(Welcome to my next installment readers. Hope you're ready.)
Last time Sasuke who was having a peaceful date with Trish ended up getting knocked out and abducted by Orochimaru's top guards identified as the Sound Four. They knocked Trish out to keep her from trying to stop them, and by the next morning she remembered what happened and ran to report it.
At the Uzumaki lair in Naruto's room, Naruto was asleep with Sakura at his side until his doors flung open where Sam, Clover, Ino, Hinata, Kin, Sai, and Alex stood, "Naruto! Sakura!" Sam called and the two shot up.
"Sam, what's going on?" Sakura asked with a yawn.
"Yeah it's early." Naruto added.
"We got big trouble you guys. Sasuke's been abducted!" Ino cried.
Naruto and Sakura suddenly lost their sleepiness and were shocked, "What?" Sakura asked.
"Trish reported it to Tsunade-sama. They were on a date, until four ninja knocked him out and then her." Hinata explained.
"Orochimaru it has to be the work of him!" Naruto frowned.
"It is and those four who nabbed Sasuke were the Sound Four; Orochimaru's strongest guards." Kin explained.
"Kin says the four of them also have curse marks similar to what Sasuke has," Sam explained, "Only they're stronger."
"So what's going on?" Naruto asked as he jumped out of bed putting on his pants along with Sakura dressing as well.
"Lady Tsunade already assigned Shikamaru to get some help, since most of the other Jonin are on missions." Clover explained.
"He's bringing along Neji, Chouji, Shino, Lee, and Kiba," Sam added, "You two get ready because we're going as well."
"You're darn right we are." Naruto nodded as he dawned his hat.
"Let's go, the guys should be meeting at the gates by now." Alex said as they headed out.
Soon enough standing by the village gates were Naruto, Fido, Sakura, Sam, Ino, Hinata, Shikamaru, Kiba, Neji, Alex, Shino, Clover, Chouji, and Lee who received the treatment he needed on his legs thanks to Tsunade, "All right we're all here," Shikamaru said as he was going to speak to them but Naruto held him back feeling he should be the one to do it. Shikamaru allowed him as Naruto cleared his throat and started speaking in a John Wayne voice which was confusing the group except the girls.
"All right Pilgrims I don't want to have to repeat myself so listen up!" Naruto ordered, "Some time ago, a comrade of ours got kidnapped during a date. I just saw the little lady some time ago and she was upset. I promised her I would bring him back and I never go back on my word! This has the smell of snake in it and I don't need to remind you on who I'm talking about! Now I'm not gonna lie to you. We may go up against some of the toughest ninja that we ever gonna face. If you're too afraid please speak up now, but if you are gonna be with us, know that I won't allow any quitting on this team. Not by me and not by you! So if you do want to turn back, now's the time!" Naruto waited to see if anyone's backing out notices no one will, "Thank you. Now let's Saddle up Pilgrims we're burning daylight!" Naruto headed out into the forest but crashes into a tree having not looking at where he was going.
"You all right Naruto?" Kiba asked.
Naruto peeked his head out from a pile of leaves that fell on him, "It's all part of the plan, more or less."
"Troublesome!" Shikamaru groaned.
"Well you heard him we got to jet." Sakura said as the group was prepared to leave until they saw Mikoto Uchiha and Trish.
"Mrs. Uchiha?" Naruto asked.
"Trish?" Sam asked.
"I know you're all heading off, but I just had to see you to tell you… Bring my son back!" Mikoto cried as Trish comforted her.
"We'll do our best ma'am." Naruto assured her.
"All right guys let's hurry!" Shikamaru said as the whole group headed off into the forest.
Watching from the Administration building window was Tsunade and Max, "Max, you're a watcher are they going to be all right?" Tsunade asked.
"I'm forbidden from saying anything, Tsunade," Max reminded her and she sighed until Max spoke up, "But I will say this, they're going to give it their all."
Sometime later the group was following the trail of the Sound Four with the use of Kiba's and Akamaru's sense of smell, along with Hinata and Neji's Byakugan eyes, "We're getting close." Neji said.
