An Extra Edge
Last time on An Extra Edge, Ling and Sakura's little feud did nothing to hinder the effectiveness of their working relationship, which allowed them to use teamwork to great effect, until Sakura went to aid Naruto, finding him out cold with all his skin burned off being tended to by Dante, who left quickly. Once the invasion was repelled, at the cost of Sarutobi's life and Orochimaru's arms, Dante and Deidara left to resume their own mysterious agenda, which has something to do with the Jinchuriki. More will be revealed later. For now, enjoy this new chapter.
Legal stuff: I don't own Naruto or any of its character's, just my fics and ocs.
It was the day after Sarutobi's funeral, and Tsunade had been inaugurated as the fifth Hokage. The Sand Village had offered to make amends when they discovered that Orochimaru had deceived them. An offer that the Leaf and Mist both accepted. So the three villages were allies once more. At the moment Naruto and Sakura were sitting at Ichiraku enjoying some ramen.
Naruto stopped eating and looked at Sakura. "Hey, Sakura-chan, how did you survive that stab wound?"
Sakura stopped eating as well. "One of the jutsu that Lady Tsunade taught me. It's called Mitotic Regeneration. During the month of training, I ate a food pill everyday and concentrated the chakra behind the Reserve Seal to store it for when I need it. This was so that in addition to being able to replenish my reserves, I could also use it for Mitotic Regeneration, which heals the user through the rapid regeneration of cells. However, the tradeoff is that not only does it use a lot of chakra, but the cells can only divide a certain number of times, and by accelerating that division, I actually shortened my life. As such, Lady Tsunade forbade me from using it unless I would die otherwise."
Naruto gasped, shocked that the girl he loved had saved herself, but as a result would die sooner.
Sakura picked up on his thoughts from his gasp. "Don't worry, my life wasn't shortened by a significant amount. I'll still live to be an old lady if I don't die in battle."
Naruto sighed in relief before Kakashi appeared behind them.
"Naruto, Sakura, you're needed by Lady Hokage," Kakashi said.
Naruto and Sakura nodded, paying for the ramen before heading to the tower. Once they arrived, Naruto knocked on Tsunade's door.
"Enter," Tsunade said.
Naruto was a gentleman for once and held the door for Sakura, who thanked him, making him blush lightly.
Tsunade smiled at them. "I'm sure you're wondering why I summoned you both," she said, getting nods from both of them. "Well, in light of recent events, some of the nobles didn't want to do this, but we need strong shinobi like the two of you."
Naruto and Sakura were surprised.
"Lady Tsunade, are you saying?" Sakura asked.
Tsunade nodded. "Naruto Uzumaki. Sakura Haruno. It is with great pride that I promote both of you to the rank of Chunin.
Sakura smiled happily while Naruto was... well, Naruto.
"I did it! I did it! I became a Chunin!" Naruto happily exclaimed.
Tsunade pulled out two flak jackets. "As Chunin, you have earned the right to wear these vests."
Naruto bounded up and pulled one on, helping Sakura into hers. "I love this vest already!"
Sakura giggled. "That vest and your jumpsuit clash horribly, Naruto-kun."
"Speak for yourself, Sakura-chan!" Naruto said, not really noticing that she had added kun to his name.
Sakura blushed. "I'll just have to make a bit of a change in my wardrobe."
Tsunade chuckled at the banter. "They're acting like a married couple," she thought. "You two are dismissed."
Naruto and Sakura stopped their banter and nodded, leaving the office.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Kakashi was reading his book when he noticed a huge dust cloud heading his way, finding it to be Naruto and Sakura. "Let me guess, you made Chunin."
"How did you know?" Naruto asked.
"The flak jackets are a dead giveaway, since only Chunin and above are allowed to wear them," Kakashi said simply as Sasuke showed up.
"Hey, Sasuke! Me and Sakura-chan made Chunin!" Naruto said happily.
"Congratulations," Sasuke said, grinning on the outside, but inside, he was furious. "They were promoted? Why were they, the dead last and the useless fangirl, promoted to Chunin, and I, the last Uchiha, who is superior to them, was not? It doesn't make any sense!" He thought.
"Don't feel too bad Sasuke!" Naruto said. "There's always next time!" he said, grinning.
"Right," Sasuke said, leaving to train.
"Well, I guess I'll be leaving too then," Kakashi said, disappearing in a puff of smoke.
"So, what now, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked.
