Well I guess this means I updated, eh? 26 reviews so far for 2 chapters, thanks a million. That's very nice, I try to look back and see any questions you people ask. I think the current status of this story is it's in 24 favorites and 46 alerts. I finally got a beta reader, so for him he gets it a week earlier than you guys since I don't post till he replied to me about it.
A great thanks to demonic nargles, who's proof read this and the previous two chapters too!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any other form of references to any related copyrighted materials or works. I never did, obviously never will. Don't sue me; this is no copyright infringement. I mean, that's what disclaimer is for…
"Whoever you are, wherever you are…Thank you so much for inventing instant ramen!!"-Uzumaki Naruto, overdramatic but always one to appreciate the small things in life
Uchiha Sasuke knew just how far he could tread over the boundaries of Kakashi's patience. He didn't feel like he was doing it at the moment. He was far ahead of his team on the way back towards Konoha, though he kept his ears alert just in case Kakashi decided to call out for him to slow down. Sasuke had found someone, well, some people, actually, that he instinctively knew were very strong and naturally he wanted to seek them out and test their strengths against his own. Sasuke wanted to test his strength against that spiky haired one, and probably the rest. But that blonde was his main target.
"We'll stop here for a moment," Kakashi finally called, not that they couldn't catch up with him.
The Uchiha didn't say anything but he obeyed, jumping back to his team.
The silver haired Jounin looked up at the forest canopy above, where rays of sunlight were making their way through what little openings that the green leaves had, while Sai, Sakura, and Sasukestood, waiting. "We need a few things straight, which I don't think we can do while traveling. First off, Sai, Hokage-sama needs to be quickly informed," ordered Kakashi, with the said subordinate already beginning his work without further instructions or details."
The member of the ANBU 'Root' division took out a small scroll; however this time he didn't begin waving his brush around to draw an animal. Kakashi and the rest peered over to see him writing the cryptic message for their Godaime Hokage, just to be sure what exactly he had written down. After having it reviewed, proof read, and generally approved by Kakashi, Sai began to form his technique. He held out his hand in the shinobi finger pose, chakra invisibly moving out from his body and into the scroll as he begun to bring his work to life. The message written in black ink began to gather, raising itself out of the long roll of paper into the typical form that was his artistic eagle.
"Ninpo: Choujuu Giga (Super Beasts Imitation Picture)," stated Sai.
The eagle flapped its wings out of the long roll of paper, soaring up without delay into the sky, and towards Konohagakure as fast as it could.
"Now, we need to prepare ourselves just in case they had laid down traps to slow us down," Kakashi continued, "We can never be too careful as we all have learned just hours ago, right?"
The three young Leaf-nins didn't look like they needed the reminder. Kakashi still remembered that he was told to be wary and vigilant of Sai's presence and actions because Sai served under Danzou's orders.
"Shouldn't we start moving, Kakashi-sensei?" asked Sakura.
"Almost," answered Kakashi.
The Jounin contemplated for a moment, he didn't want to appear conspicuous to them when they would encounter the awaiting obstacles in Naruto's plan. Things might go too smoothly, raising suspicions which he obviously didn't want. He pressed his forefinger's nail onto the healing cut that was on his thumb hard enough to spill out the necessary blood, and for the second time of the day he had summoned Pakkun. The dog seemed solemn as ever.
The pink haired kunoichi thought back to the events in Rakan Lake, "How come we were using Pakkun now to look out for their traps, but not when we could've use him to pursue them from the lake?"
Sai and Sasuke looked like they could use with the explanation too. Kakashi didn't look like he was going to answer, however expected better from the smartest kunoichi of her class and apprentice of the Godaime Hokage. The sudden look of realization on her face told him that she just figured out why.
""Wait, because they're in enemy territory, ours, they might have to be more careful of their surroundings in case they run into any patrolling ANBU or any Leaf-nin for that matter, so if they would have to avoid any confrontations. So it's only now that they might start deviating from a straight line towards Konohagakure," said Sakura out loud.
"Right, but that's not all. Because this time we're on the right track, we're on the direct route back to Konoha which should be the very route they're taking. The possibility of any traps could be put to our benefit. Their traps could be put to our advantage if they are any, since they can be used as something Pakkun here can refer to. If not, they would at least spend some time in laying down for us to catch up," added Kakashi.
"Either way, it is our advantage," stated Sai.
"Why are we still standing here?" scoffed Sasuke as he jumped off. He wasn't bothered or relieved of such facts, because they were nothing but mere possibilities.
Sai followed with Kakashi, Sakura, and Pakkun following behind them with nothing more to be said. If there were any, may be they would have to talk while moving since the point of stopping was to send out the messenger bird and summoning Pakkun.
"I've said it once, I'll say it again, Kakashi. It's like we can practically smell the tension in the air," muttered Pakkun as the ninja dog looked at the back of the three young Leaf-nins.
"I know," replied Kakashi with a little mirth, thinking about the jovial look on Naruto's face back when he explained how the plan would go with Kakashi included.
How that blonde shinobi seemed to radiate excitement by his voice and presence, the stupid glances, serious look, frowns, and smiles they would trade with one another and yet somehow getting the plan altogether. He would admit those four mysterious shinobis were really something... Unknown to him, Jiraiya and his own team never did waste any time when it came to setting up traps. Minato could set up traps every now and then and simply teleported back by his team's side using the Hiraishin no Jutsu. Where as Naruto could just make dozens upon dozens of his shadow clones setting up many traps all around as they continued on, and have them dispel themselves when they're finished.
