Ninja Kitsune

Chapter 28: Return of the Konoha 13/ A New Face..A New Friend?

Konoha – Hokage office, 3 days after Team Konoha left Suna – Time: 13:00 hours.

The 14 shinobi that Tsunade had sent to Suna to rescue the Kazekage all stood before their Hokage. "You were able to rescue Gaara before the Akatsuki were able to complete their sealing ritual?" Tsunade reads, "You killed one Akatsuki, and captured another. Also, our plant in the organization gave you information on the other members. I'll call that a successful mission. Congratulations, all of you."

"Thank you, Lady Hokage," Ayane replied, having been appointed the Speaker for the group, "The one we have captured is Deidara, a rogue nin from Iwa. Naruko knocked him out with a rasengan barrage, which interrupted their sealing ritual."

"Dismissed, all of you, but five," Tsunade ordered, "Ryu, Ayane, Kakashi, Gai, Kurenai, we need to talk about a message I got from the Kazekage while you were on the way back." The four yonnin, Gai's and Kurenai's teams all left the office, as Tsunade turned to the five Jonin. "So, how do you think our new Yonnin performed in their first mission back together?"

"Their teamwork came together like they had never been apart," Ryu reported, "With their new skills, they're more dangerous to the Akatsuki than we first thought. You mentioned something about a message from Suna?"

"Yes, Gaara wants to hold a summit of all five Kages, along with all nine Jinchuriki," Tsunade stated, "He said that we have to make plans to deal with the Akatsuki, so we can ensure the safety of the Biju. We don't know what they want with them, but we can't let them get the Tailed Beasts."

"We know," Kakashi answered, "Naruko and Arisa mentioned that on the way back. Something in the message from Momiji made Arisa, especially, think the man that set the fox to attacking Konoha is actually pulling the strings of this group. Momiji gave us information on all their members, and Ibiki should be interrogating Deidara right now."

"Here's how we'll proceed," the Hokage decides, "We'll wait till Ibiki finishes his interrogation of Deidara, then we'll call a coucil of the jonin, clan heads, and the Yonnin. We'll decide what to do then. The civilian side is not to know what's going on."

All five nod and turn to leave.

Konoha – City streets – Same time.

The four yonnin, along with Teams Gai and Kurenai were walking the streets together, talking and catching up.

"You should have seen Hinata-san," Lee stated, "She was incredible against that clone."

"Tenten and I didn't have much trouble with ours either," Kiba replied, "What about you guys, Shino?"

Shino said nothing. It was Neji that spoke up. "We had a bit of a hard time. Our opposition was a clone of me, and Shino's bugs couldn't get anywhere near it," Neji answered, "It knew all my moves. Kakashi showed up to lend a hand."

"We should get together with Team 10, and see how we've all changed," Haku suggested, "Only, this time, no fights. How about we all get lunch?"

"Sounds like fun," Naruko said, snuggling into Haku's arm, "I'll send some foxes to find Team 10." She then summons 3 messenger kits, and gives them their assignments. The foxes run off, and the shinobi all make their way to the bbq house."

Konoha – BBQ House – 2 hours later.

All 13 members of their rookie year had met up and had a nice, long talk at the bbq house. As they were all walking out, Naruko turned her head to look up to the roof of a building down the street. Standing there was a pale young man with black hair, and wearing all black. On his back was a ninjato, and in his hand is a scroll.

"Is this guy some kind of budding seal master?" she thinks, then prods Haku to look where she is. Almost immediately, the others take notice as well.

"Who's that?" Sakura asks, "We know everyone in our age group. Come to think of it, in our years, we are the only active shinobi that graduated the academy."

"Could he come from a clan that trained their shinobi outside the academy?" pondered Ino.

"Doubtful," Neji noted, "Of all the shinobi clans in Konoha, only the Hyuga are known to handle their shinobi training entirely in house. Hinata was the only one in years to enter the academy."

"Itachi told me that there were occasions when the Uchiha would handle one particular shinobi's training in house," Sasuke added, "That was the case only for the most prodigious of us. Shisui Uchiha, for example, and Itachi, after he finished the Academy early."

"Not only that," Shikamaru stated, "But this guy doesn't look like he came from any of the shinobi clans. None of them use scrolls as part of their jutsu. Naruko, being an Uzumaki, would use a scroll for sealing, but aside from her and Haku, the only real seal master in Konoha is Lord Jiraiya."

