Kaibunkage

Arc I

Chapter VII

"Bonds are nothing but things that slow one down. That is why I severed my bonds a long time ago so I will never suffer again."

- Uchiha Sasuke

Yakumo closed her eyes and counted down in her head.

Five…

Four…

Three…

Two…

One…

"Who the hell are you?" a guard outside her door asked at the intruder. "And how'd you find our compound?"

"Hirameki Sayuri, at your service." the voice of Sayuri replied. "Kemuri's own Black Rose and the person that just took out that lame ass chunin that was guarding the place."

A smile graced the Kurama heiress's face. She knew the job would not be done quickly, but for some strange reason, she knew that the Hidden Smoke would pull through. While the village was rather unknown in Konoha, other villages such as Hoshi and Ishi knew of the Village Hidden in Smoke and their statements about the village were pretty accurate; even if Ishi and Kemuri were on bad terms for whatever the reason may be.

The door opened and Sayuri stood with a small smirk of victory on her face.

"So you're Yakumo, huh? Well, I have a message," Sayuri said. "The Kaibunkage will be here soon. But before that, we need your clan to be in one secluded spot. My teammate, Gozu, is currently placing traps around the compound, but we need to move fast. Can't say when that Hokage of yours will send someone to check in on you guys."

"I will round them up in the at the clan's meeting hall." Yakumo said rising to her feet.

"Yeah, that'll work." Sayuri said. "Say, you guys are known for your genjutsu, right?" Yakumo nodded. "Great. I need a new sensei to teach me things for the next time I go against a certain pink-haired monster."

Yakumo only smiled. "I will see what I can do."

Kakashi stood with his assigned team in front of the Kaibunkage's desk where Mei sat.

"Where is the Kaibunkage?" asked Tenten.

"For the moment, I am the acting Kaibunkage." Mei answered. "As for what we have talked about, Hatake-san," Mei glanced at Kakashi. "Kemuri and Konoha will remain out of each other's way. That is final."

"Hai, Lady Kaibunkage." Kakashi said. "Team, we need to return to Konoha now."

"What about Haruno-san?" Hinata asked.

"What we know is that Sakura is searching for her former teammate, Uchiha Sasuke." Tenten's eyes shot towards Kakashi who still had no visible reaction. "I don't know why she's looking for her or what her intentions are. But that is where she went."

"We'll share this information with Danzo. Thank you again, Lady Kaibunkage." Kakashi said.

Mei nodded. "Right." Mei looked at the ANBU by the door. "See to it that they make it to Uzushio without any trouble."

"Hai Lady Kaibunkage." the two said in perfect harmony before one of them opened the door.

"I hope for the best for your village." Mei said as the Konoha team left the office. Mei's eyes narrowed a bit. "Chojuro…"

"Yes?"

"I need you to find Kazudan. I have a personal mission I need for him to do."

"Hai, Lady Mei." Chojuro answered.

Sakura continued to walk down the path that led off of the mountain with a satisfied smile. She had made a hideout in Yozora Town as well as found a likely ally in Rin. Rin had given her some insight about the things that tied Naruto to the village. And while Sakura was still a bit optimistic about her dreams and her needs, a part of her mind now told her that it was impossible. Naruto was a lost cause.

Sakura walked past a man who eyed her with lust. She ignored him though. Had she been Kurenai, she would have trapped the man in a genjutsu for that.

"Hey, Pinky," now Sakura stopped as the man addressed her by the second-worst name to call her, only behind Forehead. "How-"

"Don't call me 'Pinky' again." Sakura stated as she continued to walk away. She paused when she felt something cold against her neck.

"This blade here will get really hot if you don't change your mind fast." the man said.

Sakura sighed. "Who are you?"

"The name is Hirameki Gyaku. But for tonight, you'll be calling me daddy." Gyaku said.

Sakura smiled before her body quickly sunk into the ground before Gyaku could do anything.

