Failure and Return!
"Almost there!" Gaara said as he led Naruto's group towards the route that he had taken to get into the village, it was a much safer and quieter route.
"Hm? Who is that up ahead?" Shikamaru asked seeing a faint figure in the distance
"It's Matsuri." Gaara answered as they got closer
Matsuri sighed before turning to see the group "Ah! Your all okay, that's good!"
"Of course!" Naruto said with a grin
Hinata nodded before looking at Haruka in shock "H-haruka!" She said in shock
"What is it!?" Sakura asked as she also turned to look at the child
Harukas skin was now a much more paler shade of white and she had trouble breathing as well "Her condition is getting worse!" Hinata said "We need to get her to a hospital and fast!"
"We can't use the ones back at the Hidden Rain village." Gaara said "Too risky."
Naruto nodded "Right...So then let's get going!" Naruto yelled as he dashed past the others
"H-hey wait up!" Shikamaru yelled as he and the others ran after him
Meanwhile back at the Hidden Leaf Village in the morning
"No."Ino said as she looked at Lee
"But-" Lee was cut off
"There's no way i'm going to go on that mission!" Ino yelled
Kyo laughed a bit as he watched the two argue. Kyo had just finished his training with Sasuke on how to use the Rinnegan before Ino and Lee showed up, Lee had asked Ino to help out with a mission that involved a search for a rouge ninja, Lee had explained to Ino that they needed a girl to infiltrate the enemy base...Ino however wasn't too pleased with the idea.
"So loud and annoying..." Sasuke said as he looked at the two with Kyo
"Oh come on Ino's not annoying." Kyo said before he blushed and looked down
"Hm?" Sasuke asked as he looked at Kyo before smirking "You like her don't you."
"Eh?" Kyo asked as he turned to look at Sasuke, his blush was clearly visible
"Yep the blush proves my point." Sasuke
"N-no it doesn't!" Kyo yelled
"Oh really?" Sasuke asked "Well i have another reason."
"What?" Kyo asked
"You haven't looked at Lee the entire time." Sasuke said "You have only been looking at Ino."
Kyo blushed and looked down "Damn you.." He said with a sigh
Sasuke laughed a bit before seeing Ino walk over "Jeez..." She said before looking around the area "Wow...You two must have really been training hard to have done this much damage."
"Well i am trying to teach him to control the Rinnegan of all things." Sasuke said "But our training is done for the day..."
"Ah." Ino said with a smile as Kyo stretched
"So then any news yet?" Kyo asked
"Nothing yet...Naruto and the others haven't come back yet but i'm sure they probably found her by now." Ino said
"Right, knowing Naruto he's probably on his way back now." Sasuke said
Right when Sasuke said that an Anbu member appeared in front of the group "Kyo Higurashi?" The Anbu member asked as he looked at the group
"Yes?" Kyo asked in confusion
"Come to the hospital now it is urgent." The Anbu then disappeared after saying that
Kyo stood in confusion for sometime before coming to only one conclusion "I have to go!" He said as he then ran towards the hospital
"Should we follow him?" Lee asked
"Yes of course!" Ino yelled as she, Sasuke and Lee followed Kyo
At the hospital
Naruto sighed as he, Gaara, Matsuri and Shikamaru sat in the hospital hallway "I hope everything's alright..." Matsuri said in worry
"Naruto!" Kyo yelled as he, Sasuke, Ino and Lee ran
Naruto quickly stood up "Kyo..." He said as he looked at him
"What's going on? Is she okay?" Kyo asked frantically
"Well from what Shizune told us it seems that Haruka has some sort of disease." Matsuri said
Kyo turned his attention to Matsuri and Garra "Um..."
"Oh this is Matsuri and Gaara." Shikamaru said "Gaara is the fifth Kazekage."
Kyo bowed respectfully "Any updates?" Ino asked Shikamaru
"No, Sakura and Hinata are in there with Shizune right now.." Shikamaru said
"Ah." Lee said "Well i'm sure everything will turn out okay in the end!"
Kyo nodded 'Right!"
Sasuke sat down in silence before looking down the hall where they came from "...We have a visitor..."
