Author's Note: Welcome back!

The reviews from the last episode were awesome. Most people liked the fighting between the Akatsuki and Team 7, but there were also some critiques that I was able to take away from it. Less talking during fights, I will defintely be taking that into consideration. Thank you for all of the advice and kind words!

I've been getting back into reading fics. If you're interested in something good to read, go check out "I promise" by Yogami Asura (it'll be in my favorites section on my profile page). He's a friend of mine, and his writing is great!

Don't forget to leave a review if you enjoyed the chapter. Feel free to PM me with any questions or concerns, also. My writing progress is always up to date on my profile if you're interested. Thanks again!

Chapter 25: A Delicate Thread

Strands of Hidan's silvery-grey hair hung loosely over his face. With a growl of pain, he haphazardly ripped out the wind chakra-infused kunai that had been embedded in his side. Thick blood spurted from the wound as he tossed the blade aside, burying it in a nearby boulder. His bloodshot, rage-filled eyes fell on the culprit behind his injuries.

The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. He was far stronger than anyone in the Akatsuki had anticipated. Their initial plan was to use the Zombie Combo as a way to charge their target emotionally. With him effectively removed from the battle, the Akatsuki's victory was all but assured.

Unfortunately, the plan did not go as calculated. Still…

Even at a measly forty-percent of their power, Hidan and Kakuzu had expected to be able to capture him with relative ease. White Zetsu had well documented Kakashi's and also the pink-haired girl's strength. The only unknown variable had been the Uzumaki. His projected battle strength was to be mid-to-high Chunin level; at the most, a low Jonin level threat.

An evident miscalculation was made on their part.

'I'm slower in this worthless body, and with only forty-percent of my chakra.' He thought to himself, as he rationalized his likely defeat at the hands of the Fox child. 'And this Jutsu doesn't use our own durability. Whoever they used as a sacrifice must have been a weakling; it's causing me to slow down.' The neck injury, in particular, came to mind. That was when he noticed a drop in the sacrificial body's responsiveness.

"You can think up all of the possibilities you want." Naruto said, pointing the finger at his would-be assailant who appeared to be in deep thought. "We both know that this is over. Just give up; make this easier for both of us."

Hidan could only smirk, ill-intent barely hidden behind his murderous eyes. "If only it were that easy, brat. You have no idea what you're getting yourself into. Just remember, I never forget a face! I'll kill you one day. You can count on it."

Naruto smiled sadly. Even the prospect of killing someone who had caused him so much pain didn't appeal to him. If there were another way, he'd love to know. Yet, he knew what had to be done. "Sorry, but I can't let you continue to live. People like you only spread pain, destruction, and death to those who have done nothing to deserve it. If I don't kill you here and now, I'll be indirectly killing all of your future victims." He began to gather up a significant amount of chakra. "I can't let that happen. I won't let that happen!"

"All of you non-believers say the same thing." The zealot tightened his grip around his retractable spear. "You're ignorant to everything, and then attempt to force that ignorance on the rest of us! Who are you to say my actions are unjust when you cause just as much of the pain you condemn me for?!" He pointed to the scratched headband that hung loosely around his neck. "You justify your violence under the banner of the village you pledge your allegiance to. Where is the virtue in that? You're just a pawn in political games fueled by greed and the obsession of power. I act in the name of my Lord and Savior. A higher power fools like you couldn't even begin to comprehend!"

There was vast truth to what the Jashinist was saying. At the surface, he made strong points that were hard to dispute. The shinobi system and the ninja themselves were severely flawed. From Naruto's perspective, Humans acted in their self-interests. The shinobi system was just a method, or tool, those in power used to exercise their will on those around them. To further their own ambitions. In that sense, even Naruto was a tool in a much larger game. A game created by individuals who represent the epitome of human nature. However…

"And what about the Akatsuki? Are they not driven by the same desires that you despise?" Naruto retorted, trying to keep his emotions in check. Unlike the one called Hidan. "Don't attempt to take the moral high ground when you act on behalf of that organization's will. You don't really care about your 'virtues' at all, am I right? The Akatsuki gave you the perfect opportunity to cause as much destruction as possible and jumped at the chance. The only problem is you have to break the rules of your God to do it. Do you know what that tells me? You don't do it to adhere to some sacred creed; you're just a lunatic that enjoys mayhem and slaughter!"

