Chapter 5: Close Encounters
"Well you guys have perfect timing," said Kakashi.
Temari and Team 8 casually made their way into the room dragging behind three beaten down shinobi. They were all conscious as their painful groaning indicated.
"Sorry it took so long. We came across some obstacles as you can tell," Kurenai pointed to the three incapacitated sound-nin.
"Maybe now we can get some answers," said Naruto.
Naruto rose from his seat and made his way to the 3 sound-nin. He looked each one of them over like a kid who has just found something they've never seen before. He tapped on one man's forehead indicating that he would ask this one the questions. Naruto opened his mouth but before he could speak Kakashi placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"Shinpai shinaide (Don't worry) Naruto, I'll take care of the questioning. Time is crucial here and I have a way of getting them to speak without any problems."
Kakashi kneeled down in front of the battered sound shinobi. He then raised his arm to pull up his headband that covered his blood red sharingan eye. The sound-nin warily lifted his eyes to meet Kakashi's. He was fixated with the red eye and quickly lost himself in it.
"Maindojimon no jutsu (Mind Interrogation Technique)." Instantly the man's body stiffened up. He was almost zombie-like with the way he now stared back at Kakashi. His eyes grew wide yet very empty like his mind was being poked at through them, "Tell me why Sasuke has all of you posted along the border of Kaze no Kuni?"
"Sasuke-sama ordered us to stand post while he took care of business," he answered like a dull drone.
"What business?"
"Only team leaders were told of the business. We were just told that Sasuke-sama would be visiting Iwagakure."
Kakashi looked away from the dull shinobi towards Naruto who had a stern look on his face. Kakashi knew he needed nothing else from the sound-nin because it was obvious enough what Sasuke was actually doing and everyone else could deduct it as well.
"Kazekage-sama you can have them taken away now. I don't need to question them for anything else. It should be plain enough to see what Sasuke is doing now."
"Huh?" Kiba was slightly confused.
"Sasuke is trying to create an alliance with Tsuchi no Kuni. He used all of these sound shinobi as a safety precaution. While we focused all our time on whether or not they were going to attack, Sasuke took his time negotiating why Tsuchi no Kuni should ally with Otogakure against us."
Naruto's fist slammed roughly onto the circular table. His thoughts bounced around erratically. Damn that Sasuke was the phrase that played his mind. On one hand he could just try going after Sasuke, which is what he really wanted to do, but on the another hand being the Hokage called for him to be level headed and think rationally.
"We should head back to Konoha and decided what to do from there," Naruto finally said, "but could I ask for a request from you Gaara?"
"What?" he asked in his monotone voice.
"Since these things are happening it won't be as easy for us to come back and forth as easily as right now. But if we had a representative from Sunagakure temporarily living in our village it would make things a little easier for the both of us. So I'm asking if Temari-san would be that person."
"Then Temari shall accompany you back to Konohagakure. She will relay all information that is delivered to her and she will be represented as our village ambassador."
"Then it's settled. We should all be heading back now. Thank you for having me here," Naruto bowed his head to Gaara and the council and with the rest of guys left the chambers.
"Kankuro?"
"Yes, Gaara?"
"Have patrols at the edge of the village. We must have constant guard if Sasuke ever sends a surprise attack."
Kankuro nodded his head and left to begin preparations. The other council members also began making there leave as well. The only one that could not get up from his seat though was Gaara. Gaara sat there unmoving and unwavering. He knew this was only going to lead to one thing. Yet another great shinobi war, but one the likes had never seen.
"What the hell is taking him so long?!"
"Why won't you just shut up Suigetsu? You've been complaining ever since we've been here. Sasuke-kun will come when he's finished," said the agitated Karin.
"Hmph, well you can't blame me for getting bored. We have been doing nothing for the past three days."
Indeed Team Hebi had been waiting around for some time while Sasuke attended the meetings with Iwagakure, but today was more taxing on their patience. They had been told to wait outside the firm stone gates of Iwagakure since morning. Suigetsu spent his time complaining along with Karin constantly yelling at him. Juugo sat quietly on a boulder looking at the birds dig in the ground for food.
"If I had never made that promise to Sasuke, I would not be waiting here right now," Suigetsu commented.
"I never said you couldn't go," said a still stolid voice.
The three teammates turned to see Sasuke standing calmly in front of the gates. The slight breeze caressed his black cloak and the sun danced on his raven hair.
