: I'm pretty sure that even if Kyuubi became twice as powerful as Canon, even after having his two halves reunited, he wouldn't hold a candle to the Juubi.
madmanmark666: My fanfic is that good to you? Wow, thanks. But you're giving me too much credit. As Harry Aizen showed, my knowledge of the Harry-verse is very limited, so is my knowledge of the Bleach-verse.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 10: Two years later
Jiraiya and Naruto were walking through a forest, headed for Konoha now that their training trip was over.
While Jiraiya was mostly unchanged, Naruto grew up to Jiraiya's neck and his hair lengthened with two bangs framing his face. All in all, he looked like a whiskered Yondaime. The cloth of his headband was changed to a longer, black headband.
But Jiraiya was worried about something else. He found out through his spy network that Akatsuki recruited a new member very recently. A Nuke-nin, though what village he hailed from was unknown, with a fearsome reputation. And if one specific detail about him was legitimate... Jiraiya felt dread simply thinking about it.
"Hey, is that...?" Kotetsu asked as he saw Naruto and Jiraiya walk through the gate.
"Yeah! No mistake about that!" Izumo answered.
"To be back after two and a half years..." Naruto said. "Hope you don't mind if I take in the sights."
Jiraiya chuckled. "Go right ahead."
Naruto dropped his backpack and ran up a pole that stood higher than the buildings. As he looked to the distance, he took in the view of the village. It was a sight to behold. That much was true, no matter what his opinion about it was. In fact, he could see that, in his absence, Konoha added Tsunade's face to the Hokage Monument.
"Naruto?" He heard a female voice call out to him. He looked down and saw Sakura, Konohamaru, Udon and Moegi. "When did you get back?"
"Just now!" Naruto said as he jumped down and stood in front of Sakura. "Long time no see."
She also grew taller, unsurprisingly, and had a new attire. She now donned a red top along with black shorts, underneath a short grey apron skirt. She also wore black gloves, grey elbow protectors and black, low-heel, calf-high boots. She now had a red headband that she wore in the same fashion as before.
Konohamaru, Udon and Moegi also grew up. Konohamaru's outfit was mostly the same, with the exception of a green jacket. Moegi wore a sleeveless purple vest over a violet t-shirt, layered skirt and mid-thigh boots. Udon wore a black vest and blue pants. All three of them had a headband.
"Hey, Naruto-niichan!" Konohamaru, Udon and Moegi greeted at the same time.
"Nice to see you three as well." Naruto smiled. "I see you all graduated."
The trio held their headbands proudly.
The group did small talk as Naruto and Jiraiya headed for the Hokage Tower.
"It's been a while, you two." Tsunade greeted. "I hope the training worked out well."
"You think we'd come back if it hadn't?" Jiraiya asked.
"I think she doubts your teaching skills when we travel to places that have hot springs." Naruto smirked.
Jiraiya mock-glared at Naruto while Tsunade, Shizune and Sakura held their giggles.
"At any rate, I will see the results for myself." Tsunade said.
"A test, then?" Naruto asked.
Tsunade nodded. "You will be facing against a certain man. I've kept him off missions for that purpose."
Just as she was about to announce his opponent, someone knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Tsunade said.
The door opened and Shikamaru and Temari walked in. While Shikamaru was mostly unchanged, other than growing up, Temari had a new attire. She wore a short-sleeved black kimono that reached down to her legs, with a slit on the side for leg movement. She wore fingerless gloves and had her headband on her forehead, instead of around her neck.
"Hey." Shikamaru greeted, not noticing Naruto.
Naruto looked at Tsunade with a raised eyebrow, but the Godaime shook her head.
"Ah, Shikamaru, Temari-san, look who just returned!" Sakura said as she pointed at Naruto.
Shikamaru smiled. "Hey, it's actually you, Naruto!" He said.
"How's it going, Shikamaru? Temari-san?" Naruto greeted.
"This is quite the reunion." A familiar voice said from outside the window.
"He's your opponent, Naruto." Tsunade said, making Naruto look out the window to look at Kakashi.
When the Jonin turned to Naruto, it took most of his will to not look shocked at how much he looked like his father. He then eye-smiled. "Yo, Naruto."
"You haven't changed a bit." Naruto said, amused. "Speaking of which, I got something for you." He jumped out of the window and stood on the roof.
Tsunade and Sakura looked at the scene with a wave of nostalgia.
"What!?" Kakashi said, looking shocked at the gift Naruto was giving him.
The newest edition of the Icha Icha Series in three years!
"It hasn't been released yet." Naruto said. "While it has given me ideas for later on in my life, I think you'll enjoy it more than me."
Kakashi held the book like it was the greatest treasure in the world, which amused Naruto to no end.
"Shall we get started with the test, then?" Tsunade asked.
Kakashi sighed in disappointment. "All right, then. Naruto, Sakura, meet me at Training Ground 7!"
Sakura looked shocked. "Me too?"
Tsunade nodded. "He is the best one to judge you two."
"Well, since Naruto just arrived, he should have a little break." Kakashi said.
"You just want some time to read your book." Naruto said.
Kakashi didn't say anything and left with the Shunshin.
Training Ground 7
Naruto and Sakura were waiting for Kakashi to arrive. He truly hadn't changed one bit... Naruto wondered what made him think otherwise.
When Kakashi arrived and tried to explain himself, Sakura called out on his lie.
"This place takes me back." Naruto said as he looked around the place Team 7 became a real team and where he fought Mizuki for a second time.
