"A hero is born among a hundred, a wise man is found among a thousand, but an accomplished one might not be found even among a hundred thousand men." -Plato
Chapter 38- Goodbye
Naruto flinched as he felt the last of his clones dispel from Kakuzu's rather impressive repertoire of jutsu.
"Stupid ningen," Kyuubi commented as it sat within its cage, "I had to withdraw from that attack because the damn ningen had six lives; this is a blight I won't allow to go unanswered." A deep growl accentuated the great Bijuu's words.
Naruto grunted lightly in response, "There's no shame in withdrawing when necessary, the guy is one life light because of your fighting and, considering we couldn't use Genjutsu against either of them, they could be some of the harder ones for us to defeat in Akatsuki," Naruto thought back to his partner.
There was a reason Naruto hadn't simply used a Genjutsu to incapacitate his opponents and retrieve Yugito. Naruto had attempted to do just that once he found them. Naruto had dropped his Kyuubi cloak hours before he had located his target. He had then sent out clones to ascertain the location of his opponent. They hadn't been very hard to find, the only source of chakra besides the trees and underbrush for miles around them. He had snuck up on them and cast his Genjutsu against them. Unfortunately, Naruto had quickly realized that his Genjutsu hadn't worked and decided that a display of power may cause a distraction that he could use to get Yugito off, who he now knew was, Hidan's shoulder.
As such, he had retreated a few miles away before he summoned his cloak once more and dashed to his fellow container's rescue. Naruto had smiled as he felt the familiar chakra once more, just as he burst through the trees to behold his true enemies.
Though he had been forced to, ultimately, retreat, Naruto had also gained valuable intelligence on the Akatsuki pair known as the Immortals.
The first was of Hidan, the man whom didn't seem to die even through life-threatening wounds and how he used a ritual that supposedly hurt the one whom was 'cursed' by the ritual. This ritual contained a circle of blood, empowered by chakra, to be drawn on some surface Hidan had to stand in. Also, was that the ritual could be broken. The question about this was how exactly the ritual was activated and how it could be broken. Of course, Naruto had multiple theories about how it could be broken as he considered how Kyuubi had destroyed the ritual circle, distance, or if there was some still unknown factor that Naruto couldn't figure out or didn't know about.
Then there was Kakuzu, the man who used elemental jutsu like they were kunai. As of his final clone, Naruto knew the man had the capability of utilizing every single elemental jutsu with the exception of lightning. Not only was the man as versatile as Kakashi, he was also as indestructible as his counterpart. After having witnessed Kyuubi's recollection of its brief fight with Kakuzu, in which Kyuubi acted like a blood crazed monster, which meant it attacked with a ferocious, quick set of attacks while it disregarded any jutsu thrown at it, Naruto had quickly learned this man was capable of taking death hits with little to no visible damage to his person, and he used thick black tendrils which emanated from his body, much like his chakra tails. All in all, Naruto was acutely aware of the reason they were called the Immortals.
Naruto looked across the room to the sleeping blonde on the bed of the room he had rented for the night. Yugito had been successfully saved from the Akatsuki, for the time being. Kyuubi's intense speed had overtaken the clone which had initially taken Yugito. The clone had passed Yugito off to the Kyuubi clone before it turned and attempted to delay the Immortals to give Naruto time to get away. Naruto had been slightly surprised when Kyuubi hadn't even seemed to register the fact he was holding yet another person as the clone sped away from Kakuzu and Hidan with a speed that left even him surprised. Of course, once he realized that Kyuubi was going to get away, Naruto set into motion a plan which would leave no risk to himself. He had quickly concentrated on having his depleted chakra heal his leg enough to make it where he could stand before he summoned as many clones as possible to spread themselves among the trees to gain more intelligence on his enemies as well as provide a nice distraction to the Immortals. Sadly, they had not lasted nearly as long as Naruto had wanted.
That had been almost a day ago, and now Naruto was waiting for Samui to meet up with him before he moved from his current position. He had sent messages to both the Raikage and the Hokage to let them know the position he found himself in. He had yet to receive anymore orders and he was content to let Yugito recover from her injuries before he moved again.
Early the next morning, Naruto's eyes snapped open at the sound of Yugito's low groan. He quickly moved next to her and met her eyes, an action which brought a smile to her lips as she raised her arm from the bed and placed it against his cheek. "You kept your word," she said softly to him. Naruto's eyes flashed and he smiled as she rubbed her fingers across his whisker marks.
