Hello folks, and thanks for the reviews. I must've been on the pipe when I thought I would be done by December. Well now that the smoke has cleared, here goes the next chapter. Sorry for the delay, and yes I do have so many good and reasonable excuses, but I talk too much as it is.
Oh and for strangest pairings I've seen they are as follow:
Tsunade/Naruto-eww
Naruto/Konohamaru- isn't he like a brother figure
Naruto/Kin- didn't she die within three episodes
Sasuke/Hinata- I don't get it
Kakashi/Iruka- scratching my head over that one
Shikamaru/Sasuke- I'm not even going to comment over that one
Sasuke/Naruto-?
Warning: poor attempt at describing a fighting scene
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Chapter Six
Tsunade flinched visibly at the sight that met her. Six sake bottles lay empty in her desk drawer. She muttered some colorful words as she shut the desk drawer, and turned her attention back to the two elderly people that stood before her. Tsunade placed a strained smile on her deceptively young face, and narrowed her hazel eyes towards them.
"So what brings the two of you here?" she spoke through clenched teeth.
"What else, but the jinchuuriki," said the female Koharu.
"We heard that a team was sent after him and the Uchiha," spoke the male Homura.
"Then please take a seat," said Tsunade motioning to the chairs in front of her. The two village elders sat down. The way the two carried themselves; it was as if they were summoned there. Tsunade kept that that thought to herself as she watched the two of them look down their nose at her.
"Was the information of their whereabouts credible this time?" said Koharu.
"Yes.. It was," said Tsunade.
"Very well then, we have both come to a decision about the two missing ninjas," said Homura.
"Decision?" said Tsunade in a puzzled tone.
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"Naruto," Sakura said in a breathless tone. The golden haired figure turned his attention to the pink haired girl.
"Sakura," the figure deadpanned.
There was a stare down between the 3 teenagers. The wind blew around them causing Sasuke's jet-black bangs to blow into his pale heart shaped face while the white yukata that he wore exposed more of his chest with the winds movement. The black shinobi pants he wore seemed to be covered by a black skirt that was held up by a purple rope-like obi that kept his sword in place. His dark gray eyes narrowed in the direction of their new arrival. Kakashi and Yamato appeared in the cavern within seconds. Kakashi focused his attention on Sai while Yamato looked towards Sakura.
"Hm," Kakashi said thoughtfully as he examined the area, "did you have anything to do with this Sai," said Kakashi.
Sai didn't glance in Kakashi's direction. He kept his eyes on the two missing Nin's. Noticing this, Kakashi followed the boy's eye line to Sasuke, whom he noticed had grown a bit, and then over to the other boy. He gasped at the sight, Naruto's hair was a lot longer. Nearly to his shoulders his bangs covered most of the sky blue eyes. He stood there reminding him of someone. He could pass for him if it wasn't for the e whisker scars on each cheek, purple tunic and big purple obi that held a sword in place, and white bandages on his right hand.
"Feeling nostalgic, Kakashi," a deep tenor voice rang out over them.
Everyone's eyes snapped to Naruto.
"Do I look like someone you know?" said Naruto in a dead tone.
Kakashi's eye lowered a bit at the statement.
'So he knows,' he thought, 'must have been Orochimaru,' he finished.
"Naruto, Sasuke we're here to bring you back," said Sakura.
"Sakura, you are wasting your breathe," said Sasuke, "instead of chasing after us…shouldn't you be training to get stronger? Unless of course you're still that love sick kunoichi that I've always known," Sasuke said with a smirk.
"No," Sakura began, "I am not that girl anymore. If I were, I would only be here for you, not the both of you. I have trained day in and day out just to become stronger, so that I could bring the both of you home, back to Konoha, where you belong," Sakura finished as she gripped her fist with determination.
Kakashi looked over to her and noticed genuine determination in her eyes.
'She meant every word,' he thought.
Naruto looked on in silence as Sakura and Sasuke exchanged words.
"Touching speech Sakura, but I cannot return to Konoha. I have business to take care of," said Sasuke.
"Itachi," said Kakashi.
Sasuke turned red eyes on Kakashi.
"Konoha was holding me back. I was unable to get strong enough to kill my brother. Too many bonds to deal with that blinded me from my original bond of hate," said Sasuke in a somewhat angry voice.
"Yet, you kept one," said Sai from the sidelines.
