The author says: Hello people, welcome to chapter 11 of He had no idea. Once again I thank everyone, who reviewed liked and just read this story! I'm so happy about all the positive feedback!
I hope you enjoy this chapter, have fun reading!
I do not own Naruto!
'He had no idea'
Chapter 11
You're Not Alone
Open Your Mind
In a way its a matter of time
I will not worry for you, You'll be just fine
Take my thoughts with you, and when you look behind
You will surely see a face that you recognize
- 'You're Not Alone' by ATB
It didn't take Naruto long to arrive at the training grounds. The boys were already waiting for her. The sun had now fully risen over the horizon and was making the dew on the grass sparkle.
"Oi, Naruto," Kiba called out to the approaching captain, "What's up with the serious face?"
Naruto paused and only then realized that there was a scowl on her features. The talk with Itachi had left her restless. Three weeks to come up with a genius plan was not much time. But on the other hand, she had chosen one of the guys specifically for his strategic intellect.
"Don't shout so early in the morning, Kiba," Shikamaru drawled, yawning.
"It's not my fault you have a hangover, man," Kiba teased his team mate.
The Nara only rolled his eyes and muttered, "Troublesome."
Neji's attention was fully on the blonde girl that now stood next to them.
"Did something happen, Naruto-san?" he asked gently, his pale eyes focused on her.
Naruto snorted. "If you'd call Itachi appearing in my room in the middle of the night 'something', then yes, something did happen."
"What?" Kiba exclaimed. "What did he want?" Akamaru yelped next to him, looking up at the others with his dog eyes.
Naruto swiftly told them what Itachi had told her not even one hour ago.
A heavy silence followed her words.
Finally Shikamaru sighed, "I guess it can't be helped. It seems like we're going to need my brain faster than we had anticipated."
Now it was Kiba's turn to roll his eyes at his team mate. He muttered something about how Shika's brain was truly going to his head. On the other hand, even the Inuzuka knew that their team would probably be helpless, if Shikamaru didn't come up with a neat plan. He was in no way looking forward to coming face to face with one of those S-rank criminals so early after their team was formed.
Naruto tossed the scroll with the information on Sasori and Deidara to Shikamaru. "Study this and I'll tell you everything else Itachi told me about the two." She looked up at the brunette. "I expect the first outlines of a plan in three days. I'm counting on you, Shikamaru."
Shikamaru returned her level gaze and nodded at her. "Sure, taichou."
After that they began their first training together. The three boys soon realized that Naruto set a fast pace. She was merciless.
Kiba, who was paired with Naruto for his first spar, was soon wheezing and sweating. Akamaru was panting and his fur was dark from sweat.
The Inuzuka jumped backwards, just barely evading the girl's fist.
"Geez, Naruto," he panted, complaining, "if you beat me up now, I won't be able to fight properly!"
Naruto shut him up with a punch in the face. "Stop whining, dog-breath! If you're tired already, then maybe it's better if you quit now!"
The brunette sputtered. No one insulted an Inuzuka! He would show her! She was only a girl after all!
Akamaru growled lowly and dangerously, declaring that no one messed with his master, if the dog had any say in it. Naruto smirked at the large nin-dog. She was clearly not intimidated by the beast. She had a demon living inside her mind after all. It took more than some growling from the otherwise quite peaceful and – compared to Kyuubi – tiny dog.
"Ha, that's right, Akamaru, show her!" Kiba cheered his partner on.
Naruto grinned foxily and purposefully drew on the Kyuubi's chakra. Her eyes bled red and her pupils turned to slits. It was gone again within mere seconds.
Akamaru suddenly whined. His ears flopped and his tail wiggled, clearly afraid.
Kiba watched, incredulous. He had not seen Naruto's display. "What did you do to him, Naruto?" he demanded to know, angered that the girl had somehow influenced his partner without him realizing what she actually did.
Naruto's grin turned into a cocky smirk. "I just reminded him of who is Alpha here."
Kiba nudged his dog into the shoulder, trying to shake him out of it. Naruto was definitely getting on his nerves here. Was she aware of how annoying she could be at times?
With new vigour, he attacked Naruto with his Gatsuga (1).
Naruto hid the knowing smirk. It was just too easy to get Kiba all riled up. But it was also quite helpful that she knew how to push his buttons. While she saw that Kiba had improved greatly thanks to his ANBU training, she also had the impression that the boy had been holding back before. Maybe he was trying to go easy on her, because she was a girl? Ts, hopefully her teasing would make him forget this, otherwise he'd be kissing the ground soon.
On the other half of the training ground, Neji and Shikamaru were supposed to be sparring, too. But both were mesmerized by what was happening in front of them.
Naruto was mercilessly teasing Kiba and they saw how the impulsive boy was getting angry.
"She sure knows how to handle him," Shikamaru smirked.
Next to him, Neji nodded. His neutral face showed some mild amusement as Kiba hit the ground with his face first, eating a nice amount of dirt. Akamaru was yelping, but it sounded somehow like laughter rather than a noise of concern for his human partner.
