Darthemius: Oh my god… Oh shit… Oh fuck…
Naruto: Okay! Narita battle scene! Action!
Darthemius (Hesitantly): C-Cornelia? I… I will defeat you!
Ultimecia: I do not think so, Zero. Hell's Judgement!
Darthemius (Running away in horror): SHIIIIIIIIIIT!
Aizen: Zero, your methods are wrong. You're not using hollows. Hadou #63: Raikouhou!"
Darthemius (Running to the other side): FUUUUUUUUUCK!
Sephiroth: Zero! You will pay for my humiliation. Meteor!
Darthemius: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!
Tifa: I will protect Zero! Final Heaven!
Darthemius: NOOOOOO! Stop it!
Naruto: Cut! Okay, what the hell is with you, man?
Darthemius (Panting heavily): What's up with me? Huff… Huff… I'm on the verge of death every fucking minute! Everyone is trying to kill me! Even Tifa! And she's supposed to protect me!
Naruto (Scratching the back of his head): Well yeah, I feel for you, Darth. But what can I do? You're the main character, so enjoy.
Darthemius: Fuck you! I don't wanna die!
Naruto (Shrugging): Did you forget how much we've been paid?
Darthemius (After a pause): Fine then. At least let me take a break. I need to do a few things first.
Naruto: Things like what?
Darthemius: Write my last will… and talk to the readers a little.
Naruto: Sure. Hey, everyone! Break twenty minutes!
Darthemius: Whew, another survived scene… Oh, hi guys. Sorry for being too long on updates recently, but I had a problem. The problem was with this story. Yeah, you see I know how to end it already. But to bet there certain conditions must be met. Especially one in particular. And I wrote a whole chapter to get there… But then I didn't like it and decided to rewrite. And I was so pissed off (that chapter was very long) so I kind of forgot it was time to update.
But rejoice, here is the new chapter! And one more thing. I confess, I made a mistake. I should've explained Tsubaki's situation in the previous chapter somehow. By doing what I did, I made it look like she was losing to Hinata wihout Kyuubi's power. When in reality she was mostly fighting with herself. Don't worry, you will get it after this chapter.
Anyway, I just want to thank everyone who was following my stories so far and…
Naruto: Break over!
Darthemius: And I guess someone else will have to take over after my death. Wish me luck…
...
Chapter twenty two: One step away.
"Shin-ne!" – talks.
'Nah.' – thoughts.
"You will." – demonic.
...
Hokage mansion. Tsubaki's room…
"So…" Minato began, looking down at his peacefully sleeping daughter. "Will I have to deal with this every time someone challenges her?"
"I don't think so." Jiraiya replied, shaking his head. "Not many things can anger your daughter so much now, Minato. Perhaps this Hinata girl said something really out of place. Otherwise it wouldn't have come to this."
Yondaime took a deep breath. "Okay, I'll talk to Hinata about this. Just…" He paused. "Just tell me one thing, how could this happen? What purpose did he pursue?"
"Well, you have to understand that I haven't been there in person, but…" Jiraiya said. "From Tsubaki-chan's words it happened like this…"
Flashback. Three years ago…
"Huh?" Red haired girl exclaimed in confusion. "Where the hell am I?"
Indeed, Tsubaki has found herself in a completely different place than she went to sleep in. Last she remembered correctly she and Jiraiya were in a forest. And this place looked like a… sever.
"Come…" Suddenly echoed. "Come to my voice. Find me."
"Who are you?" Tsubaki asked, standing up. "Where am I?"
"Find me and I'll explain everything."
Tsubaki paused to think for a second. 'Who could this be?' She thought and took one step forward. Then another and another… 'Doesn't matter. It's not like I know how to leave this place on my own and this… someone said he'll explain something.'
"Turn now." The voice said and Tsubaki did as she was told… only to find herself in front of a large cell.
"What is…?" She began, but words died in her throat when two burning red eyes appeared behind said cell.
"So my jailor has finally decided to pay me a visit."
Tsubaki's eyes narrowed. "Ah, I see… So you must be the Kyuubi no yoko."
