Disclaimer: Kishimoto-sama owns Naruto...not Denim88-san...

Chapter 23: Confrontation

(Naruto's P.O.V)

I stared down a vantage point from the cliff that Moegi, Konohamaru, and I stood on. I watched as our forces and Akatsuki battled each other. I saw that everyone was occupied with one of the S-rank criminals...except one person. I searched frantically.

"Sakura-chan? Where is she??" I said, feeling my concern growing as I failed to find her among the battles.

"Naruto-kun...she's over there." Moegi replied, pointing towards a large pillar that I failed to see before.

Upon seeing her unconcious and tied to a pillar by some kind of blue chakra-enhanced bindings, I felt Kyuubi's chakra flare within me again, "Sakura-chan..." I ground my teeth together. Damn it, I was afraid that this would happen to her.

"What should we do?" came the voice of Konohamaru.

"Be ready to help Inari down there. He has his hands full with Kisame's Water Shark Jutsu..." I spoke, and felt my temper growing. No...I can't lose my temper, Kyuubi and I had trained too long to lose my control.

"N-Naruto...you're..." Moegi was trying to speak as she saw two red tails of chakra waving behind me. I took in a deep breath as I let my flaring chakra settle to a steady pulse. Kyuubi would give me what I needed as long as I could control it.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of things Moegi-chan. I won't let anyone get killed while I'm here, understood?" I asked, and was glad to see them smile a bit as they nodded.

I turned down to the battle, and let out a growl. Oh...they would pay...one way or another, they would pay for hurting Sakura-chan and doing this to her.

(Konan's P.O.V)

I soon found myself drenched in water. I had figured out their plan to slow me down, but avoiding the attacks of water was much harder to do when you had a Hyuuga tailing you the whole time. What bothered me though wasn't the water, but the third person I was fighting. She had not moved an inch since she had removed her sandals and tied her hair back. Her chakra was practically visible though, and that much chakra couldn't have been used simply for a light show.

Another wave of water pushed me back, and I heard the wind-maiden yell out, "Now, Hinata!"

I looked at the Hyuuga girl, and was surprised to see a blurry afterimage of the girl. A mere second passed, and I found the girl make impact with my chest. I felt myself barraged nonstop as the Hyuuga continually smashed my insides and chakra coils to pieces. I couldn't even perform a simple substitution with my paper being weighed down by the water. It must have only been four seconds, but it seemed like an eternity to me. The girl was moving around me as she cracked my spine with a strong kick, and I felt the metallic taste of blood in my mouth. She must have ruptured a few organs by now. A second later, I felt a few kicks and palm thrusts in the abdominal area, and now I was sure my stomach had been destroyed.

After about seven seconds, I saw her stop to deliver a kick into my sternum, and a sickening crack could be heard. She jumped back, breathing heavily and sweating profusely. She breathed out deeply as her chakra aura faded; she had exhausted herself...but she had won. About twenty seconds passed, and I stood there, my vision getting fuzzy. I coughed up a bit of blood, and felt a sharp sting in my chest. Great, now my heart was damaged too. I felt warm liquid run down my nose, eyes, ears, and mouth. Truly a powerful techinique...

I felt myself wobble a bit, and I soon found it impossible to breath. I looked to the image of the girl, and I think I heard her say, "This is the power of the Eight Trigrams One Thousand Twenty-four strikes, my most powerful technique."

I simply looked at her, and noticed a few tears running down her eyes before my vision went black. My insides were torn to ribbons now, and I was technically dead. As the darkness swallowed me up, I let one thought cross my mind...

'Pain...I'm sorry...I failed...'

(Anko's P.O.V)

I stood on the head of Mankou, grinning as the man named Tobi dodged the giant snake's tail. I patted the snake's head, and recieved a groan from him, "Anko, stop it please..."

"Aw, Mankou-kun, I can't help it. You're such a sweet cold-blooded reptile." I said as I threw a few kunai at the man, causing him to block with one of his own. I could tell that he was not fighting for real, and that ticked me off. I just recently got promoted to Jounin, so I felt a bit insulted that he wasn't taking me more seriously.

"Anko, the more appropriate term would be ectothermic...not cold-blooded." Mankou corrected, and I rolled my eyes, but I decided to say nothing further about the topic.

"Well, thanks for coming through for me. He was giving me alot of trouble before. He seems to wield the Sharingan." I stated.

