Chapter 6-The Shadows Whisper
It had been three years and six Months since Naruto left Konoha. His departure being a glorious moment for the Leaf, which was short lived, as the village was assaulted on all sides by enemies, lost all its allies, trade rights with those around them. To make matters worse, the Uchiha had yet to have offspring with his new wife on account of his single attempt was weak, and pathetic to anyone calling himself a man. After he went rogue for a second time, the retrieval team had (officially) beat him so badly that the Uchiha Clan Head couldn't reproduce with his equally pathetic wife Sakura until his injuries were fully healed.
As for Naruto himself, Konoha's fall from grace was his rise to ascending to everything he should have become in life had the village honored his Father's dying wish, and just treated the Uzumaki like a hero. The Uzumaki had gained insight to his Mother's side of the family, the secret history of the clan, and how it had been betrayed by those that were suppose to be their most trusted of allies. To make things even more amazing for Naruto was the fact the source of this information came from the spirit of Uzumaki Genshin, who was the illegitimate son of the Sage of Six Paths, and wielded the Sword of Juubi along with the Rinnegan. Genshin had entrusted his sword to Naruto, to use it as he saw fit, and get the justice the Uzumaki spirits of those who died in Whirlpool called out for from the afterlife.
Since that time, Naruto trained, grew stronger with each passing day, and endured Hell for every second he spent making his way to becoming the man he was now. Along the way, the Uzumaki got allies in the form of his fellow Jinchuriki, and even a few countries he had been to when still a Konoha Shinobi. Each of them had pledge to support him in his mission to crush the Akatsuki organization that was planning to use the power of the Biju inside each Jinchuriki against the world.
So far, Naruto had managed to land a major blow to the organization with the death of one Hoshigaki Kisame, and turning Uchiha Itachi into his spy against them. As an added bonus, Naruto learned the truth about the Uchiha Massacre, and how it wasn't exactly like Konoha portrayed it while discovering the Uchiha was also secretly spying for Konoha. So Naruto was able to pass along fake information through the Akatsuki when Itachi gave his report on events to the group and his old village to misdirect Jiraiya when the Sannin gave his reports to Tsunade.
And where was Naruto right now? He was in a house deep within Wave Country by the water. Another gift from Tazuna, who had it made to be a safe house of sorts for Naruto to live in when traveling all over the Elemental Countries became too tiring, and a place to crash for a short time was required. It had a nice sizeable boat at the ready should the Missing Nin for an Uzumaki need to make a great escape from any possible pursuers that might come his way.
There WAS a sizable bounty on his head from Konoha and Taki.
Speaking of Taki, it seemed Fu's own bounty had increased, and Konoha apparently was trying to collect it too. Though from what Itachi learned from Jiraiya during the transfer of information between them, the plan for the Leaf had been to capture Fu, have her mind reprogrammed, and reconditioned to becoming a weapon for the Leaf village. They even wanted to have her become the Uchiha's "wife", which would be the official title for her, but only a title, and in truth they would just have Sasuke impregnate the woman by force if necessary. The powers that be that the stronger the female, the more invigorated Sasuke would be to revive his clan with that particular woman, and given that Fu is the current Jinchuriki of the seven-tailed Nanabi...they assumed he would be definitely want her.
"Naruto-kun?" asked the slumbering girl sleeping nude and snuggled up against him.
"Yes Fu," replied Naruto, as he caressed the woman's form close to his own, and she hummed with pleasure from the contact.
"Do you think when this business with the Akatsuki, Orochimaru, and Konoha is over that...that we could get married?" asked Fu, as she saw Naruto close both his eyes despite one of them being dead now for several years, and smiled at the idea.
The two had been intimate for the first time since Fu first traveled with him after leaving Taki and the green haired Jinchuriki had professed her love for him the previous night. Fu couldn't take the idea of holding back her feelings for Naruto anymore, seeing him caring about others like himself, fighting against the oppressors that put Jinchuriki, and others like them under their thumb. She saw strength, greatness, compassion, understanding, and just about everything Fu ever would have desired in a man.
So with that in mind, Fu confessed how she truly felt, kissing him passionately, and to prove she was sincere about her feelings...disrobed before the Uzumaki. She wanted to be his mind, body, and soul with her looking him right in his one passionate blue eye that Fu could tell was filled with love along with the growing lust at the sight of her athletic form that stood before him. Naruto did admit he fell for the green haired Jinchuriki, admitting that she was one of the few women in the Elemental Countries that could make his heart swell, and ache with longing. However, he did ask the girl how she felt about sharing him with any other women in his life worthy of being with him, but Fu surprised Naruto with a kiss to his lip, and just whispered into his ears her answer.
All I want is you. If I have to share you and the love within your heart...so be it. All I ask is for my fair share of it like every other woman will want.
And with that answer as they say...is history!
"Of course Fu. I would love to marry you," answered Naruto with Fu kissing his chest.
"Can we have it here? In Wave?" asked Fu, as she really liked this place, and its people since they never criticized her for being a Jinchuriki.
To them she was simply a woman.
Now she was Naruto's woman and future wife. One that would be among several, but one of them nonetheless.
"If that is your wish Fu. I'm sure the people of Wave would love the idea to hold such a grand wedding here," replied Naruto with the woman moving on top of him, straddling his waist, and moaning lustfully at the feeling of being connected at the hip once more.
"I can picture it now. Blooming flowers raining down, the birds chirping, singing in the air their beautiful melody, the people of Wave are watching us with joy in their hearts at seeing us together, and the warm Spring weather making it all the sweeter," said Fu, as she moved her hips, gyrating sensually now, and moaned when she felt his hands on her breasts.
Naruto smiled at Fu. His friend, fellow Jinchuriki, and now his lover currently riding him at her own pace she was setting for this morning romp that her heart desired. He could just imagine how the various people in Konoha would react to the two of them doing this right now. Kurenai would call him a pervert deserving of castration. Kakashi would hate the idea of Naruto being with any woman, who would want to marry, and have kids with him one day. Shikamaru would think he was being troublesome for wanting to be with any energetic woman. Kiba would want to take his place and make Fu his own bitch with no regard for her wants. Neji would say "Its Fate two demons get together to fornicate and bring about abominations for children" while Tenten would agree while getting her own weapons ready to castrate the two lovers.
The others would most likely be in that same general area of the thought process when it came the two Jinchuriki, but Naruto was sure Hinata would be heart broken over it once hearing such news, and he knew that speaking with the Hyuuga girl was a priority in his mind that would eventually have to be addressed.
'First thing first,' thought Naruto while he moved one of his hands to Fu's butt and began to take command of the pace now by thrusting up into her womanhood when she began to descend.
