time difference between the Narutoverse and the world Neji and Naruto were sent to, have a cookie. Yes I purposely made the times different as time moves far more quickly in one place then it does in the other.))

 

Sasuke glared over at the three people standing in the doorway to his room, just outside of the water's reach, staying perfectly dry. "That's what you get when you play with fire my young friend!" Lee stated as he firmly wrapped his arm around the pink haired girl's waist causing her to blush.

 

After a few more seconds the sprinklers turn themselves off, dripping innocently onto the soaked area and person below. Sprinklers were officially added to his list of evil things.

 

"Finally up, let's go to see the Hokage now!" Kakashi stated happily as the black haired teen stood from his bed, clothing rumpled and wrinkled from both sleeping in them and being covered in water.

 

Sasuke was not having a good day.

 

Lee tossed a bag at the other teen, who easily caught it. "Get changed, or you'll get sick and stay stuck in this joint for even longer." Sakura stated with a smile before pulling the door closed to give the boy some privacy.

 

Once the raven haired prodigy was dressed and dry, he exited the room only finding his sensei awaiting him. "Sakura had to get back to working, and Lee went with her." The silver haired man stated, answering the unasked question.

 

"Hn..." Was the only response the older ninja received as he silently lead the way from the hospital, through the clamoring town and to the Hokage tower.

Once inside, Tsunade's assistant hurriedly ushered them into the Hokage's office. "I see you are finally up and about. We were beginning to believe you'd stay in the comatose state forever. After all, two weeks is an awful amount of time to rest up." The large busted woman said in a teasing tone, though her eyes looked relieved.

 

"Now.... Tell me all of what happened when you were separated from Kakashi-san." The fifth Hokage ordered as she sat straight, arms neatly folded in front of her on her desk.

 

Sasuke nodded as he settled himself down in the chair situated in front of Tsunade's desk. I ran in the direction that....Itachi.... was said to have gone in, though my hunt was interrupted by several shuriken which were hurled at my. I then came face to face with the leader of the Akatsuki, Orochimaru.

 

"He asked me to join his organization, but when I declined we fought. We were both evenly matched until he used a strange jutsu and bit my shoulder. I don't recall anything after that." The raven haired teen summed up, still annoyed with the prospect of lacking memories pertaining to is escape.

 

Kakashi and Tsunade exchanged a look before looking back at the teen before them. "Very well, that helps. But if you passed out who caused Orochimaru to flee?" Tsunade questioned aloud as she leaned back in her chair with a deep frown upon her face.

 

"It wasn't Kakashi-sensei then?" The raven haired teen questioned with a deep frown as his instructor merely shook his head no.

 

"By the time I got there, you were unconscious and alone." The silver haired jounin responded as he ran a hand over the back of his neck.

 

"Well....Sasuke, why don't you go home and rest up a bit." Tsunade said in dismissal and the teen stood and left silently, leaving the two alone to discuss whatever they wanted.

 

The teen silently exited the tower and went outside taking in some fresh air, while silently running over the strange dilemma. 'Who saved me?' He asked while gritting his teeth, hating that he was weak enough to need rescuing.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

Naruto was bouncing as they continued along their path towards the first key holding area. They have been traveling for days, though the pace was extremely slow as both he and Neji had been training. Even though they have been constantly training and walking, resting very little, Naruto had tons of energy to spare.

 

A week has passed since they had departed, one full week to learn that merging and aging was incredibly awesome for power up rates. Both he and Neji were incredible.

They had both easily multiplied their original chakra supply by ten, and had successfully learnt new jutsus. They gained great strength, agility, speed, grace, power, and intelligence. They were merely working on honing their abilities up to this point.

