Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Rating: T
Warning: Shonen ai, and I could seriously care less what you think.
God I feel like an idiot. I posted the wrong file yesterday cuz I'm a moron and I didn't notice at all until today when FxF pointed out that I spelt Kyuubi wrong which I thought I had changed and I went back only to realize that I only posted the first part… It wasn't even supposed to have chapters…
So for those of you who have already read the first part please go back to the first chapter because I'm an idiot. So Sorry!
Hope
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Going After Bells
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Sasuke stepped into his old team mate's room. For a moment he stared out the window, over the shingled roof of the neighboring building, the thick clouds had dissipated leaving only gauzy white wisps across the now peach sky. The pink light of the sunrise gave the entire room an ethereal feel, the colors were all off and the shadows were strange, they made it feel as though time had stopped. Finally Sasuke allowed himself to turn to face the figure standing behind him, his piercing blue eyes watching him intently.
"I should go." The words sounded strange to Sasuke even if they were his own. The blond nodded
"I'll speak to Tsunade," he said shoving his hands in his pockets and looking away. Sasuke turned again and approached the window. "Hey Sasuke," Sasuke froze and continued to stare out the now open window. "You are coming back right?" Sasuke turned once more to face the blond "Because you know I'm totally fucked if you don't." The blond laughed trying to make it sound like a joke but his laugh was hallow and Sasuke could read the terror in his blue eyes. Sasuke nodded the left side of his mouth twisting up just slightly.
"You'd be more than fucked dobe." Naruto glared at him as he turned back to the window "I'll come back." He replied and disappeared. Naruto let out a sigh of relief before going to close the window. He didn't bother to look out; he knew there was nothing to see.
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It had been a week and four days, and Naurto's nerves were wound tighter than he had thought possible. He was constantly restless he couldn't ever sit still. It was for this reason he was sitting on a cold and slightly wet park bench. He nearly had a heart attack when he heard a noise in the grass, and almost shrieked when a snake poked its head out of the lawn lifting it to the level of Naruto's knee. He blinked at the reptile for several moments the creatures tongue flicked out in a bored hiss. Naruto looked around then leaned toward the snake examining it, it seemed like an average garden snake. Sasuke had said he would send a message and instructions when it was time for the team to move but he hadn't specified exactly what that message would look like.
"Did Sasuke send you?" the blond asked feeling quite silly. The snake simply hissed again, apparently it wasn't going to say anything. Naruto reached out hesitantly and the creature took that as an invitation to slip up his arm and perch on his shoulder as it let out another bored hiss. "Right…" Naruto considered the snake for another moment before turning and heading in the direction of Sakura's house.
He found Ino at Sakura's house and Kakashi in his apartment only a few blocks away while the girls went to get Shikamaru. As the small party slipped through the gates of Konoha the snake dropped from the blonds shoulder and lead the way.
It was nearly midnight when the snake disappeared into a hole in the ground leaving the five ninja who had previously been fallowing it glancing at each other in confusion. "That was the message right?" Sakura asked "We didn't just fallow a random snake for thirteen hours did we?" no one answered as they waited. Several minutes passed in silence before anyone heard it, the rhythmic and all too familiar sound of approaching ninja. The five Konoha ninja turned to the noise and braced themselves. It was only seconds before the eight ninja leapt into view; they were in two groups, what Naruto assumed to be the remaining members of Akatsuki and Sasuke's team. The two groups stopped as they saw the five ninja in their path and Madara laughed.
"Well I suppose traveling in such a large group is quite conspicuous." He said lightly but only received silence from the five ninja. Naruto's heart was beating wildly in his chest but he stayed still at the forefront of their group, trying to reassure himself that everything would go as planned. He took a defensive stance and focused on unlocking the Kyuubi's seal. Madara chuckled lightly; Naruto appeared to be walking into his trap, aiding him. "Yes, why don't you come out Kyuubi." The result was instantaneous as the seal spun and Kyuubi's chakra exploded from the blond's body, he writhed in pain and his team mates were forced to leap out of the way. The ghostly body of the four tails soon morphed, solidified, grew as each new tail was released, only stopping at eight. The fox let out a low growl, his form almost completely renewed, the only visible difference the fact that his back only just barely breached the tops of the trees. The ninja stood in awed silence, even Madara seeming slightly surprised. The debris from several trees that the demon had displaced settled slowly in the silence.