"Did you think I wouldn't?" he asked cheekily. Naruto felt quite pleased with himself even though he hadn't killed those whom hurt Yugito so badly. He hadn't seen Yugito since their partnership during the Chuunin exams three years ago, but he certainly hadn't forgotten the feeling of camaraderie she had shared with him during that very brief period of time.
Yugito smiled wider as she let her hand fall back to her side, "I never doubted you." She answered softly as she shifted in bed, and attempted to rise to a sitting position. Naruto assisted her by bracing her back with his hand and let her rest against the headboard of her bed as she slowly worked blood into her sore limbs. Naruto stepped back and gave her room to work as she came to full awareness finally looked at him again, and seemed to size him up before she spoke. Instead of the response he had expected, Naruto was surprised when Yugito's eyes shone softly at him, "I missed you," she admitted with a small smile.
Naruto's surprise must have shown because she chuckled lightly before he responded, "Me too," he said, though it may not have been as heartfelt as her sentiment, Naruto found he had missed the Kumo kunoichi or, perhaps, he just enjoyed the warm feeling that her tender touch induced inside him. While he had grown more physically familiar with Samui, the woman had yet to have touched him in such a soft and comforting way.
Yugito smiled a little wider as she looked at him before her smile seemed to disappear, "What happened?" she asked.
Naruto sighed and ran a hand through his hair before he explained his very short fight with the Immortals and his subsequent successful plan that put them out of reach of the dangerous Akatsuki pair. Yugito listened closely and nodded her head when he was finished. It was just as he was finishing his story that Naruto's head snapped up and to the side. Yugito blinked in surprise as Naruto's eyes seemed to mist over as he stared at the wall opposite him. A few moments later, Naruto's eyes refocused and he looked back at Yugito, "Samui's found us," he said as way of explaining his brief distraction, "She's moving into the town as we speak, she should be in the hotel shortly." Yugito smiled widely even as her stomach growled loudly. Yugito blushed lightly as Naruto chuckled, "Well, you haven't eaten in almost 2 days so it's not too surprising. Do you want to order some room service or do you want to wait for Samui to join us and we can all go eat?" he asked.
"I can wait." Yugito said quickly even as she attempted to get up from her bed. Naruto waited before he tried to help her; he didn't want to insult her if she could do it without his help. Lucky for him, Yugito looked a bit unsteady but she was capable of walking on her own and he smiled at her when she looked back at him. Yugito's cheeks dusted a light pink as she took a few steadying steps before she really knew she could withstand walking and began to pace the room to get her blood pumping.
Naruto stood, moved to the door, and opened it as soon as Samui stepped up to it. Yugito's surprised look brought a small smirk to Samui's face as she stepped into the room without stopping her stride and Naruto smiled lightly behind her as he closed the door. Samui walked straight over to Yugito and wrapped the younger kunoichi into a brief but strong hug, which resulted in an even more bewildered Yugito. Samui stepped back and her smirk turned to a smile as she beheld her friend, "I'm glad you're okay," she said quietly.
Yugito blinked once before a smile took her face as well, "I have your partner to thank for that," she replied and both women looked over at Naruto with looks of thanks. Naruto smiled and ran a hand through his hair, a nervous tick he still couldn't get rid of. He chuckled lightly as both women enjoyed his slightly nervous stance at the fact that he was now facing two thankful women that knew him. Samui smirked at him, even as Yugito smiled.
Thankfully, Yugito's stomach decided to remind them of what Naruto and Yugito had been talking about before Samui appeared and Naruto took that moment to break the nervousness he felt by standing in front of these two women, "Well, we should probably get something to eat before we rest," he supplied. Both women's eyes gleamed, both knew that he had used that as an excuse, but neither questioned him as they both moved to flank him and preceded him out of the room.
Once they were finished eating, they all headed back towards the hotel, a comfortable silence pervaded their little group. The meal had been spent in companionable silence, with a few questions asked and answered between the three, but nothing important was really discussed because of the lack of private area. It was just as they were about to enter the hotel that Yugito spoke up, "Both of you are going to rest?" she asked.
Naruto and Samui shared a look before they both nodded, Naruto hadn't been doing anything strenuous since his fight almost two whole days ago, but he had also been kept awake by a need for security and the dispelling of his clones. Samui had been running from Suna and hadn't had a true rest since the night they had spent in Suna. "Well, I've been sleeping for two days, I need to work off some energy," she explained to their questioning stares, "So, I'm going to go do a bit of training nearby, nothing that'll get me noticed, just some taijutsu stuff." She explained.
