DISCLAIMER: Some of the text and characters are from Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto, which I do not own. Only the characters & text that were not in the original manga/anime series are mine.
I meant to put this with the last part: This is a continuation from Brigh Eyes: The Unsung Ninja: A Naruto Story, my suggestion is that you read that first^^
Recap: After two and a half years of being apart, Sara, Sakura, Naruto, and Kakashi have proven that they've all improved over the years. Now they're on a mission to save Gaara, who's now the Kazekage of the Sand Village, and who has also been kidnapped by the Akatsuki. Upon entering the Akatsuki's Lair they met Deidara and Sasori, both members of the Akatsuki, now the true test of battle begins.
Sasori Revealed
"Got it," Sakura said nodding, "I'll give it a shot."
"Are we ready?" Sasori questioned, reaching for the mask covering his face, "I hate waiting. You must know that."
"Don't worry; we'll waste no time in killing you!" Granny Chiyo snapped.
Sakura rushed forward with Granny Chiyo towards Sasori. He snorted in contempt and ripped away his mask. The puppet's mouth opened and needles shot out at them. Sakura flipped in the air to dodge the needles, while Granny Chiyo weaved in and out of the needles path. Something flying through the air in between them caught their attention. Their eyes widened in surprise as they realized Sasori had shot his puppet's odd looking hand.
"Die," Sasori said as millions of needles erupted from the hand. Sakura and Granny Chiyo moved with such grace to avoid the needles that it almost looked like they were dancing.
Sasori glared at them as they stood, smirking in front of him, even that brat made it… Sakura and Granny Chiyo charged him. But how…? He aimed his scorpion tail at Sakura, but it stopped inches from her face. He turned to face Granny Chiyo, of course! The old bag!
"Now, Sakura!" Granny Chiyo shouted, "Strike it down!"
"Yes!" Sakura yelled striking the puppet with all her might. It shattered with a satisfying crunch. However, a black shape leapt out from the shattered puppet and crouched on the ground in front of them.
That has to be his real body, Sakura thought, feeling worried.
The black cloaked figure straightened up, "I should have expected no less from my own granny… No wonder even the kid could dodge my attacks." Granny Chiyo smirked and made her chakra lines that connected to Sakura, visible. "The witch who could read my moves was steering her with threads of chakra."
The cat's out of the bag. Sakura thought, this won't be as easy now.
"And moreover," Sasori continued, "you took control of Hiruko's tail while you were at it… I noticed only when the tail stalled on me… You did it when you threw those kunai knives. The thread was tied to the knife that struck the tail."
"Very good," Granny Chiyo said, "I used the tiniest amount of chakra, to keep it invisible. But you figured it out."
"But of course," Sasori said, gripping his cloak, Sakura's eyes widened as she tensed, ready for anything, "Remember who taught me how to play with puppets? Who drilled the talent into me?"
"Indeed," Granny Chiyo muttered, "But anyway…play time it is over." Sasori whipped off his cloak.
Meanwhile, Naruto leapt at Deidara but missed and slammed into the side of one of the canyon walls. Deidara threw some of his bird clay bombs, but swore as yet another kunai came out of nowhere, as they had been for several seconds now. He shouted, exasperated, "Who did that? Hmmm?"
The one of the clay birds flew at Kakashi, who quickly threw a shuriken at it, causing it to explode before it could get near him. The shock force sent him flying towards the canyon wall, but he managed to stay on his feet.
Deidara was about to throw a shuriken at Kakashi, when his own shuriken was knocked from his hands as his clay birds exploded from where the original one had come from. "Waah? What? Who in the world-? There are only you two!"
Sara grinned from the other side of the canyon, can't catch me that easily!
Naruto pried himself from the canyon wall, still furious, "You're not taking Gaara!"
Deidara glanced from either side before speaking, "You are quite the oddball. A Jinchûriki host is supposed to be sullen and misanthropic, hmmm?" A kunai went whizzing past his head and he threw a clay bird at the bush where the kunai had come from. He muttered darkly, "When I find out…" He smirked at Naruto, "And this Gaara is no less strange. I've never seen a host so beloved as he. To date we've destroyed two Jinchûriki hosts…not including him, of course. But no one ever tried to save them. Not their friends, not their neighbors, not a soul. Hmm? In fact, to some their deaths came as a relief." He chuckled darkly. Another shuriken came from the left canyon wall and Deidara shouted, "Damn it!" He threw another clay bomb, and glared at the spot where it exploded. He nodded satisfied.
Kakashi glanced at the spot, I'm also curious as to who's throwing those weapons…it reminds me of Sara but she's back with Sakura and Granny Chiyo.
Deidara picked up where he had left off, "Perhaps you can't ignore one of your own kind? You feel too connected to this pathetic creature? Hmmm? Aah!" Two shuriken went whizzing past his head." He threw another bomb, this time at the right side of the canyon. "Ha!" He nodded in satisfaction, "Well, anyway. When I removed his One-Tailed beast, it was the end of Gaara. The point is, you are doomed, all the same."
"You filth…" Naruto growled, "You're all dead!"
Back in the cave Sasori said, "So…you still think this'll be easy? Granny Chiyo?"
Both Granny Chiyo and Sakura were startled at how young Sasori looked. Sakura questioned nervously, "Granny Chiyo? This is…Sa-Sasori?"
Granny Chiyo was too stunned to answer, what is happening? All these years…and not a day on him!
Sasori pulled out a scroll and said, "Let me show you my favorite. You know, this one was hard to finish." Smoke billowed from the scroll.
Granny Chiyo exclaimed, "No…that's not…"
"What? What is it?" Sakura asked, frightened by Granny Chiyo's words.
"That's…the Third Kazekage," Granny Chiyo whispered.
Sasori crouched low to the ground and the puppet mimicked him, "Shall we begin?"
Fierce Determination
"The Third Kazekage? You mean…?" Sakura was asserting that she had understood everything.
Granny Chiyo answered, "It was more then ten years ago…the Third Kazekage vanished suddenly." Sakura stared at her in shock, "Sasori…so it was you!"
Sasori snorted in contempt, "A retired witch, already one foot in the grave…yet still you trouble yourself."
"Retired, yes. One foot in the grave…maybe. But that doesn't prevent me getting around. There are just too many things left undone," Granny Chiyo said. Sasori tensed, waiting for her to make her move, "My grandson, degrading himself…becoming a criminal…well, that's one thing. But betraying the village? Participating in the deaths of three Kazekage?"
"Three of them?" Sakura was startled.
"It was Orochimaru who actually killed Gaara's father, the Fourth Kazekage. But Sasori was complicit from the start. And now Gaara…and the Third Kazekage…"
Sasori stated, "I wasn't involved with the Fourth. That was one of my agents. But yeah, Orochimaru and the Akatsuki go way back… We've done some work together."
Sakura though of when she had first met Orochimaru and then of Sasuke. She gritted her teeth together, "You…" Granny Chiyo stared at her in surprise, "You worked with…Orochimaru.
"Hm," Sasori seemed to be debating whether or not he should answer, "It's time to finish here." The puppet of the Third Kazekage flew forward and Granny Chiyo yanked Sakura backwards so she wouldn't get hit. The puppet's arm expanded into a series of blades and both, Sakura and Granny Chiyo were startled.
He's fast, Granny Chiyo thought, yanking back on the chakra strings even harder, but also yanking on Hiruko's tail to bring it in between Sakura and the blades. The blades sliced the tail to pieces, but Sakura escaped without a scratch. So much for Hiruko's tail…
"Pretty good, Granny Chiyo," Sasori commented, while he moved his chakra strings, and the Third Kazekage's left arm opened up to reveal summoning symbols, "Here goes!" Arms upon, arms expanded from the original left arm and shot towards Sakura, and Granny Chiyo maneuvered the chakra springs so Sakura escaped unharmed once again, or so it seemed.
This is useless so long as she's under that bat's control… "Okay then," He said moving his chakra strings.
Granny Chiyo got Sakura out of the jumble of arms and had her leap into the air when one of the arms opened up, spewing colored gas.
No! "Sakura! Hold your breath!" Granny Chiyo shouted. Her eyes widened when Sakura was enveloped in the cloud, and she yanked on the chakra strings, but Sakura was stuck.
Sasori smirked, now, poison gas…that tells a different story.
Sakura was bewildered to find herself tied up, he threw them just after the poison gas had been released.
"When a kunai knife has a rope tied to it…you might do better deflecting than dodging," Sasori said, still smiling.
Sakura was finding it hard to continue holding her breath, I…I promised Naruto…that I'd…go with him. I vowed that…the next time… I'd protect them both…and I can't continue to rely on others to help me… she thought of Kakashi and Sara.
"Sakura! Hang in there!" Granny Chiyo shouted, running as fast as she could.
I'm not done for yet! Sakura could move just enough so she could grab a paper bomb.
Granny Chiyo's eyes widened as she was blown backwards, but she managed to catch Sakura. The gas had also dissipated. Oh, this girl using a letter bomb to dissipate the gas… She nearly blew herself up, along with the trap… How reckless.
Sasori said nonchalantly, "Oh well."
