Code Sharingan

A NaruSaku Story

Chapter 6: Formation! Shino-Kiba-Cho!

The loud clang of metal on metal caused Shikamaru to open his eyes wide in surprise. The sight that greeted his returned vision almost caused him to doubt his sanity.

"Great block Shino!" The boisterous and familiar voice sounded next to him as a large firm hand helped him off his butt and too his feet.

"Choji?" he asked as he took in the large Akimichi before him as if trying to decide whether he was still in a genjutsu or not.

"Of course Shikamaru, it's great to see you again." A wide smile and an amused chuckle preceded a clap on the back that nearly caused him to face plant on the ground.

Shikamaru took a brief moment to take in his rescuers appearances. Choji was there of course, and the years had been kind to him; his red almost Samurai like armor, did little to hide the sheer mass of muscle his childhood friend possessed. He'd also grown his hair out longer somewhat in the style of his dad Choza, whom Shikamaru remembered seeing in one of his father's old photos. To his left crouched on what had to be the largest white canine he'd ever seen was a smirking Inuzuka in all black. And in front of him in a green hooded coat with an oddly shaped bag on his back had to have been the forenamed Shino; The flash of a metal forearm guard under his coat sleeve showed how he'd blocked the kunai, and if his eyes weren't playing tricks on him the bugs slipping in and out of his coat showed that he had to be an Aburame.

"We'll have time for introductions later." Shino's voice was a lot like Kakashi's voice; quiet making you almost have to strain to hear him, and calm showing barely any hint of emotion or distress whatsoever.

"He's right Choji!" The Inuzuka barked like his families name sake. "Come on guys lets show these losers why Team 10 is the best team in Konoha! Let's take em down Akamaru! Formation Kiba-Shino-Cho! Let's Rock!" Kiba roared, the large white dog barking in concert.

While Shikamaru rolled his eyes at the noisy Inuzuka's boisterous attitude, he had to admire their efficiency and enthusiasm; especially Choji's. Choji leapt forward and with the expansion and swing of a log sized fist sent the battle axe wielding Chunin who had been pressing Ino scrambling backwards. Ino took the brief reprieve to get to safety—enabling him to let loose the breath he'd been subconsciously holding—and start healing herself. Kiba and Akamaru had leapt into pursuit of the fresh patrol they'd encountered—going to support the others if he guessed right—while Shino had engaged the three he'd been struggling with, by driving them away from him with his Kikaichu bugs. That left him with a brief moment to catch his breath and begin to reassess his options. Quickly he did a mental breakdown of the odds against them factoring in Choji's team and their potential strengths and weaknesses, he also calculated the X-factor of Choji's possible team leader as it was likely he or she was around as well, a slight shimmer in the absolute edge of his peripheral vision heading in Sasuke's general direction seemed to support that conclusion. Concealing himself amongst the trees branches he started looking for a way to interject himself into the battle's his friends were facing at the opportune time.

-ooOoo-

For Hinata fighting was something she truly hated. A gentle soul from birth, she had been thought too kind hearted to be the clan heir, or even a Shinobi for that matter. While she had worked hard to improve it was always in the back of her mind that her little sister Hanabi would more likely take her place. It was only after the Uchiha coup that Hinata had found new inspiration in the form of her cousin Neji, and her teammate Sakura.

The revelations of the truth of the death of his Father—Her Uncle—had healed the rift between her Father and Neji and given them some closure. Thus Hiashi had taken Neji under his wing and began training him intensively. Hinata had felt left behind until she met Sakura. Upon seeing the Rosette haired Kunoichi training as intensely as she could Hinata felt some sympathy for her. One day when Sakura had broken down crying from frustration and the pain of losing her parents, Hinata had gone to comfort her in a—Shocking for her—display of courage and empathy. After letting Sakura cry on her shoulder, and buying her, a drink of cool tea in the shade of one of the Sand villages cafes the two had become friends and Hinata had heard Sakura's story.

