Chapter 2- The First Step
2 years. 2 long years had passed since Naruto was banished from Konoha. Some of the people that had come into contact with Naruto or were helped by him were not happy in the least bit. Wave country had cut off all trade with Konoha, Spring country was also ticked to the point where they didn't want another Konoha shinobi on their land. If things weren't bad enough for Konoha, Kabuto snuck into Konoha a few days after Naruto brought back Sasuke, and successfully got Sasuke to Orochimaru. Konoha was looking really bad, and this did not bode well with the Fire Daimyo. He pretty much told them to get their act together or risk losing all future missions to another village. And so Tsunade sat at her desk, working on paper work with a little bit of a sorrow. Things were a little down since Naruto left. She missed the gaki, always barging in, calling her names, and wanting to be Hokage. He always brought a sort of brightness to the area. But those days were gone now. The thing that got her blood boiling wasn't just the council, but the fact that his friends didn't seem to care he was gone. She just couldn't believe there weren't more missing him. It was just her, Iruka, Jiraiya, the Konohamaru corps. and Hinata. Iruka missed his adoptive son and favorite student and despised the council for its decision. Jiraiya had set up a part of his spy network to keep an eye out for any information on Naruto, but unfortunately there was none to report. Konohamaru and his teammates were sad that their 'boss' had been expelled from the village. Hinata, well, she was a little heart broken, but her moment that she spent with Naruto before he left was comforting her much. She took out a bottle of saki and took a swig before lying back in her chair.
"Naruto," said Tsunade to herself, "I hope wherever you are, you're safe."
Meanwhile in Ame things were looking pretty good. Somehow, they had gotten trading rights with Wave country so they were getting much better supplies than before. They gave thanks to their god and angel whom watched over them. Underneath the city, the Akatsuki were training. Kisame, Hidan, and Deidara stood across from their training opponent. Naruto Uzumaki stood with a black short-sleeved shirt, black pants and black sandals. His hair had grown a little but not by much. Watching from a distance was Itachi, Sasori, and Kakuzu. For the first year of his training, Naruto worked with Itachi constantly, from Ninjutsu, to Taijutus, to Genjutsu. When he wasn't working with Itachi, he would spend training time with Kyubi, or Kurama as he learned to call him. Naruto now possessed Kurama's power and had had plenty of time to manipulate it fully, though he was sure there were still some kinks to work out. Naruto then started to spar with the rest of the Akatsuki, though not with Pein, considering he was taking care of Ame as its leader. And here Naruto stood, sparring once again with his new teammates/teachers.
"Again," said Itachi, as Hidan and Kisame attacked from the front while Deidara maneuvered around to the right from Naruto.
Hidan swung horizantal at Naruto, but Naruto ducked underneath of the scythe and maneuvered to punch him in the gut. As Hidan flew back, Kisame started to try and cut Naruto with Samehada as Naruto pulled out a kunai and blocked Samehada. Unfortunately, he couldn't hold off the raw strength Kisame pressing on Samehada to overpower Naruto. Kisame pushed Naruto back as he charged once again. Naruto regained his standing and awaited Kisame's attack. Kisame then shot Samehada forward, tip first like a lance. Naruto leapt into the air and landed onto one Samehada's flat sides. Kisame looked surprised as Naruto spun and kicked him in face sending him flying. Naruto smirked at his handy work, but panicked when he saw clay spiders attach to his body. He looked to Deidara, who smirked before forming a hand sign to explode his clay. The explosions kicked up dust and debris as Naruto disappeared in the confusion. There was stillness in the air as everyone waited for the dust to settle. When it did, only debris remained, and Naruto's body was gone.
'A shadow clone. The kids gotten so much faster,' said Deidara, looking around for the blonde Jinchuuriki.
He then heard movement behind him. He turned around to see Naruto dropping down in front of him. Deidara tried to jump away in order to keep the distance advantage; but was grabbed by the cloak by Naruto and flung to the ground. Naruto then did a slight leap in the air and brought now his leg over his stomach. Deidara gasped as the air was knocked out of him. Naruto then kicked him in his side and sent him over to Hidan and Kisame. The group of three got to their feet and looked at one another. Deidara created a bird to fly on, while Kisame and Hidan charged with their weapons in hand. Naruto gave a slight grin as he pulled out two kunai and charged to meet his targets. They were two feet away from each other when a wall of paper sheets separated the two. Hidan, Kisame, and Deidara calmed themselves as they rested their weapons down and Deidara dispersed his bird while Naruto put away his Kunai. Konan reformed amongst the sheets of paper.
"Pein-sama has called a meeting," said Konan, as the members nodded and before she started to walk upstairs.
Naruto grab his Akatsuki cloak and made his way upstairs, and smirked along with Hidan, Kisame, and Deidara. When they got to the top they found Pein sitting on his throne waiting for the other members. As members took their seat, Pein stood up from his chair.
"Akatsuki, it is finally time to put our plan to bring about peace amongst the villages into action. Deidara, Sasori, go to Suna with Naruto and get Gaara. Take him to the base alive, and then Naruto can negotiate with him. After that I will give you future orders," said Pein, see the members he referred to nod before leaving.
"Good luck Naruto," said Itachi, while Naruto gave a mock salute.
"Thanks Itachi-san," said Naruto, adjusting his Akatsuki cloak.