 

The blond had leant thirteen new jutsus while the pale eyed Hyuuga had mastered eight new ones. The jutsus mastered by Naruto in the past week were: Oboro Bunshin no Jutsu ((Mist Clone Technique)), Gatsuuga (( Piercing Fang)), Kage Buyou (( Shadow Leaf Dance)), Konoha Senpuu (( Leaf Spinning Wind)), KageMane no Jutsu ((Shadow Immatation Technique)), Kanashibari no Jutsu (( Body Freeze Technique)), Katon Gaikakyuu no Jutsu (( Fire Type- Empowered Fireball Skill)), Mikazuki no Mai ((Dance of the Cresent Moon)), Sabaku Kyuu (( Desert Coffin)), Suirou no Jutsu ((Water Prison Technique)), Suna no Tate (( Sand Shield )), Suna no Yoroi (( Armor of Sand )), and Chakra Kyuushuu ((Energy Absorption)).

 

Neji on the other hand had accomplished the Kage Buyou ((Shadow Leaf Dance )), Kanashibari no Jutsu ((Body Freeze Technique)), Katon Goukakyuu no Jutsu ((Fire Type-Empowered Fireball Skill)), Konoha Senpuu ((Leaf Spinning Wind)), Sabaku Kyuu ((Desert Coffin)), Mikazuki no Mai ((Dance of the Cresent Moon)), Suna no Tate ((Sand Shield)), Suna no Yoroi ((Armor of Sand)).

 

Both had benefitted from Neji's vast jutsu and training method knowledge, and all of the knowledge and experience that Naruto had acquired when he merged with the Kyuubi. Together they had grown stronger, and through that one week they had grown closer that they ever were. Now they could be called friends. They made an incredible team.

 

Both suddenly stopped on their illuminated forest path. They had heard something. They grew so still, the only movement around them was the cool southern wind which rushed gently past them, stirring the autumn colored leaves, causing a few to fall to the ground.

 

Someone or something was close by.

 

Both dropped into a crouch and stealthily moved in the direction that their senses seemed to scream was the source of the muffled noise they had heard. Using all their training, they moved without a sound, causing not even the air about them to stir as they silently proceeded forwards, and off the forest path.

 

They snuck unnoticed along until they ran into a medium sized wall which was a natural rock formation of sorts. The edged towards it and peered over the edge, and down the hill it was situated atop of.

 

Among the trees below stood two figures. One a female with shimmering brown hair that was up in an ornate fashion. She wore a silk gown of sorts, obviously being of a higher class, though her face was flushed with anger and her brown eyes were a blaze.

 

In front of the woman stood a man, a warrior of sorts judging by his build, clothing and weaponry. His hair was both messy and short, looking much like a black porcupine had crawled upon his scalp and became stuck. His face was likewise flushed, and his green eyes also shone with the fire of anger.

 

The two were obviously in an argument of sorts and it was likely their heated argument which Neji and Naruto had heard while trekking the route they had plotted out on both the large map of the entire continent, and the smaller map of the area.

 

"What 'cha think they are all worked up about?" Naruto quietly whispered to his black haired companion as the twp silently observed.

 

"No idea...." Neji mumbled back in response, pale eyes glued to the scene before them.

 

"What part of 'I NEED TO REST' don't you understand??!?!" The woman yelled infuriated with her escort.

 

"What part of 'We have to get out of this forest before we are ambushed by bandits' didn't YOU understand??!?!?" The warrior man bellowed back, obviously not keen with having to stop every few seconds to allow the spoiled noble rest.

 

"Lovers quarrel..." Naruto muttered, earning a strange look being directed at him from his friend and companion.

 

"They are obviously not lovers Naruto. They clearly hate each others guts." The apathetic nineteen year old said, as his eyes moved back to the loud shouting match beyond.

 

"They have an infection!" Naruto piped up quietly before frowning. "No that's not it... Refection? ...No not that... Complection... No..." He continued muttering to himself redrawing Neji's attention back to him. "They're Mexican? ...Not that one either.... Uh... Confection? ...Nope....Uh....Hexagon? No... uh..." He paused and thoughtfully began tapping his chin while mentally going through an entire list of words trying to find the right one.

