Stratos263: I don't know, the chances were pretty good before the interruptions. Then again, Ino did look like she was struggling, so it was either or, in my opinion.
Metalero Anarkista: I'm not sure if I can pull it off, but I think I have an idea. It won't be perfect, but I think it will work, in a sense.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 14: Sky and Uchiha
A few days later, an army of foreign shinobi attacked Konoha from the sky. They glided on winged mechanical devices and dropped bombs into the village. They even sent a beam that destroyed most of the surroundings.
Naruto scowled before he received a call of help from an older man who was trying to remove some debris that were crushing another citizen.
Naruto easily pushed away the debris, freeing the citizen.
The old man had long grey hair beneath a red bandana and a beard. He had yellow eyes with dark bangs around them, along with tear trough under his eyes. He wore a black shirt beneath a white gi that had blue and brown edges, as well as a sleeveless red jacket with gold sidings over all of that, and simple blue pants.
The old man started patting the citizen's torso. "There's a hole in his lung." He said before pulling out a glass tube and stabbed it in the torso to make sure the air didn't build up in the lungs and crush them. "Take him to the hospital. Be sure to carry him without bending his chest, Naruto."
Naruto narrowed his eyes as the old man walked away. How did he know his name? Ignoring that for now, Naruto made multiple clones that would carry the man without bending his body.
Once he arrived at the hospital and placed the man on a bed, he saw the number of wounded everywhere.
"Some of these people have been treated perfectly." Sakura said. "Who did this?"
"That would be Shinno-sensei!" Everyone turned to the window and saw a girl with reddish-brown hair beneath a blue bandana. She wore a cyan-blue gi with a cream-coloured vest, blue shorts, dark armbands and legbands.
She looked at some of the treated citizens. "They were all treated by Shinno-sensei!"
"I've heard of the name." One of the doctors said.
"So that's the old man's name, huh?" Naruto said aloud before the girl grabbed him by the collar.
"You saw him!? Where is he!?" She demanded.
"Would you calm down!?" Naruto said as he took her hands off of him. "After he treated the one I carried here, he walked away. You think I took the time to look for him while I carried someone here?"
"My village is in trouble!" The girl insisted.
Before Naruto could retort that Konoha was just attacked, the girl fell unconscious.
Later, Shinno arrived in the hospital. He was shocked, but relieved, when he heard of the girl, who was called Amaru.
"Thank you for keeping watch over Amaru, Naruto." Shinno said.
"Don't mention it." Naruto said. "Is she your apprentice? She kept calling you sensei."
Shinno laughed. "I'm not much of a teacher."
Amaru then regained consciousness.
"Look who's awake." Naruto said.
Amaru turned to Naruto and quickly sat up when she saw Shinno. "Shinno-sensei! My-"
"I am aware. Naruto here told me of what you said before you lost consciousness." Shinno said.
"We have to go quickly!" Amaru insisted.
"That's why Tsunade-sama will have us as an emergency medical three-man team to guide you." Sakura said as she and Hinata entered the room.
"You two and...?" Naruto asked.
Hinata blushed as she looked at Naruto. "You as well, Naruto-kun."
Naruto nodded. "Got it."
Shinno bowed. "You have my thanks."
"Let's work well together, Naruto-kun." Hinata said.
Naruto nodded.
The group were on boats into a jungle. Amaru's village was upstream within it. Shinno said it was near some ruins.
"There's chakra emanating from a flyer, high in the sky." Hinata said with her Byakugan active. "The same as the ones who attacked Konoha."
"Hide under the trees!" Shinno ordered as everyone rowed under the trees.
One of the shinobi that attacked Konoha was gliding in the sky, overlooking the rivers, before he flew away.
The group then continued rowing upstream.
Suddenly, a fish jumped out of the water and bit Naruto on the hand. Naruto threw the fish back in the water and kept rowing.
"Don't ignore your wound like that!" Amaru said as she pulled out a scalpel. "These piranhas are poisonous!"
"No worries." Naruto said as he showed her his hand, free of any bite marks thanks to Kyuubi's chakra. "I have a healing factor that heals my wounds and destroys any poison that enters my system."
Amaru calmed down and they kept rowing.
"I'm jealous." Amaru said.
"Of my healing factor?" Naruto asked.
Amaru nodded. "When I was younger, I caught an unknown disease. Nobody wanted to risk catching it, so I ended up being alone. But Shinno-sensei healed me and I have followed his ways ever since."
"I know all about being alone." Naruto said. "This healing factor of mine isn't genetic. It's one of the benefits of my curse."
"Your curse?" Amaru asked.
"The Kyuubi no Kitsune." Naruto said. "The fox that is said to destroy mountains and make tsunamis with but a flick of its tails is sealed within me. Because of this, most adults tried to keep their kids away from me. I really haven't had any friends until I became Genin over 3 years ago."
Amaru's eyes widened.
Eventually, they docked the boats and went through the jungle. Shinno and Naruto cut through whatever vines were in their way, with a machete and Muramasa.
Sakura and Hinata were intimidated by the noises of the jungle.
"Don't worry." Shinno said. "There aren't that many bugs or wild beasts in this part of the jungle. We're almost at Amaru's village."
As they kept walking, they saw smoke coming from somewhere.
Amaru had a horrified look on her face as she rushed forward, with the others following after her.
When they caught up to her, they saw that the village had been burned down
As she ran around the village, she accidentally triggered a trap. Crossbows started shooting kunai toward her, but Shinno pulled her away and started deflecting the many kunai, but his machete broke and he was pierced from many angles.
"A-Amaru..." Shinno said as he fell down.
Amaru caught him. "Sensei! Hang in there, Shinno-sensei!"