"I'm actually glad that Naruto is on our side," Shikamaru said quietly, not taking his eyes off the fight in front of him. "It would be just too troublesome, if Naruto was our enemy."
Neji silently agreed. The girl's improvement was astounding even to him. He was one of the few, who had felt Naruto's power during her childhood. Back then, the sheer amount of her chakra had already been incredible, but what he was sensing now was an intensity that he had never felt before. Even Gai-sensei's chakra didn't feel as wild and raw when he used The Eight Inner Gates' release.
The Hyuuga turned to his team mate. "Will you be able to come up with a plan, Shikamaru-san?"
Shikamaru felt the Hyuuga's pale eyes on him, but didn't turn his head. He shrugged. "I guess."
Neji's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. "You guess? I hope you realize that the outcome of this mission highly depends on your plan."
Shikamaru closed his eyes for a moment. Turning his head to look at the Hyuuga, he opened them again; a determined glint in his intelligent eyes.
"Neji, I am fully aware of the role I'm playing. Don't worry. I'll come up with something." He turned towards the fight once more and added, "Besides, Naruto is counting on me."
Neji regarded the Nara with new respect. While Shikamaru's words were sounding almost careless at the beginning, Neji sensed the resolve in his posture and saw it in his eyes.
Neji also realized that Naruto was already having an influence on both Kiba and Shikamaru. One seldom saw the lazy genius like this. He recalled Shikamaru's words, Besides, Naruto is counting on me. Was that all it took to get the Nara to abandon his laid-back attitudes? Apparently, for Shikamaru it was enough. Naruto had faith in his abilities and hence the boy seemed to take his task more seriously than usual.
Is Naruto aware of how much she is affecting those two? Neji wondered. He knew for sure that the girl had left an important impression on him and he was grateful for it. Somehow, Naruto has the ability to make people try to do their best around her.
He watched the fight between the girl and Kiba. It was clear by now that the brunette and his animal partner were losing. Naruto was charging the boy with her katana. The wind-chakra coated blade stopped mere millimetres in front of Kiba's face, as he threw up his arms, surrendering; a look of horror on his face.
It was lunch time and Ino was happy that she could escape the dark and stuffy building of the Konoha Intelligence Division. As a member of the Torture and Interrogation Force, she spent most of her time inside doing... well, interrogation and torture most of the time.
She met up with Sakura and Hinata for lunch at the Dango Shop. Hurrying down the busy streets, she arrived just in time. Hinata and Sakura waved at her in greeting and Ino slumped down next to her pink-haired friend.
They ate in silence for some time, when Hinata suddenly spoke up. By now, the other two girls were used to her soft voice. It had become more and more confident with time and her stutter was almost completely gone, only showing when she was particularly nervous or insecure.
"What do you think about Naruto-chan?" the Hyuuga heiress asked, her voice gentle.
Sakura guiltily looked down at the table, playing with her dango.
Ino swallowed loudly and said, "Oh, Naruto has really grown, don't you think? She's really going to be tough competition, I mean, did you see? She's become really pretty!"
Grabbing another dango, Ino started chewing again, looking at the other two girls expectantly.
Hinata sighed. Of course, Ino would only say something about Naruto's physical appearance. But hadn't the others noticed it?
"I know what you mean, Hinata-chan," Sakura said almost shyly. Her green eyes gazed away from the table and into the Hyuuga's.
"Huh, what do you mean, Billboard-Brow?" Ino asked loudly, but Sakura didn't even react to the usual insult.
Instead the pinkette went on, "Naruto has changed a lot. She isn't the same any more. I already noticed it on our mission together last week."
"You went on a mission with Naruto-chan?" Hinata asked, surprised. Ino's eyes widened, too, she hadn't known this either.
"Yes," Sakura confirmed, "but I wasn't allowed to talk about it. Tsunade-shishou's orders."
The others nodded. "But what do you mean, Naruto changed?" Ino wanted to know. "I mean, of course she changed. We all did. It's been three years! And I'm actually glad she stopped wearing orange."
Hinata almost rolled her eyes at the bleach-blonde Yamanaka. But her composed Hyuuga-mannerisms did not allow it. "Please don't be so shallow, Ino-chan," Hinata reprimanded her gently.
Ino sobered up and then said, "I know what you mean, Hinata-chan. How could I not have seen it? I'm on the freaking Interrogation Force! I would totally suck, if I hadn't noticed."
It was true. During interrogation Ino depended highly on her perceptive skills and being able to read people's body language was very important. Her mental techniques provided her with a profound knowledge of psychology and the workings of the mind.
Hinata and Sakura stared at Ino as the blonde said, "I can't pinpoint it for sure, but it's like the air around Naruto is heavier. The feeling she gives off has changed completely since our childhood. She used to be so carefree and joyous. But yesterday there was this odd feeling around her."
