INTRODUCTION
Welcome back to the Chronicles of the Seventh. As alwoays i begin by stating I do not own Naruto.
THANK YOU
A special thanks to those who reviewed my previous chapter: Kushina's Truth of Hell; Corruptchaos; Diamond Man; MyHikari; ZeroTail29; airnaruto45; Hothead11; charles cdv; tdwtfan1899; Silver Senpai; xDARKNESS; Sikai; The Flying Lion; Sasuke K.
RESPONCES
Kushina's - Ok, now I need to know what line it was. :( Was it because it was ovrly cheesy?
Corruptchaos - Naruto will make his move in due time.
Diamond Man - I'm glad you enjoyed the fight. I had alot of fun finnally giving Hinata her chance to shine. If only Kishi does the same one day. And yes, Naruto does know more than he has revealed. And I think when you find out it will be an amazing revelation.
MyHikari - Lol! No I'm not going to kill off everyone from the older generation. But don't be so sure i won;t kill off any more of the K11 either. Glad i was able to keep the suspense high for you. GaaraxHina huh? Hmmm, I actually have a crack pairing I plan to introduce later that you guys might find interesting.
ZeroTail29 - No worries. So long as you reviewed the chapter. :) Glad you enjoyed it.
airnaruto45 - You'll see.
hothead11 - Yes, i can garantee one thing: Things are still going to get worse. Lol!
charles cdv - Thanx
tdwtfan1899 - Yep, i wanted to show how strong Hinta had become and how dedicated she truely was. As for what happened to Sai and Neji, please stay tuned.
Silver Senpai - Lol! thanx. Glad to know you're still reading.
xDARKNESS - Thanx. And yes, more will die.
Sikai - Yes...yes there is.
The Flying Lion - lol! Thanx.
Sasuke K - Who indeed...LMAO!
MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR
Ok, so I want to apologize for missing last week. After re-reading some of my unreleased chapters I didn't like the quality so I had to decide: Either release a chapter I wasn't happy with or miss a week while I re-wrote my chapters. So I hope the changes I made go over well. That said please feel free to review my chapter once finished.
Naruto: Chronicles of the Seventh
Book III: End of Innocence
Chapter XVII: On the Head of a Pin
The man strode confidently through the courtyard located in the north west of Konoha on his way to his destination. He was dressed in the normal uniform of an ANBU ninja, complete with a black cloak and a porcelain mask.
All around him Konoha medics, ninja and authorized personnel hustled and bustled about as they worked feverishly in helping with the war effort. Seeing the nervous and even down right scared looks on the people brought a smile to the man's face.
He didn't want to admit it but that bastard Madara wasn't as big a dumbass as he wanted to believe. Even though the war was less than a day old Konoha had already suffered massive losses. And more and more injured were being brought in all the time. At this rate, Konoha would be nothing but a pile of smoldering ash by this time tomorrow.
The man continued in a steady, almost relaxed pace towards his destination without the slightest fear of being caught. And why should he? He had walked these streets for the past year and half without once being stopped or questioned. Outside a few high ranking Konoha officials no one had the nerve to question the comings and goings of an ANBU ninja. And thanks to the efforts of his master even those who questioned him found nothing that raised any alarms.
So for over a year he was able to achieve an unprecedented level of access to Konoha and learned more about the people and their secrets than he could ever dream. He had even been indoctrinated into ROOT, which was his ultimate goal. And his disguise was even complete enough to fool Danzo, so long as he kept his exposure to the man at a minimum.
The man walked passed the Konoha Hospital where it seemed like organized chaos all around. There were so many injured that they were putting together makeshift cots outside so they could be treated. A young girl, was standing shouting orders and directing the medics. Her name was Meogi the man thought. She was a junior apprentice of Tsunade.
The man continued to walk passed the hospital as the din died away behind him. He continued his way into a small park that was now desolate. After veering off of the main path he continued down a small dirt road, barely the width of one person, before sharply turning off the path and into a heavy thicket of bushes.
