Chapter Nine: Scrambled Search


As the Akatsuki entered the gates of Konoha dragging an unconscious Obito behind them. Nagato glared when he saw Kisame, Itachi, and Haku waiting for them at the gate entrance.

"Did you just ditch us in the middle of the forest?"

"We didn't leave you, we just kept walking when you all stopped." Haku shrugged.

Nagato worked his jaw.

"Where are Sasuke and the others?" Itachi asked.

"We thought they went to find you." Suigetsu said.

"..."

"..."

"You lost my brother?"

"Why the hell did you leave him in the middle of the forest?!" Zabuza glared.

"I left him with all of you, I had thought you could handle walking the last few miles to our destination without problems. It seems my faith in you're abilities was misplaced."

Hidan scoffed. " 'Misplaced'? you mean 'wrong'?"

"Itachi would never admit he was wrong about something, un."

"Just stop talking all of you." Konan rubbed her temples. "This is serious."

"The brats will be fine." Zabuza dismissed.

"Aside from the fact that one of them is the Hokage's son and if they find out we lost said son in the middle of a forest filled with potential threats and enemies they may not be so 'nonchalant'." Kakuzu said.

"...We gotta find those brats, un." Deidara laughed nervously.

"We'll distract the Hokage, you guys re-trace our steps." Nagato ordered.

Nagato watched as the mercenaries dashed back into the woods, he prayed they found the children unharmed or his cousin Kushina would destroy them all.


The race is on and their lives just might be at stake.
A fantastic way to end a chapter!~