Chapter 76 – Meeting with Nanabi Jinchūriki

"Talk"

'Think'

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto sensei.

Near waterfall, Takigakure

"We are here" announced Kakashi.

Naruto, Noriko and Tenzō looked around and saw a lake and a large waterfall.

"Where's the house?" asked Naruto.

"To be precise, we are outside Takigakure. The entrance to Takigakure is a secret; only a few outside the village was privy to its location" explained Kakashi.

"Aren't Konoha and Takigakure an ally?" asked Noriko.

"True-" answered a voice. Naruto, Noriko and Tenzō turned and saw a young shinobi with black eyes and long, dark brown hair "-however, in shinobi world, today's ally can become tomorrow's enemy".

Kakashi turned to his team and said "Everyone, meet Shibuki-san. He's the Leader of Takigakure"

Naruto, Noriko and Tenzō bowed to Shibuki who nodded and turned to Kakashi "Do you bring what I've asked for?"

Kakashi shook his head and said "Unfortunately, no". Kakashi proceeded to tell about Suien and his treachery "…before one of my subordinate could capture him, he was taken by a mercenary group called Akatsuki".

"Did your subordinate chase after him?" asked Shibuki.

"No. We've had encountered Akatsuki before, it took us 4 jōnin and 12 genin to bring down 2 members of Akatsuki" said Kakashi.

"What?!" Shibuki was shocked.

"Yes. That's why we want to come here. My subordinate learnt that Takigakure has Nanabi Jinchūriki and from what we've gathered, Akatsuki is targeting Jinchūriki. Based on the two members we've encountered, each member of Akatsuki was strong, kage-level strong" emphasized Kakashi "One of them alone was attributed to the massacre in Yugakure no Sato-"

"I've heard that!" exclaimed Shibuki.

"They also appeared to be practicing kinjutsu, like Kakuzu" finished Kakashi.

…

…

…

"Why are you telling me all of this?" asked Shibuki.

"Well-" Kakashi scratched his face "-mostly when my subordinates heard about Suien's plan to give Takigakure's Jinchūriki to Akatsuki, they want to prevent that from happening. Besides, we do not know why Akatsuki is hunting down Jinchūriki, but I doubt it is for good reason. At the very least, your Jinchūriki will keep his or her guard up"

"Why your subordinate cares about Takigakure's Jinchūriki?...unless-" Shibuki's sentence was cut short by-.

-a tan-skinned kunoichi with mint green hair orange eyes jumped down in front of them and shouted "Found you Shibuki-sama!".

Realizing that there are other people, the kunoichi turned to them and said cheerfully "Hi! My name is Fū! Do you want to be my friends?"

"Sure. My name is Uzumaki Naruto" said Naruto "This is my sister Noriko, my teammate Tenzō and he is Kakashi-sensei. We are from Konoha"

"Fū!" said Shibuki in half-angry half exasperated tone "What did I say about going out of the village?"

"But I'm bored!" said Fū "How am I going to make friends when no one wants to play with me? These people said they'll play with me, please, Shibuki-sama" Fū looked at him beseechingly.

Shibuki sighed and said "Fine, just around here"

"Yeay!" yelled Fū happily as she ran towards Naruto, Noriko and Tenzō.

Shibuki looked at Fū with a smile on his face before he turned to Kakashi "How could your Hokage allows Konoha Jinchūriki to go outside Konoha? Aren't you worried that your Jinchūriki subordinate might lose his or her control?" Shibuki smiled as Kakashi's eye widened a fraction "I guess only a Jinchūriki would worry about another Jinchūriki"

Kakashi gazed at his team before answering "A Jinchūriki is supposed to be one village's trump card; a sword couldn't fight if its blade is dull. Sure you can sharpen it again and again, but there's something about experience that is irreplaceable, that's when you know your true mettle"

Shibuki digested Kakashi's words in silent.

"I win!" cried Fū as she jumped around "I win! I win"

"I want a rematch!" shouted Naruto as he chased after Fū. He was one turn away from winning.

Noriko and Tenzō was laughing when a brown, messenger hawk made a circle above them. They immediately stop laughing and watched as Kakashi's raised his arm to allow the bird to perch on while Kakashi took the message attached to it.

The bird flew at once while Kakashi unrolled the message and read swiftly.

"Playtime is over Naruto, Noriko, Tenzō" said Kakashi in a serious tone.

"What happened, sensei?" asked Noriko.

"Iwa was attacked by Akatsuki"

End Chapter 76

Iwagakure no Sato – Hidden Village of Rocks

Kinjutsu – Forbidden Techniques

Yugakure no Sato – Hidden Village of Hot Water