"It's quite polite to exchange names before fighting." Sakura said, now behind Gyaku. The former Kemuri shinobi just smiled and turned towards Sakura. "My name is Haruno Sakura."

"So you're Naruto's former teammate. Glad to finally meet you." Gyaku said. "I was his only teammate when Mei began training us. Of course, he eventually became Kaibunkage because of his weak philosophy." Gyaku ended the Henge he was using to reveal his real appearance. Sakura took notice of the Akatsuki cloak instantly. "And while he became the village's first kage, I became the village's first Missing-nin."

Sakura glared. "You're with Akatsuki… You're after the Kyubi, aren't you?"

Gyaku gave a dark laugh.

"Kyubi? You think I would attack Naruto while he's protected by hundreds of ANBU, Kazudan, Chojuro, and Mei? No. Only an idiot would try to attack a sage and jinchuriki while he has back-up." Sakura growled at the statement. It was hard to tell if he was directing that statement towards her or if he was just saying it in general. "If you want to know the truth, I was after another Uzumaki. Uzumaki Shiori."

"What kind of sick things do you want with Naruto's daughter?" asked the former Leaf Nin.

"I guess I could tell you." Gyaku brushed the hair from his face so that Sakura could see his face clearly. "She has the power to restrain biju." Sakura saw the ghostly smile that crept on Gyaku's face. "We'll use the little brat to capture a few biju and then as leverage to take down Naruto-baka. Who knows? In ten years or so, she might be of other use for us…"

"That's disgusting." sneered Sakura. "Why would you do that to a child or Naruto?"

"It fails in comparison to what I'm about to do to you!" Gyaku said coming for Sakura with his black broadsword posed to strike.

Sakura crouched before leaping high into the air, doing hand seals. She inhaled deeply before exhaling a blast of mud towards Gyaku (Earth Release: Mud Bullet). The Akatsuki member covered himself as he was pushed by the attack. Once he was thoroughly covered in mud and she had landed at a safe distance, Sakura did more hand seals before inhaling once more and exhaling a fireball (Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu). The second attack landed, hardening the mud until it was akin to stone.

"That wasn't so hard." Sakura said to herself. Sakura then saw a transparent version of Gyaku appear beside the encased man and charge at her. "What?"

Sakura began dodging the punches that the ghostly man was throwing at her, not knowing whether or not this apparition could harm her or not. After ducking under a punch, she saw her opening and swung for the image, only for her hand to go right through it. She stumbled a bit before feeling a kick connect to her back that sent her sliding on the ground.

"So I can't touch this thing," Sakura said as she stood up. "But it can touch me." Sakura's eyes turned towards the stone where Gyaku was. "But I can still hit you!"

Sakura used her chakra-infused fist to shatter the earth completely, but was shocked to see that the stone was previously covering a tunnel. Realizing that Gyaku was still in the area, she quickly turned her attention towards the ghostly figure that came towards her once more.

Doing hand seals quickly, Sakura's body was encased in a giant pink rose before several more blossomed from the ground, releasing pink petals (Dancing Sakura Petals). While the ghost Gyaku seemed to be caught in the genjutsu, Sakura attempted to spot the real Gyaku but failed. That is until she dodged a streak of red lightning.

"So you're pretty quick on your feet. That's good." the pinkette saw her target and glared at him. "I'll have fun ravaging your body countless of times before dismembering every joint you have."

Sakura growled before she gave the ground a heavy punch that nearly shook the entire mountain.

Rin felt the small quake and looked outside the window that was in her office.

"Rin-san! There are shinobi battling on the side of the mountain!" one of her assistants told her. "One of them is an Akatsuki member but the other one is Haruno Sakura! Should we contact the Kaibunkage?"

"No. Just make sure that everyone is safe." Rin said as she got up from her desk. "I'll check out what's going on."

"Hai." the man said before leaving.

Gyaku did not care to eye the damage. He came towards Sakura with his blade once more. Sakura held a hand seal before creating two Shadow Clones before the three pinkettes separated. Gyaku's blade embedded in the ground where the three were previously standing.

