Chapter 11

One Final Piece

Shikamaru walked into the Hokage tower with Pakkun at his heels. The small pug refused to return to wherever it was that he gets summoned from, and instead had decided to annoy the living hell out of him. At first, Shikamaru thought it was a touching show of Pakkun's loyalty to Kakashi...but now...four days later...he was really finding the little monster to be far more trouble than he'd ever thought possible. And that fact alone was enough to set him on edge. After all, Shikamaru was not in the habit of being surprised...and yet this little pile of fur and teeth seemed able to catch him off guard time and time again. It was beyond troublesome.

These thoughts were still running through Shikamaru's mind when he stepped into Lady Tsunade's office, so he was completely unprepared for what he saw. Sai was sitting in the chair in front of the Hokage's desk and was leaning his head in the palms of his hands. Lady Tsunade was standing next to him, rubbing small circles on his back, and Shikamaru could have sworn he was hearing soft shuddering sobs coming from the member of ROOT.

Shikamaru shook his head to clear it. Obviously he was more flustered with Pakkun than he thought. There was no way Sai would ever feel, let alone show anything close to this level of emotion. So Shikamaru shoved his hands in his pockets and made his way to where the other two were, ready to see he had misinterpreted the data present.

What he did see was Sai's face. His normally expressionless eyes were red-rimmed and his mouth was twisted into something close to a frown. Shikamaru's eyes went wide in shock. Pakkun, however, was not having a similar problem. The pug jumped up on top of Sai's lap and pushed his nose into the boy's chin until he locked eyes with the dog.

"What are you doing back here without Kakashi?"

Sai blinked once at the small dog before taking in a shuddering breath and seemingly pulling himself back together into the ROOT operative they all knew. "It was the plan."

That snapped Shikamaru out of his confused state as well. "Sai, were Kakashi and Naruto taken by the Akatsuki?"

The pale boy turned to face him, somewhat surprised that he was there. "I waited to leave the clearing until I was certain Naruto and Kakashi were successful in their phase of the mission. They were...subdued...and taken from the area."

Something in how Sai said that worried Shikamaru. "Subdued? Explain, Sai."

Lady Tsunade placed a hand on Sai's shoulder. "It's okay Sai. Go ahead and tell him."

Sai closed his eyes and spoke in his usual clipped tone. "Itachi broke free, as per the plan. He attacked us and sent me sailing into the far tree-line before the others arrived. It enabled me to escape detection while still being close enough to observe the operation. Itachi seemed...enthusiastic...with his part of it all. Itachi was hurting Kakashi-senpai badly enough that Naruto resorted to using his Rasengan in an attempt to stop it."

Sai paused and took another shuddering breath...opening his eyes and staring straight at Shikamaru without seeing him. If Shikamaru had to guess, he'd have to say the ROOT member was reliving the fight in his mind as he spoke.

"Itachi had a kunai on Kakashi-senpai and proceeded to drag it across his neck, and then down his arm until Naruto finally stopped approaching. The rest of the Akatsuki arrived at that point and Kisame took control of Naruto by absorbing his chakra until he couldn't fight back anymore."

Shikamaru nodded his head. "That was almost exactly to plan...minus the Rasengan, of course So then the Akatsuki took them away, right?"

A shiver ran through Sai, causing Shikamaru's stomach to twist in anticipation. "Not yet. The one Kakashi-senpai described as the Leader forced him to his knees and he...and he...he pushed these long dark rods into the holes we saw in Kakashi's shoulders from before."

Tsunade's hand squeezed reassuringly on Sai's shoulder and the boy drew another ragged breath in before continuing. "Naruto yelled, but his voice was drowned out by the screams torn from Kakashi-senpai's throat." Sai lowered his head. "I've never heard screams like that before."

Shikamaru's eyes went wide at that statement. After all, Sai was an admitted member of ROOT and had likely been witness to, or the cause of, more deaths than he'd probably ever see in his lifetime. For Sai to admit that he'd never heard such screams before did not settle well with Shikamaru in the least. He clenched his fists.

"Was Kakashi in any shape to fight back when they left, Sai?"

Sai shook his head. "No. He couldn't move at all." Sai lifted his head until his eyes locked with Shikamaru's. "They said they were going to do more to him once they reached their destination."

Shikamaru frowned. This was definitely not according to any variation of the plan he'd discussed with Kakashi before. He turned his gaze to meet the Hokage's troubled eyes. "Can we have two squads of jonin ready to go within the next hour, Hokage?"

