Chapter 32: Tenchi bridge
Flashback:
Day 913 of Captivity
The Jinchuriki is twitching and groaning as the baby makes its presence known. She holds her stomach in pain as the kicks from the baby grow stronger from the inside of her body. Labor pains shoot through telling her it was nearly time for her child to enter the world.
"The demon is showing labor pains, finally confirming for us that it's indeed time to remove the baby from the demon. We'll no longer need the growth stimulants for obvious reasons. The demons' pain will go on for about another day before we decide to remove the baby from its womb. Here's hoping that the procedure goes off without a hitch as we've come too far to just have success slip from us." Mayuri says with a sense of excitement
This marks the last day in the journal of Mayuri before his fate is later sealed.
Back in the present:
Naruko is waking up from a nightmare that she had and decides to head down to the kitchen for breakfast. She spots Sakura and Fu talking about something to which they giggle.
"Anything I would like to know about." Naruko asks
"Oh it's nothing it's just Sakura told me that it appeared Menma struck again with another kunoichi before we left suna." Fu says
"Yeah and?" Naruko asks with a smirk
"And it looks like Sakura confirmed for Temari that she was pregnant before we left." Fu says
"Yeah that's great news another Uzumaki is on its way." Naruko says happily
"I wonder how many of us are Menma going to target." Sakura asks with a grin
"Are you asking Sakura because you're interested in what Menma offers." Naruko asks cheekily causing Sakura to blush.
"No I'm just curious where he will strike next." Sakura says
"The rest of you if I have any say in the matter." Naruko replies mentally
"Anyway, shouldn't we get going Sakura, Fu to the Hokage tower to see who is replacing Kakashi sensei for the mission to apprehend the spy." Naruko says
"Yeah you're right let's go." Sakura says as she, Fu, and Naruko get up from the table and make their way to the hokage's tower. On their way Naruko is mysteriously attacked by an unknown shinobi who uses ink to create creatures but, Naruko easily repels them by using Adamantine attacking chains. The unknown assailant disappears leaving them to wonder what the attack was all about. They arrive at Hokage's office and knock.
"You may enter." the hokage says
"Baa-chan sorry to interrupt you and you're work but, we were wondering about who is replacing Kakashi on the team to capture the spy." Naruko says
"The man that will be leading Team Kakashi is a man named Yamato." the hokage says
"So, when do we get to meet him?" Sakura asks
"You'll meet him at the west gate later on today when you head out but, I've some bad news." the hokage says
"What sort of bad news." Fu asks
"Due to the interference of the elders I've been forced to pull Fu from Team Kakashi and replace her with a man by the name of Sai." the hokage says frustrated
"What! They can do that." Naruko says surprised
"Technically No but, they would make things difficult for me if I don't comply." the hokage says irritated.
"I see" Naruko says
"Then what about me?" Fu asks
"You'll be staying in the village to train in the meantime." the hokage says sympathetically
"I understand." Fu says glumly
"I guess that we should head for the west gate to meet our new teammates then." Naruko says
"Yeah I guess we should." Sakura says
"See you later Fu, Baa-chan." Naruko says to the two of them as She and Sakura head out for the west gate. They arrive to meet a man with a pale complexion who Naruko identifies as her attacker from earlier.
"It's you!" Naruko says getting in a battle position as the man greets her
"Hello my name is Sai." the man says to her
"You're Sai! Then what were you doing attacking me a while back." Naruko says
"That was me wanting to test you as a teammate and I must say you impress." Sai says
"Yeah well next time don't go attacking people out of the blue." Naruko says
"Very well then I'll keep it in mind." Sai says with a fake smile
"Looks like you met up with your new teammate." Another man appears saying
"And who are you?" Sakura asks
"My name is Yamato and I'll be leader of this team." the man says
"It's a pleasure to meet you. Can we walk and talk? I'm eager to get started on the journey ahead." Naruko says
"Very well then, let's head out." Yamato says as they get going on the road. They arrive at the border between the land of fire and the land of grass and rest at the hot springs. Where they have dinner and rest up for the journey ahead. They arrive at Tenchi bridge the next day leaving them a week to get to know each other and train together. They have a heated discussion about the mission when Sai refers to Sasuke as a traitor.
