Team Seven's POV (Traversing Land of Fire)

  X-X

  Neji's POV

  Neji had expected a difficult journey; his teammates could usually be aggravating, but he imagined it would be worse when they suffered from a hangover. An assumption only strengthened by the miserable scowl both seemed to have etched onto their faces. Neji and Kakashi had agreed to remain silent to avoid any arguments during the journey. However, to their surprise, both Naruto and Ino remained eerily quiet. Naruto seemed to suffer silently, wincing at every loud noise as they traveled. Neji couldn't help but find it amusing when he "accidentally" stomped on a branch too hard. Ino, on the other hand, usually would explode in anger multiple times before giving up on whatever had annoyed her. But on this journey, she was oddly subdued, focused on survival perhaps. Neji planned to ask one of them what had happened the previous night when they felt more relaxed. But for now, I trusted the two would be less than talkative.

  Despite their condition, they had a good time and were close to their destination. Kakashi suggested they camp for the night and attack in the morning, which the somewhat exhausted group readily agreed to. They chose to camp on a small hill overlooking the camp—far enough to keep from being spotted easily but close enough to react to their actions.

  "Wouldn't it be better to strike in the dark?" Naruto chimed in. "We do have Neji; he has night vision or whatever."

  "It does seem like the shinobi thing to do," Ino added. "With Neji's eyes and some proper planning, they'd be sitting ducks."

  "In this case, we should be significantly more powerful than our adversaries. And with our lovable knucklehead, we can easily outnumber them. So striking during the night merely allows them to hide or escape into the dark. But make no mistake, we aren't gonna just charge in. We'll scout them out, formulate a plan, and crush them before they realize what is happening." Kakashi lectured.

  "Seems efficient enough," Neji stated simply. "Besides, Naruto and Ino could very well use the rest." The blondes nodded, seemingly in agreement now that it was pointed out to them.

  X-X

  Kakashi's POV

  "Great job, team. Neji, please gather some firewood and start a fire. Ino, can you set up the tents? Naruto, please use your shadow clones to establish a perimeter. Let's have eight clones, one in each cardinal direction and one in between them. After that, Naruto, can you please try to catch some game for us?" Kakashi gave clear instructions with a serious tone.

  "Yes, sensei!" The Genin chorused as they dispersed to begin their assigned tasks. Kakashi hummed contently, waiting until he was sure no one was watching him. Then, he swiftly created a shadow clone and sent it out to scout the surrounding area. Although he planned on having his team survey the area before they attacked, he wanted to have his own eyes on the situation. Ensure their judgment is wise and this isn't more than they can handle. After all, Minato had always taught Kakashi to ensure the odds favored him.

  Kakashi refused to put any of his Genin in danger, especially not Minato's son. However, he had grown fond of his team. Despite their rough start, they had begun to come together. They were a talented and motivated group. Even Ino had recently shown improvement and seemed uncomfortable with feeling weaker than the two men.

  As he quietly moved around the clearing, he set subtle traps and signaled his team to alert them to any potential danger. Although Kakashi wasn't truly worried, he played it safe. They were close to the village, and his team was strong. Neji and Naruto were advanced for Genin, and Ino was clever and a valuable team player. Kakashi himself was an elite Jounin. Honestly, it was overkill, but the Leaf preferred it these days, which led to fewer deaths.

  Within the hour, the three young adults had done as he had asked just before dark. The fire was well-built and contained by several wet logs courtesy of Neji. Two tents were erected, one for the men, the other for Ino. And Naruto had somehow captured a hog. Impressively, the blonde had hauled it over his shoulder before breaking it down himself. Soon, the blonde fashions a leg a piece for them, sealing off the rest and leaving the less desirable cuts out for the local wildlife. Kakashi was impressed, and when asked, Naruto merely said clones, but Kakashi decided not to ask further.

  To the surprise of the Jounin, who had prepared himself to wield his mediocre cooking skills. Neji had quickly volunteered. Even more surprising was how talented he was at it. Ino assisted, having some culinary knowledge, but for the most part, the Hyuga quickly served them roasted hog. Kakashi was pleasantly surprised again when it was much nicer than he could produce. Losing it out on missions with some green Genin wasn't as bad as he feared.

  "Neji! I expected you to suck at cooking!" Naruto called in between bites, laughing at his own words. "But this wouldn't be out of place in a restaurant!"

  "You always seem like a brute to me," Ino added, a slight teasing smirk on her face. "To think you'd bother learning cooking."