She stopped for a second, searching for words. Just as she wanted to go on, Sakura interrupted. "Darker and serious... grave, even."
Sakura remembered her first meeting with Naruto only too well; how Naruto's eyes had flashed a dangerous crimson and the oppressive feeling of her sickening killing intent. Sakura had been scared in that moment; scared of Naruto and the person she had become. She didn't know what was causing the strange vibes the girl was giving off, though.
Hinata's voice was small and sad when she said, "Whatever it is, I hope everything is all right with Naruto-chan. I'm sure she will find her smile again."
It was late afternoon by now and the four young shinobi had ended their training – or rather, Naruto had finally decided that it was enough for the first day.
They were dirty, sweaty and hurting. The boys more than their female captain, thanks to her Kyuubi-enhanced healing abilities.
Naruto felt good. She was very pleased with their first training. She was absolutely sure that she had made the right decision by choosing these three boys. They were not equally strong in every aspects, but they complemented each other nicely and as soon as there was more routine, Naruto was certain that they would function perfectly as a team.
The four young people were currently walking away from the training grounds and into the village, where they were planning to have a very late lunch or early dinner.
Kiba and Neji were walking in the front, Akamaru at their heels. Kiba was animately chattering, about how he had almost managed to land a hit on Naruto, which made Neji wonder where the Inuzuka took the energy from after the harsh training.
Shikamaru was already deep in thoughts, the first outlines of a battle plan forming in his mind. Still, he saw Naruto fidgeting next to him. It reminded him of her behaviour the night before. They were walking in broad daylight now and Naruto was not hiding herself behind the hood.
Sensing her discomfort, Shikamaru put a hand on her shoulder. "Relax, Naru. You're not alone."
The blonde girl gaped at him. She really needed to get a grip on herself, if it was that easy to see that she felt uneasy. But his words were so true. She was not alone. Her team was with her and the villagers were not able to do anything to her.
Feeling reassured, she straightened up and walked on with her head held high.
Naruto felt the first incredulous stares on her the moment they entered the main village and the crowded streets.
Stall owners stopped in their movements to openly stare at the blonde Jinchuuriki. A woman stopped her sweeping, the broom hanging in mid-air.
A father pulled his two children protectively behind his back, away from the 'demon brat'.
A group of several women with shopping bags pointed at her and began whispering behind their hands.
Eyes followed Naruto's every step.
She suppressed the urge to break into a run and pull the hood over her head. If she gave in now, she'd give the villagers a reason to mistreat her again. Showing weakness was not an option now. And it had never been.
Her neck hurt from the effort to keep her head up, to not shrink back into herself.
The initial moment of surprised shock about the 'demon's' return soon vanished. Unbelievable eyes filled with an almost reflexive hatred directed at the blonde girl, who contained the Kyuubi.
Cursing her too sensitive ears, murmurs and curses reached Naruto.
Akamaru and Kiba must have been hearing them, too, because the large nin-dog bared his fangs at the surrounding villagers, a low and warning growl coming from his throat.
Naruto felt the tension building between her team and the civilians. She silently begged the others to not do anything stupid.
Their dishevelled appearance was probably not helping right now and the fact that Kyuubi was just too eager to raise his head, was making it hard for Naruto to suppress the scowl on her face.
She met the eyes of a shop owner, one of those who had repeatedly prohibited her from entering his shop. The man's eyes were filled with a passionate hatred, blind emotions directed at a young blonde woman he believed to be the Kyuubi in disguise.
The man's eyes widened at the sight of Naruto's sinister stare. Something resembling panic replaced the look in his eyes and he flinched openly, receding into the shelter of his shop.
A hand suddenly touched Naruto's left arm. "Geez, Naruto, calm down. And stop giving off that freakish killing intent."
Naruto blinked and shook her head slightly. She looked up at the pineapple-haired Nara, who was intently staring at her. That broke the tension and she felt the evil chakra surging through her.
Cursing under her breath, she prayed that her eyes had not yet shown any signs of Kyuubi's influence or otherwise she'd probably given the civilians all the more reason to believe she was indeed the Kyuubi reincarnated.
Seeing the brief flash of panic in the blue eyes, Shikamaru shook his head, silently telling her that she was worrying for nothing. Her killing intent subsided and he let go of her arm.
It was a miracle that the group hadn't stopped walking, so they continued until they arrived at the Dango Shop and quickly entered.
Naruto let out a breath she hadn't been aware of holding in; relieved.
The boys guided her to a table in the back of the little restaurant and pushed her onto the seat. She reacted wordlessly, feeling a bit shaken.
Shikamaru took the seat next to the blonde and the other two sat opposite them. Naruto didn't even notice them ordering and was surprised when a box of dango was set down in front of her.
They boys ate hesitantly, watching their captain, who seemed to be fighting an inner battle.
Indeed, inwardly Naruto was debating with herself. To some point, the first real confrontation with the villagers had gone better than expected; no direct attacks, no one who threatened or openly insulted her. But she had almost lost control right there. And if the boys hadn't been with her, she highly doubted that the villagers would have stayed as civil.
