Chapter Seventeen: The God of the Hidden Rain
"So what's the plan A?" Hiruzen asked from his wheelchair.
The Raikage was frowning as he met Hiruzen's gaze, "The plan is to kill the Akatsuki before they get their hands on my brother!" A yelled as he slammed his hands on the table in front of him.
Hiruzen smiled softly, "A-san. I've known you for years, as I have your father. You know you can trust me right?" he asked weakly.
A's face stayed in the scowl he held previously, "Yeah, I know that." He muttered.
Hiruzen nodded, "Then trust me when I say this, you don't need me here. Tsunade-chan knows what she's doing, she will help you with a plan as she knows more about the Akatsuki situation than I do." Hiruzen explained as he wheeled backwards away from the Raikage.
A growled, "So you're just gonna leave?" he asked angrily.
Hiruzen nodded, "Yes, I am. I am nothing more than a civilian now A, I'm sorry." He said before turning and wheeling out.
A sighed as Hiruzen exited, not a moment later, Tsunade walked in with a folder in her hand. A was about to speak when Tsunade cut him off, "Orochimaru, Deidara and Tobi. These are all the information we have on each of the Akatsuki members." Tsunade started before sitting in the chair opposite A.
A blinked in confusion before opening the folder, seeing multiple pages stapled together, "How did you get all this information?" he asked.
Tsunade chuckled, "Jiraiya has the best information network in the five elemental nations, this is actually the basics but I've memorised the other classified information. I'm not allowed to show you the full folders, but as long as its just the two of us talking in here I'll answer any question you got." She said with a smirk.
A nodded slowly, "Your willing to undermine the laws of your own village to help mine?" he asked in shock.
Tsunade nodded with a kind smile, "I'm hoping that some time in the future we'll be allies, then I have a legal excuse for doing this." She said as she leant over and pointed to something in Tobi's file, "I think he'll be the most troublesome out of the three of them." she said.
A nodded as he settled into a focussed position, "Alright then, let's start with him…."
##########
"So, why didn't Ten-chan and Tayu-chan come?" Naruto asked.
Hinata and Fuu grinned happily, making Naruto realise that the two looked eerily similar sometimes, "I know that Ten-chan was doing one of her ANBU missions, only six more until she is allowed to apply for Sensei status." Hinata said.
Fuu then spoke as Hinata trailed off, "T-Tayu-chan isn't allowed since it's a f-foreign village. Th-the only r-reason I came is because Tsunade-sama n-needed the aerial squad-dron. Hinata-chan was brought b-by Hiashi-sama." Fuu said quietly.
Naruto nodded, "Cool, thanks for being here you guys." Naruto said happily.
"Here's your food."
Naruto looked up to see the waiter placing their food on the table, "Thanks." He said with a smile.
The waiter walked off as Fuu picked up a fork, "C-can't I get chopst-sticks?" she asked Naruto.
He chuckled, "Come on Fuu-chan, it's easily, just stab," he said pushing his fork into the spaghetti," Twist," he continued before lifting the food to his mouth, "And eat." He finished as he ate the whole thing.
Hinata giggled at Naruto and Fuu's faces as Fuu tried to copy Naruto, and ended up whipping herself on the nose with a string of spaghetti, causing her to drop the mouthful in shock.
Naruto chuckled at her shocked expression before he gestured for Hinata to try, she nailed it perfectly as expected from the Hyuuga heiress.
Naruto smiled to himself as Hinata tried showing Fuu, causing the two to laugh at Fuu's failed attempt once more, 'Maybe…yes, I'll tell them some of it.' he thought before coughing lightly, getting the girls attention.
"Hina-chan, you know what I told you at the gate?" he asked softly.
Hinata thought for a moment before her eyes widened, "Yes Naruto-kun." She said in reply.
Fuu tilted her head, wondering what it was when Naruto talked to her, "Fuu-chan, you remember what I talked about when we were on our training trip? About the…y'know." He said hopefully.
Fuu nodded, "Umm, sort of. All I know is that you wanted to absorb a certain…person…." She said, trailing off with wide eyes as she seemed to realise what Naruto was talking about.
Naruto nodded, "Yep, this is the time. Either it will happen or it won't but this is it. and once this is done, I think I'll be strong enough to end it." Naruto said seriously.
Fuu nodded excitedly while Hinata tilted her head in worry, "So, who is it you're going to," she stayed quiet as she leant forward, "Absorb?" she whispered.
Naruto was about to reply when one of Tsunade's ANBU appeared behind them, "Naruto-san, Sandaime-sama wants to talk to you." Tanuki reported as he reached out his arm.
Naruto smirked lightly as he stood, "I'll see you two later, want to head to Sasuke's and my room at the hotel and wait for me?" he asked as his arm locked with Tanuki's in a monkey grip.
Fuu and Hinata were doing their best to keep a normal expression, "Y-yeah." Fuu said.
Hinata smiled, "See you soon Naruto-kun." She said before Tanuki and Naruto disappeared in a sand shunshin.
Hinata smiled to Fuu, "Let's finish our lunch okay?" she said.
Fuu nodded and the two began talking calmly as they finished their meals.
##########
"PAPER SHURIKEN!"
Jiraiya leapt high into the air, dodging Konan's attack as he landed ontop of a building, "Konan! Why are you doing this?! Was that Yahiko who spoke to me?" Jiraiya asked.
Konan flew higher with her wings, "Jiraiya-sensei, you are against Akatsuki's plans…I'm sorry but you must be disposed of." Konan said as her wings expanded.
"SHINIGAMI DANCE!" She yelled as she launched a horizontal tornado of paper at Jiraiya.
The toad sannin formed a few hand seals, "FIRE STYLE: FIREBALL JUTSU!" he yelled, launching the jutsu forward and colliding with the paper.