The path the ninja was now taking was one that could not be seen or noticed even by experienced ninja. It was a path taught to him after he became a member of ROOT and was such that you could only take by memory alone. Finally he arrived at a small, nondescript outgrowth of trees and bushes. One of the trees had a small hollow hole in the middle of the trunk, barely big enough for a fist and the man stuck his hand inside until he felt the small wooden lever. He pulled it and the bushes and trees slid apart revealing a narrow staircase.
The man quickly walked in knowing he had seven seconds to reach the first landing before the hidden entrance closed. If he didn't reach there by then the hidden traps would activate and though he didn't fear death it would prove troublesome if the ninja below were alarmed to his presence before he reached his target.
The man reached the landing with a second to spare and then continued down the darkened hallway. There was no light and there were random pitfalls on each side. Again, this was another test. Members were taught to walk this path by memory alone, so that they needed no light. Outsiders would likely fall victim to one of the many pitfalls and if they tried to use any light source to see they would set off the alarms.
Once he reached the bottom he came face to face with a large boulder. On the right side, just out of view, was a hole carved into it. Inside the hollow space was a "Forbidden Tag." The man placed his hand in the hole and on the tag and said the organization's creed. Any mistake, even down to the very tempo of which it's said, would cause the tag to explode. "We are the Foundation of Konoha," he said. "We are emotionless, our eyes closed to sunlight and distinguished in the shadows. As the leaves bathe in light so too must we remain in the darkness."
With the creed completed the door rolled to the side revealing a door into a large cavernous room. The ninja walked in and was now in the headquarters of ROOT. Wasting little time the ninja walked across the room towards one of the many hallways and continued down the path. Several times he passed other ROOT ninja who continued in silence. This wasn't a place to find small talk which served his purposes nicely.
Finally he reached the door he was looking for. There was a sign on it that said "AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY" and he walked by quickly just in case anyone was watching. As he passed the door the man removed one of his gloves and dropped a small clay spider, about the size of a fingernail onto the floor.
The spider quickly crawled up the door and latched itself on the lock and then exploded with a quick flash of light and very little sound. The man walked back to the door and saw that the lock was now destroyed. In one swift movement he opened the door just enough to slide in and closed it behind him.
When he turned he now found himself in a dingy hallway. The place stank of rotting flesh and feces and there were all types of vermin, bugs and snakes skittering about. But none of this bothered him in the slightest. Nothing ever bothers him anymore. It was the distinct lack of fear that, above all else, reminded him of his lack of humanity.
Eventually he reached a corner and quickly looked around to see three guards standing by a door. The man dipped his hand into a pouch and then placed his hand on the ground. This time three spiders, each the size of his palm, appeared from his hand and quickly climbed up the wall and unto the ceiling.
They quickly crawled over and each spider positioned itself over one of the guards and then simultaneously lowered themselves down until they were each hanging right behind their heads. By the time the first guard realized what was happening it was too late. Each explosion left a headless corpse in a blood soaked heap.
"Excuse me," the ninja said mockingly as he stepped over the bodies and inspected the door. "Hmmm, well this should be simple enough." The man then looked down and saw a ring of keys attached to the waist of one of the headless corpses and took it from him. After trying several keys he found the one that worked and opened the door.
******Meanwhile******
Kabumaru remained shackled by his arms on the opposite side of the wall. As usual he found himself enveloped in darkness with not a single source of light. When the door opened he wondered if the person entering was here to beat him, feed him or taunt him like he was some caged zoo animal.
The masked man before him stared at him for a moment. But as he removed his mask Kabumaru smiled. "It's about time you got here Deidara," Kabumaru said. "I sent a message to you days ago."
"Actually it was only two days ago," Deidara said as he smiled at Kabumaru. Kabumaru may be the one responsible for brining him back, but that didn't change the fact that he despised this man. And seeing him in this condition brought him great pleasure. "But I guess it's hard to keep track of time in this place, mmmm."
