Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Chapter 20
For those looking forward to seeing Itachi he's...
It was the next day before Pakkun returned with the whereabouts and only then did the retrieval team get send out. Traveling through the sweltering desert all morning they only managed to make it into the dense forest that surrounded the outskirts of the rock village by late afternoon.
Positioning themselves on top of one of the tall branches they peered down at the large cave like structure surrounded by water.
"From the intel, it was two akatsukis that took Gaara. So we'll break into teams." Sakura told her teammates as she handed out ear pieces to each one of them. "Naruto, you and Sasuke will take one, and me and Chiyo baa-san will take the other."
Placing the tiny ear pieces in, they leaped down from the tree and headed towards the large boulder that blocked the entrance. Motioning for her team to stand behind her, Sakura cocked her arm back and smashed it into the large rock. Jumping back to avoided the falling pieces.
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Once the rubble cleared a large clay bird carrying an unconscious Gaara immediately flew out. The blond akatsuki perched on it smirked down at the four shinobis. "Seems like you're too late. He's already dead."A taunting laugh escaped the blond akatsuki's lips as the clay bird flapped overhead for a brief moment before flying off.
"SON OF A BITCH!" Not wasting anytime Naruto, bit back a growl and lunged after the blond Akatsuki.
Muttering a silent curse Sasuke chased after the blond.
Shaking her head at her two teammates, Sakura and Chiyo made their way inside the large cave like structure. The darkness of the cave immediately overshadowed them.
"How unlucky...I get the little girl and the old hag." A low voice drawled out as the hunched over man crawled out from the shadows. "I'm surprise to see you still alive baa-chan."
"Sasori." Chiyo whispered as she gave the man before a despondent look.
"Naruto calm down." Sasuke yelled as he chased after the furious blond, who chose to ignore his teammate. Sighing he picked up his speed.
"Kage-bushin." Naruto snarled as twenty clones surrounded him. Picking up one of his clones around the ankle he tossed it towards Deidara.
The blond akatsuki dodged the flying bushin and send several tiny clay bombs back towards the two pursuing ninjas.
"Naruto!" Sasuke who managed to catch up to the blond, grabbed him around the collar and pulled him back just in time as the explosions when off. "Calm down!" He glared at his blond friend, his sharingan fully activated.
Seeing the anger in Sasuke's eyes, Naruto calmed a bit. His fists still clenched by his sides, he looked up at the flying akatsuki. "Why don't you stop running and fight us!"
The fluttering of the wings of the clay bird stopped, and Deidara peered down at the two ninjas. A sly smirk crossed his face. They dared to challenge him? How idiotic. Taking out a wad of clay from his pouch, his hands produces hundreds of small microbombs before dropping them onto the two ninjas. This match was going to be in his favor.
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Remembering the battle he had with Deidara before, he grabbed Naruto around the wrist and sent a flow of chidori through his body into Naruto's to nullify the tiny clay bombs that entered their body. A look of discomfort crossed Naruto's face as he stared at his raven haired teammate. "His attack created micro bombs that linger in the air. So, when we breath we inhale his attack but my chidori will disable the bombs." Sasuke explained to Naruto as they leaped back. Keeping his hand around Naruto's wrist he glared at the smirking man. This battle was going to be slightly more difficult now that he has to make sure Naruto gets a flow of his chidori once in a while.
Tossing five kunais at Sasori, Sakura watched as Chiyo baa-san's weapons were easily deflected by the large wooden tail.
"Chiyo baa-san, if I get close enough I can destroy his puppet armor. So is it possible for you to use me as a puppet?" Sakura whispered to Chiyo as she ran through everything that happen from the first time she faced this guy.
Not particularly wanting to use another ninja as a puppet, Chiyo understood the difficulty of this one this man by herself, so she reluctantly agreed. Watching Sakura walk in front of her, she lifted her hand from within her sleeve she latched several chakra threads onto Sakura.
"Finished talking?" Sasori drawled out as he sent a streams of senbons towards the two ninjas. Flicking her fingers, Chiyo and Sakura both dodged the attacks. As the senbons ceased Sakura gave Chiyo a nod before running towards the akatsuki. Chiyo followed after the girl.