"Just because he left doesn't make him a traitor." Naruko says heatedly
"Not only did he leave but he abandoned you and your team to pursue power. If that isn't a traitor I don't know what is." Sai says calmly
"You're right that Sasuke abandoned his team in his quest for power only because he was caught up in revenge." Naruko says sadly
"Why are you so dead set on rescuing a traitor that abandoned you?" Sai asks
"Sasuke has lost himself to darkness and I can't bear to leave him like that because, he's a friend to me." Naruko says
"Still it was his own choice to leave the village and act on revenge. It seems foolish to stay attached to someone who doesn't care about you." Sai says
"You're right but, Sakura and I share a bond with Sasuke as teammates that think of him as family and we don't wish to lose those bonds." Naruko says
"Bonds huh." Sai says a little confused
"Don't tell us you don't have any bonds of your own." Naruko says
"I really don't, so I don't quite understand your desire to save Sasuke." Sai says
"Don't worry I'm sure you will establish bonds with us as teammates as time goes by." Naruko says smiling
"Bonds with my teammates?" Sai questions as the conversation ends and the week passes and the spy makes his appearance. Yamato disguised as Sasori heads up the bridge to meet the spy halfway and the team recognizes the spy as Kabuto.
"It's been awhile, Sasori." Kabuto says
"Yes it has and I was worried you would keep me waiting and you know how I hate waiting." Yamato says his voice disguised as Sasori's.
"Yes sorry but, it took a considerable amount of time to escape Orochimaru's notice to come here." Kabuto says
"Did you get what I asked?" Yamato says
"Unfortunately no, Orochimaru keeps his original body under tight wraps and his cells are kept hidden away." Kabuto says
"What information do you have to share with me?" Yamato asks pulling a kunai to begin to capture Kabuto.
"What information indeed." A voice says from the other side of the bridge
"Lord Orochimaru!" Kabuto says. surprised turning his back to Sasori to face Orochimaru.
"What do we have here were you spying on me for Sasori Kabuto?" Orochimaru asks
"It's a good thing you pulled that kunai Sasori or I wouldn't have noticed Orochimaru's approach." Kabuto says looking over his shoulder toward Sasori.
"My-my what are you going to do Kabuto?" Orochimaru says with a smirk.
"I plan to do this!" Kabuto shouts, turning to Sasori and striking him, shattering his puppet body revealing Yamato who jumps away.
"Well look, would you look at that it isn't Sasori." Orochimaru says
"It appears that Sasori was killed since, I doubt he would risk information of having a spy get out." Kabuto says as Yamato gives the signal for the team to appear. They jump into action and arrive on the bridge facing Orochimaru. Naruko gives a serious glare to Orochimaru who smirks at her and the team.
"My if it isn't Naruko I've seen you've grown up some but, I doubt you would be a match for Sasuke." Orochimaru says
"Don't you dare talk about him you snake!" Naruko says as she begins to channel the kyuubi's chakra causing it to invelop her in a shroud of chakra with 4 tails. She lunges at Orochimaru with her claws sending him flying back into the forest. As she lands after swatting away Orochimaru Kabuto attempts to attack her from behind but, She turns and lets out a roar and the sonic blast sends Kabuto flying back across the bridge on the side of her team hitting Sakura as he flies by knocking her out. Naruko turns back to the forest to see Orochimaru steadily walking towards her and she jumps after him and begins to slash away at him but he ducks dodges and weaves like a snake avoiding the blows. When they are deep in the forest away from Naruko's team Orochimaru is slashed and blown away by the blows of the chakra shroud. He jumps up into a tree missing an arm and opens his Jaw shedding his body and reappears good as new.
"You've developed well to be able to channel so much of Kyuubi's chakra but, you're still no match for Sasuke as you currently are." Orochimaru says with a grin as Naruko only gets more frustrated with not being able to put Orochimaru down.
