Dislcaimer: I don't own anything native to the Naruto world.
Naruto… She could only frown at her friend, thinking of some way to calm him. "Ero-sennin! Let's go out, we have to hurry and find more… they could be dying… like the closet pervert!"
"Not yet Naruto. I know how you feel, but I have to speak to Ebisu. Also go where? I'm sorry Naruto, but just… go blow some energy training or something right now."
"Naru---" Sakura called after the grumbling blond who left slamming the door behind him. She frowned further and deflated, sitting on a small chair. What can I do for him now…
"Jiraiya-sama?" She wheeled around to the now conscious amputee. "What happened…?"
The sannin sighed and sat down in a chair pouring two glasses of sake handing one to the man. "Ebisu, I'm sorry. You're going to be alright but… your leg had to be amputated."
She watched the man frown and nod thoughtfully. "A small price to pay for the safety of the others. Others paid much more…" He stared forward in a long silence. "I suppose this means I will retire as an active shinobi. But Jiraiya-sama, I would like to help in any way I can, as a contact or teacher."
The sannin nodded, "Yes, that may be best for now. If we can get contacts spread out and start reaching the others that would be a good long term plan."
I have to finish this reading, so I can help others like Tsunade-shishou when Naruto finds them. She took the next of the volumes and began to read while listening to the elder ninjas speak about the contact information.
Stalking the streets, Naruto stormed toward the side of town where the nin had attacked him and Sakura on their first day of the city. Blow some energy... I'll do that alright! His mind churned on his next big prank.
Reaching near the shop, he formed several kage bunshin. He directed them to hide concealed in the alley while one of his clones henged into an older looking ninja of Konoha, complete with the vest and forehead protector. He lay quiet in waiting, while the Konoha-bunshin walked into the weapon shop, and then sauntered down each of the main streets, before heading toward the alley. He smiled smugly at the sight of three thugs gathering in the streets nearby.
What idiots… didn't look "underneath the underneath." He thought smugly with a Kakashi-esque impression. He fell upon the three like a hammer on an anvil, his clones slamming them to the ground, and whipping kunai at them.
A short melee later, a relatively unmarred Naruto stood over the fallen sound thugs. That felt good, but I'm not done yet. Attempting the tactic again, Naruto was disappointed when no one took the bait. He sighed, and figured he'd take his aggressions out on himself in a massive clone brawl in the yards behind the inn.
Dusk descended over the city. Naruto still isn't back… It's been a long time since I've seen him so angry. She closed the book. I better find him before he does something stupid…
Jumping out the window, Sakura dropped down to the road. Now where did he go? She shivered at the cool air, and decided to check the nearby area not wanting to wander the streets alone in the dark unless she had to. She let out a relieved breath, hearing a loud clamor that could only be Naruto at this time of evening.
She hopped the fence in the direction the noise was coming from, and scanned the area. What the hell does he think he's doing! Inner-Sakura growled punching forward. I'm gonna smash him if he doesn't stop hurting himself, shannaro! "Naruto!"
The surprised bruised blond engaged in combat with dozens of copies of himself whipped around to the sound of her voice, managing to land several blows on himself. With a soft pained groan, his clones rapidly dispelled and he fell to his knees out of breath. "Sakura-chan? What's up?"
She ran to his side and sighed at the sight. "Really Naruto, you have an abusive personality. Just what were you accomplishing fighting with yourself like that…? Look at you, you're covered in bruises!" She chided him, running her hands up a swollen cheek.
He winced and smiled shyly. "I was just practicing my kage bunshin…"
"Jeez, don't beat yourself up." She bonked his head lightly. "Hey Naruto… if you need to talk or anything. I know you were upset earlier…"
"I just hate this feeling of helplessness…"
She nodded. "Me too, but we'll get through this together…" They shared silent reassuring smile. "Hey Naruto… something I always wondered… how does using kage bunshin feel?"
His face scrunched up in his patented Naruto-thinking expression. "Feel like?"
"Well obviously you can control the clones… but like do you feel what they feel? Know what they know?" She elaborated.
He pursed his lips. "Well, no I don't really feel or know what they know… but when one is cancelled, I know what it did and how it was dispelled, like an extra memory…"
Sakura stared ahead for a second thinking. "Naruto… doesn't that mean you could train faster with memory stuff by using hundreds of clones?"
Blinking Naruto stared at her dumbly. "Train… faster… clones… Sakura-chan you're a genius!" He jumped to his feet like an eager child causing her to smile. "But… if that's true why didn't Kakashi-sensei or anyone tell me that?"
She shook her head. "I don't know… You're right. That is kind of strange. Perhaps you should ask Jiraiya-sama?"
"Right!" The two walked back toward the inn. "Hey Sakura-chan… have you been having those nightmares lately?"
