Chapter 21 Hiruko's wrath and the skills of the old puppeteer
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Underground cavern wind country territory
Team Kakashi has finally enter the sealed cavern which was been used as one of the many hideouts by the criminal organization Akatsuki they were now staring at two members of the organization Deidara and Sasori. They already knew how strong the members of Akatsuki were since they have already fought Itachi and Kisame or at least witness some of their strength and abilities, so these two are not an exception. However they have arrived a little too late because they have already extracted Shukaku from Gaara meaning he was dead and right now there was one member in team Kakashi who was not happy, Naruto was glaring at the two members with so much anger with the Kyubi features that he could give a new definition to the term if looks could kill. Another thing that was making him more upset was the fact that one of them was sitting on top of the young Kazekage like he was a sofa why didn't Gaara move and kick his ass for using him as furniture.
Sasori has been avoiding to gaze at his grandmother Chiyo even if it has been years since he has seen her he didn't wanted to look at her just giving one quick glance at the elderly woman brought him back memories painful memories that is. Chiyo on the other hand was looking straight at him and after so many years she has missed her grandson a lot the obvious reaction and feeling a grandmother has for her grandson.
Naruto couldn't take it anymore seeing the red hair jinchurikki on the ground" GAARA WHAT ARE YOU DOING JUST LAYING THERE "
"HEY GAARA ARE YOU LISTENING" shouted the blond jinchurikki again.
"That's enough Naruto" Kakashi said" you should know already" he said in an obvious tone since Gaara was not moving.
"Yeah you should know that this guy is real dead hmm?" Deidara said.
Naruto was shock and hurt at the revelation tears were forming at the corner of his eyes while Sakura was just shock and Chiyo was in deep thought.
Naruto growl" GIVE HIM BACK GIVE GAARA BACK YOU BASTARDS" he charge at the two Akatsuki members but he was stop by Kakashi.
"Calm down Naruto you charge in there without a plan and its over"
Naruto try to calm down while the Deidara and Sasori were staring at them, Deidara then got up from Gaara.
"I'll look after the body because the other jinchurikki wants it back, you might get angry at me for saying this but….I'll deal with this jinchurikki hmm"
"It's one member one capture don't push it Deidara" Sasori scolded his partner.
Hearing this Sakura became worry (what they're planning to capture Naruto too) once again she got the image of a lifeless Naruto in front of her she shook her head (no that will never happen Naruto won't get capture I have to focus on the mission) she did but with the vision of a dead Naruto playing on the back of her head.
"An artist must always seek greater inspiration or he'll lose his touch and the Kyubi jinchurikki is supposed to be quite strong…hmm" Deidara said.
Sasori snorted" What you insist on calling those little fireworks of yours art? True art endure the ages…beauty everlasting"
"As a fellow craftsman I respect you, but art is in the beauty of that single fleeing moment of destruction hmm"
Naruto was getting inpatient with the two arguing.
Sakura was confused" wh…what is with these two?"
"Enough with this" Naruto said in a growl he took a scroll from his kunai pouch he open it and a large shuriken appear in a cloud of smoke.
He threw it at the two Akatsuki members but Sasori used his long tail to block the weapon he was only focus on his argument with his partner.
"Deidara…are you trying to anger me?"
"Well didn't I just say a moment that you'd probably get angry hmm?"
Sakura gasp (without looking at the shuriken he……)
(It seems Sasori's control of puppets is as good as always was) Chiyo thought.
"My art is in the explosion itself quite different from your little puppet shows, hmm?"
(You piss me off as always Deidara) Sasori thought while he swung his long tail at him and he dodge it by jumping to his clay bird while the bird took Gaara's body in it's mouth.
"See you later" Deidara said
Naruto growl as Deidara's clay bird swallow the Kazekage's body like he was a meal he left the cavern flying on the bird.
"STOP YOU" Naruto shouted in anger as he follow the explosion artist.
"At a boy" Deidara said expecting that the blond would follow him since he has Gaara's body.
(That Naruto is not going to let up is he) Kakashi thought while following him.
"Naruto and I will take care of the one outside Sakura Chiyo you two take the one inside" Kakashi said" until Gai's team gets back try not to take any unnecessary risk"
"Understood" Sakura said.