Sakura absently spared a look to her right, finally decided to pop out the question, "Kakashi-sensei, I've never really heard or come across anything about this so called 'Land of Whirlpool' before…So I've been wondering if you might know anything about it?"
This brought the attention of Sasuke and Sai, being within ear shot, but still maintained their distance from one another and their pace all the same.
"No, I've never heard of such place until yesterday for the first time in my life," answered Kakashi honestly, this time he didn't have to think carefully what he would have to lie or say.
She looked at Sai, reluctantly wondered if she should ask one of the palest people she ever knew had any sort of info about them. She admitted defeat, "What do you think, Sai?"
Surprising, he had something to say, "Land of Whirlpool, the closest thing I can guess is that somehow it could be tied to the Land of Mist."
This definitely had Sasuke's attention.
"The Hidden Mist Village, also known as the Bloody Mist Village, has a grim history from its very beginning. Their greed, lust, anxiety, excitement and other are examples of unnecessary human emotions of such village eventually become one of the leading factors to the existence of the Hidden Rain and the Hidden Waterfall," continued on Sai, remembering the lessons of human emotions and shinobi history.
"Okay…" Sakura was perplexed for a moment, taking in what information she can and making sense out of it.
"He could have a point there," agreed Kakashi, who did have such thoughts, though he thought that those four ninjas' behaviors were complete opposites of the typical Mist-nins. They were, however, just as difficult to deal with as ninja from Mist.
"How come they just don't join other neighboring villages?" asked Sakura.
"They did, some of them at least," answered Kakashi, "But most thought they are better off setting up their own village."
"Land of Whirlpool, Land of Whirlpool, Land of Whirlpool," repeated Sakura, as if somehow she could remember anything about it. "It's so frustrating, I wish I could just pummel that guy right now and ask if he's bluffing or not,"
"Relax, let's just concentrate on getting back home as fast as we can, hopefully this mission hasn't become a total failure," said Kakashi.
"But what if it's real?"
"The Hidden Sound was established just years ago, Sakura," said Kakashi, "It's not much of a surprise that another shinobi village would exist without us knowing. In the end, even it's true, we just have to make a decision whether they're our enemies or not,"
A treaty made with Kumogakure in the end had turned out to be nothing more but a facade. The short treaty with Sunagakure was not much, they pulled out of the treaty just before the Chuunin exam in which was the very first Sasuke, Sai, and Sakura attended. The attack by Otogakure was unexpected, to their surprise when it turned out that Orochimaru established it with its main purpose to destroy Konoha.
"But still…" Sakura decided to need concentrate o more important matters.
She'd heard about Team 7's reputation, being one of the teams of their generation expected to go beyond the distance. Sai, Sasuke, and Sakura, how they were all better known as Team S rather than Team 7 nowadays. Sai, trained under Danzou's strict and observed program of the 'Root', technically a branch from the ANBU division. Who could forget Sasuke? The Uchiha prodigy that had trained for two and half years under the infamous S Class missing-nin Orochimaru, as to what people assumed was treachery just like his older brother. Then there was her, Haruno Sakura, apprentice of the Godaime Hokage. To be one of the brightest, most talented medic-nin of such young age to ever appear in the Hidden Leaf's history. The three under the supervision and guidance of the Man of a Thousand Jutsu, Hatake Kakashi who is rated as an S Class shinobi in other villages' bingo books.
Team S, simply 'special'.
For the first time after what she knew had been four years ever since Umino Iruka had announced the names for Team 7, they finally got taken by surprise by some unknown shinobi.
"We'll get them, I know we can," Sakura nodded with renewed determination, she hoped she could really fix this mistake.
Kakashi knew they could reach Konoha by shortly after midnight, though he very well knew that it wasn't likely. They continued on jumping tree to tree as fast as their feet could carry them at their best pace. Team 7 was barely taking rest stops anywhere during the journey, except when Kakashi would order so, though few stops were usually more for Sakura's benefit. Thinking back why they had settled in meeting at Rakan Lake happened which happened to be just near the borders of Land of Fire, the distance of it and the Hidden Leaf Village was a day should any average shinobi travel nonstop.
Sasuke contemplated on an entirely different issue as of that moment, wondering what exactly the supposed topic was if they had really gone through with the meeting. Both Kakashi and Tsunade hadn't debriefed any of them about it, only about capturing them, not even Sakura knew about it despite her close relations with the Hokage. His guesses were only that it may be had something to do with his brother. Unknown to him, Sai was actually wondering the same thing, except he was thinking of what threat it might be to Danzou.
It was somewhere close in the afternoon, when the precaution of summoning Pakkun finally paid off.
"Wait! I smell something!" called out the small nin-dog.
All five of them came to an abrupt halt, and watched as Pakkun took several sniffs as the he slowly moved around and jumped forward on one branch. Kakashi followed, using his own keen sense of smell, the ninja dog and its owner looked up in searching what the supposed trap was. Kakashi leaned slightly forward with his head up, taking a look with one visible eye, and had found it. Sasuke, Sai, and Sai did just that, trying to find what the two were looking at.
