By: FallenDispair
Chapter: 7
I DON'T OWN NARUTO
Authors Notes: I've decided not to make anymore lemons, I'll still reference that they had sex, but I won't go into detail anymore. I'm not that good at it and I don't want to risk my story being pulled. Plus the whole harem thing was last minute, due to people bugging about not wanting another Naru/Hina pairing like I originally planed, so the harem was a compromise. Also for those worried about this story being too canon, relax, even though this chapter will have a lot of canon, it'll start going off the rails by the end of it and in the fallowing chapters. Oh! one more thing, this: {link talk} will be used for talking with Fuu's link from now on. Thanks for the support!
With Orochimaru having gained enough strength to stand, he notices Sai approaching him, putting him on guard.
Sai stops at a safe distance from Orochimaru and says with his fake smile, "I am not your enemy, Orochimaru. I am an envoy from Danzo, and on his behalf I would like a word with you."
Orochimaru replies, "Danzo, so that senile geezer's still alive, and you're his new errand boy. Out with it then, what does he want from me?"
Sai answers, "The message I bring you is of utmost importance, Orochimaru. Danzo says-"
Orochimaru interrupts, "If I were you, errand boy, I'd choose my words wisely. Presuming you value your life."
Sai responds, "I am only allowed to relay the message as Danzo instructed. If that meets with your displeasure, then by all means, do what you will."
Orochimaru smiles before launching a blade out of his mouth, piercing Sai's chest before he comments darkly, "You really don't know your manners, do you."
Sai's body begins to melt before splatting into an ink puddle and Orochimaru's sword proceeds to turn into a snake and crawl back up Orochimaru's leg. Sai then pops out of the ground near the puddle of his ink clone.
Orochimaru then calmly says while his snake's head appears over his left shoulder hissing, "When addressing someone of superior rank, proper etiquette dictates you face them directly."
Back with Team Kakashi, Naruto's body glows with a light red tinge as he begins to thrash in agony, getting Sakura to stop glaring at Fuu and quickly start examining him.
Fuu asks in concern, "What's happening to him?! I thought you said he'd be okay now!"
Sakura answers in equal concern, "I-I don't know! There seems to be an unfamiliar chakra attacking Naruto's chakra network!"
Yamato recognizes that chakra as the one that helped him suppress the Nine Tails, but can't understand why it's attacking Naruto now!
Sakura quickly orders out, "Captain Yamato! Fuu! Hold Naruto down while I try sedating him!"
They both grab on to Naruto's limbs as Sakura rummages through her medical pouch, producing a syringe and a medical bottle. Using the syringe to extract the necessary dosage, Sakura then injects it into Naruto's main vein on his right arm, getting him to slowly stop thrashing around.
Fuu asks worriedly, "What did you do? Is he all better now?!"
Sakura replies, "I used a paralytic to stop his movements, so I haven't stopped the underline cause."
Yamato comments after breathing a sigh of relief, "Good work Sakura. Now is there anything you can do about the chakra attacking his network?"
Sakura answers, "I'm afraid there is nothing I can do about right now. Without knowing exactly what's causing it, I could end up making it worse, because any number of treatment options could have an adverse reaction to the chakra in his system. Which could lead to his network being irreparably damged, to possibly killing him!"
Fuu cries out hysterically, "Then what are we suppose to do?! I can't lose him! Please!"
Sakura solemnly responds, "All we can do is wait it out and hope he pulls through unharmed."
Fuu sinks back to her knees and takes Naruto's left hand into hers, bringing it up to her face so she can tenderly place her cheek against it, while muttering, "Please, Naruto. come back to me."
"Fuu? Where did I go?", a now conscious Naruto asks.
Everyone breaths a sigh of relief as Fuu immediately pulls Naruto into a bear-hug while shedding tears of joy, causing Naruto's ribs to start popping.
Naruto grunts out, "O-Ouch! F-Fuu stop it! Y-you're m-making it h-hard to breath!"
Fuu lets go of him while bashfully replying, "S-sorry Naruto. I'm just so happy that you are okay."
Naruto responds in a tender tone, "No, I'm sorry for worrying you, Fuu.", giving her a kiss on her forehead.
Yamato asks, "Naruto, what happened to you? I want all the details.", while giving Naruto a no non-sense look.
Sakura adds, "What happened with Orochimaru?! And why did you lose control after being knocked back here? Do you know anything about that foreign chakra attacking your chakra network?!"
Naruto responds while putting his hands up, "Hold your horses! One question at time! I'll start where I destroyed the bridge, and try to fill in any blanks that I can. Okay?"
Naruto tries to get up, only to be stopped by Sakura laying him back down on his back as she orders, "You can explain laying down while I examine you. I need to make sure that your chakra network isn't damaged."
Not in the mood to argue, Naruto complies and fills them in on everything that happened, from repeatedly fucking up Orochimaru, to his curse mark destroying the stability of his seals, ending with what his mother did to him before passing on.
Meanwhile, after Sai relayed Danzo's message, Orochimaru skeptically says, "So about this tale, give me one reason why I should believe you."
Sai reaches back with his left hand, digging into his pack to pull something out, only to be roughly tackled to the ground from behind by Kabuto. The items in Sai's pack fall out as Kabuto pins him to the ground with his left forearm and holding a kunai in his right hand.
Kabuto asks, "What's goin on here?", while moving his kunai closer to Sai's head.
Orochimaru replies, "You can relax, Kabuto, our ranks may have just increased by one."
Kabuto asks, "Can we really trust him?", not letting Sai up or pulling back his kunai.
Sai explains, "In that envelope is a note from Danzo, for you. Read it and see for yourself.", while pointing at said envelope on the ground.
Orochimaru walks over and picks up the envelope, opening it and saying in surprise, "This is."
Kabuto asks, "What does it say?"
Orochimaru just orders, "Kabuto, let that child up. We're taking him with us."
Kabuto fallows his order without question, allowing Sai to pick himself up off the ground as Orochimaru asks, "Sai, was it? Shall we get going?"
Sai simply gives his fake smile and then they all speed away, unaware of Yamato's clone watching them as it comments to it's self, "Just as we suspected. Thankfully, I'd already planted it on him back at the hot springs, but it doesn't hurt to tail them in person as well. After all, that is my specialty.", speeding off to fallow them.
Back with Team Kakashi, Naruto had just finished filling them in as Sakura finished her examination of his body, bringing a shocked look to her face.
Worried that it might be bad news, Naruto asks, "What is it Sakura? How bad am I hurt?"
Sakura sakes her head as she replies, "You're not hurt at all, besides some signs of fatigue. What surprised me is the fact that your chakra coils are larger than they were when I healed your skin!"
Yamato responds, "But that's not possible! It takes years for chakra coils to grow, even for those gifted with enormous amounts of charka, like Naruto!"
Naruto just scratches his head in confusion as he asks, "Um, is that bad?"
Sakura answers, "Only if the coils are damaged, but yours are perfectly fine. It seems that your mothers attempt at activating your dormant genes had an unforeseen side-effect. I just can't figure out how her chakra could have enlarged your coils to such a degree without tearing them apart?"
Fuu asks, "How much bigger are they now?"
Sakura replies, "Simply put, I'd say Naruto's coils are nearly twice as large as before. With an increase that dramatic, his coils should be shredded into pieces, but why not? Is it because of the Nine Tails?"
Yamato supplies Sakura with a theory, "It's most likely due to Kushina's chakra having the rare healing properties of the Uzumaki clan. It was said that a few members of the Uzumaki clan had such powerful life forces, that a person could heal their wounds by eating their chakra. But from what I've read on her old file, she didn't have that ability."
Sakura takes a moment to think before theorizing, "Perhaps her life force was potent enough, that when mixed with another Uzumaki's chakra, it could heal in a similar fashion. I should have gotten a sample of Naruto's chakra while Kushina's was mixing with it! Now there is no way to know for sure! What a rookie mistake!"
Naruto is still confused, so asks, "So, what does me having larger coils MEAN?! Is it going to be a problem?!"
Yamato answers him, "No, it's not a problem, in fact you could consider it a blessing. Larger coils happen as a person's chakra reserves increase, so as to keep the flow of chakra through the body steady and stable. With your coils increased by nearly double, that must indicate that your reserves have increased just as much, so you now have almost twice as much chakra as you had before."
Naruto whoops happily as he jumps in air, before stopping and grabbing his head suddenly. A confused look coming across his face.
Fuu asks rather concerned, "What's wrong? Do you have a headache or something?"
Sakura moves to check on him, but is stopped has Naruto raises a hand and says, "I'm not hurt. I just feel this weird sensation in my head. It's not painful, just unfamiliar."
Sakura asks, "Can you describe this sensation? It could be a concussion or signs of a blood clot forming in your brain, which is lethal."
Naruto describes, "I guess it's like a pinging sensation in my head, four of them. Uh, I can feel warmth from these pings and they feel strong and close, but each one is slightly different. Except one that seems far off and smaller, but feels just like one of the stronger ones. It's hard to describe."
Yamato has a feeling at what it is, so asks, "Naruto? can you locate these so called pings? Try focusing on just one of them."
Naruto replies, "I'll try.", closing his eyes and focusing on the strongest one that feels familiar. It seems to becoming from his immediate left and he feels warmth with a hint of a chill to it and- wait! There's another ping coming from inside it, but it feels dark and massive, but still has some light to it, just muddled in shadow, an image of a giant rhinoceros-like beetle appears inside his mind for a split second.
Naruto's head whips to his left as his eyes open, revealing Fuu standing there, looking at him, causing Naruto to say, "Wait a minute! Did I just sense Fuu and the Seven Tails?!"
Yamato answers with a grin, "Yes you did. I thought that you were sensing chakra when you mentioned feeling the exact same ping as one of the closer ones, that's my wood clone. It seems your mother's idea worked. You're a sensory type shinobi that the Uzumaki were known for."
