The Littlest Sannin II: Sound in Autumn

Disclaimer: Don't own.

Sequel to The Littlest Sannin

Chapter 3

(Konoha)

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked over the village from the balcony of his office. Damned fools. They are going to destroy us all.

He'd been in a meeting with the Council when they called for the capture of Naruto Uzumaki.

(Flashback)

"He is the reason we've totally lost the Sharingan." Councilwoman Haruno said, still distraught over the death of her daughter in the second exam. "If it wasn't for that damned demon child this Natas would never have come to Konoha."

"We don't know that." Hiashi Hyuuga said. "Its obvious the man had plans as we all saw that he'd captured Itachi and from the looks of the other man, that was Madara Uchiha."

"Your protecting them because your daughter has been whored out to the sand demon." Haruno said.

"We all know you made a devils pact Hyuuga." She continued.

"Councilwoman Haruno, please calm yourself." Sarutobi said. "We are not going to do anything to Naruto Uzumaki. He is not a citizen of, nor is he a ninja of Konoha. To attempt anything you suggest would bring war upon us from several village that have ties with the Hidden Sound village."

"Let them come." Kazen Sonza said. "The Leaf village is the strongest…"

"You're a fool. Didn't this invasion show how vulnerable we truly are?" Sarutobi cut off the known puppet of Danzo. "We currently do not have the resources to handle the missions we have, much less declare war. Oto has been here in good faith, and you all want to bring us to war."

"Sarutobi, your intentions to the demon are well known. This council can't allow that thing to roam." Nilia Homura said. The girl had taken up her grandparents seat and Hiruzen could see the same hate in the girls eyes.

"My answer is final. No actions will be taken against Oto. The civilians and ninja that continue to try and attack them at the hospital…"

"They've been murdered." Haruno nearly screamed. "Those monsters killed them."

"They are protecting the child of their leader. The top floor is locked down and it is posted so. Those that attempt take their lives into their own hands."

Tsume Inuzuka spoke up. "Did they really need to start dropping dead bodies on those below?"
The previous day, a mob of civilians were attempting to lay siege to the hospital. The Sound ninja on the roof threw dead bodies down on the mob which scattered in panic.

"Tayuya has been reprimanded by Orochimaru and he apologizes for her actions. She is stressed with Naruto's current condition and is sickened by the acts of our village."

As am I. He thought. "Therefore I am declaring martial law. Three Anbu squads will be guarding the hospital and only real injuries will be dealt with on the third floor. Until the Oto-nin leave, the upper floors are locked down and there will be no visitations allowed. Anyone attempting to gain access to the top floor via the stairs, elevator or via the roof will be executed, their homes and possessions forfeited to Oto as reparations for attempts on their leaders sons life."

Angry shouts filled the chamber. Sarutobi counted including the Hyuuga six clans that agreed with him.

(End Flashback)

A knock on his door had him turn. "Enter."

Orochimaru stepped in. the Third Hokage took in his former students appearance and the recent events weighed heavily on the Snake Sannin.

"Any change?" Hiruzen asked.

Orochimaru shook his head, his eyes shadowed with lack of sleep. "Tsu-hime is getting desperate, and we've still not heard back from Jiraiya."

"I am sorry my boy." The Third said.

"We're packing up, we've made arrangements to take Naruto and our other wounded back to Oto." Orochimaru said. "If things keep acting up like they are, you won't have a population left."

Sarutobi raised an eyebrow. "Old man, you need to remember, Naruto has four possible girlfriends, a very protective big sister, an aunt that is a master of poisons, and has Tsunade as a mother. That doesn't include how my own guard feel about him."

Hiruzen winced as the mental image of the amount of damage that group could do to Konoha.

"And Gaara himself while containing the one tail, would be too much for Konoha." Orochimaru said. "So, for the safety of Konoha, we are leaving."

The Third nodded. "Allow me to give you an honor guard, people I trust to get you back to Oto."

"I…"

"Orochi, your people are hurting. The captain of your guard is wounded. Please, let me see to your safety."

Orochimaru sighed. "Very well sensei." He said tiredly. "I will inform Tsu-hime."

"I will have them meet you outside the hospital." The Hokage said already mentally forming a protection detail in his mind as his former student left.

XX

The litters carrying the three injured was placed in the center of the formation. Kimimaro and Kabuto were awake. Anko took a place between the two litters. Tsunade stood next to Naruto's with Gaara ahead. Temari was behind the litter with Hinata as they led Haku to Naruto's side and sat her on the same litter.

Kin and Tayuya were roving with Ryu. The other members of the Sound Five were on guard as well. Shizune was with Kimimaro keeping him in place.

