I'm alive and doing fine, things could be better. I just had the urge to finish this chapter, it's actually been a bit of a slog to write and I'm sorry if this comes across in my writing too. I'm also about halfway through the next chapter which will be a lot shorter than this one.

Thank you for reading this monstrosity and bearing with me through all of my extended breaks. Not long left until the end.

PS Sorry for the story getting dark, just preparing you guys. Remember no one is safe.

Thank you for the all the follow, favourites, alerts and reviews.

DarkRavie this is for you.

Also no beta we die like men.

Naruto = flash back

'Naruto' is thoughts/thinking

"Naruto" signing/sign language

"Naruto" speaking.

"Naruto" Demon

"Naruto" is demon enhanced.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto just some DVDs and games.

Chapter 52 – And the little one said roll over

Naruto's head tilted to the side, he recognised those chakra signatures. He heard Akamaru whine and then shift as Kiba smelt what Akamaru had. Naruto tilted his head towards the chakra signatures, it smelt like blood.

Shikamaru called out, "What's going on?"

"There's the smell of blood and it's close." Kiba replied. "I can smell the scent of five ninjas including Sasuke. They were fighting two other ninjas. But the five of 'em are getting further away from the smell of blood!" Kiba explained glancing over his shoulder. "What's our plan?"

"I see," Shikamaru analysed the situation. "There are people assisting Sasuke, which is what we assumed." He glanced back at Naruto. "If you can smell blood then that could mean that there was some form of combat. If we go there, I bet we can gather some sort of information. But, we must approach carefully. We must switch to scouting positions and proceed with caution." Shikamaru spoke aloud.

"If we were to do that Sasuke would be crossing the border of the flame country." Neji noted.

"We could send a clone." Naruto suggested. "I've picked up the chakra signature just as Kiba smelt the blood, I recognise the signature. I could send a clone to get the information, then relay it back."

"That would take too much time dumbass." Kiba snapped.

"That's not how shadow clones work." Naruto sighed. "Shadow clones share the same consciousness. So what one learns we all learn. It's why I pick things up quickly, one hundred clones doing the same exercise is the same as one person completing one exercise one hundred times." Naruto explained. "What do you think Shikamaru?" he asked.

"Do it. It's better than us going in blind." Shikamaru nodded.

"Got it." Naruto nodded, as a second Naruto peeled away from the original and jumped off in the direction of the blood. "You know what that means?"

"Yes. If there was a fight, that means the enemies alertness has risen. They must be prepared for pursuers. This means we'll likely be facing lots of traps and ambushes." Shikamaru acknowledged. "Alright from now on, use both your noses and eyes to their full potential! We must find them before they ambush us! Also, if you detect suspicious movement, don't just avoid it. Analyse it!"

"Hey! The stench of the enemy is all over this place!" Kiba remarked.

"Everybody STOP!" Shikamaru ordered.

(Line Naruto clone Tsuki)

Naruto sped towards the smell of blood and familiar chakra signatures, he paused in the tree looking down on the four-leaf ninja. He dropped from the tree and walked towards Shizune.

"Naruto?" Genma spat blood.

"What happened here?" Naruto asked.

"What are you doing here?" Shizune asked.

"Sasuke retrieval mission." Naruto shrugged. "Not enough ninja in the village to form a proper squad."

"Sasuke wasn't here. Just four of Orochimaru's goons." Genma coughed.

"What can you tell me about them?" Naruto questioned. "Do they have curse marks like Sasuke?"

(Line back with the real Naruto)

The five shinobi stopped on a branch. They scanned the area.

"Look closer, up there!" Shikamaru was the one to spot it.

"Explosive seal. I see five more of those. This formation is the barrier seal." Neji concluded.

"Barrier seal?" Choji asked.

"It's a form of ninjutsu trap. Seal type traps are triggered when the enemy enters an area encircled by the trap seals. I read in my dad's book that it's a high class ninjutsu." Shikamaru explained.

"Damn we have no other way than to go around it." Kiba yipped.

They dropped to the ground walking as they kept their eyes open for traps. In a heavily dense forest it was difficult and slowed their progress. They came across more and more traps.

"The enemy don't seem to have much time either. I see a lot of rushed work." Shikamaru said.

"Naruto watch your foot. there's a wire under your next step." Kiba called back.

Naruto nodded, and went to step over the wire, his eyes glazed over as his clone popped.

"Naruto!" Shikamaru shouted.

Naruto was frozen in place as Shikamaru used his shadow bind to stop him from moving. Shikamaru held onto Choji's scarf as he mirrored Naruto's movements. Together they stepped back and crouched looking at the wire.

"One of the wires is intentionally made visible from reflecting rays. But the other wire is camouflaged in green. It's difficult to detect with the naked eye it's a double trap." Neji explained.

"Well made trap for a rush job, but that means…" Shikamaru left off.

"They are resting or wounded, or it's a trap." Neji stated.

"I'd say resting." Naruto shrugged. "The source of the blood scent earlier was a team from Konoha returning from a mission, when they ran into them. They sent the two jounin's in to investigate. I arrived to find Shizune healing them, they were pretty beat up." Naruto explained. "These shinobi are tougher than anything we've faced before." Naruto explained.

"Do you not think we can do it?" Choji asked.

"I believe in each of us, we can do anything if we put our minds to it, we just need to be prepared. These people are stronger than us and will underestimate us." Naruto corrected.

"Acknowledged. Can you see them Neji?" Shikamaru asked.

"Found them," Neji smirked.

"Right let's get our strategy sorted. Then we'll make our move." Shikamaru stated.

(Line Back in the village)

Konohamaru flopped onto the ground, when he woke earlier Naruto hadn't been there. He released a sigh and sat up clutching his ankles, Naruto had been busy since the invasion, becoming Hokage and renouncing the title. He'd put Konohamaru on a team, he believed in him. Konohamaru pushed himself to his feet, his shoulders slumped. No matter what he did or how hard he trained he couldn't keep up with Naruto. Maybe Naruto had been wrong about him.

There was no way he'd ever be any match for Naruto. He couldn't even beat Hanabi in a fight. How was he meant to stop Naruto? He was just a pipsqueak nobody.

"You should stop that."

Konohamaru jumped he turned sending a frightened look at Turtle who had just landed in the training ground.

"Great now I can't even sense when someone is approaching me." Konohamaru grumbled.

