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.

Recap: Team Kakashi has just returned from the Sand Village after rescuing Gaara from the Akatsuki, though losing Granny Chiyo, the Leaf Village shinobi have returned to their village in relatively good shape, apart from Kakashi, who overused his Sharingan. What new challenges await Team Kakashi?

Team Members Wanted

"Ugh…Again with the bed rest?" Kakashi complained to Sara, one week after returning from the Sand Village.

Sara rolled her eyes, "If you hadn't overused your NEW Sharingan, you wouldn't be here."

"You're not going to let it go are you?" He questioned, gazing at her.

Sara said sarcastically, "You not telling me about a NEW Sharingan that drains you faster then the previous one? No, why would I be mad!"

Kakashi groaned, "Is that the reason you didn't visit me for a week, leaving me to count the ceiling tiles?"

"No," Sara said, her tone softening, "our slave driver of a Hokage has been keeping me busy."

Kakashi laughed, "So, any news on what you guys are doing about that meeting with Orochimaru's spy?"

"No," Sara answered, "Not that I'm aware of."

"You'd better find out soon," Kakashi said, closing his eyes. He added groggily, "Get out of here, I need more rest."

Sara said, smiling happily, "Sure, old man!" She teleported out of the room.

"I'm not that old!" Kakashi complained to the thin air, knowing full well she was gone.

She reappeared a second later waving a book casually. Kakashi groaned, it was Make-Out Tactics, which he had yet to finish. "Please tell me you're leaving that here?"

"Yeah," Sara said as she set the book down on the table where he could reach it without overextending himself, "Plus, I figure Naruto or Sakura can fill me in as to when we're leaving and who will be filling in for you, granted, I think I'd do fine leading the squad." She scowled, knowing full well that the elders had already told both her and Tsunade no.

Kakashi sighed, "I know it still irks you, but you have to give these things time."

"Stupid old farts," Sara grumbled. She brightened up a bit as she added, "But I also thought you'd like my company for a little longer…even if I did call you old." Kakashi chuckled as they continued to talk about various things.

Meanwhile, at the Hokage's Mansion, outside on the balcony, Tsunade asked, "Can you trust the information? What if it's a trap?"

Shizune added, "Maybe the Akatsuki is using Orochimaru's name as bait to lure us to this Tenchi Bridge where they'll ambush us?"

"If it IS a trap," Sakura stated, "then we fight!"

Tsunade said thoughtfully, "Yes, but Kakashi will be out of commission for over a week now, and there are only six days left until the rendezvous." She thought angrily, if those old fools would only allow me to place Sara in charge of this mission it wouldn't be as difficult! "So the only solution is to assemble a new team…"

"Lady Tsunade," Shizune said quietly.

Tsunade looked at her, "What is it?"

"In that case, why not just deploy a different cell?" She suggested, "And even if you decide to send Sakura along with them I feel Naruto should be removed from this mission!"

Sakura demanded, shocked by Shizune's proposition, "What about Sara? You didn't mention her!"

"She could go on a different mission, she is of the jônin rank after all," Shizune stated calmly.

Tsunade said, before Sakura could try to argue, "Like you, Shizune, Sakura is among the very few shinobi I trust implicitly. This mission MUST involve the remaining members of Team Kakashi."

Shizune was slightly affronted, "You don't think my cell can handle it?"

"Frankly?" Tsunade said, "No." This through Shizune and Sakura for a loop.

"This is more then just a mission to Team Kakashi. It's personal," Tsunade elaborated, "Sasuke is not merely their former teammate. He's their friend. They've pledged their lives to rescuing him. Their desire to honor that pledge is why they will succeed, and why your squad, Shizune, might not."

Shizune looked away and said resignedly, "Understood, but I still think Naruto…"

Tsunade cut her off, "What do you think NARUTO would say to that?" She glanced at the rooftop, and Shizune whirled around in confusion.

Naruto stood poised on the edge of the roof, and stood looking down at them, his arms crossed, "I'd say we need to get some new teammates!" He leapt down, flipping in the air, and landing on the railing that Tsunade was leaning against, "See ya!" He called before he leapt into the air, out towards the village.

Tsunade sighed, "So impatient…I'm not finished yet." She pushed away from the rail, "We will fill the two vacancies left by Kakashi and Sasuke, please inform Naruto and Sara."

"Yes, milady," Sakura said, walking back into the building, not feeling like jumping off the railing like Naruto had.

"Tsunade," a somewhat frail voice called. Tsunade turned to see the female elder, "We need to talk. Come with me, please."

Once they were in the Hokage's Mansion, relaxing on couches, the elders got right to the point. The female elder said, "We have been receiving periodic reports from Shizune." Shizune looked away from Tsunade uncomfortably, as Tsunade turned to gaze at her, her expression not happy.

"Henceforth," the male elder said, "Naruto Uzamaki must not be dispatched on missions that might bring him into contact with the Akatsuki. In addition, assign two accomplished shinobi to remain at his side at all times. Not only will this serve to better protect him, but it will restore Team Kakashi to the numbers it is used to functioning with."

The female elder added, "And do try to cut back as much as possible his overall number of missions; the more limited the scope of his activities the better."

Meanwhile, while Sara was still keeping Kakashi company, Naruto was muttering to himself, "Hmm…who would be good for the job…?"

"Long time no see, Naruto," A boy clad in a gray jacket and wearing black shirt and pants, sunglasses covering his eyes said, stepping away from the tree he had been leaning against.

"Do I know you?" Naruto questioned, thinking the boy looked and sounded familiar but not entirely sure.

"It's me!" The boy said irritably.

Naruto pointed at him and said indignantly, "Like I said, DO I KNOW YOU?"

With extreme patience, Shino said, "I know it's been a while, but you should at least try to remember your friends, you know." Or else, it just hurts the other person's feelings."

Realization struck Naruto, "I know that irritating voice! Don't tell me…Shino?"

"Finally," Shino said, exasperated with Naruto already, "You remembered."

"FOOL, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO RECOGNIZE YOU WITH YOUR FACE HIDDEN LIKE THAT?" Naruto demanded.

"Shino, you're early," another familiar voice called from above, followed by a whooshing sound. Naruto glanced up and watched as Kiba and Akamaru landed next to Shino with a loud whomp.

Naruto was stunned, "K-Kiba?"

"Hey! Naruto, it was you after all!" Kiba exclaimed, happy to see the knuckle head. Naruto smiled slightly as Kiba dismounted from atop Akamaru's back, "I thought I recognized your scent!"

"That's what you recognized?" Naruto questioned. Akamaru barked loudly. The puppy had grown over the past few years, his head now reached Kiba's chest.

Naruto pointed at Akamaru and asked in disbelief, "That dog…he can't be…"

"Come on!" Kiba interrupted him, "Of course it's Akamaru! But hey, did you grow or something?"

"Me!" Naruto exclaimed, "Akamaru's the one that grew. I didn't know dogs like him could get that big so fast!"

Kiba glanced at Akamaru, "Really? Guess I never noticed because he's always with me…"

"How could you not notice?" Naruto muttered, his voice rising in volume as he spoke "He used to sit on top of you head!" He glanced nervously at Shino, who had been quiet, "Right, Shino?"

"You recognized Kiba right away…Naruto," Shino said, his tone indescribable.

Naruto grumbled, "Shoot…now he's mad at me…" A scream of surprise sounded behind him and he turned around only to find that no one was behind him. He made his way towards the spot where he thought the scream had come from, he peeked around the corner of the fence and said, "Oh, it's you Hinata! Are you hiding over here?" Hinata fainted. "Uh…Hinata?"

Kiba commented, "Ever notice how she always faints in front of Naruto?"

"You also recognized Hinata right away, Naruto," Shino stated, obviously annoyed.

Back at the hospital, Sara turned towards the window as a tapping noise came from it, "Really? Even when I'm here she still manages to find me!"

"You have to go, you know that," Kakashi said, happy that she had visited him.

"I know," she picked up Make-Out Tactics, as she made for the door.

Kakashi practically whined, "I thought you were going to leave that here!"

She smiled mischievously, "Consider me taking this payback for you not telling me about your new Sharingan." Kakashi groaned as she left his room.

Back in the village, Naruto was once again muttering to himself, "Well, there go those choices…Team Kurenai's already on assignment… At this rate, the only ones left to ask are…" He stood in front of the Chûnin Exam Planning Committee building, Shikamaru was standing outside it.

After Naruto had explained the situation, Shikamaru said, "I told you…it's a huge bother, but I'm on the staff for the Chûnin Exam. I mean…I know we go way back, and I really want to help you out, but…I'm not in a position where I can just do whatever I like. You have to understand." Naruto was sulking now, "It's the Fifth Hokage's orders. And after my mom, there's only so much female scolding I can take."

They both turned as a familiar voice said, "Then allow ME to pick up the slack."

Choji said, "Hey, Shikamaru! Here's that lunch box your mom asked me to deliver." He held out a small, wrapped bento box.

"Choji!" Naruto shouted happily. Choji had allowed his hair to grow out, and he now wore a red, armored-style clothing.

Shikamaru questioned, "Choji…what are you doing here? I thought you were on assignment with Master Asuma and Ino?"

"Yeah, but I can't just leave Naruto hanging," Choji argued, "I can ask Master Asuma for advice."

"Thanks, Choji!" Naruto said, giving Choji a thumbs up.

Shikamaru sighed, "I'm telling you it's useless to ask Asuma, Lady Tsunade is his superior."

Choji pulled out a bag of chips, choosing to ignore Shikamaru. Naruto laughed, "Always eating, just like old times." He was oblivious to the oncoming danger from behind him, "Didn't know it was possible but it looks like you've even gained weight." Shikamaru slammed into Naruto, "HEY!"

Choji expanded the size of his left arm and punched an oncoming black and white creature. When Choji punched it, ink spattered everywhere. The three of them didn't have time to dwell on this fact as a second ink creature leapt at them. Shikamaru and Naruto ducked, as Choji caught the creature and squeezed it till it splattered into ink.

"Look over there," Shikamaru said, now that they could see their enemy clearly perched on an awning. He sent his shadow forward towards the enemy.

Naruto covered his eyes from the glare of the sun as he tried to get a good look at their opponent, "I don't recognize him…but he's got a Leaf Village headband!"

Shikamaru focused on the enemy, "He came out of nowhere, I don't know what he wants, but someone like that, you capture first…and then hand over to the Torture and Interrogation Squad!"

The unknown shinobi swiped his brush across a scroll in his lap.

"Naruto, I'll cover you! Go!" Shikamaru ordered.

Naruto charged forward, "Okay!" Six more ink beasts erupted from the scroll and Naruto paused in his charge, getting ready to make Shadow Clones.

Shikamaru shouted, "Keep moving, Naruto!" Naruto glanced back at him, but did as he said. Shikamaru made the necessary hand signs, Art of the Shadow Stitching! His shadow rose off the ground spreading out into thick, thread-like spears that pierced all of the creatures. Naruto leapt into the air, a kunai flying out of his sleeve to try and get a hit on the unknown boy, but the boy was faster. He whipped his katana off his back and blocked Naruto's strike.

Up close, the boy was dressed entirely in black, but his shirt was too short, exposing his stomach, his skin was deathly pale, as close to white as any skin can get.

Naruto demanded, "Who are you?"

"You're pretty weak," the boy said, ignoring Naruto's question, "Are you a boy or girl?"

Tsunade's Orders

Back at the Hokage's Mansion, Tsunade snapped, "Absolutely not!"

"Tsunade," the female elder scolded, "Naruto is no ordinary child."

"He is a Jinchûriki!" The male elder added for emphasis, "Normally we would never even send him outside the village, and he'd be kept under surveillance at all times, along with being kept well away from Phoenix's host, so we're already offering you a compromise."

"I'm in favor of placing two more members on Team Kakashi, but you've already made it difficult for me to pick a squad leader that will function well with the team, and you cannot impose any more restrictions on Naruto, the boy will go stir crazy! Besides, so long as Naruto remains in one place, all of the Leaf Village is in danger. Sooner or later the Akatsuki will come for him, and it'll be the Sand Village all over again…however, a moving target is hardest to hit, which is why we must keep Naruto in the field as long and often as possible, and having a former Head of the Anbu Black Ops at his side only increase his chances. Naruto does have talent. Someday he will be a great asset to the village…"

The male elder interrupted her before she could continue, "Someday…that is your argument, Tsunade? And you have the nerve to call yourself Hokage?"

Tsunade slammed her foot on the ground and shouted, "Look! I'm trying to compromise here too! I've already compromised on not having Sara act as squad leader! What more we can't impose anything else on this team! Especially not what you've suggested!"

The male elder said, "Compromise will not spare the lives of the citizens of this village once the Akatsuki have extracted the Nine Tails from Naruto. Tell me, Lady Hokage, what guarantees can you give that such a tragedy will never come to pass?"

Tsunade thought back to when she had first met Naruto and Sara, how both of them had protected her against Kabuto, refusing to give in, even though they were both injured. She also thought of the necklace she had given him, "Naruto…will not fall! I believe in him!"

"And if you are mistaken? What then?" The female elder questioned.

Tsunade said, "IF the Leaf Village and subsequently the Land of Fire are endangered because of me… Then I swear, as the Fifth Hokage, to protect them with all my might. And my very own life…"

Both elders sighed resignedly, unable to argue with Tsunade. The male elder said, "As you wish, then…a compromise… To honor your faith in him, Naruto shall be allowed to remain in active duty… However, WE shall select the additional shinobi who are to join Team Kakashi, and our decision with Sara leading the squad still stands."

Tsunade closed her eyes, resigned as well, "Done."

"Danzo, enter!" The female elder called. Tsunade whipped around as an old man with black hair, a bandage over his right eye, and his right arm missing, a cane in his left hand, came into the room.

Tsunade practically growled, "Danzo…"

"Hello, Princess. Been a long time," Danzo said in greeting, putting all the scorn possible on the word "Princess".

"If you're here," Tsunade reasoned, "then that must mean one of the new team members is from The Foundation of the Black Ops…"

In the village, Naruto leapt away from the unknown shinobi and he snapped, "Spill it! Who are you?"

The boy leapt high into the air as Shikamaru's Shadow Possession came within an inch of his foot, "All in due time, Naruto. All in due time…"

"Hey, wait!" Naruto shouted angrily as the boy disappeared in a swirl of ink.

Shikamaru asked no one in particular, "Who was that guy?"

"Choji!" Choji turned as he heard Ino calling his name, "How'd I know I'd find you here?" Ino's hair had grown back since the Chûnin Exam that Naruto participated in, some of her hair covered her right eye. She still wore purple clothes, but she now wore a sleeveless top that left her stomach exposed, and a skirt, along with mesh style arm and leg warmers. "Master Asuma's looking for you," she continued in a scolding tone.

"Sorry, Ino," Choji explained, "some weirdo suddenly attacked us.

Ino shaded her eyes against the sun, searching for the "weirdo", "Who? Naruto?"

"No, no! Not him! Uh…" Choji tried to elaborate, but Ino was oblivious.

She called out, waving, "Hey, Naruto! Long time no see!"

"Save your breath, Choji," Shikamaru said, "it's so not worth it."

Meanwhile, an hour after Sara had left the hospital, she was still waiting outside the Hokage's Office. She thought, thoroughly annoyed, she summoned me here, the least she could do is see me at a decent time!

In the Hokage's Office, an Anbu stood in front of Tsunade, listening as she explained the details of his mission, "Danzo insisted that I assign an Anbu from those assigned directly to me, and the elders agree to those terms…I had no choice but to agree…And so…that's why I need you to fill in for your predecessor. You're the best choice for the job as far as I'm concerned."

"Master Kakashi?" The Anbu questioned, his mask was that of a cat, crescent moons framed the eyes of the mask, and stripes went all along the sides horizontally. "Those are huge shoes to fill. I am greatly honored."

Tsunade said, "Understand this will not be a Black Ops mission, but a regular mission. Therefore, you must remove your mask and be assigned a code name." The Anbu began to pull off his mask, "While on this mission, you will call yourself, Yamato."

"Understood," he said, as he pulled his mask completely off, revealing a unique headband. The plate of the headband covered not only his forehead but the sides of his face as well; the neck of his shirt covered most of his chin.

"There's one more thing that you need to know right now," Tsunade said quietly, "A new face from The Foundation, the Black Ops training division is also assigned to Team Kakashi. You must…"

"Yes?" Yamato questioned, wanting her to get to the point.

"Keep a close eye on him," Tsunade finished.

Yamato asked, "And the reason for this?"

"Danzo selected this newcomer…and Danzo…is not only a member of the Hawk Faction that once opposed the Third Hokage, but also the founder of The Foundation. Surely you've heard of him…though The Foundation has sine been dissolved, and Danzo removed…I can't help but be suspicious of his motives."

"No disrespect, milady, but might you be overreacting," Yamato questioned.

"Perhaps…but no matter…Go join your new cell."

"Yes, ma'am!" Yamato said, disappearing in a puff of smoke, just as an angry sounding pound came from Tsunade's office door.

"Enter!" Tsunade said. Sara stalked in, her gaze furious. "I'm glad you're here..."

"I wouldn't have guessed from how long I've been waiting!" Sara snapped, not in the best of moods.

Tsunade's gaze turned steely and Sara quickly reined in her temper, "I wanted to see you about your mission, it concerns Sasuke…"

"Yes," Sara prompted, openly curious.

