Chapter Eight
Kakashi checked the time by the sun one more time; it was at least two minutes over. Everyone should have been gathered here by now, but for some reason Gai was late. Rock-Lee was also late, and Tenten and Neji were thoroughly embarrassed with their teammate's actions.
Temari and Kankuro were completely healed and anxious to start moving. Kakashi agreed. Two days of waiting wasn't good enough, they should've left immediately.
Kiba was hobbling along to say goodbye to them, Akamaru still couldn't walk so he had been left behind in the care of Kiba's mother and sister. Hinata was with him as well, looking sullen and utterly miserable. Shino was being supported by Hinata, his injuries had been brutal and fuelled by immense hatred. At the sight of the young ninja Kakashi's heart hardened. This monster who portrayed himself as Naruto would pay.
'So you're leaving eh?' Kiba asked grinning. Everything was strained, his voice and smile, but he was being brave and for that Kakashi was proud. He knew Kurenai was as well.
'As soon as Gai and Lee get here.' Sakura answered smiling tightly. Of all people, it had to be Gai and Lee who were late, those that always preached 'doing your best' and 'being on time'. Even for Kakashi this was something that was bordering on unacceptable.
'Good luck.' Hinata whispered, also giving the team a tight-lipped smile. Everyone felt the tension in the air, it was as suffocating as a thick, heavy blanket. Silence prevailed instantaneously, everyone shuffling their feet or checking their multiple weapons again. Kankuro was testing his limbs as Sakura had suggested, making sure that they were still in working order. Sakura had demanded that if there was any pain, he tell someone immediately and go home with an escort. He was not to slow down the team, and he knew that. So he was wanting to make sure that he was still able to be of assistance.
After several tense minutes, in which Kakashi didn't even touch the book attached to his hip, Gai and Lee appeared. Lee had his fists clenched and held up to his chest, eyes agleam with excitement. Gai was laughing about something with his hands on his hips, appearing taller than he actually was. 'Ah Kakashi! You're here early!' Gai cheered, waving his hand in a 'hello'.
Lee didn't say anything, he was literally brimming with excitement. He looked like a kid in a candy store.
'This isn't a matter to take lightly Gai. We're going after Akatsuki, one of whom is portraying himself as Naruto. Why are you so late?' Kakashi demanded coldly, staring down Gai. Gai didn't take anything to heart, just widened his grin and stopped in front of his rival.
'Training! Isn't that right Lee!' Gai answered immediately, happily looking at his student.
'Right sensei!' Lee shouted. Kakashi winced at the volume and took a step back.
'Oh it's you three! Back on your feet? Good job!' Gai congratulated Hinata, Kiba and Shino. They thanked him hesitantly and tried to attempt a smile. 'Kakashi! Are we ready?' Gai asked, turning around on his feet.
'I'm ready sensei!' Lee immediately shouted in response, thrusting his hand into the air and waving it around. Gai laughed and patted Lee on the head affectionately.
'Yes, we're ready.' Kakashi muttered, hefting his equipment onto his back again and turning to the three injured ninja. 'Take care of yourselves.' He told them, a hint of his former warmth returning to his voice. They all noticed it and smiled happily at him. No matter what, they had to come together as a village, especially now.
'You too. You're facing the Akatsuki, so make sure not to do anything too reckless.' Kiba joked happily. Kakashi's face lifted into a half smile and he ruffled up the young boys hair.
'We won't. You have my word.' He vowed before turning to the others and gesturing them on towards the gate.
The three ninjas waited until they couldn't see the others anymore, and then even longer after that.
Kakashi turned to Gai as soon as the Leaf was out of sight. 'Where were you this morning?' He asked coolly, refusing to be goaded into anything by Gai. Sometimes he was a real nuisance with that, and he especially loved challenges, most of all when he wasn't the one who had suggested them. Kakashi refused to allow him that pleasure.
'Training! We have a big task ahead of us, and we need the power of youth more than ever!' Gai shouted the last part enthusiastically, thrusting his fists into the air in a declaration of power and excitement. Kakashi wasn't the least bit impressed.
'So shouldn't you have spared that energy instead?' Kakashi asked tiredly, wondering why he'd even brought it up. Speaking to Gai could be like speaking to a brick wall.
Naruto. You're late to find the ninja who's impersonating Naruto. A small voice in the back of Kakashi's mind reminded him. He locked his jaw tight at the thought, the image of the dying ninja racing through his mind. He wouldn't let his image be spoiled by some brat who didn't know what a wonderful, brilliant ninja Naruto had been.