"Indeed I am." Nine-tailed fox answered. "I assume you have many questions for me."
"You are correct to assume that." The girl stated. "First of all, why did you attack my village all those years ago?"
"How fascinating…" Kyuubi muttered instead of an answer. "I do not see any hint of fear in your eyes, stance or words. You are truly a worthy specimen to be my jailor. I'm not even mentioning your beauty…"
"You haven't answered my question." Tsubaki interrupted harshly.
The fox grinned. "Indeed, I did not. Very well. That was not the question I'd like to answer, but if you wish to know the truth then so be it. Remember when your father told you that you hold me inside?"
"I do." Tsubaki's glare intensified. "But if this is some kind of attempt to turn me against my father then…"
"It is not." The demon interrupted. "I was just going to say that your father forgot to mention about the person who held me before you."
Girl's eyebrows rose. "Before me?"
"The woman you call your mother."
"What?"
"It's true." Kyuubi stated. "Uzumaki Kushina was my jailor before you. She was pretty good at it too. However there is one moment when the seal weakens greatly. The moment of child birth. And someone used it to his advantage."
"What do you mean by that?" Tsubaki asked.
"One man came when Kushina was giving birth. And he used his cursed power to set me free."
"I see… So this man is responsible for the destruction of my village."
"Yes."
"Who is this man?"
"That is not important." Kyuubi exclaimed to Tsubaki's shock.
"What do you mean not important? Of course it is! Don't you want vengeance on that person for using you?" The red head shouted.
"I do." The demon stated. "Right now however, that is really irrelevant."
"How is it irrelevant?" Tsubaki asked.
"It is irrelevant because I'm more interested in survival than vengeance."
Tsubaki's eyes widened at this. "Survival? But father and Jiraiya-san said you are immortal! What can possibly threaten you?"
"Your brother." Kyuubi said grimly.
"Naruto…" Tsubaki whispered.
"Indeed." The fox began. "The one who contains my other part… The one you fell in love with… The one who left you…"
The girl gritted her teeth. "That's none of your business." She said dangerously.
"You are wrong, it is." Kyuubi stated. "For his actions have led to the point where without your help I'm particularly doomed."
"But… But how?"
"What you do not know, Tsubaki, is that when Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina performed the sealing the later was very low on chakra. So my power was not divided equally. One of the two holds much bigger part of me."
"Who?" Tsubaki knew the answer already, but decided to ask anyway.
"Naruto. But that is only half of the problem."
"How so?"
"I don't know how it happened, or what was my other half thinking…" The demon began. "But for some reason Uzumaki Naruto gained those cursed eyes…"
"You mean Sharingan?" Tsubaki asked.
"Yes. And not just any Sharingan, but its ultimate version."
"Ultimate version? Is it some advanced stage? How can one get it?"
"He took someone else's eyes and replaced his own with them."
Tsubaki gasped in shock. "You mean… he actually took another person's eyes?"
"Correct. But we're not here to discuss that. What's important is that with these eyes he could control my other part. He took my power for his own and in the end… he completely destroyed my other consciousness."
"Destroyed in which way?" Tsubaki asked cautiously.
"In every way." Kyuubi replied. "It simply ceased to exist. The analog would be a living human with a dead brain. It happens sometimes…"
"I… I understand." Tsubaki squeezed out of herself. "But you still have consciousness."
"Yes, I do. However that won't be enough." The demon said. "Remember when I said that I am weaker than my other part? The truth is I'm about three times weaker."
"So Naruto is three times stronger than me…" Tsubaki muttered.
"Indeed. But what's important for me is that one quarter of power is not enough for resurrection." The fox said. "I will explain. It does not matter how many times I am sealed, in the end I can still break free. But the thing is that the weaker part is always absorbed by the stronger one. So it doesn't actually matter which one of you two dies first, I will still be absorbed by my other half…"
"And its brain is dead." The girl finished for him.
"Exactly. The moment both parts are out of the seal I will vanquish forever. And I prefer for that not to happen. So I am proposing a deal…"
"A deal?"
