Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Everything belongs to its original owner. So please don't sue me! I have nothing!
A/N: All review questions will be answered on the bottom of each new chapter.
A/N: Thoughts are now in italic. If I mess up be sure to tell me.
Hidden in the vents
Chapter 10
Recap
They paid and exited. Naruto ended up bumping into someone who was about to enter. "Oh sorry!" He said looking up, before blanching in shock. Before him stood a certain white haired, one eyed man looking down at him in equal shock. The only thing going through his mind was 'Oh shit!'
Kakashi only had a split second to decide before he grabbed the surprised boy by the shoulder, and using shunshin no jutsu.
Leaving behind two surprised Akatsuki members.
Naruto only had time to shout before he found himself being shunshined away. When he landed he immediately shook off the hand holding him and jumping away. He glared up at the silver haired man, who was studying him. "Naruto, please don't fight. I only want to speak with you." He hesitated. Kakashi wouldn't hurt him, he knew this. He relaxed a little keeping an eye on the others movements. "Maa, maa it's been so long since we've last spoke." Kakashi laughed, scratching his head. Naruto scoffed. "It wasn't that long ago." Kakashi chuckled wistfully before adopting a serious expression. "Naruto do you know why I am here?" Naruto shook his head. "The Hokage wanted me to find you." Naruto tensed. "Why?" He growled out, ready to bolt if needed. Kakashi's grey eye stared at him as he said. "You can come home now. Everything has been taken care of. All you have to do is tell us where the others are and you can come home." Naruto stood frozen. There was no way! He shook his head. "I don't believe you! You're trying to trick me into going to my death!" He shouted before taking off into the trees. Behind him Kakashi cursed and followed.
The younger boy jumped from branch to branch intent on losing the man. He heard Kakashi shout behind him. "Naruto! I promise you, what I said wasn't a lie! The Hyuuga won't harm you or the others! They vowed on it!" Naruto threw a couple kunai behind him as he changed direction. "Shut up! I don't believe you, or them! They are liars!" Kakashi dodged the kunai and sped up, trying to catch the smaller boy. "Please Naruto, have I ever lied to you!" He had to get through to the boy.
Up ahead Naruto stilled almost missing the branch he was jumping to. Catching himself he stepped onto the branch and turned to Kakashi, who had taken a stand on another tree a few feet away. Naruto caught his breath and studied Kakashi. The silver haired man allowed him to think. "You never lied to me, but that doesn't mean that the Hyuuga are telling the truth. They are prideful, and to have outsiders interfere with their clans rule, demands retribution, even if it involves the death of children." He paused and continued. "Kakashi, the Hyuuga may be lenient with Shino, Chouji and Sai, but that same leniency probably won't be allowed for me." Kakashi frowned. "Why do you think that Naruto?" Naruto frowned and told him. "Because I am the container for the Kyuubi, they won't think twice to take the opportunity to kill me." Kakashi's lone eye widened in surprise. "You know about the Kyuubi?" Naruto nodded. "I learned about it when I was three. A couple of ninja were talking about me, and wanted to kill me because I was apparently the Kyuubi." He scoffed and crossed his arms. "This is why I believe that the Hyuuga will kill me." Kakashi eyed the young man, he honestly believed that the Hyuuga would kill him.