'Training gives you more energy Kakashi. You should know that, isn't that right Lee?' Gai shouted at his student, who turned around immediately in a whirl of dust and shouted 'YES SENSEI'. Gai laughed and congratulated Lee before walking on at an even faster pace, exclaiming that their destination was in reach if they just hurried on.
'I don't even know where he gets all this enthusiasm from.' Tenten groaned as she stared at her teammate and her team leader. Neji gently propelled her forwards.
'We've got a long way to go yet, and if we want to make it today then we need to follow their example.' Neji told her not unkindly. Tenten looked to her sane teammate and nodded in agreement, face set into hard lines. Whatever happened, they had to get there as soon as possible. Who knew what was going on with Gaara.
They first went to the place where the two ninja had attacked Temari and Kankuro, searching for anything to help them track the pair. The mountain range the witnesses had described was large and spanned many kilometres. If they wanted to find the missing Kazekage quickly, they had to use Kakashi's dogs to track them down if possible. If not, Kakashi had told them all to look for seals, as that was the most logical step for the Akatsuki to take.
They reached the rocky outcrop and didn't even recognise it as a place where something terrible had happened. It was silent and calm, the wind gently scattered tiny loose stones over the hard surface. The forests on either end retreated, and Sakura and Sasuke both looked to where they had last seen the ninja impersonating Naruto. At least, they hoped Kakashi's theory was right.
It had to be.
'If we don't find anything here, we'll go to where Kiba and the others were attacked. Span out and go in groups, we don't want any nasty surprises.' Kakashi ordered. Gai nodded, for once acting seriously, and went off with Lee. Tenten and Neji paired up, while the Sand Siblings stayed closer than a thief with his gold. Sakura and Sasuke naturally paired up, and Kakashi was alone.
He sighed unhappily, but shrugged it off. He quickly summoned Pakkun and told him about what had transpired so far.
'So we're sure this ninja is impersonating Naruto?' Pakkun asked after quietly listening to every word Kakashi had to say.
He nodded seriously, eyes hardening at the thought. 'I saw Naruto dying, the Akatsuki had no real interest in his life. They could have easily extracted the nine tails from him and left him for dead. There's no other possibility.' His voice was as hard as the rocks around them.
Pakkun turned around and looked at the other ninja, all bent over like old ladies and searching the ground for anything. 'The Akatsuki have gone over the line this time. This is beyond disrespectful.' Pakkun muttered angrily. He too remembered Naruto, and his memories were of a cheerful, hardworking young lad who never gave up. Pakkun was certain Naruto would never go with the Akatsuki, they were bad and he was good.
'It is, and we're going to put a stop to it.' Kakashi vowed.
After half an hour of thorough searching, nothing had turned up. They trekked to where Kiba and his team had been attacked, and began searching again.
Not even five minutes had passed until Pakkun had found something. He yelped at Kakashi to come and began nosing a black piece of cloth. 'Is this what we're looking for?' Pakkun asked uncertainly. Black cloths weren't uncommon, but it was too much of a coincidence for it to be here.
'It should be. Everyone, stop searching! We have something!' Kakashi called out to the others, who all hurried over to the pair. They bent over and looked at the scrap of cloth. It was almost as big as Kakashi's little finger, barely anything, yet apparently it was enough for Pakkun to have picked up.
'Is it theirs?' Tenten asked suspiciously. She didn't want any false leads.
'Too much of a coincidence, it being here. It's got to be. Pakkun, can you track it?' Kakashi asked the little dog. He sniffed at the cloth again and began to scurry around the ground. He lifted his head and looked at Kakashi with large, bright brown eyes.
'Yeah, I can track it. It leads this way, and by the scent they weren't moving slowly.' Pakkun informed. Kakashi nodded seriously, packing away the cloth and turned to the others.
'It looks like we'd better hurry. We don't want them to leave without us.' He said, already imagining the shocked face of the imposter just as Kakashi defeats him, preparing to bring the Akatsuki back to the Leaf to await their justice.
It was going to be glorious.
!
'It's taking so long.' Naruto grumbled, angrily kicking a loose rock. It went clattering over the rocky ground, and the
The ten ninja atop the fingers completely ignored Naruto, instead focusing all their energy onto the task at hand.
'Why aren't they here yet?' He grumbled again, louder this time. With every scuttle outside he'd fling his head in the direction, awaiting the doors to open and the Leaf ninja to infiltrate their base. He was so excited and tense; the last three days had been an absolute nightmare for him.
'Be thankful they are not. It would greatly disrupt this process.' The droning voice of Itachi rang out. Naruto glared at the shadowy ninja before continuing with kicking exactly the same rock. It was like an odd game of soccer for him.
