"Sand was attacked?" Sai asks looking at Kazuto.
"Yes. We are still assessing what has happened," Kazuto reports.
"Don't bother. It's the Akatsuki. This is Deidara and Sasori's work," Sai says looking to Kyuubi.
Kyuubi frowns as she makes sure her clothes are up.
"Kazuto, get ready. We will be moving out. We are going to see my friend, the Kazekage," Sai says.
"Of course sir," Kazuto says walking off to get the supplies.
"Kyuu-chan, will you be alright on your own for a bit?" Sai asks.
"I always have been," Kyuubi says bitterly.
"I will come back soon as I can," Sai says going over to her before kissing her.
Kyuubi frowns as she kisses back before hugging him and pulls her head back. "Leave some for me soon."
"Don't worry. Mom will be back soon. Tell her I am on a mission, ok?" Sai asks.
Kyuubi waves him off as she crosses her arms.
"Want me and another to have fun with you when we return?" Sai asks before kissing her neck.
Kyuubi moans as she exposes more of her neck. "Y…yes…"
"You have a request?" Sai asks.
Kyuubi blushes heavily as she looks embarrassed. "Just…" Kyuubi moans again as he hits a sensitive spot. "Just use me."
"Alright, I will bring Naruto to it then," Sai says.
"Don't tell anyone I said that," Kyuubi warns frowning.
"Who would I tell? This is private time with my Kyuu-chan," Sai says.
Kyuubi just growls under her breath.
"I will be back soon. Stay safe," Sai instructs before kissing her one last time before disappearing in a whirl of red feathers.
Kyuubi sighs. "Idiot."
"I heard already from my spy network sensei. Sand was attacked and the only ones brazen enough to try that are those aiming for something big like the Akatsuki," Sai says before Kakashi could inform him or the rest of team seven what happened.
"At least we won't have to waste time on that," Kakashi says now trying to think of where to exactly go.
"I and my subordinate Kazuto are ready. He will be here soon," Sai says.
"Subordinate?" Sakura asks confused.
"Oh, Sakura. I haven't seen you since I returned," Sai says.
Sakura frowns. "Been busy."
"Same here. Anyways, being on the court and making money like I am for the clan tends to draw people to you. Kazuto is a shinobi of that kind," Sai says.
"Is it going to be a problem?" Kakashi asks.
"No, I was just confused as Sai is still technically a genin," Sakura says.
"Maybe, but he can already fight me to a draw on his own," Kakashi says.
"Though it was through trickery," Sai says playfully with a grin.
"I gave him the same test as you two and Sai passed it on his own," Kakashi informs.
Sai kept grinning at Sakura's shocked face. "I'm sorry Sakura. You were expecting a weak noble?"
"Sai is also becoming famous in his own right in the village and outside as well. So far he has distinguished himself the most out of squad seven and is considered one of the villages raising stars," Kakashi says.
"That isn't fair Kakashi. Naruto has been on a training trip with Jiraiya of the Sannin in secret and Sasuke has gone dark as well since he went to Orochimaru. Who knows how strong he is now? And Sakura has been training under lady Hokage to be a medical kunoichi," Sai reminds.
"It's nice to see you haven't forgotten much," Kakashi points out.
"I had my spies keep an open ear for them and the Akatsuki. Sakura was easy to hear about with her progress. Naruto and Sasuke. Well, I only was told rumors about Naruto's trip," Sai says.
"Looks like pervy sage at least kept us hidden," Naruto says grinning.
"You know my spies are good after what I shared with you a few days ago sensei and if I only heard rumors, then the Akatsuki didn't hear much better," Sai says as Kakashi nods, not wanting to reveal the info on Itachi to either of them.
"So what's the plan?" Naruto asks.
"We get there as fast as possible," Kakashi says as Kazuto arrives dressed like a leaf shinobi.
"Then let's go," Sai says looking over Kazuto for anything who shows him eight scrolls and nods to him before they took off.
On the way to the village, the team of five came across the Suna representative returning home. Temari was shocked to hear what happened and joined them in rushing back.
"I pleased to see you again lady Temari. Although, I wish it was under better circumstances," Sai says as they ran through the desert; speaking for the first time since they left the leaf.