Hidan's eyes narrowed dangerously. 'This kid has got me figured out…'

The chakra that the blond had been gathering began materializing in his right hand. "People like you are what is wrong with the world. All you care about are your own twisted desires. And you'll harm innocent people on your way to get it." In seconds, the Rasengan was spinning dangerously in his palm. Slowly, he began to funnel in his wind chakra. Wispy-white blades of wind chakra began to form around the perimeter of the spiraling ball, followed by a high-frequency shriek. It was so intense that it rattled the Jinchuriki's bones and caused the dirt at their feet to vibrate. "I can't let it continue!"

That technique looked familiar. 'Is that the attack the Sannin used against me? No… this is different.' Sweat dripped down the side of Hidan's face. It didn't take a genius to deduce that he probably shouldn't allow that technique to make contact with him. Though in his condition, there may not be much he could do to prevent it. The murderer smirked devilishly. "Fine, let's have it your way, boy!" The man dropped into a readied stance with his spear in hand. "Let's share in this ultimate pain together!"

They sprinted at one another at high speeds, each hellbent on delivering the decisive blow. In an instant, Hidan's spear was on a collision course with the blond's heart. Naruto's eyes widened.

'A kill shot? And he's still this fast?' Acting purely on instinct, he shot a stream of air out of his mouth, aimed at the crazed killer's attacking hand. Naruto grimaced and growled as the sharp steel punctured his skin, ripping its way through his body and out the other side. His last-second attempt appeared to be just enough to change the trajectory of the attack. The searing hot pain in his gut did not deter him. He would follow through on his declaration!

"Just die…" He whispered as he slammed his most potent technique into the abdomen of his enemy. It was immediate. The razor-sharp blades of wind dug into the zealot's skin, carving through his flesh like a red-hot knife through butter. With a final push, Naruto sent his foe, Jutsu, and all, off to his fate. "And if you can't die, just stay down!"

Hidan hissed in agony, the Jinchuriki's momentum sent him sparling through the air. In an attempt to free himself, he scratched and clawed as the technique burrowed further into his sternum. His nostrils quickly filled with the stench of scorched flesh and bone. His hands were gone, eviscerated by the serrated blades of wind that surrounded the chakra ball.

Pain was only enjoyable when he was able to share it with his victims. He bathed in the pleasure of his opponent's torture, watching the life leave their eyes while they bonded in their suffering. It was euphoric! However, what he experienced at this moment was pure anguish! Distress flashed across his face, something that Naruto picked up on. Their eyes met, and it was clear.

Though, despite that, the blond maintained a frown. "Please… just disappear."

On cue, the sphere of chakra detonated inside the immortal man's body. In a flash of blindingly beautiful blue light, he was consumed in the massive explosion. Naruto put his arm above his brow to shield some of it, but he refused to look away. His sullen expression worsened as his secret move continued to rip apart the body of his enemy.

It was a display of visceral carnage the likes of which he hadn't seen in a long time. He clenched his hand into a fist and then released it, looking down at the hand that had just held the technique. 'Did I really create something that causes this much pain?' That's right; this was the first time he used it on an actual person. Foe or not, Naruto didn't know what to feel at that moment.

Sakura and Kakashi, who had already completed their battle, came up behind him. They each placed a hand on his shoulders. He turned to them and was greeted with cheerful looks; though, his Sensei's looked a bit labored.

"What a magnificent Jutsu." The Copy Ninja was the first to speak once the commotion finally died down. "I never imagined I would see the day that the Fourth Hokage's Jutsu would finally be completed. I thought it was impossible."

"Did you take care of the other guy?" The Genin asked, sidestepping the praise his teacher had levied on him.

Kakashi blinked but nodded. "Yeah, it's over. Though, I didn't come out of it unscathed." He continued, gesturing down to his bandaged midsection. He didn't go down easily."

"Heh, I guess the same could be said for me." Naruto countered, referencing the wound he had received in their final clash. It was spurting blood from the exit wound despite his best attempts to clamp it down with pressure from his palms.

"Naruto!" Sakura had been so caught up in her teammate's display of raw power; she hadn't even noticed he was nursing a significant wound. "Let me take a look; I'll start applying aid, immediately!"

"Thanks, Sakura."

The pink-haired kunoichi was already applying her Medical Ninjutsu, evident from the emerald green light that emanated from her hands. There was no need to perform diagnostics, as the wound severity and its location were visible. Sakura didn't appear to be worried, which allowed Naruto to relax and bask in the pain-numbing effects of being healed.

The blond's eyes never left the spot where Hidan had been. The blast had formed a crater, which restricted the team's view of the immortal man.

"Kakashi-Sensei, if what he said is true, that blast wouldn't have ended him. Could you… you know?" Not sure of the correct words to say.

His teacher quickly picked up on what he meant.