Jiraiya's eyes widened as the first half of the paper tornado took the fireball out somehow while the second half shot towards Jiraiya uninterrupted.
The sannin pulled a substitution, ending up behind Konan as he leapt at her, "RASENGAN!" Jiraiya yelled.
Konan dodged left, which was part of Jiraiya's plan as he took out one of her wings, throwing her off balance as he landed in front of her once more.
Jiraiya turned as Konan began to get control back, "NEEDLE JIZO! CHOMP!" he yelled, sending his solidified hair forward to take a bite of Konan.
The paper user was grabbed around the chest and yanked to land in front of Jiraiya, who began talking, "Konan, tell me why you are doing this! The Akatsuki are planning to wipe out the five great nations! Why are you working with them?" Jiraiya asked panicked.
Konan wasn't even struggling as she listened to Jiraiya's words, she merely blinked, "That is not our plan. I am not merely working with them, I helped start the Akatsuki." She said before disappearing into a group of papers.
The papers tried to cut up Jiraiya but his Needle Jizo retracted, covering him entirely but failing to stop two cuts from forming on his left forearm.
Jiraiya turned around to face the papers just as they reformed Konan high in the sky, Jiraiya slammed his hands together, ready to defend as she formed her technique.
"SHINIGAMI DANCE: JAVELIN!" she yelled as her papers formed a long javelin that shot at Jiraiya.
Said sannin slammed his hands on the ground, "EARTH STYLE: EARTH SHORE RETURN!" he yelled, making a thick platform of earth form to stop the attack.
As Konan's attack broke against the earth wall, Jiraiya took a lesson from Sakura's book and slammed a rasengan into the back of the wall, launching the now spinning wall at Konan.
Konan flew above the airborne attack and dove at Jiraiya, forming what appeared to be a sword from paper. Jiraiya reacted and slammed a hand into the seal on his opposite bracer.
*POOF*CLANG*
Jiraiya summoned an old stone sword that was very thick and about the length of his arm, it had a crack running down it's side. But that didn't seem to weaken it in the slightest.
Jiraiya swung the sword more like a bat and it broke through the paper attack, knocking Konan to the side and giving Jiraiya the chance to kick her solidly in the chest, launching her back into the cement wall.
Konan slammed into the wall as Jiraiya resealed the weapon, panting heavily, 'It's hard to lift that when I'm not in sage mode, but it did it's purpose.' He thought as he knelt to the ground, grabbing a sliver of Konan's paper.
In seconds Jiraiya's plan was done and Konan shakily rose to her feet, "No more games Jiraiya-sensei, this is my final attack!" Konan yelled as her wings began to reform, taking in all the paper from around the area including the piece that Jiraiya had written on.
Her wings were small, but the huge amount of papers gathered above her head, making Jiraiya narrow his eyes as the paper he wrote on joined it, 'Damn, it may not work…' he thought as he prepared his chakra.
Konan formed the first hand seal she had the whole fight, "SHININGAMI DANCE: EXPLOSIVE PAPER RAIN!" she yelled.
The ball of paper above her head glowed as the seals she had placed on them activated, causing Jiraiya to grin, 'Oh yeah!' he thought as he pulsed his chakra into the instant explosive note he had made.
Just as the first of Konan's explosive papers began to fall, one in the center of the ball exploded, causing a chain reaction that made all of the explosive notes explode and throw her downwards while Jiraiya was launched backwards.
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOM*
Jiraiya flipped around, landing on the wall of a building with his chakra as he tried to see through the destruction and debris, giving him a moment to activate the seal under his sleeve again, "Sasuke! Are you alright?! What's going on?" Jiraiya asked while searching for Konan's body.
##########
"SHINRA TENSEI!"
Sasuke was launched back by the orange haired man's gravity blast, using his shield to take the brunt of the attack as he righted himself on his board.
Sasuke came to a stop above the water surrounding the Hidden Rain Village, where he had been pulled to by this orange haired weirdo with the ringed eyes, 'My Sharingan can't even see his technique! How the hell is he doing this?' Sasuke thought as he looked across the water at his opponent.
It seemed that this was the time his opponent began to talk, "You are indeed strong, Sasuke Uchiha. Why don't you join with us? It was a loss that your brother died." He said.
Sasuke merely moved his shield to sit comfortably on his left arm as he stood tall on his board, "Why should I do that? You are after one of the most important people in my life." Sasuke said seriously before continuing, "It's rude that you know my name and yet I don't know yours."
The orange haired male nodded, "Indeed. I am Pein, the God of the Hidden Rain." Pein said before facing his hand towards Sasuke, "Now will you join our cause?" he asked.
Sasuke scowled on the outside while on the inside he was smirking, 'Yes! Time to get some intel.' He thought before speaking, "I don't even know what your cause is other than the fact that you need the Bijuu."
Pein nodded, "Very well. The goal of the Akatsuki, is to bring peace to the world." he said calmly.
Sasuke blinked in confusion, "Peace? But you're going around killing everyone! How the hell is that peace?!" he asked.
Pein had a blank face as he replied, "We will show the world pain, then they will no longer fight, or else experience more pain. If they refuse, they die." Pein said.
Sasuke scowled, "That's not peace! That's ruling with an iron fist! You'd just be forcing people to bend to your will!" Sasuke declared as his chakra stirred.
Pein instantly knew there was no turning Sasuke to his side, so he pulsed his chakra into the hand that was facing Sasuke, "BANSHO TENNIN!"
Sasuke was forcefully pulled toward Pein, but he reacted quickly as he flipped, facing the bottom of his board at Pein, "CHAKRA SHOT!"
The small ball of chakra forced Pein to stop his technique and dodge, letting Sasuke slide to face Pein as the Uchiha sent chakra into one of the seals on his shield, "CHIDORI BEAM!"
