Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Fairy Tail

Chapter 3 Angry Dragons and Playful Spirits

"Wh-what just happened? Un. " Deidara asked, surprised at the events that just took place.

Sasori was the one to answer him. "It seems our target has just been taken from us. But how? The barrier is still in place and should have kept all intruders outside."

Itachi spoke up. "That girl possessed the same energy of the Kyuubi Vessel's strange summon. He must have summoned her and since she managed to get through the barrier, it must mean she is also able to dispel chakra."

At the prospect of the Kyuubi possessing so much power, all Akatsuki members fidgeted.

"That means the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki is right outside. This is an excellent opportunity for us." Pein spoke up, ignoring the unknown abilities of the Jinchuuriki. He turned to the only two physically present members. "Sasori, Deidara, you must capture both Jinchuuriki as soon as you can."

Both members nodded in understanding.

-Line-

Naruto looked up as he felt Virgo's presence closing in on them. As Virgo came out of the ground, holding Gaara in her arms, all four rushed to her as she placed him on the ground.

Naruto, Sakura and Chiyo all stared at the near comatose Gaara while Kakashi remained in front of the entrance, waiting for Gai to tell him they could go in.

"His higher brain functions are shutting down. If we don't do something soon, he will die." Sakura spoke with an air of alarm.

Naruto repeated the actions he performed with Kankuro. He breathed in, enjoying the refreshing air of River Country, before placing his hands over Gaara's chest, expelling the same blue light as before. "I can quickly stabilize his condition and repair the damage done to his mind, but it won't completely heal him." Naruto turned towards Sakura. "Can you help me stabilize him?" Sakura nodded as she placed her own green glowing hands next to Naruto.

Chiyo observed them both, inwardly impressed by their efficacy and drive. 'These two…they are helping the sand of their own whim. What has happened to the hate and distrust of the past?'

Kakashi suddenly turned to them. "The seal is broken."

Sakura looked up before turning to Naruto but he was looking at Virgo. She nodded and stood up, leaving Gaara to Naruto and Sakura, before charging the stone and smashing it with a punch.

Sakura looked surprised. 'She's just as strong as me! Just what are those things?'

As the stone crumbled, Virgo went back to pick up Gaara as Naruto and Sakura stopped their treatment for now. They all entered the cave and noticed two people standing, or crouching, in the middle of the cave.

When Sasori noticed Chiyo, he gasped. 'Chiyo-baa'

Chiyo looked at the two, focusing on the hunched figure. 'Could it really be you, Sasori?'

"Hmm, so it was you who took the Jinchuuriki from us!" Deidara observed as he looked at Virgo, seeing her clearly for the first time. "I can't believe we were bested by a maid! Un"

Virgo turned to him and dropped Gaara.

"DON'T DROP HIM!" Sakura yelled at her. She rushed to make sure Gaara was okay.

"Oh, it seems that the Jinchuuriki is still alive." Sasori noticed. "Good, at least we can still extract the Ichibi."

Naruto glared at him.

Deidara noticed. "Hmm, the one glaring must be the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki, the one Itachi couldn't capture. It will feel so good to do something that bastard can't. Un" Deidara started glaring into space with his fists clenched.

Naruto's glare lessened, turning into a look of confusion, before his mouth twitched until finally he burst out laughing. "Oh god! This is rich. The Akatsuki acting like a bunch of kids."

Deidara glared. "Who are you calling a kid, brat?"

Sasori turned to the blond. ""Well, in his defence, you are acting immature."

Deidara turned to Sasori. "You're supposed to be on my side, Sasori-danna!"

Sasori turned away from him. "I don't take sides with idiots."

Before Deidara could retort, he felt a shift in the ground before he jumped away. There, where he stood, jumped Virgo poised for a punch. However, before she could reach him, Sasori's tail slammed into her, leaving a trail of its poison in her system.

"Oh no. Now, she is infected with the poison!" Chiyo exclaimed.

Naruto frowned as Virgo jumped back to his position. "Are you okay, Virgo?"

Virgo clutched her side. "Yes, boss. But I will go back as I have overstepped my limit." With that, Naruto held up his key and Virgo vanished to the astonishment of the Akatsuki members.

"Hmm, so she really was a summon." Deidara pointed out.

Sasori then spoke up. "It is pointless to have dispelled her. My poison will kill her in a minute."

Naruto turned and glared at the puppeteer. "Unfortunately, I would disagree. You see, Virgo is a Celestial Spirit, as such, she is immortal." Sasori looked up at that. "Not even the most powerful of poisons will kill her."

Sasori looked surprised and intrigued by the notion. 'Those summons of his, those spirits, are eternal. They are the perfect puppets. Hmm, maybe I should add him to my collection. A puppeteer of that calibre deserves to become my puppet.'

Sakura, who had resumed in healing Gaara, noticed something moving in the ground. She turned to look at it and noticed it was a small spider. However, the spider looked strange; it seemed to be pale and made of clay. Her eyes widened, remembering what Kankuro had said about who had taken Gaara and how he used clay bombs.

Quickly, before it could detonate, she grabbed Gaara and jumped away. Unfortunately, she didn't notice the small spider that had climbed up her shirt. It detonated, causing her to let go of Gaara's body. The explosion caused her teammates to turn to look at her.

"Sakura!" Kakashi and Naruto exclaimed. Naruto turned back to glare at Deidara.

Deidara smirked with his hand held in front of his face. "You're not the only one who can play that game." He grinned as he launched clay birds into the air. All of them poofed to life as they grew and flew towards the group.