 

"Infatuation?" Neji offered with a small but amused smile playing about his handsome lips.

 

"Yes! That's the one!" Naruto happily whispered back to his friend.

 

"I don't think you're right. They seem to hate each other's guts. Not to mention they seem they'd both be happy if the other suddenly up and croaked." The black haired young man supplied his reasons against the whole possibility, while inwardly smiling enjoying their debate.

 

"I don't know..." He said in a slight singsong voice. "Look at their body language." He suggested pointed towards them.

 

For several moments Neji did observe them, their silence only invaded by the continuing heated discussion. "Well...." Neji started, interrupting their silence. "To me they seem to want to pummel each other to death." He concluded after careful data gathering,

 

Both teens turned and sat with their backs to the small rock wall, obviously determined to argue this out. "But they do like each other, A LOT! It's in their scents!" The blonde exclaimed quietly.

 

"Are you certain? They didn't sound, act, nor show anything that would state they cared for each other." Neji continued, knowing he had to be right about this as he was well respected and known for his 100% accurate assessments of people. He had never yet been wrong, and he was positive he was right on this.

 

"Isn't it a little quiet?" Naruto questioned having just noted the voices had stopped yelling. Neji nodded in agreement, frowning ever so slightly.

 

"Have they come to an understanding?" The black haired Hyuuga silently questioned as strange sounds met their trained ears.

 

Both of them were curious and they slowly edged up and turned around peering over the rough and cracked summit of the rocks. What they saw made both their jaws drop, and their eyes grew large. "I told you..." Naruto mumbled as a furious blush dominated his cheeks as they both observed the two in a heated make out session that had clothing flying in every direction.

 

A pink tinged graced Neji's pale cheeks as the two teens were frozen to the spot, seemingly mesmerized by the sight of the man and woman coupling nearby.

 

A loud moan erupted from the woman causing both Neji and Naruto to regain their senses, and the two hurriedly duck back down behind the rock. Their eyes were still wide, and their cheeks seemed to be stained several brilliant shades of dark crimson.

 

"Okay.. You were right." Neji said after clearing his throat. "Are you ready to continue?" He asked, obviously wanting to get away from the rising heat that was circling over them both, making them in turn feel rather uncomfortable.

 

"Yup!" Naruto squeaked, his voice sounding like it had before his encounter with the jet dragon, and his sudden change from boyhood to manhood.

 

Silently they snuck away, the man's grunts, and the woman's screams seemingly following them for a long ways, until the sounds ended with an ear shattering conclusion, leaving the forest in an echoing silence.

 

Naruto and Neji finally got back onto the path, the blond still blushing furiously, though the black haired young man had quickly composed himself, forcefully thinking of anything that would send a chill down anyone's spine.

 

"So...." Naruto said in an attempt to break the uncomfortable silence that had fallen over them since they witnessed adult activity. He also wanted to get that image out of his innocent mind, and the only way to do something like that was to talk about something interesting or train.

 

The pale eyed Hyuuga reached into his pack and removed a roll of parchment and opened it as the blond silently peered over at the map he was unrolling.

 

"If we continue at our current pace, which includes both training and resting time, we should arrive at the Acidic Valley Ruins within two days. Then we have to complete that challenge before continuing on to the other keys." He summed up.

 

The blond nodded in understanding before his friend continued, "Judging by its name, Acidic Valley Ruins, and by the layout of the map for that area, it will be a difficult task. Firstly, the valley leaves us open to prying eyes and provides little to no hiding points. Should we run into something we can't yet handle, we will be forced to fight for out lives.

 

"Then again, this acid mention could be referring to an acid vapor which hovers within the valley, meaning we will have sufficient concealment but so will any other being." He paused momentarily. "I believe that the key is concealed within the deepest sector of the ruins, which according to this map, is located at the heart of the valley."

