Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto: Shippuuden, it is owned by Masashi Kishimoto.
"Kimura Emi. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Uzumaki Naruto. Holder of the Kyuubi."
Naruto jumped back, as she charged forward, attempting to hit the blonde with one of her daggers. He then chuckled. "Nice try, but it'll take a lot more speed to-"
His eyes widened as she vanished. He then heard a whistling noise from behind, and quickly turned himself with his chakra blades in hand, successfully clashing with Emi's daggers. Naruto grunted, as he looked at the daggers, then back at Emi. "Just plain old daggers? Don't like Kunai?"
Emi laughed at this, as she planted her foot on Naruto's chest, and vaulted herself away. "Speak for yourself!" As she was in mid-air, she vanished.
The blonde looked around, his eyes turning red.
'Can you see her?'
"Barely... Her speed is rather incredible. She might be as fast as you are."
'Oh yeah?... Interestin-'
"Watch out!"
Naruto blinked, then quickly back flipped away from Emi crashing into the ground with her daggers.
Naruto used this opportunity to rush in, and grab her by the scruff of her jacket. "HA!" He then whipped around, and threw her into one of the bridge beams. As she collided with the pillar, she turned into water.
The blonde grunted, as he looked around. "A water clone... Should've known."
His ear twitched, as he heard another whistling noise, then side-stepped just in time to avoid more senbon.
"LET YOUR GUARD DOWN!"
Naruto looked in shock, as Emi crashed down on to him. As the smoke from them crashing into the ground cleared, Emi was rather surprised to see Naruto holding back her daggers, by grabbing her wrists.
She smirked, as a vein buldged on her forehead. "Well, I should have known that a surprise attack like that wouldn't be enough to take someone down of your reputation."
Naruto's eyebrow twitched, as he pumped some of Kurama's chakra through his arms, and pushed her off. With her stumbling back, he vaulted himself up, and kicked her hard in the gut.
He then rushed in, and threw his fist forward. "You're done!" He made contact with her cheek. But instead of hearing the sound of punching someone in the face, he heard crackling. "Oh no..." The blonde growled, as Emi turned into lightning, and began to electrocute him.
He panted slightly, as the attack ended, then looked around. "Good thing I have the lightning affinity, otherwise that would've hurt so much more..." His eyes narrowed, as he looked around.
'A Raiton Kage Bunshin... So, she has water and lightning, huh?... A dangerous combination. And that does explain the speed...'
He looked back to see Emi had appeared, daggers in hand. He jumped over her, then put his hands together. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Another him appeared, and grabbed the original by the arm. The clone then swung Naruto around, then threw him at Emi.
As he sped through the air, he flipped around, throwing his foot out. "HA!" He hits her right in the back, causing her to skid along the ground.
She shook her head, as she slowly stood up, and faced him. She sped through hand signs, and shouted: "Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu!"
Two large dragons formed from the river next to them, and roared as they charged toward the blonde.
He smirked, as he sped through hand signs as well. "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" He roared, as a large flamethrower left from his mouth. As it made contact with the two large water dragons, it caused them to explode into steam on contact.
As the steam engulfed the area, the blonde closed his eyes. He decided to use his ears to find her.
"Shit...!" He grabbed his arm, as he felt a senbon graze his arm, and tear his shirt. He decided to pay more attention, and when he heard more senbon, he jumped out-of-the-way.
"You're mine!" The blonde's eyes widened, as he jumped out of the steam, just in time to receive a sharp kick to the side by the rogue-nin. He grabbed his side, as he went flying back, and crashed into one of the large pillars.
He slid to the ground, and growled slightly in pain. It was then, when he realized he heavily underestimated his opponent.
Emi appeared in front of him, and laughed, as she brushed some bangs from her eyes. "So... YOU are the man who's giving the Akatsuki a run for its ryou?" She then shook her head. "Either you were really holding back, or you're just all talk..."
"Naruto?"
They both blinked, and turned to see someone coming towards them. Emi chuckled slightly, as she got down on to a knee, and looked Naruto dead in the eye. "Well... As much as I'd love to stay, and play some more... This was more of a greeting than anything else..." She then leaned in, and licked his cheek playfully.
"Don't mess with the Akatsuki..."
With that, she vanished, leaving some sparks of electricity behind. Naruto sat there, rather surprised by what he had just dealt with.
'That... Was something different.'
"Nothing you can't handle..."
'Well, sure. The problem was that I underestimated her... Her attacks weren't very strong, but her sheer speed more than made up for it... Plus, I was in her territory... I was at an environmental disadvantage as well.'
"Always next time, then."
"Naruto!"
