Whew, I am so glad I finally finished this part! So, thanks to everyone for all the reviews and nice comments. They are very much appreciated. As always, this chapter is dedicated to those who review and like my fanfic!
Also, I normally don't reply to reviews in my parts, but this was unsigned so I couldn't email back.
To my 'fan': Yes, I love cliffhangers! And I guess Kisame laughing is funnier than I realized...shrugs So anyway, hope you like the chappie
Disclaimer: Seriously, I don't own Naruto. If I did...well, let's just say things would be very, very different ;D
Part X
The wind undulated fiercely, the leaves and tree branches dancing violently along with it. The rain still poured from the heavens, a certain tranquility emanating from the scene itself. The two jounin stood, one gazing to the ground while the other looked on at him.
The one with his head gazed at the ground, slowly began to fall to his knees, the pain finally consuming him.
Gai's eyes widened in horror, as he rushed over to Kakashi.
"Kakashi….," Gai whispered gently, Kakashi collapsing onto the ground, his eyes shut.
Kakashi's head rest on Gai's lap, his breathing heavy and tears still gliding down either cheek.
"Gai….," Kakashi moaned, lifting his eyes to meet Gai's. Kakashi's eyes then closed, his breaths coming out in even pants.
"Don't worry, Kakashi. I'll always be here," Gai said softly, not moving and allowing the pained jounin to pass out.
(POV Shift)
Naruto was still shoved roughly against the wall, Sasuke taking his breath away little by little. The blush had indeed become deeper, and he was really concerned that Sasuke should be resting.
Closing his eyes for a mere moment, Naruto shoved Sasuke away, glaring at him with a mixture of sheepishness and indignity.
"Why'd you do that, dobe?," Sasuke hissed, rubbing his mouth with his fist.
"I told you before! You need to be resting!," Naruto yelled, glaring at him.
Sasuke scowled, rolling his eyes with annoyance and anger. "You are such a dobe," Sasuke groaned, turning into the doorway to the bedroom.
"Shut up, teme!," Naruto shouted back, his chest heaving with suppressed anger and sleep-deprivation.
Hearing no response from the disgruntled teme, Naruto ventured quietly into the bedroom. Sasuke was sprawled lazily on the bed, his back to Naruto.
"Go away, Naruto," Sasuke muttered angrily, shifting his body even further from Naruto.
"Look, Sasuke, I'm sorry I pushed you but," Naruto was cut off.
"Just leave me alone, Naruto!!," Sasuke shouted, turning and glaring at the blond.
Naruto was shocked, and his mouth was agape. "Sasuke…," Naruto said softly, trying to placate his friend turned boyfriend, or so he thought.
"Just go away, Naruto," Sasuke said warningly, his lip twitching.
"Fine! Be an ass! I don't care," Naruto shouted finally, leaving the room and slamming the door behind him.
(POV Shift)
Gaara and Lee entered Sunagakure at long last, the long journey taking its toll on the Kazekage and the leaf Shinobi.
"Are you all right?," Lee asked Gaara concernedly, looking at the Kazekage with smile on his face.
Gaara didn't respond, just continued walking as Lee followed at his heels.
They finally reached the building where Gaara lived, an unnerving silence surrounding the entire village.
As they entered, the pair heard shuffling noises coming from upstairs, and Gaara figured from his bedroom or office.
"Gaa…Gaara!," a nervous voice called from the stairs.
"Hello, Kankuro. What are you and Temari doing upstairs?," Gaara asked pointedly.
"Upstairs? I don't know what you mean," Kankuro replied nervously, his eyes darting behind him up the stairs.
Gaara walked towards the staircase, Kankuro not moving. "Move, Kankuro," Gaara ordered quietly, eyeing his older brother wearily.
Kankuro visibly gulped, sidestepping to allow Gaara passage to the upper level of the building.
Gaara ascended the stairs, finally reaching the floor with his office and bedroom.
"Gaara!," a winded Temari greeted, her face red from work.
"What have you been doing, Temari?," Gaara asked calmly, crossing his arms over his chest and closing his eyes awaiting a response.
"D-Doing?," Temari nearly choked out, a hand resting sheepishly on the back of her neck. "I was just redecorating a little," Temari replied finally, trying to prepare herself for any verbal onslaughts she may incur from Gaara.
Before any word could be uttered, a certain black-haired Shinobi entered the corridor where Temari and Gaara stood, coming over to his boyfriend and laying a hand gently on his shoulder.