Since Kakashi was busy making sure Sakura was okay, it was up to Naruto and Chiyo to get rid of the birds. Naruto took out fleuve d'etoile and started slamming the whip into the birds coming in his direction, causing them to explode prematurely. Chiyo used her puppet strings to stop the birds in their tracks before making them fly into each other, making them explode into each other. Finally, they were able to stop all the clay birds. However, as they were all distracted, they didn't notice the large bird that came sweeping down and swallowing Gaara's body. They turned in shock as the bird returned to Deidara.

"Hmm, well, that was easier than I thought." Deidara smirked.

Naruto got angry. He lifted his whip and channelled wind magic into it. The water seemed to glow blue before he lashed out, the whip flying towards the two. Sasori tried to stop it with his own whip like tail, but was surprised as the water whip easily cut through his tail and continued its path towards Deidara. Deidara quickly jumped onto his bird and dodged the whip. He watched in astonishment as the whip broke through the cave floor as a blade of wind slashed into the stone, creating a gash large enough to bury the statue that was previously there.

Deidara sweat dropped. 'Nani! If I had stayed there, I would have been completely destroyed.'

Sasori, recovered from the destruction of his tail, turned to Deidara. "Idiot, leave with the Jinchuuriki. We'll have to unseal the Tailed Beast somewhere else."

Deidara followed his order and made a beeline for the exit. Along the way, he dodged the whips which continued to slash and dash the cave to pieces. He managed to escape from the opening without being stopped. He looked back and saw the blond Jinchuuriki was about to follow him. 'Excellent!'

Naruto was about to jump after his fellow blond when Sakura's powerful hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned around, still enraged, but calmed down when he saw Sakura's determined face.

"Naruto, let me and Kakashi go after him." Naruto was about to protest but Sakura interrupted him. "This might be a trap. He might lead you to where the other members are and you'll be captured along with Gaara." Naruto thought about it before agreeing

"Alright, but I won't let you face him alone." Naruto took out a key with a lion on it. "I'll lend you my strongest spirit."

Sasori looked in wonder and a little excitement, though he wouldn't admit it, as Naruto held the key in front of him.

"Hirake Ashita no Tobira: Leo" The magic circle appeared before a handsome brown haired man wearing a crisp suit and sunglasses appeared.

"What can I do for you, Kitsune-chan." Loke smiled a charming smile in his owner's direction.

Naruto and Sakura blushed, one in embarrassment the other because of the naughty thoughts that filled her head, while Kakashi and Chiyo giggled perversely. Sasori merely continued to stare at them passively.

Naruto glared at Loke. "This isn't the time for that, I need you…" Naruto was cut off as Loke embarrassed him, reigniting the blush that had disappeared.

"Oh, but of course my Kitsune-chan, what do you need me to do? Do you wish for me to consummate our love?" Sakura was close to the point of nose bleeding from the overload of images on her mind.

Naruto pushed Loke away. "Loke, this is serious." He said softly.

Loke stopped his teasing as he frowned. "What is it?"

Naruto looked up into his eyes. "I need you to go with Sakura and Kakashi and get Gaara back."

Loke nodded, remembering what Naruto had said about each of them. He knew Gaara was a close friend of Naruto and Sakura and Kakashi were his teammates. "Alright, count on me." Loke said as he turned to Sakura and Kakashi. Sakura blushed at his handsome face while Kakashi nodded.

Sasori, who was silently observing until now, spoke up. "Oh, what a disappointment. Here I thought your strongest spirit would be a little more interesting. Nevertheless" Sasori's body shifted, letting the Akatsuki cloak fall from his body, revealing the puppet body of Hiruko without the tail which lay useless on the cave floor. "Do you think I will let you out of here?" The puppet opened its mouth and let out a volley of poisoned senbon.

"That's Hiruko!" Exclaimed Chiyo as she raised her arm to defend herself against the oncoming senbon.

Naruto raised his whip to block the senbon before turning to the other three. "GO!"

Sakura, Kakashi and Loke nodded as they leapt out of the cave, following the trail of Deidara.

Sasori, in a last effort of stopping them, concentrated his last senbon towards them. As Chiyo was too far and Naruto's whip was extended, they wouldn't make it in time. So, Naruto let go of his whip and ran towards the entrance. He blocked the few senbon with his bare arm and winced as he could feel the poison enter his veins.

Sakura turned back, about to help her friend, but Loke stopped her and shook his head. "He can handle it. Let's go." Sakura looked at her friend one last time, noticed the blue glow of his hands, before nodding and all three left.

Sasori also noticed the glow of Naruto's hands and thought to himself. 'The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki is a medic? This is interesting news! Could he truly heal himself from the poison?' Sasori watched as Naruto finished, standing up, looking completely unaffected by the poison which should have incapacitated him by now.

Sasori, despite himself, was impressed. "Impressive. Your knowledge of bodily chemistry must be truly exceptional. You must be an incredible medic to have successfully neutralized my poison."

Naruto placed his hand at his waist. "I am not."

Sasori's eyes widened in surprise.

"Isn't it embarrassing that your genius was easily defeated by someone with absolutely no knowledge of human anatomy?" Naruto smirked.

Sasori glared at him from behind Hiruko. "Then how did you neutralize my most powerful poison!"

Naruto smirked. "That is none of your concern."

Chiyo jumped next to him, preparing herself to face her grandson. Using the sleeve of her clothes, she leaned in to whisper to him. All the while, Sasori stared at them, unable to figure out what they have planed.