Hey everyone ... yeah ... well ... man ... more then eleven reviews popped up ... thanks a lot .. well ... i know that at least half of you read my reviews now ... yeah ... I'd also like to add special thanks to
NoCareChakara and full-metal-sousuke
for their constant reviewing as well ... ok ... this chapter is the start of a new series of fights, except unlike previous fights ... three of the fights will be taking place in the same chapter ... Sasuke and Claire vs. Itachi, Sakura and Gaara vs. Kisame, and the Yamanichis vs. Shadow ... Naruto will come later ... so .. yeah ... kind of like what I did in the beginning ... ok .. yeah
ps. emmanuel hall ()? what's your idea?
I am open to ideas
IMPORTANT - Ten more reviews ... or nothing ... good job before ...
IMPORTANT - this story is in its final arc ... will have a BRIEF epilogue arc and then an actual epilogue
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Akatsuki Strikes
Last time on The Path to Hokage:
"And you, elite Squad Eight will stay behind and assist the different forces when called for." Naruto said. "Claire and Sasuke will search for Itachi." He looked at them before saying, "Good luck. Dismissed." They disappeared, setting camp, leaving Sakura and him alone.
"Sakura," he said touching her cheek lightly. "You are going to be facing Kisame ... alo -"
"With me." a voice cried out.
Naruto immediately turned around to see his blood "brother" coming through the forest riding on a cloud of sand.
"Gaara."
"Naruto," he began. "Me and Sakura will face Kisame, leaving you to deal with Orochimaru."
Wordless thanks was in Naruto's eyes as he said, "Thanks Gaara."
Gaara stepped down before whispering, "I know how much she means to you, so .. yeah. Consider this payback."
"How's Shukaku doing in there?" Naruto asked. He and Sakura had devised a seal that would seal the biju without killing the seal creator, and it would maximize the benefits of the biju for the containor.
"Well," Gaara said. "And if you don't mind ... I'm gonna get some sleep." Naruto just smiled as his friend made a bed of sand and fell asleep in seconds.
Naruto hugged Sakura close to himself thinking Tomorrow's going to be a BIG day ...
-----------------------------
Sakura woke up as she heard certain voices talking outside of her tent. Sakura put on her mission clothes and walked out to find Sasuke, Gaara, Kankuro, Temari, and Naruto. "What's up you guys? Don't we attack at sunrise which is still more then an hour away?"
"Not exactly," Gaara said. "Change of plans. We're going to go ahead and search for the Akatsuki members."
"Yeah," Sasuke continued, "Kankuro and Temari are going to stay behind and lead the ANBU while we face the four Akatsuki members." Sakura raised an eyebrow. Sasuke continued, "Another one has apparently arrived."
Naruto spoke up, "Kyubi says that the new guy has Hachimata with him. Orochi, Hachimata, and Kyubi are all here."
Sakura nodded, clearly shocked. "Another one! It's not like three members were bad enough! What are we going to do now, Naruto?" She was clearly worried. There was no way that they would have enough ninja to face all of these new threats.
Sasuke spoke up, "Naruto sent one of his bigger frogs to Tsunade and Jiraiya requesting for back up. They won't be able to get here until tomorrow morning at best." He looked at Naruto, who was apparently talking to Kyubi. "But lucky for us ... Kakashi and the other Jounin are here for some back up."
Naruto's eyes brightened. "Go on with plans. Follow the plan. You and Claire fight Itachi. Sakura and Gaara will face Kisame. And Orochimaru will most likely facing me and their leader." At the look on his companions' faces, he explained, "Why would Akatsuki be here? They either want the biju for themselves or they want it gone."
Everyone nodded. Wow ... Naruto had gotten really smart.
------------------------
Naruto and the gang were running through the floors of the main building. The ANBU units, Kankuro, and Temari had separated and had already begun the attack on the Sound Village. So far, everything was in order and based on Kyubi's senses, Naruto could sense three biju one floor below them.
They weren't moving.
"You guys," Naruto spoke up, "Akatsuki is waiting for us down there." Sasuke, Claire, Sakura, Gaara, the Yamanichi's, and the Jounin nodded. "Sasuke and Claire will be facing the Six - Tailed Weasel, the Rokubi. And Sakura and Gaara will be facing the Three - Tailed Beast, the Sanbi. And the Jonin and the Yamanichi's will be handling the other two Akatsuki members, who don't have biju with them."He paushed.
