Heikki Bottom,
Sorry it's been so long
Reviews:
auraarzadon07: Remember not much was said in the past. So not many things have changed only certain people because they knew what to do to prevent it.
LynnDee N: Thank you. Here it is.
haruyuki setsuka: I have been fairly busy myself and honestly this was done for a while I just never edited it to post it so I have been sitting on it for a while. Gaara won't be the first one found but he will be in the story soon.
inuyasha16451: Thank you as always.
TigrezzTail: Yeah I decided not to go through with it for two reasons. One it doesn't seem to be in Kisame's nature to trust his own feelings or anything to do with an Uchiha's eyes, to begin with. Kisame knew he had a connection with Itachi he just didn't want to be misled so he chose not to see the memories. Eventually down the line, he is going to want to know his past but you'll see then.
It was three days of traveling like normal people before Kisame lost his temper. He hated traveling this way it was driving him nuts.
"When are we going to get there? And where is there?" Kisame snapped at Naruto because he seemed to be leading the way.
"We will get there soon Kisame calm down," Itachi said as Naruto kept ignoring him.
Naruto wasn't fazed by the two and kept going toward where he felt another tailed beast and he was happy to know who it was.
"Hello," Naruto said with a warm smile that made the other person jump away.
"Who the hell are you?" the cold voice guarding a girl asked as he looked ready to fight.
"A friend," Naruto said but saw that Itachi immediately tensed like he was remembering something.
"I don't have any friends aside from her," the voice said directing to the person hiding behind him.
"I know but we could be friends right Utakata?" Naruto asked as he let his chakra go near the other and suddenly Utakata recoiled from shock and then from calmness he hasn't felt in a while.
"How? Who are you?" Utakata asked.
"Like I said a friend. My name though is Naruto Uzumaki and this is Itachi and Kisame," Naruto said softly like he was trying to calm a wild beast while introducing the other two men.
"Hello, as you already seem to know my name is Utakata," Utakata said but never looked away from Naruto. "This is Hotaru," Utakata said directing little attention to the female.
"Hi," Hotaru said meekly but Naruto still remembered the strong girl that remained by Utakata wanting to learn from him.
"What is going on? Are you in hiding?" Naruto asked unsure of what was happening to the two.
"I think you should know that already. The Akatsuki is hunting down a tailed beast and as you know I have one," Utakata said.
"Yeah, do you want to be safe from it?" Naruto asked.
"I'm not going to your village," Utakata said full of reluctance.
"That's fine you don't have to. I don't think I can strain my village having another one," Naruto said.
"Then what are you going to do to me?" Utakata asked finally losing his tension.
"I have a way to save all of us well at least a partial way but I need to find two more of you before I can do that," Naruto said only Itachi and Utakata understanding him.
"You mean you're not?" Utakata asked not wanting to say the full question.
"I am, it's just different, to say the least. I can explain that later for now do you want to come with me?" Naruto asked.
"Time out, we're bringing them along?" Kisame asked pulling out Samehada.
"Keep it away," Naruto said aggressively.
"Why the hell are we looking for them?" Kisame snapped getting angrier as Naruto ignored him.
"I don't have to answer that. You know I could have just left you somewhere secluded right?" Naruto snapped back finally turning to look at Kisame his eyes tinting red full of anger.
"Naruto calms down," Itachi said stepping between them and making sure Naruto made eye contact with him.
"Okay I'm calm," Naruto said feeling a little inner peace.
"You, come here," Itachi said pulling Kisame away knowing they both needed to handle things separately for a moment.
Kisame glared at Naruto for a moment but was curious about him even more now than he was before. He saw the hatred but it was laced with something else that he couldn't understand no matter how much he wanted to try.
"He doesn't know your one?" Utakata asked.
"No, he doesn't, no one does actually aside from four or five people not including Itachi," Naruto said softly.
"I heard a woman was the tailed beast holder for the nine tails," Utakata said.
"That's the perk of being a secret," Naruto said with a smirk.
"Can you split the tailed beast in half like that for other people?" Utakata asked curiously.
"I was going to die and the fox chose to go in me to save my life," Naruto said that his tone soft and caring like he was talking about an old friend, not some creature who got stuck in him.
"So, it has to choose to go in someone else?" Utakata asked.