The blonde was knocked out of his thoughts, when he saw Sakura rushing up to him. He slowly stood up, as she got to him, and saw the post battle state he was in. "Are you okay? You're hurt!"
The blonde gave a slight smile, as he rubbed his shoulder. "I'm fine... Just a couple of scratches and bruises."
Sakura, not one to simply take his word for it, checked him anyways. She felt around his torso with healing chakra, and was shocked when she reached the rib area. "A couple of bruises, huh? You nearly broke one of your ribs!"
Naruto looked to the side, rubbing the back of his head. "Well... Mostly fine?"
Sakura's eye twitched, as she hit him on the head. "This is no time to be joking! Who did this to you?"
As he rubbed the bump on his head, Naruto's expression sharpened slightly. "The Akatsuki."
The pinkette's eyes widened, as her arms fell to her sides. "What?..."
He then shrugged, as he began to walk. "Well, a new member of Akatsuki, that is."
Sakura looked on in concern, as she walked next to him. "Were you able to find out anything while fighting them?"
Naruto sighed, as he looked over at her. "Not much... I got a name, and a quick glimpse at the Hitai-ate." He rubbed his arm again, as it finished healing. "Kimura Emi, was her name... And she's a rogue ninja of Kirigakure..."
Sakura folded her arms, as she took in the cold air. "So... What now?"
Naruto smiled slightly, as he looked at his pink haired love. "Well, talk to the rest to the team, of course."
"Eh? You met with a member of the Akatsuki?"
Naruto nodded in confirmation to Kakashi's question, as the four sat outside a restaurant, the two women eating, as the two men talked. "Hai. She seems to be a new member."
Kakashi looked down at his now empty dish, before looking back at Naruto. "Why did she meet you? Was she trying to capture you?"
The blonde shook his head, as he sipped a glass of water. "No. She simply wanted to meet me."
Sakura scoffed, as she finished her food. "And that meeting also included her trying to kill you..."
Naruto looked over at the pinkette, and laughed slightly. "I told you, she would have tried harder than that if she wanted to kill me."
Anko munched down on her food, then looked at the blonde. "Well, that explains the cuts in your shirt, and the scratch marks. She kick your ass, or something?"
The blonde shrugged, as he folded his arms behind his head. "I underestimated her... But she didn't do much damage... She may have held back as well."
Kakashi shook his head, as he let out a sigh. "Anyways... If she's a new member, then that means they're recruiting, which is a very bad sign."
As they all continued the conversation, Sakura glanced over at the blonde, frowning all the while.
'I don't understand why he's taking this all so lightly...'
'Well, maybe he's not taking it lightly. Maybe he's just appearing like that, so we won't worry about him.'
'If that were the case... That wouldn't be very surprising... He's done that kind of shit before.'
'Well, next chance you get, talk to him. Put your girlfriend authority to use!'
The pinkette shook her head, as Inner's words echoed in her mind.
Naruto sat up from his slouched position, and put his arms on the table. "Well, I do have an idea... Why don't we look up more information on this... Emi person."
Kakashi folded his arms, as he raised an eyebrow toward the blonde. "Do you know the village she's from?"
The blonde nodded, as he stood up. "Hai. She was wearing a Kiri Hitai-ate. All we need to do is go to Kirigakure, and speak to the Mizukage." He then smiled slightly. "She knows what's going on, and would surely give us the information we need."
The masked jounin stood up as well, as he finished writing out the check. "Alright then."
Anko fist pumped, as she got up from her seat. "Fuck yeah! 'Bout time we made some progress!"
Kakashi let out a sigh from Anko's sudden outburst, which made a couple wandering eyes look their way. "Anko..."
The purple haired woman hugged him tightly, then looked up at him with big eyes. "I'm sorry, Kakashi-kuuun~"
Kakashi's eye twitched for a moment, before looking at the blonde. "We'll leave tomorrow... Finish up anything you have left to do here, then come back to the motel."
Naruto nodded, as the two jounin began to walk away. Once they were out of ear shot, he let out a chuckle. "Man... They really make a good couple, right Sakura-chan?"
"Yeah... Hey, Naruto?"
The blonde looked over toward the pinkette with a raised eyebrow. "Hmm?"
She stood up, and walked over to him. "Why are you so calm right now?"
Naruto's confused look, only grew more so, as he blinked. "Huh? What do you mean?"
She then poked his chest, a look of concern was shown on her face. "What I mean is... You were attacked! By some person who we have no information on! That could have been a big problem, but you're practically waving it off like it's not a big deal!"
Naruto looked at Sakura in surprise, as he rubbed the back of his head. "Well... I am taking it seriously."
The pinkette stopped, as she looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Eh?"
