An: Well here it is, sorry for the wait but hopeful in a few more weeks things should settle down. Also as always thanks for the reviews they really keep me charged up to write, your humble author S. o. t. A.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and I'm doing this for fun not profit
Chapter 54: A Son's Love
The trip back to Suna processed rather slowly, especially by ninja standards, as they had traveled like normal civilians. One reason was because Gaara had not fully recovered, but the other was because they had carried Elder Chiyo, on a plank after wrapping her in bandages that would preserve her for the trip. The reason for this was so that as they passed through Wind Country the various people would be able to pay their respects.
Naruto had found it strange at first, at least until they had passed a caravan leaving Wind Country and entering the Land of Rivers. Upon seeing the group of Suna shinobi the caravan had pulled to the side the members of it getting out of their wagons and bowed their heads as the plank carrying the body of the elder puppeteer passed.
Nearing the border of Wind Country, Kakashi looked up and saw one of Konoha's hawks circling overhead. He stopped, which prompted the rest of the group to as well. Holding his arm up, the Hawk responded diving quickly to land on the jounin so he could grab the canister attached to its leg. After pulling it free the Hawk took off. Kakashi pressed his thumb to the seal on the canister causing it to glow as it analyzed his thumb print. The seal recognized him as the recipient of the letter which caused the case to pop open allowing him to pull the note free.
Verifying that the pass code at the top was one of the dozen he was given before the mission should Konoha need to contact him, he began to read.
Kakashi, recent information has caused us to believe that the Akatsuki members that attacked Suna cane from these coordinates.
Kakashi looked them over and recognized that they lay within Suna's border. Returning to the letter he continued reading.
We believe this is also where they sealed the Five-tails at. We have arrived at this conclusion since Iwa would hesitate to enter Wind Country due to the bad blood between them. If this letter has reached you in the midst of your rescue attempt on the Kazekage ignore it. If not, as long as the Kazekage is safe and you believe your team is up to it check out the location.
Tsunade Senju, Fifth Hokage
"What is it?" Naruto asked stepping up to him as did the rest of his team. Gaara also joined them.
Responding to the question Kakashi said, "The Hokage believes that they have learned of the whereabouts of an Akatsuki base. It's possible that it is also the location that they took the Five Tails to after kidnapping him."
"Then what are we waiting for," Naruto said excitedly, "this is our chance to hit them where it hurts."
Gaara cautioned Naruto saying, "If they did take Han there Naruto, it is unlikely that anything of value remains. I believe that the places they perform the sealing at are only to be used once."
"Agreed," Kakashi said, "But we can't overlook the fact that they may have left something of value behind which may lead us to their main base of operations." Gaara nodded in acknowledgement of the jounin's point. Kakashi also noticed that Naruto grew excited again believing that meant they were going to check it out.
Kakashi also believed that it could be nothing but a smokescreen, most likely to keep Naruto distracted and out of Konoha in order to give the Sarutobi Alliance more time to wipe out Root. He hoped that was the case as something rang false with him about the message, yet he couldn't put his finger on it. He could simple follow the Suna group back to their village where he could send a messenger hawk to Konoha to ask for confirmation. But if he did that and the message was real it would give Akatsuki that much more time to cover their tracks.
"Lord Kazekage," the jounin said hoping more information would help him come to a decision, "I was given some coordinates but outside of them being inside Wind Country. I don't know anything else about the area, perhaps you do."
Gaara looked at the note but said, "Sorry, I'm afraid I don't. However…"
He then waved over Elder Ebizo who said, "Yes Lord Kazekage?"
"Elder Ebizo, do you recognize these coordinates?" Gaara asked.
"Hmm," the elder said squinting at them for a moment before mumbling, "Yes…I believe they used to be quite important. Now why was that? Ah, that's right it was a town where we used to manufacture siege engines for use during the First Great Shinobi War. Over the years we began to outsource most of such construction and the town was abandoned."
"Do you think it could act as an Akatsuki base?" Kakashi asked.
"Oh quite easily, especially if the privacy barriers still work," the elder answered.
"Privacy Barriers," Haku said his tone showing his confusion.
"Why yes, they are used to prevent people from spying on what is going on inside the buildings. Why they could even block the Byakugan," the elder said proudly, "I was the one that designed them."
Gaara noticed that Kakashi appeared uneasy about the location. He motioned for the jounin to step away from the group. Once far enough away although Kakashi had needed to tell Naruto to stay, Gaara asked, "Does something about this make you worried?"
"Very perceptive of you Lord Kazekage," Kakashi said giving an eye smile, "and yes. Before learning of your capture Naruto became aware that his mother may be alive and is in the hands of a man plotting against him."
"You fear this may be a trap by this man?"
"Well yes a little, but I imagine even he would have a hard time getting his hands on the code words I was given for this mission but it isn't impossible. However, I can't ignore that this may be a genuine mission given by the Hokage. If it is, it could be that the information was real meaning we stand to gain some insight into how Akatsuki operates, or if it isn't the mission was designed to keep Naruto distracted for a little while longer."
"If it eases your burden I can assign my shinobi to check it out, while having you continue to act as our escorts to Suna," Gaara suggested.
"Thanks, and I appreciate the offer, but Naruto is already chomping at the bit to go. Refusing this mission will only drag his attention back to the matter of his mother."
Gaara nodded saying, "So you've decided."
"Yeah, we'll check it out. If we learn anything we'll pass it along," Kakashi said beginning to head back to his team.
"Alright guys we're going to check it out," Kakashi said, he noted that Sakura, Hinata, and Haku all appeared to be a little uneasy about the mission.
However Naruto was raring to go, he was about to take off in a run when Gaara stopped him saying, "Naruto wait."
Naruto did so, turning to the former jinchuriki who appeared nervous. Bowing slightly he said, "Thank you."
Naruto rubbed his head in embarrassment saying, "Aw come on man, you don't need to thank me. It's what friends do."
Gaara held his hand out and Naruto looked at it saying, "Good-byes aren't really my strong suit." Sakura and Hinata remembering how he went catatonic on them when they saw him off three years ago shared a look that said, 'Tell me about it.'