"I don't know how to explain this but I will try my best. So, when I was dying, I already had a link with him so it was easy for the part that already knew me to come to me. All tailed beast has yin and yang and the part that already knew me went inside of me," Naruto said.
"What about that guy with the sword? He's from my village of the Mist. I'm considered a missing ninja so I really shouldn't get caught," Utakata said softly.
"That reminds me of something," Naruto said jumping up from his spot to call for Itachi.
"What is it?" Itachi asked worried with an angry Kisame behind him.
"I remembered something from your memory and why he left to join them," Naruto said.
"Oh, I know what you're talking about," Itachi said shocked that he didn't think of it too.
The whole reason why Kisame left the Mist, to begin with.
"Kisame when you left to join the Akatsuki..." Itachi started.
"He's an Akatsuki member? Why the hell did you bring him to me? Are you one too?" Utakata asked backing up.
"Calm down Utakata remember what I said. We need the information to help the others now calm down," Naruto said.
"You are working with one of them how do you expect me to trust you?" Utakata asked his chakra starting to seep out.
"Back up Itachi," Naruto said kindly as he gently pushed the other man making Kisame move with him.
"Get out of my way," Utakata threatened.
"No, you need to calm down," Naruto said his eyes flashing a bright red making Hotaru back up. "I know how you fight Utakata so don't do this," Naruto said.
Utakata had a moment's hesitation before he attacked but wasn't going for Naruto but Kisame. Itachi stood in front of Kisame and before Utakata could even attack Naruto was in front of Itachi knocking him back.
"I said to calm down," Naruto said his anger starting to get the better of him.
"Kit, you need to calm down," Kurama said urgently.
"Sorry but I'm trying to explain," Naruto said his chakra calming down and his eyes turning back to blue.
Utakata stopped because he was confused but was still on his guard.
"He can't attack anyone I deem an ally but if I deem you as an enemy, he can so don't make an enemy out of me Utakata," Naruto pleaded.
"Utakata, listen to him, look at those seals on his arms," Hotaru chimed in pointing at Kisame's arms.
"What do those seals do?" Utakata asked.
"Just watch," Naruto said and finally turned to Kisame. "Attack me," Naruto said.
"Hell no! I don't want what happened before to happen to me again," Kisame said outraged.
"Do it Kisame I'm trying to prove a point here," Naruto said harshly.
Kisame clicked his tongue but did as he was told but didn't even take two steps before he fell and groaned from the pain that seemed so much worse than yesterday.
"So, he's not Akatsuki anymore?" Utakata asked.
"No," Naruto said. "He was misguided anyway just as you were I'm sure," Naruto added.
Itachi helped Kisame back up while Kisame glared at Naruto.
"Now what were you saying Itachi?" Kisame asked.
"Was the fourth Mizukage still around when you left?" Itachi asked.
"Yeah, he was being controlled by some guy so I thought since he was being controlled by him what was the point of working under the Mizukage and not just working under the guy controlling him," Kisame said.
"Itachi who was it before?" Naruto asked.
"Tobi," Itachi said talking so only Naruto would understand.
"Do you think he is controlling the tailed beast which makes him able to control his mind?" Naruto asked.
"Yes, that would be a way to control someone. Unless the person had eyes like Shisui," Itachi said.
"Okay so who else should we go to? We need to at least catch them before they get drained," Naruto said.
"They started last time with the two tails because they already had the three tails because it didn't have a host. Now it might who knows but we can worry about Gaara last because he is safe and Killer B," Itachi said.
"Now we have the six tails and the nine tails. We know where the eight tails and the one tail are but what about the rest," Naruto said to himself.
"Kit we should find the three tails to see if it is confirmed that they got Isobu already. If they don't, we can take him where you want to take them. Also, we can go for the two tails at the same time," Kurama chimed in.
"That's a good idea, but what if they change plans because we changed the direction of the plans? Would if they decide to hit Gaara first?" Naruto asked the questions out loud.
Kisame was confused while Itachi and Utakata had an understanding of what and who Naruto was talking to.
"That is always going to be a possibility," Kurama said.
"Okay fine we will do it," Naruto said then looked toward Itachi. "We're going to find Isobu first," Naruto said.
"Who is that one?" Itachi asked curiously.
"Three tails," Naruto answered.
