Chapter Seven
'Hokage please listen to me! Hokage! TSUNADE!' Kurenai screamed, worry etching every syllable. She had been frantic for most of the day, and the sudden disappearance of her team hadn't helped. She ran after the Hokage as she walked to the graveyard, a large bouquet of flowers in her grasp and a pot of ramen from the ramen store in the other.
'What is it Kurenai?' Tsunade asked, not stopping her quick walk. The skies overhead were grumbling, the fresh scents of forest and food fading as the smell of fresh rain overtook it. She didn't have long.
'It's my team, they're not back yet and they should have been back long ago! It was a small mission; I request your permission to leave to look for them. Please.' Kurenai begged, nearly thinking about falling to her knees. She had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach, and she felt that setting off before the rain hit was going to be for the better.
Tsunade stopped and turned to look at the kunoichi before her. She was about to open her mouth to deny the request when Kakashi stepped lazily up. At this time of the year he became lazier, no one ever saw him and no one tried. He knew it was partly his fault that Naruto was dead, yet no one blamed him. Tsunade knew he wished they did. Anger was always better than sadness.
'Hokage, let me accompany Kurenai in retrieval of her team. I am certain that they are safe and well, but it is important for her to make sure. Allow her this.' Kakashi's voice was even and laid back, yet Tsunade detected a hint of pain. Kurenai's pain was reminding him of his own, and he knew the consequences of not acting on gut feeling.
With a sigh Tsunade relented. 'Of course you may go, but together.' She added sternly, eyeing the two of them. They nodded and thanked her before vanishing.
Tsunade sighed and turned around again, adjusting her grasp on the flowers and ramen. At the cemetery she passed her brother and her lover, both of them had died with that necklace. Naruto had died as well, if only she hadn't given it to him! Maybe then he would still be alive . . .
Tsunade fell shamelessly to her knees and wept, clutching the flowers to her chest as if they were a substitute for the cheery, yellow haired ninja. 'Oh Naruto . . . I'm so sorry. Please . . . please forgive me.' She wept.
!
Kakashi and Kurenai made it past the gate easily, waving their hellos to the two poor souls stuck at the entrance. Kurenai didn't want to lag so she forced Kakashi into a fast run down the path. Apparently they would have veered off some way down the road, so for the moment it was most sensible to stick to the path.
As they ran they saw some figures ahead, a lot of them and running quickly as well. The closer the two groups became, the easier it was to identify everyone. It became clear that they were running towards Sasuke and Sakura and their ninja and medical ninja. They were carrying two limp bodies.
Kakashi and Kurenai slowed to watch them pass. They didn't slow, Kakashi saw Sakura commanding the medical ninja in treating one of the limp bodies. When they passed it seemed almost slow motion for that instant. The two ninja were Temari and Kankuro and shockingly they were without their brother. This revelation sent Kakashi's stomach dropping down several floors.
They were also clearly injured.
'Kakashi senpai.' Sasuke greeted quickly and politely. Kakashi nodded for his student to continue. 'Sakura felt as if something was off and we investigated. Gaara is missing, we do not know where he is. Temari is injured but will heal in a few days but Kankuro has been poisoned by a deadly and fast acting poison, its origins Sakura is unsure of. We don't know if we can save him. Sakura . . . doesn't know.' Sasuke nearly whispered the last part.
Kakashi nodded in understanding. It was difficult for the young ninja to freely admit that someone he looked up to might not be able to save yet another life. Everyone else Sakura had helped had survived, but this one time . . . who knew.
'And . . .' Sasuke hesitated and Kakashi saw that there was something else, perhaps something bigger, than the poison. He nodded for his student to go on. 'We . . . saw a ninja in the woods. Maybe the one that attacked the escort but . . . it looked like . . . Naruto.' Sasuke whispered the last words, so quietly that Kakashi nearly missed it.
He leaned forwards, eye widening at the name. 'W . . . what?' He asked stammering.
'Naruto . . . the ninja looked like Naruto.' Sasuke whispered, eyes staring intensely at his shoes and clasping his hands together in front of him.
Kakashi didn't speak for several moments. He only stared at his student with wide eyes and what seemed like a slack jaw. He only managed to right himself to a half comprehensible human when Kurenai gently placed a hand on his shoulder. He shook his head angrily. 'That's impossible. Naruto is dead. There's a ninja disguising himself as Naruto and he's attacking those close to him. He needs to be found and stopped, is that clear?' Kakashi hissed.
