(IC) The Life of a Shinobi (Chapter 5: The Four Tails Jinchuriki)

"Careful, I can tell he's sizing us up," Kazuma whispered to Mugen.

"Ahhh...I knew you weren't a part of a familiar clan," said Tidoma, "My partner told me about your people but I didn't expect to meet one of you so soon.  I will make sure to let him know I met you."  Tidoma then turned towards Kazuma, "Now how about you.  What clan do you belong to?"

With a smirk, Kazuma said jokingly," Well, I'm not an Uchiha, that's for sure; don't let the eyes fool you." And then he decided to be serious. "Why should it be your business to know who I am?"

"Sorry, I'm a very curious person," replied Tidoma, "Knowledge is power and I like power. Anyway, I just wanted to let you leaf shinobi know that you've put yourselves on the Akatsuki's hit list. I have a photographic memory and I've heard each of your names spoken sometime within the last hour. In addition to hunting for the tailed beasts, the Akatsuki will now be hunting each of you. However, I may choose to take the five of you off the list if you kindly hand over the Jinchuriki you have with you."

"Well put this in your hit-list," Kazuma replied, "I'm Kazuma Ryuuga, and this woman is going nowhere except with us. And if THAT'S the best you Akatsuki can do," he pointed to what was left of Rokku, "Then your bark is bigger than your bite."

"Ha, Rokku was hardly one of our strongest members," replied Tidoma, "The other members were busy and we had just hoped these two could capture the Jinchuriki in the land of fire, but it appears as if we underestimated you leaf shinobi. Kazuma and Mugen, you two can expect to be put at the top of our hit list. As for you, Ms. Emeni, don't expect to be safe in the leaf village forever. The Akatsuki WILL capture you someday." With that, Tidoma instantly turned into a puddle of water. Apparently he was a water clone the whole time. Danji, without saying a word, disappeared using his Body Flame Jutsu.

"Well, that could have gone a lot less smoother," Sanmaru sighed. He turned and looked at the group in front of him. "Guess that just about does it. Thanks for the help, miss," He said as he looked at Taka, "We'll take it from here. Let's go." Kazuma glared at Emeni, saying "Still don't trust us, huh?" As he walked past Taka, he glanced her way and gave a reluctant nod.

"Well it looks like my favorite places here in Tanzaku Town are destroyed anyway. I'd rather not be bothered with these Akatsuki guys right now so I'll hang in the leaf for the time being. However, I expect to be allowed to move freely throughout the village and leave at any time if I choose to. If I feel like I'm a prisoner at any point than I may have to have my friend Son Goku break me out. Understood?"

"He said my people..." says Mugen, "What did he mean by that."

"It doesn't matter now, what matters is getting Emeni back to the village safely," Kazuma said sternly. "We can't worry about what that guy was saying; just trying to get under our skin and scare us." Sanmaru nodded. "He's right. We will cross that bridge when we get there. But I assure you ma'am, you will be treated with high priority. Now let's get going before we get into more trouble." And with that said they hurried out of town on the road back to the Hidden Leaf Village.

"Hey sensei, what about that other girl?" Kazuma asked. He was referring to Taka.

"Who me...I'm coming with you mister 'I'm not an Uchiha'," Taka said as she was tagging along.

"Oh, don't act like I insulted you. And besides, what makes you think you're going with us?" Kazuma retorted. "Hey we thank you for the help," Sanmaru began to say to her, "but I don't think there's much left you can do here. Except maybe help the people recover from becoming collateral damage." I don't get it, Kazuma thought, who is she? He can tell this girl could hold her own pretty well... maybe too well.

"I have no intention of being in this town longer then I have to," Taka said as she looked around her, "And besides...I have business in the Leaf Village."

Needless to say, that got everyone's attention. "What do you mean?" Sanmaru asked carefully. Obviously, there was more to this girl than any of them thought. "Who are you, and what exactly do you want?" Kazuma said, stepping in the conversation.

