Welcome back my freinds to the tale that never ends! Come inside come inside!!! Lol

First the legal stuff:

I don't own Naruto.....Kishimoto-san does. Until I make enough money to buy it from him that is.

Thanks to last weeks reviewers:

airnaruto45, sipuli123, gravenimage.

Responces:

airnaruto45 - Getting a little impatient are we :). TBH, this story encompasses 3 books. This is only book one. Time will tell if they get together.

sipuli123 - Glad you found that part was funny. That's exactly what I was going for there.

And now on to Chapter Twelve and remember please send reviews:

Naruto: Chronicles of the Seventh

Book One: Dissension

Chapter Twelve: Talons of the Hawk

Kumogakure – Mid Morning

They had arrived in Kumo without incident; a small blessing in of itself. With the ANBU agents flanking them, Samui and Omoi both asked around as best they could without giving up too much information. Unfortunately everyone they asked had even less information to give. With every dead end they achieved Naruto's frustration grew. In frustration he punches a nearby wall, cracking it slightly. "This is getting us nowhere," he said. Omoi, seeing this immediately chastises him. "Hey Naruto," he said, "Ya'd better calm down. ANBU aren't known for sudden outbursts like that and if ya keep it up ya'll draw suspicion."

"Then what am I supposed to do Omoi," Naruto asked. "We've been at this for nearly two hours and we have no leads. Meanwhile Akatsuki could be making a move and all I can do is stand around while you ask pointless questions." "Well," Samui said, "what did you expect? Ya didn't think this would be easy did ya? That we'd walk in here and Akatsuki would just be standing here with a big sign on their chest? This will take time." "Please stay calm Naruto," Sakura said, "Samui is right. This is going to take time."

"There is one person we haven't thought to ask Samui," Omoi said. "No way Omoi," Samui responded, "there's no way we deal with him." "Hey," Omoi said, "I don't like it either but Negama always has his ears to the ground. If something's going on in the Land of Lightning he would know." "Who's Negama," Sai asked. "He's one of Kumo's wealthiest traders," Omoi said, "He deals mainly in fine linens and carpets but he's got his hands in everything." "So what's wrong with dealing with this man," asked Sakura. "Because" Samui said, "He also wishes he could have his hands in my pants."

Omoi laughed, "Yeah, he's a character all right. He's had a thing for her for years, even when she was a kid. Every time he sees her he hits on her and tries to convince her to marry him. He's hilarious!" "He's a creep is what he is," Samui said angrily, "Imagine some old fart trying to convince me, when I was thirteen, that I should marry him!" "Yeah," Omoi said, "He's a creep, but right now we need the old bastard. So what do ya say?" Samui sighed deeply, "Fine. But I swear to God if he steps out of line he'll be eating dirt." And with that the group started to make their way to Kumo's trading district.

Elsewhere in Kumogakure

It had been a longer walk to the guest homes than the emissary had expected and he was getting somewhat impatient. "How much further into the city must we go before we arrive," he asked. Lee turned and smiled, "The suite set aside for you has been placed in one our most secure locations in the city. I'm sure a man in your position can appreciate the need for such security measures." Koga smiled, "But of course. Forgive my rudeness; we have been on the road for quite awhile." "Believe me sir," Lee said, "I understand. You travelled an extremely long distance and that can wear on you."

Koga once again stared at the young ninja's face. "Are you sure we haven't met," he said, "You look so familiar." Lee turned his face slightly to keep Koga from getting a good look at his profile. "I assure you sir," he said, "My line of work never takes me out of Kumogakure." "Ah, oh well. So what do you do here?" "We are merely members of Kumogakure's guardsmen. We help to keep the peace within the walls." "I see," Koga said as he smiled. But he knew better. Koga was an old ninja who had seen many battles and the idea of these four ninja being mere security was laughable. He knew they were far more than that.

"We're almost there," Lee said as he pointed to a somewhat large building in the distance. "Ah," said Koga, "Finally we'll have an opportunity to rest." Observing the surrounding location Koga noticed there seemed to be no visible signs of additional security. "Are there no other security guards posted," he asked. "No need," Lee said, "We are skilled enough to protect you while you are here." Koga smiled, "Good, good." Hearing this confirmed for Koga that these four were far more skilled than your average ninja if they alone were to be his escorts.

