Chapter 28: Out Of Control

"NNNNOOOO!!!!" Kyubi/Naruto howled in anguish at having lost his prey. "DANZOU!!!! I'LL FIND YOU & KILL YOU!!!" He screamed as a violent wind whips up around the demon container. The crimson aura around Naruto/Kyubi intensifies as another tail appears behind him which was immediately followed by another tail.

"This is bad." Kakashi mutters as he shields himself from the wind. Anko appears besides him crossing her arms in front of her to protect herself. "As it is, Naruto can only barely maintain control with 3 tails. Now Kyubi's forcibly releasing 2 more & at his current level, I don't think Naruto's body can handle the power." He tells his fellow jounin.

"So what do we do?" Anko asks with a frown. "If Naruto Kun doesn't stop, then we'll have no choice but to..." Anko leaves the rest of her words unspoken.

"Don't even think about it." Kakashi snaps. But inside, he knew the special jounin was right. If they don't do something soon, Naruto may be lost to them forever. He pulls out an ofuda & shows it to Anko. "If we could put this on Naruto, it should seal Kyubi's power long enough for Naruto to regain control."

"Then what are we standing around here for?" Anko asks with an evil grin. "I'll distract him while you sneak up from behind & put that thing on him."

"Count us in too." Came the voice of Asuma. Turning around, Kakashi & Anko saw the chainsmoking jounin & Kurenai behind them. "You can't take on Kyubi by yourselves. We'll help you in any way we can." Kurenai stated.

Kakashi nods his thanks. "Ok now, we'll have to move quickly. The longer we delay, the more time Kyubi has to completely release his power."

The 4 jounins seperate with Kakashi & Kurenai moving behind Kyubi while Asuma & Anko moving in front of the 9 tailed beast.

"Sigh. This is gonna be a pain... Literally." Asuma comments, slipping on his trench knives.

Anko cackles at this & said. "You can never be truly alive if you don't experience what pain is all about Asuma Kun."

Asuma eyes Naruto/Kyubi then Anko warily before answering. "That may be true but some of us are less eager to have some 1st hand experience then others Anko."

"ANKO. ASUMA. GET OUT OF MY WAY. I DON'T WANT TO HURT YOU." Naruto/Kyubi said to the two.

"If you don't give us back Naruto, then there's nothing more to discuss." Asuma answers.

"I'M SORRY BUT I CAN'T DO THAT JUST YET." Naruto/Kyubi answers.

"Then there's no point in talking now is there? SEN'AIJISHU (Hidden Snake Hands)" Anko said as snakes shoot out from both her sleeves & binds Naruto/Kyubi by the wrists & ankles. At the same time, Kurenai activates her signature genjutsu, causing an illusionary tree to wrap around Naruto/Kyubi & hold him in place.

"Now Kakashi!" Asuma shouts. "While he's tied up, but the damned tag on him!" Kakashi suddenly appears in front of Naruto/Kyubi, ready to place the seal on his forehead.

"YOU WON'T STOP ME!!!!" Naruto/Kyubi roars as the crimson aura around him literally explodes, dispelling Kurenai's genjutsu & at the same time, freeing him from Anko's snakes. It also sends all 4 jounins flying back from the sheer force of the explosion.

Watching from much further away, Tsunade, the council, the Anbu, the other jounins, the rookie 9, Team Gai & the sand siblings (with the possible exception of Gaara), could only watch in horror as Naruto/Kyubi shrugs off the attack of 4 of Konoha's best so easily. He then leaps off in search of his prey.

"He's getting away! Lee! Neji! We have to go stop him!" Gai said as he started to move but was stopped by Tsunade. "Stop! If you go now, it'll only make things worse." She stated. "We have to plan out our moves carefully."

"That may be true Tsunade..." Hiashi said. "...But at this rate, if we DON'T stop him, Konoha will be..."

"It's not US he's angry at Hiashi." Tsunade interrupts the Hyuga head. "I believe Naruto when he said Kyubi had no intention of destroying Konoha. He's after Danzou, plain & simple. The thing is, Danzou is more valuable to us alive now rather then dead. We have to get to him before Kyubi does." Tsunade turns to the ninjas present. "For now, I want everyone except Kakashi, Sakura & Hinata to focus your attention on finding Danzou & tell the others to avoid Naruto."

Turning to Kakashi, Sakura & Hinata, the Godaime gives them their instructions. "I want you 3 to look for Naruto & try to reason with him. Or at least reason with Kyubi. You've got the best shot of doing this."

"If you're going to stop Naruto, take me with you." Sasuke suddenly said.

