A/N: I should have used the term "Teenager" last chapter rather than kid... then again it made for a good red herring... enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 151: Bugs and Birds

The three that were pretty much their guides on how to get the Sky Island were freaking out.

"You have to go into the Jungle right now." Said Cricket.

"What's the reason?" asked Anko growing suspicious.

"The South Bird is the only way you can head south." Said Cricket.

"What about going in a straight line?" asked Luffy.

"This is the Grand Line. Once you're out at sea there's no way to tell the directions!" yelled Cricket.

"I get it." Said Nami, "A Log Pose can only guide you to the next island, but if you're trying to get to a patch of sea."

"That's right." Said Cricket, "Some animals have an innate sense of direction."

"I know I heard that somewhere." Said Anko, "That they have the best sense of direction of all time."

"That's why you have to get one! If not you can't go to Sky Island." Said Cricket.

"Why didn't you tell us sooner!" yelled Luffy.

"We shouldn't have had this party in the first place!" yelled Cricket.

And so they went to search for the South Bird with four nets they went to search.

"So you two are coming with us to Sky Island." Said Naruto.

"We have to make sure nothing happens to Sasuke the next few days." Said Anko.

"The Cursed Seal can get out of control." Said Kakashi.

"Oh okay." Said Naruto.

"I'll be fine." Said Sasuke.

"There's a reason the Cured Seal sucks…" said Anko, "I won't pry into your history but it needs to be looked after."

Sasuke knew it was better to not argue with Anko.

"So how do we even know if the bird exists?" asked Usopp.

"He'd said we would know if the bird would call out." Said Sanji.

That was when they heard a rather strange bird call in the distance, "Joh!"

"That must it." Said Kiba.

"All right!" said Luffy, "We're going to split up to find it."

They split up into four groups.

Team 1: Sanji, Usopp, Nami, Ino, Kiba and Akamaru

Team 2: Zoro, Robin, Sasuke and Anko

Team 3: Luffy, Naruto, Hinata and Chopper

Team 4: Sakura, Gaara, Kakashi and Isaribi

Little did they know that they were being watched by someone… someone who knew the Kages.

With Team 1…

They were searching for the bird with Usopp making bird calls.

"I don't think that will work Usopp." Said Kiba.

"Yeah…" said Ino.

That was when Kiba saw something on Nami, Akamaru began to bark.

"What is it?" asked Nami.

"Um… Nami…" said Kiba.

"There's a giant spider on you." Said Usopp.

Both Nami and Sanji screamed like little girls at the site of the spider.

"Wow… this is a big one." Said Usopp.

"Wait… you like spiders?" asked Ino in shock.

"Yeah." Said Usopp.

"We used to play with them when we were kids." Said Kiba.

"Sanji can't stand bugs." Said Ino.

Everyone began to get scared at that line…

"Wait then you're saying that… there's something…" said Kiba.

Indeed there was something that Sanji was afraid of that Usopp wasn't afraid of…

That was an extremely scary thought…

Meanwhile with Team 2, Zoro constantly glared Robin.

"Still don't trust her." Said Sasuke.

"Yeah." Said Zoro, "I'm also trying to get my mind off my stalker."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. That was when a giant centipede showed up, Sasuke sliced it in half.

"There's something off about those centipedes." Said Anko.

The group once again heard the call of the South Bird. Zoro went in the other direction.

"It's this way!" yelled Sasuke.

Meanwhile with Team 3…

"Um…" said Hinata, "We need to find the South Bird… not search for beetles."

"But Hinata it's an Atlas Beetle!" said Luffy.

"Yeah." Said Naruto.

"Aren't you guys trying to go to Sky Island?" asked Kyubi.

"We need to find the South Bird!" yelled Naruto getting back on track.

That was then they heard the "Joh!" and a beehive fell to the ground.

"Oh no!" yelled Chopper.

Before the bee could do anything a strange black cloud appeared and stopped the bees.

"You have no idea about the powers of the South Bird, do you?" asked a voice.