"You…" Sakura was panting and her body stung from numerous small burns, but she yelled, "I will get you! You can blow my limbs off! You can poison me until I can't move, and I'll still get you! No matter what you've got! I'll drag you to the edge of death and make you scream all about Orochimaru! So be…"
Sasori was tired of hearing her voice so he flicked his wrist and all of the arms that had originally trapped her opened up and shot out kunai knives, but they didn't get very far.
Granny Chiyo scolded him, "When a woman is talking a man does well to listen quietly." Two puppets stood in front of Sakura and Granny Chiyo.
Sakura glanced back at Granny Chiyo and saw two scrolls in Granny Chiyo's hands.
"Oh…those…" Sasori said.
"That's right," Granny Chiyo said sagely, "The very first puppets you created. The Mother and The Father."
Puppet Masters
"What do you expect to do with them now?" Sasori questioned. "I made them. I know their workings inside and out."
Granny Chiyo didn't say anything for several seconds, but she did move eventually, having the two puppets touch hands and then pull them apart.
Wires…? Sakura wondered what Granny Chiyo could possibly do with just a few wires.
The Mother and Father leapt and sliced right through the multitude of arms with the wires. The Third Kazekage was yanked back, and produced a variety of weapons to fight with. By the end of the puppets sparing, all of the weapons were cut so that they were useless.
"This is incredible," Sakura gasped, in awe of the speed with which the two puppet masters were having their puppets move at.
Sasori wasn't pleased, "This is becoming a nuisance…Better speed things along." The Third Kazekage's mouth opened and black sand began to pour out of it.
"As I figured, that puppet…can use the Third Kazekage's own jutsu," Granny Chiyo muttered.
"Haven't seen it for awhile have you?" Sasori taunted, "If I recall, this is what made his name as the most powerful of all. Things are going to get messy."
"What on earth?" Sakura asked, bewildered by the black sand.
Granny Chiyo answered, "It's the most feared weapon in the Sand Village…Satetsu…the Iron Sand. It's one of the Third Kazekage's original jutsu adapted from one used by the former host of the Shukaku. It can mold magnetic sand into any shape forming the perfect weapon for every situation. The Third Kazekage was graced with a special physical constitution that allowed him to convert chakra into magnetic forces."
"What do you mean?" Sakura was still confused, "That thing's just a puppet right? How can a doll hold chakra?"
"Well…that puppet is a human puppet, built from a real cadaver," Granny Chiyo stated bluntly, "Like a battery it kept what chakra the body had possessed in life. Sasori is the only one who can produce human puppets. Whomever he makes his puppet… Sasori has access to that person's jutsu. Ultimately, that's what gives him such supreme power."
Sasori grinned, "Oh, there's more to it that that. Remember, of all my collection, this one is my favorite."
"Sakura, you get away from here," Granny Chiyo said, "I'll take care of this."
"What?" Sakura was appalled.
Granny Chiyo continued, "I did NOT expect this. You're no match for him now… Not with this card in play."
Sasori was not willing to wait as the black sand formed into numerous darts, "Too late…" Iron Sand Shower! The darts flew forward.
Sakura and Granny Chiyo were caught off guard, this is bad! Granny Chiyo thought before moving the Mother to get Sakura out of the way.
Sasori stared intently into the dust as it cleared, and he said, "So you did fiddle a bit." Granny Chiyo stood behind a chakra shield produced by the Father, while the Mother slid to a stop, Sakura safe in it's clutches. "Chakra shield, huh? Quite an upgrade since last I played with them."
Granny Chiyo remembered that moment, but she focused on what was going on in front of her. As she tried to close the Father's arms, which had produced the shield, but black sand seeped out of the joints. As I figured, crippled by the Iron Sand… She cut the strings to the puppet and allowed it to slump to the ground.
Sasori continued to grin, "A jutsu you shouldn't just block. You should know you have to dodge it. Is that it? Saving the girl is all you could manage?" He laughed, "The Iron Sand has seeped into the doll. So long as I have the magnetic power of the Third Kazekage…that thing can't last." The Father began to twitch on the ground, even though Granny Chiyo had cut the strings, as if to emphasize Sasori's point. "Now…this time I attack both of you at once! Just to make sure you're really dead…I'll use my most lethal forms!"
Sakura glanced up as the iron sand transformed itself into spears.
Sasori continued, "One puppet, two people. Can't protect both. What do you say to that witch?" Let's see which one will die.
Miscalculation
As the spears made out of the iron sand shot towards Granny Chiyo and Sakura, Sasori activated another part of the Third Kazekage puppet. The puppet's chest opened and powerful chakra emanated from it to the spears, making them go faster. As the spears slammed into the ground with a large boom.
Sasori watched in eager silence to see that both of the kunoichi had been killed. As the dust cleared, Sakura was revealed, with the Mother standing in front of her with a shield up. Sasori's eyes widened as he stared at Granny Chiyo. Sakura turned to see if Granny Chiyo was all right, and she too, was startled.
Granny Chiyo stood amidst the spears, her right arm opened up like a shield…just like the puppets.
Sasori laughed, "Just an arm…but still, rigging your own body. We puppet masters…we're all of a kind, huh?"
Granny Chiyo tried to close her rigged, right arm, but the iron sand wouldn't allow it to close, "I see…so that's what you did then." Sasori smirked, as Granny Chiyo was forced to detach her rigged right arm, along with cutting the chakra strings to the Mother, which was now useless.
"Once the iron sand gets in, the puppet is done for," Sasori repeated. "Well, now you're out of puppets. What next?"
Granny Chiyo was silent, as she remembered a young Sasori with the puppets that he had now made useless. She didn't answer him.
Sasori continued, "Even a great puppet master is nothing without a puppet, huh?" He laughed as the iron sand moved towards the Third Kazekage and then morphed itself into two shapes, a rectangle and a triangle.
Sakura's mouth fell open in a silent gasp of horror, while Granny Chiyo commented, "A pity I got us into this jam…indeed, what next? Well, Sakura, whatever he's up to, you get out of here."
This shocked Sakura out of her horror, and she clenched her fist, what can I do…? Right now… She grabbed her clenched fist, what… She gritted her teeth, "Granny Chiyo…Please use me!" Granny Chiyo's eyes widened in shock. At this point, all I can do…is fight as a puppet. I don't have the experience for a fight like this…
"I lost an arm. I won't be able to support you as before," Granny Chiyo admitted.
Sakura said, "That's okay. I might not be rigged up with fancy weapons, like the puppets…" Sasori looked on in silence as Granny Chiyo connected the strings to Sakura. "But what has been hammered into me…is the unbending spirit of my master!"
Heh, heh, Princess Tsunade? Granny Chiyo said aloud, "The Third Kazekage's power is magnetic force! That means arms of iron and steel are useless."
"That's just swell!" Sakura exclaimed, slamming her right fist into her left palm, " 'Cause like my master, I learned to fight with my bare hands!
"This again?" Sasori questioned, sounding bored, "How tedious."
Sakura charged forward while Sasori morphed the triangle into a spear aimed right at her. Granny Chiyo helped Sakura jump out of the way, while she leapt to avoid the spear too.
Landing on her feet, Sakura glanced up to see the rectangle plummeting towards her. She rolled to avoid the shape and then hopped to her feet, pulling back her left arm and striking the rectangle with all her might, sending it back towards Sasori.
Sasori leapt out of the way just in time muttering, "That girl…"
"And that's just the beginning!" Sakura taunted.
Meanwhile, Naruto was giving chase to Deidara, who had chosen to continue fleeing rather then facing two ninja and an unknown enemy. Granted, that unknown enemy was keeping pace with him still, throwing shuriken or kunai at him at random intervals.
Kakashi shouted, as Naruto sped up, "Naruto, wait! Stay close to me!"
Deidara ducked, as yet another shuriken flew at him, he pulled out another clay bomb and launched it towards the opposite side of the canyon, that heat seeker should do the trick.
Oh shit! Sara leapt off the canyon side as the bomb slammed into the ground, just inches from where she had been.
Deidara scowled, now that I can see my enemy I know who she is…the Shadow Wolf of the Hidden Leaf Village…and that was my last bomb… He said loudly enough, "So the Shadow Wolf joins the fray as well, hmm?" He ducked as another shuriken came his way.
Sara landed just in front of Kakashi, and Kakashi said, "I thought I told you to stay with Sakura!"
Leaping forward so she could keep pace with him, "I must have teleported out of there before you said that, because I heard no such thing."
Naruto glanced back at Sara, Bright Eyes is called the Shadow Wolf? She has a lot of explaining to do when this is over!
Kakashi said silently to Sara, "We've strayed too far from Sakura and the others. We're way out of wireless range…"
"I know…I was hoping my random weapon throwing would slow him down, but if anything he sped up…" Sara commented.
Kakashi kept his next thought to himself, we can't drag this out…I'd better use it and settle this now.
Sakura and Granny Chiyo stood facing Sasori amongst what was left of the cave. Sasori commented, "Quite a big punch for a little girl."