"What about me?" Utakata asked.
"Do you want to come help track down the tail beast before they are dead with the host or do you want to stay in hiding?" Naruto asked.
"..." Utakata was shocked he was getting the choice then looked at Hotaru and nodded his head. "I will join you but I want Hotaru safe," Utakata said.
"She can stay in my village for now so she is out of harm's way if you want?" Naruto asked.
Utakata once again looked at Hotaru who nodded her head, she was fine with it and he nodded his head.
"Itachi sends a message to Shisui," Naruto said.
"Why don't you go and come back?" Itachi asked.
"Okay," Naruto said and grabbed Hotaru's hand then flashed away quickly back to the village.
Now it was just awkward by the other three. Itachi didn't know what to say because he wasn't sure what he could say. He was already away from the Akatsuki when Utakata was captured so he knew he didn't have anything to do with killing him but he knew from what Naruto told him was that the two of them actually became friends with each other before parting. They went into tailed beast mode partially and fought alongside one another. This person was important to Naruto.
"Can I trust you?" Utakata asked Itachi not even bothering with Kisame.
"You can," Itachi said nodding his head.
"Him?" Utakata asked pointing toward the irritating and scowling Kisame who sat by a tree.
"As long as he's sealed by Naruto yes," Itachi said.
"Why does it feel like I know him?" Utakata asked out loud shocking Itachi a bit talking about Naruto.
"Maybe you knew him in another life," Itachi said softly.
"Okay I'm back," Naruto said popping in front of the two. "I left her with my mom she will be taken care of with my family just fine," Naruto said.
"What happened?" Itachi asked curiously.
"Shisui is annoyed but not because of Hotaru but because I don't tell him what I'm planning. I told him once it gets to the point that I can't handle it and it will hit the village I will let him know. He needs to just relax and let me take care of what I need to," Naruto said with a small smile on his face.
"You left her with your family?" Utakata asked shocked.
"Yes, I thought it would make you feel better if I did," Naruto said looking toward him.
"Thank you," Utakata said softly.
"Now let's head to the one closest to us," Naruto said.
"Naruto, can we set a destination so Kisame doesn't get so angry as he did this time?" Itachi asked pleading with him.
"I don't know where the next one will take us but maybe we can get to an inn and me and Utakata can find the one closest to us and then we can tell him where we're going but we need to make sure we get to Isobu," Naruto said only placating because of Itachi.
"Thank you Naru," Itachi said gently with a smile showing on his face.
"Okay let's head out," Naruto said patting Itachi on the shoulder to not show the blush on his face.
They started walking to the nearest town and Utakata and Naruto were walking in the front while Itachi and Kisame were walking in the back.
"You two... are a couple?" Utakata asked.
"You can say that. I don't think we made it official with everything going on but I know I like him and he likes me," Naruto said honestly.
"You don't feel weird that he was one of the Akatsuki?" Utakata asked.
"What makes you think he is an old Akatsuki member?" Naruto asked curiously not being defensive at all like Utakata expected.
"Something in my heart tells me he was once one," Utakata said. "Not only that those two have a bond that is unusual and I know they aren't from the same village obviously," Utakata added.
"Well, he was in another lifetime but it was only an undercover job to get information for the Hokage about the Akatsuki," Naruto said honestly.
"You keep talking about another lifetime what do you mean by that?" Utakata asked.
"Would you believe me if I told you that we went back in time and changed a bunch of things only to come back in the future to it being like this?" Naruto asked.
"... yes, I would believe you because you don't seem to be the type to lie and I feel like I've met you before," Utakata said nodding his head.
"I'm glad because that's exactly what happened," Naruto said.
"Is it safe to be telling me this?" Utakata asked.
"Yes, who can you tell? And who would actually believe you? I'm trying to save the world right now from the chaos so there's no reason for you to harm me with that information. And I'm pretty sure Saiken wouldn't like you telling on me before we had the chance to save every one of us," Naruto said shocking Utakata by the last sentence even the tailed beast was shaking.
"He knows my name. I would have been the only one to give it to him," Saiken said jumping around in Utakata.
"Did he give you, his name?" Utakata asked to help his tailed beast.
"Yes, when we were together for a brief period of time after you died," Naruto said looking down.
"I got caught," Utakata said saddened by the news.
