The Giant Battle Thread!

[Tensei Kaori]

This thread is hereby dedicated to the bestest ANBU squad in the whole world, who made this job ten thousand times easier for me. YOU GUYS ROCK!

So, this thread is for anyone who's having trouble keeping the fight scenes straight, or who just wants a handy guide without having to cycle through five pages of insanely long posts. Each fight has been consolidated based on the characters who participate in it, and are arranged thusly. Enjoy!

NOTE: THIS THREAD IS A WORK IN PROGRESS, and will be until all the battles are finished. Thanks for your patience.

EDIT 1 BY KAORI: The Masazaku and Ryuji fight is up. Enjoy!

EDIT 2: Thanks to Maz, the Aijou and Kohana versus Sumi fight is up. YAY!

EDIT 3: The Haruki, Yasashiku, Ryoichi, and Kaori fights are up, and due to character limits on posts, I'm rearranging the thread. Mehh....

EDIT 4: Jyou's capture of the Iro and Tadako fight is up at last! THANK YOU, JYOU!

EDIT 5: UP-TO-DATE-HORRAAAAAY!

[Tensei Kaori]

Haruki versus Ryoichi and Yasashiku

Ryoichi cursed as Sumi's hurricane ripped through the caravan. "Probably fighting a bishounen," he muttered sarcastically, then did a double take. Masazaku! "Oi, psycho!" he called. "You all right?" Not that he really cared, of course, about his comrade's well-being - they'd all be safer without him around, anyways - but it was one way to get an answer. But no answer came. Instead all he heard was mad cackling borne to his ears by the swirling winds.

Oh, crap.

* * * * *

Haruki made his way towards the front of the caravan... towards the Hokage's wagon. He had spotted one of the enemies making his way there as well, and thought it would be a good idea to head him off. As he neared, he said under his breath. "CHAKURA KAPPARAU NO JUTSU!"

Coming upon the attacker, he grappled him and brought a knees up hard into his stomach. On contact, miniscule amounts of chakra began to drain from the enemy's body and into Haruki. All of this extra chakra would come in handy later on...

* * * * *

Ryoichi sensed his attacker's presence, but only after it was too late. D***it, this brat's good, he thought angrily as he was pinned to the ground. He tried to get the man off him but only succeeded in rolling the both of them onto their sides. "Strong, aren't you?" he growled, regaining his wind. Almost there.....

* * * * *

Kaori, in her Henge form, stepped out of the wagon to find an ANBU - Shingi Haruki, she remembered - grappling with the S-ranked former Grass shinobi on the ground. "Haruki!" she said calmly to him, seemingly ignoring the criminal. "I will handle this one. You're needed in the rear of the caravan; we seem to have a little flooding problem." Her voice was almost conversational; it conveyed none of the anxiety or tension she felt right now. She would remain in control, at least on the outside, for the sake of her people. "Go."

* * * * *

Haruki wrestled with his opponent, continuing to suck small amounts of chakra from him.

Strong, aren't you? the enemy growled at him.

The fight would have continued on until all of the foe's chakra was gone, but Hokage-sama stopped it. Stepping from her wagon in her Henge form, she called out to them calmly.

Haruki! she said. I will handle this one. You're needed in the rear of the caravan; we seem to have a little flooding problem....Go!

Haruki flipped his silvery hair from his eyes then smirked deviously at his former opponent before sprinting off to the back of the caravan. One of the attackers was flooding the rear wagons, rendering them all immobile.

After stopping for a quick moment to think about how to stop the water nin, Haruki gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, and charged, aiming his first kick at the enemy's back.

* * * * *

Yasashiku snapped into high-alert mode when he sensed an enemy behind him. He summoned up his chakra, but it was too late. A foot landed square on his back and sent him flying. Grunting, he twisted around and landed on top of what was now a marsh in the middle of the road. "Well, well," he grinned. "What have we here? A handsome young man, you are. You remind me of when I was young." His chakra flowed into the waters below him, readying an attack. "But can a youngster like you keep up with a veteran like me?"

* * * * *

Haruki's attack made contact with the water nin's back, sending him flying back into the muck.

Regaining his position, Haruki huffed, and blew a piece of silvery hair from his eyes.

Well, well...What have we here? A handsome young man, you are. You remind me of when I was young. the nin said, charging up for an attack. But can a youngster like you keep up with a veteran like me?

Haruki readied himself. He's gonna use a water attack...The chakra I stole from Hokage-sama's assailant should be enough to counter... He concentrated the nin's chakra into his hands, ready to counter at a moment's notice.

* * * * *

Yasashiku shook his head. "Young people these days....." he muttered, and then formed a single seal to release the jutsu he'd been building up. "Suiton: Dekishi no Jutsu!¹"

The water underneath his enemy's feet suddenly gave way, pulling him under. With enough chakra, the pull would soon be stronger than quicksand, and impossible to resist for almost anyone.

* * * * *

Yasashiku gasped as he felt his chakra being sucked from the water. He struggled to cut off the flow, but his attacker had too strong a grip for him to resist. I guess youngsters are better at some things, after all... he thought ruefully. Well, if I can't hold back, I'll overload him!

Taking advantage of his large chakra supply, Yasashiku unleashed a sudden burst of chakra that surged through the water and actually made the surface erupt in fountains of mud and water. He had finally broken the attack....for now. But at what cost?

* * * * *

Haruki felt his enemy struggling, and taking advantage of his weakening strength, he fought to break hte surface of the water. Doing so, he gasped for breath, continuing to pull chakra from the water.

"Heh!" Haruki laughed. "I got you!"