"Well it comes with practice. You have a similar frown to Naruto you know, especially when you're beating yourself up over something." Turtle sat down next to him.

"I'm not beating myself up." Konohamaru grumbled.

"Yeah and I'm not an ANBU." Turtle laughed.

"Damn it no wonder I couldn't sense you!" Konohamaru folded his arms across his chest.

"You're not Naruto, so don't keep comparing yourself to him. Naruto is a unique individual, you're what seven years old, you've got loads of time yet to prove you are different to him."

"I'm scared I won't live up to the expectations. They're so many shadows I must overcome, how can I ever expect to be good enough. I can't even beat Hanabi." Konohamaru pouted.

Turtle dropped to the ground and he wrapped his arms around his bent knee, "I know what it's like to grow up with expectations and shadows to overcome, and I'm still trying to find my way, thing is I've had to do it all by myself. I didn't have any family to help me out, it wasn't until you grandfather started training me that I realised how much potential I truly had. That wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for Cat. He introduced me to Naruto. Naruto has complete faith in me just as he does you. He doesn't expect us to be our shadows he expects us to be better than them and he's going to be there with us helping make that journey." Turtle stopped. "As for the whole beat Hanabi thing, practice makes perfect you know." Turtle pushed to his feet. "He wants you to be the best version of you, not like him or your grandfather, just you."

"You spend way too much time around Naruto," Konohamaru muttered a small smile spreading across his face.

"So, do you, now stop beating yourself up and be proactive."

"Thanks Turtle." Konohamaru nodded.

(line – back with the retrieval mission.)

"I think Naruto's right they're going to underestimate us, so let's use that to our advantage," Shikamaru smirked.

"What do you mean?" Kiba tilted his head.

"Let's give them naïve little genin, see what we can learn," Shikamaru smirked. Naruto, Choji and Neji nodded in agreement. "Kiba you got any smoke bombs?"

Hidden in the bushes with Naruto, Kiba disturbed a spider's web, Naruto keeping an eye on the four-sound ninja, noticed that one of the four was more alert than the others. They had spent a lot of energy fighting the jounins so they were as good as jounin, that would help them.

Shikamaru was watching from the bushes with Neji, everything seemed to be going to plan.

"Where's Sasuke?" he whispered.

Neji activated his Byakugan, "It would appear that, Sasuke is in that box?"

"Is he dead?" Shikamaru asked in shock.

"There seems to be some sort of barrier surrounding the coffin, and it's difficult to see through, however I doubt they'd kill Sasuke, considering how much they wanted him in the first place." Neji's eyes travelled to the webs trailing on the ground.

"Yeah that makes sense."

They both froze as a kunai was thrown between them. Glancing back, they noticed the three explosive tags attached. The fizzing sound made them both jump out, as the explosion knocked the trajectory of their escape. Both boys landed in the clearing smoke rising from their initial impacts.

"Well look at this, poked the bush and got two bugs instead of rabbits." Sakon smirked.

"Hey, wait! WAIT! We're not here to fight! We came to negotiate!" Shikamaru raised his hands in the air.

"Then what are these?" Kidoumaru pulled the strings of his spider's web.

Naruto, Choji and Kiba were thrown from their hiding place, just as they were about to hit the ground Kiba threw a smoke bomb down. Obscuring the five-leaf ninja.

"What good is that smoke bomb. There's no escape from me. Theses strings are thinner than wires, but also stronger and harder to detect I've laid these all over that area." Kidoumaru smiled gleefully.

"So, you purposefully made those two wires visible, triple traps huh? What a blunder, I didn't even know there was such a technique."

"You guys are all…. What's up with my body?"

"well you should also know that there are these kinds of techniques, thanks for falling into our trap."

"Well, "Sakon began, "to return your words I have these kinds of techniques."

Shikamaru took the hit from the shuriken that stopped his technique. As the jutsu ended Jirobo slammed his hands down creating a dome of earth around the five-leaf ninja.

Kiba pushed chakra into his body and performed a small fang over fang technique. Neji and the others watched as the dome took the brunt of the attack. They watched as the impact area began to close.

"Neji what can you tell us about this dome?" Shikamaru asked, his eyes flitting from Naruto to Neji.

"This is no ordinary clay wall. Our chakra is being sucked dry."

"Why the hell are you so calm!" Kiba exclaimed seeing Naruto sat with his legs crossed.

"I trust Shikamaru," Naruto replied.

"Akamaru here take a soldier pill." Kiba threw the pill at his familiar and watched as his fur turned red. "Now mimic me."

The two turned into a blur bouncing all around the dome shattering rock and sending small pieces flying here and there. They watched as the impact craters started to smoke and then begin to heal at different rates. Shikamaru's head turned to look above Naruto's head watching the craters there. He got into a crouched position, hands moving into a familiar position.

"HEY! LISTEN!" Naruto snorted mumbling about a fairy, Shikamaru shot Naruto an annoyed look before shouting "I WANT TO TALK TO YOUR LEADER! WE WON'T FOLLOW SASUKE ANYMORE! PLEASE LET US OUT!" Shikamaru continued to shout through the walls.

"Hey!" Kiba shouted,

"What are you saying?" Naruto spoke in a boisterous voice.

"an internal dispute? Hah interesting, but all of you are my meal I can't let you out." Jirobo smirked.

"THEN ONLY ONE IS FINE. JUST LET ME OUT. IM TIRED OF CONFLICTS LIKE THIS." Shikamaru pressed on.

"HEY, DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU JUST SAID!" Kiba snapped

"Ha-ha it seems like you're the leader and yet you are asking for mercy?! When humans are placed in a situation where their lives are in danger their true nature appears. A fool like you doesn't deserve the position of the leader… what a loser."

Naruto glanced to Choji he could see that what was being said was getting under his skin, but he trusted Shikamaru and would play the role that he needed right now.

"You are giving up on Sasuke and selling out your comrades, and you call yourself a shinobi of the leaf village. You should die here. I won't let you out."

"I've lost faith in you Shikamaru," Naruto shouted.

"Some leader throwing us to the wolves!" Kiba agreed.

"EVERYONE SHUT UP!" Choji's face had hardened as Shikamaru settled into his thinking position, Choji suddenly pulled out a bag of crisps and started hurriedly munching away.

"Neji, tell us more about this dome?" Naruto turned his attention away from Choji, he knew Shikamaru was listening.