"Affirmative." Hinata agreed.
"All right guys this is it." Naruto said as they could feel them closing in on their foes.
They finally saw in the distance the Sound four carrying some kind of casket, "Ok girls, let stop them." Sam said as they nodded and concentrated the ice elements and fired a large barrage of icicle shards.
"Heads up!" Kidomaru called to the four as they barely dodge.
"Great more Konoha ninja." Tayuya groaned having have dealt with some ninja who first tried to stop them but were defeated.
The four stopped seeing the Konoha Shinobi take positions as Naruto took a few steps forward, "Sound Four I presume?"
"That'd be us." Sakon answered.
"Good. I believe you have something that belongs to us," Naruto said motioning to the casket container, "Our friend!"
"Sorry, but our master has business with him." Kidomaru replied.
"Well your master can make a cancellation, because Sasuke's not going anywhere near him!" Sakura called.
"And why's that pinky?" Tayuya spat.
"Because we're going to stop you!" Kiba answered.
"Stop us? Please." Jirobo called their bluff.
"You'll be sorry for underestimating us." Naruto frowned.
"Well if it's a fight you want..." Kidomaru said ready to fight, but Sakon held him back.
"We can't waste any time we have to get back as quickly as possible. Let's leave it up to them to handle these pests." Sakon said.
"Them?" Hinata was confused, until they saw dropping from the trees below were the twenty four robots Clyde had given Orochimaru.
"What the?" Naruto asked, "There's no way Orochimaru could've invented these kind of things," He then realized it wasn't him, "It must be the work of Clyde."
"Against a bunch of walking hunks of junk like this shouldn't be too hard." Kiba said confidently, until the robots started beeping in their own weird language, until they tripled in size making them the size of trees and the armor on their bodies looked stronger. The Konoha ninja glared at Kiba for jinxing it while he chuckled nervously.
"Have fun." Sakon smirked as he and the others headed off with the casket.
"It seems we'll have to fight our way through." Neji said as they got ready, until Sam spoke.
"There's no time for that, if you all stay and fight these robots the four will be too far ahead for you to catch." The red head spy girl noted.
"We'll distract them," Hinata added as she started striking one of the robots though she was merely putting in small dents, "The armor on these robots are strong."
"No doubt thanks to whatever engineering Clyde used to create them." Naruto believed.
As the boys tried to get past the robots it was difficult because they kept blocking, but the girls kept retaliating by striking them giving the boys a chance to get past only to have more robots block them. Ino utilizing the storm element with her water and lightning chakra was firing laser like blasts from her fists at one robot piercing it's armor, until it fell on it's back shutting down, "Oh yeah!" she pumped a fist up.
"Ino, heads up!" Clover called seeing another robot ready to attack her. The spy girl utilized her Scorch element from Wind and Fire to create several flaming orbs resembling small suns that started to rotate around the robot. When the orbs came into contact with the robot it's circuits and wires inside it started overheating making them explode along with it's armor melting away, "Got him!" she cheered unaware of a robot launching arrow missiles from it's fingers.
"Clover, on your left!" Naruto called as Clover dodged but saw one of the arrows struck some of her hair cutting a few strands. This scene made everyone around look wide eyed.
"Did that robot just cut off some of Clover's hair?" Chouji asked the boys.
"Looks like it." Shino nodded.
Kiba saw Clover looking in an overly TO'd mood and looked about ready to shit himself, "It's the Chunin Exam Prelims all over again!"
"Troublesome robots. They just signed their scarp warrants!" Shikamaru sighed.
"YOSH! CLOVER'S YOUTHFULNESS IS GOING INTO OVERDRIVE!" Lee cheered.
"And I don't want to see it. It's freaky! Let's just keep going after Sasuke." Chouji suggested.
"You go ahead. I'll use Fido and catch up to you with the girls." Naruto said as the boys took off.
"NOBODY TOUCHES THE HAIR, BUT NARUTO!" Clover screamed as she started using her ice element releasing a barrage of ice shards at the one that cut her hair strands.