Kakashi and Naruto stood facing Deidara.
The mask jounin went to his communicator" Gai we need you back here now"
"That's easier said than done were all caught in the enemy's jutsu. You'll have to wait a bit longer" came Gai's voice from the communicator.
(Well it seems I can't be messing around then) Kakashi thought while lifting his headband revealing his sharingan eye.
Back inside the cavern Sakura was nervous while staring at Sasori.
(Just by confronting him I can tell the vast difference in our combat experience….and the sheer number of people he's killed)
Chiyo sense Sakura's tension" Sakura there's nothing to fear I'm right here with you, you stay back)
The old woman quickly took a string full of kunais and launch them but Sasori block all of them with his long tail however the weapons destroy part of his Akatsuki robes.
Sakura gasp seeing on top of Sasori a giant face it's like he was a big doll.
(What is this guy?) she thought shock while looking at his mechanical arms.
"First I'll take the entrails out…then once I peeled the skin off, I'll clean you up and bleed you dry with you two, I'll will end up with three hundred exactly. This is my art" Sasori said.
"Sakura that's not Sasori's real body it's one of his puppets" Chiyo said.
"And once I cured you so you won't rot, and added the traps I'll have one more addition to my puppet collection. Just like the hag said what you see here it's just one of my many puppets" Sasori said.
"I can tell that it's not his real body but where is his real body? Don't puppeteers control them with threads from behind?" Sakura said.
"His real body is on the inside because they're open to attack when controlling their puppets puppeteers are weak in close combat so that puppet circumvents that weakness the puppet becomes the armor and it also becomes a weapon that's Sasori's favorite puppet Hiruko I know it well" Chiyo said.
"Then what should we do?" Sakura said.
"At any rate first off we have to get Sasori out of Hiruko if we want to be able to do anything the most terrifying thing about the puppets are the unpredictable traps mechanism that can launch attacks from anywhere."
"But you know that puppet's mechanism well we have an advantage there don't we?"
"Mmm-hmm that's why I was thinking I could handle him by myself at the beginning. But it doesn't seem like it…"
"What do you mean?"
"Firstly that shell on his back wasn't there before and that must have strengthened his defense. I've also never seen that left hand before"
"Furthermore he might have redesigned his most important traps"
"What should we do?" ask a worry Sakura.
"To defeat Sasori first we have to take out Hiruko….but I definitely don't have the strenght needed to destroy it but Sakura you have it, the super human strength you got directly from Tsunade"
"Listen well Sakura first you have to get close to him and smash the puppet but to do that you must avoid all the traps…."
"They're poisonous right?"
"Indeed even a slight scratch can be a fatal wound, to avoid the attacks you have to know the ins and outs of the traps set in the master craftsman puppet and have the ability to react to the situation and avoid an attack in an instant"
"Knowledge of traps…instant reaction…I don't have either of those"
"Of course, for those you need a lot of fighting experience"
"In that case how?"
"What do I look like to you just a helpless old hag or…."Chiyo then let her hair down. "Leave it to me that's why I'm here his battle experience pales compare to mine plus….the first move has been made, Sakura listen to me together we will defeat him"
Outside of the cavern Kakashi and Naruto were facing Deidara who was standing in his claybird.
"Are you sure it's me you wanna fight mm? Sharingan Kakashi" Deidara said.
"I dunno if I should be saying it, but master Sasori is stronger than I am mm"
"Kakashi sensei you should go help Sakura-chan I'll rescue Gaara" Naruto said.
Kakashi didn't answer and Deidara left flying with his bird the two ninjas started following him.
A few seconds later Seiryu and Hinata finally arrived they were standing in the water outside of the cavern.
"I hope were not too late" Seiryu said.
"Seiryu Sakura-san and Chiyo-sama are about to fight someone from Akatsuki inside that cave" Hinata said.
"Yeah and I can see Kakashi and Naruto following another member riding on a bird" he said (then that means he must be the one that defeated Gaara) remembering what Baki said.
"What are we going to do?" Hinata said.
