I do not own Naruto Shippuden or any of the characters.

Intercepted

Ryuu inhaled slowly as he stirred, smiling as he felt Fu's head shift slightly in her sleep. He trailed his hand up her bare back, Fu shivering slightly and curling into him a little tighter, whimpering slightly. He sighed silently. Still aggravated, it seemed. She was going to have a rough day. After a few seconds, she stirred, smiling up at him tiredly as one hand reached down and healed her sore muscles, as she had the day before.

"It's going to be a long mission," Fu said.

"I noticed," Ryuu chuckled, kissing her. "It's for the best. If we're tired from having sex all night, every night, we'll be in trouble when we meet the Jinchuriki if we have to fight him or the Akatsuki."

Fu nodded. "I know. Doesn't mean I won't be thinking about it constantly."

Ryuu chuckled. "I've spoiled you enough. You've managed to keep yourself in check before, you can handle this."

Fu nodded. "Chomei's giving me the silent treatment today for using my tail so much. But he says we're getting close to the Six-tails. He also says that his mating season should end in another week."

Ryuu nodded, smiling and kissing her again, the two continuing for several minutes, careful to keep the kiss slow and innocent, until someone tapped on their tent.

"Ryuu, Fu, Hurry up," Naruto said. "We're ready to leave."

"We'll be right out," Ryuu said.

They both got up and Ryuu pulled his underwear and shorts on, only to hear Fu groan, then vomit suddenly. He spun, seeing her clutching a pot he had been planning on using to cook ramen that night to her face, suddenly pale. He was beside her in an instant, left hand holding her hair back for her while his right hand gently stroked up and down her back. She remained there, hunched over, vomiting into the pot for another fifteen minutes before finally, setting it down and leaning against Ryuu, taking several long breaths before using a Water Style jutsu to wash the remaining vomit out of her mouth before unsealing a toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash from a scroll, beginning to clean her mouth.

"Are you alright?" Ryuu asked. "Was it something you ate?"

Fu shook her head. "Aw hink ahm hine," she said around her toothbrush, then finished brushing her teeth and using a Water Jutsu to rinse her mouth again, spitting into the pot again. "I just felt sick all of a sudden, but I'm okay now."

"Fu," Ryuu said worriedly.

"I'm fine," Fu smiled. "I promise."

Ryuu nodded, not convinced. "If it doesn't get better or gets worse, I want you to have Tsunade check you out."

"Ryuu, I'm fine," Fu smiled. "It's probably just a stomach bug."

"Please," Ryuu said. "For me."

Fu sighed, smiling, and nodded. "Alright. If I'm still throwing up by the end of the mission, I'll go see Tsunade."

Ryuu nodded, smiling, and gave her a quick kiss before finishing getting dressed and also unsealing his toothbrush and toothpaste, though foregoing the mouthwash. Once Fu had finished rinsing her mouth with the mouthwash, she quickly got dressed and took the pot to dump in the woods and clean it out while Ryuu broke down the tent.

"Is she okay?" Hinata asked, concerned.

"She says she is," Ryuu said. "We'll have to wait and see if it persists."

Hinata nodded.

After a few minutes, Fu had thoroughly scrubbed and scoured the pot to clean it out, then sealed it away again and returned, smiling as brightly as ever as she slipped her hand into Ryuu's.

"Alright, let's get moving," Ryuu said.

They all began to travel, all of them remaining silent as they did. Hours passed with Fu passing what directions Chomei would give her, and eventually the sun sank below the horizon. Ryuu sighed, stopping on the next branch he landed on.

"Are we close?" Ryuu asked, looking to Fu.

She was silent for a moment before nodding. "Chomei says that he can sense the Six-tails' presence up ahead pretty strongly, which means the Jinchuriki had to have spent a while there. It's likely that we've found his new home."

"How far?" Ryuu asked.

"About another five miles," Fu said.

Ryuu nodded, thinking for a few moments. "We'll rest here for a bit, then continue. If we're this close, it shouldn't take us long to get to him, but at the same time, we should make sure we're rested first. We'll wait for three hours before continuing."

"Why not wait until morning?" Naruto asked.

Ryuu was silent for a long while, trying to figure out how to explain it. "I have this...sense of foreboding. I feel like...if we wait until morning, we'll be too late. But I don't want to go in there with everyone tired from travelling all day."

"I'm good to go now," Naruto said.

"Yes, but you've always been the most hyperactive kid in the village," Ryuu said. "The rest of us need a breather."