'This is their friend, they should be running to help him. Why aren't they here? It doesn't take this long!' Naruto complained angrily, glaring at the rock and imagining the Leaf's ninja's faces on it. He could see them all, swirling about and laughing at him. He kicked it so hard the rock splintered and broke apart into thousands of tiny pieces.
'Good job, you just broke your toy.' Hidan chuckled.
'Shut up!' Naruto snapped, whirling around in a storm of black cape. Hidan only chuckled further at his outburst, but remained silent nonetheless.
'Come on guys, we only have half a day left. Let's not ruin it now.' Karasu muttered. It seemed that her words went unheard, and she didn't feel like arguing. She wanted this to work quickly, so that when the Leaf ninja finally did arrive, they could have a present waiting for them.
'There are plenty of rocks around, use those.' Kakazu grunted.
'If the rocks are life sized ninja, then I'd happily go for them!' Naruto defended. If he had been an animal, he would most certainly have his hackles raised and his fur bristling madly.
'Silence. Naruto, keep guarding and leave us to this.' Their leader's voice commanded.
Naruto grumbled obscene things under his breath and retreated to the furthest, darkest corner he could find. He glared at Akatsuki standing tall on the fingers and began to wonder if he shouldn't have been up there himself.
'I'll track them.' He muttered quietly, doing the hand signs to make a shadow clone. 'I'll track them and see what the hell is going on with them.' His shadow clone quietly left through the back exit, something that Karasu had been keen to install, and waited then. As soon as his clone saw the others, he'd vanish and then Naruto would know everything he needed.
!
They were now truly running, through the forests and going as quickly as they could until they reached the hidden base. It was a risk they were taking, making themselves burn energy to reach their destination as quickly as possible, but thankfully their chakra stores were rested and as good as could be.
When they reached the hideout they planned on retreating and resting for a full half hour, or perhaps an hour depending on their condition, and then attacking. Retreating was the most important factor of that plan, for they didn't know what traps the Akatsuki had set to keep their hideout protected from ninja like themselves.
Everyone was okay with that plan, they were prepared to wait, all except for Kakashi. He had acted happy with the plan, satisfied even, but everyone could see the anger boiling just beneath the surface. If needed Gai had arranged for himself, Neji and Sasuke to hold Kakashi and keep him with the others. If worst came to worse, Sakura would knock him out with her medical jutsu, just long enough for them all to rest.
Naturally Kakashi wasn't privy to this plan.
They had been traveling for several hours now, and it was just beginning to become midday. Sakura looked around her and decided this was a good place to rest for lunch. If they didn't eat, their energy stores would be replenished a lot slower.
'Lunch!' She called out, just loud enough for their group to hear but hopefully not loud enough for spying ninjas. It was always wise to assume that they were being watched and act accordingly, that Sakura had learnt from both Kakashi and Tsunade.
Everyone stopped on their respective tree limbs and hurried over to Sakura's. She'd stopped on an extra wide one, with enough room for everyone to dangle their legs over the side and enjoy some sandwiches.
They all carried their own food, and so sat down immediately and began to dig into their food. Without collaboration they all let out a tired breath at the same time. The worry was nagging away at them, especially the Sand Siblings, and they all wanted to get this lunch over as quickly as possible.
For an instant Sakura thought she saw eyes in the forest, standing right across from them. Startlingly blue, as deep as a sky without clouds. Naruto's eyes.
Sakura gasped and dropped her lunch. Sasuke and Kakashi were instantly alert, staring at her and then the place where her eyes were riveted. The blue eyes were still there, watching silently and never blinking.
'Sakura, what is it?' Sasuke asked, hand already resting over where his kunai were. Kakashi was prepared to lower his mask and reveal the sharingan.
'Don't you see them? The eyes, right there right over . . . there.' Sakura turned to Sasuke to speak and then back to where the eyes were to point at them, yet when she looked again they had vanished without a trace.
Sasuke and Kakashi stared at her with concern. The other ninja hadn't noticed that anything had transpired, it had all happened so quickly and with muted whispers.
Sakura continued to stare at the now empty tree branch, her eyes wide with concern for herself. Was she going mad?
Kakashi sighed heavily and ran a hand through his silver hair. 'It's the nerves.' He told her gently, before splitting his lunch into two and sharing it with Sakura. She smiled gently and accepted it, not wanting to mention that she was certain those eyes had been Naruto's.
She had most probably seen things; it wasn't anything to concern herself with.
A slight breeze picked up and lifted Sakura's hair from behind her neck. The air carried with it the scents of the forest, of moist moss and of fallen leaves decomposing, of the pines and the oaks and all the other trees that shared this forest. It smelt of fresh water and there was a hint of the animals that had a found a home here.
