A/N: Naruto, Izumo, and Kotetsu make their return to the village with the Mist Village ninja, Kabuki. The return will prove to have its own set of troubles, but the team won't have to face them alone. As the reader, you may consider this as the second arc, or part two, of the mission.

The three Konoha ninjas left the village that night with the Mist ninja. After leaving a good distance between them and the village, they huddled together to plan.

Izumo crouched into the sand and ran his forefinger along the sand marking different shapes along the way. "This marks Konoha, and here we are. If Kabuki's right about the backup group, then they would be expecting us to take this path."

"So we should stay off the path." Naruto suggested.

"Almost. We don't want to underestimate them and think they'd only cover one area." Izumo explained. Seeing Naruto's blank face he sighed.

"Naruto, here's what I'll need you to do when the time comes, so listen up." Naruto nodded.

As the group of Konoha ninjas and Mist ninja continued their way along the path that night, the overcast clouds began to let loose a fury of water droplets.

The Mist ninja's sandaled feet splashed next to Kotetsu's as they followed behind Izumo. "It's going to be a wet return." Kotetsu droned.

"Keep alert. We don't want to be surprised by the backup ninjas Kabuki mentioned." Izumo warned the others behind him.

"Hey! Hey! Why are we walking on this path? Won't they just find us easier?"

"I have to agree with Naruto. Normally we'd just take to the trees." Kotetsu ruffled his soaked black hair.

"Aa. Normally we would, and that's why we won't just yet." Izumo turned to Naruto who had his arms crossed and seemed deep in thought. "Naruto, remember what we talked about earlier? I need you to do it now."

"Aa!" Naruto straightened.

Six ninjas in black outfits with katanas strapped to their back crouched in the tree branches waiting for their targets to arrive. One of them put his hand up to his ear and spoke. "Should I scout ahead?" A few seconds later a voice crackled through his ear piece.

"Go ahead, but do not pursue."

The ninja stood and passed through the trees. He stopped a little further down and removed a scroll from one of his pockets. From this scroll he summoned a small purple plant no bigger than his palm. He firmly planted it into the dirt and stepped back. The little plant seemed to move as though dancing to some unseen wind and finally opened several pods. From these pods, a cloud of pollen flew into the air and carried itself out into the damp night sky. Now all the ninja had to do was wait.

The cloud of pollen continued to travel through the trees, rustling leaves as it went by. It began to descend as it approached four figures heading in its direction. Three ninjas surrounded Kabuki, whom had his hands tied to the front.

The black-dressed ninja snapped his eyes open. He put his hand to his ear and informed the others, "I found them. They're coming towards us."

"We're coming to you now."

When the first figure with hair covering one side of his face was in view, one of the hidden ninjas removed a thorned whip and latched it around his target's neck. "Kch!"

The other approaching ninjas were also apprehended by the other plant fighting ninjas. One of the plant ninjas walked up to Kabuki and scrunched his eyebrows together. "Kill them all." Just as the other ninjas who had apprehended the group made their finishing move, a puff of cloud covered their victim's body. "Shadow clones?! We've been tricked! Find them now!" The group of the plant ninjas set out once again.

Naruto continued to walk steadily behind Kotetsu and Kabuki with his hands behind his head. "I still think walking on the path is more dangerous." Naruto pouted. Suddenly he snapped his eyes open and slowed his pace. "Or not."

Izumo glanced back to Naruto. "Did they already find you?" Naruto nodded. He had used his bunshins to disguise as the group and sent them out through the forest. Naturally, when his bunshins dispersed Naruto was able to learn everything that his bunshins had encountered.

"They use plants, and they're well hidden in black outfits." Kabuki gave a side glance to Naruto. He had heard of this backup team and for them to be sent would only mean that Orochimaru had planned on eliminating him for his failure rather than retrieve him.

Kotetsu flipped a kunai in his hands. "Let them come. We'll be ready for them." Izumo nodded. "Reinforments should arrive soon."