"Actually," Sai began. "It seems that only-"

"Sai!" Hinata said, stopping him. "I could use a break too."

Naruto glanced between the two before sighing. "Alright. I'll take watch then."

Ryuu nodded and Naruto spread clones out into a perimeter, along with himself. Ryuu and the others headed to the ground and Ryuu walked over to kneel beside Fu, who was resting against a tree, a light sheen of sweat covering her and clearly tired.

"How're you holding up?" Ryuu asked.

"It'll pass," Fu reassured him, smiling. "I probably just caught the flu or something."

Ryuu nodded, feeling her forehead. "You're a little warm, but I don't think you have a fever."

Fu smirked. "A little warm huh?"

"More so than usual, you freaking space heater," Ryuu smiled. "If you had a fever you'd probably burn my hand."

Fu laughed. "Probably."

Just then, a falcon called out overhead and Ryuu looked up before whistling. It circled down to him and he pulled the scroll off its back, seeing it was addressed to the Hokage and that it was an emergency scroll. He opened it, reading it quickly before whistling again, Yomo flying down and grabbing the scroll with his beak, landing on Ryuu's free shoulder as Ryuu wrote a quick message saying they'd respond. The message had said the Tsuchigumo Clan was under attack and needed help. They also, according to the falcon, were about five miles ahead on a pillar-like stone mountain. Ryuu attached the his message to Yomo's back with a seal and Yomo took to the air, grabbing the falcon by the base of its wings lightly just in time for Ryuu to send Yomo to Tsunade's desk with both messages and the falcon.

"What did the message say?" Sai asked.

"The Tsuchigumo Clan is under attack and needs help immediately," Ryuu said. "They live five miles ahead of us, so we're going to help them." He turned, facing away from Fu, who obediently climbed onto his back before he extended his wings. "Come on. Naruto, we're moving!"

He took off, Sai and Hinata following, and Naruto catching up a few moments later. As they flew, Ryuu activated his Sharingan, looking round for any traps or enemies. According to the falcon, there were traps spread across the open field they'd have to cross, as well as up the side of the mountain, but he could fly everyone over those easily, once he saw what they were dealing with.

"Hinata, what can you see?" Ryuu asked.

Hinata activated her Byakugan and scanned ahead. "There are four shinobi on top of the mountain, and one person is trying to fight them."

"One guy?" Ryuu asked. "Is he winning?"

"No," Hinata said.

"Old or young?" Ryuu asked.

"Old," Hinata said. "He's probably trying to delay them, to buy someone time to get away."

"I agree," Ryuu nodded, just as Katsuyu appeared on his shoulder. "Hello Lady Katsuyu."

"Ryuu, Lady Tsunade sent me to inform you about what the attackers are most likely after," Katsuyu said.

"Alright," Ryuu nodded.

"The Tsuchigumo Clan possesses a Forbidden Jutsu capable of wiping out entire villages at once," Katsuyu said. "The Third Hokage made an agreement with the late head of the Tsuchigumo Clan, En no Gyoja, in order to have him seal away the jutsu, and in exchange, the Hidden Leaf would help them if they were ever in danger. That is most likely their target. The Tsuchigumo Clan's Forbidden Jutsu, Fury."

"Understood," Ryuu nodded. "We'll take care of it. Thank you for the information, Lady Katsuyu."

Katsuyu nodded and disappeared again, being replaced by Yomo, who cawed and took off again. Ryuu glanced back at the other three, who all nodded, and they all sped up, rapidly speeding through the woods. As they reached the field, Ryuu formed a clone for each of the others, the clones each picking one of the others up by the arms, and they all sped up drastically, streaking over the massive, mile wide field around the fort, then across a three-hundred-foot-wide ravine before flying up the side of the spire the fort sat atop. Finally, they reached the top, seeing the older man Hinata had seen lying on the ground, wounded but alive. The four thieves, however, were gone. Hinata began to look around while Ryuu landed beside the man, beginning to heal him while Fu sat beside him, closing her eyes and beginning to talk to Chomei, seeing if he could tell where the Jinchuriki went.

"Did you see where they went?" Ryuu asked as the man stirred.

"No," the man said. "They sensed you coming and disappeared. I thank you for saving me, but I am not important. Please, you must save Lord En no Gyoja's granddaughter! You must save Lady Hotaru!"