Sakura lifted her face into the wind and closed her eyes, inhaling deeply and soundlessly. She had to relax, she had to calm down before she did something stupid or saw something stupid. She calmed her racing mind, it had begun to hurt as soon as the eyes had disappeared. She pulled her head into her hands and rested it there, closing her eyes and imagining not what had to be done, but instead what life had been like before Orochimaru had promised Sasuke all those things, before everything had begun to fall apart at the seams.
It had been a wonderful time then, and more than anything Sakura wished she could go back and perhaps change things. What, she didn't know. However she felt this overwhelming sensation that she could have done something to change the outcome.
Kakashi's gently hand on her shoulder pulled her out of her wonderful daydream, and she looked up at him blinking. 'It's time to go.' He told her before pulling himself to his feet. Sakura did the same and looked at the others.
Everyone was preparing to leave, and all had this grim determination on their faces. Now they wouldn't stop until they found the base, and even then only for a short time. They were quickly closing in on the enemy, and soon they'd have to battle.
'Alright, let's go!' Sakura shouted, and everyone else nodded sternly before throwing themselves onto the next tree branch, and then the next and then the next.
!
Naruto opened his eyes and smiled grimly. He saw that they only had three hours at the most left, and the team from the Leaf, as well as the Sand Siblings (a welcome addition) were three hours away at their current speed, perhaps two and a half if they really pushed it. Knowing them, they'd wait to gain their strength back.
They'd have dealt with Gaara before they arrived, and long before they'd figure out how to deal with the seals placed all over their base. They wouldn't need clones to appear and distract them, which was even better. Naruto wanted them at full strength so he could test himself against them.
'Any news?' Karasu asked from her position on the finger. He saw her looking down at him, eyes now a crystal clear blue.
'They'll be here in two and a half hours at best, and even then they'll be resting to regain chakra. They're not idiots.' Naruto informed her, grinning gleefully.
Karasu nodded, mouth setting itself into a tight line. 'Are you prepared?' She asked him. Everyone was watching him now, even Pain.
'Of course.' Naruto flashed a barbaric smiled towards his new teammates, towards his new family. They all seemed to believe and they turned back to their work.
Only three hours remaining. It was so close, and yet so far away. It was almost worse now that Naruto knew the time.
He stood up and walked to the back exit, contemplating whether to leave or not. Turning back slightly he noticed that everyone was watching him again, yet none of them told him to stop or to return to doing nothing.
Naruto glared at the exit. It was so tempting. If it wasn't there, the Leaf's attack would have been an exciting surprise, and he wouldn't have been tempted just then to leave and make a welcoming committee of his own.
He walked casually back to the dark corner and sat back down, resting his back against the rough rock wall of the cave. He closed his eyes and focused on keeping his mind empty, completely empty and without any thoughts.
It didn't really work when he heard Kakazu and Hidan begin cursing and belittling each other again.
He opened his eyes and saw their transparent forms glaring daggers at each other, mouths forming words that he was trying his best to block out.
Then he noticed that Deidara and Sasori had found their arguing inspiring, and so had decided to argue about art.
Pain was ignoring them completely. He was satisfied with the way that this was panning out, all their chakra was still focused on extracting Shukaku from the Kazekage and it was continuing as it should. Konan was looking from her leader back to the arguing pairs, and Karasu looked about ready to give up on everyone and go solo.
It was then that Naruto realised . . . this was his family. Beforehand arguing like this had been highly irritating, and he had hated every single one of the Akatsuki. But now . . . their arguing was soothing and he enjoyed the times when they all came together. The arguing was an indication of peace, and deep in Naruto's heart he felt a small thrill of warmth.
What he really wanted, he realised, was peace with this family. Oddly enough that was achieved through their continuous killing and collecting loot, and even if the nine-tails was extracted from him he didn't care because he knew they had a way to revive him without him losing any of his strength.
All he wanted was peace, and he knew that that couldn't be achieved with the Leaf and the Sand, it couldn't be achieved with how the world was in that moment. If it could be, Naruto would be all ears however he knew that was just a dream.
Naruto relaxed once more into the wall and closed his eyes, a tiny smile gracing his lips. It was one that hadn't been seen for three years, one of peace and content. He fell asleep listening to the babble of arguing voices, thinking that life really couldn't be any better.
Karasu turned and looked at Naruto, and what she saw nearly made her fall off the finger. He was smiling, like she'd seen in the pictures she'd discovered a while ago. She'd been on another of her infiltration missions, and had found these wonderful pictures in Kakashi's, Naruto's former team leader, room.