Orochimaru looked at his people. Two dead, two badly wounded, three if you counted Naruto, and one catatonic. He sighed as Sarutobi approached with a group of ninja.

"Hime, summon your slugs." He said and she did as told without argument and that worried Orochimaru as Tsunade loved to argue, over every detail.

The horse sized slugs were hooked up to the litters and the Oto group was ready to leave.

"Sensei." Orochimaru said. He saw Asuma was there along with a woman with red eyes.

"Orochi." Hiruzan said. Introductions were made.

The honor guard were Asuma Sarutobi, Chouza Akamichi, Shikaku Nara, Kurenai Yuhi, Tsume Inuzuka, her daughter Hana along with their dogs. Gai Maito, Ibiki Morino, Gekko Hayate and Yugao Uzuki.

"I would trust each of them with my life." The Hokage said. "And I trust them with yours and Naruto's." the old man said.

Orochimaru nodded. He watched as his former sensei walked up to the litter with the blond, and Orochimaru saw how old his teacher actually was as the old man looked at Naruto sadly.

"My boy, how many times can I continue to fail you?" the Hokage asked. He pulled out a scroll and handed it to Tsunade. "Give this to him if…no, when he wakes."

She took it and bowed her head.

Hiruzen ran his hand through the blonds' hair and whispered something to the unconscious blond before he backed away. He looked at his son. "Keep them safe."

Asuma with a serious look on his face nodded. "As safe as the Fire Lord." His son said.

"I'll keep the Genin close." The Hokage told the Jounin that had students. He had plans to work on their training while the adults were away.

The group headed for the gate, the Hokage walked with them. They were about to pass through when a figure appeared before them in the middle of the road.

"Kakashi?" Gai said. They'd all been told he'd been captured.

The Jounin made not a sound but his hands flew through a variety of seals. There was the sound of chirping, as if a thousand birds were in the air.

Sarutobi realized what it was. "Chidori! Stop him!" he ordered.

Kakashi lunged.

XX

(Mount Enya)

Jiraiya cursed as he put aside another scroll.

He was reaching for another one, ignoring the jaw cracking yawn as he hadn't slept since that day.

"Kukukuku." A chuckle sounded behind him.

Jiraiya was on his feet and looking around the darkened room.

"Whose there? Show yourself!" he said blinking trying to get his eyes to focus.

The figure that stepped into the lamplight had him go cold.

"Really Jiraiya, has it been so long?" the skull masked nin said. "Of course all those old tomes will rot your mind." Natas said.

"You bastard." Jiraiya lunged, but Natas stepped aside.

"Now, now Toad Sage, you wouldn't want to do that here. Some of these scrolls and books are a millennium old." Natas said mockingly shaking a finger at him

"I'll kill you." Jiraiya hissed more like his teammate Orochimaru's snakes than anything.

"You won't find the cure here old man." Natas said as he dodged another attack from Jiraiya, content that the Toad Sannin wouldn't use any jutsu here.

"How would you know?" Jiraiya growled.

"Because I removed all of the text that had that seal in them." Natas said. "Do you really think I would be stupid enough to let you fix the gaki that quickly after all the trouble I went through to manipulate events to my favor."

"What favor? Your attack to wipe out Konoha failed." Jiraiya said.

"Of course it did. I didn't use a sizeable force. That was just a distraction." Natas agreed. He relaxed his stance seeing that Jiraiya was going to listen instead of attacking.

"My goal was never Konoha. I could care less about that village." Natas said with venom in his voice. "And the Sharingan is dead. That bloodline should never have been allowed to flourish like it had."

Jiraiya was confused. "You say Konoha wasn't your goal, but…"

"I used the confusion to get the Sharingan. I wish you and the others would have listened and stepped out of the exam when I offered them the chance, it would have saved your students, and Naruto-kun wouldn't be in the way he is now…well, at least not this soon." Natas admitted.

"All of that, just to remove the sharingan? We were going to seal it…"

"Bah. It would breed through. Even Hatake's genetics were altered by his possessing it. Sasuke, Itachi and that fool Madara. Really he thought he was a god." Natas said with disgust. "Screamed like a bitch as I ripped out his eyes."

"Who are you?" Jiraiya asked, as Natas spoke of the atrocities he did to the Uchiha's.

"Can't you guess Ero-Sannin?" Natas chuckled and faded into the shadows. "Get back to Oto, Naruto will need you…I'll be in touch."

And Natas was gone leaving Jiraiya with more questions and no answers except a sinking feeling in his gut. Minato? Is it possible? But how? Jiraiya thought as he headed for the door to tell the head monk he was leaving.

I've got a bad feeling about this. Jiraiya thought.

AN: More questions. And don't ask I'm not confirming nor denying Natas's identity.