"Oh yeah, this was the first place the three of you trained in right?" Kakashi asked, as if he had forgotten.
"Team 7..." Sakura said nostalgically.
"Back then, we had Sasuke." Kakashi said in remembrance.
As Sakura began reminiscing, she grew depressed.
Kakashi sweat-dropped. "I guess Sasuke's name is taboo in front of her."
A familiar sound caught Naruto and Sakura's attention. They turned to Kakashi and saw him holding two familiar bells.
"Well, let me see your progress." He said. "You're not giving up on Sasuke, are you?"
"Of course not!" Sakura said as she got up and tightened her gloves.
"We'll drag him on his ass, if we have to." Naruto said.
"The rules haven't changed since last time." Kakashi said as he attached the bells to his belt. "Come at me with everything you've got. If you don't-"
"-Attack with the intent to kill..." Naruto interrupted.
"...You won't even land a scratch." Sakura finished.
Kakashi chuckled. "That's right! You have until dawn to get them." He closed his new favorite book. "Well then, shall we get started?"
"Not reading, this time?" Naruto asked.
"I'll keep the suspense for a quieter atmosphere." He said as he pocketed the book. "Besides, I feel I'll be cornered if I don't take you seriously from the start." He then uncovered his Sharingan.
Just outside of the open field, Jiraiya, Tsunade and Shizune were observing the incoming battle.
Naruto threw some shuriken at Kakashi, who ducked before also throwing shuriken at Naruto. The blond jumped in air to dodge. Kakashi threw some more shuriken at Naruto, who used a Kage Bunshin to pull himself away from the shuriken's path. When they landed, the bunshin turned into a large shuriken. Just as Naruto was about to throw it, Kakashi grabbed his wrist, stopping the momentum.
"Not bad." Kakashi said as a Kage Bunshin appeared behind him and had Muramasa at his neck.
"Not bad indeed." Tsunade commented.
"He rarely uses Kage Bunshin for combat purposes." Jiraiya explained. "I just gave him a few pointers."
Naruto used his free hand to unsheathe his own Muramasa and swiped at Kakashi, who went off in smoke. Kage Bunshin...
"Should have seen this coming." Naruto said as his own Bunshin dispelled.
Sakura looked all around. Kakashi wasn't in any visible direction, which meant...
She immediately punched the ground, breaking it in pieces, to Naruto, Kakashi and Jiraiya's shock.
"What monstrous strength..." Kakashi commented. "Looks like the Godaime didn't just teach Sakura medical ninjutsu..."
"Found you, Kakashi-sensei." Sakura said with a sickly-sweet tone.
"So you did." Kakashi said. "I guess it's my turn now."
Naruto and Sakura dispersed, hiding away to attack Kakashi by surprise.
Kakashi ran around the forest, looking for the duo. It was nighttime.
"A shinobi must hide without a trace." Kakashi thought. He knew Sakura was in some bushes behind him, but he couldn't find Naruto anywhere. "Both of them have progressed a lot in that regard."
Kakashi's eyes widened as he jumped in the air to dodge a series of kunai. Naruto jumped out of his hiding spot and charged at Kakashi, who met him midway and clashed weapons. Muramasa cut through Kakashi's kunai, but the Jonin twisted his body to avoid the blade and jumped away from the blond.
Sakura immediately stood next to Naruto.
"I guess I have to teach something to the two of you." Kakashi said. "Shinobi tactics number 1: Taijutsu!"
He immediately charged toward Naruto, who dodged his strikes before smirking.
Kakashi was confused for a moment before his eyes' widened and he crossed his arms to block a kick, the force of it knocking him back. "W-What!?"
"Jiraiya made me discard the weights." Naruto said as he charged and started trading blows with Kakashi.
Sakura jumped in the air and aimed for Kakashi with a kick. Naruto turned into smoke, revealing to be a Kage Bunshin, just as Kakashi dodged the Sakura's kick, leaving the damage to the ground itself.
Kakashi was slightly panting as he stood before Sakura and Naruto, who just appeared next to Sakura. "I really had it easy, back then." He commented. "They've been apart for a while, but they still work together quite well."
"Interesting, isn't it?" Jiraiya asked.
"Naruto-kun and Sakura-chan are doing great!" Shizune said enthusiastically.
"You saved Naruto some precious seconds." Tsunade told Jiraiya.
"Couldn't even lift the damn coat anyway..." The Gama Sennin grumbled.
"Is someone jealous?" Tsunade asked, amused.
Jiraiya looked at the Godaime incredulously. "Me, jealous? Not at all!"
"N-Naruto... Sakura..." The duo looked behind them and saw an injured Sasuke, who didn't look any different. It was an obvious Genjutsu that they both cancelled.
"Shinobi tactics number 2: Genjutsu." Kakashi said as his students turned back toward him. "You fainted so easily back then, Sakura."
Sakura had a look of pride. "You aren't creative anymore, Kakashi-sensei! I wouldn't fall for the same thing twice!"
"I would hope so." Naruto sweatdropped. "You would be so pathetic if you fell for it now, since Sasuke definitely won't look the same after three years."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Kakashi admitted. "I can't use the same old methods anymore." He said as he ran away.
Naruto and Sakura quickly gave chase. When they caught up to him, he was standing in front the river.
"Shinobi tactics number 3: Ninjutsu." Kakashi said as he made a large amount handsigns in a handful of seconds, to the duo's shock. "Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu!" He called out as he breathed out a large fireball, which the duo dodged before they could get burned.
