AN: I appreciate all of the reviews.

I'm going to start recommending other fan fictions that I've read and enjoyed in each chapter – a way to share good fictions. Right now I'm reading Black Cloaks, Red Clouds by Archontruth. The story is heavily AU. It's set in a world that explores what Konoha would be like if Orochimaru took the reins of power. Tenten is the main character. The quality is absolutely amazing and I highly recommend it.

Chapter 34: Hidan and Kakuzu

Team seven raced toward the eastern portion of their nation. Naruto had informed them that it was team eight that was in trouble and they were determined to get there in time. Kakashi was actually concerned about what team eight must have encountered. He had overseen their training and their teamwork was impressive. Team eight was essentially impervious to ambushes which meant they had run across shinobi who in an open fight were just plain stronger.

Kakashi advised Naruto, "Make a few clones every fifty miles; we need to cast a wide net. Team eight's target would have been on the move." Teams on long missions would check in at villages and send messenger hawks back to their home village. Unless of course the mission was covert. This meant that team seven had a rough idea where team eight should be.

Naruto did as instructed and poured on the speed. Everyone was worried about team eight. Even Sasuke was concerned however he was also excited at the prospect of facing a real foe. All of them hoped they would make it in time.

***BREAK***

As soon as Hidan and Kakuzu appeared Kurenai weaved a Genjutsu that showed dozens of kunai raining down on them all with explosive tags. She carefully observed how Hidan laughed and lashed out at the faux projectiles. Kakuzu didn't flinch in the slightest.

'The loud one will have to be my target,' she thought to herself.

The bug clone leapt at Hidan who scythed through it easily. Since they were actually made up of kikaichu it didn't hurt more than a couple of them. The rest swarmed around the scythe wielder and attempted to drain him of his chakra. They succeeded in draining some chakra but then promptly died, their insect bodies twitching madly.

Kakuzu charged at Kurenai moving at an impressive speed. One of the Kiba mud clones used Doton: Shinju Zanshu no Jutsu (Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu) to try to drag him into the ground. Kakuzu was too fast and when he felt the chakra gather he simply avoided the up thrust hands.

Kurenai used the body substitution jutsu to replace her body with a log. The log came from where the mud clone had risen from the earth. The red eyed jonin blurred through hand seals and used another Genjutsu. She targeted Hidan who was obviously less adept at detecting it. The vision that clouded his eyes inverted her and Kakuzu's positions. Hidan slashed forward at Kakuzu who dodged the sudden strike.

"Break the Genjutsu," Kakuzu's deep voice barked at Hidan.

Kurenai launched a real kunai with an explosive tag at Kakuzu's back as he tried to dodge the speedy scythe. The missing nin was hit by it blasting part of his clothing away. His skin was unmarred underneath it. Kakuzu dodged another strike and then placed his palm on Hidan and forcefully disrupted the Genjutsu with his own chakra.

Hidan looked stupidly around for a moment.

"Heh sorry about that."

Kurenai backed away heading north, away from the rest of her team. Hidan immediately charged after her. She used Magen: Jubaku Satsu (Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death) to pin him in place while the Kiba clone used the fuinjutsu scroll to launch kunai in a hail of death. Hidan was struck by at least twenty kunai. His upper torso was riddled with them but the pain allowed the Genjutsu to be broken.

"Hell that hurts I'm going to kill all of you!"

Kakuzu ignored his partner's complaints and raced toward Kurenai. Again Kurenai used the replacement jutsu to try to get away however Kakuzu had his senses attuned to her chakra and knew instantly where she was going. He used a shunshin to appear right in front of her and coated his arm with earth chakra delivering a vicious punch toward her chest.

Kurenai tried to twist away but Kakuzu was faster and nailed her across the shoulder. She gave a grunt of pain and rolled with the blow. Kakuzu came on and launched a quick kick to the side. Not able to dodge this one at all Kurenai blocked with her arm and felt it break. She allowed the blow to send her flying into the foliage.

