An: Thanks to those that reviewed as always your humble author S. o. t. A.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and I'm doing this for fun not profit
Chapter 61: Falling Hard
"No, Shinno-sensei watch out!" Amaru shouted sitting up suddenly as the three kunoichi of the Leaf strategized on what to do next. Blinking several times, the dream began to fade as she became aware of her surroundings and seeing the three young women said, "Oh it's you three."
"Yeah missed you too," Sakura said before turning back to Hinata.
Ami though moved to crouch next to the girl but before she could say anything Amaru aware that she was no longer in the meeting room of the town hall asked, "Where am I? How'd I get here?"
Ami looked back at Sakura and Hinata wondering if she should tell the girl what had transpired once she transformed. Sakura stepped forward saying, "Let's see. You flipped out on us before transforming into a giant leech like creature and then tried to kill us. As to where you are, you are standing in the ruins near your village which are currently flying in the air. So the real question is, just what are you playing at?"
"What? That's insane are you on med…"
Sakura roughly grabbed the girl by the arm pulling her to her feet which caused Ami to say perturbed, "What are you doing Sakura?" She was about to go to Amaru's defense when Hinata placed a hand on her shoulder.
Amaru meanwhile said, "Get your hands off me," as Sakura pulled her towards the entrance of the floating ruins.
Sakura whipped the girl in front of her forcefully and held Amaru out the entrance so that her feet dangled in the air. Dangerously the young kunoichi said, "Now listen up. I don't care if you hate us ninja or not, but I've had it up to here with your attitude. Everything about this mission seems to be a lie and you're either a part of it and an enemy. Or, someone who is being used by our enemies." Sakura pulled her back into the floating ruins allowing her to rest against the wall before saying, "Now start making with some answers or we cut you loose."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Amaru replied frightened and confused.
"She's telling the truth Sakura," Hinata said having watched carefully to ensure the red-head wasn't an enemy aware that Sakura was being so forceful so that she could observe Amaru's reactions.
"Fine," Sakura said, "However, I still want some answers." The last part was directed towards Amaru with a glare to let the young woman know she was on thin ice.
Understandably more cooperative Amaru asked, "Like what?"
"While we were scouting the village's perimeter we picked up footprints. They weren't the scattered running of scared villagers but those of calm soldiers."
M-maybe they were the people that attacked us footprints," Amaru replied cautiously.
"Try again," Sakura said losing her patience, "They started from the village. That means in all likelihood they were the villagers. Which means your village was probably founded by the Sky Ninja that attacked our village, most likely to watch over these ruins in order to make them airworthy again. If I had to guess whatever that creature was that was sealed in you is. It's what they are using to power the ruins and I'm willing to bet its first target is going to be Konoha. Now tell us what's going on."
"I don't know," Amaru replied and when Sakura moved towards her she said, "It's the truth. I never knew my parents and was an orphan. I was always alone till I got sick and Master Shinno saved my life. If the villagers were Sky-nin they never told me, all I know is that they treated me with disdain even when Master Shinno was around, but he always told me not to let it get me down."
Sakura nodded moving away from the girl feeling sorry for her due to her similarity to Naruto and her appearing to be on the verge of tears. Ami wanted to comfort her but feeling awkward instead said, "I don't get it."
"What do you mean?" Hinata asked deactivating her Byakugan having hoped to scout the floating fortress but found her vision blocked by all the chakra running through it.
"It doesn't make sense," Ami replied shifting her gaze from Amaru, "If they planned to use the creature to power this place. Why bother to attack Konoha in the first place then?"
"To lure out Naruto," Sakura said looking down the corridor that led deeper into the floating fortress.
"What makes you say that?" Hinata asked obviously concerned.
"Shinno…"
"Master Shinno had nothing to do with this," Amaru shouted interrupting Sakura which caused all the kunoichi to wince at the noise, "He…"
Ami moved quickly clamping her hand over the civilian's mouth to say, "Be quiet. It's very likely we're surrounded by Sky-nin."
Amaru nodded so Sakura continued, "Listen, I know it may be hard to believe, but Shinno asked for Naruto to go on this mission. Since the ruins began to lift off after the creature was taken from you it's probably the power source. Therefore using it as such was not part of his original plan and it was meant to be used for something else. The simple truth is everything began to fall apart after he disappeared…"
"You mean was murdered," Amaru said challenging.
Carrying on like she hadn't heard her but replying to what she said, Sakura countered, "And there are countless ways to stage a scene to make it look like a person is gravely injured when he isn't. Especially if he's a shinobi playing at being a civilian."
Amaru looked like she was about to retort but Hinata kindly interrupted saying, "In any case, we won't learn anything just standing here. If Sakura is right I'm sure he's around here somewhere. If not, we'll apologize for tarnishing his name later."
With that said, the three kunoichi proceeded to move deeper into the fortress. Amaru paused afraid of what secrets the interior held, but ultimately decided to stick with them in order to prove they were wrong about her master.
Kushina flipped backwards as Vega buried his fist into the metal plating of the deck. She frowned when she saw it dented under the impact as she tried to analyze her opponent's jutsu. She didn't get very far in her analyst due to his charging her far faster then she had expected. He connected with a punch to her midsection that folded her around his fist, but was far less forceful then she expected. Staggering back several steps, her back hit the metal wall of the control tower as she noticed him rearing back for another punch. Ducking beneath it, she rolled forward into a somersault to create some room and heard the fist connect with the metal wall. The metal once more dented under the blow, which surprised her since his previous attack had lacked that kind of power.
Rolling to her feet, she began to form a hypothesis which was supported when Vega swiftly closed the gap between them and lashed out with another punch. Expecting an attack along that line, Kushina caught Vega's fist with one hand before striking out with a backhanded fist of her own. Vega took the hit well his head already moving as the blow connected to lessen the impact but Kushina followed up with a kick to the sternum that sent him backpedaling on the balls of his feet.
She could see the surprise in Vega's eyes as he recovered so she taunted, "Not bad, but I believe I have your technique figured out. You use chakra to strengthen your blows or to speed up, but you can't do both."
Glaring at his hated enemy Vega growled, "What does knowing that gain you?"
"Oh you'll see when I beat you," Kushina replied with a smile that infuriated the man even further.
With an angry growl Vega pushed off from the ground using chakra to increase his speed. Although far faster than her, Kushina doubted he was aware of the weakness his jutsu possessed. Waiting to the last second, she pivoted to the side slightly barely avoiding his punch and allowed him to fly past her. Raising her hand, she created a water whip that she lashed out at the man with, wrapping it around his throat. His own speed choked him as the whip went taut. Pulling back on it, she pulled him off his feet towards her and then sent him airborne as she fell onto her back in order to use both feet to kick him upwards.