Sasuke nodded meekly.
'Tell the Hokage. Tell her to start a search for the ninja immediately. We find him, we find Gaara. I want everyone capable on the task. I'll be leading a search party as soon as I return and I expect you on it.' Kakashi added, becoming angrier and angrier as the words fell from his mouth.
Someone out there was posing as Konahakagure's fallen hero, and for that he'd show no mercy.
'Come Kurenai.' Kakashi's voice was angry, angrier than Kurenai could remember. She had to use Chakra to catch up with Kakashi, his departure was so sudden.
'It's not Sasuke's fault.' Kurenai tried to reason with Kakashi. She couldn't even comprehend the pain that he must be feeling.
Kakashi stayed silent, glaring ahead and veering off the path in the direction that the team must have followed.
Kurenai sighed tiredly and focused her attention on how her team was doing. She hoped they were alright, and that all her fears were just paranoia.
They ran for nearly two hours before coming across the team. Kakashi hadn't spoken a word and was jumping from tree branch to tree branch. Sometimes he'd be going so fast that a tree branch would whip back and hit Kurenai in the face, luckily these were only small ones.
He was going so fast and expecting to see the team running at them that he nearly missed their almost limp bodies. It was Kurenai who saw them and cried out, nearly falling off her tree branch. She didn't know what she had expecting at that moment, but she'd been hoping it wasn't what she saw.
She dropped down and Kakashi came down next to her seconds after. She quickly took stock of the situation, and it was no less horrid than when she had seen it from above.
Kiba was lying tangled in shining fishing wire, kunai stabbed into the ground to hold him there. Blood was running along the wires, cutting into his flesh. One was frighteningly close to cutting off his air supply.
Akamaru was right behind his own, silent as the grave and as still as a statue. He was wounded, his legs all looked broken and blood had run into his eyes and crusted over them. His breathing seemed laboured, so Kurenai was suspicious that there were deeper injuries.
Hinata and Shino were both unconscious. Shino's bugs were scuttling about him in a frenzy, their noise almost unbearable. Something was wrong with him, internally. Hinata was simply unconscious, a heavy blow to the head. Whoever had done this, it seemed that the boys had fought harder, Kiba especially.
Kurenai raced to Kiba's side, Kakashi didn't have to be told to summon his dogs. They came and immediately raced over to Akamaru, whimpering and worrying over one of their own kind. Kurenai tried cutting the string, but it was almost like steel. It wouldn't budge.
She then looked to the kunai buried deep in the ground and started to dislodged them, being careful not to make them tighter. It was a long process, they were they had been lodged was terrifying, especially since it would have had to happen at a rapid pace. It was so intricate that any false move and she was worried she'd slice Kiba in half.
He awoke halfway through and looked at his mentor, asking her how the others were. She replied as evenly and honestly as she could, not wanting to upset him or lie to him. At the mention of Akamaru, who had vanished with Kakashi's dogs to return to the village, he nearly cried but was thankful that his friend was safe.
'Kiba, who did this?' Kurenai asked pleadingly, staring at the net of string across his body. His neck and chest was safe, his stomach would have to come next. It was all so terrifying.
Kiba's inhaled deeply and his hands began to tremble. 'It was . . . Naruto.' He whispered, the last word almost soundless.
Kurenai's hands stopped moving and her head snapped up to Kakashi. He was as still as Akamaru had been, staring at Kiba with his one eye wide and disbelieving.
'No. It was an imposter. Naruto is dead.' Kakashi said blankly. The denial was shining in his eyes.
Kurenai looked down to her student, eyes questioning and begging for him to explain at least a little more. Kiba looked sorry, so sorry to be telling this atrocious news to Kakashi of all people. 'He was in . . . an . . . Akatuski cloak . . . with a girl. She did this . . . she helped him they were Akatsuki. They . . . they laid a trap . . . for us. We fell . . . into it. It was Naruto.' Kiba finished breathless. He closed his eyes and let his head sink back down onto the soft ground.
