CHAPTER 7

Iruka rushed through the forest trying to sense Yamato's chakra, but the rain and wind was making it impossible. From the sheer shock on Sakura's face he knew Yamato had fallen far. I should've stayed with him; I've failed him. "Yamato…wait for me" he pleaded to the wind, "wait for us". He knew Kakashi wouldn't be far, Gai would've sent word.

Kakashi got the message turtle from Gai, he didn't like this. "Tsunade Sama, you'll have to excuse me it's from Gai, he only sends them if his in danger".

She nodded, "Sai go with him. Send word to let me know the situation" the Hokage dismissed them. She had a bad feeling about this and hoped it was a mistake like the last time when Gai had sent it accidently.

Not being able to use Sai's ink birds due to the rain meant locating Gai was difficult. They searched for half an hour, Kakashi trying to sense Gai's chakra which he knew would have been released in abundance so Kakashi could track him. With the rain slowing to a drizzle he finally picked it up. Sai took the opportunity to use his ink birds and they spotted Gai and Sakura running through the forest drenched without rain cloaks. Sakura spotted them and jumped higher into the trees to be pulled onto the bird by Kakashi. "Sakura what happened?" he looked at his student concerned over how battered and bruised she was and wrapped his cloak around her shoulders.

"Kaka Sensei…Its Yamato Taichou, his…his not himself, we have to find him, his injured" she sputtered holding onto her tears. Kakashi's world started spinning. This was the last thing he wanted to hear and he guessed Yamato was the reason for Sakura's bruises. Gai jumped on the bird just then and wrapped an arm around Kakashi's shoulder to bring him back. "Iruka's gone after him, but we can't find either of them. Yamato had a 10 minute lead on Iruka, Sakura and I followed a bit later. The weather isn't helping, we can't sense them".

Kakashi blinked gathering his thoughts and landed the bird. He summoned the Ninken Pack and explained the situation. "Sai, send word to Tsunade Sama and send some ink rodents to find Yamato and Iruka". "Already done Sensei" Sai replied finishing the last rodent on his scroll. He took to the skies again "If I find him, I'll send word using Uhei "and grabbed the Nin dog that he was fond of. Kakashi was glad he had people that cared about Yamato searching, as no one would give up on his lover.

Kakashi looked at Sakura, "Are you going to be ok Sakura?" He was troubled about the internal damage Yamato's attacks could cause, he was well aware of them; being on the receiving end of an angry Yamato a few times when he had teased him beyond reason, this was before they became lovers and Yamato was now much stronger. "We need to find him so I can heal him Kaka Sensei, I'll be OK, it's just bruising" she winced. The pack scattered looking for Yamato in urgency, Pakkun with Kakashi. Bull with Sakura and Urushi with Gai so they had a way to communicate. The pack liked the young man, had known him since he was a child in ANBU with Kakashi and knew he was struggling with his current situation. He was always nice to them and had even forgiven Guruko when he ate Yamato's lunch last week. But tracking him was going to be difficult, they knew his scent already but it had been washed away by the rain.

"Tenzou…" Kakashi whispered and set off. He hadn't used that name for a while; his lover preferred his current name as that's when his life started looking up. But Kakashi had fallen in love with him as Tenzou and fallen further when he was put on his team as Yamato.

Tsunade Sama had a feeling this wasn't going to end happy. The weather had gotten worse and night had fallen without any word of Yamato. Where could he be? she thought. She needed to call the others back before they got injured and into any further trouble but she knew there was no talking Kakashi and Iruka out of the search. Hell, there was going to be no talking any of the others back either. What was she to do? She had some of her most elite Shinobi's out there and Yamato was still nowhere to be found. She hoped it wasn't her worse fear; she had had a look at Yamato's file and was aware of his horrible past in addition to the current torture. She also felt a bond with him and he was the closest thing to kin for the DNA they shared. Please let the walls hold, we can't lose him, she sighed looking out across the village from her window.