The strange boy made some marks on his scroll, and then a single hand-sign. From the scroll came several lion-like creatures made of the ink.

"So he draws these creatures and brings them to life with chakra," Hinata noticed.

"Whoever he is, we have to knock him out to get some answers later," from Sakura, "Ready, Guys?"

Naruko drew out a few senbon, and the Dragon Sword. Haku created a small puddle of ice under his feet. "Shika," Naruko said, "Choji, Ino. With us. Everyone else, just hang tight." Haku dropped into his ice, while Naruko and the others ran down the street, making easy work of the ink-created creatures. When she was within range, Naruko threw a senbon at the ceiling of the building. Haku appeared behind the young man, and brought his sword down at him, only to have the strange boy's ninjato block it. Naruko then appeared, using Hiraishin, to knock the strange boy off the roof, getting his shadow caught by Shikamaru.

"Ino?" Shikamaru ordered, "Read his mind, and see who he is."

The platinum blonde strode over to her target, and placed her hand on his forehead. She then closed her eyes and entered his mind. She stood there for a couple of minutes, before she opened her eyes and removed her hand from his head.

"He was just testing us," Ino reports, "He was rescued from a dungeon training center that was operated by a rogue member of the council, Danzo, after Ryu-sensei killed him, and adopted Naruko. He's been working with ANBU for the last few years, but he left to join the regular forces. He's still somewhat socially stunted from his time being held by Danzo, but he should be ok."

Naruko teleported herself and Haku back down to the street level. "What's your name?" she asked.

"I am Sai," he answered, "I had heard of your group, and wanted to see how strong your comraderie was."

"We've been friends since our academy days," Choji tells Sai, "It comes out in our teamwork."

"It is bonds like that, that I have been looking for," Sai remarks, "and the reason I left the ANBU."

"We've all had trials in our lives, Sai," Sasuke tells the boy, "But how we get through them is how we grow. You were just a kid when Danzo took you. You've grown into a good shinobi since you were rescued. Take time to get to know us all. If I know this group, they've already accepted you."

Just then, an ANBU appears. "Naruko, Sasuke, Haku, Sakura," he says, "You've been called to a special council with the Hokage, the Jonin, and the Clan heads."

"I guess that means I'll come too," Neji states, "I made jonin while you were out of the village."

"Well, guys," Sakura said, "We'll see you later. Get to know Sai better. We'll catch up when the meeting is over." That said, the Yonnin, and Neji walked toward the Hokage tower, to see just what was going to happen next.

Hokage Tower – Conference Room – Time: 16:00 hours

"Now that we're all together," Tsunade began, "We have a matter to attend to. The Kazekage has called for a summit of all 5 Kage, and all the jinchuriki. He wants it held on neutral ground, so he's calling for it to be held in the Land of Iron. It should be held in 3 weeks time. From now until then, I am suspending missions for Naruko and her Team."

"Lady Hokage," Naruko starts, "Can I make a suggestion? I would like to create a team of shinobi, who would work with the Yonnin on going through the intelligence we gathered from Momiji, and how best to use this information. From now until we leave for the summit, I want us to be combing through every bit of Akatsuki intel and coming up with strategies for each one."

"Good idea, Naruko," Tsunade responded, "Do it. I want the Yonnin to work on this, with whatever advisors and assistants they can come up with."

"I know one person who is a must on this commission," Sakura noted, "Shikamaru. His intelligence and mine should help us greatly."

"Do it," Tsunade ordered, "Have a list of the others you want on my desk by tomorrow morning."

The meeting went on for hours, with plans being made and discussed.

Elsewhere, Land of Lightning/Land of Fire Border – Same Time.

"You've been rather quiet today, Momiji," Kisame Hoshigaki said, "Is something on that mind of yours?"

"Yes," Momiji responded, "But it's no concern of yours. Just leave me be for a while." Kisame just nodded and walked on ahead.

"Don't forget we've got to claim the 4 tails soon. Deidara and Sasori are dead. We have to pick up their slack."

"Little do you know, Kisame," Momiji thought, "But you won't last much longer." She casually ran her hand across the shaft of her naginata. "Oh no. You won't last much longer at all."

End chapter 28

Next time on Ninja Kitsune: It's betrayal as Momiji takes out Kisame, and makes a B-line for Konoha. Also, the Yonnin and their friends start combing through intelligence information to come up with strategies for their inevitable battles.

Next Chapter: 29 – Momiji's Fight/ New Discoveries.