Chapter 9: A Stolen Kistune
As the voice rang out the two ninjas minding the unconscious blonde found themselves gazing upon a figure almost lost within the shadows that encompassed them, the unknown character staring down upon the scene below them from their view from the tree overhead. It was only when they dropped soundlessly to the ground that they recognised this person, their identity given away from the black cloak curling around their body, patterned with scarlet clouds, the same colour as the blood coating their friend.
Akatsuki.
"Don't you DARE go near him!"
The enraged command came courtesy of the Uchiha, his sharingan soon spinning in warning within his eyes as he glared at the advancing newcomer. However this didn't seem to faze the Akatsuki member, in fact it seemed to amuse them, a cold laugh soon echoing in the grounds just as Sakura's screams had only a few minutes before his arrival.
"How cute- little Sasuke wants to play the staring game. Too bad I don't have time for it today."
A quick gesture with his hand was all the warning the he got before being swept up into the arms of another member belonging to the organisation and held tightly while his team mate lay unconscious upon the ground after being on the receiving end of the inhumanly large spiked sword, the flat edge of the blade slamming into the side of her head and knocking her effortlessly to the ground. It wasn't long until Sasuke began to feel oddly drained, his body becoming weak in the man's tight grip despite the fact he had no injuries- not until his gaze fell across the weapon hovering dangerously close to his cheek, the spiked edge just casually grazing across his skin to draw just the smallest amount of blood.
"I see you haven't met Sameheda before. You haven't noticed but it has been slowly absorbing your chakra- if I wasn't holding you up you wouldn't be standing."
He began to drag the sword deeper into the Uchiha's skin as a smirk appeared in response to the shinobi's obvious discomfort, stopping only once his fun was interrupted, his eyes wandering over to his partner as they spoke.
"That's enough, Kisame. We have to being the ritual- leave the boy and get the Kyuubi."
Kisame's smirk was instantly replaced with a scowl as he let go of Sasuke allowing him to fall in a heap upon the ground, annoyed at the fact he could no longer toy with his new 'friend'. He did have quite a lot of dislike for his new partner but not as much as his towering contempt for the person currently trying to haul themselves to their feet, instead deciding to show this by purposely kicking them back to the floor as he stepped over them to the Kyuubi-container, picking up the seemingly lifeless Naruto and tossing him carelessly over his shoulder alongside the serrated blade that was Sameheda. He did confess a look of surprise when he heard a faint spluttering sound behind him, glancing back only to find the ebony-haired man staggering to his feet, not as easy to dispense as he first thought. However this time he did not heed his partner's command as he instantly grabbed his man-sized sword and sliced the air in front of him, dispelling the chakra he had stolen from within the metal into one single blast, knocking Sasuke clean off his feet and into the air, landing heavily upon the ground coming to a stop just beside the medic-nin, his eyes only barely open gazing uselessly as he watched the two members quickly disappear taking Naruto with them.
"Naruto…I'm sorry…"
His words trailed limply from his lips as he fought to stay awake, his lungs only just able to keep up the tedious process of breathing even with his near-empty chakra supply. He tried to move but found his body overriding his will and instead laying motionless amongst the grass, his eyes falling across the blood stained patch of grass where his team mate had been residing earlier. A small tear escaped as he realised he wasn't able to protect him as Naruto had done countless times before; not only for him but for others as well- even when his actions were not heeded and the harsh treatment the villagers gave continued. He still managed to smile where there was only pain, the azure eyes of the man the last thing he saw before he finally agreed to rest.
"I'm sorry…"
When he opened his eyes once again he reacted to the sunlight streaming onto his face by closing them sharply, peering out at his surroundings through a thin crack until slowly opening them once more as they became accustomed to the light. What Sasuke saw was certainly not what he remembered; he found his chest had been wrapped tightly in bandages and then covered with a white sheet as he sat up, the walls of the same colour as the material announcing to him that he must be within the hospital. He pressed his palm to his forehead as he felt a sudden surge of pain flash through his chest as he moved; an obvious protest from his body for interrupting its rest. However as he scowled as the unwanted sensation persisted the door to his left opened and a male bearing a mess of silver hair entered, instantly receiving his attention as he spoke.
"Finally awake are we?"
'Finally awake? How long have I been asleep?'
While his thoughts laid concern for himself the answer he responded with didn't- obviously a question the man had been expecting but obviously not so quickly.
"Kakashi-sensei- where is Naruto?"
Sasuke didn't need a reply to know what the answer was, Kakashi's sombre expression all he needed to confirm the thought he had hoped wasn't true.
Akatsuki had finally got Naruto.
"How long?"
"A few hours- ANBU teams have since been dispatched to go after Naruto. I came back with a medic team only to find you and Sakura unconscious and Naruto missing. We will get him back, don't worr-"
"They won't find him."