Kakashi didn't know how to convince Naruto to come home, especially in light of recent discoveries. The youth believed that the Hyuuga would kill him, that was the heart of the matter. Naruto didn't feel safe. He didn't want to chance going home, only to be killed. Kakashi ran his hand through his hair. "Naruto, what can I say for you to return?" Naruto was silent. "There isn't anything. Promises can be broken. I will not chance me or my friends dying on a promise made by people who I don't trust. In another two years it will be safe for all of us to return. At that will we come home." Kakashi was silent before saying. "Their families will not be happy." Naruto frowned at him. "I do not care if they are. I am trying to keep them safe, even if it means waiting for two years." Kakashi sighed knowing that was the best he could do. Looking up he asked. "How do the Akatsuki fit into all this Naruto? Can you tell me that?" Naruto was silent for a moment. "When I was three, Sai and I were out for a walk. We came upon four members of the Akatsuki, we ended up helping them. One of them was injured, and I offered my home, for them to rest. I got on their good side, to stay alive. It was the only thing I could think of, after that they slowly began to warm up to us. They ended up coming around whenever they were in the area, or when they were injured. They became friends." He chuckled remembering the hijinks that happened whenever the Akatsuki was over. He continued. "They were there when Hinata brought Hanabi to us. In the end we were surrounded by members of the Hyuuga, and by the shinobi force. I was scared. I knew that if there was a fight that there was a possibility of one or more of my friends dying in the clash." Kakashi eyed his clenched fists as he remembered. "It was my friend Tobi who came up with the plan to save us all. He pretended to be working for someone that wanted us, and took us to the Akatsuki base." He sighed and continued. "He told us of the Hyuuga and their laws, and how we would have to wait for three years to return. The various members decided that if we were going to live there, that they were going to train us, and have us accompany them on missions. It is a good arrangement between us." He looked up into Kakashi's lone eye. "That is how the Akatsuki is involved in all this." He finished.
Kakashi took a moment to absorb everything that Naruto told him. The Akatsuki were their friends, and had taken them on as students while waiting for the three years to finish. This Tobi character had knowledge on the Hyuuga clans laws, but did it end at just the Hyuuga or was there more? What about Zetsu. Jiraiya said that the man Zetsu said that Naruto was his son. "What about Zetsu?" Naruto blinked confused. "What about him?" Kakashi repeated his question. "What is your relationship with Zetsu?" Naruto drew a breath, going silent for a moment, thinking on it. Eventually he said. "Zetsu, is like a father to me. The closest one I have." Kakashi's eyes widened, so not only did Zetsu think of Naruto as a son, Naruto also thought of Zetsu as his father. This could be trouble.
Before he could continue asking someone came jumping out of the trees and standing protectively in front of Naruto. Kakashi tensed having not noticed his presence. A bright orange mask man wearing the Akatsuki cloak stood before him. 'This man, he must be Tobi, from Jiraiya's description of him.' Kakashi thought. The man was silent before asking. "Naruto are you okay?" The green haired youth jumped onto the older man's shoulders and nodded, looking between him and Kakashi, a strange look in his eyes. Kakashi couldn't figure it out. It was like he was almost expecting and wary. Tobi turned his attention to Kakashi. "You..." He breathed before backing up. "You, you're Hatake Kakashi." Kakashi nodded, cautiously eyeing the other man. He looked surprised to see him. Tobi shifted his head to Naruto before turning back to him. "Tobi has a question." Kakashi blinked at the masked mans third person speech. "Ok?" He said questionably. "Do you know Naruto?" Kakashi nodded. "Yes." He confirmed. The other hummed. "What do you want with Tobi's friend?" Kakashi frowned. "To bring him home." Tobi tensed and hissed. "Tobi will not allow it!" His voice was angry, and dark, a total contrast from the almost high childish one he was using before. Kakashi wondered if this man had multiple personalities.
Suddenly the man tensed before going limp. Kakashi flicked his eyes to his left, where he could sense Inoichi 's chakra. He didn't sense him creeping on them, too focused on Naruto and Tobi.
Naruto felt Tobi wilt under him. "Tobi what's wrong?" He asked, worried now. Tobi's hands flashed and suddenly he was being tied. "Tobi!" He cried as the man tied his wrists, and proceeded to hand him over to Kakashi. What the hell was wrong with Tobi? He struggled under Tobi's hold. "What are you doing!" He shouted as he was picked up by Kakashi, who wrapped an arm around his torso, and holding him close to his chest. Naruto gasped when Tobi took a kunai and pressed it against his own neck. "Tobi! Stop! Kakashi stop him!" He struggled trying to reach Tobi.
Kakashi didn't know what he should do. On one hand, he finally had Naruto, and on the other the boy was crying for him to save his friend. Before he could make a decision another person came barrelling out of the forest and knocking Tobi's arm away from his neck. Kakashi backed away to another branch, trying to hold onto the struggling youth. He looked up and saw another member of the Akatsuki, a white haired man, that went by the name Hidan. He inwardly cursed.