It was an explosive seal, not too big or too small, but plastered on the underside of a branch which its leaves enough to obscure most it from view.
Pakkun pointed out, even though Team 7 couldn't really see it, "There are six of them,"
"A six point barrier seal," concluded Kakashi thoughtfully, still looking at the intricate seals written all over the plastered paper. 'Usually a four or a five point would be enough…'
A type of Ninjutsu trap set to explode when an intended target or targets have walked deep enough into it before the whole thing would explode.
"They're carefully hidden," noted Kakashi even further, even a competent Jounin could've missed that seal tagged under that branch.
"Looks like it, one of them is hidden near a bird's nest," commented Pakkun, as if waiting for further orders from his master.
"They took their time, just like you said they would," stated Sai.
"There's going to be no difference if we just stand here doing nothing," muttered Sasuke, the Uchiha opted to jump up further away from their supposed route.
"Now who said I allowed you to move?"
At the same moment they heard that voice and Sasuke's left hand grabbed on a branch, five shurikens spun out towards him like a triggered trap, surprising everyone, even Kakashi himself. Sasuke swiftly pulled out his chokuto in mid swing, deflecting every single of those cold steel projectiles with a flurry of slashes as metal against refined crafted blade. Instead of letting go of his grip where he'd supposedly swing himself forward, he continued to arch up and land on top of the very branch. Sakura heard that cocky tone again, though this time she heard it a different recognized voice.
The voice was different, but definitely recognizable. In fact, it sounded like-
Kakashi looked down from above Sasuke, Sakura, Sai, Pakkun, and Kakashi while he lightly shook his head like he was in disappointment, "One of these days, that attitude of yours is going to get yourself killed, Sasuke-chan,"
Sasuke senses that the real Kakashi right below him hadn't made a single step as he was next to Pakkun. There were now two Kakashi, one of them apperared to have tried to attack the young Uchiha.
"What? It's like you looking at a ghost or something. Aaargh! An impostor!" exclaimed the fake Kakashi up on the tree before pointing at the real Kakashi.
For the first time since Pakkun could ever remember using his keen sense of smell, they had just been ambushed by the enemy. Which could only had happened if this shinobi somehow could just appear out of nowhere. The pug dog took a good sniff of the impostor, taking in his smell for future references as such. His smell had been all over the place, as if his body would actually give off a strong scent.
"You're late," said the fake Kakashi, "I guess you can tell I'm the imposter because I'm the one who's actually been waiting for you people to come, eheh heh heh,"
"Whoever he is, he's the one that set up all the traps," pointed out Pakkun, that fact didn't exactly need to be pointed out.
Sakura was hearing her 'Jounin instructor' chuckling, very much different than in those rare occasions where he would while reading from one of those smutty novels of his. Kakashi would have given all the Ryo in his wallet right now as to who exactly was under the henge. He guessed that Naruto would be the one doing the stalling despite not really knowing who exactly it would be.
One eye finally had a close personal look of the young members of Team 7, unlike that moon lighting last night, small pictures, or spied on from a safe distance. The fake Kakashi had to admit, that the shinobi by the name Sai could really use a change of wardrobe, as this really meant something when a fashion remark coming from a guy like himself.
Uchiha Sasuke, in the green Konoha vest with its many custom pockets all around, though unlike Kakashi he had dark blue short sleeves with the Uchiha fan crest on each them. Reminiscent as to how all the previous Uchiha clan members wore in the police force. He had a belt around his waist, more so for to when he could position his chokuto's scabbard just like that purple rope like belt he had back when he was in Hidden Sound. Unlike the rest, he also didn't have the shuriken holster. As for that moment, the blood limit Doujutsu, glaring in red and black, was naturally activated in response as Sasuke had finally taken a good look of his attacker.
"He's mine," declared Sasuke, with his chokuto readied.
"But Sasuke-kun," said Sakura worriedly in reaction, every time her teammate would act like that.
"Don't say things like that, it kinda makes you sound like you're gay, you know," Naruto seemed oblivious to the threat, still with the sense of playfulness in the air, "Well at least you didn't say something like 'I won't forget what happened last night,' or something like that."
As serious as the whole atmosphere was suppose to be, Pakkun actually himself subconsciously suppressing laughter deep down despite the joke coming from an enemy, henged in the form of his master.
"Go ahead without me," pressed on Sasuke, just wanting everyone else gone.
"You know I can't do that, Sasuke," replied Kakashi, jumping his way from tree to tree before landing right next to him.
"It seems you've forgotten, Sasuke, you are by any means not to be left unsupervised even if the gravest of situations," reminded Sai as he too jumped next to Sasuke's side.
"I don't have time for your bullshit right now, Sai," glared Sasuke, moving his Sharingan eyes only briefly before he looked back at the person he supposed was Naruto. "We're wasting time, again,"
"You know what, I think we should all sit together and discuss what our plans are," said the imposter.
In the Kakashi henge, Kakashi could only think that Naruto was just really mocking him, especially when Naruto started to idly scratch his butt.
The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki knew they were looking for an opening, a chance for them to strike out at the right moment. Sasuke was practically holding onto his chokuto. He was going to find out just how good they were, just as they were going to find out how good he was.
Naruto shrugged, "Since you wasted my time, I think its fair I get to waste yours."