"It seems...jumping in was all I could do..." Shinno said. "...Because you are...my apprentice." He then took off his bandana and handed it to Amaru. "It's up to you, now. Work together with everyone...and find the villagers."
"Sensei!" Amaru cried out as Sakura tried to heal him. But it was all for nothing, as Shinno drew his last breath.
Hinata, with her Byakugan active, shook her head.
Amaru cried as she held Shinno's body.
They eventually buried Shinno's body.
"Umm..." Hinata said as the trio watched Amaru cry in front of Shinno's grave. "Since there aren't any bodies, the people must have taken shelter somewhere."
Sakura nodded. "The three of us will search for the villagers."
Hinata and Naruto nodded as all three of them started looking around.
Naruto eventually saw something that was almost unnoticeable, because of the mist.
"Naruto." He heard Sakura call out to him. "What are you doing? We're supposed to look for the villagers."
Naruto pointed forward. "Look."
Sakura looked at where he was pointing. "What's that?"
"The ruins Shinno mentioned, I guess."
They walked into the ruins until they saw a familiar face with the only difference being a red bandana instead of a blue one.
"Amaru?" Naruto asked. "What are you doing here?"
Amaru's eyes then started glowing red. "I am Reibi. As conflict rages in the world and people's hearts become overcome with darkness, I am born anew."
"What are you talking about?" Sakura asked.
"She's being possessed." Naruto said.
"Exactly." Reibi said as the ghostly figure of a dark-purple leech with a serpent-like body coiled around her. It had a noh mask with the kanji for 'Zero' on it. "I feed on the darkness inside of hearts. I am born and then grew without bound, in order for this world to be ruled by darkness."
Amaru then transformed into Reibi and charged.
Sakura tried to punch the leech, but it grew an arm and blocked the punch before giving her its own punch that sent her flying before crashing next to Naruto.
Reibi then grew more arms and tried to grab Naruto.
"You call yourself 'Reibi' as if you are worthy to stand among the Bijuu. You are wrong." Naruto said as he flared Kyuubi's chakra.
"This evil chakra... I want this power!" Reibi said.
"Not a chance!" Naruto said as he went four tails. "This is a power far greater than you!"
He charged toward Reibi and clawed its head off of its neck. But the two quickly reattached themselves. He then saw Amaru's body within Reibi.
"Amaru." Naruto called out. "Is this how you thank Shinno for everything he did for you?"
Amaru's eyes opened wide. "Shinno-sensei..."
Reibi disappeared. Naruto deactivated Kyuubi's chakra and caught Amaru as she fell.
"Good job, Amaru." Naruto said. "I'm sure Shinno would be proud."
"Yeah..." Amaru muttered.
Sakura then regained consciousness. "What happened?"
"Reibi is no longer possessing Amaru." Naruto said.
The ground suddenly started shaking.
Sakura looked at the ruins next to them. "Are Hinata and the villagers in there?" She wondered.
"I'll go and find out. You take Amaru back to Konoha." Naruto said.
Sakura nodded. "I'll bring reinforcements as well."
"I'm not going anywhere!" Amaru said. "I shall honor Shinno-sensei's teachings! I will bring the villagers back!"
"So be it." Naruto said as he walked past Amaru and toward the ruins. "Let's go."
"Right!" Amaru said as she followed Naruto, ignoring Sakura's protests.
When they entered the ruins, everything started shaking like crazy until everything stopped.
They then hid when they heard footsteps. Those shinobi were patrolling the hallways.
"Naruto." Amaru whispered. "These ruins, they're flying."
"They are?" Naruto whispered. "Oh well, let's keep going."
"If this was created by humans, then someone must be controlling it." Amaru said as they ran in the halls.
"Then we just have to find them." Naruto said.
When they were about to enter a room, two shinobi stood in their way, but were quickly knocked out by Naruto.
When they entered the room, they were surprised when they saw Shinno sitting on a throne. "Well done, you two." He said.
"Sensei!" Amaru cried out as she ran toward Shinno and hugged him, making the old man laugh.
"Why the secrecy?" Naruto asked as he walked closer to them.
"Would you fools even understand?" Shinno asked bluntly. "This flying fortress is called Ancor Vantian. It may look like ruins, but it's been studied and rebuilt by shinobi of Sora no Kuni decades ago. It's the ultimate weapon of destruction."
"And here you are, sitting on its throne like a king." Naruto said. "Not to mention feigning death."
"I feigned death to fool Sakura and Hinata over such a simple matter." Shinno explained. Amaru's eyes opened wide. "And I would prefer the term emperor."
"Emperor of Sora no Kuni's fortress of destruction... You instigated the attack on Konoha."
"You are as astute as I knew you were, Naruto." Shinno said.
"Sensei?" Amaru said before Shinno grabbed her head and lifted her up.
"I'm not going to beat up my dear allies, obviously." He said as threw Amaru toward Naruto, who caught the girl. Shinno had the red bandana in his hand. "Fourteen years ago, I posed as a wandering doctor, infiltrating villages all over the country, in order to obtain the method of using Reibi."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "Reibi..."
Amaru sat up. Her hair reached beyond the small of her back and she had two bangs that framed her face and reached her collarbone.
"It took me thirteen years to find the scroll that would show me how to revive Reibi. I found it in Konoha and I have obtained the power of Reibi! The power of Dark Chakra!"
Naruto scowled.
"Naruto, wait!" Amaru said as she grabbed Naruto's shoulders. "This isn't right! Something is wrong with Sensei, right?! We can help him!"
Suddenly, they heard the sound of cloth being ripped. They turned to Shinno and saw him rip the red bandana to shreds.
"How unfortunate, Amaru." Shinno said. "I am not crazy. In fact, I am finally being honest. When darkness is born in people's hearts, they become possessed by Reibi, and it turns the darkness into chakra. Once I understood that, it became simple, even if it took me fourteen years. People fall into despair. When they are ruled by sadness... That which creates sadness, anger and hatred... All of that can become dark chakra."