However, Gaara controlled some sand to grab the boys hand and raised it until he could grab it and shake it. He then said, "Be careful and don't forget that they are targeting you."
"I won't, but they're the ones that should be afraid," Naruto said giving a grin.
Gaara nodded, and as soon as he let go Naruto turned running in the direction the coordinates pointed. His team waved farewell before taking off after the blonde. Gaara watched his friend leave and was confident that whatever they encountered the Blonde boy would once again find a way to triumph due to his inability to ever give up.
Danzou entered the base near the Bird Country border that had served for the staging area of the mission to destroy the Kyuubi container. He was flanked by the ten squads of Root Anbu that he had brought with him as well as Hyo. Telling the Anbu to remain at the entrance he had Hyo follow him into the inner rooms.
Entering the war chamber he found the Team that he had assembled to help destroy the Nine-tails container standing around a model mockup of the village that Team Kakashi was to be lured to. Upon entering all of the Root members snapped to attention. Telling them to relax and seeing Fu among them he said, "I take it the bait has been set."
"Yes, Lord Danzou," Fu said, "Set and taken. Team Kakashi is on their way there. They are about a day away. We'll easily beat them there."
"Good," he said looking around and noticing the lynch pin of his plan missing so asked, "Where's Kushina?"
"In her room," Rin said after sharing a look with the rest of the assembled Root members.
"Is she refusing to participate?"
"Only in this," Rin said quickly, "She doesn't believe another rehearsal is necessary."
Danzou didn't like the way Rin had quickly defended her former master's wife. He eyed her for a moment, till Torune asked, his insects having sensed the forty shinobi that Danzou brought with him, "Lord Danzou do we no longer need the former host to deal with the jinchuriki? Are we free to eliminate her?"
Since Rin didn't seem to be upset about Torune's casual mentioning of killing Kushina he was put back at ease about her loyalties. He supposed Sai's betrayal had affected him more than he thought, but if he began seeing enemies everywhere he would be unprepared for when they actually appeared. Directing his attention to the Aburame he said, "Not yet, while Sai's betrayal may have compromised her as a viable Root candidate. The suggestion the Uchiha placed on her still appears to be holding, I'll strengthen it before you leave."
Torune nodded. "We don't need her to handle that brat or his team, Lord Danzou," said the booming voice of Riyan. The large root members mask made him to look like a large death machine, the image was further enhanced by the pods he wore on his back which would launch rockets at his enemies.
Of all his Root members Riyan was probably the most headstrong and violent, more of a thug then a soldier. However even men such as that had their places in the battlefield, and Riyan had been instrumental in preparing the country that Site Ogre resided in for Root's eventual takeover. The large man had been causing chaos in the country by destroying villages causing unrest among the populace due to the leader of the country's inability to stop him.
But that headstrongness did have its detractors namely his questioning his orders in front of others. Glaring at the man Danzou said, "Do not underestimate this target. He has been trained by Jiraiya of the Sannin, and depending on what he has learned in the past three years, once he gets going he may easily crush all of us. The only person he may not go full out against is Kushina."
"Then what's with the shinobi you brought," Riyan said almost challenging.
Guessing the Riyan may have been on his own too long and may need to be eliminated, Danzou said, "They are here to take care of Kushina or the jinchuriki should she fail, and any of the shinobi that your own carelessness leave behind. Don't lower your guard against any of them and we won't need to step in. Clear?"
"Yes sir," they all said at once.
"Good, get ready to go," Danzou said, "Inu, you stay." After Torune, Riyan, and Fu left Danzou watched Rin for a moment. Finally he said, "Kakashi will be among them."
"I know Lord Danzou and he is my target," Rin said unemotionally.
"As I expected, kill him and you will finally complete your training," Danzou said watching the young woman closely.
"Y-yes Lord Danzou."
However, the small inflection in her voice caused Danzou to once again question her loyalties."Good, you may go," he said keeping his thoughts to himself. Once she was gone he said addressing Hyo, "Take a squad and watch her battle with Kakashi. If it appears that she falters, kill her."
"As you command," Hyo responded having no problem killing fellow Root members having needed to do it in order to complete his own training, and then it had been a man he had seen as a brother.
Danzou then prepared to meet with Kushina, and made his way to her room. Opening the door without knocking, he wasn't surprised by the glare he received upon entering. Activating his Sharingan he said, "Kushina, it's time."
The glare softened as she repeated softly, "It's time."
"That's right," Danzou said finding it hard to keep his face from smiling, "It's time for you to kill the Kyuubi that has taken over your son."
"It's time to kill the Kyuubi," Kushina repeated.
Deactivating the Sharingan he waited till the glare returned and she said, "What do you want?"
"It's time," Danzou said, smiling internally as the suggestion took hold.
Without missing a beat Kushina said, "Fine, but once I've killed the Kyuubi you'll return me to my dream."
Danzou nodded and only years of practice kept the frown from his face as he heard Kushina call the genjutsu a dream. As she had always been most insistent that the genjutsu was her reality, he cursed Sai, but let the woman walk past him. He was positive that the suggestion would hold but would be ready to act if it did indeed fail.
Jiraiya watched Shizune who appeared on the verge of panic. He wondered briefly if he should have brought her, but had needed a medic in case there were injuries among Team Kakashi if they arrived too late. Besides, he had to admit he wasn't in much better shape, as only his confidence in the training Naruto received was keeping him calm. However, that didn't mean he shouldn't try and remind her to keep her composure which was why he said, "Shizune, you need to calm down."
"Calm down," Shizune said agitated, "You saw that hawk the only reason they would kill it is because it has delivered its message."
"I know that," Jiraiya said keeping his cool. He could understand her worry especially after seeing the messenger hawk that Tsunade had sent to Suna with the efficient knife wound to its heart. Upon finding it Tsume had sent taken off with her children to find the trail of the man that had killed it.
He heard a howl which was the signal to link back up, and Jiraiya wasn't surprised when Shizune took off running almost immediately. Arriving at where Tsume was waiting and he immediately asked, "Where's Kiba and Hana?"