But now the word was out. Uzumaki Naruto, the demon brat of Konoha, monster and pariah, was truly back. She didn't know how many people had seen her, but it had been plenty enough. Word would spread.
She was unbelievably grateful that Shikamaru had shaken her out of her stupor. Kyuubi was always lurking in the back of her mind, waiting for opportunities just like this to show himself. Overwhelming her in a situation like this, when her emotions were in turmoil, was what the demon hoped for.
What would have happened if she had lost control? Would she have attacked the villagers? The people who were staring at her with those hateful eyes?
Naruto shook off the alarming thoughts and looked up. Three pairs of watchful eyes were focused on her. She blinked.
Feeling a bit embarrassed all of a sudden, she rubbed her neck in her old manner, and chuckled nervously, "Hehe, well, that went better than expected, don't you think?"
Shikamaru face-palmed. How had this gone better than expected? It was too difficult to follow the baka's train of thought. Troublesome.
Tsunade was sitting in her office. The outside world was dark. For once there was a cup of tea in her hand, instead of the ever-present sake.
There was a small frown on her young features and her lips were pursed thoughtfully. In front of her sat a blonde Jinchuuriki and her grey-haired sensei. Jiraiya was leaning against the wall and Shizune stood attentively next to the large desk, clutching Tonton the pig.
Tsunade didn't know whether to cry or laugh. Naruto had just told them about Itachi's visit and the danger to the Kazekage.
Three weeks, the blonde Hokage mused, is this really enough time? Is Naruto ready yet to face the Akatsuki? I wished there was more time.
"Kakashi," Tsunade barked, "you will leave for Sunagakure tomorrow morning. You will personally tell Gaara of the coming attack. Make sure that they prepare the village for it, but don't raise any alarms. We have to keep this as quiet as possible. If the Akatsuki realizes that we know about their movements, we will lose both our advantage and probably Uchiha Itachi as well."
Kakashi nodded. He had expected to be the one assigned to go see Gaara.
"I'm sure that Shikamaru is working on a strategy?" she addressed Naruto.
"Yes," the girl confirmed, "but we cannot solely rely on him. It's more important that we can rely on each other as a team. Therefore I want to go on at least two other missions before we go to Suna."
Tsunade stared at the other blonde. "What? But gaki, do you really think that's wise?"
"Yes, I do think so," Naruto said insistently. "We can't go on such a dangerous mission, if it is the first one for my new team. We have to get used to each other in real life situations. We can train all we want, but training doesn't give us experience."
Kakashi listened to his student. Her words were reasonable and he agreed with her. Training and a real mission were something else entirely.
"I want to be in Suna one week before Sasori and Deidara attack," Naruto continued. "That leaves two weeks for intensive training and two missions."
She focused on Tsunade, who seemed to be contemplating her demands.
"All right, gaki," the Fifth said, "I see your point. But what if any of you are injured? You need all your strength for the fight against the Akatsuki."
Naruto smirked confidently. "Then we just don't get hurt, right?"
Two weeks had passed; filled with training that compared to torture, two successful missions and many strategy meetings.
It was one week until the date on which Sasori and Deidara were supposed to attack Sunagakure. Kakashi was already in Suna, planning with Gaara and the Elders.
Naruto and her team were less than one hour away from the Sand village. They were travelling fast and would arrive with the setting sun.
The had left Konoha only one and a half day ago, pressing to arrive as soon as possible. They were heavily armed and each had a scroll with medical supplies on them. After sifting through all the information on the two Akatsuki members, Naruto had asked Tsunade to prepare an antidote against the poison, that Sasori seemed to use most frequently.
The sun was burning down mercilessly and even Naruto felt hot and sandy. Kiba was constantly complaining about the heat. Neji took it quite well, or maybe he just didn't say anything. Shikamaru muttered a strained 'troublesome' every now and then.
None of the others had been to Suna before. "Hurry up, guys. Only one more hour," Naruto said, her voice hoarse from thirst.
Her words gave the guys new hope and their speed increased once more.
Said hour later, four exhausted Leaf shinobi arrived at the gates of the Hidden Village. Their ANBU masks were in place, but the guards at gates were already waiting for them. To them, the ANBU team from Konoha was just a regular communication team sent from Hokage to Kazekage; no one was supposed to know, who was hiding behind the masks.
Even though Naruto knew her way through the village, the guards accompanied them to the Kazekage tower to keep up pretense.
Gaara looked up from his paperwork, when a knock was heard. "Enter!"
A masked ANBU with a hood threw the door to his office open. Three taller figures and a huge dog entered behind the first.
Akamaru stopped in the middle of the neat office and shook his fur. Sand flew in all directions, covering the otherwise spotless floor in a layer of yellow desert sand.
"Inuzuka-san, I see your dog needs to be taught some manners," Gaara said in his neutral voice, but Naruto heard both slight amusement and annoyance in his words.
