AN: I know that I have not uploaded for like... five months now? Almost six? Maybe seven? Yeah, it has been quite eventful on my side (As if that doesn't apply to everyone in this "stellar" year) and I couldn't write anything. But you don't come here to hear about my personal life, you come here to read. So there you go.
Chapter 5: In and out of the Snake's Lair
"…" = Talk
'…' = Thoughts
"…" = Kyubi/ Jutsus / Black Zetsu
Somewhere in the Land of Rice Fields
"..Hey, wake up..."
Snoring...
"...I said wake up!"
More snoring noises...
"I SAID WAKE UP YOU MINUSCULE SHIT!"
"Huh... what? Wait... where am I?"
Fuzzy sight cleared up and vision recollected itself. A couch was in front of him, with his black jacket on top of it. Also, there was a window to the right and a closet to his left.
"Oh yeah, the inn..."
"About time you woke up. We need to talk..."
A yawn escaped Naruto's lips as he checked the clock. "... At 4 in the morning?"
"You are a ninja. You wake up earlier." Kyubi retorted. "Now onto the important stuff: What was the big idea behind not telling me who your little ally was?"
Naruto almost facepalmed. 'That's why you woke me up!?'
"Don't you try and be cheeky with me! I was under the impression some unimportant lowlife was your informant, not someone who can sell us out at any given moment! How can you guarantee that won't happen?"
'What does it matter to you? I am the one who's getting caught anyways...'
"And when they'll do that, they'll seal me into another meathead bitch boy that'll lick their feet like a loyal dog. I am not keen on letting that happen!"
"...oh..." A sleepy sigh ensued, and then the blond shrugged his shoulders. 'If you're just worried about that, then don't. There's not going to be any selling out happening.'
"Again I ask: How can you guarantee that?"
'You're not getting that one from me because even I don't know how to describe it...'
Kyubi paused at this. "... Do you take me for a fool? What are you hiding from me?"
'You know, that's rich coming from you...'
Silence...
And more silence...
'Of course, he just cut the mental link. Fucking dick...' Naruto got up from his bed and stretched a bit. "Well since I am awake now, no reason to go back to sleep. I'll just find a quiet spot to meditate..."
As he exited his room and moved on, he soon came to find out that there will be no meditation for him today...
"Naruto? You're awake too?"
...Courtesy of a familiar pink-haired kunoichi.
'Fuck my luck...!' The blond cursed internally as he put on a friendly face. "Hi there Sakura!"
"You couldn't sleep too huh?"
"Kinda yeah..." the Kyubi snorted.
"I..." Sakura started, trying to find the words to say. "I guess I am a bit nervous. We are going to be facing Orochimaru in a few hours."
"Boohoo, so sad!"
'Cut it out! You're giving me a migraine!'
"BOOHOO!"
"What about you? Aren't you peeved off that we're so close to Orochimaru's hideout?"
Naruto shrugged. "Nope. I am perfectly fine." He then walked by her.
And she grabbed his arm. "Wait! I want to ask you something..." Sakura paused slightly before continuing. "... What would you do... if Sasuke refused to come back with us?"
'Of course, it's about him. Why am I even surprised...' "If he doesn't come with us willingly, then we'll beat him until he does. Who knows, maybe we will kill him too. Could be fun..."
The casual tone Naruto talked with shocked the pink-haired girl. He is talking about murdering the person he went to impossible length to save in the past so casually. Did he change this much in the years he spent training? "How can you say that? Sasuke is a part of team 7. He's one of us!"
The Kyubi Jinchuriki yanked his arm free and walked off. "Keep telling yourself that when you see him and you'll find yourself in a grave."
"Five out of ten for shit-talk quality..."
'Fuck you...'
From the corner, Yamato has been observing this conversation, and his eyes narrowed.
Early morning – Konoha
In a high chamber inside the Hyuga Manor, one Hanabi Hyuga was bored out of her mind.
She had just finished her usual morning training routine and got a shower, and was now sitting in her room, alone. Droplets of water were falling from her hair and made an annoying dripping noise. Which is why she was drying out her hair.