"Let's use our new elements now." Sakura called as she, Sam, and Hinata concentrated and suddenly long beams of wood rose from the ground entangling three robots that started getting crushed as the wooden beams were bending them in half.
"You think melting from my scorch was hot, try my boil!" Clover called to three robots as she used inhaled her breath and blew forth a corrosive vapor at them. Upon contact the element started eating away at their armor making them vulnerable.
"Ino's not the only Storm user!" Alex called as she used the same laser fist like move hitting the robots where their armor melted off exposing their weak points and they exploded.
"I'll finish the rest," Naruto said as he focused, "Taste Lava, metal heads!" he spat lava from his mouth at the remaining robots covering them in the hot element, "Take it away girls!" he called to the girls.
The girls used the water element to harden the lava into solid rock freezing them in place, "Now to crack them!" Naruto said as he, Sakura, Hinata, and Sam cracked their knuckles before using the earth element to punch the rock that trapped the robots bodies which shattered into pieces along with the robots.
"All right we got them!" Ino cheered as she and Sakura high fived.
"Not yet girls, the Sound Four's still getting away." Naruto said, "If we don't catch up to them now, then Sasuke's done for."
"Then let's go!" Sam said turning to Fido, "Fido track the scent."
"On it!" Fido said using his nose to track them again and they took off hoping to catch up to the guys.
Sometime later at the Hidden Sound Village in Orochimaru's lair, Orochimaru was straining and screaming trying to pull it together while Kabuto, Clyde, and Danzo watch, "Jeez what's happening with him?" Clyde asked.
"He can't hold it much longer. The affects from the Jutsu that took his arms is tearing him apart inside," Kabuto explained, "Where are those four? They should've been back by now," he asked, until he saw Orochimaru puke up blood, "My lord!" he ran to his aid.
"Kabuto, I can't wait any longer. I need a new body." Orochimaru strained.
"I understand. I'll check the cells for someone suited for you." Kabuto said as he started carrying his master off, while Clyde and Danzo followed knowing they'd make them come anyway.
As the two followed Orochimaru and Kabuto they spoke quietly, "What about the blood formula?" Danzo whispered to Clyde.
"Orochimaru was so sure those four would be back in time, this is his punishment," Clyde whispered back, "Besides, this way he'll be forced to cooperate should he actually plan to double cross us." Danzo smirked knowing this is their trump card at keeping Orochimaru in place for now.
Meanwhile some time later, Naruto was running through a cave, but in in pursuance of the Sound, Four, but Sasuke himself. After he and the girls defeated the robots sent by Clyde, they eventually caught up with the guys, but the Sound four ended up leaving one member behind to fight some of the others with Jirobo left to fight Chouji, Sakura, and Sam. Neji and Alex stayed to face Kidomaru. Kiba, Hinata, and Shino fought with Sakon. Shikamaru, Ino, and Clover dealt with Tayuya, while Lee was left to face a newcomer known as Kimimaro. Before that the casket that contained Sasuke exploded releasing Sasuke who instead of going back with Naruto instead ran on ahead in the direction of Oto.
Naruto reached the end of the cave, finding himself at the Valley of the End. He looked and saw on the statue of Madara Uchiha was Sasuke, "Sasuke!" he called and jumped over to the side his friend was on.
Sasuke turned around revealing he had a bit of his curse mark symbols around his eyes before they retreated back to his mark, "There you are, Naruto. I was beginning to wonder when you'd catch up."
"Sasuke!" Naruto called to his friend who slowly turned and looked at Naruto.
Half of Sasuke's face had been covered by the black flame markings from the cursed seal and his one eye appeared yellow and demonic and he smirks, "What took you so long Naruto?"
"Sasuke the game's over, let's get home." Naruto suggested.
"Sorry Naruto, but I'm not coming back." Sasuke replied as he turned to continue on, but Naruto grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around to face him.
"Perhaps I wasn't making it clear enough to your head. You're coming with me!" Naruto declared.