Sakura blushed, realizing that she was alone with Naruto. "Well, we could go to my house. I'm sure my clan will want to celebrate our promotions."
"Sure! Let's go!" Naruto said enthusiastically.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Apparently Kakashi had dropped by the Haruno compound and informed them of Naruto and Sakura's promotions, since they were waiting for them.
"Congratulations, you two!" Masamori said, clapping both of the new Chunin on the back.
"We all knew you would pass," Tokine said, smiling at them.
"Thanks, you guys," Naruto said, grinning his fox like grin.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
While Naruto and Sakura were celebrating their promotions, two men were walking toward the Village Hidden in the Waterfalls.
"So, we're going in while the village leader is away, hm," Deidara said.
"Indeed. After all, my target is his wife. Less trouble for us to take her while he's not around," Dante said.
"We're still dealing with a Jinchuriki, so we'd best be on our guard, hm," Deidara said before they were surrounded by a large group of shinobi. "Rouge ninja I'd say, hm," he said, one of his palm mouths spitting out a clay ball that he shaped into a spider, while his other one, which he had hidden, spit out several clay centipedes.
"Hand over all your money and you won't get hurt," one of the ninja said.
"Begone. Our business is not with you," Dante said, unperturbed.
"Let's teach these guys a lesson!" the ninja said as six of his companions attacked.
Deidara smirked and threw the clay spider at them, making a one handed hand sign. "Katsu!" he said, causing the spider to blow up, hiding him from view for a moment.
The ninja continued their attack, only for the clay centipedes, which had gotten larger, to emerge from the ground and wrap around them.
"You have no appreciation for art," Deidara said, making a hand sign. "Art is an explosion! Katsu!" he exclaimed, blowing the centipedes and the ninja up.
Dante grabbed another two by the throats. "Steam Style: Blood Boil Jutsu!" he said, using his chakra to boil them alive, killing them instantly.
"Enough!" a newcomer said, flanked by three other ninja. "You're strong. What are your names?"
"The name's Deidara," Deidara said.
"And I am Dante Muramasa," Dante said.
"I'm Suien," the newcomer said. "This is Hisame, Murasame, and Kirisame, my strongest subordinates. Tell me, do you have any business in the Waterfall Village?"
"In fact we do, hm," Deidara said. "Our business is with the village's Jinchuriki."
"We have similar business, then. Help me to gain the Hero Water, and in return, I will aid you in whatever business you have with Fu," Suien said.
"That is a sound arrangement," Dante said.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Upon reaching the Waterfall Village, Dante looked at Suien. "Leave the Jinchuriki to Deidara and I. Don't get in our way."
Suien nodded. "We'll take the villagers hostage while you're doing that."
"Suien!" a woman said. "You dare return to this village?"
Looking up, Dante saw a woman with minty green hair and orange eyes, a Waterfall headband tied around her right arm. "You're Fu, the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, correct?"
Fu gasped. "How the hell do you, an outsider, know about that?"
Dante and Deidara removed their hats, revealing their faces.
"Because our mission is to capture you, hm," Deidara said, his palm mouth spitting out a clay ball that he shaped into a bird.
"I'd like to see you try!" Fu said, running through hand signs. "Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!" she exclaimed, sending the water dragon at Dante and Deidara.
Dante ran through hand signs quickly. "Ice Style: Dragon vs Tiger!" he said, creating an ice creature from thin air that alternated between being a dragon and being a tiger, and sent it at Fu, the water dragon freezing and breaking apart on contact with Dante's jutsu.
Fu quickly dodged the attack, making a hand sign. "Water Style: Liquid Bullet!' she said, spitting water bullets at Dante, who dodged them easily, jumping to higher ground while Deidara took to the air with his bird, sending several flying at Fu, who picked them off with shuriken, making them blow up.
Dante ran through more hand signs. "Steam Style: Steam Dragon Jutsu!" he said, sending a dragon made from steam at Fu, who barely dodged thanks to Deidara distracting her.
"What the hell?" Fu muttered.
"I possess two Kekkei Genkai," Dante said. "By combining water and wind chakra, I am able to create ice, and by combining fire and water, I can create steam. And I am proficient in the three basic natures that make them."
Eventually, Fu was caught in one of Deidara's non-lethal explosions and knocked out.
Dante picked up the unconscious Jinchuriki and threw her over his shoulder.
"Well our mission is clear, hm," Deidara said.
Dante nodded and went to Suien. "We need a secure location within this village with only one way in or out."
