Back for another chapter. Yay.
The Sasuke Retrieval Arc will come before the Search for Tsunade Arc. Just wanted to let everyone know. I feel it's only logical to pull the Sasuke Retrieval forward first. Secondly, it's one of my favorite arcs so hopefully I can actually write it like how I wrote the Chunin Exams Arc.
This chapter marks the start of the Sasuke Retrieval Arc. Yes, the Invasion of Konoha Arc was only 4 chapters! Lmao. Also, in this chapter, we welcome the debut of the Akatsuki.
If you're unhappy with anything in my story, please do not hesitate to point them out to me like the below reviewer, Sorry, did. I would hate to lose more readers because they failed to point out the flaws I didn't correct.
Sorry: I am sorry I could not keep a reader, and I thank you for pointing out all my flaws. However, just one thing I have to argue about. I prefer a non-bloodthirsty Gaara, and I wrote him as such. That's why he's not like he is in canon. If you're complaining that Gaara has changed 'because of the Uchiha Massacre' and that 'there's no sense in that', I suggest you head back and read Chapter 29 and 30. Good day.
Thanks to tamu, Pyr00tje, Pen-Name-Kitsune-chan, Charrmed, The True Not Important and Sorry for the reviews!
Two figures traveled their way through the forest.
Both wore black robes with red clouds adorned on them, something that looked like a uniform. They also wore similar straw hats that hid their faces. The only difference passers-by could tell between them, was their ridiculous height difference.
One of the two was of normal height, however, his companion looked shorter than a child.
If one looked closely, he would see a sharp metal tail protruding from the back of the shorter one's back.
The taller of the two looked up, a smirk on his face.
"It looks like we're here... Sasori, my man."
"Deidara... Allow me to remind you this is simply a scouting mission," Sasori hissed. "Do not try anything drastic."
"Tsk. I know... hm."
Deidara and Sasori walked through the forest exit.
"Deidara, why do you always end your sentences with 'hm'?"
Deidara almost died. Sasori was trying to start a conversation! He smirked.
"Just the Iwa accent, hm."
The duo continued on until they reached their destination - the entrance of Konoha. Deidara observed the towering gates, impressed. "These gates are rather artistic, wouldn't you say, Sasori, my man?"
Sasori grunted. "I'll wait here... do your thing."
"Alright... hm."
"Make sure you aren't detected by anyone."
"Sure... hm."
Deidara dug his hand into the tool bag attached to his waist. The mouth on his hand began chewing up the white clay, and spat out a clay bird figurine. Deidara tossed it onto the ground, and it enlarged into a giant bird. Hopping onto his creation, the blonde took flight.
Sasori looked up into the air.
"I forgot to tell him to be quick... I hate waiting."
"Itachi... you will be sent on an A-Ranked mission."
Itachi seemed surprised at this.
"What of Team 7?"
"They will be doing their own little missions too. The invasion has left us extremely short-staffed. We need every single ninja out there working on missions at least twice a day. Even the academy instructors are going on their C-Ranks."
Itachi frowned, but nodded.
The Sandaime looked out the window.
"We have to pray something big doesn't happen in this period of time... if this goes on I'll be having to sent Genin on S-Ranked missions."
Itachi tensed, thinking of his younger brother. He then nodded, taking the mission scroll on the table, and departed.
The Crow summoner walked through the streets of Konoha, towards the entrance of the village, thinking about the invasion. Orochimaru, defeated, had called Oto's forces back, while Suna retreated after Oto.
A peace treaty had been signed between Suna and Konoha, and Itachi wondered how long that would last.
On instinct, the Uchiha man looked up, and frowned. A gigantic white bird was flying through the village, with a person standing on it.
This can't be good.
He ran after the bird, and witnessed it landing on the Hokage Monument.
Now...!
Crows covered the body of Itachi, much to the curiosity of the passers-by. As the crows vanished, so did their summoner.
Deidara made his clay bird disappear, and sat on the head of the First Hokage, looking at the village of Konoha.
"What a piece of art, hm," he nodded to himself. "Now, where should I start..."
Noticing a presence behind him, Deidara instantly sprang up and spun around.
"What are you doing in our village?" Itachi questioned.