Naruto and Samui nodded before Naruto formed a cross-shaped seal with his hands and five clones appeared on the road next to them, "Here's the key to your room, and they'll create a perimeter to alarm us if you are attacked while training," Naruto explained to Yugito before Yugito and her escort jumped into the nearby trees to search for a clearing to work in.
Naruto looked at Samui and Samui locked eyes with him before she turned away, a light pink dusted her cheeks as she moved into the hotel and spoke to him as he turned towards the front desk, "We will share a room."
Naruto didn't even blink an eye as he turned back to Samui and regarded her for a moment even as she headed back up the stairs towards the room she must have rented before she came to the room he had rented for Yugito and himself. With a shrug, Naruto followed his partner up the stairs and into her room.
When he entered, the first thing he noticed was that Samui had rented a room with just a single bed inside it. At this point, Naruto supposed it didn't matter if they slept in different beds or not, after you considered what had happened in Suna. Samui wasted no time as she walked straight to the bathroom and closed the door, which allowed him to look at the rest of the room, which looked just like the one he had rented with Yugito. Naruto waited patiently as Samui bathed, he was happy that he had taken advantage of the bathroom in his old room before this since he was still fresh from his previous shower earlier the same day.
Sooner than Naruto thought, he heard the water stop in the bathroom and he heard the door open. Naruto's jaw seemed to unhinge as he desperately fought not to lose his cool as Samui stepped out from the bathroom. Naruto blinked rapidly, two emotions warred within him as he hoped that what he saw was untrue, yet true. After a few moments, Naruto finally managed to get his head to process the image that was presented to him but he was left little time to enjoy it as Samui, in only her bra and panties, a vivid blue that clashed and complemented her eyes, moved across the room and pulled the sheets of the bed back before crawling into it. Samui wiggled around in the bed for a moment before she seemed to find a comfortable spot, by which time Naruto had managed to put his eyes back inside his head and close his mouth, before she looked at Naruto with the same look she had given him in Suna. Naruto let out an audible gulp even as he noticed that Samui's eyes seemed to gleam at him.
For a moment, just a moment, Naruto entertained the idea that Samui was doing this in some attempt to get him to surrender to his baser desires, before he cast the thought aside with a vicious mental snarl at the thought of Samui acting as such. Samui was an illusionist, but she was also very direct about her body and herself, she wouldn't display herself if she didn't want to. Samui didn't enjoy bringing attention to her body unless she specifically wanted it but she also didn't want to be ogled like a piece of meat by just any man.
Naruto shivered as he felt his arousal in his pants stiffen from the scene Samui had displayed but he also dared not to incite her wrath, their partnership was coming to an end shortly and he really didn't want to ruin that with disregarding her command that they share a bed, something he actually enjoyed when he noticed the way her body had curled next to him in Suna. Despite his slight erection, Naruto quickly divested himself of his shirt and pants, which left him in just his boxers. This also left his arousal very apparent but he disregarded that as he moved to the bed and crawled into bed on the opposite side of Samui. Naruto was slightly surprised when Samui turned her body and lay on her side so she could look at him while he lay on his back in the bed. With nary a sound, they both met each other's eyes before they slowly slipped into unconsciousness.
In an eerily similar position as the last time Naruto and Samui had slept together, both ninja were awakened by the puff of smoke that appeared inside their room. Naruto quickly sat up, and allowed the covers on his chest to fall down to his waist even as Samui's bra-clad breasts appeared at the same time. Naruto did have to fight his male instinct to look at those tantalizing womanly flesh even as his eyes tracked over to where the puff of smoke dissipated to reveal a messenger toad. Naruto sighed heavily as his kunai was placed back under his pillow as Samui pulled the covers over her breasts since she didn't need the freedom of movement pooled sheets would have given her.
"My apologies Naruto-sama, I didn't mean to disturb your rest," the messenger toad said with little actual sorrow in his voice. Naruto waved it off, while he found he did wish he could have enjoyed waking with Samui next to him, he realized that he couldn't really fault the messenger toad for doing his job. "I have a missive from the Hokage and Raikage for you and your partner," the toad said as he held out a single scroll to Naruto. Naruto reached out and took the scroll.
