Hello everyone!! Thanks for reviewing my last chapter… those who complemented my story throughout the beginning and just recently, pat yourselves in the back… you make me keep writing!! Some of you may have already figure out who is the "mystery" character within Akatsuki but I'll show a scene that I think all of you would like. Also, one of my reviews showed me an error I made… the word 'rouge' is rogue!! Sorry to anyone who got confused.

Another thing I want to add is… thanks to all those people that have added my both stories on C2's, I never knew that (this story specifically) had been added to so many… thank ya'll again XD.

Another thing… the title of this chapter has a second part so forget about "unexpected enemy" thing in the last one XP sorry!!!

Nagato revived everyone he killed in Konoha… how's that a lesson in pain for Naruto? But oh well, that's Kishimoto for ya… I wonder why he didn't summon a dragon called Shenlong. -_-'

Disclaimer: don't own Naruto nor any character in it… except my own OC's

X.X.X

Chapter17: face to face… again (Pt.2)

The seconds passed like hours in the mind of certain white-eyed kunoichi as she kept running at top speed through the deep forest of the Land of Fire. Blood-line activated and pointing the direction once and a while to those behind her, Hyuuga Hinata led the way to one of the most, if not the most, important retrieval missions of her life. Why this mission was more important than the others?... that's easy… her "love" was going to engage battle to the most powerful organization of rogue shinobi in the five nations and she wasn't going to let anyone hurt her "love".

The first time she met him after three years, he looked foreign to her but still familiar. She felt shiver on her spine when he looked at her for the first time and she found the excuse to faint when he appeared behind her in a flicker and breathed on her ear. She had grown into a powerful kunoichi and a very beautiful and attractive woman but deep inside she was still the shy fifteen year old girl who hoped for the exuberant blonde shinobi to fall in love for her. The words he whispered in her ear were still fresh on her mind and she was never going to forget them but she still knew her love was hiding something… and she was on her way to find what.

"Hinata-san, you should take it easy… you wouldn't be of use if you're tired when we get there. I think Naruto can hold his own until we get there, he's not weak you know" Kakashi said calmly while he watched the young woman in front of her slow her pace a bit but still looking very determined "At least she got spirit and she's not scared of her enemies even though she know their reputation" the masked jounin thought with a slight smile.

"Sempai… do you think he'll return?" Hinata asked in a voice that reminded everyone in the group of the old shy girl from three years ago "I mean, what if he beats them but he runs away?" she asked again but she heard a chuckle coming from the experience jounin.

"Now Hinata… that doesn't sound like you at all. Didn't you once said that you would never give up… are you giving up already?" Kakashi asked in a teasing voice that made the girl cringe.

"Hinata, I know you don't like much because of how I treated Naruto in the past but if it were you missing… he wouldn't give up" Sakura said a bit cautiously. She remembered the look the heiress had given her three years ago after the announcement was made… the cold, killer eyes set on her and Sasuke. The medical ninja was scared of her since she didn't spent time with her she didn't know what she could do and more importantly she was a Hyuuga… a touch could mean death.

"I know Sakura… this Naruto scares me a little, I've never been scare of him but his demeanor changed over the years" Hinata stated seriously while the others looked downcast at her words.

"She called me by my name, not Haruno-san… we may've lost the chance to get Naruto but Hinata is coming back to herself little by little" Sakura thought with a small smile but quickly thought over was she said, Naruto changing into an "almost-villain" character was indeed bad for them. Her blonde ex-teammate was a very determined shinobi and if he decided to finish them all… he could do it.

Shikamaru was obviously thinking of a way to at least restrain his friend and the other accompanying him. He instinctively reached for the pack of cigarettes on his pouch but he decided against it, ever since Naruto left he felt nervous or anxious and the small death-sticks calmed him down. The shadow-user thought about the current situation as a drag and to actually confront Naruto was in other words… troublesome as he never thought he of all people could be in the other end of his attacks. Sai was also thinking of a way to battle his once-time teammate but found that his techniques were almost useless against him. The ink-user always thought of Naruto as a kid run by his emotions, nothing special except for being a jinchuuriki but after spending time with the blonde he found out that emotions are needed for certain occasions, they identify you as a human being and not for a killing machine. He never thought of actually fighting the blonde once his mission was called off three years ago but seeing the chances of not fighting in this mission… were none. He was going to fight and he was going to do everything he could to get a shinobi who could indeed help Konoha for the better.

"Don't worry about that for now… we first assist, then found out if his coming home or not" Yamato said and Kakashi, at his side, nodded in agreement "You should know that he may find our presence annoying or helpful so don't do anything rash… you're led by us so listen to our orders" the wood-user said in with authority while everyone nodded.

"What Yamato is trying to say is that we don't wasn't anyone of you dying out there or losing their temper at Naruto's behavior" Kakashi stated as his only exposed eye curved up. He knew that the younger shinobi on this team were nervous of not only fighting a friend but of clashing against Akatsuki and he decided to at least help ease their worries.

