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

Naruto stood in front of his team after returning from Suna. Before he left he had gotten word back that Tsunade was giving permission to have Garra be allowed to enter and join Konoha on a temporary basis. Given the facts that she had been presented with Tsunade did not have much choice. After his team got back those in the room had already been informed of Garra's status. When Garra first met the others in Konoha he was surprised when they were not afraid of him. Even with his calmness back home Garra had always seen fear in most of the citizens, the only thing here was a slight uneasiness. But that passed quickly as Jiriaya called a meeting for an update on all the information that had been collected after people got separated. "So what do we know for sure?" Naruto asked.

"We know the Akatsuki has two of the Tailed Beasts," Sasuke answered. "And according to our suspicions they have two others, but we are not certain."

"All the evidence points to the Akatsuki possessing those other two," Jiriaya added, "I would suggest we just go ahead and assume they already have them."

Naruto nodded and began his share of the information, "And according to Garra," Naruto pointed to the Suna shinobi to his right, "We know two more members of the Akatsuki, Sasori of the Red Sands, a Missing-nin from Suna that specializes in puppets and has converted large portions of his body to that, and we know that he also uses poisons. We also know of Jubei from Stone, and again according to Garra he can combine different Ninjustu elements creating even more powerful attacks."

"What about Mist?" Gai asked, "We know the Tiger is there, why do we not go get it?"

"I would recommend against that action," Shikamaru spoke up. "Mist has been more corporative than the other shinobi villages but not to the extent of allowing us to enter their territory. With everything we have accomplished, I think they are afraid of us and want to keep us at arms length. And sneaking in and stealing the Tiger's prison would not help us in the long run. The last thing we need is another enemy at this point." This argument seemed to satisfy the group, after all the village still had to watch it's back it case other villages saw it as weakening.

"What about the locations of the two that are loose?" Naruto asked.

Aki at this point stepped forward, "Unfortunately we still did not know their location. As we said before they appear to be the most reclusive."

"Alright then," Naruto said. "I think for the time being we are standing down. Other than research there is not much we can do. And I think we could all use time to unwind a little." Everyone rather liked the suggestion, those that went out of the missions had not had a chance to rest since they left and the ones that remained were to tense to relax incase they need to be deployed. "Even you three," Naruto pointed to Aki, Sho and Lin, "Take a couple of days off. Sooner or later we will be facing either the two strongest Tailed Beasts left or more Akatsuki members."

"In that case I have some business to take care of," Jiriaya said making his way to the door.

He was just about out of the room when Hiashi spoke, "Just do not come near Hyuuga's private bathhouse." Jiriaya froze being caught about what he was going to do. He could feel the holes burning into his back from various people and quickly dashed out of the room.

"So you lost, yeah," Deidera stated. She had a smug look on her face. Her mission had ended in success and as a result they now had four of the eight remaining Tailed Beasts in the world. "Guess we should have sent more, yeah."

"Quite Deidera," Sasori snapped. He had just finished repairing the broken parts of his puppet attachments, but he was still seething from his and Jubei's failure. "I am not in the mood to deal with you right now."

"I guess the One Tail was too much for you, yeah," Deidera taunted.

Sasori was about to intervene when Kisame came up to the pair, "He wants all of us in the central chamber."

A few moments later all nine Akatsuki members were in the central cave with the four stone spheres. "The One Tail has now joined with Konoha," the Leader said. "That will make it even more difficult to capture. So for now we will move on. The Five Tail will be your next target. Its location is well guarded, so I am sending Kisame, Zetsu and Isamu." The mentioned Akatsuki members then disappeared already to go. After they left the leader continued, "I have also found the location of the Seven Tail. It near the boarder between Wind and Night, once they return with the Five Tail we will move against the Seven Tail. We will use the others to capture it."

"What of the One Tail?" Jubei asked.

"Orochimaru has some of Sound shinobi watching our movements," the Leader stated. "He still wants the Sharingan but is too much of a coward to take on Itachi or his brother directly. He will send information on our movements if his pawns report Itachi is on the move."

"Use Orochimaru to set up a trap for the One Tail," Itachi concluded. "How do we know the One Tail will come?"

"We just let it slip that we are going after the Seven Tail," Sasori said, "They will send the strongest they have, the One Tail included."

"Kugi you will inform the Sound when we go to retrieve the Seven Tail in your unique way," the leader said. A man almost as tall as Jubei nodded.

Back in Konoha Naruto and Hinata were walking his way towards the Hyuuga compound. After the meeting Hiashi had invited them to dinner, not wanting to be rude they agreed. "I wonder why Father invited us to dinner?" Hinata asked.

Naruto shrugged, "He probably just misses you. You did move in with me when we got back and haven't visited him in a while. And other than the meetings there has been little interaction between you two."

"I suppose you're right," Hinata said as them came to the gate.

A Hyuuga guard noticed them and greeted with a bow, "Hinata-sama, Uzumaki-sama, Hiashi-sama is waiting for you in the rear garden. He asks that you join him there."

The couple nodded and entered the grounds. Because Hinata was the one who knew where the garden was she led the way. It only took them a few minutes before they found Hiashi standing in the middle of a beautiful patch of flowers. As they approached Hinata spoke up, "Good evening Father."