"They're following the trail of the group heading to Suna," Tsume responded. "Team Kakashi's scent was among it. Hopefully they are still with it. I followed the scent of the man that was tailing them with the bird, but after killing it he used some sort of jutsu to cover his scent."
They heard another howl and Tsume said, "That's Akamaru," before taking off towards the sound. The three shinobi and one nin-dog arrived to see Kiba waiting by himself. As soon as they appeared Kiba ran towards them saying, "Team Kakashi broke off from the group here while the Suna group continued heading towards the village. Gaara's scent was among them and it appeared fresh so they must have succeeded in saving him."
Jiraiya absorbed the information and asked, "Kiba which way is Kakashi heading?"
"Into Wind Country and if they are heading in a straight line near Bird Country's border with Wind," the boy answered.
"Alright it appears Danzou's making his move," Jiraiya said, "Kiba get after the Suna group and find out what you can from them. Also see about maybe getting some reinforcements from them. I assume Hana's keeping after Kakashi's group?"
"Yeah"
"Good, let's go," he said addressing the two woman with him and then followed Tsume as she followed the trail her daughter was leaving.
Shizune followed and the only reason she wasn't leading the group was she wasn't a capable tracker like Tsume. But she couldn't shake the feeling of dread welling up inside her and truly hoped she wasn't going to lose her lover as her master had lost hers.
Kakashi stared down at the long abandoned looking village, but since the shifting Sands hadn't swallowed it up, it did tend to lend credence to the message they had received. He ducked back down beneath the rock he had been observing from putting the looking glass back in his pouch. He still couldn't shake the feeling that he should turn back, but looking at Naruto doubted that would go over well. The rest of his team though seemed to feel the same unease he did though, although for different reasons.
He guessed that Hinata and Sakura were worried that Naruto would let his emotions get him into trouble as it was obvious he wanted to give the Akatsuki a little payback. He would have to remind the blonde that this mission was a simple sneak n' peak before they went in. Haku though, was probably thinking along the same lines as him and that it may be a trap.
Kakashi was really beginning to wish he had accepted Gaara's offer to check the village out. It wasn't the mission itself but the lack of response from Konoha. It had taken two days to arrive at the village more than enough time for Konoha to send word about what happened to Danzou or to send more information after receiving his reply of accepting the mission. That lack of a response had him on edge, after all while there was a chance that Akatsuki was long gone. There was also one of them running right into the group and considering his team held Naruto, he figured that Tsunade would have at least freed up some reinforcements by now.
Allowing none of the concern he felt to reach his voice he asked, "Hinata has your Byakugan picked up any signs of life?"
"None I'm afraid," Hinata said nervously, "but the barriers are active so the building can be teaming with people and I wouldn't be able to see them."
"We should call this off," Haku said.
"What no way," Naruto quickly chimed in.
Sighing the older boy said, "Naruto, those barriers make this an ideal place to spring a trap on us. Also there isn't a lot of cover between us and the village. Not to mention…"
"I got it you're scared," Naruto said annoyed.
Haku glared at his friend but realized that Naruto was emotionally charged, so calmed before saying, "Concerned is more like it. This is a set-up and if you were thinking clearly I think you would see that as well. Remember what Zabuza taught us about setting traps."
"What about it?" Naruto said.
"He taught us that the best traps use bait that is irresistible to the target," Haku said.
"So…"
"So Naruto, of all of us here you are the only one that finds going into that town too hard to resist," Haku said cutting the blonde off. "The rest of us feel at least a small amount of trepidation about going into it."
Naruto looked at the rest of his team and could see Haku was right as the others looked nervous. All accept Kakashi who was staring at a sand lizard. He focused back on Haku as he said, "Let us also consider that you are being targeted by both Danzou and the Akatsuki, so even if that base truly is one of the Akatsuki's it could be a trap to get you into their grasps."
"But, it may be where they sealed Han at and…"
"Naruto," Sakura said sadly, "Han was grabbed before Gaara. It's unlikely that he's still alive even if he is there. What do you think Kakashi-sen…"
Kakashi suddenly moved throwing a kunai at the lizard hitting it dead center, all but confirming his suspicions. "Move," he shouted as they heard the sound of rockets being launched at their position."
Fu shot forward clutching his chest having ended the jutsu just before the kunai had hit him in the lizard's body. "They know we are here," he said addressing Inu
"Riyan, now," Rin called into her radio. Seconds later rockets shot overhead flying over Team Kakashi's position before splitting apart and seeding the area with small bomblets that began going off as they hit the ground leaving the Leaf shinobi no choice but to retreat towards the village. Rin moved towards a window to watch as Kakashi got his team safely into the village.
"Kushina," Rin said, "you're up."
She didn't get a response nor did she expect one considering that Kushina had been rather intolerant of her choices in life. But the red-head still performed her part of the plan as hundreds of copies of her appeared from out of the buildings to attack Team Kakashi.
"Damn it no," Kakashi thought as the masked red-heads appeared from around them. Not only because they were surrounded but because there was only one person he had ever met that could make that many clones and still be standing, Kushina Uzumaki.
"Kakashi-sensei, they're all real," Hinata shouted in warning.
"I know," Kakashi responded hoping his Sharingan would show him an opening, before his team was wiped out by the legion of clones. Sadly he didn't see one so knew it would be up to him to make one most likely leaving him open to attack but hopefully his team would escape. He was about to use the strongest fire jutsu he knew but stopped when he heard a weak, "Mom."
When the clones appeared Naruto prepared to counter with clones of his own but then a memory of his encounter with Han replayed itself. Looking over the sea of red heads he remembered that his mother was the creator of the Mass Shadow Clone Jutsu. What's more it was easy to see how she had earned the name Kushina of the Red Legion.
Naruto gazed over the sea of clones and despite never having truly met her before locked eyes with the real Kushina and whispered, "Mom."
He didn't say it loud enough that he thought she would hear it but nevertheless she took a step back like she had been hit. As if some signal had been given the clones swarmed in to attack. Kakashi reacted firing a large fireball into the clones' ranks, and shouted for his team to move. They did except for Naruto who created his own army of clones to carve a path through them towards the retreating form of the one he had marked as his mother.
