Behind Innocent Eyes

Coming to a Head

Last Time:

"Good." Kurenai said as she looked towards the room where Hikaru and Michiru were grieving the loss of Kakeru, who sadly passed away just moments ago. "We'll return the favor."

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"A genjutsu user, a tough guy and a guy who can turn things to stone." Kiba summed up after hearing the blonde's report. "Stone guy must've been the one who-" he stopped when he heard Akamaru bark softly. Kiba turned and it seemed that the dog was warning them that Hikaru was coming towards them. "Are you ok, Prince Hikaru?"

Hikaru smiled sadly, "The knights have prepared my grandfather's body for burial and he will be buried in his kingdom ... can you get us back to the castle?" Hikaru asked, hoping this will end soon. "Also ... do you know who exactly killed my grandfather?"

While everyone else hesitated, Naruto didn't, "Yes. I'll handle him personally-"

"I'm not sure that's a great idea." Shino commented as he subtly adjusted his sunglasses.

Naruto shrugged, "My clones are perfect for dealing with a guy that turns people to stone. Kiba and Akamaru would probably be best at taking out the genjutsu user. As for that muscle guy he wouldn't stand a chance against you and Kurenai, but that's just how I see it. If you guys think I'm wrong just say so."

"He has a point." Kiba said as he considered the facts, but he flinched when he thought he saw Shino glare at him. "What do you think, Shino?" He asked nervously though he noticed that Akamaru looked amused about this. Why? Shino is being scary and that's not funny!

"We'll figure it out." Naruto chuckled sheepishly knowing full well that Shino was just worried.

Kurenai smiled before turning to Hikaru, "With a team of ninjas on his side it won't take Shabadaba long to find this place so we're going to attack before he hires more people and they come for you and the king. Everything is going to happen very quickly because they will be expecting you to try and take back the throne. As we're handling the ninjas the knights will be getting you safely into the castle."

"That sounds like a plan. We'll arrest Shabadaba once you remove his protection." The leader of the lights said as he came up to the ninjas.

Shino sighed,,"My insects will locate the enemies' exact positions as we head over." He said not even being subtle about looking at Naruto.

It was the worry on the insect user's face that caught Hikaru's attention., but he put it in the back of his mind for now. The prince joined his father and the knights and they headed to the castle. For the sake of speed and safety, Kakeru's body, which was in a gorgeous coffin, was placed on the ship and the ship will slowly head towards the castle by water.

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Shabadaba smirked as he lounged on the throne, "I wonder when they'll try to return?"

"We'll be ready when they try." The smug ninja standing close to Shabadaba said.

After about an hour of Shabadaba terrorizing the castle staff the female ninja suddenly looked out the window and smirked, "We have company." She said to her teammates when she saw a rush of birds fly out of the trees along the back castle gates.

The smug leader and the burly ninja glanced out the window to see four shadows zip over the back wall, "That's probably Michiru's ninjas. Be careful of the one that makes clones." The leader warned though the smug smile remained in place.

"Got it! We can handle it." The burly ninja exclaimed with a cruel grin and he walked out of the room with his female teammate to greet the guests.