Creating a shadow clone, she reached a hand up which the clone grabbed in order to throw her into the air after him. Passing him as he fell back to the earth, Kushina spun in mid-air kicking him down right into the waiting arms of her clone who caught him and then spinning threw him into the metal wall of the control tower.
Hitting hard, Vega fell to the floor in a heap and attempted to pick himself up. He had just managed to regain his footing when Kushina and her clone charged and leapt into the air landing a jumpkick to his chest. The four feet sent him back up against the wall which he slid down slowly feeling as if his chest was on fire. Staring up at the woman he said, "You think you've won. Ha, you don't even know what the real end game is. Soon Ancor Vantian will once more take to the air and all the elemental nations will fall before us."
Before Kushina could respond she noticed black blotches appearing from in-between the welds in the metal. Smiling at her opponent she replied, "That may very well be, but you aren't going to be there to see it."
Vega looked confused right up until a waterfall of insects fell from a hole the Aburame's beetles ate through the side of the control tower. His scream was cut off as the bugs drained him of chakra. Turning Kushina began running for the edge of the ship doing her best to avoid the many pitfalls that were opening up all along the deck.
"Mom," her son called causing her to direct her attention upwards to see Naruto and Sai riding an Ink bird the former Root Anbu had made. It dived down from the air passing along the side of the ship just as Kushina reached the edge and leapt off.
Landing behind her son, she said, "Sai, take us up."
Sai nodded directing the ink jutsu to fly higher into the air as Naruto asked, "What's up mom, shouldn't we regroup with the others?"
"First, I want to see something," Kushina replied scanning all around the surrounding area fearing what she may see. For several moments all she could see were the remains of the Sky-nin fleet as it broke apart due to the insects dining on the metal.
Her attention was pulled from the doomed fleet by her son as he pointed off to the horizon and shouted excitedly, "What the fuck is that?"
"Language young man," Kushina replied, but felt her blood turn to ice as she saw what Naruto was pointing at as it appeared from amongst a cloud bank. "It's a relic from the Second Shinobi War named Ancor Vantian."
"What should we do?" Sai asked watching as the massive floating fortress slowly made its way towards them, "I don't think they're going to be too happy when they see what we've done to their fleet."
Kushina was about to tell Sai t take them back towards Shikamaru for orders but hearing a smile in Naruto's voice as he said, "Then they're going to be really pissed when we're done wrecking that thing," changed her mind.
Instead she said, "Sai take me and Naruto in. Then let Shikamaru know about what's coming this way."
Sai nodded before asking, "How do you plan to stop it with just the two of you?"
Kushina smiled as she remembered a history lesson about Sky Country's defeat at the hands of the Sannin and said, "I never said it would be just the two of us. Once you advise Shikamaru. I fully expect you to come back and help. Since if the Sannin could take that thing down then it should be no problem for three Uzumaki."
Sai smiled warmly at his adopted kin before pulling the bird up into the sun so the fortress wouldn't see them approach until it was too late. Once he was high enough, he dived down towards the massive fortress while looking for an entrance. Not finding one on his first pass, several turrets began tracking the bird and then opened fire shooting kunai into the air some of which had exploding tags attached which exploded filling the air with flak. Dodging, Sai was about to take the bird up higher again to try another pass but Kushina said, "Don't worry about it. We'll find a way in even if we have to make it." Complying with the order, Sai brought the bird back in close enough for the two Uzumaki to leap off.
Looking over his shoulder Sai saw that before leaping Naruto had created two clones. One noticed his questioning gaze so said, "We're the boss's insurance policy in case it gets really hairy in there." Nodding, he was forced to turn his attention to their survival as a kunai passed too close for comfort to his ink creation. As he dodged the many flying blades, Sai marveled that despite all the movement, the clones seemed to give off a sense of stillness.
Naruto landed next to his mom and pulling a kunai from his pouch deflected one that would have otherwise ruined his day. His mother then took off towards the turret, a pair of water whips whirring through the air deflecting the kunai the turret was spitting out at her. Several more began tracking towards her so Naruto was about to charge one of the closest ones when she shouted, "Don't! Stay near me."
Instantly following her order he winced as all the turrets that could target them leveled their barrels at them. However just before they opened up Naruto heard what sounded like metal digging into stone from behind him. Turning he saw chakra incased chains that started from his mom's back and entered into the stone of the fortress. The chains then emerged from various points around them crisscrossing one another to form a large dome around them.
The turrets opened fire but it became apparent nothing was getting through as the energy field that expanded from the chains deflected the many kunai. "Wow, that's so cool mom."
"Thanks," Kushina said, "but what do you say you get started on making us that entrance."
Naruto nodded forming a Rasengan and directing it at the ground watched as the jutsu began cutting away at the stone much the same way in which Jiraiya had shown him once. The stone of the fortress proved to offer no more resistance then the tree. Just as he finished his hole a kunai shot out towards his face. Falling back onto his rear Naruto said, "You bastard," before creating several clones that began dropping into the hole. Pulling his ninjato, Naruto followed suit and upon landing found his clones had done an excellent job of slicing through the waiting enemy.
A moment later his mother joined him and seeing two paths for them to take suggested, "I'll head this way."
Indicating the other end of the hall with his head, Naruto nodded saying, "Okay guess I'll go this way. However mom since you got the last bad guy if you run into the guy behind this he's mine this time."
Smiling Kushina took off down her path as she called over her shoulder, "Sorry, I can't promise that. The last guy was all bluster so I barely worked up a sweat."
"Mom," he called out after her with a bit of a whine in his tone as she disappeared around a corner. She apparently ran right into a group of Sky-nin as Naruto heard a man call out, "Shit, its Kus…" but put it out of his mind as he saw a squad appear in the direction he needed to go. Charging them, he promised himself that he'd reach the main villain first since he couldn't let his mom have all the fun.
"They're inside the base," a voice called in the mechanical way that told the three kunoichi it was coming from a speaker device.
The man that responded sounded familiar to the four women but his voice lacked the kind and friendly overtones that it had been filled with before as it said, "Deal with these annoyances Security Commander."
"I'm trying, but one of them appears to be Kush…" the voice was cut off by a loud explosion which was followed by a voice that said, "Oh god it's her... ack," before it was cutoff.
A heavy fist slammed onto something metal which crumpled under the blow causing the kunoichi to believe that whatever else was happening in the fortress was not making the man happy. Making eye contact, the three nodded in agreement that they'd do their part to make things worse. Waiting for Hinata's signal they then charged into the room with the Hyuuga on point and followed by Ami and Sakura to the sides.
