Author's Note: I'd like to start off by dedicating this chapter to Apandanearyou from reddit. They gave me the last bit of motivation I need to sit down and crank this chapter out. Things have been busy but that's no excuse to hold this chapter back for so long when it was most of the way done.
The next release will be Interlude 4, formerly referred to as Omakes. It's on the shorter side but I think it gives important perspective to the direction of the story.
My writing progress is available on my profile page. You can also shoot me a PM or leave a review with any questions. I try to answer all of the questions I get.
Seriously, leave a review! Feedback is one of my favorite things about writing!
Enjoy!
Chapter 44: Friend or Foe?
"Hm, so that's how it is…."
Click
"Now, how could I…? No, that wouldn't do, now would it?"
Click
"If I could somehow keep them separated, then maybe…."
Click
Deidara continued to survey the team of Leaf Shinobi way up in the sky from his vantage point. Since the Byakugan User made it unwise for him to get within a certain range, he was forced to analyze from afar with his eye scope. For once, this was a dilemma he wasn't entirely confident he'd be able to crack.
"The others aren't the issue," He looked to Kakashi, then back to Jiraiya and scowled. "It's those two that'll make this tricky, hm. I still don't know how they were able to find this place so quickly, but I guess that doesn't really matter anymore." His apparent lack of backup didn't make things any easier to swallow. "I could really use my man Kisame right about now…." This would be a more even fight if he had some form of backup. The four nuisances would be easy enough to take care of through a surprise attack with his art. Then, it would be as simple as the Akatsuki duo versus Kakashi and Jiraiya.
Well, as 'simple' as battling two Hokage candidates simultaneously can be, anyway.
Now… if only he had some of that assistance.
"Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
"What the hell is that, and where is it coming from?" Deidara blinked, perturbed by the unusual sound. "Have I been detected?! No, they shouldn't have the means to reach me without being aware of it. I'm over two kilometers off the ground!"
As unbelievable as it seemed, it almost sounded like it was abov-
Someone up in the sky must have heard of his plight because help arrived when a cloaked figure fell clear out of the sky and landed on the clay bird right behind Deidara.
The Mad Bomber, startled, spun around in shock. His shock was quickly replaced by anger and confusion at what he saw. "Tobi?! What the hell are you doing here, and how?!"
His goofy Akatsuki comrade had landed facedown with his butt sticking up in the air. Tobi lifted his sore face off the clay bird, shook his head to clear any cobwebs, then looked up to Deidara with his visible eye curved to signify a smile behind his orange mask.
"Oh, ya know, fallin'," Tobi said with a shrug like such things were an everyday occurrence for him. "How are ya doin', Deidara?"
Deidara's exposed eye twitched erratically. Sometimes it felt like Tobi acted intentionally dense. No one could be that stupid, right? "Yes, but how?" He reiterated strongly. "How could you possibly fall from such a height? Where did you come from? Hm!"
The man in question stood up and dusted himself off with gusto. "Oh, I just used my "Super Slingshot Jutsu; with it, I can launch myself high up into the air!" Tobi explained excitedly, indicated by his use of boisterous hand gestures. "Zetsu sent me here in case you needed backup. I saw you reallyyyyyy high up in the air, but I had no way to let you know that I was here from down there. That's when I decided to use my "Super Ultimate Slingshot Jutsu'' to make my way up to you, but I messed up and went a little too high." To drive the point home, he used his arm to mimic the arc of his trajectory. "And now I'm here!" He finished with an eager nod.
"...Super Slingshot Jutsu?" Deidara repeated in a mix of disbelief and annoyance.
"Super Mega Ultimate Slingshot Jutsu." Tobi corrected with a disapproving finger wag, despite changing the name multiple times throughout his story. "Do you even pay attention when I talk, Deidara?" He finished in a snarky tone.
"You made that up. You made that up right now and just keep changing what you call it." Deidara seemed more dumbfounded than annoyed by his partner's antics. "If you keep acting like a fool, Tobi, I may be half-inclined to toss you overboard. Can your Slingshot-whatever Jutsu save you from a two-kilometer fall?" He threatened.
"I dunno, probably?" Tobi said with a shrug of the shoulders. It wasn't clear if his lack of fear stemmed from confidence or ignorance. "I've never tried it for something like that before." As he spoke, he found himself leaning over the side of the bird to get a better view of what lay below.
His blond partner noted this and decided to change the subject to more pressing matters. "Well, since you're here, I guess I'll accept your help." Deidara tried his best to sound reluctant, but the truth was that he greatly needed it. "Zetsu and I were able to track the Three-Tails to this lake, but Shinobi from the Leaf showed up just when I was about to swoop down and secure it. They're a real thorn in my side. I need to figure out the easiest way to get rid of them, hm!"
Deidara waited a moment in silence, then glanced to his side when it was apparent he would not get a response. His childish comrade was still peering into the forest below. "Hey! Are you even listening to me, Tobi?!" He asked rudely.
"Huh…" His one visible eye was transfixed on a certain someone on the ground through the hole in his orange mask. "The three of us are all together again," Tobi whispered to himself in a much raspier voice. "Doesn't this bring back memories, Kakashi…?" The usual enthusiasm in his voice was gone, replaced with a more eerie and chilling tone.
"Huh?!" Deidara leaned in closer. "Did you say something, Tobi? Hm!"