Mankou nodded, "No problem...it's the least I can do for you, Anko."

I smiled as the jet-black snake lunged at the man, narrowly crushing the masked man in his jaws. Mankou was considered to be a radicalist in the snake summon clan. He had managed to convince the clan to accept only a small offering of blood for the summoning jutsu, unlike his father Manda, who asked for one hundred human sacrifices for every summoning.Mankou was still quite young as far as clan leaders go, but he was about three-fourths the size of what his father had been. Mankou wore a Konoha hitai-ite around his large neck (I had no clue where he found such a large headband), and was actually much gentler outside of battle. This was one reason why he and his father never saw eye to eye; Manda had considered his son weak. When Manda died, Mankou took charge of the clan, as he was the rightful heir. His taking of position caused an immediate uproar in the world of summons. Even the small slug summons Sakura used for messages were aware of what going on.

Since the day Orochimaru and Sasuke had died, I was the lone true summoner of the snake clan. However, I never summoned many of the large snakes, since that required human sacrifices. I had been hesitant in using the snake summoning jutsu, fearing that if I did, the summon may just kill me so that the clan could start a new contract. To my great surprise, I had summoned the new leader Mankou, and he held in his mouth a fresh new contract, with all new agreements (including the banning of human sacrifices). Mankou had longed rallied for this change, and Manda had been his main obstacle. He only furthered his image as a radical when he made peace among the toad and slug clans, with a majority of the snake clan's support. Apparantly more than a few snakes had been waiting for change.

The jet black snake let out another frustrated hiss as he missed Tobi, "I believe you're right, Anko. He seems to be able to pick up on my movements before they happen. How could he possess the Sharingan though? Aside from Itachi and Kakashi-san, no one else could possibly hold it...right?"

I sighed with a shrug of my shoulders, "I don't know...but we have to do what we can until Jiraiya can get that Pain guy to lower this barrier around us...huh?" I stopped talking as I turned towards a direction where a powerful force of chakra was coming from, "No...Naruto's here...this isn't good."

Mankou turned towards the boy, and gave let out a sound of amusement, "So, that is the boy that you believe will possibly be the next Hokage?"

"Not possibly, Mankou. He will be the next Hokage...but right now, he shouldn't be here. These freaks are after the Kyuubi inside him, and even with the fox's chakra, it may not be enough."

Mankou groaned, "Great, that makes things much more difficult for us."

I nodded, and turned back to Jiraiya's battle with five other figures...all which seemed to be somehow a part of this 'Pain' character.

"Hey, it seems the fox-boy saved us the trouble of looking for him!" came the voice of Tobi. I looked down at him and growled while Mankou hissed.

"Don't even think about it! I won't let you touch one hair on that boy's head!" I yelled as I gathered chakra, "Mankou, let's do that technique."

Mankou nodded, "Got it."

Tobi laughed, "Whoa, what's with the attitude? You his girlfriend or something...no wait, we already captured her..."

I smirked, "That boy has shown alot of people over the years of what he's capable of. My very own husband taught that boy when he was merely an academy student. I've watched Naruto grow into a fine young shinobi, and I believe in his dream, like so many others. I have a few dreams of my own, but watching him lead the village is one that I can say him and I both share."

I jumped into the air and went through a series of seals as Mankou coiled himself into a spring like stance, ready to lunge, "Fire Style: Infernal Serpent Flames Jutsu!"

Mankou lugned at the man as the flames surrounded the giant snake. Mankou was soon a living coil of flames, and with a great hiss, smashed into the water where Tobi stood. A great explosion caused water and steam to erupt all around. I landed on the water as Mankou swiftly appeared behind me with speed like that of a ninja. Across the wreakage stood the shed skin of Mankou, still smoldering as it crumbled into pieces.

"Well...did it work?"

Mankou shook his head, "That guy's holding back on us...I don't think I even singed him."

We both turned to the sound of clapping, and I was not surprised to see the man with the swirling mask walking through the steam while applauding, "Wow, that was a pretty cool jutsu. Too bad it didn't work..."

I let out a curse as I looked to Naruto, and then to Jiraiya, "Damn it, hurry up take that barrier down you pervert..."

(Sakura's P.O.V)

I opened my eyes and groaned as I felt a dull pain throb in the back of my head. I tried to remember what happened...something...or someone...

