" Thinking "

" Flashback "

Naruto pushed himself forwards as he ran along the tree branches with his eyes focused on the route ahead of him. Beside him Anko and Mikoto jumped along his right and left all looking towards the front, keeping their eyes focused and their wits about them.

The trio were currently on a scouting mission along the border between Fire Country and Grass Country. They had gotten reports that a missing-nin was seen along this route and had been causing trouble to travelers and merchants who were trying to get to Konoha and Kumo for trading purposes. They originated from Wave since Wave was a major trade point in the Elemental Nations and this missing-nin had caused the trading to get many major delays.

Naruto was sent to investigate alongside Anko and Mikoto. Anko since she wanted to get out of the village for a little while with the Torture and Integration division taking up a lot of her time. While Mikoto was sent since Minato wanted a well known shinobi on this mission in case things did not go their way.

Itachi meanwhile had joined the Anbu and was quickly rising to the rank of an Anbu Captain. Naruto though offered to become an Anbu, settled instead with becoming a Jonin. The life of an Anbu was not the one he wanted.

Anko not wanting to be left behind had managed to get pushed to Special Jonin. While her taijutsu and summons were easily Jonin level, she still had to work on her ninjutsu and stamina portion of her skills, something Mikoto was helping her with when possible.

The trio were running almost on the border between the two countries and they were surprised that they had not run into any Iwa shinobi yet since most would have had patrols in the area similar to what they were doing.

"Do you sense anyone Naruto?" Mikoto asked as Naruto focused on his surroundings. He spread his sensory abilities to two miles wide.

After a moment of silence he opened them and shook his head. "Nothing so far."

"In that case it may be best to stop for the night. It is almost sundown and we do not want to be running during the night since our view would be obscured and it will be more dangerous continuing."

Naruto and Anko nodded and quickly found a small cave formation a little ways off that would be perfect for a camp set up. It was only about twelve feet long into the mountainside but it did give them some cover and would likely be the best thing they would find.

Mikoto had been going on missions more regularly lately since it helped to prove the Uchiha's loyalty to Konoha. When the other clans, shinobi and civilians discovered and were told about the almost rebellion, the Uchiha Clan lost a lot of trust and respect.

Since then Mikoto had become the head of the Uchiha Clan and was grooming Itachi to one-day take over since he was the eldest child. She was teaching him what he needed to know so that when he took over he could be an efficient leader and know when to be kind and when to be strict.

Something unfortunately Mikoto's second son Sasuke seemed to need. When finding out about his father, Sasuke had become a very quiet, broody boy who preferred being alone and shot any one down who wanted to befriend him.

A few times Itachi and Mikoto had to stop Sasuke from pushing Ria around since he did not want a weak sister. Mikoto would quickly discipline her son which only made him brood more. He made his life goal to defeat his older brother and become the head of the clan.

Itachi's only response to that was a flick to the forehead and telling him he would be waiting.

It seemed that while Itachi and Ria had taken after Mikoto mostly, Sasuke's personality was leaning more towards his fathers and his way of thinking.

The one clan though that thrived off the Uchiha Clan essentially being cut in half was the Hyuga Clan. Before the Uchiha Clan was the most powerful but now with their numbers halved, the Hyuga Clan was now the largest of main clans and as well as the most powerful.

That was something the Hyuga's obviously knew since some became quite pompous and walked with an air of superiority. But the clan head Hiashi Hyuga quickly stopped that and punished anyone who tried to think that way.

The Hyuga clan head may have been strict and most times cold but he refused to have his clan looked down at because of a few members trying to act better than everyone else.

"Naruto you find us food whilst Anko and I will set up camp. You know what to do if anything goes wrong."

Naruto nodded. "Throw a kunai in the air with a flare seal strapped to it. I got it." He said as Mikoto nodded at him and watched him leap into the bushes.

Naruto searched the nearby wooded areas and managed to come across a small river about eight feet wide and went up to Naruto's knees. He guessed it must have connected to one of the bigger rivers and towards a lake since he found it was teeming with fish.

'I was hoping to find a deer or maybe some rabbits but I guess this will do.' He said as went into the river. He closed his eyes and sensed the fish in the water as they gently and quietly swam past him.

Waiting for a few moments his hand suddenly struck the water and a moment later his hand left the water and had a fish in his hand.

Smiling he threw the fish onto the river bank and he copied this movement five more times until he had about six fish all resting on the riverbank.

Nodding and thinking to himself he just stood in the water for a few moments as he took in the clean air of the forest.

He enjoyed the forest when it was peaceful and in a strange way felt one with it. Whether that was because of his Mokuton or it was just him.

'I should get back. No doubt Anko and Mikoto will want their dinner. Anko after all has a stomach that seems endless.' He thought though the same could be said about him.

Stretching him arms and cracking his shoulders Naruto got out of the river and shook his legs, making small splashes of water hit the dirt and grass. He picked up the six fish three to a hand and began walking; though before he could move a chakra signature appeared to his surprise coming from behind him.

He frowned when he felt it was panicked and possibly injured from the erratic feelings he was getting from it.