"Thank you, Gamaza," Naruto said as he finally recognized the toad which had delivered the message. The toad bowed and disappeared in another puff of smoke. Naruto looked over to Samui, who was looking at the scroll with a critical eye even as she let the covers fall to her waist yet again, which revealed even more tantalizing womanly flesh than Naruto was truly comfortable with. Naruto took a steadying breath before he unrolled the small scroll and placed it on the bed so both shinobi could read it.
By order of the Hokage and Raikage, Shinobis Uzumaki Naruto, Nii Samui, and Nii Yugito are to return to Konohagakure once all three shinobi have gathered together. Reports indicate that the Akatsuki have moved towards Hi no Kuni and have, temporarily, forgone trying to track you. Your team is to make their way to the Fire Temple directly inside of Hi no Kuni's borders to report in and receive basic medical evaluations before returning to Konohagakure.
Upon your return to Konohagakure, Nii Yugito and Nii Samui shall be escorted back to Kumogakure, the joint mission assignment has been cancelled early in response to Akatsuki's early movement.
-Signed, Senju Tsunade, Godaime Hokage.
Naruto and Samui looked at the scroll for a few more moments before Naruto picked it up and rolled it back up. Naruto felt mixed feelings on returning to his home village and those also conflicted with the ending of his partnership with Samui. Naruto placed the scroll on the table next to his bed, all the while, he felt slightly happy to be going home but slightly sad that his partnership with such a perfect complement to his skills was ending.
Naruto ran a hand through his hair and eased himself back down into the bed. He lay on his back and looked at the roof of the hotel for a moment before movement from Samui brought his attention. Naruto's eyes widened as Samui's hand came behind her body and grasped the clasp of her bra before deftly she deftly unclasped it which allowed her bra to sag slightly before it slipped off her shoulders. Naruto blinked and Samui tossed the blue bra away before she turned to Naruto with gleaming blue eyes. Naruto's entire body shivered as his blood pumped south from the sight of Samui's very enticing upper body.
Samui seemed to smirk at him as she shuffled under the sheets and laid her entire body on top of him, which crushed her soft breasts against his chest with a feeling Naruto could only describe as delicious. Naruto found he enjoyed the weight of Samui as her entire body rested upon him, his arousal knocked against her thighs as she pressed his legs open and around her own. Slowly, Samui lowered her head, which gave Naruto plenty of time to do anything, but Naruto watched her head descend upon his and her lips captured his own.
For a torturous moment, Naruto had a flashback to his first kiss with Kurenai, the soft feel of her full lips as they pressed against his. The way her hand had curled around his head before she grabbed his hair in an attempt to control his head. How she had massaged his lips and drawn him in. The fruity smell of the shampoo she used in her hair. The small moans she had made even when he didn't kiss her correctly.
This kiss was certainly like it in some aspects but Naruto slammed his brain off at that thought as he hesitantly responded to Samui's very forward advance on him. Her hair smelled of sword polish with a metallic tinge from her ever present sword. He smiled against her lips as she moaned when he sucked on her lower lip before he pulled away and looked away, slightly confused on what she wanted.
Samui's eyes remained closed for a few moments as her lips moved. It almost seemed as if she were trying to memorize what they had done before she opened her eyes. It was a few moments later before she opened her eyes and Naruto felt his arousal now pressing even more insistently against her thigh as she shifted against his body, her soft breasts felt very nice against his body but the feel of her feminine body pressed all along his body certainly helped to induce his current state. The softness of her curves and the obvious comfort of having a female fit so perfect atop his body struck Naruto suddenly.
Before Naruto let his instinct take over, however, Samui opened her eyes and stared into his own before she spoke, "I like you," she whispered into his skin as her chin rested on his chest. Naruto felt a chuckle bubble up in his breast but kept it down as she stared at him, "I've never felt comfortable with another man and I don't want to let you leave without experiencing this," she said plainly as she ground her body onto his, which let her own clothed privates rub against his hard one. "I'm tired of being alone and I liked our partnership, I want to do this." She said softly.
Naruto's eyes flashed and a moment of indecision ripped through him as he thought of what Samui was offering before he spoke, "I like you too, Samui-chan." He answered just as softly as he leaned up and captured her lips in a kiss. Samui responded immediately and Naruto felt himself harden even more from her actions. The two broke apart with flushed faces and heaving chests as the two attempted to catch their breath. The effect of Samui's face being so close to Naruto's was intense as he felt and smelled her breath mingle with his even as her breaths pushed air against his lips. This time, when Naruto started to lean forward to recapture Samui's lips, Samui dipped her head and the two met in a fantastic explosion of passion that brought moans of need from both their mouths.