"Hello, Temari-san!," Lee greeted with a grin, not noticing the look on Gaara's face. "What are we talking about?," Lee asked, noticing he interrupted the conversation and wishing for it to continue.
"We were just discussing the redecorating Temari felt needed to be done," Gaara said almost amused.
"Temari-san redecorated! What a splendid idea!," Lee concurred, a happy grin embellishing his features.
Temari chuckled sheepishly, sprinting down the stairs as the couple began towards the bedroom door. They finally opened the door, and both were floored. The bedroom now looked completely different. The sheets on the bed had been changed, and to an odd color mixture of green and black; though, Gaara had to admit, the mixture was pretty cool and the two complemented each other well. Next, there were curtains hanging from the window that normally showed the village of Suna, but the curtains were closed, casting eerie shadows against the darkened walls. The only source of light was a small, lit candle on the small end table next to the overly large bed.
"Temari….," Gaara cursed lightly under his breath.
"Perhaps you should lie down and get some rest," Lee suggested, noting how Gaara had just gotten back from his journey to Konohagakure.
Gaara didn't reply, but only turned around to look at Lee full in the face. "Close the door, Lee," Gaara told him, watching as Lee turned the other way, shut the door quietly, and made his way back to Gaara.
(POV Shift)
"So you think the Akatsuki is going to go after Naruto, now that he's alone with Sasuke?," Jiraiya asked, eyeing Tsunade with disbelief.
"It's their perfect opportunity. It would not suit them to not take it," Tsunade reasoned, getting up from her chair and glancing out the window to Konohagakure.
"So that's why you want Naruto brought back as soon as possible," Jiraiya thought aloud, tapping his chin thoughtfully.
"Yes. He's too easy of a target out there alone with Sasuke. Besides, they're both recovering from the jutsu Itachi used. Sasuke more so, but still…," Tsunade trailed off.
"I see. But why didn't you send Kakashi to get him when he came by?," Jiraiya asked, puzzled.
Tsunade sighed; "Kakashi has enough problems to work out here in Konoha. I was going to send someone who was mentally prepared as well as physically," Tsunade explained, turning back to Jiraiya and beginning to pace in her office.
"You don't want to send anyone," Jiraiya pointed out with a lifted eyebrow.
"Naruto needs to understand. He has to realize what danger he's in, and that people will not always be able to protect him," Tsunade answered wistfully.
"So you're just going to let the Akatsuki kill him?," Jiraiya asked bitterly.
"No. Naruto will not be defeated by the Akatsuki. I am sure of that. He's too stubborn," Tsunade replied with a knowing smirk.
"That's true, but even Naruto has his limits," Jiraiya said exasperatedly, getting to his feet.
"Why do we have limits, Jiraiya?," Tsunade asked him, a gleam in her eye.
Jiraiya remained silent, as Tsunade answered, "So we can break through them." (1)
(POV Shift)
Hours later, Kakashi opened his eyes, glancing nervously around a small room. He was in a small, unfamiliar room, and he didn't see anyone.
"Ah, so you're awake, Kakashi," a familiar voice stated, a couple of black eyes looking at him from his side.
"Gai….where are we?," Kakashi asked, propping himself up with his elbows.
Pushing Kakashi back down, Gai replied, "You need to rest Kakashi. Where we are doesn't matter."
"You really gave me a scare back there, Kakashi," Gai said lightly, eyeing him with concern.
"You don't need to worry about me, Gai," Kakashi said, sitting up again.
"You don't have to act so tough here, Kakashi," Gai said knowingly.
"Gai. I don't need your protection. I've been dealing with my problems all on my own for as long as I can remember," Kakashi explained bitterly.
"Yeah, and look where that's gotten you. You're still making up excuses because you're still late. You're visiting Obito, because you can't let the guilt of his death go," Gai replied, Kakashi going silent.
Silence ensued for many moments, until Gai spoke again.
"You don't have to feel guilty anymore, Kakashi. Obito would want you to get on with your life. He wouldn't want you to continue feeling this way, especially since it happened all those years ago," Gai tried to explain, Kakashi's face not changing.
"Are you finished, Gai?," Kakashi asked with a scowl. "I don't need your lectures, Gai," Kakashi continued.
"I never meant them as lectures. I'm only trying to help you," Gai tried to explain.
"Well don't. This doesn't concern you, so stay out of it," Kakashi instructed firmly, a dirty look directed at Gai.