"Shit," Kakashi said almost as much because of Naruto as because of the punch he avoided from a clone. He backhanded it into another causing them both to dispel. However he was kicked in the chest away from the rest of his team and before he could recover and join his team the clones blocked off the hole they had made for him.
He found that odd since it would be far more effect to have surrounded them to finish him and his team off, but guessed that maybe Kushina wasn't completely under Danzou control. If she believed Naruto was the Kyuubi that may have been one thing, but he doubted she would willingly kill Leaf Shinobi.
Hoping to reach the woman that was driving him further and further from his team he said, "Lady Kushina, please stop this. The sealing was a success. That's your son."
"Shut up Kakashi," one of them snapped, "you don't know anything about the Kyuubi."
"Perhaps not, but I knew Minato and he would never use a jutsu on Naruto that had any chance of failing," Kakashi countered taking her response as a positive sign.
"That's what I would like to believe," a clone said, "but you weren't there. I was. Now stop worrying about him, and worry more for yourself."
"You won't kill me," Kakashi said positive of his words.
He was grabbed from behind and as the clone fell backwards and planting its foot into Kakashi back to launch him into a building he heard it say, "You should worry more about her killing you then me."
The door to the building snapped shut. Kakashi picked himself up and took in his surroundings in the darkened building, the only light coming from the few working light fixtures above. The inside of the building was a large storehouse most likely where they kept the completed siege engines. However at present it was filled with crates that seemed better suited for smaller weapons. Breaking one open he found that it was filled with kunai.
Before he could open another crate he heard the sound of someone approaching. When the figure began to appear in one of the cones of light he could tell it was a woman simply by the legs that appeared. But he felt uneasy as the woman stepped more into the light and a white apron appeared covering her torso. He half-expected the loose black blouse to appear next but was disappointed to find that the woman was wearing the armor associated with the Anbu. When the dog mask appeared with the two purple marks on the cheeks, he grew angry saying, "Is this supposed to be some sick joke?"
"This is no joke Kakashi," the masked woman said in a voice that he couldn't possible forget.
"No it can…it can't be," he said taking a step back from the woman, "Rin…"
"I prefer Inu now," she said pulling the mask from her face. Holding up a Root tanto she smiled saying, "Don't look so surprised. Surely you knew I was still out there to be found."
"I hoped," Kakashi said, "I looked for months…why did you… would you join Root?" Kakashi found it hard to focus having hundreds of questions he wanted to ask.
"To be free," Rin said unemotionally.
"Free…free of what?"
"You," she replied charging at him and slashing at his throat with the blade.
Avoiding the blade, he back peddled but couldn't bring himself to attacking his old teammate. "Rin please, stop this. Sensei's son is…"
"None of your concern," Rin said spinning her blade calmly.
"Why…How can you of all people say that?"
"What is it you are feeling Kakashi? Confused, lost, hopeless," Rin said walking towards him causing the jounin to step back. "I used to feel like that too. But then Lord Danzou found me and offered me something better, freedom from emotion and the pain they cause."
"That isn't freedom Rin," Kakashi said feeling his back press up against a crate.
"Oh yes it is, Kakashi. Admit it weren't there times when you stood in front of the memorial stone that you wished you could be free of the memories of us. Almost every day you went there. What did you pray for forgiveness, maybe?"
"Yes"
"And what drove you to that, hmm? Feelings of guilt," Rin said as she stopped walking. "Lord Danzou freed me of my guilt and killing you will free me of you," no sooner had she finished her sentence then she broke out into a run swiftly closing the distance with her old teammate.
Kakashi had closed his eyes and when he heard her approaching reached into his pouch. Rin was surprised that her swing was blocked by the kunai that Kakashi had pulled. He opened his eyes looking into hers with the remorse he felt and said, "Rin I'm sorry I failed you. That I couldn't provide the support you needed. But I have to stop you here, to protect my team and Sensei's Legacy."
Rin leapt back as Kakashi swiped at her breaking eye contact with him and staring at his feet. "Have you killed your emotions for me Kakashi? Good, looks like one way or the other one of his will finally be free of the tragedy that was Team Minato."
"Shannero," Sakura shouted smashing her fist into the ground. Instead of the earth cracking and splitting the sand blew away from the girl blowing the clones away from her. Looking around her position she saw Hinata ending her rotation her shout being the warning Hinata needed to know what she was planning.
Sakura ran up to her saying, "Can you see the others?"
"No," Hinata said sadly, "The buildings don't just block my ability to see inside them, but pass them as well."
Sakura nodded wondering why the clones weren't returning, as she believed it was too much to hope that they had all dispelled. Hinata and her had almost immediately recognized that the clones were trying to separate the members of Team Kakashi. It was a testimate to their training that they hadn't been as both had covered each other much as Tsunade had wanted.
"Sakura," Hinata said pulling her from her thoughts.
"Yeah," Sakura said figuring what Hinata wanted to say. Which was if the clones weren't returning that meant the two of them had been led to wherever the clones had wanted them. "Do you see anything?"
"Top of the building to your right," Hinata replied keeping her stare away from the area she indicated. "Get ready," the Hyuuga said reaching into her pouch and spinning threw a kunai with several exploding tags at the pair watching them.
The explosion engulfed the roof causing Sakura to say, "Don't you think that was a little overkill?"
"Says the girl whose punches create large divots in the earth when she misses," Hinata responded dryly. "But sadly it wasn't enough," she said as Sakura and her were forced to evade the Root members return volley.
Emerging from the smoke of Hinata's attack were two maskless Root members. The first was covered almost from head to toe. The only points of visible skin were the hole of his mask around his mouth and where his hair came out as well as the toes of his sandals. Hinata could see that inside him was a colony marking him as an Aburame, but unlike the normal beetles of the clan these were much smaller. If Hinata remembered correctly Shino had talked about what she was seeing once and if they were the nano-sized insects, which their sized certainly indicated they were, then they were in trouble. The second was an Auburn-haired man wearing a white gi and over that the midriff-shirt that Sai wore.