Kakashi looked around him like a lost child, his eye was nearly in tears. 'No . . . no he's delusional! It was an imposter!' Kakashi nearly screamed the last sentence. He quickly made a shadow clone and the two of them grabbed Shino and Hinata. Shino's bugs scrambled after their unconscious master. 'Naruto is dead I saw him dying! I know he's dead there's a memorial in the village! NARUTO IS DEAD!' This time Kakashi definitely screamed, voice cracking and breaking but never losing its intensity.
Kurenai flinched, about to yell back at him but then stopped. She let him walk away as she continued with Kiba. She didn't know Kakashi's pain, this wasn't fair on him. She didn't know his guilt, she didn't know anything. He was acting childishly, but Kurenai couldn't say anything because she didn't know how it felt.
She just hoped it stayed that way.
!
It was odd, the contrast and how it should be so much different, but the quaint little hospital in the Village was abuzz with shouting and screams and moans. It was positively bustling with life, and Kakashi could do nothing but stand in the furthest shadow and brood over what he had heard.
He was in complete denial.
He had seen Naruto die. No. He had seen him dying which was even worse. He had left Naruto only minutes from death, of that he was sure. Unless someone had come in and intervened, which he thought highly unlikely, Naruto had died. So the person who was attacking officials and teams was using Naruto's features to make it even worse.
Kakashi's fist curled up into a ball as he thought of someone making a shamble of his student's memory like that. He could never think of Naruto in the past tense, he was always his student or his friend.
He began to watch Sakura as she worked. She was very efficient, but clearly panicked. Kankuro was groaning and moaning, and as each minute passed he became quieter and quieter. Tsunade was also in a panic, for once seeming to care about something other than moping and drinking. The two ladies were using all of their training and Chakra ability to prevent the young ninja from dying.
Temari was alright, and so was Hinata. They were coming to, slowly but surely. Temari was definitely looking the worse for wear, Hinata was mainly bruised and had a lump on her head. She was looking around with forlorn eyes, looking as hopelessly lost as Kakashi.
He began to feel sorry for her. She had loved Naruto, and now this cruel play by the Akatsuki was making the memories come back. He wondered if she had also fallen for it.
Kiba had been brutalised, as the strings had come off they had taken the congealed blood and made extra cuts inside the cuts. He was in immense pain, and the medical ninja thought that some of his bones had also been cut. The string was currently being analysed.
Akamaru was in the care of Tsume and Hana, the two had let nothing be known except that they were certain Akamaru would survive.
Shino had been injured internally, he was bleeding and a slow poison used to stun was circulating. The dosage was high, so everyone was unsure if he'd go into a coma or come out.
Kankuro, however, was dying and currently there was nothing that Sakura or Tsunade were doing that was helping him. Kakashi's small light of hope was slowly dwindling away as the minutes passed, and as they did he felt more anger burning towards the imposter and the girl who seemed to have raven hair. In fact, he was going to capture all of the Akatsuki no matter what. None deserved to live after these attacks.
Gaara. What are they doing with Gaara? Do they want power, or the beast inside? A tiny voice whispered. The voice was right. That was the question. They had to compile a team and head off immediately, following the already weak trail the Akatsuki had left. They had to get Gaara back home safe and sound.
'Kakashi Sensei!' Someone shouted. It was Sasuke. He came running in the already crowded room and stopped in front of his mentor. His eyes were wide and he was holding up a map in excitement. A large 'X' marked a spot just on the edge of a forest, between the Sand and the Leaf.
'What is this?' Kakashi asked, his interest peaking. Sasuke grinned, looking mighty pleased with himself. Kakashi's heart twinged. Here was Sasuke, doing exactly what Kakashi should be doing instead of standing around and moping.
'Sensei, I have some witnesses who swear that this is where they saw the two Akatsuki members in question. They were carrying a person who they think has red hair, and he wasn't moving. One Akatsuki had black hair, the other had blonde. They were heading in this direction.' Sasuke pointed to a dotted trail that led to a group of high cliffs and hills, just sitting in the middle of nowhere.
Kakashi's heart soared. 'This could be the secret hideout of the Akatsuki.' He whispered, eye shining. Sasuke grinned and nodded enthusiastically.
'That's what I was thinking, Sensei.' Sasuke seemed immensely proud, and Kakashi nodded in praise. At the moment, that was almost like receiving three cheers. Sasuke's beam brightened.