Lady Tsunade's voice sounded tight in her throat. "Shikamaru, I can't authorize that. If Kakashi is unable to fight back, there's no way he can carry out your plan. It's already too late."

"That's not exactly true, Hokage."

She frowned at him. "Sai, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you just get done telling us that Kakashi Hatake has been completely disabled by the Akatsuki's actions?"

Sai blinked. "Yes, I did, Hokage."

Shikamaru sighed and rolled his eyes. "Lady Tsunade, Kakashi Hatake may not be able to move his arms or legs, but what we had planned doesn't require him to be able to move."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes at him. "Explain yourself Shikamaru."

"I'd love to Hokage...but the time it would take to explain it all would be better spent reaching wherever it is they've taken Kakashi and Naruto. Please...we can't afford to waste any more time."

He could see her struggling with what he said...probably trying to keep herself from yelling at him outright...but a moment later she nodded her head once. "Shizune!"

The Hokage's aide stuck her head into the room. "Yes, Hokage?"

"Check to see who's available for an immediate mission."

"Yes, Hokage. What level?"

Tsunade met Shikamaru's gaze once more and he did his best to present a brave face. She sighed and turned turned Shizune. "S-rank. Two squads...and tell them they leave in one hour!"

Shizune nodded briskly before disappearing back into the hallway. Tsunade ran her hands through her hair and then moved around the desk to sit back in her chair. "Shikamaru...make sure you bring them back...alive."

Shikamaru bowed deeply. "I'll do my best, Hokage."

Pakkun jumped down to stand next to him. "Get it right, kid...we'll do our best."

With that...Shikamaru and Pakkun left to get ready for the next part of their mission...all the while hoping that this change to the initial plan wouldn't result in a loss of life.

-- --

"Leave him alone, you bastard! He can't even fight back!"

Kakashi heard Naruto's protests through a haze of pain. He turned his head until he could see his teammate, and frowned. The Akatsuki's blond-haired member, Deidara, held the young man firmly in a headlock, keeping Naruto from coming any closer.

Kakashi tried to reassure Naruto that he was okay – but Obito's foot connected with his stomach again causing his words to die in his throat as his air was forced from his lungs. He coughed and wasn't surprised in the least when blood coated his lips even as he was left gasping for air.

Kakashi felt Obito's hand thread itself into his hair and readied himself mentally for the sickening lurch of his body when the man pulled him back into a sitting position. Kakashi tried not to flinch when he saw Obito's other hand pull back into a fist and head toward his face. The white-hot pain as he was struck once more made him wonder if he'd live long enough to put his plan into action after all.

"Tobi! That's enough!"

Pein's command was enough to cause Obito to pause in Kakashi's brutal pummeling, but not quite enough to keep the man from forcibly throwing his captive to the ground. One last kick from Obito into the small of Kakashi's back brought a pained grunt from his lips. Kakashi lay gasping on the floor – his body was twisted so he was lying on his side with a clear view of where Naruto was still struggling against Deidara's grip.

A startled yelp from across the room forced Kakashi to refocus on Naruto. Deidara was gripping his bloody arm, while Naruto was desperately scrambling toward him...a red-tinge around his lips showing he must have bitten Deidara in order to break free. The look of concern in the young man's eyes was genuine, and Kakashi knew Naruto had figured out this latest wrinkle – namely Obito beating the crap out of him – was most definitely not part of the original plan. He felt Naruto's arms slide around him and pull him protectively against his body, even as Kakashi watched the three members of the Akatsuki move toward them.

Kakashi felt, rather than saw, the telltale flare of chakra that meant the Kyuubi was beginning to stir. While he was glad to know Naruto thought enough of him to trigger such a strong, protective reaction, Kakashi knew they couldn't afford the likely results such an action would result in. So Kakashi pitched his words so only Naruto would be able to hear them.

"Naruto – calm down. Now isn't the time or the place. They won't kill me...not yet, anyhow...so relax...got it?"

He felt the jinchuriki tense under him as those words sank in. Slowly, the younger man's chakra receded and Kakashi allowed himself to relax a bit more into Naruto's arms. The boy's words were whispered close to his ear.

"I hate this Kakashi-sensei. It isn't right...what they're doing to you...why don't they beat me instead? I can take it. Why keep hurting you? You can't even fight back, dammit!"

Kakashi continued keeping a wary eye on the approaching Akatsuki while he replied. "Naruto, there are two clear reasons they are doing it this way. First – they know you care about what happens to me...so hurting me will hurt you without causing damage to you. Do you understand that?"

He felt the younger man slowly nod his head against his shoulder. "I don't like it, Sensei...but I understand it."

