Kaibunkage
Arc II
Chapter VII
"To guide the people and believe in them, and in return, they will follow and believe in you. That is what it means to be Kaibunkage."
- Kurosuki Ranmaru
Sakura's emerald eyes stayed focused on her surroundings. Yukimaru, a sweet and innocent boy who was chosen to be the jinchuriki of the Sanbi, was being targeted by the same bastards that wanted Shiori and Naruto. He was supposed to be on a small mission with Guren, just a check-up in the nearby town of Uzushio, but it turned out to be a horrible set-up.
Sakura's mind then turned to Naruto for whatever the reason. Maybe it was the fear of Akatsuki that made her think of the blond? Either way, she worried that he was unable to politely coerce the Oni no Kuni council in leaving Shiori alone. While she hardly considered herself as a shinobi of the Hidden Smoke, despite the red forehead protector that she currently wore, she was highly worried about a war that could decide Shiori's future.
The little girl had grown on her after all.
Sighing, Sakura put an extra boost of chakra into each leap now. She was giving a job and she would do it. She could not let Naruto down now. Not again.
Looking around, Naruto was confused. Danzo had him restrained with chains. He was free to move now, albeit the gravity around him feeling ten times as heavy.
"There is no need to fear my Sharingan." the voice of Itachi rang.
"No need? We're talking about the same eyes that slained an entire clan!" Naruto retorted. Itachi appeared in front of him, being formed out of a ball of crows. "What do you want?"
"Konan, a member of Akatsuki, is watching our battle. Tsukuyomi is the only place where we could talk in private." Itachi replied. Naruto frowned. "Tell me, have you given up on Sasuke?"
"You mean the bastard that attempted to kill Sakura and Tsunade? I have my reasons to." Naruto retorted.
"He's different, I know. Nothing like how he used to be." Naruto's eyes narrowed slightly. "He has taken a path, much like your own, where he has to choose between right and wrong."
"Much like my own? I wish I did half the things he did and got away with it. The world would be without a lot of people, like you and the rest of Akatsuki." Itachi did not budge, his face remaining as neutral as ever. "And I made a promise to destroy you guys, one by one. What better way to start than with the biggest traitor in Konoha history?"
"I did what I was ordered to do. You left on your own terms." replied Itachi. "So tell me, who is really the traitor?"
Naruto growled. "You bastard! There's no way that you were given orders by the Hokage to kill your clan!"
"Believe what you want," Itachi said. "I need to ask you one question. If the moment presents itself again, would you kill Sasuke?"
Naruto was now confused again. This was Itachi's brother, the boy that the Uchiha prodigy spared for whatever the reason may be.
"Depends." was the Kaibunkage's answer.
"Hmm…" Naruto did not like the way Itachi's Mangekyo seem to activate in response to his answer. "Maybe I should be more specific." The darkness around them became a destroyed street. More specifically, a destroyed street in a just as destroyed Kemuri. And in front of Naruto stood Sasuke, Chidori in one hand and Sakura in the other. "Now, answer my question."
Naruto felt himself move. Even if he knew that it was just an illusion, his bottled up emotions for Sakura were nearly spilling as he saw Sasuke strike her with his signature technique. He turned his eyes away. In reality, he would have moved. In Itachi's sick twisted world, he would show very limited emotions as any seasoned shinobi would do.
"Daddy!" Naruto's eyes widened as he saw a vision of Sasuke coming for Shiori.
"Stop this!" Naruto shouted at Itachi.
"Would you kill him?" Itachi's voice was still as calm as it was earlier. Even with the image of his brother killing an innocent child, he hardly blinked.
"I'd rip him to shreds!" Naruto could feel the Kyubi's influence start to take over him. He wanted to kill Itachi now more than anything else in the world. "You…"
"I do not wish for this to happen," And just like that, the image was gone and they were back in the dark abyss. "But… If you cannot change Sasuke's mind before it's too late, it will come down to those you love and my brother."
"I will kill him if he ever lays a hand on my daughter!" Naruto declared.
"As any good father would. But what about Sakura?" Naruto's fists clenched. "You can't hide your emotions here. This is my world Naruto. I know everything."
"What the hell do you want from me?" Naruto shouted.