When Naruto landed on the ground, he felt a hand grab his ankle.
"Doton: Shinjuu zanshu no Jutsu!" Before Naruto could stab the ground, Kakashi buried him from the neck down.
Kakashi jumped out of the ground and turned to Naruto. However, he was immediately restrained by chains.
Kakashi inwardly cursed. Naruto had used his buried state to not show any signs of using the chains. Just as Sakura was about to punch him, however, he used Kawarimi to escape.
"Sakura! He's on the river!" Naruto yelled out before he dispelled. Another Kage Bunshin.
Kakashi made his handsigns. "Suiton: Suiryudan no Jutsu!" The water from the river rose and formed a dragon.
Naruto landed in between Sakura and the dragon and made his own handsigns. "Fuuton: Daitoppa!" He called out as he released a large gust of wind that collided with the dragon.
The blast made the water splash into a massive wave, which trashed a large part of the training ground.
Kakashi panted as he looked around. He couldn't see Naruto or Sakura anywhere.
Naruto sighed. "God dammit..."
"Don't worry, Naruto. We'll get the bells!" Sakura encouraged.
"That's not the problem." Naruto said. "I just would've wanted to defeat him in a more legitimate way."
Sakura was confused before Naruto whispered something in her ear. Her face lit up. "It's perfect!"
"I thought of it when he showed us the bells, but it won't be as satisfying a victory."
"I'm amazed I had to use the Sharingan this much." Kakashi thought as he leaned against a tree. "But, there's still time before dawn..." He then looked through his pouch and checked his inventory. Good, he still had some shuriken and kunai. His hand then landed on his new book. The temptation was great. "No, can't read it yet. I can't focus on them and the story at the same time... But the main character seems to have a secret..."
Naruto and Sakura landed in front of him, making him tense.
"Hey, Kakashi-sensei..." Naruto called out. "Did you the main character of Icha Icha Tactics as a big secret?"
Kakashi's eyes widened and he covered his ears. "What!? Don't spoil the story!"
Naruto smirked. "Oh, but there's plenty to spoil!"
Kakashi realized that he could read Naruto's lips! He closed both eyes and waited.
He then received a small tap on his shoulder. He opened his eyes...and saw Naruto and Sakura holding the bells.
Kakashi patted his belt. He had been tricked!
"So predictable." Naruto said. "I thought of this plan when you showed us the bells."
Kakashi facepalmed. "You got me..." He said, causing the three of them to laugh.
"You've shown growth, both of you." Tsunade said as she and Shizune approached the trio.
"Shishou!" Sakura greeted.
"Got anything to add, Kakashi?" Tsunade asked.
"Well, since they did so great at getting the bells..." Kakashi trailed off, making Tsunade nod.
"Naruto Uzumaki!" Tsunade called out.
"Ma'am!"
"Sakura Haruno!"
"Yes!"
"You both and Kakashi Hatake will be Team Kakashi, effective immediately!" Tsunade announced.
"Team Kakashi?" Sakura asked.
"That's right." Kakashi said. "From now on, the three of us will be doing missions together. We're not student and teacher anymore, we're teammates."
The next morning, Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi went to the Hokage Tower to receive their first mission.
However, a woman entered the room in a hurry. "Godaime-sama! We have an emergency!"
"What's the fuss about?" Tsunade asked.
"We just received a Priority One message from Suna! I have the decoded message right here." The woman said, handing Tsunade a sheet of paper.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed as she read the message. "Suna's Kazekage, Sabaku no Gaara, has apprehended by Akatsuki."
Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi were shocked.
"We have a lot of information on Akatsuki." Tsunade said. "We've also received a call of aid from Suna."
"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune objected. "You're not going to send Team Kakashi, are you!?"
"It's an emergency." Tsunade said. "We have to hurry. Kakashi also has experience against Akatsuki. Team Kakashi! You are to head for Sunagakure and follow their instructions to provide assistance!"
"Ma'am!" The team saluted. They quickly made their preparations and headed for Kaze no Kuni.
On the way, they met up with Temari, who was on her way back to Suna. She was mortified when they told her Gaara had been abducted and immediately started rushing to Kaze no Kuni, causing the team to follow her.
After almost three days, they finally reached Sunagakure. The Shinobi guarding the entrance guided them to the hospital and told them that Kankuro had been poisoned, to Temari's horror.
"Kankuro!" Temari cried out as she entered the Emergency Room Kankuro was in. Sakura quickly followed her to to try and heal Kankuro.
An old woman turned to the entrance and her eyes widened as she saw Kakashi.
"Prepare yourself, White Fang of Konoha!" She said as she charged with fitness that was surprising for a woman even older than Hiruzen.
She was immediately stopped by a blade at her neck.
"Forgive me, Old One, but now is not the time for conflicts between allies." Naruto said.
"Do not stand in my way, boy!" The old hag said as she jumped back. "I will kill the White Fang and avenge my son!"
A man who looked just as old stood before her. "Look more closely, Nee-chan. This is not the White Fang. The White Fang died ages ago."
There was a moment of silence.
"I know!" The old woman said jovially. "I was just playing dumb!" She then laughed awkwardly.
No one was convinced.
Kankuro then started screaming in pain.
"I'll take care of him!" Sakura claimed as she immediately started examining him.
"A vile poison has been used on him." She said after some examination. "It's the type that operates in the muscles and destroys the cells. The medical records?"
"Here." One of the doctors handed her the sheet before giving her another piece of paper. "And this is the composition of the poison."