Naruto woke the next morning with a peacefully sleeping Samui laid upon his body, his morning wood rested within her wonderful warmth. Naruto groaned very lowly when Samui seemed to shift above him and the action not only brought immediate pleasure but also a reminiscent moan from his lips as he remembered the passionate night Samui and he had just shared. Naruto was slightly surprised when, instead of being horny and wanting to continue their actions from the night before, he was extremely content as he registered the familiar and comforting weight of his partner upon his body as well as the naturalness of being connected to her in the way he was.
Naruto looked up at Samui's face and smiled when he saw the small smile that graced her lips as she laid upon him, completely naked and, seemingly, completely satisfied. Truthfully, this was the first time he had seen a true smile on her face. Naruto felt a strong urge to claim her slightly bruised lips once more but refrained as he allowed his body to relax under Samui, a measure to ensure Samui slept as long as she wished, and let his eyes wander the naked skin he could see all while he enjoyed the… rightness of how this felt.
Naruto didn't really keep track of the time as he watched his partner sleep, and he was slightly disappointed when he felt her tense from their position when she woke. Samui's small smile blossomed into a true smile as she raised her head, her eyes fluttered open, and she leaned forward to capture his lips in a kiss. Naruto eagerly met her lips and they shared a passionate kiss before Samui pulled away, purposefully sat up, and straddled Naruto's hips, which drove his member as deep into her as possible. Samui had made small motions while she kept which left Naruto in a permanent state of arousal but it had never been enough to increase his libido. It had been hard for him to resist reciprocating her actions but he barely managed. Naruto groaned and Samui smirked at him, "Still not satisfied?" she asked sultrily even as her hips began to move in a tantalizing circle.
Naruto let loose another groan even as his hands grasped her hips and pulled her towards him, which buried him inside her to the hilt, "Never," he growled at her and Samui's smirk widened as the two let their passions run once again.
Naruto and Samui lay next to each other; Samui had landed on her side when her finish had drawn all the strength from her body. Both shinobi were panting slightly as they looked at the ceiling in contentment. Naruto's thoughts were just beginning to sober and turn back to the outside world when Samui dragged herself out of the bed. Naruto's eyes instantly snapped to her body and he felt a twitch of arousal, which surprised even him at the amount of times he and Samui had already done it, as he noticed the dried and newly dripping fluids that trickled down her thighs. Samui sent a sultry look over her shoulder, their coupling had certainly opened a side of Samui that Naruto could picture every man wished Samui would show to them. "I'm going to take a shower," she said with that purring quality Naruto now knew meant she was aroused.
Naruto nodded at her, "I'll go after, and we need to meet Yugito."
Samui's eyes faltered slightly before she turned to him, which presented her perfect breasts to his eyesight, red marks adorned them where he had used them for handhold the night before even as he was allowed to see the fresh load dribble from her abused lower lips, "When I said I," Samui started slowly as she leaned over the bed, which had her breasts dangle in front of him teasingly, "I meant we," she whispered as she grabbed his arm and dragged him from the bed. Samui smiled at him as she eyed his slowly hardening tool, "Yugito can wait, the outside world can wait, I want you" she said huskily as she slammed the bathroom door behind them.
After Samui and Naruto had finished in the shower, the two partners exited and dressed, the outside world crashed upon them as they remembered that this would probably be the only time they experienced such a sensation with each other. Inter-village relationships would be a strain that most shinobi couldn't handle, not to mention the suspicion that would follow the both of them that they might not follow their Kage's orders. By unspoken rule, they both knew that what they had shared would stay in this room and never leave, they would be partners when they left but the intimate setting of the room led to both shinobi being reluctant to leave. Naruto and Samui sat upon the bed, next to each other with Samui's head on Naruto's shoulder, but it was much too soon, in Naruto's opinion, that he had to say, "We need to go."
Samui rubbed her head against his shoulder once more; both of them enjoyed that closeness as Samui sighed heavily and stood. Naruto followed her and they quickly reached the door. Samui's hand reached for the handle but Naruto suddenly grasped her from behind, spun her around, and kissed her as passionately as he ever had before. Samui responded immediately, and crushed herself against him in an attempt that he thought was to get their bodies to meld together even through their clothes. Too soon, the couple broke apart and stared into each other's eyes before they straightened their clothes and stepped out of the room, their relationship returned to what it had been with none the wiser.