"Your vision…" was Itachi's response as thousands of crows began to fly from the Akatsuki member's sleeves. "I want the world to see your vision Naruto. I want you, the Shodai Kaibunkage, to revive peace from the ashes of war and give it to the world."
Naruto was stunned as he saw the crows flying around him. His heart was pounding and the Kyubi was going berserk within its cage. Itachi had the fox restrained while keeping the genjutsu up, proving that he was indeed the Uchiha prodigy everyone said.
"Will you do that?" the blond kage looked at his opponent. Itachi could probably sense his dire urgency to escape this hell, but he tried to keep it off of his face.
"Yes." Naruto answered.
"Then… Let me help." Itachi said.
Naruto's eyes widened. What happened next would stay with him for the rest of his life.
Kageno looked around. He was currently at the Samurai Bridge. He knew that Tobi was here. Kiyohime had sensed him not too long ago. The snow covered posts showed no visible handprints and there were no visible footprints on the bridge.
"I don't see him." Ao said.
"Wait." Ao heard the impatience in the Mizukage's voice. He looked to see that Kiyohime was once again reaching for her blades. "Do you hear that?"
The Mizukage's guards listened. There was the quiet whistle from the wind that accompanied the sound of the river beneath the bridge, but nothing else. And then the sound of clicking grew and Kiyohime moved in time to decapitate a puppet that was headed for her with one of her sickles.
"He went to get his lackeys." Ao gave a nod at Kageno's statement. The Mizukage's attention now on the person that appeared on the bridge. "So we meet again."
"Hmm… It's ironic that the real person who attempted to kill the Yondaime stands before me while Zabuza was treated like a pariah for being at the wrong place at the wrong time." Ao and Kiyohime stared at their leader.
"I never attempted to kill Yagura-san. You were always my target. Zabuza was just an idiot to believe that Yagura-san was the one who turned us into… Savages." Kageno hissed the last word.
"Mizukage-sama," Ao said as he looked around. "There are several puppets around us. They're all linked to the man on the side of the bridge."
"Take care of Sasori and Deidara. Leave Tobi to me." Kageno stated.
Tobi gave a low chuckle. "And just how do you impose on defeating me, oh mighty Mizukage?"
"With the element I've mastered!" Kageno replied as he raised a hand into the air. The Samurai Bridge froze instantly, Tobi jumping into the air to stop himself from being frozen.
Kageno skated onto the bridge, Kiyohime and Ao following him.
"Kiyohime, Sasori." Ao stated.
Kiyohime nodded at her superior and jumped off of the bridge. Her eyes spotted Sasori as she descended. The Kiri kunoichi took her two sickles and jabbed them onto the side of the wall, the blades now slowing her descent until she stopped completely. The young woman was now standing on the side of the bridge, eying her opponent.
"You're tired." Kiyohime announced.
"The other kage proved to be tougher than expected. However, that doesn't assure your victory." Sasori said, commanding several of his remaining puppets to attack her.
Kiyohime gripped her blades and twirled, forming a protective tornado of sound waves around her (Veil of the Siren Technique). The puppets were pushed backwards and away from her until a second swarm came. Kiyohime gasped as she felt on behind her.
"Got you." Sasori said as he commanded the puppet to impale her with a blade. He watched her body fall limp onto the ground before he spotted someone running towards him. "How?"
Kiyohime said nothing as she came for opponent. Akatsuki or not, he would fall at the feet of the Siren of the Hidden Mist.
Sighing, Kakashi placed both hands in his pockets.
"Well… This was eventful." The Copy Nin stated.
"Hmph," snorted the Tsuchikage. "Your leader is attacked and the first thing you can think of is how 'eventful' this was." Onoki noticed that Kakashi was currently looking at a small hole in the wall. "You should keep an eye on your Hokage. She is known to be a bit unstable."
Kakashi turned to Onoki. "I'm sorry, did you say something?"
The statement caused Onoki to glare at Kakashi fiercely. How dare he ignore the words of the Third Earth Shadow?
"Is everyone alright?" Mifune asked as he reentered the destroyed room.
"Hai," It was Guy who spoke up. "We are all doing well. After our victory over the white plant-men and Sasori's puppets, I'd say we all have worked up quite a bit of sweat."