Fuu happily says, "Congratulations Naruto! You have a kekkei genkai now!"
Sakura replies, "It is amazing, but I wouldn't call it a kekkei genkai. There are plenty of shinobi that excel in sensing chakra and don't belong to kekkei genkai baring clans."
Naruto asks, "Then my moms plan failed?"
Yamato answers, "No, not necessarily. The sudden awakening of your sensory ability may be an indication that the dormant kekkei genkai carrying genes have been partially activated. Most likely they need time or a traumatic event to trigger the change, like the sharingan in the Uchiha clan."
Naruto responds, "Awesome! Now all I have to do is train my new sensory ability and it'll wake up my chakra chains!"
Yamato sours his mood slightly, "Actually, chakra chains were very rare in the Uzumaki clan, your mother was the only confirmed one to have them. You could only develop the sensory ability, maybe gain healing properties, there's no guarantee as to what will happen. Every person is different in how they develop and receive kekkei genkai, sorry."
Naruto perks back up, replying, "No biggie! I already have more than I had before, plus my chakra's increased by a lot, so I'm good even if I don't get anything else!"
Sakura smile while she comments, "That's great Naruto, but know there is something else I want to discuss."
Naruto asks, "Huh? What is I-", being interrupted by Sakura slugging him in the face, sending him flying back into a tree with a crack!
As Naruto is about yell out, but he stops at Sakura's and Fuu's pissed off looks, as Sakura growls out, "Naruto! Where was it in the plan for you to destroy the bridge, knocking me out in the process, and running off to fight Orochimaru alone?!"
Naruto tries to explain while sweeting bullets, "Um, well, you see, I ah, kind of-"
Yamato finishes for him, "Your let your anger get the best of you and stopped thinking about the mission, rushing off in the attempt to kill Orochimaru. Naruto we've been over this, your anger is still your biggest weakness."
Fuu adds heatedly, "It nearly killed you! And if you keep this up, it will!"
Naruto lowers his head in shame, and apologizes, "I'm sorry, it's just I couldn't stand that jerk talking like he owns Sasuke. It doesn't excuse my behavior or the fact that I ended up hurting you, Sakura. I know I have anger issues and I'm going to be working on them, I have to! I never wanted to hurt someone I love and I'll make sure it never happens again! I give you my word and I never go back on my word! That's my nindo! Ya know!"
Yamato replies, "Good to see you learned from your mistake, but we need to get moving if we want to catch up with Sai."
Sakura asks, having just remembered about Sai, "Wait, were is Sai?!"
Over with Sai, their group is moving at high speeds through the trees as Kabuto informs, "Lord Orochimaru-"
Orochimaru interrupts, "I know, we're being tailed."
Kabuto theorizes, "Might be mere pursuit, or it might be a trap. How do you suggest we proceed?"
Orochimaru says sinisterly, "Either way, I believe a corpse is in order, wouldn't you agree, Kabuto?"
With Team Kakashi, who have been moved to Naruto and Orochimaru's battle ground, by Naruto's Hirashining them there with one of his kunai that still litter the ground. Naruto is collecting his kunai and resealing them as Fuu looks around at the battlefield, impressed with the amount of damage they caused. Sakura and Yamato are standing by a puddle of ink with Sai's stuff littering the ground.
Sakura notices Sai's picture book under an open scroll and picks it up as she comments, "Sai's stuff is all over the place."
Yamato replies, "For him to leave behind his prized possessions, even he must have been pretty rattled by Orochimaru."
Fuu responds as she and Naruto joins them, "It sound like you were there when it happened."
Yamato explains, "Until just now, I was in communication with my wood clone, who was here, via our wireless implants."
Naruto asks in confusion, "Implants? Do you have a radio or something implanted in your head?!"
Yamato chuckles while answering, "No, Naruto. I'm talking about chakra laced seeds made by my wood release. They allow for long range communication with my clone and allow me track a target I seeded, even from great distances. I might not look it, but I excel at tracking."
Fuu responds, "That's awesome! And your right, you don't really look like the type. You seem more lame than that, appearance wise that is."
As Yamato becomes depressed with a rain cloud forming over his head, but snaps out of it as Sakura asks, "What happened to Sai?"
Yamato answers, "Well, after exchanging words with Orochimaru here, Sai left with him and Kabuto."
Naruto asks, "What do you mean he left with them?"
Sakura adds, "Did you also hear what they said to each other?"
Yamato replies, "Unfortunately, my clone was too far away to overhear their conversation."
Naruto thinks out loud, "I wonder what they talked about?"
Sakura suggests, "Maybe he was threatened or intimidated into going with them?"
Fuu responds frantically, "He was kidnapped?! Then we need to hurry and rescue him! Even though Sai's a jerk, he's still our comrade!"
Yamato gets Fuu to relax by explaining, "No, it didn't seem like that. He approached Orochimaru of his own accord and handed something to him."
Naruto loudly protests Yamato's insinuation, "Whoa! Hold on! I don't like the guy either, but there's no way he'd betray us-"
Sakura interrupts calmly, "Actually, Naruto, there may be some truth to that.", stopping to think about what Tsunade told her about Danzo, before asking, "Captain Yamato, are you familiar with a man named Danzo?"
Yamato answers, "I do know him, he's a member of the hawk faction that opposed the Third Hokage."
Naruto asks, "That guy who forced Sai onto our team?"
Sakura clarifies, "Yes, he's a geezer who doesn't think highly of the Third Hokage's legacy."
Yamato places his hand on his chin in a thinking pose as he theorizes, "Danzo may be plotting something, using Sai. It's possible Sai received orders from Danzo to carry out some top-secret mission separate from ours."
Naruto asks, "You mean all this time, Sai's been a double agent, just waiting for the chance to carry out some totally different mission?"
Sakura answers, "That's about the jest of it."
Fuu asks rather confused, "But for what possible reason? What does that geezer Danzo hope to accomplish?"
Yamato reassumes his thinking pose for a moment, before responding, "This is a wild guess, but since it's not completely out of the question, listen closely. Danzo may be planning to destroy Konoha."
Naruto yells out in disbelief, "What?! Why the hell would he want to do that?!"
Yamato clarifies, "He may be trying to conspire with Orochimaru to get him to attack Konoha once more, in order to overthrow Lady Tsunade."
Sakura adds, "After the current regime has fallen, he would rebuild the village as he envisions, and install himself as the Hokage!"
Yamato continues, "Danzo is probably making his move now, because having seen Orochimaru fail during his previous invasion, he feels he's in a superior position to negotiate."
Naruto replies after getting it, "N-No way, you mean Sai's top-secret mission-"
Sakura finishes, "May be to join Orochimaru's ranks and become the conduit between him and Danzo."
Fuu says while understanding, "Then Sai and this Danzo geezer are traitors that are planning a coup, using Orochimaru to do his dirty work! That's disgusting!"
Yamato says "Depending on the situation, we may have to neutralize Sai. right now my clone is pursuing them, but I don't know what might happen, so we need to get moving immediately."
With Yamato's clone tailing Sai through the trees, it runs in to the hanging body of Sai, tied to a branch. It's surprised to find him dead, but he can't help but hand it to Orochimaru for sensing his tail and leaving behind the target.
Team Kakashi is moving through the tree tops, fallowing Yamato's clone that's trailing Sai. As Sakura grabs a branch with her left arm as her wound fires up in pain, causing her grunt out as she loses her grip and tumbles to the ground.
Naruto yells out her name as she fall, quickly covering the distance and catching before she hits the ground. Propping her up against a tree and removing her medical pouch and placing it next to her, so she can treat herself. She's sweating in pain while holding the wound Naruto gave her as he lost control to the Nine Tails.
Naruto is on his hands and knees right in front of Sakura, looking at her wounded arm, before saying with deep regret, "I'm sorry Sakura, it's all my fault that this happened. Pervy Sage told me that the Fox's chakra acts like an acidic poison, some of it must have gotten into your body through the wounds I gave you. I-I can actually feel it's vile chakra present in your arm, you need to remove it, if you can, because it seems to be spreading."
Sakura replies, Okay, thanks for the heads up and I'll try. Just don't worry about it, they only hurt a little now, so don't worry, I'm fine.", putting on smile to try and ease some of Naruto's gult.
Naruto responds, "Sakura, don't over do it!"
Fuu adds, "We can't afford to lose you, because if you die due to these injuries, Naruto would never forgive himself. So please, take the time to heal yourself right.", making Naruto actually feels worse.
Yamato orders, "Let's take a break. Sakura is our only medic, we need her hale and hearty for our mission to succeed."
Sakura protests, "I said I'm fine! We have to get moving again! If we falter here, it's all over, right?!"
Yamato replies, "Normally I'd agree with you, Sakura, but haste makes waste. Charging in right now might get the job done, but being rash and reckless most certainly will not."
Naruto adds, "Besides, you're our only monstrously strong medical shinobi! We need you healthy like Captain Yamato said!"
Sakura yells out, "Who're you calling monstrous?!"
Fuu replies, "But you are monstrously strong, Sakura."
Sakura yells at Fuu now, "Hey don't you start too!"
Naruto stands up as he says, "Well, seeing as we're stopped, I'll head out to take a bathroom break. Be back in a few minutes."
Yamato replies, "Hold on Naruto! I'll join you, I need to go too!"
Naruto responds, "Uh, no thanks! I prefer to have privacy!"
Yamato grabs Naruto by the shoulder and whispers, "I know what your trying to do, you plan on reapplying your tetragram seal on top of the trigram seal again. I don't think that's wise, with what happened, you should wait. After all, isn't the Eight Trigram Seal still damaged?"
Naruto replies, "My mom was able to repair most of the damage, but, as it sits, I only give it a year before it fails, and the amount of the Nine Tails chakra that leaks out is so massive that if I draw on any of it, I'll end up in the two tails cloak immediately. I have no other choice but to reapply the tetragram seal, and even if I didn't, with the current state of the trigram seal, if Orochimaru places the curse mark back on me again, it will break completely! At least with my tetragram seal, I won't lose control when I get angry, but it will cut the time I have left with the trigram seal in half."