"the walls around us are shielded heavily with the enemy's chakra. If you damage them a little, they will repair themselves just a quickly. This means that if we are to penetrate this wall, we must use a focused physical attack concentrated at one point."

"I can't use the rasengan, it takes up a lot of concentrated chakra and naturally Kiba has destructive power…" Naruto let off looking at Kiba.

"The only one who's got more destructive power than me is Choji…. But what the hell is he up to?" Kiba concluded.

Shikamaru's eyes opened his vision looking once again above Naruto's head. "Neji, I'm sorry for the trouble but please examine the wall behind Naruto with your remaining chakra."

"SHIKAMARU SHUT YOUR TRAP!" Kiba snapped.

"Kiba don't you get it! Remember what Shikamaru said when we took off!" Choji snapped.

"Choji, talk quietly from now on, Naruto thanks for playing along."

"Told you, I trust you," Naruto crossed his arms as he remained sat on the floor.

Neji activated his Byakugan concentrating on the point above Naruto's head, "I see," he muttered.

"Neji send a kunai at that spot, ready Choji?" Shikamaru smirked.

Naruto pushed to his feet as Choji used his multisize jutsu. He moved over to stand next to Kiba who still looked confused. Kiba turned to Naruto for an explanation.

"Like I said before the wall around us is shielded with chakra, however Shikamaru hypothesized that there may be points where the chakra on the wall is low in concentration" Neji explained as he threw his kunai at the wall.

"While you and Akamaru attacked the walls, Shikamaru noticed that certain spots regenerated slower than others." Naruto took over. "That means that spots with slower regeneration rates have lower chakra concentration."

"In addition to that Shikamaru communicated with the enemy to confirm his position since the position furthest away from our enemy is where the wall would most likely have the thinnest concentration of the enemy's chakra." Neji carried on, moving to stand the other side of Kiba.

"Oh, right I get it now, and you were just playing along?" Kiba nodded turning to Naruto.

"Yup, Now let's get ready to get out of here." Naruto nodded.

Choji chose that moment to use the human canon ball creating a hole in the side of the dome allowing them to escape.

"Choji you're the best." Shikamaru smiled at his long-time friend.

They looked across the crumbling debris as Jirobo came back into sight his jutsu ending after being broken apart.

"How'd you want to play this Shikamaru?" Naruto inclined his head.

"What are you on about let's clobber him!" Kiba snarled.

"We've lost too much chakra yes we have the number advantage; he can still defeat us quickly with our chakra so depleted. If we waste too much time here, Sasuke will cross the border. If that happens, we cannot pursue him any further."

"Shikamaru, you're the leader it's your call." Naruto encouraged.

"We broke the barrier we can take care of this piece of trash." Kiba yipped.

"Annoying flies you are all merely my prey, though you wouldn't even be a small snack for me."

"Everyone watch out! This is going to be troublesome!" Shikamaru shouted.

Jirobo slammed his hands down on the ground causing the earth to shake and disappeared from their view. The five ninjas steadied their footing as the ground continued to shake. Neji, Naruto and Kiba all spun at once to face the opposite direction as Jirobo appeared behind them with a boulder big enough to crush all of them lifted above his head. Naruto plunged his hand into his pouch meaning to pull out his chakra blade when he recalled that it had broken on a previous mission. His eyes shifted to Choji who was already running through hand seals, as his fingers brushed the handle of his new blade. He stopped looking at Choji as he jumped out of range of the hurled boulder. He knew that this would be Choji's fight.

Choji once again used his multi-size jutsu and spinning in place chipped the boulder in to smaller pieces. His friends dodged the larger pieces as they landed, he turned his spinning and headed straight for Jirobo who caught him kicked his ball form into the air and shoulder charged him away. He landed hard and rolled from the force, each of his friends leapt to his defence as Shikamaru softened his landing.

"Everybody wait!" Shikamaru called out. "We need to split up from here, we have no time, at this rate we won't be able to catch up with Sasuke. Neji you'll act as co-leader. Take Kiba and Choji with you to chase after Sasuke. I'll take care of this guy with Naruto." He got into his stance.

"Are you planning on using your shadow bind again? Such a useless move one glance and I know how to deal with it. You were the squad leader; you really think you can defeat me when you split up? Must be tedious to work under such a foolish leader. Well I'd kill any trash who'd work under such a shadow loving sucker, even before they felt bored."

"HE'S MINE!" Choji staggered to his feet. "I'll take care of him!"

"Choji…" Shikamaru was stunned.

"Give these soldier pills to everyone, I've got this." He held out the bag of soldier pills.

"Choji you've got to be kidding me!" Shikamaru gasped.

"I've still got my secret weapon for myself."

"But that's…"

"Take everyone and go!" Choji snapped.

"Shikamaru, this was always going to be Choji's fight. He's the most powerful out of all of us, besides he trusts in you enough to step up and show us the real Choji the one that only you get to see. Trust him." Naruto spoke over his shoulder.

"Thanks Naruto." Choji smiled. "Think about it what did we come here to do? If we lose track of Sasuke now, we'll only become what Jirobo called us. Just a foolish leader and a bunch of trash." His resolve hardened.

Shikamaru held out the bag of soldier pills for his remaining teammates.

"Thanks, Choji," they all replied.

"Choji, you better catch up to us later." Shikamaru stated.

"Alright," Choji acknowledged.

"You got this," Naruto placed a hand on Choji's shoulder.

"Thanks for believing in me, Naruto." Choji nodded, his resolve not wavering.

"Always did, you just needed to believe in yourself," Naruto squeezed his shoulder. "Come back alive okay?" he smiled.

Choji inclined his head once as the four jumped up into the trees.

(Line - Another one bites the dust)

"Did you mean what you said back there?" Kiba asked looking back at Shikamaru and Naruto.

"Yes," Naruto answered. "the moment he started insulting Shikamaru was the moment that Choji knew that he would be taking on this fight. You have to have as much faith in him as he does in you Shikamaru." Naruto supplied.

"Does he have a trump card?" Kiba asked letting Naruto's words sink in.

"He brought with him the blue yellow and red pills to this mission they're the top-secret pills of the Akamichi clan and they give you an enormous boost of power when you use them."

"One pill isn't going to stop that guy though." Kiba noted.