A moment later a second, stronger signature appeared and quickly determined that the first signature must have been running from the second one. The second signature was definantly Jonin level while the first was lower than a Jonin but a bit higher than a Chunin.

'Looks like they're about a mile away.' He thought and could feel the stronger of the two closing in fast.

Biting his lip, Naruto quickly made a shadow clone. "Go back to Mikoto-sensei and Anko, tell them what I have sensed. I will put a flare kunai in the air when I have arrived to where the two signatures are."

The clone nodded and took the six fish before he ran back to the camp while Naruto turned, made sure his blade was strapped to his side before he pushed off as quick as he could and towards the location.

As he ran, he could sense the two signatures getting closer and closer before he felt the first suddenly stop, almost like it was making a last stand. The second drew closer and flared its power.

Naruto ducked under some branches and moved quickly and quietly through the trees, hardly leaving a mark on the branches from how fast he was going.

Pushing off from the tree's he quickly found himself very close to the two signatures and found that they were in a small clearing. He pocked his head through the bushes as quietly as he could and observed who the two signatures were.

He first focused on the stronger of the two. He was a man in his late twenties, maybe early thirties and had blue eyes with a darker ripple around the pupil, waist-length green hair with the top two bangs falling down on his cheeks on each side, and having dark fleshy lips. He wore a grey hooded mantle with three red stripes. Under the mantle was a dark-brown sleeveless vest falling to his knees where the inside was purple, a light brown belt, a light grey pants. All over his body were various protective bandages on his chest and legs.

Naruto knew who he was from the studying the bingo books. This man was Raiga Kurosuki, a missing nin of Kiri, former member of the Seven Swordsman, wielder of the Duels swords Kiba and A ranked shinobi.

'A very deadly foe.' Naruto thought before he turned to the other signature and almost fell out of the tree when he saw who it was.

I'm been for 4 years Naruto and Yugito been dating and been keeping it secret because they don't want their father/ uncle know about it

6 months it had been since he last saw her and yet she looked almost exactly like the last time he saw her, other than the fact she was four years older as well. Her blonde hair was still long and stopped just past her waist. Her uniform was similar as well though now she had her same clothes with no chunin vest

'What are the chance of her being here?' He thought to himself before he saw the swordsman raise the twin Kiba blades.

The pair of swords was slim and straight double-edged blades. Both blades also have an upward-curved bladed prong near the tip of one side of blade and another one near the base of the blade's other side.

'Mikoto sensei will probably yell at me for this.' He thought before with a burst of speed pushed himself of the tree branch and landing between the two. The two Kiba blades were coming down at him so he drew Shusui out and managed to block the strike.

When he blocked it, he threw a kunai into the air making the flare though no one was paying any attention to it.

Naruto interference caused both to be surprised seeing another shinobi nearby though Yugito his girlfriend had her jaw hanging open as she looked at Naruto.

' Naruto-kun what are you doing here '

What is he doing here?'

Raiga though pushed himself away a couple of meters and looked at person in front of him.

'Kiiroi Senkō?' Was his first thought before he realized the person in front of him was too young and the hair was too short as well as the eyes.

"Who are you boy? Why are you interfering?" Raiga asked as he took two steps forward with the Kiba blade held tightly in his hands.

Naruto shrugged. "I was in the neighborhood and I heard fighting. I came to check it out and you can imagine my surprise when I find a member of the Seven Swordsman fighting an injured Kumo kunoichi."

"So why interfere?

"Oh no they have an alliance. Personally I have no problem with Kumo and this girl here I know in a way. I don't really want to see her get killed."

Naruto looked behind him for a moment to look at Yugito injuries. Her right leg had a big gash in it and a small bit of the bone was lodged out of her skin. It was a surprise that she managed to run as fast as she did with that kind of leg injury.

He turned back to look at Raiga.

"You can't beat me brat. I was once a member of the Seven Swordsmen, seven of the best kenjutsu users in all of Kiri. You think you can hold a candle to my skills?"

"There is one way to find out. I have always enjoyed fighting strong opponents and I have always wanted to fight one of the seven."

Yugito who was lying behind them watching this unfold did not understand it. She did not understand why he was protecting her. Shouldn't he hate her? After all Kumo and Konoha were like Oil and Water. They just don't mix.

As Naruto readied himself again he felt his Kage Bushin from earlier disperse and now knowing that Anko and Mikoto were on their way.

" Hime." Naruto called getting her attention. "If you can move then I suggest you move out of the clearing unless you want to get involved in your current state." He said.

Yugito gave him a mild glared, but quickly dropped it before she did her best to crawl away.

Focusing in front of him, Naruto eyes went slightly wide when he saw Raiga now just a few feet from him with the Kiba blades coming down on top of him.

He quickly brought Shusui up and blocked the strike and held it there as Raiga slowly began pusing him back, using his superior physical strength against Naruto.

As Naruto got pushed back, he releases the hold from the two blades and ducked a swing. He then cocked his fist and threw it towards Raiga's side.

Raiga though saw it coming and jump a few feet away only to see the punch caused a crater to form into the ground.

'I have to watch this one carefully.' He thought now recognizing that Naruto was not some run of the mill shinobi.

