The Pantheon of Nine

By: Finn Mertenz

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO. I DO NOT CLAIM TO OWN NARUTO.


Chapter 114: Get Back Here: Naruto! The Horror Of Kubisaki Pass.

Wednesday 11:37am, July 28th 58SSP.

"This is ridiculous! How is this training?!" Konohamaru shrieked, stomping his foot in protest.

Surrounded by a 13 year old Menma and a 6 year old Fuki, these children were shrouded by Jiraiya's shadow. Defined by a matching set of full-bodied frog costumes, these shinobi were standing on the side of a road.

"I can't believe I was talked into this." Crossing both arms against his chest, Konohamaru wrinkled his tiny nose.

Constrained by the tight fabric of his frog attire, Menma's fair face was framed by wavy strands of blond hair. Drawing attention to his grey eyes, Menma blew this hair from his face.

Fueled by Konohamaru's antics inside the Land of Sound, Menma and Fuki were hauled along by Jiraiya. Teaching each of these young shinobi, Jiraiya was reminded of his youth, and all the children that he trained.

"I kinda like it... It makes my stomach feel cozy." Menma exclaimed, taping his webbed-fingers together.

Standing in the background, Fuki's pale face was poking out from her green-tinted frog outfit. A perfect match for the jagged emerald jewel that Fuki wore, this rock was actually a Stone of Gelel.

"I never thought I would become a kunoichi." Fuki stuttered, anxiously scratching her nose.

Grumbling under his breath, Konohamaru's sulking face was directed towards the ground. Strolling forward, Jiraiya raised one of his webbed-fingers into the air, giggling with joy.

"A ninja must learn to expect the unexpected..." Jiraiya proclaimed, bombarded by falling bird poop.

Gagging with disgust, Jiraiya promptly fell to both knees before rubbing his wet face against the earth. Using grass to clean his skin, Jiraiya was embarrassed by the loud laughed of his students.

"Hah! Some hotshot you are! You couldn't even do-...?!' Konohamaru mocked his teacher, before fresh bird poop landed directly in his mouth.

Squealing in unison, Konohamaru and Jiraiya both screeched with a visible gasp. At the same time, Fuki was giggling with genuine joy, a rare sight since the brutal death of her father.


Five minutes later.

Situated inside the Land of Neck, Konohamaru, Menma and Fuki all trailed behind a one-armed Jiraiya. Dressed like human-shaped toads, these froggy adventurers journeyed down a dirt road.

Briefly shrouded by overcast clouds, these fluffy bundles drifted through a clear blue sky. Dampened by the distinct sound of chirping birds, Konohamaru sighed with boredom.

"I'm trying to avenge my clan... How is this gonna help me?" Konohamaru complained.

"You know... You remind me of this child I once trained..." Jiraiya replied with a dry tone.

"He was always focused on the future, talking about his goals and dreams." As Jiraiya spoke, his left arm was held against his chest.

Freezing midsentence, Jiraiya used one foot to trip Konohamaru, forcing him to faceplant the dirt. Choking on a mouthful of poorly-dried mud, the stern expression of Jiraiya loomed on Konohamaru.

"But that distracted him from where he was, from what he was doing." Enthralled by these words, the youthful silhouette of Nagato drifted through Jiraiya's mind.

"You told me that you want to be Hokage..." Defined by his stark face, this appearance deeply contrasted Jiraiya's full-bodied frog costume.

"Well, there are no shortcuts to becoming Hokage." Speaking the same statement that Naruto once spoke, Konohamaru was traumatized by Jiraiya's voice.

Offering a helping hand to his student, Jiraiya quickly pulled Konohamaru to his feet. Displaying a sudden shift in his personality, Jiraiya's stern expression morphed into a ear-booming chuckle.

Without warning, Jiraiya sneezed all over Konohamaru's face, causing him to gag with disgust. Wiping this snot off against a nearby tree, Jiraiya continued to sneeze and sniffle.

"What's wrong, sensei?" Fuki muttered, holding both hands behind her back.

Interrupting his teacher, Menma also broke out into a harsh fit of sneezing, dripping snort from his nose. Eventually, Jiraiya and Menma both fell to the ground, overwhelmed by a rapid fever.