"We will," Ryuu said. "But you're first. Don't worry, I'll have you feeling all better in a few moments. In the mean time, my friends will find Hotaru."

He looked up at Hinata, who nodded, activating her Byakugan. However, when she did, she gasped, blinking several times before shaking her head and focusing.

"What is it?" Ryuu asked.

"I thought I saw Zetsu, but it was a false alarm," Hinata said.

"Or he moved," Ryuu said, glancing at Fu. "Fu, be ready for anything."

Fu nodded, eyes remaining closed. After a moment, Ryuu finished healing Hotaru's servant just as Hinata deactivated her Byakugan.

"There's no sign of the thieves, but I've found Lady Hotaru," Hinata said. "And I think I may have found the person we were looking for too. He's with Lady Hotaru. They're about two miles that way." She pointed away from where they'd come from.

"Why are you looking for Utakata?" the man asked.

"You know him?" Ryuu asked.

"He has been staying here while he recovered from injuries sustained while protecting Lady Hotaru, and Lady Hotaru has been trying to convince him to teach her Ninjutsu," the man said.

Ryuu nodded. "You don't have to worry, we mean him no harm. We're actually trying to help him with something."

"I see," the man nodded. "My name is Tonbee. Lady Hotaru is heading for a small village in the mountains that the Tsuchigumo Clan uses as a hideaway. Please, see her safely there. She should be safe there."

Ryuu nodded. "We will. Fu I want you to stay here with Hinata. tend to the rest of Tonbee's wounds. We'll be back soon."

Fu nodded, opening her eyes and smiling. "Hurry back, alright?"

"Of course," Ryuu smiled, kissing her. "I'll be back before you know it."

Fu nodded, kissing him again before standing and offering Tonbee her hand, helping him stand. She and Hinata headed toward Tonbee's house with him and Ryuu turned, Sai forming an ink bird for himself and Naruto to ride on, the bird flying after Ryuu as they headed in the direction Hinata had reported seeing Hotaru and Utakata. As they flew, Ryuu scanned the trees with his Sharingan.

"Are you really okay with leaving Fu there with Zetsu possibly nearby?" Sai asked.

"I have three clones and Yomo all watching over her," Ryuu said. "If Zetsu shows up anywhere on that spire, they'll know. And then I'll know."

Sai nodded.

"Hinata will look after Fu," Naruto said. "She can keep Zetsu busy plenty long enough for you to get back."

"Of that, I have no doubt," Ryuu agreed. "Found them."

Sai and Naruto nodded and Sai followed Ryuu down toward the trees. Just as they dropped below the foliage, Utakata, a white guy with brown straight hair, the bangs hiding the right side of his face, and a blue kimono tied loosely with a bamboo soap bottle resting inside of it, swiped a hand holding a short metal tube toward Hotaru, only barely missing striking her.

"I'm not your master!" Utakata snapped. "Don't ever call me that!"

"Utakata!" Ryuu said, Utakata and Hotaru both staring up at them as Ryuu landed in front of him, Sai and Naruto landing beside Hotaru, Sai's bird falling away as ink. "We finally found you."

"Who are you and what do you want!?" Utakata snapped, gripping his pipe in preparation to fight.

"I'm Three," Ryuu said, Utakata freezing, staring at him. "This is Nine." He gestured to Naruto. "Seven is currently back at the fort with Tonbee, tending to his injuries. We came to give you a warning, and lend you our aid. The Akatsuki is on the move."

"Akatsuki?" Utakata asked. "What's that? I've never head of it."

"Well, they've heard of you," Ryuu said calmly. "Being the only one of us Nine who's alone, you're the most vulnerable. We were sent to bring you back to the Hidden Leaf with us in order to protect you."

"Protect me!?" Utakata scoffed. "You can't fool me! You're no ally of mine!"

"Yes, I am," Ryuu said. "If you come back to the fort with us, I can prove to you that we are who we say we are."

"Why there?" Utakata asked.

"Because Seven is the only one of us three who's...shall we say...on speaking terms with her power," Ryuu said. "Mine is...subdued, currently, and Nine's is...well...Nine's. He's an asshole, but nine manages."

"Why are you calling us numbers, Ryuu?" Naruto asked. "My name's Naruto Uzumaki. That's Ryuu Uchiha, and this is Sai."

"Shut up, Nine!" Utakata snapped. "I believe you are who you say. But even so, I'm not going to come with you. I don't need your help, and I have no intention of accepting it. However, if you're here right now, it's either a coincidence, or you're here for Hotaru as well. Either way, she's your problem now." He turned beginning to walk away.