"I got to get him away from the village." Sakura muttered to herself as she began running down the path near full speed, her clones trailing her.

"You're not getting away from me that fast!" Gyaku called as he took chase.

Sakura began to think of all the possible ways to defeat Gyaku while not distburbing the residents of Yozora Town. There was a slim chance that she would make it all the way down the mountain, especially if she took the path, and that still meant going through the small outpost at the bottom where more people were at.

Sakura then slid to a stop, realizing that it was no point. She would beat Gyaku down the mountain.

"What's this? You've stopped running? And here I thought it would be the only fun part of our fight." stated Gyaku.

"I won't let you hurt Naruto's daughter." Sakura said as she tightened her glove up. "So you might want to turn around right now."

Gyaku gave a grim smile. "I can't now. You already know too much."

Gyaku and Sakura took off for one another, Gyaku's Apparition Clone following him while Sakura's Shadow Clones behind her.

"You're mine Pinky!"

"I'm going to punch you into oblivion, shannaro!"

Aku stealthily moved towards Jakken, who was busy watching Shiori help with the other academy students in building the Kurama Compound. Of course, Shiori and the younger children were only used to bring certain small tools to and from the other shinobi, but Shiori still looked at it as a mission. Plus, Naruto was helping and Shiori would do anything just to be near her father.

"They have been quite helpful, right, Jakken-san?" Aku spoke in his normal respectful tone.

"Aku-sama! I didn't hear you coming!" Jakken replied.

Aku grinned. "It is alright, Jakken-san. Uzumaki-sama just asked for a little help with the building of the Kurama Clan's new home." Jakken nodded and turned his attention back to Shiori. "Lady Shiori seems to be doing better. I only wish she'd let me closer." Again Jakken nodded, dismissing Aku's hand rising. "But you on the other hand…"

"Wha-" Jakken replied before his body went numb.

Aku had used his Cursed Body Switch which allowed him to change bodies with someone for up to a full twenty-four hours. Of course, the mind of the other person was trapped inside of his body which could be potentially harmful if said person were to do something and attempt suicide while in Aku's body. However, Aku knew how to stop this from happening. Placing a seal on Jakken's (who was now in Aku's body) back, Aku watched his eyes slowly close into a slumber.

"Aku?" stated a confused Kaibunkage as he neared the two men. "Jakken, what's wrong with Aku?"

"Uzu… Naruto-dono, I believe that Aku-sama's is still suffering from his attack." Aku stated, doing his best Jakken impersonation.

"Hmm… I guess he should return to the hospital then." Naruto said. "Jakken, do you think you can take him back?"

"Hai Naruto-dono." the impostor said grabbing Aku's body. "I will return shortly."

Naruto watched as "Jakken" took "Aku" to the hospital, unaware of his daughter making her way to his side.

"Daddy, what's wrong with Aku?" Shiori asked.

Naruto smiled at her. "Nothing at all. He'll be up before you know it." Naruto then gave Shiori his Kaibunkage look, causing her to believe that she was in trouble. "And aren't you on a mission, Uzumaki Shiori?"

"Uh… Hai Daddy Kaibunkage!" Shiori said saluting Naruto.

Naruto only laughed as he picked her up and carried her back to the area where the two were working at.

Sakura flipped over the strike of Gyaku's Apparition Clone before landing on her feet. She and a clone did two sets of hand seals and inhaled deeply. While Sakura released a large fireball, her clone fired a blast of mud that combined to create a firery orange slime that rushed towards Gyaku (Fire and Earth: Magma Covering). Sakura watched as Gyaku backtracked until the molten rock stopped racing towards him and sat. She had been saving that technique for any Smoke ANBU that had wanted to interfere in her and Naruto's spar, but was surprised when no one did.

"Impressive. My turn." Gyaku said as red lightning began to form around his arms. Sakura watched as he moved his arms in a circular fashion before thrusting his arms forward, his palms pressed together with only his index and middle fingers erect. "Take this!"

