Chapter 55 – Konoha's Reprisal II

"Talk"

'Think'

Flashback

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto sensei.

A/N: This chapter is rewritten as I found a setback in fight pairing in the next chapter. As I rewrote, my appreciation raised another level on how hard a mangaka's work is as once published, you cannot redo a whole chapter. Reading Bakuman by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata opened the world of mangaka's hardship to me and I cannot bring myself to criticize a mangaka's work.

Hi no Kuni

As they were travelling, Team Kakashi took the lead, followed by Team Sarutobi whilst Team Jiraiya took the rear position. If they were attacked from behind, Gaara's sand could act as the first defend before they could regroup and counter-attacked.

Kakashi had summoned Pakkun to follow the track made by Team Tsume. He also ordered Noriko to channel Rajah's nose and ears for supplementary, as well as learning one or two things about tracking from Pakkun. Itachi looked amused at this while Naruto laughed out loud, only to be punched by Noriko.

A short while after they've left Konoha, the whole group paused for a short briefing. The main objective is to eliminate Orochimaru since he has proven himself to be a threat to Konoha.

"Based on the fact that Otogakure had just been established recently, and judging from the number of Oto shinobi that had just attacked Konoha, it is presumed that the number of shinobi left in Otogakure is minimal. Unlike Konoha, Orochimaru's base is devoid of civilian. That'll make our job easier" said Jiraiya.

"If the first enemy we met is Orochimaru, we'll leave the fight to Sandaime and Jiraiya-sama while Itachi and I will provide the first back-up" said Kakashi "Shin, you'll have the command if anything happened to four of us"

Shin nodded.

"If we met him-" showing Kabuto's photo "-or any other high-ranking shinobi that we know of, Itachi and I will fight. Apart from that, we'll play it by the ear when we met them"

"Here-" said Akimichi Shitō as he handed out packaging containing dark coloured pills "this is like Hyōrōgan, but more nourishing. We don't make it often as some of the ingredients are hard to get"

"We are approaching the boarders" said Kakashi. After a while, the group saw Inuzuka Tsume, Hyūga Hizashi and Aburame Shibi.

"Anything to report?" asked Jiraiya.

"Nothing significant" said Shibi "Orochimaru's trail led straight to Oto no Kuni".

"That coward ran with his tail tucked between his legs" Tsume guffawed off.

"It does appeared that he ran in haste. We found no sign of traps along the way" said Hizashi.

Jiraiya nodded and said "Thank you. We'll take it from here"

The group from Konoha was travelling when Noriko's nose got new scents. She activated her byakugan and saw a group of people waiting.

"Sensei" said Noriko "There's a group of twenty people in front…wait…I think they know we are near…one of them…wait, stop!"

Noriko turned around "One of them put something in his mouth that looks like a flute. Judging from the chakra flow, I'd say they are from the same group that I've fought that summoned the snake"

"From my fight, the flute acts as a medium for a wide-range genjutsu that will make you feel heavy thus hard to move" Noriko continued "However, I cannot say for certain that this flute will have the same effect"

"What do you propose?" asked Jiraiya.

"I'll stay. I've fought them before and I can fight them again" said Noriko.

"You've fought six. This is twenty" reminded Kakashi.

"If it's number, it's my turn then" said Naruto with a grin.

"Why?" asked Noriko.

"Because I've got kage bunshin" answered Naruto.

"I've got kage bunshin too. Besides, you are weak against genjutsu" replied Noriko.

"Then all the more I should fight" Naruto replied back "Come on Noriko. Kage bunshin was not your main style. Besides, you've already told me how this genjutu works. Let me fight".

Naruto and Noriko stared before Noriko finally nodded her head, albeit reluctantly.

Jiraiya said "It's settled then. Let's go".

Shiin Menma noted that the group from Konoha has changed their route, 'I've got to stop them. They've killed Shiin-sama' he thought angrily before barking order "They're taking a detour. Stop them!" he pointed to the left.

Members from the Shiin clan began to run when suddenly, a blonde-hair shinobi appeared "No way. You've got to pass me first" said Naruto.

One of them ran to him brandishing with his sword. Naruto blocked with his left hand while his right arm attack with Rasengan.

Seeing one of them down, members from the Shiin ran screaming at Naruto who shouted "Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu"

A great number of Naruto appeared and they fought. While fighting, Naruto realized something 'Their fighting is more aggressive now' he thought. From the corner of his eyes, he saw the leader was blowing his ocarina.

'Noriko said the flute is the medium for wide-range genjutsu? Aim I under genjutsu? But I don't feel different yet these people seemed faster and hit harder…wait! What if the genjutsu is for these people?' Naruto thought 'Only one way to find out'

Naruto produced more kage bunshin. Under the chaos, one of them crept quietly and began to attack the leader. This caused the leader to stop blowing and fending off Naruto's attack.

'Hah! I'm right' thought Naruto gleefully as he noticed that the movements from the Shiin clansmen became normal.

Menma tried to blow his ocarina after successfully dispelled Naruto's clone when another clone attacked him and cried "No you don't! I know you use this to power up you people"

Menma cursed as a chakra ball hit his stomach and he was sent backwards in a spiraling move. He felt pain and numbness as his body hit through three trees before he stopped and his consciousness is fading away. He normally attacked with Shiin-sama. Shiin-sama would use his flute to slow down their enemies while he would bolster their clansmen. Their clan were undefeatable in Oto no kuni, until today.

Naruto looked at the fallen leader and saw his ocarina on the ground. 'I should take this and give to Noriko. She had one from the fight before. If she can use them, she can be our long-range attacker' Naruto thought, imagining the delightful face of Noriko when he gives her the ocarina.

'Wait, then she'll have long- medium and short-range attacks! She'll be more powerful than me! Noooooo!' Naruto began to travel while debating with himself.

After a while, Naruto found himself in a clearing, well not quite. The trees around him were cut, thus giving an impression of a clearing.

"You are early" said Temari.

"What happened here?" asked Naruto.

"After we left you, we heard music" said Temari "I remembered Noriko said about using flute for a wide-range genjutsu, so I used my fan to blow away the music. I volunteered to stay while the group left. Since the caster refused to show herself up, I decided to attack indiscriminately" she grinned and showed him a flute "I found this by a red-haired Oto shinobi. You want?" she asked Naruto.

"You sure?" asked Noriko in disbelief.

"Yes" Temari said. She had always wanted to give Naruto and Noriko presents to show her gratitude for them being friends with Gaara. When Naruto appeared, Temari saw an ocarina in his hand so Temari decided to give the flute she found to Naruto.

"Thank you Temari!" cried Naruto "Noriko will be happy".

"You are giving this to Noriko?" asked Temari.

"Yup. She had one flute from yesterday's attack and she had used it against the giant snake. So I thought of giving her this-" Naruto showed Temari the ocarina he found "-and now you are giving me this-" Naruto hold up the other flute.

"Why don't you keep one?" asked Temari.

"Not my style" answered Naruto with a grin.

End Chapter 55

A/N: Temari vs. Tayuya basically followed manga/anime, minus Shikamaru. Unfortunate for Tayuya, Temari was her natural enemy.

Hi no Kuni – Land of Fire

Hyōrōgan – Soldier Pills

Otogakure no Sato – Hidden Village of Sound

Oto no Kuni – Land of Sound

Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu – Multiple Shadow Clone