"You had Amaru's village burned down so she would fall to despair and become possessed by Reibi and create dark chakra." Naruto accused.
"Exactly." Shinno said.
Amaru started shaking. "Lies..."
Shinno smirked. "Master? Apprentice? Who cares about such relationships? You were nothing more than a pawn in my plan!" He laughed cruelly.
Amaru started screaming in anguish as Shinno chuckled.
"A person who has saved someone's life will never be doubted." Shinno said.
Naruto held Amaru close to him as the girl cried.
"I can already feel the Dark Chakra from her." Shinno said as black chakra flowing around his body. "Dark Chakra isn't only for resurrecting Reibi, however. Observe!" He started flaring Dark Chakra before he grew in muscle mass and his hair and beard turned black in color. He also looked much younger than before. "This is my Body Revival Jutsu. With this ultimate body, I can open all of the Eight Gates, even the Gate of Death."
Naruto stood between Shinno and Amaru. Suddenly, Shinno appeared before him and punched him in the gut. "Do you see what this ultimate body, born of the Body Revival Jutsu, means?" He said as he knocked the blond on the ground. "Oh, I'm sorry. I am not used to all this power!" He then kicked Naruto into a wall. He then walked to the throne.
"How about putting all this power to the test?" Shinno and Amaru turned to Naruto, who had a Rasengan in hand. He charged toward Shinno and slammed the sphere on the man's face, sending him into a wall.
Naruto walked toward Amaru.
"Muscles gains strength every time they are damaged and regenerated." Shinno said as the shredded muscles on his cheek healed. "All you need to do is grasp the regeneration mechanism from Medical Ninjutsu, and with just the damage alone you can gain a strong body. It's always possible."
Shinno then appeared behind Naruto.
"When the ultimate body releases chakra, it creates this ultimate attack!" Shinno said as he created an orb of darkness with two rings rotating around it. Naruto cursed as he activated Kyuubi's chakra. "Super Revival Fist!"
Shinno slammed the orb on Naruto's back, sending him flying into the throne.
Naruto groggily got up.
"I'm so glad that you can move after taking that." Shinno said as he walked toward Naruto. "But you'll pay for damaging my throne. Now, fight me with your own dark power!"
He was then kicked into a wall.
"I have no need to use it offensively to kill you." Naruto said as his wounds were completely healed. He then walked toward Amaru. "This may be the last time you will talk to him. If there's anything you wanted to say before, but couldn't, now's the time."
Amaru nodded as she turned to Shinno, who pulled himself out of the wall. "Sensei! After everything you've done for me, after everything I did by following in your footsteps, every time you praised me, I've always loved you!"
Shinno laughed. "I care not for your feelings, girl!"
He then received a strong punch to the gut from Naruto, followed by an uppercut, then a multitude of kicks by Kage Bunshin before a punch sent him crashing to a wall.
Shinno groggily stood up.
"How pathetic." Everyone turned to the source of the voice and saw Sasuke.
"The hell are you doing here!?" Naruto demanded.
Sasuke looked at Shinno. "Orochimaru wants your help."
"And if I refuse?" Shinno asked. "Will you take me by force?"
"If that is what you wish." Sasuke said.
"Little advice, then." Naruto interjected. "His muscles heal from whatever punishment they receive, making him stronger."
"And that is why you are no match for me!" Shinno said. "There is more than enough Dark Chakra in this world!"
"Try it." Sasuke said as he appeared behind Shinno and kicked him to the pillar in the middle of the room.
Shinno then tried to focus Dark Chakra, but fell to the ground and seemed to age a lot. He lost his hair and became skinny.
"What's the matter?" Sasuke asked as he walked toward Shinno. "Can't heal yourself?"
"What have you done?" Shinno weakly demanded.
"I've already seen through your entire chakra flow with my eyes." Sasuke said. "You didn't notice the Chidori Senbon I threw in your chakra points. I'm not killing you. I'm taking you to Orochimaru."
Shinno chuckled. "What Orochimaru wants isn't me, but this." He pressed a finger against the pillar. A small hatch opened and revealed a scroll. "The scroll I stole from Konoha." He threw the scroll at Sasuke, who caught it and pocketed it. Shinno pulled on a lever at the same place as the scroll and fell into a trapdoor. "I'm not finished yet!"
Sasuke gave chase. Naruto walked back to Amaru.
"I'm going after him." Naruto said. "You try and find the civilians and help them."
Amaru nodded.
Naruto started chasing after Sasuke. He didn't say anything, for he knew the raven-haired guy would just ignore him.
They eventually arrived in a large room with a familiar leech in a cocoon.
"Reibi." Naruto said.
Shinno laughed. "You two followed me here!? What idiots!"
Sasuke activated Chidori, only for it to be absorbed by Reibi.
"No Chidori for you, now!" Shinno laughed. "This place absorbs the chakra collected by Reibi and converts it to power! In this room, any chakra you use will be absorbed as power for Ancor Vantian! Leaving you powerless!"
Naruto turned to Sasuke. "What do you think?"
Sasuke grunted as both of them jumped down to the floor. "If this thing absorbs chakra, then he's in just as disadvantaged as we are."
"How naive." Shinno said. "Do you really believe that I would lead you here just to have your chakra sealed? Behold!" He flared what he had left of Dark Chakra into the cocoon, which reached out to him and grabbed him before gradually absorbing him. "Did you really think Ancor Vantian was nothing more than a flying fortress? Do you really think I'd meddle with something as dangerous as a Bijuu just for that? This fortress can destroy the Five Countries in a flash! It's equipped with the ultimate weapon!"
