Yeah finally out with chapter 7! I'm really sorry that it's (surprise, surprise) once again late! But I have an excuse. Seriously. I've been cabbaged (ill) for like most of the week and basketball is killing me!, my coach decided it would improve "team bonding" if we all went jogging at 6 in the morning! GAH I play with boys, there's only so much bonding I can do with a bunch of knuckle heads! But yeah I'm gonna stop rambling again now and just let you get on with the story! [= ;; Oh yeah lots of thanks to Anime86, Kyuunaru-lovr and nejisoifon-lover91 for the reviews! You Guys ROCK!
Disclaimer: I swear I keep having this repeated dream when all the Naruto characters belong to me and live up to my every need. But just when it gets good and I get the contract which signs them over to me; M. Kishimoto just has to pop up and cause the papers to spontaneously combust! But just you wait and see Kishimoto. One day, I tell you, they will me MINE! All MINE! Nyahahah! xD
THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SPOILERS TO THE RECENT NARUTO MANGA CHAPTERS! BUT THE SPOILERS HAVE BEEN TWEAKED A LOT…
I'm really sorry if there are a lot of spelling errors in this chapter, I did it using Word pad and it hasn't got spell check, I proof read it so hopefully it won't be that bad!
YouKnowWhoThisIs: Yeah no annoying drabbles today! On with the Story! ;; Up-up and Away!
Chapter 6: Mournful and Determined Emotions…
"Oi baa-chan, what's this mission going to be about?" An enthusiastic Naruto bounced up and down as the Hokage ushered him to take a seat on the red chair. The blonde couldn't help but be excited; it had been a while since he'd been on a mission or done anything exhilarating for that matter. Naruto was so thrilled that he failed to notice the presence of his entire team and two old frogs present in the room. After a while of silence, his energy eventually died down and he took in everyone's sullen faces.
"Why does everyone look so worried? What's going on Sakura-chan?" The blonde started getting impatient at the sorrowful looks he was receiving in the room. No one would tell him what was going on and that fact was seriously grating on the blonde's nerves.
"Jesus, I thought I had a mission, why are you all just sitting there and staring at me? Can't you say anything?" The young ninja asked again getting really annoyed; at this point, he just wanted to get the hell out of the silent room, the tension inside was literally suffocating him.
"Ah gaki, I don't know how to tell you this." The Fifth Hokage Tsunade one of the three legendary Sanin said as she folded her arms on her office table resting her head on it looking solemnly at her favourite Ninja.
"So that's the boy Jiraiya always talked about? I don't know how we're going to tell him this, they seemed pretty close." Naruto forgetting all his previous anger, impatience and frustration perked up when he heard the name of his perverted sensei; the man he had travelled with for three whole years while he was trying to gain new powers to bring back his raven haired friend.
"Oh baa-chan is Ero-sanin coming to the village, I need to show him this really cool technique I've been working on but didn't quite grasp when we were training together." The blonde continued to ramble on and on about how awesome the new technique was and how he couldn't wait for his sensei to see it as the old man told Naruto only someone as persistent as him could accomplish it. Tsunade once again sighed into her folded arms.
"I'm afraid you won't get to show him that new Technique Naru-" She started but couldn't carry on from there. The blonde ninja inwardly started to panic, Tsunade only called him Naruto when he was being an idiot and she wanted to kill him or when she had bad news. Seeing as her eye wasn't twitching spastically, the young shinobi figured it was the later.
"Baa-chan you can tell me you know? Did that perverted man get hurt?" Naruto asked avoiding the worst. HE knew Jiraiya could take care of himself. Just because the man was a pervert didn't mean he couldn't handle himself.
"Naruto, I'm afraid he's more than hurt, apparently Jiraiya died in battle." Everyone fell silent. Though Kakashi, Sai and Sasuke had been in the room waiting for the blonde to arrive, none of them actually knew what their Hokage had to say to them, they were just more patient than the blonde and didn't ask any questions.
It seemed it took a while for the usually idiotic ninja to comprehend what had been said because all of a sudden the room was in an uproar as Naruto started shouting at their Hokage.
"What do you mean TSUNADE? How could he have died in battle? What team went with him? How could they just let him die?" Naruto was beyond angry as he cursed and flailed around throwing anything that was stupid enough to be in his way.
