Chapter 8:

Sasuke set a grueling pace.

As they neared Tanigakure, Naruto who had been shadowing Sasuke closely, called out to him, "Yo Sasuke, hold up!" When Sasuke didn't lessen his pace, Naruto sped up to come abreast to his friend.

"Hey man, stop already. What's going on?" Sasuke looked back to make sure that they weren't to be overheard by the girls.

He said in a quiet voice, "White Zetsu is still alive."

Naruto missed a step and exclaimed, "What? Wait! How do you know? Was it, he, back in the hideout?" Sasuke looked at him seriously and nodded.

Naruto shook his head, "Wow I thought you were busy taking a piss which is why you went back there."

Sasuke gave him a withering look and kept up his pace.

"Look this stays between us." Sasuke said and Naruto nodded in agreement.

They made it to Tanigakure close to midnight and were able to find an inn. Naruto bunked with Sasuke leaving the girls together in the other room.

Sasuke immediately went to write a missive to the Sixth. Naruto decided to give him some privacy so he went across the hall and knocked on the girls' door.

Sakura answered and gave him a penetrating look, "Okay spill it! What's got Sasuke all spooked?"

Naruto laughed unconvincingly, "I don't know what you mean Sakura. He's fine. We're all fine. Uh is Hinata asleep yet?" Sakura opened the door wider and Naruto could see Hinata brushing out her hair.

"Hey". Naruto breathed out when he saw Hinata with her hair down. He loved the sight of her.

Sakura took Naruto's moment of distraction to sneak out around him and go to his room. As she opened the door, she saw Sasuke bidding one of his hawks to fly away.

"Sending a message to the Sixth, huh?" She guessed.

Sasuke looked at her with hooded eyes, "He asked me to let him know when we got here." He replied.

"Funny as team leader, you would think that he would have informed me of that." Sakura said with a slight shrug.

Sasuke looked at her with that penetrating gaze and then asked out of the blue, "Did you bring the emerald with you?"

"Uh no, I left it back in Konoha. Why? Plan on going MIA?" She joked. However her smile turned serious when Sasuke continued to look at her.

"Okay what gives? I know something happened back at the hideout. You haven't been yourself since." She said as she walked towards him.

It was Sasuke's turn to take a step back away from her and shrug, "I'm tired, Sakura. Go to bed and get some sleep."

"So you aren't going to tell me?" She asked with sudden heat, "But you tell Naruto!"

Sasuke again shrugged, "It's a need to know basis." He hated being so cold to her but the Sixth had told him expressly to keep the Intel regarding White Zetsu on the down low. He only told Naruto because he was one of the few that could see through White Zetsu's transformations.

Sakura looked at him for a minute longer and then muttered, "Fine!", and opened the door to go back to her room. Naruto who had been listening, was flown to the floor inside. Sakura slammed the door and the boys could hear the reverberating crash of the door closing across the hall.

Naruto laid on the floor and looked up at Sasuke and complained, "Really man you couldn't tell her?'

Sasuke looked down at Naruto and said, "Orders are orders. That goes for you too, idiot."

::

The next morning they decided to go out to the market place. They asked around for weapon shops in the village and were directed to a side street off the main. Following the man's direction they came to a young blacksmith. He was in the middle of forging so they waited until after he was cooling the weapon to get his attention. His body was lean and muscular. He pulled up the heavy mask and came over to them.

"What can I do for you? If you are looking to sell, then sorry we don't buy foreign blades." The young man looked them over speculatively.

Sakura stepped forward and opened her backpack. She pulled out the kunai and showed it to the youth. The youth stood there studying it for a moment. He didn't try to pick it up to examine it but rather stood there and looked at it.

He looked up suddenly and said, "Like I said, we don't buy foreign blades." He started to go back to work when Naruto demanded, "Hey can you tell me anything about it like who manufactured it. I mean it was given to me by…"

The youth interrupted him with much agitation, "Like I said" he proclaimed loudly, "We don't buy foreign blades. Take that somewhere else!"

"Hey you I just want…" Naruto continued even louder but this time Sasuke put his hand up to stop Naruto's tirade.