The Kazekage stood up from his chair and walked around the desk to stand in front of the smallest person of the group. Like the others, the person was wearing the standard Konoha ANBU uniform, but there was a hood hiding what Gaara knew was sunny blonde hair.
The girl pulled said hood away and took off the Weasel ANBU mask. Sparkling blue eyes looked up at the redhead. "Ne, Gaara, you're in a good mood, I see."
Gaara tsk'ed and pulled the blonde girl into a tight hug. Naruto returned it without hesitating and enjoyed the strong arms around her. It had been only three months since she had last seen her fellow Jinchuuriki, but so much had happened in the short time, that it felt like years had passed.
The three boys were rather surprised at the open display of affection between the Kazekage and their captain. They knew Gaara had been a troubled child once. But what they saw now, proofed why he had been chosen to become the new leader of the Hidden Village of the Sand.
Neji watched the two Jinchuuriki, as they stood close together, sharing some teasing words. Naruto looked so at ease with the Sand-shinobi. Neji wondered, if Naruto realized that she looked happier around the redhead.
Gaara smiled down at his best friend. She looked so much better than only three months ago. Did she realize that the air of depression that had hung over her during her last visit had slightly lifted? It was not yet completely gone, but it was a start and Gaara was happy to see her more lively. The genuine grin on her scarred face made him feel warm.
The girl, that had visited him three months ago, had been a sad shadow of the young woman that was now standing in front of him.
"You look better, Naruto," he said, honest.
"I do feel a bit better, I guess," she answered him quietly.
"Good," Gaara nodded and only now paid attention to Naruto's team mates.
"Welcome to Sunagakure," he greeted politely, "I wished it was due to less serious circumstances that you visit my village."
The boys had taken off their masks and were greeting the Kazekage respectfully. They might know him a little and their captain was good friends with him, but that didn't allow them to cast aside all courtesies.
Gaara himself poured them a glass of water each, and they settled on the chairs around his desk. Since it was already late and dark outside, they decided to postpone all talk about the Akatsuki until tomorrow. The four needed some rest after the exhausting race through the desert.
Gaara invited them all to stay at his and his siblings' house for the time of their visit. As it was called a 'visit' and not a mission. They were not sure whether the Akatsuki had spies in Suna, so only Gaara's most trusted confidants knew about what was going to happen. Security had been raised as slowly as possible over the last two weeks, so that none of the civilians and also shinobi would be alarmed.
No one knew that the ANBU team that had arrived from Konoha, was Naruto and her team mates. Gaara would make sure that the same ANBU team would be seen leaving the village again tomorrow.
Word would spread tomorrow that Naruto, the Kazekage's best friend, was paying a surprise visit. The villagers would not find it conspicuous as Naruto's last visit three months ago had been a surprise as well. And as the two Jinchuuriki had spent every free minute together back then, no one would raise an eyebrow at Naruto's presence.
The small group finished talking and they made their way to the Kazekage's residence as quietly as possible.
The four ANBU were glad to be able to sleep. Kami knew they needed all the energy they had for what was to come.
The next day Naruto's team, Kakashi, the Kazekage and his siblings and their former sensei, Baki, were holding a meeting of sorts in the Kazekage's office.
Gaara sat behind his large desk with a blonde ANBU captain sitting next to him on said desk. The others took chairs in front of it, all listening to what Naruto was saying.
"Thanks to my informant, we know a lot about the two Akatsuki members. I'm sure Kakashi already briefed you on them, but there are more things that weren't in the scroll," her ocean blue eyes regarded the gathered people in front of her. It was a really small group, considering what was about to happen, but Itachi had warned Naruto about possible spies within Sunagakure and she was not willing to take any chances. So only the people Gaara trusted the most were attending this meeting and they also were they only ones, that knew about the coming threat to the village and the Kazegkage.
"We will meet them in the desert outside of Suna, so that the village is not in danger. Fighting them while trying to protect the villagers could cost us our lives," Naruto explained, "we can fight freely in the desert and also don't have to worry about destroying any buildings." A small grin spread over her face, anticipation gleaming in her eyes.
"Shikamaru here," she waved her hand at the pineapple-haired Nara, "came up with a strategy to fight them."
The genius took over, "The informant," they weren't mentioning Itachi's name, because in case anyone heard them, no one must know that the Uchiha Itachi was betraying the Akatsuki, and besides everyone else was still assuming that the Uchiha himself was the traitor, "said that the team work between Sasori and Deidara is rather non-existent. Apparently, Sasori is the stronger one of the two and thus the leader, ordering Deidara around, more or less. As Sasori is a former Sand-nin, we hope to get some more input on his techniques from you," he pointed at Gaara's brother, Kankurou.
One of the reasons they had arrived in Suna already one week before the scheduled attack, was to train with the puppet master and hopefully learn how to counter Sasori's fighting style.