Everyone looked at where Sasuke was looking before noticing Sai "Ah there you are." He said looking at Ino with a blank expression on his face
"Eh? You were looking for me?" Ino asked
"Well your mother has, she needed you to do something back at the shop." Sai said
"Oh!" Ino said "Okay thank you, i'll come back here later then!"
Sai nodded as he left along with Ino
"That guy is strange..." Kyo said
Sasuke shook his head before the doors to Haruka's room opened and Sakura walked out with Hinata and Shizune
"Well?" Naruto asked as Kyo looked at the three
"She's awake." Sakura said with a smile "Her condition has improved very much and she's already asking to see you Kyo."
Kyo smiled "Thank you." He said as he walked over to the room and went inside.
Haruka looked out of the window before hearing the door open and a voice accompanied the sound "Haruka?"
Haruka quickly turned to see Kyo walking over to her side "Big brother!" She said as the two hugged each other. As the two hugged each other before they both began to cry "I...I thought i wouldn't see you again!"
Kyo held Haruka close to him "I'm...I'm sorry..I never should have left you alone like that..." He said "It won't happen again...I promise..."
Haruka nodded "O-okay...But i don't blame you..." She said as she cried
"You don't?" Kyo asked as he looked at her
"No! Of course not!" Haruka said "Your my big brother! I can't blame you for something that's not your fault!"
Kyo smiled and kissed her on the forehead "I'm glad your alright."
Haruka smiled at him "So...Where are we?" She asked
"Konoha." Kyo said but got a confused look from her "The village hidden in the leafs."
"Oh!" Haruka said before the door opened again and this time it was Tsunade who walked in
"Sorry to interrupt but.." Tsunade paused as she looked around 'Huh...She really isn't here..."
"Who?" Kyo asked
"Ino, Naruto and the others said that she went to go to see what her mother wanted but now..." Tsunade paused again
"But what?" Kyo asked
"I went to go talk to her at the shop and she wasn't there..." Tsunade said "The nurses also said that she never left the hospital either."
"Wait but Sai was with her." Kyo said
"I know Naruto told me." Tsunade said "The question is where the hell did Sai go..."
"U-um..." Haruka said nervously "Big bro what's going on?"
"Ah don't worry nothing bad's happening.." Kyo said "But i'm gonna have to leave for awhile so you can get some rest okay?"
"Okay..." Haruka said as she laid down and Kyo left the room with Tsunade.
"So she really didn't leave?" Kiba asked as he and the rest of Naruto's friends stood in front of Harukas room
"Yeah." Tenten said
"Sai was the one who left with her..." Shikamaru said
"So then he's suspect number one." Sasuke said as Kyo and Tsunade walked out
"Is everyone is here? Tsunade asked
"Yes!" Lee said
"Alright then split up and search the area!" Tsunade said
Everyone nodded and left the hospital
"Hey Naruto." Kyo said
"Hm?" Naruto asked
"I'm going with you, i don't really know my way around yet." Kyo explained as Hinata walked over as well
"I'll go with you as well!" Hinata said
Naruto nodded before seeing Sasuke and Sakura walk over as well "I think it's best if we all go together." Sakura said
Sasuke sighed before nodding "Alright."
Meanwhile at the training field
"This was your big plan?" Sai asked as the masked man tied Ino to a tree
"S-shut up!" The man said as he finished tying her to the tree "There!"
"W-what the heck is all this about!?" Ino yelled in anger
"Well my boss has told me to have a little 'chat' with Higurashi." The masked man said "And from what i have seen thanks to Sai...You seem to be...Important to him."
Ino blushed before glaring at Sai "Why are you doing this!?"
"For my own reasons..." Sai said calmly as he drew in his scroll
"That doesn't answer my question!" Ino yelled in anger as the man then turned to Sai
"So then...How long do you think it will take for them to come here?" The man asked
Just then Naruto, Sasuke, Kyo, Sakura and Hinata arrived at the training field "Ah! Ino!" Sakura said seeing Ino tied to a tree and then looked at the masked man and Sai.
"What the heck is going on here!?" Naruto asked
"Bwahahahaha!" The masked man laughed loudly "Now then..You all have fallen into our trap! Now Sai!"
Sai looked at the group and then at the man "...No." He said and right then and there, the long and large snake that Sai had been drawing in his scroll jumped out of it and coiled itself around the masked man
"W-what!?" The man yelled in surprise "This...This isn't fair!"