"Well if we analyse the situation, we have no accurate estimate of the full strength of that big guy and the possibility of Choji defeating him is maybe slim to nil but…" Neji's gaze drifted to Naruto. "This mission wasn't a game from the beginning our lives are at stake. There was an even worst-case scenario where we had to act separately on our own. Even now, we have to be prepared for 'one man one kill' or else we won't get to Sasuke in time."

"Being a ninja isn't a game, no mission is a game, any simple mission could end your life, we're not children, we all knew that when we signed up to be ninjas we knew the risks." Naruto stated.

"Choji is a good guy but he has no confidence in himself, he thinks that he is the weakest one of all of us." Shikamaru explained.

Naruto and Shikamaru shared a look. "Let me ask you something, who out of this team is the weakest?" Naruto asked.

"Well Choji, that's why he stayed behind right? Trying to be as much help as possible." Kiba answered.

Shikamaru glanced to Naruto, "Choji is the strongest, more than Neji or you or even Naruto." Naruto nodded his head in agreement.

They stopped on a branch each as Shikamaru marked a tree.

"he made a promise with us. He will defeat the enemy and catch up to us." Shikamaru smiled.

"Yeah." Naruto smiled.

"if he believes in himself, he can." Kiba agreed as Akamaru yipped in agreement.

"Right let's get Sasuke," Naruto stated.

They were jumping through the trees when Naruto felt Choji's fight end, he glanced up to Shikamaru as a butterfly flew past and they made eye contact each knowing the result.

"We're getting close!" Kiba called back.

"Yet there have not been any traps," Neji noted.

"We're being underestimated, they think the big guy is the only one who would follow them. No-one would set traps against their comrades."

"So, let's continue to use that knowledge against them." Naruto stated. "We know that that Kidoumaru guy uses thread like a spider's web, and that Sakon guy has two heads but when they broke your shadow bind jutsu he only had one so you need to take into consideration that he can probably split into two separate beings. All of them think we are weak genins, but they are also at a disadvantage." Naruto suppled.

"What's that?" Kiba asked.

"They are vulnerable," Shikamaru smirked.

(line – just need to break it up a bit)

The sound three were jumping through the trees. They had noticed Jirobo was late when he bounced on a branch just behind them.

"What took you so long?"

"Sorry it took some time to take those bastards chakra away." He replied.

"You fatty, don't be slow! Hurry up and carry that box that's your job. You inferior dickhead!" Tayuya snapped.

"Yeah."

"Hey, Jirobo, you're so obedient today" Kidoumaru observed.

"What?"

"I'm saying that I can't let you carry this box, since you're not Jirobo!"

"Damn!" he pulled a kunai out as Kidoumaru passed the box back to Tayuya and Sakon.

"Let me handle this." He blocked Jirobo's downwards strike. "Jirobo always warned Tayuya for her usage of words." Kidoumaru explained.

"I see," Shikamaru smirked dispelling his henge.

He was knocked away as Kidoumaru spat a web at him sticking him to the tree. He looked up just as the shadows of several Narutos descended on him. he turned spinning a huge web into his hands as throwing it up above him where the Naruto clones landed in the sticky substance. Naruto watched as Kiba and Akamaru spun up towards the falling figure of Kidoumaru. There was no way he could avoid the twin attacks. Naruto observed Kidoumaru as he used the thread like a spider and halted his descent, allowing the twin Kiba's to land on opposing branches. Kiba glanced down at his feet to find them covered in the weird spider web stuff.

"It's too early for you to think that you've caught us in this little thing!" Kiba crowed.

"Loser keep on whining," he noticed Kiba's smirk and felt the moment that Neji was about to strike.

Naruto observed the moment that Kidoumaru pulled up on two of the webs and flew up and over Neji he spun his body and spewed the web into a cocoon all around Neji. Naruto pulled out his chakra blade and pushed a small amount into it and pressed it to the webbing. He plucked it once noting where Kidoumaru was.

"My web is unbreakable, it can even support two elephants." Naruto glanced up to see Kidoumaru hanging above him.

Naruto pushed his blade into the web and cut through. He felt the web dip.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Kidoumaru shouted.

He spewed out more liquid and moulded these into six projectile weapons. Shikamaru glanced to Naruto, there were six clones stuck in the web. This time the fluid hardened.

"Stop that!" Kidoumaru shouted releasing the first of his projectiles at the Naruto with the chakra blade.

He couldn't dodge, he was a sitting target as the weird weapon was sent hurtling towards him. A cloud of smoke erupted where one of the Narutos used to be, the chakra blade fell through the webbing. Kidoumaru smirked sending another projectile flying. Again that Naruto burst into smoke. Simultaneously two more weapons were fired at him. leaving just two clones in the web. The two remaining Naruto's stared up at Kidoumaru as Shikamaru, Kiba and Neji looked on unable to do anything. Then another clone burst and Naruto was left his neck straining to stare at Kidoumaru. As the final projectile hit Naruto he too burst into smoke.

The real Naruto dropped from the foliage behind Kidoumaru, he aimed a punch at the back of his head and frowned as Kidoumaru blocked his punch and pushed away getting distance. Naruto felt the thread as it wrapped tightly around his wrist. Then he was tugged forward as Kidoumaru smirked. Naruto landed on the next branch over as Neji sliced the webbed thread in half. Neji had gathered the rest of the team and deposited them down on the same branch that Naruto landed on.

"Thanks for buying me some time Naruto," Neji sent a glare at Kidoumaru. "Things made from chakra will be destroyed by simply putting chakra into it. It is meaningless in front of jyuuken." Neji glanced over his shoulder, "This guy's jutsu. It seems like only I can deal with it. I'll take care of him, go."

Akamaru whined, jumping into Kiba's hoodie, "This guys stronger than that fatty we just fought before, and quite a bit stronger too." Kiba acknowledged.

Neji nodded, "if we don't calculate it so one person is responsible for getting rid of their own enemy…" he paused, "that's what we said right?"

"yeah," Shikamaru nodded.

"besides if you stop here, you won't be able to catch up to Sasuke." He turned his attention on Naruto now, "You're blaming yourself for Sasuke, he's just lost in the dark, you'll bring him round, I'm sure of it." He spoke in comfort to Naruto. "I'll catch up with you guys later."

Kiba and Naruto turned to Shikamaru, who stood. "Alright, let's go." He nodded.

"Come back alive, okay?" Naruto asked.

Neji inclined his head once as the three jumped up into the trees.

