Thanks for the reviews folks
Yes I know I'm late, but for some reason it's been really hard to write for naruto, but I am soo going to finish this story. Anyhow I got my wish, Kakashi's alive, as is Hinata.
Well on to the story.
Warning: another bad fighting scene up ahead, and chapter is shorter than others.
Don't own naruto
________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 7
Kakuzu chuckled at the expression on the blonde Akatsuki's face. He was pissed one moment, and was laughing maniacally the next.
'Well.. whoever said being sane was a requirement to join Akatsuki, Kakuzu thought.
"So, Deidara, I guess the kyuubi is as good as dead?" said Kakuzu snapping the blonde out of his thoughts.
The two nins sat across from each other as Deidara's right arm was being sown back together by Kakuzu. The two men were seated in what appeared to be an abandoned inn.
"Yes," said Deidara through clenched teeth, "how much longer will this take," he said motioning to his arm.
"If you want it done right, it will be whenever I am finished," Kakuzu said as he continued his work.
The two sat in silence while Kakuzu continued to sew. It was a few minutes later when Kakuzu voiced his thoughts.
"Pein-sama will not allow you," said Kakuzu as another stitch made its way into Deidara's arm, "you know what the boy contains; the leader will see you dead before the boy," Kakuzu said finished.
Deidara let out a frustrated breath knowing what Kakuzu said was true.
"Well.. I can always torture him until he begs for death, you'd be surprised what the human body can live through," Deidara said nonchalantly.
Deidara became very quiet after his last statement as he began to remember what led to his arm being ripped off. He grit his teeth in anger as his mind drifted back to the fight.
Flashback
A Loud thundering sound was heard inside by the Akatsuki members.
"What the hell is that?" said Hidan's hologram form.
"Seems like someone wants to join the party," said Kisame as he kept his concentration on drawing the ichibi's chakra out of the kazekage.
"Hmm, maybe someone to try to retrieve the Jinchuuriki," said Itachi.
"Ignore it and concentrate on the task at hand," said their leader as his hologram continued with the sealing.
The group of 8-outlawed Nins continued their work in the dank semi-dark cave. The only light seemed to be coming from a giant statue that was in the shape of a hand, and the aura of Gaara's chakra. The group watched as the last part of the Ichibi's aura painfully left the kazekage. The screaming came to an abrupt halt as the kazekage's body dropped to the ground. The cave was rocked with another explosion that caused the cave to be filled with a thick cloud of dust and debris. Within its shadows a figure stood.
"If you are with Suna," said Pein, "then you are too late."
The smoke cleared showing a teenaged boy with chin length spiky blonde hair standing there. The young boys light purple tunic blew behind him in the wind as the boy stared in at the scene. The boy's blue eyes were focused on the body of the kazekage lying there unmoving. He turned his face towards the members his eyes staring coldly.
"Hmm," said Pein recognizing the face of the Nin, "the nine-tail has come so willingly to us. Saving us the trouble of looking for him, and that traitorous snake," Pein finished.
"Lord Jashin must be on our side to grant such a gift," said the Hologram of Hidan.
The vessel looked to the Nins with a cold look, as he drew his sword from the sheath on his back.
"Give him up, and you may live," he spoke in a cold tone.
"A child telling giving us orders?" said a large man with thinly spiked hair and a handkerchief covering the bottom half of his face, "how comical."
The blonde Nin growled lowly at the remark and began to make his way towards the group.
"Capture him, alive," said Pein as his hologram began to fade out.
Sasori looked on as the boy came charging towards him. He turned his body facing him as his tail began to strike at him in every direction. The blonde made sure to dodge each and everyone of them. What appeared to be a small bird came towards him, he paid no mind to it before exploded near him.
"I was so close too hmm," said Deidara as he watched the boy back flip away from it. The 3 stood in a stand still.
