(Welcome to the new chapter. After last time, it's time for Squad Seven to close in on Orochimaru's whereabouts. But are they stepping into something they hadn't counted on? Find out now.)

The next day, after Squad Seven said their goodbyes to Gaara and his sibs along with Oonoki, Akatsuchi, and Kurotsuchi they were on their way back to Konoha. After returning to the village, the group reported to Tsunade the situation that went down as well as the information passed onto them by Sasori.

Tsunade sat at her desk pondering over what she was told, "So that's all he said to you?" she asked Sakura and Naomi.

"Yes, ma'am." Naomi nodded.

"That's what he told us before he died." Sakura put in.

"What do you make of it, Tsunade-sama?" Shizune inquired.

"Knowing Akatsuki it could very well likely be a trap." Tsunade began.

"Maybe, but remember what else Sakura told you?" Naruto asked, "Sasori said Orochimaru's just as much the Akatsuki's enemy than he is mine or any of ours."

"Still that doesn't make the Akatsuki our allies." Tsunade replied.

Kakashi cleared his throat before speaking, "Tsunade-sama, I'm also curious about this as well. But it could still be a good chance for us to get information on Orochimaru."

Tsunade looked to Kakashi before sighing, "Knowing you and your hunches you're probably right. Very well, your next mission will be to go to Kusa and rendezvous with whatever operative Sasori was meant to meet. But for now you all head home and wait for further instructions. Except you Kakashi." Kakashi looked curious, as the others took their leave.

At Naruto's place, the Avatar entered and found himself embraced by his two roommates the Airbending twins, "Naruto, welcome back!" Yami cheered.

"We missed you." Yuzuru said.

"Hey, girls. I missed the both of you two." he held them close.

"Are you hurt? What happened?" Yuzuru asked.

"Have I got a story for you girls." Naruto chuckled, as he sat them down to tell them what happened.

When nighttime rolled in, Naruto was in bed sleeping peacefully with Yami and Yuzuru at his sides. While deep in his mind, Naruto stood before Kurama and Raava, "What do you two make of this whole rendezvous with a spy in Orochimaru's camp?"

"Like your Hokage, I do fear there's more to it than a simple rendezvous." Raava replied.

"But remember, this is a chance to gain valuable knowledge on Orochimaru and what he may be planning. Perhaps even he may know something about the Akatsuki we are not aware of." Kurama noted.

"Both logical thoughts," Naruto agreed, "But the only way we'll know is by meeting with this spy personally."

"This spy must be exceptionally well in the field of espionage if he's able to fool Orochimaru." Raava said.

"Agreed. Orochimaru from what we've seen up close isn't one to fool easily." Naruto replied.

"So let's make sure once we meet this spy they'll have the kind of information we require." Kurama added.

"Uh-huh. Well, time to punch out. Night, you guys." Naruto returned to the waking world to continue his slumber.

The next morning around the afternoon, Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and the Airbending Twins who volunteered to accompany Naruto and his squad were waiting around by a meeting point, "How much longer is he going to take?" Yami asked in annoyance.

"Agreed. Sensei should be here on time." Yuzuru noted.

"You don't know our sensei like we do." Naruto replied.

"Yeah. He's never on time." Sakura added.

"We may have eight days before the rendezvous, but we still should use our time wisely." Sasuke noted. They all agreed until they saw someone approach.

They noticed it wasn't Kakashi, but another man dressed as a Konoha shinobi. He had short brown hair and black almond-shaped eyes. He wore on his head a a happuri-style forehead protector that framed his face. The man spoke up, "Greetings, Squad Seven, it's nice to finally meet you."

"Who're you?" Sasuke asked suspiciously.

"I'm Captain Yamato, and I've been assigned to lead you in this mission to Kusa." the man answered.

"You?" Sakura asked in confusion.

"Hold on. What about Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked.

"Kakashi-senpai was called away on another mission and I was selected to be his stand in," Yamato explained, "Not to worry, though. I'm caught up with all the basics on this mission. So we don't need to exchange information."

"Well, that's good news." Sakura admitted.

"So what's say we get a move on?" Yamato asked, and they all agreed before heading out.

As they walked down a path leading away from Konoha, Yamato looked back at Naruto behind him. Naruto noticing this spoke, "Can I help you with something?"

