Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Never did, never will. Masashi Kishimoto does.
Thank you so much for the reviews, I guess something is better nothing. I'll keep writing on, may be one of you that are already interested in the fiction could help me with the summary, just to make it more interesting. Rate and review, people! Please? A simple good or interesting is enough. I don't care if it's anonymous. I know the story is pretty hazy at the moment. Everyone wanted to know how Kabuto, Kisame, and Asami joined Naruto. Everything's going to explain as the story progresses. You'll just have to keep reading on and enjoy bit by bit. Enjoy!
Naruto, Asami, Kisame, and Kabuto once again seated themselves at the guest table, though joined with Baki this time. Everyone wore their usual uniforms and even masks, well Baki wore the veil that covered the left side of his face. They were now in over-drive, there's only one day left to figure out everything. Though, the four of them didn't seem too nervous or worried. Baki was there just to hear what they had in mind for the treacherous snake, he really wanted Orochimaru to die a slow, painful death for killing Yondaime Kazekage, Gaara's father. Naruto didn't really care.
"So what do we have so far?" asked Naruto. "Just knowing who Orochimaru is disguising as is already enough."
"Apparently there's only four shinobis that has passed the written and field exam. They'll be fighting in the usual fighting match just like you took the Chuunin exam that time." Answered Kabuto.
"The same stages…" muttered Naruto as he recalled back the memories. His face showed that he didn't like them. "They should change that. Tsuchigakure of the Stone Country held a tougher and more interesting Jounin exam."
"Yeah, now I remember. Six stages of exam: the written test, out-field reconnaissance, a simple C Ranked mission, Taijutsu match, Nin jutsu match, and finally a match only using simple ninja weaponry." Added Asami.
"You got the info on the four of these participants?" asked Kisame.
"Yep," answered Kabuto as four orange cards flashed out of nowhere, into his hand.
He set all four of them on the table. The other three moved in nearer to the table to get a closer look on the cards. Baki didn't pay attention to this one, he already knew who they were since one of his Chuunin students were one of them.
"Ebora Shirou of the Hidden Waterfall. Age 24, 10 B-Ranked mission, 250 C-Ranked, 415 D-Ranked missions, specializes in Ninjutsu, and already failed the Jounin exams seven times. This is his eighth time." Explained Kabuto as Kisame hold on to one of the cards.
"You'd think he would just give up and settle for the simple Chuunin rank.' Commented
Kisame.
"Well, well, well. Look who do we have here." Mused Asami who picked up two cards
after Naruto finished looking through them.
"Yosuke Takagi of the Hidden Sand. You would know, he is one of Baki's talented students. The guy who could summon Ant lions." Said Kabuto who gave a glance at Baki. However, Baki didn't really care.
"Doesn't he need sand to fully utilize the power of an ant lion?" asked Asami.
"Summoning is merely one of his Ninjutsu. He knows a lot of Fuuton (Wind Element) and some Doton (Earth Element) jutsu." Said Baki all of a sudden.
"Well what happened to your other two students?" asked Asami who knew them. She was always at their training area when they had no missions.
"Chiro and Hirami? They were doing well, and would have gotten to the finals if it weren't for--" said Baki. But he never got to finish when Kabuto interrupted.
"Just look at the other card," directed Kabuto.
Asami threw the card of Yosuke Takagi on the table, and looked mildly interested on the face of the shinobi that was on the card.
"Uchiha Sasuke of the Hidden Leaf. He's only done 5 B-Ranked missions, 45 C-Ranked missions. He was under probation for 150 days when he returned to Leaf. He missed a Chuunin exam under that time, and only just got recommended for the Jounin exams this year." Elaborated Kabuto proudly. He was the best out of all the four in spying and reconnaissance.
"No wonders in that. We thrashed Sound down to the ground, and what do we find? Scardy cat Uchiha Sasuke. If it weren't for Itachi, I'd leave him there to rot." Said Asami as she handed the card to Kisame.
"You actually returned him to Konoha for the second time after that incident." Directed Kabuto towards Naruto whom had been silent the whole time.
Naruto finally spoke, "I brought his sorry ass three years ago, what do I get? More hatred from this stupid village and a backstabbing friend. A week after I went off with Erro Sennin, he runs off again to Orochimaru the moment e recovers. The bloody Jounins and Chuunin that were available couldn't even bring him back. Like Asami said, returning him to Konoha was just for Itachi's sake."
