OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO "Come in." Sarutobi sighed. There was still no word from the teams he had sent out after Naruto. To his surprise, the Aburame clan head stepped into his office. "Hokage-sama."
"Aburame-san, what is the matter? You look distressed."
It was true. Aburames rarely showed any emotion and Shibi was sweating. "Hokage-sama, one of my son's kikaichu came back to the compound alone. I noticed a seal on it and a letter was attached, adressed to you." He handed a piece of paper to the hokage. "I have kept the bug in case it is needed again as a messenger."
"Thank you, Shibi." Sandaime read the letter, recognizing Kakashi's handwriting.
'Hokage-sama, we found Naruto.' Sarutobi gave a sigh of relief, then read on 'He is in otogakure in Orochimaru's compound, seemingly willingly, although I believe there is more to it. He believed us to be an assassination squad. He seems to have changed into a completely different person, darker. I had begun to think maybe Orochimaru did have control over him, but at the end, when Hinata and the others spoke to him, his eyes changed for a second, back to the eyes he used to have. Unsure how to proceed. Respond.'
Sandaime sighed "Poor Naruto."
Shibi asked "What is it, Hokage-sama?"
Sandaime said, in a low tone, "Shibi, I know your position on Uzumaki Naruto, so I will tell you this." He searched the room, feeling no other chakra signatures, except the anbu he trusted, he said "This is not to leave this room, but your son's team and a few other genin teams have been sent on a secret mission after Uzumaki Naruto."
Shibi frowned slightly "Do you believe that to be wise, Hokage-sama. Before, the Uzumaki boy seemed quite stable, but now..."
Sarutobi sighed "I suppose I will have to explain what happed in detail. I should have known an Aburame would need all the details. This might take a while." Shibi inclined his head and Sarutobi started the account of what had happened since the chunnin exams.
In Oto...
Naruto frowned. He hadn't slept at all for the past three nights. The visit from the genin had greatly disturbed him. A bug had been sent for the last two nights, but he didn't let it in. 'What are they up to? What do they want? Why do they stay here? They're going to end up getting caught and blowing my cover!' He growled. On top of that, he had been practically beaten to a pulp by Kabuto, who seemed to thouroughly enjoy it, each day. If he hadn't had Kyuubi, he'd long ago have needed hospitalization.
The only good thing was the he had picked up chakra scalpels from observing Kabuto and was pretty sure he had the tenketsu memorized. He was still no closer to getting into Orochimaru's library though. He scowled again. Kabuto was much more of an annoyance than Orochimaru was at this point. The arrogant bastard didn't seem to think him much of a threat. Either that, or he had too much confidence in four eyes. He sighed and wolfed down some food he had stolen from the makeshift cafeteria. He really couldn't eat there, because Orochimaru's other minions liked to beat up on him too, if he stuck around.
He dressed and headed down to the training grounds, pushing his turbulent thoughts to the back of his mind, and trying to concentrate on his plan.
At the cave...
The Konoha shinobi were starting to get edgy, especially the jonin. Kurenai said "How can we not have been discovered yet? I mean, how bad can a secret village's gate security be?"
Kakashi said "You should be glad we haven't been discovered."
Kurenai said "I am, but...I'm getting nervous."
Asuma said "We all are, well, except for maybe Gai, I don't really think anything effects him, or Lee, they've been taking the time to train."
Sasuke said "We need to do something! I'm sick of waiting around and doing nothing!"
Shino said "He has not opened the window the past two nights I have tried to send my bugs to communicate with him. Also, the kikaichu I sent to my father has not returned yet."
Shikamaru said "This is so troublesome, but we need to analyze our last conversation with him."
Tenten said "We did that."
Shikamaru shook his head. "All we determined was that he seemed to want to stay here and that he's no longer loyal to Konoha. We need to find out more. There was something underneath that. I think looking underneath the underneath's your thing, Kakashi-san."
Kakashi sighed "More Obito's than mine, though I've tried to adopt it. I sure did a good job doing it, didn't I?"
Kurenai said "Now's no time for regret, Kakashi, now is time for action."
Sakura cried "What action? We can't do anything?!"
Just then a buzzing was heard and they all tensed. Shino stretched out his arm and a bug landed on it. He released a seal on the bug and a piece of paper poofed into exsistence. He read it and said "It is from Hokage-sama." He held it out and Sasuke snatched it. He read
'Kakashi, I have brought Shibi, Shikaku and Chouza in on the secret mission details because they are the only clan heads the believe Naruto is not the demon Kyuubi. We have discussed the mission. First, I must tell you that if this mission is discoverd, you will be ordered to return by the council. If you refuse to return, it will be considered treason and you will be labelled missing-nins. I do not anticipate...' The writing trailed off then and looked hurried with a final note 'discovered'
Sasuke scowled. "What the hell?" Just then a bird swooped down to them. They all tensed, but it was just a carrier bird. Kurenai took the note out of the case and the bird waited patiently. It must be one of those trained to wait for a return message.