Hidan had Tobi by the collar, preventing him from falling to the ground. He glared up at Kakashi. "Let the brat go!" Kakashi tightened his hold. Hidan snarled and shook Tobi awake. "Tobi wake up, the brat is in trouble." Tobi groaned and looked up. He climbed onto another branch and took a stance. "There's another one nearby." He warned. Hidan nodded. "I'll take care of the f***, you get back the brat!" Tobi nodded as the other man jumped away. Tobi glared under his mask and growled. "Tobi wants his friend back!" He then jumped at Kakashi, and made to kick him. Kakashi jumped away onto another branch, still holding Naruto in his arm, and taking out a kunai to defend with. Tobi disappeared from his view. Kakashi on instinct jumped to the side just as Tobi reappeared behind him, intent on punching him. Kakashi withdrew, throwing the kunai at the masked man and made his way to the ground. Tobi followed, after dodging the sharp blade.
Kakashi had to find a clearing, where he would have room to battle. He knew he had to go all out. Jiraiya fought this man and had a hard time with it. He had to make sure he concentrated his all in this battle. He stopped in the middle of a large clearing and knocked out the still struggling youth in his arms. 'Sorry Naruto' He thought as he created a copy to hide the boy away from the fight. Kakashi turned away from his copy taking the boy to safety, to focus on his opponent. The masked man came walking out of the opposite treeline. "You know, Naruto is precious to me." The masked man told Kakashi. "He is my little brother, and I don't want anyone hurting him." Kakashi kept silent, waiting for the man to give him more information. "Konoha will hurt him. The Hyuuga clan will hurt him." The man stepped closer. "If you really cared about him, like I do, you will leave him alone, until the time is up." Kakashi frowned feeling insulted. This man thought he cared more about Naruto's welfare? It was he who felt guilty about not protecting Naruto, from any harm. It was he who wanted Naruto to come home! "You know nothing! Naruto is more precious to me than he could ever be to a missing nin!" With that he charged.
Meanwhile in Konoha
Shikamaru and Hinata were cloud watching. They sat together under a tree in a field. Shikamaru was thinking as he studied that clouds floating by. 'I wonder if they'll ever find the others? If they did, will they be trusted? Dad did say that the victims of kidnapping can often get Stockholm Syndrome, in which they bond with their captors.' He sighed, making Hinata look at him in question. Instead of waving her aside, he decided to say what was on his mind. After all they were friends now, and friends spoke to each other about their thoughts. "I am worried." Hinata cocked her head. "About what?" Shikamaru turned to look at her. "If they manage to save the others, would they have Stockholm syndrome?" Hinata blinked. "You think they might bond with their kidnappers?" Shikamaru nodded. "Yes. My dad says that it is common in kidnap victims." He turned away to loo back at the clouds. "I don't want Chouji to have that. He won't be trusted, and neither will the others. They would be suspected and probably watched. Never having any privacy." Hinata looked worried now, before saying. "The only thing we can do then, is to help them. Help them find their roots in Konoha again." Shikamaru smiled, his worries easing. Hinata knew just what to say. He nodded fully agreeing.
Back with Kakashi
Kakashi grunted as he fell to his knee, his Sharingan out, focused on the slightly panting masked man. They had been fighting for awhile now, and so far Tobi was winning. He already had three broken ribs and a cracked arm. If it wasn't for his Sharingan he was sure that he wouldn't have lasted this long. 'Just who is this man?' He wondered, as the other man let out a breath and took a stance against him. It was like the man had a never ending reservoir of stamina and chakra. His clothes were in far better shape than Kakashi's. Kakashi wasn't sure if he was going to win this.
He was suddenly distracted by his clone bursting. He mentally cursed. A second later Naruto came walking out of the forest, his eyes narrowed and a frown set on his face. Kakashi noticed that Tobi was distracted and took his chance. He gathered the rest of his chakra and charged with his Chidori cackling in his hand. Time seemed to slow, as Naruto's panicked yell reached his ears. "Obito!" Kakashi's eyes widened. It was too late. His Chidori made contact. There was a pained shout, and a flash of blood, before everything went silent.