Suien nodded and led them to an area within the giant tree that covered the village.
Dante tossed Fu to the ground and looked at Suien. "Carry on with your business, and leave us."
Suien nodded. "Right," he said, leaving the area.
Dante quickly sealed the entrance with a barrier. At that moment, an image of a man appeared, a silhouette with only the eyes, which were purple with ripple patterns, visible.
"How did it go?" the man asked.
"She put up a fight, but was subdued, Leader," Dante said. "This area has been sealed. Nothing can get in or out. We can perform the extraction without interference."
"Very well," Leader said, running though hand signs, summoning a giant statue, its hands sticking out of the ground in front of it, shackled with a bit in its mouth, nine eyes, which were closed, and seven other silhouettes on all its finger tips but the right thumb, right index finger, and left pinky finger. Leader jumped onto the right thumb, while Deidara and Dante jumped onto the right index finger and left pinky respectively. "Now, let's begin," Leader said, running through hand signs as the others made one hand sign. "Sealing Jutsu: Nine Phantom Dragons!" he said, the bit falling from the statue's mouth as nine dragon like effigies emerged and surrounded Fu, drawing her into the air. A red energy soon began pouring from her eyes and mouth, being absorbed by the statue.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After training for the day was finished, Sakura approached Kakashi. "Kakashi-sensei, can I talk to you?"
Kakashi looked up from his book. "Of course. What do you want to talk about?"
"I'm worried that someone is after Naruto-kun," Sakura said.
"Why is that?" Kakashi asked, closing his book and putting it away.
"Well, when I found Naruto-kun during the invasion, there was a man tending to his burns. I couldn't see his face, but he had a ring with a purple stone on his left pinky, and he was wearing a black cloak with red clouds on it."
Kakashi gasped at the description of the cloak. "So they've started moving."
"Who's started moving?" Sakura asked.
"Sakura, what I'm about to tell you is currently known only by myself, Master Jiraiya, and Lady Tsunade. You must tell no one else without consent from one of us. Understand?" Kakashi asked.
Sakura nodded. "Of course."
"Alright, you know that Naruto carries the Nine-Tails within him, right?" Kakashi asked.
Sakura nodded.
"Well, the Nine-Tails is one of nine Tailed Beasts, each with a different number of tails. The Nine-Tails is the strongest. Each beast is currently sealed within a human being. Those humans are known as Jinchuriki. The Jinchuriki, according to Master Jiraiya's informants, are being targeted by a mysterious organization. All we know about this group is that there are ten members, and each is an S-Class rouge ninja. The only other thing we know about them, is that they call themselves the Akatsuki."
"You think this guy is one of them?" Sakura asked.
"I'm sure of it, based on your description," Kakashi said. "According to Master Jiraiya, the Akatsuki have a very distinctive wardrobe. They all wear black cloaks emblazoned with red clouds. And the rings may serve some purpose, but we don't know what."
"I'm so worried about Naruto-kun," Sakura said.
Kakashi gave her one of his eye smiles. "Don't worry, we'll protect Naruto."
Sakura smiled as well. "Yeah, we will."
"You should head home and rest. We have a mission tomorrow," Kakashi said, disappearing in a puff of smoke.
Sakura turned and headed home to get some food and sleep.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The next morning, Sakura stood in Tsunade's office with Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi. Also in the room was a man from the Waterfall Village.
"So what's the mission, Grandma Tsunade?" Naruto asked.
Tsunade gestured to the Waterfall shinobi. "This is Lord Shibuki of the Village Hidden in the Waterfalls. Your task is to escort him back to his village. It's a pretty basic C-Rank mission."
Naruto groaned. "I thought I'd be getting more exciting missions now that I'm a Chunin."
"Naruto-kun, Sasuke is still a Genin, so we have to take that into consideration," Sakura said.
"Are you suggesting that I'm weak?" Sasuke asked.
"Well, you're weaker than me," Naruto said.
"Enough!" Tsunade snapped. "This mission is important. It could affect our future relations with Lord Shibuki's village. So take this seriously."
Naruto immediately got serious. "Right!"
"Alright then, get going!" Tsunade said.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
As Shibuki and his escorts were walking, a green object emerged from the ground behind them, opening to reveal a man who had pure yellow eyes, and half his body was white while the other half was black.
"This is not good," the black half said.