Hinata wasn't sure of his abilities but she knew he was probably as dangerous as the first. "Sakura, the man wearing the mask is an Aburame," Hinata said watching the two men carefully, "He's mastered a dangerous jutsu don't touch him and leave him to me."
"Okay, guess that leaves blondie to me," Sakura said but instead of charging waited for them to close so she could back-up Hinata and vice-versa. However she frowned as she noticed that the two men were doing the same thing.
Hinata smiled though saying, "Looks like this battle is going to be decided by whoever's teamwork is better."
Sakura nodded before taking off right at the Aburame, who prepared to meet her charge. But at the last second she jumped backwards flipping over Hinata who had been following in her wake. Hinata engaged the Aburame making sure to keep her hands moving as she tried to strike the man's Tenketsu points. But her opponent was a capable taijutsu expert and blocked her attacks by sweeping her arms away from his body. But he was expecting her to fight using the Gentle fist switching to her Hard Fist stance in mid step she battered past his defenses and landed several shots to his ribs.
Torune tried to break off to pull his shirt off and free the insects that lied within him since he needed to make contact with his opponent to unleash them. However the Hyuuga apparently suspected that so did not allow him too. Instead, she kept close forcing him to change his strategy. However when he assumed a stance better suited to blocking the Hyuuga's he again found himself off balance as she almost seamlessly switched back to the Gentle Fist. Cursing his luck in fighting a Hyuuga that actually practiced something other than Jyuuken he tried to find a game plan that would allow him to turn the tables on her.
As soon as Sakura landed from her flip she found the other man closing with her. For a moment she was afraid that it was because they had read through Hinata's and her movements. But she could tell by the slight widening of his eyes that he had been expecting to close with Hinata.
She blocked his first strike and responded with a clenched fist of her own but he dodged it. He quickly pulled his tanto slashing at her, but Sakura nimbly dodged it putting Tsunade's lessons on avoidance to work. He slashed at her again scraping along one of her arms but it was an insignificant cut. For a moment she feared poison but feeling none of the normal symptoms of the more fast acting ones used in battle pushed it out of her mind. She attempted to catch him with a haymaker but the man ducked under it bringing his sword back around aiming for her legs. Sakura, backed-flipped over his swing, and tried to connect with his chin with her foot as she did so. She succeeded slightly as he dodged most of it but she did catch him with the very edge of her toe. Although she couldn't send people sailing with a flick of her finger yet she stood could cause some serious damage even with minimal contact with an opponent.
His jaw closed with enough force to crack several teeth and stood him up straight. He tried to shake the bells from his head, and did so in time to see Sakura closing on him fist held behind her as she aimed for his chest. Pulling his tanto in front of him, he held it flat side facing Sakura in hopes of catching her punch with it. He succeeded for the most part, but paid a price as it shattered due to the release of chakra. He felt some of the shattered metal enter his body, and to make matters worse Sakura's punch still had enough energy to send him skidding across the battlefield.
Sakura quickly moved towards the man struggling to get up hoping to finish him quick and back-up Hinata. Although, she didn't seem to need it at the moment. She jumped into the air hoping to land a kick that would crush his skull but he managed to flip onto his back and as she fell, she saw him holding a hand-sign that she had seen Ino use dozens of time. Her mind went blank then as Fu's soul entered hers as a result of the Mind Transfer Jutsu.
Haku realized that he was being herded by the clones. He had heard Naruto whisper, "mom," towards one of the clones and been surprised when it had reacted as if she had been hit by lightening before retreating. He was positive that if these clones were Kushina and Danzou believed that she could kill Naruto then she should have had no problem wiping them out when they were surrounded.
Believing that Kushina was herding them to Root members who didn't have a problem killing Leaf Shinobi he stopped defending himself. A kunai flew at him but missed landing several feet behind him after flying through his waving hair.
"What are you doing?" a clone asked.
"I don't believe you want to kill Leaf shinobi," Haku said looking at the kunai that missed him he added, "it would appear that I was right."
"Then please leave, and let me do what needs to be done," another clone said pleading.
"What would that be?"
"To kill the Kyuubi," Kushina's clone said agitated.
"But Naruto isn't the Kyuubi," Haku said.
"It's got you all fooled, I should know, it often tried to trick its way lose when I held it," a clone said.
Learning that Kushina was the nine-tails previous container was a shock, but removing his mempo he said, "I see, it's a burden you both shared. Therefore you should understand your son better than anyone…"
"He…it's not my son…"
Haku smiled upon hearing that Kushina was confused so said, "The first time I met Naruto was just after he was chased out of Konoha." He paused as the clones reacted to learning Naruto had been chased out of Konoha, so continued his tale, "We met in Water Country, and he learned how to be a shinobi from Zabuza Momochi."
He stopped for a moment as a clone said, "I don't want to hear this," and covered its ears but for everyone that did that one didn't listened to his story. "He was brash and fool-hardy and even though he was chased out of his village still swore he would become Hokage." Haku noticed several of the clones remove their hands from their ears at that and begin listening. "The first time your son used the Kyuubi's chakra he did it to save my life, as well as Zabuza's. Afterwards he was scared we would reject and…"
He heard a whistling sound as did the clones, which looked up in time to see the missiles land among them. When the smoke cleared Haku picked himself up having created an ice dome to protect him. But, due to the lack of humidity in the air, it hadn't been strong enough to withstand all of the blast.
As he got back to his feet ears ringing he saw a large man approaching, as he did so the man wagged his finger at Haku. Despite struggling to do so, he could hear as the man said, "Sorry can't have you convincing mommy not to kill her baby."
Haku felt his blood boil as he was sure his words were reaching Kushina. Focusing on the man in front of him he promised that he would show the man that the most horrible hells are the frozen ones.
Hinata smiled as she felt a rib give way as she landed a punch to her opponent's body. Normally she would give the man a chance to give up but knew it was very likely that he would simply use it to remove his shirt. She believed that if he managed to do so as long as her Jyuuken strikes were pinpoint accurate they would kill the bugs were she touched but naturally didn't want to test her theory if she didn't have too.