Seeing their advancement, Sasori lifted up his cloak and two large canon like features emerged from his armor and released a continuous stream of poisoned senbon.
Taking out a kunai, and with Chiyo's support Sakura deflected some of the oncoming senbons while dodging others. Slowly and carefully, she made her advancement. Once she was close enough, she gathered chakra to he fist and slammed down on top of the tough wooden armor. The puppet body beneath her fist shattered, and a cloaked man leaped out. Panting Sakura dropped down to the ground.
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"Sasori you…" Sakura turned to Chiyo when she saw the shocked expression on her face. The cloaked man dropped down to the ground and took off the black material. A young man no older than twenty-five emerged, his body completely merged with a puppets'.
"Surpised? Now I never get old." Sasori smirked as he took out a small scroll from his back. Opening the scroll, and with a swipe of his thumb, the puppet form of the third Kazekage poof-ed out.
Chiyo immediately tugged Sakura back, as she pulled out a scroll of her own. With a simple seals two puppets appeared.
"So you kept them?" Sasori sneered as he stared at the two puppets. "But are you sure they're a match for the third kazekage?" At this the puppet kazekage opened his mouth and black magnetic sand flowed out.
"Sakura be careful, the third Kazekage's magnetic sand was the stronger in Suna." Chiyo warned the medic beside her, as they watched the magnetic sand slowly melt into a large cone and a large rectangular block.
"It's okay chiyo baa-san I got this." Sakura gave the elderly woman a smile before running towards to large block with her fist ready to punch it out of the way. However, before she could reach the block, the spinning cone descended on top of her. Lurching her body to the side she kicked the spinning top with a chakra enhanced foot, before charging again at large block.
Going through this battle again, proved to be much easier.
Dodging another clay bomb that was thrown by Deidara. Naruto created a rasengan and launched himself and Sasuke at the flying ninja. Seeing this attack Deidara easily evaded it.
"SASUKE!"
Eyes widening Deidara watched as the two ninjas before him vanish, before feeling a sharp pain in his back as he was slammed off his bird and onto the ground. Spitting out blood, he staggered up and stared at the blue cackling chakra around Sasuke's hand. Growling, his hand spewed out more bombs towards the two ninja.
Smirking Sasuke send a wave of chidori to the ground nullifying all the bombs around them. While he did this Naruto created a chain of his clones to surround the blond ninja.
"Futon: Rasen shuriken!" The spinning rasengan was thrown from every clone at Deidara, who gave a small growl before jumping into the air and back onto his large clay bird.
Seems like this battle was going to be more difficult than Deidara anticipated.
Sasori was getting annoyed as he watched the pink haired girl continuously evade his puppet Kazekage's attacks, and instead somehow her attacks are not only slowing down him but also destroyed the base completely.
This battle was taking to long for his liking.
With a flick of his finger the magnetic sand dissolved and formed into thousands of sharp spikes. 'Let's see how she dodge this.' With another flick he send the sand hurling down on the girl.
"SAKURA!"
The said girl heard Chiyo yell out as she felt her body move on it's own to try and dodge the attack. Shielding her eyes her body dropped to the ground as the sandy spikes slammed into the ground. She felt blood trickle down her cheek and arms but for the most part she was unharmed.
Ignoring the worried shouts of Chiyo, Sakura kept her body as still as possible as she reached into the pouch around her leg to pull out a small vile of antidote for the Sasori's poison she made in Sand and jabbed it into her leg. Releasing the liquid she could feel the antidote immediately take effect.
"It's over." Sasori drawled out in a bored tone, as he send his puppet flying towards the unmoving girl. A large sword in his hand.
Unable to move her two puppets due to some of the magnetic sand that had gotten into them during Sakura's fight with the Kazekage, Chiyo could only watch in horror as the kunoichi before her was about to be killed. "SAKURA!"
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Still not moving, Sakura waited till the puppet was within arms reach.'NOW!' In a flash she hoisted herself up and thrusted her fist into the chest of the kazekage. The puppet dismembered before her.
Ignoring the furious look on the red head Sasori's face, Sakura began to heal the cuts that adorned her arms and face.