Before Kakuzu could pursue both mud clones launched a quick Gatsuga (Fang over Fang) at Kakuzu. Their bodies rotating at incredible speeds and the drilling power struck Kakuzu like a ton of bricks. Due to Kakuzu's earth jutsu that protected his body from physical attacks he was not harmed. However the sheer momentum of the attack launched him off his feet and slammed him into a nearby tree. The two mud clones made ready to continue the attack but Kakuzu was too swift in his recovery. Both of his arms were launched from his body by a black string like substance that was under his skin.

His two hands clutched both mud clones by the throat and crushed them causing the mud to collapse. Since Hidan had primarily been hit in the torso his body was still able to move well enough even while it was healing. He raced toward the direction Kurenai had fallen but couldn't find her. He put his hands together and said, "Kai!" However he still couldn't find here.

Kakuzu had retracted his arms and probed with his senses. The jonin was hiding somewhere but she was suppressing her chakra as to not be detected. Both Akatsuki members looked around for a few moments. Kakuzu started to say, "We should…" before he was cut off by a humongous fireball raining down on the two of them from the sky.

Kakuzu could feel the heat, smell the burning air, hear the roaring fire and see its massive size. For just a split second he believed it was real. In that split second Kurenai dashed away again heading north. Hidan screamed for a few moments before he too broke off the Genjutsu.

The jonin was not their target but Kakuzu was getting extremely angry. His past rages had been legendary often leaving him with a dead partner. His anger was great enough to ignore for the time being the path that led to higher profits. He pushed chakra into his feet and chased after the wounded leaf kunoichi. Hidan followed in his wake.

Kurenai felt some small measure of triumph as the two S class nin began chasing her in the opposite direction of her team.

***BREAK***

Hinata's eyes saw the battle. Kurenai's self appointed task had been successfully and she was now drawing the enemy shinobi away from the rest of the team. She also saw that she was wounded. As her sensei ran she kept one arm tight to her body. If the enemy ninja caught up with her, Kurenai would stand no chance. Hinata's heartbeat threatened to override her control. Breathing calmly she forced her pulse to slow down. Every shred of chakra she had may be needed before the day was out and she couldn't afford to a waste a single bit of it.

***BREAK***

Kurenai sprinted at top speed freely using every ounce of her chakra control to give just the right push off the ground to go just a bit faster. The jonin swallowed a soldier pill to replenish the chakra she had used early in the chase and battle. She tossed makibishi behind her though she doubted it would do much. But even a tiny deviation in her opponent's rhythm could give her another inch, another foot and another second. Despite her all out sprint her enemies were gaining on her.

But they weren't gained on her as fast as before. Without her students with her she was able to go faster. And each step she took in the opposite direction would give her team more time to get away. It was better than standing still and fighting since the Akatsuki were making negative progress.

Kakuzu's hearts were pumping with rage. He couldn't believe an inferior shinobi was delaying him and his partner like this. Step by step they drew closer and closer. Kurenai forced her trembling muscles to push her onward. They were fifty feet away. Kurenai pushed more chakra than needed into her feet in order to leap into the air twist her body around and toss several shuriken one handed at her enemies. She completely the twist and landed back on her feet keeping her rhythm.

The shuriken had been aimed at the eyes. Kakuzu merely titled his head while Hidan blocked it with the scythe. "You're about to be sacrificed to Lord Jashin! Are you afraid? Tell me!"

Kakuzu looked at his partner, "We don't have time for your ritual save it for the others."

Kurenai glanced behind her. It was now only forty feet. Kurenai had to focus on the battle but thoughts came unbidden to her mind. How would Asuma take her death? They had grown closer together recently. They had even started talking about having a family.

Thirty feet.

Twenty feet.

She thought about her team. Would Hinata remain the Hyuga heiress or would she be branded like her cousin Neji? Would Kiba sink back into a depression now that his other parental figure was gone? Would Shino close himself from social situations even more? They were chunin now and not genin, it wasn't her responsibility but she cared. What would become of them?