Taka simply smiled and said, "Why don't you come over and find out." Before anyone could say anything Mugen quickly charged her drawing his sword to make a quick kill. Seeing his oncoming attack, Taka simply uses the handle of her sword to deflected Mugen's attack. She then grabbed his arm and toss him into the air. "What the hell," Mugen said as his regains his balance just before landing. Taka stood there with her eyes closed and said, "I can read you like a book, kid." To everyone's surprise, she slowly opened her eyes revealing the one thing no one would ever thought they would see: The Sharingan.

"MUGEN! What did I say about recklessness?!?" Sanmaru shouted angrily. Kazuma gripped his sword in anticipation, waiting to jump in at any moment's notice. "Seriously, must you always try to KILL EVERYTHING in your sight??" But when Taka showed off her eyes, they stood in silent shock. "That's... a Sharingan," Sanmaru said stunned; Kazuma was just about the same. "I don't believe this... you're an Uchiha.." Back when he was at the Academy, Kazuma learned about the Uchihas and that the last one known was Uchiha Sasuske, and he disappeared some time ago. Regaining his composure, he calmly said to Taka "Well, you seem to be full of surprises."

Mugen's eyes began to glow blue as he started to use us Eagle Vision. He stairs down Taka as he draws his tanto and says, "okay lets try that again." Taka Look at him as if he's lost his mind, "surely he would want to talk before picking a fight," she thought.

Kazuma then jumps in between them, arms stretched out as if he were protecting Taka. "Stop this," he said flatly. "MUGEN! Enough!!" Sanmaru shouted. He realized things were getting out of hand, that they were SUPPOSED to just retrieve the Five-Tails Jinchuriki but it ended up to be a bigger mess than he anticipated. "We need to continue with our mission, not fight amongst each other like children!"

"Well you're even more hot headed then I thought," Taka said as she looked at Mugen, "are all leaf ninja so cocky?"

"He's not cocky," Kazuma replied looking over his shoulder, "He's just narrow-minded and foolish." Turning back to Mugen, Kazuma said to him sternly, "You heard Sanmaru-sensei, that's enough. Stop trying to kill everything that you see that challenges you."

"Nani," Sanmaru said quietly, "get ready just in case." He was ready to finish this problem faster than it began.

Nani nodded to Sanmaru and then directed her attention towards Taka. "What business do you have in the leaf?" she asked, "The last few known Uchiha were not necessarily 'friends' of the leaf, so give us a reason why we should just take you back to the village with us."

"My father, Sasuke Uchiha, wanted me to help take down the Akatsuki. I'm suppose to speak with the Hokage about it," Taka says still starring down Mugen. "Your name is Kakusu-Ken right," she asked Mugen, "you're the first person I've met who break out of my genjutsu so easily." Mugen glared at the girl before putting away his weapons, "we'll settle this later," he said.

With the tension gone, everyone relaxed a bit. "Wait, rewind a bit," Kazuma said. "So not only are you an Uchiha, you're Sasuske Uchiha's daughter? That's really impressive." Sanmaru nodded in agreement. "And for someone like her to aid in the fight with the Akatsuki..." Sanmaru pondered on this, but not too long for they needed to be on the move quick. "Sensei," Kazuma finally said with urgency, "We should hurry back."

"Okay then. Taka Uchiha: allow us to be your escort along with Emeni." "Welcome to the group," Sanmaru said with a faint smirk, "Temporarily, of course."

Having come out of the battle as victors, Sanmaru, Nani, Kazuma, and Mugen returned to the leaf along with Emeni and Taka. Upon their return, the Hokage congratulated the team on their victory. Emeni was allowed to live in the village and roam free as she pleased. However, like Hiro, she was under constant surveillance. Taka, after talking with the Hokage, was allowed to live in the village as well. Konohamaru placed Taka in team Raiku to fill the spot made vacant by Ryan. The Hidden Leaf village is now in possession of 3 tailed Beasts. However, 6 more remain outside of the Hidden Leaf and the Akatsuki will certainly be working fast.