Author's Notes: Thanks for all the support! This next part is going to be action packed and full of surprises. I hope you enjoy it.
$#$
"I sense him." Sasuke said as the Konoha 12, the sand siblings and Tamiki fought their way through the Dolls approaching the city. "He's near the back atop a black horse. He appears to be alone."
"Let's go then!" Naruto exclaimed. "We don't have any time to waste!"
With their goal now in sight, the ninja quickly weaved their way through the sea of Dolls and arrived at their target.
Naruto roared and tackled the mad scientist from his mount his nostrils flaring as the blonde man dressed in black and gold rose to his feet.
"You're slower than I anticipated." He replied tossing his hair with a sneer. "I was beginning to think you really didn't care about that girl after all. You did leave her all alone with a mad scientist after all."
"Shut your mouth!" Naruto growled.
"Where's Onchou!" Sakura demanded.
"Why do you care?" Takuma replied. "She's of no use to you now." He glanced sky ward as the yellow dragon streaked by. "What a beautiful creature." He murmured. "Her summons are nearly as breathtaking as she is." He mused.
"I've heard enough." Sasuke said as black flames formed in his hand. "He's not going to tell us so we'll just kill him now and keep searching for her. That dragon will go back to her eventually." He unleashed the attack intent on killing the man and was shocked when a figure clad in black materialized in front of him. A silver shimmering barrier appeared deflecting the flames and then winked out of existence.
"Who in the world…" TenTen muttered.
"I was worried there for a second." Takuma said looking down at the cloaked and hooded figure. He reached out and touched his savior's face. "It seems I had nothing to fear after all."
The figure removed his hand from their face. "Of course." A soft musical voice murmured. "I made a promise to you after all."
He smirked. "That you did."
"I know that voice." Naruto murmured his eyes wide. "Sasuke…"
The Uchiha nodded. "There's no doubt about it."
The figured turned towards them pushing back the hood of the cloak revealing a waterfall of violet colored hair. "Hello there. It's been a little while hasn't it?" Onchou murmured.
Gaara's eyes widened as he took in the figure standing in front of them. Gone were her normal conservative clothes replaced with something much darker and more revealing. Her hair had been done up as well giving her a deadly, but regal look. Her amethyst eyes met his and he nearly flinched at the hurt and rage he saw in her eyes. "Onchou." He murmured.
"The Kazekage himself came out to see me?" She remarked with a smirk. "I suppose I should feel grateful or something like that?"
"We've come to rescue you!" Naruto said extending a hand towards her. "You don't have to stay with this creep anymore."
"What makes you think she's with me against her will?" Takuma asked. "She's here with me, protecting me because she chose to."
"Onchou. Is this true?" Sakura asked her eyes wide. The amethyst eyed girl shrugged and smiled sadly at the pink haired medic lowering her head slightly as though apologizing to her.
"As touching as this reunion is," Takuma said glancing at the ninja. "it's becoming troublesome. Help me take care of them won't you my Princess?" he moved closer and brushed his lips against her ear. "Remember what we discussed. You know what will happen if you fail." He murmured pressing his fingers painfully against her back.
"I understand." She replied raising her hands to form signs.
"What is he holding over you?" Naruto asked. "This isn't what you want Onchou!"
"What I want doesn't matter. It never has." She replied as her chakra flared. "I will do whatever is necessary to protect the ones I love."
"Let us help you!" Sakura urged. "You don't have to do this alone."
"I do." Onchou replied her eyes downcast. "The only hands I trust to protect myself are my own!" she exclaimed unleashing a wave of wind chakra blasting the group back.
"Listen to us!" Naruto exclaimed as she advanced with lightning crackling around her. "We'll protect you!"
"I don't believe a word you people say anymore!" she exclaimed unleashing a series of lightning attacks.
Takuma laughed. "That's a good girl."
"Shut your mouth!" Naruto exclaimed launching forward and slamming his fist into his face. "What did you do to her!?"
"Nothing I haven't done before." The scientist replied.
"Then why is she turning against her friends like this?" Shikamaru replied dodging an attack as he worked to paralyze the girl.
"You call yourself her friends?" he chuckled. "You haven't acted like it at all leaving her alone with the likes of me."
"There are rules that need to be followed." Kankuro argued as he moved his puppet forward gritting his teeth as he tried to hold back from killing the amethyst eyed girl.
Takuma laughed as he drew a sickle and chain from his robes. "That's what people always use to alleviate their guilt." He said as he advanced TenTen. "I killed that child because I was ordered to by my superior. I left my friends to die for the sake of completing the mission my superior gave me." He mocked. "They're all excuses!" he growled knocking the brown haired kunochi to the ground before blocking an attack from Gaara. "Tell me Lord Kazekage, are these elders that keep you on such a short leash out here fighting alongside your precious soldiers are they hiding somewhere safe waiting until the danger passes to tell everyone that it was your lack of ability that caused all of the casualties?"
Gaara's eyes widened briefly before he gritted his teeth and blasted the man back.