The blonde put his hands on her shoulders, as he gave her a small smile. "I'm sorry if it seems like I'm acting a bit childish... I just don't want anyone to worry or anything." His smile then turned into his trademark fox-like grin. "Besides, a lighter atmosphere is a lot better, considering what we've done."
Sakura sighed, as she hung her head, feeling like a complete idiot. "...Guess I'm the baka then. Worried for nothing."
'I was riiight~ I was riiight~ Guess I know him better than you do!'
'Fuck off.'
Naruto laughed slightly, as he picked her head up, then kissed her forehead. "Not for nothing. You had every right to be worried... If anything, I am for not realizing that you were so concerned for me."
The pinkette rolled her eyes, as the two began to walk down the street. "Always turning the blame to yourself..."
Naruto gave his pink haired love a toothy grin, as he put his hands in his pockets. "Well, better than seeing my girlfriend depressed."
Sakura chuckled, as she hugged his arm. "How sweet."
He then smirked, as clouds began to form above them. "Thanks for noticing."
They then feel rain drops hit their heads. They looked up to see rain pouring down upon them.
Sakura shook her head, as they ran down the street. "So much for our time alone!"
The blonde laughed, as he looked over at her. "Hey, nothing wrong with a bit of rain!"
Her head snapped to him in confusion. "You call THIS a bit?"
Naruto slid on the muddy ground, and stopped in front of her. "Well, maybe a little more than a bit."
Sakura rolled her eyes, as she slowed down, then finally stopped in front of him. "I'm sure..."
They both stood there, as the rain came down around them. Everyone else had found shelter, and it was growing dark.
They wrapped their arms around each other, and just before they kissed. "This would be romantic... If we weren't standing in mud."
The blonde chuckled at what Sakura had said, then nodded as he walked off with her. "Let's head back... I'd rather be dry right now."
The pinkette nodded in agreement, as they rushed off.
The blonde ran his hand through his hair, getting the water out as the two walked into the motel room.
Sakura sneezed from the cold, and the rain, as she walked in and took off her coat. "Gonna get a fuckin' cold if we stay here any longer..."
Naruto flashed her a smile, as he took off his coat, and put it on the coat hanger along with hers. "Well, like every other place we've been to, it won't be much longer."
The pinkette sighed in relief, as she went over to the bed, and began to undress. As she did, Naruto took a real look at her.
She had certainly changed in the last year and a half as well. Her hair was longer, almost shoulder length now. In her hair she wore a green bandanna, and not her hitai-ate, to keep her hair the same. She also kept her combat shirt, but rather than wear her combat skirt and shorts, she was now wearing a pair of jeans. She had also grown in height, not by much, but it was noticeable. She still had the two rows of whiskers from Kurama's influence, which made her even cuter than she already was in Naruto's eyes.
Once she was in her underwear, she looked over at Naruto, putting her hands on her hips. "Why you staring? Like what you see?"
The blonde blinked, and laughed as he walked over and hugged her. "Sorry... I was just thinking about how lucky I am."
Sakura raised an eyebrow to this. "Oh?"
Naruto nodded, as he gave a calm smile. "Yeah. Even though I had done some irredeemable things... You still accepted me. I was acting like a child, but you still accepted me."
Sakura shook her head, as she put a finger to his mouth. "We accepted each other, Naruto. Both of us were beyond redemption..." She then smiled. "We simply realized, that we cared too much for each other to allow past mistakes to get in our way."
Naruto leaned in to give the pinkette a kiss, but was stop when she backed off. "You only want to kiss me?"
She then sat on the bed. "Because I'm awfully cold from the rain... Think you can warm me up?"
The blonde's eyes widened slightly, as a grin appeared on his features. "I'll give it a shot."
"Woo~!"
The blonde laid in bed, as the pinkette was fast asleep in his arms. He stared up at the ceiling, thinking about the fight with Emi.
'That girl...'
"She's really caught your interest, huh?"
'Yeah... She certainly tried to act like someone who was in the Akatsuki.'
"Eh?"
'There was clearly something off about her... She was pretending to act like a crazed person. When she licked my cheek, it seemed forced...'
"What exactly are you thinking?..."
'We find out more about her, of course... Exactly why we're going to Kirigakure. I won't just find out more about her abilities as a ninja, I will also find out about her as a person.'
He then smirked, as he closed his eyes.
'You have my attention, Kimura Emi...'
Okay... A few reasons why this took me over a month to write...
1. Procrastination!
2. School starting back up!
3. Focusing more on WCT since it's almost finished.
4. The fucking fight scene.
I am not kidding, the fight scene took me the longest to write out of anything else in the chapter. Anywho, sorry for taking so long with this.
Laters.