From the center of the shield shot a thin but long beam of electrical chakra, which Pein sidestepped with apparent ease as he ran at Sasuke while pulling out a sharpened black pole.
Sasuke's Sharingan span at full speed as he did all he could to defend from Pein and his weapon, 'Shit! This guys is only a little faster than me, but it's almost like he can read my moves like I can him!' Sasuke thought as he shielded himself from Pein's attack once more before sending another chakra pulse through his board.
Sasuke shot up into the air, with the front of his board slamming into Pein's chin on the way up. Sasuke flipped as in a puff of smoke, his shield was exchanged for his Kusarigama.
Sasuke used the weight of his spin to throw down the weight of his weapon, aiming it down at where he thought Pein was.
He wasn't.
Sasuke's eyes widened as he saw merely a shadow on the water from above him, his Kusarigama became his scythe as he spun, blocking Pein's kick with the flat of his blade.
Sasuke's eyes widened once more as Pein's free hand was nearly touching his face, "SHINRA TENSEI!"
Sasuke was slammed into the water, losing his grip on his board and his scythe as he impacted it painfully. Cracking two of his ribs in the process.
Sasuke managed to overcome the pain and looked up at Pein, who was falling right at him with his weapon leading the way.
Sasuke's Mangekyou sparked as his eyes focussed on Pein's chest, "AMATERASU!"
Pein merely substituted the strike, appearing far out of the way and landing gently on the water, "That is Itachi's fire. It is a formidable weapon." Pein said as he lifted his hand towards Sasuke.
Sasuke rolled to his feet, nursing his sore chest as he felt a pressure in front of him as Pein yelled his jutsu, "BANSHO TENNIN!"
Sasuke was pulled forward limply as his eyes snapped open, the moment he was within a meter of Pein's weapon he yelled, "SUSANO'O!"
Sasuke's ribcage appeared and from it a large purple hand formed, right in front of Pein's face as Sasuke was pulled towards him.
*BAM*
Pein was launched backwards and he skipped across the water like a stone, slamming into a metal pipeline and breaking it in half.
Sasuke stood, breathing extremely heavily as he glared at Pein, who calmly walked out from the flowing water and faced Sasuke.
Sasuke's Susano'o faltered as he unsealed his umbrella, doing his best to stand tall as his eyes locked with Pein's, 'How the hell is he doing this? I've done damage to him just as he had to me, yet he doesn't even flinch.' Sasuke thought as Pein lifted his arm up again, 'Damn! Not that gravity jutsu!' Sasuke thought as he pulled up his weapon.
"Sasuke! Are you alright?! What's going on?!"
Sasuke looked down in shock as Jiraiya's voice came from the seal, before feeling himself suddenly getting pulled forward again.
Sasuke looked up as he began forming hand seals, "CHIDORI!" Sasuke yelled as he thrusted his lightning fist forward.
From underwater, someone jumped out punching the Uchiha in the stomach and breaking Sasuke's already cracked ribs.
Sasuke gasped in pain as his jutsu failed from lack of concentration, but Pein's technique didn't stop pulling him forward. Sasuke became right way up in midair as he passed Pein, getting clothes lined by Pein's forearm and flipped around painfully before being grabbed from behind by another person.
Sasuke opened his groggy eyes only for them to widen in shock as the person holding him from behind but him in a sleeper hold.
The Pein stood in front of Sasuke along with another orange haired male, Sasuke's eyes started to droop as he felt his chakra being sapped by the person who was holding him while cutting off his air supply.
He was dropped to the water's surface, for the first time actually just floating limply as he looked up at the three people looking down at him, all of them having something deadly in common.
'Those eyes…' Sasuke thought as he slowly passed out.
##########
Jiraiya frowned as he received no answer from Sasuke. He returned to scanning the smoke cloud in front of him as he spotted movement to the far right.
Jiraiya smirked sadly, "Looks like I've won this Konan." Jiraiya said as he spotted the woman.
She was bleeding almost everywhere and her cloak was almost nonexistent from being burnt into ash. But she struggled from her knees into a weak stance, obviously too weakened to even reply.
Jiraiya sighed as he formed a half strength rasengan by his side, 'I'll knock her out and take her for interrogation back at the Leaf.' He thought as he began running at Konan, while preparing his chakra to use the substitution with a piece of stone behind her.
"SUMMONING JUTSU!"
A deep voice rang out as a giant worm appeared, slamming down between Konan and Jiraiya and forcing the sannin to leap away to safety as his rasengan dissipated.
The worm dispelled in a large puff of smoke which Jiraiya covered his eyes from as he looked around, 'Whose here to help her? Please…don't be Nagato…' Jiraiya thought as he remembered the orphan with the Rinnegan.
The smoke dissipated as another person walked calmly from the smoke cloud, he had long orange hair and the signature Akatsuki cloak. But Jiraiya's eyes widened as he noticed one more thing…
…Rinnegan eyes.
Jiraiya's mind raced as he tried to comprehend what he was seeing, 'What?! How can this guy have the Rinnegan as well?! Who the hell is he? I have no intel on this guy!' Jiraiya thought as he stood tall, glaring at the newcomer.
The orange haired man stopped walking as the smoke finished clearing, showing that Konan was standing far away now, leaning against a wall.
"Hello…Jiraiya-sensei." The orange haired man said calmly.
Jiraiya's eyes widened, 'Jiraiya-sensei? So this guy is either Yahiko or Nagato…but he looks so different, how…?' he thought as he tried to make sense out of things.
The orange haired man's eyes suddenly seemed to glow and Jiraiya's eyes naturally stared in return, "Why do you keep fighting Jiraiya-sensei? I do not want to kill you, so don't get in my way." The stranger said.