It was sending jolts of pleasure right up through the girl's body with her cries of passion increasing with each new powerful thrust.
"We got us a keeper my larva. Though after last night's mating I should probably call you a butterfly," said Chōmei while Fu ignored the Biju for the pleasure she was getting right now.
'You can say that again Chōmei! And if anyone tries to take him from us like Konoha or the Akatsuki...I'll show everyone in their ranks the kind of stinger this particular butterfly possesses!' thought Fu before she found herself flipped over onto her back and Naruto grinning down at her.
"Let's increase the pace a bit," said Naruto before kissing the woman passionately on the lips while molesting her with his hand and had the other one putting the girl's leg on his shoulder.
'Oh yeah! Definitely the mate for me!' thought Fu, as she loved how Naruto began to take her at this new angle, new pace, and the power behind his thrusts practically doubled.
Not to mention Naruto's own stinger was large and pointy too!
The two would be stuck in bed for most of the morning.
(Konoha-Sometime Later)
They say seeds of doubt can be planted anywhere in someone to question one's beliefs on a matter regardless of the loyalty. However, they can only take root, and grow if there is a foundation within a fertile soul for them to do just that. By using just the right choice of words, the questioning of one's beliefs with observations about different people in that person's company, the seeds of doubt can do more damage then any physical weapon man has ever made, and leave the most everlasting scars on the mind if not the soul! The questioning of loyalty, the arguments that would follow, the very thoughts of betrayal that would grow, the committing of said act of betrayal, and the chaotic aftermath that would come after it happened when those betrayed see who was it that betrayed them.
Such seeds of doubt were planted the day Naruto spoke to his old "friends" from Konoha and their senseis back in Wave Country some time ago. The idea was to make those his age or those around his age question Konoha's leadership and those that taught them all about the greatness of their village. For many of the Rookies along with Gai's team, the seeds of doubt had been planted, waiting to take root, and grow within their minds. Their pride in themselves and denial of the possible truth held off the seeds at first, but human curiosity is a funny thing when the mind starts to question things, and the painful truth makes itself known to those that would sooner be blind then see it stare them right in the face!
Sadly for some in Konoha, the cold hard truth has a way of making you open your eyes by force, and making you see things for what they truly are when seen.
That ignorance and arrogance are bliss until shattered.
Yamanaka Ino found this out when eating dinner with her parents and had a thoughtful look on her face that normally wasn't there. The usually happy girl, who had yet to win Sasuke's attention, and future right to be his husband along side Sakura was completely serious this particular evening. Something that didn't go unnoticed by her parents and it was her Father who decided to find out what was on his daughter's mind.
"Ino-chan dear, what seems to be the problem? You're so serious all of a sudden," asked Inoichi with the girl shrugging a bit and he looked at his wife Kaoru watching their only child pick at the remnants of food on her plate.
"Mom. Dad...if I were to ask you a simple question, do you promise not to get mad, and tell me the absolute truth?" asked Ino with Inoichi and Kaoru looking at each other with confused expressions on their faces.
"Sure honey. What is the question?" replied Kaoru while hoping it wasn't anything too embarrassing that they actually couldn't answer.
"Well...you remember how my group encountered Naruto a few Months ago?" Ino asked with the two nodding.
"Sure Ino. The demon brat retreated. What about him?" replied Inoichi curiously while he had a feeling already about not liking the direction this was going.
"Its just...he said something to us and I'm not sure if I should ask you," replied Ino with uncertainty in her voice.
"What did he say exactly sweetie?" asked Kaoru while seeing Ino take in a deep breath.
"He said that we shouldn't be so quick to believe everything you told us. That if things had been different, anyone of us could have been a Jinchuriki, and be forsaken by our very parents. That if I for example, were made Jinchuriki of Kyuubi, you would both forsake me as your daughter, and leave me alone to suffer like he did growing up. He practically dared all of us to ask this question and that the answer we get wouldn't be the answer we'd expect. So my question now is...would you abandon me to suffer like Naruto did at the hands of the village?" questioned Ino with her parents looking shocked by this and unable to answer right away.
"He asked you that?" asked Kaoru with Inoichi grimacing.
"Yeah! Its silly isn't it? You two leaving me alone to suffer pain and suffering like that baka did because he was a Jinchuriki. But I told myself that deep down, you wouldn't do that, and love me no matter what!" exclaimed Ino while she laughed a hearty laugh and looked at her parents to see they weren't laughing with her.
In fact they were looking downright serious at the moment.
"I can't believe he asked you!" exclaimed Inoichi furiously with clenched teeth.
"Why? He's wrong about you guy. Right?" Ino asked with her Mother and Father looking at each other for a second.
"Ino its...sweetie we love you. You know that right?" replied Kaoru and Ino nodded while dread filled her stomach.
"Yeah. I know that. BUT would you love me regardless if I was a Jinchuriki?" countered Ino and saw to her horror that neither one rose to fight the implied fear from the question.
"Ino...you have to understand. Being a Jinchuriki is not something any parent wishes to have happen upon their own child. It has long been Konoha's policy regarding Jinchuriki that they are to be given little to nothing in life. No contact with family if any exists, no friends unless needed to used, and the sensei of a Jinchuriki must be prepared to kill the vessel if given the command should it be decided the demon inside the body is becoming a potential threat to the village. If you had become a Jinchuriki, we couldn't be in contact with you, or acknowledge that we were your parents," explained Inoichi with Ino looking at him with shock and horror on her face.
"You mean you would...you would let people beat me? Dig through garbage like a stray dog. To suffer the harsh cold nights and heavy rain without anyway to protect myself?" questioned Ino with tears running down her eyes.
"Its not like we would do it purposely Ino-chan! Its just...that's how it is! Besides, why should you dwell on 'what ifs', and what your life would be like as a Jinchuriki? You're not! You are Yamanaka Ino. Our daughter. End of discussion!" exclaimed Kaoru with her words making Ino even more upset.
"No! Its not over! You just admitted that you wouldn't love me if I was a Jinchuriki!" said a now hysterical Ino, as she got up from the table, and backed away from them.
"Ino! Sit down. We do love you," countered Inoichi with Ino glaring at him.
"Only because I'm not like Naruto. If I was, you'd probably be among those in the village, who would beat me every chance they got, and make my life miserable. Admit it! Admit it right now!" Ino shot back.
"Ino stop this right now! You're being irrational!" exclaimed Inoichi while his right hand was under the table, going through hand signs, and saw his only daughter glaring at him.
"Am I? Everything in my life growing up has been great. I've had friends, presents on my birthday, a roof over my heads, three meals a day, and just about the ideal childhood life one can have growing up. But that would only be a dream if I was Jinchuriki and do you know what is even worse? You would let it happen!" exclaimed Ino before she felt her Father's chakra spike and him hitting her with the Mind Disable Jutsu.