"Sorry, Naruto. I'm just glad to be on a team with the world renowned Avatar Ninja. You've been doing a lot for the village as of late, if not even the other nations outside the Ninja Lands."

"Being the Avatar does come with responsibilities," Naruto admitted, "Of course it also leaves me as a target for many."

"But the good part is he's not alone in that." Yuzuru said.

"That's right," Yami agreed, "He's got all of us to watch his back should he ever need help."

"And boy when he needs it, he really needs it." Sasuke smirked. Naruto groaned as he pretended his heartstrings were pulled.

Yamato chuckled at how close the group looked before speaking up, "Since we have a week to get to the rendezvous point why don't we take some time to unwind?"

Squad Seven were curious, as Naruto asked, "What did you have in mind?"

The next thing they knew, Squad Seven was at a hotsprings, with the boys relaxing in the baths on the mens side, and Sakura and the twins on the ladies side, "Ah, nothing like a hot bath to wash away your troubles, am I right?" Yamato asked Naruto and Sasuke.

"You said it." Naruto agreed.

"After what we went through in Suna, this is what we needed." Sasuke admitted.

"Took the words right out of my mouth." Naruto replied, as he eyed the bamboo fence knowing what was on the other side.

On that side was all the ladies relaxing in the baths as well. As Sakura was relaxing in the water, she suddenly noticed Yami and Yuzuru were right up against the bamboo fence almost as if they were looking through it. She swam over to them and whispered, "What do you two think you're doing?"

"Watching something great." Yami answered.

"What?"

"Look." Yuzuru offered.

Sakura saw a small hole in the fence. Curiously she looked through it and saw the other side of the bath. What was in the line of shot was Naruto relaxing with his arms resting on the edge of the bath. She gasped before pulling away from the hole, "Naruto." she whispered softly.

"We know." Yami replied.

"We shouldn't be looking." Sakura told them.

"No need to be so uptight, Sakura." Yuzuru said.

"Yeah. Just relax and have some fun," Yami replied, as Sakura still felt unsure, "Look, we won't tell if you don't."

Sakura hearing that could no longer hide her urge to look, "Ok, deal." Sakura said, as they each tried to look through the hole watching Naruto bathe. As they watched, Sakura had to wipe away a little blood from her nose. When Naruto got up to leave, the three covered their noses with their hands to avoid letting their blood drip into the bath. They quickly left so they could clean their faces up.

Later on at dinner, the group were wearing robes while enjoying their meal, "Delicious." Naruto said, as he ate.

"Sensei would never take us to places like this." Sakura noted.

"Thank you for this, Captain Yamato." Yuzuru said.

"You're all very welcome. You should all get some sleep tonight, we've still got a ways to go."

"Yes, sir." they agreed, before finishing up and headed off to bed.

When morning came, Yamato and Sasuke woke up and looked over seeing Naruto was still asleep but had Yami and Yuzuru with him in his futon. The two bore awkward looks, as Yamato asked Sasuke, "Did he let them in?"

"No. They snuck in on their own." Sasuke answered.

The three groaned, and woke up, "Morning already?" Yami asked.

"Too early." Yuzuru yawned.

Naruto looked at the two girls, "Really? Here of all places?" he looked up at Sasuke and Yamato, "Honestly I wish I had an answer as to why they're too drawn to me."

Storming into the boys room was Sakura in her own robe, "I should've known you two would try this! This isn't Naruto's place you know?!"

"We can't help it," Yuzuru began, "We love the comfort of Naruto."

"We sure do." Yami added.

The members, as Yamato turned to the twins giving them an scary look, "I accept your feelings for Naruto, but I will not allow any illicit behavior while on this mission. Do I make myself clear?" Yami and Yuzuru bore looks of fright and nervously nodded. Suddenly Yamato demeanor changed back to normal, "Good. Now then, we better get a move on." The group agreed as they got themselves together and headed off.

Later on, the group stopped by a stream where Naruto and Sasuke were sparing, and the girls were practicing against each other. Yamato sat by and watched them, "Amazing. Kakashi wasn't kidding when he said you guys were able to properly balance both your ninja and bending skills."

"Well, Yuzuru and I aren't ninjas." Yami corrected him.

"You may as well consider yourselves ninja, considering how much you've been helping Konoha." Naruto noted, as he dodged a sword attack from Sasuke.

"Thanks, Naruto." Yuzuru smiled.