Jiraiya scoffed, "You are wearing an Akatsuki cloak, I must stop you." Jiraiya said seriously.
The newcomer nodded, "I see…you don't understand my existence, so let me make things easier….I am Pein, God of the Hidden Rain Village." He said as his arms came out to his sides.
Jiraiya paused in shock, 'He thinks himself a God? Not any of the students I remember..' Jiraiya thought.
Pein slammed his hands on the ground, "SUMMONING JUTSU!"
*POOF*
In two large plumes of smoke, a large crab and larger rat appeared, making Jiraiya's widen once more, 'He broke the contract restriction rule! And they all have the Rinnegan!' he thought as he leapt back away from the steam that the crab was spewing forth.
Jiraiya formed seals as the rat began charging at him, "EARTH STYLE: EARTH SPEAR JUTSU!"
A single pike shot up from the ground underneath each of the summoning monsters, piercing the rat through the neck but not piercing the hard shell of the crab, pushing it high into the air.
Just as Jiraiya finished his next set of seals and the rat dispelled, "FIRE STYLE: DRAGON FLAME JUTSU!" he yelled, launching a large fireball in the shape of a dragon's head at the crab and cooking it in seconds.
The crab fell to the ground behind Pein with a huge explosion, blowing his hair and robes wildly as he calmly knelt once more, "SUMMONING JUTSU!"
*POOF*
Jiraiya scowled, 'Enough of this! I have to go get Sasuke and make sure he's okay!' Jiraiya thought as he bit his thumb.
A large dog with small wings on its back began sprinting at Jiraiya as he slammed his hand on the ground, "SUMMONING JUTSU!"
*POOF*
*CLANG*
*BOOOOOOM*
In a puff of smoke a huge toad with a shield and a Sasumata appeared, blocking the dog's charge with his shield and pushing the two giant animals through a building.
The animals began to fall through the air as the toad slammed his Sasumata around the neck of the dog, slamming it into the ground and holding it there for a moment, "Hey Jiraiya, why did you summon me in a situation like this? I'm kinda clumsy with this combat stuff." The toad spoke as it held the dog down.
Jiraiya crossed his legs as he sat on the toad's head, "Just keep them off for a moment Gamaken! I'm going Sage Mode!" Jiraiya said before taking a deep breath.
Gamaken nodded before realising something in Jiraiya's words, "Them?" it asked before looking down at its captive.
The dog split into two, then three, getting close to overpowering the toad and his Sasumata. Gamaken began to move to hit the dogs with his shield when he heard a loud screech.
Gamaken looked up just in time to raise his shield and use it to block the nose dive of a weird looking bird. The attack succeeded in separation Gamaken from his captives.
Gamaken landed as the bird began circling the new area and the dogs began growling at him, "This is gonna be a toughie." Gamaken said as the first dog began charging at him.
##########
*Knock Knock*
Sarutobi smiled at the familiar situation, "Please come in Naruto." He said coarsely.
Naruto opened the door from the outside into Sarutobi's room, smiling as he saw the old man in his wheelchair, looking out the top story window over the Hidden Cloud Village.
"You wanted to see me old man?" Naruto asked as he closed the door behind him.
Naruto raised a brow as he saw Hiruzen lift his hand and form a half ram seal, making a clear sheen appear across every surface in the room, "Jiji?" Naruto asked in confusion.
Sarutobi sat quietly, so Naruto walked over to him and finally looked at him front on. Naruto's eyes widened.
Sarutobi was wearing a basic white robe, but it was far too loose over his sickly thin frame and the dried blood that stained the collar of his robe.
Naruto stared quietly for a moment before dropping to his knees, forming the six necessary seals for his strongest instant heal medical jutsu, "MEDIC ART: EXAMINATION EXTERMINATION!" Naruto said before reaching his bright green hands to Sarutobi's chest.
The old man raised the same arm from before to weakly grab Naruto's wrist, "Don't Naruto-kun…it's too late for me." The old man said with a kind smile.
Tears welled up in Naruto's eyes as he forced Sarutobi's arms off of him, placing his palms on the old man's chest, "No! I'll fix you! Don't worry it'll be…" Naruto suddenly stopped as his hands found the problem in the old man's body.
His lungs were rotten with terminal cancer that seemed to be in its final stage, his heart was so weak it barely pulsed, his liver was barely still working and almost every rib he had was at least cracked.
The pressure of Naruto's hands on his chest caused Sarutobi to cough, coughing up blood from his lungs as it landed on Naruto's forearms.
Naruto sat shaking as through the man's chest, he felt one of the cracked ribs snap just from the coughing, Naruto quickly pulled his hands back as tears began to flow from his eyes.
After nearly two minutes of the old man's coughing and the sound of another rib snapping, Sarutobi leant back in his wheelchair, making Naruto suddenly realise that the old wasn't even moving his right arm at all, as if it was dead weight.
Naruto sat quietly, 'How do I heal him? To heal bone I need to use his blood, but his blood is so weak that it isn't even clean. His lungs are gone, practically dead flesh…what do I do?' he thought as he asked in his mind, hoping that someone would answer him.
No one answered.
The two men sat in silence as Sarutobi took deep shaky breaths over Naruto's quiet wet ones.
Feeling a hand on his shoulder Naruto looked up at the old man's smiling face, "Naruto-kun, I've already said my goodbyes to my family by blood. I came here to see my other grandson." Sarutobi said weakly.
Naruto's tears steadily streamed down his face which was contorted in pain, "No…you can't die Jiji." He whispered, begging, "Please…don't leave…" Naruto barely said before the first sob broke out.
Hiruzen's only working hand gripped Naruto's shoulder slightly harder, causing the blonde ninja to look up once more at Hiruzen.