"Naruto calm down. He wasn't with a team; he went out on his own trying to investigate Akatsuki leader's whereabouts." Tsunade whispered lowly when it looked like the blonde had started to breathe. She supposed she saw this coming, the blonde and her dead friend were extremely close; almost like family.
"WHAT? What do you mean he went on this own Tsunade? There's no way you would send him on his own to confront Akatsuki, there's no way right? This is all some sick joke right Tsunade? I bet the old man is outside laughing his perverted pants off." Naruto looked about ready to break down. He looked helplessly at the Hokage as he hoped that the woman was indeed joking. When he saw her shake her head in disappointment, the blonde glared at the woman that he trusted; his eyes momentarily becoming red slits.
"How could you baa-chan? How could you let him walk into enemy territory without any back-up?" Naruto broke down looking accusingly at the woman who was now almost in tears.
"Naruto…I-I tried…I s-swear I did. He would not listen to me. He promised he wouldn't get into any fights but it looked like he did and well, the worst happened." Tsunade nearly broke down and cried but smiled instead appreciatively when her personal assistant Shizune put a glass of sake in front of her face.
The blond grief-stricken shinobi collapsed to the floor all of a sudden feeling extremely tired when he felt strong arms wrap around him lovingly. He poured his heart out into his raven haired friend's shoulder.
Kakashi and Sai finally got the courage to come and console the blonde as each of them sat beside him as the raven continued to cradle him like a dejected and broken child.
"Come on Naruto, this isn't like you. You need to be strong, everything will be okay eventually." Kakashi tried to stay neutral and encouraging but he knew deep down it was in vein. The silver haired ninja had personally seen how close Naruto had been to the legendary sanin, the man acted like the father Naruto never had the chance of meeting. Kakashi couldn't help but look in despair as he watched his mournful student.
"How can you look me in the eye and seriously say that Kakashi-sensei? Ero-sanin, my Ero-sanin is dead?! How do you expect things to be okay again?" The blonde's upsetting cries had overtime subsided into hollow sniffers and coughs.
Everyone fell quiet when one of the old looking toads croaked awkwardly. Tsunade forgot she hadn't introduced them to the group of ninja's before her as everyone had been too grief stricken to pay any attention.
"Umm Naruto, this two are Jiraiya's toad senseis. Shima and Fukasaku were with him when he was fighting with Pein; the alleged Akatsuki leader." Tsunade introduced them to everyone present in the room as everyone gave them their full attention.
"Naruto" Shima started but stopped as she looked at her husband for help.
"Naruto, Jiraiya never stopped talking about you whenever we were training or sparring with him. He said you were the best student he'd ever had, the forth included. How would you feel if Jiraiya saw you like this? He wouldn't be able to brag about you anymore wherever he is." Fukasaku stated as a matter of fact. He became really happy when he saw Naruto recollect his confident composure and got himself up; the young Uchiha reluctantly releasing his grip.
"He bragged about me?" Naruto asked unbelievably, he wanted the man to remain proud of him even though he wasn't physically there.
The young Kyuubi vessel beamed and flashed them a tooth grin. "Jiraiya-sensei was proud of me and I'm going to continue training harder and harder so that he can smile down at me every time." His smile suddenly turned sad when he saw the look Tsunade was giving her sake cup. The blonde walked over to the old woman with the deceiving looks and kissed her on her cheek.
"It's alright baa-chan. I know you would have stopped him if you could. He's just so stubborn. Why couldn't he just be more obedient like me?" Naruto cracked a smile as he watched the woman do the same.
"Ah Gaki, I'm glad you don't hate me. I'm sorry for not being able to stop him." The woman wrapped her strong arms around the boy she considered her younger brother.
"Okay now that we've settled this to some extent, Kakashi." Said ninja perked up at the mentioning of his name. "I would like all of you to infiltrate Akatsuki lair and bring me this so-called leader." Tsunade commanded immediately serious.
"But Hokage-sama, if Jiraiya-san couldn't win the battle with his opponent, how are we supposed to possibly bring said ninja back? He must have some extra ordinary abilities we haven't heard about." Kakashi asked already beginning to formulate a plan in his head. Though the man knew nothing of his opponents abilities, he still already started formulating different scenarios in his mind.