"No, it's not," the white half said.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Leader, the leader of the Waterfall Village is on his way back, and he has escorts," the man who was trailing Shibuki's group said as the extraction of the Seven-Tails continued.
"We'll need to delay them," Leader said.
"Allow me to take care of them, Leader," the man on the statue's right ring finger said. "If they're from the Leaf, then I'm one of the best choices to delay them."
Leader nodded. "Very well. But I will require 30% of your chakra."
"Understood," the man said.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Naruto's eyes widened a bit as he suddenly threw a kunai into a bush, startling Shibuki, who took cover behind Sakura.
"What is it, Naruto?" Kakashi asked.
"We're being followed," Naruto said.
"Very observant," a man said, showing himself. "For a freshly promoted Chunin to detect my presence is indeed impressive."
Sakura's and Kakashi's eyes widened at the sight of the man's cloak, which was black with red clouds.
Sasuke's eyes widened at the sight of the man's face. "You!" he snarled.
"Sasuke, you know him?" Naruto asked.
"It's been a long time, Sasuke," the man said.
Sasuke gritted his teeth in anger. "Itachi... Uchiha!" he snarled.
Shibuki gasped. "That's Itachi Uchiha? The man who slaughtered his entire clan in a single night?"
"Yes! That's him!" Sasuke snarled, his Sharingan flaring. "Itachi Uchiha, it's just as you said brother. I've fostered my hatred for you all this time! I've lived my life for one single purpose!" he snarled as he charged a Chidori. "TO SEE YOU DIE! IT ENDS HERE!"
"Chidori," Itachi muttered, unperturbed.
Sasuke ran at Itachi, the Chidori gouging a trail in the ground. "DIE!" Sasuke screamed, thrusting the Chidori at Itachi, who simply caught Sasuke's wrist to divert the Chidori's blast before knocking Sasuke back with a hard kick.
"You still don't have enough hate," Itachi said as Kakashi uncovered his Sharingan. "You needn't worry. I won't use the Mangekyo Sharingan. Or I suppose, to be more precise, I can't use it right now."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sasuke asked, standing up.
"That's hardly your concern," Itachi said before running through hand signs so fast it was a blur. "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" he said, sending fireballs at the group, who dodged them.
"He's not done yet!" Kakashi said.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" Itachi said, sending a large fireball at them, again missing.
Sakura ran at Itachi, her fist coated in chakra.
"If that hits me, I will die," Itachi thought, jumping into the air to dodge the chakra enhanced punch.
Shibuki gasped at the sight of Sakura's strength. "Such monster strength!"
Itachi heard a sound behind him and turned, seeing Naruto coming at him, holding a Rasengan.
"Rasengan!" Naruto exclaimed, smashing the chakra ball into Itachi, only for Itachi to disappear in a puff of smoke. "A Shadow Clone!"
Itachi showed himself behind the group. "Well now, you've learned an interesting jutsu, Naruto."
Sakura ran through hand signs. "Fire Style: Fireball jutsu!" she exclaimed, sending a fireball at Itachi, the jutsu surprising her teammates.
Itachi countered the fireball with his own, finding Kakashi gone, a hole in the spot he had been in. He didn't have much time to ponder this before Kakashi burst from the ground, punching at him. Itachi dodged and grabbed Kakashi, forcing him to make eye contact.
Kakashi was unperturbed as they stood there silent for several moments.
"Nicely done. You certainly have mastery over your jutsu," Itachi said. "Your Earth Style move hid you from view for a moment, so I didn't notice the change," he said as Kakashi grabbed his arm to hold him in place. "It all makes sense. Of course my genjutsu has no effect on you, because you are a Shadow Clone," he said as Kakashi climbed out of the first hole.
"Now, Naruto!" Kakashi exclaimed.
"I'm on it!" Naruto said, running at Itachi with a Shadow Clone helping him maintain a huge Rasengan. "Giant Rasengan!" Naruto and his Clone exclaimed, slamming it into Itachi and the clone, dispelling the clone and causing a large explosion and making a crater.
"Whoa, incredible," Sakura said as the dust cleared, showing Naruto, who was standing over the body.
Sasuke charged at Naruto. "You bastard! You took my revenge from me!" he yelled.
"Look again," Naruto said, gesturing to the corpse. "Does that look like Itachi to you?"
Sasuke looked at the body, gasping. Indeed it was no longer the appearance of Itachi, but an unknown man. "What the hell?"
"Was he using a Transformation Jutsu?" Shibuki asked.