"Can you go cut his head off and end this?"

The leader of Team 7 nodded as he covered his fabled eye back up with his headband. Even in his state, he would be more than enough to handle the Jashinist. 'There's no way he would still be able to move after an attack like that.'

His students watch him slowly limp his way over to the newly formed crater. "That really was amazing, Naruto." His longtime teammate echoed the sentiment of their teacher. "You nailed that guy!"

He gave her a weak smile. "Thanks, Sakura."

"Though, there is just one thing that I don't get." He looked over at her. "The way you were tossing that guy around, I'm surprised he managed to get this hit on you."

"I was planning on taking his hit. I wanted to ensure that my Rasengan would land." The dull pain in the back of his head returned. "I just didn't expect him to try to hit one of my vital spots, and was able to stop it at the last minute. "His bit the inside of his cheek so hard that he tasted blood. His weary gaze lowered to the ground beneath his feet.

Was that really all there was to it?

"I see." Sakura smiled. "Well, I bet you're glad that we were able to avenge Inari and his family."

The blond unconsciously clenched his right hand again. "I just hope that it's over. I really just want all of this to end."

'I thought he'd be happy after beating the guys that killed our friends.' Sakura smiled sadly. She was beginning to realize it was more complicated that she thought it was. "I hope so, too. But first, we have to save Gaara!"

The last sentence seemed to snap the blond out of his haze. As if it was the gentle push, he needed to stick to his convictions. "R-right." He'd have to thank Sakura for that later. "That reminds me, we have to recall Team Shikamaru. We're clearly on the right path, and we'll need them if there are going to be more Akatsuki."

"I agree." Sakura said with a nod, as her magic hands continued to stitch her friend's flesh back together. "Though we will have to take some time for you and Kakashi-Sensei to recover. You may be ready to go soon, but he'll need a couple more rounds of treatment and some rest before he's fit to continue." She had been watching with barely contained awe as Naruto's body repaired itself. It was like he didn't even need her help, and she just poured gas on the fire that was his incredible recuperative powers.

'So this is the power of being the Nine-Tail's Jinchuriki. Unreal.' It explained so much. Despite some debilitating injuries he's sustained, Naruto never had to stay in the hospital for that long. Hell, he rarely got tired. His stamina has always been off of the charts.

"That's fine by me." Naruto said, taking out a scroll similar to the one he gave Shikamaru. Sakura looked on with mild curiosity as he unfurled the scroll. The blond performed his favorite hand sign, shut his eyes, and then placed his hand on a sealing matrix placed at the center of the parchment. "Shadow Clone Jutsu."

The Fuinjutsu scribble glowed brightly, then dimmed back to its normal color.

Sakura looked even more unsure, glancing between the scroll and Naruto. Seeing this, he smiled. "Let's go meet up with Sensei. I'll explain it then, so I won't have to twice."

Sakura nodded. "Need a hand?" She leaned towards him slightly, a sweet smile on her face. "I can help support you if walking is still difficult."

"No, I'm feeling a lot better." He patted his stomach for effect, but his slight wince ruined the image he was trying to create of himself. "Oops." He smiled sheepishly. "Well, it isn't as healed as I thought it would be, but I can still walk fine."

The kunoichi crossed her arms out in front of her and shook her head. "Well, I guess you aren't completely different. That idiot I knew from a few years ago is still in there, isn't he?"

They continued to chat as they walked over to where they Sensei had gone.

The blond chuckled. "I don't think I changed all that much, Sakura. Honest." He rubbed the back of his head. "I'm still Naruto Uzumaki, ya know?"

"You're definitely still Naruto Uzumaki, but I don't think we can call you the Number Hyperactive Knucklehead Ninja anymore. Hyperactive people don't meditate."

"Aww, but I kinda liked that nickname." He said in feigned sadness.

Sakura shook her head.

They finally reached the crater their opponent was lying at the bottom of. The Rasengan variant had launched the Akatsuki member a significant distance. At the very bottom, Kakashi was standing in front of the remains of a corpse.

The Copy Ninja was as still as a statue, as he looked down at the remains.

"What's wrong, Sensei?" Naruto called down to him, and he and Sakura slide down the slope. "Everything okay?"

Their teacher was blocking their view of Hidan. He turned to look at them, a grave expression reflected through his eye. Without a word, the Jonin moved out of the way.

Several emotions flashed through the eyes of the teens. Confusion and shock were among them. Though, Naruto had one unique to him.

"W-What the h-hell is this?" He stuttered out.

Disgust.