A few weeks ago, she had been ordered by her father to stay at home until told otherwise, and any attempt she had made to know why or to refuse was shot down by the elders of her clan. They affirmed that this decision was a command from the head of the Hyuga Clan and its Elders and that she was expected to follow it without questions.
Later on, she would get more context on this sudden constraint, courtesy of her personal maid.
Apparently, all clans have forced this on their heirs, in the fears they'll be the next target of the "missing people" dilemma. Especially since the head of the Inuzuka Clan is now presumed to have gone missing too.
Sighing, she opened her wardrobe and started changing. She didn't like this sudden change one bit. She jokingly referred to it as a birdcage once in front of her father, but it didn't make her feel better. And if she would have to guess, the same applied for her father.
The fact that both her and sister were staying was also a thing that bothered her. It made her remember the heavyweight that was crushing her shoulders, which was to compete with her sister and become the heiress or have the older Hyuga snap one day and take her anguish on her.
Bad and forced decisions and outcomes all around.
A knock was heard on her door. "Lady Hanabi! Can I come in?"
Having finished dressing in her orange kimono, Hanabi answered. "Yes! Come in!"
A random Hyuga entered. "Excuse me milady, but Lord Hiashi said he wants to see you in his office in a few minutes." And with that, he left.
The female Hyuga rolled her eyes at this and exited her room, heading to her father's office. 'What official blabber is he going to spout this time I wonder...' She thought to herself with a bit of sass. With her father, it was always the same talk of responsibility, honor, and tradition over and over, as well as of course, reminding her not to be over-sentimental like her older sister and become a failure.
Before the young female Hyuga realized it, she was standing behind the office door. She went to knock but was stopped as the door burst open with a crying Hinata passing her and running in the hallway. 'Isn't this a sign of good fortune...'
"Come in, Hanabi."
Hiashi Hyuga was sitting at his desk as he called out to his youngest daughter, his face expressionless.
Sometimes, when her mind was rebellious enough, Hanabi would wonder if the man ever looked at her, or anyone, with a different expression than this emotionless one, but now she pushed that thought to the side and sit down. "Yes, father?"
"I want you to be ready for your coronation as heiress of the Hyuga Clan in the next few days..."
Hanabi's eyes almost bulged out their sockets in surprise. "What? Why!? What about Hinata!?"
"Your sister has abandoned that title and willingly chose to become a member of the Branch Family..." the second bomb was dropped.
The female Hyuga was at a loss for words. This isn't a dream, is it? "But why would she do that?" She more asked herself than her father, but it came out loud anyway.
"You can ask her yourself for the reasons. That is all. You're dismissed." The older Hyuga ended his statement with an eye gesture to one of the Branch House Hyugas to escort his young daughter back to her room.
A long silence ensued as Hanabi was quietly walked to her room, the words her father told her repeating in her head.
Once she reached her room, and after a few moments of finally registering what she had heard...
...she let out a squeal of happiness and jumped into her bed like a child.
Finally. No more relentless training and always trying to up her sister - even if it wasn't very hard. No more is the fear that competing with her sister would one day backfire on her and make her become a member of the Branch Family if Hinata ever decided to pull a one-eighty. No long was this burden on her.
And it disappeared just like that.
The only inconvenience is that her sister would be the one to suffer, but she was sure that she could comfort her.
This.
This might be the best day of her life. It's like someone heard her plea and granted her a wish!
'Now... To get ready for the ceremony...'
A few Hours later – Somewhere in the Land of Rice Fields
Team Kakashi was a few miles away from the newly discovered Orochimaru hideout, in the middle of a thick forest. They arrived a short moment ago and were currently hiding behind a tree, waiting.
"Kakashi, the clone I sent inside dispersed. We likely won't have the element of surprise on our side anymore..." Yamato spoke.
'So much for trying to lure him out...' the silver-haired jounin thought as he glanced at his team. 'Plan B it is then...' "Alright then team, here's the plan. Naruto, I want you to make as many Shadow Clones as you can and swarm in to create a distraction. Bonus points if you could also corner Sasuke. As soon as you go in, we'll follow after you and try to capture Sasuke as quickly as we can, then we leave."
"But, isn't that risky?" The world's only pink-haired kunoichi chimed in. "Wouldn't he expect to charge in since he now knows we're here?"