Shinno looked up from the smoking communications device he had smashed in his anger and seeing the three kunoichi said, "Ah, more visitors to the party. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you three snuck aboard considering the beating the Zero tails took."
He stood opening his arms wide as if ready to receive a hug which surprised the three until Amaru charged past them shouting, "Master Shinno, you're alive."
Ami tried to grab at her saying, "Hey, wait," but Amaru's speed carried her past the three kunoichi before she could react.
Wrapping his arms around the girl he said, his voice filled with the warmth he used when addressing his apprentice, "Ah Amaru, it's good to see you again," as she buried her head in his chest with tears of joy leaking down her face. However the warm hug turned cold as he grabbed her by the top of the head easily lifting her in the air saying, "It was rather cold of me to leave you outside to die when it's only because of your blind loyalty and the depth of your feelings for me that Ancor Vantian has taken to the sky once more." Tossing the girl away, he held onto the bandana he had given her as a gift and looked at it mockingly.
Luckily for Amaru, Ami moved into her path and easily caught the girl in her arms who after she was put on the ground collapsed towards the floor saying, "Master Shinno what's wrong with you." Looking up at the kunoichi she said, "Please help him there's some sort of spell over him."
The tearing of cloth attracted her attention and her eyes went wide as she saw him ripping the bandana to pieces as he said, "Ha, something indeed was wrong with me my dear. Playing that fool doctor you've looked up to all these years has truly been grating on my nerves. But the time for games is over now, and you four will be but the first of many corpses that I step over on my path of conquest."
Seeing the affect that Shinno's words were having on his apprentice Ami reached towards her back for one of her scrolls and before charging said, "I'll make you eat those words you bastard."
However before she took a single step, Hinata appeared in front of her with Byakugan active holding her arm out as she said, "Ami wait."
"What! Why?"
Directing her head upwards Hinata replied, "Because we have another person we may need to worry about. Isn't that right Sasuke?"
"Hn," the Leaf traitor said dispassionately as he dropped down from the ceiling his back facing the three Leaf kunoichi.
Smirking Shinno said, "Hmph, it appears Orochimaru is as impatient as ever. What do you want boy?"
"Orochimaru sent a summons for you. I'm here to make sure you don't ignore it."
"This is what you abandoned your village and friends for, to be Orochimaru's errand boy?"
"Sakura," Sasuke said looking over his shoulder, "I left you alive merely on a whim. Don't make me regret it."
Smiling sweetly in a way that Hinata knew meant her friend was contemplating extreme violence, Sakura said, "Don't worry Sasuke, you won't have to live with the regret very long." Sakura then moved quickly closing the distance with Sasuke faster than the Uchiha expected, but he managed to jump out of the way as she jumped into the air to bring her leg down where he was standing.
As the floor cracked and splintered from the attack Sasuke sounding as dispassionate as ever said, "Impressive, but it doesn't mean much if you don't connect."
However he nearly ate his words when he was sent flying by a gale punch from Hinata that knocked him into some of the large rocks that hadn't been cleared from the room before the takeoff of the fortress. Standing straight Sakura said, "I wasn't trying to hit you but to drive you." Sasuke sat up glaring at his former teammate who upon noticing the unique scar on his chest smiled and said, "What's the matter Sasuke. Orochimaru couldn't fix up the little reminder Naruto left you when he kicked your ass."
Standing Sasuke pulled his loose fitting white shirt over the marred skin saying, "The next time me and that bastard meet things will be different. But I'm going to leave him your corpses as a motivational aid so I'll be sure to face him at his best."
Hinata stepped up to the pinkette saying, "You needn't worry about that. Naruto never brings anything less. You on the other hand are not going to be leaving this fortress unless it's as our prisoner so don't be making any long term plans."
Sasuke glared at the Hyuuga and pulling his sword said, "Weak words from a weak kunoichi from a weaker clan."
"Alright will you two kill him already? I'll take the good doctor," Ami said stepping towards Shinno who was watching on amused.
Without taking her eyes off of Sasuke, Hinata asked, "Are you sure you can handle him? We don't know just how strong he truly is."
"Look at him," Ami said keeping her own gaze leveled on Shinno. "He's like fifty years old and hasn't been able to keep up with his training to keep his cover. I'll mop the floor with him. Besides it's not like we have much of a choice unless you think Sasuke going to be helping us for old time's sake."
Looking at the glaring Sasuke, Hinata doubted that was going to happen so said, "Alright be careful."
Sasuke smirked before directing his gaze to Shinno saying, "Once I finish these two I'll be back for you," before leaping back onto the rock behind him before leaping up towards the hanging fixture at the top of the room before slipping through the crack he had used to enter.
"I look forward to it," Shinno called after him as the two kunoichi gave chase. Directing his gaze at the one that remained he said, "I find it strange that you are so keen of facing me. It's almost like you are trying to even the score for poor Amaru."
"Killing you ain't going to do that," Ami said angrily. "No she may even come to hate me for doing it. But I'll be damned before I let you twist the knife your betrayal has left in her anymore."
Mockingly Shinno said, "Oh has someone played with your feelings so you understand her pain."
"Luckily no," Ami said smiling as she thought of Hinata and how she reached out to her. "I found someone who no matter how much I pushed her away, kept on trying to be my friend. When she found out why I was being such a jerk, she didn't react with scorn like my other so called friends but told me it didn't matter." Sparing a moment to look at Amaru, she continued, "Accepting her friendship was like stepping out on a ledge because if she had been pretending it would have destroyed me." Refocusing on Shinno she finished, "That's why I'm taking you down; it's the only way to limit the pain you've caused her."
"Ami," Amaru said wide-eyed at the girl's words considering the disdain she had treated the kunoichi with.
Shinno merely laughed, "Such cute words…ha-ha-ha….the sad thing is you don't have a prayer of defeating me. The creature I implanted into Amaru has become charged with the dark negative feelings I've fostered in her all these years. In truth using the Zero Tails to power Ancor Vantian was merely my fallback plan. I doubted it would have the power to do so, let alone have so much to spare, no Iintended for Naruto to power the fortress while I used the Zero Tails to perfect my Body Revival technique."
Ami didn't like the sound of that so immediately charged the old man who smiled saying, "Cute but futile." As she leapt into the air he was surrounded by a dark pillar of chakra which sent her flying back and smashed her up against a wall. Sliding down it she noticed that Shinno's gray hair began turning black as his shirt ripped due to the height and muscles he gained. Pulling his ruined shirt from his chest he said, "Now, let's see if you can live up to the lofty goal of killing me that you set for yourself."