Naruto had a sneaking suspicion that Yugito knew what Samui had done since she had looked suspicious of the both of them until they showed her the message they received the night before. As soon as she stopped reading it, her eyes had locked with Samui's before she sent her a secretive smile, like she knew what had happened, and then handed the message back to Naruto with a wink. Naruto had managed to keep his face mostly composed but when Samui had stumbled, he had almost laughed when she sent him a pointed look. Regardless, the night before was never actually spoken about as the three shinobi ate their meal and then took to the trees outside the town to make their way towards the Fire Temple.
Naruto and his companions took their time getting to the Fire Temple across the border from where they had been. They were all slightly tired from their fights but also slightly eager to get home. Of course, they also weren't in a very big rush to get home to just be sent on another mission so they took their time for now.
It was as they reached the Fire Temple that they realized something was wrong. Naruto's eyes widened as his sensor told him of the low chakra levels of the five people he could sense within the compound. Naruto turned to his two companions and motioned to them about what he could sense. Both Kunoichi tensed as they prepared for battle even as they reached the path which led to the fabled Fire Temple.
All three dropped down onto the path and stepped lightly but quickly towards the busted doors of the Fire Temple walls, their eyes darted across the landscape to keep them aware of their surroundings as they approached the decimated gates.
When they reached the gates, Naruto held his hand up and let Yugito and Samui take one side of the gate before he slowly poked his head into the area and then pulled back. He waited a few moments, which let both Samui and Yugito tell him they had seen nothing move, before he entered the broad area swiftly.
Naruto's teeth grit when he noticed the destroyed temple and the bodies of the ninja monks lying on the floor. His eyes quickly scanned the rubble even as he noticed that four of the five chakras dissipated at an accelerated rate as the life left the bodies which had housed it. Naruto moved quickly towards the only remaining living chakra source, a bleeding man at the edge of the open area. Samui and Yugito flanked him as he moved forward, their eyes roved all over the place looking for threats.
Naruto knelt down by the man when he reached him and entered into the man's fading eyesight, "What happened?" Naruto asked.
The man's eyes grew hazy at Naruto's question but the man did force his eyes towards Naruto. His eyes locked upon Naruto's Hitai-ate as he replied, "They came here for Chiriku-sensei," he whispered. Naruto's eyebrows furrowed as the man took a breath and licked his parched lips, "The two didn't die even after Chiriku-sensei's attack, they are abominations, Immortals." All three shinobi's eyes widened as they heard the final word.
Naruto took a moment before he shifted in front of the man, "Did they wear black cloaks with red clouds on them?" he asked urgently, "did they say where they were going?"
The man took a shuddering breath, opened his mouth, let out a deep sigh as his eyes misted over, and his body slumped into the limp release of death. Naruto cursed underneath his breath as he closed the man's eyes in respect for the recently dead man. Naruto bowed his head and said a silent prayer for the large amount of dead within the temple. It was when he raised his head that he noticed that his two companions were looking at a Bounty Book in their hands. He raised an eyebrow as he looked at the two of them before Samui held the book out in a silent invitation to see what they had. His eyes widened when he saw the reward offered for the head of one Chiriku by an organization with no name.
"I know where the Black market exchange point is closest to here," Samui commented after he looked at the two, "It's not too far and these corpses aren't more than a day and a half old," she explained with a smirk that spoke of how eager she was to follow the ones who had hurt her friend and partner.
Naruto's eyes flickered to Yugito, who smiled viciously, "I'm all for getting them back for ambushing me," she said as Nibi's chakra flared from within her. Naruto smirked as he looked at their burning gazes.
"I've never been one for following orders anyways," he said in slight jest while the two women shared vindictive smiles and Naruto gestured for Samui to lead the way to where they had to go.
Naruto's hair stood on end as a very familiar voice cried out in desperation, "Asuma!" his eyes shot over to his companions and Samui blurred forward, the sound of her sword rang through the air as Naruto moved to intercept the man who was attempting to stop her own trajectory.
A metallic clang sounded throughout the open road as Samui's sword plunged into the ground in front of the three-bladed scythe meant for the grey-skinned Hidan. "Fuuton- Dai-Kamaitachi!" Naruto's own attack carved the ground as Kakuzu leaped back from his placement on the ground.
Naruto landed on the ground between Kakuzu and his partner even as Hidan's eyes widened at the loss of the pain he had wanted to experience. Samui stood atop her sword, her foot rested upon its hilt even as lightning chakra spiked from the metal blade and into the bloody circle beneath her. Hidan screamed in pain, or pleasure, Naruto never could tell, as the blood on the ground fried into a blackened piece of ground underneath him. Surprisingly, Asuma was not screaming in pain from his incapacitated place on the ground.
