Author's Note: Hey everyone sorry for not updating sooner. I've been trying to find time to type between everything. I haven't had much anytime for myself the last few weeks. Anyways I hope you all enjoy this chapter and again sorry for the long wait! Also there is a poll on my profile and if you would like one of the stories at the bottom of my profile to be written please vote for it if it is on the poll. Don't forget to review and Enjoy!
Sakura had broken of sweat by the time Tsunade reached her and she took over giving Sakura a break.
"What happened?" Tsunade asked.
Sakura shook her head in answer. "I'm not sure. The Kyuubi was helping Naruto kill Sound ninja when kunai without chakra strings attacked us and began to rise into the air. Kyuubi said something about a mutant and then left in a blink of an eye. I was following after them when he collided with me and collapsed in my arms. I think a kunai struck him and there was poison along the blade. Here's the blade. He was clutching it in his hand when he ran into me."
Tsunade brought the kunai to eye level and inspected the blade. A sticky liquid substance was coating the kunai and it was just barely seen along the edge of the knife.
"Have you been able to get any out of him?" She shook her head. Tsunade frowned and asked, "Has Naruto been healing by himself at all?"
"That's the weird thing…you can see re chakra spilling out of the wound, but nothing is healing and he is still wracked in pain from what I can tell."
"You said he left you to attack a mutant and came back poisoned correct?"
"Yes," she replied.
"Yamato, do you know where Jiraiya is?" Yamato quietly nodded. "Get him and bring him here. We need to find out if the X-Men know of anything to counter this poison."
Yamato gave a single nod before disappearing to find the Toad Sage.
"Hang on Naruto," Sakura whispered.
Naruto stirred at the mention of his name and Sakura felt a flicker of hope.
Zetsu appeared on a tree next to the mutant. "Was the poison administered?"
"Yes," Magneto replied, "Now get me out of this hell hole. I have done as you asked."
"You did half of what was asked," Zetsu said. "We told you to administer the poison and bring the nine tails Jinchuuriki back to us."
"Well use the advantage that I got the poison inside the boy's body and attack wherever they are holding him and take him. Your organization is all about power right, so go do your own dirty work for once."
"Look who's talking," the black half of Zetsu scoffed. "We know that you are a leader of a mutant organization back in your dimension, so maybe you should take your own advice and follow orders and then we'll take you back."
Magneto was about to object when Zetsu left him, disappearing back into the tree.
"Damn Akatsuki, but the X-Men are in league with the other ninja and most likely won't be too happy to help me out especially when I just injured one of the nin village's own." He looked back the way he had come after hitting the orange clad boy with the poisoned kunai and he had escaped. "Well, I've got a choice, but I need to think of which one would be to my advantage."
Hold on Naruto!
I'm trying, but this wound hurts like hell!
Sakura and Tsunade are working on us together, you just need to hold on until they find the antidote.
You think I don't know that?
Well I'm sure you do I just thought I would remind you.
How close are we to being healed?
…
Kyuubi, tell me.
Every time I try and heal the cells around the wound and push the poison out it just invades the new cells and digs itself in deeper than before. The others are having more luck right now of healing the wound than I am, so I'm leaving it to them.
Alright. Don't let me leave Kyuubi. Don't you dare let me leave! I want to be able to thank Sakura when I'm able to drag myself into consciousness. Also if I'm bedridden because of this you are going to have a lot to answer to seeing as I warned you beforehand not to make me be bedridden again.
What? You're not being bedridden yet, just being treated, now just lie still and save your strength. I'll add mine to yours and try to help get rid of this wound.
Naruto surprised Sakura and Tsunade by grinning with some pain showing through it, Alright. Thanks Kyuubi.
Yamato found Jiraiya and was in the process of returning when an Akatsuki member appeared in front of them, but one they didn't know much about.
"What do you want, Tobi?"
"Oh you already know what I want! So why bother asking?" he answered.
Jiraiya and Yamato looked at each other out of the corner of their eyes.
"Oh fine. You two are no fun. The Akatsuki would like to pass on the message 'hand over the Jinchuuriki' "
"What makes you think we'll comply?" Jiraiya asked.