But not for long. Suddenly, the water surged and splashed and spewed, mud spattering his face, hair and clothes. He felt a overly tremendous amount of chakra force its way into his veins and he yelped and struggled, breaking the attack to grab hold of his wrists.

The water receded quickly, and Haruki fell with a splat into the cold mud. Getting up slowly, he readied himself for the next attack. He wouldn't mess up next time.

[Tensei Kaori]

Kaori versus Ryoichi (with part of the Haruki fight for coherency’s sake)

Ryoichi cursed as Sumi's hurricane ripped through the caravan. "Probably fighting a bishounen," he muttered sarcastically, then did a double take. Masazaku! "Oi, psycho!" he called. "You all right?" Not that he really cared, of course, about his comrade's well-being - they'd all be safer without him around, anyways - but it was one way to get an answer. But no answer came. Instead all he heard was mad cackling borne to his ears by the swirling winds.

Oh, crap.

* * * * *

Haruki made his way towards the front of the caravan... towards the Hokage's wagon. He had spotted one of the enemies making his way there as well, and thought it would be a good idea to head him off. As he neared, he said under his breath. "CHAKURA KAPPARAU NO JUTSU!"

Coming upon the attacker, he grappled him and brought a knees up hard into his stomach. On contact, miniscule amounts of chakra began to drain from the enemy's body and into Haruki. All of this extra chakra would come in handy later on...

* * * * *

Ryoichi sensed his attacker's presence, but only after it was too late. D***it, this brat's good, he thought angrily as he was pinned to the ground. He tried to get the man off him but only succeeded in rolling the both of them onto their sides. "Strong, aren't you?" he growled, regaining his wind. Almost there.....

* * * * *

Kaori, in her Henge form, stepped out of the wagon to find an ANBU - Shingi Haruki, she remembered - grappling with the S-ranked former Grass shinobi on the ground. "Haruki!" she said calmly to him, seemingly ignoring the criminal. "I will handle this one. You're needed in the rear of the caravan; we seem to have a little flooding problem." Her voice was almost conversational; it conveyed none of the anxiety or tension she felt right now. She would remain in control, at least on the outside, for the sake of her people. "Go."

* * * * *

Haruki wrestled with his opponent, continuing to suck small amounts of chakra from him.

Strong, aren't you? the enemy growled at him.

Kaori, in her Henge form, stepped up to the attacker, who was now standing in front of her, a straight-bladed sword unsheathed and held casually in his right hand. "Utatane Ryoichi," she said coldly, "S-ranked criminal from the Hidden Grass - and, if my suspicions are true, the leader of this little stunt."

The flame-haired man simply chuckled. "You call this little? But that's right, you in Konoha are used to having things much more..... exciting." He shrugged off the sharp glare he recieved at speaking so casually about the war. "Still," he continued, "it's an honor for you to know me by name....

".....Hokage-sama."

* * * * *

Kaori didn't bat an eye at being referred to with her proper title. She had been expecting this; she had a nasty habit of predicting the worst case scenario - and being right. "Well, now," she said, mimicking Utatane's carefree, almost pompous attitued, "I am the one who should be honored, since you do me the great compliment of addressing me as the Leaf's strongest."

The criminal was beginning to look slightly annoyed. "Don't keep up this little charade; the jig is up," he said harshly. "Look around! This is no ordinary convoy. The seemingly sparce protection, hidden shinobi, so-called civilians-" he pointed behind him "-fighting on equal terms with the best of my team. It doesn't make sense. You underestimated us, Tensei Kaori."

"Did I?" Kaori asked innocently, releasing the Henge to reveal her normal Yukata-clad form. "Perhaps it was you who underestimated us." Reaching back to untie her obi, Kaori channeled chakra in the same patterns she'd learn to weave since a child - the patterns for a sight-based Genjutsu - though this particular pattern was admittedly much more advanced than a child's training jutsu. She whipped the obi off and held it out to catch the breeze. Her yukata flew open to reveal a black and silver battle outfit - the kind many Tensei clan members used in training and combat - as the wind from the battle picked up the flowing fabric and playfully tossed it around, activating her genjutsu.

The fight was on.

* * * * *

Kaori had to stop herself from grinning in satisfaction. Her opponent stood stark still with a vacant look on his face, spellbound by her Genjutsu. She could feel him fighting it, struggling to dispel the illusion, but she held onto it as she dropped her yukata and obi on the ground. She bit her thumb in the familiar summoning ritual and swiped it across the inside of her left wrist, where a perfectly camouflaged scale - the proof of her summoning contract - lay embedded in her skin. "Kuchiyose no jutsu," she chanted, diverting some of her chakra from the Genjutsu to the summoning, " Yamori no Souseiji Zanbatou!⁴" The scale turned a deep metallic blue, and she set her hands on the ground. The familiar summoning marks spread out from her hands and with a flash of smoke, twin longswords - elegantly curved and beautifully decorated in greens, blues, and golds - appeared. She picked them up and cut the air, the lizards inlaid blue and green in the blades glittering like precious gems. It was good to have these in her hands again.

Pumping more chakra into the Genjutsu, she charged.

[Tensei Kaori]

Masazaku versus Ryuji

"Teeheheheheheeee!" Masazaku had used the chaos created by Sumi's mini-hurricane to escape from Ryoichi - the man never let him have any fun - and seek out his next opponents. He settled on a spot a few wagons away from the one Sumi had torn apart with her fans just as the perfect gust of wind soared his way. "Thank you, Sumi-chaaan! <3" he muttered with a grin before charging up his chakra. Just a few simple hand seals, and the right drafts, and....