The corpse, or what was left of it, was a frightening sight. From the upper chest, all the way down to just above the knees was nearly gone. The wind-infused Rasengan had annihilated over half of the body. Blood was everywhere. That wasn't even the worst part, and the carnage had little to do with the ill-feeling it left in the boy's stomach.

This man was not Hidan.

And from the headband, the man he had killed hailed from the Village Hidden in the Sand.

Naruto stumbled backward, only for Sakura to catch him. He couldn't look away from his handiwork. Sweat began to accumulate just above his brow until it slowly dripped down his face. The speed of his breath quickened. His heart clenched.

"Naruto, it's okay!" Sakura's words were falling on deaf ears. The Genin's hyperventilation worsened. Instinctively, the pinkette pulled his head to her chest. She didn't know what else to do; she hoped that her embrace would help calm him down. She gave their teacher a look that said, 'What are we supposed to do?! I'm a medic; this isn't a physical problem.'

Kakashi looked like he was about to do something, but it was clear from his eye. He had no idea what caused the boy's reaction and had no clue how to help.

While his two teammates scrambled to snap him out of his episode, there was only one thing on his mind.

'Did I just kill an innocent person?'

Itachi looked on with his best attempt at indifference as the Sealing Jutsu continued to eat away at Gaara's defenses. Every so often, the former Kazekage would let out a whimper or groan, probably from the pain he was enduring from the Tailed Beast extraction. It was difficult to watch, but it had to be done. That was what he tried to convince himself, at least.

Some movement in his peripheral alerted him to the return of the pair. Kisame not so affectionately referred to them as the Zombie Combo. Even though they were astral projections, the two shadows did not look very pleased. The Uchiha had to resist the urge to grin.

"Hidan, Kakuzu, what is your report? Did you capture the Nine-Tails?" Pain asked with an air of authority.

Based on their leader's rigid posture, Itachi could already guess he knew the answer to his question. The truth was evident on the duo's respective faces. They had failed. Discussing any further was merely a formality at this point.

"Well, you see…" Hidan rubbed the back of his head and avoided making any eye contact. "We ran into trouble along the way."

"So, you failed." That didn't sound like a question, but a statement. Pain did not have time for roundabout excuses.

"Our plan to enrage the Nine-Tails to weaken the enemy's battle strength failed." Kakuzu took over, hoping the reasoning behind the debacle would be in their favor. "They were much more powerful than we anticipated. Especially the Jinchuriki."

"I see." He did not sound pleased with the news. He looked over to the Akatuski's designated scout. "Zetsu, what is their position? Will we have enough time to extract the One-Tails?"

The plant-like creature squirmed under the gaze of the organization's leader but answered, nonetheless. "They appear to have stopped to rest and heal. Though, given the amount of time we still have to complete the extraction, they are likely to arrive before we finish."

"Hm." Pain turned to another of his subordinates. "Sasori, do you have any other bodies that you could lend to my Impersonation Jutsu?" The answer was swift and silent. Sasori shook his head.

"You know what this means, don't you?" He did not wait for anyone to respond. "Itachi, Sasori, you two will most likely have to fight off these bothersome pests while the rest of us finish our business here. Is that understood?"

Of course." The hunchback said maliciously. "And while I'm at it, I'll capture my Jinchuriki."

"Just ensure they don't interfere with our plans. The One-Tails must be completely sealed."

"Hidan, Kakuzu." Sasori growled. "The Jinchuriki, how strong is he?"

The cultist sneered at the mere mention of the vessel of the Nine-Tails. Though, since he was the one who mainly fought the brat, it was only fitting that he answered the hunchback. "He can make shadow clones and have them blow up. And it looked like he could use two changes in chakra nature. Wind and Water."

"Is that it?" A relatively impressive skillset for a child, but nothing to be worried about. "Sounds like you lost to a weakling."

"Tch, whatever." The immortal man scoffed. "Oh, and just so you know, he has a Wind Ball Jutsu that…" He paused, unsure if he should even be telling the cocky bastard about it. It would be much more enjoyable to leave him in the dark and then hear from Zetsu later that he had died. "Don't let it hit you, or you'll be in for a ride."

Sasori rose an eyebrow at that last bit of information but said nothing.

The Akatsuki leader shut his eyes and let out a heavy sigh. At times it felt like he was a babysitter, not the organizer of the world's most powerful criminal syndicate. "If that is all, let us now focus on continuing the sealing of the Beast. That way, we can finish this up while Itachi and Sasori… greet our guests."

"Why do they get to have all of the fun? Hm." Deidara scoffed. "Kisame, after this is over, let's take a more… hands-on assignment."