Sakura read through the records. "The heart's muscles are being destroyed...it wouldn't be strange if the heart stopped anytime soon." She then immediately told the doctors to gather the ingredients she listed off.
She then, by focusing her chakra through some liquid, managed to extract the poison out of Kankuro's organs.
"The White Fang: Sakumo Hatake. Your Father?" Naruto asked Kakashi while Sakura performed the operation. He had read up on all three Great Shinobi Wars.
"Yes." Kakashi answered, to the old woman's shock.
"I've extracted most of the poison." Sakura said as she finished operating on Kankuro. "I don't think there will be any need to fear for his life now."
Everyone member of Suna, especially Baki and Temari, sighed in relief.
"I will now mix an antidote that will counter whatever is left of the poison inside his body."
"You're almost like that slug girl." The old woman said. "To think a girl like you would come just as we needed one."
"Ah, that's because I am Tsunade's apprentice!" Sakura answered.
"Baki-sama!" A shinobi of Suna entered the room with a scroll. "This is a reply from Konoha."
Baki took the scroll and read through it before handing it to Kakashi. "It's from Hokage-sama."
Kakashi took the scroll and read it. "So, she sent Team Guy as reinforcements..."
"When should we give chase to Akatsuki?" Naruto asked.
"As much as I like the idea, how would we pursue them?" Kakashi asked back.
"You'll have to ask Kankuro, as he is the only one of those to pursue Akatsuki to make it back alive." Baki answered.
"Kankuro! Are you all right?" Temari asked. Everyone turned to Kankuro, who was waking up.
"T-Temari..." Kankuro muttered.
"Kankuro is in no condition to answer questions." Kakashi said as he turned to Baki. "Lead us to where Kankuro fought Akatsuki. I myself am an expert in pursuit. All I need is some scent."
"No need." Kankuro said as he tried to sit up. "All my puppets have been retrieved, right? Karasu has a piece of cloth in one of his left hands."
"Making progress through a loss..." Kakashi said as he received a piece of black cloth. "Sounds like a Suna shinobi, all right."
Kankuro chuckled before he winced in pain.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" Kakashi called out as he summoned his eight dogs.
"Yo." Pakkun greeted.
"I need your help." Kakashi said as he made the dogs smell the scent of the cloth. "Find the one with this scent."
"We'll contact you when we've found them!" Pakkun said as the dogs scattered.
"Kankuro." The old woman said as she and her brother walked up to him.
"Chiyo-baasama and Ebizo-jisama?" Kankuro asked.
"I want to hear it straight from you." Chiyo said. "Are you sure you've met Sasori?"
"There's no doubt." Kankuro said. "He read through Karasu, Kuroari and Sanshuo's moves perfectly before claiming he made them himself."
Eventually, Sakura managed to create an antidote for Kankuro. Team Kakashi were then given rooms to rest for the night.
The next morning reported his finding. They were in a cave in Kawa no Kuni.
"Well then, as soon as the Suna shinobi have prepared themselves, we'll go with them to retrieve Gaara." Kakashi explained.
Temari walked up to the team with her own squad, including Matsuri. "Sorry to keep you waiting." She apologized.
"We've all gathered now." Kakashi said.
"Wait!" Baki said as he landed between the teams. "Temari. You guys are assigned to stay in the village and guard the national border."
"What's the meaning of this!?" Temari growled.
"These are orders from the higher-ups." Baki explained. "Other countries may attack at any time if the absence of Kazekage-sama becomes publicly known."
"All the more reason to hurry and get Gaara back!" Temari argued. "If no one from Suna goes, what should we do!?"
"I'll go." They heard Chiyo's voice as she walked up to the group. "The only Suna shinobi who needs to go is me."
"Chiyo-baasama?" Temari asked.
"As I'm long since retired, I decide where I go and what I do. It's been a while, so I want to see my grandson and give him a painful hug." Chiyo said.
"I guess that's settled, then." Kakashi said. "We're heading out."
The quartet quickly ran out of the village and headed to Kawa no Kuni.
"Naruto." Sakura called out on the way. "Can I ask you something? How long have you been targeted by Akatsuki?"
"Akatsuki has been after Kyuubi since my mission to bring Godaime-sama back to the village. So three years, at the very least." Naruto answered.
Chiyo was shocked that Naruto mentioned the Kyuubi.
"Why didn't they target you during your training trip?"
"There were many opportunities where they could have." Naruto said.
"So it's more that they couldn't take action rather than they didn't." Kakashi said.
"There is a specific reason." Chiyo started. "If my information is correct, Akatsuki needed the proper preparations to extract a Bijuu from a human vessel."
"In other words, they needed time and resources." Naruto summarized.
"Precisely."
"Bijuu?" Sakura asked.
"Shukaku and Kyuubi, for starters." Naruto said immediately. "Shukaku would be the 'Ichibi', which means there are others, from the Nibi to the Hachibi."
"That is correct." Chiyo said. "I'm surprised you didn't know this, being Tsunade's apprentice. The Bijuu are beasts made entirely of chakra. Each country's Hidden Village attempted to use them for military purposes. However, no one can control a power beyond human comprehension."
Naruto's lips twitched upward for a split second. What was beyond a human's comprehension was not beyond a monster's.
Sakura looked at the blond worriedly.
By sunset, the team set up camp to rest. They couldn't attack Akatsuki unless they were at full strength. They went on their way in the middle of the night.
Meanwhile
"Here's the Ichibi Jinchuuriki, hmph." A blond male with a scratched Iwa headband said as his clay bird dropped Gaara.