The symbols on the walls started glowing before they stopped.
"After I destroy the Five Countries, I'll reign over a great Sky Empire!"
Naruto unsheathed Muramasa. "This old bastard talks way too much."
Sasuke grunted as he brandished his Kusanagi blade. "That's something we can agree on."
They both charged toward the cocoon, which grew a lot of arms to catch them. But the two Kenjutsu users dodged some arms with agility and cut down others that were in front of them, but they were eventually caught and held up in the air and slammed against each other.
"What's the matter, brats? Can't fight me without chakra?"
Naruto chuckled. "Says the one who had to turn into a monster to fight back. Quit being so smug, you old bag of bones, you're in a worse situation than we are!"
"You're asking for it!" Shinno said as he sent multiple fists to attack Naruto. "Behold the power of the Sky Emperor!"
"This is painful to watch." Sasuke said. "To think that someone who can't measure their own power can be the Sky Emperor. It's beyond pitiful, it's comical!" He activated his cursed seal, which Reibi started absorbing.
"What are you trying to do?" Shinno asked. "Are you trying to hasten your death?"
"Quite the contrary." Naruto said as he used Kyuubi's chakra. His wounds had been healed just before Reibi started absorbing it. "Oi, Reibi! Have the power you desired so much!"
Naruto flared Kyuubi's chakra so much it flowed across the entire room.
Reibi wailed as the power became too much for it.
"Impossible! How can there be too much chakra for Reibi to absorb!?" Shinno wondered.
Naruto cut down the arm that was holding him before making an army of Kage Bunshin to charge ahead.
"I don't think so!" Shinno said as more arms aimed for the clones.
As the clones were getting destroyed, Naruto made Kyuubi Rasengan and charged.
Reibi made a barrier to protect itself, but the clash between the two freed Sasuke.
With his Sharingan activated, Sasuke gazed at the tablet behind Reibi. "I see... So that's how it is."
Sasuke went Second Cursed Stage and cut right through the large tablet with a Chidori.
"My turn!" Naruto claimed as he broke through the barrier and slammed the red Rasengan on Reibi, sending it right through the wall.
"I can't believe it's come to this." Shinno said. "But I won't die yet! So you destroyed the slate that controls Reibi." He stretched his body until he was close to Sasuke. "Indeed you are the lone survivor of the Uchiha clan." He then approached Naruto. "And you, the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki. Prepare yourselves, for even I don't know what will happen when Reibi is without a leash."
Arms shot out of Shinno and destroyed the room itself. Naruto and Sasuke ran out of the room.
Naruto then arrived outside. Amaru, Hinata and the civilians were on a large hover craft. Hinata told Amaru of the lever to pull to make the craft fly.
"Get on that thing, Amaru." Naruto said as he stood next to the lever.
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata said happily.
"What about Sensei?" Amaru asked.
"He merged with Reibi." Naruto said. "Now go."
"What about you? Can you fly?" Amaru asked.
"There is still something I need to do. Besides, I have greater chances of surviving this crash than you." Naruto said.
"Then I'll stay here too!" Amaru said, but Sasuke appeared behind her and threw her into the hover craft, making the people inside catch her.
Naruto pulled the lever, sending the craft flying in the air.
Sasuke grunted, but then heard an explosion and felt the platform he was on falling. He turned toward Naruto, who gave him the two-finger salute.
"Itachi's life is yours to take, not Orochimaru's. By not bringing you back right now, Konoha will be rid of one pain in the ass." Naruto said. Sasuke didn't hear him, but the blond knew the Uchiha was reading through his lips. He then saw Sasuke use his second stage to fly away.
"All right, time to clean up this mess." Naruto said as he activated four tails of Kyuubi's Chakra.
He jumped down the fortress and prepared a Bijuudama. When he shot it, the resulting blast destroyed the fortress. Suddenly, the leech shot out of the smoke and fell toward Naruto.
"Are you serious!?" Naruto said as he twisted his body to avoid an arm.
As the two of them continued falling, they made arms that struggled against each other. Eventually, Naruto was over the leech and roared. Kitsune appeared and grabbed Reibi before they all fell underwater.
Moments later, Naruto, no longer using Kyuubi's chakra, swam ashore.
"You're insane." Naruto chuckled at the comment as he looked at Jiraiya, who was sitting on a rock.
"You tried to peep on Tsunade and nearly died. My chances of survival here were pretty good. So who's insane?"
"It was worth it." Jiraiya said shamelessly.
Naruto laughed as they met up with the others.
"Naruto!" Sakura called. "What the hell were you thinking!?"
"I'm perfectly fine." Naruto waved off.
Sakura sighed in frustration before she calmed down. "I heard Sasuke was there."
Naruto nodded. "He was."
"We only have a few days, a week at most, to bring him back." Sakura said sadly.
"We have more time than that." Sakura looked up as she heard Naruto. "He's not gonna let this happen. Before or when Orochimaru tries to get Sasuke's body, the snake will die."
"Are you sure?" Sakura asked.
"Orochimaru will be too weak to resist Sasuke's rebellion."
Sakura smiled as she heard that.
Everyone then started heading back to Konoha.
One evening, Naruto was looking at the sunset. The sun was even redder than usual, almost like blood. And the wind felt like it was carrying an ill omen.
"Today is the day." Naruto said. "will the snake prevail? Or will the eyes seen through him?"
A few days later, Sakura came to Naruto, saying that Tsunade summoned them.
When they entered the Hokage's office, Tsunade, Shizune and Jiraiya were there.
"Good, you're here." Tsunade said. "There's been a rumor that has been spreading all over the countries like wildfire. Orochimaru died at Sasuke's hand."
Sakura was shocked at the news and almost shed tears.
"As I thought. He wouldn't let Orochimaru take his revenge from him." Naruto said. "Why tell us this, though? Do you want us to hunt him down?"