"Hehe, sounds good to me. I haven't rampaged in a while." He responded as he unconsciously grabbed the hilt of his massive sword. "Samehada and I are itching for a decent chakra meal."

'They seem to be getting along much better than Sasori and I.' The Uchiha criminal thought with a hint of annoyance. His partnership with Kisame was rather enjoyable. They had mutual respect for their abilities. They didn't talk too much to the point where it was annoying and didn't talk too little to where it was boring. He knew Deidara didn't like him, but the puppeteer didn't like anyone. If someone held a kunai to his throat and told him to choose, he'd pick Deidara over Sasori every time.

Oh well, not like he could change his position. It would just be something he'd have to endure for the time being.

It'd been hours, but Shikamaru was still analyzing the predicament they were in. Had he made the right choice? The more he thought about it, the more unsure he became. On the one hand, listening to anything a Demon Fox said probably wasn't the best idea. Yet, that doesn't mean it is impossible. Had that reality clouded his judgment? After all, we're talking about the same monster that demolished the Hidden Leaf Village fifteen years ago. He couldn't have possibly been telling the truth.

Right?

What had been bothering the most was what Naruto had said. He made several good points. Even if the Nine-Tails wanted to jerk them around, it was in its best interest to help the Leaf team rescue Gaara. The weaker the Akatsuki, the less likely they'll be able to capture Naruto. It was logical, rational. That was what was frustrating him the most. If Shikamaru held himself in high regard in any area, it would be his critical thinking and logical mind. If that were indeed the case, why would he allow emotions to disrupt his thought process and decision making?

'Hinata, Sakura, and even Kakashi-sensei trusted Naruto immediately. He was the only one who had any contact with the Nine-Tails, so I should have taken what he had to say more seriously.' A frown penetrated his lackadaisical demeanor. 'That's so unlike me. This is turning into a real drag.'

"Shikamaru."

He turned to his side. Temari was already looking his way.

"Yeah?"

"Something on your mind?" She asked. "You're making that same face from when we fought in the Chunin Exams."

Shikamaru blinked but nodded. "Yeah, I'm just wondering if we made the right choice. I'm not sure why, but I have the feeling that we should have followed Naruto and the others."

The Sand Jonin sighed as she turned to face ahead. "Yeah… I kind of figured that was what you were thinking. I was wondering the same thing, myself."

"What? I thought you wouldn't be able to trust what the Demon said?"

"At first, that was really what I thought." The Kakzekage's sister frowned. "But after thinking it over, I just think I jumped to that conclusion because I was scared. All I could remember was how Gaara used to be before."

"What made you change your mind?"

"…It's Naruto. He's the one who changed my little brother in the first place. I should trust him, shouldn't I? I know someone like Naruto wouldn't allow a demon to change who he is."

"What is your decision, captain? Should we continue our trek to the Sand Village, or regroup with Team Kakashi? The deeper into the desert we get, the harder it will be to turn around." Pakkun, who had been listening to the entire conversation, decided to ask.

"Especially if there is a sandstorm." The only shinobi present from the Land of Wind added.

Shikamaru let out a sigh. He'd have to get the opinion of the last member of their little squad. Though, the Nara already knew what that answer was going to be. "Hinata, what do you think?"

Before the Hyuga could say anything on the matter, she noticed something with her active Byakugan. "Shikamaru, I think we should stop. The scroll Naruto gave you is glowing and leaking chakra."

He flipped open his pouch, and sure enough, it was true. Just as the Uzumaki described it when he handed over the scroll, the symbol on the outside was glowing brightly. "I've been curious about this since he gave it to us. Naruto said it would glow if he had any new information that needed to be shared."

The group immediately stopped and kneeled in the hot sand. Everyone waited with bated breath for the contents of the seal to be revealed.

The man with pineapple hair unfurled the parchment and injected a bit of his chakra into its center. The chain reaction was immediate; a 'poof,' followed by a cloud of smoke that enveloped the team.

"Ah, that's much better. It was really cramped in there, ya know?" A very familiar voice rang out.

They knew that voice… but how?

"Is that…" Shikamaru began, unsure of himself. As the fumes dissipated, the answer was staring him right in the face. "Naruto, it is you! How are you here?"

"Oh, I'm just a clone." He patted himself down for effect. "The boss hasn't figured out a way to send actual people in between seals, just clones."

"You were just created?" Hinata asked, clearly confused by the presence of the clone. "How was he able to do that?"

