The three of us stood at the gate with Lady Tsunade and Master Iruka.
"Well, off we go." Naruto said.
"Okay Lady Tsunade, we're off." I said.
Lady Tsunade nodded and Master Iruka looked down.
"Do your best." He said.
"Yeah." Naruto said, facing away from Master Iruka.
"Yo, going on a mission, eh Naruto?" Master Jiraiya asked, landing in front of us. "You too, Anako?"
"Yes." Naruto and I said in unison.
"Um, more importantly, Tsunade, something terrible has happened. The Sand's Kazekage…"
"I know. These three are on their way now." Tsunade said. Jiraiya moved over to her and started to whisper to Tsunade.
"Come here Naruto."
Jiraiya and Naruto started to talk and Lady Tsunade walked over to me.
"Make sure he's alright, okay?"
"Yes, Lady Tsunade. I'll make sure if it." I said, smiling at her.
"Master Kakashi, Anako, let's get moving." Naruto said, going off.
I shook my head and followed him. Master K fell in line with us and we made our way to the sand. After a while, we noticed Temari walking.
"Temari!" I called out to her.
We landed next to her and Master K explained what happened to Gaara. Temari thought of the bad omen that happened to her.
"I had a bad feeling…" She said.
"It'll take us three days to reach the sand. Let's hurry!" Master K said.
We started to go on our way and Naruto started thinking about the Akatsuki. He started to go ahead of us.
"Naruto, just because I said, does not mean we should split up. Don't get so heated, isn't that what Master Jiraiya told you?" Master K asked.
"I just can't help it." Naruto said.
"Even I know why they're after me and Gaara." Naruto said. "Anako, do you know?"
"Yes, Naruto. I've always known." I said.
"They're after what is inside of me." Naruto said. "That's what I can't stand. Just seeing us as monsters, I can't stand them looking at us whatever they feel like! He and I are the exact same. And he was fighting; he was lonelier than I was. He was targeted by the Akatsuki just like I was. Even so! Why is it always him alone that has to have such a rough time? Always him alone? That's why I won't sit around and ask "why"! I'm going to save him!"
'Naruto Uzumaki, thank you.' Temari thought.
I started to think of all the notes I have read about Itachi and Sasuke. I've looked around to see why Itachi really killed his clan, but I couldn't find anything. I looked at Naruto and smiled. No matter what, I promise protect you, Naruto.
After three gruesome days, we finally arrived at the Sand Village. We were greeted by a woman and she explained that Gaara was gone and that they got Kankuro too. He's been poisoned and he's only got half a day.
"Temari!" I said, "I'll examine him."
We got to the hospital and went to Kankuro's room. I threw my bag to the side and ran to the table. This old lady suddenly tried to attack Master K. I looked back and noticed Naruto stopping her. I ignored them and went to Kankuro. I placed my hand on his forehead and noticed he was running a fever. I placed my head on his chest to hear his heartbeat. I gasped and put my head back up.
"Enough!" I shouted. "Kankuro is more important right now. I need a bowl of warm water."
The other medics moved into action and I place my hair up into a high ponytail. Once I got the bowl, I made my hands green and got to work. After a good five minutes, I extracted a good amount of the poison. I placed it in the water and wiped the sweat from my forehead.
"Well, I've directly moved the poison and his life is not in danger anymore. But, I still need to make an antidote for the remaining poison I couldn't get. So we can't relax yet. Please write down what I say, for I am only saying it once."
'Anako… You're awesome.' I heard Naruto think and I smiled.
"You are a lot like that slug woman, which such a girl would come." The old woman, Chiyo said.
"Lady Tsunade is my master and she sent me here." I said.
"Sister…" The old man said, "Time really is flowing by."
"Right! We aren't slow though! Let's get right after the Akatsuki." Naruto said.
I left the room and they took me to a greenhouse. I got all the herbs I needed to make three antidotes.
"I apologize for not having enough herbs. It's quite difficult for us to grow a lot with the climate and all."
"Oh no, there is plenty here." I said, smiling.
I made my way back to the hospital and noticed Kankuro was up. I noticed tea was made and I placed the antidote in the tea. I poured some and went over to Kankuro.
"Hey, it's hot stuff." Kankuro said, giving me a pained smile. I smiled and started to give him the drink.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." I said a slight blush on my face. "Drink it all. You'll be fine now. Until the paralysis ends please do not move. Rest as much as possible and you should be good."
"Right! Let's hurry!" Naruto said.
He handed me my bag and Kankuro began to think about Gaara and Naruto.
"Naruto Uzumaki." Kankuro stopped him. "Please save my brother."
"Leave it all to me!" Naruto said. "Because I will be Hokage someday too. So I'll secure an advanced favor from the Kazekage."
We left the hospital and went back to the front gate.
"If you wait a little, we can have a skilled ninja go with you."
"Really…" Master K said.
"I'm going with you too." Temari said.
"Temari, you stay and keep the defense here." Chiyo said, from the top of the building. "From the shinobi of the sand, I am more than enough."