An echoing BOOM[/i] ripped through the area as Masazaku's jutsu ignited the air in the area in a huge explosion. A couple of the wagons caught on fire, and so did the shrapnel from Sumi's wagon - which landed in the nearby brush, generating more fire and a terrible amount of smoke. Masazaku cackled with glee. "Burn, burn, burn!" he sang as he pranced around, forming more hand seals. "Moubaku no Jutsu!" he sang, sending small flaming projectiles flying in random directions, exploding upon contact - he didn't even care where they went, as long as they caused damage.

* * * * *

Ryuji ran around the caravan, outing fires that had been started from the first explosion, and became rather annoyed when they continued to pop up randomly just as soon as he had put them out.

Hearing an odd evil cackle from several feet away, he spun around to see the culprit. A tall, dark haired man had been starting them all up again using special fire and explosive jutsu.

Soo...You're the little pyromaniac who keeps starting fires...We can't have that! he thought, huffing loudly, his nostrils flaring.

"HEY! HeyheyheyheyheyheyheyheyheyHEY! Hey you!" he called out, brandishing his finger at the fire starter. Once he had gotten the nin's attention he continued. "The only one allowed to set fire to things around here...IS ME!" He finished as he pointed back at himself.

He then held one arm straight out in front palm forward, and pulled one back behind his head. "KAKI HOIPPU NO JUTSU*!" he shouted, then made a loud whipping noise between his teeth, and flung his arm towards his enemy. A whip of fire flew from his hand, whirring and twisting through the air. It made contact with the target, and wrapped tightly around his ankles.

With a quick and powerful yank back, the maniac's feet flew out from under him.

* * * * *

Masazaku was having more fun than he could handle, lighting fires, lighting fires, setting off explosions - but why did they keep going out? Some party pooper keeps putting them out, I bet, he thought sourly. Suddenly he heard a voice that sounded like it was directed at him. "HEY! HeyheyheyheyheyheyheyheyheyHEY! Hey you!" Masazaku turned, irritated that he had to stop his fun to listen to this firey-haired spoilsport. "The only one allowed to set fire to things around here...IS ME!" the ninja told him, pointing to himself, and before Masazaku could do anything to shut the kid up, he found himself ripped into the air by a burning whip of fire.

Masazaku shrieked, partially from being pulled into the air, but mostly from the pain of the fire curled tightly around his ankles. Swallowing his pain, he pumped chakra into the flames, feeding their rage and directing them back towards his attacker. He used the opportunity to escape and land crouched on the ground. His ankles and clothes were both burned pretty badly - feeding the flames had only worsened his wounds - but he forced himself to stand. He had been burned before. He would deal with it the same way he had done so before.

"Pretty, pretty," he cackled. "Such a pretty jutsu. The fire whips, it curls, it flies!" he laughed madly before continuing. "Yes, it will be very fun fighting you, I think!" he giggled, and picked up a stone roughly the size of a grapefruit from the ground. He pumped chakra into it and sent it rolling towards his attacker. It came to a rest a couple feet away from the perplexed-looking ninja. "Boorubakudan*," he said with a childish expression of glee on his face, as the rock began to flash an angry bright red color, growing in intensity and frequency as it neared detonation.

* * * * *

Ryuji watched as his opponent fell flat on his butt and couldn't help but laugh. "That's what you get for ruining all the wagons!" he said under his breath to himself.

Pretty, pretty... Ryuji's batty adversary cackled. Such a pretty jutsu. The fire whips, it curls, it flies! Yes, it will be very fun fighting you, I think! he said as he picked up a rather large rock.

Ryuji raised an eyebrow, and tilted his head to one side in sheer confusion as to what this pyromaniac was doing with that rock. He watched as the adversary rolled the rock towards him, and snapping out of his daze, noticed it glowing bright red, flashing, faster and faster as it sat there in front of him.

"HOLY CRAP! BOMB!" Ryuji shrieked, frantically dancing around the glowing stone. Quickly, he cupped his hands over the rock bomb and began concentrating chakra into his hands. "ShoukakiShoukakiShoukakiShoukai*!!" he chanted, in hopes that his fire extinguishing jutsu would outen the fire just as the explosion occurs. Soon enough, the rock exploded, but luckily, Ryuji got it...Instead, it erupted into a giant puff of black smoke and a couple of flames.

Coughing hard, Ryuji popped up, leapt forward, and threw his arms up in the air. "BOO-YAH!" he hollered. "Take that you loony missing ninny-poo! WAAHAHAHAHAA!!" He then commenced doing a small victory dance. He had quelled the explosion, and succeeded in probably making his psychotic new friend rather angry.

* * * * *

Masazaku shrieked with anger. "My beautiful bomb!" he howled, his golden eyes appearing to glow slightly with rage. "How dare you?!?" He formed the all-too-familiar hand seal, but the chakra he gathered now dwarfed the amount he had used before. "It looks like we'll have to teach our pretty friend a lesson about playing with my fire, yes? Yes, indeed! Moubaku no Jutsu!*" Swarms of the flaming projectiles he had used before to cause chaos among the caravan ignited in the air, but this time he controlled their trajectory - and aimed them straight at his red-haired enemy.

* * * * *

My beautiful bomb! The flame-crazed lunatic screeched. How dare you?!? It looks like we'll have to teach our pretty friend a lesson about playing with my fire, yes? Yes, indeed! Moubaku no Jutsu!

