A/N: Well it has been a while since I have updated anything at all. Well the reason being I have been on the move again and hell it has been really hectic here. But I am trying to update my stories as well as I can. Thank you for bearing with me. Anyway enjoy.

This chapter is unedited, so do tell me if and when you see any mistakes.

Dissident

Konohamaru pulled out his kunai as he studied his adversaries. Uchiha Sasuke. S-ranked missing nin who had been presumed dead since his last battle with Uzumaki Naruto. His list of conquests contained illustrious names like Deidara, Orochimaru of the Sannin and his own elder brother Uchiha Itachi one of the most feared nins to have come out of Konoha.

He had also faced the Juubi along with Naruto and Sakura.

He truly was one of the legends of their era.

"Thought you were dead." Konohamaru said, trying to buy time. "I thought he killed you."

He knew he was no match for the Uchiha and the other man was an unknown factor. He was outnumbered and outmatched.

"Rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated." Sasuke said coolly, advancing, causing Konohamaru to involuntarily take a step back.

"Hey Uchiha!" His companion interrupted him drawing his katana out smirking at the thought of the upcoming fight.. "You don't mind if I take him on do you?"

"If you want to." Sasuke said nonchalantly as if it really didn't matter to him anyway. "Stay on your guard though."

"He is just a runt." His companion scoffed as he casually took his stance.

Sasuke shrugged carelessly as he watched his companion take on Konohamaru. He had warned him and despite him not knowing much about the kid, he knew underestimating him wouldn't be such a good idea.

He didn't know the kid personally, but Sasuke would have pegged him as a threat going by his pedigree alone. He was the grandson of the Third Hokage after all. A man who in his prime had earned the moniker of 'Shinobi no Kami.'

A part of Sasuke wanted to step in.

But then again maybe Kaito could use some lessons in humility. Since humiliating him wasn't really working.

Kaito walked confidently to his assumed prey and assumed a side-stance a few yards away.

"What's your name kid?" He asked his opponent.

"Don't you know its rude to ask for someone's name before giving your own?" Konohamaru replied in a mocking tone while taking a stance of his own placing his kunai in front of him in a rudimentary guard.

"Cheeky kid." Kaito scoffed. "Fine. I will give you my name. If only so you can tell the shinigami my name when he asks you who sent you there. Its Satoshi Kaito."

"Famous last words." Konohamaru said waiting for him to make the first move. He had questions. Questions raised due to the presence of the black haired amber-eyed shinobi here. But they would have to wait.

If he survived this battle, he would pursue them. If not…. Well they do say something about crossing the bridge when arriving at them.

"Konohamaru Sarutobi." He mirrored his opponent. "The future Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato."

Sasuke watched the following battle with interest. It raised a wave of nostalgia in him, taking him back to the Chunnin exams.

It was a simpler time back then. Less complicated. Even the kid reminded him of Naruto, completing the picture.

This should be interesting.

Kaito smirked as he studied his adversary. The kid was in his early teens, but seemed to be handling himself coolly enough. His stance had several holes just screaming to be exploited though.

And Kaito was never the accused of being the kind of man who would let opportunities like that slip. Channelling chakra to his feet he covered the distance in the blink of an eye, noting with some satisfaction the look of surprise and shock on his face as he plunged his blade into his enemy's abdomen. That would show the Uchiha. Stay on guard his ass.

His triumphant mental rant ran its course however when his victim suddenly turned into a log.

"What the…." He didn't get to appreciate the surprise he just received as he moved out of the way of a huge fireball sent his way, the heat from the flame singing the hair on his arms.

He didn't get the chance to recover as he barely brought up his blade to block what would have been a killing blow aimed at his heart by the means of a kunai, held by his adversary.

Kaito was flummoxed, how was this kid getting the better of his katana with a small knife. Pushing himself on the balls of his feet he tried to gain some distance, but Konohamaru was relentless with his attacks.

After exchanging several blows with his adversary, Kaito finally began seeing opening in his moves. He was strong and fast. Almost as fast as Kaito himself and he had taken him completely by surprise with how good he was.

Blocking another blow with his sword he went to take advantage of one of the openings in his opponent's attack, as he slid his blade along his kunai. It was one of the most basic kenjutsu moves utilized to disarm their opponents.

Granted so far he had only executed it against other swordsmen with success, but a kunai was just like a short sword, the way this kid used it.

The blades locked and he twisted his blade hard. His move worked.

Worked too well.

He did manage to disarm his opponent, but the resistance he ha expected while executing that move didn't come, as his opponent noticing his own precarious position simply dropped his blade, leading him to lose his balance.

He ended up eating a kick to his face for his efforts. This did give him some much needed space though.

