So been a while but I've been plugging away. Okay so first real fight kicks off here, hope you all enjoy I still need to work my fight scene writing muscles out. Here we go

Naruto is owned by Masashi Kisimoto.

Chapter 6

"So where exactly is our first scroll anyway?" Tatsuki asked as Team Four wove through the treetops. Kazuma, who was taking the lead, checked the map of their scroll locations. "The x marks that represented their scrolls were on completely different ends of the training ground, but the closest one would take them at least half a day to reach under normal circumstances."

"And if the circumstances aren't normal Kazuma?"

Kazuma dipped his hat as he launched himself off of a tree branch, "Then it will take longer because we'll have to either fight or run."

"Run! Who would we have to run from?" Tatsuki asked.

"You never know when you will meet a superior opponent Tatsuki, retreat is a viable option at times." Shunseii said, stating the most rational observation as usual.

Tatsuki seethed silently as they continued through the trees, not liking the idea of having to use retreat as an option for any situation. A quick glance back and Kazuma saw the look of frustration on Tatsuki's face. He took note that it was a look he had seen on her once before, when the topic of her old teammate came up.

"Well I'm sure that there aren't many participating that we have to be worried about." Kazuma said even though in the back of his mind he was aware of the fact that if they ran into any of his siblings he would have to separate from his team and deal with them himself. Kira shared the feeling, digging her claws a little into Kazuma's shoulder as a physical reminder.

Team Four stopped for a break halfway to their destination. A large tree provided them with shade and cover in the slightly open field where they had stopped. With it still being early in the day the dew dripped from the trees. A drop fell onto Kira's nose causing her to sneeze, the tiger cub wrinkled her nose and murmured a low growl up into the tree tops.

Kazuma grinned at his partner and rose to his feet, "I think we should be getting a move on."

"Sure, I'm ready to go." Tatsuki stretched her arms over head and leapt back into the air followed by Shunsei. Kazuma tipped his hat up and grinned again back up to the tree where the dew drop had fallen from, then he and Kira leapt up to follow their teammates.

A pair of blue eyes watched as Team Four moved away and soon enough three figures gave chase. The pursuers were patient enough to wait until their targets reached their scroll, then it would be a simple matter to them to eliminate their prey and move on to the next. Blue eyes especially was looking forward the coming confrontation, it had been so long for her since she had something of a challenge.

A shift in the wind and blue eyes held up her hand signaling to stop. The three pursuers had kept to a high position so that they looked down on Team Four. Now from their high vantage point they saw the three young shinobi quietly discussing something among themselves. Blue eyes wondered if they could have become aware of the fact that they were being followed. She quickly dismissed the idea, stealth was one of here specialties.

"Mistress." One of blue eyes' companions said in a low whisper. She turned and followed the cloaked figure's gaze down toward their quarry, something was off. Blue eyes quickly took in the surroundings, what was it that she had missed? Realization came to her quickly, quickly enough for her and her team to leap to safety.

A blade of wind spilt the branch they had been hiding on in half. Kazuma landed in view and held his blade at the ready. "You're slipping Aya-nee." Kazuma said to his sister Ayame.

Ayame stood straight in the open now, the other two ninja kneeling at her sides, Kazuma noticed her dazzling blue hair lay over her shoulder in a ponytail trying to cover the serpentine like accessory on her arm. His sister had not changed much in appearance since Kazuma had last seen her, despite her expertise in stealth she still wore a long sapphire blue one piece combat dress showing a rising dragon.

"So little Kazu-kun it seems that I still can't get around that nose of yours." Ayame's voice was childlike when she spoke, it had in the past a distorting affect on the view of lesser shinobi but Kazuma knew when she used it with him that it was merely a mocking gesture.

"You should watch that your little snake doesn't drip water when hiding you." Kazuma said.

"How rude calling me a snake you filthy boy!" the serpent like accessory on Ayame's arm unraveled slightly so that the head now rose off her body. "I am the child of Seiryuu, the elegant dragon Shinryuu."

"There, there Shin-chan Kazuma's just jealous that he only has a mangy kitten to keep him company." Ayame said as she stroked Shinryuu's head. The Kazuma that was still with Shunsei and Tatsuki disappeared in a cloud of smoke and Kira launched herself on top of Kazuma's hat, her fur on end hissing in Ayame's direction.

"Who are you calling a mangy kitten!"

Kazuma reached up and lifted Kira off his head, this was always the routine when he met with any of his siblings, "Well I'm sure we could continue this lovely conversation but I suggest that we press on with more important issues. Such as why are you following us?"

Ayame held her hand over her chest, a pained expression on her face, "Kazu-kun I'm hurt that you think I have an alteriour motive than just seeing my little brother."

Kazuma pointed his sword at Ayame "I'm not fool enough to believe that cute act you use so much Aya-nee. It's not a very smart move to take on your opponent in this test before they get at least one scroll."

"Oh Kazu-kun that's where you're wrong, you see taking out a team early on leaves just that many scrolls unattained so we can pick them up at our leisure later on." Ayame said.

Shunsei and Tatsuki had joined Kazuma while Ayame was talking. The worst possible situation had presented itself to Kazuma right from the start. There was no way to reason with Ayame on the manner of their inevitable battle, she would come at him with all her power and he would have to respond in kind.

"Sumimura, Yochiro take care of my brother's friends would you I do not wish for us to be disturbed." Ayame ordered the two at her side, a small figure covered in a dark cloak and a thin young man wearing clothes that hung off of him as if they were sails to catch the wind.