  "Unlike you blondes, I am expected to be talented in many fields." Neji countered with a fake scowl. "Cooking is merely one of my many hobbies."

  "He got you good there, Naruto!" Ino chuckled. "You are an unskilled blonde~!"

  "YOU BLONDE TOO!"

  "But unlike you, Blondie," Ino wagged her finger. I'm drop-dead gorgeous. People will forgive me~!"

  "I wouldn't say g-" Neji stopped as a kunai flew by his head. "But I suppose beautiful wouldn't be out of order?"

  X-X

  Ino's POV

  Ino nodded at this serene smile in place. Naruto busted out laughing, which seemed to make Ino panic and blush for some odd reason. And by the look on his face, Neji smelled blood in the water.

  "By chance, Uzumaki, what do you think?" Neji asked, his tone dripping a mockery of innocence.

  "Neji…" Ino warned. But the Naruto responded before she could offer her best threat.

  "Think about what?" Naruto asked with actual innocence.

  "Ino's looks, she's an attractive lady, right?"

  "I mean, yeah, sounds weird putting it like that. But I'd call her cute, why ya asking?"

  "No reason."

  Ino would've strangled the bastard if she wasn't so confused and mortified. Neji was farming for compliments and embarrassing her in equal measure. Ino wasn't sure why she cared; she knew she was hot. But hearing Naruto offer such a minor compliment felt different. Like, somehow, the clueless blonde was more earnest?

  It wasn't unusual for Neji to get snipes in, but he rarely drove the two as silent as he did now. Naruto is confused about Neji's question, and Ino is mortified that Neji finally has something solid on her.

  When Kakashi first mentioned them taking shifts at night to ensure nothing snuck up on them, she felt dread. Quickly, she declared she would not be the first to watch, figuring that must be the worst one. She rethought that as she first awoke for her watch. But even quicker, she discovered she did not mind it. She could use the time for herself with her recent interactions with Naruto and Neji.

  At first, having Naruto on their team didn't seem like a big deal. He had a negative reputation with older generations for unknown reasons. Although he was one of the few successful shinobi to make it without a clan in their year, his performance was mediocre compared to the rest. Ino had even assumed she was more substantial than him, but her perception changed when she saw him fight.

  Even at his lowest, Ino doubted she could have done anything against him now. The blonde was a juggernaut, never stopping nor surrendering, and with his army of clones and his blade, he was a threat. Considering his standing, she assumed he was a simple, obnoxious man who was too egotistic.

  However, since the formation of the team, she discovered depth to him she never noticed before. Naruto gave everything his all during training, spars, practice, and fights. But more than professionally, he also gave his all for his friends. His best jokes, attitude, and support. Witnessing it made her realize just how much Naruto gave. Ino wasn't sure she could ever match his endless energy. He also showed more humor and shocked her to see they had similarities. They both were serious about being shinobi but preferred having fun. Both of them struggled, unlike Neji, even for vastly different reasons. Ino before, I would've assumed she was more intelligent, and maybe she was. But Naruto was surprisingly clever in his way, making wisecracks here, using unorthodox strategies there, or even seeming to know what others were feeling at times. He decided wordlessly to break through to Neji, a known genius, just to prove a point. Ino thought it was ridiculous and that Naruto was merely risking injury for nothing. She felt that even if he somehow defeated Neji, that wouldn't change him suddenly. However, Naruto often proved her wrong, making him very interesting. The kindness and relaxed nature were lovely, but the unpredictability and emotional wisdom of the blonde had intrigued her. Just who was Naruto Uzumaki? And why was Ino so interested in finding out?

  The problem was everyone knew Ino was a flirt. She often became interested in a boy for a bit before growing bored of them. Even Sasuke, in a way, was just eye candy for her. He was handsome for sure, but unlikely with how cold he was. But Naruto, for her, was an odd choice. She did find his untamed look oddly cute. It helped that he was inspiring as well. But she had to wonder if this was a passing fancy? Or was she genuinely interested?

  Ino checked her pocket watch. Well, it was time for Naruto's shift. Perhaps she could test the waters a bit and see how deep her interest went. Besides, it wouldn't do to not know if the blonde was interested himself. But without being arrogant, she doubted this was an issue.

  She quietly walked over to the boy's tent. Quietly lifting the entrance flap, she tapped the Uzumaki's shoulder. The two silently crept back out of the tent, settling at the fire in a comfortable silence. Ino observed Naruto yawning loudly before summoning four clones that spread out in the edging of the clearing in which they were camped. Naruto took a moment to fully wake up, unknowingly giving Ino time to arrange her thoughts.