"This assignment…no…this order, that I'm giving you, will not be an easy one to follow, which is why I want you to trust your own judgment…if Sasuke has changed to the extent of being willing to injure, or even kill his own teammates, I want you to…"

"Yes?" Sara wasn't sure she wanted to hear Tsunade's orders, but she knew that it was her duty as a shinobi to obey the Hokage.

"I want you to kill him," Tsunade stated. Sara's expression changed to one of horror, and she opened her mouth to argue, but Tsunade quickly said, "I know it's asking a lot, but I trust you to follow my orders. If Sasuke has changed to that degree…"

Sara said dejectedly, "I understand…"

"I can't ask this of Naruto or Sakura…they are too attached to Sasuke, I wouldn't even ask it of you if it weren't for the fact that you've learned to look at things objectively, not just with your feelings."

"They're going to hate me," Sara whispered, referring to Naruto and Sakura.

Tsunade's tone softened, "I know you can handle this, trust your judgment, that's all I'm asking."

Sara snorted, showing her old spirit, all traces of her dejectedness gone, "Yeah, that, and telling me to kill my cousin while getting the wrath of my teammates once I announce my intentions."

Tsunade laughed softly, "Go join your teammates at the front gate to meet the newest members of Team Kakashi."

"What?" Sara shouted, "No one told me we were getting new members or that we were meeting by the front gate!"

"You know now," Tsunade said smiling. She winked as she added, "Take your time in getting there."

"Thanks," Sara said, smiling, "I think I will."

The New Cell!

At the front gate, the boy that had attacked Naruto earlier greeted Naruto, "Hello again…"

"Y-you!" Naruto shouted, stunned to see the boy again. Sakura glanced at the pale skinned boy, but she didn't say a word.

"So…um…starting today," Team Kakashi's new commander began, "I'll be filling in for Kakashi."

After the new commander had finished, Sakura said, "Naruto, you know this guy?"

The pale skinned boy said to Naruto, "Sorry about earlier, I was just curious to see how strong my future teammate might be…and whether or not I'd eventually have to come to the little boy's aid."

"WHAT?" Naruto shouted, enraged. Sakura grabbed him, holding him back, though Naruto continued to try and attack the boy.

Sakura snapped at Naruto, "Hey! We have to work together! So don't fight right from the get-go!" She turned to the boy, "And you, that wasn't very nice…"

"Really?" the boy questioned, smiling slightly, "but I like ugly girls like you."

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?" Sakura practically snarled, lunging towards the pale boy.

The new commander grabbed her shoulder, restraining her, "Whoa! Easy, Sakura! Follow your own advice!" Sakura did calm down, though she shot a nasty look towards the pale skinned boy every few seconds.

Glancing around, the new commander asked, "Isn't there supposed to be one more person on this team."

Naruto looked at Sakura, "I thought you told Bright Eyes…"

"I thought you did," Sakura said, looking embarrassed. They both looked sheepishly at the commander, "I guess we didn't tell them to be here."

Naruto grinned, putting his hands behind his head, "Knowing Bright Eyes, she'll probably be here in a couple of hours just based on her instinct!"

Sure enough, three hours later, Sara was walking past, engrossed in Make-Out Tactics.

Naruto groaned, "Bright Eyes! Not you too!"

She snapped the book closed and put it into her pouch, "Blame Master Kakashi." Sara added, glaring at both of her teammates, "Thanks for telling me to meet here by the way!" Naruto and Sakura had enough sense to look ashamed. Her gaze rested on the pale skinned boy and the new commander, "So they're our new teammates…"

The pale skinned boy said to Sara, "You look about as weak as your comrade, here," he gestured to Naruto.

Sara's eyes narrowed and that was all the pale skinned boy saw before feeling a kunai pressed against his throat, "I wouldn't judge a book by its cover if I were you." She removed her kunai from his throat before teleporting back down to stand beside her teammates.

The new commander decided not to comment on this display of hostility from the other member of Team Kakashi. He was starting to believe that they were all hotheads, "Anyway…since we're going to be deploying almost immediately… We really don't have time to socialize so, um…why don't you guys go ahead and introduce yourselves."

"Naruto Uzamaki," Naruto stated, glaring at the pale skinned boy.

Sakura also glared at the newcomer, "I'm Sakura Haruno."

"I am Sai," the pale skinned boy stated.

"And I'm Sara Uchiha," Sara stated, deciding not to add the Hatake part.

The new commander nodded, "I'm Yamato. The five of us will head to Tenchi Bridge…capture the Akatsuki spy who has infiltrated Orochimaru's organization, and bring him or her back here. This is our best chance to gain intelligence on Orochimaru and Sasuke Uchiha. Information we can then use to plan Orochimaru's assassination and Sasuke's retrieval. So keep that in mind! As soon as everyone's gear is all packed…rendezvous at the main gate. Then we'll depart."

Walking towards their houses, Naruto said, "That jerk Sai…I already can't stand him!"

"What exactly did he do?" Sara questioned. It hasn't even been five minutes and I already feel like I'm taking Master Kakashi's place… Stupid elders!

Naruto explained how Sai had attacked him, and then how he had later insulted both him and Sakura. "Why does HE have to be Sasuke's replacement? Team Kakashi is fine with just the four of us!"

Sakura smiled, "He is rude…and he's got a foul mouth…but there is something familiar about him. His face…his voice…they kind of remind me of Sasuke."

Sara stared at her utterly appalled, while Naruto shouted, "Not at all! Sasuke's way cooler! I mean…!"

Sakura smiled, "You're right. Sasuke is a little cooler than Sai."

She got the response she wanted out of Naruto as he shouted, "More than just a little! Sasuke's a bazillion times better!"

Sara glanced up at the sky, "I'm going to go see Master Kakashi before we head out, I'll meet you guys at the gate." She disappeared.

Naruto grumbled, "How much do you want to bet that she'll be late?"

"Nothing, because I KNOW she'll be late," Sakura stated, "she's right though, we should split up from here to pack our things."

"Right," Naruto said picking up his speed so he was running towards his apartment complex, "see in you a bit, Sakura!"

At the hospital, Kakashi was startled awake by a knock on his door, "Enter." He said groggily. A smile crossed his face as Sara entered, "So, what brings you back here so soon?"

"I thought you'd like to know that your team is going on a mission," she stated, sitting on the edge of his bed. He moved to sit up, but she placed a hand on his chest, "Don't overdue it."

He laughed softly, "You know me so well… When are you heading out?"

"Within the hour," Sara said, "Our new commander is called Yamato, and our newest team member is called Sai… Either name ring any bells?"

"Can't say they do," Kakashi stated, shaking his head back and forth, "Just trust your instincts and stay on your toes around both of them until you know their intentions."

"Right," she added as an afterthought, "You really don't have to tell me that."

"I know," he said smiling, "go get ready…and be on time for your mission."

"Right," she said, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Kakashi sighed as Sara disappeared, great! Now that I'm up, what am I going to do?

A sound from the window startled him, but he relaxed a moment later, as a familiar voice said, laced with sarcasm, "Well, don't you look just great?" Jiraiya hopped into the room from the window and slammed down the complete Make-Out series, "I know you've probably read all of these, but these books in particular are a special edition set, plus it will help to pass the time."

"You're not here just to give me those," Kakashi said, sitting up, he inhaled sharply, and doubled over as pain shot through his body.

Jiraiya placed a hand on his back and said worriedly, "Hey! Don't push yourself." Kakashi straightened up and Jiraiya continued, "Tsunade wanted to speak to both of us, plus we'll be meeting her new man."

"Her new what?" Kakashi asked, bewildered. A knock sounded from the door and Tsunade walked in followed by another familiar face. "You!" Kakashi said in surprise. This was a ninja he hadn't seen or spoken to in several years.

"Yes, I'm filling in for you," Yamato said, "And my code name for this mission is Yamato."

"Yamato, huh?" Kakashi said, relieved now that Sara was gone, hopefully her instincts will tell her that he can be trusted.

Tsunade said, "We need to talk about your team, Kakashi. Particularly about Naruto."

"You mean the fox's chakra?" Kakashi questioned.

"Yes," Tsunade affirmed, "Along with another certain jônin on the team."

Kakashi smiled, she's referring to Sara, and she's right, if Yamato ever hesitates he'll find his power as commander usurped from him in an instant. "Let's discuss Naruto first." Tsunade nodded, and waited for Kakashi to continue, "On our last mission, when we had finally caught up to the Akatsuki member, Deidara, Naruto gave in to his anger, and he began to rely on the Nine-Tailed Fox's chakra. Two tails had emerged, and a third was going to before I managed to place a seal on his forehead that Lord Jiraiya gave me."

"Huh, so they're starting to emerge, eh?" Jiraiya said, "From the looks of that chakra, the number of tails will only keep increasing until…"

"All nine manifest?" Kakashi guessed. Jiraiya nodded, and silence spanned between the ninja for a few minutes before Kakashi asked, "Lord Jiraiya, how many tails have you seen?"

Jiraiya sighed and pulled off his overcoat and he began to lift up his shirt, "I've tangoed with death twice in my life now. The first time, I got six broken ribs, broke both my arms, and had several ruptured organs. 'Course, that was just when I tried to do research at the women's bath at a hot spring and got clobbered by you, Tsunade. But the other…" Everyone's eyes widened as he completely lifted up his shirt. A huge scar was on his chest, it looked like a crater, "That happened while training Naruto when the fourth tail of the Nine-Tails chakra emerged." He paused as he lowered his shirt and put his overcoat back on, "Rage…that's what triggers the fox spirit's power to grow and multiply. Up through the third tail, Naruto was able to retain conscious control…but when the fourth appeared, his mind was overpowered, and he was overcome by destructive impulses. It was like he became a mini-fox demon."

"Even with the Fourth Hokage's seal," Kakashi questioned, "he can still…?"

"Still not certain on the details," Jiraiya stated, "but what I've witnessed firsthand…is evidence that the seal spell is weakening. And that's not even the bad news. Though it looks like Naruto is being protected by a chakra aura of the fox demon while in the Nine-Tails state, the truth is his body is continuously being harmed by that same aura. When that fourth tail emerged, his whole body suffered severe injuries…he ran amok covered in blood. After the fox demon's chakra aura disappeared…Naruto's internal Nine-Tails chakra healed his body… But if this continues….it may be more than his body can take. The damage may become irreparable, and it will kill him sooner than later."

"And that is why your presence is crucial, Yamato," Tsunade stated. "You carry the First Hokage's cells within you."

"You're the only one right now who's capable of controlling Naruto-as-host. And that necklace Naruto wears of Lord First's…it's going to come in handy…"

"We're counting on you," Tsunade added, "I've already warned you on what to watch out for with Sakura, but Kakashi needs to give you some things to watch out for with Sara, the last member of Team Kakashi.

Kakashi sighed, "She's got a nasty temper on her, that's the first thing you need to know with her, and she is skilled in all the areas of shinobi battle skills. Plus, if you hesitate in giving a command she WILL take over, and Naruto and Sakura are bound to follow her orders if they don't trust you."

Yamato nodded, and turned his attention to Tsunade as she added, "Work with her as well, she knows her comrades, and she can be helpful if you get on her good side."

"Heaven help you if you get on her bad side," Jiraiya muttered.

This statement didn't comfort Yamato, but he nodded, "I should go prepare then to meet them at the designated time."

A thought suddenly occurred to Tsunade, and she added quickly, "Sara is a dedicated ninja at heart; keep that in mind as well." Yamato nodded, before disappearing in a puff of smoke, while Jiraiya and Kakashi stared at Tsunade as she swept out of the room, both of them openly curious about her last statement.

Just as Tsunade sat down in her office, several minutes later, a knock sounded from her office door, "Enter."

Sakura walked in, "Sorry to disturb you, milady. You did say that you wanted me to report on how the squad adjusted to its new team members." Tsunade nodded, and Sakura began to explain what had happened.

"So it's that bad already?" Tsunade questioned, once Sakura had finished.

Sakura sighed, "I'm afraid so, milady…"

"Well," Tsuande said, "If it can't be helped…then you'll probably have to keep Naruto on an even shorter leash than usual…and keep an eye on Sara so she doesn't kill Sai."

"I promise I'll try but…" Sakura didn't get to finish as a couple knocks sounded from the door.

"Enter!" Tsunade said, sounding slightly surprised. Her surprise turned to irritation as Danzo stood in the doorway.

Who's he? Sakura wondered.

"What is it?" Tsunade asked.

Danzo questioned, "Were you able to assign a distinguished shinobi to lead Sai's cell, Princess Tsunade?"

"I have selected an exemplary ninja with experience from as far back as the Third Hokage's rule."

"Very well," Danzo said, "I just hope he's not rooted to deeply in the pacifist teachings of that pushover Sarutobi." Sakura was startled by Danzo's obvious dislike of the Third Hokage. Tsunade snorted angrily as Danzo continued, "Just as the Third Hokage was rooted in the teachings of your grandfather… In any case, I am relieved. Now if you'll excuse me, Princess."

He reached for the door, but before he could reach the handle, it was flung open and Sara walked in, "Excuse me!" She then addressed Tsunade, "Lady Tsunade, can I make a complaint?"

Tsunade tried not to laugh at Danzo's expression of surprise, "No."

Danzo was reaching for the door again as Sara shrugged and swept back towards the door, slipping past Danzo, and startling the old man again, "Excuse me! Pardon me!" Danzo stared at Sara's retreating form, utterly appalled by the young kunoichi's behavior. He finally left the Hokage's office, shutting the door behind him.

Tsunade sighed and said, "Remind me to give her a little extra pay for this mission."

"Um…who was that old guy though?" Sakura questioned.

Tsunade closed her eyes for a brief moment, "Someone who long ago, competed with the late Master Sarutobi over the seat of Third Hokage. His name is Danzo and he's the leader of a hard-line martial faction founded on rigid principles… He's also Sai's superior. As a student of the moderate Third Hokage, and granddaughter of the First Hokage, he actively despises me." Sakura didn't know what to say to that, so she remained silent. Tsunade glanced at her, "It's been almost an hour, Sakura, you need to meet with your teammates."

"Yes, ma'am," Sakura said, leaving the room.

Sakura and Naruto met up halfway as they headed towards the main gate, and both their mouths fell open as they saw Sara waiting there for them. Yamato and Sai were also there.

Sara said in a teasing tone, "You two were almost late, I think Master Kakashi's bad habits are wearing off on you!"

"You're one to talk!" Sakura and Naruto shouted in perfect unison. Sara smiled at them mischievously as they stood beside her, Naruto on her left, Sakura on her right. Sai moved to stand on Sakura's other side, and both Naruto and Sakura glanced at him uncertainly.

Yamato looked back at the squad and said, "Okay people this is it! Go Team Kakashi!" He turned around completely as he asked, "Where's the enthusiasm?"

"Wohoo," Sara said her voice monotone. Yamato sighed in defeat as he led the way out of the village.

Strained…

After they had left the village, and after several minutes of walking, Naruto was still scrutinizing Sai. Sai finally demanded, "What?" Sakura and Sara both turned to look at the boys, wondering what had happened to make Sai speak.

Funny, but the more I look at him the more he does kind of resemble Sasuke…Sort of sounds like him too… Naruto thought.

"If you keep looking at me, I will hit you," Sai stated. Sara's pupils narrowed showing she had activated her Devil's Eyes, ready to intervene between the two boys if it was necessary, though her intervening meant more along the lines of assisting Naruto in clobbering Sai.

"What? You think I'm scared of you?" Naruto shouted. I take it back. He is sooo not Sasuke!

"Look, I really don't have anything personal against you," Sai continued.

Naruto didn't believe that, "Yeah, right…"

"I'm just trying out a certain personality type," Sai continued.

Naruto shouted, "Well you're sure doing a crummy job!" He added, "We don't need someone like you on this team! In fact, we'd be a lot better off without you, jerk!"

"Naruto, that's enough!" Yamato said, intervening. "Sai is your teammate now, so even if you don't get along, you're still going to have to find a way to trust each other. I know Kakashi-sensei taught you better than this. So, please, for Kakashi's sake, lose the attitude, all right?"

"No! He's NOT one of us!" Naruto snapped. "The fifth member of Team Kakashi is Sasuke Uchiha! Even on his best day, all this loser is…all he could ever hope to be is a Sasuke WANNABE! He will NEVER be our TEAMMATE."

Sai smirked, "Fine by me. The last person I would ever want to be compared to is some traitorous cockroach who abandoned his village for Orochimaru just because he wanted to become stronger."

Sara's fists clenched as Naruto practically growled, "How dare you!" He clenched his fists and took a threatening step forward, but Sakura blocked his path.

"Regardless of either of your opinions," Sakura said, "Naruto doesn't know you all that well yet. But that's no excuse for him to judge you. I'm sorry. Please forgive Naruto."

"What?" Sara exclaimed, temporarily dumbfounded.

Naruto was also stupefied, "S-Sakura…"

"Phew!" Yamato sighed, "Good to see there's at least one level-headed person on this team."

"Hey, like I said, fine by me," Sai said, smiling.

Sakura smiled back at him, "Really? Oh, good." Without any warning she slugged Sai with all her might, sending him flying.

Sara smiled triumphantly, while Yamato was baffled, as was Naruto.

As Sai wiped the blood away from his lip, Sakura said, "I don't care if you forgive me!"

"Ah…your smile was a fake," Sai stated.

"You don't know Sasuke, never speak as if you do!" Sakura snapped, "Just keep badmouthing Sasuke. Next time, I won't hold back!"

