Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Never did, never will. Masashi Kishimoto does.
I'm so sorry for updating so late. I'm sorry. It's been like what since I last posted chapter 9. Here's the latest one. A little character development and some flashbacks here and there. Like always, RATE AND REVIEW, later on. Give me your critics and ideas people! They're heavily appreciated.
Bold (Demon talking)
Italics (Thoughts, flashbacks)
Uchiha Sasuke fell down to his knees on the ground, with exhaustion finally taking its toll. His chakra reserve was almost finished and he was just dead tired, all because of the a little sparring he asked with the Kazekage's ANBU captain. He didn't know why, but he was somehow slowly breathing hard, the pace getting harder and harder with each breath. He was still thinking, what had just happened in a few seconds ago? He'd seen Rock Lee's speed, which had exponentially grown even faster and faster since he came back to Konohagakure. However, even with such speed, Lee would deliver a fast, hard blow that obviously was noticeable. It'd really hurt. A lot.
Sasuke never felt the blades touching his skin.
It was all too fast; the sound of metals clashing yet no one even saw the blades made contact with one another or with Sasuke's Konoha head protector. Naruto just stood among his fellow Sand comrades, watching Itachi's brother down on his knees. Three years ago, he'd won by tapping into Kyuubi's chakra. He tried to think that it was only fair in doing so since Sasuke brought up the Curse Seal all the way to Level Two. All those times he was held up in the Akatsuki prison all alone without Asami around, made him gave a lot of thinking.
He remembered how he was too dependent of Kyuubi's chakra, especially after he'd managed to convince Kyuubi to lend him chakra before the Chuunin exams. Fighting against Haku, Orochimaru in the Forest of Death, Hyuuga Neji in the exam, Sabaku no Gaara, Kazahana Dotou from Snow Country, Suien of the Waterfall, and the list goes on. Sure all those times and everyone he encountered had special circumstances like Haku having a blood-line limit, Gaara having Shukaku, Kazahana Dotou had that chakra armor, and Suien drank the Hero Water. But he wanted to beat them using his own, not Kyuubi's own. The Nine Tailed Fox Demon had been fighting and winning his battles, not him, and finally he had changed that.
Uzumaki Naruto wanted to taste the victory he'd won with only his hard work and determination. Much how he defeated Mizuki while defending Umino Iruka, Kiba in the Chuunin preliminaries, and Kabuto with his first ever Rasengan.
"Sasuke-kun!" called out Sakura on worry as she ran towards the side of her teammate. Kakashi and Shizune followed suit as they were going to check on the fallen Leaf-nin. Tsunade, Sai, and the rest of the ANBU guards just looked at the sad scenery that laid before them.
Takagi, Chiro, and Hirami couldn't be any happier that night. The arrogant Uchiha Sasuke was beaten. Badly. He never stood a chance against their ANBU captain, very much like how Takagi predicted. But never this bad. All three of them ran towards Naruto with excited faces.
"You totally kicked butt!" waved around Chiro crazily, as he was right in front of Naruto. "I mean that dragon, was like…like…damn awesome! And…and…the look on his face when it turned out that he'd only been fighting a Mizu Bunshin (Water clone)! It was a picture perfect moment. I should've gotten myself a camera."
"How about when he performed the Kamaitachi? I think that's way better, I mean, no battle fan right?" interrupted Hirami.
"The Hyouton Jutsu was the best in my opinion." said Yosuke Takagi. Chiro and Hirami nodded in agreement altogether as they looked up at Naruto. Baki's students were newly appointed Chuunins, the only group from Sunagakure that went for the Jounin exam right after taking the Chuunin exams six month earlier. All three of them were the a year younger than Gaara. The two demon vessels, Naruto and Gaara, were born at the same year. Naruto was older, not ahead by weeks or months, but by years thanks to Kyuubi's decision in aging Naruto's body. It's really awkward for him, younger people looking up to him as he was reminded about Konohamaru, Udon, and Moegi.
--Begin Flashback--
"What are you complaining about? You should be happy, you ungrateful brat!" shouted back Kyuubi upon hearing Naruto's complaint. "I just decided that this body should be just as old as your mind is. Three years ahead of training in mind, so why not make it three years for this body of ours too? You stupid brat."
The word 'ours' slightly disturbed him. True he was letting Kyuubi out of his cage, sharing bodies, well just settling in. He was the owner of his own body, and the Kyuubi was already treating it like he owns it.
"Besides, that mate of yours did say you looked better. I think she preferred someone who's at least older or the same age as her."
--End Flashback--
"That's totally an S-Ranked Hyouton technique. I mean you didn't perform a single hand seal, just some flick of a hand." contemplated Takagi. "Your speed, techniques, and all that careful planning. Otou-san was right about you, you're a Kage level all the way."
"His father's Yosuke Hakuba." added Baki like she could read Naruto's mind that was probably wondering who Takagi's father was. "You know, the guy with the large scar trailing from his forehead all the way down to his chin."
Naruto directly remembered, he was the guy that he could associate with his first Chuunin examiner, Morino Ibiki. Hakuba told him that he got the scar from the end of a Leaf ANBU's katana during the Sound and Sand invasion. Not a pretty reminder of past mistakes. Naruto didn't know what to say as he looked at Hirami who was chuckling in delight. Three Chuunins whom were looking up to him surrounded her lover, very much like Gaara's small fan club of girls usually do in looking to Gaara. Striking a deal with Orochimaru, only to find out that he had killed their Kazekage was one of the biggest mistakes the Sand had ever done. Second to the Shukaku human weapon project the Yondaime (The Fourth) Kazekage who actually was Gaara's own father. The Kyuubi vessel snapped out of his daze when he heard one of the ANBU leaf-nins talk.
"That Sand ANBU could've finished him from the start." stated a Konoha ANBU shinobi who was wearing a coal black raven mask.
"What do we know about him so far…?" asked another, this time wearing a hazel brown frog mask tentatively.
"He's not left or right handed. He blocked all of the shurikens thrown by the Uchiha using his left hand. But he wielded the two blades of katanas extremely well when he delivered the last blow. Notice the short glimpse of kunai and shuriken holster on each thigh." started off the black decorated raven ANBU guard. "Uses both hands."
The blue falcon masked ANBU made his point. "Moves really fast. Too fast for any of us to realize what even happened when Uchiha Sasuke tumbled and rolled on the ground by his strike. Has several elemental Jutsus, performing a Hyouton right there with no seals whatsoever. He went through with nothing more but patches of dried mud on him after one very intense battle. He was dominating the spar at the very beginning."