Kakashi shook his head. "No, Lord Shibuki. This jutsu is on a whole other level."
"But who would go to this kind of trouble?" Sakura asked.
"Lord Shibuki, may I speak to you in private?" Kakashi asked as he covered his Sharingan.
"Of course," Shibuki said, following Kakashi away from the group. "What is it?"
"Lord Shibuki, Itachi is a member of an organization known as the Akatsuki. And they're targeting the nine Jinchuriki. Are there any Jinchuriki in your village?" Kakashi asked.
Shibuki nodded, then gasped. "Oh no! They're after Fu!" he said.
"Who is that?" Kakashi asked.
"My wife," Shibuki said. "She's the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki. What if the Akatsuki have taken her, and were trying to stall us?"
"That's a distinct possibility," Kakashi said, returning to the group. "Let's hurry."
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura nodded. "Right!" they said before the group took off again.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
As the extraction continued, Itachi's eyes opened.
"The jutsu wore off did it?" Leader asked. "But, we were able to delay them. That should be enough. Well done, Itachi."
"I believe I deserve some credit as well, Leader," Dante said. "After all, the sacrifice for your jutsu was my underling."
"You should be thanking me," Leader said. "It's only because of my Impersonation Jutsu that he could join the ranks of the Akatsuki, short lived as it was."
"Very well," Dante said, falling silent again.
"Zetsu, get rid of the body we used for the Impersonation Jutsu," Leader said.
"Understood," the Venus Flytrap like man said.
"Itachi, what of our enemies number and ability?" Leader asked.
"It's a four man squad from the Leaf. Comprised of Kakashi Hatake, Sakura Haruno, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki: Naruto Uzumaki, and my younger brother Sasuke," Itachi said.
"Kakashi is in the squad?" Dante asked. "This should prove interesting."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
As the team jumped between trees, Sasuke glared at Naruto and Sakura. "Even if it wasn't the real one, they were able to defeat that bogus Itachi, but I couldn't! Why couldn't I kill him?" he thought as Kakashi landed.
"Stop here!" Kakashi said.
"Why? What's wrong?" Shibuki asked as the rest of them landed with him.
"We're taking a break," Kakashi said, looking toward the setting sun.
"Good idea, Kakashi-sensei," Sakura said.
"But what about my village?" Shibuki asked.
"We've slowed down since fighting that bogus Itachi," Naruto said, sitting down and breathing heavily. "We need to rest for a while so we can get there at full strength. Especially me, I haven't entirely gotten a handle on that Giant Rasengan."
"And besides, if we take the time to rest, we'll ultimately get there faster," Kakashi said.
"Alright, I understand," Shibuki said.
With that, they started setting up camp for the night.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
As the night wore on, the extraction continued.
From his position on the statue, Dante pondered his past adventures with the Copy Ninja, and how an encounter between them after so many years would turn out.
"Something wrong, Dante?" the man on the left ring finger asked.
"No. Just thinking, Kisame," Dante said.
"What about?" Kisame asked.
"My past," Dante said, saying no more on the subject.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Once morning came, Shibuki and his escorts were on their way again.
Naruto spoke up after a while. "Hey Sensei, they haven't done anything to stop us after sending that bogus Itachi at us. What do you think?"
"I think it's safe to assume that they believe they've delayed us enough for whatever they're planning," Kakashi said.
"I agree," Sakura said. "We need to hurry."
"Yeah," Shibuki agreed, while Sasuke just grunted.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The extraction reached a milestone as one of the pupils in the statue's now open eyes began appearing.
"We're entering the final stage," Leader said.
"What should we do about these pests?" Kisame asked.
"They're getting closer, and more quickly than anticipated," Zetsu said.
"Not a problem. We delayed them enough. Ignore them," Leader said.
"Blasted nuisances," Kisame said.
"I never thought finding a Jinchuriki would be so much trouble!" the man on the left index finger said.
"Calm down. We each just need to fulfill our own roles," the man on the left middle finger said.
"Enough talk! Concentrate, all of you!" Leader said. "There can be no mistakes from this point on."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Shibuki and his escorts soon reached the outside of the village.
"Alright, I'll lead you in," Shibuki said, leading them toward the hidden entrance.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Around the same time, the extraction was completed as the flow of red chakra from Fu stopped and the dragon effigies vanished, the pupil on the statue eye forming completely.
"It is complete," Leader said as Fu dropped to the ground.
"Finally," the man on the left thumb said.