"Please, ignore him." Guy gaped at Kakashi's calm interjection. "Where is Lady Hokage? Did she meet up with Lord Kazekage?"
"Yes. But Deidara had fled long before then." Kakashi gave a small nod at Mifune's words. "The Mizukage was seen heading for the bridge. He is going to meet up with this Tobi."
"Should we go after him?" Kurotsuchi asked, looking at her grandfather.
"That snobby Mizukage can handle himself." Kurotsuchi huffed. "But… If you want to go after him, be my guest. Just take Akatsuchi with you."
"Come on Akatsuchi!" Kurotsuchi said as she hurried out of the room, the large man following her as best as he could.
"Damn back…" Onoki said stretching a bit.
"You know," Guy said. "I know a little trick that will get that pain right out."
"You do?" the Tsuchikage questioned as he rubbed his back. "And what is this technique?"
"I call it my Dynamic Healing!" Kakashi slapped his forehead with his palm.
This was not going to end well…
Yukimaru panted. He was so tired, as if the Sanbi was taking energy away from him instead of giving it. Guren lied mortally wounded, yet she continued to slide her body towards him.
"Seems as if the bitch still has some fight in her." Yukimaru panicked. Hidan had some sort of voodoo hold on Guren, making Guren take any injury that is inflicted on Hidan (Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood).
"Leave her alone!" Yukimaru shouted.
"Shut the fuck up! I'll do what I want!" Hidan snapped back. "But you're right… It is time to end this."
Yukimaru's eyes widened as he saw Hidan raise a metal spear into the air. Yukimaru had to force the Sanbi to relax. It had been his anger that injured Guren in the first place. Now he need to think smart and quickly.
"Sorry," Yukimaru and Guren gasped as Sakura appeared behind Hidan using her Pink Petal Shushin. The newly instated academy teacher had her hand around Hidan's wrist, stopping him from impaling himself with the spear. "I can't let you do that."
"Sakura-san!" Yukimaru called, gaining her attention. "You can't hurt him while he's in the circle!"
Sakura looked down, seeing the Janshin symbol below Hidan. She had no clue on how to erase the seal, but she knew she could force him out of the circle. With a twirl, she heaved Hidan out of the seal, her mind now thinking of ways to destroy it.
"Fucking bitch!" Hidan shouted in anger as he made his way for Sakura.
Sakura ran through hand seals before inhaling. Using the Great Fireball Jutsu, Sakura made sure that Hidan did not get anywhere near the seal for Guren's sake. Hidan dodged the flame with ease, slinging his scythe for her. Sakura's eyes caught the cable that allowed Hidan to do this, jumping over the red blade just in time.
Sakura landed on the other side of the seal, watching Hidan reel his scythe in.
"Sakura-san, be careful! He's real tough!" Yukimaru stated.
Sakura smiled. "Don't worry Yukimaru. I won't let you down."
Yukimaru only stared at Sakura, his mind going back to his escape from Orochimaru's clutches. When Kih ō had him cornered, it had been Naruto who had come to his protection and said something similar to those exact words.
Meanwhile, Sakura attempted to evaluate her opponent. He appeared to be some sort of skeleton man, his body black with white patterns that made the skeleton. His main weapon was a three-bladed scythe and a spear. He was either knowledgeable in seals or at least in one particular, and that was the one she was currently thinking of ways to destroy. Plus, the seal protected him from pain, if what Yukimaru said was correct. He was an Akatsuki member, meaning she had no time to play around. And giving the state of Guren's appearance, that time was further lessened.
"I'll have to keep him away from the seal then." Sakura said, building up her chakra.
Sakura took off for Hidan, her speed now increased due to her risen chakra. Hidan brought his scythe up, ready to strike the pink-haired kunoichi. Stirring left, Sakura fired three needles from her mouth (Prepared Needle Shot). Hidan countered this, using the cord for his scythe to deflect the needles and followed up on the offensive, his scythe now moving for Sakura. Sakura moved her head, dodging the blade before she gripped the cord with her left hand.
"Wrong move." Sakura said as she pulled Hidan's body towards hers.