The mad scientist laughed and leapt to his feet. "It's the same in every village! The elders sit back and sacrifice the children with extraordinary powers and abilities! Brainwashing them into thinking it's their duty to protect them and the village at all costs! Stripping them of their own wills and desires!" He slammed his fist into the ground cracking the ground and sending a barrage of stone spikes at the Kazekage his eyes glowing slightly as he grinned. Naruto and Sasuke moved in to flank him sending a series of wind and fire attacks at the scientist who created a stone wall to protect himself. "It makes manipulating the strong even easier. They're so convinced they have to protect everyone else that they lose their sense of self and self-worth." He laughed and formed more hand signs. "I should really should thank those council members of yours Lord Kazekage. She was fighting me with everything she had. Even when I managed to get inside her mind and started to seal away her will to turn her into a Doll she fought until she heard that they had made the decision not to help her. She became putty in my hands after that." He sneered.
"Damn you to Hell!" Naruto exclaimed his power flaring as wind whirled in his hand. "How dare you make her suffer like that?!" he exclaimed throwing a rasengan at the man. It hit him square in the chest and sent him flying back as blood flew from his mouth. Onchou seemed to notice and immediately flew to his side.
"Why are you helping him!?" Kiba demanded as her hands began to glow green.
The violet haired girl said nothing as she worked her brow furrowing in concentration.
"Onchou." Gaara said softly extending his hand towards her.
"Shut up!" she snarled. "Hearing your voice makes me livid."
Temari walked forward. "Onchou. I know you're hurting but believe me when I say Gaara did everything he could to try to help you. He never stopped thinking about you."
"I know that." The violet haired teen replied. "I know that better than anyone… But thoughts without works are useless."
"Well spoken." Takuma said with a smirk. "Now, let's see you get serious." He said forming hand signs. He touched the ground and Onchou gasped as a series of stone spikes erupted from the ground impaling the amethyst eyed girl through the chest and abdomen.
"Onchou!" Sakura cried out moving towards her only to be forced back by Takuma's sickle.
"You bastard!" Naruto snarled.
Takuma only grinned as he released the jutsu and she staggered but managed to remain upright clutching at her wounds. "Why are you trying to kill me now?" she gasped.
"Just wait." He snickered.
The shinobi shifted nervously as the pouch attached to the young woman's side began to shake and then burst open. Onchou glanced up and her eyes widened. "The stone." She murmured watching the paper fall from the silver rock. "But why…"
"It will instinctively activate to protect its host." Takuma replied with a wicked gleam in his eye. "Now we'll witness its true power!"
The shinobi watched nervously as the stone zoomed towards the amethyst eyed shinobi and then buried itself in her chest.
"Onchou!" Tamiki cried out as her back arched back and she flew into the sky her eyes wide as power exploded sending a bright white shockwave across the sky.
"What's happening!?" Naruto demanded.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed as his power flared. "I suggest you tap into that six paths power of yours." He replied softly.
The Uzumaki's eyes widened as he did as his friend instructed tapping into Kurama's power.
Onchou's body slowly lowered towards the ground her body shimmering with a silver glow as her hair whipped around her. She hovered above the group and then looked at her hands her now silver eyes reflecting curiosity.
"Beautiful." Takuma murmured his eyes wide.
She raised her hands and a ball of orange light appeared in her palm. She murmured words the other shinobi couldn't understand and pushed it away from her and slashed her arm across her body. The ball of light reacted and bright orange lights shot from it striking the all of the Shinobi from Suna and Konoha in the middle of the forehead.
"What the Hell…" Shikamaru muttered touching the spot.
"What are you doing?" Takuma asked the girl as she lowered to the ground.
She smirked at him. "This power has amplified a part of me I haven't touched in a while." She admitted. Her head turned to gaze at the sixteen ninja gathered in front of her. "I just felt like marking my prey so that no one else got the idea they could have them." She murmured her eyes drifting to Storm Bringer hovering nearby.
Takuma laughed out loud. "Marking your prey huh? Don't you think you might have your hands full?" he said looking at Naruto and Sasuke who were crouched down ready to attack with their chakra flaring. "You also need to destroy Suna." He reminded her.
"Who said I'd be doing it alone?" she asked raising her hand towards the sky. A large hole opened up and a series of ear splitting roars rent the air as a black dragon streaked through the portal flanked by a smaller emerald colored dragon and a sapphire dragon.
"Oh shit." Kiba muttered as he watched Onchou leap into the air landing on the black dragon's head.
"Shadow." She murmured. "I'm glad you've come."
A low rumble sounded in his chest and she reached out to touch the emerald colored dragon. "Erde." She murmured rubbing his nose. "I've missed you. You've grown up." She then reached for the blue dragon. "Titan." She called stroking the horn that protruded from his nose. "You're nearly as big as your big brother now."
"He'll never be as big as me." Shadow grumbled from beneath her.
"Of course not." She replied.
"Lady Onchou. Your orders." Erde said studying her with sapphire eyes.
"This is the first time you've summoned all of us at once." Titan replied. "The situation must be serious."
Onchou nodded. "I want you and Erde to go to your sister." She said touching the jeweled toned dragons. "She'll tell you everything you need to know."
"As you wish." They rumbled before they took off across the battle field towards the smaller yellow dragon.
"What are you thinking!?" Naruto demanded as he swooped in on one of Sai's ink birds. "You have friends in Suna right? What about Ryuu?!"