  "Arent y-" Naruto yawned again. "Aren't you going to go to sleep? I know I look out of it, but I promise I'll stay awake."

  "I was hoping to ask you some questions," Ino replied. She hoped the somewhat tired Naruto wouldn't realize her intentions.

  "We have plenty of time," the blonde man said, chuckling silently as he sharpened a stick by the fire. Ino felt grateful for the distraction; something about his gaze was throwing her off her game. Avoiding it would keep her sharp.

  Ino considered what to ask him. She wanted information to gauge how well they fit together. That would help her decide how she felt and whether to pursue something. But what exactly that information was was alluding to her now. She decided to ask something relatively innocuous for now.

  "You said before you would help Neji's clan. He's our friend now, no doubt. But it seems like a big promise. Why make it?"

  "He was in pain and seemed so hopeless," Naruto explained. "I can relate to that on a personal level. There's something I struggle to change, and Kami knows how many times I have wanted to give up. I felt nobody would ever accept me, especially when I was young. Kids were kept away from me until I joined the academy. Even as comrades, they continued to keep their distance. No doubt their parents suggested it.

  Fortunately, Shikamaru reached out and became my first true friend. It was only one friend, but it was more than enough. I always had my mom's support. That's when I decided to become Hokage; when I succeed at that, it will prove something. That I've finally earned the respect and admiration of my homeland, that even a nobody like me can become something… If I let someone else struggle alone, I wouldn't be worthy of my goal. As a Hokage, I can never leave a friend in pain. I'll help everyone I can and become the greatest Hokage ever. This is my ultimate goal, and I won't accept anything less." Ino silently pondered Naruto's words. As always, Naruto had a unique way with words and could be both a knucklehead and mature and caring simultaneously.

  "So you'd do that for me, Kakashi, or whoever?" Ino asked. After that speech, she was keen to hear his thoughts on her.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  "Of course, believe it!"

  Ino furrowed her brows, feeling unsure about the vague response she received. She realized that she needed to be more direct in her approach. "Naruto, I'm curious. What are your thoughts about me?" Inwardly, she panicked a little, regretting her straightforward phrasing. Even the knucklehead should be able to read through that.

  Naruto rubbed the back of his head. Confusion was plain on his face. "Um, I mean, you're my friend. I think you're pretty hilarious at times, you're pretty smart, too, and you can be kind." The blonde male replied.

  Ino's heart rate rose as she listened to the blonde. He wasn't exceptionally smooth or charming, but his honesty surprised her. Something about his words left no doubt in their validity. She had received many compliments in her life, such as being called beautiful, intelligent, talented, and personable, but she had also been insulted, temperamental, vain, and wrathful. However, being called kind was new to her, and she didn't consider herself as such. Nonetheless, Naruto had said it with such conviction.

  "You may not always say nice things. And you can be a bit scary. But when Neji was harsh to us both. I noticed you were putting in effort to get along with me. Even though you considered me a goofball, you never put me down. You always took me seriously in a way not many people did. That meant the world to me. So thank you for that, ya know?" Naruto smiled brightly as he finished. "Oh yeah, and you're beautiful and all that!"

  Ino's face turned red as she listened to Naruto's words. Though they were a bit simple, she couldn't help but feel touched by how sincere he sounded. However, this unexpected turn of events had not gone as planned. Despite everything, she realized that Naruto might be her first true crush. Wanting some alone time to process her thoughts, she hastily returned to her tent, leaving Naruto confused alone. However, the way he said things was so earnest it took her breath away. This certainly had backfired. But she knew one thing for sure. Naruto Uzumaki was someone she needed to be closer to…

  "Was it something I said?" Naruto called quietly. He waited for a response that did not come. Before he sighed heavily to himself. "I'll never understand women."

  X-X

  Kakashi's POV

  Kakashi was perched on a branch, observing one of Naruto's undetected clones below. It wasn't Naruto's fault that he couldn't detect Kakashi's presence, even if he had known he was there. Years of training and a rough life had perfected his stealth. Kakashi had planned to stay up all night to ensure the safety of his Genin, but he hadn't anticipated witnessing a moment between the two blondes. "Minato's luck with women and Kushina's lack of understanding of romance. It seems like your path will be similar to your father's, if not a little more messy," Kakashi said to himself. He found it enjoyable to be a sensei and to witness the growth of the next generation of shinobi, the next vanguard of the will of fire…

  Orochimaru's POV (Hidden Sound Base - ???)