Ryuji yelped as a hot, firey projectile whizzed by his head, followed by countless others. He tried his best to dodge them, though some made contact, burning him, but he'd deal with it. He'd burned himself too many times to count as a child, training with his father, trying to learn the jutsu he knew now. He was used to it now, so it wasn't too bad.

Dodging the final fire ball, Ryuji winced slightly, as he blew on a burn he had received on his left shoulder. "Man! You are MESSED UP! And you're getting on my nerves!!"

Ryuji concentrated his chakra into his hands. "I guess we'll have to do something about your insanity... "Faia Shasai!*" he chanted. A wide sheet of fire twisted it's way towards the maniac. The purpose...restrain him...

* * * * *

Masazaku's eyes widened in surprise. That was a beautiful jutsu, indeed, but he would much rather it didn't head towards him. He clasped his hands together to perform a counter-jutsu...

....and cursed. He'd spent so much chakra blowing things up that he didn't have any left to properly counter. He scrabmled around, trying to move out of the jutsu's way, but it caught him from behind and twisted his arms around him, holding him tight. He howled - the fire, however much he liked it, was, after all, fire and used the last of his chakra to put a protective barrier between himself and his hungry restraint.

"You....." he growled, now looking seriously insane. His breath was ragged, and his voice was scratchy with the effort it now took to speak. Sweat poured from his pores with the effort of holding off theflames. "You're gonna pay!" He shot forward with a surprising burst of speed, planning on tackling the fire-haired fiend to the ground and using his own jutsu against him.

* * * * *

Masazaku screamed and thrashed, trying to escape the grip of the fire, but he couldn't. The last of his chakra gave out, and the full force of the flames rushed in on him. "Release me!" he howled between gasps for air and howls of pain. "I'm...I'm...." the heat closed in on him, and he fell to the ground, unconscious as his sumptuous comrade.

[Tensei Kaori]

Sumi versus Aijou and Kohana Yanagawa

Ikusei Sumi leapt gracefully from tree to tree, trying to find the best place from which to launch her attack. Settling on a spot, she waited for her opportunity. It was then that she noticed something useful: a wagon seemingly full of civilians. He said that it would make her angry if we attack civilians, she thought, not noticing the ANBU on the other side of the wagon. That one would be good. Once she saw the signal - a small beam of light, like a laser, from across the road - she leapt down, pulling out her small metal fans and opening them with a rinigng snap. She alighted delicately beside the wagon, held out her fans, and began to spin. "Ninpou, Tsujikaze no Mai!" she chanted, sending razor-sharp gales of wind at the wagon's wooden sides. They hit their mark, and easily ripped open the sides of the pathetic structure and tore through the opposite side.

"'Morning," she said in a sultry voice to the surprised occupants, then began her dash towards them.

* * * * * * * * * *

Aijou was about halfway to his post at the back of the caravan, when he sensed the presence of an enemy close by...too close.

In a split second, he spun around to see one of the ambushers land quietly next to the wagon. He watched closely as they readied to attack. The shrill ring of metal fans resonated through his ears, and in the wink of an eye, outstretched his arm, palm out, and put the Genkai Makuden* up around his sister's wagon.

He watched as the enemy attacked the wagon with peircing, razor sharp gusts of wind. They cleaved and ripped through the wooden frame effortlessly.

Aijou let out a sigh of relief, seeing that the occupants of the wagon, including Kohana, were all safe, even though the wagon had been torn to shreds. He soon made eye contact with his sister, and nodded once.

Kohana knew instantly what he meant, and she quickly placed her hands on the floor of the wagon, and concentrated her chakra into her own Genkai Makuden, replacing her brother's.

Seeing as the assailant was now charging at the now completely decimated wagon, Aijou's eyes sparked. With a tremendous burst of speed, he flew towards them, his fist pulled back, ready to throw a punch.

"RAIMEI SENTOU NO JUTSU*!" he shouted, a brilliant ball of lightning forming around his fist. He made contact with the attacker's stomach, the ball of lightning crackling and letting off a intense flash of light, as it was released into their body, followed by an explosive roll of thunder that shook the earth beneath them.

"Don't you EVER attack my sister!" he shouted at his opponent, his eyes, now glowing white, flashing and sparking with intense anger. Now he was mad...

Kohana watched from the wagon, nearly in tears. She wanted to help her brother so badly, but at the moment, protecting her fellow genin was most important....

* * * * * * * * * *

Sumi wasn't expecting the retaliation to come so quickly. The white-haired man's attack made direct contact, sending her flying through the air. Soon enough though, she regained her edge, so to speak. "Kaiki Jinpuu!*" she shouted, flicking her fans and using the gusts of wind to right herself and land on her feet. The ninja shouted at her about attacking his sister - presumably the white-haired child currently cowering in the wagon's shattered remains - his eyes sparking fiercely. "Ooooh, an angry one," she purred, fluttering her fans so that one covered her face up to the eyes, and the other accentuating her curvaceous figure, "and good looking too." She stretched out her arms fluidly so her fans reached out to her sides and assumed a stance that would be sure to free her bare legs from the high slits in her skirt. "I like you," she said with a grin. Her eyes took on a smoky look as she returned to a fully vertical position, stretching as high as she could and crossing her arms at the wrists above her head. "Kouchou Boufuu!" she chanted, and brought her arms down, crossing at her chest, and coming to rest at her sides. The resulting windstorm whistled and shrieked like nothing else, and she used the distraction to dissappear into the air above him.

* * * * * * * * * *

Aijou watched as his opponent got up, using a special technique to regain her composure. She seemed to flaunt her voluptuous curves at him, grinning cunningly. "I like you," she said, standing upright, lifting her hands high above her head. Kouchou Boufuu! he heard her chant.