"Inoichi!" exclaimed Kaoru while Inoichi himself silenced her with a glare.
"She was getting hysterical Kaoru-chan. I need to take her to the Hokage and see what needs to be done about this," explained Inoichi and Kaoru nodded.
"Just be careful with her mind," replied Kaoru with Inoichi nodding.
(With Shikamaru)
Shikamaru was always a bright guy. Lazy, but still bright if not genius level just like his Father, and his Fathers Father before him. So after what happened with the encounter with Naruto in Wave Country awhile back, the Nara Male was processing things from that moment in his head from every single angle, and every word spoken during their confrontation with the Shadow Clone of their target. While not much to go on, it was clear the cloak, and the hood was meant to keep them from knowing what lay beyond it. There were rumors about Naruto being a Kenjutsu Master of some kind, but there was no real evidence of it, and yet Shikamaru knew such rumors wouldn't exist unless there was a sliver of truth to them. So it was possible Naruto had a sword with powerful properties in it like the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist had with theirs. The blonde wasn't one for tipping his hand too early in a card game and if he did...it was only because Naruto knew no one else had an ace up their sleeve to beat him.
There was also the conversation Naruto's Shadow Clone had with them. Not their former senseis or Jiraiya of the Sannin himself, but rather the Rookies, and Gai's old team that were all in a position to fight. The way the blonde spoke told Shikamaru that Naruto was confident the question asked by each Rookie to their respective parent would and could be something they wouldn't want an answer to if given one. Naruto had a look in his eye when telling them to ask the question and it was a look of someone who knew what the answer was without a shred of doubt.
Shikamaru however, also knew the answer, as he wasn't naive like maybe Ino, or even Choji for that matter about asking his parents the question Naruto wanted each one to ask. Shikamaru knew the history of Jinchuriki general and how they were constantly abused by their village to make them subservient weapons. Shikamaru knew that if he had been chosen by the Yondaime Hokage to hold the Kyuubi, his life would have been Hell, and the Nara calculated a ninety-eight percent chance with a two percent error that he would have ended his life before reaching his tenth birthday. The sad thing was, Shikamaru had known this before he so stupidly (in his own opinion) decided to confirm his suspicions, and ask the very question Naruto wanted them to ask.
Would Nara Shikamaru's parents love him if he was the Kyuubi Jinchuriki?
The answer to this question? Simple. He got no comment from his Mother on the matter while his Father wouldn't even look at him and Shikamaru knew Naruto had struck his very soul and hit dead center. His own parents, who brought him into this world, shown him love, caring, put a roof over his head, fed him, clothed him, and taught Shikamaru while growing up would have said "He's a Jinchuriki now. Screw him!" before leaving the child that was their son alone to fend for himself.
'Troublesome. Is this what you want Naruto? To have us question our loyalty to the Leaf knowing your life could have been our own if we were in your position? To know that in the end our parents would forsake us for being what you are now? Damn it and damn you Naruto!' thought Shikamaru angrily while he looked up at the sky to see the clouds up there moving around, but even they failed to calm his mind, and think clearly on things.
There was no turning back now. You couldn't press a reset button and play life over again to change things. No. The pieces were moving on the Shogi board. Naruto had his pieces and Konoha had its own with neither backing down from a fight. Shikamaru knew it was an inevitable outcome that would happen sooner or later between the two sides. Tsunade hoped to capture Naruto with the team she sent, but no such luck, and Orochimaru was stirring things up once more in Rice Country in one of his many bases. The other Shinobi villages were beginning to stir again once more and the need to call off the hunt for the rogue Kyuubi Jinchuriki seemed more likely with each passing day.
Oh who was he kidding? Shikamaru wouldn't be surprised if Tsunade had Jiraiya look for Naruto to offer the preverbal olive branch. Not that he expected Tsunade to keep any of her promises Jiraiya made on her behalf since the woman wasn't known for honoring any agreements from deals made unless there was no other recourse. While there wasn't one just yet, Shikamaru knew that Tsunade would use the olive branch offered to pull a fast one, and trap Naruto before doing what was planned from the start.
To turn Naruto into a mindless obedient weapon or see to it a replacement is in place so that the new Jinchuriki would be more...complacent to do things Konoha's way.
The secondary part of that plan made Shikamaru frown since he had been told only an Uzumaki could contain the fox's power, which meant Naruto would have to impregnate a woman, and there was only one woman in the village that wanted his child. Granted she wouldn't want the child to be made into a Jinchuriki, but nonetheless it was something that would have to be done, even if it meant destroying Hinata in the process, and kill if not banish her from Konoha to ensure all contact with the child is lost.
While Shikamaru had no love for Naruto, the idea of robbing Hinata of her child, even if the child became a Jinchuriki seemed...wrong somehow! She was human! Didn't Konoha go against hurting its own people, who were all normal, and even more when they came from highly respected clans like the Hyuuga?
"You're over thinking things son," said Nara Shikaku, who was Shikamaru's Father, as the man sat down beside his son to watch the clouds, and do some bonding.
"Am I? If we bring Naruto back, he is made into a mindless weapon, or we use Hinata to produce an Uzumaki capable of holding the fox. By doing that, we screw over one of our comrades, who is a normal human being, and one that comes from the Hyuuga Clan. It seems...wrong to hurt one of our own," replied Shikamaru while his Father sighed.
"I know son. It does seem wrong, but we have to make sacrifices to get the power capable of defending the village. All in all, only three entities are being hurt here. The demon, the child he will one day have with the Hyuuga girl, and of course Hinata herself. Only one of them is truly worth feeling sorrow for and it doesn't take a genius to figure out which is worth feeling it over," explained Shikaku while Shikamaru sighed.
"It still feels wrong," replied Shikamaru while Shikaku smirked at his son.
"You'll get over it son. We all did at one point or another," said Shikaku before he walked away and left his son something to think over.
'We all did at one point or another? What does he mean by that?' thought Shikamaru, as he looked at his Father's back, and wondered what the man was referring to when saying that.
(With Neji and Tenten-That Night)
It was dark where Neji was when awakening into consciousness, as he now struggled to get free from his bindings, and felt his arms down to his hands were tied behind his back with chakra suppressing rope. Around him were barrels of oil, filled to the brim with the dark liquid, each one had multiple explosive tags attached with wires, and those wires were all attached to a large timer device counting from 5 minutes on down.
'What the Hell? One minute Tenten and I are training, the next...why can't I remember?' thought Neji, as he felt the ropes were tied by an expert, and looked at his feet to see they were tied up too.