Kumogakure – Traders Square

The sound of commerce filled the air; traders from their shacks and laid out blankets, yelled to anyone who would listen about their wares. Women sold their vegetables while butchers peddled their meats. It was nearing noon as Naruto and the others made their way though the narrow crowded streets. Sakura and Sai were amazed at the spectacle. The markets in Konoha were never like this. There everything was far more organized. Every business had a building and things were far calmer. Here they saw traders selling from small poorly made stands or blankets. The smell of sun backed meat permeated the air. To them this was madness.

Near the end of the long street they came to a large store where two large men stood at each side of the entrance. Seeing the group approach both men merely nodded and moved the veil that covered the entrance. As they entered they all caught the sent of burning incense and flowers. Inside the store ornate paintings and fixtures along with the many potted plants gave the place a palatial look as opposed to a store. A few, obviously wealthy, patrons were taking their time looking over thick rugs or beautiful clothing. Each patron had with them a woman who obviously worked there assisting them with choosing their purchases.

As they walked further inside a beautiful, red, silk dress caught Sakura's eye and she stopped to admire it. I wonder if I'd have time to get this, she thought. Seeing this Naruto came up behind her and said, "You would look amazing in that Sakura-chan." Instantly, behind her mask, Sakura blushed. "Unfortunately, we didn't come here to shop." "Fine," Sakura said, "Let's go." Sakura and Naruto quickly caught up with the others as a young girl, who seemed no older than fifteen yet, like all the other girls here, very beautiful, came up to them. "Welcome," the young girl said, "How can I be of assistance today? We just received a new shipment of the finest linen from Otogakure yesterday."

"No thanks,' Omoi said, "We're here to see Negama." The girl looked beyond Oomi and Samui and regarded the three ANBU nervously. "Right this way," she said. The girl led them through a side door that once again had two large guards at the entrance and down a small hallway where the smell of incense nearly overwhelmed them. In the room many more paintings and sculptures were scattered about and several more girls, all as beautiful and apparently as young as the girl next to them, walked about. In the middle of the room dozens of pillows were laid on the floor and on them sat a grossly over weight middle aged man drinking what appeared to be wine.

Seeing that he had visitors, the man struggled to get to his feet and then snapped his fingers. At that several of the girls, including the one who led them here ran over and assisted the man to his feet. Dusting the crumbs from his silk robe the man walked over with a broad smile on his face. "Omoi, my boy," he bellowed loudly as he shook Omoi's hand, "What brings you here?! How have you been!?" " We need some information Negama." Negama had a pained expression on his face, "You never visit to say hi, or to see how old Negama is doing, only for information! The least you could do is buy something when you come!" "You know I can't afford anything you sell," Omoi said.

Negama laughed loudly, "Then you should work for me. The life of a shinobi is the life of a fool or the untalented. You are neither. I could pay far better and…" Negama bent close and looked at one of the young girls, "Between you and me, the benefits are way better." Omoi shook his head, "Sorry, but this is the path I've chosen." Negama shook his head sadly, "Then I fear the path you've taken will lead me to morn a needless death."

Negama then looked over to Samui and a lecherous look crept over his face. Slowly he made his way to her and with every step Samui could feel her skin crawl. "Ah my lovely angel Samui," Negama said, "You know, of all my paintings, my sculptures, my girls and everything else I own, they all pale in comparison to you." Annoyed Samui said, "Last I checked you don't own these girls." Negama smiled smugly and with his left hand snapped his fingers and put out his hand. Without a word a girl placed a full cup of wine in his hand. With his right hand he again snapped his fingers and without a word a girl, with a blank look on her face, came up under his right arm and hugged him.

Squeezing her young, firm butt and sipping from his cup he didn't take his eyes off Samui. Smugly he said, "I don't? Could have fooled me?" Giving the girl the glass she let go and she took it away. "You know," Negama said, "this could all have been yours." Disgusted, Samui responded, "Then I'm glad I turned you down." Seemingly amused, Negama turned and walked back to his pillows and slowly brought his massive size down to rest once again. "So tell me," he said, "what brings you, with ANBU in tow, to me."

"Like I said," Omoi said, "We need info." We need to know if anything…..out of the ordinary is going to happen. Any rumblings of Akatsuki or any other terrorist group?" Negama paused, seemingly aghast, "I should hope not! Terrorism is bad for business!" "So you've heard nothing," Samui asked. "Well," Negama said, "I have heard that some organization may want to disrupt the meeting between the Raikage and the emissary from Suna."