Her confidence boosted by Sakura's determination and her own words of encouragement; a renewed Hinata had confronted her father and declared her intent to become stronger for her clan and family. Shocked at her outburst, but with a hint of admiration for his cousin's courage Neji had stepped forward and declared that he would help her in this goal. Hiashi had quietly looked at her with an utterly neutral expression on his face before nodding in assent. He had said nothing more, instead simply going back to his work as if the whole incident had not occurred, but to this day Hinata thought, and Neji Insisted that there had been a small but proud smile on Hiashi's face after they left.

Months of intensive training, tear jerking, and painful bitter hard work had ensued. But with the constant encouragement of Sakura and Neji she had persevered, and soon stood tall as a proud Shinobi. Her Father had said little to her during this time, but when she had in private presented her Hitae-ate to him, he had shocked her by pulling her close to him in a warm embrace, and saying the words which caused her to finally break down crying like a baby into his robes, while clutching onto him for dear life. "I am so very proud of you; my daughter."

Those words had stayed with her every day, and she attacked her duties with a renewed vigor and enthusiasm which surprised her erstwhile new teammates. Both Sasuke and Sakura were used to a shy demure little girl who had to be coaxed forward to even say hello. While she had never let go of her shyness it wasn't as painful as before and so she was able to be more expressive with her teammates, and it was this new outgoingness that had enabled her to befriend someone who everyone told her would be the death of her.

Gaara of the Sand.

A monster they whispered, Stay away, don't play with him. He kills people. She heard the whispers, and even her father seemed somewhat put-off by the young redhead. But Hinata was someone who could not do so. She believed in the inherent goodness of all people, and she would not leave someone to suffer in loneliness when she could act. Thusly she had screwed up her flagging courage and approached him with the intent to talk and listen.

The first encounter had not gone well, and Neji had had to save her from an angered Gaara and the virtual Sandstorm that the young boy had whipped up when she had accidently surprised him. Still this had not discouraged her, and she had insisted to both Neji and her Father that she had not needed the Byakugan to see in his eyes the scared and lonely child that was within, the little boy crying out for a friend, for someone; anyone to recognize his existence. They had shaken their heads but seeing the courage and determination in her eyes had relented,—very reluctantly, and with the caveat that Neji be nearby when she next met the red head.—and let her do as she willed.

Thus armed with her convictions she had approached him again this time not saying anything except hello, and leaving him a snack. The expected tantrum had not materialized and Hinata had sat there watching him eat the offered ice cream with no complaints or even thanks. This pattern had continued for a month with Hinata saying hello and bringing Gaara a snack or some tea, and then sitting quietly while watching him eat or drink before he would leave with no further word. Finally a breakthrough occurred when a peeved Sakura in one of her more bold moods, had given the red head-of whom she was scared to death of- an earful about his lack of manners. A shaken and somewhat contrite Gaara the very next day had whispered a quiet thank you to her while leaving her a cool drink of water after she was done training. This was the beginning of a strange friendship which had many in the Sand village shaking their heads at this new odd couple. But the more she persevered the more Gaara began to come out of the shell of sand he had wrapped himself in, the armor that protected and isolated him as effectively as any shield.

A strange relationship which had left her red faced more then once as Gaara's older brother and sister, as well as Sakura had been relentless in their teasing of her,—none of them would dare try teasing Gaara—about her new boyfriend. While she insisted no such relationship was happening she did privately wonder to Sakura on one occasion whether it would be possible. Any possibility though would have to wait as the War with the Uchiha Empire had expanded and soon they were all on a war footing. The missions had come fast and heavy and with Sasuke's superb skills, and her and Sakura's determination and hard work, lead by Kakashi's quiet wisdom and leadership they had become Suna's finest Shinobi team outside of Gaara, and Shikamaru's teams.