"Ah, no!" Tobi shook his head and frantically scrambled to his feet. "Sorry, Deidara; I saw some really pretty birds fly by below us and got distracted!"
"Enough messing around." Deidara admonished. As much as he didn't like to admit it, he needed Tobi for this assignment. For that reason, and that reason alone, he would have to put up with his nonsense if they were going to get anywhere."I need to explain the situation to you before we make any unnecessary moves. Do you understand?"
"Yes!" Tobi smacked himself in the forehead to form a sloppy salute. "Explain away, partner!"
Deidara's eye twitched again. 'On second thought… maybe I should throw him over the edge and do this all by myself.' He thought to himself with an internal sign of exhaustion and annoyance. 'It might even save me some of the headache.'
He truly missed having Kisame around.
Suigetsu clicked his tongue in annoyance as he and Karin trailed behind Naruto while they jumped from tree to tree.
"No way! So that bird that came out of your mouth was a Genjutsu planted by the enemy?!" It was uncommon for him to be genuinely surprised enough to invoke a reaction, but this was a notable exception. "Are you telling me that guy Itachi planned for all this to happen?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Naruto responded with thinly veiled annoyance. "The bastard strung me along like a puppet on a chakra thread… there's almost nothing I hate more than being manipulated like that."
"But why would he go to such lengths to do that?" Karin made her thoughts known to the small group. "Just what exactly does Itachi want with Sasuke, anyway?" She put little effort into hiding her concern for Team Hebi's leader.
Naruto glanced in her direction, and she couldn't miss the broad scowl that was etched into his features. He clearly was not in a good mood.
"I've got a few ideas, and none of them are good news." The blond answered honestly. "We just have to prepare ourselves for anything. Who knows what we might see when we get there?"
"Well, we aren't too late!" Karin announced what her senses just relayed to her. "I just got in range of their chakra and can feel both of their signatures loud and clear!" She concentrated a bit more to pick up on the nuances within the respective flows of each Uchiha brother's signatures. "Itachi's seems relatively calm but a bit twitchy…." She said after a moment. "And Sasuke's is… erratic and distressed would be an understatement."
"Does he seem weakened?" Naruto asked in an unreadable tone.
Karin strained her senses even further to provide the most accurate answer she could. After a few seconds, her face lifted slightly, followed by a shake of the head. "No, Sasuke seems fine. If anything, Itachi's signature is the one that feels weak?" She questioned as if doubting what her sensory abilities were telling her. Her eyes suddenly widened. "Wait… Itachi's chakra just took a dive! It's plummeting as we speak!"
"Of course, this would happen. Dammit!" Naruto ground his teeth together, landed on another branch, and pushed off with enough force and chakra to splinter the bark underneath his feet. "We need to get over there. Now." The tone in his voice was even more serious and grim than it had been before.
Karin and Suigetsu exchanged a look of confusion but didn't verbalize their thoughts. Instead, they both opted to stare at the blond's back with a look of concern as they raced to their destination. Wasn't this supposed to be good news for them? If so, why didn't it seem like Naruto felt the same way?
"You know, there is something that has bothered me for a while now." Suigetsu's voice seemed to cut through the silence that had formed within the group.
"What is it?" Karin asked tentatively. She gave the Hozuki a look to not say anything problematic, but he paid her no mind.
"Blondie… don't you think it's weird that Itachi released the Genjutsu he used on you now, of all times?" His words were by no means an accusation, but it was still a conversation that the three of them should have. "I mean - his plan was to have you bring Sasuke to him, right? Why would he stop his control over you, knowing that you would just get in his way?"
Karin blinked in surprise. Not only was that surprisingly well thought out for someone like Suigetsu, but he was completely right. Nothing about this made any sort of sense to her. Alarm bells were suddenly going off in her head like mad, and she looked back over to the unofficial temporary leader of the group for some kind of clarification.
"Naruto?" She prodded worriedly.
"..." The teen his question kept his head straight and continued to press forward. "That is a good question." He finally said. "Who knows? You'd have to ask him for yourself."
At the utterance of those words, Karin's body tensed up significantly. Luckily for her, Naruto wasn't facing her to see her reaction.
Her senses did not play tricks on her; Naruto had just lied to them, which meant he knew something that he wasn't telling them…
Just what in the hell were they about to walk into?
Sasuke remained in the same spot, his body and brain refusing to allow him to move even a single inch. How much time had passed? It felt like an eternity to him, though he doubted it was more than a few minutes. His eyes were transfixed on the serene yet lifeless form of his now-late brother that lay on the cold floor. What would have been a dream scenario for his younger self seemed more like a nightmare now. There were still so many things he hadn't yet come to terms with. The perceived truth of his family, the village, and reality as he knew it were utterly flipped on their heads.
It still didn't feel real, but the immeasurable pain in his heart told a different story. As awful and unfair as it was, this was reality.
Or was it?
"The clan, the village, Shinobi, the Ninja World… Why are things this way? Do they have to remain as they are, or is there a better path to be taken than the one we're currently on…?" Corpses can't talk, so he was given no answers to his questions. It was just him and him alone.
A conversation Sasuke shared with Naruto back in the Leaf Village crossed his mind. In particular, it was something the blond said that just now resonated strongly with him.
"If I had to put it into words, my dream is… to save the world… from itself."
Those words felt ominous and cryptic at the time, almost like the foreshadowing of terrible things that were to come in the not-so-distant future. However, recent events have changed the Uchiha's outlook on everything. To an extent, he was uncertain of all things in this world; Sasuke now understood what his teammate had meant by it.