The two men waited for the boy to do something. It was then the boy began to run towards them. He swung his sword at them sending a powerful gust of wind at them. The bigger of the two seemed to withstand it, while Deidara was able to move in time with the aid of a giant paper bird. The Akatsuki members watched as the wind cut up most of the cave wall before the holograms flickered out of existence. The jinchuuriki used the opportunity to run and make a grab for the redhead. Deidara noticing the boy's true intention sent 3 paper birds towards the Nin and detonated them. A large smoke cloud appeared and when it cleared, the boy was surrounded by what appeared to be wind, and was unscathed.
"I guess he has some skill," said Sasori.
"This should be fun," said Deidara who was flying above the scene eyeing the kazekage's body.
Deidara looked to naruto and saw the boy staring at the body of the kazekage.
"So you're after the body of the Ichibi container, hmm," said Deidara, "it's pointless he's already dead," he finished.
Deidara's words seemed to enrage the jinchuuriki. Naruto narrowed his blue eyes at the blonde Akatsuki member. Naruto grabbed his weapon and made another go at them. Deidara looked on the scene in amusement while Sasori watched the boy for any openings. Naruto threw his sword aiming for the blonde Nin. Deidara stepped out of the way as the sword approached. He watched as it went passed him and looked at Naruto"did you really think," he stopped talking when he felt a sword at his neck. He turned his head to the side to see an exact replica of the jinchuuriki standing behind him. The Naruto on the ground created another clone and sent it for gaara's body, but it was stopped as Sasori flung his tail at him, which caused the clone to disappear. Unfortunately, the tail still made impact with the real Naruto sending him flying into the cave wall. Deidara laughed as his clone turned into clay, and the clone Naruto stood there in shock before he was stabbed by a kunai in the back and poofed out of existence. Deidara stood atop his bird twirling a kunai in his hand. The two Nins watched as naruto dusted himself off and stood up his sword still in hand.
"That's right, how foolish of me" said Deidara looking down at the boy, "I'd forgotten kagebushin is your signature move," Deidara and sasori looked around the cave. It was a stalemate.
Deidara's eyes looked down at the body of the Kazekage, and then turned his attention to the boy.
"Let's see how badly you want him," said Deidara as he lowered the giant paper bird to gather the redhead's body.
Sasori stepped in the pathway, "there is nothing you can do," said sasori, "you're trapped," and to make his point Deidara flew towards the exit with the kazekage's body.
Naruto heard Deidara's laughter as he made his way towards the exit. He looked on as sasori stood in his pathway. Naruto looked on at sasori before he quickly pulled out two black globes. He threw the smoke bombs causing the area to be filled with a thick smoke. A loud poof sound could be heard. When the smoke cleared there were 10 clones present. Sasori beady eyes roved around the area. The naruto clones all charged towards the Nin. Sasori's tail managed to take out 4 of them, but 5 made it through the exit leaving sasori with 1.
Deidara looked down below and saw 4 clones of the jinchuuriki following him.
"I wonder which one is the real one, hmm," he said with a gleeful smile.
Deidara looked down from his bird as he began to create new bombs. When he finished, he threw them down and detonated them. The birds exploded leaving only 2 narutos standing. The 2 narutos glared at the Nin as he began to cackle.
"You're quite an entertaining jinchuuriki," he said looking down on him, "but my art will take you out with a," he paused as he brought two fingers in front of his face, "bang!"
What appeared to be stark white flowers that lay upon certain branches exploded causing smoke and debris to fill the area. The area was filled with laughter as the smoke cleared and none of the Naruto clones were present.
"I suppose the real one is still with sasori," he said, "I wonder if it did any damage to the original," he thought aloud.
Deidara had to quickly move his bird out of the way when he felt a powerful gust of wind. When he looked to the direction it came from, he noticed the jinchuuriki was standing there.
Deidara looked the boy in his eyes, "aren't we clever," he finished, "but this fight will be finished, and you will be in the same shape as your friend here, hmm," he finished.
