Finally! It's finally updated. Definitely took a while just to get to the desired number of page. So people, I have good news and more good news. I finally HAVE a laptop!! A freaking laptop, as a birthday present! Hurray for me! Well I guess that's good news for me. More good news? That means you people can expect me to update much more often. I hope…
Anyways, as usual, a word of thanks to my beta reader, demonicnargles, for proof reading the story for me. Real fast and efficient. This chapter isn't one of my best, after everything, I still think I could have done better. Next chapter should be more interesting, a good look on other characters beside Naruto, I hope.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any other form of references mentioned to any related copyrighted materials or works. I never did, obviously never will. Don't sue me; no copyright infringement intended. I mean, that's what disclaimer is for…
"Because…at times, information is more important than life… On missions and on the battlefield, people risk life and limb to get their hands on it." -Morino Ibiki, the head of the ANBU Torture and Interrogation Force, at the first stage of the Chuunin exam-
"Shizune, alert all the guard posts. Those at the gate, the main entrance, the barrier station, and all the ANBU on patrol. Every single shinobi on guard duty," ordered Tsunade, as she finished reading the letter sent by Team 7.
The Godaime Hokage's assistant nodded once and swept out of the room, already planning ahead about using the many sparrows they had, the quickest way to send messages, to alert all of the shinobi specified, leaving Tsunade sitting alone in her office.
Shizune began contemplating the surprising situation. It was supposedly like any other A ranked mission that the village gave, something a typical Jounin would perform, and somehow it had escalated into something like this. Intrusion into any shinobi village was never to be taken lightly, least of all intruding into a village like Konohagakure. Looking back at recent events, perhaps it was about time to think about improving the village's security, especially considering the sheer amount of damage that these trespassers had done. Orochimaru had snuck into the Chuunin exam many years ago, and, S-class missing nin or not, there was no excuse. Not to mention the Sound Five that had come to pick up Sasuke a few months later. This time, Shizune was determined that she would no longer have to hear of shinobi sneaking in and out of the village as they pleased.
--Change of Scenery--
"It looks like we're a bit early," said Kabuto, glancing at the sun, which was setting on the horizon. Already, darkness had begun to creep into the sky.
"A bit? Way too early if you ask me," commented Asami, her brown eyes lingering on the three wooden poles across the field.
"Since we're already here, we might as well head to our designated places. Not that there's any hurry," Kabuto replied. Shrugging, he turned to the hermit, "Jiraiya-sama?"
The toad hermit suddenly shifted, his expression darkening into a look of fierce determination. No longer was his face scrunched into the seemingly permanent, goofy smile that so often graced his features. It was now a demeanor of a fearsome ninja that had gained the respect and trust of countless veteran ninja from the Land of Whirlpool, despite how perverted or foolish he seemed at times.
"We've been through many crazy things, but let's hope tonight won't turn out like any of them. Just remember what we've planned and what I've taught you all this time," answered Jiraiya. "Blend in, lay low, and move out at the exact time,"
Asami thought about what Naruto would say at a time like this, a brief smile tuggin at her lips just imagining what he would say. 'Eh, just a mission with the balance of power for the whole world at risk. Nothing to worry about.'
"Standard protocol." Kabuto gave a brief nod, understanding what Jiraiya was talking about.
If there was anything he'd need to worry about going wrong in this mission, it was how dangerous things could get if they lost all of their control and went wild. Also taking into account that they were limited in the techniques any of the three could use without raising too many questions. Despite all those worries, Naruto had their back in case anything should turn out to be beyond their abilities. Jiraiya squatted down in front of the river, next to the toad that had shrunk back to its small size. The flow of the water didn't seem to affect the amphibian the slightest, as it kept its head out above the surface of the river.
"Stay here. You can move a bit if you simply must, but don't stray too far," Jiraiya ordered.
The toad, 'Moguri-gama,' understood. Croaking once, it sank into the depths of the water.
"In and out, as fast as we can," said Kabuto, summarizing the plan, "I guess we might have to stay here at least one night to meet Hatake-san's associate. Not that it's a bad thing, is it? It has been weeks since the last time we came near human civilization. I wouldn't mind getting used to indoor plumbing again."
"Whoever this associate is, I hope he doesn't turn out to be a decoy or anything," sighed Asami.
Cracking the codes within the scroll given by Kakashi had turned out to be quite a test. After much effort, it had been revealed to be instructions for a rendezvous point.
Asami said, "Naruto might want to at least try the locals' ramen stand if given the chance."
Kabuto and Asami exchanged understanding looks. Naruto could never completely enjoy himself when he had his clones doing some tasks, like in this case, with clones stalling Team 7. If the clones were to do something, he'd always stay behind, saying it was just being fair to his clones and himself.
"If we can spare the time. We'll just have to see how it goes," replied Jiraiya.
"I'm sure you want to go and stop by at the Onsen district, I hear they have quite the hot springs around here. Or may be you'll just settle for the women's public bathroom for now?" said Kabuto. "We're not in hurry or anything."
Jiraiya blushed and made a cough in response, looking anywhere but the medic-nin, since those who knew he wasn't originally born anywhere near the Land of Whirlpool and the few people who even knew that he came from Konohagakure had wondered whether he was indeed a pervert even before he was brought by the toads to Whirlpool Country.
"Anyways, disperse," The Toad Hermit was the first to leave the training ground, disappearing in a quick blur, soon followed by Kabuto, and finally by Asami as they all head in different directions from the training ground.
Several minutes later, with a slow pace of walking through the street, Asami was enjoying herself as if she was on her day off from shinobi duty as she watched the lights all around being switched on for the arrival of the night. The people, lights, rooftops, houses, shops, glass windows, electric poles, pipes, and everything that was a sign human civilization from which the trio had stayed away from after weeks upon weeks. She caught sight of some parents leading their children back home, probably those who played beyond their curfew, some of them dirty as evident from the rough plays they had. There were also Leaf-nins walking around amidst the pedestrians, obvious because of their familiar leaf symbol headbands. It wasn't much of a deal when some person are seen walking around with some kind of symbol somewhere on their clothes or tattoos on their face, simply because it was nothing out of the ordinary. Let it be in a town, village, ninja or not.
Somewhere ahead, the female Fuusetsu was alerted when she caught sight of something. Still maintaining her casual demeanor, Asami continued to walk casually as she came closer and closer with the possible trouble.
'Just my luck…really, what are the odds?' wondered Asami upon the probabilities, something very unusual for her since she was accustomed to Naruto's unbelievable streak of luck.
It really was a good thing that they had gone through Kabuto's cards presentation because it would've taken her a few seconds longer to notice the possible danger.
A few feet ahead of her, coming in from the opposite direction, came walking in a Jounin with his trio of Chuunin out on another trip for their usual get together meal. The sight of the object that alarmed Asami was worn by the Jounin, with it dangling out below his Jounin vest. It was a symbol to the many strongest prominent figures around the shinobi world. It was a kanji of 'Fire' in red color sewn inside a black circle like it was a badge on a sash, worn by all of the twelve guardians for the Fire Lord. Team 10 obliviously walked passed the intruder as Sarutobi Asuma merely had a lit cigarette in between his lips while he walked behind Shikamaru, Ino, and Chouji. Ino was once again talking about some topic that Shikamaru didn't really care about while their fat teammate was munching on some potato chips.
"I don't think I'll be eating more than…" Ino stopped talking, when she saw Asami passed by.
Shikamaru had his mind on other things, however the particular thought was cast away from his mind just as he noticed Ino had momentarily stopped talking and saw someone with red hair passed by him.
All of a sudden, Shikamaru was on the vigilant, he had ever encountered only two people in his life as much as he could remember, with hair that came close to the color red, and none of them were the least humane.
