Hello Everyone! Ninja Knight (Smoke Bomb) here (Again).

Welcome to Chapter 19 my fellow Shinobi.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, No! I'm serious I don't own it. It belongs to the Kishimoto and Shonen Jump talk to them. (Smoke Bomb)

Italics = flashback

Namikaze Uzumaki, Naruto stood atop the lake that marked the valley of the end his chest heaving with exertion, he was surrounded by the bloodied corpses of numerous Oto Shinobi floating in the water. he looked up his face marred with a thick trail of blood over his left eye and his normally bright blonde hair was dulled with dirt, blood, and water.

(Clang)

The sound of a hammer connecting to steel resting on a well-used anvil reverberated around the smithing workshop of one blonde swordsman. His mind was racing with the memories of his most recent mission, a mission that had failed.

His final blow landed on the molten metal shape atop the anvil as he lifted the piece with metal tongs before he plunged it back into the furnace, His normally bright blue eyes were dulled as he stared deep into the fire his mind returning to the lake.

Naruto looked up as still trying to catch his breath as dozens upon dozens of Oto Shinobi lined the cliff top, all of them awaiting their chance to avenge there brothers demise.

Kabuto stepped forward "This is becoming pointless Naruto-Kun...now hand over Sasuke and we can be on our merry way" the medic finished readjusted his glasses.

The Blonde Chuunin stood to his full height as his blades returned to their respective seals, the wind drifted across the smooth waters surface as dark clouds gathered overhead. Naruto raised his hand as the first drop of rain landed directly in his palm, his head turned to the unconscious form of one Uchiha Sasuke floating in the water.

Biting down the sneer that came with speaking the teme's name his head turned back as his cold luminous eyes bore a hole in the snake's lackey.

"I'm going to have to decline your request Kabuto," said Naruto as his hand clapped together as his body assumed the horse stance his Chakra levels spiking as the wind and now full blown rain thundered down.

Kabuto screamed "GO! kill that brat"

The assembled mass of Oto shinobi then tumbled over the cliff edge falling towards the Konoha Chuunin.

(Press Play: Naruto Shippuden OST: Critical State)

Naruto smirked before he called out "Goenjin: Kaihou" (Five Rings: Release)

A brilliant streak of white light extended into the heavens as a shockwave blasted the Shinobi away, as the light descended power emanated from the blonde as he flashed out in steak of red as he reappeared his fingered knitted into a single seal as he called out.

"Suiton, Shizukunami no Jutsu" (Water Style, Drop Wave)

it was almost as if a giant water droplet had fallen into the lake as large wave of lake water rose up before crashing as sweeping dozens of Oto Shinobi to the side, Naruto backflipped avoiding several Shuriken launched towards him as he missed their target falling harmlessly into the water.

Naruto crossed his fingers into a familiar head seal as three shadow clones appear in puffs of smoke, The now four Naruto's each disappeared in separate directions each one locking their hands in a single handseal once again as they called out.

"Suiton, Hahonryuu no Jutsu" (Water Style, Destructive Rapid Torrents)

The first shadow clone called forth a large amount of water which blasted numerous Oto Nins blasting them towards the sheer cliff face at the lake's edge, each one had impacted the rock face with such force each body leaving a crater in the once flat surface.

"Doton, Ganban Kyuu no Jutsu" (Earth Style, Bedrock Coffin)

The second shadow clone forced his hands into the dirt at the base of a cliff the ground shook as two large sections of rose up either side of a band of advancing Oto Shinobi the rocks slabs the slammed together crushing the unwitting Shinobi.

"Futon, Reppuudou no Jutsu" (Wind Style, Gale Impact)

The third clone swept his arms forward as two large channels of Wind chakra blasted a group of Oto Shinobi that had surrounded him,

The real Naruto flashed in surrounded by red energy in front of a still unconscious Uchiha as he reached into his coat quickly drew his silver daggers, Spinning them through his fingers he pushed forward racing towards Kabuto who had landed on the lake to face the Chuunin.

Naruto was shaken from his thoughts as a Tiger masked ANBU Captain appeared at the door of the workshop, The blonde Chuunin stopped what he was doing and turned to the cloaked Konoha Ninja.

"Uzumaki-Sama, The Hokage has requested your presence at a council meeting"

Naruto nodded "Understood"

The ANBU Captain acknowledged before he disappeared.

Naruto pulled on an ANBU style black long-sleeved shirt and his Chuunin vest as he exited the door he pulled on his black trench coat, The blonde swordsman then disappeared in a red flash and appeared in the council chamber to the right of Tsunade.

"You called Hokage-Sama," said Naruto with a smirk.

Tsunade smirked behind her knitted fingers at the brats antics "Naruto we've have called you here to discuss the loss of Uchiha Sasuke..."

