Author's Note: Please review! Enjoy!
German Translation:
Traurig- Sorry
"Tsunade…" Jiraiya uttered quietly from behind.
She turned to him. "Yes."
"We just got word from the Professor Charles Xavier."
Tsunade searched his face for an answer, "What word?"
"Itachi and Kisame attacked, but this time they were successful in taking Naruto," Jiraiya confessed.
Tsunade bit her lip in frustration. "Damn… Do you think the Kyuubi is right when he said they were bonded together to well for the Akatsuki to pull the Kyuubi out?"
Jiraiya considered the possibilities. "Yes. I'm confident that everything the Kyuubi said was true. Let's just hope that the Akatsuki don't figure that out until after we can get Naruto out of there."
Tsunade glowered at him. "And who do we have to go on this rescue mission?"
A strong smell of sulfur filled the air as Nightcrawler appeared. "Traurig to barge in Hokage, but I happened to overhear your conversation. Ze X-Men vould be happy to help Naruto if you don't have anybody else to do zo."
Tsunade flashed a kind smile at the mutant. "Thank you…"
"Nightcrawler. Nice to meet you," he introduced himself.
"Thank you Nightcrawler. If your team is confident that they can help out, then we would welcome the help. I'll have Jiraiya, Yamato, and Kakashi along with you. They know Naruto and can track the Akatsuki."
Nightcrawler beamed and disappeared in the cloud of sulfur once again. Jiraiya chuckled.
"What?" Tsunade asked.
"They are so full of energy. I'm not surprised they all got along with Naruto so well the first time they met. Of course they are most like them out of all of us here. They understand the pain and persecution that he's been through, having been through it themselves."
"Itachi you have the nine tails?" Pein asked.
Itachi dropped his burden on the hard ground in front of the organization.
"Hey! Hey! You got him! It took you two long enough! But where is Kisame?" Tobi looked around for the ex-hidden mist seven swordsman. "Did he not make it back?"
"Shut your mouth, Tobi," Kisame snarled.
"Oh! Kisame! You made it!"
"Shut up Tobi," Pein ordered.
Tobi snapped straight, "Yes, sir."
"Itachi. Kisame. Stand on your posts. Let's get this started," Pein commanded.
The six Akatsuki members that were left all made the same hand sign and drew on their chakra to pull the Kyuubi no Kitsune's chakra from Naruto's prone body.
"Alright everyone. This is Yamato. He took over Kakashi's team for the time he was injured and hospitalized," Jiraiya introduced the ANBU ninja to the X-Men.
Kakashi pointed out each mutant and told him of each of their powers while Jiraiya went over the plan of attack they had come up with. The team was comprised of the three ninja, Nightcrawler, Cyclops, Jean, Shadowcat, Iceman, Wolverine, and Spyke.
Sakura, Rogue, Laura, Beast, and Storm had joined them as soon as they were able to and now came running up to help.
"Good, we're all here," Kakashi stated.
"Summon Pakkun then," Jiraiya suggested. "Hopefully he can pick up Naruto's scent."
Kakashi nodded and performed the summoning jutsu.
"How ya doing?" Pakkun greeted. "What's happening Kakashi?"
"Naruto's been taken by the Akatsuki."
Pakkun groaned. "I knew it was only a matter of time. The fool, well I won't ask what happened. I take it you need me to track him?"
"Yes and we need you to make sure no one is coming upon us without our awareness and that we don't run into any unfriendly people along the way."
"Sounds good. Let's get started," Pakkun sniffed the sky and began walking around the clearing on all sides of them looking for a scent on the wind. "I've got him."
Kakashi looked to the mutants. "Are you all ready? We're going to be traveling fast through the trees."
"We'll manage," Wolverine replied.
Pakkun, Kakashi, Jiraiya, Sakura, and Yamato lept into the trees moving quickly with the X-Men following.
"Vow, zey can move quickly," Nightcrawler marveled.
"No lagging, Elf," Wolverine shouted, "Keep moving."
Shadowcat, Rogue, and Cyclops ran along the ground with Shadowcat phasing through everything in her way. Wolverine and Laura just shoved through and went along the trees like the ninja when need be which Laura did most often. Storm, Iceman, and Jean moved among the trees easily. Spyke had brought his skateboard and was currently moving along jumping bushes and interweaving through the trees. Beast moved along swinging through the branches and kept pace with the ninja easily.
They moved along quickly and silently. They stopped after an hour of pushing the fast pace to recover their strength.
"Pakkun, have you smelled any Sound ninja at all?" Kakashi asked.
Pakkun shook his head. "Not a single fresh scent. Which is strange considering you have been fighting them for some time now…"
"Did the Akatsuki by perchance call them off now that they have Naruto?" Logan suggested.
The ninja considered the thought. "I don't think so. If anything that would be an incentive to keep Sound ninja's attacking to keep us too busy to attempt a rescue party.