"Deidara took his sweet time." His hunchback partner growled.
"Whatever time Deidara wasted is about to be recuperated." A hologram with ripple-patterned eyes said before turning to the last figure that really was in the cave. "If you can indeed take a Bijuu by killing the Jinchuuriki, you will save us precious days, Souma Kurusu."
"Hiruko spliced multiple Kekkei Genkai into his body and I still acquired them when I killed him." The hooded and masked Souma said. "Since a Bijuu and its Jinchuuriki are joined by the chakra for much longer than that, the chances of success are even greater."
"Then do it." The hologram ordered.
Souma approached Gaara and snapped his neck. Two orbs shot out of Gaara and into Souma.
"Perfect." Souma said as he pulled out one of the orbs. "This is the Ichibi. The other was the Kazekage's soul."
"This positive result brings us closer to our goal than we would have been had we extracted the Ichibi our usual way." The hologram said. "Now, place the Ichibi in the Gedo Mazo and you will become an official member of Akatsuki."
Souma turned to the Statue by the far wall of the cave. You could only see its face, upper torso and hands. It had nine eyes, two of which had pupils. Souma threw the orb in the statue's mouth, which started glowing with chakra. A third eye gained a pupil once the orb disappeared.
The next day, Team Kakashi
When the quartet arrived at the cave, Team Guy was already there.
Lee was mostly unchanged, other than growing taller and wearing a Flak Jacket. Neji's hair grew longer and framed his face. He wore a white shirt with loose sleeves, matching pants with a dark navy grey apron tied around his waist. Tenten wore a long-sleeved white blouse with a high collar and red, hakama-like puffy pants, with her exposed hips covered in bandages.
"Naruto-kun!" Lee greeted enthusiastically. "Sakura-san!"
"Lee, Neji, Tenten, Guy-sensei." Naruto greeted.
"Who's the old lady?" Tenten asked.
"This is an advisor from Suna, Chiyo-sama." Sakura introduced.
Chiyo gave Team Guy the 'peace' sign. "Hello."
"Now, shall we, Kakashi?" Guy asked as he turned to the rock barrier blocking the cave.
"Yeah." Kakashi said, stepping next to Guy.
Neji looked through the barrier with his Byakugan. "The inside seems to be a rather large cave. I see three figures standing over the unconscious Kazekage. It looks like they're waiting for us."
"Then let's not keep them waiting!" Guy said as he jumped back several feet before charging at the barrier and punching it.
The impact caused a small quake, but the barrier remained unfazed.
"If we can't break it, we have to remove it the proper way." Kakashi said as he looked at the sealing tag on the rock. "This is a five-seal barrier."
"How do we remove it?" Guy asked.
"We have to find the other four seals and remove all five of them at the same time, or else the barrier won't break." Kakashi explained.
"There are four more like this?" Guy asked.
"Where would the other four be?" Naruto asked.
"Neji." Kakashi signalled.
"Byakugan!" Neji said as he activated the Doujutsu once more. "I found them! One is 500 meters east of here, on top of a rock. The second one is 350 meters south-southeast, on the trunk of a tree at riverside. The third one is about 650 meters to the northeast on a cliff wall. The last one is a little less than 800 meters to the southeast in a forest."
"They're pretty far away." Sakura commented. "How do we keep in contact?"
"At that distance, the radio should work." Guy said as he pulled out his own headset. "Through Neji's coordination and the radio, we'll find the tags! My team and I will go and find the other four!"
"All right." Kakashi agreed.
"Lee, you take the tag in the forest!" Guy said.
"Hai!" Lee saluted.
"I'll leave the one on the rock to you, Neji!"
"Right." Neji nodded.
"And Tenten will get the one on the tree, south-southeast."
"I understand." Tenten said.
"And that leaves me with the one on the cliff!" Guy said.
"Frequency?" Kakashi asked as he adjusted his radio.
"1-7-4." Guy answered.
"Everyone, can you hear me?" Lee asked in his microphone.
Unfortunately for the others using the radio, the volume of his microphone was too high and his voice yelled in their ears.
"Lee! Your microphone's volume is too high!" Tenten said.
Lee bowed. "I'm sorry!" He said, blasting their ears once more on accident.
"Lee!" Guy called out desperately.
Lee understood and embarrassingly lowered his radio volume. "I'm sorry..."
"Radio settings okay..." Tenten reported.
"Mine as well." Neji said.
"Alright! Team Guy, disperse!" Guy ordered and the team split up to find the tags.
"I guess I'll go back home." Pakkun, who guided Team Guy to the barrier at Kakashi's request, said. "I'd get in the way, anyway." He disappeared into smoke.
Team Guy found their tags quickly and, along with Kakashi with the one blocking the cave, removed the tags at the same time.
The moment Kakashi's tag was removed, Sakura charged at the boulder and punched it, destroying it easily.
The quartet entered the cave and was face to face with three figures. One was a blond male, another was a hunchback and the last one was masked and hooded.
"They're finally here, hmph." The blond Akatsuki member said from his seat on Gaara.
"Gaara!" Naruto cried out as he charged, Muramasa in hand.
"Naruto, wait!" Kakashi called out. To his shock, the blond and the hunchback didn't even move while the masked man moved between both blonds and unsheathed his weapon. It was katana, as large and curved as a scimitar, with a grey hilt.
Naruto and the masked man clashed swords for less than a second before bloody wounds appeared on Naruto's torso and was sent flying back.