"You seem surprised that someone could easily get the drop on you," came a muffled dark voice from the shadows.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" exclaimed Neji while the figure chuckled and revealed himself.
"You have courage despite your current situation Hyuuga Neji. I am...the Shogun of Shadows," replied the Shogun wearing a unique purple and gold design that covered him from head to toe in order to protect his identity.
'Shogun? There is no Shogun. There hasn't been one since the Sage of Six Paths!' thought Neji with the Shogun just staring at him without moving.
The man was wearing a purple robe that covered his form and any chance of revealing his true identity. The outline of the purple robes were trimmed with a gold lining along each of the edges, a mask of similar colored design with two tinted lenses to keep anyone from seeing his eyes were there, and a large round rimmed based purple hat that concealed his hair. His facial mask also had a seal on it that glowed when he talked so Neji could easily deduce it was a voice scrambling seal of some kind so not even the Shogun's voice was identifiable.
"You should feel honored to be in my presence Hyuuga Neji. You are the first Konoha Shinobi to meet me," said the Shogun and the bound Hyuuga was glaring daggers at him.
"Where am I?" asked Neji with the figure standing some 15-20 feet away from him.
"You're currently in an abandoned building. One of many in Konoha's slums," replied the Shogun with Neji glaring at him.
"And my teammate Tenten?" asked Neji with the Shogun laughing slightly.
"Don't worry about her. Tenten is fine. She is tied up like yourself at the moment, but otherwise unharmed," answered the Shogun with Neji finding it impossible to use his Byakugan to see beyond the mask of his enemy.
"Are you in league with Naruto? Are you his secret ally sent to intimidate all of us into feeling guilty over the decisions we've made?" asked Neji with the Shogun laughing hysterically now with his laughter echoing throughout the room.
"And people say members of the Hyuuga Clan lack humor," replied the Shogun before walking over to a TV monitor with his back to the Hyuuga and turned it on.
To reveal Tenten in the same position as her teammate.
"Tenten!" exclaimed Neji, as he saw Tenten look up, and it was clear she saw him on her TV monitor.
"Neji!" Tenten exclaimed back while happy her teammate was alive and horrified he was in the same position as herself.
"I'll leave you two lovebirds alone," said the Shogun before he vanished instantly into the shadows.
"We have to get out of here Neji! Where are you anyway?" asked Tenten, as she tried to escape with renewed vigor.
"In some abandoned building apparently. Can you get free?" replied Neji with the bun haired girl shaking her head no.
"These ropes are really tight on my arms and legs. This guy didn't take any chances in us getting free," answered Tenten while Neji grimaced.
"Same here. Whoever he is, this so called 'Shogun of Shadows' means business," replied Neji, as he saw the timer ticking away down to less then three minutes.
"We have to warn the Hokage. You have to get out Neji!" came Tenten's voice, as she struggled to get free from the rope that bound her, and could see her teammate doing the same.
"I'm trying! What about you? Can you get loose?" asked Neji before falling over onto the floor while still tied to his chair.
Sadly the chair was made of metal and wouldn't break on impact.
"No! Are you all right? I can't see you!" exclaimed Tenten with worry while Neji kept on struggling to get free.
"I'm fine! I just fell over, but I'm still tied up," replied Neji, as he kept moving around, but stopped when the feeling of something wet, and slick was felt from behind.
One of the barrels fell over with him and oil was pooling around half his body. Not really a good thing when the liquid is flammable and explosive tags capable of obliterating him from existence are all over the place. So with that in mind, Neji with one eyes closed to prevent the oil from getting into the optical organ, and kept his mouth closed for the most part to keep the oil out of it.
And time was running out. Two minutes remained.
(Hokage's Office-20 Minutes Earlier)
"Where are you brat? Come on out and face us!" exclaimed Tsunade, but more to herself, and tore up the report from Jiraiya's latest attempt at finding Naruto turning into a failure.
"Have trouble with something?" asked a muffled voice with a figure coming out of the shadows.
"Who the Hell are you?" demanded Tsunade while rising from her chair and ready to beat the ever living crap out of this unknown foe.
"Who I am is not important. What is important...is the location of two subordinates under your command. One is Hyuuga Neji and the other is Osamu Tenten formerly of Genin team 9, correct?" replied the figure and Tsunade's eyes widened before narrowing at him.
"What did you do to them?" questioned Tsunade while the figure let out a chuckle from his throat.
"The question you should be asking yourself is what WILL happen to them if you don't find them in the next...twenty two minutes to be exact," countered the figure and while the Fifth Hokage looking livid with rage.
"Ibiki will make you talk and then I'll Inoichi will destroy your mind when I order him to dive into your head!" exclaimed Tsunade and the figure once more laughed.
"I don't think so Fifth Hokage. You can't afford to waste time on me. You have a time limit for finding them for a reason and neither Shinobi is in the same location. Truth be told...you can only save one of them and that's if you're feeling lucky!" exclaimed the shadowy masked figure and he walked back into it before being completely gone.
"SHIZUNE! GET ME ALL AVAILABLE SHINOBI IN THE VILLAGE! ALL OF THEM!" yelled Tsunade into her intercom system.
Within moments, every available Shinobi was before her, as Tsunade explained what had just happened with Neji, and Tenten being captured for some sick individuals pleasure. It was further confirmed when Shinobi had gone to find the two at their usual haunts, places of interest, and residents where they lived. Sadly for Tsunade, the two missing Jounin were nowhere to be found, and further confirmed this was not some cruel joke played by someone in the village.
'This isn't good. We need Neji to find Naruto and Tenten's skills with her weapons filled with various poisons and sedatives to weaken him. They are part of our unit and without them we are at a significant disadvantage!' thought Asuma and instantly blamed Naruto for this situation.
"Fan out! Find Neji and Tenten anyway you deem fit. I want those two Jounin rescued and the person responsible!" commanded Tsunade with the Shinobi around her nodding before they left.
"Do you think they will find them Hokage-sama?" asked Shizune while seeing the blonde woman scowl further in thought.
"I hope so Shizune. That mysterious figure in my office could possibly be a new threat to Konoha and is testing us to see just how strong we are after everything thrown at the Leaf village in recent years," answered Tsunade with Shizune nodding since it was possible.
(With Neji and Tenten-Present Time)
Time was ticking away for the two Konoha Shinobi. Only one minute remained, the time for when the explosive tags would go off was close at hand with neither of the two bound captive being anywhere near close to freedom from their bonds. By this point, Tenten had begun to cry, her usually calm, and cool demeanor had been shattered knowing she was about to die in less then a minute. The cold hand of death was closing in on her and there was nothing Tenten could do to stop it!
