Ninja Kitsune
Chapter 25: The Kazekage stands tall – A Mission to the Sand
Konoha: Hayabusa residence – Time: 20:30 hours.
Team 7 had gotten together after their fights, and after Naruko released Itachi from the two seals. The four teammates, and their senseis sat in the living room catching up on the last two years, when Ryu stood up. "Sasuke," he says, "Come with me." He walks away, leading the Uchiha into his training room, and to the dias set up at the far wall.
"This," Ryu explained, "Is the Blade of the Archifiend. It was last wielded in my fight against said fiend, but also by an opponent that I greatly respected for his strength of conviction, as well as his strength in battle. His name was Genshin, Overlord of the Black Spider Clan."
"You respected the man who killed your father in battle?" Sasuke asked.
"I admired his strength of conviction, as well as his battle prowess," Ryu explained, "I didn't have to like the fact that he killed my father, and I killed him for it, but his strength was something to behold, and he pushed me more than most enemies I had faced until that moment. I then used this sword, along with the True Dragon Sword to defeat the Archfiend. Sasuke, you've proven to me that you're strong enough to wield this sword. Reach out, and take possession of it."
Sasuke did reach out and take the sword, and drew it from the scabbard. Lightning crackled across the blade as he felt the weight and balance of the sword. Ryu's eyes widened as he watched.
Sunagakure: Same Time
Gaara had been holding his own against the Akatsuki intruder. He had created a defensive barrier of sand around himself, and, while he wasn't able to mount much of an offensive, he was able to keep the intruder from harming the village, using his control over the sand.
"If I can't get you out of that barrier, then I'll just have to exhaust you until you run out of chakra, then take you," the Akatsuki says, pulling out a massive clay statue. He threw the statue out, before adding chakra to it, making the statue grow100 times in size and power. The statue then dropped to the ground, creating a massive explosion that rattled the Sand village to it's very foundation.
Konoha: Same Time: Hokage's Office
"So, what level do you guys think that Team 7 is at?" Tsunade inquires of her ninja council.
"Easily at Sannin level, Lady Hokage," Shikaku Nara advised, "They handled Kakashi, Ryu, Ayane and Itachi quite easily. They trained hard for the last 2 years, and they're ready for promotion. I say keep them together as a Jonin squad. Their teamwork is incredible, even after being apart for so long."
"I agree," Inoichi Yamanaka added, "The fact that Sasuke and Naruko both made use of the field that was created by Haku's use of those senbon shows that this team needs to stay together. However, instead of calling them Team 7, we grant them a new status. Much like you, Jiraiya and Orochimaru were the sannin, they can be Konoha's new Yonnin. Their legend will only continue to grow through all that they will face."
"We can give them the news in the morning," Tsunade states, "I'm sure that Anko's already let the word out that there's a new team of legends in the village. If she hasn't, I'm sure that Ino did. Meeting adjourned."
Sunagakure – Time 20:45
A wall of sand hovered over the village. An obviously exhausted kazekage did his best to get the enormous shield away from the village, so it wouldn't crush his people. In the meanwhile, his Akatsuki opponent was forming two more explosive birds out of clay. Just as the shield fell past a cliff in the rear of Sunagakure, he let loose the two birds, which got in close enough that even Gaara's sand shield couldn't fully protect him. The birds exploded, but the sand got there in time to close up the gap. Gaara escaped with a few burns, but nothing really serious, except for a serious case of exhaustion. That is, until he looked and saw several clay insects burrowing out at him from the sand shell.
The next sight will be one that will horrify the people of Sunagakure for days, or even months to come. The sight of the expanding sand shell, and then the shell crumbling with their Kazekage falling to the ground, only to be caught by the Akatsuki, who promptly flew out of the village to meet his partner. This gets the ball rolling, as the remaining jonin and councilors in Suna sent a messenger hawk to Konoha for assistance.
Konoha – Hokage's Office - Time: 07:00 hours.
"I see you're all ready for your status, and for your first mission back," Tsunade said, "But first, let me say that you have made us all proud with your growth. Now, for your status. It is apparent to us all, after the fight last night, and the stories that are spreading through the village, that there is a new legend in Konoha. As a result, the Ninja council of Konoha has decided to give you a new status, of Yonnin, much like Jiraiya, Orochimaru and I were the Sannin. Your legend is alrady starting to grow, after the trials you all will face in the future, we think that you all will surpass even the 4th Hokage."
"Thank you, Lady Tsunade," Sakura replied, "We are honored."
"We'll do whatever it takes to protect this village, Lady Hokage," Naruko told the blonde Kage.
"ok, Sasuke," Tsunade told the Uchiha, "You won't need the flack vest anymore. You're way past chunin, or even jonin."