"Akatsuki!" I said, suddenly remembering the black cloaked organization.

"Yeah, tell me about it." came a disgruntled voice. I looked to see Shikamaru crouching down next to me.

"Shikamaru? What's going on?"

He sighed, "Man, what a drag...Akatsuki's managed to block off any support from Umigakure, and we're all engaged with the criminals right now. I came here after Anko told me to see what I could do to get you out of these bindings...but it turns out their made of chakra."

I gave him a nod, "Just give me a minute..." I gathered some strength into my arms and legs, "Hruuuuugh!!!!" The chakra bindings gave way after I felt my skin bruise a bit.

Shikamaru gave me a bewildered look, "Geez, way to go Sakura."

I took in a deep breath and looked around me, "Where's Naruto?"

Shikamaru pointed out towards an a hill looking over the port, "He's there with Konohamaru and Moegi...those two managed to avoid getting caught within the battle, so they went to look for the knucklehead while we fought Akatsuki. Everyone of the known members is here from the organization...and with Naruto here, things could get worse."

I nodded, "Thanks, Shika, I appreciate you coming here to help, even if it didn't help. I think you should go help Kiba and Chouji...that Zetsu guy is giving them trouble..."

Shikmaru got up and bounded off towards the shore, "Be careful, Sakura. You know how Naruto gets when you're in danger..."

I nodded, and ran towards the edge of the barrier where Naruto and the other two were standing, "Naruto, is everything okay?"

Naruto nodded, "I'm fine, and Moegi and Konohamaru are okay too..." he paused, and the two tails behind him whipped a bit, "Did they hurt you...?"

I nodded, "It's okay, I think they just knocked me out with a blow to the head."

He growled, "Those jerks...they think I'll give in because of this?" He motioned for Konohamaru and Moegi to step back, and after they were a safe distance, he spoke again after examining the barrier, "Sakura...do you think you can make a Rasengan?"

I stared at the transparent barrier that warped the air around it a little, "Not one with enough power to destroy this...that's assuming I'm still good enough at making a complete Rasengan."

Naruto nodded, "Right...then I suggest that you back up a bit," he formed a ram seal, and two clones came into existence, tails flaring to life, "Let's do this..." The two nodded, and started making circular motions in his right hand.

"Naruto...you're not going to...you know what that does to you..."

"Sakura-chan, you know that I'm able to control it better than I used to." he said without looking away from the miniature cyclone in his palm.

"Just...be careful..."

He grinned, and dispelled the two clones. He cocked back his hand, and then he yelled, "Rasenshuriken!!!"

The powerful attack began to grind away at the barrier, and he quickly applied more chakra to it as a small hole poked through the barrier. Minutes passed, and eventually the barrier shattered to pieces.

Naruto fell over, but caught himself before he plunged through the water's surface, "Heh, some barrier that was." he coughed, and smirked as he looked at his slightly charred hand. He had definitely improved. I did a quick scan of his arm as Kyuubi's chakra became only a light aura around him, and concluded that he had not broken anything. I let out a sigh of relief as I saw that the demon fox had already begun to heal his burns.

I knelt down to help with the healing, but a cry of pain in the distance caught all of our attention. I turned to look, and Konohamaru spoke, "Oh no, Jiraiya-sama!"

Jiraiya was standing on the water as six separate figures surrounded him. I don't remember a sixth one being there before...how did that guy arrive? My medical knowledge told me that Jiraiya's injuries were most likely fatal, unless treated immediately. I stopped my healing on Naruto's arm as everyone else paused around us to stare. The battles seemed to stop now, "Jiraiya-sama..." I whispered, and noticed the man cough up some blood...no, not just some...alot.

"No..." I heard Naruto say behind me, and I felt a wave of heat flare behind me, "Ero-sannin!!!!"

(Jiraiya's P.O.V)

I felt my mouth open as more blood dribbled down my chin. I stared at the six men before me; all of them a person I had faced in my lifetime...I grinned as I looked to the face of the boy I had known as Yahiko.

"So ends the life of another Sannin." spoke the emotionless voice of the man I knew as Yahiko. His Rin'negan eyes stared at me with no hint of feeling.

I grunted in pain as all six spear like weapons were yanked out of me simutaneously. Despite the pain, I kept grinning.

"You really...t-think that...you can...so easily bring...your idea of peace...t-to the world?" I smirked as I laughed while the pain burned in my abdomen.