"So in the end it took three full days and nights, hm," Deidara said.
"Well done. Good work, everyone," Leader said.
At that moment, a commotion could be heard outside.
"Well, shouldn't we get this show on the road?" the man on the left index finger asked. "We've got company outside to deal with. And there's still a small mission we need to complete."
"Dante, Deidara," Leader said. "Take care of our new 'friends' outside, but I want the Jinchuriki alive. Everyone else is dismissed."
"Let's go!" the man on the left index finger said impatiently.
"Right," his partner on the left middle finger said before both their images vanished, followed by the man on the left thumb, the woman on the right middle finger, and Zetsu.
"Well I suppose we'll be leaving too," Kisame said.
"Itachi," Dante said. "The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, what's he like in his normal state?"
Itachi was silent for a moment. "I would describe him as the one who bursts in and barks first."
"Doesn't he have any identifying characteristics other than barking?" Deidara asked, Itachi's image vanishing in response. "Guess not."
"Well, until next time then," Kisame said before his image vanished as well.
"The rest is up to you two," Leader said.
"Understood," Dante said.
"Not a problem, hm," Deidara said.
Leader ran through hand signs. "I'll be waiting for your report." With that, his image vanished, and the statue disappeared in a puff of smoke, Dante and Deidara landing on either side of Fu.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Naruto sent one of Suien's grunts flying with a Rasengan while Sasuke burned several others alive with his Fireball Jutsu. Seeing one coming up behind Sakura, Naruto moved and caught the grunt's head in the semicircle on Kubikiribocho's blade and took the man's head off.
Once Suien and his subordinates were dealt with, they started freeing the hostages.
"Is that all of them?" Sasuke asked.
"No," one of the villagers said. "There were two others who took Lady Fu. They both had scratches on the symbols of their headbands, one from the Stone village, and the other from the Leaf. And both wore black cloaks with red clouds."
"Where did they go?" Shibuki asked.
Once the villager pointed them to the area, Shibuki ran toward it and was repelled by the barrier.
Dante made a hand sign. "Release!" he said, deactivating the barrier.
Shibuki and Team 7 ran into the area, finding Deidara sitting on Fu, and Dante standing next to him.
"Finally. Now then, which of you is the Jinchuriki?" Deidara asked.
"Jinchuriki?" Naruto asked. "What the hell is a Jinchuriki?" he demanded.
"Well, so much for that mystery," Deidara said. "The blond is the Jinchuriki. He's the one who bursts in and barks first alright. Itachi was right on the money, hm."
Kakashi's visible eye widened at the sight of Dante. "You!"
"It's been a long time, Kakashi," Dante said.
"Kakashi-sensei, who is that?" Sakura asked.
"Dante Muramasa," Kakashi said. "He's an S-Class rouge ninja from the Leaf. Leave him to me. I trust no one but myself to face him," he said.
Shibuki looked at his wife. "Fu! Wake up! Please, say something!"
"Lord Shibuki," Sakura said. "She's not breathing. I'm sorry, but she's dead."
"Your friend's right," Deidara said. "She's been dead for a while now, hm."
Shibuki gasped, glaring at the two rouges. "Why did you kill her?"
"We didn't kill her by direct means," Dante said. "She died when the Seven-Tails was extracted from her. In the near future, the same thing will happen to the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki there, once we extract the fox from him."
Sasuke looked at Naruto. "You have a demon inside you?"
Naruto looked at his feet, silently cursing Dante and Deidara for revealing his secret. "Yeah, I do."
"It's time you came with us, Naruto," Dante said.
Sakura's gaze hardened. "I don't think so!" she said, running at Dante with a chakra covered fist raised.
Dante avoided the punch and kneed Sakura in the gut, knocking the wind out of her and turning her away from him, putting his hand around her throat. "Surrender yourself, Jinchuriki, or she dies."
Naruto's eyes widened and turned blood red with slitted pupils. "You! You bastards! I'll kill the both of you!" he screamed, his chakra cloak forming, his skin peeling off and him being surrounded in a black dome.
Sakura grinned and turned to mud.
"A mud clone," Dante said. "Not bad. I've gotta admit."
The black dome cleared to reveal Naruto in his Version 2 Nine-Tails form, with four tails.
"Deidara, we need to take to the air," Dante said.
Deidara nodded and spit a clay ball from his palm mouth and shaped it into a bird, that he tossed into the air and made a hand sign, enlarging the bird into a size large enough for them to ride. Once they jumped on, the bird took to the air and flew past them.