"The opponent is the Rinnegan user. He is able to use 6 different bodies and they all share the same line of vision. Each of the bodies can control a certain ninja technique. Jiraiya defeated the one with summoning techniques but another one came and replaced him with the same abilities. We don't know how many of these spare bodies Pein keeps but we should assume at least 2 spares for each one. Also one more thing, Jiraiya said he knew the real Rinnegan user and none of the six bodies were him. So we should assume that there's someone controlling them all." Shima started explaining to the group of ninja's. When everyone's facial expression faltered, she hurriedly continued.
"But when we fought Pein, he had been in his home country and therefore able to summon all the spare Peins but if we attack them in the lair where we recently found out they were hiding, he won't be able to get the spare Peins, its basically going to be an ambush on the notorious Akatsuki leader." She continued to speak as everyone listened intently. She explained how they were going to need at least three teams with one jounin on each squad to lead the infiltration.
"Okay Naruto after hearing that, I have a proposal for you." The blonde looked confused at the old male frog before smiling at him waiting to hear him out.
"What is it old man? I mean toad?" Naruto asked still waiting for the toad to continue talking; he was never a really patient person.
"I would like you come with me to the land of toads and learn the secret sage technique. Jiraiya never perfected it but according to everything he's told us, you might have to ability to accomplish such an efficient technique." Naruto beamed at the idea of learning new techniques and jutsus to kick Akatsuki butt.
"YOSH!" The blonde pumped a fist in the air showing his determination.
"Hokage-sama, I'll take Naruto with me for intense training for three days or so, in the mean time, I would very much appreciate it if you managed to come up with a plan with the information we gave you earlier. If you don't mind, we'll take out leave now!"
Hokage gave her acceptance and everyone was ready to leave when a certain raven spoke up for the first time that afternoon.
"Umm Hokage-sama, would it be possible if I went along?" The young Uchiha asked; his challenging eyes set on his Hokage.
"Personally, I don't really think it'll be a good idea but it's not up to me, it's up to Fukasaku and Shima who are going to be leading the training. This is out of my hands Uchiha." Lady Tsunade replied eyeing the raven suspiciously. Just because Sasuke had been accepted back into Konoha didn't mean she forgot about all the pain the male brought her younger brother through! (1)
"Well Fukasaku-sama?" The raven was persistent. He was determined to see the blonde through this intense training.
"I see no problem with you coming along; Naruto would need to spar with someone of high abilities to see how much he's improved once in sage-mode compared to an average shinobi using chakra alone. So you have my permission."Fukasaku gave the young Uchiha his acknowledgement as he brought out a giant scroll.
"Naruto, you know how you first summoned Gamabunta to the real world and signed a deal using the scroll?" The blonde nodded is head furiously showing that he indeed remembered the correct technique.
"Well, we're going to be summoning you to out world so the journey shouldn't take seconds. Only sages have this ability."
Quickly dispersing in a puff of smoke, Lady Tsunade was left in her office with just Kakashi and Sai as Shizune had gone out to get her another bottle of sake.
"Well, what are you waiting for brats? Round up Team Gai, Team Kurenai and Team Shikamaru using Yamato as the temporary squad leader. We'll going to need all the help we can get."
"Hai." Bowing down to show their respects, both ninja's immediately left the Hokage's office to carry out their task.
Upon arrival in the land of sages, Fukasaku began the intense training and the young blond found himself working harder than he ever had.
"Come on Naruto and focus, you will be turned into a toad otherwise!" The old toad sage explained to the blonde once more and knocked his staff on the ninja's head to emphasize his point.
Naruto learned from Fukasaku while training the different between sages and ordinary shinobi. While ninjas use their own chakra, sages use the power of natural elements. Ninjas are at an extreme disadvantage when fighting a fellow shinobi in sage mode because unlike chakra which had a limit, nature's natural elements are infinite in its sources.
Fukasaku explained while not many ninjas became toad sages, the disadvantage being while training to achieve sage mode, if the body didn't accept the foreign power, it would slowly reject it turning the person into a dead toad statue.