Tsunade nodded. "If there ever was a time to search for him, it's now."
"It won't be easy." Naruto said. "To find Sasuke, we have to look for the same thing as him: Itachi Uchiha."
"Going after the member of Akatsuki who is the most likely to run into Sasuke." Tsunade said. "It makes sense, but this is Itachi we are talking about."
"Maybe Ibiki could get some information out of a member of Akatsuki if we capture one." Sakura suggested.
"It's true that there's already an order to capture members of Akatsuki, when and if at all possible."
"That'll prove difficult, right?" Kakashi asked as he appeared at the doorway of the office. "Getting information out of them won't be that easy. Even the ones we've seen so far were too dangerous. Until we happen to find Itachi, all we can do is remain calm and search."
Meanwhile
Itachi and Kisame, who was carrying the Yonbi Jinchuuriki, were now within the same hideout that Deidara, Tobi and Souma used to seal the Sanbi. Inside, Souma, the hologram of Leader-sama and the Gedo Mazo was waiting for them.
"About time." Souma said.
"You're here." Leader said. "Now is the time to seal the Yonbi."
Kisame dropped the Yonbi Jinchuuriki on the ground and Souma immediately stood over the Jinchuuriki before giving him the killing blow, taking his soul and the Yonbi. Souma then pulled out a glowing red orb and threw it in the Statue's mouth. Moments later, the orb disappeared and the statue gained another pupil, making it six.
"Now, we only need the Rokubi, the Hachibi and the Kyuubi." Leader said.
Back in Konoha
"All right, let's say we find Itachi, then what?" Jiraiya asked.
"I have an idea for that, if you could give me some time." Kakashi requested.
Tsunade accepted, adjourning the meeting.
Later, that day, Team Kakashi and Team Anko, excluding the snake mistress herself, had assembled and left the village to search for Itachi.
The next day, the group stopped atop a temple.
"Alright, our mission begins now." Kakashi said. "Akatsuki is after the Bijuu and we have reason to believe that they managed to take the Sanbi shortly after we left. According to Jiraiya-sama, they may have already infiltrated Hi no Kuni to capture Naruto. Itachi is from Konoha. Three years ago, he returned to the village to capture Naruto."
"So there's a chance he'll try again?" Sai asked.
"And that Sasuke-kun will come looking for Itachi." Sakura said.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." Yamato advised.
Kakashi nodded. "Here's the plan. This place will be our first center point. We'll do a five kilometer search in every direction. If we don't find anything, we'll establish a new center point and repeat the process. And so on and so forth."
"Five kilometers?" Sakura asked. "Our radios will be out of range. It's dangerous to split up like that. If we were to make contact with the enemy-"
"Sakura, don't get so stressed." Yamato interrupted.
Kakashi then summoned his ninken.
"Our voices that have much more range than radios, and our noses that can detect any danger, are at your commands." Pakkun said, since he and the other dogs had all been informed of the mission beforehand.
"Now, here are our patrol formations." Kakashi said. "Every member will be teamed up with two ninken."
Bisuke and Shiba walked up to Sakura.
Akino and Guruko teamed up with Shino.
Urushi and Uhei teamed up with Sai, who wondered if it was possible to become friends with dogs.
"Naruto, since you're Akatsuki's target, you'll be paired up with Yamato and our scout, Hinata."
"Along with Big Bark Bull." Pakkun added, gesturing to the largest ninken.
Bull barked at Naruto in greeting.
"Let's work well together, Naruto-kun." Hinata said shyly.
Naruto nodded.
"Kiba and I already have our ninken, since we've been partnered with them for years." Kakashi said.
"So we're okay!" Kiba added.
"Listen up everyone." Kakashi said. "First and foremost, you are tracking the scent of Itachi and Kisame. If you are to encounter them, mark their location and return here. Alright, let's move out! Scatter!"
Every team went off in different directions.
Naruto, Yamato, Hinata and Bull were walking in a forest. They had all notice the presence that was following them.
Yamato threw some shuriken at some tree near the hiding presence. A cloaked figure appeared. He stood up and was revealed to be Kabuto, although the left half of his face was covered by his hood.
"It looks like you noticed me." Kabuto said.
"Kabuto Yakushi, you sure have guts trying to approach us alone like that." Yamato said.
"I just wanted to have a little chat with Naruto-kun." Kabuto said.
"We won't let you get away this time, we're bringing you in." Yamato said.
"What do you want, Kabuto?" Naruto asked.
"At least you are willing to lend an ear when necessary, Naruto-kun." Kabuto commented as he seemed to be looking for something within his cloak. "I have something for you, a gift, you might say."
"What could you possibly want to give me?" Naruto asked.
Kabuto pulled out a black book. "How about all the information Orochimaru-sama gathered on Akatsuki?"
"That's suspicious in and of itself." Naruto said. "Why would you give me something like that?"
"Now that Orochimaru is dead, you want to negotiate with Konoha?" Yamato asked.
"I wouldn't be able to have negotiations with this alone. Especially not with Konoha." Kabuto said. "It is merely a gift for Naruto-kun. A token of gratitude to someone who is targeted by Akatsuki."
"Why would you be grateful to me?" Naruto asked.
"As a child, I suffered amnesia. I never knew my parents, nor the country I came from." Kabuto said. "To me, who moved across the countries as a spy, things such as 'village' and 'country' didn't mean anything. Until I served Orochimaru-sama, that is. When he died, I had no idea of who I really was." He then threw the book at Naruto's feet. "The lack of identity is something you went through as well, right, Naruto-kun?"
"Like you, I never knew my parents." Naruto admitted. "Not to mention that almost everyone in the village alienated me. Are you saying you are giving me this because I understand what you've been through?