Three lions, Sai's drawings of those usually set up as statues, had lunged out behind Naruto in a surprise attack from what Sai had assessed was his opening. Lunging out onto their target like it was an unsuspecting prey, their fangs and claws were ready to inflict injury as deadly as Sai would permit. Naruto spun around, only to watch as the lions hit their mark with biting him on his right shoulder while the other two on his arms as he fell down on his back to the hard uneven branch. Sasuke knew it wasn't going to be that easy, not one bit, if it was then it would be a large disappointment. His wonderings were answered when he heard that all too familiar smoky explosion, coming from the immobilized shinobi that was under all three artistic beasts. The bloody Kakashi was replaced with a human sized log, the product of the Kawarimi no Jutsu.
Naruto, still in his Kakashi disguise, had swiftly positioned himself to stand upside down under a different branch after performing the kawarimi. This time having a view of the backside of Team 7's members, Sakura was still standing on the ground this time with Pakkun by her feet, Kakashi and Sai probably wondering he went.
"Eh?" Naruto realized that Sasuke wasn't where he thought he would be.
Once again Naruto was under attack, one visible eye against the Sharingan with the missing Uchiha was now moving in with the chokuto in both hands in a thrusting attack to what he knew was a nonfatal spot. A direct frontal attack unlike the previous one which sneaky attack from behind him. This time it was one on one, not three on one. It was man to man, not man against beasts. So many things happened at that moment. The chokuto was cutting in deep into what Sasuke knew was flesh, the Sharingan watching on as he felt a small gush of blood from the wound splatter slightly in his face. Meanwhile Naruto's feet was no longer sticking to the underside of a branch, both shinobi seemed to be moving further in midair as a result from the force of Sasuke hitting Naruto.
Unlike Sai and Kakashi who hadn't seen it, Sakura had watched the whole thing. Somehow, she had turned to where Sasuke had apparently moved with his Shunshin no Jutsu, right when the Uchiha had disappeared from her view. It wasn't that she could keep up with his fast Shunshin no Jutsu, but somehow she just happened to find where Sasuke was. She saw it, despite knowing that Kakashi was not the real Kakashi.
The sight of Sasuke stabbing into 'Kakashi' deep down scared her.
"Sasuke-kun," whispered Sakura, cringed at such horrid thoughts, it didn't help at all when actually it worsened when all of them watched as black blood started to gush out from Naruto.
Kakashi didn't expect things to turn out like this, wondering if it was part of the plan or perhaps Sasuke really did took him by surprise. Something was wrong, "What the…?"
All present Leaf shinobi, human or summoning, were transfixed by the sight of the black blood.
Pakkun was right next to Sakura, and was looking up to Sasuke with the pierced Kakashi in disguise.
The wounded impostor exploded into smoke once more just like it did when Sai's lions had attacked him, thus leaving Sasuke with another failed attack. Naruto had performed the Kawarimi no Jutsu again, but this time he didn't use a log as a replacement. Sasuke stared with slight shock as he found himself with his chokoto in one of Sai's lions, which revealed the black blood as nothing more than ink. The Uchiha prodigy senses once again tried to locate Naruto's location just like he did a few moments ago when Naruto had performed the kawarimi against Sai's lions.
"Above you," called out Naruto as he was mid air, on top of him just like he said he was.
Sasuke looked up, only to feel Naruto holding onto his Konoha forehead protector and pulling it off the Uchiha's head. Doing a double flip as he was about to land down, he deflected Sasuke's thrown shurikens using Sasuke's own forehead protector in one hand, a kunai in the other, and maneuvering his body as much as he could. Naruto took notice of the cut near his left forearm made by one of Sasuke's shurikens.
"Wow, you really got me there, well, almost," commented Naruto as he seemingly took no notice of Team 7, he glanced at Sasuke's forehead protector, "I guess this little souvenir is worth the trouble."
Despite under the henge, his real clothes underneath would've taken the same effect, cut just the same.
Sakura was surprised to find that Naruto was suddenly standing two feet behind them; somehow he managed to get so close to her without her knowing. Pakkun faced the fake Kakashi again, the dog admitted that this guy was very fast but that still hadn't explained how he could have just come out of nowhere the first time. Instead of everyone's thought that Sakura would be leaping away from the unexpected presence of the enemy so close to her, she however turned to face him with a fist loaded with large amounts of greatly controlled chakra just ready to explode upon release. Team 7 finally got to see what the mysterious shinobi's skill for their very first time. Naruto's head tilted out of the fist's path, his left hand caught her by her wrist, turned it around to locking her arm securely behind her back, and slammed her down to the ground.
The next thing they knew, Sakura was immobilized flat down on the ground with Naruto sitting on her back, her current positioned didn't look to comfortable. More specifically, he was sitting down on the medic-nin's right hand that was behind her back, his weight bearing down on her to secure any movement. His left foot down on her left hand, her chin set down to the grassy ground with his left hand on her head.
Naruto mused, "Damn, if you guys keep attacking me like this then I'll just have to report for insubordination,"
Pakkun bared his fangs, as if trying to tell Naruto that he's right there.
"Okay, how about a little trade? I'll let her go, but all you have to stay here with me and we have a little talk," suggested Naruto.
Sai, Sasuke, and Kakashi looked at Naruto as if he had just grown another head, Sakura could only hear him. Naruto withdrew the kunai that had been close to Sakura's neck just to prove that he's serious.