"Back off, Naruto!" Sasuke swore to Naruto using a tone he hasn't used with him in a long time.
"I promised Trish and your mother that I'd bring you back." Naruto explained to him.
"Only Orochimaru can give me the power I need to kill Itachi, and nothing's gonna stand in my way!" Sasuke declared.
Naruto was in shock in his words, "Vega Omega! Are you hearing yourself? That mark is like a drug. I've busted a lot of drug users in America and let me tell you, they're not a pretty sight!"
"You wouldn't understand." Sasuke said trying to get by, but Naruto who sported an even angrier look blocked him.
"Hello! You're not the only one who lost a father! At least you spent some time with yours. I never saw mine growing up, not even once!" Naruto reminded him.
"Either get out of my way or I'll kill you!" Sasuke warned him before taking a stance.
"So I have to knock you out to bring you home huh?" Naruto asked before taking his own stance, "So be it! I've been waiting for a chance to knock you down a few pegs ever since the academy. It's just you and me!"
"No it's just me!" Sasuke corrected him feeling in the end it'll only be him.
"At the end of this day, one shall rise and one shall fall! But don't worry, you'll still be alive!" Naruto shouted delivering a spin kick to Sasuke sending him crashing into the hand part of Madara's statue. Sasuke walked a few inches away from the hand looking up at Naruto still perching on top of the head, "That was a warm up, Sasuke. The next one's going to be extra hard!"
"I don't fear you, Naruto!" Sasuke frowned as the markings on his face retreated back to cursed mark on his neck before he activated his Sharingan.
"After this you will be!" Naruto promised him as he dove down at Sasuke as they went at it in Taijutsu before Naruto knocked them both off the statue and they plummeted into the water below the waterfall. They surfaced and used their chakra allowing them to walk on top of the water.
"All right Naruto you're asking for it!" Sasuke said forming hand signs and blew his fireball for Naruto, who started hand signs as well.
Naruto launched a water dragon at the fire ball when combined resulted in steam which blinded Sasuke, until Naruto going on instinct ran forward and tackled Sasuke in the wall gripping him by the collar, "I know you're not acting like yourself, Sasuke. Whatever happened inside that casket changed you, but I'm going to change you back somehow!" Naruto promised him.
"Keep talking Naruto, because that's all you are!" Sasuke shouted, before kicking Naruto off him and back onto the water.
As Naruto landed he started his hand signs and launched a fireball jutsu at Sasuke who dodged it, "Don't think you can defeat me using Jutsu I've studied long and hard to master!" Sasuke called as the two engaged in hand to hand combat.
Meanwhile back at the lair of Orochimaru, said man who had transferred into a new body had his face wrapped up like a mummy exposing one eye while his hair was short and white, "It's been too long what's happened out there?" Orochimaru growled as he sat on a chair.
"You really want to know?" Clyde asked the Sannin as he summoned up a crystal ball that floated above them showing them the fight ranging between Naruto and Sasuke.
"Sasuke is fighting against Naruto." Kabuto gasped.
Danzo's eye firmed watching two Konoha legacies going at it in combat reminiscing that it was just like how he and Sarutobi competed, "What happened to the Sound four and Kimimaro?" Orochimaru was confused.
Clyde smirked as he snapped his fingers as five split screens appeared above them displaying the others fights. They watched as Chouji who somehow turned into a skinny guy with butterfly wings made from chakra delivered a blow to Jirobo killing him while Sakura and Sam used the wood release to hold him in place. The next screen displayed Alex using the storm release attacks on Kidomaru blinding him while Neji who looked extremely weakened manage to use the gentle fist art on the Sound guards' heart. The screen next to the second one showed Kiba, Hinata, and Shino fighting Sakon who used his combined brother Ukon to fuse with each of them separately to weaken them from the inside, however when he tried this technique on Hinata the Kyubi chakra that was passed onto her through the earrings was enough to force him out of her. With their already weakened state they were about finished, until Kankuro from Suna showed up and with a combination of two of his puppets was able to finish Sakon and Ukon for them. The fourth screen displayed Shikamaru, Ino, and Clover holding their own against Tayuya who used a flute to cast Genjutsu over them, but after an effort to break free Clover and Ino fought her head on until Tayuya summoned a few Oni creatures to attack Clover making her crash into a tree breaking her right elbow and Ino broke her left foot. Shikamaru who was also out of options wasn't sure what to do, until Temari showed up and with the power of her wind jutsu and fan blew the sound girl back crashing into several trees knocking her unconscious. In the final screen was showing Lee holding his own against Kimimaro using a drunken fist art, while Kimimaro was using weapons made from his own bones. As Lee started slowing down Gaara showed up and took the battle the rest of the way which didn't last that long as Kimimaro suddenly died all on his own.