A terrifying Sand-nin by the name of Gaara, who had unruly dark red crimson hair, which was someone that Shikamaru couldn't really forget. How could anybody forget about him? How he appeared at the Chuunin exams years ago, with his utilization of sand as a weapon and shield, and defeated the Taijutsu specialist Rock Lee despite the Leaf-nin's spectacular show. Gaara's cold face expression definitely meant something unlike Sasuke's, and who could forget that brief yet terrifyingly maniacal face he showed after Lee broke his sand armor. It was really strange at first, He along with his team seemingly disappeared just when the final phase of the Chuunin exams took place. The Sand-nins had returned back to their village, and the next thing Konohagakure knew was that the Kazekage had broken off the alliance between the two villages. They never said why, but they did say Konoha should be utterly grateful that they had indeed broken the alliance.
The other person in Shikamaru's mind was a Sound-nin, a kunoichi to be exact, with long hair that had a much lighter red color than Gaara. Gaara's hair was more of a maroon, but all in all, it still was in the range of the color red. So far, he could say that the Sound-nin was one of the many signs as to how scary a woman can be, because she actually grew horns. The Shadow binder was lucky that Asuma was there safe his life on that day when they were on the failed mission to retrieve Sasuke, and was astounded to see just how strong the smoker of a Jounin could really be. Some time later, Shikamaru came to know from rumors and investigations that the kunoichi turned out to be one of Orochimaru's personal guards going by the name 'Tayuya'.
Chouji, his mouth chewing the potato chips in his mouth, turned too. "Something wrong, Shikamaru?"
Both Ino and Shikamaru looked at Asami as she walked away and was looking through the glass panels like someone who was simply window shopping. Ino, who was the first to look away, realized that her teammates had been and still was looking at the same red head. The platinum blonde kunoichi wasn't pleased. She couldn't believe it, but then her mind came to be astounded for a second when Shikamaru kept looking on, before she asked incredulously, "Shikamaru! Were you checking her out?!"
Asuma wasn't aware of what exactly had happened between the three Chuunin of his, but when he heard what the young blond kunoichi said, he too turned to see whoever this woman that had piqued Shikamaru's interest. Not that the Jounin directly believed what Ino just said, but whatever that catches the lazy shadow user's attention must be significant.
"Someone interesting but not too troublesome for you, Shikamaru?" joked Asuma.
By the time he figured out who exactly was Shikamaru looking at among the small number of pedestrians, he only saw the back of Asami's head as she walked further and further away. Much to the rest of Team 10's astonishment, Shikamaru walked after her. This was something everyone else who came to know him had to see it to believe. Asami turned, when she felt a hand on her shoulder, pretended to look surprised and confused like any stranger would at the sight of being approached by a stranger.
"Sorry, thought you were someone I knew," Shikamaru apologized, the half lie and half truth somewhere in the statement.
Asami didn't say a word and still kept on standing in front of the Leaf-nin, knowing better than to walk away from him. Shikamaru had gotten what he wanted, to get himself a closer look at the female teenager, and then without a doubt knew he had never met or came across her ever in his life. Shikamaru felt strange when she gave him a thorough look, and that feeling got even weirder when she just smiled at him. His brain began to make its necessary assessments, taking in everything seen by his eyes. Subconsciously, it gave a rating.
Much as how he had decided on the judgment of woman not too good looking, average, not too ugly.
"Who?" asked Asami.
"What?" Shikamaru was confused.
"You said that you thought I was someone you knew. Who was it?" explained Asami.
Shikamaru could just sigh in stupidity at that moment, "Oh, just forget it…"
"If you say so," Asami looked pass Shikamaru, she tilted her head to the right, "I think that must be your team over there, am I right?"
"Er, yeah…" Shikamaru turned to his team, finding out all of them had the same jovial smirks on their faces. They were enjoying this rare moment where Shikamaru engages a conversation with what he usually thought were 'troublesome women'.
"They look happy, that's nice," said Asami. "All the shinobi I've ever seen tend to put up serious faces,"
As much as a genius with an IQ over 200, he didn't understand why he was standing here having a mild casual conversation with a young woman he had never met before. He had long since established the fact that women were too troublesome, and apparently this stranger was being very sociable. This particular young woman seemed to be talking a lot, and yet somehow this didn't really make him feel annoyed.
"So what rank are you, exactly? Since you're wearing that vest," asked Asami, a short glance at the Nara's green flak vest. "Chuunin or Jounin?"
Shikamaru answered without much troublesome thoughts, "Chuunin,"
"Chuunin? I thought you were a Jounin, must be the earrings I guess. It was nice meeting you," Asami looked back at Shikamaru, bowing forward slightly to the young Leaf-nin, "But I really have to get going. I think I've kept your friends waiting long enough as it is."
"Uh, nice to meet you too…" replied Shikamaru, he found himself bowing back at her uncomfortably.
"Who knows, if we ever meet by mistake ever again, may be I'll tell you my name," said Asami, and began walking away. "So if it happens for a third time somehow, then I will be someone you knew,"
The Shadow manipulator just stood there, without moving an inch or anything, as if he was dazed. 'What just happened?' For what felt like minutes go by with him feeling nothing by confusion, he was eye to eye with Chouji.
"You always said women are too troublesome," said Chouji in a tease, Shikamaru was still looking as Asami walked further and further away. "She must be something. You just stood there and let her do all the talking without making a bored face."
"Oh please, I don't see what exactly is so interesting about her," Ino rolled her eyes, then there was the look that Shikamaru knew was going to be nothing but troublesome.
Chouji had a smile, "You're smart, Shikamaru, but I didn't think you would be this smart."
"Maybe it was only just with her. Some hussy excited to finally talk to you. But still, who would have thought? Pineapple head here has some flirting moves," commented Ino.
"You're being troublesome, Ino," scoffed Shikamaru.
"How did you do that anyway? The next thing we knew, she was having a nice talk to you like you two practically knew each other." Ino went on.
Asuma hadn't said anything, the cigarette slowly but surely burning away in between his lips, still looking at the direction where Asami had disappeared to. On one side, the Jounin clearly understood what Shikamaru had been thinking, it was safe to say that the red head was definitely not that foul mouthed kunoichi of Orochimaru's Sound-nins. On the other side, he was intrigued that Shikamaru has his ways with women, even if he doesn't know it or thinks that they're troublesome.
"Well…?" Ino prodded on.
"Well what?" Shikamaru was back to annoyed self.
"Did you set some kind of date with her?" asked Ino. "Or this is just some new thing that you do with women without us knowing?"
"I don't need to listen to this," Shikamaru began walking towards the direction of their usual Yakiniku place, without the slightest care whether his team was following or not.
"Oh no you don't, we're not finished with you yet. I'm definitely not finished you yet, Shika!" Ino followed him.
Asuma contemplated on the situation, assessing about that red head. With a huff of the cigarette in his mouth, he simply dismissed the possible suspicions. Team 10 continued on towards the Yakiniku, the red insignia of 'Fire' dangling out under the Jounin vest had saved an intruder from a whole lot of trouble. Asuma noticed a sparrow flying from a far, in which the small brown bird flapped its wings once more before it swooped down towards the Jounin. It was a peculiar sight, as messenger birds like sparrows were rarely used at night time as they usually after sunset. Sure enough, holding his hand out, the sparrow landed in his palm, in which Asuma could guess that the bird was angry being called for this last minute duty instead of resting in its bird post. There was a small note rolled and tied around sparrow's feet, the moment he untied it, the bird wasted no time and took off.
"What is it, Asuma-sensei? Not something bad, is it?" asked Ino with a bit of worry.
"It is. We'll be expecting some unwanted visitors," answered Asuma, the note was direct as there was no point putting complex codes just to send messenger birds within the village itself.
Asami was heading the opposite direction, her thoughts contemplating over the existence of well-known symbols. Kabuto never wore anything that had any distinct signs, symbols, or words unlike everyone else in his team though the young medic-nin did have a few souvenir T-Shirts of his favorite TV show back at home. The Uzumaki clan's emblem on Naruto's back, the maelstrom in a nine pointed shuriken, probably stood out the most compared to Jiraiya or Asami's own. Seeing as the Toad Hermit only had a horn pointed plate with the word 'Oil' written on it, he stood out more than the rest merely because of his big physique, outstandingly long and wild white hair, and the fact his fashion sense was just mildly okay.