Ryuu raised an eyebrow as Hotaru ran after him, stepping in front of him and forcing him to stop.

"Can't you stay?" Hotaru asked. "At least for a little longer, until we reach the village."

"Those guys are strong," Utakata said. "You can rely on them now."

"I don't need bodyguards!" Hotaru argued. "I need someone to teach me jutsu of my own!"

Utakata raised his pipe to his mouth.

"Come with me!" Hotaru pleaded. "I beg you!"

Utakata blew into the pipe, a soap bubble as large as he was forming and enveloping him, beginning to float away, only for Ryuu to poke it, streaming his chakra along his finger to pop it. Utakata glared at him.

"I'm not going to force you to stay," Ryuu said. "However, our offer stands." He took Utakata's right hand in his own, placing a distress seal on his palm while Utakata stared at Ryuu's hand. "And if you're going to leave, would you mind stopping by the fort and letting Hinata and Seven know that we're going to be escorting Hotaru? Oh, and Seven's name is Fu. She's the green-haired one."

Utakata nodded, then stared at the seal.

"Feed it chakra if you need help, and I'll come running," Ryuu said.

"What use is that?" Utakata asked. "By the time I fed it chakra, you'd show up too late, wouldn't you?"

"I'm pretty fast," Ryuu smiled. "Just trust me, alright?"

Utakata nodded and formed himself a new bubble, drifting off, this time without interruption.

"Hey Ryuu, what's the big idea with the numbers?" Naruto asked. "I get mine and Fu's, and I'm assuming his fits the same criteria, but why are you Three?"

"Because I am Three," Ryuu said. "I've been Three ever since the lake. I just didn't tell anyone about it."

"Whoa, for real?" Naruto asked.

"Yes, but we're not discussing this right now," Ryuu said, turning away from him. "Lady Hotaru, if you would allow us, we'd be honored to escort you. And if you would like, I could try to teach you a few low-leveled jutsu on the way."

"I don't want you as my master," Hotaru said. "I'll only learn from Sir Utakata."

"I see," Ryuu nodded. "As you wish. However, we'll still escort you to the village."

"I don't need you," Hotaru said.

"You don't," Ryuu said. "But your grandfather's jutsu does. If you want to honor his memory, you'll allow us to protect you."

Hotaru was silent for a moment before nodding. "Fine. Let's go."

Ryuu nodded and motioned for Naruto to walk with her. Naruto nodded and they started down the trail, Ryuu taking to the sky and using the Transparency Jutsu he'd learned from Hayate so long ago while Sai hid in the trees.

Hinata glanced at Fu as Fu nodded, thanking Utakata for the message and wishing him luck, promising to help him if he needed it. Utakata raised a hand before forming himself a new bubble and drifting away, and Fu walked back over to the house.

"I'm a little disappointed he didn't want to be friends," Fu smiled.

"Fu...There's something I need to tell you," Hinata said.

Fu looked over at her curiously.

"W-well...it's just..." Hinata frowned. "I think...you might be pregnant."

Fu stared at her, eyes slowly widening before she smiled. "No, I don't think so."

"But...your morning sickness..."

"I threw up one time," Fu said. "It's just a flu. If I was pregnant and had been long enough for morning sickness, it'd have to have been four to six weeks ago. But Ryuu and I were too busy then. We've been more active recently, but it's only been for about two weeks. It's too soon for morning sickness, even if I was. So it's just a flu."

"B-But...I..." Hinata trailed off. "I think you should warn Ryuu anyway, just in case."

"What made you think I was?" Fu asked.

"I...I saw a second chakra inside of you," Hinata said. "There's a little bit of Ryuu's chakra mixing with your own inside of you. That only happens when a woman's pregnant."

Fu stared at her, eyes widening slowly, her right hand resting on her abdomen before she looked down. "No, I'm sure it's just a flu. It's something else. I mean...Ryuu just learned how to transfer his chakra to other people using his prosthetics. He probably did that without even noticing."

"But..." Hinata trailed off before nodding. "A-Alright. But...you should still warn Ryuu."

Fu smiled and nodded. "Alright. I'll tell him when he gets back."

Hinata nodded. "W-We should get back to cleaning up."

Fu smiled and nodded. "Yeah."

The two of them headed back into the house and returned to helping Tonbee tidy up the mess the thieves had made.

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