Sold

No Good Deed

(A/N: memories will be placed in bold italics in order to be identified more easily. Hope that helps! Also, I apologize if the fight is confusing to follow. I'm really tired, but wanted to get it out. I'll probably redo it later, who knows.)

Danzo watched in glee as the young shinobi fidgeted and squirmed with a mixture of anxiety and confidence. Leaves swirled around them as the morning breeze brought in a rush of cold air. He noticed that Kakashi and Jiraiya both stood on guard: shoulders tense and legs ready to dash. But no matter, Fox would correct that weak behaviour soon enough.

The boy named Kiba shouted at him through the crowd, pushing his way to the front. "When's this guy going to get here?" 

"Enough, Kiba." Kakashi sharply cut him off, anger rising in his tone. 

Danzo didn't find it necessary to give him a response. As the sun crept over through the trees, just barely illuminating the group of ninja, an anbu appeared at Danzo's side. Everyone was quick to examine him. The way he stood and the weapons he carried on him, his height and other physical features. Sakura thought the blond hair was familiar, but couldn't think of where to place it. 

"I will give you all one final reminder of the rules of this bargain," Danzo's gravely voice left everyone uneasy. "If you incapacitate Fox, the fight is over. You may fight him for however long you desire. However, there is to be no killing." 

Sakura noticed that Danzo seemed to aim the final statement towards the anbu as opposed to the group. Would Fox really be willing to kill them if not for the rule? The thought left her shivering. 

"The fight may begin whenever you are ready, Kakashi." The anbu leader turned around and backed away; far enough from harm but close enough to observe. 

Wind rustled all the uniforms of the shinobi and blew their hair around. No one made a move yet, no one so much as looked away from their target. Any earlier boldness died quickly. 

Kakashi watched how Fox stood in front of them with his arms limply at his side. The boy was almost comatose, on the brink of life and death. He was pale and covered in bruises and scars. The jonin thought that his eyes were deceiving him. There was no way that Naruto was standing there. Lifting up his headband, he uncovered his sharingan. No sense if keeping it hidden, not against him. 

Look how you've grown... Kakashi thought in reverence. Naruto, I am so, so sorry.

Jiraiya looked at the anbu all the same, only with anger behind his eyes. Anger for the monsters who stole away this boy. The mask he wore left him sick. 

"Don't make any rash decisions. We need to win this with as few injuries as possible-" 

"Fang over fang!" Kiba shouted, excited to show off his skill and talent in front of everyone. He struck with a smile on his face and with confidence coursing through his veins. What was everyone so worried about? The dust settled and Kiba stood beside his canine companion. A shadowy silhouette laid on the ground. "So much for mister tough guy."

 A rush of wind blew away the smoke and dust from Kiba's attack, revealing nothing but a small patch of upturned dirt at his feet. Kiba growled.

Sword stuck in the ground, Fox perched on the hilt. His calmness seemed to set Kiba off once again. Preparing for another strike, Kiba yelped as shadows held him back.

"Idiot." Shikamaru complained, holding his comrade back. "We'll formulate a plan as we go, but we need to get this fight going, Kakashi Sensei. Fan out, guys, and stick in groups." His mind worked fast, gaging the potential mistakes his peers would inevitably make.