They had fought hard to maintain Suna's independence while simultaneously stymieing the Uchiha Empires plans as much as possible. Things were touch and go though as the Uchiha were skilled and had a large numerical advantage that was only barely offset by the Suna Shinobi's stronger skills and by the rugged terrain of The Land of Winds. The savannahs and deserts crossing the land provided a natural barrier for them. Ironically the exodus of Leaf shinobi because of the Uchiha's extreme methods and iron fisted tyranny had only served to invigorate and improve the skills of the Suna Shinobi, and thus the war had remained stalemated.

And this was how Hyuuga, Hinata found herself fighting for her life against an Uchiha whose hyena like cackling was beginning to grate on her nerves. While she had managed to push her opponent into a stalemate, he had proven irritably capable of staying out of reach of her hands which were her deadliest weapons. She had the technique she needed to defeat him but it required her to get close and her opponent seemed inclined to stay away from her. She flexed and danced nimbly out of the way as a series of fireballs rained down upon her position, and then yelped in pain as a blur shot past her and her blood spilled on the ground from a cut on her back.

"Like it you little Hyuuga Bitch?" he sneered at her from a tree well out of arms reach. "That's my special speed technique. I move in and cut away at my opponent until they're ripe for the kill!" he finished his speech with that hyena like cackle that she was rapidly growing to hate. He blurred again before she could set herself and she was forced to one knee as a cut on her leg opened up.

"I'm gonna enjoy slicing you to ribbons for killing my twin brother!" he shouted before blurring past her twice more and twice more she bled from cuts on her cheek and her chest.

Gritting her teeth she stood and began to rapidly shift her position hoping to keep her opponent confused and off her. "I can't keep up with my Byakugan." She thought inwardly "how is he moving so fast?" She dodged sideways again only to yelp in pain as another cut slashed across her back. She tried to follow his progress with the Byakugan but every time he moved he seemed to blur and get out of focus. It was just as a new cut caused her to drop to one knee again that she felt a soft voice whisper in her mind as much as her ear.

"He's like a hyena; a carrion eater. He and his brother always have been that way. Wait for him to come to you." The soft voice comforted her like her mothers voice would.

And it was in this instance that she felt like a veil had been lifted off of her eyes. "A genjutsu!" she realized. The Sharingan was the key to his attack. He would use the Sharingan to mesmerize his opponent just slightly in order to delay their reactions. As a side effect he would appear much faster then he actually was. She decided to test the theory. This time she steeled herself, and watched as he leapt at her only this time he didn't blur like before. Hinata could feel the intrusion of foreign chakra but in that moment something seemed to wrap around her like her mothers arms would, and pushed the chakra back. She was able to barely avoid the attack getting only a minor cut on her left arm this time.

"I can see!" She thought in triumph. "I can see you now!" Running through a series of hand signs she focused all of her chakra in her hands and feet and readied herself.

"Don't bother!" he cackled "You're already dead!" he howled as he flew at her only to yelp in shock this time as she sidestepped him and pushed him with her arms which allowed his momentum to continue slamming him back first into a tree where he lay stunned for a moment.

It was a moment he would not get back. As his vision cleared he saw Hinata with her arms crossed, and her hands curled as if they were claws. His Sharingan eyes widened as the chakra flowing from her became visible and a roaring golden maned Lion appeared as she spoke in a soft voice.

"Shinsei Naru Kageno!" Hinata intoned the name of her most powerful technique; Divine Shadow Lions Claws. Before he could move she stepped in and slashed her hand down across his chest, and then followed it up with another slash from her other hand. Lastly she reared back and thrust her hand forward and raked it downwards from the top of his head to his crotch. For a moment they stood locked wide Sharingan eye to fierce Byakugan eye. Then he burst into laughter as she turned and began to walk away from him.

"Was that it? AHAHAHAHAH!" he howled manically she hadn't even touched him with her three attacks. "So much for the grand Hyuuga clan!" he roared in great mirth.

