Leo: Hey guys! So, how has everyone's 4th of July been? (You know if you live in the US) hope you all saw lots of fireworks and ate lots of barbeque! :D
Leo: On a happier note I have an exciting announcement (more for me rather than you!) I might be getting a dog in a year! It's my first dog and I'm really excited about it I can hardly wait! Most likely I think we'll get a mutt of some kind. But anyway, disclaimer time!
Misaki: Leo doesn't own Naruto, the anime, manga, merchandise, or the characters and plot. Only Misaki.
Leo: Correct! Commencing story!
Misaki's POV
I watched quietly as Kakashi summoned his ninja tracking dogs. After they had pointed us in the direction that Gaara's scent was coming from Kakashi gave them instructions to track the scents of any other Akatsuki member who might be in the area. They quickly spread out to search the vicinity.
"Are we ready to go?" Naruto asked impatiently I come practically see him itching to go, the familiar spark of determination was gleaming in his eye like it always does on important missions. Naruto was raring to go.
"Let's head out." Kakashi said, with that we all jumped off in the direction that the ninja dogs had pointed us in. We set off at a pretty fast pace, making excellent time.
At this point I began to wonder what was happening to Gaara right now; was he okay? What exactly were the Akatsuki planning to do with the tailed beasts anyway?
What if they were trying to figure out a way to remove the tailed beasts from Naruto and Gaara? But if they did the question was: how would they control it? And what would happen to the jinchuuriki if they beasts were removed.
At this thought, I felt a cold chill run through me and I blanched in fear. Nothing good could come of that.
"Misaki." Naruto's voice broke through my thoughts.
"Wha- uh, yeah?" I asked somewhat shaken by the sudden interruption from my thoughts.
"Stop thinking like that." He spoke authoritatively.
"H-how do you know what I was thinking of?" I stuttered defensively.
Naruto chose to ignore my question and turned his head towards me, looking at me out of the corner of his eye and continued, "I promise you nothing will happen to me or Gaara. I won't let it happen."
I blinked owlishly before I lowered my head, instantly taking comfort in his words. When Naruto promised something I knew he would never go back on his word. That much I could always count on.
"…Yeah." I nodded flashing a bright smile at him.
Naruto grin, it was the first genuine smile from him in a long time, "Believe it!"
"You got it!" I laughed. For a moment I felt truly appreciative of Naruto in my life. Having a best friend who you could always rely on came in handy some days when my negativity hit me full force. I noticed that the rest of the team had smiles on their faces as they watched Naruto. I smiled proudly, Naruto really had matured, he was on his way to his dream of Hokage; and I was so proud.
"…Naruto…can I ask you something?" Sakura piped up breaking the comfortable silence. Naruto perked up but nonetheless nodded his head for her to continue speaking.
"Since when did Akatsuki start targeting you?" Sakura asked. I thought back to the time when Jiraiya had first taken me and Naruto out to train and Kisame and Itachi had crashed (quite literally) into the hotel we were staying in and attempted to try to take Naruto. If not for Jiraiya Sasuke and I would probably not made it out of that situation alive.
"A while ago… two Akatsuki agents infiltrated Konoha and tried to make contact with Naruto but it's been three years since then." Kakashi spoke up.
"We don't know if they're motive is to capture Naruto or to…" I trailed off everyone already knew what I was about to say next.
"Why did they wait three years?" Sakura wondered aloud.
"Maybe it was that they couldn't take action even if they tried. He always had Jiraiya-sama by his side." Kakashi piped up.
"Or it could have been because separating a tailed beast from a jinchuuriki is extremely hard and time consuming to do." Chiyo said.
"A 'tailed beast'?" Sakura asked suddenly interested.
"You don't know what a tailed beast is and you still dare to call yourself that slug woman's apprentice?" Chiyo glanced at Sakura out of the corner of her eye.
"Well, all information regarding the tailed beasts is top secret information in Konoha, especially the nine-tails so…" Kakashi came to Sakura' defense.
"I suppose." Chiyo relented grudgingly, "The tailed beasts are magical beasts which possess tails. The Sand has always possessed the one tailed Shukaku which resides in Gaara-sama."
"So there's more than one beast besides the nine tailed?" Sakura asked for clarification.
"Indeed, there are nine in this world." Chiyo confirmed. I glanced at Naruto whose eyes had widened at the realization that he had the beast with the most tails out of the nine.
"Each beast has different characteristics. The one tailed has one tail; the two tailed has two and so on until the nine tailed Kyuubi. Each possesses a certain number of tails according to their name." Chiyo continued on oblivious to Naruto's shocked state. "The tailed beasts are basically monstrous formations of chakra that cannot be controlled by men. During the Great Ninja War each village sought to obtain them for military purposes. I don't understand why the Akatsuki wants to obtain that kind of power, it's much too dangerous. Well even though there's peace now I've heard that the tailed beasts are still scattered all throughout the world."
