Disclaimer: I do not own any wrights to Naruto or Shadow Skill. I merely use their characters and themes for entertainment purposes.

The assembled shinobi and nomads were gathered in the meeting room that was designated for them. When the first meeting was called a few of the shinobi were surprised to see outsiders in such an important meeting, but held their tongue after it was explained that the leader of the team had requested them. When the saw Jiraiya in the room they assumed that it was he to ask for the nomads. When the shinobi learned it was Naruto that suggested them Aki and Sho objected, most of the others had either heard of them from friends or met them personally. Aki and Sho soon shut their mouths when they learned that Naruto would have just as much say over the team as Jiriaya, and that the Hokage personally approved the nomads involvement. During the first meeting everyone was shocked by the announcement that they would be the team that would directly deal with the Tailed Beasts and Akatsuki but accepted the position anyway.

It was about a week since the first meeting and five members of the group were away tracking down a lead on the whereabouts of the Three Tailed Panther. The six that were gone were, Jiriaya because word about it being sealed had reached them, Gai, Lee, Hiashi, Ino and Zala; one of the nomads, because of a strange language that were reported by the lead. "The last report from Jiriaya's team indicated they found the last known location of the Three Tailed Panther in Grass Country and are searching for it's exact location," Naruto reported to the group, "Now Aki, Sho, and Lin what have you found in the archives?"

Lin became involved in the research part of the team when it was discover that some of the references to the Tailed Beasts were written in the ancient runic language. Lin aided Aki and Sho in several translations. In fact the three worked so well together Naruto decided that Lin should be a permanent part of the research team. Aki as head of the team stood up, "We have been trying to find the location of the last two Tailed Beasts, the Seven Tailed Ox and the Eight Tailed Dragon. It has been difficult to track them through the archives mainly because there has not been a sighting for either one of them for the past one hundred years. The last known sighting of the Ox was to the far northern boarder in Cloud Country and the Dragon in the southern part of Tea Country."

"But other than that we have very little idea where they could be," So continued. "According to our research these particular Tailed Beasts are the least active ones. The appearances seem to be at random and those appearances range from glimpses on the horizon to people coming within less than thirty meters of them. The odd thing is only a few times did the Tailed Beasts actually attack people."

"Were the attacks on villages or small groups of people?" Naruto asked.

"Villages for the most part," Lin answered, "In fact there was a survivor account of the Eight Tailed Dragon's destruction of Moon Village, 'The great beast descended on our village. We had been preparing for weeks, after all it was no secret that the attempt to capture and use the Dragon had failed and it would be coming for us. Its sheer size blocked out the sun as it descended onto the village. No one had the power to stop it even the Kage in the end the village was destroyed leavening little more than a ruin.' This witness account was over two hundred years old. It was copied by the First Hokage from a journal he found in his travels in the west."

"So the only clues we have are general locations in Cloud and Tea Country," Kakashi mused, "Not much to go on."

"Where do we stand on facts, Shikamaru?" Naruto asked.

"We know the location of only two of the Tailed Beasts, the One Tail Raccoon in Suna and the Five Tail Tiger near Mist," Shikamaru replied, "We also know that the Akatsuki have taken the Four Tailed Wolf and the Six Tailed Hawk. We suspect that the Two Tailed Bear has also been from Stone, but we cannot be certain. Stone is being rather uncooperative."

"What is your opinion on the status of the Bear?" Naruto asked.

"In my opinion," Shikamaru said, "I would say Akatsuki has it. Stone did not believe our warning and have not mentioned anything about fighting off the Akatsuki. It is safe to assume they would advertise they were able to defeat members of Akatsuki if they had."

"Okay so as of this moment we will consider them to have the Two Tailed Bear as well. And what of the Tiger?"

"At the moment it is still safe," Shikamaru said, "Mist has increased security around its prison and have been rather corporative with its updates. They are asking that we give them as much information on Akatsuki's members as we have."

"Do you think that is wise?" Kurenai asked.

"I believe so," Kiba answered, "S-class criminals are rated as threats to all shinobi villages. That means if any are working with other S-class then that only increases the risk and Akatsuki are nine S-class Missing-nins."

