"Hello." Someone else speaking

"Hello." Kyuubi speaking.

"Hello." Thoughts

"Hello." Kyuubi thoughts

Chapter 14

"What the hell do you mean most of the Akatsuki are dead!" shouted Naruto. "Aren't you guys like the most powerful shinobi's in the world!"

"We were…" said Itachi.

"How do we know you aren't lying." Said Jiraya.

"Do you think I would be foolish enough to travel all of this way and get Naruto to help you and then come back here to lie to you?" said Itachi. "Especially in so little numbers?"

They thought about it and it did make sense, the s class criminal was smarter then that to just come to a village where we was outnumbered just to lie…

"What do you want us to do about it?" asked Tsunade. "If you all lost then what can we possibly do?"

"Their leaders name is Ami. She and her 7 followers we call them the unknown."

"Sheesh what an old name…" said Naruto.

"They are called that because we know nothing of them Naruto-kun. They hunt in packs and they usually always win. But we don't know if they are missing nin's or what village them come from." Said Itachi. "The only thing we know is that they are after something that has been in legends for centruries."

"What would that be?" asked Tsunade.

"The demonic artifacts." Said Itachi simply.

"What!" said Tsunade. "Those don't exist!"

"Yes they do Hokage. Because I have seen one." Said Itachi. "We were assigned to steal the artifact from them and failed. Over the years they have been hunting and killing us one by one their skills are unbelievable ranging from all out tai jutsu fighters to silent assassins to expert nin jutsu users. Another problem is that each of their members specializes in at least 2 areas."

"So where are these artifacts?" asked Tsunade.

"There is one artifact per country." Said Itachi.

"Where did the artifacts come from and what do they do?" asked Naruto.
"Legend says that there were 7 demons in the world. They each sealed a huge amount of their power into the artifacts as sort of a back up shall we say. They then hid their artifacts so that if they ever needed them they could always come back to their secret lair and recharge their energies. Now there are only 2 demons currently alive… Shikaku and Kyuubi." Began Itachi. "The legend also says that if the person holds all 7 artifacts the person will be all powerful. But holding only 6 does nothing. We need your help because while Kisame and I search for the other caves you all can retrieve the artifacts."

"Why don't you help us get the artifacts?" asked Jiraya suspiciously.

"I would but I don't work well with Konoha ninja's and since there are only 3 of us those numbers defiantly won't work since we are positive the demons put several traps and guards to protect their most prized treasure. But I will assign Yumi to help your team. She is a team player and can go into any team since that is her specialty unlike Kisame and me. But for now you can go to the exam in the mist country Kisame and I will search in the wind country. Do you accept my alliance?" Tsunade thought about it and agreed. She would rather make the mistake of Itachi lying then letting a new force get their hands on the most powerful artifacts in history.

"But Itachi! I wanna go with you!" said Yumi. "You never said that I had to stay!"

"That's what your going to do…" said Itachi. "That's our plan… Plus we will finally get some peace and quiet." Yumi grew silent the only people she knew in her life were throwing her away as if she was trash. Although she always fought with Itachi she did consider him as her brother.

"We will be back Yumi." Said Itachi. He had grown maybe a fraction softer and he really did think of her as a nuisance but she did save his life several times and was strong which earned his respect. "But if I find out the leaf has attacked her or isn't treating her as a team mate when you are looking for the artifacts then I will retaliate against the village… And trust me I can take quite a bit when I want to…" Itachi looked at Kisame and flinched. The already blue man was turning even bluer being choked so hard by the boy with sunglasses who was paying attention to him. "Can you let go of Kisame now? Time is precious." The boy was surprised and let the man go instantly giving the blue man back his sword.

"You started it." Said Akira looking at an angry Kisame. Within moments both criminals vanished in smoke. Yumi began to panic a bit for the first time in her life she was on her own and help was no where near her. She then felt the dagger's pressure that was on her neck disappear. She turned around to meet Akira face to face who holstering his dagger and looked right at her.
"I'll let you all talk." She whispered.

"Please visit me in an hour." Said Tsunade. The Hokage and Naruto felt sorry for the girl who nodded. Her eyes showed that she was feeling the pain of loneness and just wanted to have someone close to her. Yumi nodded and then vanished. "So what do you all think?"

"I have no choice but to believe him Tsunade…" said Jiraya. "I don't like the fact that we have to help them though."

"I don't like the fact that they got their asses kicked." Said Akira. Naruto nodded hearing what his best friend said.