Sakura stood panting, but she still looked ready for battle. This girl is amazing! Granny Chiyo thought, in this short time, she's started to read Sasori's offensive pattern. At this point, she doesn't really need my support. I would never have dreamed she was this good… Tsunade…you chose well…
Sakura remembered all of her earlier training with Tsunade and how it had all been based on evasion, she stood studying Sasori, before he can strike, he must move his finger. That's the weakness of a puppet master. From his hand and arm gestures, I'm beginning to see the direction of his attacks.
Sasori was getting worried as he moved his arm, the girl is a hawk. At this rate I could be here forever! I guess I have to waste some chakra. This should finish her off. The two shapes of iron shape combined, Needle Sphere! The combined shapes exploded into millions upon millions of needles.
Oh no! Granny Chiyo desperately tried to get Sakura away from the needles.
Sakura was stunned, it's huge!
What remained of the cave was destroyed by the Needle Sphere, as the dust from the needles cleared, it revealed that Sakura was still standing, though her head was lowered.
"Sakura!" Granny Chiyo shouted, "Sakura! Are you all right?"
Cuts appeared everywhere on Sakura's body and she swayed slightly, remembering Granny Chiyo's words, "Even a scratch will prove fatal." Sasori had also soaked the iron sand in poison.
"She's injured," Granny Chiyo whispered in shock.
Sasori grinned, "I told you didn't I? That there was more to it?"
Granny Chiyo realized what Sakura had, "The iron sand is soaked in poison!" She turned her attention back to Sakura as she hit slumped to the ground.
Sasori laughed, "The poison is starting its work. It numbs the body pretty rapidly. Left alone, she may last three days. But I'll finish her now." The Third Kazekage shot forward, its remaining blade extended.
Granny Chiyo tried to move, but her cloak pulled taut, I'm stuck! She realized glancing at the part of her cloak that was caught between the rubble.
The Third Kazekage swung its arm, about to strike, when Sakura stood up with the speed of a striking snake, and smashed the puppet to bits. Sasori and Granny Chiyo were both startled, but no one spoke as Sakura rushed to Granny Chiyo and helped her out of the rubble.
Granny Chiyo finally managed, "Sakura…how…?"
"I used the antidote," Sakura answered, pulling out a vial, "There's one left. Granny Chiyo, I want you to keep it." She handed the old woman the vial.
"But when?" Granny Chiyo wondered.
"Back when I concocted it for Kankuro…I had enough for three doses. I knew our adversary used poison…I brought along the rest in hypodermic form."
"Oh, I see," Granny Chiyo whispered, nodding.
"The catch is," Sakura continued, "the antidote is only really potent for about three minutes. While it's working, whatever poison you're exposed to gets converted into a harmless protein. I didn't want Sasori to know I had it." She began to heal some of Granny Chiyo's wounds. "I figured his guard would be lowest after he'd played his final card. That it'd be our only chance. So I had to hang on to it until the very last moment. For the next three minutes or so, his poison won't affect me. We only have this chance."
"Understood," Granny Chiyo murmured, glancing at the destroyed Third Kazekage puppet, "It's time to end this fight."
Unknown Power…!
"Sakura, I'm fine now," Granny Chiyo murmured. Leaning forward heavily, Sakura began to pant. That monstrous strength, dodging, healing…they all demand considerable chakra… She must already be at her limit…
Getting shakily to her feet, "We have no time…" Sakura said, "Can we start now, Granny Chiyo?"
"Sure," Granny Chiyo said.
Sasori watched them intently, How can she move? I know my poison affected her. Sakura made a hand sign and his eyes widened, Wait, no…she detoxified it! But how? He remembered his fight with the young puppet master from the Sand Village that had tried to stop him and Deidara. Could THEY have used that poison? No…it's impossible. The antidote is prohibitively difficult to mix. If there's even the slightest mistake… Even I need to reference the mix ratio table and I CREATED it. And yet…was it the witch? No…I doubt that… Sakura began to heal some of her deeper wounds on her arm, "So, that brat is a medic ninja," he said softly to himself. His eyes narrowed as Sakura's healing began more focused and less chaotic. Did she…?
Sakura removed her hand from her arm, Well, I staunched the major bleeding anyway… Time to refocus the rest of my chakra to attack! We only have less then three minutes to do this, and we won't have another chance.
Granny Chiyo glanced at the vial Sakura had given her before pocketing it, "Let's go Sakura."
"Yes," Sakura agreed, pulling on the glove she had taken off.
Sasori began to unzip his cloak, hmph! I admit, she is quite a girl. Never thought I'd see the Third Kazekage destroyed…It's probably a waste to use other human puppets. "I haven't been forced to solve a problem this way since I joined the Akatsuki," he said, "I wonder how long it's been…" Sasori's cloak fell to the ground.
"Wha-what is that?" Sakura questioned.
Granny Chiyo answered, "He hasn't aged at all. He still looks as he did long ago. Well, there's the reason why."
Sasori stood balanced on a metal rope with a blade on it that came out of his stomach, blades extended from his arms, scrolls were attached to his back, and there was a fleshy looking part that had the kanji for scorpion on it.…he was a puppet as well. "It's been awhile indeed, since last I used myself."
"He's an actual…human puppet?" Sakura was bewildered and disgusted by Sasori's appearance.
In the canyon, Kakashi and Sara caught up with Naruto, literally. Kakashi grabbed him by his midsection and snapped, "I said wait, didn't I?" Naruto growled at him, "Don't worry. We'll get Gaara back!" Naruto relaxed slightly, so Kakashi allowed him to continue on his own momentum, "Calm down. C'mon."
Naruto questioned, seeing Sara, "What are you doing here, Bright Eyes?"
"Same as you," Sara answered, "I'm here to get Gaara." Naruto continued to stare at her, "I bet you have questions for me…but for now, they'll have to wait."
Naruto grumbled, "I knew that much!" He kept pace with Kakashi and Sara.
Kakashi said, "Listen, Naruto. You're not used to fighting an opponent like this. You're a close combat fighter. He excels at long distance. This makes him your worst enemy." Naruto gazed at him in shock, "There are only two ways to beat this type of foe."
"So what are they?" Naruto demanded.
"One is to force him to fight up close," Kakashi stated, "the other is to beat him at his own game."
"But how?" Naruto questioned, for the time being focused on what Kakashi was saying.
Sara answered him, "There are two options. You either need a long range fighter, or someone who can use long range jutsu. If you don't have either of those, you're pretty much out of luck. But, if you have someone with the superior intellect of Shikamaru, that would put the odds in your favor."
"Would both of you spill it? Which are you?" Naruto was losing his patience.
Kakashi was the first to answer, "Me? Well, I have a superior intellect. I'm a jônin. And I can sustain a long range battle."
"Well, Bright Eyes?" Naruto had lost his patience and was ready to get going.
Sara took note of this and decided to shock him so he wouldn't go recklessly after Deidara again, "Being the previous Head of the Anbu Black Ops," Naruto almost collided with one of the mainly large tree roots that crisscrossed the canyon, "I have learned to use long range jutsu, how to sustain a battle from long range, and I have a superior intellect."
Naruto shook off his shock, "Then we meet the requirements!"
"That's why I told you to calm down," Kakashi said. "But it's not as simple as it sounds. When we're chasing him, he won't give us any openings."
Sara added, "That's why even when I was throwing weapons from various positions from the canyon sides, he still refused to let his guard down."
Kakashi nodded in agreement, "Plus, he went into the Sand Village alone and overcame Gaara. He's a member of the infamous Akatsuki after all… So what do we do?" He paused for a brief second, "We must create an opening ourselves. All of us, together… If you're with me so far," he said, meaning Naruto, "Then stay close. I have a plan."
In the Akatsuki's Lair…or what was left of it, Sakura and Granny Chiyo both hid behind rocks as Sasori shot flames from rigged pipes in his hands, "What's the matter? Not going to attack me?" He taunted the two kunoichi.
One minute left, Sakura thought worriedly.
Sasori hunched forward before shooting his metal rope around the rock Sakura was hiding behind, grazing her side. His metal rope embedded itself into a boulder.
"Die!" Sasori shouted as he lunged towards Granny Chiyo, who didn't suspect him to come at her.
Granny Chiyo vs. Sasori!
Granny Chiyo braced herself for Sasori's attack, while Sakura started to stagger to her feet, Granny Chiyo! Her eyes focused on Sasori's metal rope and grabbed it, yanking it with her monster strength.
Sasori didn't think anything of it as he continued to lunge forward, more then enough of the rope to get to his target. Just as he was about to strike, he felt a tug. His rope had been forcibly pulled out to the point of there being none left. He stared at Sakura in shock, as did Granny Chiyo.
"Take this!" Sakura shouted, yanking him back towards her. She pulled back her left arm and as Sasori soared towards her she punched him as hard as possible, destroying the puppet. She stood panting as parts scattered around her, glancing back at the puppet's motionless head, I beat him…with barely enough time to spare… Sakura smiled at Granny Chiyo, starting to laugh from the stress, "I did it…Granny Chiyo, I did it!"
"Sakura….you…" Granny Chiyo was still in shock from Sakura's display of prowess.