"More like controlling the whole match." bragged Chiro as he puffed up his chest. Trying his best to like as manly as possible, though he looked a little apprehensive
'What type of Clone was that? The last clone he performed.' contemplated Tsunade very hard. 'It was made from water, but somehow it becomes flesh and blood….It was laughing at Sasuke's face.'
"Why?" asked Sasuke as his voice slowly trembled with anger and frustration in Sakura's arms. He gritted his teeth hard, clenched his fists, and his body shook. "Why? Why?"
Sakura held her teammate in her arms, "Sasuke-kun…."
"WHY! WHY CAN'T I BEAT YOU, ONII-SAN!" shouted Sasuke as he glared at the Sand ANBU captain.
He kept a hard glare on Naruto, as though expecting him to answer his question any time soon. Kisame, Kabuto, and Asami looked at their comrade too, wondering how he would react. Gaara, Kankurou, Baki, Kakashi, and Tsunade just stood quiet on the sideline. Sakura had her right hand glowing with green chakra, slowly healing the cut on the Uchiha's forehead.
"Just leave it, Sasuke-kun." advised Sakura as she held him tight in her arms. "Just leave it. You tried…."
"Sakura is right, Sasuke." agreed Shizune as she crouched down beside him. "It's better that way. Just forget about all about it, you've already forgotten about that revenge of yours. Now just forget about you're brother here, I'm not even sure you should call him your brother anymore."
"That man over there isn't your brother Sasuke-kun." added on Sakura as the Uchiha began to settle down little by little. She continued on, "You told me your brother was a respectable shinobi, one that the whole Uchiha clan was proud of, someone you really looked up to. Is that the man you would look up to?"
Sasuke slowly stood up, with the support of two medic kunoichis by his side. He was tired, really tired in fact.
"I think that's enough for you, Sasuke." conceded Kakashi as he walked off. "You better go back home and rest."
"You'll need all the energy you can replenish for the Jounin exams next thing in the morning," added Shizune. She acted like she was like an older sister to the orphaned Uchiha, she treated the whole Rookie Nine and Neji's team like they were her siblings. She gave a glance at the length of the surrounding trees' shadows to tell the time.
"A good night's sleep should do just fine, and it's only around nine forty-three.
Sakura looked at her Jounin instructor, with a determined face, "Kakashi-sensei. How is it possible that he can withstand that Ryuuka no Jutsu? I mean Orochimaru had the skin of the person he was impersonating melted down like wax. We saw him defending against the Goukakyuu no Jutsu with an earth technique, right?"
"True, but he placed a Genjutsu on all us as he took the direct hit of the Ryuuka no Jutsu. I bet he must have done something under that illusion of his, probably not wanting us to know how he did It." speculated Kakashi as he kept one eye on Naruto. Literally.
Naruto didn't even care that the man of a thousand Jutsus was watching him. Kabuto looked back at the Jounin instructor and grinned, 'you can be very quite aware of everything around you, Kakashi. A genius as the Leaf shinobis would say. But can you figure out that one of your precious Genin, Uzumaki Naruto, is now the captain of the Sand ANBU that had taken down Otogakure?'
FLICK.
The jagged spikes of ice behind Sakura, Sasuke, and Shizune suddenly shattered and crumble down under the moonlight like a thousand diamonds. The loud noise of a breaking glass when it shattered had totally taken everyone by surprise, except for a certain ANBU kunoichi. Asami couldn't help but suppress her laugh after she saw how all the ANBU leaf-nins jumped and circled around their Hokage in reflex. Each one drawing out their katanas and readied it right at Naruto. Naruto seemed annoyed, and simply turned his head towards one of his precious people, currently at the top of the list. The Kazekage, Kisame, Kabuto, and Kankurou followed suit knowing who the real culprit was. There were only two shinobis in Sunagakure that could perform Hyouton (Ice Element) Jutsus and apparently one of them was looking at the other.
Asami coughed a little trying to ease the tension as she held out her right hand, and gave it another flick. The pile of melting ice splashed away into water as it wet the ground in a second. Chakra used in raising and falling water temperatures in an instant, a unique technique of a whole new level when compared to other Hyouton Jutsu. If it was broad daylight, the shinobis could see blood in the puddle of water as it slowly sipped its way into the ground.
Sasuke, Sakura, and Shizune turned around to the Sand-nin elites, knowing it was her doing.
"So you can Hyouton Jutsu too?" asked Sakura. "A bunch of show offs is what I would say about you people. People like you who think they're strong, and then pick on others. But in truth, there more much stronger than you."
'I'll beat down every single one of you down to pulp! How dare they! Hurting my poor beloved Sasuke-kun!' shouted Inner Sakura as she punched into the air several times with huge veins popping on her head. She was burning furiously in Sakura's mind.
The pink hair kunoichi cracked her fingers menacingly, trying to make her point. She tried to direct her killing intent at the four, masked Sand shinobis.
Asami was bored. 'You think that's going to scare me, pinky?'
Raetsu's daughter released her killing intent, one that totally freaked everyone there. Everyone. Naruto gritted his teeth shut, had his eyes widened, and was sweating profusely though thankfully his Oni mask managed to hide this everyone. He knew it was not directed at him. But over those short periods of time she had trained him in the mindscape, he had somehow developed a fear reacting to her killing intent. If there was one thing he was ever scared of was a pissed Asami. She could hit hard, though nothing like Tsunade's strength, she had something deadlier than brute strength.
Strikes accompanied by sudden painful chilling sensation.
Sub-zero ice spike penetrating through the skin, jabs of pain piercing through the muscles like kunais, followed by the chilling sensation of Artic waters shocking the human body sensation . It was nothing compared to what she could if she was ever in Snow Country or when she decided to bring out her strongest Jutsu.
--Begin Flashback--
"I always think killing someone by freezing them to death is something much worse than being burned alive." said Asami as the two lovers sat at the Akatsuki chamber room. Though, back the, they were just friends. Close friends.
One would see it as an awkward topic to talk about between two people.
"Oh really?" asked Naruto after he felt like he had being challenged. He had said something about dieing by being burned alive.
"Yeah." smiled Asami as she sat right beside the prison stalactite and stalagmite bars, carved with seals. Naruto was just sitting shackled right on the other side.
"Sure you just like start shivering due to the cold. But when you're in a certain point, you could feel your body slowly freezing up from the inside. Liquid slowly turning to solid. All the moist in your lungs freezes up into tiny, little sharp crystals like minuet glasses.
Then when you breathe, it become painful as your lungs contract while those tiny water crystals pierce into the walls, linings, and passages of the lungs. Then all those shivers start to become convulsions while the blood in your veins and arteries crystallizes. Your brain--"
"Okay, I get it. I get it." interrupted Naruto.