Sasuke stepped forward trying not to worry about whether or not Naruto was alright, theoretically the uneven gates should have protected him for the most part but the explosion of chakra wasn't comforting. Not only that but he was now definitely looking into the eyes of Kyuubi, Naruto was no where to be found, Sasuke prayed the demon was on their side. "Amazing isn't it?" Madara said sounding quite pleased with himself as Sasuke continued to approach. The younger Uchiha stopped only a few feet from Kyuubi's muzzle. He held the foxes gaze, two pairs of red eyes boring into each other, Kyuubi released another low growl and snapped his jaws in a way that almost gave the appearance of laughter and Sasuke smirked nodding as he turned on his heel.
"Quite." He answered his eyes gliding over to Hawk "The three of you have thirty seconds to pick a side, anyone with Akatsuki will be killed." He said as Sakura and Kakashi came to stand by his side.
"What are you doing?" Madara hissed
"Our clan gave their lives for the good of Konoha, I won't destroy that." He said simply "Fifteen seconds." Karin started toward Sasuke eyeing Kyuubi with suspicion, Sasuke nodded, if worse came to worse Karin would be useful. With her and the absence of Kisame they had the advantage.
"You're being foolish." Madara hissed "Kyuubi destroy them."
"Don't." Sasuke commanded, the demon, much to Madara's annoyance didn't move. Sasuke made several quick hand seals and the forest around them burst into flames as the Konoha ninja attacked. Shikamaru and Ino kept behind the Kyuubi who seemed quite content to do as planned, he obviously held a grudge against the oldest Uchiha if the way he struck at the man was any indication. With the help of the demon the remainder of team hawk and Konan were wiped out quickly leaving only two beside Madara. Both Pein and Zetsu seemed rather reluctant to go up against a giant fox and six highly trained ninja on their own. Kakashi motioned for Shikamaru and Ino to move in and as the teenagers moved forward, restless demon on their heels, Madara backed up. The man was unknowingly aiding the two as he grew closer to the flames and elongating his shadow. His shadow flickered in the light of the flames and he froze in his spot. Sakura and Kakashi took their places beside Ino as she fell limp, Shikamaru allowed the man to rip off his mask and for a moment stared into blood red eyes before they shut and Sasuke lashed out. Madara fell to the ground with a thump.
"Is he dead?" Sakura asked as the fires around them dissipated. Kyuubi swiped out a pawn both slightly crushing the man and dragging his body several feet.
"If he isn't he isn't getting up anytime soon…" Kakashi said the five ninja looked at each other.
"What do we do now?" Shikamaru asked picking up Ino, who was definitely breathing but still unconscious. "None of us are in good enough shape to get back to Konoha but there are two Akastuki members still alive and we don't know about Madara." Kyuubi dug a quick hole and rolled the now motionless Uchiha into it before recovering the ditch.
"We can't stay here," Sakura said without much conviction. The Kyuubi lay down ignoring the girls comment in favor of fixing the group with a steady look. After several long seconds the demon let out an annoyed snort before pushing up on his forelegs and stretching forward to the Uchiha nudging his side lightly with his muzzle. Although Kyuubi being an enormous demon and Sasuke being a teenage human the Uchiha still stumbled a bit. The boy caught himself by grabbing onto the giant snout which then lifted him off the ground only to replace him against the mat of fur that was Kyuubi's side. Sasuke blinked in surprise as his view of the others was suddenly blocked by Kyuubi's tails. For a moment he stared into one of Kyuubi's giant eyes twinkling with silent amusement at the group of ninja's need for such a den. The tails flicked back to reveal the others. Kyuubi lifted his head again prodding Sakura towards his stomach as well; the girl stumbled but giggled slightly hysterically. The others fallowed the medic, Kakashi doing so without hesitation, Shikamaru behind him carrying Ino, who had opened her eyes. Neither looked very sure of themselves but they seemed to decide it was better than sleeping outside. Karin was the last to fallow; she looked quite awkward and uneasy. Not only was she getting closer to a demon but she didn't know where she was supposed to go after that, she would have sat next to Sasuke but Sakura was their and his other side was far to close to the demons mouth. She chose to sit against his back leg trying not to look to uncomfortable.
Sakura slumped beside Sasuke against Kyuubi's front paw, uncertain of if she had ever been in a stranger situation. Sasuke was staring up at Kyuubi's giant eye which was simply looking back.