"W-What the!?" Naruto exclaimed as he got up, using Kyuubi's chakra to heal. "It felt like-"
"Like I struck multiple times?" The masked man interrupted. "Our information about you told us of your stronger-than-average katana, Kyuubi Jinchuuriki, but even it does not hold a candle to Crissaegrim. For each swing, several wind blades instantly attack my target. And that's without the wielder using chakra. It becomes even more destructive if you do."
Naruto, Sakura, Chiyo and Kakashi's eyes widened. That was a powerful blade, indeed. Despite this, Chiyo's attention was on something more important to her.
"Sasori..." She muttered.
"I heard you retired ages ago, Chiyo-baa." Sasori, the hunchback, said.
"Oh my, a family reunion?" The masked man asked mockingly. "We simply mustn't get in the way."
"You're right, Souma." Deidara said, to Kakashi's horror, as he molded clay into a small avian before throwing it in the air. The avian grew in size, becoming large enough to carry multiple people. Deidara and Souma got on the avian, which grabbed Gaara with its beak. "Have fun, Sasori no Danna!"
The avian flew over the quartet and got out of the cave.
"Dammit!" Naruto said as he gave chase.
"Naruto!" Kakashi called out before he turned to the pinkette. "Sakura, support Chiyo-baasama."
Sakura nodded. "Understood. Please make sure Naruto is safe."
Kakashi immediately pursued Naruto. "Guy, the enemy has split into two. We need backup." He said on the radio.
"I can't do that, Kakashi." Guy said. "We have all fallen into an enemy trap. Over and out."
Kakashi clicked his tongue in annoyance before he uncovered his Sharingan. "Guess I can't hold back."
"Do you really think a little girl and an old hag can take down Sasori no Danna, hmph?" Deidara asked as his creation glided over the duo.
"Don't make them worry about their allies, Deidara." Souma said. "Otherwise, our fights won't be as fun."
"I do not like those odds." Kakashi thought. "They can easily split us off. One of them defeated the Kazekage without aid and the other, according to Jiraiya-sama, is known to have multiple Kekkei Genkai, making him a terrifying opponent."
"Mind if I take them both on, Souma?" Deidara asked.
"First, a Jinchuuriki-Kazekage, now a Jinchuuriki and a Jonin? How greedy of you." Souma chuckled. "So long as you leave them alive, do as you wish."
"Both of them?" Deidara raised an eyebrow.
"I may not be allowed to take the Kyuubi, but Leader-sama said nothing about a Jinchuuriki's comrades. The Copy ninja's Sharingan may be transplanted, but it wouldn't be the first time I've taken a Kekkei Genkai that didn't belong to my victim."
"Taking a Kekkei Genkai?" Naruto muttered.
"Yes. This man has quite the reputation." Kakashi said.
"Sensei?" Naruto asked.
"I don't know if you're aware of this, Naruto, but a Fourth Shinobi War nearly happened almost a year ago." Kakashi explained.
"What!?"
"Oh, telling my story?" Souma asked. "Allow me, then. It all started with the mysterious abductions of Kekkei Genkai users in Suna, Iwa, Kumo and Kiri. As Konoha was the only one unaffected, fingers were immediately pointed toward the 'obvious' suspect. Luckily, I happened upon the culprit, whom I had been hunting for a while, Hiruko, a Konoha Nuke-nin. So the blame was correct, just not the way everyone expected. When I killed Hiruko and collected his bounty, the existence of his Chimera Jutsu had spread around. It's a technique that allowed Hiruko to completely absorb a living body into his own to possess his target's Kekkei Genkai and abilities. At least, that's what I made people believe. When Hiruko's body was checked, they found inconsistencies on four parts of his body, them being where he partially absorbed the bodies and Kekkei Genkai."
"A few weeks later, people saw you using the same Kekkei Genkai that Hiruko stole." Kakashi said.
Souma nodded. "I had to reveal my own Kekkei Genkai, which I named 'The Power of Dominance', to avoid the villages sending Hunter-nin at me. I automatically 'dominate' the souls of my victims upon killing them, gaining their chakra and Kekkei Genkai. Nuke-nin are fair game. And even if the Kekkei Genkai he had were stolen, Hiruko was a Nuke-nin. The villages reluctantly stopped sending Hunter-nin after me, for every failure would only make me stronger."
"I'm tired of this history class." Deidara said as his avian flew away from the Konoha duo, who started giving chase.
Kakashi went back to his radio. "Guy, how's your end?"
"Sorry, Kakashi, I'm going to need a bit more time." Guy answered.
Deidara then threw dozens of clay grasshoppers. They would jump in Kakashi's way and explode.
Naruto scowled as he saw that the many clay creatures would slow Kakashi down by a lot.
"You'll have to catch up fast, sensei." Naruto said as he ran ahead. "We can't afford to lose Gaara!"
Deidara floated in front of Naruto after they got far enough from Kakashi.
"Finally alone, hmph." Deidara said.
"You say you'll take us both, but fight us one-on-one?" Naruto mocked.
"He's greedy, not stupid." Souma countered. "At any rate, he will be taking you both on."
Kakashi then appeared next to Naruto. "Looks like I'm just in time."
Deidara's eyes widened. "And I was sure my art did you in, hmph."
"It was simple enough to trick your art with a Kage Bunshin." Kakashi waved off.
Deidara clicked his tongue as he gained altitude.
"Naruto, do you think you can use your chains offensively?" Kakashi asked.
"I prefer to use them to restrain, but I can send it straight at the enemy instead of digging it under ground." Naruto answered.