Kabumaru gave a pained smile and said, "I guess so. Never the less, I believe you took your time getting here. That's what I get for allowing you to have complete free will."
Deidara crossed the room and began to unlock the shackles. The minute he touched them he knew they were not made of normal metal and where constantly draining Kabumaru of chakra. "If you didn't there would be no way for me to play my part."
As Deidara unlocked the last shackle Kabumaru rubbed his wrists. It had been weeks since he'd last had them off. "Speaking of which," he said. "Were you able to get all of his notes regarding the treasure?"
"Of course," Deidara said as he offered his shoulder for Kabumaru to lean on. Kabumaru was weak, emaciated and lacked the power to moved under his own strength. "Although I can't seem to understand any of it, mmmm"
Kabumaru laughed. "No one can," he said. "But given time I will. And once I do the Legacy of the Namizake will be mine."
"Alright then," Deidara said. "Let's get the hell out of here."
"Right but not too far," Kabumaru said. "There is still one thing I must retrieve." As they left the cell Kabumaru saw the three headless bodies sprawled out on the floor. "Wait Deidara," he said as he stepped away. He held his stomach and looked at the bodies. It had been weeks since he'd eaten anything. "I think we at least have time for a little snack." Kabumaru's mouth began to open and his jaw seemed to unhinge itself like a snake, revealing fangs and a long snake like tongue, before he bent down next to one of the bodies.
Even Deidara winced and looked away at the sight and sounds of his master consuming his meal.
******Meanwhile – The Office of the Hokage******
The double doors to the great meeting hall slammed open causing everyone in the room to turn and look. Based on the size of the room it had been chosen as the primary location for Konoha's base of operations. As such all of the elders, including Tsunade and Danzo were there.
Danzo was sitting in a large oak chair in front of a table covered with maps of the Land of Fire. Others were scattered about as they poured over information themselves while other ninja acted as messengers, coming in and out of the room with updates of the military situation. On one side there was a large machine with wired helmets protruding from it. Several ninja were wearing the helmets. This division was responsible to relay instructions and updates too and from ninja on the field.
Everyone turned to see Naruto standing at the entrance to the room. Naruto strode into the room like he ran the place, which seemed to annoy Danzo and Homura, which Naruto noticed. "Well, well," Homura said. "So good of you to grace us with your presence Naruto. Did you enjoy getting your tan while the rest of us fight a war for your protection?"
Naruto clenched his fist and gritted his teeth a little. After what he'd experienced today he was in no mood for Homura's attitude. He had visions of throwing the man through the nearest window.
"Enough," Tsunade said as she got in between the two. "Naruto, have you been able to sense Madara or Sasuke?"
"No," he said. "I haven't sensed them at all. Not even briefly."
"Which means your confidence in your abilities was sorely overblown," Danzo said. "I told you that you wouldn't be able to sense them. Madara is quite aware of your abilities. He no doubt created a method to hide his chakra."
"No," Naruto said as he tried to remember everything his clones and seen and heard. "It's not that. Neither Madara or Sasuke have been spotted on the battlefield at all. I don't think their shielding themselves from me. It's more like they're staying out of range." And so is Kisame, Naruto thought.
"So what now," Koharu asked. "Akatsuki has already overrun our perimeter forces and have pushed as back within a matter of hours. And we're now receiving reports that their main forces are moving in position for an all out offensive of our secondary defenses. If those fall Konoha will be destroyed."
"At this point this war could be over by nightfall," Homura said.
Just then Inoichi came from the group of sensors and addressed the room. "My apologies," he said. "But we've just received word from Shikaku. All of Konoha's remaining forces successfully retreated to the secondary defenses. However Akatsuki has wasted little time and they have already launched assaults against our Eastern and Western defenses."
"They're trying to spread our forces thin by attacking on opposite sides," Tsunade said. "We should get as many men to each side to force them back as quickly as possible."