"Like the guy said, he doesn't buy foreign blades. Let's go." The other three looked at Sasuke and realized that something was up. They nodded and started to leave.

Sakura called back to the youth, "Thanks anyway!" And they went back towards the Main Street.

Once they were away from the shop, Naruto confronted Sasuke, "What gives? It's obvious the kid knew something. He didn't even try to pick it up!"

Sakura nodded, "Yes I thought the same thing." Sakura concurred.

Sasuke looked over at Hinata and asked, "Did you notice the old man peering at us from inside the cottage?"

Hinata nodded and said, "Yes. I could tell that he was frightened. I also could tell that the youth was very frightened too."

Sasuke nodded, "I saw the same thing. Let's wait until later tonight to come back." He said.

The other three nodded.

They waited until night had fallen on the sleeping village before making their way back to the blacksmith's shop. They even used the handy window from the boys' room to make their exit. They figured that the less eyes on them the better.

As they approached the shop on silent feet, they ensured that no one was following them. Hinata used her Byagukan to make sure that only the two people were inside. As they leaned up against the shadowed wall they could hear an argument ensue.

"I can't believe you, Grandfather? I said that I would handle it! I can't believe you gave Niishi's blade to them, outsiders! What do you think will happen to us if the Five Nations find out what we've done? What about the Syndicate? You have brought a target on us!"

The old man's words were cut off by the sudden barking of a dog. It had apparently decided that something about Naruto was yummy!

"Shoo, shoo, puppy!" Naruto said as he waved his hands for the dog to leave. Sakura looked over at the commotion and sighed in disgust.

"Did you not change your clothes when you spilt that barbeque on you from lunch?!" Sakura asked with whispered exasperation.

"Look, I didn't really bring too many clothes and my pants were still damp from last night!" Naruto whispered fervently back. All of a sudden, Hinata couldn't contain her giggle. She even started to snort. The dog had moved its way up to a sensitive part of Naruto's lower region.

Naruto looked from Hinata and then to the dog. Realization dawned and he jumped up and yelled, "That's it! Get away from me you mutt!"

Suddenly the window opened and the youth stuck his head out and spied the four of them standing there.

Sakura looked up and smiled, "Um can we come in?"

The youth put his head out even farther and scanned the area. Finally he motioned to the back of the shop.

The four Konoha shinobi entered. The elderly man, presumably 'Grandfather', made his way up to them. He went up to Naruto and shook his hand joyously, "Oh thank goodness you came!" And then stood back and regarded them in reproach, "But it sure took you awhile. I thought you would be right back here but instead it's been almost a month!"

Naruto smiled at the old man embarrassingly, "Well you see, old man, there was a problem. That kunai you gave me didn't start talking until I gave it to my friend here and then it tried to take her over and then…"

"No, no, no! That kunai couldn't be held by anyone other than Niishi or a Jinchuriki. I mean to give it to just anyone…"

Sakura interrupted, "But you handled it didn't you? You gave it to Naruto in the first place!" Sakura argued.

The old man gave a little chuckle, "Well yes I did, missy. The reason for that, well is a long one. Come in, come in and take a seat."

The old man and the youth led them into a small sitting room with only 2 chairs. The old man took the seat near the fire while the rest of them kneeled on cushions on the floor. The youth remained standing.

"First off let me introduce myself. My name is Tairu and this is my great grandson, Sota."

The foursome nodded and Sakura replied, "Hello Tairu sir., My name is Sakura Haruno.

"Yes, yes, the Kazekage's girlfriend." The old man said.

Sasuke looked over at her sharply as did Naruto and Hinata.

Sakura colored and said with a laugh, "No, no! Where would you get an idea like that?"

The old man looked embarrassed, "Oh sorry, it must be these old eyes of mine. When you and Naruto came last month as ambassadors from Konoha to meet with the daimyo and the contingent from the Sand. I tried my best to watch your movements. You see, I had already decided to ask for your aid in rescuing Niishi. I saw you in many conversations with the Kazekage, Gaara. You two seemed always together so, I guess, I just assumed."