Ten minutes later.

"We should be safe here." Konohamaru proclaimed, dragging the last of his supplies up a narrow canyon side.

True to its name, the Land of Neck was littered with a endless maze of twisting canyons and narrow passages. The perfect place to hide, Konohamaru was keeping watch over the horizon.

Seated inside the center of a makeshift camp, Fuki used a wet rag to cool Jiraiya and Menma. Placing this drenched garment across their foreheads, Fuki swelled with concern.

"Their temperature keeps going up... I don't know what to do." Fuki muttered.

Pulling her frog hat off with a dramatic pop, Fuki's ear-length brown hair was put on full display. Propping her frog-shaped head against the ground, Fuki glared at the sky with grey eyes.

Biting his own lip out of annoyance, Konohamaru gripped his chin before humming. Annoyed by his frog hat, Konohamaru quickly tore this garment off, exposing his spiky brown hair.

"Oh! I know!" Konohamaru beamed with joy.

"That perverted geezer said Tsunade is traveling through this land! If we can find her, she'll fix him up no problem!" Bellowing his plan, Konohamaru waved a thumbs up at Fuki.

Blushing in reply, Fuki brushed one hand over her face, hiding the embarrassment that she felt. Oblivious to this apparent display, Konohamaru glanced over his shoulder, observing the nearby countryside.

"So, do you want to go out?" Fuki slurred her question, filled with hesitation.

Turning around with startled panic, a hue of red was sprawled across Konohamaru's young face. Inspired by Fuki's choice of words, Konohamaru nervously stammered under his breath.

"Wh-... You mean like-...?!" Konohamaru could barely speak.

"That's not what I mean! You have to go alone! I need to stay here and watch after them!" Fuki protested, concealing her blush.

Jolted by the distant sound of clashing thunder, Fuki and Konohamaru leapt into each others arms. Afterwards, these young kids pulled away with murmured excuses, hiding their embarrassment.

"I bet Tsunade is over there!" Konohamaru shouted, pointing at the harsh storm on the horizon.

Looking for any reason to end the awkward conversation, Konohamaru tore off his frog outfit. Revealing his iconic blue scarf, this wavering cloth clung to Konohamaru's waist-length red kimono, held in place by a green sash.

Defined by long-sleeves and an exposed chest, a section of mesh-armor was sprawled across Konohamaru's chest. Contrasting his green-tinted pants, Konohamaru wore a pair of ornate wooden sandals, a gift from Jiraiya.

Despite his enhanced attire, Konohamaru's most distinguishable feature was his glimmering headband of Konoha. Boldly strapped across his forehead, this metallic surface sparkled in the sun.

Ignoring the shrieks of protest from Fuki, Konohamaru leapt and skipped down the stone cliffside. Rushing towards the distant storm, Konohamaru was soon concealed by dark clouds.


Meanwhile.

Obscured by a heavy downpour of rain, several soldiers carried a wooden litter between them. Dressed in an array of ankle-length grey capes, these warriors were native samurai from the Land of Neck.

"My princess... It isn't safe here, the storm..." A nameless samurai spoke out.

A middle-aged man with fair skin, this soldier was known as Shiro, the 28 year old right hand of Kayo Kubisaki. Adorned with a bamboo straw-hat, Shiro's entire outfit was drenched with rain.

Poking his head through a linen curtain, Shiro leaned inside the wooden litter, revealing the pale skin of Kayo Kubisaki. A 30 year old lady Daimyo from the Land of Neck, Kayo inherited this position from her father.

Known as Koza Kubisaki, 22 years ago, this Daimyo died in combat during the 2nd Shinobi War. Sealing himself and the attacking army inside his isolated castle, Koza gave his life so his nation could prosper.

"I know... But we must keep moving. The delegation is too important to miss." Kayo exclaimed.

Seated atop a cushion-covered plank of wood, Kayo was shrouded by the ornate walls of her blue-tinted litter. Matching the loose kimono she wore, this blue fabric deeply contrasted Kayo's shoulder-length purple hair.