A clacking sound wiped the smile from Sakura's face, her back stiffened. She turned around slowly, disbelief in her eyes, as the puppet…as Sasori, reformed before her very eyes.
Granny Chiyo reacted better then Sakura, reattaching a chakra string to her puppet arm and reattaching it. Sakura turned to Granny Chiyo, wondering what she was doing. Granny Chiyo began to pull out a scroll, "I forbade even myself use of this jutsu because of you, Sasori… I never thought I would ever use it again. But against you, I must!" The scroll unfurled, revealing several summoning seals. She made a hand sign, "Let's end this here and now…" All the seals pulled away from the scroll to reveal ten, white robed puppets.
"Outstanding, Granny," Sasori said, "A puppet master's skill is measured by the number of puppets they can use."
Sakura was in awe of the ten puppets, "So…so many."
Sasori gazed admirably at the puppets, "Granny Chiyo's secret, Multiple Digits! I've heard of it…you once destroyed an entire fortress with it…Secret White Move! Chikamatsu's Ten Puppets!"Granny Chiyo gazed stonily at him, "The first puppet master, Monzaemon's ten master pieces." The second scroll on Sasori's back popped out and he unrolled it, opening a cavity in his chest, "Your collection is quite impressive but…" A hundred black robed puppets appeared, "I destroyed an entire country with these."
Sakura's mouth fell open in awe and fear, while Granny Chiyo stared at the black clad puppets, he's developed so much…!
Sasori bowed his head and placed a hand on his forehead, "This is disappointing. I'm wasting my time with this little girl and old hag…and having to resort to my best puppets," he turned his gaze on them, "Secret Red Technique! Performance of a Hundred Puppets! It's show time!"
Sakura darted away from Sasori and stood poised in front of Granny Chiyo and her ten puppets, ready for battle.
"Sakura," Granny Chiyo said, "Your antidote has worn off…stay back."
The young kunoichi was surprised at first, but a smile came across her face, "You already know, don't you? Who I've become!"
Granny Chiyo was now the one who was surprised, but it quickly passed, "Oh, yes. You've modeled yourself after Tsunade…" She stared at the mass of black puppets, "Now comes the finale. Ready?"
"Yeah!" Sakura answered.
When Sasori moved his hands to send his puppets forward, Granny Chiyo noted, So…the only reason he can use so many puppets is because he is a puppet himself… That cavity in his chest has chakra strings coming out of it… "Brace yourself, Sakura!"
As the black robed puppets got closer, Granny Chiyo had two of her puppets join hands and charge forward. One of the puppets had a chakra made shuriken in front of it. The second puppet threw it forward and the first puppet ripped through the ranks of Sasori's puppets. The other puppets of Granny Chiyo's were proving that though they were few in number, they were of a higher quality then Sasori's. But slowly, they were being eliminated. Granny Chiyo watched as three of her puppets were destroyed, there are too many of them.
Sakura, meanwhile, was destroying puppets right and left, but one of them slipped past her and headed towards Granny Chiyo, and it sliced her side. She gritted her teeth and destroyed the puppet with one of her own.
"Granny Chiyo!" Sakura shouted, alarmed. She fell back along with Granny Chiyo's remaining four puppets, the other six had been destroyed.
Ignoring the pain in her side, "Sakura, aim for Sasori, I'll take care of the other puppets."
"Okay," Sakura agreed.
Granny Chiyo had one of the puppets come alongside Sakura for a brief second, "Use this!"
The puppet spat out a ball of some sort and Sakura caught it, charging towards Sasori. Granny Chiyo's white clad puppets clearing a path, Sakura pulled back her arm and threw the ball with all her might at Sasori.
As it soared through the air the ball slowly morphed into, what resembled, a cat's head with massive teeth, it slammed into Sasori, pinning him to the wall. The black robed puppets collapsed, unable to move since their strings had been severed.
Sakura was panting, "I did it…"
"He can't move," Granny Chiyo confirmed, "It's over Sasori… That sealing completely traps chakra…you can't use your chakra strings anymore." She collapsed onto her knees.
"Granny Chiyo!" Sakura yelled, fear for the old woman's life showing in her voice, "Take the antidote now!" A movement on the battlefield caught Sakura's eyes as she ran towards Granny Chiyo. Slowly, a black clad puppet rose, the canister that had been in the puppet pinned to the wall, was now in its chest. Sakura increased her speed as the puppet, now Sasori, moved to stab Granny Chiyo. She placed herself in front of the sword's path and grabbed the blade as it pierced her stomach and came out her back.
Granny Chiyo stared in horror at Sakura as she stood panting in front of her, "Sakura!" She flinched as the poison began to take its hold.
Sakura turned to look at her, "Take the antidote…now…Granny Chiyo…"
"A wound like this and you still care about the others?" Sasori questioned, "You're pretty tough." He twisted the blade, causing Sakura to cry out in pain as blood spurted from her mouth and both of her wounds. She gritted her teeth and began to heal around the sword. This girl… She's stopping the bleeding and healing the wound with the sword still inside her…such skill. He shoved the blade into her more, and she cried out in pain again. "It seems the poison is working…needless to say, this sword is also poisoned."
My body's going numb…I can't control my chakra… Sakura thought, losing control of her chakra, stopping the healing process.
Granny Chiyo grabbed the vial inside her sleeve and pulled it out, her hand shaking. Without a second's hesitation she slammed the vial onto Sakura's leg, the small needle starting to inject the antidote into the young kunoichi's body.
"What?" Sasori was startled.
Sakura asked, as Granny Chiyo slumped forward, "Wh-why?"
Sasori began to pull the blade out, but Sakura grabbed it savagely, gritting her teeth, "I won't let go." This surprised Sasori event more. Granny Chiyo was gasping for breath, and Sakura turned her attention to her for a brief second, distracted, "Granny Chiyo!"
Sasori detached his arm that was holding the sword while he aimed at Granny Chiyo, his other arm fell away to reveal a second sword.
Granny Chiyo looked up and attached chakra strings to two puppets and sent them towards Sasori. Within the blink of an eye, the Mother and the Father had stabbed Sasori right where the canister was, destroying the only human thing about him…his beating heart.
Reward…!
Sasori stared horrified at the two sword tips that were protruding from his chest, he stared at Granny Chiyo, his eyes desperately seeking an answer.
"You lowered your guard at the last moment…Sasori," Granny Chiyo said, answering his unspoken question, "Even though your body is now that of a puppet…you still need a human part to control chakra. That's your weakness…And now…that part in the left side of that puppet's chest is gone….. That puppet body is, in fact, just a doll. Your true nature is the chakra-producing part in your chest." She slumped forward, exhausted, as Sasori released a small laugh.
Sakura slumped forward as well, clutching the sword that was still stuck in her. Granny Chiyo forced herself up, "Sakura!" I have to close the wound, she activated her chakra, to heal the wound, while pulling out the sword. She placed her hand where the sword's tip protruded and grabbed the sword, causing Sakura to cry out in pain. "Stay with me…" Granny Chiyo begged, "Almost…got it…" She threw the sword away from her as soon as it was out, and she focused her full attention on both of Sakura's wounds.
"Impossible," Sasori said, "I hit a vital point. Even without the poison, she's going to die. She's losing too much blood. You're also a medic ninja…so I aimed for a spot you can't heal very easily."
Granny Chiyo snorted, "I've already done first aid with medical ninjutsu. This is NOT medical ninjutsu." Sasori's eyes widened, "This imparts raw life energy…this is a transference technique. This jutsu…I spent years creating it for you. And only I can use it." Sasori was baffled as Sakura began to stir, "With this jutsu…the user can breathe life into even a puppet…" Sakura was definitely coherent again as realization struck Sasori as to what the jutsu required, "…In exchange for the life of the user." Granny Chiyo recalled, once again, a young Sasori being embraced by the Mother and Father puppets, and how she had watched the moment, "But…that's an impossible dream now…"
"Nonsense," Sasori said, "Utter nonsense. When did you go so senile, Granny?"
Sakura watched Granny Chiyo's reactions to those words and closed her eyes before trying to sit up.
"Sakura," Granny Chiyo said, concerned, "Are you all right?"
"Yes," Sakura said, but she asked, "What about you, Granny Chiyo?"
Sasori was perplexed, "Strange…with a transference technique, or whatever it's called, doesn't the wielder die in exchange for bringing the recipient back to life?"
"Sakura was mortally wounded," Granny Chiyo stated, "But had not yet died. That's why…I survived."
"What a shame," Sasori said. Sakura moved with lightning swiftness and slugged Sasori, cracking his cheek. "You're wasting your time…This body doesn't feel pain. You'll only hurt your fist." Sakura glared at him, "women…they just love to do completely pointless things," he laughed. "Even if my own grandmother dies…I won't feel a thing. My heart is just like this body. She'd just be one more among the thousands I've killed. Thing's are simpler than you think."
Sakura clenched her fist, shaking, "What do you think human life is?" She demanded, "What's family to you?" She thought of Naruto and Sara, and how far her two teammates would go to either get a family, in Naruto's case, or defend their loved ones, in Sara's case.
