little to say here, thanks for the reviews and that I'm glad that you're all enjoying the plot twist. It was something that came to me in a moment of spontineity, I hope you guys like where I decided to go with this. I felt like the boys were getting a bit 'TOO' powerful, a bit too infalable. Even the Kage and Sannin have their flaws, this chapter is going to show them in a different light. Up to this point they've been doing most of the protecting, now they need to be saved.

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-Chapter 32: Nami no Shinobi-

As light flooded into the cell of the three vessels, Gaara opened his eyes and attempted to sit up, keyword: attempted. His body groaned in protest and he barely managed to get his head an inch off of his pillow. 'It feels like my chakra is gone,' he thought, 'Shukaku' no response, 'Shukaku!' still nothing. "What is going on?"

"Five-point elemental seal," came the strained voice of Naruto, "it blocks and constricts our chakra, one of the side-effects is that it severes our link with the Bijuu."

Zaiaku grunted and lifted himself up, only to fall back down, "This doesn't explain why we can't move, our bodies are physically stronger than this."

"True," replied the blonde, "but we've had it all ripped and sealed. The combination of our fights in the war, the quick battle with Itachi and Kisame, and then the seal stacked on top of that has completely drained us."

Realization donned on Gaara, "The chakra circulatory system is intertwined with our muscles, having them constricted fully has caused our bodies to have one giant cramp."

"You're the seal maker, Naruto, can't you do something?" questioned one frustrated Ice-nin

Naruto shook his head, "Not without chakra I can't, and since my connection with Kyuubi is broken, I can't even get him to force any through." Letting out a heavy sigh, he focused on the ceiling, "Even if I could, it's not as simple as: Seal's gone, refill the Chakra. We have to wait and move slowly, even if it was regular chakra we'd have to give ourselves time to recover."

"So we are worthless and have no means of escape," stated Gaara, Naruto nodded, "then we will wait."

Later that evening Sakura, Hinata, and Temari were making their way down the busy streets of Konoha. "Well?" questioned Temari as they neared an alley

Sakura turned a curious eye on her, "I don't see what there is to really think about," she replied, "save them and become missing-nin or-"

She was cut off as three sets of arms lashed out and pulled the girls into the darkened sidestreet, "Be quiet!" hissed the one holding the pink haired girl. After a nod of understanding she was released, "Do NOT turn around, any of you. Just listen." All three girls relaxed slightly, "Good, I know you received the requests, what is your decision?"

"I'm in," responded Temari immediately

Sakura nodded, "definately."

"I have to," stated Hinata resolutely

"Excellent," came a female voice, "Now you can turn around." When they turned, all three girl's eyebrows rose past the point of human posibility. They met the sinister grin of Anko, "Surprised?" she questioned as she leaned against the wall.

"I hope not," came the voice of Zabuza from the shadows, "I thought your psychotic thought process was pretty well known." The shuffling of paper was heard and the Demon of the mist turned a scowl down the darkened street, "Are you always reading that?"

Kakashi stepped out of the darkness and gave a chuckle, "I was at a very riveting scene. You see, Shiro was about to tell Tsuki that she was really his cousin, but then he told her he didn't care and that he must have her. Then they-"

"Kakashi-sensei!" squeaked a tomato red Hinata with her hands over her ears

Anko scoffed at the pervert, but Zabuza looked mildly interested, "We'll talk later Kakashi," then he turned to the three girls, ignoring their looks of disbelief. "Apartment 208, building B. O'two hundred hours," he drilled out, then all three disappeared.

"Two o'clock in the morning?" whined Sakura

Temari shook her head, "Who's out at that time of night?"

"Looks like we will be," interjected Hinata

That night the three girls knocked on the appropriate door, it was immediately opened by one Momochi Zabuza. When they entered they scanned the room. In the corner was Neji, Lee, and Tenten, Gai standing close to them. On the couch, Kiba, Shino, and Kurenai were having a glass of tea, Hinata took a seat next to them and gave an affectionate pat to Akamaru. Shikamaru was sitting at a table engaging Asuma in a game of Shogi, Ino and Chouji looking on in interest. Kakashi was sitting in a large chair, Rin on his lap and reading as always. Anko and Zabuza were in the kitchen, doing god knows what. "Is this everyone?" questioned Temari, Sakura only shrugged.