"I see several distant chakra signatures almost three miles from our position" Hinata state suddenly and looked back to see Kakashi nod his head. The decided to pick up their pace to at least arrive to the location in time while Hinata remembered that this mission required no fighting unless necessary but she knew she was going to fight and she knew she was going to be provoked. "I'm coming Naruto-kun!" the heiress thought determined at the thoughts of her living happily with the blonde enigma once this was over swam on her head.

X.X.X

Back in Konoha

"That's why we must appoint a new person to the job… Tsunade is incapable of such a responsibility anymore" a voice said belonging to a man that was covered in bandages and had only one eye exposed. Said man was seated in a round table with members of the Konoha council, a couple of jounins and the Daimyo of Fire Country. Tsunade had shut herself in her home saying that she was researching but many knew that she was tired and most of all worried. Her encounter with Naruto left her emotionally weak and she needed a rest… not many knew that though.

"I don't see why… she has managed to rebuild half of the village without much of the budget we're collecting and she's doing it without the help of other villages" the Daimyo said calmly "The shinobi of this village have helped a lot and they're grateful that she's Hokage"

"Well I'm not grateful… she's done nothing but to make this village be targeted by other villages and a criminal organization. We trusted Jiraiya and he taught the same man that destroyed the village, he also taught a traitor who got us in trouble with Iwagakure. The Uzumaki trusted the Uchiha and that trust led to Tsunade being persuade and let him join the ranks. He arrived here three years ago wearing an Akatsuki cloak and started to destroy the village…" Danzou was interrupted by Shikkaku.

"Naruto saved the village and he stopped Sasuke, in fact convinced him to join us" the genius stated with sincerity. He felt devastated when the news about Naruto's defection but knew that it had to be more that being ignored for the boy to leave but that was it… he didn't know what.

"Yes and now the Akatsuki want him back!" Danzou threw back. Inside the senile war-hawk was smirking at this fortunate time, ever since locked him up with the other two councilors he told her ways of helping the village but she wasn't budging. After a long talk and serious death threats from the Uchiha he and the others were freed… but with limits. Now he was making sure he had no limits and he was going to save this village even if a few had to die to do it.

"I don't care about that… it was found out that Pain lived in Amegakure, a village we were at war with years ago. The attack led by him was personal and not Tsunade-sama's fault" Shikkaku threw back a bit angrily "He's planning something..." he thought certainly but knew he needed to put a name on the line to at least see his reaction. "I nominate Hatake Kakashi"

"Oh, I remember him… the son of the "White Fang"… he's pretty powerful and respected right?" the Daimyou asked the other members of the council with a hopeful glance. The other members of the council nodded while another said that he was very reliable.

"Are you kidding me… Hatake Kakashi, a shinobi who follows the Third Hokage's teachings? This man taught the two shinobi who made the disaster of the village. He trained Uchiha Sasuke and he also taught him his personal technique in which he had attacked our shinobi countless of times. Said student of Hatake joined Orochimaru and later on Akatsuki. He also taught Uzumaki Naruto… the one who is a target of Akatsuki back here!" Danzou stated calmly "Trusting randomly is what led this village in disaster… Suna's betrayal and now Akatsuki, a Hokage who is weak enough to trust that easily is not capable of governing a village. I would take matters in my own hands and restore this village back to its former glory… if you let me, my Lord"

"Perhaps we should… what do you say my Lord?" one of the council members asked the leader of the whole country.

"Yes. The decision is made… Danzou… you'll be the Sixth Hokage" the Daimyou said as he pointed the bandaged man with his fan. Danzou on the other hand was internally extatic as his plans were coming into motion but for a man who teaches about "emotion control" he let a semi-sinister smile grace his lips.

"This is bad… Tsunade-sama won't like this" Shikkaku thought as he and the other shinobi in the table looked at each other worriedly.

X.X.X

Unknown cave, Akatsuki's location

Anticipation, no other word could describe the feelings that surrounded the dark cave were three Akatsuki members stood. Zetsu waited a bit patiently for any kind of order he had to carry out, personally he would like to fight against the pale-green shinobi from the jinchuuriki's group but he knew that wouldn't be the case. The hidden figure with the raspy voice waited anxiously to fight against the jinchuuriki that shamed him three years ago and the fowl chakra he was giving off was the proof that he couldn't wait to play with him. Madara on the other hand was calmly walking towards a rock to sit on while he waited. The legendary shinobi just sat in the rock gazing towards the entrance in a calm fashion and unlike the hidden figure, kept his chakra leveled. Zetsu felt uncomfortable in the tension-growing cave and decided to channel his other half through the ground to see the whereabouts of the incoming group of shinobi. White-Zetsu saw them coming without a rush but were minutes away from topping with the cave he was in and he decided to at least alert the two powerful shinobi sharing it with him.

