Chương 48: Chapter 048

"KAKASHI-SENSEI!"

Naruto whirled around when he heard the shriek, and saw Kakashi with a pair of shuriken-linked chains, which were being held by two figures. The two ninja, who were obviously ninja by the headbands on their heads, yanked the cables resulting in Kakashi getting torn to shreds, sending body parts and blood flying everywhere.

For a split second Narutohesitated as he entered his first real battle. This gave the two shinobi, both of whom were wearing water breathing apparatus', tattered black cloaks and a pair of wicked looking claws with shuriken chains attached to them, to charge forward.

He watched as Sasuke threw a shuriken and kunai into the chains, making them stick to a tree, then running up towards the pair before he jumped up and kicked both of the two ninja attached to them in the face.

The pair released their chains and charged. Thankfully Naruto had been expecting some kind of attack, so even though he was surprised, he managed to snap out of the fugue state he had been in from seeing his sensei die. One of the Chunin charged at Naruto, attempting to take him out with his gauntlet covered hands. Naruto ducked under the claw swipe and struck the gauntlet's wrist, redirecting the attack. This seemed to surprise the man allowing Naruto to get in close.

Before the Chunin had a chance to react Naruto was in his face, grabbing his head with both hands before bringing the man's face down and smashing it into his knee. The man was sent stumbling back in a daze, his facemask dented from Naruto's blow.

It was because of the man becoming slightly disoriented that Naruto was able to close the distance again, smashing several hard punches into the man's rib cage. When Naruto sent a chakra enhanced double punch to the chest, the man flew backwards, smashing into the tree that was behind him and falling to the ground.

Naruto stared down at the unconscious man in a slight stupor. However, he was snapped out of it when he heard a voice somewhat behind him.

"Yo!"

Turning around Naruto saw Kakashi standing there with the other ninja that had attacked them placed in a headlock.

"Kakashi-sensei! You're alive!" Sakura said in relief as she lowered her kunai.

"Of course," Kakashi said, pointing over to where he had 'died'. Naruto and the other genin saw the remains of a log.

He used a Kawarimi! Naruto realized with some shock. Then that means the blood and guts we saw was some kind of genjutsu to make it look like he had been violently killed. But what for?

"Excellent job in defeating the enemy Naruto, Sasuke," Kakashi said, turning his head towards Naruto. "Are you ok? I saw you freeze up there for a moment."

"Huh?" Naruto blinked a moment before the question registered. "Oh! Yeah I'm fine; I was just surprised that you had 'died' against these two." He gestured to the two unconscious chunin.

Kakashi nodded, "I'm glad to hear that. Also, you might want to take care of that wound." Kakashi pointed to a cut on Naruto's forearm. "Kiri ninja have been known to poison their weapons."

Huh? I must have gotten it when I swatted that guy's attack away.Naruto thought, cursing himself for being so careless. Sighing he pulled out a kunai and without any hesitance stabbed himself right in the wound to let the poison bleed out.

"Naruto what are you doing!" Sakura screamed as she and everyone else widened their eyes at seeing Naruto deliberately injure himself.

Naruto just looked up at them and tilted his head. "What? I'm just bleeding the poison out."

"Yeah but now you might die of blood loss," Kakashi deadpanned.

"Hahahaha!" Naruto laughed as he tore the now ripped bandages off his arm and pulled out some extra bandages that he kept in his pouch. "Oh you don't need to worry about measly little wounds like this sensei, I've had wounds worse than this…" Naruto shuddered as he finished wrapping his bandages around his forearm.

"Far farworse," he mumbled, remembering all the times Anko had tried to up his resistance poisoning by having her snakes bite him, as well as the innumerable injuries she had inflicted on him to help his…pain tolerance, as she called it.

With his hand fixed Naruto walked over to the two unconscious chunin, pulling out some ninja wire as he did so.

"I'll take care of these two." Naruto said as he grabbed both chunin by their wrists and dragged them over to a tree, where he proceeded to tie them up.

"Urg!" One of the Chunin groaned as he woke up as Naruto finished tightening the ninja wire around them. He blinked and looked around before realizing he was tied up.

"Well, welcome back to the land of the living." Naruto said with a joyous grin. "Did you have a nice nap?"

The Chunin glared at the blond. "How did you know of our ambush?"

"Are you talking to me?" The blond asked. "Cuz if you are I can honestly tell you that I knew next to nothing about your ambush." Naruto shrugged. "All I could feel was your killing intent, but I couldn't sense where it was coming from. Kakashi-sensei seemed to be onto you though." Naruto paused for a moment as he looked over at Tazuna, who was looking more nervous than usual.

Though them being here is starting to make sense, that must be why Tazuna has been so nervous,Thought Naruto, having watched the man pacing nervously out of the corner of his eye while the group had been waiting for his sensei.