"But all in all, it's interesting. In the end, you just get drowsy, really sleepy and then fall asleep. A sleep you'll never ever wake up from." finished Asami.
--End flashback--
Evidently, he had developed a little trauma every time he sensed her killing intent around. All those painful moments he'd gone through in his training mindscape, only to thank Kyuubi for healing his wounds. Naruto once again snapped out of the recalling past memories. 'Damn! Distracted again.'
'I've noticed.' commented Kyuubi. 'Ever since you set your foot in this shit hole. It's really starting to annoy me. The sooner we leave, the better.'
'You can go and scare a bunch of kids with that pathetic killing intent.' scoffed off Kisame in mind as he received the intent. 'It's obvious you've never killed anyone before.'
Sakura felt timid as the killing intent struck her, and only her. Powerless just like when she stood weakly in the Forest of Death in front of Orochimaru.
"Sakura, may be you should be one that's suppose to calm down." advised Shizune from Sasuke's side. Her words helped her a bit, "I don't think it is wise. In a way, you're provoking them. Tsunade-sama wouldn't like that."
Sakura resisted the urge upon hearing Shizune's words, and gave a snort. "Humph."
Sasuke thought that he really was starting to rub on his dear teammate, that or she was finally getting confident enough with her strength. Kabuto took a mental note, 'My…my…looks like she finally has something other than that I.Q of hers.'
Tsunade clapped several times. "I never thought I'd live the day to see a Sand-nin perform a Hyouton Jutsu. You've got some pretty interesting Sand-nins by you side, Kazekage-dono."
The Slug summoner looked at Naruto. "A shinobi with various elements of Ninjutsus, and even capable of placing a Genjutsu on everyone here without notice or hand seal. Tied down with no means of movements, in fact. Even after hearing your denial, Kazekage-dono. If there was gambling, I'd still place a bet that there is a possibility that he is Uchiha Itachi. "
"Hokage-sama, I'm sorry if I'm interrupting." apologized the Owl mask, Byakugan, ANBU. "But I didn't see any chakra pathways flowing near his eyes being used up, so that may be he wasn't using his Sharingan. Or may be he's not even an Uchiha."
Sasuke and Kakashi finally realized their big mistake, they didn't see the Sand ANBU captain drawing in chakra into his eyes. Perhaps he didn't just the Sharingan?
"A shinobi with a freakishly high chakra, carrying a huge wrapped sword, and laughs when he finds out that his comrade had just used a Suiton (Water type) Jutsu. The thing is, I can't seem to catch a glimpse of the color of your skin. " continued the Legendary Sannin like the ANBU never spoke. She moved ahead to Kisame. "Second round, I'd place my bet that he's Hoshigaki Kisame and that sword of his is a Tenken Sword known as Samehada."
Kisame was covered from head to toe, but unlike his three hooded companions, he has to wear actual boots. No toes of heels visible whatsoever. Kisame was expecting something coming from Naruto, if not now, may be later when they weren't in public.
Tsunade looked at Asami. "So far, you've only shown me some swift moves and a Hyouton Jutsu. When you blocked that senior Sand-nin (Old Lady Chiyo), I can only guess you have superb speed and Taijutsu techniques so far. For now, I think I'll just bet that you were a Snow missing-nin. You've got some high chakra reserves for a kunoichi (female ninja), the highest one yet. Though, just below Kisame and Itachi over here. I don't think I have that much chakra myself. "
"And finally you." directed Tsunade as she finished with he ex-Sound-nin, Kabuto. "You're the only smart one enough not to show anything or draw attention to yourself. Lowest chakra reserve in the whole group, I'd have to say. No suppressing whatsoever."
Kabuto wasn't too happy with his assessment. But he couldn't deny the fact, he did have the lowest chakra reserve if compared to Asami. He didn't even have to think of comparing himself with Kisame, let alone Naruto.
He would have pressed his middle finger on the bridge of his glasses out of habit, if the white ANBU mask weren't in the way.
"Even if we were really Akatsuki members, there's nothing you and the rest of the Konoha shinobis can do about it. Is there, Hokage-sama?" questioned Kabuto.
Tsunade knew the hidden meaning under the question the ANBU asked. It was as they say, underneath the underneath. They couldn't risk war between two countries just because of several wanted missing-nins. Tsunade emphasized on the usage of the word 'were' used earlier. 'We were Akatsuki members' could mean that they were no longer members of the Akatsuki organization. Now the granddaughter of the First Hokage was trying to clear things up.
"But I didn't say anything about you four being Akatsuki members, did I?" countered Tsunade as she seemed pretty confident.
Naruto, Kisame, and Asami knew what Kabuto was doing: the medic-nin was probably ready with his own comeback.
"No you didn't, Hokage-sama.," agreed Kabuto. "Not directly at least. However, I'm sure you are fully aware on some of the identities of the Akatsuki members."
"Akatsuki?" interrupted Sakura and wondered what it was after hearing the word twice. "What's that? Some sort of club or something?"
'Just when I thought she couldn't be any dumber,' thought Asami.
Now Sai was interested upon the sudden topic of this so called 'Akatsuki'. Directly broken down and translated, it would mean Red Dawn. (Aka means Red, Tsuki means Dawn)
Judging by the faint chilling aura coming from Naruto, the senior Sand-nins knew it wasn't a good idea to stay here any longer.
The chance came.
Hirami gave a yawn, which totally disrupted the whole tension between the two Village shinobis. Baki didn't care if it was intentional or not, but he took the chance.
"Perhaps it would be wise if we wrap things up and leave?" suggested Baki towards Gaara. His voice loud and clear enough for everyone in the training area of Team 7 to hear every word. "Both Takagi and Sasuke are participating in the final phase of the Jounin exam tomorrow. It would be ashamed if the Grass-nin and Waterfall-nin beat each of our participants in front of all the daimyo (landlords) from Fire and Wind Country."
"True. Anyways, that was one fine spar. Don't you agree, Kazekage-dono?" asked Tsunade in opinion. She guess that it would be better to settle the mystery on the identity of the Sand ANBU elites later on. Away from Baki's students, Sakura, and especially Sai. She still thought something was fishy about that young shinobi of the 'Roots'.
"Yes, indeed it was." answered Gaara straight to the point. He bowed down in respect. "I hope we didn't trouble you in anyway, Hokage-dono. Since you had to leave your work and come to greet our arrival personally."
"Trouble?" repeated Tsunade, "No, it was no trouble at all, I was actually relieved to finally get out from that office of mine. Stretch out the legs, breath some fresh air, go around and talk with people about topics that are not related to work."
Gaara could sense that his bodyguards wanted to leave the place sooner, judging by the exchange looks between the Sand and Leaf ANBU, the sooner the better.