The chakra-enhanced punch that followed was enough to send the Akatsuki member through a wall of a nearby building. Sakura sighed heavily, knowing that the people of Uzushio would tell Naruto that she did this and thus a severe pay deduction…
"That hurt!" Sakura rolled her eyes. Of course defeating him would not be that easy. But as he rose, she noticed that the skeleton pattern he once dawned on his skin was no more.
"I guess I have to keep beating him." Sakura said, activating her Yin Seal Release. "I guess I shouldn't complain. I've wanted to beat somebody for days now."
Yukimaru moved towards Guren as Sakura quickly dashed to fight Hidan.
"Don't worry Guren-chan. Sakura-san's going to help us." he said.
Guren could only nod. Her body was growing numb and her sight dimming. She wanted to live for Yukimaru's sake, but that was becoming harder and harder.
If only she had been stronger…
Sumaru took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He was able to counter everything Kisame threw at him, for the most part, yet he could not do more than a few scratches on the Akatsuki member. He knew that Kisame was powerful, but his power truly exceeded his reputation. Sumaru went as far as comparing Kisame's chakra reserves to that of Naruto's.
"Lord Hoshikage," Sumaru gave his trusted guard his attention. "You need to take a break. I can finish this off for you."
"Doki, as strong as you are, you're no match for Kisame. Even I'm not completely on his level." Sumaru responded.
Kisame smirked. While he was a little peeved about the No Killing policy that Akatsuki members had when it came to jinchuriki, he was actually pleased to have crossed Sumaru. The kage gave him more of a fight than he originally planned. In fact, he was actually enjoying the fight.
"Besides," Kisame grunted at the sound of Sumaru's voice now. It sounded much more confident, almost arrogant. "I haven't gone into my third stage yet."
Kisame nearly growled at that. Was this so-called kage was toying with him? He, Hoshigaki Kisame, was being toyed with by some guy who was not even recognized as a full-pledged kage!
"I'll make you go into that damn stage!" Kisame shouted as he moved towards the Hoshikage.
"Doki, get back!" Sumaru called as he made a one-handed seal and inhaled deeply before exhaling a thick gas towards Kisame (Hell's Vapor Technique).
Kisame dodged the fumes, not knowing exactly what it did. He glared at Sumaru before coming at him once more.
Doki's eyes when he saw his Hoshikage's glowing finger.
"He's got him…" Doki muttered.
As Sumaru fired the Mysterious Peacock Method: Star Bullet, Doki's trained eyes picked up on something from behind him. The large man took his axe and swung for the figure, his blade meeting the enlarged Samehada. Doki saw the rainbow chakra of his blade be absorbed by Kisame's, though he pushed forward.
"You're kind of… Strong…" Kisame grunted as he pushed against Doki's force. "Too bad your chakra's fading."
Doki grunted before pushing himself away from Kisame. Kisame charged for Doki, preparing to engage the Star Nin in a weapons melee. However, several large fireballs interrupted Kisame's pursuit, forcing the Missing-nin to stray left.
"Kazudan-san!" Doki and Sumaru both stated.
Kisame grunted. The numbers were actually starting to get to him.
"Where's Naruto?" questioned the Yondaime Hoshikage.
"Fighting Itachi. He has given me orders to fight of Kisame." answered the Smoke Nin.
Sumaru then flared up his rainbow-colored chakra.
"Then let's finish this." he said.
Naruto panted as he was freed from the hellish illusion. His blue eyes moved up to see Itachi walking towards him. The Akatsuki member also bared signs of the battle, his left eye closed while his right eye was barely opened.
"Why?" Naruto asked. "Why did you do that?"
"…" Itachi stopped his movements and closed both of his eyes. "I told you. I wish to see you achieve peace. And I will help you achieve that." Naruto spotted Itachi activating his Mangekyo Sharingan once more. "If you live, that is."
Instinctively, Naruto used the Hirashin to a nearby marked kunai, away from Itachi. He was unprepared for when the Uchiha appeared next to him, ready to strike with a kunai. Naruto feared for his very life at the moment, not able to build enough chakra. That is until he felt a strange surge move throughout his body.
"Use it." Itachi muttered.