"No it can't be! My five best ninja defeated by children?!" Orochimaru shouted witnessing his guards getting defeated.
"Heartbreaking sight isn't it? Your five top ninja juiced up with your own curse markings defeated by rank amateurs." Clyde chuckled as Orochimaru and Kabuto glared.
"Watch your tone worm," Orochimaru warned him, "Even if I've already switched bodies so long as I have Sasuke in my clutches I'll still have a chance."
"Well unless the Uchiha boy manages to pull one over on Naruto he won't be going anywhere." Danzo said noting that the two boys that were locked in combat don't appear to be having their fight end anytime soon.
"That Sasuke, it looks like he's merely toying with Naruto." Kabuto observed as Clyde smirked.
"Well then perhaps I should lend Sasuke a helping hand to see if he truly is worthy to Orochimaru in my opinion." Clyde said as he summoned up a Kusanagi sword in a black sheath before it teleported away.
Back at the valley, Naruto and Sasuke who were still going at it gained some distance, until Sasuke saw appearing before him was the same sword Clyde summoned up and he could hear Clyde's voice, 'Take it young avenger and fulfill your destiny.'
'Yes.' Sasuke thought as he grabbed the sword and unsheathed it.
Naruto gasped as he saw that sword materialize out of nowhere, but as soon as he saw Sasuke grab it and unsheathe it he summoned his Kyubi fang and the two ninjas went at it in swordplay, "Don't you see now Naruto, this is a gift from destiny, proving the key to my ambition lies with Orochimaru."
"Don't think of this as a sign of destiny Sasuke, because this is a sign of temptation." Naruto said as he was blocking Sasuke's sword strikes.
The two ran around on top of the water with their swords clashing every time they attempted to strike at each other. Naruto thought while trying to parry Sasuke, 'This is getting me nowhere. It looks like it's time I put those elemental chakra exercises with my sword to the test. Sorry Trish Mrs. Uchiha, but I have to risk bruising Sasuke otherwise I'll never bring him back.'
Naruto parried Sasuke and jumped back channeling his fire chakra through his sword giving it a fiery glow, "Can you do this with your fire jutsu, Sasuke? Blazing Slash!" he shouted as he swung his sword releasing a fiery shockwave at Sasuke who tried to jump away but got hit making him roll across the water.
"How did you?" Sasuke looked up.
"What can I say Sasuke? Hard work and endless training." Naruto replied, while twirling his sword.
"Then why have I not been able to acquire what I sought through training?" Sasuke shouted getting back up to attack Naruto who dodged.
"Because Sasuke you and I are different," Naruto started, "I trained because I wanted to protect, you trained merely for killing, until your mother came back into your life, and Trish came into it as well. But now all I see is the former Sasuke I knew from the academy. That Sasuke was better left a memory. Aqua Slice!" Naruto swiped his sword across the water sending a tidal wave to drown Sasuke only for him to resurface to see Naruto going to try something else, "Hurricane Cutter!"
Naruto did another sword swipe across the water only this time it released a hurricane cyclone at the Uchiha which started putting cuts in his skin much like Temari's technique. Sasuke growled trying to withstand it and by luck managed to get out of the cyclone and started more swordplay with Naruto until they struck together with the result of both swords flying out of their hands and got lodged into the stone statues on opposite sides, "Perfect time to put away the toys Naruto, because things are about to get intense." Sasuke said as his Sharingan was finally completed.