Yamato sighs in defeat, "Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Reapply the tetragram seal, at least that way we have six months until you have to find a way to gain control of the Nine Tails' chakra."
Over with Orochimaru and Kabuto, they are running across a river as Orochimaru comments, "It seems our pursuer has halted, does that mean our ruse worked?"
Kabuto responds, "We can never be too cautious."
Orochimaru praises, "But I must say, that was a splendid piece of work, as always, Kabuto."
Kabuto replies, "I owe it all to you, Lord Orochimaru. With your guidance, I've now created countless corpses. Which reminds me, can we have that child help us with the experiments? When he's not too busy relaying information back to Danzo, of course.", referring to Sai fallowing behind them.
Orochimaru answers in an uninterested manner, "Humph. Do as you like."
Back with Yamato's clone that is examining the corpse of the Sai look-a-like, commenting to it's self, "It is a forged corpse, probably Kabuto's doing. I can't believe they picked up on my pursuit so quickly, and I was so confident. Means I need to be even more discreet from here on out.", only catching the ruse by faint traces of sutures on his head. He then leaves to continue his pursuit, but more carefully.
Over with Team Kakashi, Sakura is flipping through Sai's picture book with Fuu looking over her shoulder, as confused looks adore their faces. Meanwhile, Naruto had just finished reapplying his tetragram seal with Yamato's aid, mostly just being prepared to suppress the Nine Tails' chakra.
Sakura calls out, "Hey! Naruto! Captain Yamato! The both of you, come here!"
Heading over to see what the big deal is, Naruto comments, "Hey! That's Sai's book!"
After getting a good look with Fuu leaning on his back after moving over for him, Naruto comments, "These pictures are weird."
Yamato adds, "Sai drew them, eh?"
Fuu chimes in, "They don't seem weird to me. They tell an interesting story, if somewhat sad, if you look at it the right way."
Over with Orochimaru's group, Sai is washing is face on the river as Kabuto cleans his medical equipment, getting Orochimaru to ask, "Kabuto, can't that wait until we get home?", while sitting down, overlooking them, on top of a boulder.
Kabuto answers while examining his scalpel, "No, the blades will lose their razor-sharp edge if one doesn't clean the blood immediately. Lord Orochimaru, when we return, may I have another male corpse?"
Orochimaru asks, "Don't you have some?"
Kabuto answers while unveiling a storage scroll with spots in kanji indicating age groups, with one being empty, "Oh, I have many, just no more fifteen to sixteen range males, like this one. If I don't always have at least one of each age range stored in chronological order in my scroll, I get anxious."
Silently agreeing with a sweat drop going down his face, Orochimaru asks for clarification, "Your blood-type is A, right, Kabuto?"
Kabuto corrects, "AB actually."
Sai in the meantime is scrubbing his face with a towel to dry off, opening his pack to put away his towel, he notices that his picture book is missing.
As Sai rummages around his pack frantically, Orochimaru takes notice and asks, "Something wrong Sai?"
He replies, "It's- It's nothing."
Kabuto responds, "Then lets get going, we still have a ways to go.", Sai's face becoming almost unnoticeably solemn.
Back with Team Kakashi, Yamato asks, "What story is that, Fuu?"
Fuu explains, "This story is about the two boys drawn on the cover, each boy's adventure begins separately, starting with the cover at either end, then going inward."
Sakura comments, "Yeah, I picked up on that my self, but there's no dialogue or text all. So what's the story about?"
Fuu replies, "First, look at the black haired boy, doesn't he look like Sai?"
Naruto answers, "Yeah actually, so what?"
Fuu continues, "As Sai's journey goes forward, he beats an opponent and acquires their weapon, meaning he's become stronger while passing a kind of test, moving closer to the end, where he's a full fledged shinobi."
Sakura replies while flipping through the pages, "Yeah, you're right! It's Sai's story of becoming a shinobi, but then who's the other boy- Wait! is that-"
Fuu continues, "Yup, his dead older brother. Just like Sai, he was moving along to become a shinobi, but seeing as he didn't make it to the centerfold, he must have died in the final test to be a shinobi. He never got to graduate with Sai at the end."
Naruto says, "So this an exaggerated story of Sai and his brother going through the academy together to become shinobi, only for his brother to die before graduation."
Sakura quietly comment, "Yeah. It's a sad story that explains why it was never finished."
Yamato cuts in after receiving images from his wood clone, "Lets head out. My clone has tracked down Orochimaru's hideout.", getting everyone to put aside what they just learned about Sai to get back on mission.
Inside Orochimaru's hideout, inside a large dark room, sitting in front of a large snake statue with it's eyes as the only source of light, being candles, is a young man shrouded in darkness.
Said young man says in a cool, yet irritated voice, "You're late. You said you were going to help me hone a new jutsu this afternoon, Orochimaru.", as Orochimaru enters with Kabuto and Sai.
Kabuto warns, "If I were you, boy, I'd take a more respectful tone when addressing Lord Orochimaru."
Orochimaru replies, "Enough Kabuto. Our efforts today have been rewarded with a little gift. Someone for our friend here to reminisce with, a shinobi from his dear Konohagakure."
The young man humphs as he opens his eyes, that seem to glow in the darkness that shrouds him, revealing a pair of sharingan. That gets Sai to think that he has finally found Uchiha Sasuke as he sees his eyes.
Over with Team Kakashi that's running on top of the same river as Orochimaru's group did, Sakura speaks up with determination, "Naruto. This time, we'll bring Sasuke back together."
Naruto replies with equal determination, "No doubt about it."
Back inside Orochimaru's hideout, Sai puts on his classic fake smile and says, "So, you're the legendary Uchiha Sasuke. I'm Sai. Nice to meet-"
"Get lost.", Sasuke interrupts.
Sai responds, "No matter how much I smile, everyone seems to dislike me right away, even Naruto. But I can already tell you're nothing like him, so I have a feeling that you and I will get along much better."
Looking into Sasuke's sharingan, Sai is suddenly impacted by an image filled with dark imagery with the sharingan at the center, clearly getting hit with a genjutsu made to incite fear. Sai's eyes open wide as he gasps, taking a fearful step back, only to trip and land on his behind.
Kabuto yells out in a commanding tone, "Sasuke, stop!", getting him to release his genjutsu.
Sai wipes the sweat off his face, surprised to be sweating from fear. He's suppose to have no emotions, yet somehow, just by meeting Sasuke's eyes, he felt fear from the bottom of his heart.
Orochimaru warns, "You shouldn't bait Sasuke too much. He can be more difficult than I am."
Sasuke stands up while responding, "I don't care about him. Come on Orochimaru, let's go"
Sai replies while getting up, "Naruto's told me a lot about you. He's been looking for you this whole time, you know. These last three years."
Sasuke narrows his eyes dangerously, before responding, "Oh yeah, him.", in a rather dismissive tone, before moving on, "Let's go, Orochimaru-"
Sai interrupts him, "Naruto, he thinks of you as a brother, or so Sakura says."
Sasuke thinks for a moment, before replying coldly, "The only brother I have, I want to kill.", his face illuminating slightly before disappearing in a rush of speed, leaving only a blur and some dust in his wake.
Orochimaru walks over to Kabuto and hands him the envelop Sai gave him, while saying, "I'm going to join him. Kabuto, why don't you compile a bingo book with these."
As Orochimaru turns and walks away, Kabuto opens up the envelop and look at it's contents, saying in surprise, "This is, a copy of the register of Anbu members directly assigned to the Hokage.", stopping to flip through the pages until he runs across Yamato's file, "It seems authentic."
Outside Orochimaru's hideout, Team Kakashi has just met up with Yamato's clone that informed them that the entrance is underneath the rock formation in front of them.
Yamato asks, "Naruto, can you sense anything?"
Naruto closes his eyes to focus his newly acquired ability, before answering, "I'm new at this, so don't get angry with me if it's wrong, but yes, I do sense four pings, I mean chakra signatures."
Sakura asks hopefully, "Can you tell which one is Sasuke's?"
Naruto shakes his head as he replies, "No, sorry I can't tell who's is which. I can only feel their strength and, I don't know, color, or feel to them."
Fuu responds, "Hey that's great Naruto! You've only had them for a bit, so don't get down because you can't pinpoint Sasuke's location yet."
Yamato adds, "Fuu's right, Naruto. It's good enough that you can give us a number of occupants, and besides, four means that their is one more with them, and that could be Sasuke."
Naruto replies, "All right, lets go."
Yamato blocks Naruto's path with his right arm, saying, "Wait.", then proceeds to place his left hand on his clones back. The clone then turns into wood and starts receding into a seed in Yamato's hand.
Offering it up to Naruto, Yamato says, "Swallow this first, Naruto.", then raising his other hand with two more seeds, adds, "Sakura, Fuu, the both of you too. So that if we get separated, I can locate you right away."
Fuu asks, "Are these those seeds you told us about?"
Yamato answers, "Yes, these seeds are transmitters for tracking. It's a ninja tool that only resonates with my chakra. I planted a few in Sai's clothing, and his meals."
Sakura replies while holding hers between her thumb and index finger, "So, that's how you were able to fallow him!"
Naruto asks, "But when did you implant them?"
Yamato explains, "I got out first at the hot springs, remember? Now do you understand why I splurged for those luxuries out of my own pocket? Good thing I planned ahead regarding Sai. It was just as Lady Tsunade predicted. But enough about the past, lets get moving."
Fuu comments, "Too bad Naruto didn't keep his Hirashin mark on Sai, then we could just wait until he's alone, via Naruto's new sensory ability, and he could just Hirashin us in. Quick, easy, and without a sound."