The interruption was spoken in an almost already defeated voice, bringing surprise to Kakashi as he watched Sasuke push back the covers and drop his feet to the floor almost collapsing before he managing to regain his balance in time, soon stepping slowly to the window nearby and pushing it fully open allowing a fresh breeze to filter into the room. It was only when he saw his leg hook over the bottom of the window when he realised his intentions, pulling back the injured man's arm forcing him backwards away from his exit.
"Where do you think you are going? You are no use to Naruto in your current state."
Sasuke instantly scowled at the man who was the reason for stopping him from leaving, snatching his arm away as he proceeded to make another attempt for the window only to find his teacher standing in front of his exit, obviously in no reason to move.
"You can't stop me from going after him Kakashi."
Kakashi gave some thought into his reply before touching the forehead of his student lightly, his hand having been enveloped in an emerald haze. He instinctively caught the male as he suddenly slumped, carrying him in his arms where he laid him back onto the hospital bed, his single eye drooping at the sight. He knew even without being told about Akatsuki's disappearance with Naruto in tow, having witnessed the event just as he returned. Along with this his uncovered sharingan able to pick up the last apologies of Sasuke, knowing that if he had stayed things might have turned out differently.
"I should have been there. I'm sorry."
Kakashi didn't even realise the arrival of Shizune until she lightly pressed her hand onto his shoulder causing him to turn around, his sorrowed expression meeting the concerns of the medic-nin.
"Is it true?"
The simple nod he gave was all that was needed to make the female instantly lose her calm demeanour and adopt a more frantic persona, her arms soon embracing herself as she began to claw at her arms in worry. Kakashi couldn't hide the slight amusement as he watched Shizune break down in front of him, the irony that in this world where Naruto thought there was no one who cared for him was in fact the complete opposite- there were many who did, with himself, Sasuke and Shizune just as a few examples.
"Shizune- did you come in here for something?"
"Oh, I'm sorry Kakashi-san. I just came in to check on Sasuke."
She instantly dropped her arms to her side allowing Kakashi to see the raw skin trails she had created with her nails as she passed to the unconscious male's bedside, soon hovering the chakra haze encompassing her hand across their body, examining their condition. She soon stepped back with a smile on her face in response to the serious look she was given, picking up the medical chart at the end of the bed and noting a few things down before speaking.
"He's fine- he recovered quicker than I expected, not many people would be able to do that after such a short length of time, especially when he was suffering from severe chakra exhaustion. Looks like his body is reacting to his determination- sped up his recovery. One thing is odd however- I could have sworn I heard his voice as I was walking up. Did something happen before I arrived?"
At that question Kakashi nervously ran his hand through the back of his hair as he professed an anxious smile from underneath his mask, his gaze quickly directed to everywhere else apart from the medic-nin who had sparked off this reaction.
"Well…"
"Don't worry about it Kakashi-san; it's good you did. Even though he is perfectly fine I don't think it would have been a good idea to let him case after them by himself."
Replacing the chart at the end of the bed after scribbling down a few extra words Shizune crossed to the open doorway just pausing before leaving, turning back to the silver-haired Jounin and watching him as his gaze had once again trailed to the bed containing Sasuke, leaving it a few moments before speaking up again.
"Tsunade-sama said Sasuke and Sakura would be fine to be discharged as soon as they woke up. Just don't tell anyone- it's against regulation to allow cases such as these to leave the day they are admitted but in this event Tsunade-sama has turned her back, so as long as you don't say anything it will be fine."
She didn't need to see the face under the mask to know that he was smiling at her words, quietly leaving the room and returning to her duties on other parts of the hospital.
'Good Luck Kakashi. Bring him home safe.'
A few hours passed and a single ninja team stood staring out into the forest that surrounded the small village, knowing that somewhere past that was their target and the kidnapped shinobi they all knew was in grave danger if they didn't make it in time. In the place where Naruto usually stood was an ANBU member that Sakura and Kakashi had worked with before, the very person who famously held the 'Scary Face' jutsu, a technique which Sasuke (luckily) had never encountered before.
"Kakashi-senpei, Hokage-sama has found out from Jiraiya-san's findings that their base is around three hours west of our current position and that ANBU teams were dispatched well over four hours ago and should have already surveyed the perimeter of their base. They are waiting for our arrival before making a move."
Kakashi gave a quick nod before taking one final glance around the vicinity before speaking those few words that he knew both Sakura and Sasuke were straining to hear- the words that would officially start their mission to track down their lost Kitsune.
"Let's head out."