"Yes. I help you and you help me. Simple." Kyuubi stated. "You want to return him, right? But you assume he won't come voluntarily, and you don't have enough power to bring him back by force. Besides, he can control my power in him perfectly."
"What's your point?" Tsubaki asked angrily.
"The point is that you need my power and I am willing to grant it. I will give you a full access to my power in exchange for one thing."
Gril's eyes narrowed. "And what is that thing?"
Kyuubi paused. "You must promise me that when you do bring Uzumaki Naruto back, you will convince Namikaze Minato and his mentor Jiraiya to transfer my other half in you so I can be complete."
Tsubaki tilted her head. "Are you sure that's even possible?"
Kyuubi held another pause. "I am not… However if there is someone who can possibly manage that, it's these two. Also, if that will prove to be not possible, then I will settle for another solution."
"Which is?"
"Seal my other part completely." The demon stated. "Imprison it within Naruto forever so when his death comes, my other part dies with him. Unlike option one I am sure that this is possible…"
"And you will seal away your own power?" Tsubaki asked.
"Yes, if it means my survival."
"I… Very well. I need your power so I'll do what I can as long as no harm will come to me or Naruto."
"Good." Kyuubi said. "Now I must warn you that my power will be very hard to control. I am giving you full access, so it does not matter how much you use, there will be no harm for you. However there is a downside…"
"There always is…" Tsubaki commented.
"Oh, indeed! Your downside is that your emotions will be much more difficult to control. Especially strong ones like hatred, passion and despair. You will have to learn to control them perfectly. I'll help you in training, but in battle you will have to depend only on yourself."
"I understand. What must I do?"
"Nothing, I will do everything. Expect yourself to be feeling differently in the morning." Kyuubi replied. "That was all I had to say, but before you go, there is one more thing you should know. It's about your brother…"
End flashback…
"That is why I had to teach her to control natural energy." Jiraiya explained. "It gives her far better control of her emotions."
"I… I see…" Minato muttered, trying to digest everything he was just told. "Tell me, sensei… did she use it during our fight today?"
Jiraiya closed his eyes. "She did not."
Yondaime smirked. "So that's how it is, huh? I guess I should not be the Hokage anymore eh?" His smirk then faded. "What will happen when she learns that we have no information on him?"
"Nothing." The sannin stated. "I said she can control herself pretty well. But we shouldn't delay this for long. I will start gathering info right away, but when I find him…"
"What then?"
Grey haired man sighed. "I know you will try to stop your daughter from going, but I must insist that you won't."
Minato's eyes narrowed. "And why not?"
"Because she won't be able to control herself then."
Yondaime's eyebrows rose. "You mean you tried?"
"Many times." Jiraiya stated. "And she always got angry once I started. But if you try… I'm afraid she will snap."
"I… I understand." The blonde man nodded. "However you have yet to find anything. In the mean time I will give Tsubaki some missions to get her back in shape for teamwork and maybe ease her mind on this case…"
The next morning…
"Mmm… Wha…?" Tsubaki slowly opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. "I'm… I'm home? But how?" She sat up and tried to remember. 'I was on the training field fighting Hinata and then…'
"You lost control." Kyuubi finished for her.
Girl's jaw clenched. "Again…"
"Don't be too hard on yourself, you were justified this time."
"No, I was not!" Tsubaki snapped, placing both hands on her head. "Damn it all!"
"Calm down, Tsubaki. This girl…"
"Did nothing!" The red head shouted. "She just said a few words and here I go throwing your chakra around!"
The demon sighed. "True. But pitying yourself will give you nothing. Learn from your failure and become stronger."
Tsubaki looked down. "Well, I guess you're right." She smiled. "Besides, I wouldn't call it a failure. I did kick her ass pretty bad."
Kyuubi chuckled. "That you did. Now get up and let's see what information your father has."
"Right!" Tsubaki dressed up immediately and went to the door. But when she opened it…
"Huh? Hinata?" Red haired girl asked in confusion, looking directly into a pair of lavender eyes. 'She looks startled. I think she was struggling with the decision to knock on my door.'
