Hello my favorite readers! Back to the drama! I hope you all enjoy this chapter and all-for those asking when we'll next see Itachi it'll be soon, but he's not gonna come back home for good that easily because Itachi is a stubborn one.
After three days it became very clear that Sasuke was not at all happy with his new team-not that Naruto or Sakura had met Sai.
In any case he was doing his best to avoid team training-though that was very hard with Karin as a member of his new team since she could literally sense him wherever he decided to run off too, though she did tend to leave him be when he hid with Naruto and Sakura-which was why he generally decided to hunt them down and stay with them to avoid having to do team training.
The only reason the two girls weren't with Sasuke when the unfortunately familiar face approached him was the fact that Sakura had spilled her ramen down her dress and Naruto was helping her clean herself up.
They hadn't been gone long, but when they emerged from the toilets Sasuke was gone. This probably wouldn't have been a cause for concern if it wasn't for the fact that team seven had come up with several codes, and one such code had been traced onto the counter with the ramen broth, and the chopsticks were pointing almost like an arrow down the street, this one was telling the two girls there was trouble. And the most worrying thing was the fact that the Hirashin Kunai Naruto had given to Sasuke was on the counter.
The two girls didn't hesitate, of course, taking off in the direction of the arrow, neither of them entirely sure of what to expect.
As they moved Naruto mentally reached out. "Kurama. You're a better sensor than me, I need you to locate Sasuke-kun for me."
"Of course brat."
The fox didn't even hesitate. "You're already headed in the right direction I'll give you the directions as they change."
"Thank you."
So they moved through the streets of Konoha towards the outskirts of the village-towards the forests, and soon they were in among the familiar green trees-and usually Naruto would enjoy a run through the closely grouped trees, the feeling of nature all around her as she just let loose.
Now that joy was overshadowed by fear.
Something had happened. Sasuke wouldn't have left like that without a good reason-he'd left them a message telling them the direction to run in.
It had to be a threat, Sasuke had to leave to avoid collateral damage, there was no other explanation.
Naruto felt her fingers curl into fists, and then Sakura's hand caught hers and she glanced at the pink haired girl, who's expression was grim and determined.
Naruto gave her a very weak grateful smile, accepting the offer of silent support and comfort.
When Kurama told Naruto they were getting close she slowed, glancing at Sakura who gave a small nod of understanding and they moved as silently as they could, Naruto listening closely.
Her hand shot out and grabbed Sakura's arm when she heard Sasuke's voice.
"-Listen I really appreciate your offer but I'm not interested in joining you-"
"Your teammates are abandoning you and leaving you behind." Naruto's eyes widened in horror at that voice and she glanced at Sakura.
"Kabuto." she barely even whispered the word, but the pink haired girls eyes narrowed and she nodded again, clenching her fists as they inched closer as silently as they could, using the trees to hide themselves as they drew close enough to catch a glimpse of Sasuke, who was stood a short distance from Kabuto, his entire body tense.
Kabuto on the other hand looked annoyingly relaxed and was eyeing Sasuke with an almost amused glint in his eyes.
"They're not leaving me behind." Sasuke rolled his eyes, and Naruto felt a flush of relief at that, he wasn't falling for Kabuto's shit.
"Aren't they? They both got promoted and you're still a Genin. You've been placed with new teammates you hate. The village doesn't care about you Sasuke-san. They don't respect you, or your clan. You need to get stronger, to earn their respect, to make them pay for treating you so poorly after they destroyed your fam-"
"That's a real weak argument." Sasuke crossed his arms over his chest, "Danzo is going to get what he deserved once I've grown strong enough, he was the one responsible for the fate of my clan."
"You really think that it will end when you find and kill Danzo-even if you can get strong enough to do that in Konoha which I doubt. Do you really think it was only him? The Sandaime who didn't truly punish him for what he did to your family? What they turned your brother into-"
"I think that I'd be spitting on my brothers sacrifice to even consider leaving Konoha now." Sasuke's voice was sharp, "You can say or do what you want I have no interest okay. Besides why would I want to join the guy who my teammate who's younger than me beat the shit into-"
"That isn't what happened-"
"Really, how are his arms?" Sasuke smirked slightly and Naruto grinned proudly, as did Sakura, looking very smug.
