SIX
Suna: Part VI
As the Leaf ninja were readying themselves to leave the Sand village, Gaara was able to convince Kakashi to let him speak to Naruto alone. Naruto was kept in a wooden prison that sucks out your chakra in the Sand village's prison until the day the Leaf ninja were to depart to Konoha. Kakashi had sent a messenger pigeon to Tsunade saying that the Leaf village ninja were coming back with Kankuro (using his puppet at a prison to transport Naruto) and an Akatsuki member as a prisoner, although he did specify whom the Akatsuki prisoner was. Kakashi also asked for a wooden prison to be ready and the Intel unit is ready as well.
"Naruto?" Gaara asked as he walked into Sand prison looking into the cell where Naruto was sitting and leaning up against the back wall.
"I should consider this an honor that the Kazekage came to see me," Naruto replied with a sarcastic tone.
"Naruto, you were my closest friend. You saved me from the darkness and you just saved my life. How are you alive? What happened to you? Why are you working with the Akatsuki? And why did you resurrect me?" Gaara finished is string of questions.
"Gaara… after I found my self alive after the extraction of the Kyuubi, I did a lot of thinking. I realized my way of thinking up to that point was absurd. I realized I was never going to be able to become Hokage when the whole village thinks I am a monster, even if I wasn't a monster any longer. How was I supposed to gain the respect of a village that was happier now that I was 'dead'? The Akatsuki offered me something I couldn't give up. I would be recognized and respected as a ninja in this world, maybe not for the reason I was originally striving for, but I would be recognized," Naruto replied very simply.
Although Gaara could not see Naruto's face, he could hear the hurt that Naruto felt in his voice. It was the same pain Gaara went through before Naruto saved him, but Gaara feared Naruto's pain was too deep, that Naruto's gone too far into the darkness to be saved. There was a glimpse of hope for Naruto.
"Why did you resurrect me?" Gaara asked.
"I wasn't going to let those who are precious to me die for someone else's dream," Naruto replied simply not letting Gaara know that Naruto still care for those he loved.
"Those precious to you?" Gaara asked. But no reply came; Gaara gave up and walked away leaving Naruto to sit in the darkness of the prison. Gaara met Kakashi at the entrance of the prison after Gaara had finished talking with Naruto. Kakashi had a curious look on his face.
"How was he?" Kakashi asked quietly.
"He's definitely not the same Naruto he was before. I fear he has gone too deep into the darkness, but the fact that he chose to resurrect me, gives me hope that he may come back," Gaara replied.
"Thank you, Kazekage-sama, for speaking with him," Kakashi replied with a bow.
Gaara just nodded at Kakashi and walked away, motioning Kankuro to ready his puppet to take Naruto back to Konoha. Kankuro nodded at Gaara and walked behind Kakashi into the prison to retrieve the blond headed prisoner.
000
"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune yelled as she came running into the Hokage's office.
Tsunade was sitting at her desk actually working on paper work with Jiraiya standing right behind her leaning up against the glass looking very smug. Since she received the message from Kakashi that they were returning to Konoha with an Akatsuki prisoner, she was doing everything she can to make sure things were in order for when they returned. Shizune found this very out of character for Tsunade, who believed that she would want to give the prisoner a beating instead of trying to get Intel out of him.
Tsunade looked up from her paper work and blinked at Shizune, (Shizune running in like this was very common) "what is it, Shizune?"
"They have returned. Kakashi and his team are waiting at the village gate for you," Shizune breathed as she was out of breath.
"Alright, I will head there now," Tsunade replied as she rushed out of the door with Jiraiya trailing behind her.
A few moments later, she walked up to gate to find Kakashi standing there facing away from her with his hands in his pockets and talking with Asuma who stood the same way. Kurenai was standing with team 8 off to the left, looking like they were in a deep discussion. Kiba was sitting on Akamaru with Shino in his normal stance to his left and Hinata with her shoulders hunched and red eyes like she was crying to his right. Gai was standing with his team off to the right with Neji (who looked like he could careless about being there), Tenten who didn't have her normal smile on her face and Lee who wasn't his normal perky self. Behind Kakashi and Asuma, Ino was standing with Sakura who had her face buried in her hands. Beside Ino was Shikamaru who looked depressed not lazy like normal but actually depressed, he was watching Sakura with sympathy. Shikamaru was also holding two swords Tsunade hadn't seen before. On the other side of Ino was Choji and for some reason he was not eating like normal. Behind everyone and the furthest from her was Kankuro with one of his puppets. Even Kankuro looked sad as he was watching over his puppet.