Raising his kunai he got ready to stab her in the back for being foolish enough to turn his back on him while he still lived. At least that was the idea. As he tried to move his body felt odd, and his eyes widened again as he suddenly realized what had happened. He tried to scream his defiance and hate to her but could only manage a small cackle before suddenly his world exploded in brilliant red pain and fire, and then went black and cold.

Hinata walked away, and did not turn around. She neither needed nor wanted to see what happened next. It was her most powerful technique, and she was loath to use it. So she didn't look back and deactivated her Byakugan just as Gaara who had been with her the first time she had used it had instructed her to do.

"A gentle soul like yours shouldn't have to see the same blood I do…" He had told her quietly while comforting her in the wake of her first kill.

Behind her a low cackle made its way down her spine before she heard the tree splinter as four large claw marks appeared from left to right, then four more appeared from right to left, and finally four more appeared running down the trunk As if a Giant Lion had raked its claws down the trunk. Her opponent's chakra exploded from him and ignited as if it were oil struck with a torch. An agonized howl followed by the dull thud of his lifeless body collapsing on the ground was all the confirmation she needed to know that he was dead.

"I have to get back to help the others…!" She began only to feel dizziness as her body responded to the blood loss from the profusely bleeding cuts across her body. As she looked up through her hazy vision she saw the last thing she wanted to see, Three Uchiha Chunin standing over her with devilish smiles.

Her last thought before losing consciousness was "I- I'm sorry my friends, please be safe…"

-ooOoo-

To Inuzuka, Kiba fighting was as much fun as taking Akamaru for a walk. Which is to say it was a blast every time, the adrenaline and fast pace appealed to the primal wolf inside of him and he relished the experience every opportunity that came.

He especially relished the opportunity when he could direct his aggression towards the Uchiha Empire. He hadn't liked them before the coup finding them to be an arrogant and aloof clan, but in the wake of the coup he found them all but unbearable. They walked along like they were kings of the earth and woe be to anyone who got in their way or who didn't have their precious sharingan. To the Uchiha there were Uchiha, and then there were the lesser people, and to a pack based person like Kiba this simply wasn't acceptable. Of course he could understand the need for an Alpha in any pack, but as much as his clan had animal traits they were human too, and desired to be treated like anyone else in that regard.

So when the Uchiha started treating them like whipped dogs to throw away at their leisure in their wars of expansion. Kiba took it personally, and so did his entire family. This is how he now found himself fighting for his life against an Uchiha Jonin with a glee that could only be described as insane by any who didn't know him.

"Give it up Mutt!" Snarled the Jonin whose name he neither knew nor cared to know "Treacherous dogs who bite their masters get put down, and believe me your family will suffer for this!" he threatened him.

Bad move.

Threats to Kiba's family and by proxy those he considered family always enraged him to a level that couldn't be described. Putting his hands in the dog seal he snarled like his namesake and was matched in the intensity of his anger by his partner who let his own displeasure be known at this person who would threaten his partner and master.

"Let's kill this guy Akamaru!" He barked "Ninja Art! Man-Beast mimicry!" he roared.

The activation of that jutsu caused a marked change in the young man. His canines and other teeth lengthened and sharpened. His hair grew spiky and wilder, and his fingernails extended and sharpened into razor edged claws as sharp as any Kunai.

But Kiba wasn't finished there as he barked again. "Ninja Art! Beast Clone!"

An explosion of smoke revealed two Kibas crounching side by side as Akamaru obeyed his master's command and transformed. Together like this the pair could perform amazing combinations and made them a deadly duo to fight.

The Jonin seemed unimpressed and let fly with his clan's signature Fireball at the duo. The impressive sized blast seemed to work as the pair was seemingly consumed. "Filthy dogs, that'll teach you to bite the hand that feeds you." Is what he wanted to say; but instead he was forced to dodge as a pair of blurs moving at breakneck speed nearly tore his throat out, and eviscerated him in the same moment. The blurs resolved themselves into an unsigned Kiba and Akamaru who laughed at the shocked look on his face.

