Still don't own Naruto
Chapter 19: It Begins
The sun was beginning to set over Konoha, the various teams of shinobi were going about there business without a care in world, it had been three years since the disappearance of a certain blond knucklehead and had left the village quieter than it had been for 13 years.
In a clearing behind the Hokage's office Sakura Haruno and the Hokage were training working on her tactical skills and taijutsu.
"You have definitely improved Sakura, you are more than ready to go out into the field I know you don't have a team at the moment but I can put you and Kakashi into a support cell working with the anti Akatsuki team's" Tsunade said impressed with how much her student has grown over the last three years
"thank you Tsunade-sama it will be nice to work with Kakashi sensei again" Sakura said stretching for a warm down from training "loosing Sasuke-kun was a bad enough but I haven't even seen Sai since he came and told us he was transferring off team 7"
Tsunade looked at the girl she held a bit of irritation to the way she still called Sasuke's name with the -kun suffix but as well as saddened Sakura had been left by both her teammates.
"go have some fun for the rest of the day Sakura you deserve it we can get you back to missions with Kakashi tomorrow. With all the work you do at the hospital along with our training here I'm surprised you managed to find time to take the chunin exams last time around" the hokage said
(Elsewhere in the Village)
Kakashi was walking down the main street with his new favorite book.
The latest copy of Icha Icha was enlightening to the copy ninja especially when he looked 'underneath the underneath'. The book Jiraiya had written this time in all its smutty glory was a story of a young boy and a slightly older girl who fell in love but they were separated after a war and could only stay together by letters until the day they were finally reunited.
Kakashi liked the story line but what really made him smirk was names of the characters Nakuro Uzaki and Yujiri Kee. Needless to say the copy ninja had finished the book several times already.
Kakashi was walking 'lost on the road of life' when an Anbu arrived telling him to be in the Hokage's office 5am tomorrow 'she seems to be learning to tell me to come earlier however I know she is never there before 8'
As Kakashi walked on still consumed by the pages describing what could be considered highly inappropriate behavior between Nakuro and Yujiri Kakashi's thoughts drifted to what his sensei's son was really doing now
(Myobokuzan)
"Damn you Erosennin... We finished our scheduled training months ago I have learned everything you wanted me to, hell I can even beat you in our spars almost half the time. Why are we still here I want to go home" Naruto called out from where he was sitting with several Seal arrays he was working on in front of him spread out.
Naruto had changed, three years of non stop training would tend to have an effect on a persons body, also the fact that the toads did not know how to cut hair helped.
He now stood just over 6 foot tall slightly shorter than Jiraiya he wore black ninja sandals along with black Anbu pants, a tight blue muscle shirt with an Uzumaki swirl on the back clung to his frame showing off his well defined stomach and chest.
His arms were now highly toned but not like a body builder. Naruto's build was was lean and athletic, he had two seals tattooed on each arm that looked like small demon shuriken, located on the upper bicep they were only just visible when his shirt was on.
His face had lost all his puppy fat whilst still round and exuded playfulness and warmth it was also angular and sleek, his hair had grown, still spiky he often trimmed the back himself so his bangs framing his face went down to his chin and the hair was only kept out of his eyes by his hetai-ite.
"Hey what happened to Jiraiya sensei... and here I thought I was gonna get some respect at last... There is still more you can learn gaki you haven't figured out your fathers time space seals yet have you" Jiraiya said sagely
"You Became Erosennin again when you used me and Yugi-chan as inspiration for your perverted story's, and why cant I do these seals in Konoha, I cant even understand half of this the only one I have been able to figure out is the time space absorption barrier" Naruto said working alone with his training Naruto had great respect and affection to the old pervert but Naruto was not amused when he found a copy of the latest Icha Icha and saw it was based on his relationship with Yugito
"well that's more than I was ever able to get done of those seals, and if you went back to Konoha now you wouldn't have time to work on them Tsunade will have you on missions all the time I bet your dad would of loved to spend time here to work on his seals" The elder toad sage said
"That may be but, did he have to leave mom for three years at a time" Naruto complained
"oh so that's what this is about, you don't care about returning to Konoha at all you just want to see your girlfriend again... don't worry when we get back I am sure we can find a way for you to see her" Jiraiya teased.