"Sakura-"
The girl flashed the older woman a grin.
Sasori was livid by now. To think that a weak little girl had taken down two of his puppets? He was ending this. Pulling out another scroll, he tossed it into the air and immediately numerous poofs were heard as a hoard of puppets came out. Each brandishing a different weaponry.
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"Sakura I have a technique that can work against his, but if I use this technique I won't be able to use you as a puppet." Chiyo whispered to the girl.
"I'll be fine."
With that said she felt the chakra strings that were attached to her body vanish. She watched as Chiyo pulled out a scroll from her sleeve, and tossed it on the floor. Mumbling a small jutsu ten puppets emerged.
"Ready?" Chiyo asked Sakura as she herself slide into an offensive stance. With a nod, Sakura and the ten puppets charged towards the hundred puppets of Sasori.
Sasuke had to end this battle. Not to long ago, he heard the voice of Chiyo yell out Sakura from his ear piece, before it faded back into static. Judging from the worried expression on Naruto's face he was certain the blond heard it as well.
Not planning on wasting any more time on Deidara, Sasuke switched his normal sharingan into the Mangekyo. A small trail of blood dripped from his eye as the large purple skeleton appeared behind him. While Naruto tugged his wrist out from Sasuke's grip and drew on the Kyuubi's power, in an instant the orange chakra surround him like a cloak.
Deidara's eye's widened as he saw a feral looking Naruto lunge himself at his large clay bird, with one swipe the bird exploded. Having jumped off his bird before Naruto's swipe landed, he thought he was safe from harm, before the large purple skeleton's hand wrapped itself around his body. 'Shit' Sending out a flow of bombs he tried to blow up the hand, but had no luck.
"Naruto!" Sasuke called as he created his enton: Kagutsuchi with one hand. Seeing this move, Naruto landed beside his teammate and recreated his Futon: rasen shuriken. Almost as if he read Sasuke's mind, he merged his rasen shuriken with Sasuke's Kagutuschi. The blue colour of the rasengan, turned into a fiery black, cocking their hands back they hurled the attack towards the Deidara who was still trapped within Susanoo's hand struggling to get free.
The black flames of Sasuke's Kagutsuchi and Naruto's Rasengan completely swallowed Deidara's body and Susanoo's hand upon impact.
Releasing Susanoo, they watched as Deidara fall to the ground howling as the black flames of amaterasu melt away at his body. Panting Sasuke switched off his mangekyo, and the large susanoo vanished.
"Grab Gaara." He said to Naruto, as he pointed towards the unmoving red head that laid on the field. Not needing to be told twice, Naruto grabbed his friend and slung him across his shoulders. "Let's go."
With that the two ninja's sprinted off back to where Sakura and Chiyo were.
Punching out another one of Sasori's clone, Sakura made her way across the field.
"Sakura catch." Turning around she saw the small white lion head one of Chiyo's puppet's tossed in her direction. Reaching out one hand she caught the object, before speeding up and dashing towards Sasori.
Dodging and striking down any of the red head's puppet's in her way. Once her distance was close enough to her opponent, she gathered chakra to her arm and flung the lion head. She watched as it grew in size before completely engulfing the Sasori's body. The small purple heart in his puppet body popped out and he fell slack.
Falling to the ground, she panted. If she recalled properly Sasori was going to appear behind Chiyo. Ignoring the aching muscles in her legs, she sprinted from her current position back to Chiyo. Her green eyes widened as she watched one of the defeated puppet's slowly raise behind the woman. 'Shit' Pumping more chakra to her feet she increased her speed towards Chiyo.
"CHIYO BAA-SAN!"
The said woman turned to see a splatter of blood spray onto her face. Her eyes widened when she saw the pink haired girl in front of her, and Sasori's katana rammed through one of her vital arteries in her abdomen. "S-Sakura."
Weakly Sakura turned around, blood trailed down the corner of her mouth. "Are you alright?"
"Are you sure you should be asking that?" Sasori mused as he slowly tried to withdraw his sword.