Temari frowns. "I wish it was. I would rather my brother not be in too much trouble again."
"You two know each other?" Sakura asks.
"We met when I hashed out a trade agreement between the Uchiha clan and Suna," Sai informs.
"At least my brother was happy when you made a great deal," Temari says smiling.
"I remember you weren't too dissatisfied when I took you out to dinner as well," Sai adds.
"Oh shut up," Temari shot back.
"Later. We are nearly at Suna. Kazuto, as soon as we learn what happened, we will start tracking," Sai informs as the sun rises.
"Yes sir," Kazuto says, running through the jutsus needed to track.
"What do you got to track?" Naruto asks.
"I have my summonings and Kazuto very profession as a hunter ninja if the need arises," Sai says.
"Then we won't have a problem. Just need a direction," Kakashi says before the sentries greet them and inform them what happened.
"Alright, I will leave that to you Kazuto. We will track now. Kakashi-sensei, we will send you back a message when we are hot on the trail," Sai informs slamming his hand on the ground and summons the three phoenixes that reside at his estate.
"Huh? What? Hey! I was eating!" one of them yells.
"We are hunting the Akatsuki," Sai says making all three turn serious.
"Let's take out these sunvabitches," the biggest say.
"You are tracking. You are to report back to me," Sai orders.
"Brothers, synchronize. Let's replay what happened here," the smallest says before their eyes turn white for a minute before they took off. "Got them. Two. A blond who uses explosives and a humpback looking one," the middle sized one says.
"Lead on," Sai says.
The three took off and lead Sai towards the direction of where they went. "Let's go Kazuto," Sai instructs before going after them without bothering to rest. Kazuto nods and follows Sai as they kept following the birds.
"Three days nonstop and only rested when he had to in the sandstorm and still has that much stamina. Sai has come a long way since we first met," Kakashi says watching.
"You sure this is the place?" Sai asks days later.
"Positive, but we see a barrier being activated," the three phoenixes said in unison, their eyes white once more.
"I got the plan for that," Sai says smirking.
"To think that we possibly passed them by while heading to Suna," Kazuto says looking over the land of rivers they were in.
"Yeah, I wouldn't bet against it. Now, let's open up with some power," Sai says starting to do hand signs before stopping. "You three take a message to sensei, Suna, and the leaf. Tell them where we are and what we found," Sai instructs.
"Got it, boss," they said before flying off.
"Now then," Sai says starting to do his hand signs again.
"We are almost done here," Sasori says as they kept extracting Gaara's tailed beast before the cave rumbled and cracks started to form. "What?!" Sasori calls.
"The ground!" another member calls out as they look down to see the ground starting to crack with the seal as well.
"What's going on?" Deidara calls.
"Doton: Homewrecker!" Sai's voice calls echoed through the cave.
"We have been compromised!" the leader calls and the statue disappears, unable to finish its job.
"Damn!" Deidara calls as his clay owl grabs and swallows Gaara.
"We have to go, now!" Sasori calls.
"Kazuto, a hole, do it now," Sai calls before several giant shurikens flew in a hole that had formed.
Kazuto smirks as he guides the shuriken around and feels them hit something. "Got them."
"What the heck?!" Deidara calls before exiting through the hole with his owl.
"We missed one," Sai says.
Kazuto frowns as he throws another shuriken and guides it toward him. "Almost…" he groans as the spinning shuriken reaches close before being hit by a metal tail.
"You bastards. That was one of my favorite puppets," Sasori says angrily, his true form revealed.
"Sasori of the red sand and Deidara of the demolition corp of stone. Well, we certainly got an artistic two Akatsuki members in our hunt," Sai says.
"Plan?" Kazuto asks readying another pair of shuriken.
"Sasori uses only puppets. Use your special ability on them. I will take Deidara. Maybe I will take him kicking and screaming back. I think I would make the Tsuchikage like me more," Sai says popping his neck.
"Yes sir," Kazuto says grinning before being out a book.
"Forget it. I ain't going back to that village hmm…" Deidara stops as Sai covered his mouth with some earth.
"Who said you get a choice in the matter?" Sai asks.
"You…what is your name?" Kakashi asks as one of Sai's Phoenix summons flew beside him and his team.
