I don't own Naruto and I never have, probably never will. Can never tell for sure though.

Nightfall!

Chapter 55: Akatsuki Vs Konoha

"Kakuzu, Hidan! Why have you called us here!" Pein asked his annoyance for being summoned to the Gedo Mezo without the capture of a jinchuuriki was clearly evident.

"Yeah, we thought you would of at least had a jinchuuriki, Tobi is very upset, maybe we should take over their targets" the masked Akatsuki member said childishly.

"We have information regarding the three jinchuuriki in the Land of Fire! Information that will help capture at least two of them" Kakuzu declared.

"Really? What could you possibly know that would help us with our targets?" Hiruko asked skeptically.

"I know where the Nanabi and Ichibi usually work. The Ichibi likes operates in the dryer areas of the Land of Fire to the west just off the border. The Nanabi on the other hand operates in the coastal areas of the county with Zabuza Momoichi" Kakuzu explained.

"And what about the Kyuubi?" Kisame asked.

"No idea on where he is going to be, but we have been given a warning that to go up against the Kyuubi jinchuuriki is suicide" Hidan explained with an ironic smile.

"Sounds like he is tough, Tobi is sure glad not to have to fight against him" the masked ninja said happily.

"Maybe we could trade then, I wouldn't mind crossing blades with Zabuza. And suicide isn't really an issue for you two is it" Kisame said with a very shark like smile.

"The Kyuubi is not your target Kisame, he is mine! don't go offering up my target like you have that option" Hiruko snapped in anger.

"Gah, fine. But if those two fuck up we are going after the Nanabi ourselves" Kisame replied.

"That seems to be acceptable" Pein cut in.

"Uh Kakuzu, are you and Hidan currently in a secure location?" Zetsu asked.

"We are in a hotel at a Bounty office" the former Taki ninja replied.

"Then it seems you have some company fast approaching. I can feel them through the telapathic projection link. Three ninja with large chakra supplies, at least jounin level" Zetsu informed the pair who were sitting inside a large room each sitting on a separate bed.

"Deal with them, the rest of you continue your search for the Jinchuuriki, and do not call us back here unless you have captured a jinchuuriki" Pein said before fading away.

Hidan and Kakuzu stood up from where they were seated and looked to the door. "Do you think that those three ninja are looking for us?" Hidan asked offhandedly not worried in the slightest that there were three jounin level ninja outside.

Before Kakuzu could ask however a huge spike of wood shot through the wall blasting a massive hole in the room.

The wood retreated from the room which shocked the pair further. "What the fuck was that!" Hidan yelled.

"Mokuton! I haven't seen something like that since the Shodai Hokage" Kakuzu said darkly.

Meanwhile outside the building Kakashi, Asuma, and Tenzo were standing together looking at the damage Tenzo had caused to the building. "Do you think the Black Market charges for damages?" Asuma asked with a smirk.

"I don't know, we're going to have to ask Tsunade-sama" Kakashi replied jokingly. His face then became serious. "Are you sure that was the right room Tenzo?" he asked turning to the Mokuton user.

Tenzo nodded and rather than speak simply pointed to the hole in the building were two men appeared wearing black cloaks with red clouds. Kakashi stiffened at the sight preparing for anything.

"Well well, looks like we have some rats from Konoha" Hidan said as he jumped from the building to land in front of the three Konoha ninja.

Kakuzu followed shortly after and instantly became interested in two of the members of the group from Konoha. "Well if it isn't my lucky day. Kakashi Hatake, and Asuma Sarutobi, I can get a great deal of money for you two" he said with a smirk.

"So you're the bounty hunter that killed Chiriku!" Asuma said angrily not caring about the threat.

"I didn't kill him, that pleasure was given to Hidan. It was my idea to collect the bounty on his head however" Kakuzu replied.

"Well looks like we have heard enough. Tenzo... Now!" Kakashi said urgently.

Instantly wooden bindings shot out from the ground and shot towards the pair. Kakuzu managed to avoid the attack, but Hidan reacted a split second to slow and his leg was wrapped with the Mokuton users wood.

"Ah what the fuck!" Hidan yelled trying to pull his leg free from its bindings.