"Pardon me?" Tsunade asks with a raised eyebrow as he turns towards Sasuke. "Are you volunteering your services? What makes you think I'll accept young man? You ARE still a criminal after all."

"Because you all know as well as I do that I'm the only one who could possibly keep up with him." Sasuke said matter-of-factly. It was not a longwinded boast on the part of the former missing nin. It was a statement of fact. "Kakashi's Mangekyo Sharingan won't help them in this case. Mine can."

"What do you think Kakashi?" Tsunade asks the white haired, one eyed jounin who in turn, studies Sasuke for moment before nodding his head. "I concur with Sasuke. He may be the only one who could go head to head with Naruto if he uses his Mangekyo Sharingan." He had seen Sasuke's Mangekyo Sharingan in action first hand & had to admit that it's time-slowing ability was better suited to stop Naruto then his own dimension transferring version of the the Sharingan's ultimate form. That plus the fact that Sasuke seemed to seriously want to help his blonde teammate made Kakashi decide to take him along. "I'll take responsibility for him."

Tsunade nods at this. "Very well. If you're sure about it Kakashi. But if he makes ANY move which endangers you or the others..." Tsunade left her words hanging but Kakashi finishes it for her. "He won't live to regret it. Of that you can be sure of." Kakashi stated, sending a silent warning to Sasuke.

An ANBU unlocks Sasuke's chains, freeing the former missing nin. He rubs his wrists as he stares at Kakashi who simply nods at him.

"Alright, you all have your assignments. Go!!" Tsunade orders as all the shinobis present disperses. Tsunade then looks up, says a silent prayer for her surrogate brother then leads the council towards the Hokage Tower to wait for the events that was about to unfold.

(Meanwhile...)

Together with a small squad of his elite shinobis, Danzou had managed to give his ANBU guards the slip as the Kyubi brat was making a ruckus to get to him.

He never thought that the day would come where his participation in the mad scheme to acquire Kyubi's power would be exposed to the public. Now he had no other choice but to seek sanctuary with that blasted snake, Orochimaru, no matter how distasteful it may seem.

But for now, he had to worry about getting out of Konoha 1st. Notwithstanding the Kyubi brat, he also had to worry about how to get away from the various skilled shinobis & ANBUs loyal to Tsunade which was not an easy task.

"Please stop for a moment Danzou Sama." One of his elite shinobis whispered as they stopped & stayed hidden in the shadows. A moment later, a squad of masked ANBU converges on the middle of the street led by a purple haired kunoichi.

"Have you found them yet?" The kunoichi asks her comrades tersely. "Not yet." The one wearing the bear mask answered. "If anything, the nins who work for ROOTS knows their stuff. It'll be difficult to catch them."

"I had a feeling that Danzou was a bad apple the 1st time I saw him." Another ANBU, this one wearing a tiger mask grumbled. "How could a maniac like that be admitted as a member of the council?"

Danzou had to restrain himself from charging at the insolent whelp of an ANBU lest they get caught in the process.

"It's not our place to question that." The purple haired kunoichi leader answered. "Right now, let's focus on finding him first, understand? Scatter!" The ANBUs disperse & Danzou was able to breath again. His personal guard cautiously looks around & checks the area before turning to Danzou. "The area is secure now Danzou Sama. We can continue to the gate & make our escape."

"Excellent. Let us be on our way." Danzou answered with a nod. The small group continues on to the main gate but as they neared the area, they could feel a familiar yet terrifying chakra source greet them.

"I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU DANZOU." Came the eerie voice of Naruto/Kyubi. "YOU DON'T HONESTLY THINK YOU CAN GET AWAY FROM ME THAT EASILY DO YOU?" At the feet of the container were his own agents from ROOTS who had somehow gained control of the gate tonight. Judging from the rising & falling of their chests, they were still alive. But the fact that they laid in pools of their own blood meant they had been seriously injured.

"W-Wait a moment Kyubi Sama, I can explain..." Danzou said, trying to buy more time.

"WHAT IS THERE TO EXPLAIN?" Kyubi interrupted Danzou. "AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, YOU'RE ALREADY GUILTY THE MOMENT YOU ASSOCIATED YOURSELF WITH OROCHIMARU. NO AMOUNT OF WORDS CAN EVER CHANGE THAT FACT."

Naruto/Kyubi then found himself surrounded by a number of black suited nins from ROOTS.

"Danzou Sama! Are you unharmed?" One of them called out. "We waited here for you just as you have ordered."

"You will NOT harm Danzou Sama you monster." Another ROOTS shinobi said as he brandished a short wakazashi. "We will despose of you first before we leave this despicable village."