  Orochimaru sat contentedly in his underground lab; Zetsu had gone to meet with a follower of Ikam. Ikam was a man with whom he was familiar. For years now, the two have maintained business relationships. Ikam had access to Fuijutsu, and even Orochimaru struggled to understand it. The Uzumaki at his beck and call were powerful and valuable. He could certainly use the added strength and numbers with both the Leaf and another force hot on his trail. Moreover, his first encounter with the Leaf was imminent. His forces were strategically positioned around a bandit camp, awaiting the arrival of a team of shinobi whom they could ambush. It was bound to be an intriguing few days for the Sannin.

  It was as if the ground in his lab shifted on cue, and Zetsu swam out of the ground. "Hello, master! Orochimaru." The two greeted in sync.

  "Hello there, how did the meeting with Ikam's man go?" Orochimaru asked, getting straight to business.

  "It was so much more interesting than we had thought! Obito and Itachi Uchiha are alive and in service of the Leaf." Zetsu replied evenly.

  Orochimaru was taken aback for a moment but quickly began to formulate plans in his mind. Itachi and Obito Uchiha were highly skilled shinobi with powerful Sharingan abilities, and obtaining their eyes would make him unstoppable in achieving his ultimate goal. Ikam was aware of this and sought Orochimaru's help dealing with them. "What does he want from us? Kukukuku."

  "He asked for our assistance in killing them! We get the bodies! He asked for manpower, weaponry effective towards the Uchiha, or a more powerful compound to ensure they could crush the two. Providing we do this, he preserves the eyes for us and offers a seal to counteract their effect on a non-Uchiha."

  "Perfect. Inform them this is fine. They will have all three. And what of the other news?"

  "You were right as always, master! They sent a team! The team is Team Seven. They are a Genin squad part of the new program the shinobi world enacted. Neji Hyuga, Ino Yamanaka, Naruto Uzumaki, and Kakashi Hatake."

  "Interesting, the Side House has little value. To take him alive, however, I'd like to test the biology of a Hyuga. The heir of the Yamanaka family is a useful asset. We could use her for ransom or even our newest mole. As for Naruto Uzumaki, I believe my subordinate, Ikam, would relish a new target. However, Kakashi Hatake may pose a problem. We could use his eye, but he is no minor threat… I will send another squad of Sound Jounin and the Genin from Team Tremble and Bass. This should suffice for such an unremarkable group. It is time to demonstrate the strength of my shinobi to the world!"

  "Understood. Whatever."

  Orochimaru wondered if Hiruzen even realized the Leaf would soon be in peril.

  Naruto's POV (Nearby Bandit Camp - Land of Fire)

  They had moved out at the crack of dawn—light enough to see and move with ease but early enough for most of the camp to be asleep. Kakashi would get them close and then allow them to formulate their strategy of attack. Kakashi's presence served to kill any nerves the group felt. After weeks of training with the man, his skill was drilled into their skulls.

  "It's important for each of you to gain experience in decision-making. You won't always have a commanding officer present, and you may even encounter an incompetent one. It's crucial to know how to think independently," Kakashi emphasized before stepping back and indicating he wouldn't be offering assistance. There was a brief pause before Naruto spoke up.

  "Well, we should probably check 'em out first. Make sure we know what we're dealing with." Naruto started.

  "Makes sense to me. Would also make sure there's nothing like prisoners or some kinda destructive weapon or unknown element." Ino added.

  "Sound logic." Neji complimented. "Kakashi and I would be best off scouting them from a distance. Our eyes will allow safe and accurate visuals with ease." Ino nodded at this. Her brow creased as she thought hard.

  "Maybe Naruto should surround the camp? It would give us a safety net if any managed to sneak by, or if we were somehow in trouble, they could bail us out", Ino offered.

  "Great Idea! Plus, if for some reason someone else comes along who's hostile, they could either take them out or hold them off and get info to me no matter where I am", Naruto added happily. "But how do we do the attack itself?"

  "Well, while Kakashi and Neji scout from the outside, why don't Naruto grab a guard? I can get inside as an actual member with my Mind Body Switch Jutsu. I could sabotage them and set traps from within. That way, when we launch the actual assault, they are even more vulnerable."

  "Hmmm, what if I had some of my clones transform into kunai?" Naruto asked quizzically. "You could plant them throughout the camp, and they could release them whenever they pleased. But if you get in trouble, you'll have backup."