"Anyway we are going to help them. But for now I want you all to concentrate on that Jounin exam by the time you return we should have everything ready." Said Tsunade. "You leave tomorrow so be ready." Everyone bowed then left the room. "Wait Naruto." Naruto stopped before exiting the room. Akira nodded then left the room closing the doors. "Are you alright Naruto?" Naruto know that playing stupid was only going to waste time just spoke his mind.

"Not really. I just came home to find you in trouble then I find out that a traitor got a second chance to come back into our ranks and then I find out that the world is being threatened by a new group that kicked the Akatsuki's ass and I'm probably going to have to go do some other crap and have no relaxation whatsoever." Tsunade looked down while Jiraya kept looking at his student. "But…" Tsunade looked at Naruto who had a small smile. "But that's our job and all we can do is find what to fight for is right and stick with it. I'll see you both later." Naruto began to walk away.

"Naruto…" The blond ninja stopped where he was. "I know you mad that Sasuke is back but know that I believe you deserve a second chance at life more then anyone… Remember to meet here tomorrow morning to be on your way towards the mist village." Naruto nodded then left the room.

"You hungry?" Was the first question Naruto heard. He looked to his left to see the his best friend leaning against the wall making Naruto smile.

"Yeah lets get something and bring it back home." Akira nodded and left the hokage tower following his best friend.

"So where are we meeting tomorrow?" asked Akira.

"Kakashi's going to come over in the morning…" said Naruto. The boys got several containers full of ramen and left to Naruto's house where Hinata was already waiting.

"Wow!" said Naruto. Hinata smiled cleaning off the last piece of furniture. "This place looks great!"

"Kage Bunshin is such a great skill." Everyone began to laugh and have a good time when the doorbell rang. Naruto got up and opened the door and saw it was all of his friends!

"Hey guys! What's going on? Please come in." Shikamaru entered first, followed by Ino, choji, Neji, Tenten, Rock Lee, Kiba and even Shino came! "What's going on?" asked Naruto seeing how most of them were carrying food.

"Were having a welcome back party!" shouted Ino.

They all began to set the food down on a large table and sat all around it talking and just pretty much having fun. Naruto pretty much forgot all about the fact that the world could end. Naruto was pretty much laughing with his friend as they talked about each others adventures. He also found out that Neji and Tenten had been together for nearly half a year. They nearly partied for 4 hours until they all said goodbye and left the house wishing the chuunin's that were going to the mist village good luck. Akira bid Naruto and Hinata good night before retiring into his room to rest up for the long journey.

Naruto slowly got up at the sound of knocking and quietly put Hinata's head on the soft pillow causing her to make a cute noise that made Naruto feel happy inside. He then opened the door to see his former instructor.

"Yeah?" asked Naruto coldly.

"I guess he still hates me." Thought Kakashi sadly.

"We have to meet up in the western gate in one hour."

"Fine. Anything else?" Kakashi shook his head. Naruto nodded before then said goodbye while closing the door. He went to over to Akira's room and knocked. "Hey we have to go in half an hour alright?" His response was a "Fine." From Akira. Naruto's next stop was Hinata who was wrapped in blankets and sleeping very peacefully. Naruto hated to wake up her especially when she looked so cute but he knew that he had to. He knelt down and gently shook her shoulder. "Hinata-chan? Come on we have to get up and get ready. Were meeting the others in half an hour."

Hinata finally got up slowly and rubbed her eyes. Naruto laughed a little seeing Hinata's hair and began to stroke her hair to make it straighter a bit. "I'm going to get ready get up by then okay?" Hinata nodded then plopped back onto the bed. After Naruto got ready he walked out of the bath room to see Hinata slowly walking towards him then wrapped her arms around his neck giving him a kiss which he gladly returned. An hour later Naruto and his friends arrived at the western gate where Choji, Ino and Sakura were already waiting along with Asuma and Kakashi and behind them were Shikamaru, Shino, Kiba, Neji, Yumi and Sasuke… For several minutes Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other coldly while everyone looked at them in silence. Neji being the one getting bored and possibly the strongest in the group decided to break the silence.

"Hey you 2 done staring at each other?" asked Neji. "Some of us want to get to the mist village on time." Naruto nodded.

"Fine." Said Naruto. "Why are you here Yumi?" He didn't hate the girl but she was apart of the Akatsuki making him a little suspicious.

"I was assigned to the group I guess I will be watching from a distance."

Naruto nodded when he heard Hinata slowly walked up to him and gently take his hand making him look at her and smile. The group began their long journey towards the mist village and stopped to make camp as the sun was beginning to set. Shikamaru decided to break away from the group to think and flew onto a tree branch and leaned against the trunk looking up at the sky. He soon noticed a figure that was also looking up at the sky but was standing on the top of the tree instead. Looking harder the shadow user saw the person had sunglasses but knew it wasn't Shino because he wore a red shirt. Shikamaru decided to take Naruto's advice and get to know the teenager so he jumped to the tree next to him.