(Line - Another one bites the dust)

Naruto's head looked back briefly as they bounded through the trees. He turned as Kiba spoke, "they're close," they continued to travel in silence.

"Should we discuss the possibility that each of us is going to end up facing off against one of them." Naruto asked hesitantly.

"Well there's two of them and three of us." Shikamaru stated. "If we play our hand right, we might be able to finish it in the next encounter."

"There's four of us." Kiba added with a confirming woof from Akamaru.

"That's besides the point," Naruto Spun round on his branch. "There is the very real possibility that each of us will be battling a different person so that one of us can bring Sasuke back to the village. But my concern is that Sasuke doesn't want to come back to the village, he left of his own volition. He scarred Sakura, we'll have to drag him back. And these two that are left are obviously just as powerful as the other two. Not to mention that there is another chakra signature heading towards us from the opposite direction, one that I don't recognise. We need to be smart here Shikamaru and I don't think I can be, I think when it comes to it. In the end my emotions will get the better of me. We need to come up with a plan, now while we can." Naruto stated.

"We need to get the barrel away from them, that's where we believe Sasuke to be right?" Shikamaru nodded. "In the end you're probably right, you said that the guy can split into two people right?" he waited for Naruto to nod. "Then Kiba and Akamaru would probably be best to take them on, even numbers, which means if push comes to shove, I'd take on the girl, why are all my opponents always girls. Naruto no matter what you grab that barrel and head back towards Konoha. Got it?" Shikamaru crouched his hands in his familiar thinking position.

(Line Konohamaru needs more time)

Konohamaru was walking through the hokage tower Nami was draped across his shoulders, suddenly Nami's back arched and a deep growl rumbled from the cat. Konohamaru turned to look at what had upset the feline when he spotted the two elder council members striding into a room with a heavily mummified man. He frowned, Tsunade was still in her office so what were they up to. He felt the claws dig in as Nami jumped off his shoulders and darted into the room slipping in before the door closed. He looked up seeing the grate above him, he gulped and jumped up slipping easily into the vent. He closed his eyes and regulated his breathing, pushing his chakra down trying to make it as small as possible. He opened his eyes and crept forward moving his way along the vents until he was above the room that the two council members had entered.

The council members sat on the sofa Koharu glanced round her eyes flitting up to the grate before settling on Danzo.

"Sasuke Uchiha has left the village," Homura stated.

"He attacked civilians and has left his teammate with heavy scarring on her face." Koharu added.

"Tsunade just let him walk out?" Danzo asked.

"No at first it was believed he was taken against his will, and then we found out about the civilians and the Haruno girl." Koharu informed. "Tsunade sent out a retrieval team to go after him. She promoted Shikamaru Nara and had him lead the team."

"She also promoted the kyuubi brat, he's a chuunin now." Homura added.

"She has lead the fox into my hands it would seem." Danzo smirked. "He cannot ignore an order of the hokage, that is treason, and yet knowing of the laws surrounding the fox demon he cannot take the promotion."

"He can if it was an order of the third," Koharu held her hand to her chin thinking. "Tsunade wouldn't know about these new laws surrounding him, and yet this feels like a Hiruzen plan." She stopped, seeing both men's attention was on her. "Hiruzen set it up that the brat would become hokage, he knew that we would oppose the idea and he also knew that the boy would have the capabilities of a chuunin." She held her hand up silencing the oncoming interruptions. "Say what you like more than once he has demonstrated that he is a more than capable leader and has tactical prowess that far exceeds that of a genin. And that with the right mind set that boy could easily become a jounin or anbu, it is his childish mentality that holds him back, from anything more." She steepled her hands. "It was known that Hiruzen placed a bet on Naruto to be promoted to chuunin, a bet that winnings have yet to be collected. Hiruzen would have made his final decree to make Naruto a chuunin. Also that old codger would know that it would piss us off." Koharu looked at the steely face of her partner.

"Agreed, Hiruzen would do something like that which would nullify that first law you wrote restricting the Kyuubi container." Homura stroked his beard. "However, you did not run these new laws by us. How did you get them into law without either our or the Hokage's approval?" Both councillors turned towards the heavily mummified man.

"There was a brief period of time where this village was without a hokage," Danzo's eye flashed suddenly seeing the flash of blonde fur.

He turned his gaze to see Nami sat staring at him defiantly. His eye narrowed, he threw a kunai at the feline watching as the animal dodged, a tap from his cane sent a shadow after the feline.

The two council members left out the doorway in a hurry as the feline darted up the wall and into the vent. Konohamaru had moved forwards in the vent when Danzo had spotted Nami he knew he couldn't go the way he had come in and that he needed to get away. That mummified man had spoken about Naruto as though he wasn't a person, nothing more than a tool. He had put restrictions on Naruto, Naruto knew about these restrictions, so why hadn't he said anything? Perhaps one of these new laws was that he couldn't talk about them.

"Might want to move a little faster there Konohamaru." Nami stated climbing over Konohamaru. "Help is in the room up ahead on the left."

Konohamaru nodded grabbing Nami and pulling the feline closer to his body he moved faster through the vents. He felt the vent rattle as another presence joined them in the ducting. He scrambled forwards. He crashed through the ceiling vent just as the shadow that was chasing Nami caught up with him. He fell wrapping Nami tightly in his arms as the kunai flew after him. He landed with a small thud and peeked up. The kunai had stopped inches from his face, he glanced further up to see the arm still holding the kunai and that an ANBU with a boar mask had stopped the assailant before they had managed to kill him. He glanced around the room. He had crashed into the Hokage's office were Shizune and Tonton stood blinking at him. Tsunade had her desk in hand and had lifted it above her head. Another ANBU stepped out from the shadows this one wearing an ox mask, they kneeled in front of Konohamaru and gently pulled him away from the frozen assailant.

Once Konohamaru was safely away from the immediate danger Boar jumped back as the desk came crashing down on the frozen assailant. A shadow travelled back into the corner of the room, a beaver mask hovered in the corner briefly before fading. A raccoon masked ANBU stepped forward moving the debris of the desk away to see the dead body they tipped their head looking back towards the Ox masked ANBU. Konohamaru felt himself be shifted closer to the ANBU's broad chest before he was lifted and was tucked gently under the Raccoon masked ANBU's chin, he loosened his hold on Nami as he felt the calming chakra steady his breathing.