Ten feet.

Hidan launched his scythe at her legs. Kurenai dodged to the side breaking her stride and allowing Kakuzu to catch up. His torn clothing revealed an arm whose skin was turned dark and earth like as it raced for her. Instead of attempting to block the attack she shoved it aside at an angle, thankful that she had taken Kakashi's advice and worked on her taijutsu.

The deflection allowed her time to jump of the ground and push off of Kakuzu using charka channeled to the soles of her feet. In mid air she flashed through the hands seals despite the broken arm for another Genjutsu designed to blind. Hidan ruthlessly broke the Genjutsu and Kakuzu simply didn't let it affect him. Kurenai landed on the ground and immediately had to dodge Hidan's attack. She dropped a smoke grenade onto the ground and suppressed her chakra. Hidan swiped where he thought she would be but missed.

Kakuzu positioned himself outside of the smoke, ready to strike regardless of the direction she went. She burst through the smoke only to be hit by Kakuzu's flying arm that had become detached. The blow caught her square in the face and bloodied her nose. Kakuzu sent the other arm flying and Kurenai rolled out of the way only for Hidan to strike down with his scythe. Kurenai used her kunai to intercept the descending blade trying to deflect it away. Hidan's strength was superior and the angle was wrong. Kurenai managed to push the blade away slightly but it still stabbed into her shoulder pinning her to the ground.

Kakuzu was then there as well and one earth colored arm shoved down on her neck choking her. He brought his face down next to Kurenai's and said, "You piece of trash I am etching the faces of your pathetic team in my memory. I will hunt each and every one of them down and kill them." Kurenai struggled against his superior strength as he spoke but it was futile. He allowed the kunoichi one last moment to dwell on the threat to her teammates before casually snapping her neck.

He stood up and growled, "They have an even larger lead on us now but there is no way they can make it to Konoha in time. Let's go." Hidan licked his scythe, "Fine but when we catch up to them one of them will be sacrificed to Jashin." Kakuzu nodded and the two took up the chase again.

***BREAK***

Despite Kakashi's training Hinata freely let tears course down her face. Kurenai had been her mentor and a parent figure. Yes she was a shinobi and had done her duty by turning Hinata into a shinobi that could kill for the village but she had done more than that. She had cared for her and comforted her through her trials. She had deserved better then to die like she had.

Hinata jumped from tree to tree gaining on Kiba and Shino. Kiba and Shino weren't going top speed. That was OK because not even shinobi could go at their absolute fastest pace for long. Instead they were travelling at a brisk pace which allowed Hinata the chance to catch up.

"We have to run faster. Go!"

Kiba asked, "What happened to Kurenai-sensei?"

Hinata looked down.

"Tell me what happened damn it!"

Hinata responded, "She's dead. I'm sorry but we must hurry they are still chasing us."

Kiba growled, halfway tempted to turn around and avenge his sensei. His grip tightened on the Kusa shinobi who had gotten them into this mess and he briefly considered killing the bastard. He didn't because that would be disgracing Kurenai's memory and making her sacrifice pointless. But it was tempting.

They travelled swiftly but the Akatsuki was rapidly closing the distance. The option of turning around and fighting was gone. They were all low on chakra from the long chase. Hope was beginning to fade when a Konoha ANBU arrived. Kiba sniffed the air, "Naruto?"

It wasn't actually Naruto of course but one of the clones he had sent out.

"Report quickly so I can dispel and guide the rest of my squad here."

Hinata spoke mechanically, "Two Akatsuki are chasing us. Kurenai-sensei is dead. The one with the scythe can regenerate and the other one is almost impervious to harm. Both are S classed. They are fifteen minutes behind us."

The clone was shocked to hear of Kurenai's death but quickly told the remnants of team eight to alter their course slightly so their team can intercept. After passing along the instructions the clone dissipated and the real Naruto jerked up.

"Damn it. Kurenai-sensei is dead and we need to intercept two S ranked Akatsuki."