Kakuzu just shook his head. "You saw before that one of them was a Mokuton user, you should have been prepared for something like that Hidan" he lectured unsympathetic to his partners position. Then after quickly racing through some hand seals he sent a small sharp blade of wind at the wood holding Hidan in place effectively freeing the Jashinist.

"His Fuuton manipulation is highly skilled, to be able to cut through your Mokuton jutsu" Asuma said clearly impressed.

Kakashi and Yamato nodded. "We also have to presume that his other elements are just as strong. The report said he could use all five elements so we have to be on our toes" Kakashi said.

"Alright, I'll take care of the guy with the scythe, he seems like my kind of opponent, you two deal with the other one" Asuma suggested.

"Alright, but we still don't know how to kill that guy, according to Akimi he can still live even after his head is removed. Don't drop your guard for even a second" Kakashi warned.

"So looks like you are going to have those two as company, don't go dieing on me now Kakuzu" Hidan laughed.

"Worry about yourself fool, there is no way that I will be killed by the Copy Ninja. I fought with the Shodai Hokage, Kakashi Hatake is nothing special" Kakuzu replied.

Hidan quickly scoffed at what his partner was saying and shot forward his scythe at the ready to cleave Asuma in two. But as his blade came down he didn't here the unmistakable sound of flesh being torn, instead he heard steel on steel. Looking down he saw two trench knives glowing with Fuuton chakra. "This scythe is made with strong stuff, I would had thought that my trench knives would have caused at least some damage to the weapon." Asuma said with a smile, his cigarette arching out the side but somehow managing not to fall from his mouth.

Kakashi quickly ran through some hand seals and sent a strong wave of fire at Kakuzu. The former Taki ninja responded by drawing on some water from a nearby tap and creating a wall of water to block the flames.

Tenzo used the steam the two jutsu created by manipulating the water into small blades and sent them rocketing towards Kakuzu. This time the Akatsuki ninja used a Doton jutsu to create a large dome around him blocking the Suiton attack.

"This is going to be difficult" Kakashi sighed as the dome of earth collapsed to reveal a completely unscathed Kakuzu.

(Meanwhile)

Naruto and Akimi were approaching a underground bunker that was built so that it would blend perfectly in with the surrounding landscape. The only way that you would ever be able to find it was if you knew it was there in the first place. The entrance was covered in moss looking just like a large boulder that had been in the same location for hundreds of years.

"Are you sure this is it?" Akimi asked as they approached the hidden entrance.

"Positive, I came here with Jiraiya sensei and Itachi sensei once. Besides I can feel there chakra signatures hiding away underground" Naruto said with a frown.

"Really what did you come here for?" Akimi asked.

"To warn them never to pay out any bounty on Itachi sensei and to warn anyone who asks against the attempting to claim them on any of us" Naruto explained.

Akimi nodded in understanding. "I see, so how do we get in?" she asked looking for the entrance.

"Uh well there is a password Jiraiya sensei told it to me" Naruto said proudly. Then the smile fell from his face and he looked rather embarrassed. "But I sorta forgot it" he admitted sheepishly.

"Well then how are we going to get in!" she asked.

"Hm like this" Naruto replied and pointed a finger towards the moss covered boulder. "Bansho Ten'in!"

there was a loud creaking sound and a second later a huge metal and stone door was flung off of its hinges, Naruto manipulated the gravity to send the door flying off elsewhere into the woods.

Where the door had been removed sat a short man on a stool who was acting as a gate guard. "Ah I guess it would be sort of pointless to ask you for a password now" he said weakly.

Naruto chuckled under his breath and took a few steps forward. "Sorry about that, but I don't have time for that, I'm looking for two people, and I want to know if they came through here" he said calmly.

"Well I'm afraid I can't tell you much about the people who come and go, we are very secretive about our clients after all" the man said as bravely as he could.

Naruto smiled a very dry smile void of all charm and life. "You will tell me what you know about two Akatsuki members, they had the body of a man named Chiriku, the head monk from the Fire Temple" he said, Naruto's voice was quite calm but at the same time that calmness made everything he was saying that much more terrifying for the man who was on the desk.

