To Tame a Different Dawn

Chapter 4

By: FortressMaximus

Author's Notes:

Yep, I'm still alive. Although I'm sure by now many of you want to kill me deader than Toonami's chances of resurrection on CN. I simply haven't wanted to do any writing since Christmas until recently and this is the result.

For those of you who still watch for me posting I am sorry for leaving you in the lurch for so long. I will try to do better by you in the future.

Please read and review. And PLEASE let me know if this butchered fusion of Naruto and Tamers is in any way enjoyable. I've got some interesting plans for this story but if my delay has taken the wind out of it's sails then I need to consider that as well.

Thank you again to everyone who reads my stories.

FortressMaximus

August 7th 2011

Janyu and Takehiro landed without a sound, their gaze focused on the far side of the training ground. "Guy…what's going on?" demanded the latter as the former took up a place on the next branch over to get a better vantage point on the situation at hand. "The messenger just said there was trouble here at the old training ground but didn't have any more information than that."

The younger shinobi looked up, noticing the look of worry prominently etched on the face of both fathers. With a respectful nod to the pair he glanced towards the two Sand ninja. "Seems like those two decided to chat up a girl. When it became clear she wasn't interested, one of them used a Genjutsu on her."

"They what?" snarled Takehiro as his fists clenched. "Are you sure?"

"Positive, Sir.." confirmed Mikoto. "I sensed it as soon as they used it."

"Then what are we standing around for? Let's go!" motioned Janyu as he began to leap down to the ground. Neither he or Takehiro knew why they had been asked to come and help out; with Guy and Mikoto on the scene they shouldn't be needed for something this simple. Still, they were asked and it was their duty as shinobi, even if it delayed getting home to their families for a few minutes.

"We can't Sir; orders."

"Orders? From who?" asked Janyu as he paused on the branch.

"That would be me…" came a voice from above the foursome as Yamaki landed without a sound beside Guy and Mikoto.

"Yamaki, what in the blazes is going on? If there's someone in trouble then we have to help!"

Inwardly, the leader of Fox Watch smiled; 'like father like son' he thought, seeing so much of the man before him in the boy he had been helping off-and-on again when time permitted. "We already are helping Takehiro; a two, no…sorry…three man team of our best and brightest up-and-coming ninjas are already on the ground and proceeding with their plan as we speak."

"What team?"

Yamaki looked at Janyu and Takehiro with even eyes. "Team Seven."

It took a moment for the pair to realize what the man was truly saying. Team Seven didn't exist…yet. The current class of young ninjas had only enough training members to fill six teams. The seventh team had been put on hold until a replacement could be found as one member dropped out recently due to family obligations.

That member had been Jeri Kato.

Which meant…

The two fathers paled as they fixed Yamaki when hard stared. "You mean our sons are down there by themselves!" they nearly shouted in perfect unity, only just catching their anger and lowering their surprise to a intense snarl of disbelief.

"By themselves? No; Terriermon's with them." he stated in a perfectly normal tone.

Janyu's tone dropped to a dangerous whisper. "So my son…OUR sons…are out there, going up against two Sand Ninja who have at least some basic control over Genjustu and you're telling me their only back-up is my dog?"

A simple nod was the only reply.

"What are you thinking Yamaki!" said Takehiro, grabbing the man by the shoulders. "Those boys are barley trained in the basics, and you're sending them headlong into a possible fight with two trained Sand Ninjas! Why!"

"Because they are doing what your or I would do in the same situation; being truthful to their oaths as Ninja of the Leaf Village and helping those in need. It's no different than what you or I would be asked to do by our Hokage; to risk our health and-if necessary-our lives to make our home safer and protect those who live here. Those two-despite any lack of training they might have-saw a girl in trouble and without hesitation are stepping in to do what's right."

The look on both faces softened as the pain of knowing the commander of Fox Watch was right battled against their father's instincts to swoop down and protect their boys from harm. "But Yamaki, their our sons, we can't just stand by and let them be hurt."