The doppelganger grinned. "It's pretty simple once you understand the mechanics behind sealing matrixes. You can think of the scroll that the real Naruto has as point A, and the one he gave you guys as point B. They are linked by an identical chakra transportation seal. Through this, chakra is transmitted between them." He thought for a moment. "Though there is still quite a bit of energy loss during transmission, so my shadow clones are the only things that can really go through it. Still working the kinks out on that one." He finished with a half-hearted shrug.

The Hyuga heiress could only nod dumbly. Fuinjutsu was something she did not know much about.

"As much as I'm sure we'd all love to talk about Fuinjutsu, there was a reason you came to us. Am I right?" The Nara asked. He wasn't trying to be rude. They were on a time crunch, after all.

"Did something happen?" Temari piped up. Maybe there was good news to be had about her brother? Even though he was a clone, the Genin seemed far too upbeat for there to be any bad news.

"Oh, right." The clone rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. Talking about seals just made him excited. "They sent me over to you guys to let you know that they made contact with the Akatsuki."

"They what?!" The genius of the group said with a shocked tone. "Is everyone okay? We need to get over there as soon as possible!"

"No, no. It's alright." The duplicate assured. "They're fine. Kakashi and the real me sustained some injuries so they will have to rest, but they're not in any danger."

"So, you… they won?" Temari asked carefully. "Does that mean Gaara's safe."

"No, we still don't have Gaara." He said quickly, as not to be cut off by the worried Sand Sibling. "We made contact before reaching where they have Gaara kept. It was probably to either delay us or to capture me. We don't really know for sure as of right now."

"I would say a combination of both." The Nara concluded. "Their primary goal was probably to capture the real Naruto. In the case, they failed, they also had the added benefit of delaying your arrival by either exhausting or injuring you."

"Yeah, that makes sense." The Leaf Genin agreed. "The three of them are going to rest up and heal before heading back out. We want you to meet us there. We may very well have another fight on our hands. There is no way to really tell."

"Can you lead us there, Naruto?" Temari asked. "You know… with help from the Fox?"

Naruto shook his head. "I'm just a clone; I don't have the same connection right now. Based on where they were going, I have a general idea, but nothing that's going to be accurate."

"Pakkun?" Shikamaru asked as he leaned down to have the ninja hound sniff the scroll.

The Pug obliged, walking over to the kneeled over Nara. After sniffing for Naruto's scent for a few moments, he looked Northeast. "I think I got it." He finally said.

"They probably have a hideout in the heart of the Land of Rivers. We were heading Southwest." The clone added, hoping Pakkun would take that into account when tracking Team Kakashi's location.

"You guys are pretty close, then." The dog stated.

"Yeah." The clone confirmed with a nod. He looked around at the surroundings. "Based on where you guys are, even though they have to rest and heal, they'll probably get there first. After all, I'm sure you have been rushing to try and get to the Sand Village. You'll have to take a break soon so you can be in fighting shape."

"Yeah, that's probably smart." Shika agreed.

"I'll stay with you guys for now." The clone continued. "If anything comes up, everything I experience will be sent back to the original."

The Nara nodded. He appreciated the foresight the blond doppelganger displayed. "Good plan. And, while you're at it, you can clue us in on all of the original's abilities. If we're going to be meeting up for group combat, we must know each other's move sets."

The Genin grinned. "Sounds good to me."

"I see, so that's how you're able to communicate with Shikamaru's team." Kakashi said. "Then, it's safe to say that they'll be pretty close behind us. He held up a note they had just recently received. "Not only that, according to the update from Lady Tsunade Team Kurenai should be dispatched from the Leaf by now."

"We're going to be coming at them from all sides. There's no way they'll be able to escape." Sakura commented on the news. "Naruto, isn't that great?"

Everything was moving so slow. As if time itself was grinding to a halt. His eyes darted down and off to the side. They had discussed the outlook of the mission right next to the corpse of Kakuzu. Well, it was supposed to be the masked Akatsuki member.

Yet, just like the incident with Hidan, it was not the case.

Once they helped Naruto recover from his panic, they had concluded it must be the work of an Akatsuki Jutsu. No one from Team 7 had seen a technique like this before; initial estimates put it as a near S-Rank technique.

When they focused on the mission, that seemed to help take the Genin's mind off of what had just happened. The blond had briefly explained to them how he was able to alert and update Team Nara on the status of the mission. And yet, they knew it wasn't that simple. He had been shaken to his core and would need some time to come to terms with it all.

Though, they had no idea how deep the pain ran. No one did.

"Naruto!" Kakashi called out to him, which seemed to snap him out of his daze. "Are you still with us?"