Naruto looked downcast at Chiyo's statement that they're 'much too dangerous'. Looking at the downtrodden expression on his face made me want to cry. But nothing I could say would make him any less of a jinchuuriki so I just settled on bumping shoulders with him, getting his attention and sending him a caring glance. He gave me a small appreciative smile in return.
"Everyone halt!" Kakashi suddenly called out everyone. I screeched to an instant halt immediately on the alert. I peered past Itachi to see a sight that gave me goose bumps and made my blood run cold.
"You're kidding…" I gulped looking at the figure only a few meters away from us.
"Who is it?" Sakura seemed confused as to why all of us (with the exception of Chiyo) were so tensed up at the sight of him.
"…Well, this is sudden…" Kakashi spoke solemnly.
"Those…those eyes…" I frowned.
"Uchiha Itachi!" Naruto growled already on the alert.
"Itachi-san? Is this the kid who killed his entire family…?" Chiyo said a spark of recognition in her eyes.
"It's good to see you again, Kakashi-san, Naruto-kun, Misaki-chan." Itachi said monotonously. Somehow I got a feeling that it wouldn't be so good to us to see him again.
I could already see the light bulb above Sakura's head flicker on as she realized that this was the person who had been inflicting so much suffering on Naruto and Sasuke. She clenched her jar and snarled at him.
"You…" Naruto started and thrusting an accusing finger in his direction, "NOT JUST ME BUT GAARA TOO?! I'LL BEAT YOU ALL DOWN!"
Itachi raised his hand slowly; I panicked and yelled out, "EVERYONE DON'T LOOK INTO HIS EYES, IT'S DANGEROUS!"
"Well, then what do we do?!" Sakura asked yet she quickly averted her eyes.
"Judge his next moves by the way his body and feet move." Kakashi warned. "Itachi's genjutsu is an eye jutsu, meaning if you don't look him in the eye you should be fine."
I looked up keeping only Itachi's torso and feet in my view. "…That's really difficult."
"It's been a long time since I fought a Sharingan but don't worry there's many tactics to fight it." Chiyo revealed.
"How?!" Naruto asked urgently.
"If it's one on one, surely flee; if it's two on one, take the rear." Chiyo said.
"…And what's that supposed to mean?" Naruto asked impatiently.
"If there's two people if one person is caught in the genjutsu the other one can sneak up and attack the enemy from behind and release the genjutsu by wounding the user. Or you can help your teammate by just canceling the genjutsu in the first place." Chiyo elaborated.
"I see…" I nodded seeing the logic in her statement.
"Yeah, the old hag is useful after all." Naruto smirked at Chiyo.
"That would be alright for a normal genjutsu user but that's not the case here. Itachi uses Mangekyou Sharingan; if he catches you in his genjutsu no one can release you from it but him." Kakashi informed us getting into a ready crouching position. "You won't be able to cancel the effects of his jutsu."
"Hmph…what a troublesome person. Just what is he…?" Chiyo grumbled to herself.
"But the downside is it uses a lot of chakra and causes great risk to your eyes. Isn't that right?" Kakashi asked calmly.
"Well analyzed given that you only fought me once." Itachi said, face giving nothing away. Kakashi gradually stood up, casually lifting his hand to his eye.
"Itachi…how much has your eyesight deteriorated?" Kakashi lifted his forehead protector revealing his Sharingan. Itachi didn't answered or even flinch, just stood there emotionlessly as always.
"Naruto I'll handle him." Kakashi spoke, Naruto instantly flared up.
"Hey! How could I never get to fight, where's the teamwork in that?!" Naruto angrily yelled.
"No. This time you have to cover me. I want to recklessly tell you to hurry ahead but I know even if I'm his opponent, I can't take him alone." Kakashi admitted reluctantly. I blinked owlishly. Did Kakashi really just admit that he was too weak to take someone on? And he wants Naruto to cover him?
Then again, Naruto looks like he's gotten pretty strong in the past three years.
"Misaki, Sakura." Kakashi called and turned to him interested in my next instructions. "Take Chiyo to the hideout. I'm counting on you. We'll catch up later."
"Yes, sensei. Let's move!" I grinned mischievously. I eyed Itachi up before turning back to Naruto, "Do me a favor and help me get past him." Naruto nodded getting into a ready stance. I took off in a fast sprint while Sakura and Chiyo took to the trees. Naruto was right on my tail. I saw Itachi's torso tense and then rush towards us. I ducked as Naruto used my back to take off and threw kunai in Itachi's direction forcing him to dodge. I picked up my speed and past him taking easily overtaking Sakura and Chiyo while I was at it. "C'mon guys! Gaara's waiting for us!"
"Right behind you!" Sakura called out Chiyo hot on her tail.
"See you in a bit Misaki!" Naruto called out.
"Got it!" I yelled back.
This will definitely be a mission I absolutely will not fail.
Leo: Whew. Thank the stars this chapter is done for now. I had a pretty bad migraine pretty much for the whole ending of this chapter but I was determined! So sorry about the writing if it's a bit awkward at the end. After a few more chapters this story will finally branch off a bit more off the plot. ;) Look forward to it!