Chapter Two: And So It Begun
It was later that day that the alert went out for all Chuunin, Jounin and ANBU shinobi to report to the Hokage building. Trespassers had been spotted just outside of Konoha. They wore black cloaks with red clouds on them. Everyone knew who they were… Akatsuki.
Three of them had been spotted just standing there, outside the village gates. Waiting… watching. For something, or someone no one was sure. All Tsunade knew was that they were not to be taken lightly, so she called all the available Chuunin, Jounin and ANBU shinobi that weren't injured, on missions or otherwise detained. In the end she came up with 3 Chuunin, 8 Jounin and 3 ANBU shinobi. She only hoped that was enough. If only three Akatsuki operatives had come that obviously meant they were strong enough to take care of themselves.
With speed and accuracy Shizune explained the situation for Tsunade's benefit.
"WHAT!?! Akatsuki are outside?! Why aren't we out there fighting them?!?" Naruto's yell made the windows shake as Tsunade brought a hand to her temples and rubbed them, willing the migraine that was developing to go away.
"Naruto! Think about it before you start screaming!" Kakashi growled out quickly before turning to the Hokage and asked,
"What do you want us to do Tsunade-sama?"
"Go out and meet them. Be on guard. If there is only the three of them then they are not to be taken lightly." With a nod from all of them she knew they understood. Lee's question, however, of why they were here took her off guard and made her voice her suspicions,
"For the Kyuubi container, Naruto…"
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"Hime, why exactly are we out here? Why not simply attack the Kyuubi container now?" Kisame asked as he swung his large sword so it rested on his shoulder.
"Do you know who the Kyuubi container is?" She asked sharply, and with the shake of a head as her answer she smirked underneath her straw hat and continued, "Then we shall wait, and Konoha will bring the container to us. Heh, I know a few shinobi who have a vendetta against Akatsuki. It won't take them long to come out here. They are too hot headed to not take up the chance of fighting Akatsuki!" As if they had heard her, not a second later, 16 shinobi landed in front of them.
"Right on schedule…" 'Hime' trailed off as she lifted her head slightly so she could look at them, but keeping the hat covering her face with the material hanging off the back of the hat obscuring the back of her head and her hair from view.
"Why are you here?!" Naruto stepped forward with a yell, Sasuke and Neji moving forward with him so they had his back if need be. They weren't on the same ANBU team for nothing you know.
"My my, always jumping straight to the point Naruto," she purred out his name, sending shivers down all the men's' back.
"H-how do you know my name?" Naruto finally got out as he shrugged off the tingles down his back.
"Let's just say… we're old friends…" she trailed off mysteriously as she walked slowly towards them, making the three at the front take a step back so they were with the mass of the group again.
"Who are you?" Naruto asked questionly as he stepped forward a little and tried to see under her hat.
"Uh uh ah," she tsked as she lowered her hat even more. "It won't be that easy Naruto. ANBU huh? Heh, one step closer to your dream right? Hokage?" She smirked even wider under her hat when she saw his reaction of shock.
"Seriously, who are you?" A new voice entered the fray as Konohamaru stepped forward and with his shorter height tried to look under her hat.
"Haha, you have to be kidding! Konohamaru? Boy, you've grown. Chuunin right? God, this just keeps getting better," 'Hime' started to laugh, her husky voice making the men behind her shudder as well this time as they still hadn't gotten used to how… sexy her laugh was, no matter that her voice was just as.
"If you won't tell us who you are, then tell us why you're here!" Temari shouted as the girl turned her head slowly towards her.
"Now, what would a Sand-nin like you be in Konoha so… casually?" she asked with a small laugh at the irony of a sand-nin being in Konoha while they attacked, not mentioning it was the sister of the old Shukaku container.
"None of your business Akatsuki bitch!" Temari countered. 'Hime' simply looked at her for a few minuted before turning her attention back to the mass of the group.
"No one has to die here if you just give us the Kyuubi container!" Now that caught their attention.
"Like we would just hand him over!" Kiba shouted as Akamaru barked with agreement next to him.
"Heh, remember your choice…" she said mysteriously as she turned her to her comrades behind her and nodded slightly at them. The next second all three were gone. The 16 Shinobi looked around themselves in suspicion, expecting them to jump out at any moment. It was Temari's cry of pain that made them aware they had begun their attack.
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