Omoi and Samui were surprised. "How did you….," Omoi said before remembering who he was speaking with. Negama smiled, "From what I can tell, some terrorist group has designs for the Suna emissary." Hearing this Naruto grew excited, "Terrorist group," he said, "Is it Akatsuki." Oomi and Samui looked at Naruto with disapproval as Negama looked on with feigned confusion. "My, my," he said, "An ANBU that dares speak to someone other than a superior? How rare!"

Naruto instantly realized his mistake and quickly regained his composure but he knew the damage was done. "If I were you I'd take care of the emissary. If he were to die while in Kumo the Raikage would lose face. Not to mention it could start a war." Samui then turned to everyone, "We should go and confirm the safety of the emissary. Let's go." As they turned to leave Omoi said to Negama, "Thank you Negama,"

Elsewhere in Kumogakure

The emissary, Koga has finally arrived at his temporary residence. Looking around at his comfortable surroundings he couldn't help but feel like royalty. Ever since he became a shinobi he had lived and worked in many a few inhospitable locations. As he got older he strived to become a ranked official to ensure his golden years were spent in comfort. To serve his village yet to do so in comfort became his goal. This was what he always wanted.

Meanwhile he had left his men with the Kumo guards. He liked them but he knew Lee was hiding something. His years of experience told him as much. As he surveyed the last room he turned and made his way back to the main entrance where everyone waited.

"This will do nicely….," Koga said as his voice trailed away. In utter shock he looked on as the white haired Kumo guard pulled a blood soaked sword from his guards back, blood pooling around his dead body. While of to the side his other two guards dead bodies lay. And standing in front of him stood Lee, his sword drawn and his hair free of the pony tail and now flowing. "What's the meaning of this Lee," he asked as he drew his kunai. "Sasuke," Lee said. "What," Koga responded. "My name is Sasuke," he said as he suddenly released a great deal of chakra.

The force of Sasuke's chakra forced Koga back and as he tried to get his bearings as it finally dawned on him where he saw Lee's face before. It was on a wanted poster, for Uchiha Sasuke, member of Akatsuki.

Kumogakure – Trader's Square

Naruto and the others exited Negamo's shop and Sakura was glad to be out of there. Negamo was in fact a vile man she thought and several times she wanted nothing more than to crack his skull open. "Ok," Samui said, "You guys head to the main gate. I'm going to where the emissary is supposed to be staying." "Got it," said Omoi and with that Samui ran off northwest.

Naruto and the others began to walk south towards the main gate when he suddenly felt a massive chakra signal. Naruto stopped instantly and looked off to the northeast. No way, he thought, it couldn't be. "Something wrong," asked Sakura. "I….have to go," Naruto said. "What," asked Sakura. "I think I found a lead," "Then we go together," said Sai. "No," Naruto responded, "You guys should go with Omoi and make sure the emissary is safe. I won't take long." "Alright," Omoi said, "Be careful." "Right," Naruto said as he turned and ran off.

Sakura looked on as Naruto ran off, concerned but knowing he could handle himself. Omoi, Sai and Sakura then continued on to the main gate. When they arrived they noticed nothing out of the ordinary. As they approached the guards Omoi asked if everything was ok and if the emissary had arrived safely. He was told that the previous guards were there when the emissary arrived and reported no incidents. Relieved, Omoi and the others were about to head of to the guest housing when a young kunoichi walking passed yelled out, "Hey Omoi," she said. "Hey, where you headed?" "I just finished my shift at the main gate," she said, "And thanks for telling me that you changed the emissaries escorts!"

Omoi turned and looked at her, confused. "What are you talking about," he said. "C'mon," she said, "You switched the escorts with four ANBU. It was fine by me because the squad leader was a total babe. I mean that dark hair and those eyes. The others in his squad I could do without. Especially that tall one and the guy with the white hair, they were just creepy." Hearing the description Sakura and Sai suddenly realized who she had seen. "Oh my God," Sakura yelled, "That's Sasuke and Hawk!"

Immediately Omoi yelled at the kunoichi, "Send word to all the guards that enemies are in Kumo and have every available man meet me at the Emissaries residence, now!" Without question or thought the kunoichi ran off to do as she was told. "Come on, let's get over there!" As they began to run, Sakura paused as she came to a realization. Naruto, she thought. "Wait," she said, "I'm going after Naruto!" "But he ran in a different direction," Omoi said. "Naruto knew Sasuke was here and he went after him," she responded. "But the residence is that way," Omoi said. "Which means Sasuke didn't take the emissary where he was supposed to," she responded. "If Naruto knew where Sasuke was why'd he go alone," Omoi said. Sakura paused, "You really don't know who you're talking about do you." "Fine," Omoi Said, "But I have to go to the residence, Samui went there and it could be a trap." "Right, we'll meet up with you after we find him." Sakura said as she and Sai left in pursuit.

