It didn't take long for Naruto to find the Akatsuki. It wasn't as big as it was in the past life, less time to recruit, but it was still big enough that it would, at the very least, cause some serious damage to Konoha. He wouldn't let that happen. Now he just had to make his way into the center of the group without being caught. Mostly, it was easy because the Akatsuki underlings were nowhere near the level to sense his presence, but he had to alter his course several times in order to avoid running into the main members.

"I'm in position," he whispered into his headphones when he finally reached the center.

"We're all here," Sanbi responded through Irena.

"Waiting on your orders," Ichibi continued in Gaara's voice.

Naruto told each of them where the edges of the Akatsuki are and told them to take their positions around their enemy.

"What do you want us to do?" Haku asked. He and Zabuza were the only ones who weren't jinchuuriki that Naruto included in his plans, but that was actually why he needed them.

"Make sure that no one gets in or out while we're making the barrier," Naruto replied. They were the only ones who could do that at this point, as all the jinchuuriki would be too distracted by their current jobs. "And protect the jinchuuriki."

"Yes sir," Haku replied.

Naruto nodded and turned back to his own job. This jutsu would take a lot of concentration so he had to make sure that he was hidden well enough that no one would notice him until he was ready.

Sasuke had heard the commotion outside of his house. He heard that there were some people trying to get into the village and he heard that Naruto had gone to talk to them. He did not like the thought of that. Naruto was strong enough to take care of himself, but Sasuke still sometimes thought that he was too trusting. What if they wound up being his downfall? He wouldn't let that happen. Not after everything that they had been through.

He found Sakura with Ino heading towards the front gate just like him. "Do you know what's going on?" Sakura asked frantically. "I haven't been able to contact Naruto for some time now. I think he might be blocking us out."

"I haven't heard anything," Sasuke replied, "but I have a bad feeling about this."

"We should hurry, then," Sakura said.

They didn't even wait to figure out any sort of plan or to evaluate the situation. They just ran. Even Ino, who had no clue what was going on, knew the dire situation as she ran alongside them.

They hadn't even made it to the gates when a bright red light exploded outwards from the woods in a circle until it met with other lights of varying colors. Each color mixed with the red as though they belonged together until all but one of the red tails was stained a different color.

"No!" Sasuke gasped. Not yet. This wasn't supposed to happen for years.

"What's going on Sasuke?" Sakura asked, but he wasn't listening. He had to get to Naruto now before it was too late. He sped up and quickly lost Sakura, who was going slower in order to allow Ino to stay with them, but the moment he entered the clearing with every intention of slipping through the chakra barrier that was making its final moves towards closing his path was blocked.

"We can't let you pass Sasuke-kun," Haku said when Sasuke opened his mouth to demand that he allow him through. "Naruto made us promise not to let anyone in."

"I don't care," Sasuke growled. "I need to talk to him!"

"I'm sorry," Haku shook his head sadly.

Sasuke looked passed Haku with every intention of finding a way around him, but instead he found that the barrier was already closed. He had to try, though, so he pushed passed Haku and slammed a kunai into the barrier. Sparks shot off it as though they were trying to start a fire, but otherwise he got nowhere no matter how hard he tried.

"Please stop Sasuke," Naruto spoke over their connection.

"No," Sasuke shook his head even though he knew there was no way that Naruto would be able to see him. "This isn't supposed to happen now."

"I'm sorry Sasuke," and then the link was broken. Naruto severed all ties that he had with the both of them. There was no way that Sasuke would be able to convince him to take another route now.

"What's going on Sasuke?" Sakura asked again.

He didn't have time to answer as flaming chakra burst out and encompassed the entirety of the closed off area and tortured screams filled the air. The only thing he could say was "Naruto is still in there."