Naruto knew he'd have to continue going all out so he summons his shadow clones and they all started coming at the Uchiha head on using basic hand-to-hand abilities. Unfortunately for Naruto, Sasuke was able to predict his body movements and blocked his blows, 'This is getting me nowhere. With his Sharingan completed he's reading my moves and predicting them!' Naruto thought. "Looks like it's time I took it up as well," Naruto said as he activated the weights on his wrists and ankles that he was training with for the past months and they deactivated. "Wow I'm feeling light as a feather. Hey Sasuke, try to attack what you can't keep up with!" Naruto said as he vanished.
"What?" Sasuke gasped as he suddenly felt Naruto coming at him from all around.
'How's he moving so fast my Sharingan can't keep up with him!' Sasuke thought as he was struggling to deflect Naruto's blows.
'Wow. I wonder if this is how Lee felt when he fought Gaara.' Naruto thought as he continued until he started slowing down having used up plenty of chakra enough already.
'He's slowing down,' Sasuke thought as he saw Naruto moving slower, 'Perfect.' He thought as he started taking control of the fight again and slammed Naruto making him roll across the water.
'Oh man my bodies just about had it.' Naruto thought with a groan.
Meanwhile back in Konoha, Connor who was with Harry outside the Uzumaki lair gasped, "Connor what's wrong?" Harry asked.
"Master, I sense Naruto's in trouble," Connor replied, "I have to help him," He said as he got back into a meditating form, 'Naruto, hear my voice! I grant onto you further use of my chakra. Use it well.' He thought as his chakra surrounded him and soon Naruto was feeling it as well.
Sasuke looked over at Naruto not noticing the chakra yet, "Sorry Naruto, but you lost." He said turning to walk away.
"Hold it, right there!" Naruto's voice bellowed.
Sasuke turned and gasped seeing Naruto getting up with red chakra consuming his body and it appeared he was surrounded by a red fox cloak made of chakra, "What is this?" Sasuke began trembling as he could see some Fox aura emitting from Naruto.
Naruto's eyes started turning blood red, his finger and toe nails grew long and sharp, his face markings became more feral, his hair became bushier, and he spoke with a distorted voice, "Get back here!" Naruto bellowed as he got down on all fours and took off like a speeding red bullet.
Sasuke desperately tried fighting back, but not even his jutsu was a match for Naruto using his bijuu chakra. After taking so many poundings and attacks from Naruto Sasuke looked about ready to give, until his curse mark started up again and covered his whole body, turning him demonic, "Whoa!" Naruto gasped.
"You're mine now, Naruto!" Sasuke formed a Chidori that turned into black lightning.
Naruto frowned as he created a Rasengan and mixed it with his bijuu chakra. The two friends lunged at each other using their strongest enhanced jutsu resulting in an explosion. When the explosion subsided, both Naruto and Sasuke were lying on the ground on the valley, with Naruto's chakra cloak gone, and Sasuke's demonic look gone as well. Naruto opened his eyes and saw Sasuke laying opposite side of him, "I won," he smiled, but groaned, "Oh my aching muscles."
Suddenly dropping in was Kakashi and Pakkun, "Naruto." he gasped.
"Hey sensei. What took ya?" Naruto joked.
Kakashi noticed Sasuke, "Is he?"
"He'll be fine, he's just knocked out." Naruto promised him.
"Well let's get you two back." Kakashi said, before Naruto interrupted him.
"Hold on. Get mine and the other sword." Naruto motioned to the swords he and Sasuke fought with. Kakashi made two more clones to grab the sword while he helped Naruto up and they headed back to Konoha.
Meanwhile at the Uzumaki lair, Kushina, Kin, Sai, Stella, Gabby, and Carmen were waiting anxiously for news of their kids until Connor and Jerry ran in, "Ladies the retrieval squad is back." Connor alerted them.
"Oh thank goodness." Kushina sighed as did the spy moms.