Sasuke turned his attention to the dark haired Nin, glaring at him.
"Yes Sasuke," said Kakashi, "why did you keep Naruto by your side. Why not leave him, and sever that bond along with the others," said Kakashi thoughtfully.
"I have my reasons," said Sasuke.
"Does it have to do with your brother's eyes?" said Kakashi.
Sasuke narrowed his red eyes in Kakashi's direction.
"Will you truly do anything to defeat your brother?" said Kakashi.
"Yes," spoke Sasuke, " I have said before that I will do anything to get power even if it meant to give my soul to Orochimaru…"
"…. Even killing your best friend," stated Kakashi in a strangely calm tone.
The cavern became eerily quiet, even the wind stopped its movement. Sasuke's red eyes seemed to grow brighter.
"What are you talking about Kakashi-sensei?" said Sakura in a confused tone.
Kakashi kept his dark gray eye trained on Sasuke.
"I know the secret to gaining the Mangekyo-Sharingan Sasuke," Kakashi said in an icy tone. He then turned his eye to Naruto, "Did he tell you Naruto? Do you know the condition for those eyes," Kakashi paused as he lifted the headband from his other eye, "for this," finished kakashi amongst the many gasp.
Naruto looked at the strange pin wheeled shaped black iris amidst the red background of the eye. He continued to stare unblinkingly before he spoke.
"To kill your best friend," said Naruto in an even tone.
Sakura looked back and forth between the two.
"You wouldn't," she whispered.
"Will you let him kill you for his own gain?" said Kakashi.
"Yes," said naruto.
"What?" said Kakashi in disbelief.
"It's obvious the boy has been brainwashed ," said Yamato from beside Kakashi.
"Naruto, you don't mean that," said Sakura her green eyes wide.
"Yes… I do," said Naruto, "Sasuke is the closest that I've ever had to family. Whatever my brother ask of me, I will do it will-"
"Even if it means giving up your life?" said Yamato cutting in.
"Yes," said Naruto acknowledging the unfamiliar man, "I will give my life for my brother, become a weapon for him, if it means him accomplishing his dream to avenge his clan," said Naruto.
"What of Orochimaru?" said Kakashi, "do you seriously believe that after he takes control of Sasuke that he will let you leave? At the least he will turn you into his own personal weapon, If not kill you." Said Kakashi.
Naruto kept his eyes on Kakashi; the dead look stayed in them as spoke, "as long as there is a small part of Sasuke alive than I will gladly become the weapon of Orochimaru. If the possessed body of my brother ask for my death, then I will gladly offer…."
"No!!!" yelled Sakura as she ran at the cliff side the two stood upon. Her chakra covered fist made contact with the wall causing it to crumble. Naruto hopped backwards to stop from falling into the cavern while Sasuke jumped down into the cavern landing in front of Sakura. Sakura jumped back away from Sasuke. Her angry green eyes stared him down as she looked for an opening.
"Hmm, looks like you have been training," said Sasuke. He reached behind him and began to pull his sword from his scabbard. He was in back of Sakura within a blink of an eye with the Kusanagi sword to her throat. "Though maybe not enough," he said as he sword began to draw blood. "Let's see if you are truly someone worth fighting," Sasuke said as he pulled the sword from her neck. Just to bring it back down at an alarming speed.
Sakura's screams could be heard throughout the cavern.
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Shizune stood by in astonishment as she watched her aunt work on the paperwork. The dark haired woman wanted to ask why, but thought it was best not to stop progress. Shizune continued to stand silently by when a large cloud of smoke appeared in the office.
"Jiraiya has entered the building," the toad sage announced boisterously.
The sage turned his blinding smile on the two lady's in room. The first one Shizune had a look of disbelief on her face due to the nature of the man's entrance, and the second one Tsunade, began to grit her teeth in annoyance as she continued to pour over the paperwork. Jiraiya took a closer look at the two.
"Why does it seem like something's not right here," he began.
He looked to Shizune holding the pig ton ton.
"Nope, it isn't you," he said taking his attention from the young brunette.
He then turned his attention to Tsunade.
"No way hime, you're actually doing paperwork," he said barely ducking in time to miss a book that came whizzing pass his head.
With her eye twitching, she gave her attention to her former teammate.
"What do you want Jiraiya?" she said through clenched teeth.
"Oh just dropped by to say hi, and to confirm something," said Jiraiya.
