Well, here it is, finally, chapter 6! Hope it was worth waiting for!

Disclaimer: You know the drill

Chapter Six:

One Step Closer

"So when are we leaving?!"

Sakura stood in front of the Hokage's (new) desk. Tsunade was careful with her words this time, not wanting to put in for another new table.

"Soon," Tsunade said. "We're going to send a team out with you, Sai and Kakashi. But—"

"Who?" Sakura cut her off hastily.

Tsunade sighed. "Yamato will be rejoining you, along with a small team of ANBU Black Ops."

Sakura stared at her. "That's it?" she asked in disbelief.

"That's all I can afford to send at the moment. I realize it's not much, but it will have to do."

Sakura wasn't convinced.

It had been three weeks since Naruto was taken, and Sakura had been going crazy the whole time. Despite Kakashi's efforts to distract her, and Sai's half-hearted attempts to make her feel better, Sakura's thoughts never drifted from Naruto. Who knows what Hell he was facing at this very moment, while she was safe in the village? She often wondered what was happening to him, where he was, if he was frightened.

She walked around in a haze. People on the street would wave and greet her, but most of time, she didn't even notice. Her thoughts spun widely, with a mixture of worry, anxiety and guilt. Every day, she went to see Tsunade, each time asking if anything had come up, and each time, the answer was the same.

Until today.

Today was different. Tsunade had managed to gather a small team of shinobi, which she was planning to send out in four days time.

"Four days?!" Sakura exclaimed. "That's too long! What if….?" she trailed off, unwilling to voice her concerns.

Tsunade sighed, and leaned back in her chair. "I know," she said softly. "But they need to rest and prepare for the upcoming battle. This isn't some small-time operation. This is the Akatsuki we're talking about. A group of S-class criminals and rouge shinobi. I don't want to see anyone get killed, so I think it is best we take some time to get organized."

She looked at Sakura sternly. "You too. How long have you actually slept these past few weeks?"

Sakura looked down guiltily. Sleep was rare for her, and when it did come, it was quick and restless.

"I thought as much." Tsunade leaned over her desk. "Not only that, but we need to send a recon team out beforehand to actually find their hideout. But we have some new leads, and hopefully they will be able to sniff them out. So go home, rest up, do some reading."

Sakura was about to protest—she didn't want to go home— when they suddenly heard shouting from outside the room. Tsunade always had two ANBU guards stand outside her door. It was standard protocol, though people rarely tried to see the Hokage by force. But now the guards were experiencing the odd hostile person, unwilling to wait for Tsunade to be free.

"You can't go in right now. Tsunade-sama is currently in a meeting, come back lat—"

There was a loud thump, followed by the sound of a body falling heavily to the ground.

"Hey….!" They could hear the second ANBU rushing towards the intruder, but was defeated in the same manor as the first.

The door flew open, and a tall figure stepped in, breathing quickly. Her long indigo hair flew around her, looking flawless in the afternoon light. Behind her, the two ANBU were unconscious, one on his back, the other face down on the floor. She looked around the room with her clear eyes, until she finally found the stunned face of the Fifth Hokage.

Tsunade stared wide-eyed at the person would had just taken out two ANBU in less than thirty seconds. They weren't the best, but they were still ANBU.

"H-Hinata?" Tsunade stuttered.

Hinata walked quickly to Tsunade and slammed both hands on the desk, which broke in half yet again.

"I heard you were forming a team to find Naruto-kun." Hinata said. "I want to come, too!"

This was so out of character for Hinata, and it took Tsunade a minute to fully recover from the initial shock. She then shook her head and said, "I'm sorry, Hinata, but we've got a full team already. I'm afraid it's too late to add anyone else."

"No!" Sakura shouted. All eyes turned to her. "I mean, we could use someone like Hinata on this team. Her Byakugancould prove useful." And she cares about Naruto more than anyone. Sakura saw how determined Hinata was to go with them, and it wouldn't hurt to have another girl in the group.

Tsunade sighed. "I suppose you're right. Alright, Hinata, you can go with them." As long as you pay for a new desk, Tsunade thought bitterly. But Sakura was right; Hinata's Byakugan would help them a great deal in the field. She just wasn't sure if Hinata was ready for that kind of field work.

"Alright then, go get ready, and meet at the gate in four day's time." When neither of them made a move to leave, Tsunade said, with more force, "Go!"

The two kunoichi jumped, and quickly turned to leave. Sakura shut the door behind them, hitting one of the unconscious ANBU in the head.

Shizune was still surprised by Hinata's random burst of violence. "Wow, Tsunade-sama! Who would have thought that quiet, little Hinata has that much power?"

Tsunade nodded. "Yes, it was very surprising. They'll make a good team."