Nodding with agreement, Shiro pulled his face from Kayo's litter, instantly bombarded by harsh rain. Strolling across a wet puddle of mud, Shiro and various samurai escorted Kayo down the down.

Startled by a jarring boom of thunder, Shiro was abruptly overcast by the flapping shadow of a clay bird. Looming over the rain-drenched horizon, a smirking Deidara popped into view.

"Yo! I'm looking for a little girl with a green rock, you seen her?" Deidara shouted his question, dripping water from his hair, face and outfit.

Instead of responding with words, Shiro unsheathed his steel katana, mirrored by dozens of samurai. Dampened by the sound of rain striking metal, Shiro slid his sandals across the mud.

"Stay back! You aren't permitted to approach!" Shiro screeched.

Scoffing in response, Deidara leisurely combed one hand through his wet blond hair. Exposing his teal-colored Akatsuki ring, Deidara twitched his fingers with anticipation.

"That's how you wanna be, huh?" Deidara chuckled, reaching into his pouch of clay.

Defined by a pair of growling mouths on both palms, Deidara's saliva-drenched tongue licked a mound of clay. Chewing this white substance without delay, Deidara raised his strange hand into the air.

"Take a quick glimpse... Because art, is an explosion!" Swelling with child-like joy, Deidara spewed a geyser of clay spiders into the air.

Clinging to the rain-soaked ground and nearby trees, Deidara's spiders erupted into a chakra-filled explosion. Launching chunks of debris and scorched trees through the air, distant earth quaked under this attack.


Meanwhile.

"That sounds interesting... Something must be happening over there." Konohamaru exclaimed.

Strolling down a mud-filled road with both hands on his head, Konohamaru was undaunted by the heavy rain. Dripping water from his hair and face, Konohamaru's outfit was completely soaked.

Bombarded by a rotten banana, Konohamaru was knocked face-first into a puddle of mud. Taking several minutes to regain his composure, Konohamaru leapt to his feet, exposing his stained clothes.

Glaring at the nearby silhouette of a monkey, this wet-furred creature was mocking Konohamaru. Grunting with annoyance, Konohamaru picked up the mushed remains of his banana, throwing it back at the monkey.

"You stupid ape! I'm gonna become Hokage someday!" Speaking aloud, Konohamaru hastily ran down the road.


Five minutes later.

Holding both hands over his face, Konohamaru was shielding himself from the heavy drizzle of rain. Strolling through a stone canyon, the drenched outline of a feudal castle came into view.

Surrounded by a grassless plain of wet-mud and swampy water, this castle was isolated from society. Defined by the outline of leafless tree branches, these dead limbs protruded through an eerie horizon.

"Gee... That's pretty spooky." Konohamaru muttered, quickly startled by a boom of thunder.

Filled with child-like dread, Konohamaru surged towards the dark castle, anxiously charging to the front gate. Reaching out to grab this large door, the massive gate creaked open by itself.

"Maybe this isn't a good idea..." Slurring his words, Konohamaru scratched his wet nose.

Forced inside by a rain-filled gust of wind, the wooden door slammed shut behind Konohamaru. Knocked onto his stomach, Konohamaru grumbled under his breath, crawling to his feet.

Glancing from side-to-side, Konohamaru observed a well polished stone floor, contradicting the eerie exterior. Also, a lavished lamp hung from the ceiling, illuminated by blue flames.

"Hello? It's raining outside, I just wanted a minute to dry off." Speaking into an empty room, Konohamaru received no reply.

Suddenly, Konohamaru noticed a middle-aged man in the corner, mopping the floor. Scrubbing the same portion of rock for several minutes, this man moved in twisted and jagged motions.

"Oh, sorry! I didn't see you!" Nervously scratching his nose, Konohamaru was answered by silence.

Instead of responding, the distant man continued to mop the floor, moving without any disruption. Staring at the ground with a downcast and shadowy face, this quiet man mopped without any emotion.

Shrugging both shoulders, Konohamaru strolled through a screen door, entering a well-lit dining room. Filled with steaming piles of food, Konohamaru squealed like a school girl, causing both eyes to sparkle.