"A Konoha nin, hm," Deidara smirked. "I got detected then. That's too bad."
"I'll ask one more time." Itachi's black pupils shifted into red. "What are you doing in our village?"
Deidara was taken aback. Is that... the Sharingan?
"Tsk, like I would tell you, hm." Deidara dug into his bag of clay. "Since you saw me, I'll just have to silence you."
Itachi snorted softly. "You can try." He closed his eyes, then opened them again, to reveal they'd changed once more.
What kind of Sharingan is that? Deidara frowned.
"You are going to die anyway, so I'll tell you, hm." Deidara withdrew his hand from the tool bag. "We are... the Akatsuki!"
"Akatsuki?" Itachi frowned. He'd never heard of the name.
"Haaaa!" Deidara flung what appeared to be small bird-styled projectiles towards his opponent. "Katsu!"
The bird projectiles exploded in Itachi's face.
With a victorious smirk on his face, the bomber turned around. "You seemed to be an impressive shinobi... I didn't expect you to go down to my first move... hm."
Then, he looked up sharply to see the same man he'd saw earlier, descending upon him with a raised katana. Gritting his teeth, Deidara tried to shield himself, but the sudden attack proved successful, as Itachi managed to severe his left arm.
"Arrrrrgh!"
Itachi attempted to severe his other arm, but Deidara kicked him away.
Deidara glared hatefully at him. "H-How did you..."
"Genjutsu," Itachi tapped his eyes. "You thought I was here, when I was really there." He got into a battle stance. "Don't underestimate the Uchiha."
"Damn you..."
Flinging eight shuriken towards Deidara, Itachi spat fireballs onto all of the throwing stars.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Shuriken Jutsu."
Deidara leaped away just in time, the burning shuriken flying past him.
I am weakened without my arm... and I don't want to expose my techniques. I've already exposed enough. Deidara growled. Now Konoha knows about the Akatsuki. Damn it. My man Sasori and Leader is not going to be happy.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu." A clone of Deidara appeared in front of him. Summoning his clay bird, Deidara leaped onto his creation, and took off. Itachi was about to go after, but then noticed the Deidara clone consuming the white clay and chewing it.
When he threw that clay at me... it exploded, then... shit.
"Self-Destructing Clone!"
The Deidara clone began growing in size.
Damn, he's going to destroy the Hokage Monument! Itachi remained calm, but on the inside he was panicking. Reacting quickly, he did a few hand seals.
"Water Style: Raging Waves!"
From Itachi's mouth came a blast of gushing water, sending the clone flying into the air of Konoha. The impact from the technique caused the clone to disperse, and at the same time, explode in mid-air.
Itachi looked on in relief, before rushing to report to the Hokage.
Deidara landed beside his partner, panting.
Sasori noticed his missing arm, and sighed in annoyance, understanding the situation.
"Deidara... you moron..."
"Hey, it was just my luck I ran into a strong shinobi, hm."
"We're going to be fighting Jinchuriki... if you can't even handle yourself against a normal ninja..." Sasori growled, as they began walking back into the forest.
"He was from the Uchiha clan, hm," Deidara defended.
"I could have probably killed him in two minutes," the tailed man snorted.
"Whatever you say, my man."
In his hideout in Oto, Orochimaru sat up, groaning. Even moving was painful.
"Orochimaru-sama, relax," Kabuto said worriedly. "Moving will only bring more pain."
Orochimaru wasn't pleased. "When will I recover?"
Kabuto had a doubtful look on his face. "I have no idea. The wounds of the Amaterasu are near impossible to treat."
"Then I'll just have to recover by taking over a new body," the Snake Sannin smirked.
Kabuto pushed his glasses up his nose. "Orochimaru-sama, does that mean..."
"Yes... Summon the Four. It is time."
Another incredibly short chapter, but hey, to be fair, the anime episodes are also of this length, but they happen to be one hour because of the camera zooming in on one of the characters' faces and staying there for two minutes whenever the particular character is shocked or taken by surprise. Also, battles are always extended through dramatic and unnecessary talking, so yeah. In the next chapter, the Sasuke Retrieval Arc truly begins. Until next time.