"It's best if we depart now." noted Gaara. "Don't worry about us finding our way back to the village. I'll see you again, tomorrow, Hokage-dono."
All ten Sand-nins slowly walked back to the very pathway they entered. Leaving Tsunade with her band of Leaf-nins at the training area of Team 7. All of them walk towards Sasuke for support and encouragement, except Sai. The nine Sand-nins began tree hopping their way back to the village with Naruto in the lead. He still remembered the way back, even after five whole years. The surrounding trees could've grown slightly and the surrounding could've changed. But he didn't find any trouble earlier coming to the training ground of Team 7 just to visit the memorial stone. So finding the road leading back to the village even in the dark shouldn't be a problem at all.
If he did, he had the eyes of a fox, all thanks to the Kyuubi. Foxes known to be nocturnal animals have good night vision just as good as other nocturnal animals. A demon fox's eyesight was something else.
"You sure know when to get on people's nerves, do you?" asked Kabuto as he was right behind Naruto. "You sure had us worried when that water clone of yours jumped out of the water. All burned from head to toe, mask melted, and clothes singed."
Takagi, Chiro, and Hirami just kept quiet, it was a rare opportunity walking with the Kazekage and his four Sand elites. That and the fact that Kabuto just spoke casually with Naruto, trying to strike a conversation. They already knew Asami since she would drop around their training area back in Sunagakure. They thought that this moment shouldn't end. Naruto heard every word, but didn't say a word in reply to Kisame.
"Still with the cold shoulders, huh?" asked Kisame. "There's no Leaf-nin following us or anything, you know. So what's with you?"
Naruto still remained silent.
"Just let him be, Kisame." advised Asami. She didn't mind Baki's three students that were following behind. " Like Gaara said, it was his first time fighting some Leaf-nin. You know his history here in Konoha, and how he's got issues with the people and this place."
"What history?" asked Hirami tentatively beside Takagi. "And what issues does Oni taichou (captain) have against the Leaf?"
His teammates shushed her to be quiet, not to meddle or interrupt into people's businesses.
She retaliated back. "What? Shush yourselves up."
Baki glared at her for not being quiet. She was a boisterous and rowdy kunoichi ever since Baki took her in as a Genin fresh out o the Academy. She was clever, reminded him of Temari, but she lacked the sense of keeping her mouth shut at times.
"Gomen (Sorry), Baki-sensei." apologized Hirami as she looked timid and sorry.
Naruto heard her and gave a large sigh. He didn't know much about Baki's students like Asami did, since he didn't like mingling with people much. Kabuto, Asami, and Kisame knew that if he was given time with someone, he would open a little. Like how he did with Lady Chiyo and Old man Ebizou, a few ANBU members, and Jounins he had to work with. The people of the Sand slowly accepted Uzumaki Naruto when he thought it was safe to only open up to very few. Naruto may not notice in that half a year of being a Sand-nin, but his three friends did, the Kyuubi vessel had a lot of people looking up to him more than he imagined. Thanks to Baki's students earlier right after he had beaten Sasuke, he had realized the fact that he should open up to people more often.
When he meant people, he only meant those of Sunagakure. The people here in the Country of Fire were not people in Naruto's opinion. 'Well, except Tsunade-obachan, Shizune-neechan, Erro Sennin, Iruka-sensei, Konohamaru, Teuchi-ochan and Ayame-neechan.' Thought Naruto. (Note: The last two names worked at Ichiraku Ramen. Old man and daughter.)
They never were.
They weren't fit to be called people.
"It's not her fault, Baki." suddenly spoke Naruto guiltily. "She was just curious. You didn't have to be that angry with her."
The young Chuunin kunoichi, Hirami, was confused. "Eh?"
Everyone there heard him and was confused including Gaara, 'What just happened?' was what all nine Sand-nins asked to themselves. Something was up with their Sand ANBU captain, and they didn't know what it was.
"Hey, are you are okay?" asked Kabuto.
"Yeah, I'm fine." simply answered Naruto. "By the way, Hirami, you sure you want know why? "
Gaara and the rest still weren't convinced, and knew something was up. Baki's student seemed hesitant and looked gingerly at Asami, and Asami just gave her a word of assurance. "Hei, he's talking to you even though he barely even knows you. There's nothing to be afraid of, really. I guess it finally penetrated through that thick skull of his that he should open up more than usual."
"But I'll only be talking freely with the people of Sunagakure." noted Naruto. "Those who I see fit to be trusted. The people of the Sand had been just that since I came in. Talking with you guys here in Konoha, make sure not to say my name in public."
"Hai! Oni Taicho!" saluted Kabuto as he decided to act all too melodramatic.
"He he, so the little hermit crab finally decides to come out of his shell more often." teased Kisame.
"I guess we no longer have to wait all the way till we're clear of any people around before we can hear you talk." added Asami.
"Everyone's going to know that the Academy's dead last Uzumaki Naruto is now the ANBU captain of the Sand by tomorrow." announced Naruto, not caring that Baki's three students hearing it. They already knew what his name was, Asami told them. But being Suna's law, anybody not belonging to Sunagakure should know. Naruto compared it too much like the Konoha law on the existence of Kyuubi sealed within Naruto.
"Academy's dead last?" repeated Hirami.
"So you were a Konoha shinobi before?" asked Chiro in astonishment.
"I was. A dumb one too. Graduated as the dead last of the year from the Academy." told Naruto in a boring tone. "I got problems dealing with these foolish monkeys here since I could remember."
"Why?" asked Takagi. He nearly slipped off a branch as he landed but Chiro held his hand and pulled. He launched Takagi to the next branch of tree to fix the momentum.
Yosuke Takagi was too distracted talking and hearing.
"He had the same problem as I did." answered the Kazekage before Naruto could. Gaara continued. "But the people here never acknowledged him no matter what he had done for their sake."
"So…so…you're a Jinchuuriki too just like Kazekage-sama?" asked Hirami nervously. But everyone could sense it wasn't out of fear, more like excitement hidden in her tone.
"Cool!" shouted Chiro all of sudden. He couldn't control himself as he launched a barrage of questions. "What animal is it? Since Kazekage-sama has a Tanuki (raccoon dog). How many tails does it have? What can you do with it? Is that why the fire didn't burn you? "
"Having a demon sealed inside you isn't something people would call cool, Chiro" lectured Baki after not hearing Naruto say anything in response. "He suffered the same fate just as Gaara did before he became Kazekage. People shunned him, hated him, and despised him. They practically did everything just as we did, luckily he didn't live a life with killing attempts on his back. They didn't treat him as a weapon like we did with Gaara."