Rushing towards this food without a second thought, Konohamaru shoveled various handfuls into his mouth. Gagging on dust, ash and cobwebs, Konohamaru gasped for air, spitting his food out.

Wiping the gunk from his tongue, Konohamaru finally noticed that the entire room was covered in dust. The previous piles of food were instead just rotten bones and dead inserts.

Fueled by this realization, Konohamaru staggered back against a decrepit wall, creaking the aged wood. Standing out amongst this worn and tattered room, the vibrant picture of Koza Kubisaki was framed on the wall.

"He looks really important..." Talking to himself, Konohamaru tightened his scarf.

Standing in front of this aged picture for several moments, Konohamaru was hypnotized by his eyes. Painted on with such vivid detail, Konohamaru felt like he was being watched.

Running back into the front room, the previous man was replaced with a pile of ash and rotten bone. Also, his iconic mop was propped against his decomposed corpse, clearly dead for years.

Swollen with regret, Konohamaru leapt towards the massive front door, straining to kick it open. Knocking the hollow wood with his feet, Konohamaru was soon answered by a distant thud.

Pulling his last gift from Naruto, Konohamaru plunged a three-pronged kunai into the door. Scratching and stabbing the aged surface, Konohamaru struggled in vain to get outside.

Screaming as thunder roared through the background, Konohamaru dropped his kunai before running away. Dashing off into a bundle of shadows, Konohamaru didn't notice the Rinnegan eyes that followed him.


Five minutes later.

Poorly-dried and filled with anxious hesitation, Konohamaru tip-toed through a wooden hall. Sneaking past a partially collapsed corner, an ornate stand of samurai armor was framed atop the floor.

Fueled by his eerie sense of unease, Konohamaru narrowed both eyes, dramatically leaping to a safe distance. With his back pressed against the wall, Konohamaru slowly inched past this set of armor.

Gee... I should've just stayed with Fuki... Konohamaru internally sighed.

Traumatized by a crimson mask upon the lifeless samurai, Konohamaru bit his own lip, clawing at the wall. Hastily dashing out of sight, Konohamaru held his beating chest with both hands.

"This is crazy... This is crazy..." Mumbling his panicked words, Konohamaru came to an abrupt stop, panting for air.

Choking of thick clouds of ash and dust, Konohamaru was startled by a mound of poorly-stacked bones and armor. The starved remains of Koza's enemies, these invaders starved inside his sealed castle.

Left speechless by this display of death, Konohamaru eventually noticed a set of scribbles on the floor. Brushing away the bony remnants of a foreign samurai, Konohamaru crouched over these scribbles.

Cut, carved and scratched into the stone floor, a clear depiction of kanji were fully visible. Rubbing one hand across this time-tested message, Konohamaru struggled to read in the dark.

The way below whines deeper, older, unspeakable its maze is laid... Reading these disheveled words, Konohamaru swelled with fear.

The lost forever damned to wonder, this thing a quiet madness made. Jumping to his feet, Konohamaru shook the anxiety from his mind.

Without warning, the stone floor began to wiggle and writhe, knocking Konohamaru to his back. At the same time, planks of wood suddenly morphed into fleshy tongues, jutting out from the walls.

"What's happening?!" Dampened by the quaking floor, Konohamaru was answered by the iconic squawking of Shisui.

Soaring through the narrow hallway, this violet-eyed raven polluted the air with a bundle of black feathers. Encouraged by this rampant squawking, Konohamaru quickly trailed behind Shisui, running down the hall.


Five minutes later.

"Thanks... Whatever you are." Konohamaru exclaimed, holding the three-pronged kunai that he previously dropped.

Standing over the perched silhouette of Shisui, this raven returned Konohamaru's kunai, carried in his talon. Characterized by the Rinnegan eye in his right socket, Shisui's left eye was closed and dormant.

"Ya'know, I don't even know how I got this thing. The last one got broke by the demon brothers." Speaking aloud, Konohamaru held his kunai in disbelief.

Releasing a solitary squawk in reply, Shisui tilted his beak to the side, exposing his unique eye. Captured by this gaze, Konohamaru fell into an extended staring contest, humming without end.