 

"Which means we have to think up our strategy before we get there, right?" Naruto asked looking up at his taller companion.

 

"Yes." Neji said with a light smile. "We need something to allow us to breath fresh air should there indeed be an acidic vapor. We will also need another jutsu that will prevent the acid from touching and disintegrating out flesh." He said thoughtfully.

 

"Meaning we have to create one or two new jutsus!" The blue eyed beauty said cheerfully, as he enjoyed creating new jutsus. "I think if we could create a sphere of air around us, we could pull it off. Something like those air bubbles we encountered within the Jet Dragon's body."

 

"Though instead of it being formed as a water barrier it should be a wind barrier, thus enabling clean air to enter, while preventing the possible mist from getting to us." Neji concluded and nodded at the teen to his side who was smiling a genuine vulpine smile.

 

They make one hell of a team.

 

Naruto ran his hands through a series of hand seals, before muttering a few words to form a new original jutsu. Neji observed as a vicious wind rose up and spiraled around the blond, sucking leaves, branches, rocks, and even himself, towards the swirling dome of pure air power.

 

Realizing his mistake, the blond hurriedly cancelled his jutsu, causing all air borne pieces to crumble to the ground. "Okay... That didn't work." Naruto said with a pout as he thoughtfully crossed his arms.

 

"Too much power, but I think that is the basic idea of what we want. Were you able to breath well in there?" The Hyuuga questioned while his calculating mind analyzed all that he had just seen.

 

The blond paused in mid pout. "Yup! The air was surprisingly fresh, and despite the viciousness on the exterior, the interior was supplied with a calm and really refreshing breeze. Very nice actually. It would have been great to have something like that during those hot summers back in Konoha." He said with a nod, causing Neji to chuckle.

 

"What words did you use?" The pale eyed teen asked, as they both continued walking side by side on the winding forest path, silence around them only broken by the blowing leaves, and the animals which inhabited the lands.

 

"Swirling Wind Barrier." ((A/N: An attacks that are only in English are ones I devised for this story, but that still doesn't mean I own them. )) Naruto answered.

 

"Hmm.... Maybe something along the lines of.... Wind Sphere Technique, or even Air Type-Wind Barrier Technique." Neji suggested while looking towards his companion.

 

"Hmm... The second would probably work....." Naruto added in before both of them ran through several hand seals.

 

"Air Type-Wind Barrier Technique!" They both echoed out and two twin air spheres swirled gently around their bodies.

 

"That was easy." Naruto stated as they both observed the calm and outwardly none effecting barrier, which like the vicious one before hand, provided each with a gentle breeze, letting them enjoy the pure, untainted air within.

 

"This is excellent, I've got two new jutsus." Naruto said with a small smile. Both jutsus he had tried worked well, and both would serve him well. "I remember when making jutsus this simple was such a difficult task." He said with a serene look in his shimmering eyes.

 

"Yes... But that was before we were sent to this place and met up with the Jet Dragons." Neji stated, likewise remembering the past. "With your body alterations, I wonder what your Sexy no Jutsu ((Sexy Technique)) would be like." Neji pondered aloud before his cheeks tinged pink with realization of what he had just said.

 

Naruto's cheeks flared a brilliant shade of crimson as his eyes shifted down in embarassement, eyes watching his feet with extreme detail. "Uh... I can... Show you..." Naruto muttered, his cheeks growing even redder.

 

"Kay..." Neji said blushing as he pulled his gaze away from the road ahead, and focused on his severaly red friend.

 

"Sexy no Jutsu! ((Sexy Technique))" Naruto said as he was engulfed in a white smoke, which slowly rose reavealing the blond to any who should see it. What Neji saw caused his jaw to uncharacteristically drop, and his pale eyes to widen, as a dark blush engulfed his naturally pale cheeks.

 

There in plain sight stood Naruto in his Sexy form, yet it was different from all other times. Usually he turned into a female with blond hair, blue eyes, whisker marks, and a lusciously cured body, but this new looking form was way sexier.