Kyo looked at the man and listened to his whining before his eyes widened "...Shun?" He asked
The man looked at Kyo "Uhh...N-no...That's not my name at all..." He said nervously before Kyo walked over and took the mans mask off to reveal that the man had sea blue eyes and short brown hair "Er..."
"Yep..." Kyo said with a sigh "Of all of the people to send..."
"S-shut up!" Shun yelled "If it weren't for Sai's betrayal then i would've had you!"
Ino cleared her throat to get everyone's attention "Oh! Right!" Sakura said as she rushed over and untied Ino
"Thanks..." Ino said with a sigh and then looked at Sai "You could've warned me!"
"That would have ruined my plan." Sai said calmly "Besides...You're not injured so why complain?"
"...I hate you..." Ino said with a glare
Sai shrugged "Anyway's...We should get Shun to Lady Tsunade." Sakura said
Hinata nodded "Right."
Shun hung his head in shame "D-dammit..." He said "I almost did it..."
A few minutes later outside of the Hokage mansion
"...No." Kyo said looking at Ino
The group had taken Shun to the Hokage mansion for interrogation, afterword the group left and went their own ways in the village, Sasuke with Sakura, Naruto with Hinata and Ino with Kyo. Sai went back to his house.
"Aw, why not?" Ino asked a bit disappointed
"There is no way you're getting me to dress formally...Ever." Kyo said
"Why not?" Ino asked again
"Because i would look like a fool!" Kyo said "Plus i'm not doing it to promote anything either."
Ino sighed "Well it was worth a shot..." She said "Hey...Can i ask another question?"
Kyo looked at her "Sure." He said
"Can we go visit your little sister?" Ino asked "I want to meet her if you don't mind."
Kyo smiled "Of course!" he said "We can go now, there's still time!"
Ino nodded and followed Kyo as he ran to the hospital.
With Sasuke and Sakura
"...Hey Sasuke are you listening?" Sakura asked
Sasuke blinked and looked at Sakura "Hm?" He asked in confusion "I'm sorry what were you saying?"
Sakura sighed "I was asking if ou were feeling alright but never mind." She said "You not paying attention clearly proves that you still aren't back to your usual self."
"How does that prove anything?" Sasuke asked
"Because you usually pay attention unlike Naruto." Sakura replied "So how is your body adjusting?"
"Slowly." Sasuke said "Having the Rinnegan is still something to get used to..."
"Ah...Well if you need anything let me know." Sakura said
"What do you mean?" Sasuke asked
Sakura blushed a bit "N-never mind!" She said
With Naruto and Hinata at Ichiraku Ramen
"Another bowl please!" Naruto said
Hinata sighed at this "You really eat a lot Naruto-kun."
Naruto looked at Hinata and grinned "Well i gotta make sure i have enough energy to some more training!"
"Well you must be doing a lot of training later then if you're eating that much.." A familiar voice said from behind Hinata and Naruto making the two turn around
"Ah! Gaara!" Naruto said in surprise "What are you still doing here!?"
Gaara smiled and sat down "Well me and Matsuri were both about to leave until we got some startling news from the Anbu."
"Eh? W-what happened?" Hinata asked
"The Anbu have reported strange sightings far into the woods of Konoha..." Gaara said
"Sightings of what?" Naruto asked as Teuchi gave Naruto his tenth bowl of ramen
"Four people have been sighted going in and out of the woods.." Gaara said
"Hm? Hinata asked "Do they know who the group is?"
"They know one person." Gaara said "...Orochimaru."
Naruto quickly stopped eating "E-eh!?" He yelled "So they finally found him!?"
Gaara nodded "Yes...However..." He paused "The report is at least four days old...Which means he could be anywhere by now."
Naruto sighed "Which means there will be a mission to find him soon..." He said "How come i can't catch a break..."
Gaara laughed a bit "Well you are the hero of Konoha." He said
Naruto groaned and then continued eating "...There is so much happening now...But my main concern is..." He paused talking to himself in his mind "What is Daigos next move gonna be?"
End of Chapter 1o
A/N: Can you guys guess who the other three people are with Orochimaru?