"But Lady Chiyo." Temari said.
"That would be too much for you."
"Don't treat me like an old woman."
She jumped from the building and landed in front of us. This old woman's got skills.
"I've wanted to give my cute grandson some much needed love." She said.
We started to make our way and I started thinking about Itachi again. I started to remember what he told me.
"I see the love you two share for each other. When Sasuke goes into the darkness, I know you'll be able to pull him out of it. Don't let him get too far ahead of himself, Anako. It'll only hurt him more than he already is."
I sighed and put my head down a little.
"Anako, stop!" Master K yelled at me. I snapped out of my thoughts and stopped dead in my tracks. We came face to face with Itachi himself.
"Itachi, this is the boy who killed his entire clan?" Chiyo asked.
"It has been a while. Kakashi, Naruto, and Anako."
I couldn't look at him. I failed him and I failed Sasuke.
"You bastard!" Naruto yelled. "Not just me, but Gaara as well. I'll beat you all myself!"
Itachi began to move his arm.
"Everyone, don't look in his eyes. It's dangerous!" Master K yelled at us.
A light went off in my head. I tried to control him and nothing worked. If my power didn't work on him, then the Sharingan shouldn't work on me. I heard talking and I tuned them out. Master K suddenly went to attack Itachi and they began to fight. I looked towards Naruto and realized he got caught in Itachi's genjutsu. I ran to him and grabbed his face.
"Naruto. Naruto. It's okay! Snap out of it! It's an illusion." I said. It didn't work. I turned and glared at Itachi. I got it.
"Please forgive me, Naruto." I brought my left hand up and smacked Naruto. Chiyo gave me a surprised look and Naruto came too.
"Anako." Naruto said, looking at me.
"Are you alright, Naruto?" Master K asked.
"It was all genjutsu. You're okay now." I said.
"It seems he doesn't just use eye jutsu." Chiyo said.
"Right. It's time for the final battle. Put your all into it, Naruto." Master K said.
Naruto was still dazed, so I gave him another slap.
"Snap out of it!" I said.
"Naruto, I'll show you how to do it." Master K said.
Itachi made the hand signs and a big fire ball suddenly came our way. We all moved out of the way. I jumped up into a tree and then jumped down. Master K and Itachi continued to fight. Master K got Itachi and then Naruto made a Rasengan and hit Itachi dead on. Itachi grinned and I mentally slapped myself. That's not Itachi.
"Do you know him?" Master K asked.
"Yes." Chiyo said. "He's a jonin from our village."
I continued to listen to them and I furrowed my eyebrows together. Chiyo started to talk about extracting the bijuu. I looked at Naruto and I felt a tug at my heart. If the nine tails is extracted from Naruto, then he'll die. I put my head down.
"Don't worry Anako. I'll save Gaara." Naruto said.
I looked up at him and smiled.
"Yeah. I know you will." I said.
'You worry for him, don't you?' Master K thought.
'How can I not? He's like a brother to me.' I thought back. 'But I'll never tell him that he worries me.'
"Come on." Naruto said. "We're wasting time."
W continued and soon nightfall came. Master K said we needed to stop and take a break. Naruto laid down and I sat crisscrossed. Naruto soon fell asleep and I noticed Chiyo watching him.
"Anako, you can rest as well." Master K said.
"I'm okay for now. I'm used to not sleeping anyways." I said.
Master K nodded and I just looked at the fire. I brought my knees up and placed my forehead on my knees. I started to doze off. I soon fell asleep.
"Anako, wake up." Master K said, pulling me out of my sleep.
I lifted my head up and rubbed my eyes. I could faintly see the sun coming up and I stretched my arms. I stood up and stretched my legs. I looked at Naruto and smiled. He's ready to go. After placing my bag on my shoulders, we were on our way again. Master K and Chiyo started talking about Naruto and being young. I heard thoughts coming into my mind and I knew we were close.
"Master K, we're close!" I shouted back to him.
I fell into line with Naruto and soon we met up with Team Gai.
"You're late, Kakashi." Gai said.
"Well, we ran into a little trouble." Master K said.
"Naruto, Anako!" Lee shouted at us.
"Yo!" Naruto said.
"Kakashi…. I hope you're not talking about me." Chiyo said.
"Naruto." Neji said, giving him a funny look.
"You guys beat us, didn't you…?" I asked, chuckling.
"Who's the old lady?" Tenten asked.
"She's an advisor from the Sand." I said.
"Right! Let's go for it Kakashi." Gai said.
"Alright."
Pakkun left and Master K and Gai started talking about how to get the barrier off. Neji used his Byaukgan to find the other seals. Gai gave his team, Master K, and I a microphone so we could keep in contact. Team Gai went to the other barriers. Once they got the barrier seal off, Master K took off the final barrier.
"Your turn, Anako."
"Right."