"It is a risk we'll have to take. Otherwise, if we don't move fast, Orochimaru will be the one getting us."
"Very true... Hmhmhm..."
The Konoha ninjas immediately jumped away in reaction. From their former spot behind the trees, the Snake Sannin was slowly approaching them with a sly grin.
"Well, well, well... what do we have here? Kakashi of the Sharingan, little Tenzo, and... one of Sasuke's old teammates, I believe? Forgive me, I do tend to be forgetful these days." Sakura just glared at him. "Though I believe we are missing someone... Ah yes. Tell me Kakashi, where is young Naruto?"
This alerted our trio of a very important detail they had missed: Naruto was not with them.
'But he was with us just a moment ago...!'
'This is going south fast...'
Kakashi for his part quickly revealed his Sharingan and tried the release sign, but it was useless. No Genjutsu was cast. 'Shit...!'
"A waste it is to not have him around, I'll say. He does liven up the mood." Snake Sannin continued and started walking toward them at a slow pace, releasing a chilling wave of killing intent. "I would normally ask your purpose for spying on me and threaten to kill you, but we all have a rather common and recent history, so I say we skip that part."
"Mokuton: Jubaku Eisō (Wood Release: Tree Bind Flourishing Burial)"
A large number of wood tendrils burst from the ground around Orochimaru and surrounded him, trying to crush him. But he didn't seem fazed at all. If anything he seemed amused.
He, quite literally, shot out from his own mouth toward the Konoha ninjas.
With two Kunais in hand, Kakashi engaged the Snake Sannin and slashed at him, but the older ninja skillfully dodged all attempts. He was finally forced to jump back as wood tendrils shot at him once again, and Kakashi took this chance and jumped on them, attempting a dive kick.
More dodging from Orochimaru.
"Shannaro!" The pink-haired girl came charging at the Snake Sannin, but her movements were too slow. He easily caught her up with a snake hidden in his leave and threw her back.
"You should keep your focus on me!" Silver-haired ninja as he threw some explosive shuriken at Orochimaru and followed them with a fireball.
More dodging from Orochimaru.
"Raikiri!"
Snake Sannin was soon having a lightning bolt arm through the chest. But like before, he just shot out from his own mouth, all gooey with what is assumed to be spit.
'That's just disgusting...' Sakura thought to herself. It somehow gets worse the more you see it.
"I guess this is sufficient for warm-up, wouldn't you all agree?" Snake eyed man mock-asked and licked his lips.
"Yamato! Sakura! Cover me!" Kakashi ordered and prepared himself. 'Here goes nothing...'
Orochimaru's Hideout
Rocks on the ceiling.
Rocks on the floor.
Rocks on the bed.
Rocks on the windows... if you could even call them windows since this is a cave underground.
Just... rocks everywhere...
"What human even lives here!?" Naruto wondered aloud as he walked inside Orochimaru's base. "This place is like hell with rocks!"
"This is the hideout of a pedophile that is obsessed with immortality and switching bodies and amassing loyalist bitches who suck him up. Are you really that weirded out by it?"
"...When you put it like this, you kinda have a valid point-"
"ALL my points ARE valid!"
"-but this place is still just fucked. Like I don't get how you can even plan evil or anything in this shithole..."
A long silence ensued as our blond protagonist continued to walk through the cave hideout. A silence that was soon to be interrupted.
"Those Konoha bitches with you seemed suspicious of you earlier, except the pink one. How do you not know that your informer didn't already sell us out?"
'You know, I am moved by your worriedness...' Sarcasm couldn't be clearer. 'But Pervy Sage probably told Granny to keep an eye on me by now, and that's why they sent that Mokuton guy with us...'
"That's a herculean leap in logic if I ever saw one."
'Well, how would you explain it? And why is nobody trying to stop me!? Are we in the wrong cave?'
"Your clones are killing everyone in here. You forgot about that?"
'No I didn't, but I still wanted to face some sort of opposition!'
"You're an idiot..."
'Oh fuck you... And found it!' Naruto exclaimed as he stopped before a giant door. He kicked it open...
"Chidori Eiso (Chidori Spear)!"
...And quickly ducked a lightning bolt.
