I do not own Naruto Shippuden or any of the characters.
2
The siren screamed. People were sprinting around, trying to get to cover as Shinobi flashed overhead. After a moment, a woman screamed. Within seconds, the Konoha morgue was swarming with shinobi. Naruto arrived first and surveyed the gruesome sight as Kakashi and Yamato arrived. Shizune was examining several corpses as Shion, priestess of the Land of Ogres, and clearly the one who had screamed, cowered in the corner. The reason was quite obvious. The "corpses" had been flayed wide open, exposing literally everything and spraying their blood around the room. Bits and pieces also lay scattered about, making it something out of a horror movie.
"Ah, I'm glad you're hear Kakashi," Tsunade spoke up from off to one side where she was examining several gashes in the wall.
"What...happened in here?" Kakashi asked just as the Konoha 11 arrived, along with Sai.
"They were fighting Kakuzu, definitely, but the wounds and the damage to the walls were from a three-bladed scythe," Shizune spoke up.
"Hidan?" Shikamaru blinked. "But, that's impossible. He's still trapped in that pit."
"Then we need to be sure," Tsunade stated. "Kakashi, take Yamato and Yugao Uzuki and go make sure he hasn't escaped."
"Right," Kakashi nodded, leaving with Yamato as Sakura stepped into the room, covering her mouth as she saw the room for the first time.
"Shikamaru, I need you, Ino, and Choji to train our shinobi to kill these two," Tsunade stated and Shikamaru nodded, leaving with the other two. "Sakura, you'll be helling Shizune here."
"O-Okay," Sakura stammered, feeling sick to her stomach.
"I have a question," Naruto spoke up. "If the damage was from a scythe, how do you know that it was Kakuzu?"
"Because the body is gone along with all of the victims' hearts," Shizune explained. "So far as we knkw, Hidan has no interest in hearts because he is immortal. Kakuzu, on the other hand, needs them for both his own life and his jutsus. Therefore, it's safe to assume that he was involved."
"I see," Naruto nodded. "So what's my role in all of this? You didn't make it sound like I'd be tracking this guy away like I should be."
"You aren't," Tsunade stated. "Without your Rasenshuriken, you can't fight him. Besides, you're going to be guarding Shion. A cult that has risen recently that worshils Moryo wants Shion dead and has put a high price on her head for that reason. Since Kakuzu's primary mission in the Akatsuki was to collect bounties, it makes sense that he would be after her. So you're going to keep her safe, along with Neji, Lee, Tenten, and Hinata.
"I see," Naruto nodded, staring at the ground. "I suppose that makes sense. Where are we taking her?"
"Suna," Tsunade stated. "I believe Gaara's abilities will come in handy, don't you?"
Naruto nodded slowly. Then, he silently took his leave. Tsunade blinked in surprise and looked to the others who all looked just as surprised as her.
"What's with him?" Tsunade asked. "He didn't even put up a fuss about not fighting."
"He's been really moody and...reserves, I guess, lately," Sakura stated. "I wish I could help but I don't even know what's wrong."
"Really?" Tsunade asked and all but one shook their head.
"You mean none of you know?" Hinata asked, voice quiet and filled with sympathy. "It's Naruto's birthday tomorrow."
Everyone stared at her in shock for a moment before Tsunade returned to what she had been doing. They all took it as a silent dismissal and left. Neji, Lee, and Tenten went to the main gate while Hinata went back to her house for Naruto's gift then to find him.
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