She looked into his deep blue eyes full of concern and smiled. "No, your promise has been enough, I trust your nindo. I heard Jiraiya-sama talking earlier. He plans to take you searching again tomorrow…"
Jumping up to the window, Naruto thought before replying. "I'll ask him then about the kage bunshin…" His eyes trailed over to the stack of books and he paled. "Th-that's your training?"
Sakura giggled and punched at his shoulder, "Yea, for now. Though Tsunade says I start some physical conditioning in the morning in another two days…Naruto? Be careful out there… for Ebisu-san to be hurt like that…" He nodded slowly. "Now get some rest, and I don't want to see you beating yourself up again!"
"Yes Sakura-chan…"
The following morning Sakura saw Naruto off into a foggy cool morning. Jiraiya unfortunately had not found any possible leads, but suggested they may as well make a journey while he had Naruto work on his fundamental movements.
"Ero-sennin?" He earned another sigh from the frog hermit. "I was talking to Sakura-chan, and she wondered about using kage bunshin to train faster. Is that possible?"
The sannin paused briefly in his pace. "Your Sakura is quite astute. Yes, kage bunshin can be used to practice for exponential growth. The only side effect I'm aware of is some mental strain, but I'm sure you have enough of that already…"
"But Ero-sennin, if you knew that why didn't you or anyone tell me sooner?" Naruto stomped and stared down his sensei.
"Well… for my part, I didn't even think of that. While it's true that many jounins from Konoha know that technique, you are perhaps its youngest user ever. Also few ninja can match your supply of chakra and your natural disposition to the technique. I don't think it has ever come up for someone your age using that technique in the manner you are able to. Remember it is a kinjutsu for a reason." The toad sage answered thoughtfully satisfying the blond.
"Naruto, for now your greatest weakness lies in the unnecessary movements of all of your attacks. You have good strategy and techniques at your disposal, but you have much to improve physically." He thought for a moment. "How about you stay here for a bit, and focus fighting against many clones. Build up your combat reflexes, and then later work on your speed."
"Right, I'll work hard!" The sannin nodded, and pulled out some parchments and began writing while Naruto proceeded to do just what Sakura had nagged him not to do. What Sakura-chan doesn't know, won't hurt me!
She closed herself in the quiet room she had lived in for a while now. Ebisu-san left the day I started this training, I wonder if he is doing ok. The ex-jounin had procured a pair of crutches and went toward the villages closer to Konoha to find who he may and direct them toward Jiraiya. Sakura then grabbed a small medical kit she was given and started treating her own wounds with small bandages.
She heaved deep breaths, soothing ointment over her many bruises. Inner-Sakura ranted on what a bitch her teacher was. She's sadistic… and she's going to kill me! Shannaro! When Tsunade had told her to expect physical conditioning, Sakura had expected exercises like running laps. Being a living target for endless barrages of blunt projectiles was not what she had in mind.
Did I make the right choice? She winced at a particularly nasty bruise on her right shoulder brushed against the cloth of her dress. When her master finally stopped throwing things at her, the blonde had just gone off to drink and told her offhandedly to get back to reading. Sakura groaned and deflated in her chair. How long do I have to do this? I really envy you, Naruto…
Sakura finally understood the look of panic from Shizune whenever Tsunade did anything physical. After being the target for her insane training regimen she had a full new appreciation for the brunette who offered some healing when the sannin's back was turned. Worse, she felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Tsunade-shishou said it was only going to get harder. She shivered, and continued her reading after the third day of the target practice torture.
At least I should be done with the reading by tonight, and start learning some basic techniques maybe for when Naruto is back! A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. She shivered involuntarily, knocks on the door while in an empty room always worried her after that meeting with the pair of Akatsuki. Well if it's anyone strong like that, it's not like not answering the door would stop them. She thought, causing Inner-Sakura to chuckle nervously.
With a deep breath she swung the door open, exhaling in relief. "You… you're Tenten from Lee-san's team right?" She stepped back, eyeing the two visitors who wore what she could only think of as standard villager garb. The first was a tall man chewing on a long senbon with medium length straight lighter-brown hair, whom she felt a passing familiarity to but couldn't quite put her finger on where she had seen him before. The second she recognized as a young girl closer to her age with dark eyes and the familiar twin buns of chocolate brown hair.
"Sakura-san? This is a relief!" Tenten entered the room, and seemed happy to see a friendly face.
"Excuse me, but we were told we may find Jiraiya-sama here by Ebisu." The man replied coolly.
Sakura nodded slowly. "He is out with Naruto right now… I don't know when they will be back, but it should be soon?" She offered. "Oh, now I recognize you… you were the examiner in the finals! Hey, does that mean you know what happened in the arena? Is Kakashi-sensei ok?"
The jounin glanced ahead. "My name is Shiranui Genma. Kakashi is alive with a few others right now, but he will be in danger. It seems Orochimaru has targeted the copy-nin. I know where he is heading, but we need Jiraiya-sama now."