She smirked. "He won't be harmed. The dragon sealed inside of him is the eldest brother of these four."
"What about everyone else?" Sakura asked from where she sat on a bird behind Sasuke.
"They don't care about what happens to me, so why should I care about what happens to them?" Onchou replied.
"Do you even hear how crazy you sound?" Sasuke demanded.
She smirked and looked at him careful to avoid his gaze. "About as crazy as your brother did when he destroyed my village years ago."
"Itachi did that?" Sasuke replied his eyes wide.
"Yes. He caught me but let me go because I reminded him of you." She replied tilting her head to the side. "Imagine how much suffering he could've save the world if he'd just killed both of us when he had the chance. He really was a lamb in wolf's clothing." She murmured.
"Onchou. This isn't like you." Gaara said as he floated to her level on his sand.
She glared at the Kazekage. "What part of 'don't talk to me' don't you understand sand man!" she hissed her silver eyes blazing. Her eyes widened for a second and then she smirked. "Nice try blondie." She said as she leapt from Shadow's head and hurled towards the ground. She reached out and grabbed Ino's arm and wretched it behind her back and slammed her to the ground. "That kind of trick won't work on me." She picked up the mind transfer ninja and tilted her head to the side. "You're not in the same league as me so stay out of the way." She hissed tossing the girl aside.
"Ino!" Chouji cried out dashing to his fallen teammate's side. "Are you alright!?"
"She'll be fine as long as she stays out of the way." Onchou replied. She glanced skyward and sighed. "Now I've got a pissed off boyfriend to deal with. What a pain." She muttered. "Shadow! Entertain the blonde kid, the Uchiha, his girlfriend and the Kazekage for a little bit will you?" she called out. "Naruto has a fox that he might let out to play if you push him hard enough. I've got a little work to do."
Shadow chuckled and sneered flames leaking out from between is lips. "With pleasure My Lady." He murmured. He streaked forward reducing the birds to ink with his razor sharp claws and then unleashed a wave of crimson fire from his mouth at the four shinobi.
Sasuke gritted his teeth and directed the fire away from himself and Sakura as Naruto cut through it with his Rasenshuriken landing lithely on the ground. Gaara dodged the attack and landed beside the Uzumaki.
"I recognize this beast." He murmured.
"What do you mean?" Sasuke demanded.
"This was the summons Onchou used to destroy The Land of Pearls." Gaara replied.
"Damnit!" Naruto hissed. "Should I let Kurama fight him?"
"I don't know how much good it'll do." Sasuke admitted.
"I think you should." Sakura replied as the dragon prepared to attack again.
"What are you thinking?" Sasuke asked.
"We all know the one pulling the strings behind this entire mess is Takuma." She said her eyes narrowing as she watched the mad scientist easily defect and attack from TenTen. "If we want to stop this madness we need to take him down."
"Good thinking." Sasuke replied. "Naruto, that dragon is all yours."
"This should be fun." The Uzumaki replied as tails began to form from the yellow cloak of chakra around his body before he took off into the sky. One of the tails formed a fist and slammed into the dragon's chest knocking him out of the sky.
"It's been a long time Shadow." Kurama murmured.
"You know this guy?" Naruto asked.
The nine tails nodded. "We've clashed in the past. We're both fueled by the same dark desires that exist within mankind." He murmured.
Shadow chuckled. "Kurama. You look silly being trapped inside a puny mortal."
"Don't underestimate this man." Kurama replied. "He's taken down enemies stronger than you."
"We shall see." The black dragon replied spewing a stream of fire at the blonde shinobi.
%$%
Sasuke and Sakura watched Takuma closely waiting for an opening. The pink haired medic glanced at the Kazekage whose gaze was fixed on Onchou as she blasted Shikamaru with a lightning bolt sending him flying into Temari.
"What are you thinking Gaara?" she asked.
"I am going to leave Takuma to you." He said softly.
"What are you going to do then?" Sasuke asked watching as the sand swirled around him.
"What I should've done from the start." The Kazekage replied as he began to rise into the sky. "I'm going to protect her."
Sakura watched him rise into the air using his sand to ease Sai's fall to the earth as Onchou knocked him from his bird.
"What is he talking about?" Sasuke muttered. "She's the enemy."
"Not everything is as simple as it appears." Sakura replied watching as Onchou tensed at the Kazekage's approach. "Regardless, let's get to work." She said turning back to their black and gold clad opponent. "I really want to cream this guy for torturing Ryuu and Onchou for so long."
He smirked. "Then let's get to work." He said rushing forward drawing his katana. He electrified the blade and swiped it across the air barely missing the mad scientist. Takuma back flipped to safety and smirked.
"The legendary Sasuke Uchiha." Takuma snickered. "It seems you managed to slip away from Orochimaru after all. Perhaps you'd like to join me instead? Those eyes of yours are intriguing. Nearly as intriguing as that girl's ears."
Sasuke snickered. "I defeated Orochimaru and he's twice the ninja you'll ever be. I'd never even heard you name until all of this troublesome business started."