"HOW AMUSING." Naruto/Kyubi stated as he looks around. "YOUR LOYALTY TO DANZOU IS QUITE ADMIRABLE BUT SORELY MISGUIDED." Naruto/Kyubi then explosively releases his chakra & sends the shinobis surrounding him flying back against the walls of the gates & surrounding houses where the impact renders them unconscious. "NOW THEN, WHERE WERE WE...?" Naruto/Kyubi said, turning towards Danzou & his remaining nins who steps back in fear.

"K-KILL HIM!! WHAT ARE YOU IDIOTS WAITING FOR?!?" Danzou screamed in fear his remaining guards. But instead of answering, the nins instead topple over unconscious. "W-What the hell...?!?"

"Hai hai. That's enough of that." Came the lazy sounding voice. Kakashi with Pakkun on his shoulder, Sakura, Hinata & Sasuke, appears on the scene. Danzou looked relieved at seeing the Copy Ninja & his team. "Kakashi! Am i glad to see you! Please save me from this monster!"

Kakashi glares at the traitorous elder while Sakura, Sasuke & especially Hinata looked just about ready to murder him. "We'll get to YOU later Danzou. Unfortunately, if it weren't for our orders to take you back alive, there's nothing I'd like better then to sic Kyubi on you. It would've been appropriate punishment for your crimes. For now, I suggest you sit there & not make any sudden moves if you don't wanna die a horrible & excruciating death." The look that the white haired ninja was giving him, convinced Danzou that he was fully prepared to follow through his threat.

Kakashi then glances at Naruto/Kyubi & notices the 5 tails of chakra swishing on his back. He then felt Pakkun shudder. "Brrr... Even though Kyubi stopped at 5 tails, the power he has still gives me the serious chills." The ninken dog muttered. Kakashi nods his assent as he & the team steps forward & flanks Danzou as well as try to talk to Naruto/Kyubi.

"N-Naruto Kun?" Hinata said worriedly. Naruto/Kyubi shakes his head. "MY APOLOGIES VIXEN BUT NARUTO IS INDISPOSED AT THE MOMENT. BUT REST ASSURED THAT AFTER I CONCLUDE MY BUSINESS WITH DANZOU, YOU WILL HAVE HIM BACK."

"I'm afraid that I can't allow you to harm Danzou." Kakashi stated grimly. "However unpleasant it may be, he is currently under our protection. He has vital information which Konoha needs & we can't just leave his state of well being to you."

"AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, YOUR PETTY LAWS DOES NOT APPLY TO ME." Naruto/Kyubi stated dangerously. "ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, I WILL HAVE DANZOU & YOU ARE JUST ANOTHER OBSTACLE WHICH I HAVE TO OVERCOME TO GET TO HIM."

"Naruto! Wake up! You have to fight his influence!" Sakura shouted. "Don't let Kyubi control you!"

"Kyubi Sama! Please stop this & listen to reason! Give Naruto back to us!" Hinata pleaded with the demon.

"I WILL NOT. NOT WHEN I'M SO CLOSE ALREADY." Naruto/Kyubi said as he took a step towards Danzou who was practically beside himself with fear. As Naruto/Kyubi took another step forward, a thrown kunai thumps to the ground in front of him. "YOU HONESTLY THINK YOU CAN STOP ME?" He growls manacingly at the person who threw the blade.

"I don't know." Sasuke answered, stepping forward with his Sharingan activated. "But you're not giving me much of a choice. Step away from Danzou & lets have a talk."

"I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY TO A TRAITOR SUCH AS YOURSELF. THE KIT MAY HAVE FORGIVEN YOU FOR NEARLY KILLING HIM BY SHOVING THAT CHIDORI THROUGH HIS CHEST..." Sasuke winced at the memory, regret instantly evident in his features. "...BUT I HAVEN'T!! I SPARED YOUR LIFE DURING THAT RETRIEVAL MISSION FOR THE KIT'S SAKE BUT I WON'T BE AS MERCIFUL THIS TIME IF YOU INSIST IN GETTING IN MY WAY!!"

"You're not doing him any favors by pulling this stupid stunt!" Sasuke said, slipping into a fighting stance. "You should know it's bad enough that people in this village treat him like crap. How do you think they'll react after this? I'll be damned before I let you go any further."

"We won't let you have your way either." Kakashi said, stepping up besides Sasuke, the left part of his hiate raised to expose his Sharingan. Hinata & Sakura also took their places besides Sasuke & Kakashi. Hinata slipping into her family's signature fighting stance with her Byakugan fully activated & Sakura fitting her leather gloves snugly into her hands.