"That's not it at all" Naruto said the small blush giving away the lie "Fine we can stay longer but can we at least spar for awhile I will leave a clone to work on this these seals are doing my head in" Naruto complained
"Fine but no Sage mode... … I cant do it as well as you and it makes me look worse than Kisame and that guy is more fish than man" Jiraiya mumbled slightly upset
"you just don't want to use it because you know I always win when we spar with frog kumite" Naruto said confidently
"your reserve's are bigger and it lasts longer its not that you win its that you stay fully charged for longer" Jiraiya said irritated that he hadn't beaten his student in there recent spars using senjutsu
"what ever erosennin... I still cant believe you still grow that massive nose when you use it at least you don't have webbed feat anymore" the blond softly chuckled. As they got up and began to walk off to there favorite training area.
(Unknown Location)
"It is time Sasori, Deidara you are to capture the Ichibi... Do not fail me" said the spectral figure with purple eyes
"Yes leader-sama we have a plan and will put it into action immediately" Sasori said
"The jinchuuriki wont know what hit him, yeah" Deidara said confidently
"don't be overconfident he is a jinchuuriki and therefore dangerous, this is also a Kage we are talking about he has a whole village around him" there leader said deadly serious
"It will be fine leader-sama, nothing can stand up to my art, its a blast yeah" Deidara exclaimed proudly.
"Deidara sempai is strong I sure wouldn't want to fight that big Tanuki without help" the man in the orange spiral mask said
"And that's why your not a full member of the group Tobi, your useless yeah" Deidara said
"Aw Deidara sempai why do you have to be so mean" Tobi cried
Deidara was about to hit Tobi in response but was stoped by there leader "Enough you two, now Sasori I trust you can get Deidara and yourself into your old village with little trouble?"
"Of course I have several spys working for me in high areas of Suna's counsel and military getting in or out wont be a problem" Sasori stated
"Very well you are dismissed... Kakazu, Hidan... … I need you to start heading towards Kumo your target often travels between Kumo and Konoha as she is an emissary between the villages. You are to wait a few days after Ichibi is sealed then act, we still need you to gather funds while we wait so any bounty hunting you do will be acceptable in the meantime" The leader finished before he faded from view followed by the other remaining members.
(The Next day Konoha)
The sun was still rising when a hawk flew into the village with a priority letter to be delivered to the decryption squad at the Hokage tower.
At that time Tsunade was currently waiting for the arrival of one Kakashi Hatake who could be found talking to his old teammates and sensei at the memorial stone as time past him by.
In the office were currently Sakura Haruno, Shikamaru Nara And Temari Subaku.
"Gah where is that sensei of mine cant he ever be on time" Sakura moaned
"no use crying about it, at least with a lazy sensei like that you get time to sit back and watch the clouds, wish I had it that easy having to work on the chunin exams is way to troublesome" Shikamaru said
"are you still complaining about having to work for once you lazy ass... it's done now no more work, so why are you still complaining" Temari said
"Kami you must be the second most troublesome blond there is" the lazy Nara said
"second? Who is the first" Sakura questioned
"Naruto of course, he just up and disappears to train with Jiraiya-sama doesn't say good bye or anything, who knows where or even how strong he is now its just way to troublesome to think about" the Pineapple haired ninja replied lazily
"yeah I guess your right I wonder where he is... have you heard anything Tsunade-sama" Sakura asked
"Nope nothing only things I have seen or heard of Jiraiya or Naruto for the past three years are Jiraiya's letters with information from his spy's and the occasional hello Baa-chan from Naruto, nothing about his training or where he is at all and when he gets back he will pay" Tsunade said angry that her little self adopted son was still out of the village with no word "If you really want to know how or where he is Yugito Nii would be the person to ask they keep in contact through his toads"
"She isn't in the village at the moment anyway she just left to return to Kumo a few days ago... at least we know Naruto's apartment is being looked after, seeing as she has been living there when in the village" Shikamaru said before they could continue this conversation they were stopped by a new arrival
"Yo!" came the unmistakable call of Kakashi as he walked through the door to the hokage's office
"Your late!" Sakura yelled causing the occupants of the room to wince.