"But everyone's at the hospital now their mission wasn't a no-injury one." Connor explained and the moms bolted from their spots rushing out of the lair heading for the hospital as Connor and Jerry hurried after them.
Meanwhile at the hospital Shizune was checking over things while Mikoto, Trish, the Haruno's, Yamanaka's, Hyuga's, Aburame's, Akimichi's, Nara's, and Inuzuka's were waiting as well until the others showed up.
"We heard the news, how are they?" Kushina asked.
"They're doing fine," Mikoto began, "Though they could be here for a week or so."
"How're our girls?" Stella asked in worry.
"Sam's suffered two broken ribs, Alex's shoulder blades were busted, and Clover broke her right elbow." Shizune explained.
"Oh dear." Jerry gasped at the news.
"What about Naruto and Sasuke, did they both return?" Kushina asked.
"Yes, but both of them have extremely exhausted their chakra, and Sasuke was left unconscious." Shizune explained.
"That's not all," Shikamaru said walking over with a bandaged up finer along with Temari following him, "We managed to capture another one of Orochimaru's ninja, the red head."
"Tayuya, she's here?" Kin gasped.
"Yes, but she's knocked out." Shikamaru explained.
"There's also a problem concerning, Sasuke. When he wakes up he may try to go nuke-nin again thanks to whatever the Sound ninja did to him." Shizune added.
"This calls for special help," Connor suggested, "I'll be back!" he hurried off.
Meanwhile in Kiba's room Brittany and Hana were watching over the dog ninja, until Mikoto and Anko Mitarashi entered, "Hana, a moment please?" Mikoto asked.
"Uh sure Mrs. Uchiha." Hana said as she got up and Anko smirked deciding to throw in some humor.
"Yeah let's leave the two love puppies together." Anko joked, making Kiba frown while blushing and Brittany looking embarrassed.
As the older Inuzuka stepped outside the room she looked at the two, "So what's going on?"
"We got this message from Sam concerning Itachi." Anko said showing her the letter. Hana read it seeing the truth about Itachi, and started swelling up with tears upon reading a part about how he misses her and Anko and prayed that one day he'll make things right again. Hana hugged Mikoto and Anko crying in their embrace as they comforted her.
Meanwhile in another room, was Naruto lying down with Sasuke next to him though still unconscious, and the girls were spread out lying on their own hospital beds, "I can't believe even with that five second healing factor helping us we still have to be here." Clover complained.
"It can't be helped, Clover." Sam said who was right across from Clover.
Tsunade entered with Shizune, the mothers, Trish, Connor, Max, and Harry, "Well guys how're you holding up?" the Hokage asked.
"I feel like I've been dropped off the Empire State Building in New York." Naruto groaned.
"And that would hurt." Connor chuckled.
Harry noticed Sasuke, "Ah so there's the boy, well let me have a look." He said going over inspecting Sasuke's neck seeing the cursed mark surrounded by Kakashi's seal.
"What's going on?" Sakura asked.
"Harry feels he can permanently remove the curse mark and the affects of what being inside the casket did to him." Kushina explained as Harry started hand signs and a release kanji appeared on his palm.
"Forces of nature hear my word release this being from the torment bestowed on him!" he slammed his palm on the curse mark and a surge of energy channeled from his palm to Sasuke's neck as Sasuke cried in agony for a minute until it died down. As Harry removed his palm he revealed Orochimaru's mark and Kakashi's seal were removed.
"You did it!" Mikoto gasped.
Sasuke started stirring as his eyes opened, "Oh what happened?"
"Sasuke?" Mikoto and Trish gasped as he sat up.
"What am I doing here?" Sasuke asked looking around but suddenly found himself embraced by his crying mother and girl, "Mom, Trish, are you two ok?"
"Never better, Sasuke. We're glad to see you're not hurt." Mikoto said with a smile as she cried.
Harry smiled, "Now then let's see if I can do the same for that Tayuya girl."
"I'll go with you. Tayuya and I were close friends." Kin said as she followed him and Tsunade.