Naruto responds a little irritated, "Hey! How was suppose to know Sai was going to turn traitor? Besides, Captain Yamato and Baa-chan ordered me to remove it, so it's not my fault!"
Sakura scolds them, "Shut it you two! Just hurry up and get ready before you give away our positons, ruining the element of surprise!", getting them both to shut up.
After swallowing the seeds they all get ready for infiltrating Orochimaru's hideout, before Yamato explains, "Our order of infiltration will be, me first, Fuu second, Sakura third, and Naruto last."
Sakura asks, "And the infiltration method?"
Yamato answers, "By the book. I'll use Earth style jutsu, and we'll approach from underground. Fuu, link us up, I want complete silence from this point on."
As Fuu links them up, Naruto thinks about how they've finally found Sasuke.
Back inside the hideout, Kabuto is walking Sai to his room down a long dark hallway, light by candles on the walls. Fortunately, the entire base is made out of rock, so they don't have to worry about it catching fire.
Reaching Sai's room, Kabuto opens it while walking in and welcoming him. Moving past the bed, where he places the envelop down as he moves to light the candle on the dresser, while explaining, "This will be your room. Until you are needed, you'll remain here. Quietly. If something comes up, we'll let you know."
Walking pass Sai, who's looking around his new room, Kabuto heads out the door and pulls put a key, before shutting the door, he further explains, "Sorry, but I'm going to have to lock you in, because you're, well, you know.", shutting the door and locking it audibly.
Sai press his ear to the door, listening to Kabuto's footsteps disappear, indicating that he's left. Once Sai is sure that he's alone, he walks over to the dresser and pulls out two scrolls from his pack and unrolls them in a cross pattern.
Underground with Team Kakashi, right outside the hideout's wall, Yamato comments through Fuu's link, {Looks like the hideout is completely surrounded by rock.}
Naruto suggests, {I can blast through it with my rasengan.}
Sakura replies, {No! If you use such a flashy justu, you'll alert the enemy!}
Fuu asks, {Then how do we break through solid rock with out alerting the enemy?}
Yamato is looking across the rocks surface until he find a crack, saying/thinking, {Found it. This is how we get through Fuu.}
Naruto replies with a deadpan face, {I don't think we can fit through a crack.}
Yamato explains as his finger sprouts a root and starts digging into the crack while expanding, {The more solid the rock face, the less force need be applied to a small fissure, and voila! There you go.}, the root expands through the rock, making a square opening large enough for them to go through with minimal noise.
Once they are all inside, Sakura comments, {Infiltration accomplished. Now what?}
Yamato replies, {First we look for Sai.}, then he closes his eyes to pinpoint Sai's location, opening them and saying, {This way. Naruto, I want you to do periodic scans with your sensory ability to make sure that no one else is around us, also give me their current layout.}
Naruto closes his eyes and reports, {The one to the right is stationary, another one in that direction is moving away from the first, the other and more powerful one's seem to be together on the other side of this place, but their chakra seems, brighter, no, um, more active, colliding with each other, maybe training or fighting? I can't tell for sure.}
Yamato replies, {That's fine Naruto. The stationary one is Sai, and you just confirmed he's alone, so we're good to go, just keep a look out for the other three.}
In Sai's room, he standing over the crossed scrolls, with hand outlines on the left and right ends, while in the center is the kanji for secret. Placing his hands in the outlines and channeling chakra, a black book appears out of the circle. Sai picks it up and flips through the pages, stopping at one in particular and reading it.
Team Kakashi is moving around the corners with caution, not completely trusting Naruto's new abilities, making sure the cost is clear before advancing.
Kabuto is headed off to make the bingo book Orochimaru wants, but realizes that he forgot the envelop in Sai's room, and has to head back.
As Sai is reading the book, he is startled by the door unlocking. Quickly hiding the book in his pack, not wanting Kabuto to see it.
As the door creaks open, Yamato says with his head peeking in, "There you are.", further surprising Sai.
Sai puts on his fake smile and comments, "Trust an Anbu directly linked to the Hokage not to be fooled by that corpse."
Yamato holds his finger, turned wooden key, up as he mentally orders Fuu to link up Sai, and says through the link as his finger returns to normal, {Now, why don't you tells us what's going on.}
Naruto grabs Sai by his jacket with his right hand while shouting through the link, {Yeah, jerk! Why'd you betray us?!}
Sai replies out loud, "Well, I-"
Naruto pulls out a kunai with his left hand and places it to Sai's throat, warning him, {Speak through the link! We don't want someone to hear us, if you open your mouth again, then I slit it! Understand?!}
Sakura responds, {Naruto! Don't be rash! We still need him alive, so back off!}
Naruto lets Sai go and pockets his kunai while replying, {Whatever!}, as Sakura pulls Sai's book from her pouch.
Sakura hands Sai his book while saying, {Here, this is yours, right?}
Sai replies using the link, {Thanks.}
Sakura then asks, {Danzo gave you orders, didn't he? He's trying to ally with Orochimaru for some purpose, and you were selected to be their go-between. So, what's he plotting?}
Yamato suggests, {He's proposing for Orochimaru to try Operation Destroy Konoha again, isn't he?}
Sai is quiet for a moment, before putting on his smile and answering, {No, you're-}
Naruto interrupts loudly, {Stop smiling! I know you're just faking it! Everything you say is nothing but a big fat LIE!}
Sai drops the smile and replies, {Well, now that you've finally figured me out, seems my mission is officially a failure. But since I can't take on all of you together, and since you've guessed so much already, there's no point in hiding the truth any longer. You are correct. The plan was to get rid of Konoha as we know it.}
Naruto respond in shock, {What?!}
Fuu adds, {So you really are a traitor!}
Sai just calmly continues, {My assignment was to find an opportunity to approach Orochimaru and entice him to help destroy Konoha.}
Yamato orders, {Keep talking. I want all the details.}, while holding a kunai out with his right hand.
Naruto snaps, {What more is there to know?! He's a traitor and a-}
Sai interrupts just as calmly as ever, {Do not rush to judge me, Naruto, until you have all the facts. I was ordered to secretly report back Orochimaru's activities to Lord Danzo. In short, to act as his spy.}
Sakura comments, {Enter a conspiracy with Orochimaru while playing him at the same time? That's an extremely dangerous game.}
Sai responds, {Well, if Konoha did fall, we expected Orochimaru to try to betray us at some point, so consider this our way of maintaining the upper hand.}
Sakura replies, {So Danzo wants Konoha for himself, and you were sent in, alone, to set all this in motion.}
Sai clarifies, {I was specifically chosen for this mission because of my abilities. The intelligence I write in ink can transform itself into little creatures that can defend themselves while traveling back to Konoha.}
Sakura's face scrunches up in anger before she yells, {If Konoha falls, a lot of people will die! Do you have any idea of the consequences of what you're doing?!}
Sai simply replies, {Well, I'm just following orders.}
Fuu responds loudly, {But even so, to callously follow those orders is wrong! How can you Sai?!}
Sai explains, {Oh, and Sai is just a name I was given for the purpose of this mission. I'm actually nobody. I am merely an extension of Lord Danzo's will. I myself do not exist. Therefore, it's useless to say anything to me}, getting Naruto and Fuu to look at him with rage filled eyes, while Sakura narrows her eyes on the book in Sai's hand.
Sakura asks, {Then why do you carry around that picture book?!}, Sai's eyes widen a bit, before looking down at his picture book in his hand as Sakura continues, {The two boys on the covers are you and your brother, right? You hang onto it because it is the only thing that proves you actually do exist. You're not as emotionless as you'd have everyone believe. Not even shinobi can cut off their feelings completely, you know.}
Sai asks rather uncertain, {How does possessing this book translate into proving my existence?}
Sakura answers, {Because abandoning it means abandoning your identity as a brother. And that's something you just can't bring yourself to do. Do you know why?}, not getting a response, Sakura continues, {Because your bond with your older brother still matters to you. It's that important. You don't want to erase your relationship with him.}
Sai's eyes widen in surprise at Sakura's words, getting him to ask in confusion, {Relationship?}
Yamato cuts in, {Sorry, but we flipped through your picture book. The centerfold is the only illustration that's incomplete. By the flow of the visual narrative, from cover to cover, it seems the next logical battle would be with your brother. Sai, I know you're from the foundation. You've recived special training from Danzo to kill all emotions. Evil extercises similar to that which used to be practiced in Kirigakure, the village of bloody mist. So, did you do it? Did you kill your brother?}
Fuu interrupts, {Wait! Kill his brother? Bloody mist? What evil practices?!}
Sakura explains, {Back during the last shinobi war, shinobi of Kiri had to pass an evil graduation exam that forced them to kill their fellow classmates. Zabuza told us that only those capable of killing their friends, could become shinobi in Kiri.}
Fuu responds, sickened to her stomach, {That's just horrible! Wait! That means, Danzo forces siblings to kill each other! What the hell is wrong with this geezer?! And why the hell is he not imprisoned for all the messed up stuff he does?!}
Yamato answers, {Because Fuu, Danzo maybe known as the Shinobi of Darkness, but he's smart enough to make sure that there is no evidence of his wrong doings. So, there's nothing anyone can do to him.}
Naruto replies in a disgusted tone, {Like I needed another reason to hate that old gezzer! If I ever meet this Danzo fucker, then I'll plant my foot so far up his-}
Yamato cuts him off by saying, {Naruto! You'll do no such thing. Like I said, there is no proof of his wrong doings, until now that seems, but regardless, if you attack Danzo without evidence to back your claims, then you'll be the one locked up! Now, Sai, answer my question.}
Sai answers, {No! This book, it was suppose to be a gift, but before I completed it, he got sick and died. We may not have been related by blood, but he was the closest thing to family I ever had. There are a lot of children from families torn apart by warfare in the Foundation. My brother treated me like a real sibling. This picture book, what I wanted to show him the most was the final centerfold, but after he died, I couldn't remember what I had been planning to draw.}
Naruto suddenly feels a chakra signature approaching, after remembering to check on the other chakra signatures, so says, {Hey! We need to go! Someone's headed this way!}
Yamato wraps Sai up in his wood release bindings and they all leave back out from where they came in, taking Sai prisoner.