"This is like what? Your third time beating his ass right?" asked Kisame.
"So you knew Sasuke from before?" asked Takagi.
"Of course, he was in the same year as I was. That Uchiha was the Number One rookie of the year." answered Naruto as he kept looking forward.
"In fact, Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke were his teammates." added Kabuto as he decided to join in the conversation. "A member of Team 7."
Chiro was astounded but also confused. "They were?"
"Yup," confirmed Asami.
"Your Oni taicho here left this village with the Leaf's legendary Sannin. It's been three years since he left." called out Kankurou. He smirked, slightly making his Kabuki face paint a little creepier. "And you know what?"
"What?" chorused all three of Baki's students.
"These people don't even know he'd joined the Sand."
"But...but…we came to realize how important Gaara-sama is to us. We stopped treating him like he was a monster. Gaara never ran away." replied Hirami as she looked at the back of the Kazekage's robes. "Why didn't they-"
"Because it's just the way it is here." interrupted Kabuto before the kunoichi could finish. "Sorry for the interruption, Hirami is it? They're just way too stubborn and ignorant."
"And don't forget stupid. Can't forget stupid." added Kisame with a sharky grin behind his ANBU mask. "That's a crucial point you're missing, Kabuto."
"Fools. Arrogant, stupid, ignorant fools." finished Naruto coldly.
Asami looked worriedly at Naruto, and decided to change the subject. "Let's just hurry up and get back to the inn shall we?"
As they picked up speed, Baki gave a back glance at one of his students.
"Nine."
"Nine? What nine?" pondered Chiro in confusion.
"Nine Tails. The bijou sealed in his body possesses nine tails in total. The strongest out of all the nine demons. The Youma Kyuubi no Kitsune ( Nine Tail Fox Demon)." elaborated Baki.
His three students shuddered in fear a little, after knowing that small piece of information. They heard the tales from their parents and grandparents when they were little kids. The only thing that's worse than the Shukaku, was the Kyuubi. In comparison, it was far worse. Tales of how naughty kids get their minds eaten by Shukaku, and Kyuubi eats their souls later on.
The three of them looked at the back of Naruto's sand brown cloak.
It was all clear. The Village Council had all agreed on that point. The Sand shinobis, though unknown to the rest of the Shinobi world, were currently the strongest shinobis around. A scale tipped immensely thanks to their special elite ANBU squad.
"Remember, no shinobi out of Suna is know about this or anything related to them. Understood, all three of you?" stated Gaara as he landed on a branch and jumped on.
"Hai! Kazekage-sama!" confirmed Takagi, Chiro, and Hirami.
"Good."
The ten Sand-nins were quiet as they continued their tree hopping all the way back to the village. It was just a couple of minutes since Asami last spoke did all of them found the small road leading the village. The entire village could be seen as lights coming from buildings, houses, and street lamps shone under the night sky. It was getting late evidently since most shops along the streets had closed early due to the Jounin exam tomorrow. Still, people could be seen walking through the streets probably on their way home or going on a night outing. The Sand-nins were about to go down road when they heard a sound.
"Gruuuuuuuuu……."
"What was that?" asked Chiro as looked around near the bushes. "Sounds like some poor dieing animal or something."
"Gruuuuuuuuu….."
Kisame, Kabuto, Asami, Gaara, Kankurou, and Baki knew what it was. They had their eyes on the Sand ANBU captain as he blushed embarrassingly under his Onii red mask while holding on his stomach. Then Asami's stomach too was now joining Naruto's in making the rumbling, signaling clear starvation. Being a medic-nin, Kabuto as the only shinobi there that knew exactly why stomach makes the rumbling sound when reaching a certain point of hunger. He did learn a thoroughly study of the human body for years.
'Air being pushed around by the constant movement of stomach and the intestines in the human body. I guess the last time Naruto and Asami ate was breakfast, we'll probably eat what's left in the inn or order take out while on the back to the inn.' thought Kabuto as he gave a full analysis and possibilities.
"Well it seems that poor dieing animal is your stomach, taicho (captain)" teased Kisame as he elbowed Naruto's arm.
He still wasn't clear if Naruto wanted the three Chuunins under Baki should know their ANBU captain's name or not. But then Kisame's own stomach gave out a rumble, a much louder one compared Naruto and Asami's own.
"Look who's talking. We'll see if we can find any pet shop that still opens, because I think we just ran out our monthly fish food supply." retaliated Naruto as he glared back.
"Yeah, and we should by some dog biscuits too. Cause we don't want hear that poor dieing animal go wailing again." countered Kisame as he tried to stretch and look as tall as possible, trying to make a point.
"Why don't you two just shut up." ended Asami as gave a quick punch to each of their stomachs. The two ANBU elites dropped face forward onto the ground as Asami pulled and dragged them on the ground. The three students of Baki couldn't believe what was happening. There they were, Suna's strongest shinobis, fooling around like kids. Kabuto, Gaara, Kankurou, and Baki had seen this a few times back in Sunagakure. They were already used to it.
"Somehow, I think we're better off with our stomachs rumbling in hunger instead of pain…" coughed Kisame as he was dragged along.
"I think my stomach just died…" complained Naruto as he was dragged along a few feet before she let go.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moments later……
Uzumaki Naruto was now walking through the streets of Konohagakure with his ANBU cloak covered in dried mud and dirt. Asami was by his right side, with no remorse or regret after she done. Kisame was walking behind him with the backside of his sand brown cloak covered in evident road dirt. Kabuto walked quietly beside the ex-Akatsuki member as he looked around for a place to eat. Gaara was behind them, in between Kankurou and Baki, while the three Chuunins were following behind. They were totally grabbing the attention of everyone that were walking in the streets or closing shops.
A Kazekage with scary looking ANBU bodyguards walking around Konoha streets at night, how possible could alerted Konoha bystander not notice?
"We're definitely ordering take out." mumbled Kisame in irritation.
"That is, IF we could find a restaurant or joint that still opens." said Kabuto as he watched a man pull down the metal slide down, closing his grocery shop. "All of them are probably closing early since they want to get up for tomorrow's Jounin tournament."
"This is weird. Shouldn't the shops close later than usual since there are more people coming into Konoha?" wondered Kankurou as he made a survey. "With them coming all over Fire and Wind Country."
His brother, the Kazekage, didn't know what to say in return. He was imagining how the villagers here would still be treating Naruto if he hadn't left Konohagakure.
"Come on, I'm sure there's got to be something." cheered Asami as she found some more restaurants already closed up. "Sushi, rice curry, steam boat, a barbecue grill….anything edible. I'm starving here, people."
"How about ramen?" asked Naruto as he remembered the old Ichiraku Ramen shop in the neighborhood where he used to live. "You did say anything, Asami."