"Unlike me, you have never doubted yourself." Kabuto said. "No matter what everyone said, you were not the Kyuubi. You were Naruto Uzumaki, an orphan who would rise above any other shinobi of his generation, and maybe even the previous and future ones. If it weren't for Orochimaru-sama's desire for the Sharingan and the fact that the Kyuubi would get in the way, you very well might have become one of Orochimaru-sama most desired containers."
"I see. So that's what you want." Naruto said, confusing his partners, as he picked up the book. "You want me to survive against Akatsuki so that we can settle things as kindred spirits."
"Exactly. Unlike you, who used your own power, I clung to Orochimaru-sama's power." He said as he lifted his hood and showed the rest of his face. His skin was turning into Orochimaru's.
The team was shocked.
"You spliced Orochimaru's remains within your body." Naruto said with widened eyes.
Kabuto took off his glasses and showed his left arm, which was completely converted. "I now understand the struggle that a Jinchuuriki goes through. However, I intend to become like you, who never doubted your identity. To do that, I have to defeat you myself. That is why I want you to survive against Akatsuki. By the time we settle things, I will have overcome Orochimaru-sama with this new body and find a new, stronger self!" He then smirked. "'Find a new self', that is something I learned from observing you, Naruto-kun. That is why I am grateful to you. Orochimaru-sama is the symbol of reincarnation. He keeps living on through my body as something I have to surpass. But, his vitality is truly amazing. Even as I talk to you, this transformation is trying to take over my body and revive Orochimaru-sama."
When Hinata looked at Kabuto through her Byakugan, she saw that a third of his body had been converted.
"I've been forcefully trying to resist this takeover." Kabuto said. "Now, I feel that I really can surpass Orochimaru-sama!"
Yamato then tried to restrain Kabuto with his Mokuton, but the snake used Kawarimi to avoid capture.
"Once I've learned to control Orochimaru-sama's power, I'll fight you again, Naruto-kun. But first, I'll take my revenge on Sasuke-kun, for killing Orochimaru-sama. Let's meet again." He then disappeared.
Immediately after that, an explosion was heard and they saw the blast. It was enormous, even at the distance between the team and the blast.
"What's that?" Hinata asked.
"Let's check it out." Naruto suggested.
Yamato agreed and they headed toward the blast.
They met up with the others at the blast zone, way after the blast was gone.
"What happened?" Naruto asked.
"There are signs that indicate that Sasuke-kun was here not too long ago." Sakura said.
Kiba nodded. "It's faint, but I smell his scent. But there are other scents as well."
"There is also the scent of someone who was in town." Shiba said. "Meaning he has an accomplice."
"That means Sasuke formed his own group." Kakashi said. "The other scent was a member of Akatsuki: Deidara."
"You mean it wasn't him that exploded back then, but a Bunshin?" Naruto asked.
Kakashi nodded. "Akatsuki members travel in pairs, meaning there are three other scents remaining. Sasuke formed a group of four."
"Can Sasuke's scent be tracked?" Naruto asked.
"It can't." Pakkun said. "The scent ends here."
"Does that mean he's dead? Or did he use a Jikukan-Ninjutsu like yours?" Naruto asked Kakashi.
Kiba, who tried to find Sasuke's scent, answered. "The latter case. I focused chakra in my nose to have a better sense of smell than a dog. I've found Sasuke!"
Kiba lead the way as everyone followed him. From what he said, Sasuke and his group were resting, meaning this was their chance to catch him. Unfortunately, they went on the move as they got closer. What's worse, Sasuke's scent was splitting up, making the Uchiha that much harder to find. Kakashi guessed that Sasuke's team had a chakra sensor that found them out.
"So be it. We can't let him get away. Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto said as he made dozens of clones before they all scattered to search for Sasuke.
Naruto himself was searching through the forest in search of Sasuke, but stopped as he found himself facing a pair of Sharingan eyes. However, the person before him was taller than Sasuke.
"Long time no see, Naruto Uzumaki." Itachi greeted.
"Itachi Uchiha." Naruto said. "I don't see Kisame with you. He doesn't seem like the type to hide himself."
"That's because I am not here to fight or capture you. I simply want to speak with you." Itachi explained.
"First Kabuto and now him? This mission is getting weirder by the minute." Naruto thought. "Alright, I'm all ears."
"Why are you so adamant in bringing Sasuke back to Konoha?" Itachi asked. "He's a Nuke-nin, now."
"I am aware of that, but I told my comrades that I would do what I can to bring him back." Naruto said. "While he is not a top priority, I will do my best to bring him back should I encounter him."
Suddenly, Naruto was surrounded by crows.
"Isn't this a bit much for talking?" Naruto asked, unfazed by the Genjutsu.
"I am giving you a back-up plan."
Before Naruto could ask anything, a crow forced its entire being down his throat. He started coughing after he swallowed the crow.
Suddenly, the Genjutsu stopped and Itachi disappeared in a flicker of crows.
Naruto closed his eyes for a moment before he chuckled.
"I see." Naruto said as he opened his eyes. He had a Mangekyou Sharingan in his left eye. "Kotoamatsukami: the Genjutsu that gives the target's mind false experiences without them noticing, huh? Interesting."
He then heard Kiba's voice and deactivated the Sharingan before the Inuzuka, Sakura, Kakashi and Yamato landed before him.
"What's the matter, Naruto?" Kiba asked.
Naruto shook his head. "Nothing. In my haste, I thought I saw the Sharingan, but it was a trick of the light."
Everyone accepted his excuse and went back to searching for Sasuke.
For a moment, Naruto stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around, but nobody was there. He then felt a new soul in his arsenal.
Jiraiya...
"He died!? How!?" Naruto wondered. How did he even get his soul. He then placed a hand on his shoulder. Did he try to pass the torch onto him after his death?