"As Sasori is supposed to be the stronger one, we will concentrate on him first," Shikamaru continued, "So to get Deidara out of the way, one of Naruto's clones will henge into the Kazekage and lure Deidara away from Sasori."
Gaara paused at that. "Why would you use a clone henged into me? Why just don't use the real me?" His teal eyes looked up at Naruto, his non-existent eyebrows raised questioningly.
The girl looked down at him from her position on his desk. "I didn't plan on you fighting, Gaara."
"Why not? You surely don't expect me to just stand by and watch you defend my village, Naruto?" he asked in his gentle voice, a disbelieving tone in his words.
"No, Gaara, but I just don't want you to-"
"-get hurt?" he cut her off, sounding a bit offended. He stood up from the large chair and stood in front of Naruto, putting a hand under her chin to make her look at him. "Naruto, I'm glad that you're concerned about my well-being, but I will not accept this."
Naruto stared into Gaara's deep teal eyes, concern for her best friend showing.
Gaara smirked, "Do you think I'm that weak, Naruto?"
"N-No," she sputtered, not wanting him to think she thought he was not strong enough to fight the Akatsuki, "but you have to take care of the village, so just let us do the fighting."
"Naruto," Gaara said, as if talking to a child, "taking care of my village includes fighting the people that threaten us. As the Kazekage I will protect my village and the people in it. I won't let you do my job, Naruto. And besides, they are coming after me, so I won't hide behind you." He saw her frown and added, "Don't worry about me, Naruto. I'm a Jinchuuriki, too, you know."
Naruto nodded in defeat. She was not happy that Gaara was going to be involved in the fighting, but on the other hand, he was right, and she knew that Gaara was strong. Besides, she couldn't imagine herself to just let others do the fighting for her, either.
Gaara sat back down and addressed the Nara, "I will be the one to lure Deidara away from Sasori and fight him."
"Alone?" Kiba questioned.
"Oi, doggie," Kankurou snapped at the other brunette, "don't underestimate my baby brother!"
"Right," Temari supported him, "he's Kazekage for a reason, you know?"
Gaara suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at the childish but supportive display of his older siblings. "I thank you for believing in me, Temari, Kankurou," he said and threw a playful glare at Naruto, who then huffed and mumbled something about never saying she didn't believe in him.
"Deidara is a long-range fighter and so am I," Gaara started again, "and since we'll be fighting in the middle of the desert, I'll have an uncountable amount of sand at my disposal."
"All right," Shikamaru agreed, already adjusting the battle plan in his quick mind, "but I want Temari and Kankurou to go with you." As he felt Gaara's intent gaze on him, he quickly added, "Just in case!"
Temari and Kankurou looked rather pleased about their new role.
"I'll join you, too," Kakashi's deep voice was suddenly heard. He gave them all a cheery eye-smile and Naruto could swear the jounin had been waiting for an opportunity to join the fighting for some time already.
"Fine," Shikamaru said, again adjusting the plan, "So we will have two teams with four people each. This should work even better."
He remained silent for a moment, thinking, and then started explaining where he left off, "According to the informant, Sasori is using a puppet armour he calls Hiruko, which itself can be regarded as a very powerful weapon. So in order to fight him properly, we need to get rid of the armour first."
Shikamaru's eyes scanned the others, trying to see whether they were all following his explanations. Their faces were serious, even Neji's and Gaara's normally passive faces showed thoughtful frowns. Naruto had her arms crossed over her chest, a scowl on her foxy features.
He started again, "The strategy I came up with is very similar to the InoShikaChou-formation, I used with my old team. After we split them up, I will catch Sasori in my Shadow technique, so he won't be able to move. Then Kiba," he pointed at the Inuzuka, "will destroy the puppet armour with his Gatsuga."
This was the first part of their plan. It sounded nice and easy and Shikamaru hoped that it was going to be just that. According to Itachi's information, Sasori was hiding his real body under the outer armour. And apparently, the puppet master had turned his human body into a puppet, as well. While Itachi knew some of the hidden weapons Sasori had put on his own puppet-person, the Uchiha had also said that Sasori made regular adjustments to it. So they did not know for sure what they were going to face once the outer armour had been crushed.
This was going to be the tricky second part. "We don't know what kind of weapons we will be facing, but we can be sure of one thing. They will be absolutely deadly. Sasori likes to drench all his weapons in poison. The informant managed to get the formula of one of his favourite poisons and Tsunade-sama made us an antidote, but we still cannot fully rely on it, since we don't know whether he's still using this exact poison. So we need to stay clear of his weapons as best as we can, just to be on the safe side."
Shikamaru took a deep breath. The brunette wasn't used to talking this much all at once. "Apparently, Sasori stored his heart in a device in his chest. Even if he turned himself into puppet, there needs to be at least some part of him that keeps him living. Our actual goal is to destroy said device. If we manage to destroy it, we will kill him."