"I just reached into my satchel one day an-... And I had a new one." Slurring these words, Konohamaru glared into Shisui's Rinnegan.

Suddenly, the nearby fireplace instantly morphed into a teeth-baring mouth, lunging for Konohamaru. Pushed away at the last moment by Shisui, this raven saved Konohamaru's life.

"Return... The... Scroll!" A deep and booming voice echoed through Kubisaki castle.

Enthralled by this demonic order, the floor, walls and ceiling all began to bulge. Bubbling like a pus-filled maw of flesh, the entire hallway rumbled with vigor, forcing Konohamaru's scarf to waver.

"I don't have your scroll!" Screeching his reply, Konohamaru grabbed Shisui before charging out of sight.


Five minutes later.

Rushing through a dimly-lit hallway, this surface was illuminated only by faints rays of moonlight. Dashing into a darkened room, Konohamaru barricaded the door behind him, gasping for breath.

Awed by a dried torch on the wall, Konohamaru clasped both hands together before weaving through an array of seals. Spewing a miniature gust of flames from his mouth, Konohamaru ignited this old torch.

"Let's look around... See what's going on." Konohamaru spoke, strolling past a perched Shisui.

Waving his fiery torch through the dark air, an ancient library came into view, filled with endless scrolls. Surrounded by ornate shelves on all sides, these layers of books lined the walls.

Hopping atop Konohamaru's shoulder, Shisui rode this young child through the room, squawking several times. Eventually, this pair of detectives stumbled upon a wooden desk, littered with scrolls.

Fueled by a list of questions, Konohamaru stepped forward before browsing these ancient pages. Blowing the dust away, Konohamaru unraveled a piece of paper, exposing the hasty scribbles across it.

"All of my life, I've lived by the sword..." Murmuring these words, Konohamaru squinted both eyes while reading.

"But right now, I'm going to die like a cowa-..." Trailing off, these splattered words came to an abrupt end.

Startled by muffled rustling, Konohamaru glanced over his shoulder, forcing Shisui to violently squawk. Encompassed by an organized wall of bookshelves, these wooden surfaces were strangely assembled around Konohamaru.

...?! Drawing a blank space in his mind, Konohamaru staggered against the wall.

Inspired by Shisui's rabid squawking, Konohamaru reached into his satchel before hurling a barrage of kunai. Piercing the array of selves, Konohamaru's attack was met by a demonic shriek.

Overwhelmed by this horrid sound, Konohamaru pinned both hands against his ears. At the same time, Shisui continued to squawk while flapping his wings in unison, spewing feathers with each thrust.

"Scroll... Give... Me... Scroll!" Polluting the castle with a horrendous echo, a disjointed voice spoke out.

Undaunted by this loud rumbling, a quiet pair of footsteps calmly strolled through the nearby hallway. Swollen with anxiety, Konohamaru drifted into a nervous stance, standing completely still.

Phasing through the locked door, the transparent and glowing silhouette of Koza Kubisaki could be seen. Walking in front of Konohamaru, this ethereal samurai was obscured by his ornate mask.

Waving his ghostly hand, Koza scorched a hole through the wall, encouraging Konohamaru to follow. Using his faded body to phase from view, Koza was soon trailed by Konohamaru.


Five minutes later.

"Look, I appreciate the help... But I should get going, my clothes are finally dry." Konohamaru slurred.

Strolling down a stone hallway, Koza's ethereal feet phased through the floor with each step. Dampened by the wooden clap of Konohamaru's sandals, Shisui was perched on his shoulder.

"I don't know what happened here... But there hasn't been a war in over ten years." Rubbing the back of his head, Konohamaru was talking aloud.

Walking through a brief silence, the stone floor abruptly morphed into a mushy and bile stomach. Swallowing Konohamaru, this young shinobi was pulled below ground, followed by a frantic Shisui.


Several seconds later.

Crashing against the floor with a hollow thud, Konohamaru groaned before rubbing his sore butt. Shrouded by concrete walls and overarching pillars of stone, Konohamaru glanced from side-to-side.