"To save the world… from itself." He echoed under his breath as his eyes faded back to their regular onyx color.
The sound of feet hitting the floor suddenly alerted him that he was no longer alone. Sasuke turned around just in time to see the remainder of Team Hebi appear at the Uchiha Hideout's Throne Room entrance. Karin and, to a lesser extent, Suigetsu looked relieved to see him alive and well. However, Sasuke paid them little mind and even looked past them entirely at the teen standing in the back of the group.
Naruto's eyes bored into him, and they were as cold as the steel of his katana.
"Sasuke!" Karin sounded overjoyed. She stepped forward into the room and began to walk towards him. "Thank goodness that you're ok-"
"Wait, Karin." Naruto's eerily calm voice made her stop dead in her tracks. "Don't get near him, not yet."
Karin slowly turned her neck to look back at the blond. The expression on his face was utterly indecipherable, and it was evident by the angle of his stare that it wasn't Sasuke that had his current attention. She traced the trajectory of the gaze to its source, and only then was she finally aware of the still body of Itachi Uchiha lying on the ground just a few feet next to his brother. Though, even that didn't explain Naruto's precaution. After all, didn't this mean that their enemy was dead? What was there still to worry about?
"What's this about, blondie?" Suigetsu, too, noticed the corpse and was acutely aware of the thick tension that followed them into the room. He joined Karin in the middle of the room, which positioned the pair right in the middle of the childhood friends. "Is there something that you aren't telling us?"
"I know everything, Sasuke." Naruto looked right through Suigetsu as he spoke. "Itachi showed me it all, though I'm sure you're already aware of that."
The intensity Naruto exuded made him instinctively grip the hilt of his blade in defense. In the wake of everything he was dealing with, Sasuke had made it a priority to keep a level head and not do anything he may regret. Conflict could be entirely avoided in this situation.
It was not clear if Naruto was aware of that, however.
"Not everything." Sasuke countered. "Itachi only told you what he wanted you to know, nothing more. I don't even know what the full truth is, which is why I'm going to stop at nothing to find out the things even he couldn't tell me."
Naruto tapped the side of his temple with an index finger and shook his head. "The Kotoamatsukami places phantom experiences inside the mind of the one being controlled. Itachi was able to implant information in my mind, as well. I've seen a lot more than you realize."
"Is that so?" Sasuke appeared somewhat surprised by that declaration. "Well, if that's true, and you know what happened to Itachi, then you must have some idea about what I'm feeling right now… Naruto."
Naruto's eye twitched slightly, and he managed a slight nod of acknowledgment. "I do, Sasuke, and I'm sorry for what happened. I truly am. However..." His eyes, filled with a resolve that burned bright, narrowed once again. "I won't allow you to raise a single finger against the village. Whether it's justified or not, I'll kill you without hesitation if I have to."
Despite the threat, Sasuke smiled thinly. "I guess Itachi was telling the truth, after all; he left us with our free will intact to make these next decisions for ourselves."
Naruto shook his head once again in disagreement. "Itachi may not be actively controlling either of us anymore, but his influence will always be there. Who you are as a person right now is a direct result of his actions while he was alive. You can't escape that reality; it will be with you for the rest of your life."
Before Sasuke could respond, Suigetsu reminded them that they were not alone. "Can I finally get an answer as to what is going on?!" He demanded. "What the hell are you guys even talking about, and what is all of this stuff about Itachi and the Leaf Village?! Itachi is dead, right? Shouldn't we be out celebrating now? Why are you two going at each other's necks?"
Karin shared the Hozuki's sentiments but was too afraid of the tension between Naruto and Sasuke to say anything on the matter. She was also having trouble following along. It was like they only had a small piece of information about what was going on. Was Naruto still controlled by Itachi's Jutsu, or was there something even deeper going on that she wasn't aware of?
"Suigetsu." Sasuke said in a low tone. "Wait."
"Tch!" Suigetsu could only cross his arm roughly across his chest and click his tongue in annoyance. "Whatever; you two can kill each other for all I care."
'What is going on? Am I missing something?' Naruto thought to himself. His scrutinous gaze detected no negative emotions that warranted immediate worry from his childhood friend. He wasn't acting anything like how he expected him to. Where was the rage-filled, revenge-obsessed Sasuke he had come to know? Did he not carry a newfound vendetta against the Leaf after learning the truth behind the downfall of the Uchiha? Not only did this passivity confuse him to a certain extent, but it also raised a question that he didn't expect he would need to ask. "Sasuke, I have to know… are you friend or foe?"
The Uchiha turned back to Naruto. He took a long pause before answering the question. "That's a difficult question to answer. It would depend on who you ask." He responded cryptically.
"Don't give me that crap… you know what I mean. I won't ask again, Sasuke." The Uzumaki doubled down. "Just what are you after?"
Sasuke wasn't intimidated by Naruto's threatening tone in the slightest. "To answer your question, I have no interest in harming the village. In fact, just the opposite; I want to save it." A look of surprise flashed across the blond's face, but his stoic features quickly settled back in. "I believe that Itachi did the wrong things for the right reasons, but he isn't entirely to blame for what happened to the Uchiha Clan. I think you, of all people, know what I mean when I say that."
Naruto's mouth fell open slightly. "Sasuke… you-"
"Naruto… for the first time, I think I finally understand you. Or, maybe, I've finally had a reason to try to."
