AN: Note that I do not own Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, or any of the characters from either Anime. This work is a fanfiction written out of my love for the series and not in any attempt to make a profit.
Proofread by: Author
I will be honest. I completely missed my usual deadline for this chapter. As a result, I've been keeping myself awake to finish it, edit it, and post it. Apologies if the chapter ends up a bit weird due to my sleep deprivation. If it ends up a disaster,r I'll just review it once I wake up. Once again, apologies.
Chapter 95: One giant toad
Naruto wasn't as much of an idiot as many would think. Certainly, he behaved aloof and childish, and his reputation wasn't very good with people for… multiple reasons. However, as much as Naruto's tendency to prank and annoy people to get a reaction was something that had people looking down on him, it was also one of his qualities that showed his potential and tactical brilliance. Naruto had a habit of thinking out of the box, and a tendency to surprise people. After all, even before graduating to become a Genin, Naruto had managed to steal a certain high-security scroll, even managing to learn the Shadow Clone Jutsu from it in the short amount of time he had it.
Sakura didn't know all the details of Naruto's heist, as he had been reluctant and embarrassed when she inquired about it, but even if Mizuki had aided Naruto in stealing the scroll without his knowledge, there was no denying the fact that Naruto had managed to steal something highly valuable, and nearly managed to get away with it without anyone noticing. That anyone included most of the Chūnin, Jōnin, ANBU force. Sakura had even heard rumors about there having been D-rank missions given to Genin previously to catch Naruto after he had performed a prank of some kind, only for them to quickly fall out of favor as Naruto became too much for Genin to handle. The only one who had bothered to really become proficient in catching Naruto seemed to have been Iruka Sensei.
With this in mind, Sakura wasn't all that surprised by Naruto's sudden competent maneuver as he began using his clones with incredible proficiency and forethought. Gaara reached out to crush the clones, along with Naruto, using his right sand arm. Three of Naruto's clones dashed into the sand arm's grip, slowing it down before calling out to Naruto and one other clone. "Now!"
Responding with an "Okay!" the fourth and last clone landed on top of Gaara's sand arm while swinging the real Naruto forward in an overhead throw, using both arms. While flying at Gaara, Naruto once more formed the crossed hand seal, announcing his intentions loudly, shouting "Shadow Clone jutsu!" as he created more shadow clones.
The singular clone that appeared did so just in front of Naruto, giving him a mid-air foothold to push off of, just as Gaara tore through the clone he had launched from with his left sand arm, sending Naruto in an arch up and over Gaara. Once both above and behind Gaara, Naruto once more used his favorite technique. "Once more… Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
By the time the new clone appeared, Naruto and already fallen below Gaara, but it seemed to still be according to Naruto's plan, as the clone that appeared did so underneath him, leaving him standing on its back, before he pushed off, flying towards Gaara from below as he shouted.
"Konohagakure Secret Ultimate Taijutsu Technique learned from Kakashi Sensei!" Naruto announced, holding a kunai ready, confusing Sakura slightly as she tried to figure out exactly what Naruto's plan was, and what the secret technique Kakashi could have taught him. She couldn't remember Naruto bragging about having been taught a jutsu by Kakashi that hadn't also been taught to Sasuke or her as well, and Kakashi hadn't taught them some secret kind of jutsu either. Although, Sakura doubted he ever would. He never seemed inclined to really teach them at all.
Fortunately, Naruto revealed exactly what technique he had meant as he landed just behind Gaara, crouching low as he revealed his technique. "A Thousand Years of Death!" Naruto announced, sticking the kunai in Gaara's bum, right below the tail.
Everyone present couldn't help but sweatdrop for a moment, thinking Naruto couldn't be serious. Although, Sakura remembered that this was likely just a distraction. Looking back at the two hidden clones, Sakura's eyes widened as she saw both of them holding a blue, glowing orb of swirling chakra in their right hands. Sakura couldn't help but balk at the sight. It was apparent just from looking at how destructive the technique could be, even without considering the devastating results Sakura had already witnessed left behind from Naruto's training. After all, there was enough chakra there to actually be visible to the naked eye. Sakura hadn't even realized that was possible.
An explosion from Gaara's direction had Sakura focusing on him again, seeing Naruto being caught by Asuma before detonating the explosive tag he had left on the kunai which he had planted below Gaara's tail. That explosion seemed to be the signal for the two hiding clones, who immediately leaped out from behind the trunk they had been hiding behind, and flew at Gaara, while reaching out, aiming the orbs of chakra towards Gaara.
The smoke left behind from the explosion obscured their vision, but the orbs in their hands seemed to part the smoke with just their presence as they got close, revealing Gaara, seemingly unhurt, but standing in a crater carved out of the tree from the explosion, half of the sand that had covered his body now missing. Sakura felt a bit miffed that Naruto had managed with one explosive tag, what Karin and her had failed to achieve with eight, but reasoned that they had softened Gaara up for Naruto.
With nearly half of Gaara's sand gone after the explosion, the two chakra spheres Naruto's clones rammed into him connected flawlessly as they ground through the softened sand without much effort, sending Gaara flying, as well as spinning into a tree, the chakra orbs dissipating while the clones disappeared in small puffs of smoke. Sakura was almost certain this technique was the Rasengan Naruto had mentioned before.
Looking over at Gaara, Sakura let out a sigh of belief as he seemed to be out cold, the sand that had seemingly been transforming him now laying on the ground around where he had landed.