"Enough with that henge, we know it's you," said Sasuke, his grip on the chokuto tightened.
"Meh, of course you do, so what?" replied Naruto in his most obvious casual tone in Kakashi's voice, which just didn't match to Kakashi's own anymore. "But it doesn't mean much, what do you know about me?"
Sasuke and Sai glanced at Kakashi, waiting what he had to do or anything about this situation seeing as he hadn't done anything at all.
To them, Naruto seem to take their silence as agreement to his proposal, "I was wondering, how can you look so pale when you wearing that?"
The question was directed to Sai obviously, a guy who bares his midriff for everyone to see, how his left sleeve was actually long, but his right sleeve being short.
"You've losing," said Sai, that statement coming out of nowhere.
"Say what?" asked Naruto in confusion, even Sakura tried to look up and look at the pale Leaf-nin.
Sakura was just as confused but worried at the same time too since Sai's perception to judge people was a subject very questionable. He thinks he knows a few things about emotions, but he's actually good at reading human behaviors, what actions seem to be emitting what, though not exactly why. She just hoped that Sai wouldn't mess things up to a point of her losing her own life. If it did, may be she'll try to find somehow to return from dead, and kill him herself.
"You won't hurt her because you can't," said Sai as he took out his short blade, the weapon that looked like a straight blade with a flat edge instead of the curving end like Sasuke's chokuto or any other blade for that matter.
Naruto didn't move the kunai that was in his hand.
Sai actually leapt down branch to branch, landing on the ground as if he hadn't heard Naruto's threat. No words were exchanged or said, Sai went straight at Naruto without the slightest worry of Naruto slitting Sakura's throat, not that he would ever take it into consideration at an emotional level. Naruto had retreated off Sakura in dodging all of the attacks, backing away to a safe distance from the pale shinobi, the medic-nin, and the ninja dog just as Sai thought he would.
But Sai didn't stop to even check on his teammate, merely continuing on his dodged attacks as if he hoped that one of them would eventually get Naruto.
"Here I thought you were actually on to something," commented Naruto.
The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki grabbed hold onto Sai's head with one hand, and the member of Root's vision was currently obscured by fingers that shot out from nowhere. He felt Naruto's fingers gripping firmly, feeling them on his cheekbones and just over his forehead protector. How he couldn't feel his feet on the ground, because Naruto was just thrown him away like he was a rag doll. Sai did not crashed into anything since Kakashi had come down and caught him before he could have hit a tree that was twenty feet behind him.
They didn't expect the fake Kakashi exploding in smoke a third time, though this time it was no kawarimi. Naruto stood there after all the smoke had cleared away, having dispelled his henge, clear for everyone to see. Under the moon's lighting last night and observing them while in hiding, Sakura didn't get a very clear picture of the shinobis. But never thought she had ever seen anyone with blonde hair as bright of his, Ino's hair was blonde but not that yellow. She noticed the whisker like tattoos, that's what she thought they were, though it was a 'ninja thing' to have kind of mark or tattoo on the face. The cut on his long sleeve remained, though he didn't think it mattered.
"Still think I can't hurt you?" Naruto smirked at the Konoha Jounin, "Nice catch, Kakashi,"
"We have to do something, Kakashi-sensei," said Sakura, her serious yet worried tone simply said it all. "May be we do have to split, Sasuke will have go with you while I stay here with Sai. I mean who knows where the rest of them are right now,"
"There are still three more out there," reminded Sai.
Sasuke didn't like hearing the words 'go' and 'stay' used in that sentence, while Kakashi knew just how frustrating yet serious it was for Sakura to resort to teaming with Sai.
"No, you two go ahead," Sasuke contemplated, the best solution for him would be the plan going the other way around. "That dope is mine,"
"Dope? Hey, is that how you talk to your seniors?" Naruto seemed to be affronted by the name.
Team 7 was distracted by Naruto's word, because apparently they had just learned something about him. This was a bit off, with Naruto being their enemy, the question of respect and rudeness, and such. Kakashi didn't know exactly how old Naruto was, but he had a feeling that Naruto was slightly taller than his subordinates when they were in each other's presence. So Naruto is older than them, the Jounin could only guess that he may be older by a year, two, or three years at most.
"As rare as it is, this isn't the time for you and your petty ego, Sasuke. You have fallen right into his obvious provocations from the beginning," said Sai.
Sasuke lightly glared at Sai from the corner of his eyes, how he wanted to use his Sharingan to just make this shinobi sweat by calling out the smallest feelings of fear he had. But then he still remembered those strict warning by Kakashi, the Hokage, and the village council about doing that. The Uchiha usually ignored the stupid weirdo and his stupid quotes just had it always been over the years, but it would bother him if he actually got in his way.
"Kakashi," Sasuke sought out the Leaf Jounin's opinion and orders, not once did he ever call him with the term of respect.
The short word made Kakashi consider all the possible and available options he could think of, which surprisingly was a lot. A problem when it comes to Sasuke and Sai, let's not forget the village's orders. The two were like oil and water as one of them would probably just stand back while watching the other get killed. He can't pair Sasuke with Sai should he and Sai go on, or they go on while he and Sai stayed. That fact had been established, even if they did, the two would probably just stand back while watching the other get killed. But in this case, there was no chance or threat of anybody getting killed here, well may be Naruto needs to know how capable Sasuke can be. Then again, he didn't know just what exactly Naruto was capable of.