Naruto smirked as Yugito landed next to Shikamaru's haggard self. Izumo and Kotetsu looked on in confusion as Naruto's companions quickly turned a very desperate situation into a more favorable one as Samui quickly kicked Hidan back and out of his circle, removed her sword so his scythe laid upon the ground, and proceeded to smash her foot onto the ground, which destroyed the ground she was standing on into a small crater of rubble.
"Well, well, the Jinchuuriki come back to us on their own," came Kakuzu's smirking comment.
Naruto smirked right back at the ninjutsu master in front of him, "Yugito, Samui, think you can handle Hidan?" he asked. Yugito scoffed and Naruto could feel Samui's cold glare on his back, he smirked as he looked over to Shikamaru's panting form, they had done a number on him even though he could tell his friend had a much larger chakra pool than when he had left, "Rest now Shika, Kotetsu, Izumo, take Asuma to safety while we deal with these two," he said with a smile as he turned back to his opponent's teal eyes.
Shikamaru stared at Naruto as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Slowly, Shikamaru's gaze turned to the two kunoichi moving to face the normal-skinned Hidan. Shikamaru looked over at his teammates and managed to reengage his mind as he moved, despite his protesting body, towards Asuma.
Naruto smiled as he sensed the other Konoha team just as they entered his range. He watched Kakuzu warily as the man's teal eyes darted over to Asuma's hurt form. He apparently wanted Asuma more than anything right now. Unfortunately, Naruto wasn't going to let the man get what he wanted. Naruto truly wished he could watch Yugito and Samui's teamwork against Hidan, he was sure the pieces those two would leave him in was going to be a big problem for the Immortal. Naruto had informed them of all of the information he had gleaned from his clones and short fight with them, after Yugito had done the same. It hadn't taken them long to notice that Kakuzu was the more dangerous opponent but that Hidan was a different type of dangerous.
Naruto stalled a bit for time as he watched Kakuzu size him up just as Yugito and Samui positioned themselves to combat Hidan. Luckily, his stall worked long enough for the other Konoha team to appear and begin to assist Shikamaru's team. Kakuzu's eyes seemed to narrow as his hand shot from his arm to attempt to grasp Asuma's body. Naruto smiled viciously as his kunai appeared in his hand and the black tendrils he knew were as hard as steel were cut like butter under his wind manipulation. Kakuzu's hand crashed to the ground behind Naruto as he regarded his opponent warily.
"Shikamaru! What's going on?" Ino's sharp cry came from behind him and Naruto tensed slightly.
"Get them out of here Ino, Choji." Naruto said as he sensed another familiar chakra behind him.
Naruto waited for the outburst that never came as Shikamaru's tired voice rang out, "Follow his orders Ino, get the rest of us out of here, we can't fight these guys right now."
Naruto felt the two Konoha shinobi that were with Ino and Chouji flex their chakra as they prepared for battle but Naruto grew tired of trying to keep track of where everyone was behind him while waiting for Kakuzu to attack since he couldn't move freely while Asuma and Shikamaru remained hurt behind him. Without warning, Naruto's chakra washed over the entire road, the weight of his intense chakra seemed to suffocate everyone but the Akatsuki members as Naruto's hands blurred into seals faster than most could see and his thumb came up to his mouth. With a swift bite, Naruto's words spilled from his mouth, "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" he cried as his hand slammed into the ground in front of him.
With the amount of chakra that he had poured into the jutsu, Naruto could feel the surprise coming from behind him as the puff of smoke in front of him turned out to be extremely small. The surprise only seemed to increase when, out of the smoke, hopped a toad of diminutive size that wore a cloak around its entire body. Eyes widened when the toad landed upon Naruto's shoulder, the size of the toad would have indicated a younger toad but the wrinkled green skin along with the patch of white hair upon the toad's head clearly marked it as an elder of the race.
Naruto's eyes remained locked upon Kakuzu's, who didn't show surprise but concern as he watched the diminutive toad upon his shoulder more intensely than he did Naruto himself. Naruto smirked lightly, even as he felt a small rush of disappointment as this man obviously knew Pa was more than he appeared, especially when most would dismiss Pa as unimportant even with the amount of chakra that he had used to summon the elder of the Gama clan.