Sai chuckled, "Okay, I'll keep my mouth shut…"

Sara cut him off before he could finish, "Here's another word of caution; keep irritating and annoying my comrades and I'll show you who's the weakling." She was still stinging from Sai's taunt earlier.

It was obvious Sai wasn't taking her threat seriously as he said, addressing Sakura as if Sara had never spoken, "That clever use of a fake smile…I'll have to remember that."

"What are you talking about?" Naruto demanded, "How stupid are you?"

Sai glanced at him and quoted a scroll, or book, "'The best way to defuse a troublesome situation is by smiling…even if it is a fake smile, it will fool more people than you think.' Or so I've read." He stood up, "Though it never seems to work for me."

Naruto, Sakura, and Sara were all glaring at him, obviously ready to fight. Yamato had had enough, Four Pillar Prison Technique! Wooden beams that shot up out of the ground and created a wooden crate, "We only have five days to get to Tenchi Bridge. Keep it up, you four, and I'll throw you ALL in a cage!"

Naruto glanced warily at the cage, as did Sai, while Sakura thought, Th-that's wood style ninjutsu! A secret jutsu known only to the First Hokage…so how does Commander Yamato know it?

Who is he? He's using jutsu that was SUPPOSED to be only ever used by the First Hokage, Sara thought, trying to figure out how Yamato could be using wood style.

"Now, I'll give you two choices," Yamato continued, "sped the rest of the day crammed inside a wooden box reacquainting yourselves with the meaning of teamwork or…enjoy a night at a comfortable inn with a relaxing hot spring." His expression changed to one that could either be considered scary or funny, though his tone suggested that he was trying to look scary, "You don't really know me either, I prefer the kind and gentle approach, but I'm not against using more DRACONIAN methods when necessary…"

Sara stated, "Just throw me in the box; I'm probably going to kill Sai either way."

Yamato gave her an exasperated look before he asked, "Anybody else really want to be in the box?" Everyone shook their heads back and forth. He looked at Sara, "Get along for Kakashi's sake." Sara sighed resignedly, following Yamato as he led the way towards the inn that they were all supposedly staying at.

At the inn, in the hot spring, Naruto had his face halfway underwater as he sulked.

"Aah, now this is a much better way to get to know each other!" Yamato stated, before he gave Naruto his "evil" expression, "Don't you men think?"

"In a hot spring? If you say so!" Naruto quickly agreed, standing up, Commander Yamato is a total weirdo!

"Huh, fancy that, Naruto is a boy after all," Sai commented.

Naruto shouted, "Okay, first of all! I am not comfortable in this setting at all!"

They could hear Naruto's shouting in the women's hot spring, Sakura paled, come on Naruto, lower your voice will you?

Sara was leaning against the wall, and she said, her eyes still closed, but knowing how Sakura would react to his yelling, "Just pretend you don't know him and relax, all right?"

Sakura turned to face her, "Easy for you…to…say…" She trailed off, seeing the various scars on Sara's arms and torso.

"What?" Sara questioned, opening her right eye, leaving the left, the one with the scar over it, closed.

"I didn't realize that…" She trailed off again, unwilling to say anything about the scars.

Sara followed Sakura's gaze though and smiled ruefully, "They're not that pretty to look at are they? Even if they are pretty faded."

"I just didn't realize how….battered you look," Sakura finished.

Sara sighed, "The only reason you can even see them at the moment is because I'm starting to get a bit too hot from being in here too long. Otherwise they're not that visible, you should know that. I wear a tank top, remember?"

"Oh, right," Sakura was embarrassed by her behavior.

Sara stood up, "I'm heading in."

"I'll come with," Sakura stated, feeling a bit overheated from the water.

Back in the men's hot spring, Naruto heard the giggling of the women from the women's bath. Naruto started slowly and happily sneaking towards the wall that separated the two springs.

Yamato got out of the water just then, "Well, that's enough bonding for me, but before I go, let me share a funny story with you, Naruto. A very long time ago, when he was just a boy, your mentor, Lord Jiraiya came this close to death," he emphasized this point by holding his fingers only a millimeter apart. "Having fractured six ribs and both arms and suffered ruptured internal organs. The reason? Supposedly Lady Tsunade found out that he did precisely what you're contemplating right about now. So before you hop out of that spring…I suggest you stop and think… In that very same situation, how would Sakura and Sara react?" Naruto paled and started to sweat drastically imagining all the possible ways Sakura and Sara would kill him if he took a peek at the women's bath.

Later that evening, the hostess of the inn led Team Kakashi into the dining area.

Sakura and Naruto's eyes widened in delight as they saw the table that was before them, "Wow!" Sakura said, "That's some spread!"

"Yeah, I know!" Naruto said, drooling.

"Is this really all for us?" Sakura asked, looking at Yamato.

Yamato nodded, "I figured this would be another great way to get to know each other, and this is all on me. So dig in!"

Everyone sat at the table, and Sakura, Naruto, and Sai started into the meal, some eating faster than others (Naruto mainly). Yamato started to eat as well, keeping an eye on Sara who had yet to pick up her chopsticks.

Sakura said, "This meal is delicious! You can take over from Kakashi-sensei anytime!" Sara's fists clenched under the table with that statement.

"Bright Eyes, why aren't you eating? This meal is great!" Naruto exclaimed.

Sara stood up, "I'm not really that hungry." She walked past Yamato and murmured, "Or that trusting."

Yamato turned to say something to her at that moment, but she was gone. He sighed in exasperation; she is the most difficult out of the group.

Naruto commented, hearing Yamato's sigh, "Yeah, we hate it when she teleports like that as well."

"She seems to be the most opposed to me…why is that?" Yamato asked, hoping the others would answer.

Sakura and Naruto continued eating, ignoring his question. Yamato sighed again, this is getting ridiculous. If I can't get Sara's support it looks like I'll never get the others to respect me. "You guys enjoy the rest of the meal!"

Yamato walked up to his room, and paused, sensing someone else's chakra, "Come out of the shadows." Sara stepped out of them. "What do you want?"

"To know what game you're playing at," Sara stated, cutting to the chase. "I know your not who you say you are."

Yamato wasn't sure how to answer her, "I can't tell you everything, simply because I have strict orders from Lady Hokage, however, I'll tell you that your suspicions are correct, Yamato is not my real name, but I do know Kakashi very well, and I can help this squad's success on this mission, but I can't help if we can't get teamwork established between everyone."

"Where'd the 'we' come in?" Sara asked cautiously.

Yamato held back his smile, "Your teammates respect you and follow your lead, so if you get along with Sai…"

"Sorry, nice try though!" Sara said, "I'll tolerate Sai, but if he irritates my teammates, I will give him a piece of my mind!" With that said, she teleported, most likely to the room she shared with Sakura.

Yamato sighed, "And here I thought that she'd help me get less strain on the squad."

Feelings…?

Sakura stretched the next morning, "Mmmm! Nothing like a good night's sleep, right Sara?" She looked around the room, "Sara? She must have gotten up early." She looked out the window and saw Sai sitting on the walkway that jutted out into the open, similar to a pier. "Sai?" she thought, wondering what he was doing out there.

Within minutes she was dressed and walking towards Sai, "Never figured you for the artistic type."

Sai glanced back at her, startled, but he quickly recovered himself and stated, "Looks can be deceiving."

Sakura glanced at what Sai was drawing before she said, "Don't I know it! You know…for someone so rough on the outside you seem pretty sensitive on the inside."

"That fake smile again," Sai said, giving his own fake smile, "Don't tell me you're going to slug me now?"

Sakura said slyly, "Only if you give me a reason to." She smiled again, "I'm only playing with you. So what are you sketching?"

Sai muttered, "I'll try not to."

Sakura blazed ahead with the conversation, "I would've thought that a place like this would have you drawing a landscape, but your sketch is an abstract. It's still nice…what are you calling it?"

"Don't know," Sai answered.

Sakura questioned, "You don't have a title for it yet?"

"There is no title," Sai stated. "I mean I've drawn thousands if not tens of thousands of sketches over time…but I've never titled them."

Meanwhile, as Sakura and Sai were talking, Yamato and Sara were halfway listening to the conversation as they spoke in low tones.

Yamato said, "So, are you willing to get along with Sai as long as the other two do?"

"I thought I made that pretty clear last night," Sara stated, her eyes closed, as she leaned against the tree, giving her an almost lazy like appearance. Almost.

Yamato sighed in relief, "I see you can be level headed sometimes."

Sara's eyes opened in an instant, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing!" Yamato quickly said, feeling like he was talking to Kakashi back when Kakashi had been Head of the Anbu Black Ops. "Is there anything you can do to get Naruto to work better with Sai?"

"No, not really," Sara stated, as she focused on Sakura's and Sai's conversation once again.

"…the right words escape me, and I just don't feel anything," Sai finished saying to Sakura.

Naruto walked up to them just then, "Is that why you're such an insensitive jerk?" Sakura and Sai turned towards him, "Commander Yamato says it's time to go. So if you wouldn't mind…"

Sara smiled, so the commander used a clone of some sort…smooth…

"Okay," Sakura said, stretching a bit.

Naruto peeked over Sai's shoulder at the sketchbook and scoffed, "That drawing is nothing special."

"Sure," Sai said, "Just like you."

Sara sighed, Naruto deserved that one…

"That's it! I've had it!" Naruto shouted, "I HATE you! If you've got a problem with me don't give me that fake smile! Just say it! And I'll fight you anytime!"

Sai gave Naruto his fake smile, "But I don't hate you, Naruto…" Naruto didn't quite believe him. "As a matter of fact, I don't feel anything toward you at all, good or bad." Naruto glared at Sai, while Sakura looked on, unsure if she believed Sai either.

Sai went to picking up his stuff, "Please, just go on ahead. I'll catch up as soon as I've packed."

"I'll help," Sakura said, bending down to pick up a small book. She stared at it, surprised that it was completely made up of drawings, "This…it's not a printed copy. Did you draw this too?"

"Yeah," Sai said, snatching it away.

"Wow!" Sakura said, impressed, "Your very own picture book." Naruto snorted in contempt.

Sara said to Yamato, "I guess I'd better make an appearance." Yamato nodded as Sara disappeared.

Sakura continued, "Hey! While we're on the road, is it okay if I flip through this"

"Sorry, but no," Sai stated, glancing at the book, "It's not finished yet… Plus I don't really show it to others… because it belongs to my older brother." Naruto and Sakura stared at Sai in surprise, amazed that he had an older brother.

Sara walked up to them, "Hey! Are you guys coming or not? Commander Yamato wants to get going."

"We're coming!" Sakura said, as Sai grabbed his pack, and Naruto walked next to Sakura.

After walking all day, Yamato stopped in the middle of a clearing and said, while making a hand sign, "This spot should do nicely." Wood Style: Four Pillar House Jutsu!

Wooden beams erupted out of the ground, causing Naruto, Sakura, Sai, and Sara to shield their faces against the clots of dirt that flew at them.

Yamato called down from the top of the newly formed lodging place, "We'll camp here tonight!"

Sara muttered, "This is camping?"

Sakura had the same thought, "I don't think this really qualifies as camping out, sir!"

Inside the wooden lodging, Yamato said, "All right, gather around everyone. Oh, and Sakura, there are a few things I especially need to ask you."

As everyone gathered around as Yamato asked, Sakura asked, "What about?"

"With regard to the Akatsuki member, Sasori," Yamato answered. "I received his file from the Sand Village, but it would be helpful if you could fill in any blanks…about his personality, speech patterns, mannerisms, or quirks. After all, you're the only one here, who's gone toe-to-toe with him."

"What do you need to know all that for?" Naruto asked.

Sara answered, "When impersonating someone, you want to be as accurate as possible when you're meeting someone who's familiar with the person you're impersonating." Naruto stared at her blankly, "I can't dumb it down any further!"

Yamato nodded, "You're right, Sara. Naruto, if I mess up on one detail while impersonating Sasori, they could catch me right away, but if I know more about Sasori, I will have that much better of a chance of getting valuable information."

Sai said, "Spy work entails pretty high risk, so your target will definitely have their guard up."

"True," Yamato said, "And since there's still a small chance this is an Akatsuki trap. I've planned for that possibility as well. That's why I'll approach alone first. You three," he gestured to Sakura, Naruto, and Sai, will lie in wait, closer to the action until I signal you." He looked at Sara, "While you'll wait further back as the backup's backup."

"Always!" Sara said, exasperated. It got tiring always being the last one into the action. This is one of those times were I miss being Head Anbu. At least then I was first into the action!

Sakura said, "I don't really think this is a trap but…the way Sasori mentioned it just before he died…I don't know."

"Either way," Sai said, his tone serious, "this spy is most likely quite strong and accomplished."

"Yeah, well… So are we!" Naruto announced, determinedly.

"The devil is in the details, team," Yamato continued. "So here's the mission from A to Z. Our one and only goal is a LIVE CAPTURE. The target must NOT be killed or injured no matter what. Even if it means having to fight them. If they're killed we lose our only source of intelligence. Therefore, this mission is even harder than when you just have to take down the enemy. And because it's such a delicate situation…this must go off without a hitch. So, while you four all act as backups. I'll go ahead and try to capture the target by myself. If by some chance my disguise is penetrated, and it is revealed that I am in fact NOT Sasori, a battle will likely ensue. Then and only then, do the three of you," he once again gestured to Naruto, Sakura, and Sai, "shift to combat mode, entering the fray on my signal alone." He looked at Sara again, "And if it looks like the battle isn't going in our favor, that's when you'll come in, Sara, based on your own judgment, or if I give you a signal." Sara nodded. "We will fight in pairs for the most part. Those that have a partner will have their actions covered by that partner. The watchword, people, is TEAMWORK. So…here are the pairings. The first pair will be Sai and Naruto, while Sakura will be with me, and Sara will be on her own."

"But," Sakura tried to argue, not wanting to be paired with the commander.

Yamato wouldn't let her argue with him though, "You're the team's one and only medic ninja. We can't afford to have you injured so I will cover you."

Naruto was glaring at Sai, and Sai said, noticing this, "Partner."

"Oh, c'mon, Commander!" Naruto shouted, pointing at Sai, "Team me up with Bright Eyes or Sakura, anyone but him!"

Yamato was not in the mood to deal with Naruto's temper tantrums, so he put on his evil expression, "And yet you continue to complain…" Naruto quickly became silent.

"In light of what I just told you," Yamato continued. "Though this isn't standard procedure, half of tomorrow will be focused on pair simulation exercises. Everything I know about all of you comes from your files." And what I've been told… "I need to assess, firsthand, your battle style and skills, the makeup of your jutsu, et cetera. Clearly it's the only way I'm ever going to forge this team, into the cohesive fighting unit it needs to be."

"Yeah, beating the crap out of each other usually works," Sara said dryly.

Yamato shot her an even nastier look then the one he had given Naruto, and she quickly became quiet. He continued, "Kakashi-sensei may have favored a more LAX approach, but I am not he."

Obviously, Sara thought, deciding it was best not to irritate Yamato any further that night.

The next day, late in the afternoon, Naruto and Sai lunged at Yamato, Naruto aiming a kick at the commander, while Sai tried to punch him. Yamato easily blocked the attacks and taunted, "Is that all you've got?"

As Sai made to kick Yamato, he held his right hand back, where Naruto was forming the Rasengan.

Sara sighed from her position in the bushes, Naruto…!

Yamato sent wooden beams after sigh, that moved like snakes, wrapping around him. Sai transformed to reveal one of Naruto's clones. Though the Rasengan hadn't been completed, he leapt over his clone and knocked Yamato to the ground.

Meanwhile, further back in the trees, sigh whisked some ink onto a scroll, Art of the Cartoon Beast Mimicry! A black snake rose off the page and headed straight towards Naruto and the commander.

Naruto said, as he was shaking the commander, "Gotcha! And I'm not letting go!" As the snake wrapped around him and the commander he exclaimed, "H-hey! Why me too?" He stared in shock at the wooden dummy that was tied up with him. Its headband read "dummy". "Hey! Get this off me!" Naruto shouted, knowing that Sai should have been able to hear him. "Hey! Sai! Get this thing off me!"

"Relax," Sara said, appearing behind him, and slicing the snake in two with her kunai knife. She glared at the forest, Sai, you really need to learn the meaning of teamwork!

"Nice catch, Sai," Yamato said a few minutes later, as Sai untied him. "We'll end the simulations here."

Naruto grabbed Sai's shirt, and forced him around so they were standing nose to nose, "Problem?"

"You know what the word comrade means?" Naruto demanded.

Sai shuffled around in his pouch until he pulled out a scroll, with the word, "comrade" painted on it, "As a matter of fact, I do."

Naruto gritted his teeth, and Sakura said quickly, "N-Naruto, wait."

"Seriously," Sai said, "Don't go blaming others for your own shortcomings. If you hadn't fallen for the commander's obvious bait he wouldn't have figured out that I was hiding elsewhere. Even if you had used your own jutsu and transformed into me, he still would have known it was only a shadow clone. It's impractical to fight while covering for someone who can't maintain his cool. Not to mention dangerous. I simply considered what would best ensure mission success and acted accordingly."

Naruto shoved Sai away, releasing his shirt at the same time, "I will NEVER accept you as a comrade or as a member of this team!"

"This is so not going to work," Yamato said, as he smacked his forehead.

Sai continued to get under Naruto's skin, "I wonder what Sasuke would have done in this scenario? Would HE have fought while covering you? Somehow I doubt it."

Sakura held her hand near her chest, almost feeling Naruto's pain as if it were her own, oh, Sai…why do you insist on pushing Naruto?