"We have no choice but to separate I'll help Kakashi and Naruto and you help Sakura and Chiyo"
"Got it" she said before giving him a quick hug making him blush a little" be careful"
"And you too"
The two separate Seiryu went after Kakashi and Naruto and Hinata went into the cavern.
"Well if you insist in fighting me there's no choice I supposed you and that kid want to be part of my collection grandma Chiyo" Sasori said.
Hinata went next to Sakura and Chiyo.
"What Hinata you're here" Sakura said happy.
"So you came Hinata I thought you were staying at Suna protecting it from the sand demons" Chiyo said.
"We took care of the sand demons and now were here Seiryu went to help Naruto-kun and Kakashi sensei we know how important this mission is and were not going to fail"
"Glad to have you here Hinata" Sakura said (I'm really glad she's here she has become strong and with her helping us our chances in defeating Sasori are big)
(The victory of this fight has change to our favor) Chiyo thought with a smile" Hinata can you fight well?"
The Hyuga heiress smile at her comment" don't worry about me Chiyo-sama I can take care of myself BYAKUGAN"
"What do we have here a Hyuga my it's been a while since I saw one" Sasori said.
"What's going on I can see a person inside of him" Hinata said.
"That's because he's a puppet the real person is the one controlling it from the inside" Sakura said.
"I see but something is not right about the person inside he……he's not normal"
Chiyo was in deep thought by Hinata's comment (what does she mean he's not normal?)
"Al right let's go for it get ready Hinata" Sakura said.
"I'm ready but Chiyo-sama do you have a plan?" Hinata said.
"Yes I do but we need some cover"
"I can do that leave it to me then" Hinata said.
"So you're finally ready? I'm sure you know…I don't like to be kept waiting" Sasori said while removing his mask.
"Relax we'll kill you quickly?" Chiyo said.
Hinata made a couple of hand seals.
"WATER STYLE WATER CLONE JUTSU"
From the water outside of the cavern came four Hinata water clones they went inside and they were ready to attack.
"Water clones eh?" Sasori said.
The water clones charge at the large puppet Hiruko open its long mouth and shoot a barrage of poisonous needles but one of the water clones used kaiten to reflect all of the needles back at the puppet. Hiruko used its long tail to hit the clones but they all dodge them, the real Hinata sheathed Undine and used a water wave hitting Hiruko which was send to the wall of the cavern he gasp seeing the water clones charging towards him he used his left arm and it open shooting more poisonous needles hitting the four of them. He forgot about the real one and he didn't realized that Hinata has charge at him and in a quick motion she cut his tail with Undine, he then saw Sakura and Chiyo charging at him.
'"I haven't forgotten about the two of you" he said while shooting more needles from its mouth.
The two dodge them with ease which shock the large puppet a lot he saw Hinata charging at him with Undine but he was quick and used a barrage of needles from his left hand Hinata was hit but she vanish in a splash of water.
(A water clone?)
Suddenly the Hyuga heiress was in front and made a couple of hand seals.
"WATER STYLE WATER PRISON JUTSU"
Suddenly Hiruko was now trap inside the water sphere.
(Damn that Hyuga is dangerous there's nothing I can't do now) Sasori thought.
Both Chiyo and Sakura were impressed by Hinata's skills.
(Hinata has really become strong) Sakura thought.
"It's time to finish it Sakura" Chiyo said.
"Right"
They charge at the trap Hiruko and Sakura raise her fist hitting the large puppet and shattering it to pieces Hinata released the water prison they finally stop the puppet Hiruko, suddenly a small figure cover in a black cloak left Hiruko.
(Is that his real body?) Sakura thought.
"So you must be the one that was controlling that thing" Hinata said.
The cover figure got up without looking at his opponents" of course that's my grandmother no wonder even that little girl was able to avoid my traps"
Hinata smile since she had her byakugan during the battle she was able to see the invisible chakra strings that Chiyo has on Sakura using her like a puppet she admitted it was a good strategy coming from the elderly woman.
"You saw all of my attacks but…you used the chakra strings from the puppet jutsu to control the little girl" Sasori said.
(He knows) Sakura thought.
"Also" he added" that Hyuga is very skillful you were pretty quick Hiruko never stood a chance against someone in your level you have my compliments"
"Thanks but I don't like compliments from criminals especially if he's from Akatsuki" Hinata said in a growl.