The boy in question blinked. That was a loaded question, but he still had a simple answer.

"Yeah, I'm alright." He managed to say. Though, how true that statement was, was a mystery. "I wonder if they're aware that three teams will be closing in on them." He commented on what Sakura had said just moments before.

"What difference would knowing make?" Sakura asked. "Even if they were aware, what could they really do?"

"Is something on your mind, Naruto?" Kakashi followed up.

He nodded. "Ever since we left the village, Master Jiraiya had been keeping tabs on Akatsuki movement. After their failed attempt to capture me in Wave, they tried their best to mask themselves. They essentially went dark, making it difficult to tell what they were doing."

"What does that have to do with this?" Sakura was still confused.

"The Akatsuki had three years to prepare for this moment. If they weren't making noise in typical fashion, that means they had plenty of time and thought to put into other things."

"Like planning their first moves…" Kakashi finished with a nod of agreement. It seemed the team had just made a grave realization. As good as it appeared, there was a high chance things were about to get worse.

"What could they have in store for us?"

If Naruto was honest with himself, he wasn't that smart. Far from it. The only reason he had made it this far in his thought process was that this was something that had been on his mind for the better part of a year. Because beyond that…

"…I don't know…" Was all he could say on the matter

"Are you two ready?" A feminine voice said. "As you know, we've been called on to be backup to Kakashi's new squad."

The group was standing just outside the enormous gates of the Leaf Village. Four figures.

"I think it would be wise if we departed immediately, Sensei. Hinata and the other's may need our assistance." Came a deep, monotonous voice commented. "Wouldn't you agree, Kiba?"

"Yeah, that's right, Shino." Kiba said with a feral grin. "Even though Hinata has gone off to be apart of a cool new squad, we'll always be there to have her back!" He stood beside a massive dog; one could only assume was Akamaru.

He barked in approval of his master's words. They all cared deeply for the Hyuga Heiress.

Kurenai nodded. She couldn't help but smile at her team. They weren't whole, but that didn't stop them from being an effective and dangerous team. They missed Hinata's eyes, sure, but with two other elite trackers, who could minimize the loss as best as possible.

"Have you located her scent, Kiba?" The Genjutsu specialist asked.

"Yeah, we got it." He answered. "Just follow Akamaru and me, and we'll be there in no time. To which the fluffy, white dog barked in agreement.

With that, Team 8 look off into the trees in the direction of their precious teammate.

Though, while Hinata's safety was certainly on their minds, so was the thought of someone else. A person that none of them had seen in quite a while.

"Naruto is back in the village, too, huh?" The Ninja Hound user asked cockily. "Man, that kid just gets back and immediately is handed an S-Rank mission. Lady Tsunade really has a soft spot for that guy. Wish I was that lucky!"

The sun reflected off of the Aburame's black-tinted glasses. He pushed them further up the bridge of his nose. "Naruto has been away training with Master Jiraiya for over two years." His measured, logical approach contrasted drastically with the wild Inuzuka. "One would assume that he has become quite the shinobi."

"As if, I'm probably way stronger than that worthless Genin!" Despite that comment, Kiba couldn't hide the smile on his face. "I'll have to upstage him this time. To repay him for our match in the Chunin Exams!"

"You mean when he overwhelmed your sense of smell and kicked your face into the ground?" Shino challenged without a touch of humor in his voice.

"It was a lucky fart, and you know it!" That wound still appeared to be very sore. He didn't like to be reminded of the loss that caused him the most embarrassment in his entire life.

Kurenai chuckled to herself as she watched her two students squabble. Well, Kiba's squabble and whatever word you would use to describe what Shino was doing.

No one can ever read that boy.

"I am interested to see how much Naruto has changed, as well." Shino admitted. "Not only that, but I am appreciative that I am not being left out of an important mission." Even though a hood and glasses covered ninety-percent of his face, you could tell he was upset. "Unlike last time..."

Kiba scowled. "Are you sulking again?" He asked, exasperated by his teammate's moodiness. "You were away with your dad when Sasuke left the village. What did you want us to do, wait for you to get back?"

"Let Shino grieve, Kiba." She said, clearly amused by their back and forth.

"Ah, c'mon! Don't enable him, Sensei!" He pointed the finger at the leader of Team 8. "He's just gonna keep doing it if you're like that!"

Kurenai giggled. "Speaking of Naruto, did either of you get a chance to read his book? Hinata seemed quite enthralled with it when it came out."

The Inuzuka gave her an odd look as if to signify he was still focused on Shino's silent tantrum. Though, once the question registered in his brain, he grimaced.