"Believe me Janyu, I know exactly how you feel. You're not the only one with a child in danger down there."

The group startled as a sixth ninja landed gracefully on the branch to the upper right of Mikoto. Having approached so soundlessly-her chakra totally unnoticed by four of the most highly trained shinobi in the village- were but two minor testaments to the great powers she still possessed as a Ninja of the Leaf. Yet to everyone in the village she was more than just any ninja…

She was their Hokage.

The five current members bowed slightly as Seiko Hata looked over them, eyes set in aged skin but still with a piercing gaze that put a primal fear into many a troublemaker that had the misfortune to wind up in her office. Having left her normal white robes behind for more traditional garb, the elder woman wore a woman's version of the outfit many of the men sported; a dark set of long pants and green tunic as a sturdy brown coat covered her back. The symbol of the leaf in burnt orange decorated the back of the coat as sturdy belt circled her waist, the pouches filled with weapons and potions both mundane and exotic.

"Hokage-sama…" whispered Janyu respectfully…."what do you mean?"

The eldest of the group raised one eyebrow as she looked over at Yamaki. "You haven't told them?"

"No, ma'am."

"Told us what?" asked Takehiro as he looked between Yamaki and his Hokage with confusion on his face.

"The young girl your two boys are seeking to rescue is my granddaughter Rika." The voice was even and strong, but something in her eyes belied the worry that chilled her blood at the thought of something happening to her last living part of her family.

"But…Hokage-sama…if it's your granddaughter then we must act now! Those foolish boys from the Sand don't know what their doing! If they somehow awaken the Kyuubi…!"

"She's not awake Mr. Matsuki; of that I am sure." stated Mikoto, unaware of just how wrong she truly was to a degree. "If the Kyuubi was awake, or if Rika was somehow tapping into it's powers I would know."

"If we wait, then the risk of that monster awakening grows with each passing second! Hokage, please, let us help our sons before it's too late for both them and your granddaughter!"

Moving to stand beside the upset father, Seiko took her mans' hands into her own. "Janyu, I too am fearful for my Rika; she has been through so much to be so young. But the powerlessness you feel now is only a fraction I have had to live with for the past decade. Every fiber of my being is screaming for me to get down there; to scoop my baby into my arms and tell her it's okay. I can not, and you both know why..." she softly said, knowing that Guy and Mikoto had not yet had the full briefing on the true nature of the Fox and the role her granddaughter played in the continuing safety of the Leaf Village. "I can only say that-with all of my love for Rika -I must agree with Yamaki's assessment of the situation; Henry and Takato must be given this chance to prove themselves. If we stop them now; what damage will we cause? And not just to their growth as shinobi, but to their rescue plan? The more people we have rushing in to 'save the day' the greater the chance someone could break-or at the very least weaken- the seals binding the Beast if things spiral out of control."

Janyu and Takehiro looked at each other, torn between believing their Hokage's words and the father's instincts that formed the core of the men as they were today. The two friends debated in their minds' eye for a long moment before Takehiro exhaled deeply. "As you wish Hokage; but know that while I understand your reasoning if those two Sand idiots hurt our sons, there will be hell to pay and we will the first in line to collect that payment personally."

A twinkle in her woman's eyes brought forth a soft smirk. " Then I suggest you take a number young man, because I shall be at the front of that very line myself! But let us have hope for our next generation first; I have a feeling that we will be surprised by what they have to show us today."

For all her wisdom and knowledge, not even Seiko Hata would have known how much an understatement her musing would prove to be.

Takato paused, the shadow of the tool shed falling over him as he hesitated before turning the corner. He had managed to make his way around the perimeter of the training ground, narrowly avoiding old rusted equipment and debris scattered among the overgrowth. Now only a dozen feet or less from the girl, he refocused his chakra, bringing it back under control despite his heart pounding with fear-and perhaps excitement-at what was about to happen.