"Fine! Whatever! Ramen it is!" shouted Asami out loud startling and scaring all the pedestrians around. Some fled while some kept their distance away from the group. Hirami giggled in delight in between Takagi and Chiro, though her teammates just smiled, as they saw the villagers' scared faces.
Naruto tried to remember his way as he led the nine Sand-nins through the emptying streets of Konoha. He finally found it, and was surprised when he caught his first glimpse at the present Ichiraku Ramen. It had become slightly bigger, a few modifications or expansions that happened since he left. The lights were still visible, coming under and in between the curtains that was its entrance. The Kyuubi vessel pushed away the curtain slowly as he entered first. The others followed suit, being strangers in this foreign territory.
'Eh?' thought of Naruto upon seeing the occupants.
'Smooth move, brat. Best one yet I've seen so far.' suddenly joined Kyuubi in his head.
The place had expanded a little, with a few sets of tables around seating a family of four each. The arrangements kind of made Naruto remember them of his classroom in the shinobi Academy. Rows of tables arranged like students' own with the counter up front like Umino Iruka's teachers table. What totally surprised him was that the customers there were all Sand-nins. More specifically: Temari, Lady Chiyo, Old man Ebizou, and several Sand ANBU shinobis that came along in the small caravan from Sunagakure. Naruto felt like he was truly back home, not here, but in Suna.
Apparently there were three waitresses waiting by the counter, Ayame were handling the cash register. Judging by the nervous and worried faces on the three waitresses, they didn't seem to be too happy with the company eating there. However Ayame was with her usual smile as she watched the Sand-nins eat and chat happily. Naruto couldn't see the owner of Ichiraku Ramen, Teuchi, anywhere in the restaurant.
Naruto gave a theory. 'He's probably busy working in the kitchen I guess, this place sure has changed a lot.'
"Well…look who decided to drop in for dinner." said Temari right after she slurped some noodles and swallowed.
All the Sand ANBU guards turned around upon hearing, and were taken by surprise by the presence of their captain. Uzumaki Naruto held the highest post in the ANBU ranks even after only joining the ANBU division less than year. He was the captain of all captains as they say, while Kisame, Kabuto, and Asami could be captains themselves if they were ever given or requested their own squad. But the four of shinobis had decided to stick together, no matter what happens. Making their squad, the strongest one yet that ever existed in Sunagakure.
"Taicho (captain)! Fancy meeting you here.," shouted an ANBU with his mask in vertical lines as eye openings like a knight's helmet.
All of them were still wearing their ANBU masks even while eating. Desert brown, sand could be seen littered near the legs of each of their seats. That solved the mystery as to how Sand ANBU shinobis were able to keep their masks and identities while eating. The secret was simple if the people could see it with their own eyes.
The white bone ANBU masks were made out of Sand.
Shaped and reinforced by chakra, these ANBU masks were exactly like Gaara's sand armor. They stick to the wearer's face because of the chakra used with the exact basic principles of sticking and walking on trees. Exact amounts of chakra constantly released but in small amounts since it's just at the linings where the edge of the mask touches the skin. Or not, just use the plain old traditional tie a strap around the head. Apparently, the ANBU masks that they were currently wearing just covered the upper part of their face. Leaving the mouth free access of the food and water, since the sand that were suppose to cover the mouth were on the floor.
"What happened to you, taicho?" laughed another ANBU who already finished eating. He had a glass of water in his right hand while the left on the table. "Your cloak's all covered in dirt and mud."
All the ANBU guards here were few of those in Suna that he was closed too. Those who got their chance to work alongside Naruto's team in missions that require more than just one team. At first, Naruto and his gang told Gaara that they didn't need back up or some extra helping hands. But Gaara, Lady Chiyo, and Old Man Ebizou told them that these people were just for temporary or new recruits just as they were while some were veterans that could probably teach them a thing or two.
"Long story, short. Kicked an Uchiha's butt." summarized Naruto happily as he took a seat at empty table even after several ANBU shinobis had called him over to sit along.
"Kick whose butt?" asked Temari as she didn't fully catch what he said.
"Long story. Tell you later." replied Naruto as he turned back to call in the rest that were waiting outside.
"What's all the ruckus?" Kisame peeked all of a sudden, and came through the white curtain of the entrance.
Kisame and the rest that have been waiting for Naruto, decided to check what the commotion was all about. They were just as surprised as Naruto when they came in through the curtain. After a few acknowledgments and talking between the Kazekage and his fellow ANBU Sand-nins, Gaara and Kankurou slowly took their seats at Temari's table that also had Lady Chiyo and Old Man Ebizou. Kisame, Kabuto, and Asami took their seats at Naruto's table while Baki and his students at another.
'Man, this is so cool! Eating dinner with probably the strongest shinobis of the Sand, heck, may be the world!' shouted Chiro in his mind in excitement.
(Note: Chiro does not have a hidden personality like Inner Sakura.)
"I hate it when you make some wild decisions and then really turns out to be too good to be true. Like pure good luck all the way." complained Kisame, deep down liking what was happening.
"Look, are we going to eat or what?" asked Asami grouchily. She always gets a little cranky when she was really hungry. The hungrier, the grouchier. Naruto and Kisame remembered Kabuto saying something about low sugar level and her hormones reacting in a weird manner. A waitress was already waiting with a notepad in her hand, and she seemed slightly nervous.
"Eight Miso Ramen." ordered Naruto simply, with a little tinge of cold in his voice, without bothering to have a look at the menu.
The waitress scribbled down on the notepad, and was going to leave as she thought she had finished taking down all the orders from the four of them. 'Two bowls each.'
"Hei. Wait up." called out Kabuto. "We haven't ordered yet. You only jot down his order."
The waitress was surprised when she heard this. 'All eight just for him?"
"I want six Seafood Ramen. Skip the seaweeds. I don't want any." picked Kisame after finding something on the menu. He hated seaweeds, veggies, or anything that is green color related.
"I'll have the same. But only five Seafood Ramen. Put all the seaweeds that's suppose to go into his into my order." finished Asami.
Kabuto seemed a little embarrassed. "Eeeer…I'll have only two Pork Ramen please."
The waitress jotted everything down quickly, wanting to get away as soon as possible. She stuttered, badly. "Um…um….um…a…a...anything….e...e...e…else…?
"Huh? Oh, bring two jugs of water too." thought up Kabuto after all three them looked at him as making him to do all the talking.
"Do you have serve some sake (the Japanese wine ok?) here?" asked Kisame.
"No sake." stated Naruto coldly which didn't even make Kisame protest.
"Um…um…no sake?" asked the waitress nervously.