"He betrayed our village and tried to kill you and you still consider him a comrade?" Sai questioned.

Naruto said over his shoulder, glaring at Sai, "Yes, and I would still do ANYTHING to get him back. Even teaming up with YOU!" He turned away from Sai and stalked over to where his pack was lying next to a tree.

"This obsession with Sasuke is absurd," Sai stated to Naruto's back.

Sakura intervened, taking note that Sara looked ready to lunge at Sai, "Naruto…thinks of Sasuke as a brother. You have an older brother…so you must know what that's like."

"No," Sai said, flatly. "Remember our conversation about the picture titles? I don't have feelings."

"What do you mean you don't have feelings?" Sakura demanded. "He's your brother, surely you must feel something."

"I mean exactly what I said," Sai stated.

Sakura watched as Naruto gripped the tree as if he needed the support, and Sakura glared at Sai, "But even so, you have a brother so you must be able to imagine what it would feel like to lose him."

"Ah, well you see," Sai said, "My brother is dead."

Sakura stared at him, startled for a second, before she said, "Even more of a reason to feel something then…"

Sai cut her off, "And what face would I make to show that I did? One like that?" He gestured to Naruto who had just picked up his pack, his expression was one that was hurt and confused.

"Sai, I don't," Sakura started to say.

Once again though, Sai cut her off, "Well, when my brother died. I didn't know what kind of expression I was supposed to be making."

Jerk…Sakura thought angrily.

Yamato said, "Enough chit chat. We're falling behind schedule, so everyone grab your packs."

"Lucky you, Sai," Sakura stated, "Truth be told, I was just about to clobber you again." Sai glanced at her, "I warned you if you kept badmouthing Sasuke that I wouldn't hold back. The only reason I didn't knock you into tomorrow was because of what Naruto said… That in order to rescue Sasuke he'd team up with even you. For once he's being more forgiving then I am. But if you can help us get our teammate back…I can't afford to hurt you."

Sara teleported behind Sai and stated, "Unfortunately, I'm not as forgiving as either of my teammates." She swung her arm to strike him, but he dodged to the side, surprise showing on his face, "That was a warning, next time you irritate or annoy my teammates, you won't be able to defend yourself." She stalked off to get her own bags.

Sai stared after Sara, realizing that he would have to watch his back around her, before he addressed Sakura, "You're being considerate of Naruto's feelings am I right?" Sakura gazed at him, wondering what he was getting at. "I really don't understand how such feelings come about….though there was something in this book…"

"Can we just go already?" Naruto snapped. "If we're not in place before noon tomorrow, this mission is over before it even starts."

Sakura and Sai looked at him before they grabbed their packs and followed Yamato until they stopped to rest for the evening.

The Akatsuki Spy

The next day, Team Kakashi arrived at the Tenchi Bridge, Yamato stated as they stood in front of the bridge, "It's almost time; get into position."

A while later, after they had gotten into their positions, a figure in a white hooded robe, stood in the center of the bridge. Yamato, disguised as Sasori, went out to meet the Akatsuki spy.

Sara was downwind of the others, so she could easily hear Sakura whisper to Yamato, "Good luck, commander…"

On the bridge, the Akatsuki spy greeted Yamato, "Sasori." He began to take off his hood.

That's… Yamato couldn't believe his eyes.

"How the time flies," Kabuto finished.

Sara, Naruto, and Sakura's eyes all widened in surprise. Of all the people working with Orochimaru, Kabuto wasn't the one that they had expected to be the spy.

Kabuo Yakushi…! "No tail…?" He questioned.

"None, I assure you," Kabuto stated.

Yamato asked, "How do you feel?"

"There remains some disorientation from when your jutsu dissolved and I started remembering who I really was," Kabuto answered. "But it'll pass."

Naruto practically growled, "Him again! I can't believe the Akatsuki spy is Kabuto!"

"I have many questions," Yamato said.

Kabuto glanced around warily, "There isn't much time, so please be quick! I've risked my life just coming here."

"Sasuke Uchiha…Where is he?" Yamato asked, cutting right to the point.

"There are several hideouts but these change from week to week so his location cannot be pinpointed," Kabuto answered. "Some are in lands outside the Sound that Orochimaru's spies have infiltrated and maintained for us. But there is no set transfer plan or pattern. We're currently lying low at a safehouse on a small island in the northern lake, but we'll be moving soon, Sasuke is also there right now."

Naruto stated, annoyed, "Dangit! The wind's so strong I can't hear a thing!"

Before Sara could say anything, Sakura snapped, "Idiot! The wind is exactly what's keeping Kabuto from hearing us too!"

"And the reason why I can hear you two perfectly!" Sara stated, causing Naruto and Sakura to turn around guiltily. "Exactly! Keep your voices down! We have no idea if Kabuto was followed or not, or if he has reinforcements."

"If that's the only benefit of the wind," Naruto grumbled in a quieter tone, "then it's not that helpful!"

Sara rolled her eyes, "It also blows our scent in the opposite direction so he won't be able to detect our approach."

"I guess there are some advantages," Naruto conceded, focusing on the bridge again.

Kabuto whirled around and threw a shuriken into the bushes behind him. The bushes rustled for a brief second before a white rabbit popped its head out before slipping back into the cover the bushes offered.

Kabuto sighed, "Just a rabbit." He turned to Yamato once more, "So, regarding the matter you asked me to look into…"

Yamato was starting to get edgy, there are still a few more things I wanted to ask him…but the longer I keep talking, the greater the chance I might slip up….

"Even after Orochimaru transfers bodies, he puts a protective jutsu on the cell specimens from the old host body," Kabuto explained. "So I have not been able to analyze them."

"I see…" Yamato murmured. Kabuto gave him a sidelong glance.

"What's Yamato waiting for?" Naruto demanded. "He should just grab him already!"

"And risk the mission if he fails?" Sakura questioned. "This is Kabuto we're talking about. Better safe than sorry."

"Maybe," Sai commented. "But Yamato doesn't want Kabuto to become suspicious either. If he does… This mission's already failed."

Back on the bridge, Kabuto said, sounding as edgy as Yamato felt, "This is taking too long. If Orochimaru discovers that I met with you death will be the least of my worries. You know what I want… Now give it to me."

"Very well," Yamato said. This is it. I've got to do this now! He whipped out a kunai knife and Kabuto's eyes widened in surprise, but he soon glanced at the figure next to him in terror.

"Interesting conversation," Orochimaru said, a snake slowly coiling around Kabuto. "Mind if I join you?"

Consequences

He's been followed! Yamato thought in alarm as Kabuto leapt away from Orochimaru and the snake.

"Orochimaru!" Naruto gasped, while Sakura put her hand to her mouth. Sara's pupils narrowed as she activated her Devil's Eyes.

So that's him, Sai thought.

Kabuto said to Yamato, "If you hadn't pulled out your kunai, Sasori, I wouldn't have gotten away in time."

Phew! It seems I got away with it too…but now what? Yamato wondered.

Orochimaru said, "Your garb brings back such memories, Sasori."

"Did you follow Kabuto?" Yamato demanded.

"Aww, come now," Orochimaru said. "I just wanted to say hello. And thank you for sending me this one. He's been so handy. Every time I develop a new jutsu I need at least one hundred human bodies to experiment on. Thanks to Kabuto's medical ninjutsu skills I get to use them over and over again. There's such a shortage of volunteers you know."

Waiting in their positions, Naruto asked, "What do we do?"

"We wait," Sara said from her position, but the wind was blowing so hard when she said it, that none of them heard her.

Sakura said, "Nothing, we sit tight till Commander Yamato gives us the signal."

Yamato was assessing his situation, I can't take on Orochimaru alone, but if I call the others I'll only put them at risk right along with me…and even if Kabuto and I team up…Kabuto will notice right away from my jutsu and battle style that I'm not Sasori… Fight them both simultaneously or just retreat seem to be my only options…unless…

Without any warning, Kabuto sliced at Yamato with his hand using his chakra in a way similar to Kakashi's Chidori, but without the electricity.

Yamato leapt away from the disguise of Sasori, clutching his shoulder where Kabuto had cut him. He…he knew? But how?

Orochimaru shifted slightly, Multiple Striking Shadow Snakes Jutsu! A multitude of snakes erupted from his palm twisting towards Yamato. Wrapping around him one of the snakes bit him in the neck, only to reveal that Yamato had used Wood Clone.

Kabuto snorted, while Orochimaru said, "A Wood Style Substitution…you're not!"

"Lord Orochimaru, are you saying this isn't…" Kabuto said.

Orochimaru interrupted him, "Sasori? No. Kabuto's it's definitely not. All this time and you've yet to see the man's face?"

"He always hid behind those weird puppets of his, such a dreary fellow," Kabuto stated.

Yamato said, "I-I don't understand! Kabuto, you're supposed to be an Akatsuki spy under Sasori's Sleeper Jutsu."

"I'm afraid your intelligence is out of date," Kabuto said. "Lord Orchimaru removed that problem a long time ago."

"So you were just pretending to be under Sasori's spell while secretly under Orochimaru's jutsu," Yamato stated.

"Wrong again, I'm afraid," Kabuto said, smiling. "Lord Orochimaru and I share a common philosophy. I'm with him of my own free will… But who are you? You ruined our plans for Sasori."

"Patience, Kabuto," Orochimaru said. "All will be revealed in due time. Staring with the three baby rats hiding behind Papa rat here."

Yamato signaled for Naruto, Sakura, and Sai to come out of the bushes, and they all landed in front of him, battle ready.

Orochimaru sighed, "I should have said four baby rats, I didn't realize that another replacement member had been added to this particular squad.

He knew all along, Yamato thought, signaling for Sara as well. Sara joined her teammates.

"You again," Kabuto said, easily recognizing Sara and Naruto.

"Well now, this is a pleasant reunion," Orochimaru said. "And I see you brought the Nine-Tails child along with the fire bird one. This is excellent, I've been waiting for this type of opportunity to see which of you three is stronger: Naruto, Sara, or Sasuke."

Rage Triggered

Sara stared at Naruto her eyes wide with shock, This is just like our last mission…this is the Nine-Tailed Fox's chakra!

Naruto growled, red chakra swirling around and sizzling the air around him, "Give…Sasuke…back!"

Kabuto questioned, "Give Sasuke back? You're getting off track. Sasuke came to us of his own volition. Why can't you just accept the truth?"

"Shut up, Four Eyes!" Sakura snapped, as she glared at Kabuto. "You don't understand how people FEEL you only know cold logic."

Orochimaru said, his focus on Naruto, "If you want to know about Sasuke you'll have to force me to tell you… If you can that is!"

There wasn't even a moment's notice. One second Naruto was standing in between Sai and Sakura, the next moment the bridge was ripped apart where he had been standing.

"Hey, what-?" Sai exclaimed, shielding his face.

Sakura also had to shield her face from the debris, "Naruto-?"

Sara leapt back, unwilling to get the full onslaught of wood, "Naruto!"

Naruto, a red aura of chakra surrounding him that bore some resemblance to the Nine-Tailed Fox, minus eight of the nine tails, swiped at Orochimaru's face, hitting him dead on, a ferocious growl escaping him.

Orochimaru went flying, and Naruto landed nimbly on his feet as if he hadn't expended any energy. Naruto turned his head slightly and cast an evil look towards Kabuto.

Sakura was shocked, Naruto…what is this?

What in the world…? Sai wondered.

Yamato recalled his conversation with Jiraiya, Lady Tsunade, and Kakashi about the chakra aura that now surrounded Naruto.

"Commander," Sara said, recalling how dangerous Naruto had gotten on the last mission, "We need to stop those tails from emerging any further!"

Yamato glanced at her, but he didn't say anything, it's going to be easier said then done to control Naruto…I'll need to get closer…

Sara glared at Yamato, but her attention was diverted to Kabuto as he said, "Naruto, you've matured as a Jinchûriki host."

Kabuto's words reminded Sakura of Granny Chiyo, and how she had talked about Jinchûriki, Naruto…

"Careful," Sara said, coming to stand beside her, as Orochimaru staggered towards the bridge. It's amazing he's alive after that hit… As he got nearer her eyes widened with fear for a brief moment, before she managed to steel herself, his face was ripped off only to reveal another face…what is he?

Sakura nodded, and followed Sara's gaze, fear and shock evident on every feature as she took in Orochimaru's appearance.

Orochimaru said, "You're getting quite Jinchûriki…little fox."

Naruto lowered himself to the ground, getting ready to strike again.

Sakura took a step back, but Sara snapped, "Hold your ground!"

Sakura nodded, trying to get over her fear, the Commander hasn't said a word to us…looks like we'll have to follow Sara's lead.

Impressive…perhaps I should have looked up more data on her than I did, Sai thought, his gaze drifting to Sara's taped shoulder, so, Sara…were you in the Anbu?

Orochimaru continued, making it onto the bridge, "So, that's why HE was chosen to be your watchdog, eh?" He was gazing right at Yamato. "Seems some of my experiments came in handy after all. Konoha really ought to be more grateful to me, don't you think? My cute little experiment…"

"What does he mean?" Sara demanded, turning towards Yamato, her gaze filled with an unreadable emotion. Sakura also glanced back at Yamato, but her gaze was questioning.

Yamato looked at both of them but remained silent. Sara gritted her teeth in anger, and turned away. I just lost whatever respect I had managed to gain from her with my silence… he thought, but Orochimaru will explain things anyway, so there's no point in my talking.

"Experiment?" Kabuto asked. "What do you mean?"

Orochimaru covered his face with his left hand, "There was a time I sought the power of the shinobi who was not only the ultimate Wood Style ninjutsu master, but also the one person who had total control over tailed beasts. Namely, the First Hokage… So I extracted his DNA…"

Sara felt her anger slowly starting to get the better of her, how low…how far will this snake sink to get what he wants? He defiled the resting place of the First Hokage!

"…and inserted it into the cells of sixty children," Orochimaru continued, moving his hand away from his face, and gazing at Sara. He could easily see the anger roiling within her, "Unfortunately, their inferior bodies rejected the superior genetic material. They died in rapid succession, one after another…I thought they all perished…I can't believe there was a survivor…" Yamato was still silent.

Sakura thought, gazing at Yamato, so THAT'S why he can use the First Hokage's jutsu!

I wish Yamato would have told us that himself, Sara thought, glancing back at him again. But it can't be helped now.

"Well, Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto said, "if one experiment was a success, we could obtain a sample."

Sara whipped around to face Kabuto, "Over my dead body!"

Yamato's eyes widened at Sara's outburst, Kakashi wasn't kidding when he said she's team oriented…I didn't realize just how far it would go!

Kabuto smiled, "That can easily be arranged." Both shinobi tensed, ready to strike at a second's notice.

Orochimaru was only focusing on Naruto now, content to let Kabuto and Sara duke it out if they wanted, "Yesss…time to pit Sasuke against Naruto and see once and for all who's strongest…It's obvious that Naruto's more of a challenge anyway."

"You don't own Sasuke," Naruto growled as two more tails emerged, "Don't talk about Sasuke like you own him! Especially in front of me!"

The Third Tail

"That's…" Yamato shielded his face from the chakra that was swirling around the air, emanating from Naruto.

What is that chakra? Sakura wondered.

Sai raised his arm to shield his own face, the air pressure…like a thousand tiny bees…

Sara squinted against the chakra's pressure, this is WAY worse than the last time! Her gaze quickly returned to Kabuto, who was grinning slightly. Whatever he's grinning about…I'll soon wipe that grin off his face!

Naruto glared at Orochimaru, and Orochimaru entered his mind, he stood face to face with the Nine-Tailed Fox which blew him right back out of Naruto's mind again. Orochimaru held his ground against Naruto though, intriguing…

The Nine-Tails' chakra began to destroy the bridge, Yamato thought, There it is…the Nine Tails' aura…three tails down.

So that's a Jinchûriki's power…what a repulsive chakra! Sakura thought as she healed a small scratch that the chakra aura had given her. I can sense it…he shouldn't be able to control that chakra.

Sai stared at Naruto intently, so this is Naruto's Nine-Tails power.

Without any warning, Kabuto lunged at Naruto, shit! Sara thought angrily, taking off after him. She skidded to a halt as Naruto turned, his pupil's narrowed like her eyes, and his irises were red, yipes! She started to back pedal to get away from whatever attack Naruto would launchagainst Kabuto, and possibly her.

Yamato was startled by Sara's apparent fear, what's gotten her so spooked? His question was soon answered; Naruto roared and the chakra that went with it destroyed the center of the bridge, just as Sara teleported. Kabuto went flying and Sakura smacked her head against the bridge as she fell backwards.

Yamato managed to keep himself from falling over, as Sara appeared behind him, on shaky legs. "Holy shit," she gasped.

Yamato glanced at her before he turned his attention to Sai, who was wobbling from the shaky bridge.

The bridge began to crumble, and Sara muttered another expletive. Yamato made a hand sign, Wood Style! Wood erupted from the side of cliff, supporting the bridge to some extent.

Orochimaru, meanwhile, was trying to get to safety on the other side of the bridge as it collapsed under him. An elongated arm of chakra shot past him, missing his head by a hair, gripping a tree, and Naruto hauled himself up towards Orochimaru and safety.

Yamato's Wood Style couldn't support the entire bridge though, as an unconscious Sakura began to slowly side towards the river far below. Did she hit her head?

Sara moved forward a step to try and help her comrade, when a sickening snap sounded beneath her. Yamato heard it as well, and turned around, startled. His eyes widened as he watched Sara fall through a hole that had opened up beneath her, "Sara!"