Using her Byakugan she saw Sakura land over her downed opponent and was half surprised that she didn't disappear in dust and smoke. But she knew something was wrong as the pinkette turned and began running at her. Hinata ducked under Sakura's punch but was kicked in the chest by her opponent. Getting to her feet quickly she watched as Sakura took up a defensive stance in front of the Aburame and said, "I think its time you unleashed your little friends, don't you Torune?"
"Agreed," Torune said, pulling his shirt over his head and taking off his gloves.
"I see," Hinata said believing she understood what happened and looked back towards the man Sakura was fighting, "you're a Yamanaka."
"Precisely," Fu said using Sakura's body, "now unless you want Torune her to infect your friend killing her you'll surrender."
"Won't you just kill me regardless?" Hinata asked hoping to by some time to come up with a plan.
"Believe it or not we don't want to kill you. Our master only wants what's best for Konoha and removing the flawed jinchuriki is precisely that."
"Flawed," Hinata said dangerously, "Naruto is not flawed."
"Yes he is, he was supposed to be the village's ultimate weapon instead he's merely another shinobi. With his death the Kyuubi will be freed to be placed into a more suitable host, one that will destroy the village's enemies without hesitation or remorse. Now surrender."
Hinata could tell that Fu wouldn't ask again as Torune came closer to Sakura so decided to bluff. "Actually I think killing her might actually work in my favor," Hinata said coldly.
Torune though, was skeptical saying, "You can't bluff your way out of this Hyuuga. We know you've trained with her for three years."
But since they were talking Hinata decided to continue saying, "That was only so I could watch her, after all we both love the same man. So killing her is really doing me a big favor. After all I'm sure once Naruto kills all of you I'll be there to help him with the pain of losing poor Sakura."
Torune smiled coldly saying, "Nice try." But Hinata kept her smile in place especially as she noticed Sakura's body language shift slightly.
Fu thought to himself, "What does she think she gains by delaying as I'm sure she's bluffing? All our psyche profiles never even hinted at such a coldblooded streak."
His thoughts were interrupted by a yell of, "That bitch."
The Yamanaka's astral form looked all around him in confusion noticing that the mindscape was turning from a clear field with cherry blossom trees to a barren wasteland and that the sky was turning from a calm blue to an angry red. As the grass died and the ground dried up, cracks of glowing energy began to appear from all around him until a giant hand shot up. The hand nearly smashed him as it slammed into the ground following the hand was a giant avatar of the girl that he had taken over. Written on her forehead were the words 'Inner Sakura."
The giant Sakura pulled herself the rest of the way free before standing and dusting off her clothes. She then looked around her and upon spotting the Yamanaka glowered saying, "You want to hurt my Naruto and make that bitch look good in front of him. Not on my fucking watch."
"What…what are you?" Fu said never having encountered a being capable of overriding his jutsu.
"Your worst nightmare," Inner Sakura said raising her foot to step on the insignificant man. Fu managed to avoid the foot irritating Inner Sakura who said, "Just stay still and get squashed like a good boy." The girl then brought her hand down adjusting for the dodging man who in a moment of clarity ended the jutsu. Inner Sakura frowned not feeling the satisfaction of the man squishing, and confirmed he got away by looking at the palm of her hand.
With the invader gone Sakura's mindscape began to return to normal so before she was locked away again Inner Sakura shouted, "You better not lose our Naruto to that Hyuuga, Cha!"
Sakura came too, hearing Torune say, "Nice try." He reached towards Sakura's face slowly. Obviously unaware that she was at the controls again and probably expecting Hinata to surrender at any moment. "The first thing your friend will fell is her face breaking out into boils as my insects…"
"Like Hell!" Sakura shouted backhanding the surprised Aburame in the side of the head with a closed fist. Her blow literally turned everything inside his head to liquid as he shot away from the girl.
She was just about to dust her hands off when a shout of, "Die you freaky gorilla beast," caught her attention. She spun to see Fu descending towards her a pair of Kama in his hands behind him which he was going to bury into her skull.
But before he could reach his target he was hit by a fireball that blew him away from the stunned girl. Turning to her savior Sakura said, "Thanks."
"You're welcome," Hinata said before nervously adding, "About what I said…"
"Hey forget it, turns out it was the push I needed to break that jutsu," Sakura said, "But for the record Naruto would be far too devastated by my death to start a relationship with you."
"Oh yeah," Hinata replied, "Well maybe the next time you leave yourself wide open I should put that theory to the test."
Both girls glared at each other before smiling, but knowing Naruto was still in danger dampened their good mood so they took off hoping to find him. As they moved out to find Naruto or link up with the rest of their team, Hinata stopped catching sight of a woman watching her from the top of one of the buildings out of the corner of her eye. When she turned to face the new possible threat she was surprised to see the woman was gone. But what she had seen of her didn't fit with a Root agent, as it had been a beautiful woman with long black hair. Her skin had been as white as snow and she had worn a beautifully crafted kimono that was white with red trim. On the chest of her kimono had been a red dot that she had taken to represent the sun.
She tried to see if she could find her but Sakura saying, "Hey are you alright?"
"Um…yeah fine."
"Okay then let's go," Sakura said watching her friend a moment longer before taking off in the direction Naruto had headed off in. Hinata sent one last look towards the rooftop before following behind her friend wondering if she was hallucinating, but pushed it out of her mind as she prayed that Naruto would be okay.
Haku glared at the masked man, but took a small measure of pride in seeing him breathing hard as well despite his Ice Jutsu not being at their strongest. Picking himself up off the ground as he had been forced to dodge another of the man's rockets, but he had been close enough that it blew him off his feet as it exploded. Yet it had been worth it as he believed he had lured his opponent to an area where he had the advantage. He ran down the narrow street flanked on both sides by apartments that Haku believed used to house the workers of the village.
"What a shame, what a shame," the man said sounding infinitely pleased with himself as he gloated, appearing around the corner. "Three years of training and you find yourself fighting in an area that doesn't lend itself to those Ice Jutsu's of yours."
"You seem rather well informed of my movements as well as rather loose lipped for being one of Danzou's men," Haku said watching the man carefully.
He shrugged his shoulders saying, "Guess my talkativeness is due to my being on my own for awhile. Being away from the compound has a way of opening your eyes, I guess. That's how you fools turned Sai after all."