Max then turned to Connor, "By the way Connor for helping Naruto by lending your extra power to him to get Sasuke back should be just enough to convince Albus and the council to restore you to full power, once I put in the word."
Connor's eyes lit up, "You mean it?"
"You've finally earned it." Max smiled.
"Yes!" Connor started jumping around cheering while holding onto Kushina who was surprised at his happy and cheery mood.
Naruto chuckled at his behavior and looked over to the girls, "Well girls we could be here for a few days."
"Even if it's in a hospital, Naruto. we're always glad to be with you." Sam answered.
"For real." Ino nodded.
"Besides when we're let out we'll have plenty of time to catch up." Clover smirked making the girls catch on as well as Naruto.
In Tayuya's room, Harry was in the middle of the removal of her seal as she screamed from the pressure until it was over and her mark was gone, "It's gone." Kin said and noticed Tayuya was coming to.
"Oh what the bloody hell happened?" Tayuya groaned.
"Tayuya?" Kin asked.
"Kin, is that you?" Tayuya asked as she sat up, "Oh my damn head feels like it's been split!"
Harry and Tsunade look to Kin who answered, "Don't worry even before joining Orochimaru she always was a curser."
"Well then I'm going to check in on Anko, after all I'm sure having that mark on her for so long she'll be glad to have it taken off." Harry said going to see Anko.
Tsunade looked to Tayuya, "Tayuya, you and your team have been defeated the others were killed and Orochimaru failed in acquiring Sasuke."
"Obviously." Tayuya replied seeing that.
"And right now you have two options, one you could join Konoha and swear your loyalty to us like Kin has… Or two you could spend the rest of your days in the interrogation ward with Ibiki." Tsunade explained.
Tayuya thought of this, "I've already had to deal with crap at Orochimaru's hideout. I guess I could give Konoha a try." She looked down but felt Kin hug her.
"You won't regret it, Tayuya. Being in Konoha is the best thing that could've happened to me and it will be the same for you." Kin said making the red head smile a bit.
Meanwhile at Orochimaru's lair, the Snake Sannin was throwing a bloody fit from his lose having witnessed it through Clyde's viewing ability, "NOOOOO!" Orochimaru screamed as he thrashed around destroying stuff, while Kabuto calmed him down not wanting him to overdo it having been in his new body for a short while still not used to it.
"I am so sorry, my lord." Kabuto apologized for the failure.
"So those were your top ninja?" Clyde asked a bit mockingly, "They looked like they couldn't hold a candle to Max's students. As I've foreseen."
"Yes truly a sad sight." Danzo added.
"You dare mock me?" Orochimaru called to the two and looked at Clyde, "Your robots couldn't do any better! Kabuto get these lowlifes out of my sight!"
"At once my lord." Kabuto said ready to strike, until Clyde pulled out a vile.
"Not so fast!" He said.
"What is that?" Orochimaru asked as Kabuto stood waiting for orders.
"Uchiha DNA. With this I can make soulless bodies that carry the bloodline you crave." Clyde explained in a tempting tone.
"So you were holding out on me from the start!" Orochimaru growled, "Kabuto kill them and take that sample!" Kabuto was ready to strike, until Clyde held out a hand.
"Don't even think about it! This vile has a liquid dissolving cork. Unless we come to terms right now I will activate it and the DNA will be lost forever, along with any chance of you succeeding your life ambition!" Clyde smirked.
Orochimaru wanted to do something but seeing he no longer had Sasuke, and desperately wanted Sharingan had no choice, "Kabuto, stand down."
"My lord?" Kabuto asked confused.
Orochimaru looked at Clyde and Danzo, "Crafty sneak on your part. I actually commend you. Very well for the time being I shall play by your rules, but one slip up from either of you and you will be joining those who've fallen before you."
"And the same goes for you should you try the same thing on us." Danzo added as well leaving the three staring at each other knowing this will be a strained partnership for now but know they can help each other so long as they get what they want.
(And that's the chapter. Be ready for what I have prepared next time.)