The blast of red lightning took the form of a large beast rampaging towards Sakura (Demonic Lightning: Beast Incarnation). Sakura was able to dodge the swipe of the best, but one of her two clones was hit by the attack. Once it dispelled, Sakura immediately knew the power of the beast.

"I guess I have no choice." Sakura said as she activated her Yin Seal Release. "And to think, it had been such a peaceful day earlier…"

"Don't take your eyes off of me!" Gyaku shouted as he forced the giant beast to charge towards Sakura.

Sakura quickly took one of her special seal kunai out of her pouch and pushed chakra into the seal.

"Chidori!" she shouted as she attempted to cut through the red lightning. However, once she had successfully slashed the red lightning chakra, her body was immoblizied, her second clone dispelling as well. "Wh-what is this?"

"The Hirameki's Demonic Lightning is a kekkai genkai unlike any you've ever seen." the Hirameki stated as he walked towards Sakura. "Even if the attack doesn't land flush, just a tap from it can paralyze anyone. This leaves the victim perfect for our signature swordplay." Sakura watched Gyaku raise his broadsword above her. "I'll be able to fuck your headless body without looking at such an undesirable forehead."

Sakura immediately used her Yang Seal Release, ending the temporary paralysis and landed a powerful uppercut on Gyaku that dispelled his clone. Gyaku landed on his back before standing up, staring at the seething pink-haired woman.

"You've made a grave mistake," Sakura said doing hand seals. "Summoning Jutsu!" Gyaku waited a while before seeing nothing. "You're not even worth me attempting to use my Seduction Eye Technique on."

"I guess it's time to just cut you up once and for all bitch!" Gyaku shouted as he ran towards Sakura at exceptional high speeds.

Sakura stood her ground before Ibuse launched for Gyaku from underground. Despite his initial shock, Gyaku's reflexes were able to kick in, in time and he dodged the discreet attack, landing safely away from the hole the giant salamander had submerged itself in again.

As for Sakura, she had made a plan. She would knock Gyaku off of the mountain to prevent their battle from destroying it. She then remembered that Naruto's daughter was in trouble and that Akatsuki traveled in pairs. If this guy was here, his partner was definitely somewhere nearby. And if her assumption was correct then that "somewhere nearby" was actually Kemurigakure no Sato attempting to snatch up Shiori.

"I have to finish this soon." Sakura said to herself.

Ranmaru ended his Black Tornado Technique after he had successfully cut through another Konoha shinobi, the last one guarding the Kurama Compound. While killing was something he loathed, he knew what had to be done for this mission.

"Fourteen!" Sayuri said to him with a smile.

Ranmaru sighed. "Sixteen."

Sayuri gaped. "What? Sixteen! How the hell did you kill sixteen freaking shinobi! There weren't that many guarding the place!"

"On our way here, there were several scouting the area." Ranmaru explained as he moved to the Kurama Clan's meeting hall where the clan, Guren, and Gozu were currently at. "Sasame-taichou should give us the signal soon. We have to hurry."

"Yeah, yeah," responded Sayuri nonchalantly. "You're just trying to hurry up so I don't beat you. Again."

"Sayuri-chan, you've never beaten me." Ranmaru said tiresomely before retracting the claws into his gloves. "Even if you have somehow figured out how to copy my Black Tornado Technique." Ranmaru paused and looked at his former teammate. "Though, your version of it with your Water Clone is quite impressive. I doubt that someone without a dojutsu or high reflexes could escape alive."

Sayuri huffed. "Haruno Sakura did. She's messed up my record already!"

"Hmm…" Sayuri looked at the thoughtful expression on Ranmaru's face as the two neared the meeting hall. "Is it me, or has Naruto-sensei been dodging the subject of Sakura since their spar."

"I'm surprised he didn't use two clones to hold her still and rip her ass apart with a Rasenshuriken." Sayuri stated bluntly. "That's what I would've done."

Ranmaru stopped outside the doors of the building before looking at his slightly shorter former teammate.