Takuma laughed. "Just what I'd expect from an Uchiha. Such arrogance." He murmured as he took a syringe and plunged it into his own arm. He doubled over as his chakra level began to rise and his blonde hair turned stark white.
"Did he just use Black Water on himself?" Sakura asked.
"It looks like it." Sasuke replied. "Be on guard."
The mad scientist straightened as manic laughter tumbled from his lips. His blue eyes changed to black and red as he flexed his fingers. "Acid blast!" he exclaimed aiming the attack at the two shinobi. They leapt out of the way instinctively landing lithely just out of the blast zone.
Sakura looked down and cringed at the bubbling mass of sand in front of them. "Well that stuff will burn right through you." She muttered.
"Focus." Sasuke reminded her as another blast came their way.
She nodded and jumped out of the way and grabbed a kunai. Her eyes narrowed as she flung it at her opponent while Sasuke hurled a black fireball at the man. Takuma dodged the fireball but not the blade and hissed as it penetrated his arm. He ripped it out his demonic eyes blazing.
"You'll pay for that little girl." He growled hurling a barrage of boulders at her. She jumped back and crossed her arms and closed her eyes bracing for impact when she heard the familiar sound of Sasuke's lightning screaming in front of her. Her eyes flew open as she watched him flash past her reducing the boulders in her immediate path to dust. Her moment of relief was shot lived as she noticed a clone of the mad scientist materialize behind the Uchiha and she gritted her teeth. She glanced behind her and noticed a boulder falling and using the training she'd received from Lee she bent her knees and pushed off the rock focusing her chakra into her fist as she went.
"Cha!" she exclaimed as she slammed her fist into the clone reducing it to smoke just before its kunai reached her partner's back. Her momentum continued to carry her forward and her fist connected with the ground breaking it up and sending the mad scientist flying backwards.
Sasuke blinked and looked at her a little smirk coming to his lips before he refocused his attention on Takuma. "We've got him on the defense now. Let's go." He said leaping forward as his body began to glow purple. A large hand appeared around him and he slammed the massive fist into the white haired man sending him flying back further.
"I didn't know you could summon just body parts!" Sakura remarked as she followed up with a chakra charged kick that forced the man into the ground.
The Uchiha barely shrugged in response before he flashed forward tackling her to the ground just in time to avoid a stream of fire.
"What the hell?" she murmured glancing up past Sasuke to see Naruto shrouded in Kurama's chakra exchanging blows with the massive black dragon above him.
"It looks like he's having a bit of trouble with the overgrown lizard." Sasuke remarked as he got to his feet and pulled Sakura up from the ground.
"Wouldn't anyone have trouble with a dragon?" she muttered.
"Gaara's having trouble fighting Onchou too." The Uchiha noted as he watched the girl shrouded in silver chakra force the Kazekage back with a blast of water.
"We just need to have faith in them." Sakura replied softly. "All three of them."
"Onchou is the enemy now." Sasuke reminded her.
"I don't think so." Sakura replied. "She's our friend, she's just a little lost right now. Just like you were." She said glancing at him. "Besides, something tells me that there's more to this than meets the eye." Her eyes flickered heavenward again as Gaara and Onchou clashed again sending a wind shock wave that even knocked the winged dragons off course. "I believe in you Onchou." She murmured. "Now let's finish off this creep!" she said tugging on her gloves as Takuma rose from the crater his hands glowing green as he healed himself.
Sasuke nodded his body glowing purple as he began to construct a full sized Susanoo. "I've had enough of this guy." He muttered.
9$9
Gaara grunted as he weaved his sand in an attempt to avoid the blast of ice cold water aimed at him.
"Come to your senses." Gaara called out as forced her back with a blast of sand. "Come back to us Onchou."
"Shut up!" she replied her chakra flaring as she send a barrage of lightning at him which he deflected. "I'm so sick and tired of all of this!" she cried drawing her sword and charging forward slicing through his sand. Her eyes widened as his sand formed a giant arm and knocked the weapon from her grip. It then formed a hand and wrapped around her drawing her towards him. "Let go!" she yelled. "What are you doing!?"
He didn't reply as he materialized in front of her and activated his ultimate defense sealing both of them inside his ball of sand.
Onchou glared at the Kazekage who sighed. "Will you listen to me now?" he asked softly.
She turned away from him and slammed her fists against the wall of sand. "Let me out." She growled darkly.
"Forgive me." He said moving towards her. "I was a fool for listening to the council instead of my own heart. I had this idea in my head that if I went against the council I would betraying their trust but I was really just being a coward. They betrayed me once yet I was still so desperate for their approval." He balled his hand into a fist. "I shouldn't have listened to a word they said. I should've came after you as soon as everyone was recovered."
"Stop talking." Onchou replied her voice broken as she smacked her fist against the wall of sand again. "Please just leave me alone."
"I won't." he replied. "I promised you that I'd protect you and I'd never leave you alone again."
"So what?" she replied. "You broke that same promise to me less than seventy two hours later. Why should I believe a word you say now?" her hand raised again to hit the wall again and grabbed her wrist and tugged her around into she was facing him and pressed her up against the wall.
"You know I'm telling you the truth." He said looking into her silver tinged eyes. "Listen to my soul song, open up the soul link. You'll know then that I speak the truth."