The door guard was no ninja, just a old gang grunt that traded in terrorizing civilian caravans for an easier job of allowing entrance to the black market. "I'm sorry sir, but I do not know what you are talking about" he said his voice shaking slightly. Under his chair he subtly pressed a button to call for assistance. He never thought he would have had to use it. There had been times in the past where Konoha would send some ninja to clear out the worst of the criminals that would hang around, but that was a rare occurrence and it didn't really bother the people in charge. They considered Konoha to have a working arrangement with them. They wouldn't run the black market completely out of the country, and in exchange they would pass on information to Konoha on note worthy events with the obvious exception of those people they feared more than Konoha, the Akatsuki for one.

"Well that is a shame, if you can't cooperate then I guess I will just have to force the information out of you" Naruto said solemnly.

The door guard began to sweat as Naruto approached slowly. The blond was only a few steps away when help arrived and the guard let out a very audible sigh of relief. "These two destroyed the secret entrance and are looking for information on the Akatsuki!" he said suddenly finding his bravery now that he was in a group that out numbered Naruto and Akimi ten to two.

Naruto hesitated his walk and scanned the gathered crowd. 'From the looks of it they are all missing ninja, from the lesser villages. I shouldn't be so surprised, most of the smaller hidden villages can't afford to send their own ninja out to track them, so they get out on there own and become nothing but petty criminals and gang members' he thought while quietly deciding the best way to dispose of them.

The door guard however saw the fact that Naruto stopped his advance as a sign of weakness and grew in confidence. "Not so confident about forcing me to talk now are you!" he yelled tauntingly at the blond. "Ten ninja, four of them were jounin in their old villages!" he added smugly.

"Hm so you have ten ninja, all from the lesser villages and I'm supposed to be afraid?" Naruto asked sarcastically.

"Maybe if they were all jounin, they would have about the same skill as one decent ninja from one of the five major villages. But even then I still doubt I would have to lift a finger to help" Akimi added with a smirk.

"What ever" one of the missing ninja said angrily.

"So how do you wanna deal with these guys?" Naruto asked completely ignoring the outraged missing ninja.

"I don't care, just as long as we get the information we need. You will be better than me at that" Akimi replied.

The black market ninja were getting angrier and angrier at Naruto and Akimi's refusal to take them seriously. "That does it!" one of them yelled in anger before charging at Naruto, a kunai in each hand.

Naruto still had his back turned from the ninja as he swung his blades to slice at the blondes neck. However he found his kunai cut nothing but air as Naruto deftly ducked under the attack before turning and in a single motion as Naruto swirled one of his hands reached out grasping the missing ninja's face before ripping his soul from his body and finally coming to a stop at the exact point he stood before the man had attacked.

As the man fell lifeless to the floor the other ninja were in a stunned silence at what they had just witnessed, their ally had his soul forcefully removed from his body with what seemed like a mere touch. They all began looking around to the others for confirmation that what they were seeing was actually happening.

"Now, the fool that attacked me didn't know anything, why don't you tell me if two members of the Akatsuki came through here to collect a bounty in the past day or two?" Naruto asked stepping over the dead body of the ninja that had been foolish enough to attack.

The others seemed to weigh up whether or not they could take Naruto or not, they still had numbers on their side but the prospect of having your soul forcefully removed from your body is not an appealing one.

"We don't have all day Naruto-kun, one of them is bound to have been here the entire time, if they won't tell you, just get to ripping the information from them forcefully. Besides if they haven't been here then we need to go back up the other group" Akimi said feeling slightly impatient because of Naruto's stalling..

Naruto nodded. "You're right Akimi-chan" Naruto admitted before turning back to face the group still attempting to block his entrance. "Alright guys, here's the deal, you tell me if the Akatsuki have been here in the next ten seconds or I will do to you what I did to your friend here, but make it last much longer until I have absorbed every small piece of information no matter how small it is and then destroy this place and anyone who I think deserves it inside" Naruto said with a carefree tone and a smile.

"Look we don't know anything, the Akatsuki haven't been here in months, no leave this place" the gate guard said his voice shaking slightly, he had been unnerved by the site of Naruto's Human Path and the ease in which Naruto dispatched one of the most skilled ninja currently in the hideout.

"Well it doesn't appear that they are lying. The Akatsuki haven't been here, we should get doing to help the others. But if you guys are lying and the Akatsuki have been here, I will make sure to come back for all of you" Naruto warned.