Ami stood and reaching behind her pulled a scroll from its holder on her back. Hitting the quick disconnects for it the holder fell to the ground as she unraveled the scroll and biting her thumb pressed it against the paper. She disappeared in a puff of smoke and to Shinno's surprise a large heavily armored puppet charged out of it. The puppet was as tall as him and looked like a big bulky humanoid with a domed head.
"A puppet," Shinno said amused, "I'm as close to an ultimate human being as one can get and you attack me with a puppet."
He took a moment to see if he could spot the strings animating the puppet so he could find the puppeteer, which was why he was surprised when the puppet raised its right arm and opened its hand to shoot several chakra strings from it. The strings wrapped around him binding him tightly as the puppet continued to close with him. Flexing his chest Shinno snapped the strings easily and avoided the right-cross thrown by the puppet by ducking under it. Rising up, he nailed it in the chest with an uppercut and was surprised by how solid it felt.
The puppet staggered back but grabbed his arm saying, "Gotcha!"
Shinno realizing the truth was surprised as a whirring sound began which increased Ami's strength allowing her to pull Shinno off his feet and over her head where she smashed him into the ground behind her. Raising her heavy boot she attempted to bring it down on his face, but the doctor managed to flip to his feet. Jumping forward onto his hands he mule kicked backwards catching Ami in the chest and to her concern cracked the hardened plastic of her puppet armor as well as sent her flying across the room.
Landing on her back, she skidded across the floor until coming to rest near the edge of the room. Getting to her feet, she grabbed a man sized rock left over from the excavation of the fortress. The motors inside the joints of her suit began whirring to increase her strength and with a small amount of effort tossed it at her opponent. To her shock Shinno merely waved at it in a wide arc and a mass of dark chakra appeared which upon hitting the rock shattered it.
"Do you begin to understand why no mere toy will be a match for me," Shinno asked smugly as he slowly walked towards her.
"Oh go fuck yourself," Ami shouted raising both arms with her fists closed. From the top of her armored forearms a hidden compartment popped up on each and two kunai shot out with exploding tags affixed to them.
A look of amusement appeared on Shinno's face just as the tags exploded. "Ami, look out behind you," Amaru shouted.
Spinning towards the threat she was shocked to see Shinno there crouched and in his hand was a dark ball of chakra surrounded by two rings. He slammed it into her chest causing a massive explosion to envelope her. "Ami!" Amaru shouted as she disappeared in the smoke and dust.
Shinno for his part began chuckling before outright laughing but it ended abruptly when from the smoke Ami's armored fist connected with his face. Keeping up the pressure Ami breathed a little prayer that the chakra armor she had installed in the puppet armor she called Behemoth worked. In truth it was for the most part the reason for the puppet's large size since she realized the reason the original Snow Country Chakra Armor was so temperamental was due to their attempt to make the components as small as possible. However despite it working she had heard the crystal that powered it crack, which meant she probably couldn't take another hit from that jutsu.
Doing her best to keep Shinno off balance she was wondering how it was that the man was taking her augmented punches but wouldn't fall. She got her answer when Shinno caught one of her fists and despite the whirring of the motors telling her they were working overtime in increasing her strength easily held the fist in place. Smiling mockingly he said, "I told you, no toy is going to defeat this body." To prove his point he lashed out with his foot catching Ami in the chest again crushing the armor beneath.
Sent flying, she landed on her back but this time Shinno didn't give her a chance to recover instead leaping after her and landing on the puppets chest. Ami felt it as the abused armor gave way smashing down into her. "Oh what's this," Shinno said pulling the chest plate away and grabbing her by her body suit pulled her and the puppet up. Reaching forward, he gripped the domed helmet of the puppet ripping it free and tossing it away. Grinning maliciously and in amusement he said, "Not so tough without your toy now are you. However your ingenuity has impressed me. Serve me as a weapon's designer and I'll let you live."
Ami's answer was to spit in his face. Anger appearing on his face, Shinno backhanded Ami so hard she saw stars. He followed the blow up with several to the chest and stomach which had Ami coughing up blood. "Stop it please Shinno-sensei," Amaru said charging towards the two shinobi.
Carelessly, he tossed Ami away towards the girl who tried to catch her but fell back as a result. Sitting up, she cradled Ami's head in her lap and with tears in her eyes asked, "Why…why are you doing this? What happened to all the lessens you taught me about how precious life is?"
Mockingly Shinno replied, "Don't you understand that none of it was true? It was all a game to make you so fixated on me that you'd empower the Zero-tails with your negative feelings. All the pain and loneliness of your youth was engineered by me. Even the sickness I saved you from. All for the glorious moment that losing the one person who seemed to care for you and to whom you dedicated everything too was taken from you and thus would awaken the darkness inside you. Now that it has you're worthless to me."
Hearing Shinno thought so little of her broke Amaru who hung her head and whose tears began to fall onto Ami's face. Ami focused on the girl whose closed eyes still leaked her tears and reached up to cup her cheek saying, "You aren't worthless Amaru and if he can't see that he can go fuck himself and even if he doesn't believe in them, the things he taught you are good and right to believe in."
Opening her eyes Amaru whispered, "Ami…"
"Still a little fight left in you eh?" Shrugging Shinno added before charging the pair, "No matter. However I've grown bored with the two of you and I'll send you off together."
Ami tried to stand but couldn't find the strength while Amaru simply accepted there was nothing she could do to stop him so closed her eyes while pulling Ami closer. However both girls were shocked when Shinno was kicked away from them. Staring up at the back of their savior who was standing between them and Shinno they could read, "Future Hokage," written on the back of his red jacket.
"Naruto," both exclaimed in surprise.
"Hey," he replied looking over his shoulder. "Where's Hinata and Sakura?" he asked a touch of concern appearing in his voice.
Amaru helped Ami to stand before replying, "Someone named Sasuke appeared and they took off to capture him."
"I can't imagine they'd do that if they thought you'd get your ass kicked Ami."
"Yeah, the bastard waited till they left to power-up using something he calls Dark Chakra. He sealed some sort of Bijuu in Amaru to collect it over the years."
Naruto nodded and directing his gaze on Shinno said, "I guess this isn't a sudden change of heart and you've always pretty much been a bastard then."
"That's right. That time we first met during that plague outbreak I was working for Orochimaru."
Naruto nodded saying, "Good."
"Good," Shinno repeated confused, "I thought for sure you'd be upset to know I was part of the scheme to lure out Tsunade."
Naruto shook his head no saying, "Nah, I'm just glad you're not some misguided soul who I'd otherwise need to take it easy on." Before Shinno could respond Naruto created a dozen clones that all charged the Sky-nin doctor and hid himself in their midst's.