Sakura nodded, "It's okay. As I was saying, you already know who Naruto is.."

"Yes the Great Hero! I knew you would come to help us! See Sota! I knew I was doing the right thing!"

Sota rolled his eyes and took a protective stance behind his grandfather, "They haven't agreed to anything as far as I can see."

Naruto took exception to Sota's disrespectful manner, "Hey if we can help you and the old man and Niishi, then we will or my name's not Naruto Uzamaki!"

Sakura put out a fist and pounded Naruto's head and continued over his groaning, "As I was saying, you know Naruto here, and this is Hinata Hyuuga and Sasuke Uchiha."

"Uchiha!" The grandfather started to get up suddenly in fright.

"Calm yourself, old man, I'm here in support of Konoha, not to kill old men and boys!" Sasuke said dryly.

Tairu eased himself back down into his seat while refusing to make eye contact with Sasuke.

Sakura intervened to try to clear some of the sudden tension in the room, "Tairu, sir, please continue. You were going to explain about the kunai and Niishi. As Naruto explained, if there is something that we can do to help, we will."

The old man looked at them with sudden purpose once again shining in his eyes, "Yes you see I knew that Naruto here would be the only one that could help us because of the beast inside of him. The kunai would be able to relay our message to him and hopefully he would come to our rescue. I never thought that it might be given to someone else." He turned to Hinata and reached down to take her hands in his.

"I'm so sorry, miss. I never meant to cause you any harm." And then he looked over at Naruto with reproach, "Why would you do such a thing?"

Naruto said with shock, "ME?! How was I to know that that thing was anything other than a simple kunai!"

Tairu looked at him questionably, "Well surely that beast inside of you knew."

Naruto shut his eyes and called on Kurama, "Hey Kurama, wake up!"

"Nnh what now?" The nine tails asked grumpily.

"Did you have any message for me from that kunai this old man gave me a few weeks back?" Naruto inquired.

"Message? Oh you mean that infernal chattering of that piece of metal that you were tossing around. Yeah I heard it. So what?" Kurama said with a shrug of his shoulders.

Naruto was floored. Everything that Hinata went through could have been completely avoided!

"Why didn't you tell me?" Naruto said aghast.

"Tell you. Tell you what? How was I suppose to know it was a message for you? It just kept talking nonsense. 'Niishi this! Niishi that!' I don't even know what a Niishi is! Now can I go back to sleep?"

Naruto stood there agape in front of Kurama. "Sure!" He said and opened his eyes to find everyone staring at him.

Naruto gave an embarrassed chuckle, "Uh yeah looks like the nine tails knew about the message but there was a misunderstanding about the intended recipient. You see, he didn't know that he was suppose to tell me."

The old man looked crestfallen, "I see. Now I understand. I guess I just assumed that the two of you were in total sync."

Naruto looked affronted and stammered, "We are, I mean, usually. You see he likes to sleep and.."

This time Sasuke interrupted and addressed Tairu, "Go on. So who is Niishi and what does she have to do with the kunai and other chakra draining weapons?"

"Other chakra weapons?" The old man looked suddenly frightened.

Sakura brought out the chakra dart and showed it to the two men. They both leaned forward in alarm, "No! She wouldn't do it! She couldn't! Niishi would never create something like that! Never!" Sota cried out passionately.

"It's what we feared." The old man said sadly as he shook his head and began to cry.

Sota squeezed his grandfather's shoulder.

Sakura looked from one to the other and asked with concern, "What is it? What's wrong?"

The grandfather tried to speak but couldn't get the words out. Sota answered instead, "The orphanage outside of town suddenly caught fire in the middle of the night, several months back. Not a single child survived. The weird thing was that no bodies were discovered either. It was like 50 children just up and disappeared."

Sota looked down at the dart in her hands, "Now we know what happened to them."

Tairu dried his tears on his sleeve and said, "Yes you see the blood from the young are better chakra conduit than old men like me." He said sadly.