'We need a team, of the best and most enthusiastic. Who is available right now?' Kakashi asked, mind swirling over the thoughts. Team Kurenai was definitely not available, Shikamaru was busy and so were Choji and Ino.
That left one team that Kakashi really didn't want to think about. Team Gai. They were brilliant, clearly enthusiastic and strong as well as fast. They needed that, and they were available. Kakashi looked out over the injured ninja and sighed, running a hand through his silver hair.
'We need Gai's team.' He mumbled. Sasuke didn't question, he never questioned his Sensei. He thought he had lost that right after running away for Orochimaru.
'I'll get them assembled Sensei.' Sasuke bowed respectfully and then ran off, searching for the team. Kakashi's attention turned back to the scene before him. Sakura was even more panicked, sweat was running down her cheeks and face like a rain shower. Tsunade was no better off. Temari was crying hysterically, trying to calm herself. She was by Kankuro's side, and he was speaking. Softly and calmly, and his words were making Temari cry even harder.
He was saying goodbye. Such a sweet sentiment, but so painful. Kakashi wondered what Naruto would have said if he had gotten that chance, before Kakashi had betrayed him.
Suddenly Sakura screamed in triumph and began directing the others in a strange, strangled mess of words. Luckily everyone but Kakashi seemed to able to understand her, and Kakashi's view was blocked of the dying ninja by everyone running around him and jostling. Sakura yelled at them to give her space, and it was like the waters parted and she was left alone. She smiled grimly and worked, hands moving so fast they were a blur.
Kakashi smiled grimly at Temari's evident relief and hope. So apparently Kankuro wasn't going to die. Sakura must be pleased with herself, and who knew what Tsunade felt.
With a small sigh of resignation Kakashi strode out from the hospital, determined to wait for the news outside.
!
Hours later Sakura emerged, clothes saturated in sweat and looking like she'd just battled the first Hokage on her own. She grinned tiredly at her mentor and nodded her head gently. She tried to speak but seemed unable to do so.
Kakashi held up a hand before she tried again, gently swaying his head as a shake. 'No need. He's alive. If he wasn't you'd be here crying and in shock, and I would be able to hear Temari's wails. Good job.' He whispered the compliment, gently laying a hand on Sakura's shoulder. She smiled tiredly and nodded her thanks. 'You deserve some rest. We're leaving as soon you're healthy. We need to catch Gaara and those who took him as soon as possible.'
Sakura nodded, the small fire in her eyes growing a tad stronger at the words. She too felt anger towards the Akatsuki. She was uncertain whether the Naruto character was actually him, or an imposter. But she desperately wanted to find out and set her heart to rest.
'We'll go too.' The shaky voice behind them could only belong to one person, and Kakashi honestly hadn't expected anything else. He turned and saw Temari, looking worse for wear, but her mouth was set in a grim, determined line. 'Naruto attacked us.' She whispered. Kakashi was about to interject forcefully but Temari beat him to it. 'It was him. You weren't there and you didn't see a dead Naruto. Something happened and now he's kidnapped Gaara. We need Gaara back, and we need to help Naruto. He's lost . . . so lost . . . and we owe him.' Temari's voice was holding on by a thread, every note wavering, yet she still sounded firm and strong.
She didn't sound delusional.
Kakashi visibly bit his lip as he stared at Temari, eye narrowing to ascertain whether she was telling the truth or dragging him along. 'He's dead.' He stated bluntly.
'I'm sorry, but we'll see.' Temari answered, equally as firm.
'I'll give you three nights to rest. On the morning after the third night, we leave at dawn. If you're not ready, don't come. We need everyone to be strong and fast.' Kakashi told her, already having a plan in mind. He may be desperate to catch the Akatsuki, but he hadn't lost his senses. Even Sakura needed rest. 'Now, if you don't mind I'm going to speak to Gai. That'll be fun.' Kakashi muttered as he walked off, hands in his pockets as Sakura led Temari back inside.
!
'You guard, I'll help grab Shukaku from Gaara.' Naruto said as soon as they got the alert that they had another hour until the three day task began. If Karasu was helping it would probably go back down to two days, but they had always had an agreement that when this began, due to the larger number of members than expected, one would stand guard in the hideout where the tailed beast was. Precautions they could afford.
Karasu snorted and patted Naruto on the shoulder, hopping up gracefully to where the large fingers stretched into the sky. Naruto laughed at this and hopped up next to her, only inches apart. He was a good half a head taller.