The Ox masked ANBU disappeared with the body while Izumo and Kotetsu, who had heard the commotion, came in with a new desk. The paper work that had been scattered around the room was quickly piled back onto the desk much to Tsunade's dismay, she sat back in her chair her hands steepled as her eyes settled on the shocked boy who had finally stopped quivering in Raccoon's arms.

"Did you promote Naruto or Grandpa?" Konohamaru whispered into the vest of the ANBU.

Tsunade blinked, she hadn't expected that question, especially after the boy had come tumbling out of the ceiling.

"It was the Third's final decree, before he died." Tsunade watched as Konohamaru finally took a breath, like he'd been holding it in for some reason.

"Konohamaru why were you in my ceiling?" Tsunade asked carefully.

(line – cliffhanger)

The blood mixed with the water, a shaking hand braced against the wall as the water cascaded down his body, he let out a huffing breathe, "Sasuke… where is Sasuke?" Orochimaru trembled.

Kabuto walked into the bathroom, he could see the shape of Orochimaru through the curtain, his eyes narrowed.

"Orochimaru sama, we've got plenty of bodies ready. Besides you can use me…" Kabuto offered.

"You are useless to me with only one hand!" Orochimaru snapped. "It has to be Sasuke…. Do you know how long I've waited?"

He glanced down at his still missing hand, his anger flared, he needed Orochimaru's help to gain a new hand.

"This is an emergency!" He channelled that anger. "The third's curse was stronger than expected. If you don't transfer now, you might lose everything!"

Orochimaru's eyes snapped open, he let out a moan.

"I'll ready the best of the best. Leave everything to me. I'll also deal with the salvage of the Sasuke retrieval." He turned leaving his master, his anger flared in his eyes. He walked along the long dark corridors and released the chakra on a seal as he stood looking down at an empty pit with many doors leading off of it.

"Everyone, listen closely, I want you all to kill each other until there's one left standing. That person will be released from this prison." He turned his eyes darkening.

No doubt Konoha had sent someone after the sound four, he hoped it was Naruto, he smirked maybe he would use Kimimaro.

He moved further into the compound, finally pausing in a room with one patient hooked up to a multitude of machines, there were so many wires all attached to one person.

"I was not summoned. Kabuto sensei…"

"Your job is to take care of your body. Your duties are already over," Kabuto clenched his remaining fist. "You are no longer one of the sound five." He smirked. "We have already found your successor, he posseses a seal with equal power to your gaia seal, the heaven seal. Not only that he's got a bloodline limit," he snickered. "I wonder who is stronger you or him?" Kabuto watched as one of the machines started to beep frantically. "Try not to push yourself." Kabuto glanced over his shoulder.

"Everyone has something important to accomplish, the quest to discover what that is, is the only freedom god has given humans." Kimimaro gurgled around the tubes in his throat.

"I understand what you want to say. Orochimaru is in great pain and it is a critical situation like never before. However, you have lost your purpose as a container what can you do as of now? A new container is on it's way to the village as we speak, well, it's late." He watched on the monitor as the final two combatants fought. Finally leaving only one standing. He pushed a button watching as the door opened.

He watched as Orochimaru entered the arena he watched as the victor realised who was stood before him and the tremor that went through his body, he watched a twisted grin spread across his face, as the victor was taken over by Orochimaru. He turned as he heard the rustle of cloth behind him.

"I must agree I no longer have the capacity for the metaphyschosis…" Kimimaro sat up. "In fact, its quite difficult to discover my purpose now that I've lost everything, however I finally understand." Kabuto turned around fully watching as Kimimaro rose out of bed. "Although he may not be me I will bring the new container here, even if it costs me my very life." Kabuto turned back to his console. "This is how I show my thanks to Orochimaru sama and my way of repaying my uselessness."

(line)

Sakon and Tayuya looked down at the barrel they were holding. They heard the noise again and landed on a branch. They turned as Naruto, Kiba with Akamaru and Shikamaru landed on the branch behind them.

"Caught you." Naruto stated, kunai in hand.

Sakon launched himself at the three leaf ninja, Naruto frowned as Sakon's speed caught him off guard. Throwing the kunai forwards, he leapt after the projectile chakra spinning in one hand, Sakon adjusted to counter Naruto's attack. Naruto turned in mid air catching hold of one of Sakon's arms. He smirked as Kiba came out of the foliage the two sound ninja were perfectly aligned. Shikamaru smirked holding the female in place with his shadow bind technique. Naruto threw Sakon towards Tayuya as Kiba still in his fang over fang, shot forwards hitting Sakon and Tayuya while another Naruto appeared next to the barrel. He grabbed it and jumped away into the trees. Shikamaru released his technique as soon as Sakon and Tayuya were hit by Kiba. He darted off after Naruto, Kiba quickly over taking him.

"Nice work guys," Kiba yelled. He glanced back, "He's gaining on us," he growled passing over Akamaru who was setting an explosive tag.

Akamaru patted the final tag down and darted away hoping to catch up to the others when the branch gave way under his feet. He tumbled down through the branches landed heavily on a branch his right back paw landing awkwardly below him he crumpled under the pain a startled yip slipping past his lips. He looked back up towards the tag and then further back to the charging enemy ninja he let out a whine as he realised that he wouldn't get away in time.

Kiba glanced back hearing the yelp, he angled his next leap so that he landed on the trunk of a tree and rebounded off it heading back towards his canine partner. Shikamaru and Naruto's view of the two was obscured by the sudden explosion as the tag finally timed out. Shikamaru and Naruto landed on a branch looking back as the two were engulfed in the cloud. They felt the earth shake and watched as an enormous crack appeared in the earth and the forms of Sakon and Kiba falling into the abyss below.

"Well shit," Shikamaru huffed.

"That was unexpected," Naruto agreed.

"She's coming this way, You should take the barrel and run." Shikamaru stated.

Naruto's eyes narrowed as Tayuya stopped on a branch just before them. He twisted round grabbing Shikamaru and kicking the barrel backwards to avoid the newcomer. He fell back wards helping Shikamaru to maintain his grip on the branch while catching the barrel again. He narrowed his eyes again as the stranger's image flickered where they had just been, he felt the air rush past him as the barrel was relieved from his grip. He swivelled round as the newcomer landed in front of them the barrel perched next to him.

"You're too late Tayuya," the stranger spoke. "Also where are the other three?" the stranger spoke without moving a muscle.

Tayuya frowned, "Why are you here? you're body, is no longer …."