"There is something going on with Naruto-sensei. Think about it." Sayuri frowned in thought at Ranmaru's words. "He has yet to send ANBU to find her and she is a missing-nin and knows the location of Kemuri. He used Sage Mode but didn't destroy her. In fact, he tired her out and defeated her with a rather simple seal. More importantly, whenever Lady Mei speaks of the event, they push everyone out, even Chojuro and Chojuro hears everything."

"…" There was a silence coming from the normally talkative kunoichi before Sayuri snapped her fingers. "You're right."

Ranmaru sweat-dropped at the statement before brushing it aside. Despite her battling knowledge, Sayuri was really not the sharpest kunai in the pouch when it came to everyday things. Though, Ranmaru had to admit that she was one hell of a cook.

"Ranmaru, Sayuri," the two turned to Sasame walking towards them. "The area is clear. It's time for part two of our mission."

"Hai."

"Sure."

Tsunade sat at her desk at the Konoha General Hospital with a loud and heavy sigh. She looked at her door for a moment, knowing that Shizune would soon barge in at any moment telling her of some emergency. But it never happened. Satisfied, Tsunade reached into her drawer to pull out her treasured sake, only to see that the bottle was missing.

"Looking for this hime?"

Tsunade's head whipped towards the window to see the white-haired Toad Hermit standing on a large toad with her bottle of sake in his hands.

"Jiraiya, I'm only going to give you to ten before-"

"I have some news about Naruto." interrupted the self-proclaimed super pervert. Tsunade immedatiely forgot about the drink as soon as Jiraiya finished his statement. "He's alive and well but… I really can't explain the rest of it to you now."

Tsunade's brows furrowed. "Why the hell not? And how do you know this?"

"Kakashi."

Tsunade's frown did not lessen as her mind then thought about her unasked question: How did Kakashi know?

"When you're free," stated Jiraiya as he lazily tossed the bottle to Tsunade, which she caught with extra tenderness. "I'll explain the rest to you."

Tsunade gave a nod. While Naruto had been a rather sore subject for her to speak about, let alone think about, every so often she wished for a jonin or chunin to come back from a mission and tell her that they had seen Naruto and he was doing alright.

"Hime," As if reading her thoughts, Jiraiya smiled. "Naruto's alright, I assure you that."

Tsunade nodded once more.

Gyaku's face became slightly disoriented as Sakura's fist connected with his jaw, sending him flying backwards even further.

"I expected more out of Akatsuki. Then again, I'm not familiar with the name Hirameki Gyaku, so you must be new." Gyaku did not respond as he stood up. "Hell, I'm not even familiar with the Hirameki Clan so you must not be that important."

"The Hirameki Clan is one of Naruto's chief clans. Their weaponry and Red Lightning makes them a force to reckon with." Gyaku said gripping his broadsword. "And unfortunately for you, you get to meet the toughest one of them all!"

Sakura's green eyes narrowed as she smiled wickedly.

"Show me then."

Gyaku grunted as he ran towards Sakura, though while her Yang Seal Release was still active, she was much faster and stronger than he was. Sakura dodged Gyaku's swing with his blade before her elbow was in his back, sending him tumbling forward.

"What is going on here?" Sakura mentally cursed as she saw three men appear, obviously shinobi that lived within Yozora Town. They each wore white masks with different designs on them. The man with the red, fire-llike design, was the one that spoke. "Haruno Sakura… You're in Yozora Town? You're…" His words died as Gyaku rose. "Hirameki Gyaku!"

Gyaku laughed gravely. "Well, well, if it isn't one of those damn Kemuri shinobi spread amongst the country? To think that I was ever one of you."

"Which one should we take down Captain?" an obvious female asked, her mask blank except for blue, butterfly wings that surrounded her eye holes.

The leader revealed his tantō. "The Kaibunkage doesn't want Haruno Sakura. He has put in a word for Hirameki Gyaku though. So we will capture him."

Sakura ended her Yang Seal Release, now using the Yin Seal Release. She still felt that something was off about Gyaku and not just his appearance.