Turning her attention away from Chiyo she glared at Sasori. It seems like she was still unable to properly stop Sasori's attack this second time around. With one hand she gripped the blade of the katana preventing it from exiting her body in case he decided to attack Chiyo. Smirking when she felt his futile attempts at trying to best her in physical strength. "Not going to happen." She growled as more blood leaked out of her mouth. Gathering a portion of her chakra to the cut she focused on healing the gapping wound in her stomach.
"Tch" Sasori released his hold on the Katana and reached for another. However before he could strike he felt two blades enter into his body. Looking down he stared at the blades that protruded from his purple heart. Turning his attention from the blades protruding from his body he eyes fell on Chiyo's finger which was lifted. He scoffed. Seems like he lost. But at least he took the girl down with him.
Gasping Sakura fell to her knees. The blade still in her body.
"SAKURA-CHAN"
"Sakura!"
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When Sasuke arrived at the battle ground he felt his heart stop. He watched as Sakura rush in front of the old woman using her body as a shield against the red hair akatsuki's blade. Then he proceeded to watch her stubbornly prevent the guy from withdrawing his blade.
Anger rushed through him when he saw Sasori ready to attack again. Grabbing his kusanagi he was prepared to lacerate the bastard, before he saw Chiyo's finger move and two katanas from the fallen puppet embed themselves into the man. However that anger was instantly replaced by fear when he saw Sakura fall to the ground. Naruto must have felt the same thing, because the second Sakura's body fell to the ground, he dropped Gaara's body and ran towards the girl. Sasuke closely following him.
"SAKURA-CHAN!"
"Sakura!"
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Chiyo ignored the two ninjas that sprinted towards them, she could feel the frantic radiating off of them.
"Sakura-chan." Naruto reached out to touch the girl that was struggling to breath.
"Don't touch her." Chiyo ordered, stopping Naruto in his movement. Carefully, she placed her hand on the handle of the blade and in one swift motion she pulled the sword out. Sakura gave sharp cry of pain.
Sasuke hearing her cry, immediately gripped Chiyo's hand and glared. Tugging her arm free from the angry Uchiha, she gathered blue chakra to her hand and placed it on the wound. Pumping a portion of her life force she watched as the wound slowly heal under her touch.
After a good ten minutes the wound on Sakura's stomach was fully healed. With the help of Sasuke, she stood up.
"Thank you." She smiled at Chiyo, before offering a hand to help her up.
"Sakura-chan are you alright?" Naruto asked in a worried tone as he scanned the girl's body for any more injures.
"I'm fine, where's Gaara?" Sakura asked.
With his head lowered, he pointed to where Gaara laid. "He's dead." His voice shook.
Pulling herself out of Sasuke's arms, Sakura wrapped her arms around Naruto. "Shhh, I'm so sorry Naruto."
"I can save him." Three heads turned towards the feeble old woman. "I've been meaning to save this jutsu for Sasori, but I guess it'll be best used on our Kazekage."
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Following Chiyo the four ninja walked to where Gaara was. Kneeling down Chiyo placed her hand over Gaara's chest, and a blue glow encased her hands. Sakura turned away, she knew exactly what technique she was using. She was not watching Chiyo die a second time in front of her.
After fifteen minutes, the blue glow around Chiyo's hand ceased, and she slowly closed her eyes as Gaara was beginning to open his eyes.
"GAARA!" Naruto shouted, as he ran towards his friend to help him up.
Slumping down beside Chiyo, Sakura caught the old woman before she fell to the ground. Placing Chiyo's head against her chest, she felt the older woman's heart slowly stop. Tears filled her green eyes as she stared down.
"What happened to her?" Gaara weakly asked as he stared at the elderly woman while leaning against the blond.
"Chiyo baa-san, she saved your life, and I guess she's just exhausted." Naruto replied a smile on his face.
"No." Sakura choked out as tears fell from her eyes. Three heads stared at her. "She gave her life to save Gaara-san's. She's dead."
The smile immediately left Naruto's face as he stared at the elderly woman.
...Itachi is not in this chapter...maybe the next chapter XD
As for the fight with Deidera it does seem a bit rushed but honestly do you think Deidara stands a chance against the ultimate tag team? Narusasu? especially with Susanoo sasuke and kyuubi Naruto?
Anyways please review!