Before he knew it, he was hit with such a great blast of wind that he nearly toppled backward. He braced himself against the strong gales, and managed to put up a weak Genkai Makuden to protect himself from any flying debris. Opening his eyes slowly, enough to see what was going on, he noticed that the enemy was nowhere in sight.

"Not good..." he said, cursing under his breath. He stayed alert, readying himself to be attacked.

Kohana watched helplessly from underneath her sheild with her fellow genin. Looking around frantically, she spotted her brother's opponent.

"AIJOU LOOK OUT!" she screamed at him.

Aijou spun around, but it was too late...

* * * * * * * * * *

"Aijou! Look out!" Sumi heard a girl's voice scream as she floated upwards. She gathered her chakra and channeled it through her fans, increasing the amount of surface she could use to move the air. This next technique was intended to be her finishing move so she could get through this annoying boy - most likely a chuunin, she thought - and take down that pesky barrier of his. She brought her fans together to form one large fan and summoned up all her strength. "Ninpou!" she shouted. "Retsuretsu Shippuu*!" she swung the huge fan with all her might, calling up such a wind that it sent her flying backwards and back up into the air. The remains of the shattered wagon flew madly around and she was vaguely aware of people being tossed about from the force of her jutsu. She turned a pirouette in midflight and dropped to the ground on her feet. "Heh." She smirked as she returned her fans to their normal attack position, waiting in case of the unlikely event that she would need to attack anymore. "Too easy," she purred."

* * * * * * * * * *

Tadako crouched in the nearby shrubs towards the front of the caravan, observing the group closely while Sumi Ane-san** took care of the white-haired ninja. It was too bad Ane-san would have to kill such a good-looking guy. Suddenly the group in the wagon's shattered fragments caught her attention. One of the people - a civilian, or so he seemed - was talking about ---- her eyes widened. Chakra, shinobi..... These brats were Genin! Let the ANBU and Jounin do their jobs....? ANBU? Those are....

"Too easy," she heard Sumi Ane-san say in that beautiful voice of hers, and Tadako knew it was safe to reveal herself. She removed herself from the prickly brush and half-ran to where Ane-san stood. "Ane-san! Ane-san!" she said as she approached. The older woman turned to face her, looking expectant. "I just heard them!" Tadako pointed to the group of Genin in the wagon. "They're all Genin in disguise! The shinobi we're fighting are ANBU and Jounin! It's them, Ane-san!"

* * * * * * * * * *

ANBU.....?

Sumi began to chuckle, massaging her temple with her long fingers. "So that's why you didn't die so easily," she said, still laughing slightly. "I was beginning to wonder. Now, Mr. Elite Ninja-san, why don't you show me what you can really do? Tadako!"

"Yes!"

"Go. I'll take care of the people here. It seems we have company," she said, indicating a couple shinobi not far from where the former wagon had been.

"Yes!" the girl replied loyally, and away she dashed.

"What a good girl," Sumi remarked. "So obedient. So loyal. Now...." she looked the white-haired man up and down. "Where were we?"

* * * * * * * * * *

Aijou was hit with such a great force of wind, he went flying back several feet, landing hard on his back, rolling a few times before finally coming to a stop face down in the dirt.

Kohana nearly popped a blood vessel screaming so loud. Dropping her lightning barrier, she began to scramble towards her brother, fighting to stay upright in the strong gusts of wind. But then she realized she should stay put and protect her fellow genin, but when she turned back around to put the sheild up again, the wind had scattered everyone too far to do so.

Obviously the secret was out now that the entire caravan were all shinobi in disguise, so Kohana found it best to help her big brother out. Reaching Aijou's still body, she fell to her knees beside him. He had hit his head on a large root protruding from the ground, resulting in a rather bloody gash across his forehead.

"...Aijou...?!" Kohana whimpered, placing a hand on his back and shaking him. "Wake up..."

Tears streamed down her face. Aijou wasn't moving. But then...to her surprise, he opened his eyes and looked at her.

"Shhh!" he said wheezingly before Kohana could let out a squeal of joy. "I'm ok...I just got the air knocked out of me. Give me a minute..."

Kohana nodded slightly and looked up to see the beautiful attacker eyeing her big brother. Getting to her feet, she clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. Her eyes begen to spark wildly and turn from purple to a brilliant white light, and soon, bright purple lighting began to eminate from her eyes down to her fingertips and to her feet.

"You...." she began. "YOU STAY AWAY FROM MY BROTHER!!!!"

* * * * * * * * * *

Sumi turned to face the young girl, who was summoning up quite a large amount of chakra. Her eyes began glowing white and lightning crackled all around her.
"You...." she said threateningly. "YOU STAY AWAY FROM MY BROTHER!!!!" Chakra surged from the girl, and Sumi's eyes widened in surprised. A Genin? What kind of a Genin has that much chakra?

Sumi smirked, holding her fans out in front of her. "You're good for a Genin, little girl," she said in her sultry voice, "I'll acknowledge that much. But you're in over your head. Even if you succeed in pulling off that scary-looking jutsu of yours, that's it for you." She chuckled. "And it looks like your big Brother is finished too. How long can you last, hm?" She began charging her fans with chakra. "Shall we find out?"

* * * * * * * * * *

You're good for a Genin, little girl... the lavish enemy said snobbishly in a lurid voice. I'll acknowledge that much. But you're in over your head. Even if you succeed in pulling off that scary-looking jutsu of yours, that's it for you.