The old man looked so happy, "Naruto-kun, I'm so proud of you." he said before seemingly forcing back a cough, "Do you remember-?" he started before coughing up a small speckle of blood.
Naruto reached for the old man before his hands fell, knowing that there was nothing he could do but nod, "Yeah Jiji, I remember my promise." He whispered.
Flashback
With an aged smile, Sarutobi slowly got up walked around his desk and knelt to eye level next to Naruto, "Believe in the will of fire Naruto-kun," Now placing the Hokage hat on Naruto's head. "And use it to protect the Hidden leaf village."
Naruto looked up at Sarutobi with more determination than any 12 year old should have, "Til my last breath jij, I will live by these words! My new Nin-do! BELIEVE IT!"
End flashback
The old man nodded and smiled as blood dribbled down his chin, "It burns so strongly within you Naruto-kun…the Will of the Shodaime, the Nindaime, the Yondaime…" he started before weakly lifting Naruto's right hand up to his forehead, "And my Will of fire." Sarutobi said, shaking at the effort to hold Naruto's arm up.
Naruto looked into the old man's eyes, "Jiji…you don't mean..?" he asked.
Sarutobi merely nodded, "Don't you need a stronger Fire chakra after all?" the old man asked with his last smile.
Naruto's tears stopped as the old man spoke his last few words, "I may not know it, but I want to see it Naruto-kun. I want to see your plan come to fruition, I want to watch Konoha's growth. Please…do it now." The old man said with the kind smile still in place.
Naruto's arm shook as his palm rested on the old man's forehead, they were silent as Hiruzen suddenly leant forward.
He wrapped his working arm around Naruto's shoulders and neck, but not dislodging Naruto's hand from the side of his head that was on the young man's shoulder, "I'm so proud…to have been called your grandfather…" Hiruzen said with a weak smile, letting the tears he was holding back flow as he let out one last cough, accidently spitting some blood down the back of the white side of Naruto's outfit.
Naruto was shaking with tears as he sobbed, "Jiji, I can't, I-"
"Do it."
Naruto's eyes slammed shut as his free arm hugged the old man back.
"Naruto-kun, thank you."
"Ninja art:…Soul Drain…"
##########
"I'm not too sure about this." A said with a scowl as he sat across from Tsunade, "Your really think he can handle it?" A asked.
Tsunade smirked, "Y'know, if I was gonna choose the next three Sannin. He'd be the leader, just like Orochimaru was back in his prime, Orochimaru is much weaker now." She said confidently.
A's eyes widened, "What?! Is he that strong? He's only an A rank in the Bingo Book." A exclaimed.
Tsunade nodded confidently, "Let's move on from this, that's one of them handled, what do we know of the other two? And where is their sensei?" Tsunade asked as she leant forward over the desk.
A looked down at the folders in front of him as Tsunade moved the first one to the side, "We already thought logically on this, they never checked in at the hotel room we organised for them. Also, since the last exam no one has seen anyone except for who we assume is Orochimaru." A said seriously with a frown.
Tsunade nodded, "Then we can no longer assume anything about the others. The only things we can safely assume is that Orochimaru is not alone in this attack, and that the attack is going to occur at some time during the tournament stage of your exams." Tsunade said certainly.
A raised a brow, "And what makes you say that?" he asked.
Tsunade smirked slightly, "I know my ex teammate, since he's the only one that stayed in then I would have to say he's the trigger for the action to start. He wouldn't let it be any other way the selfish prick." She said.
A nodded, as he looked over the folders before scowling, "So…Orochimaru wants revenge against Naruto and Sakura for stopping him from getting Sasuke's body?" he asked.
Tsunade nodded, "Yes, I know he wants them dead. Why?" she asked.
A nodded confidently, "Then he will attack during the second round of exams either just as he's losing, at the start, or when he has the upper hand." A said.
Tsunade's eyebrow shot up, "How can you know that?" she asked again.
A grabbed a folder of his own and placed it in front of Tsunade, "Because of Sasuke's departure I had to reorganise the tournament format. If we assume Orochimaru wins then he'll be put into a three-way fight against the combatants of match one and three…which according to your overconfidence will be your ninjas correct?" A said with a slight snicker.
Tsunade just smirked, ignoring the Raikage's obvious doubt of her ninjas, "Oh? You're so sure that your ninjas are better than mine?" she asked.
A just grinned, knowing where exactly her thoughts were going, "Yes I am, care to put a number on it?" he asked in reply.
Tsunade laughed while reaching into her pocket for her wallet, "You're on."
##########
"SAGE ART: GOEMON!"
The two orange haired men and one bald man stood calmly as they watched the large sea of burning oil approach them. One calmly stepped forward just before they went out of Jiraiya's view.
Fukusaku turned, looking at Jiraiya's toad attributed features, 'Jiraiya-boy can't spend too much longer in Sage Mode, or else it'll be too late to change back!' he thought.
Jiraiya took a shaky step forward as his jutsu seemed to disappear and from where it once was came the animal summoner again, riding on the back of a horse.
Shima gasped, "Jiraiya-chan! Didn't we already kill him with our Genjutsu?!" she asked.
Fukusaku yelled, "You just realised this guy was still alive?! That was almost five minutes ago he came back!"
Jiraiya leapt at the horse, "NEEDLE JIZO!"
He landed and slid on his knees between the horse's legs, using his sharp hair to cut the Achilles tendon in all four ankles.
Jiraiya rolled to his feet as he leapt up, "One more time while he's by himself! That other one is the one that absorbs chakra and techniques!" Jiraiya yelled.
"SAGE ART: TOAD FLAME BOMBS!"
The first of the three balls of flaming oil hit the large horse, forcing it to dispel and for the summoning Pein to leap into the air, right in the path of the second ball.
"SUMMONING JUTSU!"