Asami gave one last look over her shoulders, glad that she didn't show around her clan's symbol on her jacket like Naruto did. The Fuusetsu clan had their own symbol, though it wasn't something they had ever wear it anywhere. It was in the shape of a perfect hexagon though the lines cross at the center much like trying to draw a snowflake by connecting the dots. It had seven dots altogether, one on each end of the six pointed shape and the seventh dot at the center.
The kunoichi's stomach made its cry of hunger, reminding her that she hadn't eaten much for a whole day since yesterday's breakfast, that meant she'd practically been fasting for two days straight. Soldier pills didn't count as decent food in her opinion, since they were typically considered more as drugs in her opinion. Asami stopped when a girl approached her with a leaflet held in both of her hands towards the kunoichi. The little brunette had two small ponytails on the sides of her head, wearing what she recognized was some restaurant attire. Someone as young as her already working are usually in the family's business as far as Asami could come up with her best guess. The red head kunoichi was very much aware of Konoha's system that for anyone in Land of Fire to actually graduate in becoming a standard Leaf-nin must at least be twelve years old, no matter how talented that person can be.
"Take it," urged the young girl, Asami turning her attention back to the girl.
Asami knew her luck was changing again, because she just came across a restaurant that served some of her favorite food. "You have tempura?"
"Otou-san makes the best anywhere," nodded the brunette.
"I guess you've got yourself a customer then," Asami smiled, she walked inside into the warmer atmosphere, sitting herself before the counter.
-Change of scenery-
Somewhere on the other side of the village, Yakushi Kabuto had finally arrived at his designated place as he stood on the building's roof. There were two large water tanks, metal pipes connected to both of them and disappearing into the cement floor. Kabuto thought these were probably emergency water reserves for the building below or something like that. He recalled memories of watching Naruto and Asami practicing one of their main Ninjutsu techniques, though they were practicing while being surrounded by a large body of water. It was the only way they could try out their moves without really leaving behind much damaging impressions on their surroundings, as well being able to assess the extent of power that they were capable of.
If from some crazy reason, two shinobi would destroy these water tanks with their finishing techniques just to show which one was stronger…
'May be in some alternate reality,' shrugged Kabuto, dismissing the idea of blown up water tanks.
The place itself had a great importance both to the shinobi and the normal villagers alike, it being a place that was opened twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, all throughout the year never closing down as it would always be preoccupied way or another. Where tears of joy or sadness have been wept, how blood have been spilled or entered human bodies, the coming of births and deaths, so many mixture of emotions zooming around let it be hope, pity, despair, or happiness. Kabuto was simply standing on top of Konohagakure's hospital building, the place that instantly piqued his interest as he was a medic-nin himself. It wasn't hard to presume that Konoha would have the most development in the medical field as no other ninja village had put a deep emphasis on , especially having their great Tsunade put into consideration. There weren't many important medical figures in a ninja's world, but the few existing ones were definitely outstanding ones. He finally decided that he should see and assess Konoha's well known developed medical field personally. He knew what he was getting himself into, the moment the door closed behind him. Appearances can be deceiving, especially when a naïve person would think there would be little security within one of the most important buildings in Konoha.
So many things began to happen; all the while the intruding medic-nin slowly proceeded walking down to the lower level with his hands together behind his back. One of those occurrences was the very faint flow of chakra leaking out from all over his body, a translucent effect slowly turning his whole body invisible. If there were any security cameras placed all over the building, then he had already solved that problem. At the same time, his heart began to beat slower and slower with every step he took down the stairs, the flow of the oxygenated or deoxygenated blood relying more on traces of chakra around his circulatory system rather than being pumped by the heart at all times. There was no need to make his heart completely stop beating. His senses began to heighten in sensing human presence around him, while trying to lessen his own presence at the same time.
Kabuto was leaning up against a wall. He detected many beating hearts, the various rates of their pumping meant differently. He began identifying and grouping every single beating heart on the third floor, from his current position. The village's hospital may only have three floors, but it definitely was big, splitting into many sections just like in the blue prints. A normal steady heart beat, judging by the intervals between each beat while taking into consideration of the possible age and condition of health, easily gave out the positions of resting patients in the whole floor. Hearts like theirs are at complete ease, which meant their current status would be at rest, sleeping, or in a coma. Then he started to pinpoint the locations of the nurses, medic-nins, and visitors. He found out what he was supposed to looking out for.
The few Leaf-nins stationed for guard duty through out the third floor.
A person inside one of the rooms nearby began to move, Kabuto doubted he was detected and then he heard the door knob turned moments later. Peeking slightly from the corner, he was right since the person coming out of it was an aged man probably in his early fifties dressed in civilian clothes. Kabuto waited until the man was a safe distance away.
Slowly walking down the corridor, Kabuto entered into the very same room that was visited minutes ago. Just as he had assessed from the beating of the heart coming from the room, he found a young woman lying on the bed. It wasn't hard not to disregard the familiar color that were the white pillow under her head, the white bed sheets underneath her, the white walls around her, those were the familiar color that even the hospital back home had. He gave a thorough look at the patient set before him, without the slightest worry that she might wake up and see him simply because he was invisible at the moment. He made a brief check of her; a long haired brunette somewhere in her twenties, definitely beautiful with Kabuto had anything to say about it despite her slightly pale complexion.
'He must have been your father,' Kabuto thought back to the visitor that.
A hand went to take the clipboard fastened at the end of the bed, the patient's last report made by a medic-nin of the hospital for any other medical personnel's immediate reference. Having a highly accomplished medic-nin as a father and a part time nurse as a mother, Kabuto was well-exposed to the world of medicine. He flipped through the few pages on the clipboard would usually offer, reading all diagnosis, patient's status, treatment, and all the deep explanation that Naruto would call 'medical babble'. It wasn't that hard to figure out even if he hadn't found the clipboard. The woman lying on the bed before him was in a coma. Judging by the date from the report, it had really been a while.
Five years and still counting.
The medic-nin wondered if he should give the patient a thorough check himself, not before deciding whether he'd be jeopardizing his team's mission in any way.
'It has been a while since I tended to only those two's injuries,' Kabuto mused at the last time Asami and Jiraiya ever needed medical attention.
He checked back with his senses on the whereabouts of the nearest possible threats, surprisingly the guards hadn't even moved near this section of the building at all. After approaching the patient much closer, Kabuto then touched the woman's forehead with his right hand. His hand began to glow in an eerie jade green light, just like any other medical Jutsu, closing his eyes and slowly began making out a mental replica of the woman's brain in his head.
The medical charts in the clipboard had been right, but Yakushi Kabuto didn't want to know as to why no medic Leaf-nin hadn't cure this particular patient's illness, especially with Tsunade's caliber right here in the village. Surely she could have personally come, see, and treat the worst of the patients in the hospital, apparently he came to realize one of those patients just happened to be laying right there before him.
After wondering on the possibility of anyone aside the nurse coming in, Kabuto decided that tending or even healing this patient alone wouldn't take too much time. It's not like he was going to see every patient. Imagining what Naruto would say, 'Everyone make way, Super Doctor Kabuto is in the building!'
Change of Scenery
A black gloved fist came in for another strike; only to miss its target again as it came no closer to landing a hit like the other attempted before it. The agile target would duck down, stepped back, leaned right or left out of its path, dodging the possible fit should the super human impact ever come in contact due to the inane chakra control that the wielder had. It wasn't that she had it bad when it came to controlling her emotions, but it really was frustrating just as much when she was sparring with her Jounin instructor back at the training grounds. Kakashi could easily evade all her punches, though they weren't packed with chakra up to a fatal point in case she actually landed a hit. Apparently the impostor Kakashi was just as good and it really was just a frustrating. The darkness of the night didn't seem to have affected him at all, the only lighting they had was coming of the full moon.
"Sakura, when we get back, you've got serious training to do," commented the Kakashi impostor, enjoying himself at another failed attack.