Raiga said as a ball of lightning formed in his hands and he threw it towards Naruto.

Naruto though saw the ball coming." " A burst of wind shot forward stopped the lightning ball dead in its tracks and making the lightning dissipate.

Naruto pushed off from the ground and went to deliver a hard kick to Raiga's stomach. Raiga however caught Naruto's foot and twisted it, making Naruto's body twist in air before he fell to the ground.

A little dazed Naruto saw one of the Kiba blades coming towards is head and move it to the side, narrowly dodging the top of the sword. He brought his left leg up and kicked Raiga away, making the swordsman's feet skid along the ground a few meters before he stopped.

Naruto got back up but Raiga threw one of the Kiba's towards Naruto face and Naruto narrowly dodged it again but this time felt the tip of the blade slash against his cheek as a bit of blood tricked down it.

Naruto pushed himself away.

Raiga quickly did the same.

The bullets from each side collided with one another neither managing to hit the opponent and the jutsu's quickly cancelled each other out.

Raiga and Naruto battled both trying to get the better over the other as Raiga swung one of the Kiba's at Naruto who managed to block the blade. Raiga then brought the second Kiba up and aimed it at Naruto abdomen from the side.

Naruto saw it from the corner of his eye and the blade hit Naruto. Yugito gasped a little seeing Naruto get hit but then saw his from burst into smoke and be replaced by a log.

Raiga looked around for a few moments before he saw a shadow forming beneath him. He looked up and saw Naruto coming down towards him.

Naruto aimed to split Raiga right down the middle but with his swords in an X shape, Raiga blocked the strike as the two again fought for dominance.

This time though Naruto used his footwork to his advantage and managed to slip his right leg between Raiga's. He then leaned forward as their blades were crossed and head butted the swordsman, making him stumble back. Taking the chance Naruto threw a chakra enhanced kick to Raiga's stomach making him tumble and skid to the ground.

Raiga fumed as he got back up and felt a small trickle of blood go down his forehead before quickly swept it away.

From the side of the clearing Yugito was watching in slight awe. She looked at Naruto and could not believe that someone her age was managing to hold his own against someone as strong as one on the seven swordsmen.

'I thought he was strong before but in these last few years he has not been slacking. I can barely keep up with their movements as they are.'

"Alright brat you're not bad. I'll give you that and your sword is a fine blade. But it's time to stop messing around." He said as Naruto watched as Raiga held up his right hand and made a sign.

As the mist finally settled Naruto could barely seen six feet in front of him. His view was completely obscured and he quickly knew that eyesight was not going to help him here.

'I have to use my sensor abilities for this one. They might be the only thing I can use in this situation.'

"Now you are in my territory boy." Raiga said as though his voice could be heard from all directions. Naruto guessed he must have been projecting his voice with his chakra. "This is a little trick I learnt from my old pal Zabuza. Well more like stole it from him but it's all the same."

"If you are trying to scare me then you will have to do a lot better than that." Naruto called but heard a low chuckle.

"We shall see." He said before Naruto heard thunder rumble over heard and could scarcely see a bright light suddenly strike not far from him. He sensed Raiga was about twenty meters to his left and threw a few shurikens in that direction.

He heard some clanging before Raiga's voice was heard again.

Naruto could barely see as a lighting current that must have originated from Raiga shoot towards the sky and saw it ripple along the skyline. After a moment Naruto's eye widened and quickly jumped to the side and rolled away just as a bolt of lightning formed and shot down towards the ground making a small explosion occur.

'That was too close.' Naruto thought before he went back to sensing for Raiga who was now ten meters behind him

He quickly turned around and blocked a strike from Raiga.

Naruto called as Naruto slashed the air and made an air strike sail towards Raiga. Raiga though only grinned as he duck and rolled out of the way and went back to using the mist.

Naruto once again heard as he saw lightning shoot into the sky again and Naruto once again managed to roll out of the path of the falling lightning strike.

However as he rolled he inadvertently rolled towards Raiga who was waiting for Naruto and drove the Kiba into Naruto's side; Naruto sensed him at the last second and moved to the side but still the blade managed to cut his side and make blood begin to pour out of the wound. Naruto jumped away and clutched the wound.

'This is not good timing.' He thought as the hand over the wound began pumping healing chakra into the cut, hoping to heal it enough.

"It looks like the young swordsman is now injured. I guess he is not as strong as he thought he was." Raiga taunted.

Naruto took a calm breath. "Okay enough is enough. No more letting him toy with you like this. The next strike he might land on me could be the last. Use the training your sensei's have given you."

As his left hand poured some more healing chakra into the wound, Naruto brought his right fist up and slammed it into the ground causing the entire field to quake and become dislodged as large rocks and debris shot all over the place.

Raiga who was going to strike Naruto again lost balance and stumbled just as Naruto managed to sense where he was again. Pushing himself forward Naruto clashed blades with Raiga again as Raiga tried to force Naruto back.

He managed to do so but watched as Naruto burst in a puff of some.

'Where is he?' He thought as he tried to look around only to realize that the tables had now turned and Naruto was now using the mist to his advantage.