He didn't understand what was exactly happening here. He was one of the elites in the Daimyo's army and yet a mere boy was getting the better of him. Part of the reason was so far he hadn't tried to attack him head on. It was all about misdirections and decoys with this guy.

He had never fought anyone like him in his entire life. And he had fought a lot of people. The fact that he was still here and they weren't was a testament to his skills. And yet here he was struggling against someone who for all intents and purposes was a mere boy.

Konohamaru panted a little trying to get his breath back. That last exchange had taken a bit out of him. The man was skilled, no doubt about that. Despite catching him by surprise he had failed to deliver the finishing blow.

The man had countered all his moves and feints on pure skill and reflexes. The fact that he was still standing didn't bear goodwill to his own immediate future. He knew the longer this battle went his chances of victory would just get slimmer. He had to finish this and fast.

Bringing his hands forward in a seal he proclaimed, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu."

Kaito panted slightly as he considered the tricky little bastard in front of him. The fight had quickly elevated from what he thought of as a minor speed-bump which wasn't so much a speed-bump but a frigging road block.

The situation was seriously starting to piss him off. The Uchiha's expressionless face which still somehow managed to come off as smug at his predicament wasn't helping either.

He almost wished he would start throwing his mouth off. His silent treatment was almost worse.

He better finish this fast or he won't never hear the end of it. Even in his own head he was beginning to lose sense.

Probably that last attack addled his brains or something.

Biting his lip hard enough to draw blood he tried to get his focus back. Time to unleash a trick or two of his own.

He blinked the sweat out of his eyes as he was sure it was interfering with his vision. Because there was no way the kid just replicated himself into two.

But he had and the kid rushed towards him again. His clone following close directly behind the first one.

The clone definitely had substance as he could hear the footsteps approaching him. Though it was strange that the way the kid was attacking he could get them both in one strike.

Yeah he wasn't buying that considering how tricky his opponent had been so far.

The kid came inside the arc of his swing. He would cleave him in half this time as he channelled chakra to his blade.

The kid made no attempt to avoid it as his clone dispelled before his blade made contact. He thrust his arm forward in what felt like a thrust. Kaito would have scoffed at the kid's naiveté if it weren't for the glowing purple ball of energy in his hand. His eyes widened.

"Rasengan." Konohamaru screamed as their attacks met head on.

The two warriors ended up some distance away from each other, facing the opposite direction on conclusion of their respective attacks.

The two remained motionless for a moment, before Konohamaru's torso exploded in a stream of blood and he collapsed face-down on the ground.

"I….. lost." He muttered as he began losing consciousness.

"It's a draw." He heard his adversary say.

Kaito stared at what remained of his blade after that clash. He had lost the more than two-thirds of his katana in that last clash.

He hated to think what would have happened to him if that attack had actually connected. He sheathed his wakizashi after flicking the blood from it. His last attack if and when done right used both of his blades, resulted in a dual slash which would rend his opponents apart.

But the slash intended to be executed by his katana was now lying at his feet. The shallow breathing of his adversary told him that he was still alive. Great not only did he break his katana but his last attack failed to kill his opponent. The blood pooling below him was an indication that he might not last long though without medical attention.

Approaching him he held his Wakizashi over his neck. One thrust and he could end his life. But the samurai code held him back from killing an opponent who couldn't fight back.

Clang

The sound of the meeting of two metal objects distracted him from his musings. Turning around he was surprised to see the Uchiha holding back a masked man with gravity-defying white hair and a patch over his left eye. Before he could join in, the two disengaged and entered something of a staring contest.

Kaito could fell the killing intent rising to smothering levels. This man in front of him was in a whole other league than the guy he just fought, despite his seemingly relaxed demeanor. This was a veteran. In fact he exuded the same level of aura as some of the greatest warriors he knew and that's when he realized how in over his head he was.

The only reason he still kept his head was because of the Uchiha who managed to intercept the blow obviously meant for him.

"Maa maa this is interesting." The man spoke, his voice as lazy as his stance seemed on first glance. "Risen from the dead I see Sasuke."

"Sorry to disappoint I suppose." Sasuke said, in an equally bored voice, in contrast to the underlying tension. "Surprised to see me?" He said the last word as if rolling them in his mouth trying to sound them right.

"You being alive does intrigue me I will admit." Kakashi explained. "But the real point of interest is what are you doing in Konoha?"

At this point his single eye widened as a blade protruded from his chest. He turned his gaze back to look into the sharingan eyes of his ex-student.

But how was that possible? He was still standing in front of him. And just like that the Sasuke standing in front of him broke into a flock of crows.