Tobi's eye appeared through the hole in his mask before he said in a deadly tone, "Because Naruto has a poison in him that you won't have a cure for and you could lose him forever if you don't." he brightened up and said cheerfully, "You have one hour to meet us at the ruins of Konoha and before it is too late to reverse the effects of the poison. See ya!" He disappeared into the forest.
"That doesn't sound good," Yamato muttered.
Jiraiya only stared at where Tobi had been before hurrying off to help his injured pupil survive this test of survival. They approached the medical area and made their way through the injured nin to where Sakura and Tsunade were crouched on either side of Naruto, their hands pressed to his right shoulder and large amounts of chakra encircling their hands together. Yamato and Jiraiya quietly walked up to them and waited patiently for them to take a break and ask what they needed.
Tsunade looked up and said, "Summon a toad and go to the X-Men. You said Hank is their medic? Bring him this kunai, careful there is poison coating it and ask if he knows of any antidote or can come up with one. Sakura and I are doing all we can to keep him alive and it seems the Kyuubi's chakra has stopped trying to heal the wound after it kept getting deeper. Now go and if we can stabilize him enough to get him to the X-Men where he will be out of the battlefield and safe I would be less worried about him."
Jiraiya nodded. "Yamato tell her what Tobi approached us about while I go." He took the kunai from Tsunade, summoned a toad, and was gone with a puff of smoke.
As soon as Jiraiya could make out his surroundings he sprinted towards the mansion. It was still daylight outside and there were games of volleyball, soccer, baseball, and others around the mansion.
Jiraiya called out with his mind to Charles who heard and responded.
What are you in need of Jiraiya?
Hank and I think it best if I meet with him in his lab. I need him to identify a poison.
He's already down there. You know the way. I'll be down there shortly. I take it this has something to do with Naruto.
Yes.
Jiraiya sprinted through hallways and when he was going down in the elevator he stopped and took a deep breath. "Naruto will be okay. I just need to relax, the kid always pulls through. There won't be anything different this time…I hope."
Jiraiya arrived in front of Hank's door which opened to admit him.
"The Professor said you needed me," he stated.
Jiraiya nodded, "Naruto has been injured by this kunai and the blade is covered in poison. Naruto hasn't healed on his own and our Hokage and her pupil are struggling to heal, close the wound, and keep him alive at the same time." He looked over at Hank and asked, "Do you recognize the poison?"
Hank took a microscope out and slipped a slide containing a small portion of the poison on it.
"I don't recognize some of the chemistry of the poison, but I can recognize smaller poisons in its bonding."
Jiraiya felt a flicker of hope as he watched Hank move around pulling chemicals and formulas out of cabinets and pouring varied amounts in and taking a dropper and putting a single drop onto the slide with poison and placing it back under the microscope for observation.
Jiraiya heard the door open and he sensed Charles move into the lab.
"I listened into the conversation through Hank. We'll do our best to help Naruto in any way possible. For now is it safe enough to bring him here and out of the battlefield?"
"I would have brought him with me, but he is too unstable and we didn't want to risk it."
Charles sat quietly thinking through the situation with the little information they had.
"I've got something that will temporarily stop the poison for long enough for your people to heal him or stable enough to bring him here," Hank interrupted.
"I don't know. It's a possibility. If it doesn't work then I will try and bring him here and we'll work from there. The Akatsuki have gotten more aggressive in this matter lately, also the ninja with Naruto mentioned that Naruto smelled a mutant and then he charged towards the mutant then came flying back at her injured and he fell unconscious because of the poison. She also mentioned that anything metal was flying around with no chakra strings or anything attached. Do you know a mutant who can do that?"
Charles snapped his head up in astonishment. "The metal was being controlled by the mutant?"
Jiraiya only gave a stiff nod in answer.
"This is worse than I thought."
"So you know who the other mutant is?" Jiraiya asked.
