Ch.2 The Kidnapping
"Naruto you need to calm down." spoke Sakura as she watched Naruto punching against one of the trees in the training field.
"How can I calm down when the Akatsuki are out there killing people. I won't let them take Hinata. I'm not going to lose another friend!" shouted Naruto. Sakura went up to him and tapped his shoulder.
"The best thing we can do is leave this to Tsunade and the other ninja. We need to focus on our mission. Remember today's the day we'll meet the Akatsuki's spy and he may lead us to Orochimaru." spoke Sakura calmly. Naruto sighed and forced a grin.
"Yeah, I can't wait." spoke Naruto.
"Glad to hear it." spoke a voice from behind them. Naruto and Sakura both turned around to see Yamato and Sai standing there.
"So you are Naruto and Sakura nice to meet you." spoke Sai with confidence.
"My name is Yamato and I will be temporary filling in for Kakashi since he needs to be in the village and this is Sai, he will be filling in for Sasuke." spoke Yamato and Naruto and Sakura just looked depressed.
"Sasuke." they both muttered. Sai just looked at them and then to Yamato.
"Seems as the word Sasuke haunts them." spoke Sai.
"Well anyway let's all try and get along. This is going to be a long day and we need to work as a team if we want to succeed." spoke Yamato.
Tsunade and a few other medical ninja had been working for hours to awaken Lord Hisashi with little to no luck.
"If something isn't done soon, he'll die from the poison." spoke Tsunade. The other medical ninja nodded and kept doing everything they could. Tsunade just hoped that Shizune would be okay with Kakashi and Guy watching the hokage mansion. The Akatsuki were after Hinata and they had to prevent them from succeeding.
"Hey Kakashi ready for another round of combat." spoke Guy as he was ready for the fight of his life as he always was.
"Guy, this is no time for nonsense. We need to think before we go jumping in." spoke Kakashi.
"Ha! The man who attacks first has the advantage on the battle ground and us being from the leaf, we are fighting on home turf. There is no way the Akatsuki will get past us." spoke Guy with confidence.
"They don't need to get past us physically. Remember Itachi is part of the Akatsuki and can use genjutsu to make himself appear invisible or as someone we know. We can't just jump into the first person we suspect might be him, we don't want to hurt anyone besides the Akatsuki.
"You have a good point. When we do know it's them then we will show them the spirit of the leaf village with our hands." spoke Guy.
Neji and Hinata were inside the hokage mansion sitting down on two chairs that Shizune had provided. Shizune kept a sharp eye out beside she knew at any second the Akatsuki could show up and she had to be ready if they showed up before Tsunade returned. She only hoped that Tsunade could find a cure for whatever poison they used on Lord Hisashi.
"I know this isn't any fun and that you two should both be out training with your teams but I'm very worried about the both of you." spoke Shizune. Neji just crossed his arms and Hinata blushed.
"Thanks for your concern but I can handle myself." spoke Neji.
"Neji…Shizune is only trying to help. We ourselves can't fight S rank criminals and you know it."
"We can fight them and I plan to fight them if they think of touching you. I will not let them steal the byakugan. That's our family trait, it's not meant for their hands. It's bad enough they have the sharingan." spoke Neji.
"I'm glad that you feel that way." spoke Hinata.
Hidden away from all eyes were Kisame and Itachi. They were preparing to kidnapping the girl of the hyuga.
"Itachi, how did you manage to elude the Anbu?" asked Kisame with a laugh. Itachi just glared at him.
"My clan used to own the police force there is no way I'd ever let an Anbu discover me and poisoning Hisashi was easier than getting into the mansion. He never expected it in his tea…" spoke Itachi.
"Do you have a plan?" asked Kisame. Itachi just smiled and teleported away.
"Aw I see. Okay I will wait here." smiled Kisame as he watched the village from a distance. Itachi reappeared at the hokage mansion and without thinking or responding he knocked out Shizune. He looked to the two hyuga as Neji stood in front of Hinata. Guy and Kakashi were outside as Kisame had decided to show up and fight them.
"I remember you." spoke Guy as he looked to Kisame.
"I hope you remember me." spoke Kisame as he took his sword out of it's bandages.
"It's time for us to have a rematch." smiled Kisame. Itachi just glared at Neji.
"What makes you think you stand a chance against me boy?" asked Itachi.
"8 trigrams, 64 palms." spoke Neji and Itachi just moved out of the way and grabbed Hinata easily.