Shizune looked at the Fifth in confusion. "Who?"

"Sakura and Hinata. They both care for Naruto very much." Tsunade rested her head in her arms on the broken desk. She closed her eyes and said softly, "We'll see him soon."

Sakura and Hinata walked down the street in an awkward silence. They had never really conversed in the past, and now here they were, each one thinking of something to say. Finally, Sakura braved the stillness and asked, "What made you want to come with us?"

Hinata looked away shyly. "I-I heard about Naruto-kun….and how he was…..taken­—" Her voice broke on the last word. "And I w-wanted to help….get him back…before..." She trailed off sadly.

Sakura looked over at the other girl. Hinata looked up as Sakura said, "Don't worry, Hinata. With our combined strength, we'll kick some serious ass." She smiled, with faith and happiness she didn't feel.

Hinata looked away, not believing that she could do anything to save Naruto.

Sakura sensed her under confidence. "Hinata," she said, putting a hand on her shoulder. Hinata looked over, and then Sakura wrapped her arms around her, sharing her pain and loss. "We'll find him," Sakura said. "We'll bring him back."

Hinata was shocked at first, but then she returned the hug, and smiled.

Yes, we will.

Kisame sat on the floor in the abandoned room, legs crossed, back against the bed, brow furrowed as he read the complicated instructions. He sighed and threw the paper aside. "You know what? Screw it," he said to himself.

After some furious searching, Kisame had finally managed to find the instructions to the poison in Sasori's room. But the only thing he had really figured out from it was not to put it in a microwave. "That much I could have figured out on my own," he mumbled. He sighed again, and then smirked. "Oh well. Guess I'll just have to wing it."

"So, did you figure it out yet?" said a voice from the top of the bed. Kisame jumped up in surprise and turned to face the culprit.

"DAMMIT, TOBI! DIDN'T I TELL YOU NOT TO DO THAT?!"

Tobi was sprawled on his stomach on Sasori's bed, looking at Kisame innocently---or at least, as innocent as he could look behind a mask.

"What? I was just wondering how your search was going," he said in a mockingly hurt tone.

"How long have you been sitting there?" Kisame demanded.

"A little while," Tobi confessed.

Kisame muttered to himself about stupid freaking idiots sneaking around, then turned his back on Tobi and left.

"What? Now you're pissed because I keep sneaking up on you?" Tobi called as Kisame left.

"No, I'm pissed because you're a dumbass who keeps turning up wherever I am," Kisame said under his breath.

He set off in the direction of Naruto's prison cell, his hand closed around the small vial in his pocket. Well, he thought, Sasori won't mind if I use this, as long as I don't put it in a freaking microwave. And I suppose the whole being dead part helps.

He arrived at Naruto's cell, and was very surprised to see Itachi leaning against the wall next to the door. Kisame walked up to the entry and stuck his master key in the lock. "What the hell are you doing here?" he asked Itachi.

"Waiting," was his simple reply.

"No shit," Kisame said under his breath. "Waiting for what?" he said, louder this time.

"For you to come open the door," Itachi said patiently.

"Why?" Kisame asked in confusion. "Don't you have your own key?"

"Yeah."

"Then why….?" Kisame sighed in exasperation. Why do I even bother? "Ok, whatever."

Kisame picked up Samehada, which was still propped up against the wall, and unlocked the door. As he walked in, he turned to see Itachi still leaning against the wall.

"Are you coming in?" Kisame asked, frustrated.

"No," Itachi said.

"What the….?" Kisame gritted his teeth. "Fine, then. Don't come in." With that, Kisame shut the door, a little harder than necessary, muttering about stupid know-it-all partners.

Naruto was where he always was, lying on the floor, his wrists and ankles in chains. He stared at Kisame blankly, knowing what was coming next. Although Kisame came in daily, there were very few wounds left from previous "sessions." The Kyuubi's power was astonishing, even in a simple human vessel.

But Kisame was going to change that.

Kisame was feeling rather agitated from his encounters with Itachi and Tobi, so he couldn't wait to vent out his anger on the Jinchūriki.

He set Samehada aside, and drew a kunai. Naruto watched without interest; he was beyond the point of caring what happened anymore. Kisame took out the vial, and placed a drop of the liquid on the knife. He wasn't sure what he was expecting to happen, but the kunai didn't look any different. He shrugged, then grabbed Naruto's leg and made a long cut down the side of his flesh. Naruto cried out in surprise and pain.

Again, nothing spectacular happened at first. The familiar red chakra flared up around the wound, as it always did with his injuries. But as it touched the wound, the fox's chakra suddenly disappeared, like a light that was suddenly snuffed out. Kisame raised his eyebrows. Though it wasn't exactly a huge light show, it was enough to make Kisame want to try again.