"I agree with Kiba," Shikamaru stated, "They have provided us with the abilities of the Samehada that Kisame uses. So I believe it would be in our best interest to tell them as much as we do."

"Okay," Naruto agreed, "Send a messenger bird with the known information on the members we know about. Until Juriaya's team send word…"

A Chunin rushing into the room cut off Naruto, "I'm sorry for interrupting but we have an urgent message from Suna about Akatsuki."

"What does it say?" Naruto asked.

"It says that two people matching the descriptions of the outfits Akatsuki wears had been spotted on the outskirts of Suna. Garra and a team of Jounins went after them but have not reported back."

"We should go and help," Kakashi advised, "We cannot afford to have Akatsuki take possession of another Tailed Beast."

"Alright," Naruto nodded, "Tell the Hokage that we are going to Suna to deal with Akatsuki." The Chunin nodded well aware of the duties this group had. Once he left Naruto turned to group, "We need speed on this one to be of any help to Suna. Kakashi, Sakura, Neji, and Shizune are coming with me. The rest of you wait here and send word to Jiriaya on our situation. While I'm gone I'm leaving Shikamaru in charge until Jiriaya or I gets back. The only one who can override Shikamaru's orders are is Tsunade or the Third." Everyone nodded in understanding, "Meet at the West Gate in fifteen minutes."

Just after Naruto left he was met by Sasuke, "I'm going with you."

"No you're not," Naruto returned, "I know what you are thinking and Itachi is not there. If he was Suna would have said so. We told them the members we knew of for certain, the message said two unknown members." Sasuke did not look like he would relent so Naruto continued, "With Jiriaya and I both gone you are the only one strong enough if other members of Akatsuki up. I need you here more than I need you with me."

Alright," Sasuke relented, "But remember if Itachi…"

"I know," Naruto said, "I gave my word that if any reports say Itachi is involved you would go. You have my word." Sasuke nodded and Naruto went off to get ready.

Jiriaya's team were kneeling patiently outside of what looked like some kind of out post. The six were positioned about a kilometer away from the outpost. Four members of the group were kneeled in the one knee, one leg under their body the other forward. The other two had both knees under them, each with a look of extreme concentration on their faces. One was a middle aged man with long black hair with his white eyes wide open staring off to the out post, the second was a teen age blonde girl with her eyes shut tightly. The blonde was focusing all her attention on the person she was controlling in the outpost while the black haired man was waiting for the girl's signal to show that it was clear for the group to enter. After about fifteen minutes Hiashi spoke, "There's the signal."

"Here's the plan," Jiriaya said. "Gai Lee stay here to guard Ino. Hiashi, Zala you're coming with me. We need someone who can look around corners and someone who can read those runes."

No one objected but Gai asked, "How do we know if the something goes wrong?"

"Ino will let go of her control of the guard and return to warn you," Jiriaya said. Without another word the three people dashed to the outpost.

A couple of minutes later they were greeted by the guard Ino was controlling, "I was able to secure a route to the past the outer wall. Once we're inside we'll have to play it by ear though." The three nodded and followed Ino/guard.

She led the three to the inside of the wall. "Hiashi take a look around and tell us what you see," Jiriaya ordered.

Activating his Byakugan Hiashi looked around them, through wall, around corners and even through the ceiling and floor. "There are two guards about ten meters around the corner and three on the other side of the wall. No one above or below us."

"Ino go distract the guard and we'll get them from behind," Jiriaya said. Ino nodded and made her way around the corner. Hiashi was keeping watch and nodded as soon as the guards' backs were to the group. They then silently and swiftly snuck up and knocked them out. This routine continued until they reached a central vault.

"This is where the prison should be," Ino said. "And we should hurry, I starting to get tired."

"How much longer do you have?" Zala asked.

"I can probably go for another half hour or so," Ino said.

"Let's hurry then," Jiriaya said. They undid the locks and opened the vault. What was in the room surprised them. It was empty except for some seals and other writing on the walls ceiling and floor. "Is this the right room?" he wondered silently.

"Yes it is," Zala said, "The writing is the runic language."

"What does it say?" Hiashi asked.

"Mostly about trapping a great power," Zala answered, "An ancient power from another place."

"And the seals are specially designed for binding a great amount of chakra," Jiriaya said. "This is or was the right place, but the question is, was the prison moved or stolen?"