From her spot, Konan gasped. She was shocked. She was disturbed. She was afraid. Uzumaki Naruto had somehow used that move. A technique neither that not even Nagato nor any of his six paths could use. A move so rare that she had only seen it used once or twice in her life.
"Dami it Itachi! Get out of there!" Konan stated as she moved down to the battlefield.
She would be reprimanded for her actions, but this was serious. No one knew that Uzumaki Naruto had this much power.
"Thank you." Gaara's voice was ragged as he had nearly lost control over his tailed-beast. It had taken the voices and restraints of Temari and Kankuro to calm him. Shukaku was strong, yet Gaara's promise to protect his siblings would always be stronger.
"The Mizukage is battling Tobi at the bridge." Kankuro informed. "Should we aid him?"
Ē grunted. "Why should you? The Mizukage was appointed for a reason."
Gaara said nothing, knowing that the Raikage probably wanted Kageno to die without doing it himself.
"Lord Kazekage," Now it was Tsunade spoke, her tone showing both authority and formality at the same time. "I need you to do a favor for, not only me, but for all of us. You are aligned with Kemurigakure no Sato. You can speak to the Kaibunkage for us." Gaara gave Tsunade a nod, telling her to say what she wanted. "I need to set a meeting up with him. I need to speak to him."
"Hn," Gaara responded. "I will tell him. Though I must warn you about him," This caused the Hokage and Raikage to tense, knowing Naruto's grudge for the Hidden Leaf Village. "He's never on time."
Despite the statement being quite humorous, Gaara's tone and straightforward facial expression told the others that he was serious about the comment. Yet only Temari and Kankuro knew Gaara's frustrations with tardy shinobi. The jinchuriki had very little sleep during his childhood and would love to do nothing more but make up for it during his free time.
"Where is that old coot at?" Tsunade suddenly asked, her eyes scanning for Onoki.
"Look who's talking." Gaara's eyes widened due to his brother's comment before he casually walked away. Kankuro hardly had time to process this before he saw Tsunade marching towards him. "Damn…"
Sasori put space in-between himself and Kiyohime, the two now on the waters beneath the bridge. He had already learned her fighting capabilities. She was a genjutsu user, possibly a Yin Release user. Her Dream Clone technique was superb, the second best cloning technique in his opinion, only behind the Shadow Clone. She was able to replace herself with a genjutsu right before impact of an attack, faking injury and then reappearing somewhere else. It gave the opponent the ruse that she was constantly using Izanagi a technique Sasori had learned about during his years of being a shinobi. But Kiyohime's arsenal did not stop at her genjutsu, her kenjutsu was also well above average. Her two sickles had small holes in them, producing multiple sound waves as she swung them. She did not have to connect with her opponent for her attack to work as the sound waves disturbed the ears and mind greatly, thus enhancing her genjutsu prowess even more. All in all, Sasori was highly impressed by the feats of one as young as Kiyohime.
Though he was still going to kill her.
Above them, Ao fought against Deidara, the bomb-user keeping his distance from the taijutsu superior man. Ao had moved onland, allowing his leader to fight on the bridge against the masked Tobi. Ao could not fully pay attention to the battles going behind him, but he could tell that Kageno was growing frustrated. Tobi was as evasive as ever.
As for Kageno, the Mizukage was greatly irritated.
"Why won't you face me?" he asked the masked man who shrugged.
"I don't feel like it. Not now anyways." Kageno's eyes went red with fury before raising his arms into the air.
Down on the water, Kiyohime and Sasori were both thrown into the air as a great amount of water was lifted by Kageno's ability. While Deidara swooped in on his clay bird and caught Sasori, Kiyohime anchored herself on the side of the bridge with her sickles.
"This has gone on long enough!" Kageno called, small blades of water being formed around the entire area.
Tobi chuckled. "Kageno… Do you honestly believe that you can win? You are like your village and country, isolated from the others. You will probably kill yourself before you land a hit on me."
Tobi flinched when he felt someone grab his waist.
"You miscalculated." the Mizukage hissed before the water needles came for the two.
Ao stood astonished. While he had learned of Kageno's tactics during the years he served under the Mizukage, he had not expected him to outsmart a seemingly centuries old man. Using the water he created to form a Water Clone within the Sharingan's blind spot and then impale them both seemed brilliant. His apparent happiness was killed once the needles began to fire through Tobi, the man heading for the bridge.
