Temptation of the Heart
Chapter Ten: The Master of the Akatsuki
Author's Note: Sorry for the delay with this chapter. I got sick last week and just felt really tired this past week. I hope to finish this series soon, though.
Jiraiya spoke softly to Kakashi, "Remember the plan. You sneak in and get Naruto while I create a large diversion out here."
Kakashi nodded his head. Jiraiya could barely see Kakashi's movement in the darkness. Quick as a frog's tongue flickering at a fly, Kakashi was off on his mission.
Summoning his chakra and using his hand signs, Jiraiya summoned his most potent ally – Gamabunta – the frog boss. Leaping to the top of Gamabunta's back, Jiraiya shouted, "I need you to help me save Naruto, old friend."
Gamabunta yelled in his booming voice, "What? My subordinate Naruto is in trouble again? What's going on?"
"Naruto has been captured by the evil Akatsuki. I need you to help me free them. He's being held in that building." Jiraiya pointed to the Akatsuki headquarters.
"Let me at them," screamed Gamabunta. "Nothing will stand in my way of aiding Naruto!"
And with that said, Gamabunta bounded to the Akatsuki headquarters in on giant leap. Gamabunta landed with a thunderous bang. Jiraiya couldn't have been more pleased because startled shinobi began scurrying out of the headquarters building at the sound.
Meanwhile, Kakashi was slowly and stealthily making his way through the inside of the Akatsuki headquarters. He had no idea where the Akatsuki were keeping Naruto, but he figured any prison would be in a lower level, so he headed down.
Still hearing the clamor outside the building, Kakashi found what appeared to be a locked prison door. As he approached it Itachi and Kisame stepped out of the shadows.
"I thought that might be you, Kakashi," said Itachi in an icy tone. Itachi's Sharigan eyes gleamed evilly in the dim lights. "Our master was wise to send us here instead of into the fray outside. You've come for Naruto, no doubt."
Stunned at the sudden appearance of the two S-Ranked ninja's, all Kakashi could do was keep himself from shaking where he stood. Kakashi was still haunted by the horrible experience he'd suffered at Itachi's hand last time they met. He loathed the possibility of such an occurrence again.
Not knowing what else to do, Kakashi summoned his Chidori technique, and while looking at Itachi's feet (so as not to be hypnotized by the Sharigan eyes) attacked. Itachi easily deflected the Chidori attack, blasting a whole in the wall beside him.
"No need for that Kakashi. I'm actually going to help you this time."
"What?" Kakashi was too surprised to do anything but just stand there and stare at Itachi. "Why would you help me now?"
Shuddering, Itachi stated, "I just had the most unpleasant experience with Deidara." Holding up his hand at Kakashi's unasked question, "No, I don't want to talk about it. Suffice it to say I made a bargain I should've never had. It's one thing to have to do something once, but to have to do it over and over and over again. Ugh! I just hope she has a baby soon!"
Itachi stared into the distance for a moment and then shook his head, as if coming to his senses. "Ah. Right. Anyway. Deidara and that snide creep Sasori took our jobs away from us." Itachi indicated to the silently standing Kisame. "We were the ones who were supposed to capture Naruto, not them. They effectively made us look like fools.
If you're somehow able to rescue Naruto before I'm able to make it down here to keep you from doing so, it'll reflect badly on Deidara and Sasori – not us. We'll be able to go after Naruto at a later date. Beware Kakashi, for we shall."
And with that said, Itachi pulled a switch outside the doorway. "You need to turn off the sleep gas before going inside there." Then, Itachi took out a set of keys and opened the locked door.
"Take Naruto and leave, quickly."
Kakashi briefly wondered if he were being led into a trap. Then, Kakashi realized Itachi didn't need to trap him. Itachi could've destroyed Kakashi anytime he decided to. He must be telling the truth. Gingerly, Kakashi stepped into the darkened room. Kisame came up behind him with a small lamp.
"Naruto is over there," stated Kisame, pointing to a lumpy sack lying on the ground. Kakashi found a sack-like hood and pulled it off Naruto's head, confirming he had the right lumpy-sack.
As Kakashi bent over to pick up Naruto, he saw a familiar red-haired head. "I see you have Gaara," Kakashi said, looking down at the sleeping Kazekage. "May I take him too?"