Kakashi put his book away and scanned the room, 'Seventeen, is this even possible?' He stepped to the middle of the living area, everyone immediately focused on him, "You know why you're here, so we don't need to go over that." He ran his fingers through his hair, "What you don't know is that Sarutobi's competition for Sandaime Hokage, the man named Danzou has addressed the elder council. He managed to convince them that the best manner to deal with the boys is execution." Several gasps echoed through the room, "He doesn't want to run the risk of three shinobi, with that much power, roaming fire country." He signaled for Zabuza to address them.

"Alright, we know what's on the line. Now we have to figure out how to get them out of the situation," He stated with a slight growl.

Shikamaru let out an audible sigh, "Troublesome," he muttered and moved one of his pieces, "we first need a distraction, something that can give us time to get them free of the ANBU guarding them." He moved another piece and then looked to Zabuza, "It has to be something huge, the more chaos it causes for the civilians, the easier it will be to mask our escape."

"Kirikagure no Jutsu," he stated with a nod, "Kakashi and myself should be able to do it on a large enough scale to cover the execution area easily."

The lazy genius nodded, "Next we need a way to remove those seals, once we get those off we should be able to force our way out."

"No," stated Kakashi as he leaned against a large bookcase, "the five-point elemental seal not only blocks off their chakra but flushes their system completely. We can't count on them to be nothing more than dead weight."

"How many people will know that?" questioned Anko

Kakashi picked up on her train of thought, "Not many at all."

Shikamaru nodded, "For all they know, we've just unsealed the three of them and they're about to fight out to their freedom. Which in turn will cause even more chaos." He frowned and sat back in his chair, "We also need a clear cut escape route."

"We should also have a backup," interjected Neji, "one can never be too careful."

Hinata smiled, their plan was being pulled together by some of the greatest minds in their year. Then she voiced something that hadn't been brought up yet, "If we succeed and even manage to elude Konoha's hunters, what then? We'll be missing-nin, with no where to go."

The room fell silent, "So what?" questioned Anko, "we let them die and go home like nothing happened?" Hinata looked down in shame, "Could you live with yourself? Just letting a friend die for doing the right thing?" pressed the violet haired woman, "No thanks, I'll die with a clean soul, rather than live with three good men's deaths on my mind."

"There's another risk in breaking a five-point elemental seal that's been placed on a Jinchuuriki," came a voice from the window. Everyone turned to see Jiraiya, "When they summon the power of their sealed entities, the seal pulls out the chakra while using their willpower to filter out the conciousness of the entity."

"So you're saying what exactly?" questioned Asuma

"Basically?" questioned the toad sannin, he recieved unanimous nods, "If something goes wrong with the unsealing, we could very well be talking to the Kyuubi instead of Naruto." Every person in the room went as white as a sheet, "I could be wrong though!"

After another two hours of deliberation, a plan of action was decided. Kakashi, Hinata, and Neji would use their doujutsu to see through the mist and unseal the three boys, Zabuza would accompany them to carry Gaara, due to Hinata's lack of physical stature, and to assist in the mist Jutsu. Sakura, Temari, Gai, and Anko would keep the escape route secure. The rest would create a diversion, it wasn't the best plan ever, but it would work. As Sakura attempted to sneak into her home, she came face to face with her mother, "What are you doing?" questioned the ANBU captain.

"The right thing," replied her daughter, without another word she stalked up to her room. She was hurridly packing her duffle, stuffing everything she could into it, 'I have to hurry, I still have Zaiaku's things to get.' She momentarily blushed when she thought about some of the things she would have to pack, then with a quick shake of the head she fastened the clasp on her back pack.