"Well, come on. We better keep moving." Yamato suggested, as they pressed on.

By the time they arrived at the edge of the Land of Fire, they found themselves out in the forest. Yamato spoke to the group, "Looks like a good spot to set up camp." he looked around at a clearing.

"Should we lay out the mats?" Sakura asked.

"Not yet," Yamato smiled, as he formed some hand signs, "Wood Style: Four Pillar House Jutsu!" emerging from the ground were wood pillars that molded together creating a lodge house. Squad Seven looked up in amaze at what Yamato conjured up.

"Whoa!" Naruto gasped.

"Instant house." Yuzuru said in awe.

"Let's go inside." Yamato instructed, as they entered the building.

They looked around seeing the place had two levels and plenty of rooms. Yami looked around seeing it was empty, "No furniture?"

"Bummer." Yuzuru sighed.

Yamato led them into a big room and used a lantern to give them some light, "There, that should do it."

The others laid out their mats, and gathered around the lantern. Sakura spoke up, "Captain Yamato, the technique you used to make this place."

"Yes."

"It was the Wood style, wasn't it?"

"It was." he confirmed.

Naruto and Sasuke were surprised, as Naruto spoke, "You're right, but how can that be?"

Yami and Yuzuru looked confused, as Yami asked, "Are we missing something here?"

"Yes. Please enlighten us." Yuzuru insisted.

Sakura explained, "The Wood style is a very rare if not one of a kind elemental jutsu."

"Only one shinobi has ever used it and that was our village's First Hokage." Sasuke put in.

"Senju Hashirama." Naruto finished.

The twins were surprised, as Yuzuru turned to Yamato, "If it's so one of a kind then how come you can use it?"

"Are you related to the First Hokage?" Yami inquired.

"No, actually. I'm not."

"Then how can you use that element?" Naruto asked, as the group gathered around closer.

Yamato sighed, "I knew you'd ask me the moment you'd see me use it."

"You can tell us, sir." Sakura said.

"Yeah. We won't hold it against you." Naruto added.

Yamato sighed seeing how they're willing to listen, "Well, you see I'm able to use this elemental jutsu because of Orochimaru."

Suddenly the five were in shock, "Orochimaru?!" Sasuke spoke up, "What does he have to do with this?"

Yamato looked down with guilt, before answering, "The truth is the Sharingan wasn't the only bloodline Orochimaru's been obsessed with."

"It wasn't?" Sasuke asked.

Yamato shook his head, "He was also obsessed with the First Hokage's DNA," the group listened, as the captain continued, "The First Hokage's chakra was so strong and so dense it could shatter rock. His life force also granted him incredibly high stamina to fight nonstop for a twenty-four hour period while still left prime to battle."

"I can see why he'd be obsessed with it." Yami realized.

"Yes, Orochimaru performed countless experiments to utilize the First Hokage's genes. One of which involved sixty child subjects. He injected the First Hokage's DNA into sixty children in hopes they could utilize the wood element. But he abandoned the project leaving them to die thinking they were all failures. What he didn't realize one single subject had survived... And that subject was me."

"You?" Sasuke asked in disbelief.

"Yes. The shinobi of Konoha founded me while investigating his abandoned lab. They brought me back to the village and after finding out what I was capable of trained me to hone my skills."

Naruto looked excited, "Wow. How awesome is that? We got a First Hokage 2.0 in our arsenal."

"Don't give me too much credit, Naruto," Yamato replied, "I may be able to utilize the Wood Element, but I don't have the stamina and chakra of the First Hokage."

"So Orochimaru wasn't able to make a perfect test subject." Sakura noted.

"Indeed. Still I may not remember my life before I was experimented on, but I am fortunate to have had others like Kakashi who helped me during my days as an Anbu in training."

"Sensei did that, huh?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah. You all have no idea how lucky you really are to have someone like Kakashi leading your squad."

Squad Seven looked at each other and smiled before Sasuke answered, "Actually, we got a pretty good idea." The group continued to enjoy their fun, until it was time to turn in.

Meanwhile in a hideout far from their location, a figure wearing a cloak stepped outside a cave before looking around making sure they weren't be watched. When the coast looked clear, the figure took off into the night beginning their journey to the rendezvous point.

(And there you go. Hope you guys enjoyed this installment. And I hope you'll be looking forward to next time where they find out who they'll be meeting up with in Sasori's place.)