"Dick! You could've hit me!" Uzumaki yelled, before recognizing the one who launched it. No other than Sasuke Uchiha "Oh it's Sasuke... I mean, hey Sasuke long time no see!"
"Hn."
"Yeah... emo silent type. Right, I forgot about that." The blond laughed, but the Uchiha wasn't amused.
"I have been told by Kabuto that my old team was sent to bring me back to Konoha. Are Kakashi and Sakura coming too?"
"Kinda, but not really..." Two clones appeared next to Naruto, doing a meditation pose. "But you don't really care about them now, do you?"
"Two out of ten for subject transition..."
'Shut up...'
"No, I do not. I am here to give you a clear warning. I am not coming back to Konoha. That place only drags me down."
"And if I don't take your warning?"
Sasuke unsheathed his sword. "I'll kill you." He said coldly.
"Typical Uchiha arrogance..."
'I am with you on that one...' "Well, I'll tell you what is going to really happen. You have five minutes to "kill me" as you said, and you better try, because, after that, I might return you to the village with a missing arm."
"Hmph, as if you can."
Sasuke finished unsheathing his sword and flashed forward, but was parried by Naruto with a kunai. A minor clash ensued, with Sasuke keeping on the offensive, but with no success as the blond kept his ground. Then the tide turned as Naruto began attacking himself and pushed Sasuke into defense.
"Chidori Nagashi (Chidori Current)!"
'Shit...!' Naruto jumped away to avoid the lightning waves. Sasuke seized this opportunity and pressed on.
"Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique)!"
A huge fireball went in Naruto's direction...
"Suiton: Suidan no Jutsu (Water Release: Water Bullet Technique)"
... and instantly turned into a thick vapor mist.
Instinctively, Sasuke turned his Sharingan on. 'I don't recall him using Water Jutsu... or being good in Kenjutsu...' He thought to himself before he dodged a kunai. 'Guess the idiot got better... Good... I wanted a challenge anyway...'
Uzumaki charged in and punched at Sasuke, but with the Sharingan active his movements were too slow and Sasuke easily slashed at and through his torso.
POOF!
'What!' Sasuke thought in alarm.
"Get! Pranked!"
Before the Uchiha could register what happened, an ankle hit him in the face, courtesy of a Naruto above him. While he was at it, he also kicked Sasuke's sword away.
Landing gracefully, Naruto looked at the now face-planted with a mocking look. "You know, I expected you to be way stronger than this, emo. Want me to help you out a bit and give you five more minutes?"
"Are you really going to do that?"
'No! Can't you tell sarcasm when you hear it!?'
"Katon: Hosenka no Jutsu (Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique)!"
Three mini-fireballs soared quickly at Naruto, but he moved out of the way. Sasuke, up from his previous position, was now glaring daggers. His cool was rapidly declining. This fight was supposed to be him curb-stomping the blond easily. He trained relentlessly and endlessly. The dobe can't be his equal after all this time.
"How did you trick my Sharingan, Naruto? I didn't see that you were transformed into that kunai..."
Naruto gave him a foxy smirk. "And you think I'll tell you?"
"Hn. Chidori Nagashi (Chidori Current)!"
Lightning surrounded the Sharingan user and he sprinted at his sword before immediately at Naruto again. That gave the blond enough time.
"Fūton: Daitoppa (Wind Release: Great Breakthrough)!"
A strong current of wind pushed the Uchiha back, almost stopping him in place. It even weakened the lightning around him.
'He keeps using the elements that my ninjutsu are weak against... This is starting to get on my nerves...'
Mustering all the power he could, Sasuke pushed himself out of the wind current and used his enhanced speed to go around Naruto before the blond could react. Lightning chakra started to surround the Uchiha's hand, forming the Sharingan user's signature move.
"Chidori!"
Said blond just caught his hand like it was nothing.
This specific moment, for a lack of a better term, triggered Sasuke.
His mind, for just a second, flashed to the time Itachi caught his Chidori and belittled him. And to the tanks atop the hospital, where he was shown in pride hurting details how his Chidori was inferior to the Rasengan.
And if those moments were not enough, the dobe was looking at him with that mocking look again. He also noticed that his blue eyes were, for some reason, now amber-goldenish, but he was too caught up in his shock to care about it.