To save the world from itself.
To save the village from itself.
From what seemed like the moment they met, Naruto and Sasuke always had a certain connection that extended beyond friendship. There were times that they could peer into one another's minds and see the other's innermost thoughts and feelings. Even now, they seemed to arrive at a mutual understanding without exchanging many words.
Naruto seemed happy with the unexpected outcome. Not only would they not have to come to blows, but he had just gained a very useful and powerful ally for his cause. "Well then, I guess we should get started." He looked at Karin and Suigetsu, who appeared more confused than ever and spoke. "Don't worry; we're going to tell you guys everything that we know. We'll need all of the help we can get for this."
The two un-informed members of Hebi shared a look of hesitation and gulped.
Just what exactly were they being dragged into this time?
Neji and Kotetsu traveled side-by-side with their hands behind their backs through the forest on their way toward the team's rendezvous point closer to the mysterious lake. Now that the area was seemingly secured, the next phase of their mission could commence.
"So, about this mission, what happens after everything is finally set up?" Kotetsu asked. Being a last-minute addition, he was effectively the lowest on the chain of command and wasn't privy to the same information as Jiraiya, Kakashi, and even Neji. As things within the mission progressed, he would naturally be given access to more details to ensure he could fill his role accordingly.
Master Jiraiya's role in the assignment was, by far, the most crucial. He was the only shinobi in the Leaf Village, perhaps the entire Shinobi World, with Fuinjutsu prowess great enough to seal away a Tailed Beast by himself. However, without a suitable host to house such massive chakra, along with the ethical and political implications behind such a process, they were not there to create a new Jinchuriki. Instead, this expedition was meant to set the groundwork for a long-term mission in which they would erect a barrier around the lake to keep the beast safely inside and any threats to it on the outside.
Neji gave a nod of acknowledgment. "Well, as you know, our upcoming assignment will be to guard Master Jiraiya as he erects a barrier around the lake," Neji explained. "After that, we are to await the Barrier Corps arrival. Their job is to take over and maintain the barrier while we plan our next course of action."
Kotetsu nodded as he weaved around a particularly wide tree. It seemed like a solid plan; although it was hastily put together, he had to ask about an immediate cause for concern. "Shouldn't we be staying to protect the Barrier Corp? If the Akatsuki is after the Tailed Beast, wouldn't that call for equal strength on our end to keep them away?"
"Yes, for now, but we will be relieved of our duties after about two weeks. After that, there will be a constant rotation of high-level ninja and ANBU Black Ops defending the area from any potential threat. And, if in the event something happens to the barrier, the remaining members of the Barrier Corp back in the Leaf Village will be immediately alerted that it was breached. That way, the Hokage can dispatch any and all nearby Shinobi to this point as a last line of defense."
"I see… that's good," Kotetsu said with a touch of relief. "If I'm being honest, anything related to these Akatsuki guys has me on edge. From what I've heard, they're bad news."
Team Guy's leader wanted to tell Kotetsu that even that was an understatement but decided against it; there was no point in pushing tensions even higher than they already were. Instead, he chose to focus more on the task at hand.
"We're getting close to where we're supposed to meet," Neji said. "Let's get higher up and pick up the pace."
With that, the unlikely duo took to the trees above, jumping from branch to branch. A quiet lull fell over them as he found himself thinking about a certain blond Chunin. Hinata had made him well aware of Naruto's actions as of late. While it was concerning, to say the least, Jiraiya, who was far more informed than any of them regarding Naruto, seemed unworried by his unusual behavior. It helped massively that Naruto's recent string of missions have been more impactful than the average Shinobi will see in their entire career multiple times over.
Despite all of that, Hinata's view on things worried him slightly. Master Jiraiya certainly knew the boy better than anyone, but she was a close second on that matter. It could be entirely possible that she has noticed something everyone else has overlooked… or purposely chosen to ignore.
The Jonin shook his head. 'I can think about this more after the mission is complete' Was his immediate thought. He briefly glanced to his side, only to find that Kotetsu was no longer traveling in stride with him.
Neji landed crouched on the very next branch and swiftly looked over his shoulder to find his subordinate. Kotetsu stood about thirty meters behind with wide eyes frantically looking all around him. Before Neji could even call out to him, a sudden feeling of uneasiness struck him. His senses began to scream at him that something was wrong, and it was apparent that Kotetsu had felt the same thing. His Byakugan immediately activated, and he started to scan the entire area for threats and make his way over to his teammate.
"Captain…" Kotetsu said in a voice way too calm for their situation. "Don't come over here."
Neji's eyes widened drastically. Something was weaving towards them through the forest at dangerously high speeds. Whatever it was, his eyes could only make it out to be a small ball of light… That was when reality struck him.
It was an enemy attack loaded with large amounts of chakra, most likely rigged to explode.
'We were careless and dropped our guard; this is bad!' Fear flooded the normally stoic Hyuga's chest as his mind ran through different scenarios. "Kotetsu, run towards me! We need to get out of here now!"
For a reason unknown to Neji, Kotetsu smiled sincerely and remained in his spot. "That's exactly what the enemy wants us to do." He explained while turning around towards the unknown attack. "That way, they'll take us both out with just one attack. You know that just as well as I do that, both of us won't be able to escape."