"Here! Here's one!" exclaimed a voice suddenly, as the doors of the room burst open, and several Konoha Shinobi of Jounin rank came in to free the captive.
"Hurry! Hurry and untie me! We need to look for Tenten!" commanded Neji, as he felt the rope that bound his body be undone, and looked at the timer counting down.
They had less then ten seconds!
"Don't worry about me Neji. I'll be fine. Just...be strong," replied Tenten while se saw on her monitor the two Konoha Shinobi freeing him.
"Run!" exclaimed one Jounin, as he along with his fellow comrade pulled Neji to the door with the timer hitting zero just as they reached the door.
KABOOOOOOOOM!
That was the sound that came from the two buildings each several blocks away from the other, as the two Jounin, and Neji were thrown from one of them with the fire from the explosion latched onto the Hyuuga. He screamed out in pain, as the flame practically ate through half of his clothing, and face for several agonizing minutes before his two saviors were able to shake the cobwebs out of their minds could put it out.
By the time Tsunade arrived on the scene to assess the situation, Neji had blacked out from the pain, and let the blissful darkness take him.
(On Top of the Hokage Monument)
"You think they would have updated their defenses to prevent enemies from entering the village," said a figure looking behind another.
"Yes. The price of arrogance I suppose," answered the other figure watching Konoha while standing on the Yondaime Hokage's Head.
"Do you have any mixed feelings about this? Me helping you?" asked the figure with his smirk never leaving him.
"Does it really matter?" countered the masked figure and other one shook his head.
"Not in the slightest Shogun-sama. Just curious I suppose given my own history with this particular village," answered the still smirking figure with amusement in his voice.
"Indeed. And your so called 'Master' you've served up until now? How has he been? Still insane as ever?" questioned the Shogun.
"Yes. He is still obsessed with getting the Sharingan from Sasuke since Itachi is out of his reach. Though when you consider the power the Sharingan Eyes hold and what they can do when pushed to their limits! It makes one salivate at the thought of possessing them," replied the figure and the Shogun turned his masked head slightly at the figure.
"Is that ambition and love for the Sharingan I hear in your voice?" asked the Shogun with a hint of a warning in his tone.
"No! No! Of course not Shogun-sama! It would be foolish of me to think along that line and understand what it means to betray your trust," replied the figure quickly with raised hands admitting and his tone sounding like a humbled man.
Sounding like a humble man.
"I hope for your sake you do...Kabuto," replied the Shogun before the two vanished.
(Konoha Hospital-Days Later)
"I can't believe she's gone," said Neji with Gai and Lee in the room looking saddened by the loss of the kunoichi who was a part of their lives since Genin team 9 had first been formed years ago.
"Don't worry Neji. We will find out who did this to you and Tenten!" exclaimed Gai with a calm yet righteous fury in his voice.
"I was going to ask her to marry me," replied Neji out of the blue with both his former sensei and former teammate looking at him now with surprise.
"You two were that serious?" asked Lee with Neji groaned in pain when moving his head slightly towards the man's direction.
"Yeah. We kept it a secret from everyone. I was going to surprise you with the news after we captured Naruto, but now...," answered Neji with sorrow in his voice.
"How is your treatment coming along?" asked Gai knowing the change in subject would be for the best.
"There is no treatment," replied Neji firmly that shocked the two Jounin in front of him.
"What? Why? Tsunade can heal you like she did me and with some skin graphing you'll be good as new!" exclaimed Lee and Neji shook his head.
"Because the pain of losing Tenten far outweighs the pain my body and face are going through," answered Neji bitterly.
"I'm sorry for your loss Neji. We both are sorry," said Gai sadly while Neji turned fully to look at them and they winced at the sight of his burned face.
"No. No you're not. Not yet. That's what makes this even worse," replied Neji before he motioned them with his hand (the one not burned) to leave.
"Stay with him Lee. We need to wait until Tsunade comes here with Inoichi to look into his mind for the identity of the kidnapper before finding him ourselves," commanded Gai and Lee nodded while staying in front of the door.
"No one will get by me Gai-sensei!" exclaimed Lee proudly with determination in his voice.
(Hokage Tower-Meeting Room)
"He's refusing treatment?" asked Hiashi with shock on his face at hearing this news.
"Yes. Apparently from what Gai told me moments ago...Neji and Tenten were secretly dating with a wedding being planned for the future," answered Tsunade with Hiashi now sporting a scowl on her face.
"As if the Hyuuga Clan would let that happen," replied Hiashi coldly since he knew such a thing was not possible with his clan.
"I would think you would be more sympathetic to your nephew Hiashi-san. Considering he just lost someone close to his heart," Tsunade shot back.
"Someone he would never been allowed to marry into the clan. Something I'm sure Neji is well aware of by now," countered Hiashi with Tsunade narrowing her eyes at him.
"In any case, we now know we have a new enemy thanks to this attack, and I'm having Jiraiya look into the identity of the person who I believe is the one responsible for this outrage," replied Tsunade while the others nodded knowing Jiraiya's spy network could find the answers to their questions.
"All the more reason to capture the Kyuubi Jinchuriki and the two now with him," replied Danzo and saw everyone nodding.
Having the Kyuubi Jinchuriki in their pocket was one thing, but having two more, and both possessing high numbered tails was even better!
"There is also the matter of Orochimaru lurking in Rice Country. The recent infiltration of Konoha further proves we need to upgrade our defenses and procedures to keep spies or any other threat within the village...out!" stated Tsunade and many in the room agreed.
'Damn it! Those new protocols will no doubt prevent Orochimaru's spies and my Root from leaving Konoha without being noticed. If they did, Tsunade would suspect inside help from within the governing body, and look at me since Root is mine!' thought Danzo while making a mental note to figure out how to get around the new defenses after some time went by to ensure suspicion was to a minimum.
And maybe use it to discredit Tsunade in the process.
(Konoha Hospital)
Lee was rushing to Neji's room. Cursing himself and his unyouthful bladder that a short time ago demanded he go to the nearest bathroom for release. He had been standing by Neji's hospital room dutifully on guard for hours, but the Jounin's bladder was arguably more persistent then the Jounin himself, and even Lee's Spring Time of Youth couldn't hold off the internal organ's need to relieve itself of all the biological waste the body had processed. When the energetic Jounin made his way to Neji's room, he found the door was slightly open, and the man opened the door to see a tall looking doctor with spiky blonde hair with a clipboard in hand.
"Who are you? You're not Neji's doctor," Lee said while looking at the man before he turned around to stare at him.
"Hello Lee," said Naruto with the Jounin in front of him getting into his Taijutsu fighting stance.
"You are going down Naruto!" exclaimed Lee before he was stabbed in the back with a sword and a hand over Lee's mouth prevented any crying out.