"You should know as well as anyone, Sensei." Shino cut in. "Kiba does not read."

The Ninja Hound user was going to fire back a retort, but, as the words sunk in, he found himself agreeing with the Insect User. He couldn't remember the last time he had read a book.

The best he could manage was a grumble of half-hearted disagreement with his friend's assessment of his literary interests.

"Well, I thought that since it was a friend's book, you may be more inclined to read it." Kurenai said. "After this mission is over, I recommend giving it a chance. I'll lend you my copy if you'd like?" She smiled sweetly. "It's… quite the interesting read."

"I would have to concur with Kurenai-Sensei." The Aburame added. "The amount you can learn about someone through their writing is quite staggering." He pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. "Perhaps you could even learn something about Naruto that could help you 'one-up' him, as you would say."

Kiba rolled his eyes and let out a weak groan. Whenever he thought about that book, all he saw was Hinata fawning all over it. At first, he was curious. What could be so compelling that it would occupy most of the Hyuga's free time? Then, he began seeing that orange book all over the village. Everyone was reading it. That had made him even more curious. Only then did he find out.

Naruto had written it.

The Inuzuka didn't know how to feel about it. In the Academy, Naruto had been inferior to him in every way. Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Academics. Though, Kiba would be the first to admit that schoolwork wasn't one of his strong points.

But Naruto was supposed to be worse!

Then, in what seemed like a flash, he had to watch the blond surpass him in strength. Even when Team 8 had plenty of rest after the Forest of Death, a fatigued and beaten Naruto humiliated him in front of everyone. If that weren't bad enough, the Rookie-Nine came to find that Naruto would be getting specialized training under the tutelage of one of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya. He already had to watch his rival soar past him; there was no way the Dog User would catch him now.

And now, he was a best-selling author? Was there nothing the kid couldn't do? It was infuriating to watch someone that was supposed to have no talent suddenly have all the ability in the world. Kiba wanted to be happy for his friend, he really did. But…

His ego was making it difficult to accept it. He felt utterly inferior to someone that, not too long ago, had been beneath him.

To some, his reaction and attitude would seem contentious and stubborn. Kiba knew that, but that didn't make it easier.

'We're supposed to be rivals.' He thought to himself. His hands balled tightly into fists. 'How can I call him my rival when he's gotten so much better than me. Embarrassing me in the Chunin Exams, S-Rank missions, training under a legend, a famous author…' He frowned. 'That kid is so lucky; everything comes easy to him. He's had it so easy…' He wasn't proud of these thoughts. Naruto was still very much his friend.

"Yeah." The Inuzuka finally said. "Maybe I will have to check it out once we get back." His words sounded forced. In reality, he had no intention to read Naruto's book. His pride wouldn't allow it.

Maybe if he did, he'd realize how wrong his thoughts about Naruto were.

Author's Note: Did anyone else get Shigaraki vs All Might vibes when Hidan and Naruto were talking to each other? The conversation when those two first meet inspired my scene somewhat. Hidan claims to act in the name of his God, but just comes off as a guy who does it solely for the thrill of death and destruction.

Team Kurenai has left the Leaf, which means there are a lot of moving parts in this arc. It'll be a little difficult navigating the different POV's, but I'll try my best to make it not suck.

Thoughts, comments, questions, or concerns? Leave a review, or shoot me a PM! It's quarantine... I don't have a life right now. I'll answer, trust me!

See you next time for Chapter 26: Three Fronts!

TheSoundOfThunderingEngines - Yes. He'll be forever in our hearts!

TrenchcoatMan - That's the Wind Style: Rasengan, not the Rasenshuriken. There are two separate Jutsu in canon. In my version of Naruto's training, he never learned the Rasenshuriken. Not yet, anyway.

ThelittleKing - I'm glad you enjoyed it! Cliffhangers are fun to write, but I don't want to overdo them. And yeah, the Akatsuki now knows that Naruto is not one to be underestimated.

Don't worry about Sasuke, he will be making his appearance in the next arc. He'll be a pretty major character, and he definitely won't be bashed.

DovahkiinGod - Keep in mind that Naruto is by no means a Fuinjutsu Master. To be able to use it effectively in battle against S-Rank threats... that'll take some time. Jiraiya is his mentor, and even he isn't that proficient in the art. He'll have to teach himself, so it'll take time.

This was also never meant to be a Fuinjutsu-heavy fanfic. As far as I see it, it's just another tool in his toolbelt.

Passive Person - Your favorite? That's definitely high praise. Hopefully I can continue to live up to that!