She hadn't ever seen Naruto look as content and happy as those photographs, but there he was with a little smile lighting up his features, looking happier than Karasu could remember. Her heart softened a little as well as she understood what had caused this quiet change.
She looked to Kakazu and Hidan, Deidara and Sasori and thanked them quietly in her head. If Naruto could find something enjoyable in this little band of theirs, then she was certain the others would find something as well, and her gut told her it would be sometime soon.
!
'Found it!' Pakkun shouted hours later. They had rested, Kakashi hadn't needed to be detained thankfully, and everyone was feeling nervous and anxious as well as incredibly annoyed. The Akatsuki had attacked them, stolen one of their friends or sibling and they deserved what was now coming to them.
'Let's go Lee!' Gai shouted, completely forgetting that they were planning to be quiet. Kakashi looked tiredly to Tenten and Neji for an explanation as Gai and Lee ran off, leaving only a cloud of dust behind.
Tenten shrugged apologetically with a little smile, while Neji looked away in embarrassment. Kakashi sighed and trudged after the enthusiastic ninjas, hopping onto a larger rock to look at the fortress ahead of them.
A large egg shaped rock, perhaps fifteen Kakashi's tall, stood in front of what was presumably a cave. A seal was over the rock, and there were definitely going to be others hidden about the terrain as well.
Gai was walking up the rock to the seal while Lee was searching around with a hand shielding his eyes for another seal.
The others caught up to Lee and Gai in a few more moments, looking up at Gai and sideways at Lee who was beginning to look like Pakkun.
'Gai, don't touch it.' Kakashi called up tiredly. Gai waved back and looked at the seal in detail.
'Sensei! I cannot find the other seals! Is this the only one?' Lee asked, shouting up to his mentor. Gai looked down at his student and laughed carelessly. It was a loud, booming laugh and the others all winced at it. Those on the other side of the door were sure to now know that they were here.
'Of course you can't Lee! They've been carefully hidden! Kakashi! We need one person on every seal and we need to rip them off at exactly the same time, otherwise the trap will be activated on all of the seals!' Gai called down.
'Do you know how many there are?' Sakura asked the obvious question.
Gai turned back to the seal, not even daring to touch the smooth paper. 'There ought to be four.' He called back down, with less vigour than before. He was beginning to realise the situation they were in, and the immense trust that was being placed in the Leaf to return the Kazekage back to the Sand without harm.
'Alright. Lee, Tenten and Neji go to the other three seals. Pakkun will guide you. Once you've found it give a signal.' Kakashi informed Team Gai.
'Right!' They shouted together, before being led off by Pakkun into the nearby bushes.
Now Kakashi turned to his remaining teammates. 'We will need to stand guard here, in case anything happens. Be prepared, this isn't a normal situation we're in. This is the Akatsuki, S-ranked criminals. They'll kill you if they can, so don't hold back.' He gave them the last piece of advice before he became silent and staring at the rock. He pulled down his mask and activated the sharingan.
Sasuke activated his as well and found he couldn't see inside the base. He took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for what was to come.
!
'Sounds like they're getting ready.' Naruto sighed, sitting up from his sleeping position and stretching his arms and hands luxuriously above his head.
Everyone had disappeared, the cavern was silent and Karasu was staring at the large rock that was currently acting as a door. She looked calm and her eyes were slowly drooping shut. However Naruto saw that they were now as black as fresh ink, and he knew that she was prepared to battle.
'Of course. The seals were made easier, by you I'm assuming. They'll get in with no trouble.' Karasu sighed, leaning against the statue. Gaara's unmoving body was laying on the ground, face turned towards the door as if mocking those who would come through it.
Naruto walked casually over to the body and sat on it, staring at the lifeless form. He poked the cheek, and nothing moved. 'Did a good job here.' Naruto congratulated dryly.
'Couldn't be helped.' Karasu informed him, taking note of his tone. Naruto looked up at her with darkened eyes.
'I didn't meant it like that, I meant that I wished I was the one to kill him.' Naruto admitted shamelessly. Karasu shrugged gracefully.
'Then you should've been the one up there. I can't help it if the Leaf are as slow as snails.' She yawned, holding a hand over her mouth.
They lapsed into silence once more, until there was a loud booming noise and the door rolling away from the opening, letting the late afternoon sunlight flood in and illuminate the scene in front of them.
'What the . . .' Were the first words heard by the two Akatsuki, and as if acting on a signal Naruto lifted his head to peer at those who had come in. He grinned wickedly.
'Welcome.' He called mockingly, his eyes holding all the menace and hatred he felt for the Leaf. 'Been awhile hasn't it . . . friends.'