He surprised her, coming so close just a breath away because she could feel him exhale at her face, he was definitely too close within her personal place that even Sakura knew that she was never this close to her Jounin instructor. He whirled just over her right, turning so close to her body, and was then already standing behind her. The fake silver haired shinobi noticed that his current position wasn't safe when he felt something really big behind both of them, turning around just to see a large oddly black bear swiping its right claws as it seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. The slash of its claws cut through the green Jounin vest, the impact of the hit throwing the shinobi as he crashed down to the ground. The body rolled and rolled away like a crash hit doll, coming to a stop with another explosion of smoke.
Another log, though this time had four slash marks on it, as it was another kawarimi.
It didn't stop there, not yet, as their opponent blocked an incoming attack from Sai right when he jumped away after placing the log as replacement. Hard cold steel kunai against Sai's own short flat ended blade, not too long as Naruto's free hand gripped just above the wrist and threw the member of the 'Roots' a safe distance away.
"And that goes to you too, Sai," added the Kakashi impostor. Deep inside, he thought such move was possibly reckless, attacking so close that there was the possibility that 'ink bear' could have attacked Sakura just the same. But then, they probably knew and have performed such maneuvers before.
Another fruitless attempt, both Sakura and Sai didn't know how to exactly handle their opponent. He wasn't on the offensive, never using any other techniques but the Kawarimi no Jutsu whenever they got him. Though they got a hunch he was purposely letting himself get hit by their attacks once in a while. When they encountered him, they tried to bypass him by just ignoring him but that was the only time he'd go on the offensive and start throwing them back literally. Try to ignore him, he'd make sure they don't get pass him a few steps. But if they did fight back, then he'd simply dodge around their techniques. Either way, he was accomplishing his goal, stalling them from reaching Konoha. They simply hoped that there was something good after all of them agreed to the idea of Team 7 splitting and traveling as two groups. Kakashi and Sasuke kept going on the original path, led by Pakkun where as Sai and Sakura were led by Bull, the large bulldog on a different path. The path that they had taken was longer, trying to go around the straight path to Konoha.
Obviously that plan changed nothing.
Bull, the largest of Kakashi's pack of dogs, lunged with its big slobbering jaws in an attempt to bite over Naruto's right shoulder with its eyes glowing in the darkness.
Then Sakura and Sai saw it. The canine was about to sink its fangs just a few millimeters away from the surface of Naruto's shoulder, and the next thing they saw was Naruto was already standing behind Bull just as the bulldog landed down on the ground where he once stood.
"That wasn't nice, bad dog! Bad dog!" scolded Naruto jokingly.
In return, Bull merely gave out a very loud bark back at Naruto.
Their target's quirks, his body movement, the reminder of their mission in mind, all those kawarimi no jutsu techniques performed, it was getting to Sakura. Sakura kept calming herself every time the frustration came, this shinobi was definitely annoying. But she was getting to know her enemy, slowly, and that kept her going. Whoever this wild haired shinobi is, clone or no clone, he doesn't really want to hurt any of them.
Naruto, still appearing himself in his Kakashi henge, noting Sai's impassive face as he crouched on the ground with an opened scroll, had shrugged at the annoyed look Sakura was giving him. "What?"
Neither of the two said anything.
"Did I step on something?" asked Naruto, raising his left foot, smelling and looking at the soles as if he really did step on some animal's shit.
"We know it's you," stated Sakura, the shinobi taking the appearance of her Jounin instructor disturbed her. Facing him like this, it made her think there was also a possibility if Kakashi was the one that would betray the village. All because Sasuke did.
Naruto didn't know what to exactly make out of that statement, looking puzzled.
"Why do you still bother to looking like that?" asked Sakura, glaring at him.
"Because it just doesn't, not really," answered Naruto, his tone while appearing in Kakashi totally differed him from the real Copy Ninja's tone. The thought of wasting chakra away in maintaining the henge was never much an issue, seeing as he himself was just a shadow clone of the shinobi with the largest amount of chakra on the surface of the earth.
"What do you really want? It's clear to anyone that you don't want hurt us," asked Sakura out of curiosity. "If you did, you could've saved all the trouble back by killing us back at the lake."
"Already told you, all I want is to talk," answered Naruto.
Sai remained passive, deciding whether to let his teammate distract the fake Kakashi, and tried to come with the best way to get back to the village.
"Talk as in stalling us. If you're here to stall us, fine, you won," said Sakura, though she still didn't drop her guard, "It doesn't look like we'll be going anywhere unless you'd let us, isn't it?"
"I don't remember training you so hard just so that you'd just give up, Sakura," said Naruto.
It wouldn't surprise Sai if his teammate would have a throbbing vein over her large forehead, Sakura gritted her teeth, "That's because you didn't!"
"Eh, I didn't?" Naruto then held out a finger, "Then we'll go straight to doing that once we get back to the village,"
"You haven't answered my question, you idiot," reminded Sakura.
"Idiot? Great, Sasuke calls me 'dobe' and you call me 'idiot', what about you?" Naruto looked at Sai, "I mean you really don't want me to have insubordination put in your records, you know,"
Sai brief made eye contact with Sakura, not paying much attention to Bull, and he made his move by jumping to get a view over Naruto and threw a kunai right towards Naruto's heart. He wasn't surprised to see that Naruto already had a kunai and was about to use it to block his incoming kunai. If there was something that any shinobi would do, it was deflecting the incoming kunai with a kunai or simply dodged it altogether. Sai was betting for Naruto going for the former rather than the latter which Naruto did. Sai's kunai was easily deflected to which it was sent spinning upwards into the air with coming into contact with Naruto's kunai. The bear ran towards the foreign shinobi without much sound of a command, though he knew that Sai easily controlled the actions of his artworks. If there were many things that Naruto hadn't expected, it was the bear unexpectedly lost its shape completely when looked like it was about to ram into him, in turn splattered into ink all over him. The kunai that had been deflected just seconds ago came falling, Naruto couldn't see it, but he did hear the faint but familiar hissing sound from the metallic weapon the whole time.
The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki knew exactly what it was. It was an explosive tag wrapped around the kunai's handle that was setting off. He had only two choices to choose from at that moment, and he definitely knew he was being crazy, clone or no clone, at his decision to going with the worse of the two.
The tag exploded.
The small explosion that had intruded the darkness and silence of the night with its bright fiery display and slightly deafening sonic boom was short but had definitely did a lasting damage. Judging by the intensity of the explosion, there must have been more than just one explosion seal wrapped around the handle of the kunai. Sai, Sakura, and Bull were just several feet away from the blasting area that destroyed everything within a good three feet radius of the explosion tag. They knew it wasn't over yet, judging by the faint blue glow that came from within the disappearing smoke where they knew he stood there. Sakura could make out the outline of the body from the blue glow, and wasn't just going to stare idly at it.
"Take this, Kakashi-sensei!" There was no split second of hesitation, no confusion, with Sakura came in and her chakra loaded punch struck Naruto right into his jaw and she very well it was a direct hit.
The stricken opponent was sent flying straight into a tree, in which he ricocheted off the wood surface, and then fell down where he lay sprawled on the ground, with smoke still evidently coming off from him from the initial explosion. In the few seconds that passed by, Sakura was really wished that the body wouldn't explode into smoke, turning into another wooden log or anything despite she knew her knuckles had hit flesh and bone. Apparently her wish came true, because he just laid there without making the slightest movement.
They finally got him. They had killed him.
At the exact moment the hit connected, there was no way the shinobi would've survived; the smallest and probably craziest possibility of him being alive for that matter would be him with a complete shattered jaw, and possibly the worse headache of his life. The worse, most possible case would be a severe case of concussion or head trauma resulting from the crash to the tree and a shattered jaw. If he was just a clone, whatever kind of clone technique it was, it would've dispelled anyway which he definitely didn't.
Sakura was about to approach the body, she had only made one step when the body glowed in the same glow of blue chakra. Taking a step back, she was on her guard once more. Naruto's body twitched, slowly getting up at a snail's pace, his hands pushing himself up and shook his head. The blue chakra glowing out of entire body made him look like he was entirely composed of chakra, his broken jaw was glowing much brighter than the rest. Bull, Sai, and Sakura could hear the sound of crunching bones, their opponent was healing himself.
Sakura turned to Sai, an unhappy look on her face, "Go."