'I'm doing this.' He growled menacingly. Karasu laughed at his attempt. She knew exactly that he was joking and trying to make her step down, and she knew that he knew that she knew.
'No, you're not. You see, I'm thinking that the Leaf will soon be looking for us, and if they somehow find us then the person guarding will have to throw them off long enough for Shukaku to be taken out. Do you still want me to guard?' Karasu asked, one eyebrow elegantly raised to the point where it was like an artwork.
Naruto hesitated, the words failing him. He swallowed quickly and tried to regain his composure. 'Well if the Leaf come they'll come in strength, wouldn't they?' At the question Karasu nodded wisely. 'Then it would be better for me to wait for them. You're better at this sort of work anyway.' Naruto nodded at his own wisdom before hopping down off the statue.
'Are the seal's in place?' Karasu called down, her voice echoing off the rocks. Naruto waved his hand at her, unknowingly performing the same action that his old mentor had always done.
Outside it was bright, warm and sunny. Naruto turned his face up to the sun and smiled blissfully. It had been an excellent day, even though Deidara and Sasori were a little miffed that they hadn't been in on the fun.
A few birds scattered wildly from the trees by the forest, Naruto saw them take to the air in a shrill of frightened calls and shrieks. Naruto frowned at their actions, and slowly a small smile spread across his features. Either someone was watching, or this was an omen that there would soon be a fight. Either way, there would be a fight. If someone was watching, they'd report his actions. It was a win-win, at least for him.
He smiled grimly and made his way around, looking at the seal's and flicking them experimentally. They didn't move, and nothing happened. All was as expected.
'And what am I meant to do for three whole days? The Leaf better hurry up.' Naruto growled. He suddenly realised that the leaf headband was still hanging around his neck. Angrily he yanked it off, glaring at the scarred metal. He threw it in the water pool at his feet, scrubbing the sandy substance from the cut. When he lifted it out, it was sparkling and shiny, the long kunai cut now clearly visible. He grunted in appreciation of his work.
He started to remember the Leaf as his home, and tried pushing the memories back. But they threatened him with a headache and slowly he let them trickle in. Kissing Sasuke, meeting Kakashi, seeing that Sakura was in his team, training, laughing, his first mission, Jiraya, Gaara, the exams . . . they all flooded in. The memories were bright and filled with laughter and light, filled with the sense of belonging.
Sakura had been so beautiful to him, she had also been so determined and strong. Perhaps not in the conventional way, but in every other possible form. Unfortunately she had been obsessed about Sasuke and hadn't paid Naruto any attention.
He remembered Shikamaru, and realising for the first time that this man was a genius. At the Chunin exams, he had seen the power that Kakashi had given Sasuke and the power that was Shukaku, and then he had witnessed his own incredible power and he had felt alive. The colours moved and danced in his memory, coming together in fireworks and moving apart.
He had felt so happy then, as if he belonged. Last of all he remembered running after Sasuke with Shikamaru, Neji, Choji and Kiba. The plan had been brilliant, he'd expected nothing less from Shikamaru. But slowly their numbers had dwindled until it was only Naruto, and he'd fought for his village and for the protection of all those innocent's. He had also fought for his brother, and he had won in a tie.
He had wanted to go home, he remembered the feeling of helplessness when he lay there, bleeding into the river. Then the relief when he heard someone approaching. He hadn't known that Kakashi would show the Village's true colour then, that he wouldn't pick up Naruto and help both, or call for help or make a shadow clone. He had turned to see him walk away, and Naruto had realised that the Village only ever thought of him as an idiot who was better off dead.
Naruto's fist clenched over the headband and he pulled back his arm to throw it as far away as possible. Then, on another thought, he slowly lowered his arm and looked at the ragged headband. He was meant to wear it, he knew he was. It was always attached to his hip so he wouldn't have to look at it or feel it. However if the Leaf did come, he could use this to make them sorry, to make them realise the depth of their deception and the consequences it had had on them and their future. He would make them pay, bit by bit until there was nothing left of them but an empty shell and then, when all the innocents were dead and dust, he would kill them slowly, while they watched their teammates die in the same horrendous fashion.
'You will pay.' Naruto hissed, one more tiny crack forming in the metal alongside all the others.