"Sasuke is right. Sakura, Sai, you two go on with Pakkun, we'll try to catch up as soon as we can," said Kakashi, "Sasuke and I will handle him, with the best option would be us catching him for interrogation."
"And the worst would be both of you turning up dead," added Naruto, he looked at Sakura.
"Just go," said Sasuke, without looking at any of his teammates, looking at Naruto the whole time.
"Be careful, Sasuke-kun," said Sakura, hoping something wouldn't go wrong as they usually would when it comes to Sasuke.
Pakkun was already waiting, Sai and Sakura was turning away from Naruto and about to move on.
Several more shurikens stuck into the ground where their feet would have been if they had taken another step. For Pakkun's case, a pair of twin edged kunai had struck just inches away from his frontal paws.
Naruto was perched on a tree, twirling a kunai in his finger, "Now where do you think you're going?"
Pakkun's sharp sense of smell detected something, just as Kakashi and Sasuke watched Naruto standing before them while his voice coming far behind them. Now there were two of them, two Naruto, on both sides.
'A clone?' thought up Kakashi, though he didn't knew which one would that be, "Pakkun, where-"
"He came out of nowhere, Kakashi, just like that one," answered the summoning without having to hear the full question, "I should've picked up his scent from wherever it supposed to be,"
Kakashi knew the capabilities
Kakashi looked around to see the other Naruto with his one eyed Sharingan, getting a full view of the human chakra coils through out his body which very much confirmed a few things the Jounin needed to be checked.
"Kage Bunshin," muttered Pakkun, this clone or whichever of the two were, as they actually had a human smell.
The very same distinct smell a person would actually give out, these two giving off the same smell obviously cleared the slightest chance of a different person being under a henge. The Bunshin techniques can be categorized into two groups, the first one being that involving a certain element. Whether they are made from a combination of anything with chakra: earth and chakra, water and chakra, ink and chakra, or completely made out of chakra but the chakra had been converted into that very element like the Moku Bunshin (Wood Clone). The first group of Bunshin composed of chakra and a natural element was easy to detect.
The second group ranged to many levels, many areas, though mostly were just as distinguishable seeing as they were completely made up and composed of chakra. The typical Bunshin, standard Genin technique; not even solid, there no mass, any contact would simply just throw it off, just chakra in the formation of its original. Then there's the Oboro Bunshin and Kasumi Bunshin, the techniques Sasuke, Sai, and Sakura encountered when they obtained the Heaven Scroll from the Rain-nins. One being liquid like, weak yet seemingly to retain back their shape, and yet unable to actually do anything but pose as a distraction. The Rain-nins throwing their kunai and shurikens while in hiding, seeing as the clones couldn't actually attack but pretend that they were to fool Sai, Sasuke and Sakura. Then there was the clone that couldn't do anything, it couldn't even move the slightest, yet anything passes right through them.
Then there was the Kage Bunshin, one of the most mysterious clones there is, a forbidden technique. With its great characteristics unlike the other clones, even division of chakra from the original, capable of its own thoughts, and most of all it's the real thing. Complete flesh, bones, and blood. For Pakkun, it was able to give a scent, a human scent. It was a type of clone that not many knew of the extent of its capabilities.
One of the most commonly used and versatile techniques that Naruto had in his arsenal. After all, nobody in the world can beat Naruto when it comes to performing Kage Bunshin. Be it how long or how many he can make.
Team 7 looked back and forth between the two Naruto, though they didn't seem to be disturbed or care about it.
The newly arrived Naruto scoffed, "What? You expect us to start pointing fingers and say who the real one is?" "
"I think we can let them pass," said the other Naruto.
Naruto looked at himself, "We can?"
The members of Team 7 turned they had their attention of the Naruto that had been delaying them the whole time.
"I got off her," Naruto smiled at Sakura, and then he looked at Sasuke, "We had our talk right, but it would've been better if you didn't call me dope,"
Sasuke remained silent.
"Okay, okay, you don't have to cry, I'll give your headband back," said Naruto before he threw the said object to Sasuke. The Uchiha caught it with nothing said, but he didn't put it back on.
The Uchiha then glared at the other Naruto, he wasn't sure which one was the clone, but he knew one method to find out.
That particular Naruto then looked at Sasuke, he asked, "What?"
With that said, Sasuke's left hand surged in crackling electric blue chakra in which he quickly swung in one wave. Needles upon needles, composed of lightning based chakra, shot out much quicker than the speed of any shurikens the genius prodigy could throw. Those needles struck Naruto in the chest, and there was no kawarimi because he turned to stare down at the needles.
Naruto slowly looked back at Sasuke, "I think your Sharingan can do a better Genjutsu than that, Sasuke,"
To everyone else, besides Naruto and Sasuke, nothing had happened but they knew what had happened when that Naruto said the word 'Genjutsu'.
It was the first time Naruto actually saw Sasuke's lip curve slightly into a smile, well he counted it as a smile thinking the Uchiha would scowled whenever he's awake.
"You're a clone, dope," said Sasuke.
"The genius finally gets a point for Team Kakashi," replied Naruto.
The other Naruto took a step forward, "You're probably wondering if I'm a clone too,"
In Sakura's opinion, this guy just can't stop to be so full of himself, "You expect us just to leave you here and keep on going to stop your friends?"