They finally resorted to Plan B, a plan that they had already agreed along the way before they were ambushed the second time. Sai took out three smoke bombs, throwing them down to the ground in front him, and thick gray smoke began covering the whole place. Sounds of movement could be heard throughout the blinding atmosphere, no one made out the slightest cough of irritation from the smoke. Naruto didn't budge from his position, making no attempt whatsoever to escape from the distraction, waiting patiently for the smoke disappear simply because he knew exactly what was going on. When smoke did fade away, the glow had ceased just after he leaned his back at the tree which his body just crashed onto minutes ago.
"Ow." The jaw had set itself back into place, Naruto's hand massaged the aching muscles. "That really hurt. Hm…it's just you and me, huh?"
Sakura had remained behind, obviously the plan was that Sai and Bull had gone off towards Konoha if this was taking too long, she no longer was in a fighting stance. She didn't expect to see Naruto in his real form as he was no longer in the Kakashi henge, Sakura guessed he cancelled the technique while the smoke covered them.
"Back then, you wanted to talk with us," said Sakura, "And I have some questions I want to ask. I'm not fighting you now, and you're not going to hurt me even if I did."
"Not that fighting me can really change anything," Naruto shrugged, resting his back against the bark, "Just to let you know, when I said talk, I didn't mean answering questions."
"We'll see about that. There's no way I'm ever going to let you escape," replied Sakura.
"It'll take more than just an explosive tag and a sucker punch to beat me," smiled Naruto, only to regret it as soon as he did since the muscles around his face just ached even more.
"Doesn't look like it," Sakura still couldn't believe there was a person walking off the superhuman punch, wondering what exactly is she dealing with, "Whatever it is that you're after, it must really be important information that even your village can't get to. You know us, our names, our -"
"- mission record, family members, your favorite food, techniques, habits, academy stuff," interrupted Naruto before Sakura could finish, "Believe me, I betcha we know you, your team, more than you think we do. May be more than you know about each other,"
The Leaf kunoichi didn't like thinking the possible implications of some foreign shinobi village with access to the Hidden Leaf's archives, another important matter she should report back to Tsunade.
"That's why we will be dropping by your village, to grab some souvenirs," said Naruto, checking his chakra reserve. "Since Kakashi can't be bothered to bring some for us,"
"Then why go through all the trouble?" wondered Sakura, "You seem to know who we are, who Kakashi-sensei is. If you were smart enough, then you should've known he would never betray Konoha."
"I guess you're saying that we should've gone to someone who would have betrayed Konoha?" Naruto seemed to try and sit in a comfortable sitting position, propping his left knee up, "Someone like Sasuke?"
Sakura clutched her fist once more, as if she was ready to just forget the whole conversation and go back in trying to pummeling this shinobi into oblivion. The haunting thoughts of Sasuke's betrayal fresh in her mind once more, all those rumors and gossips that were around upon his return from the Hidden Sound. Some stood the fact that the Uchiha prodigy never betrayed Konoha in the first place, merely a ploy to control the Cursed Seal while another was that he was under the influence of the Curse Seal itself. Then there were the arguments since he had betrayed the Hidden Leaf, only to betray the Hidden Sound, while pointing out what's stopping him from just betraying Konoha all over again regardless to who he is going to sought power from. Then there were rumors of him being a spy, a spy for the Leaf or the Sound, double agent, she didn't like what she was hearing.
After seeing the momentary clenched fists, Naruto held out both hands in a sign of apparent surrender, "Whoa. Whoa. I didn't mean it like that, really. Besides, this isn't something that Sasuke could have given us even if he was into the whole deal."
"Either you're really an idiot or just so full of yourself. If you think you can get through me just because you know that I'm the Hokage's apprentice, then you're wrong," Sakura tried digesting everything he was saying. "There's no way I would ever betray my village,"
The pink haired kunoichi noticed that Naruto stared at her as his smile got even wider, not the least appeared to be taken back by her vehement statement. She never thought what she would be hearing the next words coming from Naruto's mouth.
"I knew I'd like you," Naruto looked at Sakura straight in the eyes, definitely taking her by surprise, "I always liked people like you."
If there was one thing Sakura knew at that very moment, it was that she was actually blushing at a person that was potentially her enemy. She stammered, "What…what are you talking about? What do you mean people like me?"
"That 'Will of the Fire' thing, what Leaf-nins are known for," explained Naruto, "You're a ninja, but that doesn't change anything about you and how you like your village. Protecting one another,"
Sakura's blush disappeared just as fast as it came, "And you think this is some kind weakness,"
"Weakness? If there are a few things I've learned about Leaf-nins, the 'Will of Fire' is what makes all you guys scary shinobi," said Naruto, without the slightest sound of lie or play. "You could've just tried to do what some typical ninja would. Some shinobi could try and play along, act like you would have betray them, may be trick me into telling you what this is all about. But you didn't."
Truth to be told, the idea never crossed Sakura's mind and her Inner Sakura was really berating her about it.
The Naruto clone was about to say something, only to stop as if he came to realize something, running his hand over his wild hair and began scratching the back of his head. Unknown to the Sakura, he had just received a thought from the original Naruto, a form of communication that would sound tedious to anyone else. A Kage Bunshin had its perks when it came to its ability of sending back message and experience gained back to the original and any other clones. Basically, Naruto could send a message to all of his clones by simply thinking the order need to send to the intended clone, followed by quickly making and dispelling a shadow clone. It would sound like a whole waste of chakra for anyone else but Naruto, but then again he's the only one that can make and maintain large number of clones, moving them around over large distances.
The only way this clone could send a message back to the real Naruto was to teleport back to his side using Hiraishin no Jutsu, but then that would mean leaving the pink haired kunoichi in front of him. Either that, or…
Sakura was somewhat taken aback by the brief blur of another Naruto coming existence, appearing next to the relaxed Naruto. For her, she never got to see much when it comes to performing clones though she always remembered what she saw. She had seen and been on the end of Kakashi having performed the Kage Bunshin technique, even if he used them occasionally as far as she could remember. So judging by how the clone came into existence, it was suppose to be a shadow clone. Less than a few seconds, the clone exploded into a puff of smoke, disappeared into nothing similar to a dispelled clone. Sakura was confused, thinking that it could have been a failed attempt of making a good shadow clone. But then, she never saw the crossed fingers hand seal needed to perform that advisably forbidden technique. Whatever it was, it must have been a sign, and she finally got him right there, right now. Towering before him, Sakura bent down to Naruto, lifting him up and holding him by the tug of his jacket up against the tree like a thug down an alley. It was a bit hard to do, when she noted that this guy was definitely taller than her.
"Can't say this is the first time I've been manhandled," joked Naruto, with his arms just lay limp by his sides.
"Then you won't mind if I have to beat the answer out of you if I have to," replied Sakura, gripping his jacket tighter.
"Nah, I don't mind," smiled Naruto. "But what happened to the whole 'interrogation unit' thing? The way you're talking is like you've already got me, what makes you think I'm the real deal?"
Sakura wasn't going to hear any of that any longer, may be another good punch would finally hit some seriousness into that head of his. Before she could even do that, she was taken by surprise once again as Naruto caught her right wrist and another smooth movement involving two small steps around her, he had her pinned face first against the tree bark where his back was shoved against seconds ago. He was crushing her body against the tree just strong enough so she couldn't try and struggle out of his grip, it hurt her more than the time he pinned her down to the ground. The Leaf kunoichi could easily feel the warmth of his breath at the back of her left ear in the coldness of the night, and she was more surprised when she felt an arm held firmly around her waist.
She heard his whisper, "Sorry, but my time is almost up,"
She never saw it coming, as everything around her changed in less than a split second, only to feel a bizarre sensation coursing through out her body.