"I have the biju kunai with me, if all else fails, Sasuke, take this kunai and stab Itachi with it. It will destroy his biju, and the Ninbi sealed inside it." He tossed Sasuke the kunai before he stopped in front of the stairs.
Everyone else stopped.
He continued, "This is going to be the largest scaled battle any of us have ever fought in, and probably the only one we will have for a long time to come. And quite frankly ..." Tears began to stream his eyes. "Just promise me that ... I know that this is kind of a lot to ask but ..." Naruto looked down. "JUST DON'T DIE!"
Everyone their immediately understood where Naruto was coming from. They nodded their heads in agreement. Claire looked on, touched by Naruto's heart. He really cared about his friends. 'Who am I to sabatage his plans ...'
As Sasuke, Sakura, and Gaara began to walk down the stairs ... slowly ... Naruto turned to Claire. "Claire."
Claire stopped moving.
"I just want to say thanks for being there for Sasuke ... and me. You've changed Sasuke for the better. He really really cares for you, and I quite frankly feel like your one of us now." Naruto searched into his pocket.
Claire's eyes began to water. Naruto took out something and extended it to Claire. "You should have this. Just take it, please." It was a picture of all four of them at the Spring Blossom Festival several weeks back.
Claire wordlessly took it, sorrow and gratitude in her eyes. She nodded and they headed down the stairs, towards a battle that would change the world.
----------------------
"Well ... well ... well ..." a voice spoke out. The Yamanichi's chilled at the sound of the voice. Their father was here. Kakashi and the other Jonin were currently facing Zetsu and his army of subordinates minus one. Tobi has betrayed Akatsuki and was fighting alongside Kakashi.
"Father ..." all three of them muttered in anger. Naruto and his team were shocked. They hadn't really expected to meet their father this early in the temple. Well they did ... but they couldn't imagine leaving the Yamanichi's to fight a double S class criminal.
Sasuke looked at his apprentice, sorrow filling his eyes. He walked up to Kai, and put his arm on his shoulder. "Kai. Revenge isn't always the answer." He turned to face the other siblings. "You should know this too. Protect each other, and I think you might want to see this." He showed them his Mangekyou Sharingan, giving them a slight edge. "Now ... kick his butt." He finished.
The Yamanichi's, especially Kai, saluted him, "Yes sir!"
Sasuke and the rest immediately disappeared down the next group of stairs as the Yamanichi's stared at their opponent, their father.
"It has been a long time," the figure spoke first. "My children."
Takeshi stepped forward, gathering his nature chakra (basic) through out his arms. "Not long enough, Izashi! You lost your right to call us father eleven years ago!"
Takeshi charged, "SPIRAL BLADES!" A huge gust of chakra emanated from his hands, and blades of lightning lashed forward at his father. Isashi jumped backwards, shocked at the power of the move. He thought, 'I couldn't even tell he was gathering chakra.'
As he dodged, the lightning disappated, shocking him completely. As he breathed heavily, a small cut appeared on his cheek. He smiled, "This will be interesting."
--------------
Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura, Claire, and Gaara were all alone now as they descended farther and farther down the Sound Mansion. They stopped as they heard two familiar voices. "Itachi, it looks like we'll finally get to face the legendary Neo-Sennin!"
"Shut up, Kisame." Itachi muttered. He and his partner stepped forward, facing their opponents. Sakura and Gaara stepped out to one side of the room. "Kisame, follow them. I will handle these three."
Naruto immediately disappeared, yelling, "These two! KICK HIS ASS, SASUKE!" He disappeared down the flight of stairs as he headed towards the greatest assemblance of power in the whole world.
Sasuke and Claire immediately attacked Itachi. Claire smirked to Itachi; he understood. He would feign weakness until Claire chose the right moment. This would be very interesting ...
--------------
Naruto stepped out of the stairs. He heard a voice:
"Nice of you to join us ... Naruto - kun ..."
-------------------
Notes: well ... this took forever ... and .. well ... I'm in high school now ... and wtf! I have three projects already! GEEZ! ok ... yeah ... personally ... this story has been great for me ... and I have to deeply thank you guys for sticking with me ... and well ... if its not too much ... can you guys check out my KINGDOM HEARTS fic ... yeah ...