"Whoa, she's angry," noted the Naruto on the other side, he asked his other self, "What'd you do to her again?"
Sakura jumped, the rest of Team 7 caught on as to what she was about to do when they saw her with a raised fist. Kakashi, Sai, Sasuke, and Pakkun jumped up just a split second as Sakura's fist struck down to the ground. With that, the ground changed completely as a result of the superhuman strength that passed down from the Godaime Hokage to the pink haired medic-nin. The correct angle of her fist that struck the ground, and how much chakra she had concentrated and released, she had reduced the one flat land into the many uneven chunks of earth all the way pass the locations where the two Naruto once stood. Trees all around the affected area were shifted as they tilted to some extent in random angles, seeing as their many deep roots had anchored them firmly to the ground and keep them standing.
The kunoichi had kept her eyes to one of the two Naruto the entire time, because she always loved taking a good look of the startled faces of her enemies when they witnessed her strength.
She got what she wanted, how those blue eyes of his seem to widen just as she had expected, how he seem to be caught off balance from the greatly shifted earth beneath his two feet. Either he'd fell off his feet down the tilted piece of earth or he would fallen in between two of them should the cracks surged between his feet.
Despite the clear odd angle where Naruto should have fallen down, he didn't.
"I guess this is the part where everything is supposed to turn in your favor," said Naruto, he had maintained his balance by sticking on the ground using chakra, "Or…everything goes completely wrong when I finally decide to show my technique."
Then Sakura saw Naruto vanished.
There had been no swirling of the wind, no melting down into the ground, or disappear bit by bit into the thin air. No blurs, no kick of a dust and dirt from very fast movement like Lee or Gain would. No movement, nothing. No form of anything of any kind when he just vanished right before her very eyes. Sakura moved around, catching sight of the other Naruto just in the corner of her eyes when he too just vanished. Sasuke and Kakashi saw it happened with their Sharingan, and wondered how the two went, pretty much assured that no way could that be a Shunshin no Jutsu.
Team 7 remained there for several minutes to figure out what just happened, with no one to stop them, at least for the moment.
Change of scenery
"Wow," said one Naruto, he looked at the other.
"I know, she sure can pack a mean punch," replied another one.
The two Naruto looked at another Naruto as he was sitting on the branch that they were standing on, down with his back against the tree bark. On the bark of the tree, there was another seal tag, whereas his head was resting against it the whole time he had set down at the spot.
"That was quick," wondered Naruto who was sitting down, he had been kept himself busy by playing with his yoyo again.
The Naruto clone that had been with Team 7 that whole time dispelled himself in a puff of smoke, all the experience and knowledge he had obtained was no relayed to the original Naruto and the other clone. His hand grabbed on to the returning yoyo as he took in the information he just obtained, things went on more than he expected it would. He looked at his clone, giving him the same sneaky grin that he had on his face right now.
"I wonder what they'll do next," thought the Naruto clone, "about the other traps just waiting for them,"
With that said, he too disappeared, leaving Naruto all alone as he had been while Asami, Kabuto, and Jiraiya proceeded on with their journey to Konohagakure. He wondered the same thing the clone had said, seeing as they were dozens upon dozens of more traps just waiting for Team 7. They can try avoiding them, but trying to every one of those traps would take the same or probably time. He wondered how long they'd keeping on avoiding if they chose to do so. Then again, those traps aren't something they can try passing through. Even if they did, he would send another shadow clone at them to keep in check with their progress. Naruto whirled his yoyo down again, before he noticed that Kakashi was on the move again. He smiled, this time thinking about the perks of his Kage Bunshin and his father's Hiraishin no Jutsu.
Six point barrier seals, well they were suppose to trick people into thinking that and apparently Kakashi thought that too. There was never a sixth seal, but that was something Naruto intend to keep from any other shinobi knowing about it.
"I really could use a cup of ramen right about now," said Naruto, though no one else heard.
Change of scenery, Konohagakure
The yellow sun was nearing the horizon turning a shade of red, orange, and yellow altogether marking the approaching darkness of the night, sunset was just minutes away. The Hidden Leaf Village's high concrete walls stood firm with the change of its Leaf-nins as the many of them switched shifts for the day. Some would walk down at their leisure pace back to the village while others would jump their way back home. The same way goes for how the other Leaf-nins had turned up for their guarding duties when they went to their posts. Morino Ibiki was one of them, just about to start his shift of the day seeing as no he had no interrogation for the day. The heavily scarred face veteran, head of the interrogation unit, came walking in with his hands in the black coat he wore. Unknown to him, Sai's eagle had flown into the village and was heading towards the Hokage Office. The bird had plenty more chakra before it would seem to disappear in a mess of splotch of ink. Flapping its wings whenever necessary just like any other eagle would, the bird soared lower.
Tsunade, the Godaime Hokage, had decided to take a break from her work seeing as she was relaxing on a three seat couch. Her dark brown eyes was staring all four frames on the wall, each of the Hokage in the Leaf's history. She remembered through the whole point in time from when she had taken the seat of Hokage. One way or another, all the Hokage had some kind of bond with her. The Shodai Hokage was her grandfather, the fore founders of the village with the great ability to perform Mokuton Ninjutsu. His legacy had taken root till this day and would continue on, she had given everything from then and always would to the day a Leaf-nin would become the Rokudaime Hokage. Followed by the Nidaime Hokage, the Shodai's brother which meant that he was her great uncle. A master of Suiton Ninjutsu, to the extent of being able to create a great mass of water using nothing more but his chakra. The Sandaime Hokage, who was her teacher from her Genin days, was also the oldest shinobi to reign as Hokage in history. He was hailed as 'The God of all Shinobi' and 'The Professor' because of his great knowledge of all the techniques within the Leaf Village. That fact could very well make him one of the most intelligent shinobi in the village's history.
