However, Shimzai merely dodged the blow and began to retreat down an alley past the rubble. "I really don't have time to play with you now, Genji. I must take my leave." He ran on out of sight. Kujo punched the ground. "Not this time!" He yelled as he began to follow Shimzai into the alley.

Kashaku lay dead now. Already tired from his fight with Sasuke, Naruto and Neji quickly dealt with him and they now watched on as Kujo escaped from their sight. Behind them, Sakura and Chouji ran over to Sasuke , still laying unconscious where Shimzai had put him , his body lying still, but still breathing. Naruto finally turned around. "Sasuke!" He ran over to Sasuke's body and kneeled beside it. "I finally found you.."

Sakura placed her hands over his body and chakra began to radiate from her palms as the healing Jutsu began to take effect. "He is hurt pretty bad, but nothing is injured. He should be OK."

Naruto sighed. "That's good..hey, wait. What are you doing here, anyways!?"

"We heard you were here, so we came looking for you. The village has been taken over by a strange company. People have been taken prisoner, even the Hokage. Me, Shikamaru, Chouji, and a kid we found named Toya all came here. Toya...he died in this building fighting with us."

Naruto's head went down. "I'm sorry." His mind began to flood with thoughts. People are dying for me? People are fighting over me? He couldn't believe it. Why would so many people kill just for him? He didn't even have to ask, however. He knew why. It was this damn Jinjuuriku inside of him. This beast. People wanted it. He was cursed with it and people wanted to take it from him. Perhaps he should just give it up, then? It would save so much trouble for everybody if he did. But he knew he couldn't do that. Then people would just come looking for him, and more would die. This boy he didn't even know died fighting for him.

"Hey everybody!!" came a shout from behind them. Naruto, Neji, and Sakura looked over to see Shikamaru with a group of others closely behind him. Konton, Gaara, Tenten, Konkuro, Kakashi, Kirai, and Lee all ran through the rubble to the rest of the group.

"Wow. All of you guys are here? This is crazy. I thought this was a private mission." Naruto said.

"Well, we weren't exactly here for a vacation." Shikamaru said. "After the village got attacked, I suppose we all came south. It was merely coincidence that we all ended up here."

Then the entire group heard and large clash and a huge explosion began to emit from where Kujo had just ran off after Shimzai. "I knew I should have followed!" Naruto said as he began to take off. Before anybody could catch him he was off and flying towards the danger. "Where the hell does he think he's going?" Sakura said. "Those guys were way out of our league."

"You know Naruto." Kakashi said. He stepped foreward. "We can't stay here. Kirai, will you be wanting us to come with you?"

"That would be very helpful if you would." Kirai commented.

"Then you guys get out of town and set up camp. I will go find Naruto and get out of here as soon as I do. I will met up with you later." Without another word Kakashi began to follow Naruto into the darkness, leaving the rest of the group behind.

At last, Sasuke began coughing uncontrollably and his eyes flared open. He looked around for a second to gain his senses. When he saw exactly where he was, he jumped up and looked around some more. "What happened here?"

"You were knocked out by those demons and saved by a man named Kujo. He's off fighting Shimzai now, or at least was. Naruto and Kakashi are after them now." Sakura told him. "How are you feeling?"

"Good enough." He picked up his sword and sheathed it once again. "I suppose I should thank you for healing me, but I must be on my way."

Kirai stepped foreward, his towering figure intimidating to many. "I really think you should stay with us. They will come looking for you again. If you are alone, you will surely die."

"Die? You really don't know me. I need to go figure out some things for myself." Sasuke replied.

"About that demon inside of your body? About Raidon? It exists very clearly. You don't have to run looking for answers about it." Kirai said.

Sasuke's eyes widened as he turned back to look at Kirai. "Like I said. You know nothing about me. I will find those answers my own way." He turned back around. "Thanks, Sakura. Tell Naruto I said hi." He jumped over the building and ran away. Sakura watched him leave, a tear forming in her eye.

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Naruto arrived at the scene to find Kujo's body lying unconscious on the ground in an alley between two large buildings. He ran over quickly and looked around, searching franticly for Shimzai. He wasn't even sure if he stood a chance against this guy. He hadn't fought him, but he was strong, he knew. His summons took Sasuke out. Perhaps he had overreacted, but he couldn't just stand still and do nothing. That wasn't his nature, his ninja way. No, he would fight til the end, even if his end wasn't as wonderful as it should be.