"I would say stolen," Hiashi answered. "I can still see large amounts of charka being generated by the seals. That would mean that they do not know the prison is gone."

"Alright I'll start coping the seals Zala start coping the runes," Jiriaya ordered, "We can figure them out completely later." The went to work, there were less runes than seals as it appeared that whom ever designed this place was not as familiar with them as they were seals.

They were almost done when Ino stated, "Guys I'm getting rather tired here, hurry it up!"

"Yes do hurry," Hiashi said, "I can see guards coming this way, and it is only a matter of time until they notice the other guards that are missing."

"I'm done you?" Zala asked. Jiriaya nodded and the four left the room.

Outside the strong hold Gai and Lee were getting nervous. In their opinion the infiltration was taking to long. "Gai-sensei, wouldn't it have been faster if they used Henge to get past the guards instead making Ino control one."

"Normally yes," Gai answered, "But remember Lee, Zala may be a skilled warrior but she does not know Henge no Jutsu. There for it would not be practical to even try it." Lee nodded in understanding and turned back to the out post.

Anther few minutes later Ino suddenly opened her eyes with a disturbed look on her face. "They are on their way," Ino said, "We ran into a little trouble but nothing the other couldn't handle." Gai and Lee nodded and helped Ino into a standing potion after they clearly saw she was getting tired.

Another minute passed and the other three came into sight, "That Katana is a most impressive technique," Hiashi said.

"Yeah I wouldn't mind knowing a few Open Skill moves," Jiriaya agreed.

"I might be able to show you something when we get back," Zala said.

"Did you find the prison?" Gai asked.

"No it was already gone," Jiriaya said. "We should leave here, it would not be wise to remain." With Gai and Lee still aiding Ino the six left the area.

After the six were a decent amount of distance from the out post they stopped for a rest, "This is bad," Jiriaya commented, "This means that Akatsuki have at least Tailed Beasts."

"We do not know it was Akatsuki who took them," Hiashi said.

"True," Gai said, "But we should probably assume they did."

"We could investigate around more," Lee suggested, "If someone else took it then we should know for sure."

"No," Jiriaya said. "My contacts told me that the Panther was inside that out post. And if they said it was there then it was there. I only last contacted two days before we arrived. And with Chakra still being pumped into the seals then that means the out post had not noticed it yet. It would take some one of extremely high level skill to get in and out without being noticed."

"Someone like an Akatsuki member," Ino concluded.

"Correct," Jiriaya confirmed. "I'll send word back to Konoha about the news then we'll head back ourselves."

On the outskirts of Suna, there were several bodies lying across the ground. Some were dead other were dieing but none were standing. That is except three people, two were wearing black cloaks with red clouds and the other was maroon combat gear with a large gourd on his back.

Garra stared at the two Akatsuki members thinking, "Theses two are the strongest opponents I have faced. Not even the old Kazekage gave me this much trouble." It was true Garra and his team fought the two for several hours and the sand Jounins had lost leaving only Garra to faces them. Garra was reluctant to use Shukaku so close the to the village because it might as well turn on village as soon as kill the Akatsuki members.

The two Akatsuki members Jubei and Sasori were not much better than Garra. The combination of the Jounins and Garra's absolute defense the two were fatigued from the combat. "We need to end this quickly Jubei," Sasori said, "We are both running low of chakra."

"Yes," Jubei said, "Though it is not suprising he has given us trouble, he does have the terrain advantage here. I was planning on not to have to have to use this but I guess I have no choice." Jubei then began a long serious of hand seals in preparation for his strongest jutsu.

Garra watched as the taller of his two opponents began his had seals. Garra could tell that this would be a powerful jutsu and tried to interrupt him by sending a hand made of sand to catch him in Subaku SouSou. But the one Garra recognized as Sasori interrupted Garra's attack with his puppet body by taking the blow. Many of the wooden pieces that made up Sasori's body were crushed in compacting sand but it was enough time for Sasori's partner to finish.

"This is the end," Jubei said, "Doton-Katon no Jutsu." This was a unique Kinjutsu that only Jubei has ever been able to do. It was a combination of earth and fire elements that caused the ground under the target to erupt just like a volcano.