"Lady Tsunade," came a woman from the cypher division, "We have an emergency dispatch from Suna. The Kazekage's been kidnapped by the Akatsuki."
"Why would they kidnap the Kazekage?" Naruko wonder out loud.
"In the years you were gone, Naruko, Gaara became the Kazekage." Sasuke explains, "Sakura and I were there for his coronation. He has come a long way to gain the respect of the people of Suna."
"oh Kami," Naruko said, "Lady Hokage, let Suna know that we'll be coming. If the Akatsuki wants to make a run at the Biju, then let us take them on."
"That's the plan, Naruko," the Hokage responds, "Team Hayabusa, you four will go with Ryu and Ayane to Suna, and lend aid where ever you can."
"We'll need a tracker, so I'd suggest we take either Kiba and Akamaru, or Kakashi," Haku think out loud.
"Team Kurenai is in the village, as is Kakashi. I can give you both for backup, since this is an important mission."
"have them meet us at the main gate in fifteen minutes," Sasuke says, "We'll set out then. And Kakashi better not be late."
"I'll see to that myself," Tsunade notes, and then watches as the new Yonnin leave the office through the window, Naruko being the last one to leave, her waist length blonde hair flowing behind her as she drops to the ground.
Konoha Main Gate - Fifteen minutes later
The new Yonnin met up with their partners: Ryu and Ayane Hayabusa, Kakashi Hatake, Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata Hyuga, Shino Aburame, and Kurenai Yuuhi.
"Damn, Naruko," Kiba says, "You look great."
"She's still taken, Dog Boy," Haku tells Kiba.
"Don't get so territorial, Haku," Kiba responds, "I know that. You've all changed a lot. I saw that fight last night."
"Just know this, Kiba," Naruko advises all their partners, "Our enemy is Akatsuki. They're S-ranked rogue nin. Team Kurenai, Kakashi, you're here to help us track down the Kazekage. Dad, Mom, You two will join with us to fight the Akatsuki."
"Ok," says Hinata, as Ryu nods, "Is there anything else we need to know?"
"Yes, Hinata, there is," Sakura states, "You most of all must stay back out of the thick of the action. You trained in battlefield medicine as I did. We will need that expertise when the fighting is over. Save your chakra for the healing." Hinata nods at the order.
"Shino, Kiba, you two could be useful in the fighting. Be mindful and attack when you see an opening. If Haku, Narko and I are engaged in a close quarters battle, then Shino stays out, since he's a long range combatant," Sasuke continued to explain while the party started their way to Suna, "Kiba, you and Akamaru especially could be useful in a close quarters battle."
"Got it," Kiba responded.
"Understood," from Shino.
"Kurenai, I don't know how useful genjutsu will be, but just keep looking for an opening. If you can catch one of them, then do it." Sakura tells Kurenai.
"Ok, I will."
"They've really come a long way," Ayane thinks as she jumps from tree to tree, "Now the true fight begins. I hope Akatsuki is up for it, because this team will be enough to take them out."
Little did she know, but up ahead, beside Haku, small tears were welling up in Naruko's eye. "I'm coming, Gaara," she thinks, "We'll save you."
"Are you ok, Naruko-chan?" Haku asks
"No, Haku, I'm not," Naruko tells her companion, "They just kidnapped the first of us. The first of the Jinchuriki. I'm not scared of them, not by a long shot, but I am worried for the others. We have to get word to the other Jinchuriki to be on the lookout. I will not lose my bretheren containers to these assholes who only see the monsters. They don't care about us. They only see a means to whatever end they're after. Gaara suffered a LOT longer than I did. I had Dad, Ayane, Sasuke, Sakura, you. Who did Gaara have? Even his own siblings were afraid of him, until I had Jiraiya fix his seal after the Chunin exams."
"I know, Honey," the ice master reminds her, "But he did come a long way after that. He became Kazekage. That means something."
"I'm happy for him achieving that dream," the blonde answers, "But I also worry for him being held by Akatsuki."
"We'll save him, Naru-chan. This is what we trained for. You have to believe in yourself, and in your team. We're ready."
"You're right, Haku-kun," Naruko said, wiping her eyes.
"Am I looking too much into this," Kiba asks Sasuke, "Or are Haku and Naruko only wearing gloves on their left hands?"
"I noticed that too," Sasuke noted, "But if they don't want to discuss it, then I'm not going to pry."
"We'll have time for that later, guys," Ryu told his teammates, "Now, we concentrate on the task at hand."
End Chapter 25
Next time on Ninja Kitsune: Team Konoha reaches Suna and gets an update on the search for the Kazekage. Following that, the team sets out to track down the Akatsuki, and save Gaara.
Next Chapter: Desert Heat, River's chill.