His clones constantly found birds that had a torn piece of Sasuke's clothing, which is how they carried his scent. Every traces of Sasuke's scent in the southern part of the forest were faked by birds.
Suddenly, Naruto received the memories of a clone that came in contact with Sasuke, but dispelled to prevent being hit by the Chidori.
"One of my Bunshin found Sasuke and his group. This way!" He said as he changed directions, with everyone following him.
However, Tobi soon stood in their way.
"Hi there!" Tobi said cheerfully. "I never imagined I'd meet up with Konoha all the way out here. Let's see...two, four, six... There's eight of you and only one me. That's not very fair."
"A member of Akatsuki." Yamato said.
"This one isn't part of Orochimaru's files." Naruto said. "This is a newer member."
"That's right! Name's Tobi! Nice to meet you all!" Tobi said.
"What are you doing here?" Naruto asked. "Akatsuki moves around in pairs."
"Deidara-senpai blew himself up trying to kill Sasuke." Tobi said. "Surely, you saw the giant blast? But enough about that, what kind of game should we play?"
"Why are you holding us off? Is Sasuke that important to Akatsuki?" Naruto asked.
"It's not to Akatsuki that he's important to, but to Itachi-senpai." Tobi said. "Itachi-senpai is sick and wants to have one final battle with Sasuke-kun. The least I can do for him is prevent any interruption."
"Then we have to hurry." Yamato said. "Everyone, formation B!"
Everyone braced themselves.
"Oh, you guys are getting serious?" Tobi asked before he started doing stretches. "Then I'll get serious too!"
Naruto scoffed before Sakura used her super strength to launch Naruto high in the air. Tobi looked at Naruto's altitude in awe before he realized the decoy and saw that he was surrounded by Kiba, Akamaru and Sakura while Hinata, Shino, Sai, Kakashi and Yamato rushed past the battle to get Sasuke.
"Three against one!?" Tobi asked as he dodged the trio's attacks. "That's not fair!" Suddenly, he looked up and saw Naruto fall toward him with a Rasengan in hand. "They were the decoy!?" Naruto then hit Tobi with the Rasengan. "You got me!"
But Tobi wasn't in the place Naruto hit. Tobi shot out from within the tree. "Not! Ninpo: Tousenbo no Jutsu!" He then disappeared.
They all decided to catch up to the rest of the group and found them being held off by Tobi.
"Well? Well? Well? What should we play next?" Tobi asked eagerly.
"Formation A!" Yamato said as wood pillar rose from the ground and tried to restrain Tobi, who kept dodging.
Kiba and Akamaru charged and tried to attack Tobi with the Gatsuuga.
Tobi dodged the two drills before Naruto was instantly in front of him and swiped Muramasa, but the blade fazed through him. The moment Naruto jumped away, Tobi was restrained by wood.
"It hurts..." Tobi whined.
"This will hold you tight." Yamato said.
But Tobi managed to slip through the restrains. "Well? I'm pretty flexible, you know." He said as he did stretches.
"Our attacks were spot on." Kiba said. "How is he dodging them?"
"He's not." Naruto said. "My blade fazed right through him like he wasn't even there."
"So he's only pretending to dodge. He's letting both the attackers and the Jutsu pass through him. Is that what you mean, Naruto?" Shino asked.
Naruto nodded.
"Maybe it's a Bunshin or a Genjutsu that forces us to see images of him." Sakura supplied.
"I-I thought the same thing, so I extended the range of my Byakugan and searched the area for any other chakra, but his is the only one here." Hinata said.
"Then it's a Jutsu that's unique to him." Kakashi said. "Shino."
"Already on it." Shino said as he unleashed his bugs.
"Yikes! Are you from the Aburame clan!?" Tobi asked. "These swarms of bugs are nasty!"
"I've never seen you so pumped up, Shino." Kiba commented.
"It's only natural." Shino said. "Why? Because I was left out of the last Sasuke Retrieval Mission. Go!" He sent his swarm forward.
"That's so nasty!" Tobi said as he dodged the swarm.
When Tobi landed on another tree, the swarm scattered and surrounded him.
"Hijutsu: Mushidama!" Shino said as the bugs closed in on Tobi.
"W-Wait!" Tobi pleaded before he was swarmed.
"Hinata." Kakashi called out.
"He's definitely trapped by Shino-kun's bugs." Hinata said as she looked at Tobi with her Byakugan.
"Yamato!" Kakashi said.
Yamato immediately had wood pillars ready to attack.
Suddenly, Tobi disappeared altogether.
"How? My insects suddenly lost track of his chakra." Shino said.
"Did he use the Shunshin no Jutsu?" Sakura asked.
"If it was, my bugs would have followed him." Shino answered.
"A Jikukan-Ninjutsu?" Kakashi thought.
Hinata's eyes widened. "Over there!" She said as she turned around, with everyone following suit.
"Howdy!" Tobi waved cheerfully.
Suddenly, a flytrap appeared next to Tobi and revealed Zetsu.
"How did it go?" Tobi asked.
"What is that?" Sakura asked.
"That's Zetsu." Naruto said. "From what Orochimaru's files say, this plant-like man is Akatsuki's spy."
"Sasuke won and Itachi is dead." White Zetsu said.
Everyone was shocked.
"That's unbelievable!...Not really." Tobi said before his voice gained a deeper tone. "It was as I expected."
"Sasuke's unconscious, too." Zetsu said. "His life might be hanging on a thread."
Tobi looked at the Konoha team with his revealed right eye, which now had a Sharingan visible on it. "I shall continue my fight with you another time."
The group was shocked to see a Sharingan.
Zetsu sank underground.
"See you later." Tobi said before he waved an arm over his body, which disappeared as the arm waved over it.