Sakura looked down at the small metal arrow. She felt it nestle into her hands, conducting the heat from her skin through its construction. She felt it hum. She looked up into Tairu's tear streaked face and put a hand on his.

"It's okay. Their voices can still be heard. I can hear them. It's okay, Tairu. You did not do this to them." Sakura soothed.

"And neither did Niishi! There's no way that she would willingly allow this to happen!" Sota said with fervor.

Tairu looked down at the dart in her hands, and realization suddenly dawned on him. He peered down at her intently and asked, "What are you? How can you have bonded with that arrow?"

Sakura blushed and leaned back, "I don't know what you mean." She said feeling all the eyes on her.

Tairu continued to stare intently at her, "The only ones who can touch a chakra weapon once it's forged in blood are the relatives and of course, those already housing stronger souls such as Jinchuriki. Unless, no it can't be…" He said and looked at her closely.

Sakura leaned in close and prodded the old man, "Go on." She was so curious to know how she could have bound with the chakra dart herself and not be overcome.

The old man leaned back, "No it can't be! You don't appear to be like that!"

"Like what?" Sakura asked, leaning even closer and the old man leaned further back.

"Touched!" He finally said.

"Touched?" She said in confusion.

"You know crazy, multiple personalities, has conversations with someone that only you can hear. During our research, we found that only those that were a little, you know," The old man whirled his finger next to the side of head for a demonstration, "could touch a chakra blade without being overcome."

Naruto burst out laughing and even Sasuke couldn't contain a knowing grin. Hinata just looked at Sakura with confusion and a little bit of pity.

Hinata reached out to grip Naruto's hand and said firmly, "Naruto, it's not polite to laugh at Sakura. She's your friend, your teammate, show some support."

Naruto wiped the tears of mirth from his eyes and said with still laughter in his voice, "He just described Sakura to a T!" And he began to laugh again.

Sasuke noticed Sakura turning bright red and said coldly to Naruto, "Naruto enough! Stop it!"

Naruto instantly quit laughing, or rather mostly. He still couldn't contain the goofy smile on his face.

Sakura regained her composure and said coolly, "Why would you think something like that?"

"Well you see this whole thing started as a way to regain the reputation of the great Takumi clan. You see the founder of our village and clan was a man named, Seimei."

"The same Seimei that was revived through using the one tail found in Gaara." Naruto asked incredulously.

"Yes the very same. Our clan was fractioned. One group supported the revival of Seimei. The other group led by Niishi's father, my son, favored the study of new technology in weaponry to renew the clan. They studied hard and made several new weapons. One being that chakra dart that you hold in your hand. Other villages would come and buy a few of our new weapons with the promise of more orders but the big orders never came. They would take the few samples that they bought and take them to their own blacksmiths to make more."

"Our village was dying out. The youth were seeking jobs in the larger towns instead of learning the metal trade. Only Sota stayed to learn." The old man looked at the his great grandson with shiny eyes.

Sota shrugged a bit embarrassed by the show of emotion, "What can I say? It's in my blood."

With that said the old man continued with his story, "Niishi had a twin brother, Noki. Noki however was very sick from birth. However it didn't stop their sibling bond. Niishi would cart her brother along wherever she went. She was really strong and big for her age. My son started to teach her the art of the blacksmith. She took to it right away. She was masterful! Her attention to detail was superb! Anyway, it was about that time that the war broke out. My son and several others went to represent our clan as blacksmiths. Sadly none of them returned. During the war, Niishi started experimenting with chakra infused weapons. She felt that if she could forge weapons that already were infused with chakra then the village could one day prosper and be strong again." He sighed sadly.

"She read and read on the subject. A few years prior to the war, she had even accompanied her father to the Land of Mist to deliver some weapons. There she came across a very peculiar scroll explaining how one could use blood and chakra to forge a blade. Noki by the time their father left for the war was on his deathbed. He begged for Niishi to try her experiment out on him. You see it was his dream as much as Niishi's to restore the village. The night Noki died she used his blood and remains and she worked through the night."

He reached out for the kunai and Sakura gave it to him. He held the kunai gently, almost lovingly in his hand, "This kunai, you see, was forged using Noki's blood and chakra. His dream and love for Niishi are gathered within these metal alloys eternally."