"Stop it." She begged as tears formed in her eyes. "I don't want to be hurt again. I don't want to be alone again."
He lowered his head and gritted his teeth before he dragged her towards him wrapping his arms around her pressing her body to his until there was no space between them. "I'll never abandon you again." He promised. "I'll give up the title of Kazekage if I have to. Her eyes widened and she began to shake in his arms before her own arms moved to circle his waist clutching at his rust colored coat underneath the gourd on his back as she began to sob. He laid his head on top of hers and stroked her back gently. "Will you let us help you again?" he asked as he felt her body begin to relax. "Stop this act of yours and let us help you defeat Takuma once and for all."
She sighed as she nodded against his shoulder. "I'm not surprised that you saw right through me. Sakura's on to me too." She admitted.
He nodded and leaned back brushing the tears from her face with his thumbs. "Let's fight together, just like we did when we fought Chimera."
"Ok." She said with a smile. "Let's do this."
He smiled back and nodded as he raised his hands. "Release." He murmured. The walls vanished and Onchou's power flared as she hurled towards the ground her eyes focused on Takuma who was about to unleash a blast on the downed Sakura. Sasuke was nearby his jaw clenched as he tried to cut through the slabs of rock separating him from his partner. She willed her body to become lightning finding it easier than ever with her new power and materialized in front of the medic creating a barrier to protect them both.
"What?" Takuma stammered his eyes widening at the sight.
The violet haired girl knelt beside the medic her hands glowing green as she healed the acid burns. "Onchou?" Sakura murmured looking up at her.
"Hey Sakura." Onchou replied. "Are you hurt anywhere else?"
"No." she replied with a smile. "Are you back?"
The violet haired girl smiled as she extended a hand to help her friend up. "Of course not." She replied. "I never left." She replied with a wink as she raised her hand. "Release!"
Ino, Sai, Kiba and Shikamaru stood up and looked at their bodies surprised to see they were unharmed. Sasuke's eyes widened and then he smirked. "Genjutsu."
"Of course." Onchou replied with a smirk. "I could never actually bring myself to hurt my friends." Her gaze traveled heavenward. "Alright Shadow!" she called out. "That's enough of that. You can go join yours siblings now."
The black dragon rumbled in response and then sighed. "And It was just starting to get good." He muttered.
"Sorry." Onchou replied. "Now get going! Dolls are starting to near the border that separates The Land of Fire from the Land of Wind. Don't let a single one get through you understand?"
"Of course." Shadow replied before he turned to Naruto who was staring at him with a dumbfounded expression on his face. "That was a good battle. One of the best I've experienced in ages. Thank you." And then he flapped his wings and shot off across the sky towards The Land of Fire.
"You wretched girl." Takuma snarled as he stared at her. "You had this planned from the start."
"Of course I did." Onchou replied.
"So is your loyalty with Suna." He asked. "The cowards who let Heiwa burn by the hands of the Atksuki!?"
"No." she said. "My loyalty lies with my friends."
His eyes widened and then narrowed as his breathing increased as he went to unleash a flurry of acid on her. Gaara moved swiftly sensing the attack through the reopened soul link and forced Takuma to back down as he stood protectively in front of Onchou who instinctively moved closer to the Kazekage.
Takuma's eyes flashed. "The Kazekage." He murmured. "You used the soul link on him." He began to laugh his hands clenching and unclenching as he did so. "Of course! Just like your mother. You gave yourself to Suna scum!" he reached inside his shirt and pulled out a syringe. "No matter, I'll just kill him then destroy all of Suna!" he screeched as he plunged the needle into his leg. He formed hand signs and then released a mass of chakra as his body began to contort and change.
"What's happening?" Shikamaru asked jogging up with Temari to join them.
"I have no idea." Onchou admitted her eyes widening as the man began to grow wings bursting from his back as his hands became claw like. "Oh you've got to be kidding me!" she exclaimed.
"What is it?" Kankuro asked.
"He's using that drug combined with a transformation jutsu to become part dragon." She muttered. "It's similar to what he used to create Nightmare. He must be insane, he already has Black Water in his system."
The man took off into the sky and began to fly in a jagged pattern through the sky and the violet haired girl gasped. "Oh no. We have to stop him!"
"What did you hear?" Naruto asked. "What's he planning?"
"He's going to destroy as much of Suna as he can with his own hands and then wipe it from the map completely when his body is destroyed by the black water." She replied gritting her teeth. "Damn! I still have to get rid of the rest of the Dolls too!"
Gaara turned and laid his hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to do this alone remember? We'll help you."
She blinked and then nodded. "Right." She replied with a little smile. "Ok then. I have a jutsu that I can use that will take care of most of the Dolls. The rest of you try to bring down Takuma and his generals." She was surprised when she heard the song of death nearing her and turned just in time to watch her father behead Storm Bringer who had a kunai in his hand just inches from her back. "Thanks Father." She replied with a little smile.
He nodded and sheathed his swords before he pulled her into his arms. "I'm so glad you're safe." He said softly.
She blinked in surprise at the physical affection and blushed. "Mom never hugged me." She admitted softly.
Tamiki bowed his head and hugged her tighter. "I'll give you all the hugs you missed out on then." He replied. "Let's get this take care of alright?"