She read quietly "Teams Kakasi, Gai, Asuma, and Kurenai, it has come to our attention that you have been sent on a side mission to retrieve the demon brat, Uzumaki Naruto. You are to return to Konoha immediately and receive punishment for assissting the dangerous missing nin Uzumaki Naruto. There will be no further consequences if you rply with your agreement to this message and return immediately. If you refuse, more than your rank will be taken away." She paused. "What do they mean by that?"
Shino cried "They've taken our dads as prisoners!" There were several gasps.
Ino asked "Who's dads?"
Shino, more under control now, said "Mine, Shikamaru's and Chouji's."
Gai said, serious now, "The only three that supported the mission." Kakashi turned to talk to the group, but Neji spoke up first.
He said "The only three? So Hiashi-sama thinks that Naruto is the kyuubi?" He scowled "It figures. The main house have always been a bunch of idiots." He looked at Hinata "Present company excluded."
Hinata frowned "Arigato, Neji-niisan, I just can't believe that toussan...thinks that way of Naruto-kun still..."
Ino cried "What about my dad? I know him. There has to be some mistake? He couldn't think like that!"
The bug buzzed some more. Shino said "He helped arrest Chouza and Shikaku."
"No..." Ino fell to her knees, disillusioned.
Sakura sighed "My mother too, but...I used to be like that too..."
Kiba looked at Akamaru with sad eyes "Nee-chan and kaasan, they both...think that? I can't believe it." His head hung.
Sasuke scowled. He said "Like I said before. Now is not the time to sit around useless. We all know the consequences now." He paused and then said "It's different for a lot of you, who have families, Sakura, Ino, Kiba, Hinata, your families aren't being threatened now, but they coud be if you continue. Shikamaru, Chouji, Shino, your families are being threatened. By doing this we don't just risk our title as ninja, we also risk our lives and some of us, the lives of others. We need to decide now, who goes and who stays. As for myself..." He smirked "I've never had much holding me to Konoha anyway." He sat.
There was a lot of thinking and discussing after that. Shikamaru listened for a while, then whistled to get everyone's attention. He said "Okay, listen up." They all looked at him. He continued and said "I agree with Shino, in that it is very unlikely that the other families are attacked, since it is known they don't support Naruto. There are several options, all of them dangerous. The first two are if all of us stay, the next two are if some of us leave and the last is if all of us return."
Sasuke scowled "I'm not going anywhere."
Shikamaru said "Can you just listen for a second?" Sasuke scowled, but he shut his mouth. Shikamaru continued. "The last option, is of course, if we surrender and return, all of us. Everyone will get reprimanded and we all go home, safe, but we never see Naruto again." This option caused an outroar. He held up his hands "Geez, okay, okay. I'm not done, you know?" He glared at them all a little. He said "The best option that I have seen is if myself, Shino, and Chouji return."
Asuma asked "Why?"
Shikamaru said "Someone needs to help free our fathers. It would help a lot if Hinata or Neji could come too, because of their byakugan."
Kakashi asked "What do you plan on doing, exactly?"
Ino said "If only the five of you returned, the rest of us would be labelled missing nins immediately. What if ANBU were sent out?"
Kiba said "There's no way they'd find this place. Even the sound ninja haven't found us yet. I'm coming too."
Shikamaru said "We already have the optimal people, four is enough for this mission, too many really, but it cannot be helped."
Kiba said "I'm going. You need my nose."
Shino said "No."
Kiba growled. Kurenai sighed "Boys, boys..." She held Kiba back and said "What are the other options, Shikamaru?"
Shikamaru said "The next best option is if Sakura, Ino, Hinata and Neji, and Kiba return to Konoha, pretending that they have come to their senses and agree with the council. If they can be trusted, they can sneak in to rescue our fathers."
Asuma said "That sounds better, to me, than the last plan, Shikamaru. Are you sure your desire to save your father isn't affecting your judgement?"
Shikamaru frowned. He said "The groups needs a tactition and someone with stealth abilities."
Neji said "Sakura's had the best grades in the academy. She's got the brains for it." Everyone turned to look at her, she blushed, but nodded. Neji continued "So far as stealth abilities, what are you looking for?"
Shikamaru said "A way to sneak in and communicate inside the prison. Dogs are too big, kiba."
Tenten said "Wait, I remember reading a justu scroll once that I thought would be about weapons...what was the name of that justu...meise..meisai..."