Back outside, where Team Kakashi meet up with Yamato's clone, Sai is sitting on the ground, leaning against the rock formation behind him. He's looking up at his captors that surround him, his chakra sealed by Naruto with the Hirashin placed on him.
Yamato says, "Sorry Sai, but I'm going to have to leave you here with my clone standing watch."
Naruto cracks his knuckles while saying with determination, "All right, down to our real business, lets go rescue Sasuke!"
Sai asks, "And what if he doesn't want to be rescued? I actually got to meet him,", getting all their attention, he continues, "but Orochimaru is always at his side. Cross him and he'll tear you to pieces and use your body for his experiments. Besides, even though Sakura told me you think of Sasuke as a brother, he said that you mean nothing to him. So why do you still care so much? Why stand up to the likes of Orochimaru and risk your own life to save someone who doesn't want to be saved? Why? It's not like anyone's ordering you to."
Naruto puts on a closed eye smile, that has a tint of sadness to it, while explaining, "When I first met Sasuke, I totally hated him, but at the same time, I also really enjoyed being around him. Because he really accepted me more than anyone else. I'm doing this because Sasuke is my friend and that's a bond that can never be broken."
Sai looks at Naruto, rather confused by his words, while asking, "Bond, but still, to go up against Orochimaru?"
Naruto responds with a toothy grin, "Ha! I gave that slimy snake a real beating last time! The only reason he got the upper hand on me, was because of his curse mark crap messing with my seal, but I won't fall for the same trick twice! Plus, this time I'm not rushing in all hot headed, I have help this time. And even if he tears my arms off, I'll kick him dead. If tears my legs off, I'll bit him dead. If he tears my head off, I'll glare him dead. And if he pokes my eyes out, I'll curse him dead. Let Orochimaru try and cut me to pieces, I'll still find a way to get Sasuke to come home!"
Everyone looks at Naruto and the confidence that's brimming from his every pour, before Yamato makes a hand-sign and says, "Let me create the lookout so we can go back in.", only for them to sense an attack and jump out of the way as about a dozen kunai rain down around Sai.
Kabuto lands in front of Sai while commenting, "From the looks of it, Sai, you've been captured", standing straight and walking over to Sai, Kabuto forms his chakra scalpel and cuts through Sai's binding while saying, "Well, you don't appear to have betrayed us, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt."
Sakura utters out in annoyance, "That Kabuto is such a pest!"
Naruto says out loud, "If you try and stop us, Sai, we won't hold back!", all the while focusing on the other two chakra's inside the hideout, making sure they are not coming to help Kabuto. Luckily, the two seem to be head away from each other and not in his direction, meaning Sasuke's alone now.
While Naruto was focused on using his new sensory ability, his clone was distracting Kabuto by trying to hit him from above with a rasengan, getting Kabuto to comment, "You're wasting your time.", as he dispels it with a kick.
Naruto replies, "I went toe-to-toe with Orochimaru, and you think I can't handle you four eyes!"
Kabuto responds, "No, no. I'm not talking about that. People change. Sasuke is no longer the boy you knew.", his face becoming sympathetic in appearance.
As Naruto and Kabuto stare each other down, Sai comes up from behind Kabuto and grabs him by hooking his arms underneath Kabuto's pits, restraing his movements and shocking everyone there.
Kabuto asks completely confused, "What are you doing?!"
Sai responds, "If people change, then so can I."
Kabuto replies, "What?!"
Sai continues, "But some things don't change. Bonds, I'd like to learn more about them."
Everyone is both surprised and confused by Sai's turn around, while Yamato orders, "That's it, Sai! Hold him like that a little longer.", binding Kabuto in the same fashion as Sai.
As Naruto seals Kabuto chakra and adds a Hirashin mark, Fuu asks in a confused tone, "Does this mean Sai's on our side again?"
As Yamato create a wood clone to stand watch, Naruto responds, "I'm not sure? Sai, what's up with you?!"
Sai answers, "I'm curious about this bond you and Sasuke share, that keeps you going after him. The how and why. Watching the two of you, makes me realize that perhaps I haven't been able to erase my bond with my brother. And if Sakura is right, if that really is such an important thing to me, perhaps I can figure out why by observing the bond between you and Sasuke. That's all."
Naruto looks away, lost in thought until a smile appears on his face, only to be interrupted by Kabuto yelling out, "You just don't get Sasuke at all!", breaking out into laughter.
Sakura angrily yells back, "Stop laughing! You think this is funny?!"
Yamato cuts in calmly, "Enough. Where is he?"
Kabuto looks up at him with heated eyes and replies, "By now, he's probably finished training and has retired to one of the inner rooms. This place is riddled with self-contained rooms. You'll have to check room by room in order to find him. But if you're not careful, poking the wrong bush will flush out some snakes. For Lord Orochimaru's private quarters are located near there as well."
Naruto stays quiet about knowing both their locations, wanting to keep his new ability secret, as Yamato responds, "Thank you for your honesty."
Kabuto replies playfully, "Oh no, no need to thank me."
Yamato finishes, "Because we're going to get killed anyway?"
Kabuto smugly answers, "Yes."
Yamato responds unaffected, "Yeah, well, that's yet to be seen. Anything is possible, even our winning."
Back inside the hideout with Team Kakashi, Yamato orders, "Alright, Naruto, where are the other two signatures? We'll split into two teams here and take one of the chakra signatures each. Fuu and I will be one pair, with one of Naruto's shadow clones to guide us; Naruto, Sai, and Sakura will be the other. If anything goes wrong, just manipulate your chakra. It'll activate the tree seed inside you and alert me. I'll come running right away. Also, remember that regardless of who, one of our teams will run into Orochimaru. If you run into him, run, your mission is Sasuke's retrieval, not killing Orochimaru."
After making a shadow clone for Yamato's team, Naruto's team heads off in another direction, chasing down one of the signatures. Along the way to, what Naruto hopes is Sasuke, he ends up tripping from shooting pain rushing through his body.
As Naruto face-plants, Sakura runs toward him and starts running a scan on his body as Sai says, "Naruto, Yamato split us up so that regardless of which, one of our teams will find Sasuke. Just take it easy."
Naruto replies heatedly, "Shut up! There's no time to rest! We've got to find Sasuke-"
Sakura interrupts him by slamming his head into the ground and warning him, "Don't move while I'm examining you! Who knows what could go wrong? I could accidently cut one of your major arteries, killing you!", that got Naruto to shut up and lay still, not knowing Sakura was lying to him.
Sakura gets Sai to help her prop Naruto up as she heals him from behind, trying to refill some his lost chakra and lower his pain as Naruto asks, "Sakura, what happened? My body felt like it was suddenly on fire!"
Sakura answers, "It's a residual side effect of your increased charka coils. Though they are miraculously intact, they're still raw and will hurt when using your chakra too excessively. Don't worry, the pain will stop once you've had time to break them in, so to speak."
Naruto replies, "We don't have time! I'll just get use to the pain for now!"
Sai takes a seat next to Naruto as he comments, "Boy, you really are like my older brother. He was loudmouthed and impatient too, unrefined, uncouth, the list of his shortcomings goes on and on. But you know, when he did something, he always gave it his all, just like you. Watching you has helped me remember him.", pulling out his book and showing it to Naruto.
Then, while looking at Naruto, Sai suddenly starts rummaging through his pack, pulling out his ink and brush, and starts drawing in his picture book.
Naruto asks, "Hey! What are you drawing?! And now of all times?!"
Sai answers as he finishes, "I remembered, I finally remembered! The dream drawing that I wanted to show my brother.", a real smile from the bottom of his heart appearing on his face.
The drawing that Naruto and Sakura see is, the finished centerfold of the picture book of Sai and his older brother holding hands and smiling as full fledged shinobi. The centerfold, and more importantly Sai's genuine smile, bring smiles to both Naruto's and Sakura's faces.
Unfortunately, the sound of a footfall interrupts the moment, shocking the three of them as Orochimaru asks in chilling voice, "Tell me, Sai, whose side are you really on?"
As Naruto's group stands up, Orochimaru attacks them with his striking shadow snakes, forcing them to jump back, leaving Sai's pack on the ground, while Orochimaru comments, "The wrong side, apparently, my dear Sai."
Naruto moves forward while ordering, "You guys go find Sasuke, leave snake face to me!"
Sakura replies in concern, "Naruto, I'm not leaving you alone, you're still not at hundred percent! There's no point in saving Sasuke if you die in the process! Sai can get Sasuke on his own, and that's final!", leaving no room for argument.
Naruto sighs, then yells out, "You heard her, Sai! GO!"
Sai replies, "All right. We'll meet you both outside, good luck.", turning and running off down the hall in Sasuke's general direction.
Orochimaru humorously responds, "So you came here to retrieve Sasuke, eh? I commend your zeal, but I assure you, the outcome of this will not be in your favor."
Naruto shouts back, "Shut up! This time we're taking you down, then we're bringing Sasuke home!"
Sakura starts things off with a yell and a jump forward, her fist cocked back to rain down on Orochimaru's head. Being familiar with Tsunade's fighting style, Orochimaru knows the danger of that blow and jumps back to avoid Sakura's earth shattering punch.
Out of the debris kicked up from Sakura's attack, are four gale wolfs charging Orochimaru as he lands. Orochimaru counters with four snakes coming out of both his sleeves and intercepting the wolfs in an explosion of snake guts and blood.
Meanwhile, Sai is using his Cartoon Beast Mimicry to create dozens of ink mice that spread out in all directions to pinpoint Sasuke's location.