Shinno easily battered them all away dispelling them and connected with the real Naruto last with a punch to the chest that sent him flying.
Sai was in the process of waiting for Shikamaru to formulate a plan after he had regrouped with the jounin and the rest of the squad. He was getting rather antsy to get airborne and back to the floating fortress to support his adoptive family but knew it was best to wait for orders. Hearing a poofing sound he turned to look over his shoulder to see one of the two meditating Naruto clones had dispelled itself. Having a good idea what that meant he said, "I would hurry in my planning if I were you as I doubt there'll be much of a fortress left otherwise." The rest of the squad looked at him confused to which Sai just gave his normal fake smile.
Shinno was about to mock the jinchuriki when the flying boy gripped the floor with his hand and using chakra pulled himself forward launching himself at the man. Naruto then hit him in the chest hard enough to send him backwards through the air where after smashing through the backrest of his his throne he continued on until hitting the wall on the opposite side.
Ami's eyes went wide in surprise at the power the boy displayed and as he looked over his shoulder immediately noticed the yellow eyes and square pupils. "Ami," he said calmly, "There are people in trouble three floors down from here. I think they're the villagers."
Shaking her head, Ami said, "The village was a sham Naruto. It was a Sky-nin front to be near this fortress."
"That might be, but over time innocent people may have moved there. Either way, they are scared and need help. I'll handle things here."
Ami nodded, and with Amaru's help moved to collect her scroll holder before the two left the room to follow Naruto's request. Shinno got back to his feet wearing a pleased expression on his face, making Naruto ask, "What are you so happy about?"
"I was hoping for a worthy challenge for this form. It appears one has appeared and to make matters even better once I defeat you I'll hook you up to the Zero-tails and increase Ancor Vantian power ten-fold."
"You haven't beaten me yet," Naruto replied challengingly.
"Well let me correct that oversight then," Shinno said charging the blond who smiled beneath his mask having gotten what he wanted too.
"How do you plan to kill us if all you are doing is running Sasuke," Sakura asked following the Avenger as he dashed through the halls of the fortress. "Is this how you plan to kill Itachi by hoping he'll have a heart-attack as he chases after you?"
Sakura felt like smiling as she saw her insult hit home as Sasuke bristled at her remark. Still it didn't stop him from easily and almost without breaking stride kill two Sky-nin that appeared in the hallway from a room as they looked for intruders with his sword. Sakura and Hinata jumped over the two corpses wondering what it was Sasuke was looking for.
He found it after making several turns as the corridor opened up into large chamber that had various statues of shinobi scattered around the perimeter of it. Taking several steps into the room, he spun and raising his hand a Chidori appeared that elongated as it attempted to impale Sakura. Hinata jumped in front of her friend and using her Rotation blocked the jutsu which caused sparks as the two jutsu met. Sakura leapt over Hinata as her jutsu battled Sasuke's and attempted to bury her fist into his face. Sasuke was forced to cancel the jutsu in order to leap back to avoid the attack which caused Sakura's fist to smash into the ground. Instead of a massive explosion though only a few cracks appeared and as Sasuke moved to attack her she used the hand on the ground to pivot in order to lash out with a kick.
Sasuke abandoned his attack in order to cross his arms in front of his chest as the kick connected lifting him off his feet and smash him into a wall hard enough to crack it. He was pushed the rest of the way through the wall by Hinata who used the Empty Palm technique again to use a burst of air to hit him at a distance.
Sakura instead of pursuing, instead began raising and lower her leg slowly, feeling a tingling sensation causing Hinata to ask, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, but I think he used a lightning jutsu to mess up my kick."
Hinata with Byakugan active so was able to see what happened nodded saying, "He did. He admitted a small burst of lightning chakra just as your kick connected."
Both girls noticed a pair of angry red eyes staring at them from the darkness of the room they had knocked Sasuke into. Getting back into their stances, they prepared to meet his inevitable charge but were both shocked as he stepped into the light to reveal his Curse Mark Level Two Form. As he spread the two hand-like wings on his back, Sakura said, "Eh, I had a crush on that."
Hinata giggled saying, "Well your tastes have improved since then."
"Laugh it up bitches," Sasuke sneered angrily, "Soon you'll be begging for mercy only to find I have none."
"We'll try to remember that as we're cleaning the blood off our clothes," Sakura said causing Sasuke to roar in anger as he charged the two kunoichi. Sasuke moved quickly but both Sakura and Hinata had years of practice working together and had long worked on a strategy in case they should face Sasuke. Therefore with practice ease Sakura stepped back as Hinata moved in front of her using rotation again.
"This again," Sasuke said dismissively as he closed with the spinning Hyuuga preparing to leap over it to attack his former teammate.
However in his zest he didn't realize that the reason Hinata was using Rotation was to prevent Sasuke from seeing behind the jutsu. As a result he was momentarily surprised when three Sakura's appeared from behind the jutsu. One each came from behind the sides of the jutsu while the third leapt over it. Sasuke recovered quickly and began smiling at Sakura blunder. Jumping into the air, he created a Chidori which he buried into her chest.
A look of surprise appeared on Sakura's face as he said darkly while hovering in the air, "These eyes can see chakra. Did you really think a pair of normal Bunshin would confuse me?"
"So can the Byakugan," a voice said from above and behind him that sounded like it was getting closer. "Did you really think we didn't take that into account?"
Spinning in the air, he saw Sakura falling from the ceiling and as the Shadow Clone he had attacked burst into smoke lost sight of her. He had a moment to realize that she had sunshined to the ceiling but then found thinking to be too difficult as her punch connected with his face. Although he had once again channeled his Lightning Chakra around him, the punch still sent him smashing into the ground where he created a sizeable crater.
Pulling himself out of it slowly, he stood and then felt a presence standing beside him. Again spinning to face the perceived threat, he saw Hinata standing in a stance he found familiar. Suddenly a memory of the Third Round of the Chunin Exam in Konoha implanted itself over the kunoichi to replace her with her cousin Neji. Realizing she was in the same stance he had used to defeat the Suna Kunoichi Temari he wrapped his wings around him in a hope to protect his Tenketsu Points.
As he weathered the assault of Hinata's attack it felt like the wings of his second form began to feel heavier and heavier. After Hinata finished he couldn't even hold them up anymore under his own power, as they fell to the floor he decided to revert back to his normal form, hoping that it would undo the effects. Unfortunately Sasuke didn't realize that when he changed forms it didn't add Tenketsu Points but merely shifted where they were on his body. As a result when he reverted he suddenly found it difficult to move both his arms as well as to channel chakra at all which caused his Sharingan to fade.