"I'm not moving my body anymore, this is the power of my will."

"Even with one foot in the grave…"

"I can understand a little bit now. My lifeform is not constricted by a prison that is a body. It is as though I have touched the edge of Orochimaru's dream." He paused. "This is an important vessel for that dream. But you were a bit too late."

Naruto turned to Shikamaru, now there were two of them and their new opponent was fast. Faster than Naruto was used to handling. They needed to split the two up. Naruto blinked as the newcomer moved leaning over his female teammate, whispering in her ear. Naruto looked to Shikamaru he was still the squad leader in all this.

"Can you track him?" Shikamaru asked.

"Now I've met him yes, but he's fast," Naruto admitted. "Remember I trust you." Naruto smiled at Shikamaru. "You're, the one I'd trust to have my back."

Shikamaru stared at Naruto in shock, then a small smile spread over his face. He nodded a plan already formulating in his head.

"Do as I say and you'll be catching up to him in no time," he stated watching as Tayuya pulled out a flute. "Come back safe Naruto." Shikamaru jumped forwards to meet Tayuya kunai in hand.

Naruto jumped after him spinning a kunai into his hand, the clang as Shikamaru's kunai connected with Tayuya's flute Naruto flew towards her his kunai glinting in the sun he smirked. Peeling away from himself and left his clone to push Tayuya closer to Shikamaru's sneaking shadow. He darted off in the direction that the stranger had carried Sasuke in. He shook his head it should not have been that easy to get past that girl.

(Line – and another one down... )

"I'm quite surprised he was able to move with his body, Kabuto, I don't know what you told him, but that was a little…. Cruel." The voice was distorted through the bandages that wrapped almost all of his body.

"Oh no there wasn't any order, I prefer not to force others…" He paused a crazed expression coming over his face, before he shook himself from his mind. " He moved on his own, for you whom he worships."

"You certainly have a twisted personality," Orochimaru chuckled noticing the pause.

"Kimimaro was a perfect existence for you, his ideals were soaked in darkness like yours, and he looked on as a deity, and pursued and worshipped you like a zealot." His eyes flicked to his master's body. "He was an heir to a ninja clan, that possessed the most perfect and most powerful bodies of all and inherited all their abilities. Well at least he was…"

"Yes, it still saddens me that such a viable specimen was tainted so easily by illness, I believe I desired his body the most."

"If he was not ill, then the assassination of the hokage would have gone smoothly, and we wouldn't have to go through all this suffering." Kabuto's eyes turned angry as they looked down at his missing hand.

"He still would have interrupted our plans, I believe we will be seeing more of that fox and his prince in the future." Orochimaru smirked his tongue slipping out and licking his lips at the mention of the two males.

(Line – a clearing in a field.)

Suddenly trees gave way to a vast expanse of long grass were the edge of the Fire country began to merge into the edge of the Grass country. The strange ninja leapt from the trees easily landing in the middle of the meadow, he shifted the barrel sensing an approaching chakra that was not Tayuya. He turned finding the blond haired ninja stood amongst the grass, his eyes a steel blue grey, flickering to red and back again.

He watched as the blond fought against the changes, his whisker marks were getting thicker and fuller his eyes were starting to slit and become red, his teeth elongated. He could sense the chakra changing, becoming denser around the boy.

"What does Orochimaru want with Sasuke?" Naruto growled.

"Orochimaru sama has already completed the jutsu of immortality, in order to acquire all the jutsu and the entire world he needs time…" Kimimaro begins to explain.

"That doesn't sound like immortality to me." Naruto tilted his head.

"Immortality doesn't necessarily indicate the immortality of his body. He must replace his body with a newer and stronger one before his current one succumbs…"

"He uses people as vessels. He uses the curse mark to allow him to take a hold of them and become them leaving nothing of the original host behind. Like a parasite." Naruto spat.

Kimimaro blinked, this child had understood the concept quickly, and yet he had called his master a parasite.

"That's not a life!" Naruto growled.

(line)

"This is quite unexpected for the four to take this long. Did they send strong ones capable of stopping them or are they spending too much time playing around?" Kabuto turned towards Orochimaru.

"Haha, since the invasion their forces will be stretched thin, so I'd assume the latter option. The first one to hamper the team's progress is Jiroubou who always gets hungry or Kidoumaru who tends to play around too much." Orochimaru settled back into his chair.

"But the most troublesome one is Sakon who has the worst temper, he won't stop until he kills the enemy even if he should just hurry on. He tends to be very proud of himself just because he's the strongest of the four." Kabuto added.

"Tayuya has a personality just as bad. Well there is no 'if' once Kimimaro is there he will clean up anything that is of no use to me." Orochimaru settled back, his legs spreading as he leant back in the chair. "Although it would be interesting if Naruto was sent out." He glanced at Kabuto watching his demeanour change at the mention of Naruto.

(line)

Naruto spun a kunai into his hand and darted forwards as Kimimaro grew bones out of the palm of his hands. Naruto split into two as he clashed with Kimimaro, his clone pushed backwards gaining space and created several more clones. Each time a Naruto was about to land a hit they were popped by the sudden protrusion of a bone sticking out of Kimimaro. Naruto switched out with his clone creating more clones to replace the ones that were being dispersed.

Naruto ran through the clans that used bones as weapons, watching as his opponent pulled a bone out from his shoulder, brandishing it like a sword.

"These are no ordinary bones, these bones are compressed to maximum density meaning they are as solid as steel." Naruto's head tilted. "I've mastered the five dances. Don't assume that you know all of my powers from just looking at them." Naruto smirked sending out more clones.

He sent the remaining clones to attack Kimimaro he danced around them so easily dispatching them. But Naruto's attention was drawn to the barrel that had started smoking suddenly. Kimimaro's head turned towards the barrel as he dispelled the final clone.

"The first step of Orochimaru's ambition is almost complete."

Naruto watched as the lid shot up into the air, steam swirling out of the barrel. A dark figure with long spiky white hair emerged power radiating off them. The steam began to clear. The hair started to recede and turn grey then black. Ink like markings travelled up his hands revealing the pale skin underneath. Finally, the figure returned to normal. Glancing at his hands. He began to laugh. The sound sent a shiver down Naruto's spine. It was more deranged. He stood frozen seeing the figure that was supposed to be a respected member of the leaf, laughing manically.

"Sasuke…" he stepped forwards.