"With skills like these I wonder why you retired?" Sasuke murmured twisting his blade, noticing the lack of the Jounin's attire, he had come to associate with the man

"I just realized that the new generation was beginning to step-up, speaking of which you have really improved your genjutsu capabilities" He said before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

That's when Sasuke realized he couldn't move.

"Shikamaru." He said in a resigned tone.

"I was really hoping I wouldn't ever have to see your troublesome face again." He grumbled walking out hands in his pockets.

Kaito watched the scene unfolding in front of him with a morbid fascination. The situation had gotten a little out of hand. He was in no condition to fight and the Uchiha for some weird reason looked frozen in his place, and he guessed the reason was the guy who just joined the fray, looking thoroughly bored.

Somewhere in the more mundane part of his brain he wondered if it was a prerequisite for being a shinobi.

"Well as eventful as this reunion has been, I feel I have rather overstayed my welcome." Sasuke drawled, his eyes softening a bit as he said the next words. "Convey my best wishes to Sakura."

"Shikamaru get away." Kakashi shouted his warning as a gigantic sword bearing arm came down on them changing the very landscape.

A few minutes later as Kaito and Sasuke were making their escape he couldn't help but claim dryly.

"If you can do what you just did, why the hell are we retreating?"

"Staying there any longer might not have worked in our favour." Sasuke explained. "Especially since we were up against those two."

"Are they really that strong?" Kaito mused out loud. The Uchiha always maintained his aura of superiority even when he was facing the entire coven of leaders without so much as flinching.

His stony silence was all the answer Kaito needed.

Kakashi and Shikamaru stared at the ruined landscape the unconscious form of Konohamaru slung over Kakashi's shoulder.

"Have I ever mentioned how much I hate those eyes of his." Shikamaru said. "Talk about overkill."

"Not enough in my opinion." Kakashi replied. "You do know you're gonna be the one to have to explain this to the Hokage right?"

"Troublesome." Shikamaru exclaimed. "You're coming too by the way."

"Maa maa but I am retired Shika-kun." Kakashi really didn't want to face Sakura with what they had to tell them, thankfully he had an out, not being a part of the shinobi forces anymore.

Nice try Kakashi, Shikamaru thought, but this is one sinking ship I am not letting you escape.

"You're one of the party involved and a witness, am sure she would like to have a word with you."

Damn bloody geniuses. Any other civilian would at most would have to give a statement to the Konoha Police, but he would have to be the exception who would have to face the Hokage.

Someone who wasn't going to be pleased with the turn of events.

But there was something off about Shikamaru. It wasn't obvious, but he seemed a little more tense than usual.

And Kakashi's sharp mind was beginning to wonder why.

Everything about the city was grand. The structures were huge and imposing. The streets were lined with trees and the markets were busy and bustling. Rei was actually gaping at the sights. Naruto had to admit he was impressed. This place made Konoha look like a small town.

Land of Gold was living up to its name. Beside him Akira was walking using him as support, yet to recover from her wounds after her fight.

"Don't…. talk." She said once she realized he wanted to say something.

"Come on are you still angry about that?" Naruto began. "I said I was sorry."

"And I told you I don't want to hear it." She said. "I have done my part, I got you here now you're on your own. If I don't see you for the rest of my life it would be too soon."

Rei's face fell once she heard that, something Naruto didn't miss. During the journey Rei had developed some sort of fondness for Akira. And now was mad at him and because of him Rei might never see her again.

Though somewhere in the back of his head, Naruto wondered if that was such a bad thing. Akira wasn't necessarily what you'd consider a good role model after all.

Even a couple of weeks ago he would have been more than happy to go his way once reaching the city.

But seeing her risk her life to come and save him (not that he needed saving), made him look at her in a slightly different light.

"We're here." She said.

They found themselves staring at what looked like a rundown bar in one of the less affluent area of the city.

The worn-off sign read 'Raiden'.

"What are you gaping at? Get in!" Akira barked.

After a hesitating for a second, Naruto pushed the door open and was immediately greeted by sounds of raucous laughter, immediately followed by the feel of a blade on his neck.

Naruto found himself looking into jet-black eyes of a man around his age who looked the way a kitten would if they caught their prey. The bar had gone relatively silent on seeing the new arrivals.

"Well well, looks like Akira got us fresh meat." The man said grinning manically. "Who's hungry?"

Well that's that. Been a while guys. If you enjoyed this edition, do let me know. If you didn't let me know anyway. Sasuke revealed himself to Konoha. Wonder what he is thinking and what his endgame is? How will Sakura react to the new developments? And now that Naruto is finally in the Land of Gold, what trials await him? This and more in the coming chapters.

Stay tuned.

Until next time.