As he peeked around the structure, he saw the girl from behind and felt his heart leap into his throat. Locked in whatever terror the boys from the Sand had inflicted upon her, Takato could tell by her rigid and trembling form that it must be terrible indeed.

"Don't worry miss.." he whispered to the air around him…"I'll get you out of this and make those jerks pay for this! I promise!"

His body tensing up and youthful muscles ready to explode into action, Takato Matsuki glanced past the trio and at the approaching forms of Henry and Terriermon.

"Come on Henry…draw these bastards off!"

Having spent the last few minutes playing 'fetch' with Terriermon, Henry had successfully removed his training gear and hid it among the landscape of the clearing. Now looking as if just a normal boy playing with his dog, the young ninja knew that it was time to put the plan into action. With a nod towards his canine partner, the dog shot off towards the two Sand ninjas.

"Look out!"

Jerking up from his prize, Kenta turned kunai in hand as the waning light reflected off his glasses. Before he or Kazu could react, a blur of motion swooped over their heads and the hard jerk of his headband being torn off nearly pulled the Prince of the Sands onto his rear.

Running at top speed in circles around the two youths, Terriermon made sure their attention was solely on him before dashing back to Henry with his own prize in mouth.

"Oh geesh! I'm sorry about that!" lied Henry as he pretended to fail at taking the headband protector from the dog. "He loves to play keep away and I guess he thought your headband would be a good toy!"

With a growl of displeasure at his fun being interrupted, Kenta stomped over to recover his property, a still-uneasy Kenta by his side. "You stupid peasant! How dare your mangy mutt steal my headband! That was a gift from the Third Kazekage himself!"

Henry felt the bile raise in his throat as he caught a glance of the tortured girl out of the corner of his eye, but knew he not dare let them know he saw her in the shadows cast by the fading daylight. He had to play the role of 'normal boy' until Takato could make his move. "Hey! It's not my fault he wants to play! I mean, you've had a dog right?" he shot back, letting go of the headband as Terriermon 'pulled' it out of his grasp.

"Damm it!" yelled Kazu as he dove for the dog, only to end up with a face full of dirt as the canine ran in circles slowly moving down the field.

"And you call yourself a ninja? Geesh, you are worthless Kazu…" berated the Prince as he took out a second kunai and prepared to toss it at the animal.

Henry was on him within a moment, grasping at the boy's arm. "You're not gonna kill my dog!" he yelled, honestly terrified of the thought of Terriermon laying dead in a pool of his own blood.

Kenta just snarled and broke free of the grasp. "You idiot! I don't care about your stupid mutt! That's my headband and I want it back!" he yelled, shoving Henry off-balance and aiming once more as Kazu looked at his brother.

"Kenta, come on man! It's some stupid guy's dog! We'll get it back! There's no need to…"

"Damm it Kazu! I want my headband back and I want it now! I am your Prince and I don't care about some stupid kid, or his idiot dog! Kill the damm thing now!"

"Like hell you are!" yelled Henry, knowing he couldn't keep up the charade any longer without Terriermon possibly getting seriously hurt if not killed. He knew the boys were asses; who else would use a genjitsu on a girl to get what they wanted? He was going to lure them further away from the girl but there was no way he could have foreseen the pair-especially the boy in the glasses-as being this bloodthirsty. As he regained his balance the boy fell into a fighting crouch and eyed the two Sand youths standing side-by side. "Ninja Art! Shadow Possession Jutsu!" came the attack call as the well-practice hand signs were quickly completed and Henry's shadow lunged forth.

"Damm it! He's a Leaf Shinobi!" came Kazu's realization a split second too late as his entire left side-along with Kenta's right-became immobilized by the jutsu from the shoulder down.