Gai said "Meisaigakure no jutsu? That might work. I'm not sure if it would hold up against a Hyuuga or an Inuzuka, but it should work against other ninjas. It's a difficult jutsu though, and it would take someone with a fast memory and high chakra capacity." Everyone turned to look at Sasuke.
Sasuke said "That would be me. I'm in, I can get it automatically, with the sharingan, but someone has to show it to me."
Kakashi said "Sorry, Sasuke, that's one I don't know."
Asuma said "Sorry."
Kurenai shook her head "Me neither, kid." Everyone was starting to look down at this point.
Gai grinned "I can show you this technique."
Kakashi looked at Gai shocked "How do you know it? I didn't think you did anything but Taijutsu anymore."
Gai said "It's one I learned before that."
Shikamaru said "Wait! We need to go over the plan first."
Sasuke said "I'm to return to Konoha, along with Sakura, Ino, Kiba, Hinata, and Neji. We're to pretend that we're glad to return, that we've decided Naruto's a demon and that we were forced to go on the mission."
Shikamaru frowned "I didn't say the last part, but fine." He sighed "That, and you're to stay for a couple of days without action, to earn the trust of the council, that nothing is anything but what you've shown them. You'll have to be very good actors. You need to mimic the hate the others feel for Naruto." He made a face and continued "Also, you are to wait until an opportune moment to affect the rescue of the prisoners and ask them if they wish to join us. If they do, you are to wait until the right moment and flee Konoha with them. You are not to try to convince your families about Naruto before the rescue is complete as that will blow your cover."
Chouji said "But what if our dads don't want to leave Konoha, Shikamaru?"
Shikamaru frowned "That is the most troublesome question. All of us have to ask ourselves. If our families do not want to leave, are we willing to become missing nins, never seeing them or Konoha again?" There was silence for a long while.
Sasuke said "You know my answer. I'm in, 100. Screw the council." He went off to sit in a tree.
Kakashi said "I'm going to have to agree with Sasuke, I don't really have anything tying me to Konoha anymore either, the only thing I had left was my team. I'm not going back to Konoha, but I'll become a missing nin to protect my team." He went and sat down under that tree.
Sakura looked down, then back up, she had tears in her eyes "Since my dad died, my mom's been the only one I had, but Naruto's my team mate. It's a hard decision, but I will go back to Konoha to save the others. Maybe I can convince her..." She frowned and walked slowly to the tree.
Ino said "I can't let anything happen to chouji and shikamaru's dads. Those guys are not just my team mates, but like my brothers. I couldn't live with myself if they got hurt. I just can't believe that my dad went against them, I hope...I can get him to listen to reason. I'm going." She sat down.
Chouji said "I won't be going on this mission. I do believe that my dad and mom will join us. If they don't..."
Shikamaru put his hand on his friend's shoulder "I think they will too, and my dad too, don't worry. I'm not leaving either. We'll be here together."
Asuma sighed "I will also remain. What kind of a sensei would I be if I left my team to the wolves, besides," He sighed again "Konoha needs to be shaken up a little."
Kurenai was surprised at this. "What about your nephew? And Hokage-sama? What do you think will happen to them?"
Asuma said "They wouldn't dare touch Hokage-sama. Konohamaru is his grandson. They wouldn't dare touch him either. He may be getting on in years, but Hokage-sama's no pushover." He turned to Sasuke "He needs to know of the plan too." Sasuke nodded.
Gai said "If the council represents what the rest of Konoha thinks, then they have lost their flames of youth, and for that, they have lost my alleigance. I side with my rival."
Lee said "I agree with Gai-sensei!"
Tenten sighed and thought 'Of course you do.' She said "I don't have anything in Konoha but my team, being an orphan, so stick with them."
Neji said "I'm going."
Shikamaru said "You have to understand, you've got to be careful, if Hiashi discovers the plan, he could use the cage bird seal."
Hinata spoke up quietly "There is a book about the seal in father's office. I have only seen it once, but if I could get it out of the office, I believe it has a way to remove the seal."
Neji's eyes widened "Hinata-sama."
Hinata smiled slightly. Neji said "Anyway, I'm going."
Hinata said "And I'm going too." She smiled slightly "I only wish I helped him sooner..." She paused. "I have never defied my father before, however often I have felt like it, but...things need to change. If father needs a heir, he can use Hanabi."
Neji said "Are you really willing to have the whole clan turn against you, Hinata-sama?"
Hinata smiled sadly "Father has never truly treated me as a daughter and neither has my sister, being so like him. I know I won't be able to change how he thinks. I will have to make my own family." Neji smiled at her.
Shino said "I will not be going, but I believe that my father and mother would be willing to leave Konoha. They have been unhappy with several things over the years."