"Hey!" said Shikamaru. Akira looked at him a smiled.

"Hi." Said Akira. "Is something up or are you just here to watch the clouds?"

"The latter" said Shikamaru smiling. "You look at the clouds as well?" Akira nodded.

"It helps me relax so I can think better." Said Akira. They soon began conversing about their lives getting to know each other better when Ino arrived and hugged Shikamaru.

"Looks like you made a new friend already…" said Ino rubbing her cheek against Shikamaru's making him look uncomfortable. "Any ways dinner is ready." Both boys nodded and left following her to the camp where everyone was serving themselves. Once they were done with dinner everyone decided to get some rest so they all went into their tents for the night.

Naruto's eyes shot open for no reason making him look around but all he saw was Hinata's head resting on his chest. He gently placed her head down, put on his shoes and went outside to get some air. It was still dark but he somehow saw a figure on a log the group was sitting on during dinner. He soon realized it was Yumi. He was about to walk up to her when a white rabbit ran up to her and rubbed against her leg making her giggle. She soon put her hand down towards the ground where the rabbit sat on it. Yumi brought it up to her lap and began to pet it.

"You should go home…" said Yumi. "I don't mean to be a pessimist but you should enjoy your family while you still have one…" Yumi gave the rabbit one last pat before placing it gently on the ground where it ran away.

"What you doing here Akira?" asked Naruto. His best friend soon silently appeared beside him.

"Was about to ask you the same thing." Said Akira. "I don't need to sleep as much remember?"

"Are you boys just going to talk in your own corner?" asked Yumi who was still on the log with her back faced towards them. Naruto led the way as they sat on the log across from here. Yumi smiled at the boys before shivering a bit from a strong breeze.

"Here." Said Akira wrapping her with a blanket.

"Thank you." Said Yumi. "Why are you all up so late?"

"Couldn't sleep." Said Naruto. "And you?"

"Keeping watch over the camp." Said Yumi. "Although I know you can all take care of yourself Itachi ordered me to watch over you." She then looked at Akira and had a weird feeling in her stomach.

"What?" asked Akira looking at her. She saw her reflection through his sunglasses before shaking her head.

"So how did someone as nice as you get into the Akatsuki?" asked Naruto.

"It was actually Itachi who found me." Began Yumi. "I was in the village of grass when he assassinated a clan leader. I was an orphan at the time and saw him. He was about to kill me but I used my bloodline limit and blocked his attack while punching him away catching him by surprise. I tried to run away but he caught up to me with Kisame and captured me. The Akatsuki thinking that I would be a valuable asset soon recruited me and before I knew it they became my family."

"What is your bloodline limit anyway?" asked Akira.

"I can make aura's that help me and my allies." Said Yumi. "I can do several aura's so far while learning more. So far I can increase strength, speed, defense and I'm currently working on an aura that can power up ninjutsu."

"That's amazing." Said Naruto. Yumi smiled maybe staying with them wouldn't be such a nightmare after all. "I'm hoping we can be friends Yumi."

"I hope we already are…" she said smiling. Naruto and Akira smiled back nodding.

"Hi." Everyone turned to see Hinata walking slowly towards them almost shy.

"Hinata-chan!" said Naruto getting up he went over to her and gently walked her over to Yumi. "This is Yumi. She is apart of the Akatsuki." Akira slapped his head muttering idiot when he saw the hyuga's face.

"She isn't really a bad person though Hinata-chan." Said Akira. Hinata relaxed a little relieved before offering her hand.

"My name is Hyuga Hinata. It's nice to meet you."

Yumi smiled back shaking the Hinata's hand while introducing herself as well. Naruto soon noticed that the sun was coming up and decided to get some wood for the fire so they could cook breakfast. Within an hour the entire group had eaten and was on the way once again. They were traveling in a group formation but weren't too close to each other for security purposes. They were all talking together but at the same time on full alert. After 4 days they arrived at the Mist village with 2 days to spare. They soon checked into the hotels and got the rest of the days to themselves.

Sorry about the ending to this chapter kinda hard to make some cliff hangers when they are just traveling but more will hopefully come to mind.

Well thanks for all of your reviews and I'm glad that there are still some readers that are still reading the story hehe. I'll try not to make my cliff hangers too extream since I don't want another huge loss of readers once again. I'm also glad that I got some positive reactions from the fact that most of the Akatsuki were killed by another group which will be explained later. Thank you all for your reviews once again.