Tsunade had tried to stop her pupils screeching and for the most part it worked but the ever tardiness of her sensei had caused a relapse
"eh sorry I was walking here and I got side tracked by this shiny object... thinking it might be dangerous I followed it around but it turned out to be a balloon" Kakashi said giving his famous eye smile and producing a shiny silver balloon out of nowhere.
"wow that is shiny... hey wait a second... Liar!" Sakura yelled
"um would you prefer, I got lost on the road of life" He said knowing it would frustrate his student
"NO" she yelled in retaliation
"Enough!" The hokage demanded ending Sakura and Kakashi's small disagreement "I have called you here to tell you that once again you will be working with Sakura as Team 7. Now for your first mission I want you to-" the hokage was unable to finish giving there order as the door swung open and a chunin ran in waving a piece of paper
"Hokage-sama urgent letter from Suna its an emergency" the chunin said frantically as he handed the letter to Tsunade before leaving.
The slug sannin analysed the note eyes wide as she realized how serious this was, She failed to notice however the small toad on the windowsill puff out of existence.
"Team 7 your first mission is to accompany Temari back to Suna and then you are to Aid in what ever way the recovery of the Kazekage Garra" the Hokage said causing all eyes in the room to go wide
"Shikamaru I need you to get this letter to the intelligence department and send it on to Kumo although I believe they would have received this already it is important they know the Akatsuki are on the move at last" Tsunade ordered Shikamaru bowed took the letter and left the office.
"Now I suggest you leave immediately I will try and send backup in a day or so dismissed" Tsunade ordered and turned to look out the window 'Jiraiya, Naruto, there are you now is when we need you the most'
(Road to Suna Later that Day)
the group of Kakashi Temari and Sakura ran through the forest jumping from branch to branch.
"Temari how far away is Suna without a team I was mostly used to fill in for other ninja the last couple of years so I never came out this way before" Sakura said
"oh at this speed which is rather fast if we get a good rest each day I would say three days" the pig tailed blond said
"oh ok I hope we can get to Suna in time to rescue your brother but why would anyone want to take him anyway, I mean hes the Kazekage who would start a war with both Suna and Konoha" Sakura questioned.
"The Akatsuki Sakura and they are not after Garra or the Kazekage they are after what he holds" Kakashi said.
"what he holds what do you mean Kakashi sensei" the pinkette asked. But it was Temari who responded
"think back to the chunin exams all those years ago you saw Garra transform into the giant Tanuki I am sure" Sakura nodded her head, how could she forget such a terrifying experience. "well that isn't just some advanced sand manipulation technique. That was the sand spirit Sukaku, the Ichibi no Tanuki and the first and weakest of the bijuu" Temari finished with a sigh "it was sealed into Garra before his birth by our father to turn him into a weapon for Suna"
Sakura was shocked Garra had a creature like that sealed inside him and It made her wonder if there were others a question answered moments later by Kakashi.
"That is what the Akatsuki are after, they want the 9 bijuu and they will get them by extracting the demon from there host these are what we call jinchuuriki which means the power of human sacrifice they are people who are shunned there whole lives and rarely accepted, however they also hold back the demons they hold from destroying everything around them, they're hero's but more often than not are treated as the thing they hold or, like Garra nothing more than a weapon" Kakashi said hoping his student wouldn't ask any more questions knowing she was smart and that everything she had been told in the academy was that kyuubi the strongest of the bijuu was dead
"Oh I get it so dose Konoha have a jinchuuriki" Sakura questioned finding the topic interesting and disturbing.