"That's all you've got?" one of the Kibas laughed mockingly. "If that's the case then the Uchiha must have lowered their standards!"

"Time to end this! Ninja Art! Twin Fang Tornado!" " He roared "Let's go Akamaru! The second Kiba barked in agreement before both launched themselves like twin mini-tornadoes at the shocked Jonin who had almost no time to react. The twin tornadoes slammed into him from both sides sending him flying through the air before coming back around and smashing into him again. Three more times they slammed into him launching him higher and higher each time before finally they drilled into him a fourth and final time, razor sharp claws combined with the incredible speed and rotation acted like twin drills. Three bodies landed on the ground but only one landed badly. The other two a large white dog, and a black clad smirking Inuzuka who laughed in exhilaration.

"What a loser." He laughed "Let's see Shino top that one." His boasting was interrupted by a snort from his partner. "What?" he snapped looking put out "We took down a Jonin that puts us ahead!" Akaamrus only response was to huff and turn and bark in the direction where Shino had last been seen heading.

"Yeah, yeah lets head off and see how he's doing!" he responded "And who knows maybe we'll run into some more Uchiha along the way." He smirked before leaping into the trees, Akamaru barked in the affirmative before leaping off to follow.

-ooOoo-

"Heheh! Look at what we have here guys." Okayaki a weasel faced Chunin with long spiky black hair sneered. The others had always hated his guts; he was a cruel and envious little snot who took a great deal of pleasure in human misery, and in using his skill at disguise to toy with peoples lives.

"Cant we just go now?" whined Houshoku a rotund but powerful Chunin known as much for his gluttonous appetite as his immense strength. "I'm hungry!"

"Would both of you shut up!" Tanran the tall lean chunin snapped as he laid covetous eyes upon the unconscious and bleeding Hyuuga girl in front of him. His mind was already coming up with numerous scenarios as to how he could profit from delivering a live Hyuuga to the Emperor.

"What are we waiting for then?" Okayaki snapped back "Why don't we just kill her then?" he sneered while twirling a kunai around.

"She looks dead already." Houshoku intoned dumbly while prodding the still girl with a sausage sized finger. He yelped as Tanran smacked him upside the head and snarled with venom.

"Leave her be you half-witted walking stomach." He glared at the rotund Chunin. "We need to hide her and attend to her wounds so she survives." He explained "If we deliver a live Hyuuga to the Emperor well be made Jonin in no time, not to mention we'll be rich as sin." He practically drooled at the thought of all the gold and wealth the Emperor would bestow upon him. He was even thinking of ways of getting his two imbecile teammates out of the way so he could take all the credit, when a low cold voice sent shivers down his spine.

"Not as long as I'm alive." The voice whispered seeming to come from nowhere and preceded a thrown Kunai which caused Tanran to instinctively snap his ultimate defense technique into place the thrown kunai clanging off his now stone hard skin. The clang of the ricocheting blade made the other two jump backwards as they turned around and around in an attempt to find the attacker.

"Come out you bastard!" Okayaki yelled to the trees that silently surrounded them. He was answered as Aburame, Shino leapt from behind a tree and landed near the fallen Hinata standing over her with a casualness that bespoke utter confidence.

"Shino; You bastard!" Okayaki snapped "What do you think you're doing?" he screamed at his former classmate.

"Protecting her, and stopping you." Was the quiet reply as Shino raised his arms allowing a small cloud of Kikaichu to swarm from each sleeve.

"Stopping us? What are you babbling about? You're supposed to be on our side Dammit!" Tanran snapped incredulously, even though the three of them stepped back from the small cloud of chakra eating insects.

"Incorrect." Shino replied in that same even tone which had always grated on their nerves. "I am on the side of Konoha, not the Uchiha Empire." He spoke evenly as the three Chunin moved into a circle around him.

"The Uchiha are Konoha you treacherous bastard…!" Tanran began but Shino interrupted him.