"Yeah, I didn't know about it until I saw Saiken and your spirit. I couldn't find Hotaru but I heard that she didn't die but with the war starting up the way it was I can't say for sure that my intel was correct," Naruto said.
"Hotaru, I took her with me in my last life too?" Utakata asked.
"Yes, you promised to train her. Granted I don't think you could have trained her in everything she wanted considering you have a tailed beast and she doesn't," Naruto said with a smile.
"I took her with me and then left her alone," Utakata said saddened by the news.
"You know it's not like you had control over that and from what you told me there was no way you could have won that fight. I'm not being an asshole saying that I'm just saying because I fought the same person and that time, he destroyed my whole village and nearly killed me if it wasn't for a few things. The information I had saved me in the end," Naruto said solemnly.
"What happened?" Utakata asked.
"Pein, he killed our sensei. Yes, I said our because we had the same sensei just at different times and I didn't know about it until after everything," Naruto said softly.
"Is he in the Akatsuki now?" Utakata asked.
"No, I saved him," Naruto said.
"Why?" Utakata snapped.
"Because he was misguided and hated the world because someone took away someone he loved," Naruto said. "I don't agree with his methods but Tobi took advantage of his pain and sadness to manipulate him and I couldn't just ignore that," Naruto said.
"You forgave him?" Utakata asked shocked.
"It's not that I forgave him because my sensei was my godfather and the one person that I had that connected me to my father but I couldn't help but understand his pain and want to prevent the destruction him being on the other side has. Now he is on our side and will do the damage to the enemies," Naruto said proudly.
"You are a good person. I don't know if I would have been able to do that," Utakata said softly.
Just as Naruto was about to say something Kisame came to him and pulled him back as Itachi pulled Utakata down.
"What..." Naruto started but caught a glance from Itachi who said to be quiet.
Naruto immediately set up a barrier that kept them from being sensed.
"I know I felt one around here," an Akatsuki member said as they walked.
"I did too I'm pretty sure it was the six tails," the other Akatsuki member said.
Utakata was stunned and nervous. How could they sense him? That was nerve-wracking for him. Naruto listened and then gestured to Itachi to look to see who it was and nearly laughed at the sight of who it was.
"Who?" Naruto asked.
"Hidan and Kakuzu," Itachi whispered back.
"Bastards," Naruto grumbled but his fists clenched and his eyes went red.
Itachi grabbed at Naruto's hand gently patting it to calm the other down.
"What are those guys doing around here?" Kisame mumbled.
"They might be trying to look for you two," Itachi said to Kisame.
"Doubt it those bastards don't look out for anyone but themselves," Kisame said.
"You can say that again," Naruto grumbled.
"I do think that they only look out for personal gains but once in a while, they would look out for each other. I mean Kakuzu would stitch up that bastard every once in a while," Kisame grumbled to Naruto.
"You're saying that Kakuzu looks out for Hidan?" Naruto asked looking toward Kisame who was practically on top of him.
"Yeah," Kisame said as he nodded his head.
"Good we should take out Kakuzu first and then the other bastard," Naruto said with a feral smile on his face.
"We can't do it now Naruto if we take out too many Akatsuki members then we're going to have another suspicious character following us that we don't even know. We don't know all of the members right now so if we take out the ones, we do know we might have a problem later on," Itachi said in a soft whisper.
"But that bastard..." Naruto started.
"I know but we still can't do it," Itachi said softly.
"How about we mark them?" Kisame asked.
"Mark them?" Utakata asked.
"Mark them with a seal that would tell you where they are," Kisame explained looking toward Naruto.
"A tracker seal so we can keep tabs on them?" Itachi responded.
"Yeah," Kisame said looking toward Itachi.
"That's a great idea do you want to be the bait?" Itachi asked looking toward Naruto.
"I would love to start the fight but I need to make the seal," Naruto said.
"They're looking for me, right?" Utakata said.
"Yeah, but that's not a good idea because if they catch you and we have to get you out we need to make sure they don't find out you're with Konoha ninjas and Kisame can't be seen so it's better for me and Itachi to be seen out of the four of us," Naruto said as he made a shadow clone and did a couple of different seals.
"But then they are going to know someone from Konoha is onto them?" Utakata said.