"What is it Jiraiya," she said still angry.
"Is it true that team kakashi set off to get Naruto and the Uchiha?" said Jiraiya in a hopeful tone.
Tsunade allowed her features to soften, and she began to relax a little.
"Yes, I've sent them on a mission to retrieve them," she said with a strained smile.
"Really, well how did you…"said Jiraiya.
"Well it was from the last mission team kakashi had to complete," she said.
"The rescue of the Kazekage," said Jiraiya, "but how would that yield any information?" said Jiraiya.
"Well, I'd forgotten that you were out of the village when they returned with the news. So you wouldn't really have heard anything," she said motioning for him to sit down. Jiraiya took a seat in front of the Hokage's desk. "Well when Kakashi's team arrived, Gaara was sitting propped up against the tree.
"Huh?" said Jiraiya.
"Well it appears someone had beaten them to rescuing Gaara as well as taking out an Akatsuki member," said Tsunade.
"What does that have to do with Naruto?" said Jiraiya.
"Before Kakashi arrived to the scene, Pakkun was sent ahead and he recognized the sent as Naruto's, and not only that the Akatsuki member confirmed that it was a Jinchuuriki that attacked him, so Kakashi made sure to send his dog ahead to keep on the trail of the scent, which is how we were able to get the information," she finished.
Jiraiya sat there in shock taking in all of the information before he gathered his senses,
"Which Akatsuki member was killed?" he said slightly surprised.
"Sasori of the red sands, he was a missing Nin from the Sand village. Apparently, he was responsible for the death of the 4th Kazekage." She finished.
"Do you guys have any idea how he was taken down?" said Jiraiya in a serious tone.
"Well Suna managed to run some test on his corpse? He was a puppet by the way (she added hastily), and found most of his parts shattered.
"Okay. So he was beaten to death?" he said slowly.
"On the surface, yes it appeared that way, but when they checked his heart. They noticed something strange. It was as if he were poisoned. The chakra coils were destroyed on a molecular level. It's a surprise he managed to stay alive long enough to give the news to the team," she finished.
"So no one is really sure how he was killed? Said Jiraiya.
"No. They are still working on it, but as soon as they have any new info, they will tell us," said Tsunade.
"So Naruto may be responsible for this?" said Jiraiya with a grin threatening to take over his face.
"Yes," said Tsunade.
"At least he can take care of himself," Jiraiya whispered to himself, "so they are going to get him now?"
At that Tsunade's grin began to falter.
"What no faith?" said Jiraiya.
Shizune looked over to her aunt and noticed the depression that was starting to seep into Tsunades' features.
"What's going on hime?" said Jiraiya.
"She had a visit from the council members earlier today." Said Shizune.
"And what happened?" said Jiraiya.
Tsunade leveled her hazel eyes to the door.
"Let's just say that the council has made their opinion known."
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Everything seemed to be in slow motion for Sakura.
She watched as the blade was drawn back from her neck and come back towards her. She began to scream as the blade returned, and closed her eyes tightly. She waited and waited finally realizing the blade hadn't cut her. She opened her eyes.
Sasuke looked at his wrist and down at his waist. The vine slowly began to wound around his wrist causing him to let go of his katana. Sakura took the opening and removed herself from Sasuke's grasp. Sasuke's sharingan eyes looked at his waist noticing the vine moving as well. It began to get tighter causing him to gasp for air. He looked to his side to see the other Jounin ninja Yamato holding his hand in a sign of seal. The wood vines that were coming from the ground seemed to be following the command of the dark haired man.
"Looks like you're trapped Sasuke, what will you do now?" said Kakashi.
Kakashi looked up to the top of the cavern. And noticed that Naruto hadn't moved an inch.
'hm I wonder why he isn't moving?' Kakashi thought, 'why isn't he helping?'
While Sasuke began to struggle to get rid of the vines, Sai also looked up to where the blonde Nin stood.
'I have to bring him back,' Sai thought, 'I must follow orders.'
Sai proceeded to pull out a medium sized scroll, and paint brush. He opened the scroll, and began to paint a large snake. He placed two fingers in front of him causing the snake to come alive, and slide it's way off the paper. The inky snake made its way from Sai and began to slide up the cavern wall. Sai watched as the snake began to wound around Naruto. Naruto looked down at the snake as it became a rope. His expression hadn't changed in the least bit. Said kept the same look on his face, but a began to feel a sense of accomplishment. The feeling didn't last long as he felt a spike of chakra and watched as the rope was turned into a puddle of ink. Sai's eyes began to widen astonishment. He looked over to Sasuke and noticed that the Nin stopped had stopped struggling, in fact, his attention was towards the ground.