"Phoenix! Want to have a bit of fun?" Sara asked the fire bird sealed within her.

Phoenix's response was excited, "Yes! But What's the catch?"

"You'll help me out!" Sara thought desperately, as she released the fire bird as she flipped around, so she could see where she was falling.

Phoenix erupted out of her, but only the two, host and fire bird, could see the chain that bound them together that connected at their chests, where their hearts were. He dove for several hundred feet, before he stopped his descent, and Sara hit his broad back with a thump.

"Thank you," Sara said aloud, situating herself on Phoenix's back.

Back on the bridge, while Sara had been falling, Sai drew out his scroll, at last… Time for my real mission… He quickly drew a bird Cartoon Beast Mimicry the bird came out of the scroll and Sai jumped onto its back.

"Sai! Catch Sakura!" Yamato shouted, knowing Sara was able to take care of herself. Sai flew right on past Sakura as she fell.

"Sakura!" Yamato shouted slamming his palm against the bridge, causing a wooden spire to start twisting towards Sakura's falling form.

"Phoenix!" Sara called out, wanting the fire bird to start rising as she spotted Sakura plummeting towards them, while Sai sailed past her. With one powerful stroke of his fiery wings, he soared upward.

Sara caught Sakura's shoulders, just as the wood wrapped around Sakura's body. "Got her?" Sara questioned, gazing up at Yamato. He nodded, obviously surprised to see Phoenix, Sara released Sakura's shoulders, "I'm going after Naruto…" And Sai… she added silently.

"Can I blast him out of the sky?" Phoenix questioned.

Sara answered, "Yes. After what he did…he's shown his true colors."

Yamato watched the fire bird in awe; he had only seen Phoenix once in his youth, and he had been lucky to leave that encounter with his life. He couldn't help being amazed at how easily Sara seemed to control the fire bird, when he remembered how powerful Phoenix was. He started to pull Sakura up slowly.

Phoenix started to rise higher and higher into the sky, before Sara could voice her concerns, Phoenix reassured her as he leveled out, "We're not going any higher, but any good predator of the sky knows, that you need to be higher than your prey."

Not knowing what Phoenix meant right away, as he started to circle on the updrafts, she soon spotted what he had already seen with his keen eyes, "Are we just going to drift up here, or are you going to strike?"

"Not yet," Phoenix stated, "I can sense the Nine-Tails' chakra down there increasing."

"Great!" Sara said her tone full of sarcasm.

Lower in the sky, Sai was unaware of the danger that waited above him. Without warning, a section of forest exploded in front of him, and Orochimaru leapt out of the smoke.

Orochimaru landed on a tree branch, his left shoulder bleeding. As the smoke began to clear near him revealing Naruto; two hands parted Orochimaru's mouth with sickening sounds, "Even with a Jinchûriki's power…that's the best you can do?" A completely uninjured Orochimaru came out of the injured one's mouth, "Little Fox, you're not even in the same league as Sasuke. Perhaps Sara would have been more of a challenge."

Naruto gave a low growl in response as a fourth tail began to emerge.

Rampage

Orochimaru gazed worriedly at Naruto as the fourth tail began to emerge, this is going to prove interesting…let's see what you've got, Little Fox.

Naruto's growl was cut short, as pain wracked his body, causing him to slump forward, pressing his forehead against his left arm. In his mind, a flood was rising rapidly, the water already at his ankles, Just you wait… The water was now at his knees. Wait for me… Now his chest… Sasuke…! The water smothered him, and the gate that kept the Nine-Tailed Fox from running rampant was in front of him, the Nine-Tailed Fox's eyes glowing with anticipation as Naruto floated in between the bars of the gate, and the Nine-Tails triumphantly clutched Naruto between his paws.

Naruto suddenly lifted his head, his eyes glowing, as his face started to bleed, as did his hands, shoulders, everywhere part of his body began to bleed.

Orochimaru was really starting to get worried; something about this feels different…

Back on the bridge, Yamato shook Sakura gently, "Come on, girl! Up and at 'em!" Sakura stirred slightly, opening her eyes, "Sakura?"

She sat up abruptly as her head throbbed, "Ahh…my head…"

"You okay?" Yamato asked, worriedly.

Sakura answered, "No, sir. But I will be." She glanced in alarm towards the other side of the bridge where a massive amount of chakra made its presence known by shooting towards the sky.

I've got a bad feeling… Yamato thought as he made a hand sign, Art of the Wood Clone! Wood spread off of Yamato's body to form an exact duplicate, who took off towards the other side of the demolished bridge, using Wood Style to reach the other side.

"Naruto…" Sakura said, worried. "Did he…did he do all this?"

"Yes. He's losing control," Yamato stated.

"Where is he now?" Sakura demanded. "And where's Sara?"

"Sara," he pointed towards the sky, where a bird could be seen soaring in circles, "is with Phoenix. I don't know what she has planned though. And Naruto…is on the other side of this bridge…with Orochimaru."

Sai gazed down at the destruction Naruto had caused in the forest; Naruto's going to be the tricky part…

The Wood Clone of Yamato made it to the other side of the bridge, just as another massive spike in chakra ripped through the surrounding forest.

Above the forest, and above even Sai, Phoenix shrieked without warning and started to plummet towards Sai, releasing a blast of flames just as the chakra spike occurred.

As the blast of chakra approached the Wood Clone, it quickly made a hand sign, Wood Style: Domed Wall! A domed wall of wood quickly covered him, saving him from the blast.

Sai shielded his face as the debris from the forest hit him, along with the chakra, his cartoon bird was destroyed and he landed on a tree branch. He glanced up towards the sky as he felt a blast of heat, he leapt out of the tree, just in time as it was engulfed in flames. Above, he heard an angry shriek, but he didn't dare look up again. Instead, he moved through the destroyed trees to get away from whatever creature was in the air.

The Wood Clone moved away from the domed wall and stared in terror at the creature in front of him that he could see through the destroyed forest. Oh, no…

The creature had the body of a fox, along with the ears, but the face still resembled Naruto's to some extent.

The Fourth Tail…!

Phoenix soared above the crater that was in the forest, where a four-tailed fox was crouched, ready to spring at a figure lying sprawled on the ground. Sara assumed it was Orochimaru. Phoenix asked, "What do you want me to do?"

"You've never been this cooperative before," Sara stated, getting suspicious.

"You've grown on me," Phoenix admitted grudgingly, "Don't get used to it! It's just this one time!"

"Sure," Sara said, before assessing the situation below. "Stay up here for now. At least until we're sure of how we can help."

The fox gazed steadily at Orochimaru. To Orochimaru's credit, he didn't flinch from the fox, instead, he gagged, and a multitude of snakes erupted from his mouth, and slivered towards the fox.

The fox slashed at the snakes, causing another surge of chakra. Phoenix rose into the air, quickly, trying to keep away from the chakra. "Scared?" Sara questioned.

"No," Phoenix stated, "But we don't need to be in the middle of it either."

"Good point," she conceded.

The Wood Clone shielded his eyes, that power…Never seen anything like it!

Can't get any closer, Sai thought in frustration.

The fox slammed its forepaws into the ground. Orochimaru managed to leap away, as the fox's forepaws came out of the ground right where he had been. The fox's gaze followed his moments, and another forepaw erupted from one of the two that had come out of the ground. Orochimaru managed to maneuver out of its reach, before he slid to a halt and retaliated, a snake erupting from his shirt sleeve and wrapping around the forepaw, but it began to disintegrate as it came into contact with the fox's chakra.

Another Orochimaru sprang out of the mouth of the one that had control of the disintegrating snake and slithered straight towards the fox, managing to land a punch.

As the fox fell backwards, another torso with an arm, sprang from the fox's left shoulder and sliced Orochimaru in half.

Orochimaru's lower upper half sprouted snakes that began to stretch towards the upper part of the lower body that had also sprouted snakes; the snakes wound together, and Orochimaru was once again whole.

The fox leapt to its paws and glared at Orochimaru, who was smirking slightly. The fox growled menacingly.

Back on what was left of the bridge, Yamato muttered to himself, "Don't tell me the fourth tail has emerged…" His gaze was drawn to a fire that was starting to eat at the demolished trees. I see Phoenix has been at work too…

Sakura glanced at Yamato before looking away and asking, "Commander Yamato…what haven't you told us about Naruto? What's HAPPENING to him?"

"Sakura…I know he's your friend…but I'm not at liberty to say right now…especially if neither he, nor Sara told you… Rest assured I was chosen as commander for a reason." Sakura gazed at him, hoping he'd continue, but Yamato wasn't going to say any more.

A voice behind them drew their attention, "Well, now…" Kabuto said as he emerged from the forest behind them, "Guess the real Sasori won't be showing up anytime soon… The fact that he revealed the existence and location of this bridge makes me think he was hoping you would take down Lord Orochimaru for him. The Akatsuki is still reeling from Lord Orochimaru's defection, you know. So for him to divulge such sensitive intelligence means Sasori sees your power…" Yamato and Sakura watched him warily as he got closer, "One…he's using you to do his dirty work while planning to stab you in the back afterwards… Two…he's been incapacitated and needs you to fulfill the task for him… Or three, he's dead and this is merely a desperate gamble on your part to remove a superior player in the game."

"Unfortunately, it's the latter," Sakura stated.

Kabuto smirked, "Glad to hear it."

The fox roared loudly, rearing back its head and dense chakra orbs began to gather above its opened maw forming a large, dense, sphere of chakra.

"This is…unfortunate," Orochimaru murmured to himself.

Phoenix began to rise once again, "That's not good!"

"What?" Sara demanded.

"He's going for an all out attack! That chakra is very powerful!" Phoenix stated, continuing to rise.

The Sad Conclusion…

"This is why I HATE that fox!" Phoenix screeched, rising as fast as possible.

I glanced below, "Just remember I'm human, and that if I die, you die too!"

The chakra sphere was fully shaped, and then it condensed, before the fox swallowed it. Orochimaru leapt away as the fox's body began to expand. A massive beam of chakra ripped through the air between Orochimaru and the fox, but a strange barrier came between them.

The shockwave was intense, Phoenix shrieked in shock as he was knocked sideways out of the sky. Sara tried to hang on, but she couldn't get a good grip on his feathers. As she fell she teleported to the ground, and sighed in relief, "Phoenix…stay up there…just in case I need you later."

"Fine by me," Phoenix replied, managing to recover from his own fall.

Sara jumped back as she realized just how close to the action she was. Only three yards away, stood the fox in all its brutal glory. She stepped back slowly, not wanting to attract its attention. Which didn't seem to be a problem, since it was focusing on the clearing smoke; it relieved Orochimaru's mangled form, his limbs at odd angles and his head buried in the ground.

Back on the bridge, Sakura asked, having felt the chakra blast, "Wh-what's happening?" Kabuto stood calmly, almost like he was expecting something.

In the enlarged crater, a sword erupted from the ground, stabbing the fox in the chest and sending him flying towards the bridge. Orochimaru's head and elongated neck came out of the ground, rising high up into the air.

At the bridge, the fox slammed into the side nearest Sakura and Yamato. Sakura stared in horror at the fox, at Naruto.

Kabuto said, smiling, "The Nine-Tails…he's almost there."

"Naruto…" Sakura gasped, not sure how the creature before her could be her goofy, foolish, but always steady comrade.

"This isn't so much a battle between ninja…" Kabuto continued. "…as a battle between monsters." He laughed cruelly.

Naruto… Sakura thought, yanking on her gloves.

Yamato was surprised, "Naruto's on our side of the bridge…" He turned as Sara appeared beside him, a kunai in her hand. Who is she going to fight?

The fox yanked the sword out of its body, and smashed it into the ground. Yamato grabbed Sakura and got her safely out of danger, while Sara teleported again, as that side of the bridge crumbled. Kabuto also managed to escape harm.

The sword retracted and Sara thought one thing to Phoenix: "Burn!"

She wasn't surprised in the slightest as an angry screech filled the air, before the sound of crackling tongues of flame came from behind her.

Yamato and Sakura turned around to see Phoenix releasing a jet of flame towards the crater where Orochimaru's head still snaked above the treetops. Above Phoenix's screech and much closer, was a roar of fury from the fox.

"Amazing," Kabuto said, drawing attention to himself, "So THAT'S how far Naruto would go to rescue Sasuke."

Sara glared at him, while Sakura's eyes widened in horror and realization. Tears filled her eyes.

"The BOY is gone," Kabuto continued. "Only the monster remains." The fox growled, seeming to emphasize his words. "What a pitiful child…"

The tears rolled down Sakura's cheeks, and she ran forward towards the fox…towards Naruto.

"Sakura!" Sara shouted, only too aware of the danger her comrade was running into.

Yamato shouted, "Sakura, wait! You must stay away from Naruto!"

Sakura shot past Kabuto, and shouted, drawing the fox's attention to her, "Naruto! Please! Don't do this! I'll rescue Sasuke!" She tripped but quickly righted herself, still sprinting, "I'm begging you! Stop this right now!"

No! Sara and Yamato thought, both reacting differently. Yamato made a hand sign, while Sara teleported as the fox swung a paw at Sakura.

Sakura's eyes widened in surprise as she felt two hands grab her right arm, and she was pulled backwards, out of harm's way. Her savior wasn't as lucky…

Sara felt skin rip away from her stomach before she went flying backwards. Her mind registered that she went through several trees before an ancient one with a large circumference stopped her, knocking the wind out of her and leaving her semi-conscious. A screech of pure fury split the air, but she wasn't sure if it was real, as her mind registered that she was bleeding and in immense pain.

Sakura turned towards where she had seen her comrade, Naruto's best friend, go flying, "Sara!" She screamed, tears still spilling down her face.

The fox swung a tail at Sakura this time and landed a hit on her left shoulder, before Yamato managed to keep the fox still with his Wood Style ninjutsu.

I was too late… Yamato thought, keeping his eyes on the fox. Movement from Kabuto distracted him. Kabuto was walking towards Sakura, who lay, in pain, on the ground.

Kabuto glanced at Yamato as a wooden beam wrapped around his wrist, stopping him from getting any nearer to Sakura. "I won't let you hurt them," Yamato stated.

"You misunderstand," Kabuto said. "I no longer have any intention of hurting any of you. In fact, it's quite the opposite."

"What do you mean?" Yamato demanded, as Kabuto sent his jutsu towards Sakura, even though he was a several feet away from her. Sakura's wound began to heal as Kabuto healed her shoulder.

"We have a common enemy," Kabuto explained. "The Akatsuki are a nuisance. If we let you live I'm hoping you can get rid of at least one other Akatsuki member for us…perhaps."

Sakura began to come out of her own pain, and she stared at the fox…Naruto. Naruto…

With a roar of fury, the fox started to rip away from its wooden bonds.

Kabuto looked up at the fox, "Then again, he's one of yours. Seems appropriate you all should clean up after him." He glanced back at the trail of destroyed trees that showed where Sara had gone flying, "And she's too much of a nuisance, you'll have to deal with her as well." He disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Yamato grunted and slumped forward slightly, before turning his attention to the fox, Now's my chance! He made several hand signs before shouting, "Hokage Style: Elder Jutsu: Tenth Edict of Enlightenment!" He held out his right palm, which had a kanji on it, and rammed it against the fox's chest, before leaping away quickly as ten wooden pillars with spikes on them surrounded the fox.

A light came from his chest, and the fox slowly began to seep away, revealing a bloody Naruto.

Sakura stood up shakily, and watched, Naruto… He screamed in pain.

The Secret Mission

Sara slowly came out of pain…or more accurately, she had adjusted to it. Sometime within her realm of pain, she had pressed her right arm against her stomach to staunch the bleeding. A tremor went through the ground, and a reddish glow came over her. Glancing up, a small smile came onto her face. Phoenix crouched over her protectively, his wings spread out, ready to buffet any enemy with the gale force from his wing beats.

Phoenix screeched in anger, as he flapped his wings threateningly. "Sara…" A voice called out tentatively. "Call him off!"

She turned her attention back towards the bridge and saw Yamato staring warily at Phoenix. "Phoenix…he's only trying to help…I think it's time you returned to my body…"

Phoenix lowered his head until he was at eye level with her. His burning gaze stayed locked with her gaze for several seconds before he disappeared.

Yamato sighed loudly in relief, before he picked Sara up carefully, conscious of the fact that too much jostling might start the bleeding again. When he returned, he found Sakura hunched over Naruto, healing him. He set Sara down, and squatted next to Sakura. Sara watched them from her position on the ground.

The blood was slowly receding from Naruto, as Sakura continued to heal him, in the past, the Nine-Tails' chakra gave Naruto accelerated healing… So, why is this taking so long?

I can't believe the fourth tail Jiraiya mentioned is this fearsome… Yamato thought gazing at the damage done to Naruto, Sara, and Sakura.

"Hah!" Sakura increased the size of her healing jutsu, and her shoulder wound gave a thrum of pain. She grunted in pain, but continued to heal him. Naruto gritted his teeth in pain, a sound escaping him.

"Commander Yamato," Sakura said softly. Yamato turned to face her, "That jutsu you used to pacify Naruto… could you please teach it to me?"

Yamato lowered his gaze, for a second before looking her right in the eyes, "I'm sorry, but that won't be possible… I am the only one who can use that jutsu, and only because I carry Lord First's DNA within me." A sad smile crossed his face, "Yet all I am is an experiment, a pale copy of the original Lord First… Yes, I have power but nowhere near enough to forcibly suppress the Nine-Tails' chakra." He glanced at the necklace around Naruto's neck, "That necklace around his neck…used to belong to the First Hokage. It's a chakra crystal that responds to his chakra alone. I use it to bring the Jinchûriki's host power under control… It is said the Lord First qualified to be Hokage partly because of this ability. It is also why I was chosen to be your commander."