"Shannero," Sakura yelled causing Sasuke to turn in time to see his former teammate's gloved fist about to smash into his face. Desperate to avoid it he used the only jutsu he felt that he could in his weakened state so when Sakura's fist connected with it literally caused the statue's head that he substituted himself with to explode into tiny stone fragments.
Both kunoichi instantly began searching for the place the statue had come from and finding it near a exit to the room Sakura began to give chase. However, Hinata clamped her hand on her friend's shoulder in order to stop her and say, "Sakura we should head back."
"But…"
"I know," Hinata said, "I would like to capture Sasuke too. Yet I'm afraid Ami may be in danger. I've noticed that the flow of Chakra running through the walls seems to be heading to the room where she and Shinno are fighting. This base may be empowering him in some way."
Not liking it but knowing a friend and ally came before avenging Kiba or herself, Sakura nodded and followed after Hinata. But not before directing a smile in the direction Sasuke had escaped, since she knew that needing to run from the two kunoichi must really be eating at him, especially since he had left the village for power, but hadn't been able to best the two of them, so had to be doubting his chances of besting Itachi.
Kushina kicked out the grating to what she assumed was the power source to the fortress that she had been looking down on. After stumbling onto the Security Office and taking out the men inside she had been forced to avoid the converging groups that had responded to the Security Officer's distress call. During her escape she found herself in what she assumed was the engine room and after taking out the men inside was now going to destroy the large crystal she hoped was allowing the place to fly.
Landing in the room she noticed that the crystal was being held in place by organic looking wires. Guessing that the fastest way to disconnect the crystal from the engine would be through destroying them she began moving towards it. She stopped and went on guard when a voice called her name saying, "Kushina."
She looked around surprised and tried to find where it came from but since it had felt like the voice had spoken directly into her mind found it difficult to track it down. "Who's there," she shouted challengingly, "Stop hiding and show yourself."
The voice began laughing mockingly as it said, "Whose hiding?" You're the one hiding all that delicious hate. Who is it all meant for? Ah…Mikoto."
"Don't you dare say that name, you bastard. Now come out and face me." Kushina was surprised at just how close to the surface her hatred for Mikoto had been and was wondering if the voice was somehow manipulating her emotions. Looking about the room she turned her back on the crystal but couldn't find any sight of a hidden enemy.
"As you wish," the voice replied.
Sensing the attack, she jumped to the side just as several fists passed through the space she had been occupying. Turning to the threat, she was surprised to see that the arms had come from the crystal as they pulled back towards it. Once they disappeared a masked visage appeared before it exited the crystal. Taking a step back in revulsion as the body appeared to be some sort of leech's and watched as two arms appeared from its sides to hold the creature's body off the floor. After about half of it appeared it stopped apparently needing to remain connected to the engine. Again she heard the voice in her mind as it said, "You'll feed me quite well and power this engine for years."
"What are you?"
"The Zero-tails."
Positive there was no such Bijuu she said, "Never heard of you. Where did you come from?"
Either the creature didn't know or didn't care to answer as suddenly from its body hundreds of yellow hands appeared all grasping for her. Jumping backwards as she avoided them, she pulled a kunai from her pouch and sliced the few that came close. Landing at almost the farthest point she could from the creature in the large room, she created a few dozen shadow clones that immediately began charging the false Bijuu. The Zero-tails responded by creating more arms from its body, but Kushina and her clones easily avoided them. Once they got in close, they then created her Chakra Chains which they all threw around the creature. Pulling them taunt they then began to try and pull the giant leech from the crystal.
The Zero-tails mask split open in a smile and sent some of its Dark Chakra through the chains. Kushina as well as her clones were bombarded with images of Mikoto's betrayal but what made them worse were all the other images mixed in of the good times they had shared leading up to that point. The clones and her all reacted the same grabbing their heads as if in pain as they tried to block the images from their minds. Unable to concentrate the Chakra Chains dissolved allowing the creature to again lash out with the many arms it created. Her clones destroyed, she was hit in the chest by one of the arms which knocked her into the air. Another arm wrapped around her body then, binding her arms as it slowly pulled her towards it. As she approached the mask split apart to reveal a horribly large mouth making her think that the Zero-Tails planned to swallow her.
Amaru and Ami slowly made their way down to the trapped civilians Naruto said were being held captive. Due to their close proximity since Amaru was helping the badly beaten Ami walk the kunoichi was having a difficult time concentrating on the mission. Shaking her head to clear it of the dizziness she still felt as well as to focus on reaching the civilians she was surprised when Amaru blurted, "I'm sorry."
Focusing on the civilian medic's face she felt a blush threaten to appear on her cheeks but managed to force it down as she replied, "For what?"
Amaru looked at her incredulously before saying, "For all the things I said about you and your friends. Shinno-sensei…he always spoke snidely about shinobi and I guess I just wanted to be like him so began to believe them myself."
Ami nodded but said, "Forget about it. It's natural to emulate a person you look up too."
"But…"
"Hey forget it," Ami said a little more forcefully, "I know what it's like to need to be forgiven for acting like a jerk. It's alright."
"Thanks," Amaru said. Looking a little nervous she asked, "I know it might be prying but why did most of your friends abandon you."
Ami thought a moment before asking, "Well when you were younger did you ever find a certain boy cute."
"Um…not really," Amaru answered. She hastily added, "But it was mainly since everyone in the village kept away from me. There wasn't much point in it, I guess."
Ami had felt her heart speed up a little at the admission but upon the rest of Amaru's answer felt a little disappointed, nevertheless she said, "Well when all the girls in my class were trying and hoping to hook up with a certain boy. I was hoping to hook up with him for all the girls."
Amaru looked confused for a moment until understanding dawned on her. Eyes going wide, her mouth dropped open as she simply said, "Oh…"
"Yeah," Ami said with a smile, "Well anyway a few of my friends found out and were freaked out by it so began treating me with disdain. Luckily Hinata reached out to me otherwise who knows what kind of bitch I'd be right now if she hadn't."
Amaru nodded and the two lapsed into silence again till the civilian said, "I didn't mean what I said." Ami merely looked at her confused till with a blush adorning her cheeks she clarified herself by saying, "About your clothes making your butt look big."
Surprised at the subject and the retraction Ami suddenly felt a large smile want to appear on her face.
Naruto ducked under Shinno's punch before rising up with a uppercut that stood the man up on his toes as his head rocked back to look up at the ceiling. Spinning around behind him, Naruto kicked him across the lower back in a blow that sent the man flying forward. Crashing into the remains of his throne, Shinno knelt in front of it and slowly raised his head up from the seat of it to glare back at the jinchuriki.