"Good evening Hinata, Naruto," Hiashi returned the greeting, "It is good to see you outside missions and meetings." Hinata glanced at Naruto who just smiled in return, "The meal will be ready momentarily, Hinata, why don't you go see Hanabi she has been asking to see you lately."

Hinata nodded and left to find her sister when she was gone Naruto asked, "Did you wish to speak to me alone?"

"Yes actually," Hiashi said, "I am no fool and know that some of the people are going to die when we confront Akatsuki directly." Naruto made no sound but nodded in agreement, "You obviously knew this so I ask you this," Hiashi turned to Naruto with a serious look on his face, "Why did you choose her to be on the team?"

Naruto returned the look with equal strength, "I thought about the team I wanted, no needed for hours on end, I knew that I needed the best, and Hinata-chan is one of the best, at fighting and healing. She was the hardest member of the team I enlisted because I love her so much, but a leader must sometimes make decisions that put their loved ones at risk." Naruto then closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "I don't know what I would do if she died, especially if it was my decision that led to her death. All I can do is have faith in her abilities as a shinobi and pray she does not get hurt."

Hiashi was silently staring at Naruto for several seconds. He had just heard the words his father told him when he took the title of Clan Head years ago. Hiashi could understand the young shinobi's words better than anyone for they were the words of a true leader. "You will make a good Hokage."

Naruto smiled at Hiashi, "Good, I'll be the best." Hiashi could not help but laugh at Naruto's statement. Soon Naruto joined his father-in-law and the two laughed for a good minute until Hinata came out with her younger sister.

"Father, Naruto-kun," Hinata said, "The food is ready." The two nodded and joined the two girls for the meal.

Two days later a message from Mist arrived. In the message there was a report that everyone on the team hated to hear. The Akatsuki were able to steal the Tiger's prison. After the quick break everyone was in higher spirits before the message came in. Now that they heard it the group became very frustrated. "Damn!" Kiba cursed, "We're always two steps behind those bustards! Can't we get just one break?" Everyone was feeling about the same way as Kiba.

"We need to know the location of the last two Tailed Beasts," Jiriaya stated. "We need to get to them before Akatsuki does."

"Speaking of which," Kakashi said, "Where is Sho?"

"I think he may be in the decoding room," Aki said, "Yesterday he mentioned something about finding some information in one of the Second's scrolls."

"Then we should…" Lee was cut off by the very shinobi they were looking for burst into the room.

"I'm sorry for being so late," Sho said panting. "But I have some news that I think you will all like." He paused to catch his breath, "When some people were searching the Hokage Archives the other day they came across a scroll belonging to the Second, problem was is was still encoded. I was asked to help out in decoding; when I did what I read utterly surprised me. It turns out that the Second found the location of the Eight Tail Dragon."

There was dead silence in the room until Ino shouted, "Then why didn't you come up sooner?"

"I…I just finished a few seconds ago," Sho replied.

"Where is the Dragon?" Garra asked.

"Turns out it was here in Fire Country all the time," Sho said, "Its at the southern border near Shin Mountain. He apparently wrote the scroll just before he died and the scroll just kind of got lost until yesterday."

"Finally that break you were talking about Kiba," Sakura said.

"We need to get on this right away," Jiriaya said. He was about to continue when the doors opened again and Ibiki walked in.

"I do not mean to interrupt but I have some information that you will want to hear," Ibiki said.

"What is it?" Shikamaru asked, he had a bad feeling that the information would be disturbing and had to ask.

"We captured a Sound-nin trying to sneak in two days ago," Ibiki informed, "During his interrogation he revealed that Akatsuki have found the Seven Tail Ox."

"This seems just a little too convenient," Shikamaru said, his bad feeling was apparently correct.

"Convenient or not," Kakashi said, "We can't let this go. We know that Sound has been watching Akatsuki's movements so the information has a good chance at being accurate."

"But what do we do?" Shizune asked, "We just learned the location of the Dragon and then the Ox."

"We have to split up the team," Jiriaya said, "Akatsuki cannot get their hands on another Tailed Beast. And considering it's the Seven Tail Ox they will probably send their best after it."

"Itachi," Sasuke whispered.

Garra was the only one close enough to hear him and noticed Sasuke's eyes turned red. He saw the anger and knew the source, "He was betrayed."

"Alright listen up," Jiriaya ordered, "We have two targets that means two teams. I will lead one Naruto will the other. I'll take Kakashi, Kurenai, Hiashi, Zala, Sasuke, Kiba, Shizune and…"

"Me," Garra said.

"Garra we can't risk you getting captured by Akatsuki," Naruto stated.

"The team going after the Ox will have to be the stronger of the two," Garra explained, "They will be fighting Akatsuki and the Ox, my power will be needed there."

"He's correct Naruto," Jiriaya said, "It's a risk but we have to take it. Now the rest; Gai Lee, Sakura, Hinata, Shikamaru, Ino, Neji and Lin will be with Naruto."

"I think it would be best if ask for back up as well," Naruto said, "We might need the extra power."

"Agreed," Jiriaya said, "I'll tell Tsunade to assign us some Anbu squads to each team. The rest of you get all your equipment. We will need to leave as soon as possible." Everyone nodded and then disappeared from the room to prepare for the battle ahead.

Author's Note: Short Chapter but this will lead into larger ones.