They turned to see a boy about Naruto's age… at least they thought he was Naruto's age, he was wearing a heavy coat that cover part of his face… and for some reason he was wearing sunglasses.

"Why is he wearing sunglasses at night?" thought all four with sweat drops.

Meanwhile with Team 4…

Sakura punted away a giant millipede.

"What was that thing!" yelled Sakura.

"It seems like many of the island bugs are pretty big." Said Kakashi.

"That wasn't just big…" said Sakura.

"Hey islands wild life can get really weird." Said Isaribi.

"I'm sure you dealt with strange animals elsewhere." Said Gaara.

"Yes, we did." said Sakura.

"But… there is something wrong." Said Gaara, "There is something controlling it."

Back with Team 3, the boy jumped to the ground.

"Who are you?" asked Naruto.

"My name is Shino, and I too want to capture the South Bird." Explained Shino.

"We need it though." Said Naruto.

"There's obviously more than one." said Shino, "I'm sure we can comprise."

"You want to help us while we help you?" asked Naruto.

"That's right." Said Shino adjusting his sunglasses

"But why do you want the South Bird?" asked Luffy.

Shino sighed, "I guess I should explain my reasons for wanting it, you see I would like it for because it can control what many people universally classify as bugs, insects, arachnids, millipedes, centipedes and gastropods." Explained Shino, "That is why I want to capture it."

"What's a gastropod?" asked Naruto.

"Snails and slugs." Answered Shino.

"So you like to collect beetles too?" asked Luffy.

"Not exactly." said Shino, the black clouds appeared, revealing it to be a swarm of insects, "I ate the Hive Hive Fruit, it turned me into a living hive for a type of beetle."

"Wait you have bugs living inside of you?" asked Naruto.

"Yes." Answered Shino.

And so, the four that heard felt sick to their stomachs.

And that is when all hell broke loose for the crew.

Team 2 was getting attacked by Scythers… err… giant praying mantises.

Team 4: Were getting attacked by giant moths

Team 1: Were getting crushed by giant lady bugs

Team 3: By giant Grasshoppers.

After getting attacked by any sort of giant bugs (as in bugs, not necessarily insects)… and pigs…

"Wait? Pigs?" asked Luffy.

"Yes, for some reason they can control pigs." Said Shino, "I don't know why…"

Obviously they were all exhausted except for Robin and Gaara who barely fought… and Shino who barely did anything. The four teams had reunited.

"What's he doing here?" asked Anko.

"Personal reasons." Answered Shino, "And to give Kurenai-Sensei a break."

You know him?" asked Naruto barely lifting his head.

"He is Kurenai's apprentice." Explained Kakashi.

That was when Naruto got a second wind.

"Wait Kurenai's here?" asked Naruto.

"No, she's on another island. I merely used a log pose to get here." Explained Shino, "Before you ask, I can make it back on my own because of my insects."

"Oh…" said Naruto.

"You mentioned her earlier, who is she?" asked Nami.

"She's the Tsukikage, the Mistress of Illusion." Answered Naruto.

That was when they heard a squawk, they turned to see that Robin had captured a South Bird.

"Since I was able to see it." Said Robin.

"Lucky you." Said Anko with a sweat drop.

That was when there was another squawk, they saw that Shino had captured his.

"The reason I came to the island is fulfilled. I should leave." Said Shino.

"Wait." Said Kakashi.

Kakashi began to write a letter when he was done, he handed it to Shino, who read it read it and nodded.

"I understand." Said Shino.

Shino then ran off.

"Well he was rather pointless." Said Kyubi, "Unless that letter is something involving the Orochimaru subplot…"

"Okay…" thought Naruto.

After tying up the South bird they got back to Cricket's… um… half house to find a horrible site… something big had happened while they were away…

Next Time: Learning that Cricket and the two crews were attacked by Bellamy Luffy and Naruto go to fight him and his crew... what will happen? Well let's just say the fights are going to be very one sided...