"No," Danzo said. "That's what Madara would like us to do. We do that and he'll then send the largest force to our Northern side. We'll be too weakened to stop them and he'll break right through. Send no extra forces. Inform Shikaku that they are on their own and must repel the enemy."
"What," Naruto yelled. "But that's insane. Those men are already weakened as it is. There's no way they can hold by themselves! You're condemning them to death!"
"I'm expecting them to do what is expected of all Konoha ninja," Danzo yelled. "They can and must defeat their enemy! You see Naruto, this is what is asked of a leader. I am Hokage because I make the hard decisions for the betterment of the village."
"Bullshit," Naruto yelled as walked towards Danzo. Tsunade grabbed his arm to hold him back. "You make decisions to cover your own ass! Just like now! Instead of sending more men to help out you're just afraid that there may not be enough to protect you. You use the love of Konoha to hide your own cowardice! That's why you were never chosen to be Hokage over the Third. And that's why you joined Akatsuki!"
The entire room became so silent you could hear a pin drop. Danzo rose from his seat and yelled, "How dare you make such a ridiculous accusation!"
"Naruto," Tsunade whispered nervously as she tried in vain to pull him away. "This is not the time…."
"It's true," Naruto yelled as he ignored Tsunade. "You worked with Madara to set me up and start this war. And you set up Sakura-chan to be killed! Who knows what else you've did for that bastard!"
Danzo glared at him and then said, "And I assume you have proof of this?" Naruto remained silent. "As I thought."
"Such insolence," Homura yelled angrily. "How dare you accuse a Hokage of such a crime and have no proof! To do such a thing is punishable by imprisonment! Tsunade you should have taught him better respect!"
"No Homura," Danzo said smugly as he waved Homura off. "Clearly the pressures of war have gotten to the boy. We should not punish him for his childishness."
Naruto stared at the ground as if too ashamed to look anyone in the eye. His fists were clenched tightly and it took all his will power to control his rage. Finally, through gritted teeth he asked, "Danzo, do you promise that you're doing everything to protect Konoha?"
Danzo turned and regarded Naruto cautiously. "Of course," he said. "Every possible resource is for that purpose."
"Then why is it you have not dispatched your ROOT ninja," Naruto asked.
Danzo face showed no sense of surprise at the question. "ROOT is also out on the battlefield."
Naruto glared at Danzo and said, "No. They are not. I use Senjutsu Danzo, remember. I can sense dozens upon dozens of powerful chakra signatures underneath Konoha. Those are your ROOT. Our people are dying out there and you're keeping your ROOT from fighting. Why?"
"My reasons are my own," Danzo said defiantly. "I don't have to answer to you."
"But you do have to answer to us," Homura said as he walked towards Danzo. Danzo looked around the room to see every person staring at him with a distrusting gaze. Even Homura and Koharu, his staunchest allies, regarded him now with suspicion.
"Danzo is this true," Koharu asked.
Danzo looked around the room at everyone. Realizing that he could not deny it he thought quickly. "Yes," he said. "It is true. My entire ROOT force was instructed to remain in the village. But that is only to be a last line of defense for Naruto."
"For Naruto….or yourself," Tsunade asked. "This is just like what happened three years ago after Pain's attack when your men were suspiciously unharmed and strong enough to help you in your little coup."
"What is the meaning of this Danzo," Homura said. "Your ROOT ninja are powerful and would be of more use in the field and you know this. Why would you hold them here?"
Danzo suddenly found himself on his heels fielding a barrage of questions of his motives. Fools, he thought. Don't you realize I am the only chance this village has? Yet you are actually turning on me! He glanced beyond Tsunade and the other elders to see Naruto leaning against the far wall with a smug look smile on his face. Without a word he gave a mock salute and left the room.
Naruto walked down the hallway quickly. He needed to get back to the roof and continue his surveillance. In his mind he could hear the Nine Tails laugh. "What is it," Naruto said.