Sakura again put her hand out to cover the old man's in comfort, "It's okay. Noki wanted this. Their dream became a reality."

"Yes, Niishi's experiment had worked. She had found a way to merge chakra into a blade. However she didn't count on the hunger that the blade had once it encountered others with chakra. The remaining villagers had lined up as test subjects. They were just as eager to restore the village and bring back their sons and daughters from Tanigakure. That's when she discovered the true danger of the weapon she had forged. It took all her strength to remove it from the first volunteer. The man almost died. Also it showed a distinct displeasure on being held by anyone that wasn't family. This would not do. You see we needed to be able to sell these weapons for others to use. It was like Noki had been sacrificed for nothing. Niishi was so despondent." He wiped his eyes again on his sleeve.

"Then a few months later, a man came to the village. It was right after the war. He wore a fancy suit and waved around a lot of money. He said that he had heard about our little village and its new invention. He said that he would like to sponsor the research into it. I believe his name was Haniku. By that time, I had moved here with Sota. The village had pretty much died out. We needed a means to survive."

"The last time I saw Niishi she had come here in the dead of night. She looked terribly upset and she gave me the kunai. She said that she bargained with the devil and the devil won. I tried to get her to say more but she said she had to go before they missed her. The next day Sota and I made our way down to the village. The few people left told us that Niishi was gone."

"So Niishi just disappeared. You have no proof that she left not of her own free will, though?" Sasuke commented.

Tairu practically jumped from his chair, "But I do! She wouldn't have parted with that kunai if there wasn't something really wrong. Also she would never have left the village. I tried to get her to leave with Sota and me but she refused. She claimed that the village was her home and she would die there! And now this?" He pointed at the chakra dart. "There's no question! My granddaughter has been abducted and is being forced to produce these weapons for someone!"

Sasuke was still not convinced though. "Why this elaborate display? Why give Naruto the kunai? Didn't you go to the authorities here?"

Tairu argued, "I tried. They wouldn't listen. And then we started noticing that we were being watched. Just little things here or there. Our business before had been steady but after I went to the daimyo, it became almost non-existent. Don't you see? I think that he's in on this or at least is being paid to look the other way. Suddenly Tanigakure went from a poor struggling village to a prosperous one practically overnight. Within a few months there was money pouring in for new bridges and barges being built virtually overnight. The daimyo claimed that the money came from some anonymous backers. There called the Syndicate. Hah!" He ended with disgust.

"You shinobi are my last hope! Please help me find my granddaughter and rescue her from these bad people." Tairu implored.

Sakura was just about to tell the man that they would need to talk it over in private and get approval from their Hokage considering the political issues that may be involved when suddenly, Naruto jumped up and put his fist in the air, "Alright old man! We'll do it! We will save your granddaughter and bring her kidnappers to justice!"

Sakura looked over at her team. Hinata was looking at Naruto with love and admiration clearly sparkling from the depths of her opaque eyes. Well, you'll get no help from that one! Inner said sarcastically. She then looked over to Sasuke. Surely he would back her if she intervened to stop Naruto in his sudden fervor of righteousness.

Sasuke shrugged as if to say, oh well, it's Naruto being Naruto. She looked at him intently and he looked back. She waited for some indication on his thoughts. He just shook his head slightly and then looked back at Naruto. Naruto was hugging the old man and the old man was patting him on the back grinning from ear to ear.

"See Sota! See! I told you that he was a great hero, didn't I? I knew he would help us!"

Sakura sighed. I guess they were in. She would have to get Sasuke to send another hawk to the Hokage informing him of the current situation. She hoped that they didn't just blunder into a political spiderweb. Inner sighed, here we go again, she said tiredly.

::

Hello everyone! Yes another set up chapter. Hope you don't mind. I try to update pretty quickly so you shouldn't have to wait long for the next chapter. Hope you are enjoying the story. Don't forget to review or send me some encouragement by clicking follow/fave. For those that are already following this story, thanks you rock!