"And you're not afraid Danzou will eliminate you?"
"What like he did Sai? Nah…" the man said.
"Sai's dead," Haku said interrupting Riyan, his tone took on a quiet, dangerous tone.
"Maybe, maybe not," Riyan said sounding amused at Haku's anger, "He might be alive if he hasn't talked, but once he does game over." Shifting his shoulders the man aimed them at Haku saying, "You shouldn't fret about it too much you'll be joining him soon."
The man fired several of his rockets at Haku who made several one handed signs. After making the last one a large funnel of wind appeared in front of him traveling down the street towards a surprised Riyan.
The root shinobi took a step back as his rockets were blown off course smashing into several building before detonating. He was picked up as well and tossed about before smashing through a window and landing in one of the apartments. "Where the hell did that come from?"
"Apparently your information about me isn't as complete as you thought," Haku said appearing in front of the man. When Riyan tried to bring one of the rockets on his arm to bear on the boy, Haku made a wave of his hand and his arm was bisected at the elbow.
"Ah, you little punk," Riyan screamed holding the stump of his arm and falling to his knees. "What the fuck was that?"
"My Kekkei Genkai is created by a mixture of Wind and Water Chakra," Haku said darkly as he closed with the man, "The Clan that I hail from were assassins and I assure you they were proficient at killing using more than Ice."
Pulling his hand from the stump of his arm he aimed his other hand at Haku shouting, "Well you should have gone for the kill then," and fired. He smirked when as the dust cleared nothing remained until he felt a cold pain stab him in the back. Looking down he saw the tip of an Ice Blade sticking out of his stomach.
He turned his head to see Haku standing behind him holding the end of the sword having stabbed it downward through his upper back. "Damn," Riyan said, "Our… information said you were…some kind of pacifist."
Haku looked down at the man saying, "I do not enjoy killing. But when people threaten my family even I can become merciless." Haku broke the end of the sword off leaving the blade buried in the Root member's body and began walking towards the hole in the apartment wall.
"We weren't aware of any blood relation between you and the jinchuriki," Riyan said as Haku crossed in front of him.
Haku stared sadly at the man saying, "A family is more than just the blood in your veins," and turned his back on the man.
Riyan frowned bringing his good arm up to fire again saying, "Regardless, you still have trouble taking the kill shot though don't you."
"No," Haku said not looking back, "I already killed you. The human body is after all sixty percent water."
"What!" Riyan said as his wound began to burn, but not from heat but cold as he began to freeze from the inside out. Haku dropped to the street below leaving a statue of ice behind as he went in search of the boy who had become his brother.
Kushina tried to forget what her clones had been told by Haku, but it proved impossible as it had been joined by Sai's and all his insistences that Naruto was not the Kyuubi. However the memory of the hospital and the taunts of the nine-tails began to play as well. They grew louder and more insistent as they warred within her to choice one way or the other. To kill her son, or to believe that she was somehow mistaken about what she had seen.
They grew louder and louder until all she wanted was silence, which she received as she heard, "Mom." The voice of Naruto cut through her and her confusion like a machete. She stood there for a moment looking around the ancient foundry that she had hidden in so as not to have to see the face of Naruto. But eventually she knew she had to, if only to make a decision.
Turning slowly like a cornered animal she shouted, "Get away."
"Mom, it me, it's Naruto," he said his voice pleading.
"No, no you're not," Kushina said backing up. She stopped though as she began to feel a sense of clarity sweep over her, "You're the Kyuubi. My son is going to be Hokage, inheriting it from his father, damn it."
"What are you talking about?" Naruto asked confused trying to keep the hurt he felt at being thought of as the Kyuubi from his face, "Granny Tsunade is the Hokage."
"I know that," Kushina shouted, "But that's here, in this reality. But it isn't mine. In mine… in mine my boy doesn't get possessed by you." Deciding to believe in her memory and not third hand accounts of what her son may or not be, she charged Naruto pulling a kunai from her pouch.
Naruto defended himself pushing the blade away from his chest but jumped back not willing to strike her. Kushina charged again swiping at him again but Naruto blocked and grabbed her wrist hoping to disarm her. She allowed him to kicking him in the chest and knocking him away from her. Grabbing another from her pouch she came at him but this time her kunai was parried by the one Naruto had taken.
As they fought for position Naruto said pleading, "Mom, I don't want to fight you."
"Then you're going to die," Kushina said pushing him back off balance. As he fell backwards she threw the kunai catching the off balance blonde in the throat. However, he disappeared in a puff of smoke replaced with an ancient mop bucket.
Searching her surroundings she climbed onto a catwalk, moving cautiously and said, "How much longer are you going to keep this up Kyuubi? Or did you forget how you taunted that you were going to use my son to destroy the village."
"I'm not the Kyuubi," Naruto said from his hiding spot, "Please believe me mom."
"Stop calling me that you bastard," Kushina said getting agitated by the fox's game, but began moving towards were the voice had come from, "Just face me like a man. Stop your god damn mind games and let me return to my home."
"Fine," Naruto said landing behind her startling the elder Uzumaki at just how quiet he was. Pulling his ninjato Naruto said, "I guess I know where I inherited my stubborn streak. But if the only way for you to listen to reason is to beat you in a fight well, you can ground me later."
Kushina responded by throwing her kunai and watched as Naruto sliced it in half so that the two pieces sailed on either side of his head. Closing with her he sheathed his sword and engaged her in taijutsu. Kushina blocked his kick only for another Naruto to pop into existence and kick her in the chest. Stagger back she blocked Naruto's punch and another one came into being hitting her in the side of the face before dispelling. Kushina felt the mask she wore crack under the blow.
Naruto stopped his assault as she reached up calmly pulling it away. Seeing his mother's face for the first time he said, "Mom please, it doesn't have to be this way."
Kushina closed her eyes practically feeling the pain in Naruto's voice before saying, "Yes it does. Don't you understand? I don't belong here. My family… my family was taken from me. My son was a chunin at age eight… he's one of the most gifted children of his generation. I don't know what you are anymore, did I dream the whole thing in the hospital. Is this simply some game the Kyuubi is playing? But none of that matters, the only way home that I have starts with your death. Please let me return to my dream."