"I hope you know what you're doing," came her mother's voice from the doorway, "the right thing is hardly the easiest." Momiji watched as Sakura fastened a string around the top and bottom of Shimotsuki's sheath, then slung it over her shoulder.

She paused mid preperation, "Come with us."

"What about Momo?" she questioned, "You're decreasing the success rate of your mission by carrying dead weight."

"Zaiaku-kun, Naruto, and Gaara are going to be dead weight anyway," replied the pink haired girl as she secured her leg holster, "This is a snatch and run mission, one more person to snatch won't be a problem. Besides, I've taught Momo-chan several healing jutsu, she'll be pulling her weight."

Momiji smiled, "All this for a boy?"

Sakura shook her head, "For a man, a special one at that."

"That he is," replied the ANBU captain, "Where's our first stop?"

Sakura adjusted her pack and smiled, "I'm going to collect Zaiaku's things, you should attend the ceremony as usual. When it starts, grab Momo-chan and head for the southern gate." After a quick hug, she bolted down the stairs and towards the boys apartment.

"You can still reconsider, Hinata-sama," stated Neji as they entered the Hyuuga compound, "simply feign ignora-"

"I will not," she interupted with a stern look, "Gaara-kun has saved me and this village on more than one occasion, it's time to repay that." She began to violently stuff things into her backpack, "Now when he needs the village the most, it turns it's back on him, and his brothers. I want no part of a village like that." When she finished she followed her cousin to his room, it was a glorious disaster, "Neji-nii-san, I had no idea."

The Hyuuga genius blushed, "have you not heard the saying, 'A clean room is the sign of an eccentric mind'?" His blush deepened when Hinata shook her head, "it doesn't matter, just keep watch."

"You won't admit it," stated Hinata as she scanned the hall with her Byakugan, "but you consider Gaara-kun a friend as much as a rival."

He paused, "He is a good leader and a strong shinobi," he paused and smirked, "he is also a very dear person to someone I consider a little sister as well." He watched in triumph as Hinata turned several different shades of red, finally settling on crimson, "We should go," he scanned the hallway before they bolted out of the compound.

Temari opened the door to Naruto's room and began to pack his things away, pausing momentarily on a pair of boxers with chibi foxes printed on them, "Got yourself knee deep in it this time, idiot." She opened another drawer and began to pack away his ninja gear, when a knock came from the door, "Must be Hinata and Sakura." Her voiced thoughts were confirmed when both girls, along with Neji, entered the apartment, "We've only got two hours, once we get this done we'll stash the gear at the meeting place and then make for the execution grounds."

Several hours later the sun began to crest over the hokage monument, shining down on the gathered crowd, Hokage, and Village council. In the crowd, Kakashi was scanning the opposition, "two ANBU squads and several Jounin." Reaching to his pouch he pulled out a water bottle, Neji, Hinata, and Zabuza mimiced his actions, "Wait for my signal."

Tsunade stood and addressed the crowd, Jiraiya and Sarutobi flanked her, "We are here to sentence the three S-Rank missing nin's: Uzumaki Naruto, Sabaku no Gaara, and Rouga Senmetsu," she sighed when several of the gathered crowd cheered, "bring them out."

"Kaa-san, is that Zaiaku-kun?" questioned Momo.

Momiji was surprised as well, all three boys looked like shells of their former selves. Pale, staggering, and lethargic, "Hai," she responded with a hint of resentment in her voice at their treatment.

A ways away, Hinata was balling her fists up to the point that her finger nails dug into her skin, blood poured from the wounds, "They look bad."

"Their chakra is what makes them so dangerous," replied Zabuza, "they're bodies are use to the extreme level of energy, but becoming accustomed to that power also means that they've become reliant on it. Take it away and it's not just a matter of chakra depletion, it's like a drug addict going into withdrawels, they won't last long."

Tsunade raised a hand in a silencing gesture, "After deliberation and voting, it is by decree of the council that they will be executed," she took in a deep breath, "immediately." To her surprise the shinobi members of the village was in an uproar, 'I hope you're ready, Danzou.'