"I just find it amusing that you found such pleasure in what you just did," The Nine Tails responded. "You might not have done it the way I would have but you have still brought chaos to that room of elders boy."
"Danzo deserved it," Naruto responded. "When I sensed all those chakra signals underground I knew that was ROOT. I wasn't about to let Danzo do what he did three years ago again."
As Naruto rounded a corner he heard someone call his name. When he turned he saw Kiba walking towards him. His fists were clenched and he was scowling. "Kiba," Naruto said. "What do you w…"
Before he could finish his sentence Kiba walked up to him and punched him in the face pitching Naruto back and down to the ground. Naruto rubbed his cheek. He wasn't hurt, but just surprised by the sudden assault. "What the hell was that for!"
"Why the fuck are you here and not out there fighting," Kiba yelled. "You have all this power! All this ability and you've done nothing!"
"Oh," Naruto said as he got to his feet. "So that's it."
"Our comrades are dying and all you're doing is sitting around," Kiba yelled.
"This isn't about that," Naruto said. "This is about your mother. I sensed her chakra fade. I'm sorry."
Kiba fought back the tears as he looked at Naruto angrily. Then he said, "Sorry? You're sorry? My mother is dead! And if you were out there…..you….you could have saved her."
"Maybe," Naruto said. "But so could you. If you were out there maybe she'd still be alive. Or maybe you'd both be dead. You're mad at me for failing her when the truth is you're mad at yourself. Because when your mother needed you most you were in bed."
Kiba yelled and threw a punch at Naruto's face. But Naruto caught it easily and grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall. "Your mother gave her life so that the people she loved would live," Naruto said. "It is the strongest sacrifice anyone can make. Instead of crying over her memory you should be honoring it!"
Naruto paused when he heard the Nine Tails speak up. "Naruto stop wasting time with this foolish human," it said. "We are running out of time. We need to get back to the roof to finish harnessing that damned Senjutsu."
"Right," Naruto responded as he let Kiba go.
Naruto began to walk away leaving Kiba behind when Kiba said, "I heard that speech of yours this morning. What a load of garbage. Hope? Is that supposed to be our great weapon?"
Naruto stopped for a moment and took a deep measured breath. "I can't do this right now," he whispered almost to himself and he began to walk away.
Kiba quickly followed until he was walking right behind him. "How much good is hope doing for us right now," he asked. He could see Naruto tensing up but he didn't care. "We're fighting against the single largest army the world has ever seen. And who do we have? A bunch of merchants, farmers, old men and children!"
Naruto was gritting his teeth and could feel his entire body on edge. Every word out of Kiba;s mouth was like a hot needle in the brain. But he continued to walk away. As he reached the door Kiba grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him around forcefully. "Don't you get it Naruto! They are all going to die!"
"Then I will die with them!" Naruto yelled as he swung out his arm throwing Kiba to the ground.
Naruto glared down at Kiba in a rage. But as he looked at him he could see the sadness in Kiba's eyes. He could see the pure grief, and all the anger seemed to melt away. Kiba remained seated looking up at Naruto. The anger in him was fading as well. And all he could feel was regret for his actions. "I'm sorry Naruto," Kiba said. "I just…."
"It's….ok Kiba," Naruto said. "I'm sorry too. This isn't easy for me Kiba. To know what's happening out there. But, there is a reason I'm doing what I'm doing. I need you to believe in me. I am trying to find my own way. I guess in times like this sometimes it's all we can do." Naruto then turned, opened the door and left.
Kiba slowly got to his feet. He could feel the dull ache of his still tender wounds. But it was nothing to pain he felt in his heart. He heard Akamaru yip and he turned to see him laying down behind him. "I know," he said. "I behaved like a real ass." To that Akamru got to his feet and barked. Kiba took a deep breath and said, "Alright. No more resting on the sidelines. It's time we do something boy."
Naruto got to the roof and was immediately met by Ino. "Is everything all right Naruto," she asked.