"Let's go," as he continued walking past them towards the vast forested mountains that lay in front of them.
"Wait a minute so what happened?" asked Suigetsu.
"We have an agreement, but lets not stay to chat anymore we have to move."
Karin was already walking beside Sasuke while Juugo popped off of the boulder and followed them. Suigetsu let out an annoyed groan as he yanked his sword from out of the ground.
"Damn now we have to walk all the way back!"
The leaves rustled as Kabuto dashed from tree branch to tree branch. There was no time to go slow if he wanted to reach Sasuke. If there ever was a chance to get to him easily this would be the time. Kabuto only hoped he would be able to manage to get him off guard.
"You're already too late," said a dark eerie voice.
Kabuto jumped down to the ground and came to a halting stop. The unexpected voice brought a slight shiver down his spine. The voice was very familiar to him even though he had not heard it in so long.
"I-Itachi…," as he turned around to the direction of the voice.
The deadly S-class criminal stood straight in front him. Itachi stood in a long black cloak similar to that of his former Akatsuki one minus the red clouds though. The only visible thing that remained from his Akatsuki days was the ring on his right ring finger. Kabuto was greatly confused as to why Itachi would be here. The last time he had seen him was when Akatsuki still existed.
Kabuto straightened out his nervous demeanor to a more casually one. A smirk spread across his face as he pushed up his glasses.
"So what brings you here Itachi? Coming after me or something?"
"No," Itachi answered flatly.
"Oh, Sasuke then huh? Why though?"
"It's none of your concern," he responded coldly.
"Hm, fine."
Quickly Kabuto pulled out a kunai and charged the infamous shinobi head one. With a sliding swoop, he swung his arm slicing through Itachi's midsection. As the kunai dug through him, Itachi's body burst into a hoard of crows. Kabuto swiftly came to a halt and readied his kunai again.
"Should have figured you already cast genjutsu," he commented, "but I shouldn't have a problem with it besides your not willing to use your mangekyo sharingan to end this quickly. In fact you can't even turn off your sharingan can you? You're practically blind without."
Kabuto swung around from his position launching his kunai in the direction. A clang of metal echoed through the woods as Itachi blocked the projectile with a kunai of his own. Itachi also knew all too well that he could not afford to have this meaningless fight. His vision had gone so bad that he almost always had to have his sharingan on now. It also was very strenuous on him to have to being using so much chakra so often. He needed to get out of this situation as quickly as possible.
In mid-thought, Kabuto jumped towards Itachi throwing a hard kick to his face which was easily blocked by the slight raise of an arm. Kabuto then dropped to the ground giving a sweep kick with his other leg at Itachi. Again Itachi easily avoided it by flipping over Kabuto.
"Gaton: Gokakyu no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique)"
Itachi blew a huge flaming ball towards the unsuspecting Kabuto. The ball easily consumed the opponent. As Itachi looked on, he felt a sharp object dig into his back. Behind him sound an unscathed Kabuto holding a kunai into his back.
"Hmm…You've gotten faster," he remarked, "but it wasn't fast enough."
Itachi again turned into several crows. This time the crows flew around and shot towards Kabuto. As they got closer to him, they began morphing into shurikens. Metal clanged as Kabuto deflected each one. Suddenly a flash of black appeared in front of Kabuto along with a slamming fist into his stomach. Then a strong kick landed into the side of his face making Kabuto crash into a large tree nearby.
"Gaton: Hosenka no Jutsu (Fire Release: Phoenix Immortal Fire Technique)"
Several small balls of flames came surging towards the tree Kabuto was leaning on. Without being able to get a breather from the few hits, Kabuto lunged his body out of the oncoming attacks way falling onto the ground. As Kabuto rose up from the ground, Itachi quickly ran over launching a kick into Kabuto's side. Itachi continued pounding the grounded Kabuto with a series of kicks but as the final kick came in, Kabuto quickly reacted by grabbing onto Itachi's leg.
Inside Kabuto could feel the blood flowing and his chakra increasing. His eyes began growing red as if they were irritated or bloodshot. 'Damn I can't release that power here' he thought to himself. He willed himself to calm down. He had to suppress his true strength for his own safety.
Kabuto released the leg and while jumping away he threw several kunai towards Itachi. Itachi stood still as the kunai hit his body. Kabuto looked on as a few drops of blood dripped from Itachi's body onto the floor.