Kakashi chuckled and then winced at the shock of pain it caused. Evidently Obito managed to crack some ribs this time around. He pushed the pain out of his mind and concentrated on what he was saying.

"The second reason, Naruto, has absolutely nothing to do with you."

Naruto shifted Kakashi until he could see the younger man's blue eyes. "What the hell do you mean by that, Kakashi-sensei?"

Both Konoha ninja cringed at the entrance of a third party to their conversation. "He means, boy, that it's between him and me. Isn't that right, Kakashi?"

Obito reached down and fisted a hand into Kakashi's hair once more. It was so quick that Naruto could only sit and stare when the man yanked him loose of his grip. By the time Kakashi's body hit the ground near Pein's feet, Deidara and Obito both had Naruto firmly in their grasp. Kakashi glared back at the Uchiha...his eyes narrowing at his one-time teammate...and his words laced with venom.

"What happened to you, Obito? What did he promise you to make you turn into such an unfeeling man?"

Obito's laughter was so far removed from the laughs of their youth that it ran through Kakashi's veins like ice. "I should take that as a compliment, Kakashi. If anyone alive knows what it means to be an unfeeling bastard, it would be you...wouldn't it, Hatake? You – who wanted to leave Rin behind...just to finish a damned mission! You – who cared only for the rules...who thought they were so much better than the rest of us! Even at thirteen, you thought that way! After all, you were the great Kakashi Hatake...the genius prodigy...favorite student of the Yellow Flash...destined to outshine the infamous White Fang of Konoha!"

Obito threw a kunai toward where Kakashi was lying...just narrowly missing his chin. "What would White Fang think of you now, Kakashi? Ha! You're a joke...nothing but a fraud who built his reputation on something that didn't even belong to him!"

Kakashi let the silence build a bit before he answered his one time friend. "Is that what this is all about, Obito? You're upset because I became famous with an eye that you could barely manage to use? Is that really what this is about? Jealousy?"

Kakashi watched the muscles in Obito's shoulders tense...the only sign of the man's anger that he could read while he wore that ridiculous whirlpool mask. Deidara's voice broke the growing tension.

"Wait a minute, hn...Tobi are you saying that you're the reason the Copy-ninja exists in the first place?"

Obito spun his head back to face the blond. "So what if I am? It doesn't matter...because I will also be the reason the Copy-ninja finally dies!"

"That may yet be true Tobi...but not until after this evening's events. Am I clear?"

Pein's tone caused both members of the Akatsuki to stop their bantering and turn their full attention to their Leader. Kakashi felt the red-head's hands on his arms a moment later, and he was lifted off the ground with an ease that made Pein's strength clear. Kakashi was pulled in close to Pein's body, and he felt the rush of air across his neck when the man spoke again.

"My original intention was to leave you here, Kakashi, while we extracted the Nine-tailed beast from the boy using your own chakra. But now I would prefer to keep you closer during the process." Pein moved him with ease across the room until they were standing in front of where Naruto was being held. "After all, perhaps the jinchuriki will be more cooperative if he understands your life will be forfeit should he cause us undue trouble."

Kakashi had to resist the urge to smile with relief at this latest revelation. It was the one part of his impromptu plan that he had yet to figure out...how to make sure he was present during the extraction jutsu. Thankfully Naruto distracted the enemy by trying to break free at that exact moment.

"I'll kill you before I let you hurt Kakashi-sensei any more – you bastard!"

Naruto nearly managed to break loose, but a well-placed hit to the back of the young man's neck put an end to his struggles and caused him to lose consciousness and fall to the ground. Pein shifted his grip on Kakashi until he could lift him into his arms.

"Bring the boy to the main hall – it's time we finished this."

Kakashi felt the wave of killing intent flow at him from Obito. "Yes...it's definitely time we finished this...once and for all, Hatake."

The tone of Obito's voice reminded Kakashi that his past friend was not the only one within the Uchiha's mind, and not for the first time, he wondered if he'd manage to pull this off. Kakashi closed his eyes as Pein carried his beaten body effortlessly out of the cell room and down the halls. The steady throb of pain within Kakashi's abdomen was a constant reminder of the task Jiraiya left for him to carry out. He concentrated on that to refocus his mind on what truly mattered. One way or another – succeed or fail – this would all be over tonight.

Kakashi could only hope that this final sacrifice would be enough to stop the Akatsuki's plans, and perhaps, if he were truly lucky, save Naruto once and for all. He'd waste energy worrying about Obito only if they both managed to survive the final move of this game.