She heard him before she saw him. "Granny Tsunade, have you seen Sakura Chan? I can't seem to find her and Sai is gone too. He better not have said anything to get beaten up again, I swear he just likes getting beaten up so she can heal him" Naruto went on, unaware of his teams situation. All the ones he loved and cared for where out there searching in the dark.

"Naruto" she mumbled, "Naruto" she said a bit sterner causing him to look at her, his face changing in concern. "Granny" he said in a low grumble reading her facial expression "what happened? Where are Sakura Chan and Sai?" She knew she had to tell him, he'd find out eventually from the rumour mill, so it was better she handled him now.

She took a deep breath sat down and sighed, "Naruto, we've lost track of Yamato. He seems to have had a break down and took off. There out there looking for him with Kakashi, Iruka and Gai. They've…they've been looking for over 8 hours now with no luck" she finished dropping her head. "The weathers not helping, the Ninken can't pick up his scent, he could be anywhere by now" she added in a low murmur.

Naruto gritted his teeth and turned fisting his hands "Why didn't you summon for me" Naruto growled in anger and frustration was clear on his face. "Naruto you're in no state to be out there, you're still recovering from the war and its dark! Naruto? NARUTO!" she shouted as he took off. "Shit, Genma, Raidou!" The Jounins teleported in immediately answering the Hokage's call. "I need you to keep an eye on Naruto. GO!"

Naruto didn't get far before they caught up with him. He was still recovering from the war after using so much of his chakra and strength that when the war ended he fell very far both mentally and physically. "Naruto-Kun, we know how you feel, but you're in no state to help" Genma grabbed Naruto by the arm. "Kakashi-san and Iruka are out there looking for him, they'll find him, and we can't have you out there getting injured too worrying everyone".

Naruto knew they were right but still he had to do something, he shrugged Genma off and carried on running with Genma and Raidou taking off alongside. "Naruto!" Raidou shouted seeing he wasn't slowing down any time soon. "Don't you think I KNOW?" Naruto shouted back finding it hard to keep a hold of his feelings and glad the rain had gotten heavier to cool him and hide the tears. "His in this state because he was protecting ME! If he wasn't protecting me, he wouldn't have been caught and he wouldn't have been tortured!" Naruto stopped and landed in a clearing. "There always protecting me, Kakashi Sensei, Iruka Sensei, Yamato Taichou…how can I sit back when it was my fault? I can't lose any more people" the last bit was said in a whisper through clenched teeth trying to hold back the emotion. Genma and Raidou looked on at the boy who was the hero of the five nations and felt pride and pity for him at the same time. Genma laid a hand on his shoulders and sighed "We'll find him but let's come up with a plan first so we can locate one of the search parties hmm?" Naruto contemplated Genma for a minute and smiled softly.

"Kage Bunshin" and two clones appeared to the Jounins surprise; they were expecting 100's to scour the forest but were relieved to see just two. The clones sat down and gathered natural energy and 10 minutes later Naruto was in Sage mode. "The Ninken can't sense Yamato Taichou because of the rain, but in Sage mode I can feel everyone's chakra" he explained. "Naruto…" Raidou started but knew there was no point finishing as the boy had made up his mind. He was amazed to see how the child had matured and grown. Naruto's body was taking longer to heal than usual as he'd been in Kyuubi mode throughout most of the war and it had taken its toll. But he had been resting for the last 5 months and Raidou hoped he was OK to be using such powerful techniques again. He found himself in constant awe of the child that had been written off so early on in his life. He watched the boy as he searched frantically for his team who believed and protected him, it was all the only family the child had and Raidou knew there was no stopping Naruto.

Naruto concentrated "Sai and Sakura-Chan at 9 O'clock. Iruka Sensei and Gai Sensei at 11 O'clock. Kaka Sensei at 12 O'clock and two Nin dogs at 1 and 2 O'clock. Taichou…Taichou" he was having trouble finding Yamato's chakra signature. Something strange caught his sense "There's a strange signature coming from this one location underground…I don't know what it is but… there's…there's someone there!" Naruto concentrated his chakra further at that one point and then recognised the faint signature "Yamato Taichou!" he creased his forehead and frowned "But…but there's something else there too…"