"Yes mistress." They said in unison before disappearing and reappearing right beside Shunsei and Tatsuki. The cloaked ninja and Tatsuki exchanged kunai strikes before Tatsuki leapt into the trees and out of sight, her opponent in hot pursuit. Shunsei dropped off the tree branch and pulled his opponent down with him, Kazuma catching a quick nod from the older Yamatori before he too disappeared from view.

"Well it seems like we are all alone now doesn't it Kazu-kun?" Ayame said.

Kazuma placed Kira on the branch and removed his hat and cloak, "It does and I should thank you for that, I didn't know how to get Tatsuki-san and Shunsei-san to leave this fight to me alone yet. You saved me the trouble of having to lie to them."

"Kazu-kun you really shouldn't hide secrets from you friends like that," Ayame said again in her innocent tone, "it will eat you up inside." Ayame began weaving through hand signs. "Water style: Water needle." The dew lingering on the trees moved and took form with Ayame's chakra and shot at Kazuma. Kazuma and Kira leapt forward, Kazuma batting the water needles away with his wind chakra coated sword.

"Fuuchihoen-ryu: Gale of blades." Kazuma's attack flew toward his sister. Ayame dropped of the tree branch she was on and jumped out of sight. Kazuma followed after her, with Kira on his shoulder again searching the wind for Ayame's scent. Kunai flew out of the trees forcing Kazuma to stop and deflect them. When the last kunai was batted aside Kazuma took his stance, "Fuuchihoen-ryu: Gale of blades." Again the wind blades flew from Kazuma's blade, slashing in all directions.

Ayame flew from her hiding place just before Kazuma's attack managed to rend her in half. "Water style: Exploding water dragon." The attack erupted from Ayame's mouth, the dragon of water exploded on Kazuma knocking him down. "Watch that landing Kazu-kun." Ayame yelled as she watched her little brother fall.

"Two steps." Kazuma said to Kira who leapt from him. Wind chakra pulled and concentrated to Kazuma's feet and then he was no longer falling. The brown cloak bellowed in the air as Kazuma flew in the air, Ayame watched her brother and weaved hand signs again.

"Water style: Raging torrent." Again water erupted from the blue haired girl's mouth, twisting in an condensed stream. Kazuma braced himself and leaped forward into the attack. His blade brought up ready to thrust Kazuma dove into the water, Ayamee laughing as her attack engulfed her brother.

"Fuuchihoen-ryu: Air gate" The raging waters exploded, Kazuma continuing at his sister and let loose again with another attack sending blades of air toward Ayamee. Ayamee dodged and feel to the ground, feeling the sharp pain in her shoulder where Kazuma's attack had managed to catch her. She put her hand to the pained shoulder and looked at the red blood that she drew from it, outrage engulfing her at the audacity of her little brother wounding her so.

Shiiryuu sensed his partners rage and wound his way around the wound, easing her pain and hoping to make her think clearly and not over react. The desired effect was not so as Ayamee weaved signs for a large attack, she slammed her hands to the ground "Water style: Erupting geysers." The water hidden beneath the ground surged upward at the command of Ayamee's chakra. It burst through the earth and shot upward to batter the still air borne Kazuma.

"Kazu-nii." Kira yelled as her view was obstructed by the raging water towers. Kazuma needed to get to the ground if he was to avoid major damage, diving head first into the last attack had left him more than just soaked. He had to expend a good deal of wind chakra along his blade to cut a path for himself and then perform Air Gate to disperse the attack. He would be limited to just one step with his mid-air shundo.

Kazuma flowed his wind chakra to his feet and felt the familiar sensation of traction in the air, he moved past the geyser aimed for him. The rising streams of water continued, Kazuma's path had him slipping through the geysers. A new geyser erupted and caught Kazuma in its path. He tumbled and turned as the raging waters pushed him higher into the air. His lungs burned as water forced its way down his throat and oxygen became denied to him.

The cascading waters ceased and Kazuma found himself falling toward the ground, no way to he could save himself. A quick jerk and tug on the back of his jacket though made him appreciate that he was not fighting alone. Kira dropped Kazuma on the ground and moved in between him and Ayamee, her fur standing on end as she stood in defense of her partner.

"Thanks for the help Kira." Kazuma shaking got to his feet, using his sword to support some of his weight.

"You should have just drawn your sword Kazu-nii, then this would have been over." Kira said, not taking her eyes off their opponents.

Kazuma pulled his sword from the ground and sheathed it on his back, he took a few deep breaths and started feeling more stable. "My sword is for real fights Kira not these little sibling spats."

"Oh don't I warrant a real fight Kazu-chan?" Ayamee had obviously heard Kazuma.

"These fights of ours Aya-nee don't require the intent that my sword needs to meet out."

"Well then maybe I can force that intent out." Ayamee brought her hands together to weave her hand signs, the initial sign caught Kazuma's attention.

"You wouldn't go that far." Kazuma tensed himself, readying for what Ayamee was preparing to do.

"Oh I would, especially when it's just the four of us here. Shiiryu." Shiiryu wound his way around Ayamee as she weaved her signs.

Kazuma cursed under his breath, the technique that Ayamee was about to perform would force his hand. "Kira get ready we're going too." Kazuma began weaving the same signs as his sister, Kira jumping on his back. The technique the two siblings were about to perform is unique to them alone. Their chakras swirled and built around them as they weaved. They both reached the final seal together, "Saint Beast style: Combo Transformation."

Chakra engulfed Kazuma and Ayamee along with their partners and kicked up smoke, hiding them from view. The wind blew and the smoke began to clear away, the two siblings stood alone in the woods. Ayamee leaned forward, flexing her sapphire talons into the ground eager to strike. Kazuma brought his claws up ready to attack. Each transformation had succeeded and the talons of the water dragon and claws of the wind tiger were prepared to reap.