"Good, because you will need a long ranged attack to fight him."
Kakashi told his plan to Naruto, but that he'd need time to prepare his first attack. They would have to simply follow Deidara for a bit.
"All right. I'm fully prepared." Kakashi said as his Sharingan shifted into a new form.
"Your new Sharingan?" Naruto wondered with interest.
"That's right. Stay behind me." Kakashi said before he turned his Sharingan to Deidara. "Mangekyo Sharingan!"
Souma and Deidara noticed the sky around them distorting. That's when they noticed a wormhole focusing on Deidara and his surroundings.
"The hell!?" Souma exclaimed as he dove off the clay avian and landed in the forest atop the cliff.
No matter how much Deidara would try to get away, Kakashi would keep his gaze on him, aiming his unusual Jutsu. In the end, Kakashi couldn't keep the Jutsu going and it ripped Deidara's right arm off, leaving without arms after he lost his left arm against Gaara.
"This Jutsu..." Soma thought as he observed Deidara's predicament. "He created a wormhole that tried to suck Deidara in. If Itachi, who is much better at using the Sharingan than Kakashi is, had such a Jutsu, the target would be done for. Your Sharingan is interesting, Kakashi Hatake."
Kakashi then used the Jutsu once more, to Deidara's horror. But the Bomber managed to escape the Jutsu by having him and his mount hide in the trees.
Kakashi had tired himself out using the Jutsu.
"You all right, sensei?" Naruto asked. "Using the normal Sharingan already exhausts you, so I can't imagine what this one does to you."
"Yeah, its power comes at an even greater price, but I'm willing to pay it for my comrades." Kakashi said.
Deidara sighed in relief. Safe at last.
A chain immediately shot toward him and nailed his mount, decapitating it.
"Good job." Kakashi said as Naruto made Kage Bunshin to catch the mount's head and retrieved Gaara.
"I don't why you wanted the corpse so bad. Souma snapped his neck." Deidara said from a few trees away.
"You're about to join him." He heard Naruto from behind him.
"What!?" Deidara thought as he turned around and received a fist to the face. "W-When did he...?"
He was then grabbed by four Kage Bunshin and slammed into the ground. A fifth Naruto descended toward him with a Rasengan in hand.
"Rasengan!" Naruto called out as he struck.
Deidara turned into clay as he was struck by the sphere. He had used Kawarimi. The Kage Bunshin dispelled.
"Naruto! Kakashi-sensei!" They heard Sakura call out as she landed next to the aforementioned duo, carrying Chiyo. Both of them looked worse for wear.
"You found us. Good." Kakashi said. "Does this mean you dealt with the other one?"
Sakura nodded.
"Where is Gaara?" Chiyo asked.
Naruto whistled and his remaining Kage Bunshin to carry the Kazekage over to the quartet.
They then heard sounds of a battle.
"Team Guy." Kakashi said as he saw said team battling Deidara, who was holding out surprisingly well. He turned to Souma, who was leaning against a tree. "Why aren't you helping him?"
"Because there is nothing I can do for him." Souma answered as Deidara landed next to the remains of his mount and bit down some of the clay. "Deidara's art is all about explosions. Without his arms, he practically can't use his art. There is only one thing he will do now. One. Last. Explosion." He said before he jumped further away from the battlefield.
Kakashi's eyes widened as Deidara started bloating.
Neji was looking at Deidara with his Byakugan and figured it out. "He is going to explode!" Everyone immediately started jumping away.
"Art is a bang!" Deidara cried out. "Katsu!"
Deidara went off in a massive explosion. Before it could reach anyone, however, Kakashi managed to use his Mangekyo to contain it in the wormhole.
"You really saved our asses, Kakashi-sensei." Naruto said.
The others were shocked that Kakashi had such a Jutsu.
Kakashi was panting. Using that Jutsu three times was very exhausting.
"Just what did you do?" Sakura asked.
"I sent the explosion somewhere else." Kakashi answered.
"So that Jutsu is a Jikukan Ninjutsu, huh?" Everyone immediately turned to see Souma Kurusu sitting on a branch.
Sakura jumped up to the branch and reared her fist.
"Jinton: Mueisho." Souma called out calmly. He seemed to disappear in a Shunshin-like manner just as Sakura was about to strike him. After Sakura's punch broke the branch, Souma reappeared before her and punched her, sending her to the ground.
"Sakura-san!" Lee called out as he rushed to help the pinkette.
Souma dodged Lee's kick in the same manner as last time before kicking Lee in the air, followed by another kick to send him back to the ground.
Souma looked at the duo, who were getting back up, before turning around upon feeling Neji's presence.
"Hakke Rokujuuyon Sho!" Neji called out before he stopped himself in shock, his Byakugan eyes wide.
Souma punched Neji in the gut with a metal fist, making the Hyuuga caught blood as he crashed on the ground.
Tenten jumped in the air and threw her many protectiles at Souma, who simply held out a hand.
Suddenly, Tenten's projectiles shot towards her, injuring her as she fell back down.
Souma chuckled before he brought a hand up. With a snap of his fingers, their surroundings distorted. Suddenly, everyone was back in their original positions, before the fight ever started.
"Genjutsu?" Guy wondered.
"No." Neji said. "The battle was the genjutsu. I realized that with my Byakugan."
"That's right." Souma confirmed.
Guy looked at his students and Sakura. All four of them still had the injuries of the battle.
Souma chuckled. "Your eyes may no longer see the battle, but I'm making sure the rest of your body remembers."