"To think that I'd have to use this," Sasuke said as his sharingan began to spin wildly .
Everyone felt a sudden spike in chakra coming from Sasuke. A strange smirk appeared on his face.
"Chidori Nagashi!" he yelled as visible chakra in the form lightening seemed to come out from all over his body.
The Leaf ninja managed to evade the lightening attack in time. Yamato watched as the branches ,that held Sasuke, began to break from the attack. When the Nin was freed from his wooden binds, Sasuke jumped up to the top of the cliff to join his blonde teammate. The two stood side-by-side looking down at the shocked expressions on the Nin's faces. After the surprise cleared, it was then Kakashi spoke.
"So you managed to take my Chidori further," said Kakashi, "I wish I could say that I'm proud, but under the circumstances.." Kakashi kept his eyes on the two boys, "I will ask you one last time…come back, or …"
"Or what Kakashi," said another voice, " you will be forced to use your full strength," said a voice in a familiar hissing sound.
A man appeared in a flurry of leaves next to Sasuke, his long dark hair, and snake like features made him recognizable as Orochimaru. The purple and black clad man fixed his gold eyes of Kakashi.
"Orochimaru," Kakashi spoke through gritted teeth.
"Kakashi.." Orochimaru stopped his musings to look around, "I see you have brought some friends with you," he said until his eyes landing on Yamato. "Oh how amusing .., I see Konoha has made great use of my experiments." He said earning a shocked look from Sakura.
"So you're here to take them?" said Kakashi completely ignoring Orochimaru's last statement.
"Yes and No. These boys came of their own freewill, well Sasuke at least. Who was to know that he'd bring the Jinchuuriki along with him. That was just an added bonus." Orochimaru turned his attention to the spot besides Naruto where a silver haired young man wearing circular glasses appeared.
"Is everything ready Kabuto?" said Orochimaru.
"Yes Lord Orochimaru," said Kabuto.
Kakashi had to think quickly. He knew the white-faced man was about to escape again. The gleam in his golden eyes gave it away. He was about to enact a jutsu when..
"Why did you save him Naruto!?!" Sakura yelled from within the cavern. "If you're such a weapon, why did you save Gaara?
Her question went unanswered as the 4 men above disappeared in the form of flames.
"Not again!" Sakura said as she fell to her knees; the tears pouring freely down her face.
Kakashi's heart broke at the sight, while he noticed Sai taking a step toward Sakura. He bent down to her level, and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Do not worry next time we will bring them back," he said with his usual smile that didn't seem as fake as the others.
Sakura glanced up at the dark haired male in astonishment, and a smile slowly made its way on her face.
"Thank you Sai," she said as he helped her to her feet. She turned her tear stained face from him, and began to clean herself up, and regain her composure. "Thank you for making me feeling better," she finished.
"I am happy to see that I did it right," said Sai.
"Huh?" said Yamato from the corner.
I read how to comfort someone in a book called The Joys of Sensitivity," Sai said with the fake smile returning.
"Sai you sure are a weird one," Sakura said with small smile.
"We need to get back to Konoha, and report this immediately," said Kakashi in a clipped tone.
"Yes." The team replied.
"She will not be happy with this outcome," Kakashi said to himself.
With that, the team regrouped and set off for Konoha.
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It was 4 days later when team Kakashi found themselves in the presence of the Hokage. After breaking the news to Tsunade, she stood up and turned her attention out to the village. She stayed that way for a while, until she finally turned back to her subordinates. What they saw were glossy looking hazel eyes staring back at them.
"We are very sorry Lady Hokage, we tried everything we could," said Kakashi tiredly.
"No isn't just that," Tsunade responded in a depressed tone, "You are aware that I have not placed Naruto and Sasuke as missing Nins.. just as missing persons correct?" she finished staring directly at Kakashi.
"Yes I am aware. It was to make sure that they could be brought back to the village without facing any criminal charges or something worse," Kakashi finished in a thoughtful manner.