"This keeps getting worse..." Konohamaru mumbled, earning a solitary squawk from Shisui.

Standing beside this 6 year old shinobi, Shisui was pecking the stone wall with his beak. Creating a distinct sound that polluted the hall, Shisui's pecking eventually cracked the wall.

Tumbling across the floor, a pile of crumbled stone fell out from this collapsing wall. Revealing the skeleton remains of Koza Kubisaki, this rotten corpse was buried under heavy stone.

Flipping, skipping and rolling down an array of rocks, a blue-tinted scroll was unraveled on the floor. Sprawling across Konohamaru's lap, this Sarutobi clan member quickly shuffled through the page.

Scribbled across this worn paper were a list of tattered names, each marked with a bloody handprint. Above these splats of blood was the ink-filled outline of a chameleon. known as Shiromari.

"Hey... I know what this is!" Leaping to his feet, Konohamaru held this summoning scroll with both hands.

Met by a deep rumble, Kubisaki castle bubbled under the bellowing voice of Shiromari, forcing the walls to wiggle. Barely able to stand, Konohamaru was bombarded by bulging floors.

"Give... It... To... Me!" Shiromari boomed, ringing through dense air.

Encouraged by the rampant squawks of Shisui, Konohamaru tossed his unraveled scroll towards the ceiling. Clasping both hands together, Konohamaru raced through a bundle of seals.

"Then take it! Take your stupid scroll!" Konohamaru shrieked, shoving one palm against the scribbled page.

Illuminated by a bright aura of flickering light, Konohamaru's scarf violently rustled. Engulfed by spewing pillars of smoke, Konohamaru's squinting face was briefly obscured from view.

Dampened by the repetitive squawking of Shisui, this violet-eyed raven soared through a cloud of smoke. Clenching his scarf with both talons, this vibrant raven dragged a choking Konohamaru to the forest floor.

Dropping this Sarutobi clan member into a puddle of mud, Konohamaru quickly gasped for air. Concealing the deep snarl on his face, Konohamaru crossed both arms in front of his chest, glaring at Shisui.


Five minutes later.

"I don't know who, or what you are... But you've saved me twice now." Konohamaru spoke out.

Seated by a makeshift fire, Konohamaru was shrouded under a dense tree branch, shielded from the rain. Half-dressed with both knees pressed against his chest, Konohamaru was drying his clothes over the fire.

Releasing a single squawk in reply, Shisui tilted his beak in various angles and directions. During this, Shisui's Rinnegan eye remained focused on Konohamaru, causing his black pupil to bulge.

"I didn't believe it at first... But you've really done it." Kayo cut in, limping out from the tree-line.

Leaping to his feet, Konohamaru's bare chest was exposed, quickly crossing both arms over his stomach. Filled with embarrassment, Konohamaru couldn't fight off the deep blush on his face.

"You've freed my father's spirit." Pointing over the horizon, the cursed earth of Kubisaki castle was revealed.

A blight upon the Land of Neck, this castle was a haunting memory of war, but now, it completely vanished. Replaced instead with a rotten pile of aged lumber and poorly cobbled stone.

"But you're just a child... You can't be more than 5 years old." Slurring her speech, Kayo could barely walk.

"Actually, I'm six!" Konohamaru protested, startled as Kayo fell to one knee.

Rushing to assist this foreign lady, Konohamaru escorted her next to his fire, helping her sit down. Throwing his kimono on, Konohamaru hastily tied the green sash around his waist.

"You're from Konoha... Please, I need help! My land is under attack!" Kayo panted.

"This strange man attacked my escort, I don't know how I survived..." Choking for air, Konohamaru poured a jug of water down Kayo's mouth.

As this conversation progressed, a distant Shisui flew into full alert, rapidly flapping both wings. Dispersing a bundle of feathers through the tree-line, Shisui flew out of sight.

"Strange man? Can I get a better description?" Konohamaru asked.

"Clouds... Red clouds." Kayo whispered her reply, falling unconscious on the ground.

Suddenly, the distinct sound of wooden clapping could be heard, radiating through the forest. Trailed by hollow footsteps, the cloaked silhouette of Sasori shuffled into view.