"Grandma Chiyo you still got it pretty clever that you suppressed the chakra from the puppet strings to make them invisible"
"Indeed I suppressed the chakra as much as I could making them look invisible however I'm pretty sure that Hinata saw them since she had her byakugan isn't that right Hinata?" Chiyo said.
"Yes I did as soon as I saw the chakra strings I knew what you were planning to do with Sakura-san"
Sakura was surprised at Chiyo's way to make the chakra strings invisible.
"Yes well who was it that taught me to play with puppets?...no one else but you" Sasori said as he was about to take off his black cloak.
"Yes well were done playing for today" Chiyo said.
Suna council room wind country territory
The members of the sand council were gathered in a round table discussing their current situation.
"How long we must wait for Gaara to return? To have a Kazekage of the great five countries abducted by such scoundrels does not look well to the other countries, also did you not said that one of the opponents is Sasori of the red sand? If the other countries hear of this we will be simply disgraced"a council member said.
"If they discover that we do not know the location of the Kazekage other countries may again interfere we must simply elect a new Kazekage as it is urgent that we work towards the stability of the village" another council member said.
"It is not yet time to decided that Gaara is not returning" Baki said.
"Well it would be better for the village if he did not return at all" a council member said.
"What are you trying to say?" Baki said getting upset.
Kankuruo he wasn't wearing his makeup and his black outfit was present in the room and listening to the conversation he wasn't happy at what he was hearing he was giving the council member a sharp look.
"Gaara's host the one tail Shukaku he is an unstable monster we thought that making him Kazekage would enable us to control him but…after all he may go berserk again there's no mistake about it he is a burden"
"Gaara originally resonated well with the one tail Shukaku but he is an incomplete experiment unstable experiment, he is such a failure that his father himself the fourth Kazekage ordered his assassination"
"The current youth do not know it and so there are those who respect him but…must of the village fear him and expect no good from him"
That was last draw for Kankuruo he rose up from his seat and grabbed the same council member that made the comment by his collar.
"Kankuruo you have every reason to be angry, but there is also reason behind what he says. The real situation is not a question of whether or not rely on Gaara but….." another council member trailed off.
"Something like this happened a long time ago the third Kazekage was abducted by something, then a lot of guess work went around concerning his location war broke out and inter country relations became stormy"
"Had we not been so desperate to seek out the third and paid more attention to the safety of the village that would not have happened"
"Then why did you not do that?" Kankuruo said.
"The third was by far the strongest Kazekage of them all also his corpse was never found…that such a person could be defeated so easily this was thought impossible at any rate we must put the village first"
Back at the cavern
Sasori remove his black cloak and once they saw his face Chiyo gasp in shock while Sakura and Hinata were quite surprised at his appearance, they were looking at a young boy who seems to be fifteen with red hair and brown eyes he was of course wearing Akatsuki robes.
"Well do you really think it will be that easy grandma Chiyo?"
"Is this Sasori Chiyo-sama?" Sakura said.
"He looks so young" Hinata said.
(What is this?...the same as so long….he he hasn't age at all) Chiyo thought shock.
Suddenly Sasori took a scroll from his sleeve.
"I'll show you what I brought along killing him for my collection gave me a hard time indeed….that's why I like him the best" the scroll poof in a cloud of smoke.
Chiyo was shock seeing the puppet that her grandson has shown look very familiar.
"Th…that couldn't be"
"What is that puppet Chiyo-sama?" Hinata said.
"What is it?" Sakura said.
"That puppet……is the third Kazekage" Chiyo said shock.
Sasori took a fighting stance preparing his puppet to attack" well let us begin"
(Looks like this fight has gotten complicated) Hinata thought.
She was right the fight with Hiruko was only the beginning of the great fight that awaits the trio and now they are about to fight against the strongest Kazekage of them all the third Kazekage.
To be continued
Guess what another cliffhanger what will happen and what about Seiryu will he arrived in time to help Naruto and Kakashi find out in the next chapter read and review until next time.
Next chapter: the strength of the third Kazekage the iron sand is unleashed