--Change of Scenery--
In a split of a second, Sakura could no longer feel the rough surface of the tree bark against the skin of her face. She realized there was a blue light brightening the scene around her, quickly realized she was in a completely different place, yet hearing a something familiar sound in tow. The sound of what supposedly was to be the crackling of lightning based chakra associated with the sound of a thousand birds. The Ninjutsu itself was indeed named Chidori (Thousand Birds), rumored to have cut a lightning by Hatake Kakashi and would later be known as Raikiri (Lightning Edge). Sakura didn't seem to paid much attention the fact that Naruto was still behind her, but more on the scene where Kakashi rushing with the Chidori crackling in his right hand in a straight path towards another Naruto. May be the blonde haired shinobi really was confident or just real stupid in Sakura's opinion seeing as that particular Naruto held out his right hand as if trying to stop the attack with his bare hand. In the short of amount of time in which the Chidori was about to cut through Naruto's hand, both Kakashi and Sakura saw a swirl of chakra taking into the form of sphere in front of his palm.
A large burst between the two blue colliding chakra upon impact, finger tips of the silver haired Jounin never came close to touching Naruto's Rasengan as the lightning chakra that enveloped his right hand had met head it on. Faint gusts of air from the swirling of Naruto's Rasengan blew out into Naruto's side, never going to Kakashi's own as if there was a wall in between them exactly where the two Ninjutsu were. The effects itself was unique, since initially there was an imploding of air apparent from the dust, dirt, and blades of grass. The various debris that was sucked and arched up over them in giving a spherical shape around the two shinobi before everything went flying everywhere. The force of it was strong enough to send both of them out towards opposite sides as the ground that had been beneath them disintegrated, turning into a small almost perfect circular crater in it. Kakashi's feet had skidded on the ground much further away than Naruto had, before both of them came to a stop, neither one breaking the eye contact. But in the end, the Uzumaki looked away when he quickly turned his head towards one large tree located several feet to his left, there was chakra in the form of a long sword cutting right through the tree's trunk and was coming towards him.
The chakra blade barely got to cut its target's shoulder, cutting Naruto's jacket instead after he had quickly ducked low enough into a hunched posture in rapid reaction to the attack. The onslaught of attack didn't stop there, with more blades jutted out from the chakra blades like a trap. Only to miss yet again because Naruto had rolled away on the grass, those blades would have cut right through his thighs and shoulders if he hadn't moved.
"You just gonna stand there and watch?" asked Naruto, getting up from his roll, but never glanced at the recently arrived ninjas.
"May be," shrugged the other Naruto.
It was then Kakashi and Sasuke realized the presence of Sakura and the other Naruto, they may had been too engrossed in their fight that they did notice the new presence though not really checking who those two were. At the same time, their female teammate realized the question had been directed to the person whom had been standing and watching the fight so close behind her during the whole moment. Sakura opted to try and elbow the Naruto clone right in the stomach, only to miss. It had been unnecessary as he was no longer behind her. Now there were two Naruto standing back to back, Sakura's counterpart distinguishable since he was messy in appearance because of the explosion that he took from Sai's kunai.
"Why is she here?" wondered Naruto, expecting a short crazy answer in return from the dirty clone.
His other self never answered the answer, his whole body began to wane into thin air like steam coming off boiling hot water, though in the form of blue chakra, though it was intriguing since it looked more like glowing steam was coming out of him gradually. Sakura didn't even need to have Sharingan eyes like Kakashi or Sasuke, when all three of them saw the whole thing, and was hearing the clone's last words before it was gone.
"It was nice talking with you, Sa. Ku. Ra. Chan," bade Naruto, a slow and long tease in every syllable of the name.
There was only one Naruto clone left.
The remaining clone was assessing the memories he just got from the dispelled clone, instead of worrying more about the presence of all three Leaf-nins around him. They didn't know what was going on, but that didn't distract Kakashi much from the technique that Naruto had used to clash against his Raikiri. This whole time they had been fighting, Naruto had been dodging, teleporting, and blocking any attacks from the two Sharingan wielders, and whatever the technique just then was his third one so far. First off was that teleportation technique, definitely a time and space Ninjutsu, something Kakashi guessed with his left eye. The blonde was just disappear and reappear anywhere without indication, more like a light being turned on and off, especially supported when Pakkun couldn't trace the scent. If he had been moving really fast, possibly like Gai's speed, then the movement could've at least been slowed down. Either that or it was so fast that couldn't have been seen much by the Sharingan but would at least be a blurry movement. Seeing as Naruto's teleportation technique was neither of them, Kakashi could only guess it was some kind of time and space Ninjutsu. Kage Bunshin was something the Leaf-nin understood, counting that Naruto must have made at least four of those clones so far.
"Finally decide to stop playing around, dope?" stated Sasuke, coming down the tree he had just cut through earlier.
"I'll think about that right after you pull your head out of your ass, teme," replied Naruto seriously, looking straight into the pair of Sharingan eyes.
Sakura jumped down to Kakashi and Sasuke's side, noticing Pakkun as the pug dog came walking out of the nearby bushes he had been hiding the whole time Naruto, Kakashi, and Sasuke fought.
"It's her," said the ninja dog without even looking at Sakura, dismissing any possibility of her being one of Naruto's shadow clones under disguise, just incase Kakashi and Sasuke were about to ask that question.
Kakashi was intrigued to whatever technique that Naruto had used against his Chidori, staring at the blonde's right hand with his Sharingan.
"Kinda feels like we're back where we started, huh?" asked Naruto, the same thing happening all over again as he stalled Team 7, "That pale Sai is not around, not that it's a bad thing."
Uchiha Sasuke never liked the idea in which he had to be the first one to be fighting at his full capacity simply because his opponents' hadn't fought at their own full capacity. The idea in which he has to give in first before his opponent was what he had long established as a few signs that he was weak. But only if he were to lose to the very same person, if he won despite being the one to make the first move then that was an entirely different matter. It was these times that Sasuke had decided making the first move was inevitable if it meant pushing his opponent to fight at their full capacity. With a swift and perfectly performed blur of hand seals, Sasuke finished them with the trademark hand seal for a Katon Jutsu that definitely grabbed Naruto's full attention.
The Tiger Hand Seal.
That didn't mean Sasuke had to take out his greatest techniques yet, taking in one deep breath, 'Katon: Goukakyu no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique)!'
Air and chakra was exhaled out as the chakra was quickly converted into fire just a few centimeters out in the air in front of his mouth, the flames taking form true to its name as it quickly became a great ball of fire blaring out in intense heat towards Naruto. This time, everything was encompassed in the brilliant yellow flames, its light shone far more brilliantly in comparison to Kakashi's Raikiri. Sakura, Kakashi, and Pakkun closed their eyes only slightly in reaction to the sudden change of light intensity. The fire was engulfing the entire place where Naruto was last seen standing, lasting as long as Sasuke's ability to keep blowing out the technique. They knew their lone enemy was still there, alive inside those burning flames, and was waiting just how exactly he was dealing Sasuke's assault. Nobody had to wait to long, the blaze began to lose its round shape as it got extinguished in a scattering gust of wind.
Kakashi was puzzled from the rush of hot air current that was blowing out, 'A Fuuton Jutsu (A Wind Release Technique)?'
The Jounin had never counted on the possibility of using a wind type technique against a fire technique. But looking at Naruto's current state, he was indeed wrong. It wasn't a wind type Ninjutsu at all. With the last of the flames were blown away, the same technique Naruto used earlier had made its appearance once again. The display in front of Team 7 was fascinating having a close clear view of that technique, trying to analyze such move as ninjas would do in trying to learn more about their enemies. A small sphere of chakra as if floating from Naruto's palm, Kakashi could see it spiraling quickly in its place, pointing Ninjutsu out towards Sasuke for him to see. Definitely the same technique, despite Kakashi had seen it only for a few seconds the first time.
"Is that the best Katon Jutsu you've got?" asked Naruto, as he began spinning the Rasengan faster and faster. "Cause you'll need to do better than that,"
Sasuke didn't seem perturbed at all. Naruto wondered how much it would take to make the Uchiha angry.
Naruto goaded, this time showing the Rasengan in Sasuke's direction, "Wanna try if your Chidori is better than Kakashi's Raikiri, teme. Not that using your left hand would make it any difference."