As time wore on and the four shinobi streaking through the forest surrounding Konoha at top speed began to tire it wasn't long until they grinded to a halt in a clearing around two hours into the trip, despite the constant shouts of the Uchiha pacing in the background demanding that they resumed travelling. In fact it didn't take long for Kakashi to give one of those 'you-know-what-to-do' looks to Yamato and finally relish in the silence that ensued a few seconds later, a result of the unique Mokuton abilities the ANBU member possessed and the thick branches that had suddenly sprung around Sasuke effectively cocooning him, creating a soundproof barrier so that his shouts were only heard by himself.
"He is no good to Naruto if he is falling over at the first instance- I told him that back at the hospital."
Kakashi allowed a few minutes to pass in which he was sure his student was attempting pretty much everything to get out of his wooden cocoon save for one thing- one thing he hoped he wouldn't use out of common sense. He soon gathered himself to his feet and tapped lightly upon the exterior of Yamato's trap, a crack soon emerging from in between the branches courtesy of the Mokuton user allowing him to peer down at the Uchiha, slightly amused as he saw him hunched over in one corner of his 'prison'.
"Calm enough now? I'll tell Yamato to let you out if you-"
His words were quickly diminished by the roar of the static chakra echoing within the makeshift cell, the noise giving him enough warning to leap back a short distance before Sasuke came hurtling through the side of the cocoon, the familiar signs of Chidori soon dissipating from his palm. He seemed to be quite proud of himself until he received a slap on the back of his head courtesy of Kakashi, the mixed emotions of confusion and anger meeting the serious expression of the Jounin.
"Are you done? You should have conserved your chakra for what's up ahead- you are no use to use if you are on the floor because of your own stupidity! Naruto's life may have depended on you using Chidori just one more time."
It was unlike Kakashi to act in such a manner but when Naruto was concerned this sudden change of character happened often, especially with the increasingly alarming amount of times the Kitsune seemed to find himself in trouble. He knew he had struck a chord with the Uchiha as he saw pride suddenly darken, obviously realising the waste he had just caused.
'First Sasuke, now Akatsuki…what's next?'
"Come on, we better head off again, we are only around an hour from the base so keep your guard up."
He and Yamato had managed to leap a short distance from the clearing before realizing two of his students were no longer producing the same movement by his side, soon doubling back to stand upon a branch overlooking the two left-behinds.
"Sakura, we're not far now but we have to hurry. Naruto's life may be at stake every second we waste!"
Since reasoning didn't seem to work the ebony-haired Uchiha resorted to grabbing onto the silent kunoichi's arm and dragging her towards the tree where the two awaiting Jounin stood, looking back in surprise as he felt the arm be wrenched out of his grasp and the lost expression expressed upon the female's face as it trailed after a stream of orange petals floating above them, transfixed by the spectacle. Her only movement made was the hand that outstretched to catch the single petal that broke away from the rest, gazing down upon it as if she were analysing every minute detail before voicing her findings.
"We are going the wrong way. Jiraiya-san probably did find their active base but they have moved on since. Their current base is that way."
The hand allowing the flower to rest upon their palm suddenly curled around the petal and pointed in the direction of the others, indicating a route amongst the trees to the west and not one of the north which they had been currently following.
"Sakura come on! This isn't the time, we have to-"
His words were stopped abruptly as the pink haired female disappeared from his side and went streaking after the petals in belief that they led to the fabled base where Akatsuki now resided within, his heart torn in two as he wondered which route he should take.
Should he abandon the entranced Sakura and go after Naruto with a route he now doubted?
Or should he trail after the kunoichi like he knew Naruto would have done?
'Damn Sakura…'
He soon disappeared in Sakura's wake leaving the two Jounin to exchange bemused expressions before taking off after the two absent ninja, clearly flustered at their sudden change in direction. They both knew however they couldn't very well allow both Sakura and Sasuke to enter any danger if they did happen to be right and encounter the Akatsuki- they couldn't exactly leave that to chance so they each formed a quick recession of seals creating a pair of doppelgangers for the pair, a shadow and wood clone respectively. Both the real Yamato and Kakashi sped off after the two that had since left, instead instructing their clones to uptake the route which they would have followed had this mishap not happened. Luckily however it didn't take them long to finally catch up, finding them both standing still, wincing as a shrill cry shredded the silence.
"Kakashi-sensei…that was Naruto wasn't it?"
A silence passed as he knew that both of his students' eyes were fixated upon him, knowing that whether he lied or told the truth it would still heighten their fears of the Kitsune's possible death.
"I don't know…"
'Please don't let my assumptions be true… Your friends can't live without you Naruto- Konoha can't live without you.
I just hope we aren't too late."
A/N: This is a semi-filler chapter but I had to get the actually journey/repercussions out of the way. I apologise for the long wait as well- a load of problems arose at home plus a mountain of school work so I didn't find the time to add the finishing touches to this chapter.
Anyway read and review!
I'll try to be quicker with the next chapter ;)