"Not important now. We tracked the Akatsuki to the land of Rivers. Master is engaging them now," the Phoenix says.
"Show us," Kakashi orders.
"Hurry," the phoenix instructs flying ahead, leading the four.
"I never would have guessed," Sasori barely managed to say before the piece containing his heart was ripped out by Sai.
"Good job Kazuto. You neutralized an S-rank missing ninja," Sai complemented before sealing the heart in the middle of a battlefield filled with over a hundred destroyed puppets.
Kazuto chuckles exhausted. "Thank you, sir."
"Take a rest. I will see to the Kazekage," Sai says walking over to the barely alive unconscious Gaara. "Barely alive, but most of the Shikaku's chakra is gone so no more sleepless nights for you," Sai says examining Gaara before starting to do a jutsu. 'Now Gaara. You are mine. I will say we interrupted what they were doing to you and the backlash turned you into this. I won't alter your mind though…well, maybe a bit. I do want my wife back,' Sai thinks simultaneously using medical and his transformation jutsu.
Sai smirks as he watches Gaara start to change and becomes smaller in size a bit before the chest expands to a large pair of breasts and the hair grow to a neck length size. Gaara's hips shrinking down to an hourglass shape as Gaara starts to gain a more feminine shape along with the face. Sai chuckles as he looks over his work and nods before raising an eyebrow and places a hand on her chest and searches for the tail chakra.
'Huh. A bit left. Enough to handle and for small energy boosts…but…' Sai thinks as he tries to search for the source. 'This has to come from somewhere. Ah, there you are. I will get you out later. Though almost all your chakra is gone.'
Gaara groans as she now tries to move and open her eyes; letting Sai take his hand away and smile down at her. "Wha…?" Gaara groans as she opens her eyes to see him.
"Kazekage, are you alright?" Sai asks.
"Yeah…what happened?" Gaara asks as she tries to sit up.
"Well…um…how to explain this…were you ever in touch with your feminine side?" Sai asks cautiously.
Gaara blinked and slowly looks to herself and feels all over her clothes before stopping and starting to glare towards him.
"I didn't do it. The Akatsuki did something to you. I only fought them with Kazuto over there," Sai says starting to feel all his actions catch up with him.
Gaara sighs and looks down to the ground now. "Great."
"Yeah, an…" Sai was unable to finish as he fell face first in front of Gaara unconscious and out of energy.
Gaara blinks as Sai landed his head on her lap and is now snoring out loud. "Oh dear."
"Master Sai finally ran out of energy, huh?" Kazuto asks closing his book and leans against a tree still standing on the battlefield before joining his master in sleep as Gaara took note of the battlefield.
"What did you do?" Gaara asks as she subconsciously places a hand on Sai's head and pets his head.
"Neji, what do you see?" Lee asks as they ran through the trees; having been sent as backup.
"A large battlefield. At least a hundred ninja puppets scattered everywhere," Neji informs.
"Any signs of life?" Lee asks.
"I see a female in the center taking care of two people who's chakra is really low…one is Sai," Neji informs.
"Then let's hurry. They could be very injured," Lee says picking up the pace before nearly being blown off course as Tenten rushes past him.
"Tenten is going to be their first," Neji informs.
"I'm coming to Sai!" Tenten yells far ahead of them.
"Ah, the love of youth," Guy says smiling, making Lee tear up at the determination and passion she showed.
Gaara frowns as she kept looking over Sai before a sudden crash and a dust cloud lands near them. Making her look up to see a girl running towards them before sliding near them. "Is he okay?"
"You are?" Gaara asks.
"Tenten," Tenten says looking Sai over.
"I am no medical expert, but it seems they suffer from exhaustion," Gaara informs.
Tenten sighs in relief as she picks up Sai and puts his head on her lap. "At least they are fine. Sai was always strong-headed."
"You know him personally?" Gaara asks.
Tenten sighs and chuckles. "He's my boyfriend. Maybe, soon to be husband."
'Husband?' Gaara thinks confused.
Tenten smiles as she strokes Sai's hair. "At least he saved you. He must have a hard time keeping up this long though."
"He collapsed as soon as I came too," Gaara says as Tenten started to wonder who she was.