"Hey…does that sound like something a shinobi would say?" Sasori asked, avoiding the question.
"Why?" Sakura continued, "Why can you only think of things that way?"
"That's enough, Sakura," Granny Chiyo said, "What made him like this was…our Sand Village customs and teachings."
Sakura didn't know what to say to that. It was hard for her to accept that Granny Chiyo and Sasori had arrived from the same village and yet had such different ideals.
Sasori taunted, "Do you want to try this body? If you do you'll understand a little of what it's like." Sakura glared at him, appalled, "This body never decays….puppets can be produced and reproduced and they're free from a mortal lifespan… Countless people can be created with puppets." Sakura glanced at the destroyed puppets that surrounded them, "But only if you want to…" Sakura was having difficulty restraining herself from slugging him again, "But it's not about quantity, a collection is all about quality."
"What on Earth are you?" Sakura demanded, her voice laced with anger and disgust.
Sasori answered, "Suffice it to say…I'm a human being who couldn't become a complete puppet… I'm a puppet but with a human heart…I'm neither human nor puppet…" Sakura was a little surprised by this answer, "The end is near. But first, I'll do something pointless too…A reward for defeating me." Sakura and Granny Chiyo were startled. Sasori's voice intensified, "You wanted to know about Orochimaru didn't you?" Sakura was even more surprised, "go to the Tenchi Bridge in the Hidden Grass Village…ten days from now at noon…"
"What do you mean?" Sakura asked, still startled.
Sasori said, "One of Orochimaru's henchmen is a spy of mine…I'm supposed to meet him there…" Sasori's head slumped forward, all signs of life gone from his puppet body.
Granny Chiyo remembered how he had been as a boy, and cut the chakra strings from the Mother and Father, letting them fall back.
Sakura said quietly, "You did it…Granny Chiyo. I knew you could…"
Granny Chiyo stared at her dead grandson, "No…. By rights, it was I…that should have been defeated." Sakura gazed at her questioningly, "Sasori anticipated my final attack…but…for some reason he couldn't dodge it. He was off guard for a moment…"
Sakura glanced at the three motionless puppets, "Is that…?"
Granny Chiyo hunched over, in pain from the poison, "Granny Chiyo!" Sakura shouted, alarmed, "Let's get you back to the village! I'll prepare an antidote."
"No," Granny Chiyo said, sitting up slowly.
"Why not?" Sakura demanded, "We've done what we had to do! We have to return to the village and counter act the poison or…"
Granny Chiyo interrupted her, "Instead of that…There's still something… I must do."
Flying over the canyon, Deidara was starting to get worried, that kid suddenly got quiet, and I haven't had a shuriken or kunai whiz past my head or come anywhere near me for awhile… What are they up to? Hmm?
"Kakashi-sensei, are you ready yet?" Naruto asked quietly.
Kakashi said, his eyes closed, and Sara in front of him, so he wouldn't collide with anything, "Be patient…I don't have as much chakra as you. It takes me a little longer but…" He opened his eyes, his Sharingan eyes now looked like scythes around the pupil instead of commas, "I'm just about ready. Let's go, you two!"
New Sharingan!
Naruto and Sara stared in wonder at the Sharingan. Naruto finally asked, still in awe, "Is that what you were talking about?"
"Yup," Kakashi said casually, "A new Sharingan."
Sara said silently, seething, a new Sharingan is NOT something you don't tell someone who you're living with!
It was a precaution, Kakashi answered silently, if you knew about it, I didn't want you to… he trailed off as he felt her fury dripping off her in waves. I know you're a shinobi now, who has proven themselves many times over, but I'm your guardian, and I'll always see you as my young one. He felt some of her anger leave her, but he knew that she still didn't like being shielded or protected by someone else, especially over some information.
That's not the only reason I'm angry, Sara said silently.
Kakashi was utterly baffled, but he felt someone staring, and turned to Naruto, "What?"
"Kakashi-sensei," he started, "It's okay if you can't…Bright Eyes and I can finish this off!"
Realization struck him like a lightning bolt. Both Sara and Naruto were worried that his new Sharingan would drain him of his strength, faster then his regular one. "Sure..." he said, but he quickly smiled, "If you get the chance!"
"Yeah!" Naruto shouted, exhilarated by Kakashi's confidence. Sara couldn't help smiling either.
Kakashi focused on the figure flying above them, Mangekyo Sharingan! The space around Deidara started to blur and swirl around the Akatsuki member.
Deidara stared back at the Jinchûriki and the two elite shinobi, what is this? He stared in alarm at his remaining arm, as a vortex began to suck it in.
Sara glanced at Kakashi in wonder and alarm, she could see the strain this jutsu was putting on him as he gasped for breath and sweat dripped down his face.
Deidara was close to panicking now, ocular jutsu? Oh, no! The vortex continued to suck his arm into its depths.
Naruto stopped, clinging to the canyon wall, wow. This jutsu is amazing!
Deidara was truly panicking, my arm? What is this?
Kakashi thought, he's too far away, I can't…uh oh… He lost control of the vortex, which snapped close, taking Deidara's arm with it. Deidara cried out in pain, while Kakashi covered his eye and grunted as his eye throbbed. I missed. I can't properly control the position and size of the barrier space. He felt a hand rest on his shoulder, as he tried to use the Sharingan again, he couldn't get the barrier space to focus on Deidara, who moved out of range.
Naruto was ahead of Kakashi, for once. He and a clone leapt up towards Deidara and sailed towards him, a Rasengan in hand. Deidara leapt away, as Naruto plowed through the neck of the clay bird.
Kakashi sighed, Yes! He glanced to his side, and saw that Sara was standing next to him, her hand on his shoulder, but he could tell she wanted to help Naruto, "Go, I'm all right." She turned to face him, her pupils nothing but slits. Her gaze seemed to bore into him, and after a few seconds, he had to look away, but she seemed to be satisfied that he wasn't going to fall over, because she teleported even as he was blinking.
Naruto made several clones who caught the falling bird head that contained Gaara.
"Gaara!" One of the clones shouted, tearing at the bird.
Kakashi had to release the Mangekyo Sharingan, since it was draining too much of his chakra.
A clone landed next to him and asked, "Kakashi-sensei are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," he added silently, at least I think so…
It grew silent over where Naruto and his clones were next to the bird's head
Deidara crouched on a tree branch, unaware that he was being watched, my right arm too…I can't use jutsu anymore…It's to this hmmm? But running into someone with Itachi-level ocular jutsu…not to mention that other annoying kid… This Jinchûriki is nothing…The problem is how to deal with Kakashi and that other one…
Naruto growled from where he stood next to the clay bird's head, "It's time for you to get hit!"
"Yeah, yeah," Deidara said, "I'll have it out with you another time."
Kakashi scoffed, "You're too careless."
Something slammed into Deidara from above him, pinning him to the branch, while Naruto erupted leapt at him, and slugged him with all his might. The weight disappeared from him in an instant and he went flying towards the ground. Naruto made the hand sign for his signature, Shadow Clone Jutsu, four clones held Deidara to the ground, while Sara stood in the next tree, having been the one who had pinned Deidara earlier. Naruto sailed towards Deidara and began to kick and punch the Akatsuki member with all his might.
The Ultimate Art
"Naruto…" Kakashi said, a bit worried, glancing towards Sara, whose expression mirrored his.
Naruto created a Rasengan and slammed it into Deidara, he and his clones gazed in surprise at the clay body in front of them.
Clay! A substitution, Kakashi thought.
Any other time, Sara would have been focused on finding the enemy, but her eyes widened in horror as she watched a red, bubbling substance cover Naruto in the shape of the Nine-Tails, but with only one tail.
That's what Jiraiya was talking about, Kakashi thought alarmed.
Deidara was hiding under a bush, what is that? Is that the Jinchûriki? A second tail emerged, while Sara stood in front of Naruto, walking towards him slowly, as if she were approaching a shinobi whose intentions were unknown, "Naruto?" His eyes flashed towards her, but they were no longer blue, but red, and his pupils were slits, like hers.
"It might be best to release me now…" Phoenix suggested.
Sara answered, "Not yet…" Phoenix shrieked angrily in response. Naruto's gaze hadn't left her.
Deidara smiled knowingly, that's why his punches had such impact.
Kakashi stared in alarm at how close Sara was to Naruto, the two were within three feet of each other, that's not enough time to react if he attacks!
The clone next to him hit its knees and gasped, "It burns!"
Kakashi glanced towards the clearing, and made to jump, remembering what Jiraiya had told him, "Be careful. If chakra emanates from Naruto's body and begins to form the Nine-Tailed Fox… Listen…stop it while it still only has one to two tails. Use this. This will seal the chakra immediately… Leaping into the clearing, Kakashi thought, I have to do this already? His eyes widened in horror as Naruto leapt at Sara, apparently unable to discern friend from foe.
Sara teleported out of Naruto's path, catching a glimpse of Kakashi, he's holding something in his hand… She appeared behind Naruto and grabbed him underneath his armpits, wrapping her arms over his shoulders, and lifted him off the ground, turning him to face Kakashi, hoping her guardian had something to subdue whatever was going on with her friend.