 

Naruto was still male, a completely naked and completely drop dead gorgeous teen that was only covered by a white cloud hovering around his nether regions. His body was the same, revealing what he looked like under the clothing, though all visible flesh seemed to be covered in a hot layer of sweat, that make his body absolutely irresistible.

 

Where his seal used to sit was a dark fiery tattoo that swirled around his navel and disappeared just above the smoke clouds. His hair had grown longer, though it remained bound in its holder casting an erotic and exotic look to him He was drop dead sexy.

 

"I didn't know I could use my own body for this technique." Naruto muttered, too busy observing himself to even notice his friend's reaction. "That means I can trick both men and women into having nosebleeds and passing out!" The blond babe exclaimed before doing a wicked sweet victory dance.

 

The dance, to Neji, looked even more erotic than it should have been, and he could practically feel the heat rise around them, all coolness provided by the jutsus that had used, then cancelled, seemingly gone within a heart beat, and he could feel his pants growing uncomfortably tighter.

 

Composing his features, but not even trying to conceal the obvious large bulge at the front of his pant, he clears his throat. "Come on Naruto... Let's run the rest of the way, that way we can get the key faster, and in turn get home more quickly." Neji suggested as he swallowed hard.

 

"Sure!" Naruto exclaimed as he dispelled his jutsu, leaving him standing fully clothed. "Uh... Neji...?" The blond started as he caught sight of Neji's obvious discomfort.

 

"Never mind." The Hyuuga stated turning away from his companion and leaping skywards, and landing smoothly on the branches of the trees.

 

The blue eyed fox teen followed silently, landing on a branch near by to his friend, though his cheeks were once again a brilliant color as he mulled over a few things in his mind.

 

Silently they sprinted through the trees, passing nesting birds, falling leaves, animals and some really strange looking insects which would probably give Shino a field day.

 

They ran for hours, the sun getting lower and lower with each passing minute, soon it would be sundown, then dark.

 

Just as the sun sunk to the horizon, the trees began to thin out, causing them both to return to the ground. The grass covered ground which was a massive hill slopping upwards. The valley was just beyond that ridge.

 

"Let's make camp for the night, and tackle the Ruins in the morning." Neji suggested as he looked around at their position. "This spot seems good enough, though we should probably set up some traps and have shift watches during the night." He finished off.

 

Togther they set up a series of traps, ones that were invisible to the naked eye. No one could get passed those, not without suffering from sheer frustration at their numbers and complicity. Tonight they would be safe, but tomorrow, who knows.

 

Once they were settled in with a small smokeless fire burning, they began to eat some bread and cheese which had been given to them as parting food from the Lord and his daughter. They ate in silence, probably too embarrassed over the earlier events, which Neji no longer suffered from, as he was able to clear his mind and control his body while running.

 

"I wish we had some ramen." Naruto mumbled to himself as he half glared, half pouted at his bread, cheese, and water. It was so bland, and dull. Plus it lacked all the deliciousness of instant noodles.

 

His words caused a smile to grace Neji's lips, but it served to do more then just that. It seemingly erased all the tension between the two. "I'll take first watch." The Hyuuga announced as they finished their pitiful meal.

 

"Kay... Night Neji-kun." Naruto said before yawning widely. "Wake me when it's my watch." He finished as he curled under a blanket he had retrieved from his bag.

 

"Goodnight Naruto-kun." The pale eyed teen whispered, just as the blond drifted off to sleep with a small yet content smile upon his handsome face.

 

'Such a trying day... Though tomorrow will be more so.' Neji thought to himself as he observed his sleeping companion, while still keeping track of their surroundings.

 

Tomorrow would be difficult, but they were ready.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

That's it for this chapter, sorry it's shorter. I'll try to update ASAP, so please review!!

 

Thank you for Readying ^.^