Naruto snapped out of his thinking and started focussing when he felt another hit on his head from Fukasaku's staff. The blonde had been manipulating his natural element for more than thirteen hours and hadn't taken a break. He was determined to gain the power and complete the process required; a process which his dead sensei hadn't been able to accomplish.
"We'll take a break now Naruto and resume training in an hour. So go and have something to eat and when we return you can spar with Sasuke to see how much you've improved." Fukasaku insisted as the blonde kept proclaiming and insisting he could continue training. He kept pressing the fact on how he wasn't hungry... All arguments stopped though when his stomach growled clearly not agreeing with the blonde.
"Yeah Naruto, maybe it's a good idea If you take a short break after all you've been working really hard and so had Fukasaku-sama." The young Uchiha suddenly appeared beside the blonde resting his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Yes Naruto listen your friend. He's got a sensible head on his shoulder." Fukasaku continued to press the issue as he once more knocked the knucklehead ninja with his special staff.
After a long moment of hesitation, the blonde finally sighed in defeat as he let Sasuke lead him towards where the other toads were eating. After getting their food which seemed to be alive and moving, the raven let his blonde friend to a secluded spot which he had discovered while doing his own training.
Sitting down under a large tree, the young Uchiha stared uncertainly and uncomfortably at his friend. He started feeling anxious when the young kitsune had yet to utter a single word. Sasuke cleared his throat awkwardly as he scooted closer to his friend.
"So are we okay Naruto? I mean you're not longer mad at me are you?" The raven didn't want to look into Naruto's eyes so he opted for silently glaring at the floor until Naruto spoke.
"What gave you the idea that we weren't? I was just thinking about Ero-sanin." The blonde shrugged before smiling brightly at his friend.
Naruto's smile was contagious because Sasuke couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips threatening to stretch across his face.
The raven hadn't spoken a single word about the boy's dead sensei. No words needed to be spoken and saying sorry wouldn't make any one feel better because it didn't take away the dull ache. Instead of using words to comfort his team mate and friend, the young Uchiha leaned even closer to the blond and wrapped his arms around the smaller boy's shoulder protectively.
"Hey Naruto…" Sasuke silently whispered into Naruto's ear.
"Yeah Sasuke?"The blond answered as he struggled to face the only remaining Uchiha; his movements being restricted by their position.
"I really do love you Naruto. I mean it with all my heart." Sasuke stared deeply into crystal blue eyes feeling himself drown into the depths of those endless orbs.
"Sasuke, I don't know-" The rest of Naruto's sentence was muffled as warm shaky lips pressed against his own. The Uchiha heir reluctantly pulled away while holding the stubborn Kyuubi vessel tighter in his grip.
"Naruto, I don't want to know how you feel about me just yet. I don't want to know how you don't love me; all I want to know is that you'll try to give us a try."
The raven looked down pathetically not wanting to find rejection in the pools of those azure orbs.
His body immediately relaxed when he felt Naruto tenderly hold up his chin so that onyx black clashed with sapphire blue.
"Tch teme, you never let anyone finish what they're saying; you're worst than me. I'm almost starting to miss the good old days when all you said was 'Hn'."Naruto grinned down fully at his friend before slowly closing the distance between them.
Ebony eyes stared incredulously at his friend who he might added initiated the kiss. Overcome with joy, Sasuke threw one leg over Naruto's and straddled the blonde's hips; their lips all the while remaining connected.
They both pulled away gasping for much needed air. "Dobe I love you."
The pale ninja smirked when he felt Naruto moan while he was busy sucking on the junction between his neck and collar bone. The blonde could practically feel Sasuke's smirk grow wider as he continued to bite, lick, suck and nibble on the tender flesh.
"Ah Sasuke, not now; I still have to traaaa…mngh" The young Kyuubi vessel couldn't contain the moan that drowned out the rest of his sentence.
"It's okay dobe; I've been patient up until now so I think can wait a while longer."
"Yeah some amazingly good patience you've got there teme." Naruto said sarcastically. He thought back to when Sasuke kept banging on his door at night but quickly got rid of that memory.
"Now get your ass off of me. You're heavier than you look." Naruto couldn't stop laughing as he looked at his friend's self cautious state. Naruto wondered just how much Sasuke had changed. The old Sasuke would have smirked, tell Naruto he was a living Greek God in disguise and then completely ignore the blonde after making him feel inferior by getting a few girls to swoon over him.