"That…right….you bastards!" growled Henry as the strain of holding the pair hit him as if he had fallen out of a tree and hit the ground back first. "You think you….can waltz into…our village and hurt people…just to get your jollies? Hell no!" Although he wanted to fully engulf them both, getting half of each was still enough to hold them in place…for a few minutes at least. "NOW TAKATO!" Although he knew it was a dead giveaway that he wasn't alone, Henry wasn't sure if Takato could have seen how quickly he had to reveal his Shadow Possession and knew their window of opportunity to free the girl had just started to close.

"Darn it!" Takato yelled as it became clear that whatever happened with Henry's diversion must have gone south pretty fast. Crossing those last few feet from the shed to the girl he pulled up in front of her and looked into her glazed-over eyes. "Listen! I don't know if you can hear me, but I'm gonna get you out of this! I promise!"

Closing his eyes the boy began to build his chakara, feeling it bubble up from within his chest and outwards to his fingertips. He had kept it suppressed so the two Sand shinobi wouldn't sense him approaching, but now it would take a few extra moments to bring it to the point he could break the Genjustu and get the girl out of danger.

He knew Henry could buy him those precious few moments; his best friend could do anything.

*Hurry Takato, I don't know how long I can hold them!* Henry thought to himself as the two boys struggled to break free; their own chakra battling against his own. Sweat began to bead on his brow as his feet dug into the soft earth trying to get a few extra seconds of purchase against the strain of his captives.

Terriermon leaped forward, determined to distract one of the boys to lessen the stain on his Master. But Kazu, though half-immobilized and unable to use his left arm made use of his right and deflected the canine's attack with an arm block, deflecting the dog's arc and sending him headfirst into a old oak tree. Dazed from the impact, the animal fell to the ground unmoving.

"Terriermon!"

Kazu blinked as he felt his chakra slowly overwhelming the Possession jutsu in his leg. *He's distracted! Damm I hated to do that to a dog, but this whole situation has gone in the toilet! We've got to get out of here before the entire freaking Anbu Black Ops shows up!*

Turning his head, Kazu looked over at his brother. "Kenta! We've got to get out of here!" he shouted, but blinked when silence was his only reply. "Kenta! Kenta can you hear me?" he yelled once more, suddenly afraid something had happened to the boy who was his only real family and his charge to protect.

"She's mine…" the boy growled, eyes fixed on the girl he had been so close to enjoying. Now some other boy was now where he had been minutes earlier. "She's mine! My prize! You can't have her!" he screamed as his free arm raised up and pointed towards the boy and the girl.

Oblivious to all that was going on outside in the real world, Rika could only sit there in the ravaged mental simulation that at one time had been the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Now it was a desolate wasteland, filled with crumbling buildings and lifeless bodies both strewn as far as the eye could see. No one was spared; men, women-even children looked up at her with unblinking eyes wide, the last few seconds of their life spent in terror as the creature consumed the souls of all that crossed her path.

The creature that bore her own face.

Tears still ran down her cheeks as she looked blankly at the desolation and death around her. +Is this all I'm good for?+ she asked no one as her arms crossed her torso in a weak attempt to shield herself from the destruction around her. …+causing misery and suffering?+

She looked over-but truly didn't see- the walled prison that held her lifelong prisoner in check. +Is this why no one loves me?+

The Kyuubi herself was near tears; not for her imprisonment as she had long ago come to uneasy terms with her fate. Rather it was the tears the girl now shed, both here in the mental plains of her mind and out in the real world that gave the Great Elemental Beast such grief.

+"Rika, please you MT believe me! You and I…we are not the monsters they think! You must understand this! You deserve so much more than just pain and suffering! They are scared of you…of us BOTH! But together…TOGETHER we can prove them wrong! Together we can overcome their fears! This destruction will never happen Rika; I swear it! You are not alone!"+

The words, however impassioned, fell upon deaf ears as the girl rocked back and forth waste deep in rubble. +No one cares about me and no one loves me. Why am I even alive? Why do I even care about living when everyone else wishes I wasn't?+ she asked the Beast, her soul falling into darkness and despair.