"There will be not need, it seems." answered Kabuto as he understood from Naruto's command. "Sorry for the trouble."
The waitress quickly left the table as she walked a little too fast towards the kitchen.
"I don't want you waking up with a hang over and a bad case of headache next thing in the morning." explained Naruto as he continued talking. "Drink all you want after the mission tomorrow."
"Okay then.' replied Kisame a little too nice. He flashed his sharky teeth after his Sand ANBU mask crumbled. "But you'll be paying. ALL of it. And I'm drinking in a bar, not here."
"Drink away then." muttered Naruto.
Kabuto didn't like the prospect of drinking alcoholic drinks. Being a medic-nin, he knew all to well the properties of what alcohol can do to the human body. Kill bacteria, a depressant in the central nervous system, alter the brain's reaction time as it slows down body actions, more specifically a fall-off in any performance that requires human activity skills, and how it gets broken down in the liver.
"Man, I bet most of the money you guys earn through all those missions gets spent when you eat." said an ANBU Sand-nin from across a table. The eyeholes on his mask were repeated horizontal ones, instead of vertical.
"Ah, put a sock in it." replied Kisame as he turned around. "You know how it is. Monstrous chakra needs monstrous amounts of food for replenishment. Lucky I didn't spend any chakra today. The amount of food is just adequate to our appetites. We're not just hogging up lots of food like some over sized pig."
"You should have seen Onii Taicho sweep Uchiha Sasuke clean!" shouted Chiro from his seat as they waited for their orders to come. "That show off Leaf-nin didn't even stand a chance!"
"So that's why you guys took a long time, huh? I thought it was some chit-chat or tour around the village." said Temari in a too sweet, malicious tone. She was going to give a piece of her mind when they all got back into the inn.
"You should have seen it!" stormed Chiro. "It was like…."
"W-O-W." finished Takagi as he used the same words when he saw the Hyouton Jutsu.
"Yeah, what Takagi said. W-O-W." agreed Chiro. He like a little boy who just drank ten cups of coffee. "There was this earth dragon shooting right of the ground, a horde of Water and Sand Clones, he got hit by a Katon but it did no damage whatsoever, and--"
"Believe me kid, you've seen nothing compared to what all of us saw when he's really serious." interrupted an ANBU. He touched the sand littered near the foot of his seat, and all of them gathered forming a part of his lower mask. He placed it over his mouth, and the two parts joined together as chakra pasted them together.
"Yeah, you've seen nothing yet. I don't think any of us have ever seen them showing their strongest Jutsus yet." added an ANBU who was just sitting.
Temari watched Naruto while resting her head on her left hand placed on the table, from her seat while Gaara and Kankurou ate their noodles. There he was, with the lower part of his ANBU mask off as he had left the sand crumble from his mask. Eating slowly: slurping in some noodles little by little, his cheeks were bulged with large contents of food in his mouth, chewing normally, and swallow. She shook her head with a smile.
Temari thought of something as she remembered Nara Shikamaru, 'That lazy bum would have to see this with his own eyes if that lazy bum was ever going to believe this.'
Temari had talked to Shikamaru once on what he knew about a particular loud-mouthed blonde whom had left Konoha for training. The Shadow binder told her that he was one troublesome shinobi. Who wasn't in his point of view? That boy surprised him in the Chuunin exams when he fought Kiba. He was also the only shinobi in Konoha that could eat just as fast as a member of the Akimichi clan. Another surprise he encountered when Naruto ate together with Chouji at the Ichiraku Ramen. When the Sand kunoichi returned back to Suna, she called Naruto and Asami for a little get together meeting while treating them at an all you can eat restaurant. She had doubts on what Shikamaru said earlier when Naruto just plain normally with table manners.
--Begin Flashback—
"You know, I heard Shikamaru said that you could eat just fast like any member of the Akimichi clan." said Temari as she held a sushi in her chopstick.
Asami apparently had left for the toilet, and Temari decided to pop out the question.
"I could. But not anymore." replied Naruto. "I kind of lost that habit."
"Why?"
"Asami didn't like it when she saw me eat for the first time." answered Naruto. He chuckled. "She thought that I only ate like that since I was really starving back in the Akatsuki prison. But then she noticed how I kept eating like that even after I started receiving regular meals. Those stupid members in the Akatsuki didn't want me to be too frail or weak. They couldn't risk having me to accidentally drop dead in their wacky seal experiments."
"So you started learning what table manner was all about because of her?" pointed Temari after hearing him talk. She teased "That's so romantic."
"I already know. Just didn't bother practicing them." mumbled Naruto with a little irritation. "I only ate properly back when I was eating at a client's house while doing missions back at shit hole."
'Shit hole…he he he he he he.' chuckled the nine tailed fox demon.
Naruto just realized that Kyuubi was already rubbing off on him in ways he didn't think was possible. Thanks to the demon, it had affected a few of his vocabulary words.
"Konoha you mean?" deciphered Temari upon the word shit hole.
Naruto chewed a sushi and swallowed. "Yeah, whatever."
--End Flashback--
As Naruto moved on to finishing his last bowl when he looked at something.
"Takagi, what are you doing?" asked Chiro as he watched his teammate place a bowl upside down on the table. He then took Hirami's ramen bowl and placed it over his.
"I'm washing my clothes." answered Takagi a little bit angry. "Geez, what does it look like I'm doing? You blind or what?"
"You don't have to be that harsh, Takagi." replied Chiro a little heart broken.
"Sorry," apologized Takagi as he placed Baki's bowl on the stack. "Just playing around. Want to see how stable a tall stack of bowls can be if I arrange them like this. I mean it should be more stable since I have the base spread out while upside down. Affects canter of gravity as stuff…."
Baki and Hirami didn't even bother to care what the Chuunin was doing. Chiro wasn't interested anymore. "You need a hobby."
"And you need to start getting stronger." added Takagi.
"Ah, shut up. You got lucky since you were fighting that Uchiha's tramp." replied Chiro.
Their kunoichi teammate decided to join in the conversation. "You know, I bet you would start screaming out like a girl just like Chiro did when he fought that Grass-nin."
"Yeah!" agreed Chiro.
A few seconds later flew by.
"Hei! I do not scream like a girl!"
Naruto kept watching with interest, smirking his trademark foxy grin that in turn grabbed the attention of both Kabuto and Kisame. He still had eyes on the stack of upside down ramen bowls.
"So who's paying?" asked Asami after she finished drinking her third glass of water.
Kisame, Kabuto, and Naruto was all too used to the situation. Asami had her father's strength, most of his Hyouton techniques, and his stingy personality of spending money. It was all too weird in their point of view. She gave away some money from the payment of S-Rank missions back to the village, and kept her fair share: it was A LOT. But the three of them had to do most of money handling (Payment).