Kakashi mentally cursed "Yes we have a jinchuuriki in Konoha, but the Sandaime past a law that state's if we talk about, who it is, or what they hold to anyone it is a crime punishable by death, it was made in order to try and let the host live a normal life and make friends and be happy which so few jinchuuriki are, often becoming missing ninja or mentally unstable from poor treatment" the copy ninja said
"I feel sorry for them they must live horrible lives if people fear and hate them like you say" Sakura said downbeat wondering who the poor person was in Konoha who had to deal with this burden
"You know a Kunoichi who used to treat me like her son once told me before a bijuu can be housed you must fill the vessel with love then even the loneliest jinchuuriki can live a happy life and I know that the parents of the current Konoha jinchuuriki loved him more than anything" Kakashi said thinking about Kushina and despite the burden she carried was always smiling, just like Naruto.
(Myobokuzan)
Naruto was currently sitting on a small sheet of wood at the top of a tall mountain spike meditating when he felt his sensei approach.
"Hey gaki it's time to go get your things its time to go" Jiraiya said a slight hint of urgency in his voice
"What where going home Alright!. I cant wait to see Baa-chan and the others again, and then go see Yugi-chan, oh I hope she is in the village when we get there I know she has been staying at my place" Naruto yelled excited to be heading back to Konoha and unable to contain himself
"your not going to Konoha" the elder sage stated bluntly
"huh where are we going then?" the blond questioned
"well you are going to Suna, Garra has been captured and I know you don't want to let them get away with that... I am going to go see Tsunade-hime and hopefully not to my death because I stole you" Jiraiya said chuckling at the end altho was rather nervous to face his old teammate.
"No why did it have to be Garra why do bad things always happen to him and Yugito told me in a letter that he had just been made Kazekage as well, this isn't fair... How long till we can reverse summon me there" Naruto said becoming determined to help his friend
"Gamakiro is there setting up the reverse summons right now so go get all the stuff you will need for a mission I will take the rest of your stuff back to Konoha with me... oh and one more thing there will be a team arriving from Konoha in about two days wait for them to arrive before you move out" Jiraiya said getting a pout from the blond
"oh come on erosennin I can take them you said yourself they will send the weaker members against the weaker bijuu and th-" "NO you will wait I don't care even if you could take two S ranked Ninja you will wait for back up from Konoha to arrive then you will follow the commanding officer is that understood" Jiraiya said in a commanding tone interrupting the confident Naruto.
"Yes sensei" Naruto said not calling him erosennin to show he was serious and that despite there joking he really did respect the old perv. "I will go get my gear now" Naruto said running off.
When he returned he was wearing his blue shirt and black pants but he also had on a dark red trench coat with black flames around the bottom "Hey erosennin which one to you think red with black flame's, Blue with Gold or White and Red?" Naruto asked carrying two other sage coats
"I don't think It matters gaki but I would go with the red... white and blue would be too hard to see in the desert" Jiraiya joked taking the others from the blonde "now when you arrive you will be about a mile and a half out from Suna so if you get lost when you can see the place I will be awarding you my dumbass of the year award for a fourth year running"
"That award is bullshit, of course I would win it there is no other people up here to give it to... and I still say you should have won it last year for when you got stuck in Gamabunta's pipe" Naruto joked before he disappeared
'Good luck out there kid still I think I would prefer to face two S ranked ninja than face Tsunade' Jiraiya thought as his student vanished from view
End Chapter
Start of Shippuden! Story will probably flow a little slower now and I will add some original short arc's and change things slightly more from cannon, from this point on anyway. I know it was basically another filler chapter but I hope you enjoy it anyway. Till next time.