She nodded. "Yeah. Let's do this!" she exclaimed.
Sakura nudged Sasuke. "See? I told you that everything wasn't what it seemed."
"Yeah yeah." He murmured rolling his eyes. "Let's just get this done. I'm ready to go home."
Sakura's eyes widened at his words. "And where is home?" she asked him softly.
"Wherever you're staying." He replied quickly. His eyes widened at his own words and a little blush colored his cheeks. "I mean…"
"Don't!" Sakura exclaimed covering his lips with her hand. "I'm going to savor this moment forever. Say anything more and I'll punch you for ruining it."
He blinked and nodded before looking up as Onchou rocketed into the sky her hands forming signs. A song tumbled from her lips and the dragons stopped and then lifted their heads harmonizing with her. She hovered above the ground her ears glowing blue with her eyes closed in concentration as the dragons unleashed a series of attacks. Annihilating the Doll army with pinpoint accuracy.
"Alright guys! Let's not let Onchou do all the work!" Naruto called out. "Sasuke! Gaara! You're with me! We'll take down that dragon freak! Hinata, Sakura, and Ino you go with Kiba to attend to the wounded. The rest of you take care of the last generals and those Dolls. Sound like a plan?" he asked looking over at Shikamaru.
The shadow ninja smirked. "Sounds like an excellent plan to me."
"Alright then! Let's go!"
"Be careful Naruto!" Hinata called out.
"You too." The Uzumaki replied smiling at the blue haired girl.
"Sasuke…" Sakura started.
"I know." He replied cutting her off, reaching out to tap her in the middle of her forehead. "The same goes for you."
She blushed and then nodded. "Right. Let's go!" she called out racing with her team across the desert.
Sasuke turned towards Takuma and unleashed his chakra to form a full sized Susanoo and rushed forward with the Kazekage and Naruto hot on his heels.
The dragon man gaped at the giant purple man for a spilt second before it slammed its massive fist into his face sending him flying back into the desert. Naruto followed up with a massive Rasenshuriken that cut the man deeply as Gaara followed up using his sand arm to crush the man holding him in place.
"Why?" Takuma rasped. "Why do you all fight for Suna? It's a village run by selfish, arrogant people who only care about themselves."
"We're not fighting for Suna!" Naruto replied blasting the man with a giant rasengan. Sasuke pushed his fire chakra into the giant's hand who fired it at the monster of a man letting the black flames consume him. "We're fighting for our friends!" he exclaimed as Gaara created a second arm and slammed it into the man.
"The girl will now become a weapon for Suna." Takuma rasped as his body began to pulse preparing to break apart.
"She won't." Gaara replied as he prepared to throw the volatile man into the sky. "I will not allow it." He thrust the man as far into the sky as he could with his sand sweat dripping from his brow as his chakra dipped. He gritted his teeth and then his eyes widened as he felt chakra flowing into him.
"It looks like you could use a little boost." Came Onchou's voice in his head.
He smiled a little. "Thank you." He replied as he used the strength he borrowed from her to push him higher. Finally satisfied with the height, he retracted his sand and Takuma exploded sending a shockwave of black, red, and green energy through the air.
"Good job team. It looks like the others are nearly finished as well." Naruto said as he floated back to the ground.
Sasuke nodded. "Onchou's dragons seemed to have disappeared as well. That must mean things are nearly over."
"Man! I wanted to ride one." The blonde haired ninja pouted.
"How old are you?" Sasuke asked cocking a brow at the Uzumaki.
"Shut up!" Naruto hissed. "You know you thought about it too."
"Where's Ryuu?" Onchou called out as she dashed towards the three shinobi the silver luster gone from her body and her eyes back to their normal amethyst color.
"He should be in the underground hideout with the rest of the civilians." Gaara replied.
"Are the elders there as well?" she asked her eyes wild looking.
"No. They go to a different panic room." He replied. "Why?"
The girl raked her fingers through her hair. "Where's the safe room? Tell me now! Ryuu's in trouble! I can hear it and wherever he is the elders are there too."
"Why on earth would be with them?" Kankuro asked jogging up to them.
"Show me now!" she shrieked her body trembling.
"Alright." Gaara replied closing his eyes briefly as he thought of the place.
"Thank you." She replied before she vanished.
"Where is she going?" Kankuro demanded.
"Ryuu seems to be in trouble and he's with the elders." Gaara replied.
"That's not good. We should follow her." Kankuro said.
"Of course." Gaara said as his body turned to sand. "I won't make the same mistake twice."
"Take us to where they're headed." Naruto demanded looking at Kankuro.
"Sure but why?" he replied taking off towards the passageway leading to Suna.
Naruto snickered. "I'm going to be Hokage one day the least I can do is back up the Kazekage.
Sasuke glanced at him. "Are you sure about that?" he replied. "Didn't I tell you I was going to become Hokage?"
The Uzumaki's eyes widened. "But…. Wait! I thought…"
The Uchiha raised a brow and then smirked a low chuckle rumbling in his chest. "You should see your face." He teased.
Kankuro gaped at the pair. "I didn't know Sasuke Uchiha could joke." He muttered.