"Don't worry. I'm paying." stated Gaara as he made his way to the counter.
Everyone else knew not to bother or argue with the Kazekage once he had made a decision. The Shukaku vessel walked to the counter, and paid for everyone. His people liked him for that: he wasn't arrogant, secretive, harsh, a power luster, and totally not the monster they once thought. He was everything they ever wanted as their protector. A first, most of inhabitants of Sunagakure were hesitant and fearful of him being their Godaime (Fifth) Kazekage. Very few acknowledged him. But they realized who he was, the hard way. Having him taken away by members of the Akatsuki after he saved the whole village from absolute destruction. They finally realized it:
He was a Kazekage.
Just like any Kazekage before him.
More importantly, he was a human.
Just like any of them.
They were grateful when they were given a second chance. Having their Kazekage returned to them supported by a Jinchuuriki just like him along with two missing-nins by his side.
(Note: Kabuto joined Naruto, Kisame, and Asami after they destroyed Otogakure (Hidden Sound).
Naruto didn't join Suna directly, he traveled around with Kisame and Asami. After some time, the four joined Suna. I'll explain everything later on. Don't worry. I already got this planned out. So you people just have to keep on reading.)
Naruto stared at Ayame, who was sitting behind the cash register. She bowed a little to the Kazekage, and waved goodbye as she smiled sweetly at Gaara. Naruto was a little surprised when he saw Gaara blushed a little in return under his Kazekage hat. She totally didn't mind some very important person, Kazekage or Hokage, dropping by to eat ramen at her father's shop. She just loved watching people coming, enjoying themselves as they have a great time eating and talking. To Naruto, it had been five years since he last visited this place. Five years since he had last seen Ayame and old man Teuchi. It made him wonder just what the hell wrong with the monkeys (inhabitants) here in Konoha.
"So she must this Ayame-neechan you've talked about, huh?" asked Asami as she whispered at Naruto's ear in understanding.
Asami knew the very few people that Naruto loved in Konohagakure, and was now impressed. She had met Tsunade and Shizune so far, and she totally understood why he could not hate her like the rest of the Leaf-nins. The Hyouton Jutsu mistress was now interested in meeting who ever this so called Iruka, Teuchi, and Konohamaru. Naruto froze a little in his seat upon surprised hearing her voice. No shinobi that could creep and surprise him like her. Heck, not shinobi can. Kyuubi laughed again in his head. 'Oh, this is just hilarious!'
The Kyuubi vessel knew she wasn't just jealous when he heard her tone.
"Yeah, she is. Always with that sweet smile of hers. Sure wished I could introduce her to you. I bet you'd get along with her just as fine as you do with Temari."
The group of Sand-nins left altogether, making their way to the building where they will be staying for two more nights. Of course they wouldn't be leaving to Sunagakure directly right after the Jounin exams. Takagi would be taking his Jounin exam that day, and would wait for the Jounin exam results could be announced later on. Of course, they couldn't risk having their Kazekage staying away from their village too long. Naruto and his comrades thought about leaving right after killing Orochimaru, but he knew the complications that will arise with the plan the four of them of going to carry out tomorrow. The Sand ANBU captain looked up to the night sky and saw a full moon, remembering him of a complete moon cycle. That's how demons and his fox family could tell the time. Time to set all things down.
'Orochimaru. Ingrates . Tsunade-obachan. ' thought off Naruto as stared to the white, full moon above. 'I'm going to settle it all, once and for all.'
On the other side of the Konohagakure,
The body of an unconscious Grass Jounin shinobi was dropped into a stone coffin. On its left side, laid fifteen more coffins though they were all closed up. Sixteen all together, arranged in rows of four by four. Long seal writings trailing out from the hard casings down to the ground in a circle. Eerie purple light glowing from each seal as they slowly snaked their way into the tiny linings of the slab cover.
"Ku ku ku ku ku ku ku." evilly chuckled the Snake Sannin as finally finished preparing the last sacrifice in performing his variant summoning Jutsu.
"Nothing shall stop me. Not even you, Tsunade." Orochimaru idly talked all to himself. "I will have your body tomorrow, Sasuke. Ku ku ku ku ku ku. No matter what happens."
He walked by the side of a red coffin with the number 'Four', and ran his hand over the cold hard surface like a man admiring a new car for sale.
"I didn't get a chance to summon you out, no thanks that you. Sarutobi." complained Orochimaru as he turned his attention to the third red coffin right behind him. His long wet snaky tongue making its way out, longer than how the average human tongue should be. "How I'm going to enjoy watching you kill the very people you've protected all your life. Konoha shall burn down to the ground as it will finally live out its true name as Fire Country."
"The very protectors of Konoha shall rise once again and serve….ME." said the Snake Sannin as he looked down on all three coffins. "Who's having the last smile, now, Sarutobi?"
Orochimaru didn't think it was funny at all. That accursed old fool smiling as he dropped dead on the battleground, on top of the roof tiles. He had planned it all out perfectly. Take over Sasuke's body in front of over a hundred watchful eyes of the shinobis, land lords, and villagers of Konoha. Raise the four Hokage of the Leaf, and watch as they wreak havoc and destruction. He knew he wouldn't succeed fully in destroying Konoha, but that wasn't the point why he was risking his life going out in the open. He was going to cripple Konoha once more, or perhaps of finally putting an end to Konoha. Then start building his Sound Village all over again with his new and last body he'll ever have to move into.
He may not have his personnel Sound guards by his side.
He had something better, he was going to raise a small group consisting of all the dead Hokage, Kazekage, Tsuchikage, Raikage, and Mizukage. He counted them down as he remembered gathering informations through out all those time since his Hidden Village of the Sound was destroyed. He was delighted, knowing the contents of all sixteen stone coffins.
Four Hokage, four Kazekage, three Mizukage, three Raikage, and two Tsuchikage.
They would be an unstoppable army of the dead. It was a perfect plan he thought. Nothing could go wrong. Absolutely nothing.
Except a certain blonde Jinchuuriki (vessel) that is.
You know the drill. RATE AND REVIEW, people. Reviews are highly appreciated and they motivate me to write more. The more, the sooner. Drop in a few ideas if you want. Ma ye be something for me to build up on. Reviews on chapter nine was great. But people gave me ideas on what write on back chapter eight, which also has the highest number of overall reviews. I know this chapter took a long a time to be posted, and it probably wasn't worth the wait. I had some problems. Silly problems. All the action and fighting scenes planned out, but I wanted the characters in my story develop a little. PLEASE PEOPLE! RATE AND REVIEW!