"No; they're not." He responded evenly causing the trio to bristle at his even tone which never wavered and yet seemed to mock them all at the same time. "The Uchiha are usurpers and tyrants and they will fall."

"So you want to fight huh?" Okayaki sneered as he got into a fighting stance. "That's fine by me; you could never beat any of us one on one in the academy loser." He snarled at him. "Now we outnumber you three to one; what makes you think this time will be any different?"

"Two reasons…" Shino responded casually holding up two fingers. "In the academy I was holding back my full abilities." He said dropping one finger.

"And two…" he took a moment to look at their arrogant faces while allowing just the smallest hint of a smile to appear, a gesture which caused all of them to step back terrified of the implications as he dropped the second finger. "…I'm the one who has you surrounded."

For a second the trio looked right and left but all they could see was Shino and the injured Hyuuga girl. No loud mouthed obnoxious Inuzuka, no fatty Akimichi and no Jonin sensei appeared suddenly. Confidence bolstered the three all laughed uproariously as they began to advance on the lone Aburame before them; circling like vultures approaching a fresh kill.

"HAH!" Okayaki barked "I knew you were bluffing you're all alone, and now were gonna make sure you die here!"

"That's where you're wrong." Shino spoke softly causing them to pause. He was about to say something more when a kunai slammed into his back.

Tanran smirked as he stabbed another one into the surprised Shino. "Surrounded or not even you can't survive this." he laughed cruelly. His laugh was interrupted as Shino looked over his shoulder and suddenly dissolved into a virtual swarm of kikaichu bugs.

"I hate repeating myself." Shino's voice sighed as it seemed to come from all around them. "I have you surrounded, just because my teammates aren't here doesn't mean that I am alone."

"I had you surrounded from the moment I threw that first kunai." He explained casually before continuing as his voice took on a cold and lethal tone. "Now I am going to kill you."

No more words were said as suddenly the small clearing they were in was drowned by the sound of the buzzing of hundreds of thousands of insects. The trees seemed to suddenly come apart into clouds of kikaichu bugs that swirled into a vast dark cloud that surrounded the trio. Even the body of the Hyuuga girl broke down into a swarm of bugs that joined with their brethren before the entire mass swallowed the terrified trio whole silencing their last horrified screams. When the cloud dispersed all that was left in the middle of a wide barren circle of dead trees and grass was Shino Aburame holding the injured body of Hyuuga Hinata who moaned slightly in shock and delirium.

"You're safe now." he reassured her as soothingly as he could just before a large white dog and its owner landed near him.

"Shino!" Kiba barked at him "We got ours; A Jonin too!" he laughed "How about you, how many did you get?"

"Three of them…" Shino replied evenly taking in his teammate who aside from the blood of his enemy and a couple of minor cuts and bruises seemed ok. "Team 7."

"Three of them!" Kiba barked in agitation. "Dammit and those three bastards on top of it!" "Now I'm behind again!" he whined "I'm gonna have to get back into the fight to catch up…" he began before taking in the burden in his teammates arms. "HEY! Who do we have here? Wow she's gorgeous…!" He moved right up and took a sniff with his hyper keen nose "… and she smells like a sunny day."

He gestured and Akamaru who was sniffing the unmoving Hinata licked her face as he tried to revive her in his own way. "Hehe; Akamaru likes her too." He opined "Here put her on his back, and we'll get her back to sensei and have her looked at."

Shino merely rolled his eyes but did as he was bade to and gently placed the wounded girl on the back of the massive canine who adjusted himself so she could lay more comfortably. Kiba was about to hop up behind her to carry her to their sensei when a female voice yelled out "No Hinata! You bastards are gonna pay!" preceded a virtual hornets swarm of shuriken and kunai which raced at them as an enraged bun haired girl leapt from the trees and attacked.