Naruto was looking between the card on Shirou and the card in his hand. Kabuto knew that look, the look that Kabuto had to get used to ever since he joined Naruto, Kisame, and Asami. It was a look of deep thought and strategizing.
"You haven't told us anything about this guy." Said Kisame as he leaned to his left to get a look on the last card in Naruto's hand.
"Yashiharu Taiyama of the Hidden Grass. She's definitely our prime suspect. She beat--"
replied Kabuto. But this time, it was Baki's turn to interrupt him.
"She beat Chiro with a simple glare. The Uchiha boy beat Hirami by using several ninjutsus that he probably copied with the Sharingan. Chiro recovered from the attack with the aid of Tsunade-sama and her apprentice." Interrupted Baki who now smiling at Kabuto.
"Shizune?" asked Naruto in curiosity.
"No, it was the pink haired kunoichi, you're ex-teammate Haruno Sakura. She was in the Jounin exam but failed in the preliminaries thanks to Shirou."
"So she's under Tsunade-obachan?" asked Naruto.
Asami scowled when Naruto seemed to be interested in Sakura. Naruto took notice and smiled, "Hey, if it weren't for her. All of us wouldn't be here under such circumstance."
"I might still be working under Orochimaru," added Kabuto.
"I would be hunting for this brat's ass with Itachi right about now," grinned Kisame.
"And you and I wouldn't have gotten the chance to know each other better when I was locked up in that Akatsuki prison. The extraction procedure would have commenced immediately when they brought me in." finished Naruto who gave his foxy grin.
"All thanks to that backstabbing kunoichi." Muttered Asami. She gave a quick kiss on Naruto's lips. "I guess she definitely did the world a favour."
Baki gave a hard loud cough to bring back all four's attention.
"She's definitely Orochimaru in disguise. I bet the Leaf-nins don't even know if he's still alive or not. Don't even know why he's disguising himself as a Grass-nin, he already did that once in the Chuunin exam." Explained Naruto as he regained his composure.
"That, Naruto, is what we call a snake in the grass." Joked Kisame. "I don't even know why Raiha even accepted him into the Akatsuki in the first place."
Asami, Kisame, and Naruto looked one another as though each of them knew what the other was thinking. Kabuto still hadn't reach that level understanding even after being with them for a year and a half.
"So who gets to kill the Snake bastard?" asked Kisame as he looked at Samehada, and imagined it scrapping Orochimaru's skin off with it.
"He's mine." Announced Naruto, "Between the three of us, Kyuubi and I can give him the most painful death no human can ever imagine. I want to watch him pale when he watches every single Jutsu he can think of gets countered and defeated."
"He's really stupid to think that we can't get over those seals and traps he placed on the scrolls he left behind in Otogakure (Hidden Sound Village)," chuckled Asami as she looked at Kabuto.
"I sure won't forget that sick paled face of his when he found out three missing-nins raising hell in his base. He quickly ran away when he saw Kisame, in a screen, began shredding his guards with Samehada. He didn't even care about his scrolls." Stated Kabuto.
Kabuto pushed his glasses with his two fingers and continued, "The scrolls that enlist every Kinjutsu he ever made, his techniques, all the seals invented, and even snake summoning contract."
"His lost, our gain," replied Naruto, "Though I have to say his fanatic over the immortality thing rendered most of the scrolls obtained useless. Knowing what Jutsus he has, that was useful."
"So you got a counter for every move, even that necromancy Jutsu?" asked Asami.
"Just wait and see," smiled Naruto. As he stood up, he asked, "Where are they holding the last stage of the exam anyway?"
Kabuto searched the pockets in his vest and threw a folded paper at Naruto. Naruto unfolded the paper and simply said, "Perfect."
"I guess this meeting is finished then. We will continue again tonight. Briefing and stuff."
Said Naruto as he wore his Oni red mask, strapped the cloak, and head for the door.
"Where are you going?" asked Baki out of curiosity. He stood up from his chair and approached Naruto, "Gaara and the rest are going to arrive only this evening."