The jinchuuriki gritted his teeth as he looked at the Nin, " you will give him to me," said Naruto.
Deidara just stared at the boy challenging him.
Naruto moved into a fighting stance with his sword pointing forward. He then bought it back to his side as if he were about to swing something his way. The sword grew blue as chakra was being channeled into the weapon. He closed his eyes as he began to focus. Deidara focused on the boy.
"Whatever it is you're trying to do it won't work," Deidara smiled mockingly. His smile began to falter as he felt the air shift.
When it seemed the boy was finished, his blue eyes snapped open.
"Kaze no mai," he said as a strong gust of wind was released from the sword. The chakra-laced wind began to slice the bird into pieces as it slashed the bird to pieces. Deidara let out a yell as the wind took off his right arm. The arm fell towards the ground with gaara's body. The jinchuuriki made a clone that ran after and caught gaara's body before it touched the ground the clone took the body to a nearby tree and pressed it's hands on to the body. The other Naruto's attention was on the Akatsuki Nin who was holding his stub of an arm. The blood was soaking through the sleeve of the cloak.
"You," said Deidara his aquamarine eyes glaring maniacally at the boy. He held his stump of an arm a little closer and hissed in pain, "I'm not supposed to kill you, hmm," Deidara said staring wildly at the boy, "well to hell with them!!" he yelled to the astonishment of the boy.
He pulled the clay out of his bag and began to chew it and held his fingers in front of his face.
"I will show you to not disrespect my art," he said crazily, "too bad neither of us will be around to enjoy it," he said as his body began to expand in width, "Katsu!!" he shouted. the entire area was engulfed in flames. Deidara saw as the naruto that stood in front of him poofed out of existence.
"So this entire time it was clone," he said before he disappeared underground.
When Deidara reemerged from the ground. There was nothing standing not even a tree.
"A clone," said Deidara, "I was nearly defeated by a clone," he finished.
"I hope for his sake that Sasori-Dono takes care of him," he said aloud. He looked down at his stump of an arm, "if not, I will have to break my oath and destroy him," he finished before he left the scene.
End flashback
Deidara once again began to grit his teeth.
Kakuzu finished the last stitch, "I'm finished, so you can stop your fuming," he said as he began to get up out of his seat.
"About time," said Deidara as he clenched the hand of his reattached arm.
"You're welcome," Kakuzu said as he put on his Akatsuki robe.
"Hmm," said Deidara as he also put on his robe.
Kakuzu gave the Nin a flat look before turning to the door.
"I have to find Hidan, you do know the meeting place," said Kakuzu.
"Yes," said Deidara.
"Good," he said as he opened the door, " see you in a couple of days," he said as the door closed behind him leaving the blonde to himself.
XXXXXXX
"Such words Sai," said Danzou as leaned on his cane, "So you wish to keep your name, and to stay with team Kakashi?
"Yes Danzou-sama," replied Sai in a flat tone.
Danzou stared down at the bowed head of his subordinate, "emotions breed dissent Sai just remember that," Danzou turned from the boy and made his way across the bridged. The two people were in a darkened building. There was no one else around to interfere with the meeting.
"Thank you Danzou-sama," sai said with one of his plastic smiles.
XXXXXXXX
The pink haired girl stared down into a bowl of miso ramen. She sat alone at the counter of Ichiraku's. A dark haired young man soon joined the silent staring. After staring at the bowl, he decided to speak up.
"So what are we looking for?" said Sai in a puzzled tone.
"Oh Sai," she said in a surprised tone, "I didn't even hear you sit down," she said with a hand to heart.
"But aren't you a ninja?" he said in a serious tone.
Sakura got a grip on her anger before she thought to knock the boy through the wall.
"I was just thinking that this was Naruto's favorite ramen..," said Sakura, "then again he seemed to like all ramen," she finished with a sad smile.
Sai didn't answer her, but she could tell he was listening.