"I think you're right." Kyuubi confirmed. "Her heart rate intensified drastically when she saw you."
Tsubaki's eyes narrowed. "So, what do I owe?"
"I…" Hinata looked away. "I'm… I came to apologize."
Tsubaki tilted her head to the side. "Apologize?"
"Yes." Hinata took a deep breath. "I… Look, I know I can't just say I'm sorry and we become good friends just like that."
"Damn right."
"But I just wanted to apologize for what I said yesterday." Hinata looked down. "I know you cared for him too…"
"I still do." Tsubaki interrupted.
"Of course. So what I said yesterday it was… low. I'm sorry." Hinata's voice became quiet. "But I just want you to understand. I… I couldn't just move on like nothing happened. I had to believe in something. I had to believe I can do something! So I just had to blame someone. And… Shit, I know how that sounds, but I guess I'm sorry it had to be you." She added, smiling sadly.
Tsubaki mirrored Hinata's smile. "Lucky you… I had to blame myself."
Hinata's smile faded. "Look, Tsubaki, I…"
"I know…" The red head interrupted, raising her hand. "But we won't get anywhere by apologizing the whole day. So how about we just forget about it?"
Hinata's eyes widened. "Just… Just like that?"
Tsubaki smiled warmly. "Sure, I can see that you're sorry. And since we both want to bring him back so much…" She extended her hand. "Then how about we simply stop bitching, find his sorry ass, kick it as hard as we can and bring it back together?"
"Hmhmhmhmhm…" Hinata closed her eyes and chuckled. "There you go again with your attitude. But…" She took Tsubaki's hand and smiled back. "I guess I can do that."
"Great. Now I'll just have to see father and…"
"Oh, by the way." Hinata interrupted. "He asked me to bring you to him."
"Then what are we waiting for?"
Hokage's office…
"What do you mean you have no information?" Tsubaki's shout echoed through the village.
Minato just raised his hands apologetically with a sheepish smile on his face. "I'm sorry, but he is a very difficult person to track. And that's not surprising if he can use the you-know-what."
Tsubaki's eyes narrowed. 'Hiraishin.'
"He can use what?" Hinata asked.
"I'll explain later." Tsubaki replied. "So what do you suggest I do in the meantime?"
Minato smiled beamingly. "The thing you were training for! I have several missions for a person with your skills! Some really dangerous ones." He added suggestively.
Tsubaki sighed sadly. "I wasn't training for that."
"Look, kiddo…" Jiraiya spoke. "I know what you were training for, but currently we have no leads on his whereabouts. And that doesn't cancel the fact that you are still an active shinobi of Konohagakure. Which means you have to follow your father's orders."
Tsubaki looked down. "I guess."
"Oi, cheer up, you hear?" Jiraiya exclaimed. "Doing some missions will prove useful in the long run. With all that training you surely forgot how to work on a team. And you'll need a good team to bring him down."
"Yeah, you're right… So, what is the mission?"
Minato smiled. "Well, at first we'll have to wait for…"
Suddenly the door opened.
"Hokage-sama?" Sakura began, entering the room. "I brought Kakashi-sensei."
"Ah, excellent! Good thing I called for him two hours earlier." Minato nodded. "So while you still don't have the fourth member, your cell will be accompanied by Hinata here."
"Me?" Said girl asked.
"Yes." Yondaime stated. "You are a professional in infiltration and assassination, and this mission requires such skills."
"Hai!"
"So…" Minato continued. "This is an A-rank mission in the land of Lightning. An assassination."
Kakashi's only visible eye narrowed. "Lightning? That makes it double dangerous. The relationship between Konoha and Kumo has always been shaky at best."
"Indeed." Minato nodded. "But that's not the hardest part. You must make sure that Kumo gets blamed for this assassination."
"Hmm… interesting." Tsubaki muttered.
"Very." Kakashi added. "Alright, we'll take it. I know a couple of Kumo shinobi that we can blame for this. After all, I copied their skills pretty well."