The last statement really did, as all those words that came from Naruto showed just how much they really knew about Team 7's background, Sasuke being ambidextrous, exactly down to the different name of techniques used by Sasuke and Kakashi. Knowledge was essentially power, knowing more than anyone else is always an advantage, and apparently these foreign ninjas knew more about them while Team 7 knew very little about them. Sakura was definitely worried at the idea where as Kakashi was slightly astounded, the Jounin figuring out that there were certain levels of secured information that they could and couldn't gain access to.
"You talk too much." Sasuke's hand flashed a chain of hand seals again, inhaling once more for a Katon Jutsu, "Katon: Housenka no Jutsu."
This time, a dozen flares were shot out of the Uchiha's mouth, heading out in Naruto's direction as if they were a flock of burning sparrows flying. Sakura didn't expect to see Naruto rushing out towards Sasuke, as if he was ignoring all those incoming flares. Kakashi, Sakura, Pakkun, and Sasuke watched as every single one of the flame projectiles bombarded Naruto though that didn't seem stop him coming through the small bang that came with all the directs. What became weirder was Naruto leap using both of his legs simultaneous, it seemed as if Naruto was about to pounce upon Sasuke. The last of the Housenka no Jutsu hit him right on the shoulders, the bang followed by a brief explosion of smoke didn't even seem to throw off merely slowing Naruto down as he came down in mid air with the Rasengan ready to grind the Leaf-nin.
Just as the blonde shinobi could see through the smoke, it was his turn to be surprised when he realized there were two snakes came out towards him, just as ready as he was, while baring their sharp fangs and forked tongue. The two limbless reptiles seemed to slither around one another as they slither out from the sleeve of Sasuke's right hand, coming apart half way in mid air. The Uchiha was more than prepared, his snakes summoned from his right hand that were about to attack or at least immobilize Naruto, while a Chidori was already crackling in his left hand as a possible backup. There was more than enough venom ready to be secreted from the summoned snakes' fangs to kill Naruto, and their muscles ready to coil around him in making a much slower chest crushing bind.
The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki disappeared in a blink again, not a moment too soon before the fangs could sink into human flesh.
"SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT! TEME!" yelled Naruto eagerly, blinking into existence right behind Sasuke, though he seemed have appeared upside down as if falling head first, still in mid air.
Quick reaction and instinct was all it took for Sasuke to quickly turn around and ram his awaiting Chidori straight against Naruto's Rasengan. Sakura couldn't even comprehend everything fast enough let alone to shout a warning at Sasuke when she saw Naruto appear behind the Uchiha. The effects were just as captivating and violent when Kakashi and Naruto's techniques smashed together, two amounts of concentrated chakra in different forms reacting to one another and was about to release all of build up energy in all directions. Their eyes had been looking at one another, never breaking eye contact, followed unexpectedly by the small curve of smirks that formed just as the white light engulfing everything. A larger outburst had occurred compared to the explosion earlier, Naruto was sent flying much further than Sasuke. For the second time that day, Sakura watched as Naruto had hit another tree with his back. Unlike the clone that fell splat after Sakura had sent the clone flying with a punch, Naruto had landed on his feet instead of falling down to the ground, and continued to stand up right as if nothing had happened. It did look like nothing had happened, until Sakura once more saw parts of Naruto's body began glowing in chakra.
Sakura called for her Jounin's attention, "Kakashi-sensei…"
"They're the places where the Housenka no Jutsu hit," commented Kakashi, all exact areas were glowing sporadically which Naruto didn't seem to care.
"Then he's a clone too," replied Sakura, telling more info about she's learned, "I think…no, he's definitely a clone. It's like some kind of Bunshin that can take heavy damage, to some extent at least, before it dispels."
"Heh," Naruto smirked, cracking his fingers, "You knew I would dodge those damn snakes,"
"Stop fighting like a coward," Sasuke returned the smile with his own, though nothing wide like Naruto's, "and come out fight me yourself, dobe. No clones,"
"You'd liked that, didn't cha?" replied Naruto, then he seemed to have realized something; apparently the real Naruto just sent him another message, "Looks like I'll just have to kick your butt another time, Sasuke."
"What? Is your time's up too? So you're just going to disappear and then appear out of nowhere to stall us again and again?" Sakura took a step forward, in which Pakkun looked up to her, "I don't know what exactly you're playing at, because whatever it is, it's not working. You and any of your friends are not just going to get away with whatever it is you're after,"
"Aw, come on Sakura-chan, you make it sound like we're the bad guys. After everything that's happened, what really makes you think that we're the bad guys?" Naruto continued to smile.
"Huh?" Sakura thought either he was trying to play her or that he was just plain crazy.
"Just to help you think, I'm allowed to punch Kakashi because he made us wait for six damn hours," said Naruto, before he suddenly cancelled the clone technique, his whole body disappearing in an evaporating swirl of blue chakra, sending every experience or memory he had back to the real Naruto.
Naruto's disappearance didn't stop there, Pakkun picked up the smell of more Naruto clones appearing out of nowhere. They were all around, much farther than any of their eyes could see just yet, and the dog quickly counted them down. Four…Five…Six…The ninja dog was about to warn his master and the team when the various scents no longer smelled strong anymore, which meant they had disappeared just as fast as they came.
"Kakashi, there were clones just now, six of them," said Pakkun, tracing the locations where the smells came from, "But they appeared and then disappeared,"
"Where?" asked Kakashi, trying figure out what exactly what Naruto's clones were up to.
"The traps, they appeared at those traps. Right where the explosion seals are placed," Pakkun had picked out the same smell from all those six different locations, a few sniffs more, "They're gone. Them and the seals too,"
"You sure?" Kakashi squatted down closer to his animal summoning.
Kakashi recapped every event that had occurred through out the whole day, from the very first set of six point barrier seal that Team 7 had come across. That was where Naruto's clones had come from there, close to the nearest point which Pakkun had located. Then after the two clones disappeared after Sakura's ground breaking punch, Kakashi had tried to inspect the plastered seal only to fail miserably. Apparently before he could come close to even try to study it closer, the seal had activated which in turn had caused all of Team 7 running for their lives before the seal detonated. They were forced to go around the carefully laid traps, only to run into another Naruto clone. Before that particular clone disappeared, it had managed to waste a whole half an hour stalling them by dodging their attacks and throw them back if any tried to pass him. Kakashi understood how the stalling process went; Naruto's clones would appear to stall time if they purposely come too close to one of the barrier points, Team 7 would waste time just the same in going other paths to avoid the traps.
Judging by the news of the clones' brief appearance that had taken off with their traps along, it could only mean one thing. Jiraiya, Kabuto, and Asami had already reached Konoha.
"Kakashi-sensei, His team must have already reached Konoha, haven't they?" dreaded Sakura, stating what she could make out from Pakkun's recent report. "Or he wouldn't have called off his traps…"
"It still doesn't change anything," stated Sasuke, sounding heartless despite them knowing that the possible danger the village could be at the moment.
"Aren't you a bit worried? His team is now inside our village, and it's our fault that they're there in the first place," Sakura seemed slightly angry with the Uchiha, always aware that the safety of the village is more important that her feelings for him, especially since he had turn his back to Konoha. "He's been playing with us the whole day, using his clones and that teleportation jutsu of his. We don't know what he's really capable of, Kami knows what his teammates are capable of."
"What you're doing changes nothing, Sakura," replied Sasuke, "Worrying, wondering, all of that changes nothing."
"Let's just calm down and get a move on, you two," Kakashi gave a nod for Pakkun to take lead, "If the traps are gone like Pakkun said, then we should now have a clear and faster path to go back home,"
Just when the remaining Team 7 continued on, Sakura asked while hopping from branch to branch, "What if he wants us to think like that?"
"I think we'll be fine, Sakura, he could be sending his clones but I don't think that will be happening," answered Kakashi, "From what we've encountered so far, his clones only appeared when we're near his traps,"
"Are they really Kage Bunshin, Kakashi-sensei? They don't act like Kage Bunshin at all," Sakura had never encountered an opponent who specialized in using clones in order to fight, like Naruto did. "The Bunshin Sai and I fought, had taken an explosion from an explosion and my own punch. My own punch! And the only thing it did was complaining like having a mild headache,"
"Must be a variant of the Kage Bunshin then," added Pakkun, the small cape tied around his neck fluttered haphazardly while jumping. "Most clones just don't give out a human's smell. It's a big advantage and useful way for us dogs in smelling out real shinobi from their clones. Even the most veteran ninjas we've ever faced couldn't make elemental clones that give the exact same smell."