"NOW!" shouted Kakashi as all four launched their containers of water, then he activated his sharingan and began to copy Zabuza's chakra movements and hand seals.

"Kirikagure no Jutsu!" (Hidden Mist Technique) They chorused. The result was all they could've hoped for, the crowd of civilians were now running around in a panic. "Quickly!" barked the former mist nin.

After the two Hyuuga activated their bloodlimit, they joined Kakashi and Zabuza on the platform, and began fending off ANBU members, "I'll take care of Naruto," ordered the copy nin, "Hinata you will go with Gaara, and Neji will unseal Zaiaku." He turned to Zabuza, who had relieved one ANBU of his sword and was now using it conjunction with Sangemaru, "This will only be a moment."

"We don't have that long," replied Zabuza as he slammed his foot into the face of an ANBU, shattering his mask.

"What...are...you...doing?" questioned Naruto

Neji ignored him and finished his seals, "On three."

"One."

"Two."

"Three," they chorused and slammed burning fingers into their respective targets, "Gogoukaiin!" (Five Part Unseal) A wave of energy ripped from each of the three vessels, flooring several ANBU and managing to wind Kakashi and Zabuza.

Sarutobi, Jiraiya, and Tsunade were feigning ignorance and secretly watching the scene, "That wasn't right," came the voice of the Toad Sannin, "their power was sealed completely, that means..." he trailed off as he thought of the worst case scenario, "Oh shit."

Momiji smiled down at her daughter, "I think it's time we left, Momo-chan." Crouching down she allowed her daughter to secure herself to her neck, "Let's go meet your sister."

"Hai," chirped the little girl

"Going somewhere, Momiji-chan?" came a deep voice from behind her, turning revealed Shinto and her former team, "because it looks like you're about to head in the direction of the southern gates, now why is that?" he questioned in an amused tone. As she was about to respond he held up a hand, "Just go, but becareful. Danzou has ROOT here, apparently he anticipated something like this." Glancing around in mock confusion he addressed his men, "Well I don't see captain Momiji anywhere in the area, let's check somewhere else."

"Shinto, I-" she started but was again cut off by the larger man's hand

He let out a gruff laugh, "Don't apologize, just go, besides if my wife catches us talking like this she'll accuse me of spending a questionable amount of time with you..." he paused and grinned, "again."

With a quick grin, she sprinted down the street, "Kaa-san! This way!" came the voice of Sakura from a side-street. The, now, former ANBU captain noted that everyone was here and Asuma and Gai were currently lifting a manhole cover, "They've blocked off all the streets to the south gate, thankfully Neji suggested we come up with an alternate route, it's saved us."

"Yes," interjected Shikamaru, "but I've never seen ANBU like that before, all their masks were the same."

"ROOT," came the voice of Kakashi as he shifted Naruto's weight and jumped down the hole. After everyone had entered the catacombs under the leaf village he continued, "formed and trained by Danzou, ruthless and unemotional." The group continued their sprint to the preverbial, light at the end of the tunnel. Finally emerging at the drain off, several kilometers south of the village, they paused for a quick rest, "That wasn't too bad."

"Took you long enough," came the voice of Jiraiya, he smiled when he saw the looks of disbelief on the gathered ninja, "we don't have time to dawdle, something went wrong with the unsealing."

"What do you mean, we executed it perfect," retorted Neji

the Toad Sannin glared, "Don't be so proud, it had nothing to do with you. It was something I didn't take into account."

Kakashi was about to question him, but his passenger stirred, "You would think that they could be a bit more quiet, eh Kit?" the voice that came out was low and almost a growl, but still decypherable. "Kit?" questioned Naruto again, then he opened his eyes. Crimson red and slitted, Kakashi dropped him to the ground out of reflex. Taking a long look around, it finally sunk in, "Oh this is not good."