I punched the rock and once it was rubble, we went into the cave. We noticed two Akatsuki and Gaara with a giant bird looking thing. No thoughts came from Gaara and I put my head down. We're too late; he's already gone. The blonde Akatsuki, Deidara, started talking and Naruto kept yelling at him. The scorpion looking Akatsuki, Sasori, kept talking to the blonde guy. I deviled around into their minds and found out that Deidara dealt with clay and explosives and Sasori dealt with puppets and poison. Naruto summoned a shuriken from a scroll and threw it at them. Sasori deflected it with the tail. He didn't even have to look at it. The two started to argue when the bird thing ate Gaara and Deidara jumped on the bird and left the cave. Naruto ran after him.
"Naruto and I will handle him. Anako and Chiyo stay here and handle him. But until Team Gai gets back, try not to overdo it." Master K said.
"I can't count on that, Master K." I said, popping my neck.
Master K nodded and left. I looked back at Sasori and he glared at me. I held my gaze at him. I read his mind and realized he's killed a lot. Our battle experience don't even come close to comparing.
"Anako, don't be afraid. I'm here." Chiyo said.
Chiyo threw kunai at him and he deflected them with the tail. He tore his cloak off and revealed himself.
"If you plan to oppose me, then I've got no chose…" Sasori said. "Why don't you and that girl join my collection, Chiyo? First, I'll drag out your entails, and then when I've ripped off all the skin, I'll clean the blood."
This guy is serious. I can't falter now.
"Anako, that's not his real body. It's a puppet." Chiyo told me.
Sasori continued to tell us what he's going to do to us. A small shiver went down my spine when he said that we'd be his 300th body. His tail began to move and I realized he was inside the puppet.
"He's inside, isn't he?"
"Yes, he is." Chiyo told me.
"What should we do then?" I asked.
"Firstly we need to get Sasori out of Hiruko if we want to do anything. The most terrifying thing about the puppets are the unpredictable "traps". They can launch attacks from anywhere." Chiyo said.
"But, you know how to handle the puppets well. Surely we have an advantage?"
"Mmm hmm. That's why I was thinking I could handle this myself, but it doesn't seem like that anymore."
"He's modified Hiruko, hasn't he?"
"Right. It seems he's made it much stronger than before."
"To defeat him, we need to get him out of Hiruko."
"Precisely. But I do not have the strength to do so, but you do Anako. That superhuman strength that you've gotten directly from Tsunade is the only way we can get him out. Listen closely Anako. You have to get close enough to smash the puppet, but avoid all the traps while doing so."
"They're poisonous." I stated.
"Right, a slight scratch can be fatal." Chiyo said. "You have to know the ins and outs of the traps set by the puppet craftsmen and have the ability to react and avoid in an instant."
I looked at her and nodded. I didn't have the experience, but I do have an advantage. I can read all his moves.
"Anako, I do realize that you do not have that experience yet. His battle experience compares to mine. Plus, the first move has been made." Chiyo said, taking her hat off and letting her hair down. "Together, you and I will defeat him."
I smiled and nodded at her. "Alright then; let's do this."
"So you're finally ready? I'm sure you know I don't like to be kept waiting."
"Relax… We'll kill you quickly." Chiyo said.
We ran at Sasori and he spit poisonous needles at us. I dodged them and looked at Chiyo. He sent this thing at us and it spit needles at us. We both jumped as I noticed the needles coming up from the ground. I got to the ground and ran at Sasori. I dodged his tail and kept running at him.
"Now Anako!"
I slammed my fist into the puppet and a black figure flew to the back.
"That's my grandmother. No wonder the girl was able to dodge all my attacks. You controlled the girl with chakra strings. You even put a string on Hiruko's tail. I only noticed when the tails movements were stopped. It was when you threw the kunai at me." Sasori said.
"Indeed, even though I was suppressing the chakra as much as possible so it was invisible. You were able to work it out."
"Well of course. You were the one who taught me how to play with puppets."
"We're done playing for the day." Chiyo said.
Sasori pulled off the cloak that was covering him.
"Well, do you really think it'll be that easy, Grandma Chiyo?"
I looked at Chiyo and she was thinking about how young he still looked. I learned he's actually pretty old.
"I'll show you what I brought along." Sasori said, pulling out a scroll. "Killing him for my collection gave me a hard time indeed… That's why I like him the best."
The scroll began to sizzle and a puppet poofed out. I heard Chiyo gasp.
"It can't be." She said.
"What do you mean? Who is that?" I asked.
"That is Sandaime Kazekage." She said.
"Well then. Let's begin."
Finally chapter 2! :) I start school on Monday, so updates might not come as much as you'd like. But a plus to that is I have Tuesdays and Thursdays off! Meaning updates! (After homework, of course) Please enjoy the chapter! :)
Also, some clarification. It may seem like I am leaving out a lot of stuff and rushing, but I am not. I follow the manga. I'd love to go off the anime, but it would be too hard to pause and rewind over and over again, when the manga is so much easier to follow. Some things I may use the anime and others I won't. I just wanted to clear that up! And I am not putting fillers. They take too much time!
Thank you for the reviews:
LoneWolfPack
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