"It's always like this," Sakura said quietly. Yamato glanced at her, "The only things I can ever do for them are these little things."

Sara croaked, "Which is always greatly appreciated."

Sakura scolded her, "You should be saving your strength!"

"I've never been one for following instructions," Sara smiled.

Sakura grumbled, "You really should start!"

Sara grinned, while Yamato smiled slightly, "She's right though, Sakura. It doesn't matter whether the things you do are large or small. What matters is how much you care about them…particularly Naruto." Sakura stared at him, wide-eyed. Yamato laughed softly, "I've seen it, Sakura. I know just how much you…"

Naruto came to then, "S-Sakura…" He sat up, and rubbed the back of his head as it gave a throb of pain, "Oh…ow!"

"Naruto!" Sakura said in relief, forgetting about Sara temporarily.

"Huh? What happened…why am I?" Naruto wondered. Sakura began to cry again, "Whoa! Why are you crying, Sakura?" He leapt up and glared around wildly, ready to clobber somebody, "I swear if that sharp tongued snake Sai said something hurtful to you again…like ugly! Or monster strength…I will personally kick his…"

Sakura punched him, "YOU'RE the snake, moron! Adding monster strength to the list!"

"Speaking of Sai," Sakura said, as Naruto landed with a loud thud and "ow". "Where is he?"

"Sakura," Sara croaked sarcastically, "As much as I know that you LOVE Sai, I would like to get fixed up."

"Right!" Sakura said, starting to heal Sara's stomach wound.

Naruto had missed the fact that Sara was on the ground, injured, as he gazed at the destroyed bridge, the bridge…what happened?

"Sai?" Yamato said, having been contacted by his Wood Clone, "He's on the move with Orochimaru right now."

"What?" Sakura, Naruto, and Sara, shouted (or said in Sara's case).

Yamato nodded at Sara, "I'll explain once she's healed."

"Bright Eyes!" Naruto exclaimed. "What happened? How'd you get so badly injured?"

"I'm not going into that right now," Sara muttered, her voice sounding stronger.

Ten minutes later, as they walked into the crater that had been created when Naruto, in his four tails state, and fought against Orochimaru.

Naruto commented, "The soil's real soft here…the bridge is wrecked…Bright Eyes was injured…" (He had not noticed Sakura's wound yet). "…and all this… What in the world happened?"

"You don't remember anything?" Yamato questioned. It's just as Jiraiya said…

"Wait!" Naruto asked, "Does this have anything to do with why I was unconscious?"

Yamato glanced at Sakura, as did Sara. Sakura shook her head slightly at Sara, who scowled as Sakura said, "You got attacked and knocked out by Orochimaru."

"No way! Seriously?" Naruto shouted.

Yamato glanced at Sakura, while Sara assessed the crater, unwilling to look at Sakura. Her gaze rested on the massive puddle of ink and Sai's stuff lying near it.

Sakura walked towards the pack and picked up Sai's hand drawn photo album, "Sai's stuff's all over the place."

"For him to have left his prized possessions behind," Yamato stated. "Even he must have been rattled by Orochimaru."

"Then you know what's going on?" Sara questioned, turning towards him. Pain flashing in her eyes for a second, as Sakura's words rang in her head, Sakura was wrapping bandages around Sara's midsection, "You'll have to take it easy…after healing Naruto…I'm only able to heal the wound partway…just don't push yourself to far. Try not to twist or stretch the wound, all right?"

Yamato noticed the flash of pain in her eyes, but he didn't say anything about it, "Until just now, I was in communication with my Wood Clone who was here, via our wireless implants."

"What happened to Sai?" Sakura asked.

"Well," Yamato said. "After exchanging words with Orochimaru here, Sai left with him and Kabuto."

"What do you mean, 'left with'?" Naruto questioned.

Sakura stated, "So you also know what they said to each other."

Yamato said, "Unfortunately, my double was too far away to overhear anything."

"Wonder what they talked about?" Naruto mused.

Sakura guessed, "Maybe he was threatened or intimidated into going with them?"

Yamato was thoughtful, "no…it didn't seem like that. He approached Orochimaru of his own accord and handed him something as if he was trying to curry favor with Orochimaru."

"Whoa! Hang on!" Naruto said, "I don't like the guy either, but he wouldn't betray us!"

"I wouldn't put it past him," Sara murmured, activating her Devil's Eyes.

"Sara may be right," Sakura said, remembering her talk with Tsunade and her explanation of Danzo. She turned to Yamato, "Commander…Are you familiar with a man called Danzo?"

"I do know him… He's a member of the Hawk Faction that once opposed the Third Hokage," Yamato answered.

"Who is he?" Naruto asked.

"A geezer who is Sai's superior," Sakura explained. "And he doesn't think highly of the Third Hokage's legacy."

"Is he that old geezer I was rude to?" Sara questioned. Sakura nodded. "Now I don't feel so bad!"

As Sakura rolled her eyes at Sara, Yamato said thoughtfully, "Danzo may be plotting something using Sai…" Naruto gazed at him questioningly. "It's possible Sai received orders from Danzo to carry out some top-secret mission separate from ours."

"You mean…all this time…Sai's been a double agent?" Naruto questioned.

Sakura nodded, "That's right."

Yamato said, "Listen up…this is just a wild guess, but it might not be out of the question… Danzo may be planning to destroy the Leaf Village."

"What?" Naruto and Sara shouted in perfect unison.

"He may be trying to conspire with Orochimaru…" Yamato stated. "…to get him to attack the Leaf Village once more, in order to overthrow Lady Tsunade."

Sakura added, "After the current regime has fallen he would rebuild the village as he envisions it and install himself as Hokage."

"He's probably making his move now," Sara stated. Having caught on to how Danzo acted. "Having seen Orochimaru fail the first time has made him think that he is in a position where he can negotiate." Yamato nodded, impressed with the two kunoichi.

"N-no way," Naruto said. "You mean Sai's top secret mission…"

"May be to join Orochimaru's ranks and become the conduit between him and Danzo," Sakura finished.

Sara closed her eyes, part of me is relieved I'm not the only one with a secret mission…but this… She opened her eyes as Yamato spoke.

"Depending on the situation," he said. "We may have to do something about Sai…"

Great! Sara thought sourly, another person I may have to kill!

Yamato continued, taking a step forward, "Right now, my clone is pursuing them but I don't know what might happen… So we need to get moving immediately."

Naruto adjusted his pack, "All right! Let's…" he collapsed.

"Naruto?" Sakura shouted.

Sara exclaimed, "Hey! Naruto?"

Sakura propped Naruto up and shook him, "Naruto! Wake up! Naruto!" He hasn't fully recovered from all the damage. She glanced at Sara, and I know she hasn't either. I saw her eyes glaze over with pain for a brief second earlier… Glancing at Yamato, "I know time is of the essence but with Naruto in this state, and Sara…"

"Then we'll have to leave him behind. Sara too in necessary," Yamato stated bluntly. "They should have enough strength to get back to the village…"

"I'm perfectly fine!" Sara snapped. Glaring at Yamato and Sakura, "I don't know why you two are making such a fuss!"

Yamato stared her down, "I saw your eyes glaze with pain when you turned to face me earlier. I'm not blind." Sara became silent, though her eyes blazed.

"Kakashi-sensei would never…" Sakura began.

Naruto came to just then, "S'okay, Sakura…I'm fine…I swear…I can keep up…"

"Look," Yamato said, "I've been teamed with Kakashi before. In the Black Ops…I know what he's like. I may be his substitute, but I'm not him. I'm not the type to laugh and say "I would never let you guys get hurt!" You three are no longer apprentice ninja that need to be protected. You're full fledged shinobi that must one day surpass Kakashi and bear the Leaf Village on your shoulders. There is a difference between compassion and coddling. If we don't chase after them now, we'll never catch Orochimaru. If we falter here, it's all over. There are no second chances when it comes to Orochimaru."

Sakura was quiet, as was Sara. Naruto said, "Sakura…"

"I know…" she finally said.

Naruto glanced at Sara, "Bright Eyes…"

"I've been carrying the weight of the Leaf Village already," her eyes bored into Yamato. "YOU may not be anything like Kakashi, but I am!" She glanced at both her teammates, "I'm not the type to let my teammates get injured, not after…"

Sakura and Naruto gazed in sympathy at her, knowing that she was referring to her uncle, Enaki.

Yamato wondered, what's she talking about? Is there an incident in her past that I'm unaware of? Maybe the story behind that scar over her eye…I'll have to ask Kakashi about it later…

Sara suddenly smiled, "If the Commander won't watch out for you two," she gestured at Naruto and Sakura. "I will."

"Who says we need looking after?" Naruto grunted as he sat up.

Sakura smiled as she stood, "Yeah, you're more likely to need us looking after you!"

The Source of Strength

Several minutes later, Team Kakashi was sailing through the trees, following Yamato.

Sakura used her injured arm to grab a branch, and it gave a painful throb. She gasped in pain and lost her grip, tumbling towards the ground.

"Sakura!" Sara and Naruto shouted.

Before either of them could act, Yamato caught Sakura, and set her gently down near the trunk of a tree.

"Sakura…" Naruto said, worriedly.

The Nine-Tails' chakra…like a poison… Yamato thought, it must have entered her body through her wounds. Even with her medical ninjutsu it was still too much for Sakura to handle. Which only makes Naruto's seemingly immunity to it, that much more impressive. His gaze drifted to Sara, her own immunity to it is just as perplexing, but Phoenix must be neutralizing it…at least that's what I can assume…

Sakura glanced at the wound, trying to explain how she got them to Naruto, "Th-these are… wounds Orochimaru inflicted earlier. But they only hurt a little now, so don't worry I'm fine!"

"Sakura, don't overdo it!" Naruto said, his voice filled with worry.

Yamato glanced at Sakura, before he said, "Let's take a break. Sakura is our one and only medic ninja. We need her hale and hearty for our mission to succeed."

"I said I'm fine!" Sakura snapped angrily. "We have to get moving again! You said it yourself, commander…if we falter here, it's all over!"

"I know what I said, Sakura," Yamato said. "But it's also said that haste makes waste. Charging in right now might get the job done. But being rash and reckless most certainly will not."

Naruto added, "Besides, you're our one and only monster strength medic ninja! We need you hale and hearty, like the commander said!"

"Will you quit it with the monster strength nonsense already!" Sakura shouted.

"Now that Sai's gone," Yamato said, ignoring Sakura's outburst. "You'll be my wingman Naruto. Sara, you'll be watching all of our back's as before… Since we have a moment, let's work out our attack patterns. Sara, Naruto, come with me."

Sara had a feeling she knew the Commander's real intent, "Yes sir."

"Yes sir!" Naruto said following both of them.

I think this is far enough, Yamato thought, stopping.

"Okay, so where do we start?" Naruto asked.

"Actually, before we go into that," Yamato said, glancing at Sara. "There's something I…we need to tell you." Naruto looked between Sara and Yamato. "It wasn't Orochimaru that hurt Sakura and Sara earlier…it was you."

Sakura, meanwhile, sat underneath the tree, and glanced at her pack, that's right…I forgot… she reached into her pack, pulling out Sai's book.

Naruto was shocked beyond words, but he finally managed to say, remembering how Jiraiya had told him about an earlier incident when he had lost control over the fox's chakra, "So then…that bridge and that gouged out terrain…and their wounds…"

"Yeah," Sara said quietly. "Sakura lied to protect you, but sometimes lying about things only makes it worse."

"Bright Eyes…" Naruto muttered, unsure of what else to say.

Yamato said, "Look, that Nine-Tails chakra of yours…I have a special power that enables me to suppress Jinchûriki. So you don't need to worry too much about that. Just…I can only help when I'm nearby. In other words, we didn't have to tell you any of this, but there's a reason that I wanted to…"

"We…" Sara muttered darkly, glaring at the commander. Still stinging from his earlier comments.

Yamato nodded, showing he had heard her, "Using the Nine-Tails power might give you a short-cut to rescuing Sasuke but you can't depend on it because it's not YOUR power. The more you use it the more you only hurt, not only yourself, but those around you. Those you care about. Just like you did today… I know you've started to become aware of it. But the reason you didn't stop the power from leaking out is because you enjoyed the rush it gave you, didn't you?" Naruto lowered his gaze. "Starting now, I'm going to completely suppress the Nine-Tails' power. But don't think that's going to make you weak. I believe you're plenty strong on your own, just from what I've seen."

"I…" Naruto started to say.

Sara interrupted, "You're plenty strong without that stupid fox helping you out!"

Yamato laughed, "See? Even your teammate believes in you! If you really want to help Sasuke, do it using your own power. If you want to protect Sakura, do it with your own strength. See yourself with the clarity of vision you already possess. Not with the eyes of the Nine-Tails."

Naruto looked at both of them and nodded, "Yes!"

Sakura was flipping through Sai's picture book and wondered, aloud, "What is this…? This book…"

Yamato, meanwhile, had spread out a scroll and was illustrating for Sara and Naruto several battle scenarios, "In this situation…" He noticed that both Naruto and Sara had glanced towards Sakura. "Pay attention!"

"All of you, come here!" Sakura shouted. They all looked at her, baffled, "Now!"

As they approached, Naruto said, "Hey! That's Sai's…!"

They all squatted down near Sakura and looked at the book. Naruto said, "If Sai drew these…we are in SERIOUS trouble…"

Sai's Picture Book

"Weird pictures," Naruto commented.

Yamato said, "Sai drew these, huh?"

As Sakura flipped through the pages, Sara said, holding down the center page, "This one is really out of place versus how they others have looked at a glance."

Sakura nodded, "It does."

"That and creepy," Naruto said.

One of the center pages was blank, while the other had a drawing of a black haired boy, with no face.

"I wonder why he left it blank?" Sakura mused.

Sara said, "You can learn a lot about an artist through their work."

"Perhaps Sai's work will tell us what we need to know about him," Yamato added.

"Good point," Sakura said. "Let's see…this seems to be the tale of the two boys drawn on the covers. Each boy's adventure begins separately, starting with the cover at either end and heading towards the middle. But there's no dialogue or text."

"No words? Just pictures?" Naruto questioned. "What kind of stupid story is this?"

"That's what I'm not sure about," Sakura said. "For example, in the case of the black haired boy…"

They all stared at the first page of the black haired boy wearing simple black clothes with no weapon while he faced a grim reaper like opponent, who held a kunai. Sakura flipped the page to reveal the black haired boy again, holding a kunai and having a black scarf added onto his attire. This time he faced a chubby armored ninja with a scythe that was connected to a chain.

Sakura said, "The right hand page always shows the boy and the left-hand page has a different character on it each time…see?" She flipped the page again.

This time the boy had armor and a scythe with a chain connected to it and his opponent looked like a phantom Anbu Black Op, who held a bow with a blade at the end of it.

Sara was about to say something about how the boy always seemed to get the clothes and weapons from the previous opponent, but Naruto beat her to the punch, "Wait! Go back to that last page for a sec!"

Sakura stared at him, wondering if he had lost his mind, but she obliged, turning the page back to the previous one.

Naruto pointed at the page, "See! On each page that kid looks a little different, and not only that he's holding the same weapon as the character from the previous left-hand page…"

"It seems the story is about the boy defeating various enemies," Yamato said.

"And taking their weapons and armor like spoils of war," Sakura added as she flipped the page.

Sara said, "Just like Naruto pointed out, it's the same every time."

"With each battle, the boy matures," Yamato stated. "Gains knowledge, wisdom, strength…"

"Though the orientation is flipped," Sakura said, glancing through the white haired boy's story, "the premise is the same for the white haired boy too." She closed the book.

"Hey," Naruto said, squinting. "Doesn't the black haired boy look an awful lot like Sai?"

Sakura stared at the cover for a few seconds, "You're right!"

"Perhaps he was drawing his own story," Yamato suggested.

"Who's the other kid than?" Sara asked.

Sakura remember her earlier discussion with Sai about the book and he had said that it was for his brother, "I think…it might be Sai's older brother… Which would mean the centerfold was meant to be Sai and his brother together…"

Yamato got to his feet, "Let's head out. My clone has tracked down Orochimaru's hideout."

Sakura, Naruto, and Sara turned to look at him, surprise showing in their eyes. Sara commented as she stood, "That was fast."

"Well, my clone has been tailing them for awhile," Yamato said, chuckling.

Sai's Betrayal

Racing after Yamato, Sakura said, out of the blue, "Naruto. Sara." They both turned to face her, "This time, we'll bring Sasuke back together."

"Oh yeah!" Naruto agreed.

Sara wondered, her stomach tightening, why is she saying that to me? She begged Naruto to save Sasuke last time… Plus…I have a different mission if Sasuke proves that his loyalties lie elsewhere…

After several minutes of running, the Leaf shinobi slowed in a barren wasteland, where Yamato's clone was waiting peeking around the side of a rocky hill.

"This is it," the clone said. "The entrance is underneath that rock formation directly in front of us."

Naruto wanted to clarify, "So under there…is Sasuke…?"

"Yup," Sakura said, nodding.

"Then let's get going," Sara said, wanting this mission to be over and done with. One way or the other, Sasuke wouldn't remain with Orochimaru.