And that was exactly what Garra felt under his feet. At first the jutsu did not appear to do anything but soon the ground under Garra began to shake violently then Garra could feel heat begin to rise as the sand under him started to spread apart. Acting on its own the sand in Garra's gourd began to condense below his feet and under his men that were still alive. He took into account length of the seal sequence and figured his normal Suna no Tate would not work this time so he focused everything into his ultimate defense, "Saikou Zettai Bougyo Shukaku no Tate!" The ultimate defense just finished as a huge eruption occurred underneath Garra. The blast sent Garra, his defense and the injured Jounins high into the air, the shield just barely holding, the heat turning the sand into glass as the earth drove into it breaking the glass as it rose.

Jubei and Sasori were carried teleported a safe distance away from the blast and watched the display. Damage occurred for nearly a hundred meters in every direction as the small volcano spewed more and more debris into the air. They stood silently as the eruption slowly came to an end and the lava that surged from the ground quickly became dry as Jubei no longer had enough chakra to maintain the heat. When the smoke was cleared by the constant wind from the desert they saw Garra standing on the black rock breathing hard with several Jounins lying behind him. "We must retreat," Jubei said. "Reinforcements are coming and I am out of chakra and you are damaged."

"Yes," Sasori agreed. Though it was clear Garra could not continue it was clear that neither could they, "He had greater control over the One Tail then we thought, we will have to try again." Sasori then willed his puppet body up and performed some hand seals and he and Jubei disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Once the enemy was gone Garra dropped to his knees, "Almost did not make it," he said as he passed out just as two familiar figures, his elder siblings, came upon him.

Two days later Naruto's team arrived at Suna. They had come across the black rocked and feared for the worst. The guards at the entrance were hesitant to let them in, but word from the Kazekage allowed the Konoha shinobi entrance.

When they arrived at the Kazekage's Office, Baki informed them, "Garra is safe though he was exhausted from the battle."

"What were the casualties?" Shizune asked as she was a medic.

"Six were killed and seven others were severely injured," Baki said, "Three have been poisoned and we are having trouble treating them."

"Kazekage-sama," Naruto spoke up, "Hinata hear is one of the best Medic-nins in Konoha, would you permit her to aid you injured shinobi."

"We could use the help," Baki said, "You have my permission, please do what you can." Hinata bowed and exited the room to head to the hospital close by. "Garra wished to speak with you as soon as you arrived Shadow Claw."

"Where is he?" Naruto asked.

"He is on the roof," Baki answered.

"Thank you," Naruto said, "Would you please allow by people to rest as we ran almost nonstop here."

"Of course," Baki said, "I have made preparations for your team to stay at the same hotel as the last time you were here."

Naruto nodded and bowed before leaving the office. He immediately went to roof and found Garra waiting for him just like the Kazekage said. "You were correct," Garra said. "They were far stronger than I gave them credit for."

"You are not their prisoner," Naruto said, "That means you beat them where others have not."

"I did not beat them," Garra said, "It was a draw. They left for fear of reinforcements, if my brother and sister had not shown up then I may not be talking to you."

"So what do you plan to do now?" Naruto asked, "They will come back for you and this time there will be more and be better prepared."

"I have been thinking about this," Garra said, "I believe it would be best if we fought them together. It would consolidate our forces and keep at least one of their targets under your supervision."

"That sounds like the most logical coarse of action," Naruto agreed, "But I will have to inform the Hokage of the request but I believe she will agree as well." Garra nodded and Naruto left to check on the others.

Later Naruto had sent the message to Tsunade along with the official request from the Kazekage and was waiting for the reply. During the wait Hinata was able to effectively treat the poison victims with the aid of an old female shinobi that was familiar with the poison that was used. When evening came around a messenger from the Kazekage showed up at the hotel, "Your Hokage has replied."

"Thank you," Naruto said taking the scroll. He read it and jerked in surprise.

Kakashi who was near saw the reaction and asked, "What is it Naruto, did Tsunade-sama agree to the arrangement?"

"Yes," Naruto answered, "But that is not what disturbed me."

"Then what is it Naruto?" asked Sakura.

"According to Jiriaya," Naruto began, "The Akatsuki have the Three Tailed Panther, that means they have four of the Tailed Beasts."