In a puff of smoke, the absorbing Pein appeared, absorbing the second ball and getting ready to absorb the third.
Only for the smirking Jiraiya to be facing the other way.
The last Pein was hit directly and too Jiraiya's shock, began melting as if he was made completely of metal.
Jiraiya could only watch for a second as suddenly, another Rinnegan user appeared in front of his airborne form.
Time seemed to slow as Jiraiya's eyes met the eyes of the Pein in front of him, "Yahiko?" he asked in shock.
"SHINRA TENSEI!"
Jiraiya was pushed far through the air, landing in the water on the outside of the village as it began to rain again lightly.
It was nearly a minute later as Jiraiya finally stood on his shaky legs on the water, 'It's no use, with this many of them…' he trailed off as three Rinnegan wielders landed in front of him.
A moment later, two more landed behind him, and he sighed as he recognised them, 'The two that I've killed already. How do they keep coming back?' Jiraiya thought questioningly.
Hearing another person land, Jiraiya looked forward to come face to face with Yahiko, "Yahiko, what have you done to Nagato?" Jiraiya asked before swallowing heavily, "Did you…steal his eyes?" Jiraiya asked.
The Pein which appeared to have taken the role of the leader, the one who used Yahiko's body, stepped forward calmly as he spoke, "We are not Yahiko, we are not Nagato, we are Pein. And we are God." He said as he held a hand forward towards Jiraiya.
Jiraiya quickly leapt high into the air, hoping to dodge whatever was coming as he yelled, "You two have to go! Deliver all our information to Konoha!" he ordered as he flushed the nature energy from his system.
Fukusaku and Shima were detached because of it, "No Jiraiya-boy! We can't just-"
"BANSHO TENNIN!"
Jiraiya was wrenched out from under the two elder toad's feet as he was yanked towards Yahiko.
"I am Deva." Yahiko proclaimed as Jiraiya drew closer.
Jiraiya raised his arms to attack Deva path but instead had to block the downward kick of another Pein.
The Pein flipped away while proclaiming it's title, "Naraka."
Jiraiya turned back towards Deva only to be grabbed by a large spider's web and flung around before getting slammed into the ground is the animal summoner spoke from the spider's back, "Animal."
Jiraiya rolled onto his back, looking at Shima and Fukusaku who hopped towards him, "Jiraiya-boy!"
Jiraiya's body acted on its own as he pushed himself to land between them, thrusting a rasengan at the Pein that was reaching for them.
Jiraiya yelled, "Leave now Fukusaku!" Jiraiya ordered as his Rasengan began to shrink.
The Pein's face became visible over the now miniscule rasengan, "Preta." He drawled airily before reaching at Jiraiya's face.
Shima appeared between them, kicking Preta in the face with enough force to knock him back towards another.
This Pein held out his arm, which Preta path grasped, it spun around and helped Preta land safely before facing Jiraiya, it's forearm mechanically transforming.
"ASURA: DISTANCE!" the Asura path yelled as it shot a laser ball at Jiraiya.
Shima and Jiraiya both went to leap away, but the final Pein grabbed Jiraiya from behind in a full nelson, while announcing its name, "Human."
**BOOOOOOOM**
Shima saw as the laser hit Jiraiya, causing an explosion that blasted her back into the arms of Fukusaku, "We're leaving Jiraiya-boy!" Fukusaku yelled.
The dust cloud cleared to show a one armed Jiraiya, his shoulder blasted off, standing on the corpse of the now headless Human Path.
Jiraiya nodded to the toads, "About time! Go!" he yelled angrily.
*POOF*POOF*
With the two elder toads gone, Jiraiya let his façade drop as he fell to his knees.
The five living Peins landed in front of him as Deva spoke once more, "You fought against God, and you came close to truly harming me on multiple occasions." Deva said clearly as black poles began to slip into the hands of each path of Pein.
Jiraiya breathed heavily as he closed his eyes, 'I guess…this is it…this guy didn't even come back after losing his Rinnegan eyes…I guess that's good.' He thought as he relaxed his body.
Deva waved his arm and with a shift of gravity, Jiraiya was flung high into the air. Naraka path appeared underneath him, holding up his black pole for Jiraiya to land on.
Jiraiya saw his imminent end and closed his eyes in defeat.
Flashback
"Why do you keep fighting so hard?" Jiraiya asked as he knocked back the three Chunnin easily. It was the first week of their three year training trip and he decided to go all out in a one on three fight against his students. Needless to say, he was winning.
Sasuke struggled to his feet first, "Nothing will stop me from meeting my ambition. I won't give up!" the Uchiha said as his legs shook at the effort.
Naruto pushed himself to his feet as well, "Yeah! We will beat you Ero-sensei! Then we'll become even stronger!" he grunted.
Sakura nodded, though she was barely able to get to her knees, "We…wont…stop!" she yelled.
Sasuke's Sharingan flicked into existence, Naruto's eyes slitted as they became red and Sakura's legs began to glow again.
"""We won't give up!"""
Flashback end
Jiraiya's eyes snapped open and he even smirked lightly, 'What kind of sensei would I be if I couldn't even emulate my students once in a while?' he thought as he fell towards the deadly pole.
Jiraiya suddenly flipped around before any of the Six paths of Pein could react, "MASSIVE RASENGAAAAAN!"
The blue ball of swirling energy obliterated Naraka's body and the explosive force of the attack pushed Jiraiya away from the remaining paths, sliding to a stop on his shaky feet as he struggled into his Frog-fu stance.
Deva spoke calmly after a few seconds of silence, "Good work Jiraiya-sensei, now I am unable to bring my other paths back because Naraka is no more. I will have to find a new one." Deva said calmly as animal path formed hand seals.
"SUMMONING JUTSU!"
The summoned wolf's head was about as tall as Jiraiya's was and as it began to charge, Asura Path leapt up ontop of it.