Feeling her heart break from the girl's grief, the Kyuubi searched for an answer. It was then through the bond she and Rika shared that she saw through the human's eyes a glimmer of hope. +"Rika! Look! There! The boy from the park! He's here to help you!"+

Rika looked up at the caged beast. +Boy?+ she whispered, still rocking lightly back and forth.

+"The boy with the goggles! Here's here to help Rika! Don't you see-he cares about you!"+

In her haunted state, Rika's mind was barely aware of her own mental presence, let alone the world outside at large. But something the Kyuubi said rung a bell within her mind's eye. +Goggles? No…not goggles…glasses…+ she said, her face turning darker as a deep black aura formed around her body. Slowly she stood, the dark aura growing more intense as her most negative of emotions bubbled forth, making the girl look as an undead phoenix rising from the grave.

+Glasses. The boy who hurt us. He wore glasses…+ she said, turning away from the beast and back towards the expanse of mental nothingness that lead back to reality as she knew it.

It was then the Kyuubi realized the mistake Rika had made. +"No! Rika! It's not the boy who did this to you…to us! It's the boy from the park…the one with the kind eyes! He's not here to hurt you!"+

But the girl was beyond listening now. Fueled by her darkest emotions and the terror the Genjustu instilled in her, the mental image of the desolate wasteland changed a close representation of the park that lay around her in the real world. A shadow figure appeared before her; a blob of darkness and light, swirling together with highlights of brown hidden within.

It was then the girl's hand began to move.

+"No! She's fighting back against the Genjustu but it's directed at the wrong person! RIKA! Please listen to me; that's not the one who hurt you!"+ she yelled, but her words were lost the billowing storm of rage that surrounded the young woman. In desperation, the Kyuubi threw every ounce of her remaining power against the bars but again and again they held fast, sending the power back to the source. Flying back against the stone wall of her prison the beast staggered to her feet, only able to watch as the girl's hand grasped at the swirl of mixed colors before her and began to squeeze.

One minute he was focusing on his chakra, the next Takato was gasping for breath. Gurgling at the surprise attack, the boy could only look on with horror at the darkness that seems to drown the girls' eyes in its obsidian depths. "Guh…p..ase…I'm trying..to.." he stammered out, grasping at the girls' shoulders trying to pull away. With the corners of his vision already starting to blur, Takato felt his knees give and he slumped against his unwanted foe.

Unaware of the struggle going on between his friend and the girl, Henry felt the last of his charka reserves escaping his grasp. He still held the two by only the thinnest of threads and his own vision was beginning to fade in and out of focus. Digging his feet into the earth he summoned every bit of energy he had left, hoping to hold the pair for a few seconds longer. *Takato…please…hurry…..* whispered the young ninja as his jutsu started to flicker in and out of existence. It was only through the haze of chakra exhaustion that Henry saw the outstretched of the boy on the right, his arm pointing at the pair beside the building.

"You bastard! The girl is mine! " and with a flick of his wrist the hidden kunai launcher released, sending the speeding weapon towards the girl, determined that if he couldn't possesses her no one should. He was a Prince of the Sand, and no Leafer shinobi wanna-be would take what was his!

Henry tried to warn his friend but the teen's exhaustion caused the worlds to stumble out, lost to the din of battle.

Takehiro blinked as he saw the kunai streak towards his son and the girl and in a flash was gone before Seiko or Janyu could stop him. Pushing his speed to the limit the father knew he would never make it in time to help the young woman his son was trying to hard to save, unaware that very girl was strangling his boy to death.

Something within Takato's senses broke through the haze of pain and he felt-rather than saw-the knife speeding towards the girl. Clawing at the hand around his throat, Takato managed to pull it away for a split second, inhaling a deep breath of air as he protective instincts kicked in. Knowing he couldn't move her out of the way and not about to leave her to take the force of the attack, the young ninja did the only thing he could do.