"Don't run off like that." Came a voice from behind him. Naruto looked around to find Kakashi closing space between them. "You are lucky he isn't here, whoever he is."

"Do you know anything about all of this, Kakashi Sensei?" Naruto asked.

Kakashi merely shrugged. "Nope. It appears it's these Genji who know all about what is going on here. The Leaf was taken over, which is why those of us who ARE here to be here."

"Perhaps I can help you guys out." Naruto froze. He knew exactly who said those words.

Shimzai stood atop one of the buildings in front of them. In his hand was Sasuke, unconscious. "I found this guy trying to run away. He must not like you guys very much to run away from you all."

"LET HIM GO!" Naruto screamed at him. "Give us Sasuke back now!"

Shimzai laughed. "Nah. I'll keep him for myself. That's three down!! Just you and the girl left!"

"So they already have 3 of their targets..." Kakashi said quietly.

"We are the Eisei Fushi. Our goal is eternal life. By gathering these demons, we can implant ourselves with the cells of these demons and grant ourselves the ultimate power! Once we get all 5, we can summon the ultimate demon and his cells will grant us immortality! But now I really must be going back to my new temple. I believe you know exactly where it's at. Your very home has now become my sanctuary!" Shimzai laughed a wicked laugh and, before Naruto or Kakashi could say anything, flew off into the darkness.

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Kirai led the large group out of town and through the large fields into a small patch of woods on the south side of town. There, they sat up camp and a fire. It was early in the morning already. There was little talk as everybody was exhausted and in need for sleep, so most everybody simply sat up their makeshift beds and went straight to bed around the fire. Kirai stood watch until daylight, when Kakashi and Naruto came in. Kakashi was carrying Kujo, who had still not woke up. His injuries were not grave, but enough to keep him resting for a day or so.

"Did you learn anything?" Kirai asked Kakashi.

"Yes we did. Eisei Fushi was behind Konoha's capture. Shimzai is going there now."

"I thought as much. They are finally expanding. This means they think they have enough power to forcibly take Naruto and Konton now. This is not good."

"What do we do?" Naruto asked. "We have to go rescue Sasuke and Tsunade."

"Naruto is right." Kakashi replied. "We can't leave them there. Shimzai seems crazy. He might do something to them if we don't hurry."

Shimzai nodded. "Yes, but if they are aggressively expanding, they must be leaving weaknesses. Plus, we don't know where Blayne is. He never came back." Conversation drifted for a second. "Well, let's get to bed. I will wake somebody for watch. You guys could use some rest as well."

They all nodded, and each of them went off to bed.

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Blayne woke up in and sat up. He was in a bed. Kujo's bed. He remembered passing out on the way to Naruto and Neji, but how he had gotten here was the question. Without talking he inspected his wounds. They were gone. Completely. Whoever had done this was skilled in healing. He stood up and looked around the room. The door in the far corner of the room opened to a woman of senior age. She was wrinkled, but warm in her smile.

"You are awake." She said.

"I suppose I am.." He muttered. "Who brought me here?"

"She did." The woman pointed down the stairs as another women, this one much younger and very attractive, walked up the stairs and smiled at Blayne.

"You looked rough, boss. Found you lying in an alley. Brought you here to Kujo's house."

Blayne smiled. "What are you doing here, Lilly?"

"Same reason you are here. My target came here. She escaped Eisei Fushi and ran into YOUR target before I could even pull a rescue operation to save her. Talented young girl."

"Yes, all of them are talented, that's for sure." He walked over and shook Lilly's hand. "Are they all ok?"

"They are all still alive. I can feel their presences pretty good, though they are resting outside of town. The police are after every one of you guys. We should leave too."

"Sounds good. I know exactly where to go." Blayne replied.

"That being?"

Blayne gave the older woman a hug. "Thanks granny."

The woman smiled. "Just take care of my son."

"Sure thing!" Blaye walked down the stairs and looked back up at Lilly. "Were off to talk to a friend of mine."

"You have friends?" She smiled in response to her own comment.

"Yes, I have friends. I used to belong to the Leaf Village, as well."

"You have belonged to everybody. You must be old."

"Shut up."

Lilly Smiled. "Ok. So who is the friend?"

He was a friend of mine when I was in the leaf. He's now a renegade like me. His group might have some info on Eisei Fushi. His name is Itachi."