-ooOoo-

For TenTen life was good. She was being chased by an enraged Uchiha who was determined to kill her in revenge for her killing his partner and girlfriend, she was deep in enemy territory, on her own and separated from her teammates on a dangerous mission to return home. Hyper competitive as she was this was the life. Bouncing off a tree she took a drastic risk by engaging the Uchiha with a pair of whirling nunchuka. The spinning staves clashed against her opponents Kunai as he defended himself from the onslaught.

Enjoying the fight a little too thoroughly though almost cost her as she suddenly had to leap skywards to avoid an oversized fireball that left a swathe of burning destruction in its wake. She cursed herself for getting too cocky; Asuma and Neji would surely scold her for that. Her cheeks burned a little at the thought of her proud Hyuuga teammate but she quickly shook off the warm feeling and refocused herself on the fight. Her opponent was at least Jonin level and she was having difficulty engaging him at range as the thrice damned sharingan of his was keeping him a step ahead of her traps and weapons. Engaging him at close range even as skilled as she was; was asking for trouble given the sharingan's capabilities in that regard, and unlike his girlfriend he was unlikely to get overconfident as she had, and step into one of her traps willingly.

So what she needed was to adapt a dual strategy. Some way to keep him still long enough to pincushion him with a big attack that would finish him in one shot. Her keen tactical mind flashed through analyzing and discarding several options, and she finally settled on one she had hoped not to unveil unless she had no other option. Whipping out the specialized scroll which was a gift from her father she began the technique that would either gain her victory or end in her defeat.

"Another scroll?" her opponent sneered. "Forget it all the weapons in the world wont save you!" he snarled as she laid the scroll out and swiped a line of blood down it.

"I won't let you! KATON! Gokakyu-No Jutsu!" Shigo roared before unleashing another colossal fireball.

He saw his opponents eyes widen as she finished the last of the hand signs before slapping her hand down and calling out something which he couldn't hear over the roar of the flames as they impacted their target.

"Hah! That's for Kyoke; Burn you witch!" Shigo smirked only to hear a sound of deep rumbling laughter coming from the flames just before they dispersed.

His sharingan eyes widened as the flames revealed a large armored figure holding a shield and a spear. The wide shoulders covered in the armored plates of a full suit of Yoroi armor. But what threw him for a real loop was the face beneath the helmet. It wasn't a human face, but the face of a giant humanoid Panda bear. Standing tall and broad shouldered, and barrel chested, the Panda summons shrugged off the lingering flames and stared at him with a fearsome smile.

"An Uchiha huh?" the deep voice boomed merrily "Now that's a challenge TenTen!"

"Thanks Kuma, he was pressing me pretty good there." She responded still breathing heavily.

It had been a close call. She knew she didn't normally have the chakra reserves or knack for Ninjutsu to do the summoning technique for an animal summons. No one in her family ever really had. But when they had gained the Panda contract; her great grand father who had been a genius at seals and was responsible for the family's weapons techniques, had invented an ingenious solution. He had created a mini-contract which created a point of contact for the summoned animal to be summoned to, and simultaneously held the Chakra for the summons in specially written seals. A simple application of blood paid the sacrifice required and unlocked the scroll completing the jutsu. Thus was her family able to summon the Pandas which became the family's symbol, one few knew about. Wiping some sweat out of her eyes she stood up and pulled the larger scroll she carried off her back and laid it out flat.

"So what's the plan cub?" Kumas booming baritone asked. "He should be tough but together we can crush him!"

Tenten smiled as she addressed him "Can you hold him down for me Kuma? I can nail him with my Blade Kick if you can stop him from moving."

"Is that all…?" the Armored Panda seemed disappointed for a moment before another booming laugh echoed through the trees as he slammed his Spear into the ground butt first.

"HAH! Piece of cake Cub you just get ready to strike!" Kuma roared before charging off on all fours at the bewildered Uchiha who reacted by launching another series of fireballs at the oncoming Summons. Much to his dismay though the fireballs deflected or outright bounced off the Panda's armor, and a quick duck was the only thing that saved him from having his head torn off by a paw swipe.