"Figures I would be fighting a shadow clone. Your still cautious as ever Itachi. Too bad your old partner isn't here to help you."
"He is still recovering from the fight with Guy," he responded flatly.
"It's been over a year since he fought Guy and he is still recovering from it. At least Guy was able to do that much even though Kisame was able to kill him."
"I don't have time for this."
"Not even for an old friend," Kabuto said sarcastically, "and here I was thinking that I had actually got to you but then again it's usually some genjutsu or shadow clone that keeps you out of a real confrontation. No matter, I just hope that when I finally find Sasuke he won't be a coward like his brother."
"Foolish as ever," and in a puff of smoke Itachi was gone.
Kabuto kneeled down to gather his breath. It angered him a little that he just missed Sasuke but something else was more pressing on his mind. That fact that Itachi was here was somewhat of an oddity. Why would he be here? More so, Why would he be looking for Sasuke? These questions bounced around Kabuto's mind but he could not get the answers at least not now.
"Looks like I'll have to keep an eye on him now too."
"Can we take a break Sasuke?" Suigetsu complained.
"No."
"Come on we've been traveling non-stop for the past two days. I just need a few minutes of rest."
"Fine," responded Sasuke as he leaped off the tree branch onto the ground, "only for a few minutes then we continue on."
The rest of Hebi did likewise. Suigetsu heaved a sigh of relief as he placed his sword on the ground making a big thud sound. He pulled a canister of water off of his waist and began gulping it down.
"You always slow us down Suigetsu," Karin jeered at him.
"You're the weakest one Karin so I would say you slow us down," he snapped back.
Juugo looked on as Suigetsu and Karin bickered back and forth as they always did. A slight smile grew on his face. The past three years he has spent with them has been an interesting life experience. The day that Sasuke had set him free he thought that it was a big mistake but lately he felt that it was perhaps one of the best things that could ever happen to him. Inside he was happy.
He turned his attention from the bickering two to Sasuke who was sitting on a rock away from the others. Sasuke was staring off in deep thought. Juugo slowly walked up to him intending to see what was really on his mind.
"Are you sure you want to do all this Sasuke-kun?" he asked.
"I have to do this Juugo," Sasuke answered as he looked off into the distance.
"Even though it is your former village and home?"
"Even so. It has to be done."
"So desu (I see)…," Juugo softly said.
"Shinpai shinaide (Don't worry) Juugo you'll know why when the time comes."
Juugo and Sasuke noticed that the bickering had abruptly stopped as Karin quickly rushed over to Sasuke. A look of urgency covered her face and a feeling of concern was growing.
"Sasuke-kun we have a problem!"
"Nani (what)?" he asked as he turned and faced her.
"There are several chakra levels near us," she answered hurriedly.
"How many are there?"
"Eight of them and I think one of them is Naruto."
"Let's go everyone. We don't need any confrontations right now."
Sniff! Sniff! Akamaru's nose was working like crazy. Kiba noticed that his companion was growing a little tenser the more and more they moved.
"You smell it too don't you Akamaru. It has to be him," Kiba picked up his pace to get to Naruto who was in the front of the 8-man squad, "Naruto I'm picking up Sasuke's scent close to here."
A stern look formed on Naruto's face. Personally he just wanted to rush where Sasuke was and end things now but Naruto knew that would only cause a bigger problem rather than be a solution. It was not the way to go about things especially now.
"Thanks for telling me Kiba but we will just continue on back to the village."
"Demo (but)…"
"The village must come first. Remember now I'm the Hokage not the childish little kid who goes into things blindly," Naruto said flashing a wide smile to Kiba.
'Naruto you have really grown up' Kakashi said to himself. This brought a smile to the sensei's face. Kakashi knew that Naruto was trying his hardest to hold himself from going after Sasuke but it made him proud to see Naruto hold responsibilities higher than a personal feud with his former teammate.
"Come on everyone lets pick up the pace. We're almost home!" Naruto happily shouted.
Just going to say any more english translations for japanese words that I use will be put in the auther notes at the beginning from now on as well as english translations at the end for jutsus that are used in the chapter. Please excuse any crappy names that I make for new jutsus I'm not really good at it but if someone could possibly help me with that it would be great. hope you enjoyed this chapter. Going to put up the next one as soon as I'm done