Kiyohime saw her leader's opponent's attempt to flea and clanged her two sickles together. The soundwaves traveled to the masked man, causing him to becoming tangible long enough for a few needles to land in his arms and back.
"Bitch!" Tobi shouted.
Kiyohime froze as she felt her body being distorted and pulled by an unseen force. This feeling grew until Kageno appeared in-between her and Tobi, a thick mirror made of ice being held up by the Mizukage.
"Do not stay in his line of sight or he will transport you to his world." Kageno stated. The teen nodded. "Use you Dream Clone. Now."
Sasori saw Kiyohime leap from behind her kage, heading for Tobi at full speed. He pointed towards the Mizukage, Deidara getting the message. After creating several of balls of explosive clay, Deidara hurled them at where Sasori believed the real Kiyohime was still at. The explosives met their mark, two bodies falling into the water.
"Art is a bang, yeah!" Deidara called.
Sasori, however, continued to look at the water. He then turned up in time for Kageno's hand to grip both members' throats, the trio falling towards the water.
"Mizu Kinjutsu," the Fifth Water Shadow muttered. "Scorch Execution!"
Deidara's eyes widened before dark marks were seen covering his entire body. Sasori spared his partner a glance, wondering when Deidara activated his ultimate art. Closing his eyes, he muttered a farewell to his loud partner before Deidara's body exploded, far greater than any creation that anyone else has ever seen.
Onoki rubbed his back.
"Ah… Much better…" Kakashi palmed his forehead, wondering how a kick from Guy could be anywhere near comforting. "Now where is my-"
The Third Tsuchikage was cut off by the sound of Deidara's explosion, the group seeing the blinding light from a distance.
"Kami…" Tsunade muttered.
Onoki's face showed realization of the technique used and its power. Without warning, he rose off the ground and literally flew off towards the area. The other three kage followed, worried about what got the old man to actually fly off at high speeds.
"That looked like an explosion from Deidara." Gaara said.
"That guy again? Man doesn't he ever die?" Kankuro stated.
"Keep an eye open. Akatsuki could be around here in attempt to snatch the Kazekage." Ē announced.
Gaara sighed quietly knowing that this was just the beginning. The worst, should it ever happen, would be if they found out about Matsuri. And then he would have no choice but to surrender and they would have him.
Sakura dodged the whizzing kunai, still heading for Hidan. She was beyond pissed with him, hitting him with almost everything she had. Swinging for Hidan, her anger only multiplied when he dodged it and moved away from her.
"You're not so bright, eh pinky?" Sakura growled at the nickname but soon saw Hidan pick the kunai up and lick it. "And now punishment shall fall onto you! You will experience the same pain that you have given me!"
Sakura shivered once she saw Hidan's body become dark again, the skeleton pattern seen. She moved for him, only for him to stab his left thigh with the kunai. Sakura yelped in pain and fell onto the ground. She grabbed her now bleeding thigh before looking up to see that the kunai that barely nicked her was perfectly aimed for the circle. All Hidan had to do was move and grab it.
"Damn…" Sakura grunted as she picked herself off of the ground.
"Let's get rid of those hands, shall we?" Sakura moved to stop Hidan, but he took the kunai and stabbed his right hand. Laughing manically at her pain, he took his bleeding hand and stabbed the other one. "Hahaha! Now you're without your hands! Next, your legs!"
Guren watched as Hidan stabbed at random spots on his legs, Sakura screaming in pain and agony as he did so.
"Yukimaru…" Guren said to the young teen. "Get out of here."
"I… I can't…" he said.
"Run!" Guren ordered. Yukimaru slowly rose to his feet. "Go! We'll be fine!"
Yukimaru hesitated, but took off for Kemurigakure afterwards. Guren pushed herself into a sitting position, panting.
"Come on Sakura… Beat this bastard." Guren muttered.
"It hurts like a bitch doesn't it?" Hidan laughed.
Sakura closed her eyes, activating her Yang Seal Release. While feeling her wounds heal slowly, she made a few hand seals beneath her stomach before pressing her palm onto the ground. Once this was done, she ended her intial technique, knowing that it would do her more harm than good now.