What's going on with everyone? I thought Gaara was alive? Tsunade thought to her self as she stopped right behind Kakashi.
"Kakashi," Tsunade said narrowing her eyes.
"Oh, Tsunade-sama," Kakashi said at he turned around. With the mention of her name, everyone looked up. The expression on everyone's face turned back to normal.
Strange… Tsunade thought. Are they keeping something from me?
"The prisoner is in the puppet, I take it?" Tsunade said pointing to the puppet that was standing behind everyone.
"Ah, yes," Kakashi nodded turning back to look at where she was pointing although he already knew.
"Has he is said anything?" Tsunade questioned to no one in particular.
"Unfortunately no, Tsunade-sama," Asuma replied breaking the silence after a few minutes.
"Well," Tsunade straightening up and putting her fists on her hips in a super-hero like fashion, "looks like we are going to have to force him to talk then."
"Guess so," Kakashi replied.
Tsunade turned on her heal and marched towards the Intel center. Everyone else followed her. Kakashi noticed that Jiraiya was being awfully quiet. He seemed to be deep in thought about something.
Does he know? Kakashi thought to himself.
Tsunade noticed that all the ninja from the mission were following her. She found this strange.
"Why is everyone coming?" Tsunade asked suddenly stopping in her tracks and turning around, scaring everyone.
"Well, this is the Akatsuki were talking about, Tsunade-sama. I am sure they are just as interested in what he has to say as you are," Kakashi replied for everyone.
"It's true," Ino said supporting Kakashi.
"Hmm, well all right then," Tsunade gave in and turned around to keep walking.
A few moments later, they reached the Intel center. Tsunade motioned for Inochi, Ibiki and Shikaku to follow he as she pasted them.
"Kankuro, follow Shikaku, Inochi and Ibiki into that room there," Tsunade pointed to a large steel door at the end of the hall way, "the rest of you follow me to the observation room."
The Konoha 10 and their sensei's, plus Jiraiya and Shizune followed Tsunade up the stairs to the observation room. Tsunade had noticed that several of the rookies kept giving her these sad looks. What where expecting her to do? Punch the Akatsuki member to death? She was a little more civilized than that. Tsunade rolled her eyes at them then turned her attention to the room below them.
Kankuro had placed the puppet in the center of the room facing away from them, while Shikaku was crouched directly in front of the puppet, ready to use him shadow jutsu on the man inside the puppet. Ibiki and Inochi were directly on either side of Shikaku. Shikaku nodded at Kankuro indicating him to open to the puppet. Kankuro nodded back and release the lock that was holding the puppet closed.
When the puppet opened, Tsunade noticed that the three men standing in front of the puppet had shocked looks on their face as if they had seen a ghost.
"What's going down there?" Tsunade asked, "They look like they have seen a ghost or something!"
No one responded to her questions. They were just staring at the puppet down below.
Down in the interrogation room, Shikaku looked at the man inside the puppet. The man looked up and smirked at Shikaku.
"That's a nice look, Shikaku," Naruto said. Naruto stood up from the cross-legged position he was sitting in and stepped out of the puppet. Tsunade could now see the spiky blonde hair.
Kankuro pulled one of his scrolls out of his back holder and with a puff of smoke, the puppet disappeared, leaving a man who was suppose to be dead standing in the center of the room.
"Naruto?" Inochi asked.
Naruto glanced his way, "hmm? Oh, your Ino's father Inochi, right?"
Inochi just nodded back, baffled at the man who was standing in front of him. Ibiki on the other hand didn't even look fazed. Naruto leaned down so that his face was even with Shikaku's. Shikaku furrowed his eyebrows.
"You're supposed to be dead," Shikaku said.
"Hmm," Naruto straighten back up and smiled "that's what everyone keeps telling me, but yet here I am."
"How?" Inochi asked.
Naruto sighed, "Do I have to explain it again?"
"Yes," Ibiki answered flatly.