Neji felt dread fill his chest as he frantically pumped chakra into his legs and jumped to close the distance between them. "I'm not going to let that happen!" He yelled. The enemy's attack had just broken through the tree line and would be upon them in just a couple seconds. 'Such chakra condensed into a small point… will my rotation even be enough to protect the both of us?!" There was no more time to think; he needed to act.
Unfortunately, he would not be given a chance to find out. The instant Neji landed next to him, Kotetsu grabbed his arm tightly and started to pivot and turn on his back foot. The still off-balance Huyga could only watch, stunned, as he was lifted helplessly off his feet. "What are you…?"
"I'm returning the favor you did for me. Now, please, get out of here and go towards the others." Kotetsu replied resolutely as he twisted and threw Neji with all of his might back in the opposite direction. "Live!"
"No, wait!" Neji could do nothing but watch on in horror as he spiraled through the air. He reached out a hand in a vain attempt to stop the inevitable. "Kotetsu!"
"Thank you again for helping me when I needed it, Captain... At least I'll be able to see Izumo again." Kotetsu seemed at peace with his decision. Now that it was close enough, he could finally see the object of his demise up close and personal. The blood pumping through his veins ran ice cold. It looked just like a smaller version of the mysterious bird he had thought he had seen up in the sky.
His eyes widened.
"Ha!" Yelled a voice far off in the distance.
Neji's Byakugan forced him to watch Kotetsu's last moments. Horror and fear flashed across his face just as he was consumed and incinerated by the massive explosion.
Boom!
The tiny clay bird was packed with enough chakra to take out a village block, evident by the massive, charred crater that it left in the ground. Any nearby trees and forest critters met the same gruesome fate as the Hidden Leaf Chunin.
Neji descended somewhat ungracefully toward the forest floor but was able to contort his body just enough to where he could somewhat control his landing path. He hit the ground roughly and was able to roll around and behind the trunk of a thick tree. Anyone in the direction of the explosion would have no view of him, which meant his Hyuga eyes gave him the apparent advantage for potential guerrilla tactics.
The loss he experienced today would no doubt be felt later. Neji was operating on autopilot, barely thinking or processing anything beyond essential human functions due to all of the adrenaline and fear coursing through his body. At the present moment, his life took precedence, the life that Kotetsu sacrificed himself to protect. To die here would be an affront to his late comrades' memory.
A pair of men stood on the back of a strange-looking white bird in the air a dozen meters above even the tallest trees. Neji focused most of his attention on the creature. 'It looks almost identical to the explosive in larger form. Is it some kind of Jutsu? Is that thing rigged to detonate as well?' It didn't have the same luminescence as the other one when looking through the lens of the Byakugan, but it still definitely contained significant amounts of chakra.
When Neji turned his attention to the two mysterious men, he felt all of the color drain from his face. It felt as if the grim reaper himself pulled every last ounce of oxygen from his lungs as the sound of his own heartbeat thumped in his ears. A sudden chill filled the air as time seemed to slow down around him.
The one with long hair and the strange contraption over his left eye seemed to be the castor of the strange Jutsu, but he wasn't who Neji was focused on. No… it was the other man, the one with the peculiar swirl mask. The very same one Jiraiya had warned him about.
'M-Madara U-Uchiha…' The mere thought of that name sent shivers up and down his spine.
Neji and Kakashi were amongst a select few Jonin to learn of Madara Uchiha's supposed return. The information, supplied to them by none other than the Nine-Tailed Fox itself, needed to be kept on a need-to-know basis to avoid mass panic by the public. Who knows what would happen if word got out that the Ghost of the Uchiha Clan was still alive? Not even the Akatsuki Assault Squad, save for Naruto, knew his true identity, and they made contact with him on the mission to rescue the Kazekage. Only those of high enough rank on Akatsuki-specific missions would learn the truth.
And what a ghastly truth it was.
After the disbelief and fear subsided after being informed, Neji wondered how a prominent figure that dated before the formation of the Hidden Villages could still be alive today. However, as his vision pierced through the spiraled mask, the mystery surrounding the seemingly immortal man became more apparent. The right side of Madara's body was… either aged or disfigured greatly due to injury from his battle with the First Hokage. Not only that, but the energy radiating off of that side of his body was distinctly different from what flowed through his chakra network. Somehow, someway, the historical figure had obtained a way to extend his life beyond normalcy with some sort of body augmentation.
That would be vital intel to bring back to the Leaf… if he made it out of there alive, that is.
It was a wonder how he could still think coherently while being struck with such intense fear.
'I hope the others heard that blast and are on their way, because if they aren't…' What he just saw made any and all thoughts in his mind cease. He was so stunned that he couldn't even read the lips of the Akatsuki duo as they idly exchanged words.
Despite a safe distance away and behind cover, the masked man turned his head and looked in Neji's exact direction. His three-tomoe Sharingan spiraled to life and his lips curved upward into a bone-chilling smile… the Byakugan picked up every frightening detail.
Could he somehow sense his presence? No, that was impossible! Of all the available records detailing Madara's abilities, none of them mentioned him being a sensory type.
Neji's body locked up in response as he involuntarily held his breath; his brain convinced him that if he moved even a single muscle, he would assuredly die a painful and gruesome death that rivaled Kotetsu's just a moment prior. Just when he thought all hope was lost, there was a sound in his ear.
"Neji, are you there?" It was Kakashi's calm and relaxed voice that came through his earpiece.