"Good. So team seven, your first mission starts now! Go and…"
PUFF.
"What the…?" Minato stood up from his chair.
A single ANBU appeared in a cloud of smoke.
"Hokage-sama, we have a situation." One Uzuki Yugao said with a deadly serious expression on her face.
'I don't like the sound of this.' Yondaime's eyes narrowed. "What is it?"
"We have just received an emergency message from Suna." Yugao placed a single scroll on the desk. "And I'm requesting to be placed on the team."
Tsubaki's eyebrows rose at this.
"Ten to one it's about him."
'I'd say one hundred to one.' The red head replied.
Minato gritted his teeth taking the scroll. 'Damn it! Why couldn't she wait at least a minute!' He thought as he began to read. "Oh no…"
"What is it, father?" Tsubaki asked cautiously.
"It's nothing, Tsubaki. Just a simple request from Kazekage. Anyway, you have your mission so…"
"It saddens me that you are lying to me, father." The girl replied.
Yondaime's fist clenched. "Look, Tsubaki. I am your father and…"
"What's in the letter?"
Minato closed his eyes. "Kazekage has been kidnapped… by Akatsuki."
Everyone's eyes widened at this.
"You… You mean they actually kidnapped him from his village?" Kakashi asked.
"Yes."
"Who was it?" Tsubaki asked.
Minato looked away. "Look, Tsubaki…"
"Who, father?"
"…Jin Kisaragi."
Tsubaki's heart skipped a beat.
Flashback…
"Protect… me?"
"Sure!" Tsubaki's smile grew. "I always protect my friends! That's a promise!"
"A promise…"
End flashback…
"They're going to take it from him, right? They are going to kill him."
Minato sighed. "Most likely."
Tsubaki's eyes narrowed. "I'm going."
Yondaime looked at his daughter sharply. "You shouldn't…!" But before he could finish he felt a hand land on his shoulder.
"We spoke about this, Minato. Remember?" Jiraiya said.
Minato struggled with himself for some moments, but then closed his eyes and sighed again.
"Very well." He said. "You are on the team… all of you."
"What do you mean all of us?" The toad hermit asked.
"Exactly what it sounds." The Hokage stated. "The mission is to report to Sunagakure's command and if possible find any traces of Kazekage or… his kidnappers. Leave immediately. It's a three day trip, so…"
"It is not." Tsubaki suddenly interrupted. "I need you all to join hands…"
"You can't be serious, Tsubaki!" Minato shouted. "Even I can't teleport so far! You will…!"
"She can do it, Minato." Jiraiya interrupted. "You would be amazed at the real amount of power your daughter holds now. All of you take Tsubaki-chan's hand. Direct contact is necessary."
"Umm… what's going on?" Sakura asked.
"Tsubaki-chan is going to use sensei's Hiraishin no jutsu to transport us to Suna instantly."
"Yes, however it will be on foot from there since I don't know where they were heading. And even if I knew, I would've needed a beacon."
"Are you sure she can do that, sensei?" Minato asked worriedly.
Tsubaki smiled at him. "Have some faith in me, father."
"Still…" Jiraiya spoke. "It will be much harder than last time. It's six people now instead of just two. Can you handle it, kid?"
"I'll do it." Tsubaki stated firmly. "Expect us back soon, father. Hiraishin no jutsu!"
Six people disappeared in a flash of red and Minato landed back in his chair with yet another sigh.
"That won't end well…"
Sunagakure no sato. Kankurou's hospital room…
"Hmm… I'll have to disappoint you here, girl." Chiyo stated, looking down at the medical file. "I never had an experience with this kind of poison. But even if I had, I haven't practiced my medical skills in a very long time. So I doubt I could be of any help."
Temari frowned. "I understand… Sorry for bothering you, Chiyo-sama."
The old woman waved her hand. "It's nothing, girl." She turned to Baki. "Was it my grandson's work?"
"It was." The jounin replied. "He asked for it to be used especially on a puppeteer."
Chiyo grinned. "Hmhmhm… Insolent as always."
Then the door suddenly opened.