"Wait Naruto, I have had something made to conceal your identity. We can't having go into combat with you face showing just incase Suna get backup from Konoha," said Pein as Konan brought forth a white mask that had a skull design with red streaks coming down from the top down the eyes and to the sides of the jaw with a red cloud on the forehead.
"I like the skull design, but how is this supposed to keep my identity safe? My blonde hair isn't exactly common in most places," said Naruto, picking up the mask and looking it over.
"There's a genjutsu over the mask that will change your hair color to black. Go ahead, try it out and see," said Konan, actually sporting a small smile on her face.
Naruto gave an unsure look as he put the mask on. When it was secure, Naruto groaned as he felt the genjutsu take over. He looked at himself in the mirror and saw a figure with a skull face and black hair standing where he was.
"Not bad, don't you think?" asked Naruto, turning to look at the others.
"If you're done with modeling, lets try to get something done," said Pein, as each member left the room but only Deidara, Sasori, and Naruto left out of the village.
(Konoha- a few days later)
Tsunade was still at her desk looking over documents when a Konoha messenger burst through the door.
"Hokage-sama, Suna's Kazekage has just been kidnapped!" said the messenger, seeing Tsunade jump out of her chair.
"What! By who?" asked Tsunade, as she wondered who was strong enough to capture Gaara.
"Suna confirms seeing men wearing black cloaks with red clouds on them. It's the Akatsuki mam," said the messenger seeing Tsunade grip her desk tightly enough to where it cracked.
"Get me Kakashi's squad along with Might Gai's team and deploy them to find Suna's Kazekage and return him safely back to Suna," said Tsunade, seeing the messenger bow before leaving to gather the teams.
'So they're finally making their move,' thought Tsunade leaning back in her chair, looking out of the window.
(Akatsuki hideout)
Gaara was not having a good day at this point. A blonde headed Akatsuki member had infiltrated his village and p approached him and a battle ensued. Gaara was winning the battle and even took away one of his arms, but in the end he was knocked unconscious by the member. After that he didn't know what was happening, though now he could hear voices talking.
"You really roughed him up Deidara," said a voice he couldn't yet identify.
"I should have done more. Look what he did to my arm!" said Deidara, obviously the one he fought back in Suna.
"Don't worry about it, Kakuzu can probably fix you up with a new one," said the other voice once again.
"Both of you shut up, he's waking up," said a man with a deeper voice than the other two.
Gaara woke up and found himself in a very large cave. He looked around and saw the people who were responsible for being here. They all wore Akatsuki cloaks and he recognized the blonde man he had fought earlier, but he noticed a man with a hunchback and a piece of black cloth covering his face and a man with black spiky hair and a mask over his face.
"Glad to see you're awake," said Naruto under disguise with his skull mask on.
"Don't screw around with me, you want to extract the Shikaku out of me," said Gaara, since he wasn't afraid to die at this point.
"We want the Shikaku's power, but how about we have a little chat first," said Naruto, sitting down next to a tied up Gaara.
"I've got nothing to talk to you about," said Gaara spitefully at his captors.
"Not even for an old friend Gaara?" said Naruto, removing his mask and looking at the shocked expression of Gaara.
"Naruto? You're with the Akatsuki now?" asked Gaara, as Naruto sat down in front of him.
"Allow me to explain. See, after my village kicked me out I was forced to find a new home. However Anbu and the Akatsuki attacked me at the same time. I chose to aid the Akatsuki and ask them to see their leader. They agreed and that is when I proposed that the Akatsuki should not be killing Jinchuuriki, but rather they should recruit them. I sure you can guess by now that they agreed, and that's how we got here. So, what will you do now Gaara?" asked Naruto, as Gaara was processing all of the information just thrown at him.
"I understand your choice in this plot, but I'm still surprised by it," said Gaara, as Naruto nodded at him.
"I can see why since it was only a little while ago that we were playing predator and prey, and now we're supposed to work together. But we're getting off topic, what is your answer Gaara?" asked Naruto, a serioius look coming over his face.
"If you're sure that this will work, I don't see why I wouldn't help, but you still have people in your village that care about you," said Gaara as Naruto stood up from his position.
"And they shall be picked up in time," said Naruto, who turned to see Zetsu arrive out of the ground.
"Konoha shinobi are heading towards your position. Itachi and Kisamae have tried to hold them off but their making their way to you fast," said Zetsu's black half, seeing Naruto nod.
"Well I can't say I didn't see that coming. Gaara, were going to have to put you in an unconscious state. We need Konoha to believe that they've saved you just in time before we extracted Shikaku," said Naruto while Gaara nodded as Sasori injected him with a formula.
"Naruto, Pein request that you not take part in this fight," said Zetsu's white half, seeing Naruto in shock.
"Why? I'm perfectly capable of taking on my old village," said Naruto, itching to get some payback in for the past.
"He knows, but he need you to keep back on this one. He says to follow us and wait unitl Deidara and Sasori are done," said Zetsu's black halt, while Naruto sighed in defeat.
"Fine, I'll go along with his plan," said Naruto, putting his mask back on.
"Don't worry kid you'll get your shot soon enough," said Deidara, standing next to Gaara with Sasori.
'Soon… Very soon I will have some action,' thought Naruto as he left the cave with Zetsu leading the way.
(A/N: Sup! Well, I had a craving to put another chapter of this story up. I couldn't really think of a mask design for Naruto and I didn't want to give him Tobi's cause he'd have to fight one eyed. Anyway, tell me what you thought in reviews. Till next time!)