She froze at the name of the snake traitor. "Tsunade-shishou should be in the bar downstairs… I don't know when the others will be back."
Genma nodded thoughtfully. "You can probably stay in here for now, Tenten. I'll go speak with Tsunade-sama."
The dark haired girl nodded and entered the room while the jounin left down the hall. "What happened to you guys Tenten? Where have you stayed? Were you in the arena?"
"Yes… I don't really know what happened still. I just got so drowsy, and when I awoke, there was fire everywhere and Genma standing over me. He just shouted at me to move, and that everyone else in the section I was sitting in had already been… killed." She choked out, collapsing on a chair. "He told me when the Sandaime was killed, the battle around the arena went bad, so the Konoha ninjas present started breaking the genjutsu on all they could and retreating. So many had their throats cut… Someone was probably about to do mine…" Her hands reached at her neck in a nervous manner.
Sakura shuddered, she had seen the aftermath. "Naruto and I were in the forest. When we went back into Konoha… we saw…" She didn't need to finish and both girls put their heads town.
"Do you know what happened to Neji… or Lee?" Sakura shook her head frowning.
"You're the first person close to our age we've found, unless Naruto is with another now." Sakura looked out the window. "They're after Kakashi-sensei… I hope Naruto hurries back…"
Two days passed before Naruto and Jiraiya neared the city that had acted as their base of operations. Their journey had proved fruitless overall, finding no significant leads or even Sound ninja to exterminate on their search. Naruto felt restless despite his exhaustive training. His friends were in danger from enemies that could be anywhere, yet he couldn't find either friend or foe.
Heading straight for where he left Sakura, Naruto continued to worry about the state of events. Damnit… Where is everyone! Reaching the room, he opened the door grumbling. Sakura sat up from the small desk and ran toward him. "Naruto, you're back!"
He staggered as she threw her arms around him. Hugging her back shyly he stepped back. "Sakura-chan! Good to see you too… but we didn't find anything…" He sniffed at the air wrinkling his nose. "Do you smell like fish?"
She growled and slapped him, and he jumped backward. "Naruto! Don't say impolite things like that!"
"Sorry sorry!" He covered himself and hoped she didn't plan to hit him again.
Instead she sighed wearily. "Yes… I smell like fish. It's part of the stupid training, so don't remind me." She threw her hands up while rolling her eyes. "But more importantly… we know where Kakashi-sensei is!" He dropped his arms from shielding himself immediately brightening. "But he's in danger… Tenten and Genma-san arrived two days ago, and Genma thinks Orochimaru is targeting Kakashi-sensei right now! We were waiting for you to get back."
Naruto nodded thoughtfully. "Ero-sennin went to talk to Tsunade-bachan, he probably knows by now…"
As if on cue, the big man appeared in the doorway. "Naruto, we are leaving with Genma and Tenten now, let's go."
The blond nodded. "I'm sorry Sakura-chan, I know I just got back…"
"Wait, Jiraiya-sama, can I go with you this time too? Tsunade-shishou shouldn't mind… I want to see Kakashi-sensei… and I think Ino might be with him!"
The sannin shrugged. "It is alright with me, but hurry we have to leave right away."
The mixed five were soon speeding under the trees with Genma guiding the group toward a cliff region in the south. The jounin explained what he knew about the situation. "Pakkun, Kakashi's nin-dog found me. He was unable to give me much information, just that Kakashi and Gai with a few others were holed up in the wilderness, and had fought off a large number of Sound hunter nins. Kakashi seemed to expect that Orochimaru himself would be after them soon, and they've been constantly on the move. If they continued with their course, we should run into them ahead. But be ready… I have a bad feeling about this."
"Gai, we're surrounded. Help may not arrive in time. Chouji, Ino, stay low!" The silver haired copy-nin pushed up his protector uncovering his sharingan and braced himself facing the direction of the presence he sensed.
The bone chilling serpentine voice of the bane of Konoha sounded across their camp. "Ku ku ku… You want to compare sharingan, Kakashi?" Shit, this isn't good!
"Orochimaru… you didn't…" He stared ahead at the grim visage of the snake sannin, into the twin orbs of blood red and onyx.
A/N: How's that for a cliff hanger? As you can expect, the next few chapters should be quite intense, and I may not have out until the middle of the weekend.
Also, before I get complaints or questions about Orochimaru I'll explain some here. As you know, Sasuke fell into his hands earlier than in the canon storyline. Orochimaru did not have his arms sealed, and he did not lose his first opportunity to perform the switch. Second, Sasuke was not as developed to resist or counter the switch as he eventually did in Shippuden. There is one thing to note however – according to one of Orochimaru's dialogues, his technique absorbs a piece of the mind of whoever he takes over – so technically there's a small piece of Sasuke left inside him. That said, this isn't a Sasuke fic, and it follows one possible set of events that I believe could happen if Konoha lost.