Kakashi's eye widened in realization. This man was-
"All right, I'm outta here." Souma said before walking away.
The group was shocked.
"Don't you want to capture Naruto?" Sakura asked.
Souma stopped before looking over his shoulder. "I'm not allowed to take the Kyuubi. If you were in Akatsuki's shoes, you wouldn't want someone walking around with the Kyuubi's power until it's stored away either."
Chiyo used this opportunity to walk toward Gaara. She placed her hands over Gaara's chest and her hands glowed with a different kind of chakra.
Souma felt Gaara's soul stirring within him. "You are reviving him. This is your life energy you are transferring to him." He realized.
"Chiyo-baasama!" Sakura cried out. "You will die if you use your Reincarnation Jutsu!"
"I am the one who sealed Shukaku within him. I am the one to blame for all that he suffered as a child. This is something I must do." Chiyo said.
Souma chuckled. "So be it." He immediately appeared by Chiyo and Gaara, to the group's horror, and held an orb. "Then take the Kazekage's soul as a reward for what you have managed to do here. Also, you should focus on his snapped neck."
He pressed the soul against Gaara's torso and it disappeared. At the same time, Gaara's neck had been healed by Chiyo's life energy.
"I highly doubt such a situation will happen again." Souma said as he walked away.
"Why have you done this?" Naruto asked.
"It's very simple." Souma said. "With the Kazekage alive, the chances of war, which would get in the way of Akatsuki's goal, are lowered." He then disappeared.
Chiyo collapsed as Gaara started breathing.
"Chiyo-baasama!" Sakura cried out as she ran to the elderly woman.
"For me to need the help of Gaara's own murderers to revive him..." Chiyo muttered. "But, that help has allowed me to do something right, after all the mistakes I have made, so I can 'live with it'..." She chuckled weakly before letting out her last breath.
Gaara opened his eyes. "What is this...?" He wondered.
"Gaara!" Temari said as she appeared and hugged her brother. The rest of her squad appeared immediately after.
"Gaara-sama!" Matsuri called out. "Are you all right!?"
Gaara nodded, still shocked.
The Suna shinobi started cheering.
When everyone returned to Suna, Chiyo was given a proper burial and the people celebrated the Kazekage's return. The Konoha teams then had to return to Konoha.
Meanwhile
Deidara jumped out of the rocky ground, panting.
"To think they made me use my self-destruct clone. I wanted to save that for later." He said. "At least I managed to escape. Now, to get my right arm and my ring back, hmph." He walked away.
Kawa no Kuni cave
A black and white being with a flytrap looked among the many puppets that were on the ground. He was looking for Sasori's 'corpse'.
"Odd." The white half said as he looked at the puppet that looked like Sasori's real form, a red-haired male. It was on the ground, next to an older version of itself and one that looked like a black-haired woman.
"This one looks just like Sasori, but it doesn't have the ring." The black half said.
"I found it, Zetsu-san!" They turned and saw a man wearing an orange-colored spiral mask with a childish personality looking at another puppet that looked like Sasori. It was restrained to a wall by a giant head that served as a seal. Sasori's left hand was on the ground, with a ring around his left thumb.
"This means I can become a member of Akatsuki, right?" The man with a child's attitude asked. "You have a vacant place, after all."
"Idiot, it's not that simple." Black Zetsu said.
"Leader-sama already welcomed Souma as a member, meaning the vacant place should be his." White Zetsu said.
"It's quite all right, Zetsu." The trio turned to see Souma walking in. "I only need to know who and where my next target is. That's the entire reason you and Leader-sama came to me in the first place. Besides, we all know that Leader-sama can't refuse Tobi."
"That's right!" Tobi said cheerfully. "Because Tobi is a good boy!"
Zetsu sighed while Souma chuckled. He never understood why Zetsu found that fake personality so annoying. He found it hilarious because it reminded him of his time in Konoha before leaving the Doppelganger there.
"Why did you give the Kazekage's soul back?" White Zetsu asked.
"Was the reason I gave not enough?" Souma asked. "Or do you want our jobs to become more complicated because a Kage's death started a war?"
"You could have used the Kazekage's Jiton to use Sasori's Iron Sand scattered in this cave."
"Sasori had a puppet that used the Sandaime Kazekage's Iron Sand!?" Souma asked before he looked around. Thanks to the lack of ceiling, the light of day allowed him to easily find the black sand. "Dammit, now I regret giving the soul back!"
"Is Souma-san going back to the Kazekage?" Tobi asked.
Souma sighed. "He isn't a Jinchuuriki anymore, nor does he have a bounty that makes it worth fighting an entire village."
"We should be heading back, now." Zetsu said as he walked away, with the others following.
"They got Deidara-san too?" Tobi wondered as he found Deidara's right arm and ring.
"Souma?" Zetsu asked.
"I saw Deidara use self-destruction, but I don't know if it was him or a clone." Souma said.
"I wanted to save that clone for later, but I had no choice." They turned to see a panting Deidara walking up to them.
"He's alive!" Tobi said. "You sure had a close call, huh Deidara-san? Are you okay? I guess not."
Deidara deadpanned. "Tobi... That was your last shot. If you say anything else, I'll be deciding how you die."
Tobi shrugged. "You're still gonna blow me up anyway, so what's stopping me?"
Deidara immediately grabbed Tobi's neck with his legs and started choking him. "I'll kill you!"
Zetsu sighed and Souma laughed.
And there's the first chapter of Shippuden! Onto the next one!