Charles rested his head in his hands and slowly replied, "Yes, his name is Magneto and he is against all non-mutants. If he was teleported to your world like Laura was, then he must have made a pact with the Akatsuki in return for bringing him back to our world. I think it is time for the X-Men to help Konoha out. I'll assemble the team and we'll come with you when you return."
Jiraiya didn't say anything, but gave a slight nod in agreement with a small smile in thanks. They waited in silence for a few more minutes before Hank pulled away from the concoction he'd made. He poured the liquid into a glass vial, closed it with a cork and handed it to Jiraiya.
"This won't stop it for long, but it should help in their struggle to keep him alive and you can decide from there," Hank said.
Jiraiya looked at the vial, then clenched his hand gently around it and looked back up at Hank.
"Thank you," he looked to Charles, "for everything."
"It is our pleasure to help a friend," Hank answered.
Jiraiya summoned a toad and was gone in a heartbeat. A couple minutes later Gamakichi appeared back in the lab.
"Well," he said sarcastically, but with a hint of worry sketched in his face, "it seems Naruto has gone and gotten himself into trouble once again."
Hank and the Professor cracked smiles and the three left to gather the X-Men and explain the situation.
Sakura had broken of sweat and Tsunade was coming to that point. The muscles and fibers were beginning to heal, but the poison was slowly seeping through his body along his blood vessels.
"Come on, Naruto," Tsunade growled, "hang in there."
Naruto grimaced in response and his right hand clenched into a tight fist, his nails almost piercing the skin of his palm. Another medic took that hand and gently pulled his fingers away from his palm.
"How is he?"
Sakura looked up to see the Toad Sannin standing behind Tsunade. He portrayed a calmness that didn't seem to belong at the time. Sakura looked down from him not sure how to answer him without taking away all hope.
"The muscle and the skin are finally healing over; the only problem now is getting the poison out. What did the X-Men have to say about it?" Tsunade answered her colleague.
Gamakichi will bring Beast when he has finished with a more permanent antidote that he said should hopefully cleanse his system of the poison. For now he said to give Naruto this."
Jiraiya held out a small bottle half filled with a thick liquid. Sakura reached up and took the bottle from Jiraiya and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Jiraiya knelt down and sat Naruto up being gentle so as not to cause him any pain. Naruto let out a small grunt, but was quiet afterwards and Sakura pulled off the lid and gave him a sip at a time allowing his gag reflex to allow him to drink the liquid.
Naruto swallowed the liquid and his eyelids flickered, but stayed shut blowing away Sakura's hope that that would be enough.
"How is he now?" Jiraiya asked looking at Tsunade.
Tsunade placed her hands back over Naruto's wounded shoulder and muttered under her breath while they patiently waited.
"He is stable for now at least. He should be taken from this world and brought to the X-Men, right now they are able to protect him and we should ask for their help in keeping the Akatsuki away from him."
Jiraiya nodded and slipped his arms under and around Naruto's legs and shoulders; he picked him up making sure Naruto's head was resting on his shoulder before walking away towards a toad waiting just a few feet away.
"Sakura, you should go with him. If they need help in any way, then you are more than qualified for the job."
"Tsunade, I'll be bringing the X-Men back with me, when we return. They have offered their assistance in the battle.
Sakura faced her mentor/ friend and gave a firm nod. She stood up and followed Jiraiya. She placed a hand on the toad and they were whisked away from the forest in which the battle was still in place.
The three nin arrived on the front lawn of the Institute and Sakura was surprised to see a blue furry person was waiting for them.
"Jiraiya, who is that?" she asked.
Jiraiya started walking as he replied, "That is Hank McCoy, the X-Men's medic."
She simply followed and ignored the differences between Hank and her.
"How is he doing?" Hank asked.
"Well, the poison slowed when I gave him that medicine you told me to make him drink and it seems the wound is healing of its own accord with Naruto's and the Kyuubi's power. This is definitely better than before."
Hank nodded and looked at Naruto unconscious body in Jiraiya's arms. He looked over at Sakura and studied her.
"You are one of the medics who were helping Naruto?" he asked.
Sakura nodded. "I'm Sakura, a friend of Naruto and part of his team."