"Get up! I want to see your face when I deliver the final blow!" Hidan ordered.
Sakura slowly made it to her feet. She had never experienced a pain like this before, preferring Naruto's Rasengan than this. Her legs and arms were completely ripped, the muscles ripping with every small movement.
"Any last words?" Sakura smirked.
"One question…" she began. "How does one break the seal?" Hidan frowned. "I get the 'ritual' and the blood required now. But the seal… It's indestructible."
"You waste your last words on such a stupid statement? You really are dumb!" Hidan said raising the kunai into the air. He went to strike his heart, before Ibuse shot from underground, knocking the man into the air.
Sakura quickly activated her Yang Seal Release again, producing one of her special kunai from her pouch.
"Too bad the ground isn't." Sakura muttered before quickly making her way towards Hidan's airborne body.
Guren watched as Hidan's body was hit with a blur of pink before Sakura appeared above his descending body, hand clutching what appeared to be pure lightning instead of a lightning-shrouded kunai.
"Die you bastard!" Sakura shouted. "Chidori!"
Guren could only close her eyes to protect herself from debris that came when Sakura's force and Hidan's body met the ground. When the small wind ended, she opened her eyes to see a shocking scene. Sakura's attack had completely beheaded the Akatsuki member, Sakura standing with healing wounds over him.
"You should've had a different assignment." Sakura muttered before walking towards Guren.
"You know," the crystal-user hoarsely stated. "This doesn't make us friends."
The pinkette smirked. "You're right. You owe me now."
Guren could only smile as Sakura lifted her injured body up and moved atop of Ibuse.
"Ibuse, Rin's house, Yozora Town." Sakura ordered. The salamander took off underground seconds afterwards.
The group came to the clearing. The Samurai Bridge was completely destroyed. The trees around it were gone as well. The only signs of a bridge ever being there was the stone-made sword seen sticking out waters beneath.
"Kurotsuchi…" Onoki muttered.
"Aw. Are you going to cry Old Man?" the taunting voice of the girl caused the Tsuchikage to look on the other side of the river, seeing his granddaughter.
Onoki only grinned, pleased that his granddaughter as alive and pissed that she was still a smartass.
A large bridge of ice was made connecting the two sides, Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi sliding across before Kageno crossed over with his two guards. The group realized that despite his calm appearance, Kageno was sweating quite a bit. He was leaning towards Ao, gaining support from the man.
"Consider this a token of our allegiance." spoke the Mizukage. "I expect nothing shorter in return."
"The bridge…" The shinobi looked at Mifune as he neared the area with a number of samurai. "Our bridge is destroyed."
"Two of the Akatsuki are dead." Kageno said, not caring about the bridge at all.
"You have defeated two members already?" Ē questioned.
"Deidara exploded before I could complete my kinjutsu, taking his partner along with him." Kageno explained. "Had I not spotted your granddaughter, Onoki, she would have not been evaporated before then and caught in the explosion."
"The same technique you used to invade Konoha." Kageno gave Tsunade a small nod.
"We have six months to prepare," Ē told the others. "That doesn't give us a lot of time. We need to move out and secure the remaining jinchuriki."
"I will request a meeting with the Kaibunkage as soon as possible." Gaara announced.
"We will meet here in three months." Ē grunted at Kageno's words. "That will give us time to recover and build together, right Raikage?"
"Hmph! Remember who's in charge." the group saw a small smirk on the Mizukage's face before he turned around.
"Oi! What about our bridge?" one of the samurai questioned.
Kageno paused in his movements. "I didn't destroy your bridge. Deidara did. My suggestion is use your anger wisely and take out the cause of this. Getting yourself killed by challenging me is neither wise nor productive." The samurai made a silent gulping noise. "Ao. Kiyohime. Let's move."
As the Mizukage moved over the ice bridge, Tsunade thought quietly to herself. A war was coming and the very person she needed to protect did not necessarily want her to. Naruto had grown and became more independent than he once was, only relying on a very few people in his life for help.
"Lady Hokage," Kakashi spoke. "We need to hurry to warn Takigakure."