"He makes a good point Naruto we have to use him if they get a sense of your chakra, it might be a problem later on down the road," Itachi agreed.
"Especially because you have a tailed beast in you," Kisame said shocking them all. "Come on I'm not stupid I can tell what it means when his eyes turn red and into slits. I mean I won't say anything clearly but don't act like I'm dumb," Kisame said.
"Damn it I hate it that you make a valid point," Naruto said sighing.
"Okay, so I will be doing it?" Utakata asked.
"No," Naruto said pricking Utakata's finger quickly only to put the blood on one of his clones with a seal that made it seem like he was Utakata and had his chakra signature.
Kisame and Utakata were shocked but didn't say anything.
"Now listen to me if you show them who you really are it will be bad for both of us understood?" Naruto explained to the clone.
"Yes boss," Naruto's clone said and disappeared starting to run with a look-alike of Hotaru.
Utakata was confused when that clone was made. The two ran and Hidan caught sight of them immediately.
"Itachi I need to get out there despite what you may think," Naruto said.
"Let me," Itachi said with a smile that wasn't really a smile.
"Everyone closes your eyes," Naruto said after a moment of holding his breath grabbing Kisame and Utakata to turn around.
The other two shut their eyes quickly as Naruto left his eyes open and led them toward a different direction. Naruto knew they shouldn't look that way because Itachi was going to use his Infinite Tsukiyomi on the other two while putting the seals on them.
"Naruto, we need to get out of here now," Itachi said grabbing the other man along with placing his hand on Kisame while Naruto grabbed Itachi around his waist and Utakata by the arm moving them all further away from the other two Akatsuki members.
"Itachi we need to move faster this might require us to split up," Naruto said making everyone look at him.
"What the hell do you mean? I don't want to travel with you," Kisame snapped already knowing where Naruto was going with his words.
"Naruto we still have some time," Itachi said not wanting to split up either.
"No, we don't," Naruto said sadly but firmly. "Trust me them showing up over here is showing that they are heading for my mom and anyone near here. I need to take Kisame with me to get the ones where I know for sure while you and Utakata go to get the rest," Naruto said.
"How will we communicate? You won't be able to make it to Suna and the Cloud before someone notices that the tailed beast is disappearing," Itachi said.
"True so you go to the Cloud while I go get Gaara," Naruto said.
"I have an idea," Utakata said making them all look at him. "You know how we can find them all at once?" Utakata asked looking only at Naruto.
"I think I know what he is talking about Kit," Kurama said and explained the process to him quickly.
"Will that work though?" Naruto asked.
"For the ones not being controlled by the other side yes it should is what Saiken told me," Utakata said.
"Okay I have it planned," Naruto said nodding his head and then made nine shadow clones.
"Go to your point with Itachi and I will go to my point with Kisame and then we will meet up the second the rest of the clones get the others," Naruto said.
"But isn't your mom one?" Kisame asked not exactly knowing the plan but felt that should be pointed out as well.
"I will be on the marker so our other part won't show up," Naruto said sure of himself.
"Set out then," Itachi said getting a nod from Naruto.
"It won't be that long Itachi," Naruto said.
"Yeah, I know but this still sucks," Itachi said softly.
"I am a flicker away," Naruto said with a soft smile.
"If you see any more Akatsuki members than put a tracker on them," Itachi said.
"I will," Naruto said nodding his head grabbing Kisame and then he was gone.
Itachi didn't move for a moment before he was practically aching with loneliness.
"I know how you feel I haven't been away from Hotaru for too long but it feels empty where she usually is," Utakata said.
"So, tell me how this plan works?" Itachi asked.
"Once they all get on the markers which happened to be Naruto clones then they will jump him to either us or him whoever is closer," Utakata said.
"That's neat but how do you get them to follow the marker?" Itachi asked.
"Naruto is in charge of that and I'm pretty sure the fox is going to explain that to him," Utakata explained.
"Ah," Itachi said not liking that he didn't know the plan.
It was a month before the two were to reunite and that will never make the two feel better considering they spent so much time together when they were in the past. Or maybe they just really loved each other to the point of not wanting to be separated.
Reviews...
You guys this chapter was a bit more difficult to write because I had writer's block but the next chapter is going to be different and we're going to get to know the other tailed beast.
I hope you like the chapter. Let me know in the reviews.