Invasion - 6

Iruka had immediately neglected the angered speech he had prepared to give to Team Gai once he saw them return with Hiashi and his two daughters. He fell silent and then smiled to himself, knowing that he should have expected as much of them, and that Tama had been right all along.

A medic quickly went to see to the new additions, examining Hinata's wound and making sure that Hanabi was not injured either, all the while Hiashi glared at him like a vigilant hawk.

It was enough of a distraction for Neji and Lee to find Tenten as she sulked near the entrance of the barracks, cleaning off the blade of her sword with a frown.

Lee, for once, could think of nothing to say. He stood near her while trying to look cheerful, but it was difficult when she seemed so upset. Neji watched her with steady white eyes, waiting for her to speak.

"I'm sorry you two had to see that…I hadn't planned it," Tenten admitted, putting the sword away, "They were in danger. It was the only thing I could think to do."

"You should not feel badly about it, Tenten." Lee understood and it made her feel better. Lee always understood her, even if things seemed unbearable.

"I'm used to it by now, I guess," She shrugged, finding her conscience was not bothering her at all, "It wasn't nearly as bad as the first time."

"The mission to retrieve the yumi then?" Neji inquired, sharp as ever. She nodded and he closed his eyes, deep in thought.

It was the first time Tenten was able to sense the anxiety radiating from her teammates simultaneously. She hoped that it wasn't a bad thing, but it felt surprisingly good to get it off her chest and see for that they hadn't made a fuss over it.

Exhausted, they all took a seat on an unoccupied bench, looking ready to doze off.

Just as things appeared to be looking up another Hyuga appeared. It seemed Neji recognized him but he said nothing as the boy rushed up to Hiashi with a report, "Hiashi-sama, one of the Main House was taken by Cloud!"

"Anyone else?"

"No sir, but…" The boy swallowed fearfully, "It…it was my younger brother sir, when we were leaving the compound. They threaten to kill him unless they can get you or either of your daughters…"

Hiashi was silent. He understood the pain of having a brother being sacrificed to the Cloud.

The young man fought back tears, refusing to show emotion that was swiftly overwhelming him, "I won't ask this of you, Hiashi-sama, but I fear for my brother. I offered my own life but they will have no one else!"

Hiashi stared at him for a long moment, thinking, and then turned to Hinata as she sat kneeling beside her younger sister. Their eyes met and she understood.

Neji leapt up frantically from his place near the wall, not having any of it, "Hiashi-sama, please, I will go. In Hinata-sama's stead I can-"

"Be silent, Neji, this doesn't concern you." Hiashi wasn't in the mood to hear any protests.

Neji fell quiet but stayed where he was, unable to believe Hinata was going to be sent as collateral. It would have been different if he could have been traded, but after fighting Naruto and seeing that Hinata had already risked so much for herself and the people she cared about he wasn't about to let her be forsaken.

"I will let this decision fall to you," Hiashi spoke directly to Hinata, his voice distant, "As my eldest daughter you have already proven to be wise and courageous. Choose what you believe to be best."

The anxious Main House boy stared at her fearfully and Hinata smiled at him, not even remotely upset. She had gotten a bit of a head rush from her father commending her, but Hinata had found that the solution was rather simple.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu…" Hinata replicated herself perfectly with a short hand seal, startling those who watched.

The look of pride on Hiashi's face was a nice change, "Take this shadow clone and retrieve your brother. Go quickly."

Relieved, the boy grinned and guided the clone along. He left with his squad of fellow chunin to make the exchange.

Neji, frozen to the spot, let a small smile dawn on his lips, 'Naruto…you are right about Hinata-sama. No one is more worthy than she to be responsible for the safety of my clan. I am grateful to you both.'

*

"Stop!" Both Naruto and Sasuke halted and turned to Pakkun. The pug looked unnerved by something, and they hoped that their trail hadn't been picked up again by enemy ninja.

"Gaara's trail ends here, we can't go any further. And also…" The dog paused, "There's a monster up ahead."

"Are you serious?" Naruto was thoroughly distressed, "I thought we'd make it in time before he'd…"

"Before what?" Sasuke was fed up with being in the dark, "Why don't you just explain what's-"

"Look out!" The dog howled. He retreated and they followed as a huge, rattling tail was visible above the tree tops as it crashed down, just barely missing them.

The tremor was monstrous and easily crushed all nearby trees. Naruto glared up at the towering figure of the sand demon that had completely possessed his friend, "I'll save you! I swear!"