"That's not a nice thing to say usurantokashi." Sasuke pouted?!
"Yeah but you love me." Naruto stated. "Besides you already know you're perfect; but what ever, just come and spar with me. I want to kick your ass." Naruto exclaimed loudly while he beamed as he walked hand in hand with the raven towards old toad Fukasaku.
-
It was allready nightfall when Naruto and Sasuke started sparring. Fukasaku had wanted the blonde to train some more in sage form so he could gauge how much Naruto's body could handle before going into battle.
"Damn Naruto, when did you get so damn fast, I can just barely avoid your movements." The raven tried with much difficulty to keep up with his friend pace and accuracy and he was already in the first stage of his curse mark.
"Gah teme, pay attention!" The raven felt himself lifting of the ground and flying into the sky before his body collided with a rock and he was smashed with brute force into it.
"Shit sorry Sasuke, are you okay?" Naruto stood by his raven haired friend who had fallen to the group like a sac of potatoes.
Sasuke pushed him away slightly frustrated that the blonde was beating him so easily. He couldn't remember when he became so weak…
Naruto sprang back all of a sudden when he noticed Sasuke begin to change.
"Okay Naruto, the real fight starts now. You ready?" The raven was beginning to transform into his second stage of the curse seal. His wings spread out as his chakra flowed out in reasonable amounts. The raven charged towards Naruto letting his wings blow a fierce wind towards the blonde in an attempt to slow it down. Naruto sliced through it and appeared before Sasuke instantly kicking the raven to the floor. The raven used his wing against the ground which prevented him from smashing into the hard surface. He charged once more aiming a kick at the blonde's ribs, the blonde dodged and hopped over his head trying to aim a descent punch at the Uchiha's head; the raven anticipated this with his sharingan and turned around forcefully punching Naruto's jaw. The blonde staggered back but quickly regained his composure as he once more charged towards the Uchiha aiming a direct kick from under his legs which hit causing the raven to growl in pain. The blonde continued his attacks not once giving the cursed ninja a chance to fight back. As time progressed, Sasuke could feel himself getting tired and while Naruto looked like he'd just taken a stroll around the park. Fukasaku yelled for them to stop, the two teenagers ignored his presence as they were fixed on their fight. Fukasaku threw his staff like a boomerang and smirked in satisfaction when it hit both Sasuke and Naruto instantaneously snapping both of their attention towards him.
"You guys there's trouble in Konoha. Akatsuki are attacking the village. A messenger toad just came with urgent message from the Hokage." Both the blonde and raven glanced at each other before instantly jumping to the ground beside the toad sage.
"Are you ready to leave, the message was urgent." Naruto and Sasuke nodded their head furiously eager to show their new skill and destroy Akatsuki.
When the trio sage masters and Uchiha arrived at Konoha they weren't sure what to expect but what they saw was awful. The town was almost on the same level as the ground. Everything had been destroyed and to Naruto's horror even Ichiraku's ramen stand. Naruto's hand clenched by his sides as he saw comrade after comrade fall at the mercy of Akatsuki; the blonde let out growl as the red chakra seeped out of him enveloping him in the demon fox's cloak.
"Naruto lets go fight for our home!" The raven held Naruto's hand in his, wincing as the red chakra burnt his hand.
"Akatsuki is going to pay."
With that said, Naruto and Sasuke went to the core of the village to Hokage tower preparing themselves with a plan for battle. They would not forgive Akatsuki for what they've done.
"Akatsuki is going down." The blonde spat out, this was going to be the last encounter with Akatsuki, he would make sure of it.
(1) I know Naruto isn't Tsunade's real brother but that's how strong their relation ship is and it's kind of annoying and a waste of words if I keep putting "the boy she considered a younger brother!" yeah you all get the point I think...hope...^^
Not so sure if I'm liking this chapter but I blame the migraine! ;; After my prom on Friday, I'll work on a real decent chapter and it's like "EVERY BODY LOVES KUNG FU FIGHTING KYAH!!" Yup and some other stuff too!
Anyways passes out Jelly Tots and CARBONARA!! *Drool, Carbonara!*
Ja~