"Over here, please!" Single Suna chuunin said and several ninjas in Konoha headbands rushed into the room. One of them was…
"Konoha's White Fang?" Chiyo shouted in rage. "I will kill you!"
"Wait, Chiyo-sama!" A red haired girl got in her way.
"Oh, Tsubaki-chan! How have you been?" Chiyo said and shook her head. "Wait a second, where was I? Oh yes! Konoha's White Fang! I'll kill…!"
"That's not Konoha's White Fang, Chiyo-sama." Tsubaki stated. "That's his son."
Old woman's eyebrows rose. "Really? Oh yes, I mean I knew that of course. Ahehehe…"
"You guys…" Temari walked to the group. "How did you get here so fast?"
"Tsubaki-chan teleported us here with her jutsu." Jiraiya explained. "Better tell us what happened."
"Of course." Baki nodded. "However Kankurou…"
"Please save my brother!" Temari pleaded.
"Sakura." Kakashi said. "I believe it's your turn."
"Hai!" Pink haired girl replied. "I'll do my best."
Chiyo tilted her head in amusement. "Do you actually think she can neutralize a poison even I had no experience with?"
"Of course. She's Tsunade's student after all." Jiraiya stated.
"Ah, that explains it…"
"What's wrong, Tsubaki?" Hinata suddenly asked. "You look tired."
"Y-Yeah…" Said girl leaned on the wall for support. "That jutsu took a lot out of me. It would've been easier if there were not so many people to transport."
"It's okay, kid. Go take a rest for a few hours." Jiraiya turned to Baki. "Can you arrange a room for her?"
The jounin nodded his head. "Right away, Jiraiya-sama."
"N-No!" Tsubaki tried to sound more refreshed than she looked. "I'm ready to go, just…"
"Just go and do what I say." Jiraiya interrupted. "We still need to find their location first. And even if we get there in time, do you think that Akatsuki will give up their prey that easily? No, you will need to be one hundred percent if we are to face them… especially if one of them is Jin."
That last word did the trick.
"Very well." The girl bowed her head in resignation.
"Takeru! Please escort Tsubaki-san to one of our spare rooms." Baki commanded.
"Right away, Baki-sama. This way, Tsubaki-san…"
"This one sure is stubborn." Baki commented, watching Tsubaki's retreating back. "There is something you must know though, Jiraiya-sama. Can I speak with you privately?"
"Yes." The sannin nodded and they walked away from the others. "What do you want to speak about?"
The Suna jounin held a pause. "Jin Kisaragi… He used Yondaime Hokage's jutsu to escape."
Jiraiya took a deep breath. "Yes, I know…"
Baki's eyes widened. "You… know?"
"I know he can use it…" The hermit muttered. "I never expected him to be so daring though. To use that in front of the entire village…"
"Well, he used a pretty good distraction so I doubt many people actually saw how he escaped. But Temari and I saw him perfectly. We stood right in front of him."
"Interesting…" Jiraiya rubbed his chin. "And what was the distraction?"
"Oh, he dispelled his summon, creating a large smoke screen."
Jiraiya's eyebrows shot up. "A summon? Now that is interesting indeed! I never knew he possessed a contract. What was the summon?"
"It was a snake, Jiraiya-sama." Baki stated.
Sannin's eyebrows were about to escape his forehead. "What the fu… Sorry, how big was the summon? Did he call its name?"
"I believe he said… Manda."
"Son of a…" Jiraiya gritted his teeth. 'I should've known. After all, he was Orochimaru's apprentice…'
"Jiraiya-sama?"
"It's nothing." The sannin exclaimed, shaking his head. "Look, Baki, tell no one about the jutsu. Minato wants Kisaragi alive… for now at least. We will discuss the matter once we get him into our custody."
"Are you sure you can do that?" The jounin asked.
Jiraiya smirked confidently. "You bet…"
Back with others…
"Yugao?"
"…"
"Yugao!"
"Huh?" The woman snapped out of her daydream. "I'm sorry, Kakashi-sempai. Did you say something?"