Tsunade nodded. "You're right. Let's move."
Allowing Kakashi to give her an order just this once, Tsunade went back to her previous thoughts. Getting Naruto to align with Konoha was going to be hard enough without adding Kiri into the mix. She only hoped that her meeting with him went by smoothily, if it ever happened.
And then an idea popped into her head. She now knew how to get Naruto to join.
His daughter's safety.
"Leave the sword. I can sense something is wrong with it." Kazudan spoke. Naruto neared the group, his kage robes burnt from his battle. "Lord Kaibunkage, Kisame has been defeated."
"Let's move." Naruto said quietly.
"Are you alright?" Naruto nodded at Sumaru.
"Just… A little tired." spoke the young blond kage. "Heavy training, no sleep, and battling. I'm wiped out."
Sumaru moved beside his friend as quickly as he could, the two kage now walking out of the area.
"That technique… How'd you do it?" Sumaru asked quietly.
"I'm going to tell you something in confidence. No one, not even Hokuto, is to hear this." Sumaru nodded. "It started when Itachi placed me into Tsukuyomi…"
Sumaru's eyes widened as he heard the story. If what Naruto was telling him was true, then a lot would change around Kemuri as well as the entire world.
Sasuke stared at the weird plant-man in front of him.
"And you can bring him here?" the stranger in Akatsuki robes nodded. "Do it."
"On one condition," the white-half of Zetsu spoke before the black-half finished. "Otogakure joins Akatsuki." Sasuke stood silently thinking. "One Uchiha… For a better."
"Sasuke-kun, it could be a trap." Karin stated.
Suigetsu snorted. "Trap? We haven't spoken to Isho since the battle! For all we know, they could be trying to kill us! I say do it!"
Sasuke understood that Suigetsu wanted to get closer to Samehada, but did not speak his thoughts. He then looked at Jugo, who stared at Zetsu with evaluating eyes. Jugo then looked at his leader and gave a small bow of his head.
"It is your choice, Otokage-sama." Jugo said.
Sasuke actually like hearing the sound of him being called Otokage. He then turned his attention torwards Zetsu.
"Deal." Sasuke stated.
"Good, but there is a problem… It will take three days to get your damn brother… So please wait." Zetsu said.
"Take your time," the Otokage said. "I want to try some things out before he arrives."
The Akatsuki member gave a mock bow before using his Mayfly Technique to leave the area.
"Suigetsu, Jugo," Sasuke said. "I need your help." Suigetsu lifted a brow. "Orochimaru's techniques… I now know them. Now, I want to see how well I can use them."
"Hai." Jugo replied while Suigetsu just gave a nod.
"Karin, heal me afterwards." Karin nodded at her orders. "Alright. Let's begin."
The following night, Sakura came to Naruto's training grounds to see the blond meditating.
"Kaibunkage-sama," Sakura stated. The man glanced at her, causing her heart to skip a beat. "You wanted to see me?"
"I need your help." Sakura frowned in confusion as Naruto rose. "Spar with me. You'll understand what I'm talking about."
"Excuse me for asking, but why not ask Mei to help you with this?" questioned Sakura.
"She is." Naruto said, Sakura looking around the trees and small waterfall to see if she spotted the woman. "Mei, Ranmaru, Sayuri, and Marashu are here to aid me with this. You are the only one that will attack me head on."
"A-attack?" Sakura stammered.
"Yes. I did say spar with me, right?" replied Naruto. "Is there a problem?" Despite Sakura's legs a still a bit sore from Hidan's attack, she shook her head. "If there's a problem Sakura-"
"There's no problem." Sakura interrupted. "I'm ready whenever you are."
"Before we start," Naruto said. "Thank you for saving Yukimaru and Guren. As well as taking Shiori-chan to lunch in my place."
"You're welcome." Sakura replied. "Now, are we going to spar or are you going to use your Talk Jutsu some more?"
Naruto only smiled. "Ready to lose already? Let's go."
It would be the night that Sakura not only saw the true abilities of the Kaibunkage, but her former teammate as well. And while the others soon joined to aid Sakura, she could not help but to feel happy about how far along Naruto had come.
And then he revealed that technique which would change her thoughts forever.