Kiba said "I'm going. I know I can concince my mom and my sister that they're wrong." He paused. "But guys...no one mentioned where we're going to go? We can't go back to Konoha. Where are we going to all live at?"
There were massive sweatdrops all around as everyone turned to Shikamaru and he said "I hadn't got that far yet."
Just then they heard buzzing. Two bugs! They all got up from where they were in a circle, excited. As expected, a clone of Naruto appeared again.
"Why haven't you come until now?"
Naruto said "Had to wait until dark." Everyone noticed that it was indeed twillight. Where had all the time gone? They noticed his expression too and decided not to further question him on that.
Naruto frowned at them "Why are you still here anyway? You don't still plan on bringing me back, do you?"
Sasuke said "Things have changed since the last time we talked, d...Naruto. Just take a look at this." Naruto took the piece of paper and read it.
'What the hell?' He said "So you'll be leaving now?"
Sakura cried "You baka! We're all going to be risking our lives for you and that's all you can say?!"
"Risk your lives?" Naruto was truly confused. What were they talking about? "What do you mean? I don't get it. You're not going back?"
Shikamaru said "Only half of us are, but we'll all be back. We're leaving Konoha."
Naruto said "So you can all become missing nins?" He looked at them sharply "That's idiotic, for all of you to risk your lives so for one person."
Sakura slapped him "How dare you!"
Naruto held his cheek. She just hit him. He frowned "Why did you do that?"
Kakashi said "You matter a lot more than you think you do, Naruto. Your part of my team, I won't leave you behind."
Sasuke said "You were my first and only friend." He looked away.
Sakura said "You're my team mate." She looked at him hurt.
Naruto frowned. What has this...feeling? This had to be an act. It had to be, they couldn't really feel like this, he would have seen it before, they would have shown it before. It felt...it hurt...' He groaned, squeezing his shoulder.
Kakashi said "I can seal that."
Naruto hissed "No, Orochimaru will know. I can't blow my cover." He looked at them "I don't understand."
Hinata said "None of us want to see you go down the dark path, Naruto-kun."
Sasuke said "The council needs to pay."
Neji added "The bastards have gotten too used to everybody doing what they want."
Naruto frowned, confused again, "What the hell are you planning? What's the purpose? I don't understand...why...do this for me? I don't matter."
Hinata cried "You're wrong! You do matter!"
Naruto frowned "What will you do after defying the council hmm? What do you expect from me? For me to leave and come join you and we can all be a happy family?" His curse mark twinged again and he hissed. "I have plans of my own."
Sasuke said "And they would be?"
Naruto said "Like I would tell you."
Sasuke said "I'm risking my life for you!"
"Don't!"
Sasuke yelled "I will! Stupid dobe! You saved me! Don't you realize that?! I'll do what I want." He quieted down at the end.
Naruto felt his eyes as they felt weird and frowned as he felt moisture at the corners, then he cried out again as the pain was sharp at the curse mark. "Sasuke..."
Kakashi said "Tell us your plan."
The clone had fallen down to his knees. He whispered something and was gone. Kakashi jumped up "Did anyone catch that?"
Kiba said "We did." Akamaru bariked. Kiba continued "But it doesn't make any sense at all."
Kakashi said "Tell me what it is, exactly."
Kiba said "It was so mixed up. The first part was 'Orochimaru...training. Then something about stealing jutsus and...what was it?" Akamaru barked "Oh yeah, invading Konoha and something about getting revenge, then..." Akamaru barked again "Something about going to Akatsuki and removing seals. Then..." Akamaru barked "But that doesn't make any sense, Akamaru. Naruto doesn't have a dad."
Kakashi's eyes widened "What did he say?"
Kiba said "Something about reviving his father and ..."
Akamaru barked, sounding a little annoyed. Kiba said "Okay, okay, I can't help it if my memory's bad. The last thing was...something about a new village."
Kakashi shook his head, trying to take it in. He still didn't understand all of it, but Naruto was planning on reviving his father? That meant he knew! That must be the jutsu he wants to steal. He could understand the Akatsuki part. They were the most powerful group of missing ninjas. They most likely had a seals expert. Why the training though? And what was he going to do for revenge?"
Sakura asked "Sensei? Do you know what all that was about?"
Kakashi said "Most of it. I think Naruto's planning on creating a new village after he finishes with his plan."
"What?"
Asuma said "That would make sense."
Kakashi said "We need to talk to him again."
Sasuke said "What about the plan?"
Kakashi hesitated for a minute, then said "The plan goes on."
Sakura asked "What message will be sent back?"
He noticed the bird was still waiting. He said "Get me some paper." He held out his hand.
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