Kakashi slapped the seal onto Naruto's forehead, and relaxed as Naruto eyes half closed and the red chakra began to disappear. What did Jiraiya see?
Sara asked him silently, "What the hell was that?"
"The Nine-Tails chakra…that's about all I know," Kakashi saw worry flash in her eyes, but she quickly recovered, she said aloud, "So all that remains is finding Deidara?"
He nodded, turning around slightly as someone landed heavily behind him.
Sakura supported Granny Chiyo, and she said, "Finally caught up to you…"
"How did you know we were here?" Kakashi asked, impressed with how much Sakura had matured.
"We saw the enemy fly over," she answered.
Granny Chiyo said, "It seems as though you're having some trouble here…"
Sara jumped as Naruto said softly to her, "Sorry about that, Bright Eyes…I really lost my temper there."
Sara nodded, he must be pissed at me for not telling him everything…I'll have to explain once this is over…I owe him that much…
Naruto said to Sakura and Granny Chiyo, "Sakura. You guys did it…"
"Yes," Granny Chiyo said, all business, "But where's Gaara?" She followed Naruto's gaze to the tree where two of Naruto's clones were supporting the Kazekage.
"Good," Granny Chiyo said, nodding.
Deidara was surprised to see the two kunoichi, I can't believe it… Sasori got taken out by that brat girl and the old bat… Leaving a thing of eternal beauty for the future? Yeah, right. All he did was get killed…hmmm? He was overconfident about that puppet model, even though it fully exposed his weakness… Well, in any case…he died an artist's death….vanity kills…hmmm? He moved from his hiding place and made to run, when he froze.
Guy and Lee blocked his path. Guy said, "Good job, Neji."
Everyone in the clearing turned when they heard Guy's voice, just seconds before Guy's team erupted into the clearing, chasing Deidara.
Deidara barely managed to dodge three giant shuriken and he thought, a kunai in his mouth, I won't be able to outrun them.
"Guy's team?" Kakashi commented, surprised.
Deidara shot towards the headless body of his clay bird.
"Everyone, be careful!" Kakashi shouted, "He uses bombs to attack from a distance!"
Guy's team landed several yards away from Deidara and the clay bird, waiting to see what he would do.
Deidara spat out the kunai knife and bit into the bird, ripping a piece away, he swallowed it and his body began to expand, "Let me show you my ultimate art… It's an explosion!"
Neji used his Byakugan, and his eyes widened in horror, all his chakra is concentrating on one point! "Everyone, get out of here!" Guy's team leapt away from Deidara, while Kakashi put a hand over his Sharingan eye, as Deidara exploded, releasing a giant blast.
Jinchûriki's Pain
Guy's team was struggling to get away from the blast, while Naruto's clones were desperately trying to carry Gaara away from the blast. Neji thought, glancing back at the fiery ball that was quickly approaching, we're not going to make it!
Naruto took several steps backward, while Sakura took several steps away as well, trying to get Granny Chiyo away from the blast. Kakashi didn't move, and Sara refused to leave his side.
Smoke surrounded all of them, and a soft sizzling sound was the only noise that could be heard. As the smoke cleared, it revealed all of the shinobi, Guy's team facing away from the blast, while Naruto, Sakura, and Granny Chiyo shielded their eyes from the blast, and Sara and Kakashi were in the same spot, neither having moved.
Naruto and Sakura slowly lowered their arms, while Guy turned around, and asked, bewildered, "What's going on?" Neji, Lee, and Tenten all turned around as well, the two Naruto clones were safe in a tree, Gaara supported between them.
A hole was sealing itself shut, and Kakashi thought, triumphantly, it worked…
Guy looked back at Kakashi who met his gaze, almost sheepishly, a worthy rival…
Kakashi fell backwards, but Sara caught him, before she could ask, Naruto questioned, "Kakashi-sensei?"
Sara couldn't get a word in edge-wise, which was starting to annoy her as Sakura asked, "What on Earth did you do?"
Kakashi answered, breathing heavily, "I teleported him…and the explosion to another space…" He sat up with difficulty, "Never mind that…is everyone okay…?"
"Yeah, apart from you," Sara answered as Naruto's clones landed on the ground. She asked Kakashi, "Are you able to walk?" He shook his head back and forth.
"Sakura…" One of the clones said, asking a silent question with his gaze. She nodded.
After several minutes of traveling to an open clearing, Sakura was bent over Gaara, checking for the slightest signs of life.
"Sakura…" Naruto said, worried. Sakura removed her hand from Gaara's chest, shaking her head back and forth. Gaara's still form seemed to emphasize her gesture. She stood up slowly and stepped away from the body, while Granny Chiyo stared at the motionless Kazekage, her expression unreadable.
Kakashi turned his head slightly as he heard Sara's fists clench, and he could feel her sorrow as if it were his own, and he leaned against her slightly from his position on the ground, letting her know he was there if she needed him. There was no visible sign though that she was in pain.
Naruto clenched his teeth and tears streamed down his cheeks, "Why Gaara…Why always Gaara?" His fists clenched, "If he dies like this…! He's Kazekage… He's just become KAZEKAGE!"
Granny Chiyo said quietly, "Calm down, Naruto Uzamaki…"
Naruto whipped around, slicking the air with his hand, "SHUT UP!" Granny Chiyo was taken aback, "If you Sand Ninja hadn't put that monster in Gaara none of this would have happened! Did you ever even consider what Gaara thought? Did you ever even ask? You call him a Jinchûriki host?"
Kakashi closed his eyes and bowed his head, and he thought guiltily, I've never asked either Naruto or Sara how they felt about what they carry within them…
"Who are you to decide that fate for someone else?" He continued to shout, he had to stop as sobs choked him, and he wiped his eyes. Sakura, Guy, Neji, Tenten, and Lee all watched in silently.
After a few seconds, Sakura said, "Naruto…"
Naruto managed to choke out past his sobs, "I couldn't save Sasuke…I can't save Gaara! For three years I trained like crazy…but nothing has changed."
Sara stepped away from Kakashi and walked up to Naruto, setting a hand on his shoulder, tears streamed down her face, shocking Naruto and everyone else, "Enough," she said softly.
Granny Chiyo stood up, and walked over to Gaara, she placed her wrinkled hands on his chest and began to perform, what looked like a healing jutsu.
Sakura shouted, recognizing the jutsu, "Granny Chiyo…that jutsu!" Granny Chiyo merely grinned at her. Granny Chiyo…
Naruto and Sara both wiped their eyes, Naruto asked, "What's she doing?"
Neji studied the jutsu with his Byakugan, medical ninjutsu? No…
Sakura thought back to what Granny Chiyo had told her after they had defeated Sasori, "There's still something I must do…" This is what she meant… Sakura thought realization striking her, in exchange for her life….
Guy said, "That's…"
"Yeah…" Kakashi didn't need Guy to finish; he knew exactly what Guy meant. He studied the jutsu with his Sharingan, copying the jutsu.
"What're you doing?" Naruto demanded.
"She's going to bring Gaara back," Sakura answered.
Power & Miracles!
"Bring back to life?" Naruto questioned, staring at Granny Chiyo in awe, "Can she really do that?"
"Only Granny Chiyo can perform this jutsu," Sakura said softly.
Neji was studying Granny Chiyo's flow of chakra; that chakra flow…such a jutsu requires…
Commensurate risk… Kakashi thought, continuing to copy the jutsu with his Sharingan.
Granny Chiyo winced and the chakra around her hands began to shrink in size, "No!" Granny Chiyo cried out, "not enough chakra."
"Please, use my chakra," Naruto said, startling her, "Is that possible Granny…"
Granny Chiyo nodded and addressed Sara, "You can help too…" She remembered her conversation with Kakashi, and how he had explained why the two young shinobi had tried so hard to save Gaara. "Both of you, place your hands over mine." Both young ninja did as she said.
Sakura stared sadly at the trio as they hunched over Gaara …Naruto…Sara…
Granny Chiyo spoke sagely as she continued the jutsu with the aid of Sara and Naruto, "In this shinobi world created by frivolous old people…I'm glad new souls like you have come along…" Naruto and Sara glanced up at her in surprise, "Up 'til now, everything I've done has been wrong… But at the very end…I think I might finally be able to do something right. Sand and Leaf…May their future be something different from our time." She turned looked at Naruto, "This special power of yours…Kakashi spoke of it…that power will change the future dramatically… Become a Hokage the likes of which has never been seen! And Sakura in the future, don't save a dying granny like me…help those you truly care about…you're a lot like me… So few women possess such a strong spirit…you'll likely surpass your teacher…" She looked at Sara, "And Sara, you're another with a strong spirit, stronger then I've seen in years, you're dedicated to protecting your friends and to your training, keep on that path, and help your friend," her gaze shifted to Naruto, "to achieve his dream…" Sara nodded her gaze solemn. "Naruto…Sara…I have a favor to ask of you…you're the only people who know Gaara's pain…Gaara also knows your pain…Please look after Gaara…"
Naruto and Sara both remained silent, but they closed their eyes. Both of them could picture themselves as young shinobi, surrounded by the people they cared about including some that were no longer alive. The pair stood in between Kakashi and the Third Hokage. Naruto glanced between a gap in the group and tapped Sara's shoulder as he shoved his way through the group, Sara on his heels. Gaara…Gaara!