The masked man rolled his eyes. 'I swear I won't say this line ever again…' He thought. "Yes, I did say something. You were silent since the mission started. What's on your mind?"
Yugao's eyes narrowed. "You know exactly what's on my mind."
Kakashi's expression hardened. "Indeed I do. And that is why I started this discussion."
"What's your point, sempai?"
"Are you going to stay professional through the course of the mission?" Kakashi asked bluntly. "Or will you become a liability?"
Purple haired woman's fists clenched. "You will not take this opportunity from me, Kakashi." She said harshly. "Or have you forgotten that I'm the ANBU commander now? I outrank you on the field."
Kakashi closed his only visible eye. "That you do… But tell me, do you outrank Jiraiya as well?"
"Tch." Yugao hissed.
"Exactly. And right now he is in charge of our squad. So I'm going to ask again. Will you stay professional, or should I ask Jiraiya to send you back to Konoha?"
The ANBU commander gritted her teeth. "Fine, Kakashi. You have my word."
"Very well then. I hope you'll stay true to it…"
"Done!" Sakura exclaimed cheerfully. "The poison is not out of his body entirely, but his life in no immediate danger anymore."
"Thank god…" Temari said in relief.
"I'll need to make an antidote though." Pink haired girl continued. "Do you have herbs here?"
"Of course, right this way, Sakura-san."
"That girl sure is handy." Chiyo stated.
"That she is." Kakashi nodded his head.
"So, did we miss something?" Jiraiya asked as he and Baki returned to the room.
"Sakura has stabilized Kankurou." Kakashi replied.
"That's good to know." Baki stated.
"Now we can start looking for the enemy." Masked jounin continued. "Can you show me the battle site? I may not look like it, but I'm a professional tracker."
Baki paled somewhat at this. "Umm…"
"There might be a problem with that, Kakashi." Jiraiya explained. "They didn't leave by normal means…"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well…"
"There's no need for that." Kankurou raised his voice for the first time. "Have you recovered my puppets?"
"Yes, Kankurou-dono."
"Check Karasu's left arm."
Baki did so, retrieving a small piece of cloth. "What is it?"
"It's a piece of that girl's cloak." Kankurou stated. "I retrieved it while she thought I was incapacitated."
Suna jounin smiled. "Well done, Kankurou." He stood up and offered the piece to Kakashi. "Will this do?"
Grey haired shinobi nodded. "Yes, that will do perfectly. Kuchiose no jutsu!"
PUFF.
"What do you want, Kakashi?" One of eight appeared dogs asked.
Kakashi offered a piece of cloth to the dogs. "Pakkun, I want you to find this person as quick as possible."
"Hmm… Won't be easy, but we're the best." Pakkun said after sniffing the cloth. "I will report once we have something."
"Good." Kakashi nodded. "Remember, Pakkun, as soon as possible. This is a critical matter."
"…Very well. Expect an update in six hours."
Tsubaki's room…
"I told you not to stand in my way."
SLASH.
"NO!" Tsubaki sat up on her bed sharply. "Damn it…"
"That dream again?" Kyuubi asked.
"Yes…" The girl sighed and rubbed her eyes. "Come to think of it, I don't even have a scar… Is that because of you?"
"It is." The demon stated. "I concluded that scars shouldn't touch such beauty."
"Beauty, huh…" Tsubaki smirked. "You know, it's not the first time I hear you mention my looks. Are you… you know, male?"
"I am as a matter of fact. Why?"
"Nothing, just wanted to check." She looked out the window. "The sun is starting to rise. Is it morning already?"
"Yes. You have slept through the night."
Girl's eyes widened. "What? Why didn't you wake me up?"
"You were still tired, besides…" Tsubaki could swear Kyuubi was grinning right now. "I just enjoy the look on your face when you're asleep."
The girl blushed. "Screw you."
"You can't, you're too small."
"Tch. That's it, I'm out of here." She stood up and went for the door. "Let's see if they have found anything…"
Outside…
"What do you mean I'm not going?" Temari shouted in outrage.
"Exactly what it sounds." Baki exclaimed. "You are going on patrol."