Takato's scream of agony rippled throughout the practice field, shattering the quiet of the early night and freezing Takehiro's blood in his veins. The one sound no parent wants to hear is their child in pain, and any father-even a ninja-isn't immune to that deep-rooted fear.

Kenta stood there, shocked that the boy had put himself in the way of the kunai. "That fool! All for some stupid girl!"

Kazu blinked, forgetting how close he was to being free at the selfish act the boy across the way just preformed. "He took the hit…." is all he could mutter before feeling the Shadow Possession shatter and turned back to see Henry slump to his knees drained. Now free to move, he took a step towards his foe before a hint of motion got his attention and saw his brother rush forward to finish what his attack started.

"Kenta, no!"

"That fool is yours Kazu! Finish him quickly! His accomplice will regret the day he crossed paths with me!" snarled the boy as he raced forward, kunai in hand.

It was then the whole world exploded in a sea of energy.

Takato's tenacious hold on his chakra build-up had been shattered by the sharp blade slicing into his shoulder, his power exploding all at one, unchecked and unfiltered as it blew Kenta back a good twenty feet and stirred Henry from his dazed state.

"Takato…?" whispered Henry as he and Kazu stared at the rupture of chakara as it surrounded the boy. Though normally invisible to all but the most trained of shinobi, Takato's energy swirled around the pair of teens, readily visible plumes of red and black slashing back and forth- as if each color was trying to dominate the other.

Takehiro could only stand in wonder at the sheer amount of power his son released. "Takato…how …?" he whispered to the air around him, never knowing-never even suspecting-his son possessed that much untapped power. And he was not alone. The other ninja's stood in awe of the rampaging display of power as well, eyes both young and old watching the display with a hint of reverence and of fear.

Seiko gripped the branch of the tree with all her might, praying that her granddaughter was okay.

Rika screamed in agony as the massive burst of chakra lanced through her like lightening, the dreamscape of her mind fragmenting into blackness as she fell to her hands and knees grasping at the nothing under her fingertips. Pain beyond understanding assaulted her, the energy dancing around her shivering body as if she was a battery on overload, sparks showering up from her trembling form.

Even the Kyuubi was effected, the Great Beast struggling against the overload of power as it rushed through her as easily as it did Rika. +"By my Grandfather! Such power!"+ she exclaimed, bracing herself against the rear of her prison as the energy danced over her body. +"This boy…has this much chakra! How is this possible!"+

Then, just as suddenly as it started, the power faded, swirling melding as it was pulled back into Takato's unmoving form. There was a calm still surrounding the training ground, as if the entire clearing was in the eye of a tornado. No one dared to speak or move until Kenta's charge towards his foe began once more. To the adults present it was clear the youth's determination to end the conflict permanently for Takato had pushed the skirmish into an all-out battle.

"Move. Now." ordered the Hokage and at once the ninja complied, pushing their speed to the maximum as they raced to stop the violence before it could go any further. She had given the boys' their chance, but now neither one of them would be in any shape to defend themselves. As Hokage she had given the two young shinobi the chance to proves themselves; now it was her place in the universe as a grandmother to see if her precious granddaughter was alive.

Janyu reached Henry first, pulling up short when he found one of the Sand youths gently putting the still dazed Terriermon beside his son. Glancing up at the arrival of the elder ninja, Kazu leapt back kunai in hand. "He's fine. No broken bones but he's got a bad case of chakra exhaustion. The dog's fine too; didn't mean for him to hit that tree. Little guy's a fighter-gonna be a good partner." he said, keeping a wary eye on the trio before him. "The whole 'playing keep-a-way' was a good trick; until he pulled that Shadow Possession jutsu I would have just thought he was some regular kid."

Janyu looked at the youth, not expecting the boy to be respectful of his son's efforts. "You know we aren't going to let you walk away from this. You assaulted a citizen of the Hidden Leaf Village; I need you to come with me son."