"How are you keeping up with me?" he asked feeling fear seeping into him since the young man didn't even appear to be breaking a sweat.
"I had a couple of great sensei," Naruto replied before disappearing from the man's sight. Appearing above him, Naruto dropped down onto his head and with both feet slammed Shinno's head into the stone seat of the throne smashing him through it.
The doctor picked his face up from the imprint he had made and was sent skidding along the ground by a kick that Naruto delivered which crunched his nose. Getting back to his feet, Shinno smiled as he felt his body healing from the many attacks he had taken thus far. Still despite it meaning his body was growing stronger, something told him the blond could still easily best him. Trying to buy himself some time he said, "If I were you, I'd be worried about those two kunoichi. Sasuke Uchiha is no doubt already mopping the floor with them. As a matter of fac…"
The rest of what he was going to say was cut off as Naruto appeared in front of him and buried his fist into the man's stomach bending him forward. Bring both fists above his head he interlocked his fingers and brought them down on the middle of Shinno's back. Before he hit the ground though, Naruto kicked up, connecting with Shinno's stomach lifting him back into the air. The blond then hit his chest with a punch that sent Shinno through the air only stopping when nearly sideways he hit a wall.
Calmly and coldly Naruto said, "First, don't talk about Sakura and Hinata like they are weak in front of me. They are easily strong enough to deal with a coward like Sasuke and are already heading here. Considering how far away he is I think Sasuke is doing what he does best which is running. Second…well you don't need to concern yourself with that."
"Why," Shinno asked working his way back to his feet.
Naruto held his arm out and to the side, while Shinno looked on in horror as a Rasengan formed, but one that was easily as big as the man that held it. Glaring at the Sky-nin Naruto said, "Because for attacking my home and manipulating your apprentice and Granny Tsunade you're going to die and don't have any further need to worry about it." Charging forward and moving faster than Shinno could react Naruto slammed the jutsu into his opponent shouting, "Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan."
The jutsu exploded outwards obliterating not only Shinno but the wall he had been standing in front of as well as several other rooms. Naruto having used the last of his Sage Chakra on the jutsu was proud of the fact that he had defeated the man using only one clone. Blinking several times due to the bright sun since the jutsu had destroyed such a large section of the fortress he could look outside to see the clear blue sky. He was about to create another clone to dispel it to inform his remaining one that was gathering Natural Energy to dispel in order to gain some insight into what was going on.
However hearing the two surprised, "Naruto!" turned to see his girlfriends looking at him in disbelief.
Facing them he waved saying, "Hey, I can't leave you two alone for a moment without you finding trouble can I?"
Both Kunoichi smiled before closing the distance between them and threw their arms around him. Eagerly returning the hug, he said, "I'm glad you are both alright."
Pulling back Hinata said, "You didn't think we needed to be rescued did you?"
"The thought never even crossed my mind," Naruto replied smiling and pulling his mask down to show his lower face added. "We should probably go help…"
Suddenly and to the surprise of all three the fortress began to dip as it seemed to lose power for a moment before righting itself. Hinata activated her Byakugan confirming it as she said, "The chakra is beginning to falter that was running through the walls."
"Damn," Naruto said using chakra to remain standing as he quickly summoned and dispelled a clone to alert his remaining one to dispel to take in its Natural Energy in order to get a sense of what was going on. Feeling the panic of the remaining Sky-nin, he nevertheless easily found the people he was concerned about. Grabbing his girlfriends' hands he said, "Come on," before taking them through the hole his Rasengan had made and to the surface of the fortress hoping to link up with his mom.
Kushina was slowly being pulled towards the mouth of the leech and she suspected it was doing so at such a pace to build up some fear in her. However all it succeeded in doing was giving her time to collect herself and calming one more summoned her Chakra Chains. The chains shot from her back through the creature's arm it had wrapped around her causing it to roar in pain. The chains buried themselves in the stone walls and ceiling of the room allowing her to remain in the air as the Zero-tails let her go. Creating another chain in her hand she threw it so that it buried itself in the wall behind the creature and towards the ceiling, so when she allowed the others to disappear it caused her to swing towards the flailing monster.
As she swung she held the chain with one hand and with her free one created a Rasengan. The Zero-tails got a hold of itself and looked at the woman just as she smashed the jutsu into its masked face. The mask shattered under the power of her husband's jutsu and as it did so seemed to break into little pieces which floated into the air as they disappeared.
"No!" the creature screamed in her mind as the rest of it disappeared in a similar matter.
Grabbing the wrist of the fist she held it up in her gesture of victory over her many enemies, some of which included the bullies that used to tease her she said, "Take that you Bijuu wannabe." Turning she began to walk away forgetting that with the creature destroyed the fortress no longer had a power source which meant it was about as airworthy as a rock. A fact she remembered as it suddenly began falling to the ground as it used up what remaining power it had. Easily keeping her balance despite the way the fortress shifted about, Kushina backtracked the way she came hoping to escape and see her son again.
Ami helped the last civilian into the lifeboat looking flying device. She and Amaru had found them exactly where Naruto had told them they'd be. Stepping up to the cell she could see them surrounded by an energy field that seemed to be draining them of chakra. Guessing that it was some sort of auxiliary power chamber, she believed that Naruto had pegged the situation correctly. In that the Sky-nin had let normal people move in so to add to the illusion that the village wasn't a secret Sky Country base. Since the base was no longer necessary she figured the Sky-nin felt it would be a waste to just kill the people so instead locked them up here to slowly kill them in order to help power their fortress. Ami found that their ability to do something so cruel to people they had lived and worked with for years was the kernel of truth to all the negative feelings Shinno had installed in Amaru over the years.
Still looking at the girl who was doing her best to help the people who probably also treated her with disdain simply because the fake villagers had she knew that what she had said was true. That despite Shinno not believing his lessons that he had taught her, didn't lessen their value or the truth they contained and perhaps because his heart was so dark he knew a brighter light like Amaru would cast a darker shadow. Smiling she turned away from the lifeboat to head towards its launcher.
Her slow limping walk was noticed by Amaru who looking up from the older woman she was treating asked, "What are you doing?"
"My job," Ami said hitting the lever that launched the boat from the fortress.
"Ami," Amaru said as the boat shot from the ramp.
Feeling tired and abused, Ami breathed a sigh as she prepared to head back into the fortress to help the rest of her fellow shinobi when the fortress suddenly dipped. Caught by surprise she hit the ground and rolled down the ramp and off it. She attempted to grab at the edge and although her fingers found purchase the fortress righted itself as backup generators tried to kick on and the sudden movement of the fortress shook her loose.
"Aw crap," Ami cursed as she began falling towards the earth.