  "Excellent idea Blondie." Neji replied. Both ignore Naruto's cry out about Neji not being too involved with the Blondie thing. "From the mission report, we know these bandits aren't particularly threatening; they just have considerable numbers."

  "Okay, so assuming this camp has one to two exits, we need to split our forces. One team at each gate and another guarding my body", Ino continued.

  "Maybe Neji? He could keep an eye on all of us with a shadow clone. If one of us gets in trouble, he dispels it, and every clone out will know. It would allow us a pretty flawless communication system, " the blonde male suggested.

  "I believe that's a good plan," Neji concurred. "Kakashi, our strongest fighter, should be positioned as our main defense and bottleneck at the primary entrance. He could also be backed up by additional clones in case he requires assistance. Naruto can be positioned at the secondary entrance or exit. His clones will ensure even a large group will struggle to get by. After that, we'll have to wait until Ino signals she's ready. A simple flare will suffice. By then, it won't matter if they become aware that something is amiss. Once Ino and Naruto wreak havoc from within, Kakashi and Naruto will be bolstered by Ino and myself, and we'll push in."

  "Whaddya, you think Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked.

  "Eh, it sounds like it could work," Kakashi responded noncommittally. "Alright, are you all ready to start?"

  "Hai!" The three answered.

  "Just remember to have fun. We'll meet up again to discuss scouting and our future prisoner." Kakashi ordered, all of them then leaping off.

  X-X

  Naruto and Ino were hiding on the edge of the woods, carefully observing the camp. The camp consisted of a large group of tents and hastily assembled buildings. A fence and wood planks had been used to create a rudimentary wall, which would not stop most people but was high enough to require either climbing or destruction. Clearly, the bandits weren't foolish, as they had roughly six men patrolling the perimeter of the camp at all times. They watched each bandit as they passed by, memorizing their path and the time between their passes. Once a full rotation had gone by, the two selected their victim. An older bandit with a noticeable limp, a bit drunk, the man was the perfect target.

  They waited patiently for the man to walk close by. Ino gave the signal when the man's back was turned. Without a sound, Naruto hurled his clone like a sack at the man, who never saw it coming. He was hit square in the back of the head with a flying kick, and Ino doubted he felt a thing as the clone silently landed on top of the unconscious man. The clone then picked up the man, and the three hurried back to the meeting place, hoping the scouting party had good news.

  When the two arrived, they saw that the other two had been successful. Neji moved around the camp and counted their numbers. There were roughly fifty bandits, most poorly armored and armed, but not alone. From what he saw, there were around ten people inside the cells within the camp.

  Kakashi informed them that he had discovered weapon caches inside the camp that were heavily armed with swords, bows, cannons, and explosives. He marked them on a map he had drawn and suggested that Ino trap them before they went for the prisoners.

  "Only makes sense. I think we have what we need." Neji decided.

  The members of Team Seven reconvened with a new prisoner in tow. They updated each other on the current situation. Ino's mission was to secure the weapon rooms and free any captives. Naruto and Kakashi were responsible for launching an aggressive attack from both sides. Neji would protect Ino and oversee the operation, ensuring everyone was informed and safe. Each member would have Naruto clones to assist with information sharing and backup.

  "Alright, I'm going in. Make sure to watch my body, Neji!" Ino added as she relaxed her stance for her family's famous jutsu.

  "Of course."

  With that, Ino nodded and called out. "Ninja Art: Mind Transfer Jutsu!"

  She suddenly dropped limp, caught by a ready Naruto. The portly bald man rose slowly. His movements were awkward and unsure for a moment. Before, he seemed to relax slightly. "This guy is one sick bastard." She said in the man's voice. "Glad we're taking them out." Naruto nodded at this, summoning ten clones who all became kunai. Ino grabbed these and stashed them in the man's pockets. They all nodded as the Ino-possessed man walked off towards the entrance. Naruto and Kakashi both disappeared as they went off to their positions.

  Neji stashed Ino in a space in a bush. He sat close by, not close enough to where if he was engaged, they would hurt or discover Ino. Team Seven was prepared.

  Ino's POV (Bandit Camp - Land of Fire)

  Ino walked towards the main entrance, giving her best impression of a drunken limp. A building built of various chunks of wood roughly stuck together greeted her as the guard nodded her inside the shoddy wall. Inside were rough benches and bars indicative of a meeting place of sorts. The men inside were drinking, smoking, or gambling with reckless abandon. It was odd to think they somehow beat back a squad of soldiers. But perhaps they simply underestimated them. The battle, even between shinobi, was unpredictable.