Chuckling, she continued. And it looks like your big Brother is finished too. How long can you last, hm? Shall we find out? She began charging her fans with chakra.

Kohana had had enough. She slowly began bringing her hands up high above her head, charging up with almost all she had.

Aijou lifted his head slightly to see what was going on. Seeing his younger sister glowing, his eyes widened. It...It couldn't be...No! It's impossible! The only one that knows that jutsu...is...her...

"RAKURAI TOORIAME!!*" Kohana shouted, her voice echoing. And with a snap of her fingers, hundreds of bright white bolts of lightning showered down from the sky, destroying nearly anything in their path.

* * * * * * * * * *

Sumi's eyes widened at the girl's power. There's no way she's a normal Genin! she thought as she charged her fans to prepare for the attack, but she wasn't prepared for what came next.

Just in the nick of time, she released her jutsu - holding her arms out as far as they would stretch, she chanted a jutsu - "Kaihi no Mai!*" - and began her dance. Fanning her arms in all directions - up, down, left, right, front, back - she began to spin rapidly, using her chakra to deflect the shower of white lightning. When it was over, she dropped her fans, masking her tiredness. She would have to end this now, or she was done. Summoning up as much chakra as she could, she snapped her fans together and charged them to full blast. "You're good, little girl," she sneered. "I'll acknowledge that. But it ends here! Retsuretsu Shippuu!" she lifted the metal fan, preparing to blast the strong little brat so she wouldn't get up again.

* * * * * * * * * *

After releasing her most powerful lightning attack on her vuluptuous apponent, she calmed down. Noticing that it hadn't even scratched her, she cursed aloud, stomping her foot hard onto the dirt. Now her chakra was nearly depleted. Stupid move... But she was tired of dealing with this snobby adversary.

I will destroy her...even if I die trying... Kohana thought, concentrating what was remaining of her chakra into her feet. Charging forward, ready to land her attack right into her challenger's chest. Suddenly, her eyes widened at the sight of Aijou appearing behind the fan lady.

She stopped short, nearly falling flat on her face. She watched, shocked, at what Aijou was doing.

He reached up slowly, taking the fan lady's wrists in his hands, and rested his chin gently on her shoulder. He then began to bring her arms back down to her sides. What was he planning to do?

"A-Aijou...?" Kohana wimpered. "W-what are y-you doing?"

* * * * *

All coherent thought stopped when Sumi felt the white-haired ninja slip his arms over hers, bringing them down to her sides and resting his head on her shoulder. She exhaled softly, melting into the hold he had on her. The fans slipped, forgotten, from her hand, and landed with a metallic clanging sound on the hard earth. "You know," she purred, "if you weren't my enemy, I'd take you home with me." She reached back, threading her hand through his hair, brushing the side of his face as she did so.

* * * * * * * * * *

You know... the buxom fan lady sighed, melting into Aijou's arms, if you weren't my enemy, I'd take you home with me.

Aijou grinned. She had dropped her fans, and was now brushing her spindly fingers over the side of his face and into his hair. "Heh..." he laughed as she ran her fingers over the purple doutai* on his brow. "I'm sure you would..." he continued in a sexy voice. "But...it would never work between us, darling..."

Taking his a sharp breath, and continuing to hold her wrists, he began again in a low whisper, his lips brushing over her ear as he spoke. "See, this is how it works, love...I told you never to attack my sister...And you didn't listen...So now you're gonna have to pay..." He paused. "Goodnight......Dengeki Kanashibari!"

A great jolt of electricity flowed through Aijou's fingers straight into the seductive missing nin's vains. He held on for a few seconds, then let go, and watched her fall. It was over!

* * * * * * * * * *

Sumi's heart raced at the ANBU's words in her ears.... that is, until she realized what he was saying. Her last thought was a realization of how she had been tricked before the electricity shot through her veins. She gasped, went completely limp, and fell to the ground in a rather graceful manner to land in a heap at his feet. She saw and knew no more.

* * * * * * * * * *

[Tensei Kaori]

Tadako skidded to a halt. Her target had grabbed a boy who was attacking Ane-san - she was glad Ane-san wasn't hit - and dived off into the brush. Turning a sharp one-eighty, Tadako followed in hot pursuit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


As Iro was rushing towards Nadameru-sensei's would-be assailant, Nada-sensei lept into the air. The woman turned sharply and started to folow.

Oh no you don't, I'm not letting you get away! Iro thought to himself as he lept after her. "Where do you think you're going?" he shouted over the din of the battle.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Tadako was almost there.... a little farther and she would be in the trees where her target lay hidden. Suddenly, someone shouted behind her. "Where do you think you're going?" she heard. "Moeagaru Bunshin no Jutsu!!!"

Tadako turned around to see two identical attackers - one would be the Bunshin - Moeagaru Bunshin? I've never heard of that jutsu... - the one she would have to take care of first. But the problem was, she couldn't tell which was which. Grinning, she came to a halt with one hand on the strap of her favorite backpack, "Where am I going?" she repeated. "Why, right now, I'm going to teach you not to interrupt a lady at work." She removed the backpack from its straps to reveal a rather limp and battle-worn teddy bear. "Teddy-kun," she murmured, hugging it close, "fight with me! Kodomodamashi no Jutsu!²" She channeled her chakra into the pale brown bear and let it go - it flashed blue with chakra for a split second and hovered in the air, turning to face its opponent - or rather, its opponents. The chakra connection made, she could now control it at will. "Teddy-kun! The sword!" she commanded, and it unzipped itself (demon teddy bear backpack or not, it was still a backpack), pulled out a small, doll-sized katana, and zipped itself back up again.