"Beware of his famous Red Secret Technique," Kankurou spoke up, "He is known for being able to control an insanely large number of puppets all at once." Respect for the enemy swung in his voice. Kankurou was also a puppeteer, but compared to Sasori, he was still a child.
Itachi had given them an overall idea of the puppet techniques, but since Itachi only knew what his eyes deduced from watching Sasori fight, his information on it was vague. In the two weeks Kakashi had been in Suna, Kankurou had tried to find every piece of information on the former Sand-nin.
"So just to check if I got you right, Nara," Temari looked at the genius, "Once you destroyed Sasori's puppet armour, your plan is mainly just to not get in touch with his poisonous blades and then to simply destroy his heart... Don't you think it will be a lot more difficult than that?" She squinted her eyes suspiciously.
"It does sound rather easy right now," Naruto came to Shikamaru's help, "but as we don't know what's waiting for us under Sasori's armour, we just have to improvise. More or less..."
Naruto didn't like the idea either, but that was just the way it was going to be. And it was not as if Sasori was a completely unknown enemy. They already knew a lot about his techniques and fighting style. And once they had trained with Kankurou, Naruto was sure that they would have at least the advantage of knowing how to counter a puppeteer. The rest was up to their team work and their own ability.
They talked for a while and eventually the topic of Deidara's fighting style came up.
"His Kekkei Genkai is the Explosion Release," Naruto said, "before he joined the Akatsuki and became a missing-nin, he was part of the Explosion Corps of Iwagakure."
"He kneads his chakra into clay with mouths in the palm of his hands, forming sculptures and the likes, which explode," Shikamaru elaborated. "He can set them off from a distance, so he tries to get them into range of the opponent."
Gaara took in the information, although he had read as much already in the scroll that Kakashi had brought with him. It was an advantage for Gaara that he knew he needed to avoid his soon-to-be opponent's clay. But probably that again was easier said than done.
There were a lot of yet unknown variables in their battle plan, but it was the best they could come up with. And even though they didn't know every little detail, they had the advantage that they were taking the fight to the Akatsuki instead of waiting for the two to attack Sunagakure.
Naruto watched the others as they were coming up with a training schedule for the next week. They mustn't exhaust themselves, since they would need all their energy for the actual battle.
The blonde girl's face showed a mixture of fierce determination and sorrow. Gaara was the only one, who noticed her furrowed brow. He nudged his best friend gently into the side and she turned to him, an eyebrow raised in question. The redhead just looked into her ocean blue eyes and finally gave her a small, encouraging smile. Naruto's face softened and even though she didn't manage a real smile, the look in her eyes told Gaara that she appreciated his comforting gesture.
One week later Team Naruto and Team Gaara, as both had been dubbed for now, were resting up. Later that nigth they would set out. It was likely that the Akatsuki team was planning on attacking Suna in the night or early morning hours, when everyone was sleeping and unsuspecting. So they'd leave in the night and meet the two criminals before they reached the Hidden Village.
They just had diner together in the Kazekage's mansion and everyone had left for their rooms, catching some last sleep.
The only one still up was a blonde ANBU captain, who was currently sitting on the mansion's roof. It was a quiet night and she marvelled at how peaceful everything appeared. None of the villagers was expecting anything. Gaara had managed to raise the security without the people actually taking notice of it.
Her thoughts were on the coming fight. She wouldn't say she was afraid, but she knew that this was going to be her very first big battle. This was going to be the time to prove herself. It would show whether her plan of hunting down the Akatsuki was a good idea or just foolish self-overestimation on her part.
But what she feared the most...
"Mind if I join you, Naruto?" Gaara's gentle voice sounded from the darkness behind her. She had been to engrossed in her own thoughts that she didn't even notice him approaching. That must not happen tomorrow.
She patted the place next to her with her hand and the redhead sat down.
"Can't sleep?" she asked, her voice a mere whisper in the cooling desert night.
Gaara shook his head next to her. Both were staring into the night, the sleeping village under them. What would these people do, if they knew that tomorrow their leader might be killed in battle, trying to protect the village he came to love so much?
Gaara laid back down onto the roof and motioned for Naruto to do the same. The sight of the clear desert sky, sparkling with myriads of stars, almost took Naruto's breath away. An ocean of lights, some small, some big.
"What is worrying you?" Gaara asked quietly.
The blonde remained silent for a moment. She was worrying about so much that she didn't even know where to start right now. But what she worried about the most... "My team... and you..."
"Don't worry about us, Naruto. You chose your team well, I saw them in training. All three are very skilled and none of them will disappoint you tomorrow."
"I'm not worried about them disappointing me... I just don't want them to get hurt, you know?" Her eyes were still wandering over the starlit sky.
"Of course I know. But believe me, they are as worried about you, as you are about them. It's only natural, Naru."
"But what if..." she trailed off, not being able to say it out loud.
"What if any of us is killed?" Gaara finished for her, a grave tone in his voice. "We were all aware of the risks when we agreed to this mission. I don't say we are prepared to die, because that would be giving up before actually trying." Gaara turned his head to look at Naruto's profile. Her blue eyes were dark in the night, but illuminated by the stars.