"I'm going out. I need to confirm some things and begin preparations for tomorrow." Answered Naruto as he pulled the brown oak door open. He looked at Kisame and Kabuto, "You might want to get some sleep. It's going to be a long night when we're having the meeting with Gaara and the others. I'll even be explaining everything on the procedures for the scum's death. I'll think of something, but know this. We get to make right in front of all those Leaf, Waterfall, and Grass shinobis and still get away with it."
All of them can't to see what's in store for tomorrow and how Naruto's crazy was going to work. He always did come up with the craziest plans, and they would always walk away free with all the satisfaction from the excitement and thrill of fighting.
Asami had heard all of Naruto's crazy fights back when he was in Konoha. She would sit down and listen to Naruto's stories from outside his cell, back when he was locked up all alone in the Akatsuki prison. In her opinion, the plans got even crazier after her father Raetsu, Itachi, Kisame, and Kyuubi and taught Naruto in preparation for fighting against the rest of the Akatsuki.
Naruto laughed when he saw Kisame's drowsy face. He said, "You could use he sleep."
"Ha ha, very funny." replied Kisame in sarcasm, "It's all your fault, you know."
Kisame with the heavy eye bags looked really funny with his shark gill markings under his eyes. He slowly slouched his away into his room whispering curses to himself.
"Is it wise to split up? Especially here in Konoha." Asked Kabuto in little concern.
"What's gonna happen? They're going to beat up this ANBU captain?" asked Naruto back at Kabuto. "They can dream about it. You know Konoha ANBU members and Jounins here better than I have."
Asami reached for her fox blue ANBU mask, "I'm going too, and there's nothing you can say or do anything about it."
"Fine," agreed Naruto, "But don't ask questions."
She nodded and both of them went out along with Baki. Baki went a separate way when they were going through the streets and said something about seeing how Shirou was doing in the training area.
Meanwhile……….
Tsunade had gathered several Jounins and Chuunins in a hall for a meeting, this included the whole Rookie Nine and even Gai's team. Most of the Rookie Nine and Gai's team were already Chuunins, though Neji and Shino were already Jounin from passing the previous Jounin exams. This was something Sasuke didn't like.
Several Special Jounins like Ebisu and Morino Ibiki were also present in the meeting. There were a dozen ANBU members present too. The assembly was going to start late thanks to a late shinobi, which surprisingly isn't Hatake Kakashi.
They all stood there including Tsunade whom was slowly getting pissed with each passing minute. Shizune was starting to get nervous after observing Tsunade, and slowly began squeezing Ton-Ton like a doll. The pig struggled wildly to the point where the face was turning blue. Shizune realized her mistake, quickly released Tsunade's prized pig and apologized.
"Okay, enough waiting. The meeting is going to start now!" announced Tsunade.
Just as the meeting started, a black figure crashed through the huge panel window surprising almost everyone in the vicinity. The figure rolled twice on the floor before it slowly stopped, and a human figure stood tall from it. Orochimaru's ex-student stood up happily, "So you're going to start the meeting without me huh?"
A sweat drop formed on everyone's head, including the ANBU guards and Sai.
"You're late," stated Tsunade as she massaged her temple in annoyance. This kunoichi was just as troublesome as Naruto. "By the way, you're going to be paying for that."
'Huh? Oh, sorry about that." Apologized Anko as she looked at the broken window. She cursed in her head. 'Damn, I always forget she's not like the old man. Sandaime (The Third) never charged me for breaking the windows in making a flashy entrance.'
"I've called all you here because there are some things that I going to be talking about concerning the visitors we are having over the Jounin exam." Began Tsunade. Everyone remained silent as they paid attention.
"The daimyos (landlords) from all over the Fire, Grass, Waterfall, and the Wind Country are going to be watching the last stage of the exam. I going to ask all the Rookie Nine, Neji, Lee, and Ten-Ten to aid the ANBU guards in ensuring their safety. You won't have to worry Sasuke since you're participating n the exam. We'll need all the help we can't get." Continued Tsunade. She looked at the ANBU guards, "It's not that I don't trust the all of your capabilities, but I can feel something big is coming."
"Like when the Sound and Sand ambushed us?" suggested Sakura after she raised a hand.
"May be, but like wise, it is better to be prepared." Answered Tsunade as she looked her second apprentice.