Jiraiya sluggishly dodged Asura's bullet-like projectiles until he slipped, but luckily he had already prepared his chakra.
The wolf's head came down and bit his torso, lifting Jiraiya up into the air painfully. But as Asura lunged at Jiraiya with the chainsaw from his forearm leading the way, Jiraiya became a piece of stone that Jiraiya had substituted with.
"RASEN!"
Asura began to turn in midair as did the large wolf, just as Jiraiya slammed his red Rasengan into the beast's stomach.
"NOVA!"
The red rasengan exploded, sending out a flaming spiral that sucked in and destroyed Asura path's body completely.
Jiraiya fell to his knees as the explosion pushed him back towards the other paths, he came to a stop only a meter or so from Deva's feet.
"Jiraiya-sensei…you are truly a strong human."
Jiraiya's eyes widened as he looked up at the voice, seeing another Akatsuki member seemingly float down from the air.
"You have done what Hanzo the Salamander managed to do, except he died taking out his third of my Paths. It was lucky I made them earlier, originally I planned to fight him myself. As I did with you." he said as he landed.
Jiraiya's eyes locked with the Rinnegan eyes of the newcomer as he finished speaking, "You may actually be able to harm me."
Tears fell from Jiraiya's eyes as the remaining Paths of Pein stepped away, "Nagato…why are you doing this?" Jiraiya asked weakly.
The red headed Rinnegan user knelt in front of Jiraiya, putting him in line of sight, "I'm completing out dream Jiraiya-sensei, I have found peace." He said as he held his arm to the side.
Jiraiya's eyes fell to the floor, "You're killing so many people…in the name of peace?" Jiraiya whispered.
Nagato smiled softly, "Yes. Those who stand in the way of God must die, as I am the only one capable of saving this forsaken world." he said as he stood, holding up his weapon over Jiraiya's prone and completely drained form.
Jiraiya closed his eyes, 'No…I have failed…Tsu-hime…'
Nagato's body tensed for a moment before his arm swung, "Die!"
*SHLINK*
...
"This Uchiha is annoying." Nagato said as he looked down at Sasuke.
The smirking Uchiha stood in front of Jiraiya with the pole through his right lung, "Another guy with those eyes, interesting." Sasuke said before dispelling in a burst of flames the same second Jiraiya disappeared in a substitution.
A shaky Konan walked up to Nagato, but Yahiko's body held her to his side comfortingly as she spoke, "Nagato? Have you stopped chasing them?" she asked.
Nagato chuckled, "I can't do that. I must stop them…I will handle this myself." He said before waving his arm, dispelling the remaining paths.
Konan fell to the floor without someone to lean on, landing heavily on her knees before looking up, "Naga..to?" she asked, seeing that he was gone.
##########
Sasuke was sprinting at full speed across the water, pulling along an almost unconscious Jiraiya behind him on his board with one hand while he carried his umbrella over his shoulder with the other.
Sasuke glanced down as a seal that had just ran out of chakra fell from his shirt, 'Good, fully healed now I just gotta get out of here!' Sasuke thought as he ran.
"ASURA: DISTANCE!"
Hearing the shout, Sasuke threw Jiraiya forward on his board as he span, holding his umbrella, "WIND STYLE: WIND WALL!"
The chakra laser hit the wall and burst through barely being moved of course enough to hit the water in front of Sasuke.
Sasuke was blown back from the impact, he flipped with the momentum and placed a hand on his board, activating a seal on the bottom of it.
Jiraiya began to move away to safety at a slow but steady pace, about the speed of average ninja travel.
Sasuke stood and looked up at the airborne ninja, 'His name was Nagato apparently, and they all called Ero-sensei Jiraiya-sensei…'
Sasuke unsealed his Kusarigama as his cloak fluttered free, "Nagato!" he yelled.
The red haired man stayed in midair for a moment before lowering down, landing on the water gently, "You obviously want to talk. Make it quick so that I can go after Jiraiya-sensei." Nagato said, seemingly acting nice while his forearm casually became a large chainsaw like weapon.
Sasuke took a deep breath before speaking, "Why did you join the Akatsuki?" he asked seriously, thinking that this question would not only tell him about Nagato, but give him inside information on the Akatsuki.
Nagato smiled, "Here's the short version for you Uchiha, my team and I created Akatsuki to enact peace for the world. and no matter what you do," Nagato said as he swung his chainsaw arm through the water calmly, shooting a blade to Sasuke's right.
"You,"
"Won't"
"Ever"
"Stop me." Nagato said, accentuating every word with another blade of water that got closer and closer to the Sharingan user until the last one blew his cloak sideways across his frame, covering Sasuke's right arm which was holding his Kusarigama.
Sasuke smirked, 'I can still feel the seal, but its far off now. I just have to last against this guy.' He thought as his cloak began to settle, revealing his right arm once more.
Nagato raised an eyebrow, "That blade…so you are Reaping Hunter." Nagato assumed before walking towards Sasuke who was holding his scythe.
Sasuke crouched, letting his face be covered by the cloak and it's shadow completely but letting his Sharingan eyes glow as he began his strongest killer combination technique which he usually only used against multiple strong enemies.
Sasuke kept his thoughts to himself as he took action, 'VISUAL JUTSU: ILLUSIONARY CHARGE!'
Nagato saw Sasuke begin sprinting at him, 'Too stupid.' He thought as he ignored that Sasuke and calmly blocked Sasuke's real attack from above.
Sasuke's eyes widened, 'My chakra is in his system, so he hasn't dislodged my Genjutsu what the hell is going-'
"SHINRA TENSEI!"
Sasuke was blasted high into the air painfully, but he flipped around ready to attack again when he had to lift his scythe to defend the half effort attacks from Nagato.