"For a genius, you sure make big mistakes, Sarutobi," said Tsunade, thinking about the old man.
She was looking at the Yondaime's picture when she heard several quick hard knocks on the door, and she knew it was most probably her assistant Shizune. Most likely to remind her of the last remaining work of the day, with the hard knocks usually meant to check on her whether if she was drunk or asleep.
Tsunade grimaced, the thought of her break ending, "Just come in, Shizune, I'm not drunk,"
Shizune came in, the door opened in haste, though she didn't walk in, "Tsunade-sama! It's Team Kakashi,"
"What? They're back already?" Tsunade was quite astonished if they were indeed returned from their mission.
"No, not yet, they sent report ahead by a messenger bird," Shizune tried to keep herself from panicking, not that she could exactly determine the extent of the issue. "The mission's a failure, they couldn't capture their target."
That was a surprise coming from such team; Tsunade grimaced even further to the possible plans of learning anything about that treacherous Orochimaru as they were going up in smoke. She wasn't too worried about it because there are far more important missions than that; this mission's failure wasn't too much severe. If they're able to send a messenger, Sai's without a doubt, then they must be doing fine or it must be urgent. She didn't understand why Shizune was still agitated, and it seemed that her assistant wasn't finished.
"There's more, it said that they're sure the targets are now coming this way. They're on their way Tsunade-sama; both the targets with Team Kakashi chasing after them."
Despite the lack of details, Tsunade got up when she understood this could mean a direct threat to the village.
"I want to see this message myself," requested Tsunade.
"Its right here," Shizune brought out the piece of paper with the message. When it came to Sai's method, they didn't need to bother themselves in deciphering secret codes just to obtain the message. The chakra fused ink wouldn't revert to the message until it's reached the intended receiver.
The two kunoichi left the room, Shizune had closed the door before she'd quickly followed behind Tsunade who was reading the message as she walked through the corridor.
It was somewhat mystifying, the news about Kakashi and his team came in just when Tsunade was looking at the picture of the Yondaime Hokage. He was the only Hokage that wore a face mask, very unique in terms of appearance. While he was the youngest Leaf-nin to ever receive the title 'Hokage', His reign as a Hokage was the shortest in the Leaf's history. That and the fact that his period as a Kage was the shortest of any Kage of the five great countries, as he valiantly died in battle. The longest reign so far was the Sandaime Mizukage, who still continues to remain in power in Kirigakure. He had unruly silver hair, which looked even messier without his headband on as none of the Hokage wore their headband when they had their picture taken. Give him a scar and the Sharingan in his left eye; he'd look like a certain person.
The Yondaime Hokage, Hatake Sakumo, also known as the Konoha White Fang. He was a student of the Sandaime Hokage, one of the Sannin, and father of Hatake Kakashi.
Change of Scenery
The shadow of the hero memorial stone moved, as the whole altar could actually serve as a sundial. The list of various shinobi that were considered as heroes could be found etched onto such stone. Not too far away, stood three poles to which many Genins have been tied to by their Jounin instructors. There was also a river passing through the plain field, trees abundant all around. It was a place that was ideal to be a training ground for shinobi.
A toad jumped out of the river.
The amphibian looked left and right, croaking for several seconds as it jumped around. It finally opened its mouth wide after it was satisfied that there wasn't any human presence around. The Toad Hermit, Jiraiya, came out of his summoning despite the sheer difference in size and logic. Well, ninja always did seem to defy logic when Ninjutsu came into existent, though tailed beasts defied such things long before that.
Jiraiya walked away as the toad began to grow in size, what was a normal sized toad seconds ago was currently the size of shack. It opened its mouth again, unlike their mentor who looked like he squeezed his way out, Asami and Kabuto just walked.
"Looks like we're in," said Jiraiya.
Don't you just hate when the word 'To be continued…' when it comes on your favorite show? At least it's lengthy, I did say I don't post till I get more than fourteen, wait, was it fifteen? Naruto is not a demi god or some super shinobi like all demon level. I still have some flaws for him. Next chapter is probably more about Jiraiya, Asami, and Kabuto.
I need to point and remind you people that in this story, Naruto, his family, and Jiraiya are not of the Hidden Village. Kinda twists a lot of things really, he he he he…since Jiraiya isn't part of the Sannin, Minato isn't the Yondaime Hokage since he isn't in Konoha, Kyuubi obviously didn't attack Konoha, Sai takes Naruto's place from the very beginning of Team 7, well at least I don't have to worry about thinking a story line. A lot of stuff really needs editing which gives more twists. Including the whole Akatsuki, Orochimaru, and Tailed Beast thing, there's still much to go. This is what I like, ehe he he he…
I need to know what you people are wondering about some stuff, because I can't guarantee that I would be covering them in the future. I'm no mind reader. If I was, I'd use it to read Masashi Kishimoto's mind.