"Thank you." spoke Itachi as he teleported away. Neji grabbed a hold of him just before he teleported and pushed Hinata out of the way. When Itachi reappeared at the Akatsuki hideout with the Neji, Nagato was not very pleased.
"I wanted the girl." spoke Nagato. Neji just sat there in chains surround by the four pairs off Akatsuki members. Then Toby spoke up.
"It's still possible to get the byakugan from the boy." he spoke.
"Yes, all's we need to do is remove the seal the Hisashi placed on him." spoke Itachi.
"Anyone know how to do that?" asked Nagato and very slowly Zetsu raised his hand.
"Yes." he spoke. Nagato smiled as Neji was dragged into the Akatsuki's hideout.
Back at the leaf village Kakashi and Guy were still fighting Kisame when Hinata ran down to them.
"Neji's gone." she panted. Kisame smiled as he looked to Kakashi then to Guy.
"Another time then?" he spoke as he teleported away.
"Wait a second why would they take Neji?" asked Kakashi to Hinata and Hinata explained very clearly that Neji had taken Hinata's place just as Itachi had teleported away. Kakashi and Guy were stunned. Tsunade finally returned with a bit of good news.
"I've found a cure and Hisashi should be fine by tomorrow." spoke Tsunade as she looked to Hinata.
"Why are you out here?" asked Tsunade. Hinata just froze.
"They took Neji." spoke Kakashi for her. Tsunade just put her hand on Hinata's shoulder.
"I'm sorry Hinata, I didn't mean to yell. Now we need to find out who did this and where they are heading. Guy I want you to gather your team. I will let Yamato know to send Naruto here as quickly as he can." spoke Tsunade.
"Why Naruto?" asked Kakashi.
"Because Naruto has to learn how to deal with the Akatsuki sooner rather then later and without Neji, there's just Tenten and Rock Lee. I will feel much more secure knowing that Naruto will be with them.
"I just hope Neji is okay." muttered Hinata.
"Don't worry Hinata, they can't take the byakugan from Neji so I'm sure he'll be okay." spoke Hisashi when he woke up the next day in the hospital. Hinata was sitting beside him and couldn't help but wonder how Neji was and what the Akatsuki planned to do with him.
Neji sat in an empty room surrounded by candles. He was chained to a chair as Zetsu and Nagato walked in.
"No worries Pein this won't take long and the boy won't suffer much." spoke Zetsu.
"Good I want the byakugan and then I will have all three of the eye techniques and no one will be able to stand in my way." smiled Pein as he left Zetsu to perform whatever method he had of removing the seal from Neji's forehead. Neji's leaf headband laid down to the side of him. Zetsu carefully pushed his hair out of the way.
"I think you'll be happy once this cursed seal is gone." spoke Zetsu. Neji struggled against the bindings of the chains but there was nothing he could do.
The other Akatsuki were waiting patiently as they talked about the tailed beasts they had captured and Deidara was still grieving just a little bit about Sasori's death.
Naruto, Rock Lee and Tenten were in Tsunade's office as they were given clear details of their mission. Guy Sensei would be leading them.
"Your mission is to go to the Akatsuki's hideout and bring Neji back to us before it's too late. The Akatsuki are capable of things we don't know yet so that doesn't mean that they won't get the byakugan just because they don't have Hinata. Guy I'm trusting Naruto to your care. Sakura and Sai will do some training of their own until you return. Is everything I said clear?" asked Tsunade.
"Yes madam." spoke Tenten and Rock Lee. Naruto just clenched his fist as he thought of the Akatsuki and thought of Neji.
"You Naruto showed me the light, you are Sasuke's only hope." spoke Neji from back at the time before Sasuke had left for Orochimaru. Naruto still couldn't understand why Sasuke wanted to be evil, the need for power.
"I will bring Neji back no matter what!" spoke Naruto with pride and confidence. He didn't care about the strength or number of the opponent he had fought before knowing his chances and still came out on top.
"Good luck Naruto." spoke Tsunade.
Naruto and the others left the leaf village that day and headed off for the Akatsuki's hideout. Naruto just hoped they weren't to late to save Neji…
Author's Note: Hey thanks for your support so far I really appreciate it. Please review and let me know what you think of Ch.2. I promise the fight scenes are coming and I hope all this building up will help this story to be even better.
Next time: Ch.3 Naruto to the rescue!
The team of Naruto, Tenten, and Rock Lee along with Guy Sensei are off to save Neji from the Akatsuki but will they arrive too late?