Sasuke felt a surge of adrenaline rocket through his body, "Is one of them Itachi?"

Naruto shook his head, "No I only got a brief description but neither of them is Itachi."

Kakashi gave instructions, "First let the clones engage, we need to learn what they can do. Naruto I want a lot of wind jutsu from your clones thrown out that will allow Sasuke and my clones a distraction so we can strike. Sakura time your Genjutsu to distract, don't assume they will fall for it.

"Hai Kakashi-sensei," the team intoned as they raced into position.

Upon meeting up with the exhausted team eight Naruto made a dozen clones to escort them back to Konoha. Hinata stopped for a moment, "Naruto-kun please be careful." Naruto gave her a thumbs up and then brought up forty clones that he arrayed in the trees.

Sasuke and Kakashi each made a pair of clones that hid their chakra signature and moved out of sight. They had all been briefed about the Akatsuki. They were an organization whose goals were not clear. The organization seemed to be made up of exclusively powerful missing nin that had reputations that rivaled the Kage of the five major hidden villages.

***BREAK***

Kakuzu felt the chakra signatures ahead, "Looks like the brats found some backup."

"Good! More sacrifices for Jashin."

Forty ANBU attired figures were in the trees. Kakuzu's practiced eye saw the way each of them moved in a similar fashion and came to the conclusion they were clones. The first four Naruto clones attacked with Futon: Daitoppa (Wind Release: Great Breakthrough). Kakuzu quickly dodged out of the way while Hidan let out a whoop and let the wind smash him back into the trees.

Half a dozen clones went right and left seeking to surround the pair. Three other Naruto clones let loose with Futon: Shinkugyoku (Wind Release Vacuum Bullets) aimed at Kakuzu. Kakuzu hardened his skin with Doton: Domu (Earth Release: Iron Skin). The air bullets plinked through his robes and bounced off his toughened skin. Other Naruto clones raced after Hidan.

Kakuzu knew he was not facing amateurs. The jutsu were being fired off with precision and power. A couple of clones raced toward him drawing katanas. He wasn't concerned with dodging attacks; with his iron skin no physical attack could harm him. He blocked the first strike and was surprised by the force behind the blow. Nothing scratched his skin but he was knocked off balance by the strike. He struck back and the clone dodged, it could not afford to block an attack because it would dissipate. With that advantage and Kakuzu's skill in taijutsu he quickly finished off the two clones only for another pair of clones to launch more wind jutsu at him.

He felt another chakra signature flash next to Hidan and he called out a warning that was a moment too late. Hidan had been knocked back by the initial Futon jutsu. After he got up another ABNU masked shinobi pushed a Raikiri through his heart. Hidan shoved his scythe backwards and managed to nick the clone causing it to dissipate.

"FUCK that hurt!" Hidan clutched the hole in his chest. His body would heal but even he would fight less effectively with a giant hole in his chest. Kakuzu needed to take the fight seriously and in a moment he allowed his hearts to erupt out from his back.

When using his most powerful techniques he had to form the hand signs to unleash the jutsu from the corresponding heart. However for techniques not as strong the hearts could act independently. First he needed to clear the clones and find his real opponents. And for that he used Futon: Atsugai (Wind Release: Pressure Damage). The resulting explosion of air shattered trees and destroyed dozens of clones. Only a few managed to get away from the flying debris and sheer destructive power of the concentrated wind.

Only a second later another 40 clones appeared and countered with their own attacks. Kakuzu's fire heart used Katon jutsu turning back the wind jutsu on the clones. Another figure this one taller than the Futon wielding clones moved in close. Kakuzu was startled by his opponents speed. Lighting covered the man's hand as it raced for him. Raiton attacks were one of the few chakra types that could actually get past his Iron Skin. Kakuzu dodged away from the deadly jutsu and flipped through the hand seals for Raiton: Gian (Lightning Release: False Darkness). The deadly bolt of lightning obliterated a path through the clone however the clone had instantly used the substitution technique and came at Kakuzu again.