Jumping into the air, Naruto cheered and celebrated. Sakura sighed in relief and relaxed, thinking they had won and could finally fulfill their orders and retreat to somewhere safe.
"Well, that was something. Let's tag him with a seal and bring them back home." Asuma suggested, jumping down and landing next to Gaara while looking through his tool pouch.
Sasuke, Kiba, and Hinata landed next to Sakura, looking worriedly at her, which Sakura simply waved off. She felt that she was simply exhausted. "I'm fine. Don't look at me like that, just tired." Sakura assured them, before looking over at Karin instead, who hadn't awoken yet. "You should be checking on Karin instead." She pointed out. Hinata, as well as Naruto who had calmed down significantly walked over to check on Karin, only for everyone's attention to be drawn towards Asuma as he let out a surprised shout.
"What the hell?" Asuma exclaimed, startled as the sand around Gaara suddenly exploded outwards from him, before shooting up into the air, more sand seemingly appearing out of nowhere as it formed into a giant monster made out of sand.
All of a sudden, Sakura found herself having been grabbed by Asuma, slung across his right shoulder before Karin joined her on his left. Before Sakura could ask what was going on, Asuma already provided an answer.
"We're leaving, none of us is equipped to deal with this!" Asuma informed them. Taking stock of their lineup and condition, Sakura agreed with him. The question was, would they even be able to get away?
"Hey, wait! I know someone who can help!" Naruto tried to assure Asuma, although, the Jōnin shook his head, likely not believing Naruto.
"Forget it, we need to focus on getting out of here alive!" Asuma insisted, making them all frown at the almost panicked tone in Asuma's voice as they followed his lead, moving away from the monster.
"A-Asuma sensei… w-what is that thing?" Hinata asked, her eyes occasionally twitching as she resisted turning around to look at the monster, able to already do so with her Byakugan active.
"It's a tailed beast! Specifically, the one-tailed beast!" Asuma explained. The news shook everyone, and Sakura couldn't help to focus on Naruto at the news, only to find him missing, as unlike everyone else who had still kept up with Asuma, he had instead stopped.
Before anyone else seemed to notice, or even less, called out to Naruto to ask what he was doing, there was suddenly an eruption of smoke from Naruto's location, flattening the trees of the surrounding area, violently.
"I am so jealous of you right now, Naruto," Sakura whispered under her breath, as she saw that Naruto had once again, managed to summon the chief Toad of Mount Myōboku to fight the One-tailed beast. If Sakura had the chakra to even summon Ōnamuchi, she would have done so and joined the fight alongside them. Unfortunately, her reserves weren't that massive and would require her to train for a while longer before she could truly make full use of her contract with the hares from Kōdaina Meadows.
As it was, Asuma instead swore and changed directions towards the giant toad instead. "Wait, why are we going back now, isn't it dangerous there?" Kiba demanded to know, and Asuma shook his head.
"No, right now, the safest place will be atop that toad. If they fight, they're likely to flatten the surrounding area. It'd be safer for us to get up there, with Naruto." Asuma explained, before turning to look at Hinata, Kiba, and Sasuke. "Grab the Sunagakure girl and boy and bring them up as well." He ordered them, reminding Sakura about them. Shuddering, Sakura tried to push away her thoughts of how she had been more than happy to aim for the kill or torture them in retribution for daring to attack Konohagakure. Back to normal, she could see that rationally, they were just kids, like the rest of them, likely following orders they had no say in. They didn't deserve the kind of fate she had considered for them, just because the ones in charge of their village had chosen to betray Konohagakure despite their alliance.
Sakura shuddered, only to feel Heikō attempt to comfort her, as well as apologize again. Sakura forgave her as she enjoyed the mental hug she received. It really was comforting. As Asuma finally reached Naruto, Sakura heard the end of the conversation between the two toads present.
"Kid... I recognize you as my henchman…" The large chief toad began, drawing a large Tantō from his hip, while the large monster in front of them waited patiently, looking smug about it for some reason. "And I'll show you what duty and respect means!" He promised, holding the blade up horizontally in front of himself while glaring at the large beast.
For a moment, the atmosphere seemed to continuously tense, making them all nervous, only for the tense air to dispel slightly as Sasuke, Hinata and Kiba joined them carrying Kankuro and Temari with them, before depositing them on the chief toad's back.
Fortunately, the chief toad seemed to either not notice them, or simply ignored them in favor of the enemy in front of him. "I'll make you pay the price good and proper, you underling." The large toad continued, before lowering his Tantō, to his right side, holding its grip with both hands while the tip pointed backward, and he ran at the One-tailed beast.
The sudden movements and acceleration made most of them fall over, with the exception of Asuma, Sakura, Karin, Kankuro, and Temar, as they had all already been lying down, while Asuma had anchored himself to the chief toad's back, the others following his example, while helping to hold down Sakura, Karin, and the two prisoners.
"Hang on tight!" The chief toad warned them, a bit too late. Sakura felt that her dislike for toads had suddenly shot through the roof. The only respect Sakura could muster towards the large toad was that he was seemingly friendly with Naruto and that she knew he was strong as the chief toad. Either way, she was glad he was on their side.
AN: A bit of a change in canon, no? Anyways, I need to upload this chapter, which is almost 4 hours late. I will likely edit this AN in the future. Enjoy this while it lasts.