"This is a hospital Lee. Your voice shouldn't be loud," replied Naruto though it was the one behind Lee, who was stabbed in back that spoke, and had his neck snapped so the last thing the Jounin saw upon his death was the Shadow Clone of the Uzumaki.
"Shut the door and put Lee's body in the nearby closet before dispelling. Neji and I have to have a little...talk with each other," replied the real Naruto before sitting down in the chair positioned in front of a sedated Hyuuga slowly stirring awake.
The Shadow Clone did what was asked of it and dispelled while the real Uzumaki Naruto put up a Sound Barrier to ensure no one would hear their conversation. To further ensure no interference from the outside world around them occurred, Naruto had made another Shadow Clone to henge into Lee, and remove any suspicion from any Shinobi passing by wanting to see Neji.
"You!" exclaimed Neji weakly while seeing Naruto smirking at him.
"Hi Neji. I like the new look your sporting. It suits you. Its a nice look that reminds me of the Ying Yang symbol. How's your Cage Bird Seal holding up? Robbed you of eyesight yet?" replied Naruto with Neji glaring at him with his one good eye.
"The seal was damage to the point where it couldn't activate," answered Neji with gritted teeth and was showing from what part of the flesh Naruto could see.
"Well at least you can see...somewhat clearly. Shame what happened to you and what's-her-name. What was her name again? Ten-five? Ten-two? Ten-eighty?" asked Naruto with Neji reaching for his neck, but the restraints that tied him to the bed prevented it, and his face was filled with fury.
"Its Tenten! Not Ten-five. Not Ten-eight. TENTEN!" exclaimed Neji angrily.
"All right. Tenten. As I was saying. I am sorry for the loss of your teammate and your future wife. You two made a great couple," stated Naruto while Neji still looked pissed off.
"Like you are truly sorry. Its all your fault," replied Neji with Naruto frowning at him.
"My fault? You do realize that while you and Tenten were MIA here in Konoha, I was elsewhere with other matters," countered Naruto with Neji still glaring at him.
"Your people. Your subordinates. Your plan!" Neji shot back.
"Do I really look like a guy with a plan?" asked Naruto in a deadpanned voice.
"You've always had a plan. Always!" exclaimed Neji while Naruto scoffed.
"When I'm in a fight! And normally when I'm in the thick of it all. Do you really think I wanted things to go the way they did?" asked Naruto with Neji having doubt in his eyes.
"I don't know. I don't know anything anymore," replied Neji with defeat in his voice.
"I understand. Though you shouldn't be surprised they chose to save you over Tenten," said Naruto with Neji's good eye was filled with fury.
"What the Hell are you talking about? They got to me first!" Neji exclaimed angrily while Naruto raised an eyebrow at him.
"Is that what they told you? That they found you first and didn't have time to rescue her? I would think given Konoha's various tracking oriented Shinobi at the Hokage's disposal, they would have found, and saved you both! I mean, how many tracking oriented Shinobi are there in Konoha? You have the Hyuuga, the Inuzuka, the Aburame Clans who could be ordered by the Fifth to use their bloodlines to find you both! Yet here we are with only one survivor. Why do you think that is the case Neji?" countered Naruto with Neji now gritting his teeth in pain, anger, and frustration.
"I don't know," replied Neji, but deep down he didn't want to know, and yet...part of him yearned to know.
Even if he would regret it later.
"I'll tell you why Neji. Its because you have more value then Tenten. That when it comes down it, they chose to save a Branch family member of the Hyuuga Clan over your dear sweet teammate, and future wife. To be honest Neji...I'm not surprised," stated Naruto while Neji frowned at him.
"What do you mean?" asked Neji curiously.
"Come now Neji. Don't be naive. It doesn't suit you. We both know that this outcome was set in stone from the moment the situation first happened. You really think Tenten has a value equal or greater then yours when it comes to Konoha's future. That the Hyuuga Clan wouldn't be able to influence things so they could save you and leave Tenten to become nothing more then a burned up body? That they would allow you to marry her if they discovered the truth of your relationship? Why would they risk saving her over that of you? You are of Hyuuga blood! You have a bloodline. Your Father was Head of the Branch Family while your Uncle is the Clan Head. It was no contest when the time came to choose," asked Naruto with Neji looking away with anger and denial in his eyes.
"She was a loyal Shinobi of Konoha. A strong kunoichi among the ranks," countered Neji with Naruto nodding his head in agreement.
"True. BUT she isn't from an influential clan, is she? She doesn't have a bloodline. She has no wealth. Tenten worked in a weapons shop owned by her family, correct? I don't think the Hyuuga Clan use weapons all that much so its not really necessary for them to even come in here unless its to be cheap and buy the standard Shinobi weapons we all use in this life," stated Naruto with each point hitting hard for Neji since they were true.
"She was strong though. The Hyuuga Clan values strength," countered Neji, but even his words sounded weak.
"The Hyuuga values power they can wield in the long run. They value politics and those in the political world with power over others. Why do you think they prefer to embrace the concept arranged marriages to nobles? Or the daughters of said nobles? They can use them to have the clan put in a key position and not worry about inbreeding with the clan sine it provides a way out of doing such things. Its simple really. One generation gets to marry outside of the clan, the next does not, followed by the next marrying in-house, and the only time they marry outside of the clan is once every few generations. Sadly, you are not in the generation gap where you have the option of marrying outside of the clan, and even then the decision would be influenced so that the woman was of influential status the clan could get behind," explained Naruto and saw Neji gritting his teeth angrily.
"I know. Which is why I wanted to keep it a secret until your inevitable capture and use it as a means for the Hyuuga Clan to consider her worthy of being my wife. She was going to use her weapons laced with poisons and sedatives to weaken you in battle. With her skill in throwing accurately and using weapons in close combat made highly likely of your defeat being possible," stated Neji with Naruto letting out a chuckle.
"You really think she could have taken with that of all things. Even with you guys pulling your skills together, she would have been among first of your group to die, and she would have died a painful agonizing death!" replied Naruto before freeing Neji's normal arm of its restraints and quickly grabbed it when the Hyuuga tried to aim for his throat.
"I should kill you now!" exclaimed Neji while Naruto had a firm grasp of the man's wrist to ensure it didn't try to go for the kill.
"True. You could do that since its what schemers like Tsunade, Jiraiya, even the Hyuuga Clan Head you have for an Uncle would do, and try to end my life. OR you can just stop being like a schemer and be more like me," stated Naruto and saw Neji narrow his eye at him.
"Schemer? What are you talking about?" asked Neji with Naruto smiling at him.