"Let me take over if you push yourself any further with Kyuubi's chakra you'll lose yourself and go on a rampage." Menma says mentally
"I guess I don't have a choice if I want to end this bastard here and now!" Naruko replies mentally
"Good you made the right choice I'll handle him." Menma says as he takes over and Naruko's body covered in a chakra shroud forms a cocoon that soon collapses inward and smoke emerges and transforms into Menma who has three tomoe sharingan ablaze along with a byakugan appearing in the slit on his forehead.
"My isn't this a pleasant surprise is that you Menma you've changed a bit since, we last faced each other." Orochimaru says looking at the redhead who is about his height and giving off a chilling aura with interest.
"Yes it's been awhile, Orochimaru since we last faced each other but, I can promise you that this time things won't go your way." Menma says calmly with his forehead showing veins indicating the byakugan is active.
"We'll see how about you try and defeat me." Orochimaru says with seriousness as he jumps to the ground opens his mouth and unleashes a swarm of snakes that have the sword of kusanagi coming out of their mouths. Menma forms three suns around himself and channels chakra into one causing it swell in size and he tosses it at the swarm of Snakes obliterating them and the Surrounding area leaving a crater that Menma is standing in. Orochimaru launches a striking shadow snake from his sleeve at Menma who turns to smoke and closes in on Orochimaru who sheds his body as menma reforms and strikes Orochimaru's body with scorch release: steaming murder by jamming a sun into his chest. Orochimaru moves in to strike at Menma with a series of punches that Menma effortlessly dodges and begins to counter Orochimaru with gentle fist who manages to maneuver his body out of the way of the strikes. But, several blows hit their mark on Orochimaru forcing him to back away as Menma gathers Chakra into his hand that takes the shape of a black rasengan with a ring around it.
"This is the end of you Orochimaru. Spiral ring!" Menma says as he tosses the jutsu at Orochimaru who bites his thumbs and slams his hands down to the ground to summon the triple rashomon. That are instantly obliterated and as the smoke clears Orochimaru is still standing and performs a hand seal that activates the curse marks on Menma's body as Orochimaru extends the sword of kusanagi from his mouth toward Menma impaling him through the chest carrying him away back to the tenchi bridge. Where he is out of range of the curse seals activation range and turns into smoke and releases himself from the sword. Menma reverts back to Naruko now that the fight is over. Naruko checks up on Sakura who is knocked out and notices that Sai is missing. As Sakura comes to Yamato rejoins them and indicates the direction Sai, Kabuto, and Orochimaru went. Sakura heals her head injury and the team heads after Orochimaru. They follow them to their base where Kabuto is waiting for them.
"You lot are rather persistent." Kabuto says as he engages Naruko with a chakra scalpel.
"Well I can be stubborn when it comes to rescuing my friends." Naruko replies as she forms the hands signs for wood release: beams causing beams to rise out of the ground and fly toward Kabuto who dodges them and comes in close with Naruko who engages him in taijutsu but, when he makes a slash at Naruko she explodes revealing it to be an exploding clone. Kabuto manages to avoid most of the blast by jumping back when suddenly he sees a tri pronged kunai flying at him he dodges it but, Naruko appears behind him with a rasengan and hits him with it sending flying into a boulder pinning him there. As he tries to heal himself he is tied up by the team. As Sai reappears from the hideout and comes close to his team.
"Sai you bastard what were you thinking siding with Orochimaru and taking off." Naruko says
"It's part of my mission in order to get close to Orochimaru." Sai says with a fake smile
"You've got no right to talk about Sasuke when you're willing to become a traitor to cozy up to that snake." Sakura says
"What are you planning to do, jeopardize the mission for the sake of Sasuke." Sai says
"We'll do whatever it takes to save Sasuke for the sake of our bonds even if my body is broken I'll still pursue him." Naruko says
"Very well let's head into the hideout shall we." Yamato says as he uses wood release; to create a hole in the wall of the hideout to avoid traps at the entrance. As they get inside the team splits up in order to look for Sasuke. Sai finds him first and attempts to bind the sleeping uchiha with his ink snake drawings but, Sasuke breaks free just as the snakes explode. Blowing open a hole in the hideout to the surface. Naruko, Sakura, and Yamato run toward the sound of the explosion to find Sai standing in an open area created by the blast looking up towards the edge of where the ceiling is.