Meanwhile
Hidan grinned as he dodged the blond haired nins attack. "Come on and fight me seriously you blond haired f***!" The other man scowled at him and charged, making Hidan dodge with a satisfied grin. The fight had been going on for awhile and so far he was having fun teasing the other nin. He laughed as he dodged the kunai the man threw. "Is that all you got?" He taunted. The other man grinned and jumped back. Hidan heard a hissing sound and turned around to see the kunai the man had shot at him had exploding tags attached. He cursed as the tags went off, throwing him away and to the ground.
Inoichi wasted no time, and used the Shinranshin no jutsu on his downed opponent. He sat the body up and took out a kunai. Turning to face the ground he positioned the kunai at Hidan's heart and quickly made his exit. The sound of a kunai sinking into flesh reached his ears as he took off to find Kakashi.
Kakashi stood frozen. His eyes were wide in horror. Two small hands were wrapped around his arm, green hair fluttered in the wind. Blood dripped to the ground, through a hole in a small chest. Blue eyes glared up at him, slowly going dim. "K,Kashi, don't hurt...him.." The boy coughed out. Behind him Tobi made a choking sound. The boy closed his eyes and went limp. Kakashi extracted his arm from Naruto's body and caught him. His heart beat heavily in his chest. "Naruto! Naruto!" He shouted, looking for a pulse. Unbidden, tears formed and trailed down his cheeks. It couldn't be! Naruto wasn't supposed to die! "NARUTO!" He shouted desperately.
Tobi's mind was blank. His brother, his friend, was dead! It wasn't supposed to be like this! This wasn't how it was supposed to go! He watched as Kakashi laid Naruto on the ground, shouting his name. His throat clogged up, and tears blurred his vision. "Naruto..." He fell to his knees and crawled towards Naruto's body. Kakashi was trying to use medical chakra to heal the boy, but he already knew that it wouldn't work. Naruto was already dead.
Inoichi jumped towards he felt Kakashi's chakra signature. He could feel one of the chakra signatures disappear. 'Looks like he got the other one.' He was mistaken, as he came to find out when he landed in the clearing. He gasped in shock to see Kakashi and the masked man, Tobi, kneeling over the still body of the child they were supposed to save. A large hole ran through his chest. There was no way that the child could have survived that. His heart sank in his chest. He could see Kakashi's desperate attempts on using medical chakra on the boy. He was crying. The other man seemed to be crying as well. His mask had fallen at some point, showing pale flesh, and a lone eye trained on the child.
A/N
There another update :3
Cliffhanger yes
Regret? No
I regret NOTHING!
Haha...except for how long this update took me. Sorry people, but I had exams to study for. Also, I have another coming up which I must pass D: at least I got a 95 on my last exam :D
So to explain.
I thought that the encounter with Kakashi, Obito and Naruto needed some drama :D so there you go! :3 drama!
Who knows what's going to happen in the next chapter. I make this stuff up as I go :P which is totally true. Even I wasn't expecting the chapters ending! :O I was like woah! When the hell did I write this? Eh, go with it :D
Stockholm Syndrome, I had to put it in there. It's exactly what people will think! :D and little Shikamaru is smart enough to worry about it. Luckily Hinata is there to help him.
Next chapter...Is going to be fun ;3
Questions!
To lazy to write out everyone's names so I'll just answer
The cat! No worries about the cat, I already have something in mind for that little kitty. It'll be funny! You'll see! But it won't make an appearance for a while yet.
Bijuu! No worries I have something planned for that :D As you can see, at the moment they are only building up their revenue. Evil organizations need money yes?
Tenten! Don't worry I have an explanation for Tenten randomly showing up and giving Kakashi the scroll. It'll be in flashback mode ;D probably in the next chapter
Itching powder! Let me see. My explanation for that is; it was bought in bulk. I mean, people aren't going to be buying itching powder like they would flour, so there isn't much demand for it. Thus because no one buys it, the shop owners would happily give it away at a discount to anyone who would want it, yes?
now review!
