Chapter 24
AN: Happy Wednesday everyone! Here's another chapter to brighten your days. Shout out to KingofSarutobi and TubFullofDishes345 for their help in picking out the perfect summonings for our favorite team. Thanks to everyone else who gave recommendations as well, I took them all into consideration, I promise. Anyway, enjoy the story and as always any recommendations, tips, or ideas are welcome!
With Naruto…
"You- pathetic human gaping like a fish: who are you and what are you doing here?" Naruto blinked at the creature it front of him. Based on lessons with Boar-nii and Mouse-sempai, he knew it was an ostrich. But, as far as he knew, ostriches didn't talk.
"I- I used the summoning jutsu and came here…wait! Are you a dog summons in disguise?!" It seemed logical to Naruto: he had thought about summoning dogs, and now here he was talking to an obvious summons- maybe it was a new breed of dogs.
The ostrich was not amused and screeched at him.
"No you idiot! I am Condor, the gentleman ninja ostrich- bow before my greatness." And the ostrich puffed out his chest in pride as his bow tie shined in the sun. Looking around Naruto could see they were in a sort of forest, with hundreds of other ostriches mulling around too. With a shrug, Naruto gave a bow.
"Nice to meet you! I'm Naruto, and I'm here to summon you!"
All the ostriches around stared in shock: they haven't had a summoner before: they had just gotten a license to become a summoning clan from the high council last decade.
"If you wish to be an ostrich summoner, you must first pass our test." Condor finally managed. The boy in front of him looked like a blonde buffoon, and had a stupid Kitsune mask stuck to his belt. Overall, Condor was not impressed as this was obviously a foolish boy- not the hero they wanted to represent them!
"What do I have to do? Because no matter what, as future ANBU commander, I will not fail!"
"To sign our contract you must…defeat an S-rank ninja!" There, Condor realized. This way the brat would die, and thus never bug them again!
"Hmph! Aright, I'll do it. Where's the nearest S-ranker?"
"Hehe… well there's a whole bunch of them in Ame right now, about a day's hike from here." Condor said. Naruto nodded and unsealed his ANBU cloak, becoming Kitsune again.
"See ya soon, Condor! I, Kitsune, will defeat at least one S-rank ninja!"
And with that, the ANBU left in the direction all the ostriches pointed, unaware that in doing so he was walking straight into the Akatsuki's arms.
Day later, Pein's office…
Pein banged his head against his desk, the real him in his dark room doing the same thing. The only ones not brainwashed by this point were Itachi, Zetsu to an extent, and himself. Everyone else had fallen the blasted 'Will of Fire', worshiping 'High Priest Kitsune'. Blasted! If only I could get my hands on him!
Some divine being was smiling down on Pein that day, as shouting alerted him to the common room. With a sigh the Akatsuki's leader- as Tobi had completely fallen at this point- walked over to see what crazy ritual they were going on about now.
"Wow, I'm happy you guys like the Will of Fire, but why does everyone keep calling me 'High Priest'?" A childish voice rang out through the door. Pein felt his world stopping. Had the heavens smiled upon him? Was his arch nemesis really behind that door? Barging in he sees his former minions crowded around a pedestal, the Kitsune ANBU standing on it and talking to them.
"Don't be modest! Without your wisdom we would all still be walking in darkness as thieves and murderers!" Konan gushed. She held out an origami rose towards the pedestal, and the snake took it! Seeing red Pein bellowed out.
"STOP! He a false prophet; the world must know pain to know peace! Not wallow in this crap ideology!" Too bad for Pein, it caused all his ex subordinates to turn their icy glares on him. "I am a GOD! Bow before me, not him!" Deidara stepped foreward.
"Peace, my fellow disciples. Let us not despise this unfortunate soul, but pity him. I, just a voice crying in the wilderness, could not sway him from his treacherous ways! But now- now we have the messiah of Fire among us, let us capture our old leader and help Kitsune to teach the heathen!" With a war cry Pein was on the run, dragging Zetsu with him. In the rafters Itachi chuckled in anticipation.
"Just a little longer. When this is over, I'll really have to thank Kitsune- maybe he'd like to learn the exploding shadow clone?"
Same time, With Shin…
Shin was on the run: yesterday he ended up with the chicken summons, and stupidly made the comment how chickens were useless. After that one chicken challenged him to a duel. When the Root agent drew first blood with his tanto, the chicken let out a war cry, calling the who coop!
Now he was trying to survive a horde of chickens, some of them as large as the toad boss Gamabunta.
"Why is it always me?!" He wailed, dodging another dive bomb.
"Brethren! On my mark! Fire style: Fire ball jutsu!" And at least thirty large flames came crashing towards Shin.
"Oh come on!" Shin screamed.
With Sai…
"This is lovely tea, Sora-sama." Sai complimented. He sipped politely, across from the mountainous great owl, classical music in the background. The two sat in companiable silence for hours before now.
"I thank you, young Sai. Your logic and morals show the true way of the owls."
"Thank you, Sora-sama" Sai gave a practiced smile. The piano concerto crescendos, bringing peace between the two.
Three days later…
The Hokage was having a meeting between Enma, himself, and other summons.
"No word on which one they ended up in?"
"This is troublesome."
They had been arguing for almost four days. The spot the three disappeared from was a reminder of the loss.
*PUFF* was heard three times, and the missing boys appeared.
"Never fear! Future ANBU Commander here, back from Ostrichville!" Naruto gave a victory pose atop an irate looking ostrich in a bow tie.
"Brat- get off me!" Naruto ignored him and looked at his friends. Sai was calmly bowing to an oversized owl.
"I thank you Tsubaki. I will call on you when I have need."
Shin looked half dead: scorch marks, torn clothes, and broken mask. His eyes were crazed and the chicken he rode on was clucking in amusement.
"T-thank you f-f-for your help." Shin managed and collapsed on the floor.
"Oh, if it isn't Chicken-teme and stick up your ass Owl?" Condor said with disdain.
"Hmph, you two managed to get summoners? They don't hold a candle to MY summoner, Shin. He lasted four days against the clan!"
"That is nothing- Sai here completed our logic test in record time. He will beat your two brats everytime."
"HAH! You both lose! I, Condor, have here a summoner who beat an S-class ninja, making him admit defeat!" Condor boasted. The three continued bickering as they left for home.
"Why am I not surprised?" Sarutobi managed.
"Hehe. This guy named Nagato or Pein- he had two names- begged for mercy when Deidara and I blew up his army!" Naruto said. At the flabbergasted looks, Naruto decided to elaborate.
"It all started when a bunch of missing ninja from our bingo books chased Pein away! They called me a 'High Priest' and then…"
Flashback!...
"Zetsu- activate your clone army" Pein ordered as his six paths barricaded the passageways. Zetsu looked ready to argue.
"Leader-sama, they are weak, haven't eaten in days since Kakuzu denounced money as it went against the Will of Fire, and if even Tobi is against us…"
"Silence! The five thousand clones will be enough, I'm sure." Pein looked insane while Zetsu prepared the jutsu. "Soon. Soon you will be destroyed Kitsune. Then my Akatsuki will rise again!"
End! Next chapter will be the flashback of the Akatsuki's fall. I originally was going to separate the summons and the 'Akatsuki end' but when I couldn't figure out a wacky challenge for Naruto, I decided this could work. KingofSarutobi helped come up with the way this will go down, so go check out his Orphan fic!
Also, for those who may question WHY I am going this route: simple, Akatsuki are too serious for my series, and Orochimaru adds enough tension thank you very much. Finally… what do you think of Shin's chicken summons? They and the other summons will be occasional guest stars for a few plots I have planned.