"You shouldn't waste your time with such wasted questions. Of course I will..." replied the Pain with the longest length of hair, a man that had been of the Fuuma clan that I had given a gash on the forehead with.

"You know...I thought until know that you really were the child chosen to change the world...but it turns out I was wrong..." I looked ahead as I noticed the blonde boy I had trained for quite a few years now, "You aren't the chosen one...my godson is..."

The body of Yahiko stared at me and raised an eyebrow, "What are you talking about? You don't have a godson."

I laughed, "Yes I do...and he's going to be the Hokage someday...I know it. Naruto will lead the world into a new era for all shinobi when he takes the seat of the leader of the Leaf village."

The six mean said nothing, but raised their spears towards my neck. I guess this is it...some way to be killed...I closed my eyes as I awaited my demise.

To my great surprise, it never came. I opened my eyes only to see that I was being held in the arms of Naruto, who was a safe distance from the six men. Pain raised a hand, and all the members of Akatsuki assembled around him. He dispelled the other forms of himself, leaving only the form of Yahiko standing there, "So...you've finally decided to show up, Jinchuuriki..." spoke Pain.

Naruto growled as he turned towards the group of Konoha nin, "Take care of him, please..." he turned to Sakura, and I swore I heard him stifle a sob, "Sakura-chan...please...don't let him..."

Sakura nodded, "I'll do all that I can..."

Naruto nodded, and looked to me as Kakashi took a hold of me, "Don't give up on me, Ero-sannin...don't you dare give up on me!" he said as he wiped away a stray tear. With that being said, he turned towards the group of criminals standing off in the distance. His whole body shook, and I saw three tails form. He raised his head, looked back towards me and the others, then back to the group of nuke-nin. He threw his head back and let out a roar, "Akatsuki!!!"

I heard a few of the others around me gasp as he began to create whirlwinds of chakra around him. They flew around us and past us, but surprisingly none of them hurt. They sure were hot, but I remember Yamato saying that when he encountered Orochimaru all those years back that his chakra had been much more violent when he was in his three tailed state, "Naruto...you've come so far..." I whispered.

Sakura knelt down by me, "Jiraiya-sama, try and stay awake. I'm going to try and stabilize you, but if you pass out, I can't guarantee that I can help you. You've lost too much blood for me to do any real healing, but if I can stabilize you, then we can take proper measures to heal you afterwards." she then turned to Naruto, "Jiraiya-sama...is he going to...do that?" she had a worried look on her face as she looked at me again.

I stared towards the blonde, and let out a painful sigh, "I believe so. If what he's said is true, it will be the first time he's truly gone to that level of power..."

The boy known as Kiba cut in, "Whoa, whoa, slow down! What are you two talking about?"

I was about to answer, but Sakura beat me to it, "Naruto's going to probably access the fifth tail of the Kyuubi...which was considered impossible a few years back when he still was on 'bad' terms with the Kyuubi...now that he and Kyuubi are on friendly terms though, Naruto has almost a hundred percent control while in this new state...or so he claims he should."

Everyone gasped, and I wasn't suprised. Aside from Tsunade, Shizune, Kakashi, Rin, Sakura, and myself, no one knew of Naruto's new ability...though I do recall Naruto telling me that he briefed Gaara on this information as well. I turned towards the soon to be battleground, and noticed Naruto developing a sphere of red chakra as he began to gather power. I heard Naruto's pained growls as he continued to gather chakra from the demon fox. He had found a way to counter the effects on his cells in the four tailed state somehow...but the transformation process took a bit longer as a result. This left a window of oppurtunity for Akatsuki to attack...but none of them had yet to make a move.

"Naruto..." I said, watching as the blonde boy's power began to climb by leaps and bounds. He was ready...

end of Chap.23- Yes! I've finally reached this point in the story! I've been waiting forever for this part to happen! The next chapter will be a great one, I guarantee it! I hope you enjoyed this one, yes, a little on the short side, but I will be bringing the length up some in the upcoming chapters. Naruto's fifth tail form will be revealed soon enough. What is the mysterious fifth form of Naruto's? Will he be able to take on this powerful enemy with his new power? Or is the battle only just begun for our heroes? The fate of our heroes rests on the shoulders of one boy. Who will win? Find out next time on Dragonball Z...sorry couldn't resist, lol. Well, later!