"So…who are you?" Tenten asks confused.
"I am the Kazekage," Gaara answers, freezing the rest of Team Guy when they landed.
"That has to be a trick," Guy says as Neji tries to look closer at the chakra.
"It's the kazekage," Neji confirms.
"No way. What happened?" Lee asks shocked as they all tried to wrap their heads around this.
"Akatsuki, according to him," Gaara informs.
"Oh…didn't know that they can do this," Guy says frowning slightly.
"Fire!" Sai yells before falling back asleep. "Burn them…" he mutters as he turns over towards Tenten and wraps his arms around her and cuddles her.
"I think he is hearing too much from that summons," Guy says as Tenten tries to make sure Sai isn't cuddling her too close.
"What should we do Guy sensei?" Lee asks.
"Hum…are they well enough to move?" Guy asks thinking.
"They seem to be. Most of the injuries are not that bad. As for Gaara here though…" Tenten says looking to Gaara and looking her over.
"What?" Lee asks.
"I really don't know. Can you get moving on your own?" Tenten asks carefully.
"I can, but my clothes are now uncomfortable especially my chest and waist areas," Gaara says.
"Expected…let's get back to your village," Tenten says as Neji picks up Sai and Lee with Kazuto.
"Hum…must have been some fight," Guy says finishing examining the battlefield; counting around a hundred puppets and what looked like a collapsed cave.
"It must have been. He told me it was a mess," Gaara says as they get up and start running for the village.
"We must hurry. May never get a better chance than this," someone hidden says.
"Then move your ass," another says.
"Ouch," Sai groans as he lifts his head and rubs it.
"Oh, you're awake," Tenten says smiling.
"Tenten?" Sai asks.
Tenten nods. "Yeah. Came to back you up but you finished up by the time we came over. You feeling okay?"
"Exhausted. Chakra very low still," Sai says sounding very tired.
"Give it time. At least you are okay and you saved Gaara…mostly," Tenten says thinking about it.
"How is he…oh, that's right," Sai says.
"Yeah…do you know what happened?" Tenten asks moving over and sits by him on the blanket.
"Not entirely. It's mostly a blur, but we caught them in the middle of a ritual. I think they were trying to extract the Shikaku from Gaara," Sai says.
"Oh. Better check on that," Tenten says a bit worried.
"I don't think they got all of it or Gaara may not be still alive, but why was he turned into a she…" Sai says pretending to think as Tenten acted like she didn't know he did it.
Tenten sighs and leans back into him and lays down across him. "At least you are okay too."
"Yeah. Kazuto gets major points for this. He killed Sasori of the red sand," Sai says where all of team Guy and Gaara could hear him.
"Seriously? Man, you got a good shinobi to help you," Tenten says smiling to him.
"Yeah, Sasori's jutsu was useless against his," Sai compliments.
Tenten chuckles as Sai grabs her and pulls her to himself. "So…does that mean he is going to get a raise?"
"He gets to have the entire library as his room. That is what he wanted before we left on this mission," Sai informs.
"Lucky guy. So what's your big plan now that this one is over?" Tenten asks as she looks over to where Gaara is resting.
"I have you here," Sai says cheesily.
"Sai," Tenten says rolling her eyes.
"You know I love you Tenten," Sai says smiling.
"I know. But now is not the right time. You just woke up from exhaustion and we are guests here," Tenten reminds.
"So let me rest holding you," Sai says leaning against her.
"Fine with me," Tenten says covering the two of them up with another blanket nearby.
"So where are we?" Sai asks.
"Still in River. We are waiting to meet up with team Kakashi, your team," Tenten informs.
"Hum. I see. How're the girls back home?" Sai whispers into her ear.
"Those there are fine when we left, but that was a few days after you did," Tenten informs holding him now.
"That's good. Now we just need to worry about how I'm going to deal with things when I get back," Sai says thinking of the business deals.
"Relax. You're very low on chakra. In fact, you should eat something. Lee, we have any leftover food?" Tenten asks.
"The food of life right here," Lee cheers holding up a leaf.
"I'll get some market food," Sai says getting up.
"You are staying right here mister," Tenten says with authority making him sit right back down.
"I am not eating a leaf," Sai says frowning slightly.