"No, it isn't" Naruto said as he took his place seated and began to meditate.
******Meanwhile******
Sai's eyes opened slowly to blinding light. He closed his eyes for a moment to give his them time to adjust. Finally as he adjusted to the light he placed his hand to his forehead and moaned. Am I alive, he wondered. Yeah, I'm alive. There's no way I'd be in this much pain if I were dead.
"Hey there Sai." Sai opened his eyes and saw Sakura smiling down at him. "Glad to see you're awake," she said. "It was touch and go for a while. We almost lost you."
"Where am I," Sai asked weakly.
"You're at our medial triage unit behind our secondary defensive position," Sakura said. "Yamato-taicho found you and brought you in."
Sai and Sakura suddenly heard an explosion echoing from the distance. Once it died down Sai said, "Did you just say we were behind the secondary defenses?"
"We are," Sakura said. "Akatsuki pushed our forces back from our perimeter position and now their starting to assault us here." Sakura looked around at the scared faces of her medical staff as they scrambled about desperately treating the injured and near death soldiers. "Things aren't looking good. The wounded outnumber the staff ten to one. We have patients dying simply because my people can't get to them in time."
"Have they gotten Naruto," Sai asked.
"Thankfully no," Sakura responded. "Naruto, surprisingly has remained in the village. For now he's protected." Another explosion went off in the distance, this time closer, causing the sounds of panic to spread through out the area. Sakura sighed deeply and looked around. That last explosion was closer, she thought. At this rate we'll have to evacuate back to the village. But a lot of these patients are too injured to make the trip. They could die.
Sai stared at Sakura as she remained in deep thought. He could tell she was trying to hold it together for her comrades but things were spiraling out of control. Akatsuki had hit them with much more ferocity than they anticipated and Konoha was back on its' heels. He couldn't just lie around.
The sound of Sai's groan seemed to snap Sakura out of her thoughts. She turned to see him struggling to sit up. "Sai, what are you doing," she yelled as she gently pushed him back down. "You're much too injured to move about."
"I can't just rest while a war is going on," Sai said. "I can still fight."
"No Sai, you can't," Sakura responded. "You need to rest. It's the best thing you can do now. Now remain here, I have to check on my other patients. Don't worry, we're not beat just yet."
Sai watched as Sakura walked off and laid down in the bed dejectedly and stared up at the sky. He had been through enough battles to know that if something didn't change soon, this war would be lost.
******Meanwhile******
Tanaka Ryota stood on the small hill, surrounded by hundreds of Akatsuki ninja, staring at the defensive walls Konoha had put up in a futile attempt to hold back the forces of Akatsuki; or as he liked to think of it, the forces of destiny. That is what he truly felt like right now. He felt like an extension of the wrath of God, a primal force of nature bent on destroying something that has outlived its right to exist.
He was never a very important man. He was a rouge ninja from Ishigakure. Trained in the art of weapons summoning he was never viewed in his village as any thing but a faceless pawn to be used. He was an unimportant soldier in an unimportant village. But deep down he knew he was destined for better, for more. So he left his village and did not look back.
For some time he worked as a hired thug and mercenary, working mostly small time jobs for anyone who could afford his fee. But this wasn't enough for him. This couldn't be it for him. He knew there was more. It was around that time when one of the contacts he had made told him about an organization led by powerful ninja, who had big ideas about changing the world, were looking for any and all competent ninja to join its ranks.
At first Ryota was skeptical. He'd heard all this before. But his contact said these guys were the real deal and had already amassed a small army that was growing by the day. So he decided to check it out.
When he got to the meeting location there were hundreds of other potential recruits standing about and after a few minutes a masked man wearing black robes with red clouds stepped out upon a balcony high above them. He spoke to them about destiny and the problems with this world, and how he had a plan to change it. Throughout the speech Ryota felt as though the man was speaking right to him. And it was on that day he joined Akatsuki.