This time, he dipped the whole knife into the tiny vial. He drew it out and cut the other side of Naruto's leg. He gasped in pain, and it was worse than before. Naruto instinctively drew his legs back to his body, wrapping his arms around himself protectively.

Kisame laughed. "It does work!" He took another slash at Naruto, forgetting to put more liquid on the knife. Damn, he thought, waiting for the red chakra to flare up. But it didn't; nothing happened as Naruto sat huddled against the wall. Kisame frowned, and reached over to pick up Samehada. He then dumped half the contents onto the sword. Naruto whimpered.

He slashed again at Naruto, who tried to move out of the path of the sword, but he wasn't fast enough. Samehada cut through Naruto's side, leaving a bloody smear on the floor. Naruto cried out as his skin was ripped open, and without the Kyuubi's chakra to restore him, he was at the mercy of Kisame. He clutched his side and lay trembling on the ground.

Kisame grinned wickedly. Yes, he thought. Perfect. Guess Sasori had his moments.

He tried again; this time aiming for Naruto's other leg. He made contact quickly, and he watched as Samehada's unique blade ripped Naruto's leg to ribbons. But to Kisame's surprise, the red chakra did flare up, not to heal the wound, but to shoot out at Kisame. It hit the Kirigakure ninja in the knee, making him stumble and he backed away. He stared at the boy, puzzled by this new turn of events. Then it dawned on him.

Side affects. Kisame realized how, since the Kyuubi's chakra wasn't healing the wounds, it was simply building up inside of Naruto. It needed a new way to relieve the built up power, so it lashed out violently.

But it wasn't finished. Another large line of red chakra came flying at him. Kisame jumped out of the way just in time, landing on his knees. The chakra struck the stone wall instead, leaving a large hole. Kisame scrambled to his feet and ran to the door. He fumbled with the handle, and in a panic he wrenched it open, ran outside, and slammed the door behind him in time to hear a loud thump as chakra met steel.

Itachi looked over at him, shooting him a skeptical look.

Was he leaning against that damn wall the whole time? Kisame's breathing was labored. "What's with that look?"

Itachi moved away from the wall. "Well, I was just about to get you, anyway. We have a meeting. Stats report."

Kisame straightened up. "Why? Can't we just tell them when we're ready?"

Itachi shrugged. "'Guess not," he said simply.

Kisame rolled his eyes as they walked.

"So," Itachi said, with honest curiosity, "what happened? Sounded like you were throwing chairs in there or something."

"Oh, shut up," Kisame snapped.

They continued in silence, passing many doorways, some unfamiliar even to the two more experienced Akatsuki. Soon they came to the large room with the statue, with Pein sitting at the top, using his usual form of astral projection.

"So?" Pein said expectantly.

"Not yet." Itachi said before Kisame could open his mouth. "He's surprisingly strong."

Kisame sighed. Yeah, thanks Itachi. I didn't want to speak for myself anyway.

But, to their surprise, Pein seemed content. "Alright then," he said simply.

Kisame looked at their leader. What he wanted to say was, "What? No temper tantrum?" But he decided against that. So he went with, "that's it?"

Pein smirked—or at least, Kisame think he smirked. It was hard to tell.

"Let's just say I have more in mind for that boy."

Naruto was standing in the middle of the cell, stunned by what had just happened. After Kisame had fled the room, the fox's chakra continued to spill out, smashing the walls around him. There were large dents everywhere, and the floor was littered with small stones from the walls.

Naruto backed into one of the corners and sat down. He put his head in his hands. What was that? What just happened? His wounds still burned from Kisame's strange poison, but he ignored that. He looked up at the destruction around him, not wanting to believe he caused so much damage.

He drew his knees to his chest, but then immediately spread them out again. The wound on his leg burned, and he grit his teeth together to keep from crying out.

He felt himself slipping into his familiar form of unconsciousness, but this time he didn't fight it. This time he let the darkness take him.

Tobi sat in Sasori's room, in the same place Kisame left him. He was sitting on Sasori's bed, legs crossed, with the instructions to the poison in his hands. Under his mask, he was frowning. They really were complicated.

Then he realized something. He looked closely at the paper to confirm it, and sure enough, it was true. He laughed as he threw the sheet across the room.

"I wonder if I should tell him he was looking at it upside down." Tobi thought for a minute. "Nah," he decided. "He'd just get mad."

Yay! Chapter 6!

And I realize that Tobi's attitude doesn't really fit the mood, but come on! It's Tobi! What do you expect?

Anyways, reviews appreicated! Constructive criticism encouraged!

SNK