"Teddy-kun! Attack!" she shouted, and the bear shot forward. She clapped her hands together and channeled her chakra towards it. "Tediibea Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!³" she shouted, forming a perfect Shadow Clone of her attacking doll. Now there was one bear for each image of her opponent. In perfect unison they swung their swords and a full-on offensive. Tadako waited patiently, watching to see which was her real enemy and which was a Bunshin.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"Why, right now, I'm going to teach you not to interrupt a lady at work" the woman called back. Suddenly, a small object began to take life as it was infused with Chakra. It seemed to pull a small blade from seemingly inside itself. "Teddy-kun! Attack!" she shouted, and the bear shot forward. "Tediibea Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" The creature split into a clone, to match Iro and his own.

"Pffft, don't underestimate me! You think something like this can beat me!" As the creature sliced into his clone with its miniature katana, the clone exploded in a blinding flash of light. "Seikou!" Iro said to himself, as he quickly took advangtage of the situation.

He disarmed both of the creatures, and as he did, he noticed them to be nothing more than what seemed like stuffed animals.

"Garou no Narini!!¹" Iro shouted as he landed n the ground only a few feet from the toys. His teeth began to grow larger, like fangs. His nails also grew, now resembling claws more so then nails. "Feh, too easy!" he smirked as he tore into one of the two bears. It dissapeared in a puff of smoke. tsk, that one was the clone...

He stood up straight, trying not to show his exhaustion. Jeez, only one clone, and I'm already this tired. This is not good. "Feh, I told you not to underestimate me, eh Otome²?"

He brushed his hair back behind his ear, and took his fighting stance again. "So, shall we try that again?"




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"Otome?" Tadako blinked, then flipped her hair. "My, my, you compliment me, Koinu-kun!¹" she giggled. "Do I really look that young? That's a pretty jutsu you have there, Koinu-kun. I'd like to learn it! If I beat you, will you teach it to me?" She shook her head. "Of course not, because silly puppies don't like to share. Teddy-kun!" she switched back to battle mode. "Oudou no Yubinofushi!²" The bear unzipped itself again, this time arming itself with a set of brass knuckles securely fastened with a small amount of Tadako's chakra. "If you think all I can do is what Teddy-kun does," she said matter-of-factly, "you're wrong. Douton," she chanted as she kneeled down and planted her hands on the ground, channeling her chakra through the earth, "Ashikubi-Shibari no Jutsu!³"

Controlled by her chakra, claw shapes made of earth sprang to life underneath her opponent - a Genin for sure, she thought - and grabbed his ankles. "Teddy-kun!" she commanded, using her right hand to indicate the target, "Yakuzana Seme!⁴" True to its master, the bear sprang into action, beginning a rapid succession of blows mimicking the gang-style attacks she'd seen - and participated in - on her many travels with Ryoichi-sama's group.

"Well?" she asked when the bear paused. "How do you like that? Still going to fight back, or will you leave me alone now?" She released the Douton; all this ninjutsu use was making her tired. She was now kneeling for practicality's sake rather than to keep her victim imprisoned. Not that he had to know that, of course. She wiped perspiration off her brow and grinned. She doubted he'd even want to get back up again, but just in case, she kept her connection with Teddy-kun - who had since returned to his mistress's side - alive. If he got up again, she would make sure he was knocked down again - and stayed there.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"Otome?" the woman said, flipping her hair. "My, my, you compliment me, Koinu-kun! Do I really look that young? That's a pretty jutsu you have there, Koinu-kun. I'd like to learn it! If I beat you, will you teach it to me? Of course not, because silly puppies don't like to share. Teddy-kun!"

Iro didn't know how to respond, was this woman serious?

"Oudou no Yubinofushi!" she called out. The bear once again unzipped itself, and pulled out something much smaller, and less recognizable. "If you think all I can do is what Teddy-kun does," she stated, "you're wrong. Douton,"

Iro gasped, he wasn't prepared for a jutsu, he didn't even think this woman really knew any.

"Ashikubi-Shibari no Jutsu!"

Suddenly, the earth underneath Iro shook, and he was caught by what seemed to be claws made of the earth itself. Feh! This sure is some mess you got yourself into. How could you let yourself be caught by someone like her? She's not eve tak... But before Iro could finish his thought, the woman struck.

"Teddy-kun!" she alled out "Yakuzana Seme!" The bear lept into action, and before Iro could even attempt to free himself, it was unleashing a furious storm of blows on Iro. He could feel as each hit made contact. He could even feel his own bones weakened under the stress of each hit. Finally, the bear relented its assault.

"Well?" she asked when the bear had stopped, "How do you like that? Still going to fight back, or will you leave me alone now?"

He fell to the ground in a heap as the woman released her jutsu. Her words seemed far off, and they echoed in his head. He found it hard to concentrate on her, instead of the searing pain coursing through him.

What are you doing? Are you really this weak? How can you give up this easily? He coughed, and spots of blood stained the dirt under his face. You really are weak... No! I won't give up yet. I can still win! I'm not done yet!

Iro laughed as he struggled to push himself up off the ground. "You really think I..." he paused as he held back more blood, "will go down that easily? Feh, you really do underestimate me Otome!"

Concentrate... one point. One single point. A flower. There is nothing outside this flower, no pain, no suffering, nothing! ... I can win! I can beat her!