"Sai you bastard your real mission was to kill Sasuke wasn't it." Sakura shouts grabbing hold of Sai who is still looking up and Sakura does the same to see Sasuke. Naruko and Yamato soon arrive and see Sasuke as well.
"Sasuke is that really you." Naruko asks
"Hmph I should have figured the racket was caused by you Naruko." Sasuke says
"Sasuke it's time to come back to us." Sakura says pleadingly
"There's nothing for me to go back to. I've severed all of my ties to you and the Leaf." Sasuke says coldly
"You may not have heard but, your mother is alive now Sasuke." Naruko says
"It doesn't matter to me if she is alive I still have to avenge my clan." Sasuke says
"So, you'll throw away your bond with your own mother!" Sakura asks
"That's right if it means killing Itachi." Sasuke says calmly
"Sasuke the path you're walking will only cause you grief and pain please stop this and forget about Itachi." Naruko says
"Naruko you were fortunate to survive our fight the last time let me rectify that here and now." Sasuke says as he draws his sword and body flickers between Sai and Naruko and is about to plunge the blade into Naruko's back when Sai blocks it with his tanto.
"Sai!" Naruko says as she jumps away
"Sasuke, I am curious about the bonds you have with Naruko and Sakura. I want to see how strong the bonds between you three are." Sai says
"I long ago severed those bonds with them and to prove it I will end them both here and now." Sasuke says as he jumps away as Yamato uses wood release: great forest technique to grow beams of wood from his body toward Sasuke who channels lightning release through his kusanagi blade and stabs it into Yamato who deflects the blow into his shoulder. Naruko, Sakura, and Sai lunge toward Sasuke who uses a chidori stream to channel lightning release through his body and outward knocking the three back. Sasuke jumps toward the roof of the hideout and prepares to end them with a jutsu but Orochimaru stops him wanting the team to live to thin out Akatsuki's ranks even further. Kabuto appears next to Orochimaru and Sasuke as they fade into flames as they retreat from their hideout. Leaving team Kakashi stunned by Sasuke's growth. Sakura gets to work healing Yamato's shoulder while Naruko sends clones to search the hideout for any clues to where they may have gone. Sai is questioned by Yamato about his mission and Sai admits it was all a plot to get close to Sasuke in order to kill him.
"What changed your mind?" Yamato asks
"The bonds that Naruko and Sakura share intrigued me so, I decided against following through with the mission to kill Sasuke and instead attempted to capture him." Sai says
"I see" Yamato says as Sakura finishes healing his shoulder.
"So what now?" Sakura asks
"We head back to the leaf and have the anbu come to scope out the hideout after Naruko gets done going through it." Yamato says
"Everyone I'm done searching the hideout and I can't find a trace of where they would head." Naruko says
"Good can you Hiraishin us back to Konoha Naruko." Yamato asks which Naruko nods and Teleports them back to Konoha but, the team doesn't realize that it's a clone of Naruko as the real one stayed behind after she discovered something that made Menma take control of her. Menma takes a hold of a glass jar that contains a severed hand with a ring on it realizing it's Orochimaru's. Menma removes the hand from within the preservation jar and summons a shadow clone to form hand seals for the evil releasing method. As he places the severed hand on one of the curse marks the hand is absorbed in and becoming a mound of flesh on the three curse seals and three snakes suddenly appear one from each curse seal and regurgitate three bodies of Orochimaru that are controlled by Menma having corrupted the curse seals over the past 3 years. The three Orochimaru's facial appearances change to that of Menma's with purple slitted eyes. They begin to move and leave the body of Naruko behind and exit the hideout and make their way to Konoha on foot. Naruko wakes up having no idea of what happened, but soon realizes the curse marks are gone and she can no longer sense Menma within her. She realizes that Menma had found a way to escape their body and has taken off to who knows where. She quickly Hiraishin's back to Konoha to give a report to the hokage.