"How dramatic." Sasori applauded.

Gritting his teeth in response, Konohamaru tossed a dismissive hand through the air. Afterwards, this young Genin pointed at Sasori with an accusatory glare.

"Show some resp-...?!' Konohamaru's statement became cut off midsentence, recognizing Sasori's outfit.

Using one finger to gently tap his cloak, Sasori outlined the red cloud across his chest. Magnified by this realization, Sasori displayed a genuine smile, his first moment of joy in weeks.

"You attacked this lady?!" Shrieking his words, Konohamaru stomped one foot.

"No, I couldn't be bothered to do something so trivial..." Sasori mumbled, twirling various strands of red hair.

Jolted by a gust of air, Sasori's crimson's hair rustled against the wind, bombarding his fair skin. At the same time, Konohamaru slid both feet across the earth, swollen with anticipation.

Jiraiya-sensei talked about these guys... Konohamaru panicked, swallowing a wad of spit.

"I'm just looking for a little girl." Speaking with a blank expression, overhanging clouds reflected against Sasori's brown eyes.

Inspired by this revelation and the transparent memory of Fuki, Konohamaru clenched both fists. While this occurred, Shisui was perched in the distance, causing his Rinnegan eye to swell.

"I don't care! No body wants you, get out of here!" Spitting these words, Sasori gasped in reply.

Striking a deep cord inside Sasori's beating chest, his calm façade shifted into pure rage. Swiping his hand with a wooden snap, purple chakra thread rippled out before grabbing a nearby rock.

Chunking this boulder through the air, Konohamaru clasped both hands together, scrambling to respond. Startled by the speed of Sasori's attack, Konohamaru wasn't able to defend himself.

Rupturing out from the concealed tree-line, another boulder was flung towards Konohamaru. However, this large rock surged past him, colliding against Sasori's crumbled stone.

Spewing a mixture of pebbles, dust and debris in all directions, Konohamaru squinted both eyes to see. Pinning his crossed arms against his face, dirt-filled wind rushed through Konohamaru's hair.

What's going on?! I can't see anything! Blindly stepping forward, Konohamaru's fire was extinguished by harsh wind.

Charging across the forest floor, a pink blur sundered the earth with each step. Defined by a glimmering headband of Konoha, Sakura scraped one foot across the ground, unleashing a rock-filled tsunami.

Twisting, twirling and snapping his fingers, dozens of radiant chakra threads jutted out from Sasori. Gripping a large bundle of adjacent trees, Sasori pulled these chunks of lumber from the earth, slamming them together.

Shrouded by cracked wood, Sasori used these dislodged trees as a temporary barricade. Undaunted by the quaking ground, Sasori's crimson hair wavered against debris-filled wind.

Dropping this disheveled wood with a condescending snort, Sasori combed one hand through his red hair. Wiping the dirt from his scalp, Sasori titled his pristine face to the side.

"Ooh... My material has come back." Sasori groaned, glaring at a 13 year old Sakura.

Contrasting her pale skin and emerald green eyes, Sakura's pink hair was extremely spiky and prominent. Framing her face with loose bangs, Sakura's hair was held in place by a red-linen headband, wrapped over her skull.

A perfect match for her Konoha headband, Sakura was adorned with a blood-red crop top. Exposing her pale stomach, this sleeveless blouse was a stark contrast too Sakura's blue shorts and her shoes.

Despite her new and improved attire, Sakura's most distinguishable feature were the pink gloves she wore. A personal gift from Tsunade, this special fabric was lined with metal.

"I never thought I'd say this... But I'm so glad to see you!" Konohamaru cut in.

Ignoring the loud child behind her, Sakura allowed the debris from her previous attack to fully dissipate. Brought into an extended staring contest with Sasori, this rogue shinobi hummed.

"I feel like you're just following me around..." Sakura muttered.

"Good material is hard too come by." Chuckling his reply, Sasori played with his own hair.

Without warning, Sasori's left hand casually detached from its own socket, launching through the air. Easily spotted by Sakura, this pink-haired kunoichi kicked Sasori's fist into the earth.