"I know," the girl sighed, "I just wished I could fight them alone, you know? So that none of you is in danger." She ran a weary hand over her eyes and turned to look at her fellow Jinchuuriki.
"Naruto," Gaara smiled, "you still don't seem to get it." He wound his arm under her head and pulled the girl closer to him, her head resting on his shoulder. "You don't have to face this alone, Naruto. As much as I respect your wish to protect us all, there's no longer the need for you to do so."
He spoke into her hair, his breath warm on her skin. "You're not alone any more, Naruto. There are people who are more than willing to help you. You chose your team knowing that you won't be able to face the Akatsuki alone. You just have to start trusting them and start seeing them as what they are. The guys are doing this for you, too."
Gaara squeezed her shoulder in comfort. Naruto lay there, next to her best friend under the starry desert sky, and it felt like once again Gaara had managed to take some of the weight on her shoulders off of her. A grateful smile graced her lips, but the redhead could more feel than see it. His silent presence was so comforting that she didn't even feel her eyelids close. The two Jinchuuriki fell asleep next to each other, both of them feeling a bit more confident about the coming day.
A smiling Temari and a smirking Shikamaru found the two sleeping demon-containers a few hours later. They were ready to leave and the only ones still missing were Naruto and Gaara.
"Aren't they sweet together?" Temari grinned, although she knew that there was nothing more than friendship between the two teenagers.
Shikamaru shrugged and Temari gently shook the two awake.
Naruto yawned and they both got up, stretching. She felt a little stiff from falling asleep on the roof, but on the other hand, she had slept so well that she felt rested and ready to go.
"Get changed and meet us downstairs," Temari said bossily.
The two younger teens nodded and did as the were told.
Naruto shared a room with Temari during their stay and as the older blonde had already changed, Naruto was alone. She changed into her ANBU uniform. This was supposed to be an ANBU mission after all. She fastened the grey armour around her torso and put on the metal arm guards. Her hands were protected by fingerless black gloves with a metal plate on the back of the hand. Her standard black leather pants fit like a second skin. She brushed her hair and gathered it in a neat bun; the long hair would only hinder her when fighting and besides, she didn't want to give her enemies the opportunity to grab it.
She took the Konoha Hitai-ate from her pouch and tied it tightly around her head. The long ends of the cloth fell freely down her back. Almost finished, she grabbed her katana and the ANBU Weasel mask.
She was good to go.
A small group of shinobi was gathering at the huge gates of Sunagakure in the middle of the night. The only people still awake were the guards and the members of said group. Gaara gave the last introductions to Baki, who was in charge until his return.
The eight people walked through the huge walls of the sandy gate and left the fortifications of the village. The desert air was cold in the night and all of them were grateful for the cloaks, which were both meant to keep them warm as well as to hide their identities.
The smallest of the black-clad figures stopped walking when they were some distance away from Suna. The others turned to her.
She pushed back her hood for the others to see her face. She had yet to put on her mask. Her ocean blue eyes focused for a moment on Kankurou, Temari and lastly Kakashi. She didn't need to say anything. Everything had been said already and everyone knew what their were getting into.
Naruto inclined her head at the three and gave everyone a feral grin.
"Let's roll, guys!"
Kankurou, Temari and Kakashi left the other five, jumping away into the direction of the previously appointed rendezvous point. Once Gaara had managed to get Deidara to chase after him, he would meet the others far away from both the village and Sasori, for that neither would interfere with the battle against the explosion expert.
Naruto put on her mask and pulled the hood back over her hair and face. At her command the others followed her, running straight into the desert, towards the enemy.
They had been running for nearly an hour, when Naruto stopped. It was the sign for the others to stop as well and they gathered next to her.
"Neji," was all she needed to say for the Hyuuga to begin scanning their surroundings with his Byakugan.
"Two people in black cloaks with red clouds. Target in sight. Approximately two miles away," he stated matter-of-factly.
"All right, we're going to wait here for them," Naruto decided, "keep hiding your chakra completely," she reminded the others, but they were all doing so anyway.
"Let them come to us," the blonde captain grinned evilly under her mask, "It's show time."
(1) Gatsuga: Fang Passing Fang: The user and his partner spin at a ferocious speed and deliver many powerful beast-like attacks when contact is made with the target. The force of this attack is strong enough to drill through stone. This attack can be done alone.
Thanks for reading!
This chapter is like the introduction to the actual battle. I already started with the fighting scenes, but I'm really having some difficulties with those... I hope they're going to turn out okay... But please be patient with me, I won't release the next chapter until I am satisfied with what I wrote!
Also, before I release the next chapter, I will change the Rating from T to M, because there's going to be some swearing and I'll just change it to M to be on the safe side! Just so you know and won't be confused.
Tell me how you liked the chapter and I'd love to hear some advice on how to write good fighting scenes!
xXHaneliXx