Chapter XI
Kakashi's competition and Akatsuki's problem

"So… you feel alone with your views, un?" Deidara asked Iruka, sitting on the ground again.

"Not really, actually… Nariko taught me to view things this way." Iruka admitted.

"Your girlfriend, un?"

"She is NOT my girlfriend."

"What did she said to you, un?" Iruka failed to see Deidara's sudden interest.

"She… she said life wouldn't have a meaning if there wasn't death. And bad things happen to make people see all the beauty and art in life." Iruka explained.

"That… is beautiful, un! She must be a great artist, un!" Deidara said, imagining Nariko

"She is. She loves to write and draw, but her drawings are… awful would be an understatement." Iruka laughed.

"What does she look like, un?" Deidara asked, Daydreaming about her, or at least about what he knew about her, and that wasn't much.

Deidara imagined him, holding a woman in his arms. He knew she had a beautiful long red hair, and some golden-brown eyes. He added that to his actual fantasy. Flying with her on his lap making small clay birds and blowing them up for her while she laughed softly in his arms. Then he kissed her, and she kissed back, and when his bird landed he took her into his bed.

"Are you okay?" Iruka asked.

"Why are you caring about your captor, un? Some Stockholm syndrome, un? I won't take you home, be sure of that, un!" Deidara joked.
Iruka looked confused, laughing along with Deidara anyway, and hoping for the best.

Nariko and Kakashi together with their team walked through the gates, going for Hokage's office, checking in.

When they got inside, Tsunade quickly got up, and didn't even left the time to say Hi.

"Nariko, Iruka was kidnapped. The suspect is Deidara from the Akatsuki and he is after you and Naruto." Tsunade looked to a shocked Nariko and a angry team 7 "Nariko you're the leader for this mission. Even the ANBU squad at your house will obey your orders."

Nariko jumped through the window, running to her house.

When she got there the ANBU squad was there too. They quickly said their apologies and tried to reassure her everything would be fine.

"Don't worry, we'll find him." The ANBU leader said.

"You won't, because you won't come. They're after me, so I'm the one going." Nariko whispered dangerously.

"A ninja shouldn't and can't go on a mission alone!" The ANBU yelled at her face.

She got serious, and opened her hand to reveal claws.

"This is my fucking mission, because the only fucking person to ever acknowledge me is now missing and if he fucking dies it's my entire fucking fault!" Nariko was now holding the ANBY by his neck, her claws dangerously close.

"Besides, she has a team already." Kakashi said, holding her wrist and taking her hand away from the ANBU'S neck.

Nariko walked into the middle of the clay. Then it exploded underneath her feet. She quickly jumped into her feet again, watching the firework pointing into the mountain side, behind the forest.

"Let's go, dattebayo!" Naruto said and after a nod from Nariko the team ran out of town, they had to save Iruka quick.

Nariko and Naruto knew it, when they increased their speed to the maximum, both careless and clouded by worry.

In Nariko's mind Iruka wasn't the only problem. Her team was tired; they didn't had enough rest between missions, and right now only Naruto was able to keep up with her. She was the leader so she had to take the tough route for their safety.

"Stop." She ordered, stopping too, and waiting for a tired Sakura, Sasuke and Kakashi to reach her and Naruto.

"What?" Sasuke asked.

"You need to rest. You are stopping." Nariko said coldly.

"But Nariko-sensei dattebayo…" Naruto started to complain but she quickly interrupted him.

"If you think you're okay you come with me Naruto-kun. But you have to promise you'll obey me and that you are really okay." Nariko explained.

"He is a kid Nariko; this is too hard just for two people." Kakashi held her by the shoulders "You should come and rest too!"

"Kakashi… Iruka is my brother. Even if we don't have the same blood. No one is killing him. And I don't need to rest."

"Emotions are bad to you! Look at you! Your judgment is clouded!" Kakashi countered it.

"I'M THIS TEAM LEADER HATAKE!" She was now aggressive "You, Sakura and Sasuke are resting, and going after us as soon as you are 100%! I, Naruto and my pups are going now."

"But Nariko-sensei… we are okay…" Sakura gasped for air, still recovering from the running.

"You're not okay sweetie." Nariko smiled at Sakura. "Naruto let's go!"

Naruto and Nariko, together with her wolves ran again, as quick as they could.

Itachi and Kisame looked at their partner while she tried to find any traces of Deidara. Unfortunately he didn't left any clues.
She searched as well as she was able to, and after a while just told her team to follow one random direction, hoping her instincts were right.

Deidara was talking to Iruka, surprised about the man, and feeling some regrets about his career. If he was from leaf he could have been different. But he knew now was too late, he couldn't go back. He could and would try to see that Nariko woman, she sounded perfect for him, no matter how wrong he was. The only question was, why, if she was such a good girl, did she let Itachi leave in the night he killed his clan? It was weird, but hopefully he would have a chance to ask her himself.

Nariko and Naruto reached the mountains, and were now at the entrance of something Nariko expected to be a complex cave. She couldn't be reckless, not with Naruto there.

"Naruto…" She said voice as low as she could.

"Yes?" he understood the situation, maybe because her wolves were taking a defensive stance, or maybe because the gravity of the problem was present in her low voice.

"I'll distract the Akatsuki, together with Azure and you with Talon release Iruka and get out of here. Got it?"

"I'm not leaving, dattebayo."

"Then you wait, but whatever you do, do NOT interrupt my match, he is MINE." Nariko did some quick hand seals, and then whispered. "Animal jutsu: Feline fury." More hand seals and another whisper "Animal jutsu: primal tenacity. Let's get this fight started."

Whit those words Nariko, Naruto and the wolves entered the cave. Now there was no way back.

Meanwhile Yuki was finally able to track Deidara, but he was far away, so they'd have to hurry.
"Let's go" Itachi ran at his full speed, and Yuki and Kisame did their best to keep up.

Kakashi and his team rested as much as they could before leaving, following Nariko's scent.

I can't believe she did it. She is reckless! If she dies… I'll… Kakashi thought.

"Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura called him, and he looked at her "This is a Team 7 mission. No one will die."

"I hope so Sakura… I really hope so." Kakashi sighed, speeding up.