"That is correct. But while the 4 of you were out on the retrieval mission, I had a visit from the elders. I'm surprised that the two were able to keep quiet on this so long. I'm sure it must've caused them great pains. Well the old bats came to "suggest" that the two should be listed as missing Nins. In their words:
Flashback
"We have been more than generous Tsunade regarding this situation," Homura spoke from his seat in front of the Hokage's desk, "any other missing nin who had committed the same crime as the Uchiha would have been placed as a missing nin," he finished.
"You're correct, and I have no problem with what you are saying, but even I will admit that the Uchiha was brain washed by Orochimaru and shouldn't be punished severely, and as far as Naruto is concerned.."
"…We will put under lock and key and his ninja status stricken upon his arrival in the village," said Homura in a calm voice.
"…But you don't have the authority, that power still resides with me, and I will not allow you to take away his freedom. Especially seeing as he had no say in what happened to him," said Tsunade heatedly.
"We cannot allow him to roam about as he wishes. The boy is a jinchuuriki, and if that power falls into the hands of our enemy's. This village is in trouble, we have been lucky that Orochimaru hasn't decided to use the boy against us, but knowing him it will be soon," Homura replied calmly.
Koharu sat and watched as the two argued back and forth, well more like the hokage yelling while Homura replied calmly. He was always the cool headed one of the their team, but as much as Homura spoke in an authoritative manner, it didn't matter because the fiery tempered woman was right that power still resided with her and the only way it could be vetoed was through the clan heads, and who had time to be bothered with that.
"How about a compromise," said Koharu stopping the next words from coming out of Tsunade's mouth, "we agree that the boy's have left the village, but for different reasons," she spoke calmly. "If team Kakashi is able to retrieve the missing nins and they come back willingly. Then we will allow them to return to the village on a probationary period of a bout a year and they will be able to return to their normal lives, however, if they do not return they will be listed as missing nin and if they ever return to this village, they will face the full force of the law. Agreed ?" Koharu finished.
Tsunade thought over the proposal, it was a pretty food compromise granted if they returned. It was far better than Homura's.
"Agreed," Tsunade answered hesitantly.
"Very good," said Koharu. She nodded to Homura and the two got up and left the office.
'I hope they are able to bring them back but if they don't..' she thought.
"I need to get my mind off this," she said sitting down beginning her paperwork.
End Flashback
"So we truly have failed," said Yamato.
"No.. no one could have foreseen this," said Tsunade.
She stared at the weathered team for a bit before dismissing them. Kakashi stayed behind knowing the Hokage wanted to speak to him alone.
"So how was he?" said Tsunade.
"He looks more and more like his father," said Kakashi.
"That's good, but I meant mentally," she finished nervously.
"Not himself, almost lifeless, but there was something else that I couldn't put my finger on," said Kakashi.
"What is it?" said Tsunade.
"I'm not sure, but I'm sure we will find out soon enough," Kakashi finished before bowing, and leaving in a flurry of leaves, leaving Tsunade feeling puzzled.
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A group of men lay sprawled out in the middle of a field. In the midst of the unconscious men stood a dark haired young man with his sword drawn. His golden haired companion sat upon the ground watching the event with a strange look in his blue eyes. While their leader, the snake like man praised Sasuke and, smiled a hungry smile in anticipation of his new vessel, and his weapon. Orochimaru's thoughts strayed to the blonde. Unbeknownst to the teens, he heard the final words of their ex-pink haired teammate.
'So Naruto saved the Kazekage, I will put that bit of information away for later. Let him believe I have no such knowledge of the event, and then I shall catch him off guard. Then again as long as Sasuke is around, and remains loyal to me, he will stay loyal, and Sasuke's thirst for revenge and power keeps him tied to me. So whatever the boy is planning will ultimately fail,' Orochimaru thought to himself, the same smile growing wider with each thought.
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Deidara sat still as Kakuzu stitched his torn arm back together. All the while he remembered the events that led up to the loss of his arm. His blue eye narrowed in anger.
"I will get him for this," he muttered under his breath, "him and the Uchiha brat," he finished as a smile began to make its way on his face. "I can kill two birds with one stone," he finished uncovering his other eye from beneath his blonde bangs.
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A/N: again sorry for the delay.
A/N Rants: has anyone noticed that before a character dies, they have a flashback, but kakashi technically didn't have one, but then again Hinata did have one, and she lived. Oh great now I'm confused! Please don't let Kakashi be dead.