After a quick wordless nod to Akimi the pair took off in a flash that none of the others had been able to follow.

(Elsewhere)

Kakashi, and Tenzo were struggling to cope with Kakuzu, he had a counter to every attack that they had produced so far, something that a hundred years of experience will give you. He had not made the mistake to underestimate his opponent like he had done with Akimi.

Asuma was faring much better. While unable to actually kill Hidan, he was the more skilled in close range combat and that had given him the advantage over the immortal.

Hidan swung his scythe at Asuma's legs, but the former member of the twelve guardians easily cleared the attack with a jump. Hidan masked his growing frustration surprisingly well and stuck again with a stab from his retractable spear.

Asuma parried the strike with a trench knife in mid air and spun quickly to slice off Hidan's arm with the other. Hidan was too fast however and managed to avoid the blow. It may not kill him but if Asuma had cut off his arm he would soon find himself in tiny pieces. 'I just need a small nick, a tiny drop of his blood and I will have him' Hidan thought as he watched Asuma looking for an opening.

Meanwhile Kakashi and Yamato had come to the realization that ninjutsu wouldn't work against Kakuzu, genjutsu or taijutsu were his best options. Unfortunately Tenzo was not a taijutsu type and was suited to support and and long distance jutsu. 'This is a fight better suited to someone like Gai. Well it can't be helped, we just have to deal with what we have been given' Kakashi thought. "Tenzo, I'm going to try and get in closer, ninjutsu attacks are not working too well, cover me from back here" he ordered before charging off to Kakuzu with kunai in hand.

Kakuzu jumped back to keep his distance from the copy ninja but in the end was forced to parry the blow from Kakashi and quickly kick him back before speedily creating a mud wall to deal with a powerful jet of water from a Suiton jutsu that Tenzo had used.

"Clever tactic change, you realized that you could not defeat me with ninjutsu so you are mixing it up. I can hardly say I am surprised however, you are an ninja that is known throughout the elemental nations as a genius are you not Kakashi Hatake?" Kakuzu said with a dark growl.

"That is all perspective. There are ninja almost half my age that are far stronger than I am, and stronger than you will ever be. That is the world we live in" Kakashi said.

"I would never allow myself to be defeated by some child. I am over one hundred years old! I fought against the Shodai Hokage, the rest of you cannot match up" Kakuzu scoffed. His tone then turned far more serious. "If you are going to change your strategy to better deal with me, then I guess I should respond in kind" he added and from his back the four masked creatures shot out and stood beside the former Taki ninja and his arms and legs seemed to grow apart with black cords giving his body a more liquid feel.

"So that's what Akimi said when she mentioned his ability to split parts of his body" Kakashi said his eyes widened slightly by this new development.

All at once the masked creatures shot together as one at Kakashi, moving to surround the copy ninja preventing escape.

Once they had him surrounded each mask opened it's mouth and shot a separate elemental jutsu at Kakashi. Fire, wind, water and lightning all hit together causing an explosion of chakra that could be felt for miles.

When the smoke cleared there lay the smoking remains of Kakashi Hatake. Until 'Poof' up he went in a cloud of smoke. 'A shadow clone! But when!' Kakuzu asked himself before being drawn out of his revelry by the sound of chirping birds. "What tha-?" was all he managed to say before Kakashi's arm shot through his chest.

Kakuzu's body collapsed on the ground in a heap. Kakashi jumped back to stand beside Tenzo. "Do you think he is dead sempai?" Tenzo asked.

"I don't know, at this point lets just say I hope so" Kakashi replied.

No sooner had Kakashi finished speaking than one of the masked creatures that has seemingly been stunned by the attack on their master shot towards the body of Kakuzu and implanted itself into the mans back.

Even Asuma stood in amazement as Kakuzu picked himself up off the ground the hole in his robes and a scar that was slowly sewing itself beck together the only thing showing that he had been harmed at all. "I must admit I am impressed. You used a shadow clone to fight against me from the start to learn my strategies and find an effective counter. You are a strong opponent. But you had to hold that clone for a long time, it even survived a kick from me, how is that possible?" the former Taki ninja asked.