"We heard an explosion in your direction; are you and Kotetsu alright?" Neji wanted to say something, but he found no voice in his chest when he tried. Every ounce of his being was focused on that damned eye. "Neji, I repeat, are you there?" Kakashi asked again in a slightly more anxious tone.
Madara's gaze lingered in Neji's direction for a little longer before finally turning his attention toward something else in the opposite direction. It felt as if a weight had been lifted off of his chest; he let out a deep breath and finally found his voice to answer.
"I-I'm here." He managed to whisper just loud enough for it to be picked up on his mic. "W-We were ambushed by an Akatsuki attack."
"Neji! Thank goodness." There was a sigh of relief followed by a brief silence. "We all heard a mic feed suddenly cut out when the blast happened… is Kotetsu…?" Kakashi didn't know how to finish that sentence.
"He's gone," Neji whispered solemnly. "He saved my life… I wouldn't be alive right now if it wasn't for him."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Kakashi responded in a similar tone. "We'll be there soon; we won't let Kotetsu's sacrifice be in vain. Are you in a safe enough location to relay to us everything you know about the situation?"
"I-I think so." The body language of the duo Akatsuki told Neji that his location was most likely not compromised. The bird flew even higher in the sky away from him. It was likely that they were looking for any potential survivors. "There are two Akatsuki with a vantage point high in the sky; one of them seems to be able to mold some kind of white substance with chakra to create explosive devices that can fly and be ridden."
"Hm," Jiraiya grunted through his mic. "Sounds very similar to Explosion Release, a form of Jutsu popular amongst the Hidden Stone's Demolition Corp, though I haven't heard of an application quite like that..."
"I think I've heard of them; they've got a nasty reputation." Kakashi commented.
"You could say that about most Shinobi from the Stone." Said the Sannin bitterly. He could still remember his many battles against them in the Second Great War. "And what of the second Akatsuki?"
"S-Sir, it's uh…." With Rock Lee and Tenten potentially listening in, Neji knew he couldn't just outright say the identity of the Masked Man. That would cause even more problems than they weren't equipped to handle. "It's the one who calls himself Tobi."
There was an eerie silence on the other end.
"...Are you sure…?" Jiraiya asked cautiously.
"Yes, I'm positive." Neji confirmed. He heard Jiraiya mutter something angrily under his breath.
"Dammit." He did not sound happy. "Okay, regroup with Kakashi and your team but do not make any sudden or reckless moves that will get you found. I'm going to need some time. Do you understand?"
"Y-Yes, sir." Neji gulped.
It was Kakashi's turn to chime in. "We should be in range of your vision now, Neji. We do not have eyes on the enemy, so you need to make your way to us. Be cautious and stay hidden; it would be bad if you got spotted now."
"R-Right," It didn't take much looking with his Dojutsu. "I found you; I'll be there shortly." Never in Neji's life was he so grateful to be a member of the Hyuga Clan. His vision allowed him to make his way to his team while simultaneously keeping his eye on the enemy. He skillfully weaved and darted through the forest in a way that would ensure he remained hidden.
As he continued on his path to salvation, Neji found the composure and focus he needed to read the lips of their enemies. It was almost like the knowledge that his comrades were close gave him a strength he previously couldn't muster.
"I thought you said the second one got away, Tobi? There's no sign of anyone out here." The man with long hair said. Neji could tell he was angry by his facial expression and the aggression behind the movement in his lips. "Are you sure that they didn't get caught in the blast?"
'Tobi' took in a deep breath and placed his hand underneath his chin. "Hmm, maybe you're right, Deidara. Now I'm not really sure what I saw. I coulda swore I saw only one of them get blown up…."
Neji wouldn't be fooled by Tobi's act. The little bit of skepticism in him that the masked man was Madara was crushed when he saw the Sharingan. It was almost like he wanted them to see it.
"Tch!" The one revealed to be named Deidara angrily shoved his hands into the pouches clipped to each of his hips. "Well… why don't we make sure the little rat didn't scurry away, hm." Neji watched in disgust as the skin on Deidara's palms opened up to reveal small mouths. Complete with a tongue and set of teeth, the mouth hands bit into the substance in the pouches and began to chew and infuse chakra.
'So that is the Explosion Release that Master Jiraiya spoke of….' Deidara's words suddenly clicked in his head. His eyes widened, and panic began to set in. 'Oh no! He's not going to…!'
"I'm going to blow it all away! Hahaha!" Deidara lifted up his large clay creation. It was shaped almost like a gourd with a pointed top. Two wing-like apparatuses were crossed over its front and tucked close to the body. "Good thing I had already partially prepared one of my specialties." There was a crazed look in his eye while he clutched his creation against his chest in admiration. "My C3 masterpiece will level everything in sight!"
Neji had to let the others know. After traveling through the forest, he could finally see them. They had to have just entered earshot. "Everyone, get out of here!" He no longer cared if the enemy could hear him; it didn't matter at this point. "They're planning on destroying the entire forest!"
"What?!"
Panic ensued as they watched Neji run towards them. While Tenten and Lee appeared worried, Kakashi remained relatively calm. The Copy Ninja's lack of concern and urgency did little to put the Hyuga at ease.
"The Explosion Style User, I presume?" Kakashi surmised and looked up to the sky. Just as Neji described, a bird-like creature was hovering in the air about a kilometer away. "I see them now."
"Then you know why we must go at once!"
Just as the three members of Team Guy were about to make their exit, Kakashi made a move that left the young Hyuga dumbfounded.