"How?" Sasuke wasn't nearly as optimistic after observing the monstrous tanuki, "If that thing has him you'll need something just as large to-!"

Naruto had finished making hand seals, focusing a huge amount of chakra that even left the Uchiha baffled, "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" A billowing cloud of smoke erupted and obscured a majority of the forest, forcing Pakkun back a ways.

Sasuke was at first only aware that they had risen a considerable height into the air. What exactly had been summoned, however, was unclear to him, 'This creature is huge! Can Naruto really summon something as massive as this?'

The Uchiha stood, securing his footing, and was finally able to see just how enormous the sand beast ahead of them was.

"Sasuke…" Naruto's voice was low, "That's Gaara over there, see? And he can't help anything that happens from here out. Even if he attacks us, all of this is that snake-bastard's fault, Orochimaru!"

Sasuke gingerly touched the seal on his neck, recalling the loathsome snake, realizing he wasn't the only one being made to suffer at his hands.

"What the-?" Gamabunta blinked in confusion at his surroundings, "What the hell am I doing here?"

"Hey, Chief Toad!" Naruto called, "You've got to help me out! My friend's in trouble!"

"Oh…not you again!" Gamabunta grunted, recognizing Naruto from their previous encounters, "What do you have to bug me for-?" It was then he noticed the massive demon ahead of them thrashing its tail wildly in anticipation.

"Eh…that is the Ichibi no Shukaku, the dreaded demon of the sand!" Gamabunta recalled a brief bit of history about the creature, "Isn't that a sight only a mother could love?"

"Come on, Chief Toad!" Naruto was grinning, "Help me fight this thing!"

"…no."

"This isn't just some joy-ride! This is for real!" Naruto insisted, desperate, "If we don't do something Gaara-kun might die!"

"Hm…you mean that weird sand kid?"

"Yeah! That's him!" Naruto confirmed, growing frantic.

"He's too much like you then, I suppose." Gamabunta muttered in annoyance, "Well, I guess I should help you since you've been my henchman for some time now…"

Naruto was embarrassed by the comment.

Sasuke gave the blonde haired boy an inquiring look, "You serve a toad?"

"It's a long story…" Naruto dismissed the subject, his eyes widening as Shukaku screeched in delight, launching immense sand shuriken their way, "Hang on!"

As the blonde boy had predicted, Gamabunta leapt into the sky to avoid the attack. Naruto had little trouble keeping his hold on the toad, but Sasuke had to scramble to stay aboard, not at all prepared for it. Even more dubious to the Uchiha was how Naruto looked as if he enjoyed the sensation of flight while it was curdling his stomach.

Back on the ground Gamabunta drew out his dagger, preparing to attack, "Here goes!" The toad raced forward with bizarre speed, slashing wildly at Shukaku and tearing off one of its arms as it moved to counter.

The blade went flying after severing the huge sand appendage and the Ichibi reeled back, howling in outrage.

Gamabunta noted that Naruto was not the only one on board at that time. One of his eyes rolled up to examine who was on top of his head, "Eh? An Uchiha?"

Sasuke stared into the large yellow eye that had glanced up at him and nodded, "What of it?"

"Use a fire jutsu now," Gamabunta inhaled deeply, "I said now!"

The sand demon had regained its balance and turned around to face them, cursing at the impudent toad and his lackeys.

"Just do it!" Naruto hollered, not understanding but confident that Gamabunta obviously had his reasons.

Sasuke decided to oblige the giant toad and formed hand seals, "Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu!"

The boss toad spat out a mouthful of oil and Sasuke's jutsu ignited it. The attack enveloped the raging sand demon in a storm of flames that stretched over almost the entirety of the forest. Even the Uchiha prodigy admitted there was no fire jutsu nearly as powerful in his clan compared to what the toad was capable of.

"Air Bullet!" The sand beast pounded on its gut, firing a condensed orb of wind and chakra that sailed through the flames directly towards Gamabunta. The toad boss had barely any time to dodge and leapt abruptly, knocking Naruto and Sasuke from his back.

With the aid of a chain of shadow clones, Naruto quickly pulled himself back onto the toad's head as he soared over the treetops and watched helplessly as Sasuke dropped down into the forest below, 'Damnit! There goes Sasuke! But he's probably better off staying out of this…'

The Uchiha prodigy avoided the giant toad as it lumbered out of the way of Shukaku's attacks, not wanting to get stepped on. Pakkun quickly discovered him, "Sasuke, we can't stay here! There's nothing else you can do in this fight!"

He followed the dog, glancing back in wonder at Naruto as he stood steadily on the toad boss's head.