"Schemers. You know who I'm talking about Neji. Schemers scheme! They plot. They plan. They manipulate others to do things for them. Surely you've noticed what a schemer looks like, right? You see the Hokage every so often for missions, your Uncle for a Clan Head, and just about everyone else sitting in the chairs that run the governing body of the Leaf. They are schemers. They tried to make you into schemer just like them and look at what happened? You're in here, half your body is burned, you have one eye, and the only reason that isn't taken away is because the Cage Bird Seal on your head didn't work due to being damaged from the fire," explained Naruto with Neji growling at him.
"You said I should be more like you. And what are you exactly?" asked Neji with Naruto smiling at him.
"I thought that was pretty obvious Neji. I'm what everyone here says I am. I'm a monster. A demon made from the village's own hatred. I'm a fiend to them Neji. But one thing I am above all others by my former comrade in arms...is chaos! I'm an agent of chaos in this stagnant world. And you know the thing about chaos Neji? Its one hundred percent fair!" stated Naruto while looking the Hyuuga right in the eye when speaking.
"Fair?" questioned Neji before Naruto put a Fire Country coin in his hand.
"Yeah. Fair! Not like your so called 'Fate', which IF it exists, and not saying it does...well it plays sides. Takes sides really. Like the Hyuuga Clan and separation of the family as a whole in a sense. The two are both biased, prejudice, and unfair! Not like chaos and the fair chance you get at making a name for yourself. For example, if I were to make some kind of announcement on the Emergency Speaker System Konoha had and announce I've killed civilian or a group Shinobi...no one does anything! Why? Because its all 'part of plan' Konoha has imprinted onto everyone. But if I were to announce that the Hokage or the Fire Daimyo were going to perish by sword...well then everyone loses their minds! Why? Because its NOT part of the plan. The people don't expect the Hokage or the Fire Daimyo to die from outside forces. They are looked upon as untouchable! You saw the worry in the eyes of the people when Orochimaru killed the Sandaime Hokage, didn't you? They feared for their lives. Same could be said when Kyuubi attacked Konoha and the Yondaime was killed. No expected him to die. It brought about panic, fear, and more importantly...chaos!" explained Naruto with Neji now having a look of understanding in his eyes.
"Okay. I understand now. So by that reason, I should be more like an agent of chaos, and less of being a schemer," stated Neji with Naruto smiling.
"Wow! Low and behold ladies and gentlemen of the Elemental Countries! The Hyuuga Prodigy has learned something new!" exclaimed Naruto dramatically while Neji scowled at him.
"Which is why I want to test that theory out on you," stated Neji and Naruto looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh really? How?" Naruto asked curiously.
"With this coin. I flip it into the air and depending on what side it lands on...will decide things between us...at least for the moment," answered Neji with Naruto smirking at him and understanding what the man was talking about before freeing the burned hand from its restraint.
"So how does this work exactly?" questioned Naruto with a hint of amusement while the blonde found the fingertips of the Hyuuga's undamaged hand at his throat and the coin in the burned one.
"Heads...you walk out of here and I don't alert anyone," stated Neji while showing the "Head" side of the coin with the symbol for "Fire" on it.
"And Tails?" asked Naruto with Neji narrowing his eyes at him.
"You die!" answered Neji hatefully before flipping the coin over to show it was warped from his brief manipulation of chakra through his damaged hand.
"Hmmm...now were talking! Flip away!" exclaimed Naruto with a smile while Neji did just that with the coin being flipped into the air before landing in his burned hand and the two looked at each other for several seconds.
Naruto's smile never leaving him.
(Suna-Several Nights Later)
The full moon was out. It shined brightly almost like the sun itself, but more pleasant to look at without risk of going blind, and it was one of the things Sabaku no Gaara loved to stare at when night fell. However, on this particular night, things were NOT pleasant, and they were NOT peaceful.
The sound of explosions was heard throughout the village.
"We're under attack! All Shinobi to battle stations!" called out a Suna Shinobi and the alarm was raised.
"Gaara!" exclaimed Temari, as she rushed into the Kazekage's Office to see her brother standing on the balcony of the Kazekage Tower, the Lunar Staff in hand, and his gaze looking up into the sky.
But he wasn't looking at the Moon.
He was looking at the figure on a bird like creature flying below it.
"I know Temari. They came as Naruto warned us they would. Activate the special seal that he gave us before his last departure. It will allow him, Fu, and Utakata to arrive here to help us do battle with the Akatsuki," replied Gaara knowing the other member was of the organization was nearby.
Within moments, Temari activated the seal, and within minutes the trio appeared almost like magic. For her part, the Suna kunoichi blushed at the sight of seeing Naruto again, and remembered how she had caught a pervert peeping on the hot springs Suna it had in their possession.
It wasn't surprising really that Suna would have a hot spring like other villages did since theirs was founded around the largest oasis in Wind Country and thus was able to make one in the process with careful skill in irrigation techniques used by the First Kazekage. Anyway, as Temari was beating up the pervert, she had failed to realize that her current surroundings had her on the male side of the hot springs, and only wearing a towel.
Did she forget to mention that Naruto was right there resting in the water while visiting Suna for a few days while dropping off the Lunar Staff? No! Well he was and by the time Temari had gotten the anger out of system did she realize Naruto was there staring at the Suna kunoichi's towel covered body.
Only the towel had fallen off at the last moment when Temari had finished stomping her foot on the pervert's head. As you can imagine, it was a shock, and surprise for both to see the other with so little to nothing on. Naruto respectfully looked away with a hint of a blush on his face while keeping in mind this was his friend's sister. A hot one too, but to see Temari like that at the moment was something that wasn't worth getting Gaara sent into a fit of rage, and causing a massive wave of sand to fall on his head. Fortunately, Temari became aware of the situation, screamed out in realization, and ran back into the women's side of the hot springs.
Though when Gaara arrived when he heard his sister was involved in an incident there, Temari pinned the blame on the pervert she pummeled, and kept Naruto out of the whole thing. Needless to say, no one saw the pervert again, and Naruto kept his distance from her until his departure from Suna.
Of course, Temari had to let him know things were okay when she kissed him on the lips, and told Naruto she hoped he would return again soon.
"They're here I take it?" asked Naruto with Temari nodding and shaking the blush off her face along with the memory that caused it.
"Gaara is getting ready to fight them now," answered Temari with Naruto nodding and turned to his fellow Jinchuriki behind him before nodding at them.
The two quickly sprung into action by rushing out the window and Naruto now walking towards Gaara who turned his head slightly to look at his first real friend. The two shook hands in greeting before leaping out of the balcony and Temari on her iron fan was flying out to help defend Suna from harm.