Gaara's consciousness was beginning to stir, who…who are they calling? Who…? This hand…Oh…it's my hand…My hand…me…?
Naruto paused in his mad dash as Sara stopped, "Bright Eyes?"
"Go on," she said smiling, "I'll make sure you can find your way back." She stood halfway between the group they had just left and Gaara. Naruto nodded before continuing to approach Gaara.
Me… Gaara continued to think, who…am…I? I'm… A hand touched his shoulder and he turned around to see a smiling Naruto, while another stood a ways back, waiting for them to come back…
"Gaara," Naruto said relief evident in his words. Sara stood a few feet behind him, relief showing in her gaze, though she remained silent.
Gaara stared in bewilderment at the blond ninja in front of him, "Naruto…" His gaze swept over the entire clearing, his bewilderment increasing as he stared, wide eyed, at all of the Sand shinobi that had arrived at the clearing. "What's this?" He questioned, in shock now.
Naruto smiled, but Sara beat him to answering Gaara's question as she stepped forward, "We all came running to your rescue."
Trust!
"You had us worried," Sara said, smiling as she took a step forward. Gaara stared at her, still in shock.
Kankuro stepped out from the crowd and snorted, "You sure did. You caused us a ton of grief, little brother."
"Don't act so superior," Temari scolded him as she emerged from the crowd, "Gaara is Kazekage. Shut all your mouths. You brats." Kankuro, Naruto, and Sara all gave her a dirty look. Temari shoved Naruto aside, "Gaara, how are you feeling?"
Gaara tried to stand, but he grunted with pain as his body refused to rise.
"You shouldn't move too suddenly," Temari said, sounding mother like, "your body hasn't completely recovered from the rigor mortis yet."
Sara turned as a loud smack sounded from a group of Sand ninja behind them. A women shouted, "Lord Gaara wouldn't die so easily!" She continued in a dreamy voice, "Lord Gaara is a silent, cool, strong, and handsome warrior…"
Another kunoichi beside her said, "Yes, yes. And he's cute too, but he's Kazekage…"
Sara didn't like where this conversation was going and narrowed her pupils, activating her Devil's Eyes, determined not to be trampled or shoved aside by Gaara's new fans.
As she expected the two kunoichi charged forward, "I'll protect you from your enemies!"
"No I will," the other insisted as she shoved Naruto out of the way. Sara smiled satisfied. The first kunoichi had taken one look at her and had decided to go around.
Naruto grumbled from his new position on the ground, "come to think of it, I'm still a genin…" He shot a nasty look towards Sara, SHE has a lot of explaining to do!
Kankuro approached Naruto, and crouched down beside him, "Hey, cheer up… Girls are always attracted to the cool, elite types."
"I think Shikamaru said something like that too…" Naruto mused, "But then again, he's dating, Bright Eyes, so I don't get it!"
A brief silence spanned between them, but Kankuro eventually broke it, "Thanks…Naruto."
Naruto gazed towards Granny Chiyo, who Sakura was holding, her head bowed, and Grampa Ebizo stood next to her, "You should thank Granny, not me. She saved him with an awesome medical ninjutsu."
Kankuro gazed at Granny Chiyo, who was apparently, asleep, did Granny Chiyo use that jutsu?
Naruto said smiling, "She was tired and fell asleep, but she'll be fine when she gets home…"
"No," Kankuro said, cutting him off.
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked.
Kankuro explained, "It wasn't medical ninjutsu. It was a transference technique…Granny Chiyo is dead."
Naruto glanced at Sara, who's eyes were closed, Bright Eyes knew...but that's impossible, Granny can't be dead! "What are you talking about?"
"It's a jutsu to resurrect someone…in exchange for your own life."
Sara's eyes snapped open and she glared at Kakashi, who had enough sense to look away from her scorching gaze, "You copied it!" Kakashi didn't deny her silent accusation, nor did he respond in any way. She continued to glare at him.
Kankuro continued to explain, "At one time, the Sand's puppet master corps was involved in the secret development of a technique that would breathe actual life into puppets…Granny Chiyo led that project. They managed to devise a theory for the technique but…midway through because the risk was so high… Before a human experiment was even conducted, the technique was banned and sealed."
Naruto stared at him wide eyed, remembering Granny Chiyo's final words, "This special power of yours…Kakashi spoke of it…That power will change the future dramatically…become a Hokage the like of which has never been seen!"
Sakura stared grief stricken at Granny Chiyo's motionless form, and she hugged the old woman who she had only known for a short time, but who she felt like she had known her whole life, Granny Chiyo…
Ebizo said, "She looks so peaceful…"
"Yes," Sakura agreed.
Gaara stared at Granny Chiyo, while Temari said to Naruto, "Naruto, like I thought…you're definitely different. You have the power to change people… Granny Chiyo used to say that she didn't care at all about the village's future. She wasn't the kind of person who would do something like this for Gaara…"
Kakashi said, gazing at all of the young shinobi, Leaf and Sand, "Granny Chiyo entrusted the future to all of you, and knew that you would make a better one then the present… It was a death befitting a shinobi."
Naruto nodded, "Yeah, same as the old man, Third Hokage…"
"That's true," Kakashi said, nodding in agreement.
"Yeah," Naruto said, smiling slightly, "Now I get what Granny wished for!"
Gaara looked thoughtful for a minute before he closed his eyes and stood up. One of the kunoichis from earlier exclaimed, "Lord Gaara!"
"I'm fine," Gaara said, brushing her away. Naruto grabbed Gaara under the arm and helped him to stand. They both approached Sakura, Sara trailing a few steps behind them. Sakura looked up in surprise at their approach, Gaara said, "Everyone…pray for Granny Chiyo."
While You've Been Gone…
All of the Leaf shinobi, along with Kankuro, Temari, and Gaara stood silently near Granny Chiyo's gravestone that was in the shape of the Hidden Sand Village's symbol. Sara, Naruto, and Sakura stood closest to it, silently grieving over the loss of the elder.
Kakashi called, lifting his arm stiffly, "Sakura, Naruto, Sara, time to go."
"Right," Naruto said, purposely hitting Sara with his pack as he slung it over his shoulder.
I guess I deserved that, Sara thought as she shouldered her own pack after casting one last look at Granny Chiyo's headstone. "You coming, Sakura?" She questioned as she followed Naruto.
Sakura nodded, before walking to the headstone and placing her hand on it, before moving away, thank you…Granny Chiyo….
After being escorted out of the Sand Village by Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro, those of team Kakashi and those of the Sand who were present, began to say their goodbyes.
"So long," Kankuro said, and Temari nodded to them.
Naruto said, "Yeah…" He and Gaara looked at each other for a brief minute, before Naruto said, uncomfortably, "I guess this is where we're supposed to shake hands or something but…I'm not really good at these things so…let's just…" He stopped talking as he felt something tugging at his hand while Gaara extended his right hand out to him. Naruto glanced at his hand and saw that some sand was trying to pull it forward. Naruto smiled and shook hands with the Kazekage.
Gaara addressed both Naruto and Sara, "Take care."
"You bet!" Naruto said, slinging his pack once more, and hitting Sara with it again. She staggered slightly, but she didn't fall, and she rolled her eyes, before nodding to Gaara. She followed Naruto and the others as they all set out towards home.
Soon Naruto, Sakura, and Sara were in the lead, Guy and Kakashi were trailing at the back, since Kakashi could barely move.
After a half hour of silence, Naruto turned angrily to Sara, "You have a lot of explaining to do! Like why the hell an Akatsuki member called you the Shadow Wolf!"
Sara sighed and said quietly, "There's a lot that has to be explained then, starting from a few months after you left…"
"We're not going to get home anytime soon," Naruto said darkly, glancing back at Guy and Kakashi who were trailing behind them.
Sakura hated to add fuel to the flame, but she admitted, "I'm also curious to hear what you were doing while Naruto and I were training… Plus I want to hear how you got your nickname as well."
Sara sighed again, "Well…To start with, even before I became a jônin, I went on several missions as a chûnin including one with Iruka, and another with Shikamaru… I met Kenshin Nara and Ryo Morino during the Jônin Exams, where I led them in the second exam and the third exam, while helping them out in the first exam. The same day I passed the Jônin Exam, Kabuto tried to kill me, just because I was a possible problem when it came to Sasuke. Obviously he failed, but that was thanks to Master Kakashi. Once I was a jônin though, in between going on missions, Kakashi had me train with Guy, Asuma, and Kurenai, so I could learn from other teachers to help with my jutsu. During my time as a jônin, Kakashi and I began to get snappier at each other, he didn't like how much I was progressing…let me finish!" Naruto had been about to interrupt, but Sara cut him off, "And I didn't like how overbearing he was, and how I was in his shadow…people always knew his name, while I was just considered, 'Kakashi's student'. It annoyed me!"