"I've heard of your exploits, Naruto-chan," Pa's scratchy voice came to Naruto's right ear. Naruto smiled at the elder toad even as Pa cuffed the boy's head, "Ma was worried sick." Naruto chuckled lightly as he bowed his head in slight apology, "Now, who is this man you think requires my help?" he asked.
"Kakuzu of Taki, he has the capability of using every single discipline of elemental jutsu as well as multiple lives, according to Kyuubi and my clones." Naruto informed his companion, "He also has black tendrils he uses that are as hard as steel and just as hard to cut." Pa's eyes widened as he looked at the man before them and then they narrowed as the man's teal eyes remained locked upon his smaller form.
"I see," Pa said slowly.
"You learn well Uzumaki Naruto, Konoha's Blade of Illusion and a 20 million bounty in Mizu no Kuni," Kakuzu said as he regarded Naruto shrewdly, the mention of the bounty upon his head was one received in shocked silence from the Konoha shinobi behind him, "It's a shame I can't turn your body in until after we extract the Kyuubi, your bounty would fund Akatsuki's actions for years," he said as he rolled his head around in an apparent attempt to loosen up for his upcoming fight.
Naruto felt the two jounin from Ino's group approach his sides, each of them shared a look with Naruto even as he mentally rolled his eyes at the men's show of camaraderie. Naruto was still a chuunin and he couldn't force these men away, even though he knew they would really only hamper him in his fight, he had already made his stance clear on how he felt this should go. Apparently, the Jounins disagreed so Naruto was stuck with them until Kauzu either killed them or put them out of the fight.
"Ino, Chouji," said one of the Jounin, "Get Asuma-taichou's team out of here, we'll deal with this one," he commanded. Ino and Chouji shared a grim nod as Ino helped Shikamaru to his feet while Chouji kept a wary eye on the two Akatsuki while they made their way to Asuma, Izumo, and Kotetsu.
Naruto tensed slightly when Kakuzu shifted underneath his robes, "We have the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki here," he said out loud as his eyes shifted to the blue sky. Naruto blinked in surprise when Kakuzu sighed and Hidan cursed from his left.
Naruto moved quickly when Kakuzu moved as well. Naruto wasn't surprised when the Jounins took another moment before they could respond to Kakuzu's move. Luckily, Kakuzu did nothing but move to his partner's side, "We'll be back, prepare yourselves," he said cryptically as Hidan scratched his head lazily.
Naruto moved next to Yugito and Samui to support them but the two Akatsuki members had relaxed as they stared down the large group of shinobi in front of them. "I should curse that fucking Leader next time, damn it!" Hidan cursed even as he smirked at Asuma, "Next time, I'll let you experience the ultimate pleasure, Au revoir shitheads!" he yelled out as he and Hidan disappeared in puffs of smoke.
Naruto looked over to Pa and smiled at the elder toad when he confirmed that he could no longer feel the Akatsuki members. While he was loath to let them escape, this fight would not have been on Naruto's terms and the hurt shinobi behind him had been a hindrance he could little afford against these opponents. Granted, with Pa it would have been a more fair fight, the little toad was not to be underestimated, but he was not looking forward to having to fight the Immortals like this. "Thanks for coming Pa," Naruto said and Pa bowed his head before returning to his home with a puff of smoke.
"Don't forget to summon Ma when ya get home, she'd be very disappointed if ya don't," his scratchy voice floated to Naruto from the empty space. Naruto smiled and nodded even though the toad had already disappeared.
Naruto turned to the gathered Konoha ninja and the two Kumo kunoichi with a small smile on his face, "Let's go home."
A/N: Well a slightly shorter chapter devoid of the action I had wanted but the fight wouldn't come to me and I didn't want to leave you waiting another week or so. I'll write their fight when the mood strikes me, it will be a very fierce one.
This chapter holds what some of you wished for, what some of you didn't expect, and what some people will probably read as a change in Naruto's feelings but the human mind and human emotions are not so simple. We shall see what happens when Naruto returns home.
Next Chapter is the moment many of you have been waiting for, Naruto's return to Konoha.
On a related note, a hurricane is about to hit my home so my delay in writing may be greater than normal for the next chapter because of this. Or, it may be expedited because of the excess amount of time on my hands. I'm leaning more towards being delayed though. That being said, this chapter has not had anyone read over it for mistakes so excuse any more than normal mistakes within the story as I am uploading this before I lose internet here.
Please leave me a review about this chapter when you have a moment.