"Like we'll be hearing anything from the Sound." Scoffed an ANBU guard wearing a raven mask. It seemed everyone there heard him as murmurs followed suit.
After finding a heavily, beaten up Uchiha Sasuke at the Konoha gates and later hearing his testimonials of Sound's destruction. Konoha send a group of ANBU to check on the so-called fallen Sound Country and the Hidden Village, with the help of Sasuke's informations and directions. Much to say, it was reduced to ashes when they had arrived.
Tsunade and the council wanted to know what had happened, for a Hidden Village to be decimated to such level with no one's notice. It was take a least an army to win over a whole Hidden Village, so they wondered if it was the neighboring countries around the Sound. The Sound Country was surrounded by three weak non-elemental country on the north, northeast and west side. Konoha was bordered at the southwest side, and they were sure no army had crossed their borders. Seawater occupied the southwest side of Sound Country, and the Wave Country archipelago wasn't too far away. The Hidden Cloud of Lightning Country was just next to the non-elemental country that occupied on the northwest side.
They came up with the theory that it was the Mist-nins or the Cloud-nins that attacked the Hidden Sound Country. They were wondering if this was just one of Orochimaru's plan of putting them off guard, and how did the Mist-nins or Cloud-nins knew the location of Hidden Sound. Tsunade and the rest of the shinobi of the village were greatly surprised when they further heard Sasuke's testimonials. There was never an army, merely three shinobis that infiltrated Sound.
Only three shinobis.
This was definitely unexpected, and Tsunade and those whom knew about Akatsuki like Kakashi, Asuma, Gai, and Kurenai were wondering if it was Akatsuki's doing. Kakashi already heard from Jiraiya that Orochimaru left because he was the weakest and didn't like the idea of being surrounded by them. He thought that the Akatsuki finally made a move when they found out Sasuke had joined Orochimaru. The Sharingan could be fatal in Orochimaru's hands, but to think why they finally made the move after a whole year and half had passed was a mystery. The Godaime (The Fifth), Tsunade, tried to contact Jiraiya but to no avail. She got even worried when there were no news of the perverted Sennin anywhere. She was at the point of sending several groups of ANBU team to search for them, when Jiraiya sent word through Gamakichi that everything was fine.
"Don't remind of that." Said Tsunade as she glared at the ANBU guard, "I don't want to think the idea of three shinobis wiping out a whole village at the moment."
Even everyone didn't like having reminded about how powerful the shinobis were. Sasuke even wondered if that merely a total power that he saw, or nothing more but a glimpse of it.
Shizune quickly approached Tsunade and whispered at Tsunade's ear. "You still haven't told them about the 'other' visitors."
"Oh, right." Said Tsunade as she once again looked at all of them. "It's about the Kazekage and the Sand-nins that are coming over to watch. Most of you already know the procedure, bit I'm just going to tell this to the newbies here."
She looked at the Rookie Nine and Gai's team. She had a serious look on her face.
"In no such circumstance are you to provoke, fight whatsoever with the Sand-nins. I will not tolerate such insubordination. If they were to provoke, harm, or jeopardize the safety of the Village and the people of Konoha, you may then act. However, if I do find out any of you caught breaking my direct order, you'd better start praying and wish you were dead from the torturing before facing me." Warned Tsunade as she cracked her fingers.
Everyone including Sai paled and sweat profusely like it was raining. They had seen what Sakura was capable of only by training under Tsunade for 3 whole years. Sai wondered where all trainings in 'Roots' about hiding human emotions had gone too.
"What if they are the ones who provoke us?" asked Kiba. Akamaru gave a loud bark.
"I'm sure the Kazekage has given the same warnings to the Sand-nins. Even they don't want to break the treaty." Answered Tsunade. "He had even sent a letter of assurance about the matter."
Ino and Sakura really thought that how pets shouldn't be allowed in at the moment.
Sai raised his hands to signal a coming question. Tsunade looked at him and nodded in permission to talk.
"About the Sand ANBU team," stated Sai with the usual (I really hate that guy) smile.
"What about them?" asked Tsunade as raised an eyebrow. She knew what his was going to ask, and it had pondered on everybody's mind since yesterday's events.
"It seems one of them carries along a huge sword as a weapon, much like the 7 swordsmen of the Mist." continued Sai. "Wouldn't it be possible if one of them is Hoshigaki Kisame, the S-Ranked wanted missing-nin?"