"What if the Sound ninja have all been executed," a gruff voice asked.
The X-Men had their guards up in an instant looking for the mysterious person who had been able to sneak up on them. Kakashi looked to Pakkun.
"Relax, it's Gaara with Temari and Kankurou."
Shadowcat looked at the ninja dog confused. "Who?"
"Allies and close friends of Naruto's," Jiraiya explained.
"Sorry, we didn't let you know of the situation, Kazekage, but as you could probably tell we were cut off from outside communication for a time," Jiraiya apologized. "And did you say that the Sound ninja are gone?"
"Yes we eliminated them and you had no time to send for help in these matters," Gaara stated. "I know. I've been in Naruto's position. He did everything he could to save me. Now it is time for me to repay him and save his life."
Sakura beamed and looked to the senior ninjas with them.
"We could use all the help we can get. Especially your help. Naruto will be happy to see you again."
Gaara nodded and gave a small grin.
"Have you all gotten some rest?" Kankurou asked them.
Yamato answered for the hidden leaf nin. "We're good. Are the X-Men ready to go?" he turned to the mutant team.
Cyclops looked around at his team and they all gazed back calmly and determinedly. Turning back to Yamato he nodded affirmation.
"Good," he turned to the Sand nin. "Let's get going then."
The rescue party all took off in their own way in the same direction as before.
"What's going on?"
"Why isn't the beast coming out?"
"Pein! Why isn't this working!"
The Akatsuki all argued as the jutsu broke apart and Itachi jumped down to examine Naruto.
"Did any of the other Jinchuuriki have physical aspects of their tailed beast?" he asked.
"Why of course not, silly," Tobi scoffed. "They are only hosts for their beasts."
Itachi stood with a hand gripping the back of Naruto's shirt holding him up. "Then why does he have fox ears and tails?"
"How did this happen?" Pein asked.
"Itachi, Kisame…Did the boy have these features when you saw him last before you caught him?" Zetsu asked.
"No," Itachi answered.
"Then something happened in that other world between the time you saw him last and the present when you caught him," Konan speculated.
"Well obviously, but why is the jutsu not working! What about the transfer from the host to the Bijuu?" Kisame demanded.
"Calm yourself, Kisame," Itachi warned.
"Any ideas on how to remove the Kyuubi?" Pein asked.
The Akatsuki all stared at him and waited for any answer.
Tobi leaped down from his post to stand in the center of the organization.
"I may have one suggestion. Of course not many of you would think I'd have this ability."
"How much further?" Wolverine inquired as they sped along.
Pakkun sniffed the air again, "Just beyond the trees."
Wolverine nodded and raised a fist in the air sliding his knives out to let his team know what was coming.
"Do you think they'll have a barrier like last time?" Jiraiya asked Kakashi.
Kakashi looked over at him. "I'm not sure. But it would be a good strategy. I wouldn't be too surprised."
They stopped at the edge of the trees with a large expanse of a grass field. They spread out and searched the field until one of the group found a small flat boulder three quarters of the way in the ground.
"Is there a seal?" Kakashi asked.
Nightcrawler looked around the boulder. Not seeing anything he shook his head.
Sakura rejoiced silently, "They obviously didn't take the necessary precautions this time." Looking at the large boulder that was between her and Naruto she smiled. "Everyone! Move out of the way!"
Everyone backed off and all watched as Sakura took a running charge at the boulder, leaped into the air, and punched downwards with her fist. The boulder blew to pieces collapsing inward and exploding out. The X-Men all stared at her in amazement.
"Wow…" Spyke commented to the agreement of the others.
They all peered into the cavern below the boulder. For the most part it looked pitch black except for the shaft of light that entered through the hole. Someone walked into that shaft of light dressed in a black cloak with red clouds and with an orange mask on.
"You dare?" he asked in a low dangerous growl.
Yamato, Jiraiya, and Kakashi drew back in astonishment.
"Crap! The entire Akatsuki Organization is down there!" Yamato warned.
"What!" Sakura exclaimed.
Tobi flew through the hole followed by Itachi. Both Akatsuki attacked as soon as they were out. The nin and X-Men leaped back.
Shadowcat leaped at Tobi. Kakashi grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
"You can't hit him. Everyone just goes right through," he informed her.
Shadowcat smirked, "So he can slip through objects and people too huh? Like this should be interesting."
She slipped from Kakashi's grasp. Attacking Tobi again she kept her mutant ability in action.
She threw her fist at Tobi. He laughed in amusement, then stopped short with a gurgle. He looked down at where her fist hit his gut.
Shadowcat smiled, "No one can hit you, huh?"
"You…Bitch!" Tobi shouted in anger.
He slapped her hand away. she lept back out of reach. Tauntingly she smiled and motioned for him to come.
The others all turned to Itachi when they realized she was the only one who could fight the orange, spiral masked ninja.