"What are we going to do?" she said a loud in a depressed tone, "they both seemed so los..-"
"Hey Sakura, Sai," said a guy with a spiky ponytail.
Sai slightly bowed his head to the chunnin as sakura returned the greeting and offered him a seat.
Shikamaru took the seat on the other side of Sakura. The 3 sat in silence as more and more of their teammates seemed to crowd into the building. The rookie 9 all sat in silence at the counter until one decided to speak.
"So how were they?" asked Kiba.
Everyone looked up at the boy all silently thanking him for asking.
"Lost," said Sakura. Everyone had strained expression on their face, " Sasuke's hatred for his brother has clouded his judgment to the point where he wants Orochimaru to take over his body. While Naruto," Sakura stopped as a tear made its way down her cheek.
"What's wrong with him?" asked Hinata. While Neji looked on in apprehension.
"He's been brainwashed, it was almost like he was a puppet. Spouting the words of his master," Sakura said in an angry whisper, "It wasn't even him. He seemed so.. Broken," she finished as she wiped the tears from her face. After Sakura cleaned her face she begin to describe team Kakashi's run in with the two missing leaf ninjas to the rookie 9.
Shikamaru's mind began to run as he listened to Sakura's description of the two missing Nins, and the fight that ensued between them. From what he gathered there was something off with the situation.
"He just stood there saying things that I know the real Naruto would never.." she broke off in another sessions of sobs.
"Hm." Shikamaru said aloud, "I wonder if they were holding back," he finished.
Everyone turned their attention to the chunnin.
"What?" said Kiba.
The retrieval of the Kazekage," he said simply.
"What about it?" said Chouji.
"Why not let him die? Why go through the trouble of fighting two wanted criminals just to save the kazekage?" Shikamaru looked seemed to stare into everyone's eyes, "If he really is for Orochimaru and Sasuke why not just walk away from the situation after the Akatsuki managed to take the Ichibi?"
Everyone sat in thought, and waited for the genius Nin to say something else.
"From what I understand, Naruto was the who took out the missing Suna Nin Sasori of the red sands. If he was able to defeat him, why not strike against you all, and from the way Sasuke was fighting. It seems more like he was testing his strength. If you ask me he was sparring," Shikamaru gave a sigh, "It just feels like something is off." Shikamaru gave a final look to everyone before laying some money on the counter and leaving the restaurant while the minds of his fellow ninjas went into overdrive.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Why am I here? Who am I?"
Gaara awoke from the dream. The dream had been hunting him since his near death at the hands of the Akatsuki.
"Maybe I really did die," he said aloud to no one. Gaara was sitting straight up in his bed. He got out of bed and walked over to the large window. He stared at the moon that seemed to be much bigger that night. "Was I dead?" he said talking to the moon, "I feel as if I might have" he then brought hands over his chest, "I know I was, then how did he do it? Why did he do it? If Uzumaki really has gone into the darkness then how was he able to pull me from it," gaara finished and just looked into the calming night sky and watched the stars fly across the sky.
XXXXXXXXXX
Sasuke made his way down a candlelit hallway. It had been weeks since the 4 of them made their escape to the new hideout. Everything had calmed down, and training resumed. He went down the row of doors looking for the one that held his surrogate brother. The screams of a desperate man could be heard throughout the building. Sasuke continued his track down the hall ignoring the screams. He came to the last door on the left, and opened the door to find a blonde examining his unbandaged right arm.
"Hey idiot," said Sasuke, "you ready."
The blonde turned his attention to the dark haired male.
"Who you calling idiot, loser," he said before a smile made its way on to his whiskered face, " I've been ready," he finished.
Naruto got up and grabbed the sword from his bed before he made his way out following Sasuke from within the dark room.
A/N: hope that didn't hurt too much, and thanks for reading, and I'm sure some of Naruto's moves were familiar.
A/N: not sure if this counts as a rant, but apparently Disney XD will be showing naruto shippuuden. I'm a little scared. Bring back toonami cartoon network!!!!