"Take your time," said Gyaku to the masked shinobi captain. "I doubt that you can stop me or my partner."

"Die demon!" the third member, a male with orange tiger stripes on the left side of his mask shouted. "This is for my brother!"

Gyaku inhaled before spitting out a ghostly hand that shot towards the man, the ghostly arm to the hand stretching from deep within his throat. The hand seemed to go straight through the attacking ninja, literally pulling the man's soul from his body and into Gyaku's.

"Wh-what was that?" the female member asked.

Gyaku snickered as the wounds he received from Sakura slowly healed.

"The reason why Naruto and I had our fallen out was because of the kinjutsu we developed." explained the former Kemuri shinobi. "His Rasenshuriken versus my Reihando. One attacks the body… The other the soul… Both irreversible."

"That's sick!" the female masked shinobi shouted.

Sakura's eyes narrowed. "A move like that should have its setbacks. Even Orochimaru's immortality jutsu has its problems."

"You're really smart," Gyaku said, an Apparition Clone appearing beside him. "Too bad that it's not going to help you."

"Your partner is obviously in Kemuri attempting to kidnap Shiori," Sakura said. "That's where I'm going." Gyaku growled. "Now Ibuse!"

The large salamander shot from the ground and released a thick cloud of poison. Gyaku and the two remaining masked shinobi covered themselves from the attack.

"Captain!" the woman called as the poison cloud began to dissolve in the air and clear out.

"They're gone." the captain stated. "Sakura's headed towards Kemuri, but Gyaku… I'm not sure." The man turned towards the fallen shinobi. "But we have to tell Lord Kaibunkage what happened."

"Hai."

Yakumo gave Naruto a bow.

"Thank you, Lord Kaibunkage. I know that using that jutsu must have taken a lot out of you." she said politely.

"Think nothing of it," responded the grinning Shodai Kaibunkage. "I've been trying to figure out how many people I can transport with the Reverse Summoning Jutsu for a while now. Besides, I should be thanking you for relocating your clan in Kemuri."

"My clan is now at your services." Yakumo said.

Naruto spotted his daughter playing with a few of the younger members of the Kurama Clan. He only smiled before turning back to Yakumo.

"I think I know someone that could use your clan's 'services,'" Naruto said before addressing his daughter. "Come on Shiori-chan. It's time for us to go home."

"Aw! But they only got here!" Shiori said, her shoulders slumping.

"I know, but you have school tomorrow. You all do." the other children groaned at that. But, seeing as Naruto was currently the Kaibunkage, they did not argue. Shiori ran to Naruto be lifted up, which he did, placing her on his shoulders as normal. "Yakumo-chan, as heiress, you are required to be at the council tomorrow at ten. While the village has agreed to allow your clan to enter, your clan is a shinobi clan and must find their part in the village. Much like the Tsuchigumo and Kamizuru clans did."

"I will." Yakumo said.

"Bye Yaku-chan!" Shiori said.

Yakumo giggled. "Goodbye, Shiori-chan."

With that, Naruto began walking away with his daughter riding his shoulders. While there the entire situation that revolved around Shion's death, Naruto was fairly happy about how the day had gone. His team had successfully infiltrated Konoha and had rescued a clan, which was good. And he had gotten Shiori to take a nap where the girl slept without the interruption of a nightmare. Now if only he could figure out why Shiori snapped on Aku would this day be completely perfect.

Sumaru yawned tiredly as he began trudging out of his office. It had been another long day as Hoshikage and he just wanted to go home to his wife and go to sleep.

"Lord Hoshikage!" Sumaru groaned. He then spotted Akane coming towards him. "We have identified who it was that allowed Akatsuki into the palace!"

The life in Sumaru's eyes was quickly rejuvenated as he stared at his assistant.

"Who?"

"Aku!"

The man stared at Shiori's sleeping form with evil intentions. He reached a hand out and touched her forehead before smirking to himself.

"I can touch you now."