Enjoying the feeling of silence as she plummeted to the earth she closed her eyes to bask in it a little longer when she heard, "Ami!"
Looking upwards from her head first plunge she saw Amaru attempting to use one of the spare gliders the lifeboat had been loaded with to grab her out of the air. Unable to control it due to it needing Chakra to power its steering equipment she was unable to stop herself from floating upwards when a large updraft hit her. Desperate to reach her, Amaru unbuckled herself from the glider and falling grabbed Ami who surprised said, "What are you doing?"
"I…I couldn't let you…die alone," Amaru said pulling her into her chest.
"You big dummy," Ami said touched as she reached into her scroll holder. Pulling the one she sought out she added, "I'm not some damsel in distress. I'm a kunoichi." Unsealing her original suit of armor she pulled herself away from Amaru as it affixed itself to her and taking Amaru in her arms spread the wings of her suit as she continued, "I'm generally the one who does the saving. And my services are especially reserved for girls who seem prone to doing stupid things such as jumping out of flying lifeboats."
Amaru just blushed at the comment before noticing two ink birds flying towards the fortress that began struggling to remain in the air again.
Shikamaru rode behind Sai as the adopted Uzumaki began maneuvering his jutsu towards the base. He had decided to send Muta Aburame back to Konoha to let them know the situation while he, Sai, and Shino attempted to aid the two Uzumaki already inside. They had made it about half–way to their destination when a large explosion appeared from the side of it. Guessing that to be one of the places he'd likely find an Uzumaki he had directed Sai to take them towards it.
A moment later the whole fortress began to struggle to remain airborne and he noticed a life raft shoot away from it. A girl wearing a glider then leapt from it and began a shaky decent towards a falling one. Recognizing Ami, he was about to order Sai to take them towards her when to his surprise the girl dropped from the glider in order to grab onto Ami. Breathing a sigh of relief when Ami donned her puppet armor and he saw it possessed the ability to fly he focused back on the fortress. Remembering the mission in Demon Country and the volcano Naruto had created in helping Shion defeat the demon attempting to take back its body and seeing the fortress again falling towards the ground. Shikamaru got the feeling that destroying things was something of an Uzumaki tradition.
Kushina stumbled as the base once more gave up on trying to remain airborne. Wishing the place would make up its mind she again began running wondering if she would make it back to where Naruto and her had entered from. She didn't need to worry as a section of the hall's ceiling she was running down blew in. "Mom," Naruto shouted after ending his Rasengan.
Leaping through the exit, she landed next to him and feeling some of the bitterness still of Mikoto's betrayal wrapped her arms around him. Confused, Naruto returned the hug saying, "Mom is everything alright."
"It is now," she replied pushing the last of her negative feelings behind her. Standing she said, "Now how are we going to get off this thing."
Standing next to her, Naruto suggested, "Maybe we can ride it down. It's falling pretty fast but I imagined if it was completely out of power it would be doing so much faster."
Gravity decided to prove him right as with a sudden surge downward the fortress used up the last of its chakra. Three sets of eyes turned towards him causing him to shrug saying, "I suppose that's my fault."
A giant bird landed next to them as Sai on one that was staying airborne said, "If you plan to leave. I suggest doing so now."
Taking the suggestion they scrambled onto the jutsu which took to the air as soon as they were aboard. The bird pulled up next to the other one as Shikamaru shouted, "Oi Naruto, do you have to destroy every place you go to."
"Me," Naruto shouted back, "I just put the one hole in it."
"That's my point," Shikamaru countered, "I knew you were responsible for that explosion."
From behind Naruto, Hinata said, "We may wish he had done a more thorough job of wrecking the place."
Looking down as Ancor Vantian hit the ocean they saw a huge wave raise into the air as it approached land near where the life-raft landed. "Shit," Shikamaru swore asking Sai, "Can we make it before that wave takes out the civilians."
"I don't think so," Sai replied, but regardless took both birds into a dive.
As they approached though a familiar figure leapt from the surrounding jungle in front of the raft and pressing both hands to the ground disappeared in a large plume of smoke. From the smoke several large projectiles of water shot forth hitting the base of the wave. The smoke cleared to reveal Jiraiya standing on the head of Gamabunta with Gamahiro and Gamaken on the toad boss's sides. All three large toads continued directing their jutsu into the base of the wave causing it to crest well away from the shore.
As they were landing Gamabunta began complaining, "You owe me big time Jiraiya. You know I hate being summoned near seawater."
"Hey it was for a good reason," Jiraiya replied with a smirk knowing the toad boss was just trying to look tough in front of the others.
"Hmmph," Gamabunta replied before disappearing with his fellow toads.
"That was awesome Pervy Sage," Naruto said.
Laughing boisterously Jiraiya said, "You sound surprised. I am a pretty awesome guy you know." Turning serious he looked to wear Ancor Vantian sunk beneath the waves saying, "I trust the man behind this mess is done for then."
"Unless he can take a Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan to the chest and survive he is," Naruto said a little boastful himself.
As Naruto walked off to help Hinata and Sakura attend to the civilians Jiraiya smiled until Kushina stepped up to him asking, "Have you ever heard of something called the Zero-tails?"
"No… why?"
"Because it's what they were using to power their fortress. It had chakra like a Bijuu but I've never heard of such a creature before."
"What happened to it?"
"I destroyed it after shattering its mask," Kushina said remembering the feelings her fight with it had brought to the surface.
"I'll begin looking into it," Jiraiya replied.
Nodding Kushina walked off to help the civilians as well, leaving Jiraiya to stare back towards the sinking base wondering just where such a creature had come from.
"You sent for me Lord Raikage," Yugito asked stepping into her Kage's office.
"Yes," A said as she stepped in front of his desk. Tossing a letter he had been holding onto the desk towards her she picked it as he continued, "Read that and tell me what you think."
Reading threw it she found that it read vaguely familiar and it gave the location of a bandit group that they had been looking for. Seeing that it was signed, "Mr. J," she said, "Well it's obviously a fake since Jiraiya said he would never use that alias again."
Agreed, the Raikage said nodding, "Which is a fact only the two of us know about. That means this is a trap and if I had to guess one meant for either you or B."
"You believe Akatsuki is making its move then?"
"Precisely," A said as he stood to look out the window of his office with his back turned towards her.
"When do I leave then," Yugito said.
Facing her with a proud look in his eyes he said, "Yugito, you don't have to go. I've already assigned several squads of Anbu to handle it."
"I know sir," Yugito replied, "But a part of you wants me there to handle this or why else bring this to my attention."
A nodded before asking, "Are you sure? You are what they are after."
"I am. They won't know what hit them, trust me."