Their teammate wasn't going to leave just like that, they'd all been through too much together for that.
"And look at you." Kabuto's voice was sharp, "You're nothing in comparison to the Yondaime's brat and you know it-"
"I've come to terms with that and you'd be surprised just what I'm capable of." Sasuke's voice was annoyed, "I might not be as strong as her yet but I will be some day. I'm going to get strong enough to stand side by side with her and Sakura as a team-"
"Really?" Kabuto snorted, "Because it looks to me like you're nothing. You'll never live up to your older brother or your teammates-"
"Shut up Kabuto-san you don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't I? Orochimaru-sama was a member of the Akatsuki-"
"What?" Sasuke's eyes widened and Naruto felt herself having much the same reaction. "That's the group that-"
"That are hunting down your precious Naruto-chan." Kabuto finished, leaning back slightly, a very satisfied look on his face.
"That's right. And as strong as she is she's nothing compared to some of them-"
"We've already met Tobi-"
"Have you now?" Kabuto sneered, "And you think she could last against him?"
"I-"
"You haven't met Pain."
"Pain?"
"Their leader." Kabuto shook his head, "Now if he comes for her then he'll take her, and she'll die cold and alone-" Naruto felt herself paling at that, and Sakura squeezed her arm tightly, trying to reassure her.
"She's strong-"
"Not strong enough. And neither are you." Kabuto shook his head, "And you never will be Sasuke-san. I'm not trying to be cruel I'm being honest. Even if she can fend off everyone else they send after her-which is hard to imagine, she won't be able to fend him off, believe me, even Orochimaru-sama couldn't defeat him and she's not yet able to take on Orochimaru-sama on her own."
"Why are you telling me this-"
"Because I want to help you. Orochimaru-sama wants to help you. If you join us you'll be strong, stronger than you've ever imagined. Strong enough to protect her."
"That-"
"We don't like the Akatsuki, we want to take them down Sasuke-kun. Don't you want that too."
"I want them stopped yes but-"
"I know you don't trust me, or Orochimaru-sama-"
"You hurt my teammates."
"Yes. Mostly Naruto-chan." Kabuto said calmly, "Though I caused your other teammate some rather nasty cuts and likely some broken ribs. I won't apologize for that. I personally care very little for your friends. But you care for them and the best way for you to get strong enough to protect them is with Orochimaru-sama."
"And what's the catch?" Naruto's eyes widened at that question and she gave Sakura a panicked look. He couldn't honestly be considering it could he? Not for her sake that... it wouldn't be right that... he wouldn't would he?"
"There's no catch at all Sasuke-kun." Kabuto's amused look made Naruto want to scream and rage. He was a bastard he was manipulating Sasuke. He was trying to manipulate him Sasuke couldn't honestly be considering it.
But Sasuke's expression was hesitant in a way that Naruto knew meant he was considering it.
"I... I don't know my.. my teammates wouldn't like it-"
"They wouldn't understand." Kabuto urged, "Your teammate is strong but she isn't strong enough. You could be Sasuke-san."
"But Naruto and Sakura..." he shook his head, "I can't do that to them. Not after everything they've done for me."
"But you'd be doing it for them."
"They wouldn't understand-"
"What does it matter if they understand? You'll be strong enough that it won't make a difference you can defend them from Pain you can make your friends safe."
"I..." Sasuke closed his eyes, letting out a deep breath before suddenly opening them and shaking his head. "No. No I'm sorry but my answers no. Naruto would kill me if she thought I didn't have any faith in her and I'll get strong on my own."
"Sasuke-san I thought you'd be smarter than that." Kabuto shook his head sadly, "I'm trying to help you."
"Your help isn't needed." Sasuke shook his head and turned away-and Naruto almost cried out in shock as Kabuto moved suddenly-and there was a needle in his hand pressing into Sasuke's back. The only thing that stifled the noise was Sakura's hand clamping over her mouth, though Sakura drew in a sharp horrified breath.