"We must reach Sasuke before them." Kakashi said as he went on top of a tree to look at the surroundings. "Hinata! Look at four o'clock!"
Hinata activated her Byakugan. "I can see strong chakra spread over a large area about ten kilometers ahead. The forest surrounding the area is burning with black flames."
"Itachi used black flames to escape Jiraiya's Jutsu when we were searching for Godaime-sama, three years ago." Naruto supplied.
"Everyone, move!" Kakashi ordered as soon as he heard Naruto's words.
The group rushed to the burning forest.
"I've got their scents!" Kiba said. "They've reached Sasuke's position!"
"Naruto, are those the same flames Itachi used?" Kakashi asked. He knew of Amaterasu, but never saw it for himself.
"Without a doubt." Naruto answered.
Kakashi immediately gave the signal to stop. "Those flames will burn anything they touch, with nothing being able to extinguish them. Yamato!"
Yamato intertwined his hands. "Doton: Doryuukatsu!"
When he slammed a hand on the ground, the ground beneath the forest itself split apart, giving everyone a clear passage.
The group, except Yamato to keep the Jutsu going, rushed into the passage to retrieve Sasuke.
However, when they arrived where Sasuke's scent stopped, he was nowhere to be found. The building that had been in this place was completely destroyed.
"So, this is the result of a battle between two Uchiha?" Kakashi thought.
"I can't find any other chakra than ours." Hinata said.
"I still sense his scent, but..." Kiba trailed off.
"We were too late." Kakashi said grimly. "But, we won't stop until his scent is completely gone."
Everyone scattered around the ruins. But Sasuke was nowhere to be found. The group headed back to Konoha.
Meanwhile
Sasuke and his group, along with Tobi, Kisame and Souma, were around a table, preparing the next plan. Apparently, Tobi told Sasuke something that made him join Akatsuki.
Suigetsu was a young man with white hair, purple eyes and shark-like teeth. He wore a purple, sleeveless shirt and blue pants. He also had Zabuza's Kubikiribocho strapped to his back.
Jugo was a tall, muscular young man with spiky orange hair and red-orange eyes. He wore black pants and a tan shirt.
Karin was a young woman with crimson eyes, a pair of glasses and red hair in an unusual style: short and spiky on the right side while long and flat on the left side. She wore a lavender uniform, black shorts and thigh-high stockings with black sandals.
Sasuke's only difference in attire was a grey high-collared short-sleeved shirt. His hair also hung over his forehead.
"Taka will destroy Konoha." Sasuke claimed.
Tobi sat on the table. "You can say that all you want, but how will you accomplish that?"
"My targets are the Elders." Sasuke said. "Nothing else matters."
"If you target a king, the soldiers will be there to defend him. It won't be that easy." Kisame said. "Plus, your little 'Taka' group doesn't seem strong enough."
"I wouldn't underestimate us, Kisame-senpai." Suigetsu smirked. "Our little game still isn't finished. This time, I'll get serious." He said as he brandished Kubikiribocho and jumped over the table to attack Kisame.
"Souma!" Tobi called out.
Souma immediately stood between Suigetsu and Kisame and used Koton to turn his hand into steel and held Kubikiribocho by the blade.
Karin rose her glasses to the bridge of her nose. She didn't like that Souma guy. Unlike everyone else, his chakra had two different tints. While people's chakra were usually warm or dark, or felt like their Kekkei Genkai, Souma's chakra was the warmest she'd ever felt, but his core was far darker. It didn't make sense.
"Someone needs some discipline." Souma commented before he pushed the blade away, making Suigetsu stumble and comically fall off the table.
"Suigetsu, you fucking idiot!" Karin screamed. "This isn't the place for that!"
"My only goal is getting Samehada!" Suigetsu countered as he rubbed the bump on his head. "Getting it was the only reason I joined Sasuke!"
"What do we do, Sasuke?" Jugo asked.
"Fight Kisame if you want, Suigetsu. You won't be able to defeat him yet, anyway." Sasuke said.
"Don't say that." Suigetsu said cheerfully. "One day, you'll get some shark fin soup!"
"Akatsuki is lacking manpower right now, so let's avoid unnecessary skirmishes." Tobi said.
"Then you shouldn't be looking down on others." Suigetsu smirked.
"Our goals coincide." Tobi said. "That's why Taka will cooperate with Akatsuki from now on."
"And what do we get out of this?" Sasuke asked.
"We'll share the Bijuu." Tobi offered.
"Fat chance." Souma thought.
"Bijuu?" Sasuke asked.
"Kyuubi, the fox sealed within Naruto, is a Bijuu." Souma answered. "Sabaku no Gaara also had the Ichibi, another Bijuu, sealed within him."
"So Kyuubi is not the only one of its kind?" Sasuke asked.
"Well, there is only one Kyuubi no Kitsune, but there are nine Bijuu, from the Ichibi to the Kyuubi." Tobi said.
"And you would share them with us?" Sasuke asked. "How generous."
"But, if you betray Akatsuki, I am sure Souma will be happy to have your Sharingan." Tobi threatened.
"You would transplant my eyes on a non-Uchiha?" Sasuke asked with an edge in his voice.
Souma chuckled. "Nothing like that. When I kill someone, I automatically absorb their soul and chakra, giving me the abilities they have. Your Sharingan is no different."
Sasuke stayed silent for a moment before he grunted.
"Akatsuki already has six of the nine Bijuu." Kisame said.
"Akatsuki and Taka will split up the search, that's our top priority." Tobi said.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "You've yet to capture the Kyuubi, correct?"
"Taka will search for the Hachibi." Tobi said. "Akatsuki will deal with the rest. That includes Naruto."
Behind his mask, Souma smirked. Soon... all the Bijuu will be gathered.