Without a word, Kakashi took off towards the enemy and left a confused Team Guy behind to wonder why the man had a death wish.
"Captain Kakashi, wait!" Neji called out but didn't dare follow the man out of fear of the immense danger that entailed. "Tch. Dammit, what is going on?!"
"What should we do, Neji?" Tenten asked in distress. "Why would Kakashi-sensei do that?!"
"I'm not sure." He answered honestly. "The only thing we can assume is that he has some sort of plan." Therein laid a dilemma of what the team should make as their next course of action. Were they to retreat a safe distance away in the event his plan fails, or trust Kakashi to succeed in stopping the explosion and back him up against the enemy?
Lee saw the uncertainty knitted in his stoic teammate's face and delivered his iconic smile and thumbs-up combo. He didn't seem even the slightest bit worried despite the grim situation they were in.
Neji blinked. "L-Lee…"
"Just as Guy-sensei would, I trust Kakashi-sensei with my life. When his plan works, we need to be there as reinforcements!" Lee finished enthusiastically. "Don't you both agree?"
Neji blinked again, then looked to Tenten for her thoughts. She was smiling, seemingly riled up by their green-clad teammate's words.
Now all three of them were smiling. "Heh… I guess you're right, Lee." Team Guy nodded in unison. "Let's go!"
"Right!"
"Sounds good to me!"
Kakashi landed on the top of a tree with a perfect vantage point of the two Akatsuki. His location was exposed entirely, but he needed to bank on the possibility that the enemy no longer cared about their precise location. "Almost ready." He lifted his headband up to reveal his closed eye that held the fabled Sharingan. "All of that practice has really paid off… I've gotten much better at focusing my chakra for this."
His one visible eye could just make out what was happening above. "Tobi" and the blond Explosion Style user appeared to be exchanging words; they hadn't noticed him yet. In the blond's hands was a white abomination that could only be the explosive Neji had warned them about. Kakashi's left eye slowly opened to reveal an entirely new Sharingan pattern; a three-bladed pinwheel. While not as accurate as the Byakugan, his eye could be used to gauge the amount of chakra someone or something has within it. It was just as he feared.
At the very least, that attack had enough condensed chakra within it to take out a small village.
Kakashi made the ram seal to build up the last bits of needed chakra into his left eye. He gritted his teeth from the concentration and effort required to activate the Jutsu. "I'm going to take them out before they even know what happened."
However, his hopes were short-lived; just as he was about to begin, the explosive was dropped. The strange apparatus' wings opened as it freefell and picked up speed at a frightening pace.
"Tch. No choice then." Kakashi lamented the missed opportunity. His bloodshot Sharingan eye tracked the target as it descended. "Kamui!"
Tobi knelt over the edge of the bird and eagerly waited for the fireworks to start. He seemed to think about something before turning back to look at his partner. "Hey, don'tcha think your Jutsu might kill the Three-Tails?"
"We're far enough away from the lake, hm," Deidara responded. "At worst, the noise will wake it up from a nap."
"Ohhhhhh, okay." Tobi nodded aggressively. "I thought your C3 was gonna pack a little more of a punch. That's disappointing." He commented before looking back over the edge.
Deidara looked like he was about to say something about the snarky slight, but he got cut off by Tobi's outburst. "Hey, wait a second! Where'd it go?!"
"What do you mean?" Deidara leaned over to better understand what Tobi was talking about.
"There's no boom; it's gone!"
Deidara looked stunned. "What do you mean gone?! It can't be gone!"
"Well, I don't see it!"
"But that's not possible… where could it have…?"
"Wow, Deidara," Tobi stood up from his knelt position and shook his head in disappointment. "I can't believe you got my hopes up, and your Jutsu turned out to be a dud. I gotta say that's pretty embarrassing…."
"Will you shut up, Tobi!? I need to think!" Growled Deidara. "We're going to go in and get a closer look. Something else has to be going on here."
"I think I found it!" Tobi yelled. "Look, it's that guy, the Duplicate Shinobi!"
Deidara's eye twitched when he saw who his partner was pointing at. "Do you mean the Copy Ninja?"
"Yeah, him!"
He wasn't even going to bother with that one.
Deidara scowled down at the man with the borrowed eye. There was only one logical explanation for what happened to his precious C3; it was always that repulsive eye... First his embarrassment against Itachi, and now this… It made his blood boil. "Why don't we go say hello and make a new friend, Tobi?"
"Oh boy! That sounds like so much fun…."
Kakashi's posture slumped a little, and the breaths he took were a bit more laborious than he liked, but he felt okay. Now had this been a few months ago, the use of even one Kamui would have wiped him out almost completely.
'Great… they saw me. I guess them just leaving after that would have been too much to ask, huh?'
Before the Akatsuki duo could get too close, Team Guy joined the fray to back up Kakashi. Their appearance stopped Deidara and Tobi in their tracks. Their bird even pulled back a little to maintain a safe distance due to being outnumbered.
"You guys…" Kakashi looked to his left and right to see the smiling faces of his team. "Could not have shown up at a better time."
"We try." Neji offered.
"Hey, you, Copy Ninja!" Deidara was not in the mood to sit around and watch them talk. "Just what in the hell did you do to my C3 attack?" Kakashi just stared at him coolly with only his left eye open. For whatever reason, this only seemed to enrage the Iwa Bomber even further. "Answer me, dammit!"