"Why would we let you have him?" sneered Kisame.
Thinking quickly, Kakashi responded, "Well, you did say you were upset with Deidara and Sasori. Didn't they capture Gaara? Wouldn't it be appropriate for their prisoner to escape as along with Naruto? They'd have to go back and capture Gaara again too."
"Hmm… He has a point," said Itachi. "Letting Kakashi take Gaara would certainly cause Deidara and Sasori problems. It'd likely keep Deidara from bothering me for a while too. Let's let him take Gaara too."
"Fine," said Kisame, stepping back from Kakashi. "Take them both."
With that said, Kakashi picked up both ninja and headed out of the prison cell. As he left, Itachi reminded him, "We will be back for both of them, Kakashi. Remember that."
I will, thought Kakashi, with a chill running up and down his spine. He didn't know how he'd deal with that event when it happened. Kakashi was just glad to be leaving the Akatsuki headquarters with Naruto.
When he got outside, Kakashi could see the battle raging around the Akatsuki headquarters. Jiraiya stood on Gamabunta summoning his protective techniques and keeping the Akatsuki members busy. Gingerly approaching Gamabunta, Kakashi leapt next to Jiraiya.
"Who is the other," asked Jiraiya, seeing Kakashi carrying a second captive.
"Gaara," grunted Kakashi, the leap onto Gamabunta's back momentarily leaving him breathless.
Just then, out of the Akatsuki headquarters, a giant shadowy object slowly emerged.
"What's that?" asked Kakashi.
An Akatsuki member at the base of the giant frog gave them the answer by screaming, "It's the master! It's the master! Run!"
With that said, the Akatsuki members scattered, running in all directions. Jiraiya and Kakashi looked at each other in surprise. "This can't be good," said Jiraiya.
Jiraiya estimated the dark shape was now easily as large as Gamabunta. "You take the shinobi and run. I'll deal with the Akatsuki master," he told Kakashi.
"Are you sure?"
Jiraiya grunted in assent, "Go now!"
Kakashi bounded off Gamabunta and ran towards Kohona Village. Turning to face the master, Jiraiya and Gamabunta began the battle of their lives.
"Who dares attack my home," bellowed a loud, booming voice. The dark mass turned out to be a huge cat-demon.
"Uh oh," said Gamabunta. "I don't like the look of this situation."
Jiraiya agreed but was too busy forming symbols to say anything. Finishing his technique, Jiraiya summoned the giant frog belly technique, engulfing the cat-demon in the acidic belly of a mammoth frog.
With a meow that was more of a roar, the cat-demon scratched and gouged his way out of the frog's belly in one swipe of his gigantic paw. Leaping out of the belly, the cat-demon landed agilely next to Gamabunta. With lightening quick reflexes, the cat-demon batted Gamabunta, sending him tumbling into the forest beyond the edge of the clearing surrounding the Akatsuki headquarters.
Jiraiya himself flew off Gamabunta and landed in the clearing, dazed and confused. Looking up, all he could see was the looming figure of the gargantuan cat-demon's head bending down towards him.
The demon's eyes glittered malevolently in the moonlight, "So this is the insignificant bug who dared intrude on my residence!" screeched the giant cat. "You will pay for your insolence."
Just as the colossal jaws were about to snap shut around Jiraiya and thereby cut him to ribbons, a enormous fat slimy frog tongue flicked out, caught Jiraiya, and brought him safely into Gamabunta's oversized mouth. Shocked and stunned, Jiraiya thought he heard a muffled, "We're getting out of here!" and in a puff of chakra-enriched smoke, he and Gamabunta disappeared with a flash.
Screaming in rage, the Master of the Akatsuki thrashed about the clearing and woods surrounding his headquarters, unsuccessfully looking for the frog and ninja.
Safely away from the fracas, Kakashi paused to catch his breath. He could only hope Jiraiya and Gamabunta had survived whatever onslaught they'd had to suffer. Smiling to himself, he again hefted Naruto and Gaara and swiftly ran to the safety of Kohona Village.
(to be continued in Chapter Eleven: Sakura Finally Finds Sasuke)