Sakura knew it was only logical, seeing as some clones just tend to be composed of chakra, some being illusionary forms that aren't even solid, while others are made from the surrounding nature like water or earth.
"It's just that we've never really fought anyone that likes to use a lot of Kage Bunshin, have we? I mean how many times did we encounter those clones? Again, and again, and again…it's really annoying me but I can't help to think that the technique is very useful," said Sakura. "How can he make so many of them, while still being able to recover his chakra in between such a short amount of time…? It is technically it is a forbidden technique, isn't it?"
"She does have a point," agreed Pakkun.
"The only explanation is that he has a very large amount of chakra and stamina," noted Kakashi, remembering everything about the forbidden technique, slightly intrigued as to how someone like Naruto was pulling off the technique.
"Then he's probably low on both chakra and stamina right about now, may be that's why he's stopped," Sakura perked up at the new good opportunity.
"No, that dobe still could have go on if he wanted to." Commented Sasuke, breaking into the conversation, "Something came up, and he called the clone off,"
Kakashi wanted to hear what his little pink haired kunoichi been through, "Why did his clone bring you along when it teleported?"
"I don't know… Sai went ahead with Bull, I told them to, when his clone was recovering from my punch," answered Sakura hesitantly, splitting up when it came to fighting enemies were usually meant for dire situations, and she wondered if Kakashi could be angry that the situation just wasn't that dire enough.
"Recovering from your punch?" repeated Kakashi.
"I know! And I wasn't even holding back. I guess that's why I knew he was clone when he took Sasuke-kun's attack without worry. He glowed just the same, much brighter around the places where he took damage, since his jaw glowed when I hit him,"
"How did it feel like? When his clone teleported with you?" with more information, Kakashi could figure out more about Naruto's technique.
"Not much to say, Kakashi-sensei." Sakura tried to remember the odd sensation, "Everything just happened so fast. I mean really fast! He was talking to me, and the next thing I knew, I was somewhere else looking at you running towards him with your Raikiri. I didn't even know what had happened until that other clone talked."
Sasuke was determined more than ever, "I want to catch them before they can leave the village,"
"The thing is, teme, do you really think you can catch us?" asked Naruto, along side Kakashi.
Taken by surprise, Team 7 quickly dispersed in random directions, away from Naruto, taken by the shock of the blonde's appearance amongst them as he had appeared once more as if he had been traveling as part of their group. But when they had come to a stop a safe distance all around where Naruto, they had been in keeping track of his position, the mysterious shinobi was no longer there.
"Pakkun!" called Kakashi, looking around the many branches above and below, trying to locate Naruto.
"He's gone," sniffed Pakkun as he too searched for Naruto's location, the dog had his fair share of fright from the surprise.
Sakura felt as if she had just got the surprise of her life. She would have had a heart attack if she was very old at the moment. Any more surprises like that and she was sure that they were going take off some days off her life.
--Konohagakure--
A figure was moving as fast as she could in keeping a good distance from her pursuers, running and leaping swiftly from rooftop to rooftop. She wasn't out of breath, as she ran across the slanted rooftops, up the walls, jumping across in between those two or storey high concrete structures as if she if she just knew where she was going for the past twenty minutes. Sparing a quick glance over her right shoulder, she checked for a more accurate judgment of the distance she was making from herself and the team of Leaf-nins chasing after her.
The three Leaf-nins were still there, still relentlessly behind her.
Asami ducked without looking back to her front, just in time or she would have hit a metal pole that hung a hotel sign. She had been wondering why the Jounin couldn't have just gone ahead, leave his two Chuunins behind, and take her down by himself. With one long jump to her left, the Fuusetsu ran up a large advertising board, and came over the top floor of some shop, only to come to a halt at the sight of a Leaf-nin using a Ninjutsu. Luckily for her, she knew very well who she was up against, and a full moon was out that night to shed some light. A dark shadow on the floor had elongated out from Shikamaru and was reaching out to her shadow, and the Leaf-nin was slightly astounded that his target knew exactly what to do the moment she took notice of his shadow. The shadow was following her every move as she jumped backwards left and right repeatedly away from the danger the shadow posed. The way the shadow had moved around, she was forced off the top of the small building and onto another shorter rooftop behind her. While still coming down from mid air back to the awaiting ground, the female intruder watched diligently as Nara Shikamaru retracted his shadow back, proceeded only to jump up high. Instead of running and jump out towards her, the shadow manipulator merely ran and came to stop at the edge of the building, still having a good look of her falling down below. Taking out his trench knives, the exact same as Asuma's own pair, Shikamaru threw them at the kunoichi.
Those two sharp weapons never came close as Asami had took them out in a blur of her hands, a cling of clashing projectiles where Asami's shurikens had hit the brace knuckle-like weapons. Even though her hands never touched her kunai holster or weapon's pouch the slightest. The red head kunoichi never expected to see Shikamaru's shadow came off right under him, the silhouette had elongated once more out into the air, splitting itself into two, looping into the holes of the falling trench knives. A second attempt was made, though this time they weren't thrown towards her.
The metal projectiles struck her shadow the same time Asami landed on the baked clay rooftops and was about to make another run.
'What?' Asami was surprised when she realized that she couldn't move her body at all.
Shikamaru jumped down, putting up a serious face unlike the bored expression that Asami had seen him almost two hours ago. His shadow bind technique crept out towards her at a much slower pace than before, finally connected to her shadow, and part of it tossed the two trench knives back at two awaiting arms.
"Looks like you got her, Shikamaru," called out Asuma as he had finally arrived, though not so surprised at the prospect.
"Eheheh, smart as ever," added Chouji.
"Too good to be true, Shika," teased Ino, coming nearer the immobilized kunoichi. "I never knew she could turn out to be one of our intruders. Guess she had been playing with you, Shikamaru."
"Be careful, you two, there's still two more. They did beat Kakashi's team," reminded Asuma, if they were good enough to dismiss Kakashi of all people, then that really meant they weren't to be taken lightly.
"Still, I don't see how Sasuke-kun, Sai-san or forehead could have could have trouble handling this," replied Ino.
The statement was more on how they recognized her clothes, since they couldn't see a single strand of her red hair at all at the moment. In fact, they've never seen any shinobi geared up like her before, completely hiding her face from view. Under that hood of hers, Asami was wearing a full face mask the same as a distinctive Sound-nin would wear, the ski mask did secure any troubles her long hair would cause during missions. But what set her apart even more was that she was currently wearing goggles, the only shinobi that Asuma had ever seen was years ago was an Uchiha. Kakashi's deceased teammate to be precise, Uchiha Obito, his large goggles had orange glass. However, Asami's goggle was black tinted, the reflective surface completely hid everything under it as it merely showed Asuma's small reflection upon it.
Ino commented with sneering look, "Just when I thought that creepy Shino would be the only one that wears shades twenty four seven,"
"I think his whole clan wears shades wherever they go," said Chouji.
Unlike his other two teammates, Shikamaru wasn't that quick to let his guard down, "Are you're going to tell me your name like you said would?"
The situation obviously didn't seem to be good for Fuusetsu Asami, especially when the plan never mentioned anything about being caught.
Would you look at that? Another cliffhanger! Damn, took me eight months just to update a 20 page chapter? I know, I know, I'm really slacking off. So here's the thing, you people pester me as much as possible (Don't put it in review, just send a private message me) to make sure I type more.
Like I said, it wasn't my best. So putting up a RATE AND REVIEW this is time is what I look forward as your suggestions how to make it better, questions you might want them answered by next chapter, where I went wrong in this chapter.
Reviews isn't what I crave much anymore, seeing as I don't really deserve it this time, but just give what you can spare. JUST DON'T FLAME ME, if you have too, just not too harsh… (Aha! Reverse psychology… or is it?) Eh he he he he…