"Look at this Sasori! Its a whole group of Jinchuriki!" exclaimed Deidara from his clay bird and the Puppet Master looked down to see he was right.
"We should retreat Deidara. We don't have the power to take on all them," replied Sasori knowing they could take Gaara easily since their skills countered his, but to take on the other Jinchuriki without support from the other members was not possible, and suicidal for them if they tried.
"Says you! I'm going to make them regret ever fighting us by blowing this whole village to pieces," stated Deidara before his bird was suddenly and violently pulled downward by chakra chains Naruto shot from his body.
"I can't let you do that Deidara," said Naruto with his chakra chains ripping the bird to pieces and grabbed the man by his face before throwing him into the ground.
"So you've heard of me. I guess I should be impressed," replied Deidara despite his face being crushed.
"No. Not really. Our spy told us all about you, Sasori, Hidan, Kakuzu, Zetsu, Pein, and Konan," stated Naruto while keeping "Tobi" out of this since only Itachi knew that piece of info and didn't want this bit of news to somehow be traced back to the Uchiha.
"Who is it? I'll kill him!" demanded Deidara angrily while his hand discreetly went to his pack where his hand began eating it to mold into a powerful explosive.
"No...you won't," replied Naruto, but just before he could snap the man's neck, his own survival instincts kicked in, and leaped back when Deidara threw a explosive shaped like a piranha at him.
The explosion sent Naruto flying back, but he was unharmed despite the explosive item packing a descent punch, and saw Deidara fleeing. Narrowing his one eye at the fleeing explosives nutcase, Naruto made a small army of Shadow Clones to pursue him while going after Sasori, who had unleashed an army of over a hundred puppets, and engaging the other Jinchuriki.
"There are so many of them!" stated Fu while she and Utakata were destroying puppet after puppet while Gaara was trying to get close enough to Sasori to bash his skull in.
"Just keep destroying them! The more we destroy the greater chance of victory over Sasori in the end," stated Utakata before Naruto appeared and began cutting his own path through the army of puppets.
"Fu! Utakata! Find Deidara and go after him. One of my Shadow Clones just dispersed telling me he's fighting against Temari and Kankuro. Back them up!" commanded Naruto while unleashing a spin kick that with chakra coating the leg had obliterated the top half of a nearby puppet.
"Right!" replied Fu and Utakata with the two Jinchuriki rushing off to help their fellow allies in battle.
"Deidara will not go down without a fight Kyuubi Jinchuriki. He will go so far as to kill them both by blowing them to pieces!" exclaimed Sasori while his puppets were being ruthlessly destroyed.
"You underestimate my friends. They are highly resourceful. Unlike you!" Naruto shot back before spinning into a living tornado and shooting a wave of crimson yellow energy from his sword that took obliterated every puppet around him.
Sasori would have made a comment of his own, but Gaara had made his way through the Puppet Master's defenses, and began to pummel the surprised Akatsuki member without mercy. Piece by piece, the Puppet Master's body was destroy, revealing that he himself was a living puppet after springing out of his own hunched over body, and almost looked like Gaara's estranged brother due to the red hair along with the wild look in his eyes.
"Ironic. The Puppeteer is a puppet himself," stated Gaara with Sasori laughing at him.
"You know nothing! Through this means of survival, I have become a God, and can never die!" exclaimed with an insane laugh.
"Everyone dies. You just have to figure out how to kill them," stated Naruto from behind Sasori after getting behind the Puppet Master and slicing his head clean off!
Yet the body remained active. Well...until Gaara smashed the puppet body's chest open and pierced the body to stab the one thing that gave Sasori life.
His heart.
Lifting the body up using the hole in Sasori's chest while the Lunar Spear was inside of it, the Kazekage slammed it back down onto the ground, and then smashed the chest of the legendary Puppet Master. Wiping what blood there was off his weapon, Gaara used his sand to devour the remains of the Akatsuki member, and turned to Naruto after hearing the Uzumaki crush the red haired enemy's puppet head.
"One down. One to go," stated Gaara with Naruto nodding.
"True, but let's not get cock Gaara. This guy was chosen to come after you because he can take elements like sand and use them to his advantage. Basically, your ability to use it has become your greatness weakness until his death, and I'd advise only using the Lunar Spear," replied Naruto with Gaara nodding since Itachi had been very forthcoming of the abilities used by each Akatsuki member.
No to mention Sasori's secret spy on the Suna Council that was Head of Internal Security, who had been removed by Baki with a team of Jounin on Gaara's orders during the initial bombing run Deidara did.
"Let's go provide the others with support," said Gaara, as the two disappeared from the area to arrive at the battlefield to see Deidara had been subdued, and slowly dying from multiple stab wounds to his body.
Clearly Fu's handiwork.
"Anything to say to us before you die?" asked Naruto with Deidara glaring at him and Gaara.
"You think this is over? That my death and Sasori's will be the end of it. The Akatsuki is everywhere! We know everything! Sooner or later the organization will capture all of the Biju before bringing the world to its knees!" Deidara yelled with Naruto looking at him with a skeptical face.
"How droll," said Naruto with a look of dissatisfaction in his voice.
"Oh yeah! One more thing for the record so all of you freaks hear this...I find that Art is a real BLAST!" exclaimed Deidara before flaring his chakra and seals appeared on his arms before they revealed his body was armed with explosives.
"He's going to blow!" called out Kankuro with each explosive on the Akatsuki member having enough on him to take a third of Suna in the process.
Acting quickly, Naruto shot out every chakra chain he could let out, and wrapped them around every inch of Deidara's with the chains overlapping one another. When Naruto finished, the chains had completely consumed the Akatsuki's body many times over, and the Uzumaki held him in place. For a long moment, no one moved, spoke, or even dared to breathe knowing this was the moment of truth where the legendary chakra chains of the Uzumaki Clan would be tested in holding something other then a Biju.
A massive pulse was felt, the breaking of the sound barrier one would hear from when a loud explosion occurred, and the large mass of chains surrounding Deidara's body now expanded out. Naruto and everyone else saw smoke rising within it though they waited for a moment before the Uzumaki nodded to them that it was safe. Slowly, he recalled the chains back into his body, all they saw of Deidara was a small bit of ash, and even then it was blow away by the wind blowing during this cold desert night.
"Two down. Several more to go," stated Naruto with the others nodding knowing they were one step closer to victory over the organization.
A major step at that.
(A/N: YAY! Another update. On a side note. Since many of my fellow writers have setup shop at Ficwad, I'm doing the same, and posting their too. I'm not leaving here! So don't think otherwise. Its just a place where I can read fics from my fellow authors who moved their stuff there and the only way to read some of them is to be a member. So read my stuff here, there, and all that stuff. Until next time...PEACE!)