An ANBU captain whom had went on numerous missions in Wind Country and Water Country suddenly asked, "So want? There are a lot of shinobis all over the five major countries that use a variety of weapons. Some of the Sand-nins also wield large swords as while most Mist-nins just prefer using large weaponry such as huge metal gauntlets, scythes, scimitars, and such just for intimidation. Heck, you use a freaking paintbrush as a weapon."
"Thank you for the enlightenment," smiled Tsunade as she gave a look at the captain. "Though even if he was Hoshigaki Kisame, there's nothing we can do about it. The Sand has accepted him as a part of them. Harming him whatsoever directly breaches the treaty we have with the Sand. They are the only allies that we have, which actually had helped us in missions or aid us in our time of need. Unlike the Waterfall-nins, Grass-nins, and Rain-nins that have achieved peace treaty with us. Their contract treaties are merely written papers that could easily be broken."
"They seem to have stabilized over the two years since they attacked." Noted Asuma as he blew out some smoke. He took out another cigarette and lit up the new one. "Much faster than we did, considering though most of their forces compared to ours back then."
"Yet they seem to have slowly raised in terms of power and economy ever since Gaara became Kazekage." Added Kurenai who stood not too far away.
"YOSH! It's truly because of Gaara's burning flames of youth!" exclaimed Lee all of a sudden as he gave the all too familiar thumbs up pose. He gave a smile at Sakura that suddenly shined like he was in a toothpaste T.V commercial.
Sakura hid behind Sasuke and hold on to his shoulders, though he didn't seem to mind at all.
"Yes, Lee!" shouted Gai next. His face, glittering with stars of excitement. "Work hard! And you'll far greater than the Kazekage!"
"Is that true! Gai Sensei?" asked Lee as the glittering stars of excitement seemed to have jumped from Gai's eyes and spread all over Lee.
"Yes!" Gai. "I'll help you release the burning flames of Youth!"
"Gai Sensei!" shouted Lee out loud with tears flowing down his face.
"Lee!" shouted Gai just as loud. He made his way to Lee in slow motion. The typical Japanese red sun rose behind the imaginary endless field of flowers.
"Gai Sensei!"
"Lee!"
They made their way to each other. Everyone didn't know whether to be really embarrassed to be working in the same village with the two of them or just simply kill them. The ANBU guards were already going for their katanas when…
"WILL THE BOTH OF YOU STOP IT THIS INSTANT!" exclaimed Tsunade with a vein on her forehead. She gently tapped the floor, which shook the whole building.
Everything was back to normal except for the really embarrassed pair of green clothed skintight, teacher and student.
"It is quite strange for a whole Hidden Village to suddenly prosper under the guide of a young shinobi. He like the youngest shinobi to ever attain a Kage level." Speculated Kakashi.
"How about those mysterious ANBU guards that everyone's talking about. If Kisame is one of them, who do you guess would the rest of the group members be?" pondered Kurenai as she looked at Kakashi.
Sasuke already began brainstorming the possibilities that the leader that emitted the freakish killing intent could be his brother. He couldn't risk running after him at the moment, there were people around him. Kakashi already knew what Sasuke was thinking.
"Stop thinking about it, Sasuke. You don't want to go through of all that, ever again." Whispered Kakashi just enough for Sakura and Sasuke to hear them.
Sasuke shook his head violently, trying to throw off all days of gruesome counsellings and rehabilitation.. But he still insisted in at least meeting with the leader of the group leader.
"Look, the fact still doesn't change. The Sand has accepted them in, we can't do anything about it. But if they do try anything that will jeopardize the safety of Konoha and the great shinobis that live here. Together we will stand, fight, and beat them!' assured Tsunade.
All of them nodded in agreement.
On the training area of Team 7……
Naruto walked cautiously in the forests that was Konoha. He was puzzled that there weren't many shinobis around. He'd only passed two ANBU leafs without detection.
He thought in his head, 'they must be having a meeting or something. Either they're too busy, the security here really sucks, or I'm just to good for these suckers.'