"We have some leftover rice balls," Lee informs.
"Toss them here," Tenten instructs.
Sai raises an eyebrow as he catches it out of the air and looks it over before sniffing it and poking it like it was poison.
"Come on Sai. Eat up. You need to get your strength back," Tenten instructs.
"I'm making sure Lee didn't add much to it," Sai says still poking it.
"Neji made them," Tenten informs.
"Good," Sai says eating it whole.
"So they might be a little plain," Lee says causing a tick mark to appear on Neji.
"I like it," Sai says shrugging as he kept eating.
"Now eat most of them. Save at least one for Kazuto," Tenten instructs seeing to him as if she was officially his wife already.
"Yes mom," Sai says humorously.
"I did learn from your mother while you were away," Tenten says scarily sweetly making him sweat.
"Right…" Sai says more slowly now.
"So be good and listen to your wife to be, ok?" Tenten asks making him nod as Gaara felt like she should be taking notes for some reason.
"So…how long was I out?" Sai asks, hoping to change the subject.
"Only a day. They should be here soon," Tenten reassures.
"Good…" Sai says scooting a bit away from her.
"Stay," Tenten says wrapping them back up in the blanket.
"Okay," Sai says quickly.
"Good. Now relax and rest," Tenten says letting him lay on her.
Sai hums as he slowly closes his eyes as Gaara still watches.
"Something the matter?" Guy asks.
"No. I am fine," Gaara says still watching.
"This must be unnerving," Guy says.
"How so?" Gaara asks.
"I mean how your body changed so drastically," Guy says.
"Surprising to me too. But Sai explained it was possibly during when they took chakra out of me did something happened. Maybe as a way of protecting me," Gaara thought to herself.
"Actually, I have had a thought on that. What gender was Shikaku?" Sai asks.
"Female. Why?" Gaara says looking towards him.
"Could it be the extraction mixed your chakras to the point it influenced your body?" Sai says thinking aloud like he was experimenting with something.
"Maybe…" Gaara says thinking as well.
"So Sai, tell us. How did Kazuto here kill an S-rank missing ninja like Sasori?" Neji asks.
"Simple. Bad jutsu match up," Sai informs.
"Right…" Neji says thinking about how that can be.
"Kazuto has a special set of jutsus," Sai informs while Tenten held him before Lee jumped to his feet.
"What is it?" Tenten asks before Neji and Guy joins him.
"We have company. A whole lot of it," Neji informs, his Byakugan active.
Sai sighs. "Of course."
"How many Neji?" Tenten asks.
"Around forty and they have the grass headbands," Neji informs.
Sai whistles loudly and they waited for a few seconds before trees were crashed through by three birds. "Knew you three were nearby."
"Boss, we did as you asked. We informed all three. Though it looks like you took them out before backup arrived," one says.
"That was the point. Got a new job for you," Sai says sitting up.
"Crimson swordsman, we know you are there. Give us the Cloak of the Phoenix and we will let you and the others go," one of the grass ninja calls.
Sai shakes his head and looks to the birds. "Have fun."
"Cloak of the Phoenix?" Guy asks both shocked and alarmed before looking at the only one who could be the one they called too.
"What are you looking at me for?" Sai asks trying to play dumb.
"Who else with the word phoenix?" Guy asks sarcastically.
Sai chuckles nervously as Tenten looks down at him. "Sai, do you have the legendary artifacts?" Tenten asks.
Sai smiles slowly and holds up a finger. "Only one by that name."
"Why…DIDN'T YOU TELL YOU HAD THAT?!" Tenten yells shaking him back and forth.
"I was busy," Sai says in a wobbly voice.
"If the leaf has it, we can't just give it up," Lee says.
Sai groans and pushes Tenten off of him. "All right, look. I had a few requests to give it up but I respectfully declined."
"Define respectfully," Tenten says frowning.
Sai just gives a cheeky smile at that with a nervous chuckle. "I killed sixty of them so far over it. Grass really wants my cloak."
Tenten scuffed him across the head at that.
"They won't leave me alone. I had to hire an anbu team to keep them away last time I left the fire country," Sai informs.
"You really should have told us," Tenten says madly.