"Neither did I." Naruto replied his eyes glancing at his friend warily.
0%0
Onchou gritted her teeth as she sprinted through the tunnels under Suna following the path Gaara had shown her as she heard Ryuu's rough breathing and the splashing sound as he unleashed a water attack on his attackers.
"Almost there!" she grunted as she found the door leading to the large panic room where the council stayed during emergencies. She didn't even bother to push it open and instead blasted it open with her wind chakra. Her eyes narrowed as she quickly took in the scene. Ryuu was standing in near the front of the room water whipping around him as he tried to defend off the twenty Dolls led by a general towards the older members of the council and the few ninja guarding them. Rage boiled inside of her as she heard their songs and realized that the other ninja wanted to help but had been ordered not to by the fearful council members cowering behind their young guards. The team assigned to protect Ryuu were among them and she could sense their anxiety as they watched wanting to be loyal to their Kazekage and their council.
A lightning attack flew at the silver haired boy and he crossed his arms in front of his face prepared to take the blow when Onchou appeared in front of him and sliced through the attack with her sword.
"Onchou?" he murmured looking up at her.
She moved back slightly and laid her hand on his shoulder watching her opponents like a hawk. "Are you alright?" she asked him.
He nodded and wrapped his arms around her legs. "I am now." He whimpered as tears slid down his cheeks. "I'm so glad you're here!" he cried.
"I'm terribly sorry for being late." She replied. "You did such a good job protecting everyone. Now go to the ones that were supposed to be watching over you and wait for me." She glance at the two young women her eyes glinting dangerously. "You have until the time I finish here to explain to me why you disregarded your Kakekage's orders and have been allowing a child to protect a room full of adults." She snarled.
The two young women cringed at the dark look in her eyes and nodded as Ryuu ran to stand beside them. Satisfied that he was safe enough she turned her attention to the Dolls and young general in front of her. "I assume Takuma sent you to destroy the council?" she murmured.
"That's right Princess." The lightning user stammered stepping back his dark eyes filled with fear. "I was just following orders. I swear I was. The little Prince protected them so we had no choice to but to attack him as well. You understand right?"
"I do." She replied sheathing her sword and the man visibly relaxed slightly. "However, you should also understand the consequences of your actions." She said as an angry wind whipped around her tossing her violet hair as her chakra flared. "You knew full well what would happen to anyone who attempts to harm Ryuu while I'm living." Her gaze flickered back to the silver haired boy. "One of you cover his eyes." She instructed. "I don't want him to see this."
The blonde girl nodded and quickly pressed her hands over the boy's ruby eyes and Onchou nodded in approval before her fingers flexed and wind blades shot from her hands slicing the man to ribbons as he screamed. "Now to take care of the rest of these vermin." She growled as the Dolls began to close in on her. She drew her sword and funneled her electric chakra into it as fire leapt to life in the palm of her free hand. The first Doll advanced and her hand shot out grabbing it by the face and then was reduced it to ash as she pushed with her fire chakra. She then sliced through the next two with her lightning tinged blade. Her rage only increased as she fought through the Dolls. She was angry as Hell. Angry that Ryuu was in such a dangerous place. It was anger that wasn't directed at the Dolls but the council for making a child defend them.
Just as she was starting to let her rage get the better of her, a familiar chakra signature appeared and a hot desert wind carrying grains of sand brushed past her. The Kazekage materialized behind her and quickly pressed a hand over her eyes blocking everything from her view. "It's alright Onchou." He murmured. "I'll take care of the rest."
She whimpered and trembled as he quickly killed the rest of the Dolls. Tears ran down her face wetting his hand. After a few moments he moved his hand the turned her so that she was facing him. "Onchou. None of this is your fault." He murmured. "Go to him. We'll get this sorted out after you've had your moment."
The violet haired girl nodded and moved towards the ruby eyed child she loved more than life itself and opened her arms to him. "Ryuu." She said as she knelt down.
He studied her his lips trembling and then sprinted to her throwing himself into her embrace. "Onchou!" he sobbed burying his face in her shoulder. "I was so scared!" he cried his hands gripping her thin clothes tightly.
"I know." She murmured smoothing a hand over his hair. "You were incredibly brave though. I am so so proud of you." His little body continued to shake with sobs as she held him. "It's alright now." She assured him. "I'm here. Everything is going to be fine."
Naruto, Kankuro, and Sasuke arrived in the room and their eyes widened at the sight of the dead Dolls and what was left of the General's body strewn about the room.
"What happened here?" Naruto asked glancing around the room.
"I'd like to know that myself." Gaara added crossing his arms over his chest.
"What's wrong with Ryuu?" Naruto asked as he moved to where he and Onchou were huddled together on the floor.
Onchou looked up at her blonde friend. "When I arrived, he was fighting against all twenty Dolls and one of Takuma's generals," her eyes flickered to the Elders. "alone." She spat the word as though it was poison in her mouth.
The Kazekage's eyes narrowed as did Naruto's. Kankuro moved to stand beside his brother crossing his arms over his chest and Sasuke moved to stand next to his blond friend placing a hand on his shoulder to help calm the Uzumaki.