Sakura interrupted her, taking advantage of her brief silence, "Wait! You said during your time as a jônin, but you're a jônin right now!"
"I'm not done yet," Sara answered, her gaze staring off into the distance at something only she could see, "It wasn't too long after I became a jônin that I was asked to be the Head of the Anbu Black Ops…"
Sakura and Naruto shouted in perfect unison, "WHAT?"
She began to unwind the tape on her shoulder, revealing the Anbu tattoo, before Sakura or Naruto could argue about the placement of the tattoo, "The guy who gave me the tattoo figured I was too young to be an Anbu, so he placed it on my left shoulder instead of the right, as is traditional for female Anbu members." She paused, her gaze once again staring at something only she could see, "Kakashi was furious when I told him I was going to be the Head Anbu…he even told me not to come back if I took the position, and I took his words to heart…But he wasn't the only pain in the ass. My uncle, Enaki, gave me hell until I earned his respect, then he was as loyal a second in command as he had been to Yusuke, Kakashi, and Hanashi before me. Ryo and Kenshin eventually joined the Black Ops as well…On one mission, I met up with Itachi and Kisame…" Sakura inhaled sharply while Naruto's eyes widened in shock, "Itachi, not realizing who I was promised not to kill me...when he found out who I was, he let Kisame rough me up quite a bit…I've had muscle spasms ever since that encounter, though they're now few in number, I used to have them on a regular basis. When I have these spasms, it causes me pain if anyone touches me, even if it's a gentle touch…After that mission, Kai, who thought he would dislike me because of my father, decided that I was nothing like my father and figured he could be an uncle to me just like Enaki and Yusuke…Things seemed to be going okay for me…that is until I met another pair of Akatsuki members…"
Sara clenched her fists and her eyes became filled with grief and Naruto and Sakura exchanged an anxious look before Sakura said, "Sara, you don't…"
She pushed on, ignoring Sakura, "A mission came that I had to go on, even if I was, handicapped, Tsunade had specifically said that I had to go. Enaki didn't want me to though, but I ignored his advice. I took several other Black Ops, including Ryo with, to confront these Akatsuki members…we were not prepared for those two at all." Sara closed her eyes, "They slaughtered many of the Anbus I had taken with, and I ended up getting a spasm at a crucial moment in the battle as one of them, who was wielding a scythe, named Hidan, rushed at me, I figured that be the end of me…" She slowly began to cover the tattoo on her left shoulder again, "Enaki stepped in front of me, blocking the attack…he died before we could even get him back to the village…I couldn't even tell Tiégra when I knocked on her door to explain what had happened."
"Bright Eyes," Naruto said softly, forgetting his anger. He had known something had happened to Enaki, but he had not known the details, now that he did, he felt his friend's pain as if it were his own.
"I was relieved of duty after that," Sara stated, "Tsunade thought it was for the best considering I had gone from being semi healthy, to being sick and unable to keep any food down. After losing Enaki I wanted nothing to do with those I cared about. I didn't want others putting themselves in front of me again, simply because I couldn't protect myself…But Kai, who took over from me briefly, knew I needed a place to stay…It turned out that Kakashi had written a letter to me a week after I had become the Head Anbu, apologizing, and saying I had a home if I ever needed one or wanted one… This was perfect in Kai's eyes, not in mine though. I wanted to break my bond with Kakashi, not strengthen it. Plus, the villagers slandered me, and eventually I…" She paused trying to find the right words to use, "I…hid…within myself, aware of what was going on, but not feeling anything… Kakashi became desperate and took me to the Land of Waves…when he went to leave though, I became selfish, and I didn't want him to leave. At first he thought I was getting better, but when it became apparent that I wasn't, he took me to the Land of Snow, where eventually, he had had it…"
Naruto and Sakura stared at her tensely, waiting for her to continue, when she finally did, it wasn't where they had expected her to continue, "After some sense had been talked into me, courtesy of Kakashi, we took a brief vacation before returning to the village. Kakashi had me continue my training, adding in some stretches that helped my muscles so the spasms wouldn't occur as often, and he began to train me in the jutsu he had copied over the years, as well as having Tsunade train me for a day, along with my previous teachers from before I became an Anbu…Tsunade wasn't sure what rank I should be placed at though, so she put me on several jônin ranked missions, after which, it was determined that I would be a jônin from then on, though it had to be approved by the Jônin Council. The council agreed with her, and it was then discovered, that during my year or so of being Head Anbu, our enemies had begun to call me the Shadow Wolf, because of the glint of eyes, though it was actually my weapons, that they would see before they were killed…"
Naruto and Sakura stared at her in amazement. Sakura finally said, "Wow!"
"That doesn't explain why you didn't tell me!" Naruto snapped, his anger finally coming back.
Sara answered, "You were so upset about me being a jônin I figured you wouldn't take it too well if you learned I had been Head Anbu while you were gone while also earning a nickname!"
"Touché," Naruto said, already over his anger. "I'm glad you got better after Enaki's death though, Bright Eyes."
"It still hurts to talk about it," Sara admitted, "but I learned so much from him and everyone else, it would be a disgrace to his memory if I didn't continue on."
"What did he teach you?" Sakura asked.
Sara said, "Though a bit…gruesome, he taught me how to kill with only one blow, using only Taijutsu." Both Naruto and Sakura stared at her in awe.
Naruto sighed, "Here I thought I would catch up to you while I was training with Pervy Sage, only to find you're still better then I am."
Sara laughed, "I'm not better then you, Naruto, or Sakura, I'm just more experienced now."
"Still," Sakura muttered, "it'd be nice if we were in your league."
Sara laughed at this before she focused on the path that led home, Naruto and Sakura flanked her on both sides, smiling. Sara thought, glancing at both of them, I'm glad we're on a squad again, and that even after we've been apart we're still friends. Her pupils narrowed with her next thought, Orochimaru better pray that we can't get Sasuke back! Another thought entered her mind, but she shoved it away, unwilling to deal with it at that precise moment. She glanced back at Guy and Kakashi as she could hear Guy straining to remain at the slow pace he was being forced to walk at.
Tenten didn't help the situation by calling out, "Masters, you're so slow!"
"Sorry, Guy," Kakashi said, trying to keep Guy from doing something rash, "The Mangekyo Sharingan takes a lot out of me…It's going to be awhile before I can move on my own again…"
"Okay then!" Guy said cheerfully throwing Kakashi into the air.
Kakashi couldn't believe what was happening as he shouted, "Hey! Wait!"
Everyone stopped and turned to see what had caused Kakashi to make such a ruckus. What they saw worried them quite a bit. Guy had moved his pack so it sat over his chest, while Kakashi was on his back, looking like he wanted to be somewhere else…anywhere else but where he was.
He silently begged Sara, "Kill me now, just kill me now!"
"Sorry, no can do, but I can make sure he doesn't overdue things," she answered.
Naruto wondered, what are they doing?
Are they playing piggyback? Sakura wondered, that's just weird…
What? Tenten was utterly bewildered by Guy's behavior.
Lee on the other hand was thinking, brilliant, Guy-sensei! A training drill!
Guy gave them all his smile, and announced, "Okay people now we're moving!" He laughed hysterically as he took off like a shot, "Hope you all can keep up!"
Sakura thought, okay…this looks even weirder in motion… She turned when she heard Sara swore.
Sara turned to Naruto and Sakura and asked, "Who doesn't want to carry their pack?"
"Are you serious? You're…" Sakura started to say.
Sara, however, cut her off quickly, "No! I just know how Guy thinks and I need to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid…like knock Master Kakashi's head against a tree when we finally get near the village!"
Sakura pulled off her pack and tossed it to Sara, who moved her own pack so it was over her chest, she placed Sakura's over her back and took off like a shot.
Meanwhile, Lee said, as he leaned forward a bit, "Neji…?"
Neji knew exactly what he meant, "No, thank you!"
After traveling for three days, barely stopping, thanks to Guy, the two ninja at the gate were discussing how it was unfair that Tsunade got a chance to sleep, while they were constantly working on the job. They turned as a pillar of dust was quickly approaching them. They coughed as the dust surrounded them; it revealed Guy standing triumphantly, while an unconscious Kakashi was leaning precariously backwards, "First!" Guy proclaimed as Sara slid to a halt just behind him, so she could catch Kakashi, who looked like he was about to fall from Guy's back. Sara had a look on her face that said Guy should have been six feet under by now. Lee slid to halt just behind Sara and announced, "Second!"
Guy chastened him, "No, Lee, you're not second, you're fourth!"
"What?" Lee was stunned by this news.
Kakashi fell off Guy's back then as Guy moved to explain to Lee, why he had been fourth, Sara tried to catch her guardian, but only ended up cushioning his fall, her leg muscles were sore from keeping up with such a fast pace, and she was exhausted thus falling to the ground as well. She thought as Neji, Tenten, Naruto, and Sakura finally arrived, when they get Master Kakashi off of me…I'm killing Guy!
Updates will be sporadic from now on, since Part 3 is currently in progress on Quizilla, so there will be a bit of a wait for new parts on here.