Elsewhere in Kumogakure

Naruto was running at top speed. At a certain point he had stopped traveling on the ground and had leapt to the roof tops in order to move quicker. It can't be you, he thought. Why would you be here? Could you really have changed so much as to now do something like this? Naruto's head was spinning with all the different thoughts and conflicting emotions. Deep down he prayed that he was wrong. But he knew he wasn't, the chakra signature he felt was familiar to him, as familiar to him as his own.

Arriving on a roof of a residential building, Naruto looked across the street at the large two story home where he felt the chakra coming from. Without hesitation Naruto dropped down to street level, ran across the street, leapt over the gate and charged at the door. You knew I was here didn't you, he thought. And you planned to take the emissary and then call me here in a way you knew only I could notice. Naruto lowered his shoulder and broke down the door. "Isn't that right," he screamed as he tore the mask from his face, "Sasuke!!!" And as he stood at the entrance, he looked up on the second floor steps to see Sasuke as he pulled the sword that was embedded in the emissaries heart.

Sasuke, seeing that Naruto had arrived, simply looked on blankly; he said nothing and barely moved. Naruto took a moment to survey the area. He saw the bodies of the emissaries Suna guardsmen and the bodies of four naked men piled to the side. "No," Naruto said sadly, "This is too much Sasuke! What have you done!? Sasuke, what have you done!?" Sasuke still neither answered nor moved. He merely watched as his former friend screamed in anger and sadness. You don't understand Naruto, he thought. But you will. In time you will.

Sasuke then charged his Chidori and electricity pulsed throughout his entire body. With a quick movement of his hand electricity poured out and struck the wall to the left and instantly the curtains by the window lit on fire. As if possessed, the fire quickly engulfed everything it came in contact with and soon the entire wall was aflame. He's going to burn this entire house down, Naruto realized. Sasuke, still without saying a word merely turned as if he was leaving. "Where do you think you're going," Naruto screamed. "You think I'll just let you walk away!?"

Naruto then leapt up at Sasuke easily clearing the space between them. Without hesitation and with a speed Naruto could barely register, Sasuke turned; Sharigan activated and yelled, "Fireball jutsu!!" Naruto quickly changed directions, moving to the left and was barely able to evade the large plume of flames that was shot at him. But this was anticipated; Sasuke then hurled the sword in his hand directly at Naruto who was unable to dodge. The sword was buried deep into his left shoulder blade and the force of the throw caused Naruto fall back down onto the first floor. Naruto landed hard and was, for a moment disoriented. All around him flames shot up as it consumed more and more of the house.

Naruto slowly got to his feet. The heat of the fire began to singe his skin and his lungs felt heavy and the sword was still buried in his shoulder. Naruto wasn't concerned for none of these things. All he cared about was that Sasuke was gone. He could neither see him nor feel his chakra. Even in sage mode Sasuke can mask his chakra from me, he thought. "Naruto," Sakura screamed as she and Sai charged into the burning home. As they entered they saw Naruto standing in the middle of the burning room. Naruto looked over at Sakura and without a word she knew what had happened. Naruto in one quick motion pulled the sword out and screamed in pain.

Sakura quickly made her way over and caught him as he fell to his knees. Slowly she helped him to his feet as Sai said, "We got to get out of here. This place will come down any second!" "Hold it right there," came a voice. Looking over at the entrance five Kumo ninja stood. "You guys killed the emissary and some our friends," said one of the ninja. "Look," said another as he pointed at Naruto's headband, "They're not ANBU! They're Konoha shinobi! Get them!"

"Fuck," Sai screamed as he pulled smoke bombs from his belt and threw them to the ground. The resulting smoke from the bombs created enough of a distraction for them to escape and the flames kept the Kumo ninja from giving chase. As Naruto leapt across the Kumo roof tops, desperately trying to escape the city he came to a sad realization. I failed, he thought. The entire mission was a failure. Somehow, Sasuke knew I would be here. And I've been used. Sasuke, I don't know what you're up to, but this is too much. Somehow, someway, I will stop you.

End of Chapter Twelve