Sasuke let out a shocked noise, jerking forward and spinning around, a panicked look on his face as a hand flew to press against his back "What did you just do?"
Kabuto had a nasty smirk on his lips, "Tell me Sasuke-kun, you didn't think we'd actually give you a choice in the matter did you? I was trying to be nice, make you come willingly but you had to be a loyal fool."
"What did you do to me?" Sasuke lunged and stumbled, and Kabuto stepped to the side as Sasuke dropped to his knees.
"It's a simple sedative. It won't harm you-after all we wouldn't want to damage your precious eyes or your precious body Sasuke-kun. Oh no. Orochimaru-sama has need for that, unfortunately he won't be able to use it for a few years-your teammates interference changed our plans. We would have given you some freedom but now? I hope you enjoy the next few years trapped in a cell Sasuke-kun-"
"I could say I hope the same for you." Naruto burst from the trees, Sakura at her side as they landed in front of Sasuke between him and Kabuto.
"Naruto-chan." Kabuto's expression darkened, "You just can't help but interfere can you?"
"What can I say, when people fuck with my teammates I get pissed." Naruto snarled the words. "You're not taking Sasuke-kun anywhere. No one fucks with my big brother-"
"How sweet." Kabuto sneered at her, "Careful or I'll cut you off from your precious monster again-"
"Oh I am going to enjoy tearing you limb from limb." her voice became deeper as she accessed Kurama's Chakra-not too much but a bit, enough that she knew her eyes would be going red and slitted, her whisker marks would be becoming more pronounced.
"Good luck with that."
"Sakura-chan."
"I'm on it." Naruto heard Sakura picking Sasuke up and slinging the barely conscious boy over her shoulder before taking off.
"She won't get far enough." Kabuto remarked calmly, "You know that don't you Naruto-chan?"
"Oh I think she will." then they were both moving, Kabuto's hands glowing the by now familiar blue of his chakra scalpels as Naruto twisted away from them.
"How very confident of you." Kabuto mocked, "We shall see which of us comes out on top."
It was like a dance, they almost took it in turns to attack and block and dodge each others blows, within a short time half of the trees around them had gashes in them.
Kabuto lunged again and Naruto leapt upwards away from his hands, her own hands flashing through signs as she twisted midair so she was facing downward towards him and she opened her mouth, breathing out a fireball down at him.
Kabuto rolled away smoothly, his hands moving too-and spikes of earth ripped from the ground and flew towards her.
Naruto snarled and curled into a ball, hands flashing again, then she was breathing out a powerful gust of wind which both pushed her further into the air away from the threat and slowed the spikes, though she was a moment too slow and one of the spikes struck her side hard causing her to gasping in pain-it was bad she was sure but she had to force herself through it so she closed her eyes and breathed.
Then she summoned a dozen clones, all midair in front of her, almost acting as a shield as she pushed herself backwards and down, landing with a jarring thud in a crouch, but she didn't stop, launching herself towards Kabuto, swiping a bloody thumb over a seal on her wrist and pulling out a Kunai which she sent flying in Kabuto's direction.
Kabuto caught it, smirking in her direction and raising an eyebrow, "You didn't think that would work did-" his eyes narrowed, because Naruto was forming a Rasengan, channeling Kurama's Chakra into it making it a reddish purple color and much much larger than her usual Rasengan, "You won't get close eno-" his eyes flicked to the kunai and his expression became panicked-but it was too late because in a flash Naruto was in front of him, Rasengan hitting him hard in the stomach.
The traitor went flying backwards, crashing into a tree-then Naruto heard people speeding towards them and suddenly Rin and Kakashi were there, Kakashi lunging at Kabuto and grabbing him and Rin catching Naruto when she stumbled and slumped into her mothers arms.
"Sasuke-kun-"
"Sakura's got him to the hospital." Rin's voice was reassuring as her hand glowed green, "It's okay Naruto-chan. Everything's going to be okay."