Hank smiled, "I'm happy to see Naruto has such a good friend by his side. Few mutants are given that chance when they come into their powers."
Sakura startled at the comment as it brought back memories of what Naruto went through when he was younger and dropped her head slightly in the shame that no one in the village helped him before he became a Genin. But we helped him keep the will to live by becoming his friends, so we have atoned for that and in return he has saved the village and those by him numerous times.
"Yes, sir," she said raising her head with a smile. "I understand what you mean."
Hank gave her a surprised look, but didn't dig deeper into the matter.
I suppose, Naruto has had a difficult life just like the rest of us.
They stopped in front of a door that opened and Jiraiya entered heading toward one of the beds. He gently placed Naruto on it and sat in a chair next to him. Hank took a needle and a slide and drew blood from Naruto. He placed a few drops onto the slide and observed it under a microscope.
"Sakura," Jiraiya called, "You should continue to work on Naruto and see if we can expel this poison from his system."
Sakura nodded and hurried over to Naruto. She place her hands over his chest and continued to try and heal Naruto.
What's going on? Kyuubi, were you able to stop the poison?
I'm not doing anything. It seems someone gave us an antidote. Although I don't think it has completely rid us of the poison, so we need to be careful. You rest while I try and heal the wound.
Alright. Wake me up when it's gone.
Just relax Naruto. I'm going to find out what's going on. I'm going to take over your body for a little bit, but I'm not going to move us anywhere in the state we are in.
Okay.
The Kyuubi came forward and opened his host's eyes.
"Naruto!" Sakura said in astonishment.
"Hello, Pinky, unfortunately I'm not Naruto. He's resting right now. I don't know what you gave us, but it's working for the time being. I'm putting my energy into healing the wound right now, but I appreciate the assistance Pinky."
"Would you stop calling me that!" Sakura requested keeping her annoyance in check. Normally she would have punched him, but she didn't want to heal anymore than she needed too and the wound itself was a pain in the but alone.
Naruto's face lit up with a smirk and Sakura clenched a hand into a fist focusing the chakra. Jiraiya caught her wrist and separated the two nin.
"Sakura, now's not the time and Kyuubi, please refrain from provoking Sakura in your state. Now if you are done, can you tell us if you are able to heal Naruto with your chakra or if you are only able to do parts of it."
"What does it seem like I've been trying to do this entire time? If I had been able to heal the wound and rid our body of the poison, I would have done so already. Every time I've tried to heal the muscles and the tissue surrounding the wound the poison sped up its progress and destroyed more tissue than was originally destroyed, that is why I pulled my healing chakra out of the wound and didn't do anything in the way of helping Pinky and the Old Lady."
Jiraiya burst out in laughter. Sakura shot him a confused look. "What are you laughing at, Jiraiya?"
"The Kyuubi is so similar to Naruto it's hilarious!"
"Don't encourage him!" Sakura scolded scowling at the immaturity of the older ninja.
Hank chuckled to himself at the sight of the three nin and Sakura turned her glare to him.
"Oh lighten up child," Hank advised, "It's always a good thing when the wounded is able to joke around even with the simple use of nicknames."
"Heh, I guess you're right," Sakura replied scratching her neck.
"Can someone get rid of this poison?" the Kyuubi yelled over them.
"Kyuubi can you tell me how much of the poison is still left in your system and where it might be?"
Kyuubi looked at Hank and closed his eyes for a couple of minutes and opened them. About three-quarters of the poison is left and it's scattered between our left side and traveling towards the heart. Anything else? I need to rest and help heal our body while I can."
"No, that should be it, thank you."
Hank turned back to the microscope with the blood sample still under it. Kyuubi closed Naruto's eyes and returned to the deeper subconscious of his host.
Well?
We are back at the X-Men's mansion and Hank, Jiraiya, and Sakura are here with us. Hank is doing everything possible to cure us. Now, get some rest, I'm going to heal us as much as possible before the poison begins to deteriorate the muscles again.
Sounds good. Good luck. I'll get some rest.
Author's Note: Don't forget to review! I love reviews! Sorry again for not updating sooner!