"Why in the hell was this kid fighting alone when I can clearly see seven able bodied ninja and twelve elders!?" The blonde shinobi demanded.
"I'd like to know why he's even here in the first place." Kankuro said. "He should've been with the general civilians not here in the panic room."
Gaara glared at the two young women he'd put in charge of Ryuu's care. "Did you forget what your orders were?" he asked. "I distinctly remember telling you to protect this child."
The two young women cringed. "We are sorry Lord Gaara." The blonde murmured bowing low.
"While we were evacuating the council told us that Onchou was among the enemy and to ensure their safety we were to bring Ryuu with us and follow them to the safe room." The brunette explained.
"They said that if the enemy managed to find the emergency safe houses, that they wouldn't attack Ryuu and we'd be protecting the village that way." The blonde added.
Sasuke's eyes widened and he immediately flashed over to the violet haired girl and wrapped his good arm around her as she moved to stand up. "Don't do it." He whispered feeling her chakra flare.
"You were going to use him as a shield?" she asked her voice soft but rough with anger as she raised her head and glared daggers at the council members. "How dare you!?" she snarled her body shaking as she tried to fight the murderous rage building inside her. "You selfish, arrogant bastards!" she screamed. "All of you make me sick! I should've let those monsters kill you. This village would be better off without you vultures around. You don't respect your Kazekage and you use the children of your village as shields because you're so sure that the village won't survived without you? How conceited! The ones that should be on the council are those out there fighting to defend it! Not a bunch of old cronies and has-beens desperately clinging to power." She gritted her teeth as her grip on Ryuu tightened. "You're no different than the mad scientist that attacked the village today, using up the lives of the next generation to prolong your pathetic lives." She stood up and cradled Ryuu in her arms.
"Onchou." Naruto murmured his eyes wide.
She turned to him. "You'll make a great Hokage one day because you would be the first one to lay down his life for your village. You'd never use a child as your shield like these disgusting excuses for human beings did today." She glanced at the older men and women who flinched under her gaze. "I should kill every last one of you, but I won't because I respect your Kazekage and I know that any blood I spilled would stain his hands as well as mine." She glanced at Gaara. "I'm going back to help with the wounded." She told him.
"Are you sure?" he asked. "I'm sure you're exhausted. Why don't you rest for a while?"
She nodded. "I'll be fine." She glanced down at Ryuu whose ruby eyes studied her filled with concern. "Let's go find Sakura." She said in a cheerful tone smiling at the boy. "Kiba's with her too. I bet he'd let you ride on Akamaru's back if you asked him."
Ryuu's eyes brightened. "Really?!" he exclaimed. "Let's hurry!"
She nodded and dashed out of the room.
Gaara, Kankuro, Naruto and Sasuke all turned to face the council and their guards their eyes blazing.
"You know, I'll be the first to admit that I've done some pretty screwed up things in my life, but I've never even considered making a five year old protect me from a pack of bloodthirsty monsters." Sasuke said.
Gaara nodded. "I agree. It was bad enough that you used Onchou as a shield, but to use Ryuu is simply unforgivable." He glared at them. "I followed your council because I truly believed that you had the village's best interests at heart and I wanted to prove to you that I was worth of this title." He lowered his head. "However I now see that I was mistaken. I betrayed someone dear to me and my own heart when I listened to your council and nearly lost them both forever." He raised his head and glared at the council members. "Perhaps you do have the village's well-being at heart but I can no longer condone such underhanded methods." He said walking towards the door. "As of now, this council is disbanded and a new one will be appointed."
"You can't do that!" an older man raged.
"You're overstepping your authority!" an old woman shrieked.
"You'll be removed as Kazekage!" another man roared.
Gaara looked back at them. "If that is the case then so be it." He replied before he walked through the door. "My ninja way and peace of mind are far more important than any title."
Naruto snickered. "Well would you look at that." He murmured. "Little Gaara is finally all grown up."
Kankruo nodded. "I'm so proud of that kid right now." He said with a grin.
"He'll never get away with this!" a council member growled.
The puppeteer snickered. "Of course he will."
"What do you mean?" the councilman asked.
"Gaara is the only one qualified to be Kazekage no matter how you slice it." Naruto replied as he headed towards the door. "He's never let Suna or The Land of Wind down."
Sasuke nodded. "I'm surprised he didn't do away with this useless lot years ago."
Kankuro glanced at the ninja. "The danger is passed so I suggest you get to work leading the civilians back to the surface." His gaze fell on the two girls assigned to protect Ryuu who shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. "As for you two..." he growled.
"We're terribly sorry." The blonde said bowing low.
"Yes truly sorry." Her brunette partner replied bowing as well.
He shrugged. "If you're not you will be. My sister is very fond of Ryuu. I wonder how she'll react when she finds out that you abandoned your mission to protect him to listen to the men and women who betrayed her little brother that you're so infatuated with."
The brunette cringed. "We are so dead."
The blonde sighed. "Deader than dead."
P.S. Alright! Takuma is finally dead and the world is saved! For now anyway. You know the world of Naruto. It's just a matter of time before someone else tries to take over. The next chapters will wrap things up and have large helpings of sugar to make up for the lack thereof during the past couple of chapters. Thanks for all of the love and support!