"Five minutes are up. But since you're way too weak than what I intended, I'll go easy on you still. Cheer up!"
Immediately after he finished talking, Uzumaki flung his teammate over his head and punched him in the stomach.
Uchiha Sasuke shot through the ceiling with a loud boom.
BOOM!
... two ceilings.
Somewhere in the Land of Rice Fields
Back with Team Seven, their fight with Orochimaru has not been going smoothly. And that is putting it lightly. They have not been able to land a single good hit on the Snake Sannin, and every time they thought they managed to, he used his unique substitution technique.
'This is not going to end well...' Kakashi thought. He knew a confrontation with Orochimaru would be a bit difficult, but thinking and seeing something was very different.
"Is that all? A bit disappointing..." Orochimaru said, his sly smirk ever so present.
BOOM!
Before the Snake Sannin could go on, a loud explosion was heard throughout the clearing, alerting all four ninjas. Orochimaru more so than the Konoha ninjas.
'That's the hideout! What's happening in there...'
"Yamato! Now!"
"Mokuton: Mokusatsu Shibari (Wood Release: Silent Strangle)!"
Wood tendrils shot out at the Snake Sannin, ensnaring him. Or at least they attempted. Because before they could, the Sannin grabbed a smoke grenade from his pouch with... his mouth and threw it at the ground. By the time the wood tendrils reached the smoke, Orochimaru was gone.
"Dammit..." Kakashi cursed. He kept his guard up for a few seconds, then allowed himself to relax.
Tenzo sighed and canceled the technique.
"Are you alright?" Sakura asked with concern. She herself was not that damaged, but her teacher and Yamato were a bit bruised. They were taking Orochimaru on after all. She, on the other hand... "Stop thinking about it! Shannaro!"
"Yes. More importantly, we need to find Naruto, and after that Sasuke." Kakashi answered.
"You think that's where Orochimaru is heading? He seemed distressed..." Yamato remarked.
"I don't know for sure, but Orochimaru being distressed can't be a good sign. We'll try to take a small detour so we don't cross paths with Orochimaru. Take your pills and let's go." Kakashi ordered and sprinted toward's the explosion's location, Sakura and Yamato following closely after him.
"By the way, Mr. Yamato, why did Orochimaru keep calling you by 'Tenzo'?" Sakura was curious and wanted to know.
Yamato didn't grace her with an answer. Only Kakashi gave her a 'later' look.
Orochimaru's Hideout
The pain...
The blood...
The bruises...
Sasuke was getting himself up from the rubble and looked at his state with disbelief.
This isn't happening... This can't be happening! Why is he losing to the dobe of all people!? And where did all that power come from? He was nowhere near that powerful when they clashed. It didn't make any sense!
The somber thought that Itachi is still stronger than the dobe entered his mind.
And it almost broke his resolve.
Did all his training mean nothing?
No, this must be a hallucination. It HAS to be.
Sadly, his Sharingan reaffirmed the bitter reality for him.
"You're done looking at yourself? I don't have all day, you know..."
The mocking tone enraged the young Uchiha. "Chidori Eiso (Chidori Spear)!"
Naruto moved his head to the side and casually dodged the lightning spears. "If this is the best you could do, what were you hoping to do when you meet Itachi? Tickle his balls until he surrenders?"
"HA! Now that's quality shit-talking!"
'Oh, thank you!'
"SHUT UP!" Sasuke roared and punched the blond jinchuriki straight in the face. And winced hard. 'What is he made of? Pure metal?'
"You know..." Naruto started and moved Sasuke's punch away. "... I wanted a punching bag to test my new jutsu and all, but you don't seem best in shape, and that spoils the fun, so I'll end this now..."
'Sharingan!' Sasuke glared at the blond, his red eyes flaring and almost piercing the blond with their gaze. To his surprise, - there were a lot of them today - a giant fox appeared before him, chuckling darkly.
No. Giant was an understatement.
This thing was colossal. Even his teeth were at least 3 times bigger than the young Uchiha.
It was looking at him with an intense focus, almost petrifying him in place, the dark chuckle reverberating around him like a symphony...
'Just what the hell is going on here...!'
"Bad move, punk..."