"I was trying to keep it a secret because it is related to my summons and lady Hokage told me to keep them as secret as possible considering what they are," Sai informs.
"At least me," Tenten says shaking him again.
"I will let you wear it if you want," Sai says seeing the look in her eyes. The same look when she wanted a ninja tool.
"You are evil," Tenten mutters.
"Please let me down no…" Sai says before Tenten deflects a kunai.
"They waited too long," Tenten says holding up her own kunai.
"They are trying to kill me yet again," Sai says as Tenten noticed he was still low on chakra.
"Stay here, okay?" Tenten says as everyone gets ready to move.
"Guys…chakra low. Sitting duck as I am and Kazuto is in no mode to defend himself…give me the scroll you three," Sai says.
The three birds glide over to him and peck into one of their wings before taking out a scroll and placing it onto his hand.
"Boss, you sure about this?" one asks.
"Remember big boss's warning. You might burn your life away using it in this state," another adds.
"Not going to make it out of here like this," Sai says opening the scroll before a puff of smoke comes from it and when it disappeared, Sai was wearing a light brown layered cloak with red wings coming out of one layer with furry feathered tips. A cowl in the same cloak color starting to hide his face as the feathers seem to move on its own like real wings.
"Sai…is that?" Tenten started.
"There it is!" one of the grass shinobi called charging in with the rest through trees.
Sai immediately turns and quickly pins a hand to one of their chests and stops them all in place. "Katon: Grand Fireball Technique," Sai calls before inhaling as the wing of the cloak start to glow as most of the grass ninja jumped to the side to avoid the fireball but what came from Sai's mouth wasn't a fireball, but a tsunami of flames that started to engulf the entire forest in front of him.
"What power," Neji says as they felt the heat radiating from Sai as the wings glowed like a real phoenix's wings.
"Unreal. With one jutsu he did all that," Lee says as none but Tenten and Gaara noticed he was breathing hard and was close to collapsing from his posture.
The remaining grass shinobi all try to get away now as Sai cuts the flame and looks toward the rest from under his cowl. "Now; Katon: Flame Bombs!" a grass jonin called before shooting multiple fireballs at Sai causing an explosion when they hit him. "Got him!"
Sai waves the cloak around and blows the smoke away as there wasn't any damage done to him or the cloak. "What?!" everyone yells surprised.
"You fools. You want something as powerful as this and you have no idea what it can do. This is why I refuse to give it to you. It would be like giving a baby a jutsu that could destroy a country," Sai says as the cloak kept radiating heat.
"Now!" a grass shinobi calls and Sai was suddenly wrapped up in some ninja wire. "Now we can…"
"Raiton: Lightning Arc," Sai says simply not reacting before a line of sparks went up the wire to the shinobi holding it and shocks him. Letting the wire become loose in his grip and fall to the ground as Sai looks to the rest of them. "Katon: Raven Flock."
"Raven what?" one asks before Sai sucks in a breath and starts to spit out small fireballs at a rapid pace that quickly formed in raven shapes for each fireball. All of them heading towards a grass shinobi. "Run!" one orders and they all start to run and jump away as the fire ravens chase after them.
Sai tries to keep concentration before falling to his knees as he watches the ravens starts to hit a few of the grass and sends them burning to the ground. Sai smiles as he starts to fall over before being caught by two pairs of arms. "It's okay," Tenten softly says as she and Gaara lift him up a bit and sets him on the ground carefully. The birds coming over and gets him out of the cloak and puts it back into the scroll as everyone else waits for the grass to come back if at all.
"I think my team will find us easily now," Sai says.
"Considering you burned down half the forest, yeah," Tenten says looking at the burning trees.
"Those fire jutsus were only C and B ranks," Sai says.
"Still," Tenten says shrugging.
"He is saying the cloak powered them up this greatly," Gaara informs before starting to summon her sand to try and start to snuff out the fire.
Sai chuckles a bit. "Yeah…maybe I should have dialed it back…maybe…"
"Go back to sleep. I will watch over you," Tenten says.
Sai yawns. "Yeah…maybe…nighty night," he yawns out as he closes his eyes and lays his head back.
"You're such a handful," Tenten says smiling,
"I just…wanted my life…back," he ends in a whisper.