  Ino wasn't bothered as she marched between tents of bandits. Similar to their main hub near the entrance, the men were either partying, fighting, or preparing for future conquest. She felt a grim satisfaction in knowing their day would be ruined soon.

  Having memorized Neji's rough map, Ino headed straight for the tents containing their arsenal and potential victims. In front of the grouping was a duo of guards. The two were drunk and unattentive, barely reacting to her presence. The bandits surely thought this deep within camp security was unneeded. Despite the meager attempt, it did complicate things. She briefly considered how to handle things but decided they would need to go. The man she was possessing wasn't very fit. But even with his dilapidated body, she could muster good kunai throws. These being the real deal, they both pierced their throats accurately. The first one immediately dropped. Likely, the blade had managed to sever his spine, killing him instantly. The second was a more gruesome death. The man's throat was slit by the blade. Not allowing the man to call for help. He could only breathlessly gurgle as he bled out. Ino could feel something inside her grow cold at the merciless killing, but they had prepared for this for years. She didn't flinch as she drugged the corpses inside the two tents. Laying her lethal explosive trap at both entrances. Her training worked well, and it was time to free the prisoners. Hopefully, only necessary blood would be spilled today…

  ???'s POV (Nearby Kakashi)

  "Men," A voice whispered to six others. "Our target is directly in front of us. One Kakashi Hatake, the Master of One Thousand Jutsu, the Copycat Shinobi. A full-on fight is risky, so we'll wait for our chance. We will wait for him to engage the bandits. While they won't offer us more aid, the bastard will lower his guard while engaging with the sheep. That will give us a decent chance. Now, our target is powerful, absurdly so. So don't play around. Kill this bastard before he kills us. Understood?" They all nodded.

  The captain's face grimaced at the lack of self-concern. He had no doubt that seven Jounins might be able to kill even an elite Jounin. But there was no doubt several of them would die. His sound shinobi training suggested one or two would live, which was acceptable. But he loved his men. He feared they were being led by him to their deaths. Disobeying would merely lead to his men killing him and proceeding anyway. The only solution was to lead these men into killing a legend. What a sick joke…

  ?'s POV (Nearby Naruto)

  "Are they sending all three of us for him?" a young woman with long black hair that reached her thighs and was tied at the end asked. She wore sound fatigues, which had a snakeskin pattern for her pants and scarf, as well as a tan sleeveless vest. Kin Tsuchi was the latest kunoichi raised from Orochimaru's Sound.

  "Seems harsh to me personally. But it'll be fun killing him either way!" A young man answered her. He had long, spiky, unruly hair that stuck straight up. He wore a forehead protector mask. In addition to the sound fatigue over it, he wore a tan one-piece with the kanji for death on it three times. Zaku Abumi was here as well.

  "It is what it is. Don't play games; we have something to prove here. So this short clone runt has to die." Dosu Kinuta answered. He was shorter than the other two and was hard to describe. His head was almost completely wrapped in bandages. He wore the same fatigues as the others. The only difference is the gray long-sleeved kimono and a straw rain cape. "Remember what the file said; this clown is a nobody. From a fallen clan, low Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, and Genjutsu skills. As long as we play it smart, easy kill.

  Neji's POV (Outside of Bandit Camp - Land of Fire)

  Neji's eyes widened significantly as he saw four people creeping in at the edge of his vision. As he expanded his gaze, he saw that they were all about to be ambushed. "AMBUSH!" He called to the clone of Naruto before destroying it. Ino awoke and jumped up.

  "It's an ambush. As I was walking through the camp, I searched his mind. Shinobi are coming to kill us! The people inside are mostly innocents, with some bandits sprinkled in! This is all bait! We're the hunted!" Ino called out desperately to the Hyuga.

  "Some of that is news. Unfortunately, it gets worse. We are being approached by four shinobi. All of them seem to be high Chunin to low Jounin level." Neji said grimly. "It'll be an uphill battle…" Luckily, around twenty clones gather around them. New orders are seemingly being dispensed among them. "Ino stick with me and the clones. We just have to stall until Kakashi gets here."

  "R-right," Ino said; she was undeniably nervous. Neji wanted to reassure her. But to be honest, he knew they were in trouble.

  AN

  Remastered: Youch worse chapter I've redone yet. Full of small and massive mistakes. Took forever to fix, but worth the effort of course. Hopefully you enjoy it~!