Before Sasuke could ask what he meant or even do anything, a sharp neck hit his neck...
THUD!
... and he hit the rocky floor, unconscious.
"Well, that was a bummer..." Naruto said, his eyes returning to their usual cerulean blue.
"Guess Sage Mode was too much for this pussy... All bark and no bite..."
'He could have used that curse mark thingy he did back in the Valley of the End. But yeah he got stomped...'
"Good for him..." Kyubi mumbled before he felt something. "Someone's coming..."
"Naruto! Is that Sasuke?" Obvious Sakura is obvious.
Kakashi and Yamato also appeared and were more concerned with the state of the cave. The ceiling was destroyed and rubble was everywhere. Some pillars were also destroyed.
"What happened here?" Yamato was the one who asked.
"Him." Naruto pointed at the unconscious Sasuke. Sakura wanted to go heal him, but Kakashi stopped her.
"Four out of ten for lying..."
'Up yours...'
Oddly, the three Konoha ninjas seemed to believe him. "Morons..."
"Where are all of the people in here? And where is Orochimaru?" Again Yamato was the one to ask.
Naruto made a thinking pose. "Well, you guys told me to make a distraction, so I did it, and killed everybody. Kabuto though managed to run away. And I didn't see Orochimaru at all."
'So that explains all the blood we saw...' "We didn't tell you to kill anybody..." Kakashi remarked.
"And you didn't tell me not to kill anybody..." Naruto added.
Sakura looked at Naruto like he grew a second head. She wanted to say something, but again, Kakashi restrained her. "Fair enough. And where were you when Orochimaru attacked us?"
"... over here...? The one with you guys was a clone." Naruto clarified. "And are you guys interrogating me in the middle of an enemy ground base? Like at least wait until we get back to the village..."
"No need to be hostile, Naruto. We were just worried for your safety..." Yamato said and approached him.
"Safety my ass..." / 'Safety my ass...' Both Kyubi and his jinchuriki thought at the same time.
"At any rate, good job Naruto. Sakura, patch Sasuke up as quickly as you can and make sure he can't access his chakra, and let's get out of here. We have a mission to finish." Kakashi ordered, and everyone agreed.
A few moments Earlier – Somewhere in the Land of Rice Fields
In another part of the forest, Orochimaru was barely suppressing his rapidly souring mood and boiling anger. His face was one of silent rage.
This day has simply not been his.
"So, Zetsu, you're telling me that Sasuke has been captured by the Kyubi brat and that all my men were massacred by him too? Am I hearing this correctly?"
"You don't have to ask us... Your pet dog over there can confirm it as well..."
Kabuto, who was standing next to Orochimaru, nodded. He came as quickly as he could to notify his master about the massacre that had happened in the hideout, but he found that this plant creature beat him to it.
A glance at his robe revealed to the glass wearing man much more information. 'Akatsuki...' The glass wearing man briefly wondered if they had planned this before he put that thought away.
Orochimaru was silently fuming. All of his preparations and work were reduced to nothing by that insolent little brat! If he ever got his hands on him...
"Don't get any ideas into your head about Kyubi. He is still Akatsuki's target. You don't wanna be standing against Akatsuki now do you...?" White Zetsu's snarky voice made Orochimaru glare even harder at him. "Fortunately for you, it's your lucky day! Tobi demanded that you join Akatsuki again..."
Snake Sannin raised an eyebrow. "I beg your pardon?"
"Did I stutter? Pretty sure you didn't... I wasn't talking to you!" Zetsu argued with himself.
"And I don't suppose I have a choice in this as usual?" The thought was futile, but Orochimaru expressed it anyway.
"You know it. You have one week to meet up at the usual place. And if you don't come, Tobi said he'll deal with you personally. Bye!" And he sank into the ground.
Kabuto wanted to ask something, but he felt the dark aura surrounding his master and decided against it.
"Kabuto, we're moving..." The Sannin said through gritted teeth after a moment of silence.
"But, Lord Orochimaru, what about the Transference Ritual? You don't have much time..."
The next words Kabuto heard were not what he expected.
"Find me Guren."
AN: I don't know if the fights were too short, but I wanted to get this arc out of the way, so... yeah...