"Tch, it's over for you!" Iro released all that was left of his chakra his a sudden burst. More... more... I need more! He focused all of his chakra. "Moeagaru Bunshin no Jutsu!!" This time he created two clones. He could feel his exhaustion, his body's desire to give up and fall, but it seemed distant now. He grasped for more chakra, but was terrified to find there was none. He struggled, but came up empty handed. He could feel his left arm go limp, but it didn't matter. Nothing else mattered anymore. All he cared about was stopping this woman.

"You're not going to escape this time!!!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tadako held back a curse. This kid wasn't going down that easily. Fortunately, she had a plan......

His attack landed, making what had appeared to be her normal bear disappear in a cloud of smoke. She had used the last of her chakra to make a Kage Bunshin of Teddy-kun, and Kawarimi it with the real one - which leapt up into the air behind Tadako's opponent.

"Teddy-kun!" she shouted. "Todome!¹" The bear pulled its fists back for an all-out, and dove straight downwards, landing both fists in a critical blow on the Genin's back. He wouldn't get up again unless someone carried him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


As Iro charged his opponent, all three of him made contact... Gotcha!

The bear dissapeared in a puff of smoke.

But when?!

"Teddy-kun!" she shouted. "Todome!"

The real bear appeared behind him, and before he could react, connected with his back.

It was then that the mental barrier Iro had hastily established shattered. Everything came rushing in, especially that last blow. Iro screamed in pain as he felt the blow hit.

He hit the ground hard, bouncing up slightly before colliding with a nearby tree. The two clones dissapeared harmlessly. Iro's forehead protector had slipped off upon impact and everything faded out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sheathing Teddy-kun's katana and returning it to its normal place, Tadako slung the bear into its backstraps and faded into the trees to watch the battle from above. There wasn't much else she could do, now....

[Tensei Kaori]

Shigekazu versus Akina

Akina ran through the wagon train, not stopping, not noticing, not even caring about anything that went on around her. Her eyes were emerald fire and she moved with a furious determination no one had seen in her, even in the final battle to reclaim the Leaf. Shigekazu, her teammate as a Genin, thought to be missing in action. Thought to still be a member of the Leaf family. But here he was, aiding their enemies? Akina would get the truth from him one way or another - even if it meant killing her former comrade.

* * * * *

Shigekazu lounged uncaringly in a tree, waiting for the battle to be over with already. He wasn't to take part in this attack; keeping up his cover as missing-in-action was important. He was glad Ryoichi had ordered it; choosing to stand aside of his own will would have resulted in suspicion that he still cared about the pathetic fools he once thought of as family. The thought of his former Sensei as the Hokage had nearly made him burst out laughing; what was that village coming to?

Yawning, he leaned back against the tree trunk and closed his eyes. How unusual, for him to think that much. He was almost asleep when a familiar voice interrupted his lazy relaxation.

"Shigekazu!"

There she was. The girl - woman, now - he had had a crush on when they were Academy Students, and even loved as a Genin. She had hardly grown since he knew her, and she still had that flaming red hair - and from the look in her eyes, the fiery temper that overcame her when she was angry. Shigekazu just smiled. "Mmm." He held up a hand to her in a lazy wave. Without even blinking, the deadly beauty darted towards him in a focused attack, a kunai - poisoned, most likely - in her hand. He barely moved, just caught the offending hand by the wrist and pulled it over his shoulder in a painfully tight grip and held the other hand - also by the wrist - straight downwards. He could see her eyes tighten ever so slightly, the sign that his grip was doing its job. "Come, now," he said - one of the rare times he ever spoke - "Why so feisty? Aren't you glad to see an old friend?"

* * * * *

Akina struggled against Shigekazu's iron grip. He had always been strong, but she had changed since they parted ways.

He was strong, but she was stronger.

Balling her right hand into a fist, she let the kunai in her left drop and used her foot to push against Shigekazu's stomach, forcing him back and ripping her hands out of his grip. His eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't have time to react. She had always been faster.

Bringing her foot back down and swinging it up again, Akina delivered a swift upward kick to his chest and kept going until her leg was completely vertical and there was a rather nasty footprint on her former teammate's face. Then without stopping, she spun her leg back down and punched him hard in the gut with her right hand, sending him through the tree he had been leaning against and out on the other side amidst a shower of splinters. The tree cracked and groaned as its upper half began its fall to earth. Akina snatched the still airborne kunai with her left and sent it flying directly at his heart......then cursed.

At the last minute Shigekazu had grabbed a piece of wood and thrown it at the kunai, successfully blocking her attack. But that wasn't the only trick she had up her sleeve. "Ninpou!" She shouted. "Wan-Souzandu Niiduru!**" she made continuous throwing motions, sending Senbon needles - one thousand of them, exactly - flying at all angles towards Shigekazu. Some she used to deflect others, so they would come at him from all sides.

You won't escape me.

* * * * *

Fists and feet flew as Akina dueled her former teammate in midair. She threw a punch at his chest, he parried. She spun around to deliver a kick to his head, he blocked and aimed a blow of his own right at her stomach. She used the leg he had blocked to launch herself into a nearby tree, then shot back at him with double speed, and he threw her to the ground.

Spinning in midair, she landed on a tree branch and flew back at her opponent, who was now in a tree above her. Akina grinned. He looked tired.

The poison seems to be working, she thought triumphantly. Soon he'll be unable to move. Thank you, Sensei, for teaching me how to make it.

The rapid hand-to-hand duel continued, with the occasional tree branch - or treetop, like earlier - fell to the vicious blows delivered from both sides. It was difficult to notice, but Akina was slowly beginning to overpower her opponent. The question was, how long would it take?

Landing on a low branch and looking up at the rather untalkative Shigekazu, Akina gritted her teeth.

I'm going to have to end this, and quickly.