"YOU'RE ALL FOOLS!!" Naruto/Kyubi roared in anger. "CAN'T YOU SEE WHAT KIND OF DANGER DANZOU'S EXISTENCE POSE TO US? WE HAVE TO ELIMINATE HIM BEFORE MORE INNOCENT LIVES ARE LOST!!"

"Kyubi's losing it." Kakashi thought to himself. "All that pent up emotions he's been keeping in check is overwhelming him. This might be our only opening." He glances at Sasuke & gives him a silent nod before both charges forward. But unfortunately, Naruto/Kyubi notices this. "NEITHER OF YOU CAN TAKE ME ON!!! I'LL DESTROY BOTH OF YOU!!"

"Not if you can't see us." Sasuke muttered as he closed his eyes only to reopen them to reveal his Mangekyo Sharingan. "ONRYOU (Vengeful Spirit)." Sasuke whispered as both he & Kakashi disappeared from Naruto/Kyubi's view.

Naruto/Kyubi stood stock-still & seemed not to be doing anything as Kakashi & Sasuke closed in on him, fully intent on slappping on the restrictive ofuda. But as Kakashi was about to place the ofuda, a hand with a vice-like grip grabs his wrist.

"I DON'T THINK SO KAKASHI. I'M SORRY." Naruto/Kyubi said as he flung the copy ninja away who clumsily rolled on the ground before colliding with a large tree, rendering him unconscious.

"Kakashi Sensei!" Sakura rushes to tend to her fallen teacher as Sasuke charges. "How the hell did he overcome my Mangekyo Sharingan?" Sasuke though furiously as he started attacking Naruto/Kyubi who, with little effort, simply dodges Sasuke's lightning fast blows. He then swats him away with one of his 'tails' as he would a fly.

Recovering from the powerful blow, Sasuke wipes the blood trickling down his brow as he goes through a long series of familiar handseals. "Dammit! Give Naruto back to us!! KATON: GOUKYAKU NO JUTSU! (Fire Element: Grand Fireball Technique)" Sasuke blows out a large ball of fire towards Naruto/Kyubi, hoping to distract him enough for him to slap the 2nd ofuda on him.

But much to Sasuke's surprise, Naruto/Kyubi bursts through the fireball relatively unscathed & grabs him by the throat. "YOU'RE PATHETIC." He sneered & flung Sasuke forcefully towards the ground, rendering the last Uchiha unconscious from the impact as well. Naruto/Kyubi then starts to form a red Rasengan in his hands. "NOW IT'S TIME FOR US TO FINISH THIS. YOU WILL DIE HERE UCHIHA SASUKE." He said then charges to deliver the Rasengan.

"DAI KAITEN!!" A large spinning dome of chakra blocks the Rasengan but the ensuing impact of the 2 attacks blows back both users. Naruto/Kyubi looked none the worse for wear but Hinata was seen weakly getting back on her feet with various cuts & bruises in her body & coughing out a bit of blood. Despite her injuries, she looked quite determined. "Naruto Kun wouldn't allow this wrong Kyubi Sama & neither will I. If you wish to get to Danzou, you'll have to go through me first."

"VIXEN. NOT YOU TOO. AAARRRGGGHHH!!!!" Naruto/Kyubi started to clutch his head in pain as Naruto's psyche started to fight back. "Damn you fox!! You've hurt Hinata chan!!" Naruto raged as his psyche struggled to regain control. "NO!!! I CAN'T STOP HERE JUST YET!!! I..."

Inexplicably, Naruto/Kyubi stopped thrashing in pain & raised his head. Half of his face was the normal features ofNaruto & half was his Kyubi twisted version. "H-Hinata...Both...Charms. Put...Damned...Me... H-Hurry... Can't control...Much longer."

Hinata knew what Naruto was trying to say. Quick as a flash, she picks up both sealing charms & places it on Naruto's forehead.

The effect was instantaneous. Naruto's eyes glazed over & he started to collapse. Luckily, Hinata was there to catch him. "Thank Kami..." Hinata whispered as she held him close with tears on her eyes.

"So it seems like it's over." Kakashi, who had just regained conscious, said as he walks over holding his side. Sakura was seen hurrying over to Sasuke to tend to him.

"Hai Kakashi Sensei." Hinata said then asks. "Are you ok, by the way?"

"I'm ok. Nothing but my pride was hurt." Kakashi said as his expression turns deadly serious. "But there's a problem. Danzou gave us the slip... Again."

Author's Notes: Ahhh... It took a while but my latest chapter is finally done. Hope you guys enjoy. Please R&R