Naruto could see tears threatening to spill from his mother's eyes, but he sadly said, "I'm afraid I have too many dreams of my own to just lie down and die."
"Then you will have to kill me," Kushina said calmly.
Naruto gave her a cheerful smile that she could see even through the face wraps saying, "I'll find a better way. Just you wait and see."
Kushina almost found herself believing that it was possible, and was surprised since it was a smile that the Naruto of the genjutsu had never used before. If she had been forced to describe the Naruto she was trying to get back to she would say he was a model shinobi. When faced with a choice like she had just given the real Naruto he would have chosen the most efficient, namely which ever outcome he could achieve first through either her death or capture. In the smile the real Naruto was giving her. She saw neither of those outcomes were acceptable to him. The only one he would accept would be the one where she could smile back at him in turn.
For a moment she flashed back to when Minato and she had chosen the name Naruto after reading Jiraiya's book. She could so easily remember her favorite scene where the hero tells the man he had just defeated that he would find a way to change the shinobi world. She leapt over the railing of the catwalk surprising Naruto. She wanted to believe in that smile, but remembering the thirteen years devoted to her dream found that she couldn't on blind faith.
Landing she said, "I'm sorry, but I need to return home."
Her primary element was water, naturally in a desert that put her at a disadvantage. However, Kushina knew that just because you couldn't see water didn't mean it wasn't there. Flashing through hand signs the ground began to shake as the most massive water dragon that Naruto ever saw sprouted from the ground as she tapped into the underground river. Naruto cursed as the dragon slammed into the catwalk destroying it.
Kushina felt a stabbing sensation in her chest as she saw the unmoving form of Naruto laying face down in the water that had been trapped inside the building and was slowly draining. So caught up in the pain was she that she failed to notice a thick fog appearing inside the building until it had engulfed her. She heard the telltale poof of the shadow clone. Realizing she had been had, she was torn between embarrassment and pride.
She then heard, "Eight spots…" Naruto then began calling out the eight spots that Zabuza used to taunt his prey when using the silent killing technique. As he did Kushina felt the feather light touch of his sheathed blade as it ran along those spots. She marveled that she couldn't hear a thing as he moved over the water, as he passed her again and again.
As he called another, his seventh, she charged her fist with chakra slamming it into the water at her feet. The release of chakra created a wave of water that traveled in all directions around her catching the closing Naruto in its wake and slamming him against a piece of machinery.
Naruto fought to get up the fog disappearing as a result of his lack of focus. Kushina spun yelling at him accusingly for not going for the kill, "What were you seeking to prove huh?"
"That I could kill you but won't," Naruto said the wraps around his face falling away.
Seeing this Naruto's full face for the first time she found it surprising just how much it differed from the genjutsu ones. The whisker marks were an obvious difference since the fake Naruto had never become a jinchuriki, but the half smile on his lips was the biggest difference. The fake Naruto never felt anything in battle, not anger, or fear. He faced ever challenge with a face better suited on a stuck up Hyuuga or Uchiha.
Finding the smile on Naruto's face both fitting and upsetting she said, "Grow up, being a shinobi means making a choice. Life or death that is how the shinobi world works."
"I have made a choice," Naruto said, "I'll keep coming until I achieve my desired goal."
"Naruto…" Kushina said holding up her hand and forming a Rasengan, "I'm sorry, but the world doesn't work that way."
"Then I'll make it work that way," Naruto said matching her movements.
The two Uzumaki then dropped into a run, charging at each other and slamming their jutsu into one another. As the Rasengans clashed mother and son could feel what each other felt at that moment. Kushina felt her son's desperation to hold onto a bond that he had with her for no other reason than she had carried him to term. Naruto felt his mother's confusion, her having been so sure he was the Kyuubi incarnate but finding him to be nothing like the beast.
As the jutsu died out they passed one another and stayed in their poses of hands held in front of them. Kushina looked at her hand seeing it badly burned by chakra and was assaulted by another memory.
She was about eight months pregnant and was sitting on the porch of her and Minato's home. A home that in two months time would be filled with the sounds of their growing family. She was waiting for Minato to come home from some training with Kakashi when she caught site of them. Her husband was holding his hand in front of him and Kakashi looked rather guilty. Running up as best she could she said, "What happened?"
"Oh this, this is nothing just a small training mishap," Minato said as she took his hand to look at it.
"I'm sorry again sensei," Kakashi said.
"Don't worry about it Kakashi," Minato said as Kushina took him into the house.
Grabbing the first aid kit she asked, "How did Kakashi do this?"
"I taught him the Rasengan," Minato said proudly, "We decided to show off a little and well…"
Seeing the smile on his face she said, "What are you smiling about you almost lost a hand?"
Minato looked at her saying, "Kakashi surpassed me in a jutsu that I created. It's always a reason to smile when a student surpasses his master." Kushina just shook her head in exasperation, but then Minato placed his hand on her stomach saying, "I suppose it just makes me excited for the day when this little guy surpasses us both."
Kushina stared at her burnt hand as tears began pouring from her eyes as she thought, "He did it Minato… and I wasn't there to see any of it." Hit by an incredible feeling of remorse she fell to her knees and sobbed uncontrollable as it hit her that she hadn't been there to see any of it. Not his first steps, his first words, the first time he kicked the crap out of some kid for teasing him, or even the day he learned his first jutsu. She had seen them all of the fake Naruto true, but she realized that it wasn't the Naruto that both her and Minato had pinned their hopes of the future on. Or the one that Minato had sacrificed everything for. So caught up in her regret was she that she failed to register the giant fire jutsu heading right for her.
Naruto didn't though, as he snatched her into his arms and moved her out of harms ways. Kushina was shocked that her son could even stomach being in the same room as her let alone save her, due to her feelings of guilt. Naruto sent a small smile down to her as he placed her on the ground and he glared up at their attackers. Standing in the center of twenty Anbu was Danzou who calmly said, "I'm afraid that as touching as this reunion is, I'm going to have to ask that you both die here for the future of Konoha."