"Quick on your feet aren't you?" Kuma sneered at his opponent. "But you wont escape me that easily." He roared.

A quick and brutal fight ensued as the Panda summons swiped repeatedly at the smaller, faster Uchiha who evaded the skull crushing blows launched at him with a desperation that was beginning to show on his face, as every counter Attack he tried seemed to just amuse the armored bear. Finally after a series of feints and counters he positioned himself and with a fast series of hand signs unleashed a jutsu.

"Katon! Karyu Endan!" He roared as he unleashed a torrent of fire in the shape of a dragons head. The dragon shaped gout of flame hotter then even the lava from a volcanos maw, engulfed the panda who roared in pain as the flames consumed him. Shigo Uchiha smiled in triumph before his eyes nearly leapt out of their sockets as the burning panda turned into a burning log.

"Substituion!" he yelped before a pair of arms wrapped around him from behind and nearly crushed the life out of him. Those same arms suddenly stiffened and felt harder and tighter as the panda whispered in his ear with a deep malice.

"Secret Panda technique; Iron Bear." Kuma chuckled amusedly as he activated the ability that would turn him into a statue of pure hardened iron.

"NOW CUB!" he roared and Shigo struggling in the now literally Iron grip could only watch as TenTen finished a fast series of hand signs before leaping skyward. A puff of smoke and the clang of metal preceded a series of weapons which rose with her on strings of chakra which she then wove into a straight line. A literal tower of gleaming razor edged steel which was pointed right at him. Light as a feather TenTen landed on the very top weapon with her right foot behind her high over her head. At that moment Shigo knew he was a dead man.

"Ninja Art! Blade Kick!" TenTen shouted before snapping her right foot down at an angle which caught the very top sword on the butt of the hilt. The Blade fired off at incredible speeds and set off a chakra enhanced chain reaction which fired off the nearly one hundred other swords, short spears, maces, and other implements of death that were her stock and trade. All of them were fired in a laser sharp line that intersected exactly where she aimed them; only the fact that Kuma was in his Iron form saved him from being shredded by the rain of steel which slashed Shigo Uchiha to death and sent him to hell where Kyoke awaited him.

"HAH!" Kuma laughed deep and loud. "Now that was fun!"

"Thanks again for the help Kuma." She hopped up on the pandas broad shoulders and scratched his large round ears affectionately resulting in a purred chuckle.

"Next time done be such a stranger cub, its not often we get out for a good fight!" he smiled a broad smile full of sharp teeth before releasing himself back to the summons realm. TenTen smiled back and with a nod promised that she would do so. As she dispelled the seals on her weapons returning them to her scrolls she saw something that caused her to double take and sent a chill down her spine. It was a veritable cloud of writhing black, which bespoke a malevolence that raised an icy sweat on her brow, and sent a chill down her spine. She leapt to the trees and headed in the direction as fast as she could as she realized that the cloud was centered right over where Hinata had gone.

Leaping through the trees she put on as much speed as she could; trying to reach the area as quickly as possible. Hinata was in many ways like a little sister to her and she was very protective of the shy Hyuuga heiress. Landing on the edge of a clearing her worst fears were realized as she took in the sight of two men wearing Konoha headbands and a large white dog that were holding the still blood covered figure of Hinata. A bright red flash of rage clouded her vision as she leapt to attack and avenger her friend.

"No Hinata! You bastards are gonna pay!" she yelled furiously before unleashing a swarm of shuriken and kunai which the pair barely dodged.

Landing Tenten decided to finish these two up close and personal and summoned a large Iron Staff which she whirled over head before charging forward with a battle cry, and the intent of caving in the skulls of those who would hurt her friend. She was so enraged that she failed to heed the protestations of the two as the one with the coat moved in front of the black clad one who was holding Hinata and crossed his arms over his head in an effort to block her staff, an effort which would prove futile given her power and the weight of the staff which would surely crush him to jelly.

"You're dead!" she roared as the staff came hurtling down.

To be continued