Naruto followed. "Where the hell do you think you're going?" he yelled in a distorted voice as he sent a chakra arm at the bird.
Deidara dodged. "That kid is determined, hm."
"Keep away from him," Dante said, sitting cross legged and entering a meditative pose. "I need a few moments to prepare."
"You got it, Dante my man," Deidara said, continuing to dodge Naruto's attacks.
After about a minute, Dante opened his eyes, which were now the amber color of a wolf's eyes. "It would be better If I could still count on the wolves for aid, but I voided my pact with them when I left the village, so I'll have to make due without them," he muttered before jumping off the bird and attacking Naruto, punching him.
Naruto formed another torso from the chakra cloak and slashed at Dante with it, who escaped via substitution, a log getting slashed in half in his stead.
Dante made a hand sign. "Water Clone Jutsu!" he said, forming four Water Clones behind Shibuki, Sasuke, Kakashi, and the real Sakura. "Water Prison Jutsu!" he said, trapping them in Water Prisons using the water from his clones.
Naruto retracted the extra torso into his chakra cloak and forced his chakra arms underground, making them larger once they burst from the ground, making some rubble piles.
Dante stood ready for Naruto's attack. "Let's see what you can do, Nine-Tails."
Naruto growled and hit the rubble to send it flying at Dante, who dodged and deflected the rubble, only to be hit by a large boulder that he quickly shattered, his Sage Mode protecting him. Though he was surprised when Naruto ran at him and punched him in the face, sending him flying back.
Dante quickly recovered and flipped backwards, putting some distance between himself and Naruto. "Impressive. If not for Sage Mode, I'd have been killed. But is that all you've got?"
Naruto growled. "Bring it on!" he snarled.
"As you wish," Dante said, running through hand signs. "Ice Style: Senbon Blizzard!" he said, forming a large cloud of ice senbon and sending them at Naruto, who was unaffected by the jutsu thanks to his chakra cloak.
Naruto ran at him, almost disappearing from sight, though Dante kept track of him and blocked one of Naruto's strikes, hitting him in return, eliciting a snarl.
Dante held ran through hand signs. "Steam Style: Steam Repulsion!" he said, forming a steam blast that repelled everything around with considerable force, though Naruto withstood it. "What? He withstood Steam Repulsion?" he asked before it was turned back on him, sending him flying into a tree, headfirst. "That would have killed me if not for Sage Mode," he muttered as he got down, rubbing his head.
Black and White chakra emerged from Naruto's chakra cloak, which he began forming into a Tailed Beast Ball.
Dante remembered what it did to Gaara in only the Two-Tailed form. "Sage Mode or no, if that hits me, I'm a dead man," he muttered, running through hand signs. "Ice Style: White Whale Jutsu!" he said, sending a giant norwal made from his chakra made ice at Naruto, hitting him as the Tailed Beast Ball was still forming, making it explode in a huge explosion. Dante used the cover to jump onto Deidara's clay bird. "Let's go. I've collected all the data that I need."
Deidara nodded and had the bird carry them away from the village. "So, what do you think of him, hm?"
Dante panted slightly as he released Sage Mode. "I think... I'm lucky to be alive. Itachi will have his work cut out for him when the time comes to capture the Nine-Tails."
"That's saying something coming from you, hm," Deidara said.
"I'll need to train more, and increase the amount of time I can spend in Sage Mode. If I had fought until it ran out, I'd have been killed. That boy is dangerous. He has a lot of potential," Dante said.
"Leader will certainly be interested in this report, hm," Deidara said.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Once Dante was far enough away, his Water Clones and Water Prisons fell apart. Naruto returned to the group and got rid of his chakra cloak, falling to the ground in pain, since the cloak had burned off his skin.
Sakura ran to him and started healing him. "Naruto-kun, why did you push yourself so hard?"
"Those guys are coming after me," Naruto said. "I need to get stronger," he said, his skin growing back thanks to Sakura's jutsu.
"Just be quiet and rest. And don't move around too much until the burns are healed," Sakura said.
Naruto nodded slightly. "Sure thing, Sakura-chan."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Another chapter, done. Naruto and Sakura become Chunin, causing Sasuke's envy to grow, and the Akatsuki have extracted the first Tailed Beast. Hope you enjoy this action packed chapter. Until next time, I bid you all a most respectful farewell.