"Kakashi…….," Gai's voice trailed off.
Gai's face fell to take the floor's gaze, then he got up, and walked out the door.
After Gai left, Kakashi began thinking to himself.
'Gai was only trying to help…..but still, I don't know. He's my friend, but there are some things that should be left untouched,' Kakashi reasoned, laying his head back down and drifting slowly into unconsciousness.
(POV Shift)
"Stupid Sasuke….thinking he knows everything. Being all touchy….the teme!," Naruto muttered indistinctly to himself. He was sprawled over the couch, his back to the rest of the room. "He should be more grateful! I saved him after all…but he's a damn Uchiha…and their pride makes them even more of temes," Naruto tried to convince himself. "I don't know why I even bother. Sasuke doesn't care, hell, he wouldn't have left Konoha if he had. Maybe I should have left him there," Naruto finished, immediately changing his thoughts after what he had just said.
Suddenly, an odd noise sounded outside; "Hmm?," Naruto wondered aloud, getting up from his comfortable place on the couch to see what was going on. Naruto then proceeded to glance out the windows, but saw nothing to ascertain the origin of the noise.
"Maybe I'm hearing things…," Naruto reasoned to himself, trying to calm his nerves and now rapidly beating heart. As Naruto tried to shake off the feeling of being watched, he made his way to the kitchen. He figured he may as well start the dishes, so the two ninjas would have something to eat off of for dinner. He turned on the water, letting it get hot before scrubbing a dirty bowl that had previously been used for ramen. "Damn Sasuke….sleeping soundly like nothing's happening," Naruto continued to mutter to himself. He put the clean dish on the counter, then continued washing the rest of the dishes, until a voice cut through the sound of the water falling into the sink.
"Hello, Naruto-kun," a stoic voice rasped behind him, Naruto's eyes widening considerably.
Before Naruto could shout, his body was pressed between the intruder's and the sink. His eyes had locked with sharingan-filled ones, and he immediately could not blink, let alone fight back or yell for help. "I…ta…chi…," Naruto sounded weakly, his mouth agape and moving painfully to form the name.
"It's been a while, Naruto-kun," Itachi said easily, not moving and keeping Naruto between him and the sink. "I think it's time you contributed to the Akatsuki's endeavors and lent us your Kyuubi," Itachi said easily, releasing Naruto but Naruto still unable to move of his own volition.
Naruto's eyes widened a fraction, unwillingness present in his gorgeous blue eyes. "Come, Naruto," Itachi ordered, turning and gesturing for the blond jinchuuriki to follow him.
"Sas…..uke….," Naruto moaned quietly, his legs walking towards the elder Uchiha as he tried to get Sasuke's attention.
"Don't bother, Naruto. Sasuke is dead asleep. He will not hear you, and he could not save you anyway," Itachi told the Shinobi, a hint of superiority in his sharingan eyes.
The two exited the house, however hesitantly, a waiting Kisame leaning against the structure of the house, his sword taking refuge on his back. "I thought you got lost, Itachi," Kisame complained, rolling his eyes.
Itachi didn't respond as the three began the trek to the headquarters for the Akatsuki.
(POV Shift)
Sasuke groaned, turning to his left side as he called for the blond dobe that was unable to come. "Naruto!," Sasuke groaned, trying to get to his feet to search for said dobe. "Naruto!," Sasuke shouted again, but still receiving no response.
Sasuke hobbled to the living room, still not finding hide nor hair of his blond-haired savior. Sasuke thought for a moment as to what could have happened. Naruto wouldn't just leave..he was too damn stubborn to do that. Unless someone came and took him, Naruto should have been there. Wait….that was it! Someone kidnapped Naruto! But who would kidnap Naruto? Of course! The Akatsuki still was trying to procure the tailed demons still roaming the countries. Some member of the Akatsuki had kidnapped Naruto so they could take the Kyuubi. Sasuke had to get help, and get it fast. He hoped he wouldn't be too late.
(POV Shift)
Kabuto stumbled into Konoha, many villagers stopping their daily escapades to give him a look of surprise.
"Get the Hokage!," a random person yelled before Kabuto collapsed along the main pathway of Konohagakure.
(1) I've heard this quote somewhere before, and I fit very nicely so I used it. But, I can't remember what it's from or who said it. Just thought I'd point that out.
Hope you enjoyed it! I tried to make it really good this time, and I hope my efforts went rewarded
Please review! It makes my day. Thanks again!!!!!!!!