Back with Naruto, as round two is about to start, Yamato and Fuu arrive, having sensed Naruto's chakra activate his seed and his clone dispelling earlier, getting Orochimaru to huff and say, "Remember, Naruto, this makes twice that I've let you live. A debt I hope you'll repay-"
Naruto cuts him off by yelling out, "Let me live my ass! You lucked out last time, and are running scared now!"
Orochimaru ignores him and disappears as he continues, "If you'll excuse me, I've got unfinished business with Sai."
Naruto says, "Pussy.", as Yamato sees Sai's pack on the ground and moves towards it.
Yamato asks as he picks up Sai's pack, "Where is Sai?", while Sakura explains to Fuu about the finished picture book she is holding.
Naruto answers in a worried tone, "Oh no! He went to look for Sasuke! We've got to get to them before Orochimaru does. Come on I'll lead the way!"
Fuu asks, after finishing her talk with Sakura about Sai's turn around, "You can tell who's chakra belongs to who now?"
Naruto explains, "Yes, after getting a close feel of Orochimaru's and Kabuto's chakra, I can tell them apart, so the only one left that I don't know must be Sasuke's."
Yamato had pulled out Sai's secret black book and opens it, causing him to say, "Oh no."
Sakura asks, "Now what's wrong?"
Yamato show them the book while explaining, "I found this in Sai's pack. This type of bingo book is standard issue for Anbu members. It lists one's targets for assassination."
Naruto asks, "Why does he have an assassination list?"
Sakura adds, "So what do the X marks represent?"
Yamato answers her, "The people he's already killed."
Fuu comments, "That's kind of impressive, if not really creepy too."
Yamato becomes shocked when he flips through the pages and runs across Sasuke's profile, saying out loud, "Look at this.", showing them the profile with Sasuke's picture in it.
Sakura can only utter, "N-No."
Naruto asks while confused, "Wait, why is Sasuke on Sai's assassination list?"
Yamato thinks out loud, "His face isn't X'ed out yet, hmnnn, so that's what this is about!"
Fuu concludes, "Then t-that means, Sai's next target is Sasuke!"
Yamato responds, "Yes, Sai's mission wasn't to become the conduit between Danzo and Orochimaru, his real top-secret mission is to assassinate Sasuke."
Naruto fires back in disbelief, "But, but that's not possible! I mean, just now he said he was going to rescue Sasuke! And I saw him smile from his heart, Sakura saw it too, I really think he's changed! Right Sakura?!"
Sakura replies solemnly, "Unless it was all just an act to draw us out."
Yamato adds to that point, "The owner of this bingo book could do it. Look at this fellow listed next to Sasuke. He's a Kirigakure Jonin who had taken a hard-line attitude toward Konoha, so Sai seems to have been assigned to dispose of individuals who pose a threat to Konoha, and Sasuke is one of those too."
Sakura responds, "A smile can help one achieve one's goal, Sai said something like that when I slugged him."
Yamato continues, "Danzo's ultimate goal is to destroy Orochimaru's future host body. That's why Sai was trying to get close to Orochimaru. They weren't going to betray Konoha, in fact, quite the opposite, it's precisely the kind of tactic the Foundation would employ."
Naruto is having a hard time accepting the fact that Sai's smile and turn around was fake. He saw it, practically felt the real joy coming from Sai's heart. Then there was the way his chakra seemed to brighten up at that moment, like good had finally shone through the empty blackness that was there before.
Naruto replies with determination, "I don't believe Sai was lying at that moment when he finished the centerfold he wanted to show his brother, but I can't deny that assassinating Sasuke was his real mission. So, I'm going to see which is the true side of Sai.", disappearing in an orange flash to the Hirashin mark he left on Sai when they captured him.
Sai has found Saskue with his ink mice and is now sending ink snake crawling into Sasuke's bed while he watches from the crack of the open door. Sai is so focused on Sasuke, that he doesn't notice Naruto appearing behind him, out of sight from the opening in the door.
As Naruto is about to move on Sai, Sasuke speaks up, "Who's there?", getting Naruto to freeze from hearing Sasuke's voice again after so long.
Sai replies, still not noticing Naruto's presence, "My cover's been blown, but I can still take action.", Naruto waiting on baited breath, wondering if he'll have to take down Sai.
Sasuke asks, "What do you want?"
Sai answers, "I'm here to take you back to Konoha! My mission was to kill you. At first, I was going to, but I want to help protect this bond you two share, that Naruto so desperately wants to hold on to.", bringing a smile to Naruto's face, knowing that despite the evidence, he was right about Sai.
Sasuke responds, "A bond? That's your excuse for disturbing my rest?", Sasuke sits up on his bed and looks at Sai menacingly, getting Sai to quickly make his ink snakes move to bind Sasuke.
Naruto senses Sasuke's chakra flare up, getting him to quickly respond by blurring through hand-signs and slamming his hands into the ground before a large explosion covers the area, blasting a large opening to the outside.
As the entire hideout shakes and rumbles, the rest of Team Kakashi stop in searching for Naruto, Sai, and Sasuke, after he just up and teleported away without telling them where to go. Yamato having sensed his and Sai's chakra through his seeds, now knowing where to go, they rush to meet up with Naruto and Sai.
As the sound of rocks and debris are clattering about, and the smoke begins to clear, Sai groans before looking up to see a large mud wall, with toad heads and the Uzumaki clan symbol facing Sasuke, protecting him as the sun shines down on him.
Naruto comments as the wall crumbles away, "Well, Sasuke-teme, it seems you still have a real sour mood after waking up.", getting Sai to look behind him, seeing Naruto kneeling on the ground with his hands pressed flat against the ground.
Before Sasuke can respond, Sakura runs out and grabs Sai by his collar, getting him to ask, "Sakura! what're you doing?!"
Sakura yells out, "Quiet you! I'm asking the questions here! And this time, you better not lie!"
Getting interrupted by Sasuke commenting, "Well, well, well if it isn't Sakura too.", getting her to let go of Sai at recognizing his voice and looking up at him while uterring, "S-Sasuke?"
Sasuke is standing above the crater he made, looking down on Naruto, Sai, and Sakura. Sasuke has black eyes and spiky black hair with a blue tint that hang over his face as bangs. He is wearing dark blue pants, over which hangs a blue cloth that covers him from his stomach to his knees, which is secured with a purple rope belt like Orochimaru's. He complements this with a white long sleeved shirt kept open at the torso and black arm guards that cover his forearms. He also has a black seethed sword on the right side above the back of his hip going behind him.
Sasuke says, "I assume this means Kakashi's somewhere."
Yamato steps forward with Fuu trailing behind him, answering, "Sorry, but Kakashi couldn't make it. I'm here in his stead. We of Team Kakashi are here to take you back to Konoha."
Sasuke replies, "Team Kakashi, huh?"
Sai proceeds to draw this tanto, getting Sakura to yell out, "Sai! You are not still thinking of your mission?!"
Naruto was about to correct Sakura, but is stopped by Sasuke responds, "Is he my stand in? He said something about wanting to protect the bond between me and Naruto, but he looks like another weakling too."
Fuu interrupts Sakura, by clarifying, "No! I'm the new member of Team Kakashi! Sai is just a tag-a-long forced on our team! And what do you mean weakling too?!"
Sasuke answers matter-a-factly, "It's just as it sounds, you're all weak looking."
Before Fuu can explode on him, Naruto chuckles out, "Same old Teme, still thinking you're better than everyone else. Don't take it personally Fuu, and Sakura, Sai's good. I heard it myself as he first confronted Sasuke, he said just what Sasuke said he did."
Sai confirms while pointing his tanto at Sasuke, "Yes, my top-secret mission was to kill Sasuke, but I'm done following orders. From now on, I want to think for myself. I feel like Naruto can help me remember, bring back those old feelings I thought were lost. The things that were once really important to me. As for you, Sasuke, I don't really know much about you, except that Naruto and Sakura are willing to risk everything for you, to keep that special bond you all share alive, in the name of friendship. I still don't understand it fully, but I think you do Sasuke. Don't you?"
Sasuke replies coldly, "Yeah, I did. And that's exactly why I cut them off. I have different bonds now, the bond of hatred between my older brother and me. Personal ties cause confusion. Precious memories only make you weak."
Naruto steps in front of his teammates while responding, "Fine, Sasuke! Lets test your theory, which is stronger, the bond of hatred you have with your brother, or my bond of friendship with you?! I'll fight you alone, and if you win, then I give my word that I'll stop chasing after you!"
Sakura loudly protests, "Naruto! You can't just do that! You promised we'd bring Sasuke back together!"
Yamato tries to add, "Naruto I know you've gotten a lot-"
Naruto interrupts, "This is between me and Sasuke! Even if we worked together and force Sasuke back to Konoha, he'll just try to leave again! I'm going to have to prove that my way, my beliefs, our bond, is stronger than the path of hatred he's going down! Only when he realizes that and comes back home of his own accord, will we really have Sasuke back! Trust me! I'll win!"
As the others are thinking about how Naruto's right about Sasuke, and will have to put their faith in him to succeed, Sasuke lands right in front of Naruto, putting his left hand on Naruto's right shoulder while answering, "Fine, this will be quick-"
Being interrupted by Naruto's fist slamming into his gut as he lands, sending him flying back into some rubble with bang!
As Sasuke coughs up some blood and the rest of Team Kakashi is wondering how they were able to move so fast, Naruto says, "Go you guys! Keep a watch out for Orochimaru while I handle Sasuke-teme and knock some sense into him!"
Sakura wants to speak out, but Fuu beats her to the punch, "Alright Naruto! We'll make sure no one interrupts your fight, just don't take too long kicking his smug ass!"
Yamato responds, "Fine, Team Kakashi! Leave Sasuke to Naruto, and form a perimeter around their battle! We let no one inside, got that?!"
As Yamato, Fuu, and Sai move to cover the perimeter, Sakura looks at Naruto's back as he stares down at a now standing Sasuke, giving him a silent prayer of good luck, hoping this time it'll be different, and they'll both be coming back to her. Reluctantly, Sakura takes her place in guarding the perimeter, leaving just Naruto and Sasuke in the cratered remains of Sasuke's room.