Gaara and Zaiaku began to stir as well, thankfully Neji and Lee had the sense to place them on the ground softly, "OI!" shouted Gaara, "GAARA! CAN YOU HEAR ME?"

"What the-?" questioned Zabuza and Anko

Zaiaku opened his eyes, "Sakura-hime?" came an ethereal voice as he stared into the eyes of the pink haired girl, then ran his hands over the ground "but that means that, Little one?"

"Yes, something has gone VERY wrong," stated Naruto/Kyuubi as he eyed the form of the ice-nin, "Shiva."

Gaara/Shukaku blinked once, then again, "What in the FORNICATION IS GOING ON?" he shouted

"The boys being weakened and the unsealing caused power to rush out of them and it brought you conciouness with it, being that you were the ones in the most mentally stable position, you'vetaken over control of their bodies. Essentially you have switched places," replied Jiraiya as he tapped his chin in thought, "but how to reverse it?"

"YOU HAD BETTER REVERSE IT, OR I'M GOING TO REVERSE THE PLACEMENT OF YOUR ORGANS," cried Gaara/Shukaku, "FROM INTERNAL TO EXTERNAL!"

"Shuka-chan," chidded Zaiaku/Shiva, "please calm down, shouting will not solve anything. We should attempt to speak with the boys."

Asuma started putting two and two together, "According to our briefing, Shiva was sealed inside Zaiaku and Shukaku was sealed inside Gaara," He went pale as he rounded on Naruto/Kyuubi, "th...then...that means...you...you're."

The nine-tails could only smirk as he looked at the scared faces and defensive postures, "Kyuubi no Kitsune, Fox of the Ninetails. Strongest of the Tailed beasts and current resident of one, Uzumaki Naruto. Although it seems our roles have been reversed slightly."

'WHAT THE FUCK KYUUBI!" came the voice of Naruto from inside his conciousness

"Ah," he snorted, "speak of the devil."

Naruto stared down at, well, himself, 'You better have a damn good explaination for this shit!'

'And what would you like me to say?' questioned the conciousness of the nine-tails, 'Jiraiya miscalculated on the sealing and we've switched bodies. All my power is locked in there with you, while my conciousness is locked inside your physical body.'

Meanwhile in Zaiaku's mind, things were a bit awkward, 'It is only temporary little-one, I assure you.'

'I hope so,' huffed Zaiaku as he crossed his arms over his chest. He felt something soft, two somethings really, interfering with his arms coming into full contact with his body. So he did what any curious human being would do when finding something foriegn on their person, he investigated. He blushed when he realized what exactly they were, 'Oh boy, this had better be over quick.'

For all her ethereal glory, Shiva was turning a bright crimson, 'I agree, but for now little-one, don't play with anything!'

He would later call it temporary insanity, but at that moment he couldn't resist the urge, 'And Shiva-san,' he called to her as she was about to exit back into reality, 'Nice butt.'

Naruto/Kyuubi's voice interupted her retort and brought her fully into reality, "How's he taking it?"

Gaara/Shukaku let out a sinister shriek of a laugh, "He's a man trapped in a woman's body, I'm sure he's entertaining himself!"

Ignoring the one and nine-tailed demons, Zaiaku/Shiva questioned Jiraiya, "How long will we be in this state Jiraiya-san?"

The sannin put away his notepad and took on a contemplative look, "I don't really know, but we'll research it when we get to Namikagure."

"Hidden wave?" questioned Momiji, "there's no such place."

Jiraiya smiled, "There is now, it's your new home."

"YOSH! WE MUST MAKE FOR THE NEW HOME OF..." he paused at a lack of words to describe their new status

Temari cocked an eyebrow at him, "Nami no Shinobi?"

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End Chapter 32: Nami no Shinobi

Read and Review - Sort of a lighter chapter, a calm before the storm so-to-speak. Nothing to really add, don't expect the switches to last much longer, it was just there as a slight filler and comedic relief. Sorry if it was disappointing, but this was more of a setup chapter than anything else.

Preview Chapter 33: The Village Hidden in the Waves