"Hmmm…" Kakashi hummed mockingly and scratched his chin in feign contemplation. "I have no idea what you're talking about." He finally answered with a dismissive shrug.
Deidara shoved his hands into his clay pouches in a fit of rage. "Why you-!"
"Sage Art: Kebari Senbon!"
Deidara and Tobi stumbled as the underbelly of their clay bird were bombarded with hundreds of tiny needles.
"Wahhhh!" Tobi shrieked.
"What the-" Deidara looked around frantically; the wings were shredded to ribbons, and they were falling fast. In what could only be described as instinct, the former Stone Shinobi grabbed his partner and spit a small clay owl out of his hand-mouth. It expanded in a plume of smoke just beneath them as they harmlessly landed on it. While they flew up to avoid further danger, Deidara was able to catch a glimpse of their assailant.
"Huh… it seems the blond kid's explosive devices aren't activated when attacked." Jiraiya watched with a neutral expression as the maimed clay bird spiraled towards him.
Deidara smiled viciously and brought his hands up to form the Ram seal. "Ha!"
Boom!
Deidara's art could still be used as a potent weapon even in that state. Just as he was about to boast and tout his own abilities… the smoke cleared.
His smile disappeared.
Jiraiya was wrapped up in his white hair like it was armor. As the spiky mane unfurled and receded back to its regular length, it was revealed that the Sannin and his companions were completely unharmed.
"If I'm not mistaken, he molds his chakra into the clay to create his Jutsu. That must be why the clay only reacts to his chakra, Jiraiya-boy; I reckon it acts as a switch to set them off." They picked up the previous conversation as if nothing had happened. "Still… he's not the one we should be worried about, is he?"
"No… he's not…." Jiraiya's nose was much larger and covered in wart-like bumps. The red paint that previously streaked down his cheeks like tears covered both sides of his face, and he somehow managed to grow a white goatee. He spoke to his mentor, Fukasaku, perched on his right shoulder; Lady Shima sat opposite her husband. "That would have to be the guy with the mask."
"Well, if what you say is true and that really is him, then I don't blame ya one bit for summoning Ma and me."
"Dinner can wait just this once," Ma added. "I think we can all agree that this is a special exception…."
"Thank you, Boss, Ma'am." Jiraiya took a deep breath and glared at his enemies. "I fear that I may need all of your wisdom, strength, and more in this fight…."
Enter Sage Mode Jiraiya.
"Uh… did we miss something…?" Suigetsu to "blondie" for answers.
Naruto blinked. "I'm… not quite sure. Wait, what's today's date?"
After the confrontation at the Uchiha hideout, Team Hebi sealed Itachi's corpse to take back with them to the village. Their travels went without incident, and they arrived at their destination ahead of schedule.
Well… until now…
Civilians and low-ranking Shinobi alike swarmed around the Hokage Tower like an angry mob. Upon closer inspection, they might actually be an angry mob. They were being held at bay by a team composed of ANBU and Jonin. There didn't appear to be any physical altercations between the two groups, but the tension was too high for anyone's liking.
"Tch," Sasuke said, annoyed. "There's no time for this nonsense; we have to see the Hokage immediately."
"I don't think that's a good idea." Naruto caught a glimpse of something waving around in the hands of someone within the crowd. "Grandma Tsunade probably doesn't want to see me right now…."
"And why is that?"
"...It looks like the sequel to my book just came out. What perfect timing, heh." He finished with a slight grin.
Author's Note: Jiraiya is not playing around this time. He allowed Hidan and Kakuzu to get away in the Land of Waves, and he's dead set on not letting the same thing happen again. Is his resolve strong enough to stand against Madara Uchiha?
Naruto and Sasuke's goals seem to be aligned for at least a short time. What is Team Hebi's next move now that they're back in the Leaf?
The long-awaited book has finally made an appearance. What exactly does his sequel novel have to do with what is happening in the Leaf Village? Find out next time in Interlude 4: House of Cards!
Leave a review if you're feeling generous and I will see you next time!
Lilthug - Naruto and Sasuke were good friends in the dream world! I hinted that they regularly trained together and worked on Collaboration Jutsu.
Glad you enjoyed the chapter. More questions will be answered in due time.
Iron Spider Fan - You are correct. The Curse Mark is still in play. I wonder what will happen?
KuroArashi94 - Fascinating insight. What did you think of this chapter based on your predictions and thoughts from the one prior?
Seldom Early - Based on Naruto's conversation with Danzo a few chapters back, I think it's safe to say that Naruto doesn't like him.
Ky111 - Kisame's motivations were fascinating even in canon. His character complexity is underrated.
Naruto is Jesus 666 - That's good enough for me lol. Thanks for reading!
T-Aj71721291 - If you're asking if Jugo will ever be relevant in this story, then no. He won't.
TrenchcoatMan - Kotoamatsukami happened way back when Itachi confronted Naruto after his fight with Sasori, but it was never shown outright until last chapter. I hinted at it a few times though.
Baahubali321 - I think showing those bits of Sasuke's emotional side are important to his character. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
kalithesavior - You da homie.
SmashUltimateBro - Good point. Not many people have the resolve Naruto and Sasuke possess. You don't want these guys on your bad side.
Someone - I think we all wanted Naruto to make it to Itachi and Sasuke in time.
Giorno Giovana loves Pee tee - True
The Zelos Wilder - And I look forward to your next review. I'm happy that you've liked it so far and I hope you stay along for the ride!