Sasuke's sharingan flares open as he glares at Naruto, commenting, "So, you're fast enough to keep up with that level of speed, but that's a far cry from being in the same league as me, Dobe.", drawing his sword and rushing Naruto.
Naruto replies, "Heh, You're the one out of his league! Teme!", while releasing his Kubikiribocho and meeting Sasuke's charge.
Even though Sasuke is surprised that Naruto his welding Zabuza's blade, he still smirks when their blades collide, thinking that by streaming lightning chakra into his blade, it will cut Naruto's in two. His smirk quickly falls away as it's his blade that gets cut in two, forcing him to jump back while getting cut above his right shoulder as Naruto's blade splits the ground.
Seeing the wind chakra coating Naruto's blade, Sasuke comments, slightly irritated, "So you know how to stream your elemental chakra as well. A miscalculation on my part, I won't underestimate you any more."
Naruto responds, "That's a shame Teme, I'd prefer you to just keep acting like an arrogant ass as I beat it out of you!", while sinking his earth chakra coated blade into ground.
Seeing what Naruto is up to with his sharingan, Sasuke immediately jumps into the air to avoid dozens of stone copies of the kubikirbocho spearing out of the ground underneath his feet.
Naruto comments, "Wow! Your Sharingan was able to predict my Earth Style: Mole Stone Blades attack, huh? So, are you starting to realize that you can't just play around with me, like I'm some short of fresh genin!", while resting his blade against his shoulder.
Sasuke just humphs after landing to the right of Naruto, sheathing his broken blade and blurring through hand-signs, releasing "Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu", a dragon's head fire ball is launched at Naruto, consuming him in an explosion.
Smirking in victory, Sasuke fails to notice Naruto tunneling under him until Naruto's fist collides with his jaw, as Naruto pops out of the ground with a mean left hook. Sasuke is sent reeling back into the air once again, but this time he transforms into his second state curse mark mode, his hair growing longer and greying out, a pair of hand-like wings coming out of his back and his skin darkening. Now flying out of Naruto's reach, Sasuke charges his chidori in his left hand before launching his chidori senbon at Naruto.
Naruto counters by unsealing his blade and unleashing his wind slash to destroy Sasuke's senbon and force him to dodge the wind blade coming at him.
Naruto replies, "Glad to see you're starting to take me seriously, but is that really all you got?!", pulling out a scroll and unsealing his Harishin kunai, covering the area in them.
Sasuke responds, "As if Dobe!", rushing Naruto while unleashing snakes from his right arm and charging his chidori in his left.
Naruto slices through the snakes with ease as Sasuke comes down on top of his head, trying to cut it off. Naruto jumps back, avoiding Sasuke's chidori, only for Sasuke to stream his chidori forward into a straight line, catching Naruto stuck in mid-air. As Sasuke's attack is mere millimeters from piercing him, Naruto disappears in an orange flash, and reappears behind Sasuke at one of his kunai, flinching from his vertigo, giving Sasuke enough time to sense his presence. Naruto brings his blade down on Sasuke, who dodges enough so that only one of his wings is cut off.
Just as Sasuke gets his bearings after jumping away from Naruto and losing a wing, Naruto, after resealing his blade, Hirashins again, reappearing in front of Sasuke and grabs him by his right shoulder with his left hand and places his right hand on Sasuke's torso. Sasuke responds by streaming his chidori from his whole body, electrocuting Naruto as he desperately holds on to Sasuke. Eventually, Naruto is forced to let go as he is thrown back from Sasuke's chidori stream, crashing to the ground a few feet away as Sasuke starts smirking smugly again, his superiority showing on his face in full force.
Sasuke mocks, "See, this all the strength your useless bond has, while my hatred gives me more power than you could ever hope to achieve. Instead of wasting your time trying to bring me back, you should have trained more to achieve your dream to be Hokage."
Naruto laughs as he stands back up, "How could I ever be Hokage, if I can't even save my friend? Besides, don't act like you've won! The fight as only just started!", with that, eight stone pillars rise from the ground, surrounding Sasuke as sealing marks appear on the ground, forming a spiraling trigram with Sasuke in the center.
As a seal appears on Sasuke's torso, having been placed by Naruto while he was being electrocuted, it spreads across his body, forcing back his curse mark into it's point of origin on his neck. Bringing Sasuke to his knees as his curse mark is sealed away with a tetragram seal around the three tomoe on his neck.
Naruto cracks his knuckles while saying, "Now lets see how strong you are when you're not relying on Orochimaru's power!"
Sasuke demands, "What did you do me?! I can't feel the curse marks power anymore!"
Naruto answers, "You see, while you thought we were fighting, I was having eight shadow clones that I made when I was hidden underground, you know, right before I gave you that uppercut. Anyways, back on point, they were moving to eight points to form an octagon in preparation for my Eight Pillar Curse Marks Seal. The finishing touch was when I placed that signaling marker on your torso, when your giving me a shock, it acts as an origin spot for my seal to activate. The moment you were centered inside my unseen octagon, that signaling mark triggered the pillars to trap you and begin the sealing process. I kind of came up with it on accident! I was working on a way to remove your curse mark, but I'm still missing a way to draw it's power out of your body, it mixes with your own chakra too completely for me to be able to separate them. So suppressing it was the next best thing."
Sasuke madly charges Naruto while yelling out, "Give me back my power!"
Naruto responds by using his Gale Wolf jutsu to slam a wind wolf into Sasuke, exploding on contact, shredding his left arm into pieces as he's thrown backwards. Sasuke screams in agony as Naruto slowly walks towards him, his eyes filled with heat.
Naruto darkly says, "That mark isn't your power, Sasuke! It's a means for Orochimaru to control you, and one day take your body for himself! Trust me when I say that relying on someone else's or something else's power to fight, while thinking it's your own, is wrong! It makes you weaker, in both body and mind! Slowly breaking you down until there is nothing left of who you were, turning you into a monster that'd destroy everything you love! So stop screaming like a little bitch, just because I'm making you fight with your own strength!"
Sasuke at this point has stopped moving, facedown on the ground unresponsive. Thinking that he may have overestimated Sasuke, Naruto kneels down to check on Sasuke, only for him to find an empty husk of skin! Sasuke had used Orochimaru's special art of substitution to escape from Naruto underground, having found the tunnels Naruto made with his clones for his sealing jutsu.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!", Sasuke fires from beneath Naruto, causing the ground to explode beneath him and consuming him in a massive fireball.
Sasuke's sharingan fades as exhaustion takes him, breathing hard on his hands and knees and looking at Naruto's charred body hit the ground with a splat, still burning and filling his nose with the smell of burning flesh. A swell of emotion floods his body as he feels his eyes start to burn, like a well of power was about to be unleased from them, until boom! His eyes flare open as a star patterned Mangekyo Sharingan appears in both his eyes, and unexpectedly, tears streaming down his face. He thought that he had severed his bond with Naruto, but still, deep in his heart, just like he had always secretly admired Naruto, he was still his closest friend. The pain of killing Naruto being worse than he thought it would be, unintentionally awakening the power his brother told him about. It felt powerful, dark, and hopefully everything he'd need to kill Itachi, especially with the heavy cost, the only one he ever wanted to kill was Itachi.
As Sasuke hangs his head low with his Mangekyo Sharingan fading, the guilt and pain in his heart starts to pull him down into the pit of darkness he has been skating on. Only for him to be slammed down into the ground as a weight appears on top of his body, his neck being pinned by the half circle of the Kubikiribocho and his hands pinned by feet.
Naruto says, "Now this is a surprise! I thought you said you cut our bond, yet here you are, crying after killing me!"
Sasuke turns his head to look through one eye at Naruto, stuttering out, "N-Naruto?! H-How a-are y-you alive?!", relief entering his heart, though he'll never openly admit it.
Naruto explains, "Well, you see, I had fought Orochimaru earlier, so I already figured that you could shed your skin like he could, plus I recently gained the ability to sense chakra, so I already knew you were underneath me. After that, I just had to time the switch with my pig meat doll replacement I made, gives off the whole actual burning flesh smell, especially if it's rotten pig meat. I doubt it'd work on people as experienced as Kakashi or people with a sharp sense of smell like Kiba."
Taking a closer look at the charred remains a few feet in front of him, Sasuke sees what looks like bags of meat tied together in the shape of a person inside a pair of Naruto's clothing and a yellow wig.
Naruto continues, "I admit that I was surprised by the sudden increase in your chakra, but that still left you open for me to use the Hirashin mark I placed on you earlier to pin you down and seal off your chakra. Game over! I win!"
To emphasize his point, Naruto pushes his wind coated blade down deeper, slightly cutting the back of Sasuke's neck, while warning, "I can cut your head off in a split second if I want to, so don't try anything and just listen to me."
Sasuke replies, "What? Is this where you go on about our bond and how I need to come home? Because if it is, save it for some-"
Naruto presses down a little deeper with his blade, cutting Sasuke a little more and saying, "Shut up! JUST LISTEN!"
Sasuke bits his tongue and nods his head, signaling Naruto to get it over with.