Sasuke eternal Mangekyou Sharingan sparked to life, "AMATERASU!"
As if knowing it was coming, Nagato suddenly launched himself back with his gravity technique dodging the flames that began to burn ontop of the water.
Nagato tilted his head as he watched the black flames, 'Strange..' he thought as Sasuke formed a single hand seal.
"INFERNO STYLE: BURNING SPEAR!"
The flames made a cone like shape that shot straight at Nagato, who calmly raised a hand towards the flames and absorbed the chakra and flames harmlessly with his now normal arm.
Sasuke stared in shock as his strongest fire attack was just taken out completely, then Pein placed his hand on the water.
"SUMMONING JUTSU!"
A huge smoke cloud burst underwater before it rose out in patches, causing Sasuke to strain his Sharingan as he looked down at the large being, 'No way…those things aren't even real!' he thought as his eyes took in the large beast.
Simply put, Sasuke was suddenly face to face with a large water dragon, it wasn't an animal. It was similar to the water dragon jutsu but it was obviously alive.
The dragon rose up from underwater, letting Nagato stand calmly on it's head as he spoke, "I haven't summoned the elemental dragons in a while. You see, they are the only summoning I have that are in fact still alive." He started.
The dragon roared as Sasuke felt an unnoticeable pulse from the seal under his sleeve, 'Almost there, Ero-sensei…hold on.' Sasuke thought as the corresponding seal on Jiraiya left the signal range for this particular seal, which was about three quarters of the way across to the border of the Land of Fire.
Sasuke formed hand seals, 'Good thing this is freshwater and not saltwater…' he thought as he slammed his own hand down.
"SUMMONING JUTSU!"
*POOF*
A large blue toad that was slightly smaller than Gamaken appeared, holding a large shield with spikes all over it and a bladed edge.
Gamatoki looked over with his glaring gold eyes which narrowed, "Sasuke, this is an elemental dragon. I can't beat that bro." he said in a deep rumbling voice.
Sasuke nodded, "We aren't trying to beat it!" he yelled as Nagato began to rise higher in the air smirking, now flying with his gravity technique and not on the head of his summons.
Nagato let his arms relax by his side, "Have some fun." He said before closing one eye.
The dragon screamed before diving towards Gamatoki, who lifted his shield up as Sasuke slid down his arms forming seals to imitate the lightning jutsu he had scarred into his own shield.
"LIGHTNING STYLE: VOLTIC BEAM!"
The jutsu was enhanced by Gamatoki's shield and chakra that obliterated the water dragon instantly.
Sasuke leapt back up to his summon's head, "We just destroyed it!" he exclaimed.
Gamatoki shook his head, "No way, that thing can't be hurt if it's in contact with water. The only way to beat it is to separate it from the water and then destroy it's aqua form body, only then will we see the actual creature." He said as a whirlpool began to form in front of him, and from it rose the same dragon as before, though much larger.
Sasuke began forming seals, "Toki! The flash oil!" Sasuke ordered as he brought his hand to his lips.
Gamatoki nodded as it's cheeks bulged before Sasuke shouted, "FIRE STYLE: TOAD FLAME NAPALM!"
Gamatoki shot forth a tight ball of the blackest oil that was set alight with Sasuke's fireball, causing it to burn until meters before impact where it exploded violently right in the dragon's face.
Feeling chakra above him, Sasuke looked up to see Nagato flying past, 'No! he's going after sensei!' Sasuke thought as he quickly leapt up into the air, while moving his hands past his containment seals.
*POOF*POOF*
Nagato looked down as the weighted end of Sasuke's Kusarigama wrapped around his leg, 'This Uchiha is an idiot, I'm flying with a gravity technique, that weight is now weightless.' He thought as he kept flying without a hindrance.
Sasuke smirked as he pulsed chakra into the seal on his Kusa while doing the same with his Ocean Naginata, "WATER STYLE: WATER DRAGON! LIGHTNING STYLE: CHIDORI CURRENT!"
Nagato looked down at the water approaching him, 'Hm.' He merely thought as he held his arm downwards to absorb the technique.
But his concentration was disrupted as Sasuke's lightning surged through him, just before the dragon impacted with a boom.
*BOOM*
Sasuke pulled on his Kusa, trying to drag Nagato back towards him as Gamatoki jumped, still fighting off the summons of Nagato.
But from the cloud caused by the explosion, all Sasuke pulled out was a large summoned monkey.
Sasuke's eyes widened when suddenly, Nagato floated up from beneath his toad, stopping less than a meter away from him, 'Shit!'
"SHINRA TENSEI!"
Sasuke and Gamatoki were pushed far back, straight at the water dragon which was powering up some kind of water projectile.
It threw its head forward as it screamed, launching off the water projectile at high speeds.
Seeing the attack nearing them, Gamatoki took action, "Sasuke!" he yelled, moving to take the hit with his shield.
The impact stopped Gamatoki's momentum completely, allowing him to catch Sasuke with his free hand as the two landed.
Sasuke quickly jumped up to Gamatoki's head, he looked left and right with his Sharingan, 'Shit! They're on either side of us!' Sasuke thought before taking a deep breath.
"Toki, we gotta do it." Sasuke said.
Gamatoki frowned, "Alright, but for how long? We can't hold it together properly yet."
Sasuke felt outwards with his chakra, "Just a few more minutes. Not even five." He said as his eyes snapped open with his Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan.
"SUSANO'O: ARMOUR!"
##########
Chapter End.
Yeah….im an asshole, sorry about that.
Also, sorry about the lack of updates lately, I'm doing my best but I'm just finding it difficult with all my exams on and such.
Anyways, holidays soon, that (Hopefully) means I'll do multiple chapters over the next three weeks!
Only time will tell, please R&R.
Alky out!