"Now? When my brother is about to die?"
"Oh, everybody is ready to go I see…"
"Tsubaki-chan!" Jiraiya exclaimed happily. "Excellent that you're here. Now we can finally depart."
Tsubaki's eyebrows rose. "You actually got the location?"
"What, you had any doubts?" The toad sannin asked.
The red head tilted her head skeptically. "Do you want an honest answer?"
Jiraiya frowned. "No, I'd rather hear a lie…"
Temari shook her head. "Anyway, that's not a question. I'm going and that's that. They'll need a Suna shinobi to guide them anyway."
"If that's the case…" Sudden voice began. "Then I'm sure I will be more than enough."
Temari turned her head. "Chiyo-sama?"
"Were you expecting someone else?" The old woman asked.
Temari gave her a knowing look. "No, I was not. Well, I'm fine if Chiyo-sama is going with them."
"Are you sure you're up for it?" Jiraiya asked. "I mean your age is…"
"I know my age perfectly, boy." Chiyo said, making Tsubaki snicker. "And I know my limits pretty well too. Believe me when I say that I can still give many youngsters a time of their life…"
Silence.
"You… Maybe you wanted to say 'a run for their money', Chiyo-sama?" Temari asked.
"Yes… Wasn't that what I said?" The old woman asked back.
"No, umm…" Tsubaki blushed. "You said about giving youngsters a time of their life…"
"Oh…" Chiyo looked taken aback. "Well… I still got that too, ahehehe…"
"Sure you do…" Jiraiya said, rolling his eyes. "Come on, let's move."
Akatsuki base…
"I'm a roller babe… I'm a rider babe…"
"Stop that, Kisaragi." Pain said with annoyed expression on his face. "You've been singing that for the last three hours."
"Oh yeah? Well I've also been standing in the same spot for the last two days." Jin replied. "Besides, why the fuck must we all do that? Can't you do it by yourself since you're… you know, a god?"
Pain growled. "You're testing my patience, Kisaragi. Be silent, or…"
"Or you'll do what?" Naruto asked sarcastically. "You know we can't move for the rest of the day. And even if we could I can always run away…"
"How brave of you." Tayuya commented.
"Oh, shut it!" The blond snapped. "Must we all be present for this damn extraction? I mean can't we just assign it like we did with jinchuriki?"
"No, if all of us are not present then it will take even longer to extract the biju." Pain stated.
"Oh, fuck it…" Naruto said with a frown. "Well, can't we at least move? I mean my ass is itching and…"
"We've got intruders." Zetsu suddenly stated.
"What?" Pain asked. "Do you know any of them?"
"I do." Plant-man replied. "In fact all of you know them. One is Jiraiya of the sannin, and the other is the Kyuubi jinchuuriki."
Silence.
"It's too soon. We cannot allow them to interrupt the extraction." Pain said. "We will use that jutsu. And since you wanted to move so much, Kisaragi…"
"Wait a second." Tayuya suddenly exclaimed. "Can I go instead?"
Pain raised an eyebrow. "Why would you volunteer?"
The girl smirked. "I have my reasons."
"Hmm… Very well. But you know what awaits you if you fail."
"Yeah, I do…"
River country forest…
"How long?" Kakashi asked his summon.
"Not much." Pakkun replied. "We'll be there soon. Surprisingly the trail was easy to trace."
"What do you mean?" Yugao asked. "I can't believe he slipped up like that."
"And I don't either." Jiraiya added. "Are you trying to say that…?"
"Yes, someone purposely left a fine trail for us to follow." The small dog stated. "And I think… wait!"
"What is it?" Kakashi asked.
"There is a presence up ahead." Pakkun stated. "One human… a girl."
"Alright, everybody down!" Jiraiya commanded and the entire squad landed on the ground right in front of the unknown person.
"Ah, at last you're here!" The girl said, running a hand through her long red hair and smiling evilly from ear to ear. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this…"
...
Darthemius: Wow! A cat fight coming! See you soon!
Sephiroth and Aizen: Zero!
Darthemius: Or not…