Yet another attacker presented itself hurling slivers of lighting in the shape of senbon at his masks. His masks dodged the attacks but it was a close thing. The clone gathered lightning in its fist and charged. Behind Kakuzu he could feel additional clones of the Futon user racing for him. Kakuzu hardened his skin again the inevitable katana strike and prepared to dodge the Chidori.

The Chidori crackled with pent up energy and Kakuzu again evaded the attack and accepted the katana attack to his backside. The problem was at the last second one of the clones at his back used the substitution technique to change places with the Chidori wielding clone. In a split second Kakuzu sensed the danger and twisted his body. The clone with the aid of the Sharingan compensated but didn't quite get a strike onto his opponent's heart. However the lightning current did deaden a good portion of the black strings that made up his internal body.

In response Kakuzu flung his dark innards in all directions, a shadow clone only needed to be grazed in order to be defeated so this popped the Chidori wielding clone as well as the Naruto clones around him. He spared a glance to where Hidan was and stiffened in dismay. Somehow Hidan have been carved up like a turkey. Kakuzu could sense there was a lingering chakra signature around him which meant the fool had been hit with another Genjutsu. And that had lead to a half dozen of the Futon user's clones to slice him into a multitude of pieces. If Kakuzu had time he could stitch Hidan back together but his opponents were not letting up.

The air became saturated with kunai as the clones used the same fuinjutsu scrolls as the mud clones had earlier. His masks were sturdy enough to take a kunai but they didn't have the benefit of his Doton: Domu (Earth Release: Iron Skin). Enough hits could shatter them. Fortunately for Kakuzu they were nimble and could even make gaps in the black threads to allow the kunai to pass through them.

Kakuzu again thinned out the area with Futon: Atsugai (Wind Release: Pressure Damage) and yet again more clones sprang to take the place of the one's dissipated. Some of these clones rushed his masks with their katanas. His hearts countered with independent low level jutsu. Lighting strikes, blasts of water, miniature fireballs and wind bullets were all used to stop the clones from getting in close.

The fight taxed even Kakuzu's intellect as clones, projectiles and jutsu filled the air. He felt a tendril of a Genjutsu attempt to disorient him within the chaos but he ruthlessly released the effect. A clone slashed at him and he killed it quickly with his black threads only for it to explode with the strength of multiple explosive seals. Hot metal shrapnel also pelted the area of the explosion. Luckily for Kakuzu his Iron Skin was purely reflexive from his long years of using it. Still the explosion rocked him backwards.

Pillars rose up around where he landed and he quickly identified the jutsu as Raiton: Shichu Shibari (Lighting Release: Four Pillar Bind). His body arced as electricity froze his muscles. He mentally directed the Futon heart to blast the air with Futon: Atsugai (Wind Release: Pressure Damage) which would break the Raiton jutsu but not do him any harm. The plan was successful however with the Futon mask's attention directed elsewhere another figure with a blade coated in chakra sliced through the mask like a hot knife through butter.

Kakuzu figured this was the real ANBU agent and he had been responsible for all the clones. He directed his Raiton heart to let loose with Raiton: Gian (Lightning Release: False Darkness) but two clones interfered by unleashing lighting's opposite element via the C ranked Futon: Daitoppa (Wind Release: Great Breakthrough). False Darkness was a stronger attack however wind naturally defeated lightning.

Lightning senbon forced Kakuzu to dodge away right into the arms of an apparent taijutsu specialist. Kakuzu wasn't worried about getting hit with physical attacks but he wasn't able to land a solid blow either. Unlike his kick against the Genjutsu woman his opponent could block his attacks and not suffer broken bones.

Again a Genjutsu tried to invade his chakra network and he flooded it out. In that same instant his opponent grabbed his arm, and flipped through one handed seals and coated his hand with lightning. Kakuzu broke the grab and danced away from the blow of the lightning chakra only for it to extend out and smash into his chest from 10 feet away.