And was he ever happy he did. Unlike those foolish elders in Ishigakure who wouldn't know good talent if it sat on their laps, those in command of Akatsuki saw his potential and quickly promoted him. Within two short years he was promoted to leader of his own platoon. And now he and his men were here, poised on the brink of change. They were marching towards victory, to becoming legends, to untold power.
And just as Ryota raised his hand and was going to yell his command for his men to attack the entire area quickly began to grow unnaturally dark. Ryota looked up and saw a large cloud moving in quickly from behind him, obscuring the sun. Ryota almost dismissed it until he looked a bit closer.
Wait, he thought. That's no cloud. As he realized what it was Ryota quickly pulled out his large scroll. What he thought were clouds he realized was in fact arrows…thousands of them…so many that they were actually blocking out the sun. "Look out," Ryota yelled as he summoned a giant dome, large enough to cover himself.
Ryota remained under his dome as the sound of arrows came raining down all around him. He could hear the anguished screams of his men as they clearly had no time to escape death. After what seamed an eternity the sounds died away and Ryota dispelled the dome.
Ryota looked about in shock as he saw hundreds of his men dead around him, impaled by arrows. There were a few scattered about that seemed to still be alive but almost his entire platoon lay dead at his feet. "God damned idiots," Ryota yelled. Obviously one of our archer divisions fucked up the targets, he thought to himself.
For a brief moment Ryota looked around and could not believe his bad luck. But then something dawned on him that made him smile, and then burst into raucous laughter. Of course, he thought. This isn't bad luck! This is just more proof that I am destined for greatness!
Ryota pulled a nearby arrow from the dirt and laughed. This was a sign, he thought. Not even this could stop him he thought. It wasn't until he opened his eyes when he noticed that these arrows weren't the ones issued by Akatsuki. And worse yet, wrapped around the middle of the arrow was an explosive tag.
Ryota dropped the arrow as if it had just bit him and began to run. But he quickly came to a stop when he realized that all of the arrows, hundreds of them, each had an explosive tag attached. "Oh damn," he said. Those were his last words.
******Meanwhile – Elsewhere******
"What the hell was that," Karin said as she watched the massive explosion in the distance.
Sasuke stared at the area and said, "That appears to be an unexpected development." Sasuke turned and began to walk towards one of the platoon leaders nearby.
The man saw him coming and snapped to attention. "Sir," he yelled.
"Prepare your men to move out to the North West and take care of our new visitors," Sasuke responded.
******Meanwhile – Elsewhere******
"Do you think that got Akatsuki's attention," the man asked.
The woman laughed and said, "I'm pretty sure a blind and deaf man got the message."
"But what if all we did was make them even angrier and they attack us with all their might and actually overwhelm us," the man responded.
"Would you shut up already," the woman yelled. "I wish you wouldn't say such stupid things! There's no way Akatsuki can defeat us!"
"Do they always act like this," another woman asked. "It's really annoying."
"Who the hell are you calling annoying bitch," the first woman asked.
"Who are you calling a bitch you bitch," the second woman responded angrily.
Another man sighed and said, "Stop it Temari. We have more important things to deal with."
The other man said, "Kankuro's right Karui. I mean what if you two start fighting and she hurts you and you're unable to help us fight and…"
"Would you stop saying stuff like that you fucking idiot," Karui yelled. "I swear Omoi if you don't stop I'll kill you myself!"
"Enough," the Raikage said as he dropped down from the trees. "Stop this nonsense and focus on the task at hand! We've got enemies that need killing!"
Gaara walked up next to the Raikage and said, "The Raikage may have a terrible way of putting things but he's right. We need to remain focused. We're lucky to have gotten here as quickly as we have. But things seem to be going badly for our comrades. We must hurry to their aid. Konoha fights alone."
"No," Shikamaru said as he walked out into the opening. He then adjusted a metallic object strapped across his lower back. "Konoha does not fight alone. Not anymore."
End of Chapter Twenty Seven
Next Time: Akatsuki vs. The Alliance