An understanding smile crossed Kazu's face as he nodded. "Yea, we're gonna catch hell for this from the Kazakage. But I can't worry about that now; my duty is to my Pr…brother. I'll get him out of here-you get those kids…" he paused, jerking his head towards where the girl and the boy had been…"to a hospital or something."

"Listen to me young man; you're not going anywhere. Put the kunai down and surrender." Janyu asked, the tone of voice making it abundantly clear the Sand youth wasn't going anywhere.

With a grin the boy slipped the kunai back into his hip pouch and shrugged. "Sorry old man…not today! Ninja Art! Sand Transfer Jutsu!" and with a quick set of hand signs the boy was gone, disappearing into the Earth as if his own body was pulled down by the ground itself leaving only a wayward cloud of dust to mark where he had been moments before.

Kenta pulled up beside the dazed youth as Takato drifted in and out of consciousness. With a scowl of disgust he looked at the girl first…"you're not worth the hassle; I've had better." he taunted, not caring the remark went mostly unheard. It was then he turned towards the boy…"you fool! All you had to do was look away and not get involved. Now you're going to die for sticking your nose in my business! Well, one less Leafer to worry about!" and with that his fist with the kunai streaked towards the boy's heart.

"Don't. You. Touch. HIM!"

The killing blow was halted in mid-arc, a grasp of steel wrapping the boy's wrist in a painful vice made him cry out softly as the weapon fell from numb fingers.

Rika looked up at the boy who had caused her so much pain: the hate and anger in her eyes made him pale in terror. Slowly she stood up, wincing at the effort as she pushed the Sand Ninja back away from her and the boy at her feet.

"You little bitch! How dare…" he began to rant when arms he knew well wrapped around him. "Kenta! Time to get out of here!" whispered Kazu as he held onto his Prince and brother .

"No! Not yet! They defied me! They must pay!"

"You stupid arrogant idiot! We're going to be the ones to pay! This place is crawling with Leaf Ninja as it is! We've got to get out of here now!"

"I'm not going anywhere until this bastard is dead!"

"Stupid asshole!" growled Kazu as he spun his brother around and punched him in the stomach with all his strength. Taken by surprise by the attack, Kenta doubled-over and slumped into his bodyguard's grasp. With a quick glance he saw the approaching Leaf Shinobi and knew it was time to get the hell out of there. He slung his charge over his shoulder, wincing as the boy's weight settled on his frame. "Listen, it doesn't mean a damm thing, but I'm sorry this happened! I hope your boyfriend is okay!" he urgently whispered before a new set of hand signs came into life between his fingertips….'Ninja art! Sand Tornado Jutsu!" he called out. Almost immediately a roaring tornado made of sand engulfed the pair and within the span of seconds they were gone, the dirt dispersing and falling back onto the ground from which it had been drawn from.

Takehiro and Seiko pulled up short several feet out, looking on with wonder as Rika helped the boy up to a sitting position. Guy and Mikoto landed beside them with Janyu-helping an exhausted Henry and Terriermon along-pulled up last.

"Hey you…gogglehead!" Rika said, giving the boy a light shake. "You gonna sleep all day?" she groused, trying to keep the unfamiliar worry for someone else out of her voice.

Wincing as coherency brought fourth pain from his injured shoulder, the teen managed a weak smile. "Sorry. I usually just doze off in math class. Are you okay?" he whispered softly at the girl.

"Am I okay? You jerk, you're the one with the knife in his shoulder! Stupid idiot! Why'd you do that!"

"Because I couldn't risk that kunai hitting you."

"But…you don't even know me!"

The boy gave a dazed smile as what little energy he had left was slowly ebbing away. "Doesn't matter; I'm a ninja of the Village Hidden in the Leaves…" he said with no small amount of pride in his voice. "I wasn't about to let some jerk make you sadder."

Rika felt tears at the corners of her eyes, the wetness there catching her by surprise even more so than the tightening of her heart at his words. "Dummy. I'm not sad." she whispered, noticing his blood running freely over her fingertips as she gently held his injured shoulder in place.