"You think Naruto's okay?" Sakura asked making the other teen turn to face her
"Yes," he turned his attention back to Kyuubi "Tsunade said one of the gates couldn't open." Sakura nodded
"Then why isn't he back?" she finally asked. Sasuke was silent for a long time
"To do this?" Sasuke had tried not to make that sound like a question. Sakura sighed and let her head fall back against the fox's warm fur and began to pet the animal unconsciously. She closed her eyes for a moment and listened to his even breathing.
"You're going to stay right?" she asked slowly opening her eyes again. Sasuke turned again to look at her "And before you say anything let me warn you that anything but a yes will get you a major ass kicking from Naruto." Sasuke smirked "He will flip some major shit if you even think of leaving again." Sasuke shrugged
"If I'm allowed to I suppose I'll stay." Sakura smiled
"I was talking to Tsunade she was thinking we could say you were on some secret mission or something." Sasuke and Kyuubi snorted at the same time, which made Sakura burst into a fit of laughter. She wrapped her arms around the Uchiha in a tight hug making Sasuke freeze "We missed you." She chuckled as Sasuke relaxed slightly, the hug wasn't needy or fan girlish, just a hug. Sakura sat back
"That's from both of us, Naruto just wont do it, he'll be to busy trying to beat your stupid ass." Sasuke smirked "So who's the red head?" she asked in an almost silent whisper
"Hm?" Sakura rolled her eyes and jabbed a thumb at Karin who was watching intently
"Who's she?" she asked wiggling her eye brows, her suggestion flew right over the boys head
"Karin." He stated simply, Sakura sighed
"But who is she?"
"She's from Hawk." Sakura laughed
"I mean is she your girlfriend?" She snorted her snorts turning into a somewhat deranged cackle at the look Sasuke gave her.
"No." he said simply "And you need sleep, you sound insane." The girl calmed down and grinned elbowing her old team mate playfully.
"Oh shut up." He smirked at her and closed his eyes
"Go to sleep."
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Tsunade stood in stunned silence, unable to actually believe her eyes. Orange fur and lots of it curled in a tight ball surrounded by a ring of scorched forest. The ANBU she had come with were all frozen in surprise as well. No one said a single word. Several bodies littered the forest floor, though none appeared to be Konoha's, none of Konoha's could be found other than the ball of orange. Tsunade began walking slowly around the creature; Naruto couldn't have killed the others could he? Half way around the creature she found its head resting on huge paws and several fluffy tails.
"Ho-hokage…" One of the ANBU breathed out, a giant red eye was instantly focused on them making everyone take a step back and a defensive stance. The demon yawned the menace of his sharp fangs offset by the ridiculous way his tongue stretched like a cats. He blinked lazily at them his nose twitching several times before he closed his eye once again.
"Kyuubi." Tsunade tried to say firmly. The demon opened his eye again, she gapped for a moment "Where are the others?" she questioned trying now to sound polite. The giant fox let out a snort before lifting his head and flicking tails back to reveal seven ninja sleeping against the massive animal's side. The demon shifted the shoulder Sasuke and Sakura were leaning against making them jerk awake. Tsunade examined the seven ninja then the Kyuubi.
"Tsunade!" Sakura stood on slightly unsteady legs. The others began to wake as the ANBU and Tsunade watched with fascination
"What's wrong with Naruto?" Tsunade asked eyeing the fox, who after the ninja had all risen stood himself.
"Nothing, we think…" Sakura said looking at the demon as he un-dug Madara's mangled body, receiving quite a few shudders from those around.
"Then why is he still like that?" Tsunade demanded as the ANBU collected the body.
"Because we needed a place to sleep last night?" Sakura answered as the fox sat back on his haunches and examined the ninja with a bored expression. As she spoke the kyuubi's chakra began to break down in a reversal of the process that had released him the night before within seconds Naruto was left wobbling unsteadily for a moment before collapsing. Sasuke caught him before he hit the ground letting the blond pass out in his arms.
"Lady Hokage…" a man in a wolf mask offered her a sheet of paper which she looked over "What happened to Zetsu, Kisame and Pain?" she asked the group
"Zetsu and Pain fled after we killed Madara. Kisame apparently left Akatsuki shortly after my brother's death." The last Uchiha said swinging Naruto up into his arms bridal style. Tsunade nodded then glanced over at Karin
"Who's the girl?" she asked as though she wasn't standing right there.
"Karin, she left Orochimaru's with me."
"She's not his girlfriend." Sakura added just to be obnoxious.
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November's national novel writing month, so maybe I'll finally get Calming Circles sequel out…Thanks for reading!