Naruto explain, "Alright, firstly, Orochimaru is on his way here, and when he arrives, I'm going to let you go.", Sasuke looks shocked but stays quiet as Naruto continues, "But I want you to think this through first, what more can Orochimaru offer you now, eh? You've already taken everything you can from him, his jutsu, knowledge, techniques, and fighting style, but you still lost to me! Sure you can hand him your body, but we both know you never had any intention of doing that. This path of hatred has made you stronger, but some how you still lost to the "Dobe" of all people. Do you know why that is? It's because you don't have enough love in your heart! Sure you can get strong with hatred, but only if you completely give into the darkness of the world, like Orochimaru and Itachi! And you can't be like either of them! Can you?! The thought of being like your brother fills you with so much disgust that you can't do it! I know this because I'm still alive! You could have killed me the day you left, but you didn't! Then, just now, when you thought you killed me, tears fell from your eyes as despair gripped your heart, awakening some short of new power inside you. If I had to guess, I'd say it was the Mangekyo Sharingan like Kakashi-sensei has, seeing as the chakra increase came from your eyes. You probably think that it's the evil act of killing someone you care about that awakened it, but I think it was from the painful loss of someone you love. That loss awakens that power like a silent prayer for the strength to never let it happen again. I have been consumed with my own hatred lately, and all that got me was hurting my loved ones, and nearly losing my own life. With the hate filled power of the Nine Tailed Fox inside me, I nearly lost myself to it's rage, but all it took to overcome all the unimaginable hatred, was love from mother. Do you get it?! Love from my dead mother was able to defeat the power of the Nine Tails! Love is the only thing that can beat hatred, the tool your brother tries to make you use! I know now, that when I become strong enough to defeat the Nine Tails, it'll only be after I have concurred my own hatred with all the love in my life. So come back to Konoha, where that love can make you stronger and keep you from becoming your brother."
Sasuke thinks about it, his disgust with being like his brother, Orochimaru's uselessness and his insane obsession with learning all the jutsu of the world, getting him to perform horrible and grotesque experiments on people. Honestly, he was going to kill Orochimaru himself when the opportunity showed it's self, no intention of handing over his body. It's just like Naruto said, he has already learned everything he can from him, especially with his newly awakened Mangekyo Sharingan. Then there's the point of possible becoming like Itachi, something he absolutely refuses to let happen! He'll never be like that murdering monster! But, he can't head back to Konoha now. Even if they don't lock him up for treason, they'll assign him to missions of their choosing! The only thing he wants to do is hunt down his brother and kill him.
Sasuke speaks up, "Sorry, but I can't go back. My mission to kill Itachi is too important, and if I go back, Konoha won't let me leave to hunt him down. I won't be kept away from the only mission that matters to me!"
Naruto pauses for a moment to think, feeling Orochimaru and Kabuto fighting with the rest of his team, knowing they'll be here soon, he offers, "Look, I'm one of the targets of the Akatsuki, so Itachi, or at least someone that has information on him will come after me. So wouldn't that be the fastest way to find him, plus it wouldn't hurt to have back up when taking him down."
Sasuke replies, "No! I'm the only one that will fight him! And there is no certainty that you'll be targeted by Itachi again. It's not worth the risk of being locked up."
Naruto sighs, then say, "Then how about this, when I let you go, you turn on Orochimaru, helping me kill him, then claim that was what you were planning to do the whole time. That defecting to Oto was an elaborate scheme to infiltrate Oto, gaining intelligence on all of their bases and Orochimaru's activities. Then when we, Team Kakashi showed up, you secretly teamed up with me to kill Konoha's biggest traitor and return to Konoha with enough intelligence to completely destroy Orochimaru's operations throughout the elemental nations. You'll be a big hero that no one will be able to deny, not even Konoha's leadership. They'll have to give into your request to hunt down your brother, and think about it, you'll have all of Konoha's intelligence gathering skills to aid you in finding Itachi."
Sasuke responds, "A good idea, but if the Hokage doesn't buy it, I'm locked in cell somewhere, or simply put on house arrest for kami knows how long."
Naruto replies, "Then if it fails, I'll use the Hirashin mark I have on you to help you escape! If you do this, you'll have everything to gain, comrades, intelligence, the entire might of Konoha to help you kill Itachi, and nothing to lose! You can just go off and try and find him on your own like you would anyways. Isn't it worth the risk to kill your brother."
Sasuke is just quiet as he thinks it over, the sound of approaching shinobi coming closer, getting Naruto to release him and unseal his chakra just before Team Kakashi arrives, a bit battered and bruised, but alive. Sasuke jumps up above them at the top of the cater, looking down at them.
Fuu says, "Sorry Naruto! We held them off for as long as we could!"
Yamato adds, "It seems you weren't able to finish your fight with Sasuke, but were you able to knock some sense into him.", while Sakura is busy with healing an injured Sai, who is littered with cuts and seems to be poisoned.
Naruto just glares at Sasuke, replying, "I'm not sure yet."
Sasuke gathers what's left of his chakra while making a hand-sign, and says, "I'm done with Konoha. Be gone!", raising his left hand up into the air.
Only to be stopped by Orochimaru grabbing his hand and commenting, "I wouldn't use that jutsu, Sasuke."
With his sharingan flaring again, Sasuke replies, "Let go."
Kabuto interrupt, a bit torn up himself, "Now, what did I tell you about being more respectful toward Lord Orochimaru?"
Sasuke asks, "Why should I stop?"
Kabuto answers, "You know that the Akatsuki's on the move. We want these Konoha shinobi to get rid of the Akatsuki for us. As many of them as possible, because if other Akatsuki members interfere, it would prevent you from getting your precious revenge."
Sasuke responds, "That's a pitiful excuse."
Kabuto asks, "Jeopardize your quest for vengeance, or increase it's chance of success, which seems the more prudent choice to you?"
Silently agreeing with a nod, Orochimaru lets go of Sasuke's hand while stating, "Bright boy."
Sasuke's eyes meet Naruto's, a brief exchange before Sasuke turns around, his chidori coated hand piercing Orochimaru's torso, fallowed by an orange flash and the Kubikiribocho horizontally slicing Orochimaru's head in two, right bellow his eyes that still held a look of shock as his head flew off. Sasuke's chidori paralyzed him and prevented him from using his substitution technique, so Naruto could land the finishing blow.
Kabuto yells out in utter disbelief, "Lord Orochimaru!", suddenly being forced back by Sasuke yanking out his blood soaked hand from Orochimaru's body and firing chidori senbon at him.
Kabuto yells out as he is ensnared by Yamato's wood release bindings, "Sasuke! You traitorous rat! How could you betray Lord Orochimaru?!", Naruto Hirashin's in front of him and reapplies the chakra suppression seal.
Sasuke calmly replies, "Betray? I was never loyal to him. I was just using him while planning on assassinating one of Konoha's biggest traitors. Waiting until I gained enough intelligence to cripple his operations, and for when the opportunity to kill him finally presented itself. My loyalties have always been with Konoha."
That brings surprised looks on everyone's faces, except Naruto's, getting Sakura to hopefully ask, "I-Is that really the truth, Sasuke?"
Sasuke answers with a glance, "Yes, Sakura."
Kabuto yells out, "No way that's true! You weren't assigned any black ops missions, we checked! And the hatred you carry is real, there is no faking that!"
Yamato muffles Kabuto with his wood release, before responding, "Kabuto has a point, you're not an Anbu, nor were you given a secret mission, Lady Hokage would have informed me about it. So, what's going on here."
Sasuke explains, "I'm not an Anbu and I wasn't assigned this mission. Back when I was approached by Orochimaru's men in Konoha, offering me to leave with them to receive power from Orochimaru, I wanted to report it to the Hokage, but they were still watching me, so if I went to the Hokage they'd just leave. But, if I made it look like I was thinking it over and deciding to join them of my own free will, then they'd take me to Orochimaru. Truthfully, I wanted the power, but I figured that I could also gather intelligence on the man who assassinated the Third Hokage and his operations, and eventually gaining enough strength and trust to finally assassinate him. As for my hatred, well, Kabuto's right about that, I still have much hate for my brother Itachi, but I'll kill him on my own terms, not theirs."
Sakura asks in confusion, "B-But you knocked me out and fled the village in the middle of the night. Then when a team was sent after you, they nearly got killed along the way, you even nearly killed Naruto! Why would you do that?!"
Sasuke answers, "I knocked you out so that a team wouldn't be sent, and besides, you never know who's watching, they could have been lying in wait to see how I reacted. Plus, I can't control what the Oto-nin did while I was in their coffin, so the others getting hurt was a calculated risk, but one that worked out in the end. For my fight with Naruto, well, the newly awoken second state curse mark did mess with my head a bit, but I still spared him while making it look convincing, like I said, you never know who's watching."
Naruto adds, "Then once me and Sasuke were alone, he filled me in on all of it. We made sure to make our fight look real, which it kind of was, we both wanted to see who is stronger, I won!", getting Sasuke to grunt out in annoyance.
Fuu replies happily, "Yay! I knew you could do it Naruto!", wrapping him up in a bone crushing hug.
Sakura asks, still hoping it's not a dream, "S-so you're coming back with us to Konoha?"
Sasuke nods his head and says, "Yes, but I'll probably be held for questioning once I get back, so don't expect me to be hang around anytime soon."
Yamato just gives both Sasuke and Naruto a long hard stare, knowing that story is most likely bogus, but he can't prove, so comments, "If what you say is true, then with Orichimaru's death, his right hand man captured, and the intelligence you have on Oto, you'll be seen as a hero that brought down one of our worse criminals. But, regardless of results, you took a very big unauthorized risk, and now your fate will lye in the hands of Lady Hokage and what she decides."
Sasuke responds, unaffected by Yamato's silent threat, "Yes, of course. I'm prepared to receive whatever punishment the Hokage decide to place on me."
Sakura replies, "I doubt it'll be anything too harsh, after all, you did just take down Orochimaru.", a smile gracing her face.
Fuu finally releases Naruto from her grip to greet Sasuke, but is stopped as Yamato starts barking out orders, "Alright everyone, listen up! Sakura, I want you to give everyone a quick check up and heal what injuries you can. Once everyone has received a clean bill of health from you, then we'll search this facility for any possible intelligence with Sasuke's guidance, while two of us will stand guard over Kabuto. Once we're done we'll head back to Konoha to give a full report to Lady Hokage! Understood?!"
Everyone replies in the affirmative and proceeds to follow Yamato's orders to the letter, all the while Yamato makes sure to keep a constant eye on Sasuke.