"In the park…while ago… when I saw you. So sad. No one should be that sad…" he whispered to her before a hint of motion drew what was left of his focus towards his father. "Dad…?"

"Hi Takato. Looks like you had your first B ranked mission" the elder joked, trying to keep the worry at his son's injury out of his voice. "Does it hurt?"

"'B' ranked my ass. This was an 'A' mission for sure!" he said, trying to laugh at the joke but winced as the pain lanced through him. "Yea, like hell, but please don't tell mom I cussed okay?"

Fighting back tears the man nodded. "Hey, our secret. We're going to take you to the hospital now and get you fixed up okay?"

The boy nodded as the shadows that danced around the edge of his vision started to show up everywhere he looked. He felt his dad's strong arms lift him out of the girls' grasp and into one he was very familiar with. "Dad…promise me…you'll protect her..." he asked, his voice barely audible. "Please?"

Father looked at son, then at the girl Takato had risked so much to protect. He didn't know why this girl was so important to him, but if it was his son's request to protect her, he would do it.

"I'll make sure of it Takato." the elder Matsuki promised, drawing a smile from his son before the boy passed out.

Rika shakily stood, feeling the eyes of everyone present focused on her. On unsteady legs she took a step back from them, picking up a rock for a makeshift weapon. "Stay…stay away from me.." she warned, the ordeal finally taking it's toll on her formidable constitution.

Seiko felt her heart break, realizing for the first time this night Rika wouldn't have a clue as to who she truly was. Pushing aside the pain of family, Seiko took on the role of Hokage…"Rika, you know who I am, right?" she asked softly, making sure the others present stayed back.

"Yea…you're the head bitch in charge of this hellhole you call a village. Like I said, stay away from me." she repeated, taking another step back but stumbling to one knee as her own vision began to blur.

A soft smile hid her aching heart. "Yes, that's me. Head bitch. Listen Rika, you're hurt. Let us help you. Please?"

"Help me? Where he hell where you when I needed help before! What, no answer?" she spat, glaring at the old woman. "Figures. I suppose you're gonna blame us for this mess! Well, tough luck assholes! I'm not going to let you….let you…hurt…u..us…" she whispered before slumping forward, the rock tumbling out of her hand and back on the ground once more.

The girl never hit the ground as a the gentle grasp of a Grandmother's hold wrapped around her, holding the exhausted girl close. "I wish I had an answer Rika; I truly do. But perhaps it's time for you know the truth…" the elder of the two whispered before turning to look at her friends and loyal supporters.

"Takehiro and Janyu, we need to get our kids to the hospital right now. Guy and Mikoto, I want you two to go over every inch of this area-find me every scrap of proof of what happened here but DO NOT let yourself be seen by any of the ninja of the Sand. Yamaki-I want the Kazekage and those two idiots who caused this mess in my office at 8am.." she ordered through clenched teeth.

"I can have them there much sooner than that Hokage.." began the Intelligence Officer but a shake of Seiko's head gave him pause.

"No. As soon as he finds out about this he's going to send his agents to try and cover this up. I want PROOF of what happened here when I see him." she explained, leaving out the fact the anger she felt at this exact moment would cloud her judgment if she saw those two boys right now.

Yamaki bowed, and was gone in a flash. Seiko looked at the others and nodded. "Let's go; our children need us.." she whispered and with barely a hint of motion the spot where six ninja had just stood became eerily empty with only the swirling leaves to mark their existence moments earlier.

As they leapt through the trees towards the hospital, Seiko was unaware that her whispered reassurances were heard not by the still-silent girl, but by another as well.

Cloaked by his immense power and thus invisible to both the humans around him and his trapped Granddaughter, Azulongmon frowned from within the pocket dimension he had used to monitor the battle. "Yes, Human; perhaps it is time we ALL know the truth after all….".

To Be Continued…