Tsunade was interrupted by a shrill screeching noise "How could you lose this village most prized asset" screamed Sakura's mother.

Naruto scoffed "Prized asset...I should have killed the teme when I had the chance"

The noise from the civilian council increased until Tsunade slammed her into the table causing the wood to splinter under her hand.

"SILENCE" The noise stopped immediately "Naruto please explain the events at the Valley of the end," asked the Hokage.

Naruto began to explain the climax of the battle.

It had raged for hours but eventually Naruto had reached his limit and the traitorous snake had managed to escape with the foolish Uchiha, Naruto managed to pick up his bleeding self out of the dirt before he escaped the valley and returned along the route which leads to the valley finding the other members of a retrieval team.

The badly wounded Genin Akimichi Choji and Hyuuga Neji. Inuzuka Kiba, Nara Shikamaru, and Rock Lee each with minor wounds but relatively unharmed. Naruto updated them that he was unable to return that blasted Uchiha, the retrieval team then rushed back to Konoha to report the failure of their mission.

With that said Tsunade promptly threw the civilian council out of the chambers including the living fossils that called themselves elders, Tsunade then turned to Naruto who was still standing to her right.

"Naruto there is one more thing," Said the Kage "Gaara and his siblings have arrived in the village they assisted the team during your battle with Sasuke..."

"Gaara's here?"

Tsunade nodded "Yes and it would appear that Temari has come to honor the agreement put forward by Sunagakure in recompense for the invasion"

Naruto nodded "What I said before remains I will not force Temari into a loveless marriage for the sake of village pride"

The female Kage rose from her seat followed by the Shinobi members of the council "Understood Naruto, you are a Clan Head, after all, it's your decision I just felt you should know" she said.

Naruto smiled "Thanks Baa-Chan"

Tsunade gritting her teeth her face morphing into a snarl "Stop calling me that brat" she screamed.

"What! it's the truth" replied the blonde shrugging his shoulders.

Tsunade promptly threw a chair in the Chuunin's directly only for it to miss as Naruto disappeared with a flicker, Tsunade growled before stomping off looking for some sake to cure the headache induced by the insufferable blonde Shinobi.

Naruto appeared outside at the tower gate he stopped promptly as he came face to face with the Suna siblings.

"Uzumaki Naruto..." said Gaara.

"It is nice to see you again Subaku no Gaara" replied Naruto extending his hand.

"It is indeed my friend" replied the Suna Jinchūriki.

Temari blushed at the sight of the blond Chuunin ever since the failed invasion of the Leaf Village and Gaara's explanation as to the blonde's actions on that day, when she was informed by the Sunagakure council that she was to be wed to the Uzumaki and Namikaze heir rather trepidation she felt elation at the thought of seeing him again.

Especially as he had done so much for her troubled little brother in such a short space of time, by saving him from himself and his seal situation.

Naruto inviting the three siblings to his home for tea and eventually dinner, it was late evening as Naruto walked to the rear doors that led to Namikaze mansions fabulous gardens.

Stood there was his new bridge to be Subaki no Temari.

Naruto cleared his throat making his presence known "I just want you to know this was never my intention Temari, I will not force you into anything which would make you uncomfortable" stated Naruto looking deep into her eyes.

Temari blushed and swiftly moved her gaze elsewhere "I know that Naruto...I just wanted to thank you for what you did for Gaara"

"Think nothing of it I understand more than most that hardships that a Jinchūriki must endure through no fault of their own"

Temari smiled at his words as his eyes moved to the gardens once more "We don't have places like this in Sunagakure..."

Their hands inched closer as they stood shoulder to shoulder "You can come and go as you please, My home is yours for however long you need" whispered Naruto.

Temari blushed and just as their hands joined together, Kankuro appeared between them his arms going over their shoulders.

"Hey this is quite a house Blondie" Slurred the puppet user "wonderful booze too"

Naruto's eyes twitched "You found my liquor cabinet?"

Temari growled at her brother's actions ruining her moment with Naruto as she delivered a palm strike to the make-up wearing Shinobi's forehead, knocking him to ground before she grabbed him by the collar dragging him inside.

"Shut up Kankuro" snarled Temari.

Gaara smirked from his spot at the table as he merely sipped his tea.

Naruto nervously laughed at the sibling's actions as he turned and looked towards the setting sun in the distance, wondering where his next challenge was going to come from and what form it would take.

"Well it will be a challenge we'll face together Naruto-Kun" stated Kyuubi via their mental link.

"Count it on partner" replied Naruto.

I've been gone for a long time I know.

But expect a more regular update schedule going forward.

Ninja Knight (Smoke Bomb) Out!