Unleashing a geyser of crumbled rock on impact, Sakura obscured the entire forest with dust and dirt. As these dense clouds polluted the tree-line, Sasori shot a barrage of senbon from his wooden wrist.

Informed by the twitch of her ears, Sakura turned around before grabbing Kayo and Konohamaru. Dashing away from Sasori's bombardment, green chakra swirled around Sakura's feet.

Jumping into the air, Sakura leapt from tree branch to tree branch, throwing Kayo and Konohamaru to safety. Afterwards, this limber ninja twirled through the air, deflecting Sasori's senbon with her own.

Rolling across the forest floor, Sasori scoffed at his opponent, opening his mouth before gagging on toxic gas. As this purple cloud poured from Sasori's mouth, nearby grass instantly died and withered.

Hastily covering her face with one hand, Sakura stomped her foot against the earth, uprooting a portion of rock. Kicking this stone across the forest floor, Sakura's attack dispersed Sasori's cloud.

Replacing his detached wrist with a new hand, this wooden fist slid into sight, distilled by a distinct snap. Using this fist to shatter Sakura's rock, Sasori's robe rustled under this rocky shockwave.

Focused on his pink-haired opponent, Sasori gasped as hundreds of white slugs swarmed his feet. Oozing chakra-filled slime, these slugs slithered over each other, wiggling together.

Utilizing his puppet body, Sasori leisurely detached his ankles, leaping above the tree-line. Rupturing out from his back, a pair of wooden wings pierced Sasori's robe, allowing him to fly.

"I already told you! Don't wonder off too far!" Tsunade snapped, muffled by a solitary oink from Tonton.

Clapping the ground with wooden sandals, Tsunade's massive chest swung with each step. Distracted by the constant sway of her kimono, a distant Konohamaru blushed at Tsunade's breast.

Biting his lip in frustration, Sasori was soon shrouded by the overcast shadow of Deidara, standing on his bird. Flying atop this clay surface, Sasori grew new feet with a wooden snap.

Rushing through dense foliage, Konohamaru accidently tripped over his scarf, comedically rolling in front of Tsunade. Undaunted by his own failure, Konohamaru sprang to his feet.

"Old hag! Help! Jiraiya-sensei and Menma are sick!" Konoha shrieked.

Instead of responding with words, Tsunade pulled her sleeve down before slamming one fist against Konohamaru's skull. Knocking this honorable grandson to the ground, Konohamaru gagged on grass.

"She already knows." Fuki sighed, walking out from the tree-line.

Trailed by Menma and Jiraiya, this group was partially dressed in their frog outfits, defined by webbed fingers. Glancing up at the hovering Akatsuki members, Jiraiya's left arm became tense.

"She has the stone...?!" Slurring his words, Deidara pointed at Fuki.

"It doesn't matter, we can't take on two Sanin... Let's go." Sasori muttered, dramatically falling to his back.

Gazing up at the grey clouds overhead, Sasori didn't even hear Deidara's protest. After screaming for several moments, Deidara turned his bird around before flying away.

Inspired by these words, Jiraiya discreetly glanced over his shoulder, observing Fuki's necklace. A carbon copy of Tsunade's necklace, each of these emeralds were a Stone of Gelel.

"I ran into your team while I was training... Apparently, you've been gone for hours." Sakura teased, strolling into sight.

"It's not my fault! I found a haunted castle! A living ghost! An evil chameleon creature! And this unconscious lady!" Konohamaru listed his excuses, pointing at Kayo.

With both arms pinned against her nonexistent chest, Sakura exhaled a gust of wind, blowing the hair from her face. Comparing Fuki's necklace too Tsunade's, Jiraiya was secretly staring at the latter's chest.

Giggling like a school girl, Jiraiya raised his left hand in front of his mouth, hiding his blush. Inspired by these childish antics, Tsunade punched Jiraiya in his stomach, launching him through several trees.

"Whatever. Everything is okay now." Sakura rolled her emerald eyes, standing beside Shizune.

As this group of Konoha shinobi were gathered and assembled together, Shisui leapt into the air. Soaring through the tree-line, this violet-eyed raven obscured everything with black feathers.