'Damn, we could really use that help now Naruto. He now outnumbers us and is highly skilled himself. I have to keep him talking to buy us some time for Naruto and Akimi to arrive' Kakashi thought. "You didn't actually hit me, my clone blocked the attack then jumped back to avoid the Suiton jutsu. Now how is it that you are still alive, I felt your heart explode from my Raikiri?" he asked attempting to keep the man talking.

"Yes you destroyed my heart, or should I say one of them. You see I have found my ways around cheating death, much like my partner has. My vital organs have all been moved so I am no longer vulnerable to most attacks. And I have harvested five hearts. One for each element. Just killing me once is not enough to stop me" Kakuzu said confidently.

"I see, so those masked creatures each contain one heart then. That is how they are able to move without the use of chakra wire, they each contain one of your hearts" Kakashi surmised.

"Correct, very perceptive Kakashi. Your heart will be the perfect replacement for the one you have just destroyed. Now that's enough small talk shall we continue?" Kakuzu asked.

"This isn't good, Tenzo, you think would can keep those three masks busy while I deal with the main body?" Kakashi asked.

"I'll do my best sempai" Tenzo said. Before sending several wooden spikes towards the masks forcing them to disperse and fly away in separate directions.

While this had been going on Asuma had been doing his best to observe the other fight, he wanted to know what his allies were dealing with. And what he had seen was enough to prove to him that they had it much tougher than he did. Despite his durability Hidan's confidence in his own immortality had made him sloppy, and despite showing glimpses of skill that were worthy of an elite ninja. He would often allow himself to become sloppy and take several hits, whether this was to lull his opponent into a false sense of superiority or not was a question that Asuma simply did not want to know and as such was not taking any risks.

At least he didn't want to. The sight of Kakuzu getting back up had shocked him. For the first time in the fight he was on the defensive. Now Hidan's true skill was on show. His sloppy defense was nothing compared to his skill in offense. Asuma who had foolishly taken his eyes off his opponent for a split second had changed the tide of the fight, he was now ducking and weaving for all he was worth.

"Stop running and let me cut you! Then we can experience the utmost of suffering together, and it will be bliss" Hidan said angrily as he swung his blades faster and faster as Asuma held on.

Then Asuma saw an opening and slipping underneath Hidans retractable spear cut a deep gash into the stomach of the Jashinist before rolling away to make some distance for himself.

Hidan hunched over from the pain of the attack, but rather than the angry scowl that Asuma had expected he heard Hidan break out into joyous laughter. Then he felt his shoulder burn and looking down Asuma saw that he had not entirely avoided the spear when he had ducked Hidan's attack. "Oh this is going to feel great!" Hidan yelled in excitement.

'What the hell is he talking about!' Asuma asked himself. And was about to charge back in and attack when a large seal array appeared beneath Hidan's feet and it spread all over the Immortals body.

"Hey Kakuzu, I'm done here!" Hidan called out before plunging the retractable spear through his chest.

Asuma's eyes widened in shock as he felt his heat falter and his knees give out unexpectedly. 'What jutsu is this!' he thought as he felt his heart slow and his body grow heavy.

Kakashi and Tenzo for their part were shocked but couldn't afford to take their attention away from the their own opponents.

"Oh yeah that's the stuff! Jashin-sama will be pleased with this, what a sacrifice, the son of the Sandaime Hokage!" Hidan said looking up to the heavens in total bliss.

Once Asuma's body struck the ground Hidan removed the blade from his chest and the seals faded away. 'This is not good, now we have to deal with another one. Oh well, if this is my end so be it' Kakashi thought as he ducked under a kick from Kakuzu's main body.

Hidan went to inspect the body of his prey to make sure he was gone. Once satisfied the immortal turned to watch Kakuzu's fight. "Hurry up Kakuzu! We need to get movi-" he was cut short by a hole the size of a fist being blown into his chest. Hidan looked down in shock. "What the fuck was that!" he yelled.

A response came with another blast, this time to the other side of his chest knocking him onto his back.

From the edge of the clearing two shinobi appeared in white hooded cloaks. "So I guess he really can't be killed. That's interesting" Naruto said his face still hidden from the Akatsuki members as Hidan slowly picked himself up off the ground.

End Chapter!

Internet is back on finally! Hope you enjoyed the chapter, next few will all be focused on the Yoinokuchi Vs Akatsuki as this Arc finally comes towards its end.