Jiraiya observed the scene and looked over those with them. His gaze paused on Laura.
"Laura," he gestured for her to come over to him. "You have a powerful sense of smell correct?"
"Yes. These two weren't the only ones down in that cavern. There's the shark, Kisame and others."
"How many others?"
"Six, including Naruto." Jiraiya grimaced. "What?" Laura asked.
"That's the whole organization. We're going to be in for a rough fight," he commented.
"I'm going in," Laura told him.
He looked up at her. "Can you handle them?"
Laura smirked and pointed at Wolverine. "I have his DNA and my skills. I think I'll manage."
Jiraiya nodded, "I'm going in with you."
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. I'm very inconspicuous especially in dark caves. They won't see me coming."
"Except when you crawl in through the hole you'll cast a shadow for all to see, then they'll know you're in there," Jiraiya pointed out.
Laura snarled, "Fine. You go in and I'll slip in as you're shadow."
Jiraiya nodded. "Let's go."
They slipped between the fights as quickly as they could without catching Itachi's or Tobi's attention. Jiraiya jumped through the hole. Laura followed. Once they cleared the edge she gently pushed off from his back out of sight.
The Akatsuki looked up and several sneered. The five Akatsuki left in the cavern were gathered around Naruto.
Good, that means the Kyuubi was correct. They are bonded too well for them to take the nine tails chakra.
"Good day, Gentlemen," he greeted. "I don't believe we have all been introduced."
"Konan."
"Yes, Pein."
The only female Akatsuki member walked forward and made a sign. The paper on her cloak peeled off and swirled around the cavern.
"Konan?" Jiraiya asked.
"Hello, Jiraiya," she greeted. "It's time for you to die."
Jiraiya lowered his gaze. "I never expected you to…"
Laura rolled her eyes. Don't do anything stupid now old man. If you knew her in the past, then I can take the guess that she isn't the same as she was before. Get the others away from Naruto! Dammit old man!
Either Jiraiya heard her or he had the same thought for he made a series of hand signs. There was a pause where he was still, then his hair bristled and grew.
"I'm sorry, Konan," he whispered.
His hair grew around him. Bristling even further spikes shot from it scattering the Akatsuki.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" he shouted.
Four Jiraiya's popped into existence around the original. All of the clone's hair was bristling.
"That's it, Jiraiya. Get them a little further," she murmured.
"And who are you?" a voice said from behind her.
She whirled around. Behind her was a man with a plant around his head.
Now!
She pushed off from the ground towards Naruto. Racing forward she slipped past the other Akatsuki. She reached Naruto and pulled him into her arms.
"Go Laura!" Jiraiya shouted. A clone covered her from behind. "Get out of here. Now."
She nodded and pushed off from the ground. Paper origami followed her as she grabbed the edge of the hole into the cavern.
Another clone speared the paper with a kunai. Laura shifted Naruto in her grip and tossed him up over the edge. She pulled herself up and onto the dirt before the field of grass. She looked around at the other battles. Tobi was busy dealing with Shadowcat. Itachi was busy with the rest. Rogue managed to get up behind Itachi at that moment and she touched him with her finger. Itachi's eyes grew large before he dropped to the ground.
Wolverine placed a hand on his throat. He nodded when he felt a pulse. A choked gasp followed that nod. They turned to see Rogue with a horrified expression on her face.
"Rogue? What's wrong?" Cyclops asked.
Jean knelt in front of her and took her by the shoulders.
"Th…That man," Rogue sputtered. "He killed his entire clan and…his…family, except his brother."
Itachi pushed himself up slowly and shakily. "Don't you dare," he said threateningly.
Rogue stared him in the eye. "How could you do that! How could you do that to your own brother?"
Wolverine looked around and saw Laura with Naruto.
"Let's go," he ordered.
Yamato hit Itachi in the back of the head knocking him out. He pulled out a strand of wire that he secured tightly around Itachi's hands behind his back. He pulled Itachi onto his back. Kakashi took Naruto from Laura and positioned him onto his back.
"Where's Jiraiya?" Sakura asked.
Laura pointed to the hole. "He said to get going. I believe he'll follow once we're clear."
"Jean," Wolverine gestured. "Help Jiraiya out. I'm sure you could do something from up here."
"Sure."
She walked over to the side of the hole and closed her eyes. A moment later all the Akatsuki were doubled over unable to see, hear, or even think. Shadowcat paused in her attack on Tobi as he doubled over as well.
She looked over at the group and spotted Jean. Nightcrawler teleported into the cavern and reappeared with Jiraiya.
"I take it we're all ready," he stated.
Wolverine looked at Rogue with a sigh. He pulled her into his arms. "Yes. Let's get out of here."
The group took off. Jean stayed for a few moments longer before sending a sharp mental blast at the group. She checked that the Akatsuki were all down before leaving and following the others back to the remnants of Konoha.
Author's Note: As always thanks for reading. Please review!