Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Finally Found:
It was mid-afternoon when the team reached the border of Amegakure, and the dark clouds hanging overhead signaled something ominous.
The team had decided earlier that it would be in their interest to split off into smaller groups before they crossed the border. They also hid the fact they were Hidden Leaf Shinobi.
Kakashi, Sai, Kiba, and Akamaru split into one team, Yamato, Shikamaru, Ino split into another, Shino went with the Hyuga cousins, and Sakura, and Choji, Tenten, and Lee decided to split into another. The moment the teams split, Neji and Hinata activated their Byakugan's looking for any sign of their blonde friend.
Kakashi summoned his ninken and together with Akamaru, they went to work on sniffing out Naru. The rain made it difficult for the dogs to pick up anything, unfortunately.
Sai under normal circumstances would have flown overhead, but due to this being Amegakure, the team decided it was better not to risk detection; especially since it might tip off the Akatsuki where Naru was. Ino covered for him though by using her mind transfer jutsu on a passing hawk.
The team had only been searching for about twenty minutes when Neji radioed the group, "Kakashi my team found small traces of Naru's chakra past the Ame border. What do you want us to do, sir?" he asked.
Kakashi was silent a moment before he answered, "Neji continue to follow the trail, the rest of us will catch up with you," he said.
"Hai!" Neji responded.
The group quickly headed towards the direction where Neji's team was searching. It took them less than thirty seconds to catch up with them; when the group arrived, they found the Hyuga's looking over a wide space of land.
Kakashi approached Sakura and Shino, "Have you found anything else," he asked.
Shino made eye contact with copy ninja, "Not anything conclusive, but just before you arrived Neji and Hinata thought they saw something," he said.
Kakashi nodded, the news making him slightly anxious; however, he did not have time to lament as a shout from Hinata drew his attention.
Hinata pointed a shaking hand over to a pile of rocks about a hundred feet away, "I see her! Naru, she's under those rocks!" she said.
Kakashi didn't wait, he took off towards the rock pile, the rest of the group right behind him. As soon as he reached the pile he was hit with a memory, but he pushed it away and focused on moving the rocks away.
Sakura, Choji, and Rock Lee assisted him in removing the rocks; after what felt like an eternity they finally saw Naru's figure. When the last rock was removed the team gasped in horror.
What had those bastards done to her!
Naru's body was being protected by a shield of red chakra, but despite that, she was still in awful shape.
The girl's once beautiful hair was burned, her beautiful face was covered in blood, her body was twisted indicated a severe spinal fracture, and finally, there was a decent size hole in her chest. If it weren't for the Nine-Tails, she would most defiantly be dead.
Kakashi bent down to check on her. The moment he did the Kyubi reduced some of its chakra so he could examine her. The Nine Tails recognized its containers mate.
"Dear God! What the hell happened to you Naru," he thought, feeling for a pulse.
Kakashi felt nothing for a brief second then he felt a brief pulse hit his fingertips, "Thank God," he thought, before turning to his pink-haired student, "Sakura! Stabilize her," he said.
Sakura, who was looking at Naru in horror, snapped out of her thoughts, Hai! Sensei! Ino I need you to help me," she said, as Ino and she got to work quickly.
Once that was taken care of Kakashi turned to Yamato, "Yamato do you know where the closest village is," he asked.
The wood user nodded, "Hai! The Hidden Sand is the closest village near here," he said.
Kakashi nodded, "I thought so," he said before turning towards Sai. "Sai I need you to start towards the Hidden Sand, warn them that we're on our way and that we have a shinobi in need of emergency assistance, Lee go with him," he said.
The young men didn't say anything, they simply saluted the older man and took off to complete their mission, both silently prayed Naru would get there in time.
Kakashi watched them go as he contemplated his next move. He was distracted though by a familiar voice, weakly calling his name; he turned and saw Naru staring at him weakly.
"Naru!" He said, leaning down so he was at her level.
Naru moved her eyes, so she was looking at him without moving her neck, "Kakashi, are the others alright," she asked.
The Copy ninja looked at her confused, "Who?" he asked.
Naru looked at him slightly panicked, "My teammates! Kenshin, Ray, and Shinji, are they alright," she asked looking panicked.
Kakashi's face darkened at the mention of the traitors' names, but Naru misinterpreted his expression as being angry at her. Tears began to fill her eyes, "Sensei, please tell me they're alright. I promise you, I didn't abandon them," she sobbed.
Kakashi looked at her in surprise and then deep sorrow, " Shhhh Naru, calm down. I'm not angry at you and I know you'd never abandon a comrade," he said, placing his hand on her cheek.
Naru calmed a little at that, but anyone could see she was still worried about those bastards. It left the Copy ninja feeling pissed off that they had taken advantage of his girlfriend like that.
It got real quiet after that until finally Sakura and Ino quit working, "We've stabilized her as much as we can Sensei," Sakura said.
Kakashi nodded gently picking up Naru, "Alright everyone. Head out!" he said, taking off.
Author's note: So what do you think, next chapter will focus on everyone's reactions.