Naruto nodded and took a step forward, but Yamato put his arm in front of him, blocking his path, "Wait." He placed his hand on his clone's back. The clone withered and gave some seeds to Yamato, three total, "Swallow this first…all of you." They all gave him wary looks, "These are for if we get separated I can locate you right away."

"What exactly are they though?" Sakura asked, taking one of the seeds, eyeing it suspiciously.

Yamato answered, "These seeds are transmitters for tracking. It's a ninja tool that only resonates to my chakra. I planted a few in Sai's clothing and his meals.

"That explains so much," Sara muttered. "That's why you insisted on those luxuries while we were traveling."

"Huh?" Naruto glanced at Sara, not comprehending what she said.

Yamato explained, before Sara could, "I put them into Sai's clothes, and the meals when we were at the hot springs. I got out first, remember?" Naruto's eyes shone when he finally understood. "It's a good thing I planned ahead, especially with Sai. It was just as Lady Tsunade said. But enough about the past…" They all swallowed the seeds, "Focus on the mission ahead. Ready you three?"

"Yes, sir," Sakura said.

Sara said, "Ready."

"Sasuke here we come!" Naruto said, ready to head into Orochimaru's lair.

Yamato nodded, "Our order of infiltration will be me first, then Sakura, followed by Naruto, and Sara will be last."

"As usual," Sara stated, rolling her eyes.

"And the infiltration method?" Sakura questioned.

Yamato said, "By the book. I'll use Earth Style Jutsu, and we'll approach from underground."

Naruto stared into the distance, towards Orochimaru's lair, We've finally found you…Sasuke…

After tunneling for several minutes, Yamato found his way blocked by a boulder, "Looks like the hideout's completely surrounded by rock."

"Let me blast a hole through with my Rasengan!" Naruto said, tired of waiting.

Sara punched him in the back of the head, "Idiot. That would alert them to our presence!"

"How else are we going to get through then?" Naruto questioned, rubbing the back of his head.

"Through stealth," Yamato said, studying the rock.

Naruto asked, "But how?"

"Found it," Yamato said, pressing his kunai tip against a crack in the boulder, "The more solid the rock face, the less force need be applied to a small fissure and…" The boulder crumbled away, leaving a decent sized hole. "Voila! There you go."

Once they were all through the hole, Sakura said, "Infiltration accomplished…now what?"

"First," Yamato answered. "We look for Sai."

Creeping around corners, Yamato was constantly saying, "All clear…keep moving…" He picked up the pace around one corner, and started hurrying, "He's close!" He paused at a doorway, and grew a wooden key out of his finger as he inserted it into the lock. Within a few seconds the door was unlocked, and Yamato pushed it open, "There you are."

Sai whipped around and stared at them in surprise. Before he gave them a fake smile, "Trust a Black Ops member directly assigned to the Hokage not to be fooled by that corpse."

"Now," Yamato said as the key receded back into his finger. "Why don't you tell us what's going on."

Naruto wasn't in the mood for Sai's games, though. He grabbed Sai's shirt and shouted, "Yeah, you jerk! Why'd you betray us?" Sara glanced at the door, making sure that no one had been alerted to their presence.

"I wouldn't make so much noise here if I were you," Sai stated calmly. "It'll lead to trouble."

Naruto practically growled, "You lousy…"

"Naruto!" Sakura cut him off.

Naruto angrily released Sai's shirt, "Whatever!"

"Here…" Sakura said, holding out Sai's picture book. "This is yours, isn't it?"

Sai accepted the book from her, "Thanks."

"Danzo gave you orders, didn't he?" Sakura continued, watching Sai's reactions carefully. "He's trying to ally with Orochimaru for some purpose and you were selected to be their go-between… So what's he plotting."

Yamato said, "He's proposing Operation: Destroy the Hidden Leaf Village: Take Two isn't he?

"No, you're…" Sai started to say a fake smile on his face, once again.

Naruto interrupted him, "Stop smiling! I know you're just faking it! Everything you say is nothing but a big, fat LIE!"

They all watched Sai's reaction to Naruto's words as silence started to span between them. Sai finally said, "Well, now that you've finally figured me out…seems my mission is officially a failure. But since I can't take on all of you together and since you've guessed so much already, there's no point in hiding the truth any longer… You are correct. The plan was to get rid of the Leaf as we know it.

"What?" Naruto said, aghast.

Sai continued to give them a fake smile, "My mission was to find an opportunity to approach Orochimaru and entice him to help destroy the Hidden Leaf Village."

Yamato pointed his kunai at Sai, while Sara moved closer to the door, listening for any approaching footsteps, "Keep talking. I want ALL the details."

"What more is there to know?" Naruto demanded. "He's a traitor and a—."

"Do not rush to judge me, Naruto, until you have ALL the facts," Sai stated. This surprised all of the Leaf ninja. "I was ordered to secretly report back Orochimaru's activities to Lord Danzo. In short, to act as his spy."

"Enter a conspiracy with Orochimaru while playing him at the same time? That's an extremely dangerous game," Sakura commented.

Sai was silent for a brief second, "Well, if the Leaf Village, DID fall, we expected Orochimaru to try to betray us at some point, so, consider this our way of maintaining the upper hand."

"So Danzo wants the Leaf Village for himself. And you were sent in alone to set all this in motion…" Sakura clarified.

Sai said, "I was specifically chosen for this mission because of my abilities. The intelligence I write can transform itself into little creatures that can defend themselves while traveling back to the Leaf."

"If the Leaf Village falls a lot of people will die," Sara stated quietly. "Are you aware of those consequences of what you're doing?"

Sai answered, "Well…I'm just following orders."

Naruto and Sara glared at Sai, as Sakura said, "Sai…how can you…"

"Oh, and Sai is just a name I was given for this mission, I'm actually, nobody."

"Nobody and…" Sara sighed instead of saying Sai, "are not that much different. What's the point of being nobody?"

"I am merely an extension of Lord Danzo's will. I myself do not exist. Therefore, it's useless to say anything to me."

Sakura's gaze drifted to the picture book, "Then why do you carry around that picture book?" Sai looked at her in surprise, and then glanced at the book in his hand, as if he had forgotten it was there. "The two boys on the covers are you and your brother, right? You hang on to it because it is the only thing that proves you actually do exist." Sai gazed at her questioningly. "You're not as emotionless as you'd have everyone believe."

Sara added to Sakura's words, "Not even shinobi can cut off their feelings completely."

"How does possessing this book translate into proving my existence?" Sai questioned.

Sakura answered, "Because, abandoning it means abandoning your identity as a brother. And that's something you just can't bring yourself to do. Do you know why?" Sai remained silent. "Because your bond with your older brother still matters to you it's that important." Sai's eyes widened. "You don't want to erase your relationship with him."

"Relationship?" Sai questioned softly.

Yamato continued to point his kunai at Sai, "Sorry, but we flipped through your picture book. The centerfold is the only illustration that's incomplete. By the flow of the visual narrative from cover to cover it seems the next logical battle would be with your brother…"

Sara glanced at Yamato, that doesn't sound right…the picture in Sai's book didn't look like a battle one…unless Sai was holding his brother's head…but the arm's angle would be off then…

"Sai," Yamato continued. "I know you're from the Foundation. You've received special training from Danzo to kill all emotions. Evil exercises…similar to that which used to be practiced in the Village of Bloody Mist. So did you do it? Did you kill your brother?"

"No!" Sai stated startling most of Team Kakashi. "This book…it was supposed to be a gift…but just before I completed it, he…got sick and died… We may not have been related by blood but he was the closest thing to a family I ever had." Naruto and Sara gazed at him in sympathy. "There are a lot of children from families torn apart by warfare in the Foundation. My brother treated me like a REAL sibling. This picture book… What I wanted to show him the most was the final centerfold…but after he died… I couldn't remember what I had been planning to draw."

Sara suddenly said, "We need to get out of here…someone's coming…their footsteps are echoing from down the hall."

Yamato nodded and quickly incapacitated Sai by wrapping wood around his arms and midsection, as he led the way out of Orochimaru's lair.

Outside, Yamato said, "Sorry, Sai, but I'm going to have to leave you here with my Wood Clone standing watch." Sai gazed at him wordlessly.

"All right," Naruto said as he cracked his knuckles. "Now down to our real business… Let's go rescue Sasuke!"

Sai looked at Naruto, before lowering his gaze and saying, "And what if he doesn't want to be rescued." Naruto and Sakura gazed at Sai in surprise while Sara stared at him indifferently. "I actually got to meet him," Sai continued. This surprised all of them, "But Orochimaru is always at his side. Cross him and he'll tear you to pieces and use your body for his experiments… Besides…even though Sakura told me you think of Sasuke as a brother…he said that you mean nothing to him. So…why…?" Sakura looked sadly at the ground while Naruto and Sara remained impassive. ""Do you still care so much? Why stand up to the likes of Orochimaru and risk your own life to save someone who doesn't want to be saved? Why? It's not like anyone's ordering you to."

Naruto suddenly grinned, "When I first met Sasuke, I totally hated him...but at the same time, I also really enjoyed being around him. 'Cuz he really accepted me more than anyone else…" He added as an afterthought, "Apart from Bright Eyes, of course!"

"I'm so glad I'm an afterthought," Sara grouched quietly.

Naruto continued, missing Sara's grouching, "I'm doing this because Sasuke is my FRIEND and that's a bond that can NEVER be broken."

"Bond…?" Sai's eyes widened in amazement, which soon faded, "But still…to go up against Orochimaru?"

Naruto was really grinning now, "If he tears my arms off, I'll kick him dead. If he tears my legs off, I'll bite him dead. If he tears my neck off, I'll glare him dead. And if he pokes my eyes out, I'll curse him dead." Sai was truly amazed now. "Let Orochimaru try and cut me to pieces…I'll still find a way to steal Sasuke back!"

Behind the Betrayal

Yamato said, "Let me create the lookout so we can go back in." They all whipped around (apart from a tied up Sai) and leapt out of range as kunai hit the ground where they had been standing only milliseconds before.

All of them slid to halts as Kabuto landed in front of Sai, "From the looks of it, Sai…you've been captured." Sai was slightly surprised at Kabuto's sudden appearance. "Well, you don't appear to have betrayed us…I'll give you the benefit of the doubt." He sliced through the wood that bound Sai.

"That Kabuto…such a pest," Sakura muttered darkly.

Naruto shouted as Sai stood, "If you try to stop us, Sai…we won't hold back!"

Above them, perched on the rocky hill, two of Naruto's clones made the Rasengan and the one with the Rasengan rushed at Kabuto.

Kabuto easily dispatched the clone with a kick, "You're wasting your time."

"No way to know without trying!" Naruto snapped.

"No, no," Kabuto said, grinning. "I'm not talking about that…when I look at you it's really pathetic." Naruto glared at him. "People change. Sasuke is no longer the boy you knew." Kabuto expected Naruto to charge, but he was surprised when Naruto seemed to calm down. That's when he turned around in surprise, feeling something get a hold of his arms. "Wha?" They all gazed in surprise at Sai, who was keeping Kabuto from attacking. "What are you doing?"

"But some things don't change," Sai stated.

Naruto was surprised, "Sai…you…"

"Bonds…" Sai said, "I'd like to learn more about them."

"…Sai…" Sakura said softly.

Sara stared at Sai for a few seconds before lowering her gaze, Sai's doing more to help rescue Sasuke then I will be…if what Kabuto says is true…

Yamato wasn't going to waste the opportunity Sai had given them, "That's it, Sai! Hold him like that a little longer…"

Kabuto was soon in the same position Sai had been in only moments before. This time, Yamato created his Wood Clone right away.

Naruto glanced at Sai, "Sai…what is up with you…?"

"I'm curious about this bond you and Sasuke share that keeps you going after him…the how and why…" Sakura stared at him in amazement. "Watching the two of you makes me realize that perhaps I haven't been able to erase my bond with my brother. And if Sakura is right…if that really is such an important thing to me…perhaps I can figure out why by observing the bond between you and Sasuke. That's all…"

Naruto started to smile at Sai when Kabuto ruined the team moment, "You just don't get Sasuke at all!" He started to laugh.

"Stop laughing! You think this is funny?" Sakura demanded.

Yamato cut right to the chase, "Enough. Where is he?"

Kabuto glared up at him, "By now he's probably finished training and has retired to one of the inner rooms. This place is riddled with self-contained rooms, you know. You'll have to check room by room in order to find him. But if you're not careful, poking the wrong bush will flush out some snakes. For Lord Orochimaru's private quarters are located near there as well."

"Thank you for your honesty," Yamato said.

Kabuto grinned again, "Oh no, no need to thank me."

"Because we're going to get killed anyway?" Yamato guessed.

"Yes."

Yamato wasn't unnerved, "As Naruto said, no way to know without trying."

Several minutes later, Team Kakashi was back within the confines of the Orochimaru's hideout.

"All right, we'll split up here," Yamato said. "Sakura and I will be one group, Naruto and Sai the other, and Sara…"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm on my own," Sara finished.

Yamato sighed but he quickly recovered, "If anything goes wrong, just manipulate your chakra. It'll activate the tree seed inside you and alert me. I'll come running right away."

They all nodded, before heading there separate ways. Naruto set the pace for him and Sai, charging down the halls and throwing open doors. Flinging open another door he said, "Nope not here either…"

"That's it for this level," Sai said, gasping for breath. "Let's check the next one."

Naruto nodded, "Yup!" He took off like a shot, but he stumbled, sliding several inches.

"Naruto…Yamato split us up so we could check three times as many rooms in the same amount of time. Just take it easy…"

Naruto snapped, getting to his feet, "Shut up! There's no time to rest! We've got to find Sasuke." He collapsed again, I'm still weak from being in the Nine-Tails state…

Sai bent down and started to help Naruto to lean against a wall to catch his breath. Once they were sitting against the wall, "Boy, you really are like him." Sai started to pull off his pack. Naruto stared at him in confusion. "My older brother. He was loud-mouthed and impatient too…unrefined…uncouth… But you know when he did something…he always gave it his all, just like you." Naruto couldn't help smiling a bit at that as Sai pulled out his picture book. "Watching you has helped me remember him…" His eyes widened suddenly and he whipped out his drawing supplies.

"Hey!" Naruto said, "Drawing? NOW?"

Sai said, not looking at him, "I remembered…I finally remembered…!" He finished the centerfold's drawing. "The dream drawing that I wanted to show my brother." Sai smiled, embarrassed, but it was genuine.

Naruto grinned with him, but he turned sharply as he heard footsteps close by.

"Tell me, Sai," Orochimaru said. "Whose side are you REALLY on?"

The Reunion

Meanwhile, Sara was opening doors WAY underground, working her way back up to the level where she and the others had started off in. Moving cautiously, Sara opened another door, she was surprised when the whole wall moved. A hissing sound greeted her ears. She tried to shut the door, but a massive snout blocked it, and a forked tongue flicked out. "Damn it!" Sara swore as she whipped around and started heading towards the higher levels, three snakes on her heels. She figured the snakes were making enough noise, so she shouted, "Why am I the one who always finds the snakes?"

Back with Naruto and Sai, Orochimaru had some snakes up his sleeve, using his Striking Snake technique, two serpents shot towards Naruto and Sai. Leaping out of reach of the snakes, Orochimaru said, "The wrong side apparently, my dear, Sai."

"You go find Sasuke, Sai," Naruto said, keeping his eyes on Orochimaru. "Leave ol' snake face to me!" Sai didn't move. "Go!"

Sai finally said, "All right."

"We'll meet you outside…good luck!" Naruto added, as Sai took off down the hall.

Orochimaru watched Sai leave, "So you came here to retrieve Sasuke, eh? I commend your zeal, but I assure you, the outcome of this will not be in your favor…"

"Shut up!" Naruto snapped. "First I'm gonna take you down then I'm bringing Sasuke home!"

A level or two below Naruto, Sakura threw open a door, "He's not here, either…"

Yamato glanced up, causing Sakura to glance at him in confusion. "Naruto's chakra. Something's up…come on!"

"Yes, sir!" Sakura said.

Still running several levels below, Sara whipped around a corner and came to a halt, "That's it! I'm not running from some oversized snakes!" She made some hand signs, bringing one hand to her mouth, her index finer forming a circle with her hand, Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu! The snakes hissed in pain and fury but Sara kept up the fireball until they were lying, motionless, in the hall. She focused on Naruto's chakra and teleported.

Sai, meanwhile, pulled out a scroll and made a slew of mice that came alive off the scroll and darted into the numerous rooms on that level.

Orochimaru laughed as Naruto's attempt to use a jutsu failed, "What happened to all your energy?"

His eyes widened as Sara appeared beside Naruto, "I've got your back." Naruto grinned.

"You again, Orochimaru…" Yamato said, startling Naruto and Sara, as he and Sakura stopped running just behind them.

Orochimaru snorted, "Remember, Naruto this makes twice that I've let you live. A debt I'll hope you'll someday repay by eliminating at least one more Akatsuki member for me…"

"Basically, you're not willing to fight four on one so soon after Naruto nearly beat you earlier," Sara said, her pupils narrowing to slits.

Orochimaru sighed, instead of getting angry, which Sara had been hoping for, "I wish I could have gotten to you as well, it would have been nice to have a complete set of Uchihas." Sara's pupils seemed to narrow more with rage. "And now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some unfinished business with Sai."

"Jerk," Naruto muttered darkly. Sakura sighed in relief at not having to fight.

Sara was shaking with rage, her fists were clenched, blood dripping from her palms, where her nails were digging into her skin.