"It's a matter of time… only few minutes and they'll arrive" Zetsu announced at the two figures that were in the cave waiting. The 'plant-man' felt the anxiousness of one of the figures and knew that talking to him directly was not going to be a good idea. The other figure kept his demeanor calmed as he was expecting the tardiness, he also could tell that the calm figure was enjoying the moment… amused him.

"Zetsu, take Kisame and the experiments away from here… meet us at the rendezvous point in Mist" Madara ordered strongly yet with a sense of amusement in his voice "Fighting here could damage our plan if you die… is easier this way" he stated and the venus-flytrap like figure nodded and fused with the ground.

"Easier?" the raspy voice asked intrigued "You think the Uzumaki-boy is going to be easy!?" he asked again this time rage edged in his voice "Are you mocking me?" his rage-filled voice boomed inside the cave… his eyes, finally open, shone in the dark.

"Don't be a fool… if they were to fight they would only get in our way" Madara stated coldly as he started to flare his chakra a bit "Don't point fingers when you're the one who failed years ago… it's your fault no one else's" he stated, this time amused as he could feel the anger from the hidden figure "I'll capture him… failure is not an option!" he stated with force

"If you want glory then get it… I'll bring the boy pain!" the voice stated coldly as he felt the group outside the cave. Suddenly, puffing sounds were heard in the cave indicating that several figures had arrived. The hidden figure's eyes shone in the darkness as he stared at the newcomers, narrowing his eyes one of the several figures suddenly headed towards the cave's entrance to give the incoming group a greeting. The other figures moved to the entrance as well but at a much slower pace.

"You're such a fool… better for me to manipulate" Madara thought with amusement as he passes the hidden figure with his own hidden smile. He followed several figures to encounter the two jinchuuriki's and their comrades "This is going to be interesting"

X.X.X

Minutes before arriving at the cave (Boshoku)

The rush and adrenaline pumping through the veins of everyone in the group rogues. With each step they took, they each knew the dangers and how close to death they would come across if no careful. They also knew that even if Akatsuki had lost most of its members three years ago, they had a legend behind them… a powerful legend to be precise. Naruto told his group about the true leader of the opposing organization and his Sharingan eye. Naruto, with the help of Kabuto, also told them of the other two members and the abilities of each one. Kazuru couldn't wait to fight against the shark-like shinobi as he was itching to release is full potential and something told him the blue-skinned man could handle it. Kusamaru on the other hand was analyzing the chances of him not dying in any way against his has-been comrade Zetsu, he could tell that they were almost evenly matched and it would take a good amount of skill to survive against the expert in assassination. Kabuto was more interested in how the experiments he once helped create have now fallen in to the hands of Uchiha Madara of all people.

What neither of the members of the group knew was that their worries were going to go "out the window" when they finally arrive at the desire location.

"This is weird" Doki said as he narrowed his eyes in suspicion and everybody in the group turned to him "My blood-line lets me sense everything on the ground up to two miles and I've sensed a lot of weird activity up ahead in a cave" he stated as he gazed at Naruto who nodded.

"That most be their hiding place… what did you sensed?" Naruto asked, intrigued.

"There were three people inside the cave and about a mile from said cave there were several other people. Suddenly one of the peoples in the cave went to the location were the others are" Doki said calmly while the others listened carefully as he was not done "What bothers me the most is that suddenly six persons arrived at the cave and started moving towards us" he finished and wasn't pleased at the wide-eyes look Naruto was giving him.

"This can't be… could it… no" Naruto thought uncertainly "The number of people that suddenly arrived at the cave is just a coincidence, right?" he kept thinking but at the same time he felt something coming at them and was snapped of his thoughts.

The group was about to land in front of the base of the semi-cliff that held the cave when a figure fell from the sky, landing on the ground and making a large crack on it. Naruto and his group made a stop and stared at the person that landed carefully. Looking up the person glared at the group and lifted both his arms. The person glared at the group with his rigged-pattern blued eyes and stretched both his hands.

"Imposib…" Naruto started before he was pushed back… hard.

"Shinra Tensei!" the person stated in a cold, hard voice as the ground around and beneath him was pushed back as well, leaving a huge crater of at least twenty meters. The group of rogues known as Boshoku was scattered in the ground. Some were completely visible, some were buried in the ground and only limbs were visible but only one glared back at the figure… with his own rigged-pattern blue eyes.

"Pain…"

X.X.X

I'm evil!!!! Hahahahahahaah…………… this chapter was short, I know, but was needed for the next one. The next chapter, you'll definitely see a lot of people in action and expect and unexpected turns of events. So how did you like my very similar turn of events in the village… the only things that changed from the latest manga was a few things Danzou said but I managed to squeeze them there. I want you're opinion on how this cliffhanger ended… like it, hate it, it would have a purpose though…

Next: unexpected enemy (AN: now is the right one… once again sorry)