"Sasuke…" he gained speed, watching as his teammate darted off.

He went to follow him knowing that the bone man would not let him past, he knew he was behind him, his bone sword ready to swing and take his head off. But he also knew that chakra signature. The one he wasn't sure he'd feel again so soon. He didn't move as Lee knocked Kimimaro back creating space.

"Lee, your surgery it went well then?" Naruto smirked looking back at lee while keeping an eye on the direction Sasuke was running in.

"Yosh! Don't worry Naruto, I've got this, you go after Sasuke." Lee smiled settling into a fighting stance.

"Be careful Lee, this guy is from the Kaguya clan they use their bones as weapons. He's fast too."

"I will defeat this person, that's a promise." Lee held out his thumb in a good guy pose.

"Come back safe Lee." Naruto nodded turning and heading after Sasuke.

"Come back safe Naruto," Lee added.

(Line – Hokage tower)

Tsunade watched as Konohamaru buried himself tighter into the chest of the racoon masked ANBU, she watched as a cat's head popped out in the space above his shoulder a soft mew escaping from the cat's mouth. Tsunade blinked, she was sure that was the same cat figurine that was sat on her desk. She placed her hands on the new desk and stood up towering above it.

"Lady Tsunade, Genma's jounin team have returned in need of your medical expertise." A medical ninja appeared in the doorway.

Tsunade's eyes narrowed

Tsuande stood with her hands on her hips listening intently to Genma and Raido.

"But if we assume that Sasuke was in that basket…" Raido paused. "We sent a team comprised of genin as their opponents… that's pretty unreasonable."

"At the beginning of the mission we were already low on chakra and that's why we jounin are in this state now. A team comprised of jounin should be sent to help protect them." Genma stated.

"You know I can't do that, due to the aftermath of Orochimaru's invasion, Konoha has been seen as weakened amongst the major nations. To save face we've sent our jounin and chuunin out to combat this damage to our reputation. You know that there was no one left in the village I could have sent." She paused. "ultimately if the sharigan were to fall into Orochimaru's hands, our priority at the moment is to show the other nations that we are still a force to be reckoned with and also to avoid war with the other countries." Tsuande explained.

"But in the case of Orochimaru… even Naruto won't be able to stop this, he's still a child. They need help." Raido squirmed under Tsunade's intense gaze.

"I agree if the enemy regain their strength, they will come right back at us." Genma agreed.

"Do you not think we've already considered that and that something has been done?"

She turned as Gai collapsed into the room.

"What Gai? You look exhausted! Did something happen in your mission?" she knelt next to him.

"No after my mission was finished, I flew back here as fast as I could! But more important than that Lee! What became of Lee's operation?" Gai bellowed.

"It was a success!" she smiled. "He'll be able to start training his jutsu tomorrow. He should be resting and not overdoing it for a while though."

"It's terrible! Lady Fifth, Rock Lee's not in there anymore!" A medic ninja sprinted into the room.

All three ran to lee's empty room, taking note of the pillow tucked under the bed sheets.

"Shit. It was probably in the evening when I was treating Genma and Raido…" Tsuande summarised.

"After the operation he was being looked after constantly. The first day he was fine, we took our eyes off him and he got away, didn't he?" said the medic.

"That idoit he's gone after them hasn't he!" Tsunade's eyes travelled to the side table. "Plus he's fairly confused too. He mistook my sake bottle for his medicine bottle and took it with him."

"That's not good." Gai's face turned grave.

"Why's that?" Tsunade and the Medic asked.

"If Lee even drinks a bit of sake, it's a terrible thing!" Gai turned horror filled eyes to them.

"A terrible thing?" Tsunade repeated.

"It was after learning "ura renge" in order to celebrate, I took lee to a restaurant. That's when it happened. Lee mistook water for sake and when he drank it, he turned into something awful!" Gai started to explain.

"Something awful?" Tsunade was intrigued now.

"When I recovered, the whole place was thrown into disarray…"

"What do you mean disarray?"

"The truth is that guy, gets into a great drunken frenzy, consequently he's a natural user of the drunken fist."

(line sound hidden base)

"Kabuto, Kimimaro has secured the situation by now, has he not?" Orochimaru leant forwards in his chair.

"Presently it would seem so. Also his medical treatment has been taken care of, but I couldn't find much information regarding his body. If we had his family's medical history, treatment or other data I think our situation would be considerably different." Kabuto took in a breathe. "the only information that turned up from my search was the story behind the clan of Kaguya was reduced to nothing… but a sole survivor and the terrible history behind the bloodshed." Orochimaru turned to look at Kabuto. "They were fools who declared war against the powerful nation of the hidden mist and as a consequence of acting without allies, they were obliterated. And ironically you happened to save the youngest and most talented of their clan…"

"The Kaguyas were useless warmongers whose only joy was through death and combat. The battlefield was the only place where they found their inner-peace. It has been a long time since these people whose sole purpose in life was to murder or have been of use, the times have certainly changed. Those who attempt to fight against an organized military with brute force now are only marching towards their death." Orochimaru interrupted.

"So you thought it would be wasteful to let him die?" Kabuto asked.

"Ha! Who wouldn't want their blood inheritance limit? They possess an impenetrable skeletonal frame which can resist any type of physical attack. If they were to ever go on the offensive their bones could instantly turn into the sharpest point of a spear."

Orochimaru huffed.

"He's coming slowly, isn't he? This is irritating." He tapped his finger on the arm of the chair.

"When you're waiting for what you want it seems like a long time…" Kabuto stared down at the stump of his hand.

"Kabuto stop speaking to me like that!" Orochimaru spat.

"I'm sorry but your greatest servant… what hinderance could he face. There is nobody who can beat Kimimaro."

"And yet Naruto springs to mind." Orochimaru smirked watching Kabuto seethe. "What's happening to Kimimaro at this moment doesn't interest me. Sasuke. He's the one I'm waiting for. He can get here by himself." Orochimaru growled. "His fight with Naruto will be an interesting one." He smirked.

(Line – back with Naruto)

Naruto knew where they were heading, as the grass became shorter and he kept running after Sasuke, he could hear the sound of water getting louder. He saw Sasuke jump and land on the other side of the waterfall. He read about the Valley of the end. The final battle between Hashirama Senju the first hokage and Mandara Uchiha. How ironic was it they were each stood on the head of these two great figures.

"SASUKE!" Naruto bellowed.

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