Sakura set a hand on her right shoulder, "Hey, calm down."

"I'll kill him…" Sara whispered.

"What?"

"I'll kill him!" She snapped, her temper getting the better of her. "He took Sasuke away from us, I'll…"

"Bright Eyes!" Naruto said, startled by her loss of composure. "We all want to finish off Orochimaru but first let's find Sasuke."

"Right," Sara said, looking away from him. Orochimaru…if I have to kill Sasuke…

Naruto saw that his friend still wasn't relaxed, "You're not an avenger, plus, you're not alone. Whatever happens, we're a team! Friends till the end!"

Sara met his gaze and nodded, "You're right. That's not who I am…thanks, Naruto." Will that friendship survive if I have to kill Sasuke?

Yamato asked, noticing Sai wasn't with them, "Where's Sai!"

"Oh no!" Naruto exclaimed, remembering he had told Sai to find Sasuke. "He went to look for Sasuke! We've got to find him before Orochimaru does!"

"What are we waiting for?" Sara said. "We've wasted enough time here!"

Naruto pointed the way Sai had gone, "It'll use up my chakra but my Shadow Clones can go one way with Bright Eyes, while you and Sakura go the other way, Captain Yamato."

Sakura noticed Sai's picture book on the floor and picked it up, smiling, "The centerfold…"

"Yeah, he finished it. He said that he finally remembered that his dream drawing had been of the two of them…that he had wanted to show his brother."

Sakura commented, "They're both smiling."

Naruto nodded, "When he drew that picture I saw him smile, a real smile, for the first time from his heart."

Yamato squatted down and started to rummage through Sai's pack, pulling out a black book.

Sai followed one of his mice into a room, and saw the Uchiha crest on the sleeping figure's shirt.

"Oh no!" Yamato said, flipping through the book.

Sakura asked, "Now what's wrong?"

Sai started as three black snakes slid into the room and towards Sasuke.

"I found this in Sai's pack," Yamato said.

Sara's eyes widened, "That's a bingo book, usually given only to Anbu Black Ops members."

"Bingo book?" Naruto questioned.

"Like Zabuza had," Sara elaborated. "Basically an assassination list."

Sakura asked, "So what do the X marks represent."

"The people he's already killed," Yamato stated. Sara moved to stand behind him as he started to flip through the book.

Sakura asked, "But why would Sai have something like…" She trailed off as Yamato and Sara's eyes widened. Naruto and Sakura were worried.

Yamato flipped the book around and held it up so Sakura and Naruto could see, "Look."

"N-no…" Sakura couldn't believe what she was seeing.

I wasn't the only one told to kill Sasuke…but my orders were only to kill him if necessary… Sai's orders… Sara thought, thinking of the difference in their orders.

"Wait…" Naruto said, trying to make sense of the situation. "Why is Sasuke on Sai' assassination list?"

"His face isn't X'ed out yet…" Yamato murmured. "So that's what this is about."

"What is? What's this about?" Naruto asked.

Sara answered, "Sai played us for fools. His real mission is to assassinate Sasuke."

The snakes crawled up the bed and onto the sheets, Sai watching them intently.

"But…but that's not possible!" Naruto shouted. "I mean, just now, he said he was going to rescue Sasuke! And I saw him smile from his heart!"

Sakura suggested hesitantly, "Unless it was all an act to draw you out."

Yamato stood up, "The owner of this bingo book could do it. Look at his." He showed them the book again; a shinobi with an X over his page was shown to them. "He's a Mist Village jônin who had taken a hard-line attitude towards the Leaf Village. So Sai seems to have been assigned to dispose of individuals who pose a threat to the Leaf Village…and Sasuke is one of those too."

Sakura remembered what Sai had said about a smile, "A smile can help one achieve one's goals." Naruto looked at her, before he glanced towards the Commander.

"Danzo's ultimate goal is to destroy Orochimaru's future host body. That's why Sai was trying to get close to Orochimaru," Yamato stated. "They weren't going to betray the Leaf Village. In fact, quite the opposite…it's precisely the kind of tactic the foundation would employ."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Naruto demanded. "Let's go find Sai!"

Meanwhile, the snakes slithered onto Sasuke and hissed at him insistently. Without rolling over, Sasuke asked, "Who's there?"

Sai cautiously walked into the room, "My cover's been blown…but I can still take action."

"What do you mean?" Sasuke demanded. Still not moving.

Sai said, "I'm here to take you back to the Leaf Village." Sasuke remained silent. "My mission was to kill you. At first, I was going to but…" He remembered how determined Sara, Sakura, and particularly Naruto had been to get Sasuke back. "I want to help protect this bond you two share…that Naruto so desperately wants to hold on to."

"A bond?" Sasuke questioned. "That's your excuse for disturbing my rest?"

Back with the rest of Team Kakashi, Naruto had just sent a clone down one hallway and was about to head down another with Sara, when a tremor shook the cave.

Sakura said her and Yamato having not gone far, "It came from that way."

"I sense Sai's chakra," Yamato added.

In the rubble, Sai pushed himself off his knees, and glanced up at Sasuke's silhouetted figure. "Wow! I didn't expect you to shake off my just so forcibly."

Whipping around corners, Naruto in the lead, Sakura and Yamato, a little ways behind him on either side of him and Sara brought up the rear, keeping her senses alert for Orochimaru. They all slowed as light spilled in from the end of the hall.

Sakura glared as she spotted Sai, found you… Without warning she charged past Naruto and grabbed Sai's neck as he turned to face her.

To say the least, he was startled by her reaction to finding him, "Sakura! What're you doing?"

"Quiet you! I'm asking the question here!" Sakura snapped, "And this time you better not lie!"

She froze as a familiar voice said, "Well, well, well…if it isn't Sakura…"

That voice… Sakura slowly turned towards the voice and gaze up in shocked awe at its owner, "S-Sasuke…?"

That was all Naruto needed to hear, he took off running, tripping once, but getting back up quickly. He rushed out into the daylight and stood next to Sakura, gazing up at Sasuke. Sasuke spotted him and met his gaze, "Sasuke…"

Sara hesitated, unwilling to find out if she would have to obey Lady Tsunade's orders, but she took off like a shot when she decided that waiting wouldn't do any good. She slid to a halt next to Naruto and looked at Sasuke. Sasuke wouldn't meet her gaze though. His and Naruto's were still locked together, like they always used to be when they were merely rivals, not enemies.

On a Whim…

"So Naruto…and Sara…" He finally glanced at his cousin. "I assume this means Kakashi is here somewhere." His gaze drifted to Yamato as he walked out.

"Sorry, but Kakashi couldn't make it," Yamato said. "I'm here in his stead. We of Team Kakashi are here to take you back to the Leaf Village."

"Team Kakashi, huh?"

Sai pulled out his katana. Sakura exclaimed, "Sai! You're not still thinking of your mission?" He didn't answer her, not taking his eyes off of Sasuke.

"Is he my stand in?" Sasuke questioned. "He said something about wanting to protect the bond between me and Naruto but…but looks like this one is just another weakling too."

"What?" Sakura stared at Sai in shock.

Sai said, "Yes. My top secret mission was to kill Sasuke. But I'm done following orders. From now on, I want to think for myself. I feel like you can help me remember, Naruto. Bring back those old feelings I thought were lost. The things that were once really important to me." His tone hardened, "As for you, Sasuke, I really don't know that much about you…except that Naruto, Sakura, and Sara are willing to risk everything for you…to keep that special bond you all share…in the name of friendship. I still don't understand it fully, but I think YOU do, Sasuke. Don't you?"

Sasuke answered, "Yeah, I did. And that's exactly why I cut them off." Naruto and Sakura's eyes widened, while Sara remained, unfazed. "I have different bonds now. The bond of hatred between my older brother and me…" He thought of Itachi. "Personal ties cause confusion. Precious memories only make you weak."

Naruto thought of their last fight, the one where he failed to bring back Sasuke. "Why Sasuke…?" Of all the things Sasuke said, "Why on that day…? Why didn't you just kill me? That would've broken it! Or maybe you can't! Maybe you're afraid! Huh?" Sasuke didn't answer right away.

Sakura stared at Naruto sadly, "Naruto…"

"There's a simple explanation," Sasuke said casually. "It's not that I couldn't break the bond between us… I was simply doing as my brother did before me. It was just a strategy to gain power."

Naruto glared at him, "What do you mean?"

"I don't need to explain anything to you," Sasuke stated. "The only thing you need to know is that you life was only spared on a whim!"

Sara's mind was racing, from everything he's said, I should kill him, but I need to look in his eyes and he won't look at me…! Oh shit, Naruto!

Sasuke had teleported in front of Naruto, his hand on Naruto's right shoulder. Naruto's eyes widened in surprise.

He's fast, Yamato thought. Almost as fast as Sara…

Sakura blinked in surprise, when did he…?

Sasuke said, "That reminds me…didn't you use to say your dream was to become Hokage? Instead of wasting all your time chasing me, you should have been training. Don't you think?"

"S-Sasuke!" Sakura whispered.

"Because this time," Sasuke continued. "You could lose your life on a whim." He pulled his sword out from its sheath.

Naruto didn't flinch, "If someone can't even save a friend, then I don't think they deserve to be Hokage… Do you…Sasuke?"

His eyes narrowed and he snorted, swinging his sword, aiming for Naruto's neck.

"Sasuke!" Sakura shouted, appalled.

Sai and Sara reacted at the same time. Sai grabbed Sasuke's wrist, while Sara pressed a kunai against Sasuke's throat.

Sasuke was unfazed by their actions. He addressed Sai, "The block you chose…was correct." This statement baffled Sai. Sasuke glanced at Sara, "I see you've gotten faster, Sara..."

Naruto grabbed Sasuke's other arm, and twisted it around so Sasuke wouldn't be able to move.

"Good!" Yamato said, using his Wood Style jutsu to try and incapacitate him.

Sasuke activated his Sharingan and Sara, Naruto, and Sai all received a nasty electrical shock that emitted from Sasuke's body.

Sai, Naruto, and Sara were thrown backwards, and Naruto landed with an "Ow!" while Sai was knocked out, and Sara hit a pile of rubble, causing an avalanche that covered her.

He's emitting Chidori from his whole body…! Sakura thought, stunned; she remembered her promise to Naruto and Sara. She glared at Sasuke before she charged, I will stop Sasuke…myself!

Sasuke turned as she approached, and Yamato saw the look in his lives, His eyes…watch out, Sakura! He leapt in front of Sakura, a kunai in hand, and tried to stop the sword's blade with his kunai, but the blade slid right through it, like it was butter, and Sasuke stabbed the sword into Yamato's left shoulder.

Sasuke said, grinning slightly, "The block YOU chose was incorrect."

"Captain Yamato!" Sakura shouted.

Sasuke continued, "My Kusanagi blade is nothing like Orochimaru's. Mine is impossible to block.

Yamato was shaking, body tingling…can't move…. Could he be running Chidori through the blade? He heard the distinct chirping of Chidori. No wonder it's so sharp…and I'm paralyzed.

Sasuke turned as a loud static noise came from the pile of rubble that had covered Sara. She forced her way out, using her Lightning Blade. She allowed its red electricity to recede. She stood panting, glaring at Sasuke, but he looked away before their gazes could lock. Damn…I used up a lot of my chakra with that move. Phoenix…I may need to use your chakra soon.

A Conversation With Nine Tails!

Sasuke had turned to focus on Naruto, who was struggling to his feet; his eyes were red, and his nails were longer.

"This is your chance…Naruto…" The fox growled from behind his sealed gates. "Show him my…our power…!" Naruto glared at the gate. "What's wrong? Why are you hesitating?" The Fox's chakra seeped through like bubbles, taking the shape of the Nine-Tailed Fox. "You know you need my strength…take it…use it…"Excitement entered the Nine Tail's voice, "Who do you want me to kill?"

"Don't ever come out again!" Naruto stated, conviction in his voice.

This surprised the fox, "What are you so afraid of, boy?"

"Shut up!" Naruto snapped. "I'm not afraid! I don't need anything from you!"

The Nine-Tailed Fox erupted into laughter, "This isn't the first time you've come to me for help! You're nothing without me…and you know it! Now, release the seal once and for all! Do it…and my power…shall be yours!"

"Get lost…!" Naruto said, surprise entering his voice at the end as a hand was raised, inches from the chakra fox's nose.

"Who are you?" The fox demanded, startled by the person as much as Naruto.Sasuke stood next to Naruto, his hand was the one that was in front of the fox. "I see…an Uchiha. You've come quite far…"

"What are you dong here?" Naruto demanded.

Sasuke said, "I can see it now…the source of your strength… I never imagined you had such a thing inside of you."

"You can actually see me…" The fox growled. "Thanks to that abominable Sharingan…a product of your accursed bloodline." Naruto turned to Sasuke in surprise, wondering what Nine Tails meant.

Sasuke wasn't intimidated by the fox, "Seems this isn't your first encounter with these eyes which means…you must be the legendary Nine-Tailed Fox…"

"Your ocular powers and that vile chakra you exude," Nine Tails stated. "Remind me of Madara Uchiha…"

Sasuke glared at the fox before touching its nose, causing the chakra to recede. Naruto stared at the spot the chakra had been in astonishment. Sasuke said, "I know no such person."

"I can't believe you are even able to suppress my power…" The Nine-Tailed Fox growled from behind the sealed gate. "It may be my undoing but…let me…tell you…one thing…D…on't…kill…Na…ruto…" Naruto's stared at the sealed gate in surprise. "Y…ou'll…re…gret…it…"

Naruto grunted in pain as he tried to stand. Taking advantage of Sasuke's distracted nature. He made a hand sign and forced Sasuke's blade out of his body with his Wood Style jutsu. Sasuke leapt away from Yamato in surprise, and he stared up in shock, as a wooden dome started to form. Yamato glared as Sasuke broke out of the dome, but he smiled as Sara appeared next to Sasuke, grabbing his wrist. Sasuke shouted, "Chidori Stream!" He landed on in the position he had been standing in when they had first arrived.

He glared at Sara when he saw the poof of smoke, signifying that she had been using a Shadow Clone. Their gazes locked.

Sai came back into consciousness, and sat up with a grunt of pain, while Sakura gazed at Sasuke worriedly. Naruto stood up slowly, while Yamato watched Sasuke for any sign that he was going to attack. When he didn't move, Yamato followed his gaze and noticed Sara was gazing at Sasuke, her expression unreadable.

Lightning crackled between the two Uchihas. As soon as Sasuke had locked his gaze with Sara, she knew that she would have to kill him. He had changed. He was not the Sasuke that she had known. That Sasuke was long gone. Sasuke sensed that Sara's intentions had changed…or become clear. She was no longer on the same mission as the others, and it sent a thrill through him.

Sasuke smiled, I wouldn't mind testing my skills against you. I know that you were Head of the Anbu Black Ops… It's amazing what you hear when traveling.

"Sasuke…" Naruto said, loud enough for Sasuke to hear him.

Our battle's another time Sara, Sasuke thought as he looked away from his cousin to focus on Naruto.

"Don't you get it?" Naruto started to shout. "Orochimaru's going to steal your body!"

Sasuke was indifferent to this statement, "If it happens, it happens…so be it." Naruto stared at him in horror. "You're still such a child, Naruto." I don't care what happens to me or to the rest of the world, so long as I can get my revenge. Nothing else matters. To be honest…neither Orochimaru nor I are strong enough to defeat Itachi on our own. But if I can obtain the power to defeat Itachi by giving myself to Orochimaru…I would gladly give him my life many times over." Naruto and Sakura stared at him, utterly appalled and shocked. While Sara and Sai glared at him.

Yamato stood up, "Enough talk. Naruto, Sakura, Sara…out of consideration for the three of you, I haven't taken drastic measures against Sasuke, but…I see I can't hold back any longer…I'm sorry…"

"Captain Yamato…!" Sakura gasped.

Sara teleported to stand beside him, kunai in hand, "I'm with you, Commander."

"Bright Eyes?" Naruto shouted.

Sara ignored him, "Just tell me what you need me to do, and I'll do it."

Sakura stared at her, tears forming in her eyes, "Sara…you…!"

"You…traitor!" Naruto shouted, tears in his eyes. "What about what we said?"

Sara glanced back at him, but she didn't say anything, turning her attention back to Sasuke as he spoke, "Hidden Leaf Village…I'm done with you… Be gone!" He made a hand sign and lifted his left arm into the air.

Orochimaru appeared beside him, grabbing his wrist, "I wouldn't use THAT jutsu…Sasuke." Team Kakashi stared up at the two shinobi in surprise.

"Let go," Sasuke ordered.

Kabuto appeared on the other side of Sasuke, "Now…what did I tell you about being more respectful toward Lord Orochimaru?"

"Why should I stop?" Sasuke demanded.

Kabuto said, "You know the Akatsuki's on the move. We want these Leaf shinobi to get rid of the Akatsuki for us, as many of them as possible…because if other Akatsuki members interfere it would prevent you from getting your precious revenge."

"That's a pitiful excuse," Sasuke stated.

Kabuto gave Sasuke an ultimatum, of sorts, "Jeopardize your quest for vengeance or increase its chance of success… Which seems the more prudent choice to you?"

Sasuke glanced at his former team below before he started to lower his arm. Orochimaru released him, "Bright boy."

They all watched as Sasuke, Orochimaru, and Kabuto disappeared like smoke on the wind.

Naruto stared sadly at the spot before he lowered his gaze and fell to his knees.

Now the wait for Part 4 begins!