Naruto and Asami walked out from the forest into an open clearing, a wide space of grass and crystal clear water flowing in a river nearby. Naruto looked at the river for a moment and remembered how he fell inside thanks the Thousand Years of Pain. A few feet away, he recognized the three wooden poles that still stood ever since Jiraiya's years of training as a Genin. But he didn't come al the way here for that, he looked around and finally found it.
It was the memorial stone.
The piece of stone that could be used as a sundial. It had list all the names of the Leaf-nins that had sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. That was what Naruto had come looking for.
Of course, Asami didn't even know why they were here or why he was looking for that stone monument. Naruto had kept silent ever since they parted ways with Baki. She still remembered Naruto's word.
"Fine, but don't ask questions." Stated Naruto.
He approached the memorial stone and traced his index fingers on the list of names, looking for one in particular. He stopped when he found it.
Sandaime (The Third), Sarutobi. Beloved protector, friend, and grandfather.
"Hey there, Oji-san(old man). It's been a long time, huh." Stated Naruto as he gazed at the name. Asami merely stood there quietly, finally taking full understanding. She remembered the very few people Naruto had talked about . The very few he still held precious to his heart even after joining the Sand.
He continued, "I bet you'd be really pissed right about now. Though I don't know if you're be pissed at them or at me. Whatever it is, I don't care. I never regret leaving this village and joining the Sand. I guess what you would say back then is that there's always a reason for everything that happens. And I have all reason for leaving. Some dream of being Hokage…. The greatest Hokage that ever lived…"
Asami slowly moved closer towards Naruto.
He sighed, "I guess sometimes dreams are just dreams. Isn't that right, Oji-san? You'll be happy to know that I've finally a young extraordinary kunoichi that I will forever love and spend the rest of my life with. She's really beautiful, isn't she? She's strong too, throws a really hard punch for a girl."
Asami didn't know why she was blushing: The fact that Naruto was praising her to a memorial stone like it was alive. She guessed it was one of the few ways Naruto would show respect to the dead. She could sense the sorrow and sadness in his face.
"I don't care if you're saying that I'm killing that son of a bitch, out of revenge. He was just evil even from the start, you know that, and always will be. Yet your kind heart thought that you could change that. Look what he did. HE KILLED YOU! He took away your life! Took you away from Konohamaru! Took you away from the village that you cared so much! Took you away from me! The first one to realize and acknowledge me for who I am, not because of what's inside me….It was never you're time, Oji-san. Never…you could have watched little Konohamaru grow up. After all the things that blasted snake did. He brainwashed and even forced all those people into joining his pathetic village, sacrificed and played with those people's lives like he owned them. He deserves every single thing that's coming for him tomorrow. He made you use that Forbidden Sealing Technique. Your soul can't even rest in peace, trapped forever in the belly of the Death God. I'll show him…I'll show him a fate far worse that being sealed forever inside the belly of the Death God."
Asami slowly reached Naruto from behind and hugged him around the neck. Naruto was already panting from releasing all the anger. He eased himself when he was Asami's arms.
"You can just cry you know. I didn't care what you, Kisame, and Itachi would think of seeing me crying when Otou-san (father) died." Comforted Asami as she hold on to him tighter.
Streams of tears trailed down the whiskers marked cheeks, under all that creepy blood red Oni mask. All the pain he had kept even when he resisted crying on Sandaime's funeral was finally released. He was finally going to get rid of the very last one tomorrow when he would be facing Orochimaru. After a few minutes, Naruto finally settled down.
"I bet Otou-san would have enjoyed meeting him, he must have been a really great man" said Asami.
"He was," added Naruto. He chuckled a little on thought, "He really was. A great, funny, perverted old man."
Naruto slowly backed away and moved on. Asami followed suit.
"Can I finally ask questions?" asked Asami.
"You already are," said Naruto. He stopped a few feet away, "Care to join me in another meeting?"
"With who?" asked Asami happily looked at her lover who was finally back to his usual self.
"Guess." Answered Naruto as he made a few complex seals and finally ended with one that didn't symbolize any of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac.
Asami laughed a little when a vortex opened in mid air like zip had been opened right there. A gust of wind blew as they entered the vortex and it closed up right after the moment Asami's cloak wisped into the vortex.
Several leaves fell off from a nearby tree where Naruto was twice hanged from during his bell test. As all leaves fell, three of them were carried by the wind and slowly fell right near the memorial stone.