"I call that one Chidori Eiso (Chidori Spear)," a smug voice told him. Kakuzu collapsed on the ground. His hearts knew what to do and the Raiton one blasted lightning at the one who had speared him. The ANBU masked shinobi dodged away and the Suiton mask jumped into Kakuzu's body. The Katon mask burned a circle around Kakuzu's body keeping back any opponents.

Kakuzu's heart began pumping chakra through his frame again just in time to see the chakra conductive katana wielder flash through the hands seal for a summoning. In a flash he used the body substitution technique to escape the arrival of a gigantic toad. The massive magenta colored beast would have pulverized his body and his heart if it had come down on him.

For the first time in a very long time Kakuzu felt fear. Two of his hearts were destroyed leaving the Raiton and Katon natured hearts. The Suiton heart was inside his chest.

"I'll bit your throats out let me go heathens!"

Kakuzu burned with rage at how easily his partner had been taken down. If he had someone like Sasori with all his puppets or even Deidra with his explosions he wouldn't be in this mess.

The massive toad wielded a Sasumata that was swung with vicious speed at his Katon mask. Kakuzu wanted to get rid of the massive create as fast as possible. The mask danced backward and then Kakuzu flashed through the hand seals for Katon: Zukokku (Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work). A roar of fire screamed toward the massive toad. The futon using shinobi jumped right into its path and crossed his arms. Kakuzu's green eyes widen in shock. The jutsu just… stopped as it connected with the ANBU operative. Bits of fire leaked past it since the fireball was quite large but it wasn't enough to cause significant harm to the toad.

'What kind of defense is that? This is impossible!'

The leaf shinobi wasn't done quite yet and threw a trio of chakra laced kunai directly at the mask. The mask dodged the first two but was struck square in the center with the third, it cracked instantly and the black threads turned to slush.

His Raiton focused heart was busy frying clones as they swarmed around him. Kakuzu had yet to draw blood on any of his opponents. Disgusted with his failure he used the shunshin to get some distance and began to sprint away. Clones chased after him. The irony of what was happening was lost on him. Just a couple of hours earlier he had chased an outclassed shinobi to her death and now the same was happening in reverse.

He felt his Raiton heart become crushed and he pumped chakra into his feet to gain distance. Yet another shinobi appeared before him hands already moving for a jutsu. Kakuzu shifted to the right hoping to dodge the attack but his opponent either guessed or sensed the direction he was going to and compensated. Raiju Hashiri no Jutsu (Lightning Beast Running Technique) was used and in Kakuzu's eyes he saw a massive canine creature speed out from his adversary's hands and close the distance to him in a fraction of a second. The jutsu electrocuted every fiber of his body paralyzing his nerve endings, chakra pathway and ability to think. A half second later a fist full of lighting crashed into his chest and stilled his final heart.

AN: Sorry Kurenai fans but I felt it would be a cop out to let her survive (I did think about it though). For those keeping track here is the list of people dead, alive or stronger due to the changes in the fiction prior to the main events of Shippuden.

Alive: Gekko Hayate and Kidomaru

Dead: Orochimaru, Kabuto, Gaara, Tenzo, Tsume, Kurenai and Kakuzu

Stronger: Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, Kakashi, Hinata, Kiba, Shino and Iruka

I think this is realistic – it's really lame in anime how rare death is. It takes tension away from fights IMO. Also sorry if there are any Hidan fans out there but the guy is worthless. Take away the ridiculous anime concept of letting an opponent do something while you stop and stare… team seven would never have let him do the ritual even if someone had been tagged. The guy is a moron, is good with his scythe and has no area attacks. Basically a chump. Kakuzu was much tougher but considering he was up against two Raiton specialists it was a bad matchup to go 4v1 on. As always I appreciate your reviews and thoughts!

I'd also like some thoughts on how you liked the fight from the opposite POV. It was through mostly Kakuzu's eyes that we saw the action which is why there frequent references to "ANBU" when team seven isn't an official part of ANBU. Did it work? I tried to make it obvious which character was doing what based on the descriptions but what makes sense in my mind doesn't always translate.