"Damn, then you might want to ask Tsunade-baa-chan and Ero-Sennin to come down here," Naruto pointed his thumb behind him in the direction of the observation room, "I am not going to explain this again."
Inochi closed his eyes and looked down, "Alright."
He walked over to a small box, which was an intercom that was connected to the observation room.
Back in the observation room, it was now Tsunade who looked like she had seen a ghost. Jiraiya just stood there like that's what he was expecting. Tsunade looked at everyone else. Now I understand why they have been looking so down from the moment they got back. Tsunade thought looking at all the faces in the room, which were starring down at the blonde hair boy.
A voice then called overhead in the observation room, "Hokage-sama, the prisoner is requesting your and Jiraiya-sama's presence."
Tsunade sighed trying to collect herself, and then turned to the door. She was now pissed more than she was shocked, "Lets go Jiraiya," she said as she walked out the door. The door then slammed shut making everyone jump.
"Guess I should follow her," Jiraiya said as he started to walk to the door.
"You knew, Jiraiya, didn't you?" Kakashi's voice questioned right before Jiraiya got to the door.
"Yes, I knew," Jiraiya replied as he opened the door to follow Tsunade.
"How long?" Kakashi asked.
"About a year now," Jiraiya looked at the door.
"I see," Kakashi nodded and the elder man left.
The door leading outside the interrogation room slammed open revealing a very pissed of Tsunade. Jiraiya was behind her looking very disappointed.
"Ah, Tsunade-baa-chan, you look as… angry… as ever," Naruto smiled at her and ignored Jiraiya.
As soon as she heard that voice, her face soften and she did something one ever expected she would do. She ran over to Naruto and punched him in the gut.
Not expecting this, Naruto fell to his knees, clutched his stomach with one arm and placed his other hand on the floor to balance him self and then proceeded to coughed up some blood.
"Why…?" Naruto started while he was cough up blood.
"I think you know why Naruto," Jiraiya said not even looking in Naruto's direction.
"How are you alive, Naruto?" Tsunade said standing over Naruto, "We had a funeral! We even buried your body!"
"That… wasn't… me," Naruto barely managed to get out, still in pain from Tsunade's punch
"Then who was it?" Jiraiya asked still looking in another direction.
"A clone of Zetsu changed to look like me. He can even mimic your chakra," Naruto continued still facing the floor both with both hands now on the floor trying to balance him self.
"Are you still the jinchuuriki for the Kyuubi?" Inochi asked.
"No," Naruto replied shaking his head.
"You survived the extraction of the Kyuubi?" Shikaku asked.
"Yes," Naruto replied again.
"How?" Shikaku continued.
"I don't know," Naruto replied.
"You with the Akatsuki now?" Jiraiya ask now looking down at Naruto.
"Yes," Naruto replied simply. This was not the answer that everyone was wanting or expecting to hear.
"Why?" Jiraiya continued.
"They offered me something I couldn't pass up," Naruto put simply
"Which was?" Jiraiya prompted.
"A chance to finally be acknowledged," Naruto replied.
"You want to be acknowledged for being a criminal, for being part of the Akatsuki?" Tsunade asked.
"If that's what it takes. I want this world to be at peace and that's what the Akatsuki is planning to do," Naruto replied, "I'm done talking now."
Naruto then sat back and went into a sitting position with his legs crossed. Suddenly Naruto wasn't about to move on his own any more.
"Kagemane no Jutsu complete," Shikaku smirked.
"You look just like Shikamaru when you're like that Shikaku," Naruto smiled.
"He is my son after all," Shikaku replied.
"I know," Naruto smiled again.
"Naruto are you going to talk willingly or am I going to have to force it out of you?" Inochi asked.
"Most likely force, but if you ask the right questions, I may comply," Naruto said without taking his eyes off of Shikaku.
"The right questions?" Inoichi repeated.
"You'll figure it out," Naruto said still starring directly at Shikaku.
"Inoichi, it looks like you will have to use force," Tsunade said.
"Can Shikaku hold this jutsu that long?" Naruto teased, "Shikamaru can usually only hold the jutsu for about 5 minutes."
"He's right, Tsunade-sama. I can't hold this for more than 10 minutes at most. I really don't want to move him from this room unless I have to. This is the most secure room in the unit and were talking about an Akatsuki member who was able to take down the Kazekage," Shikaku said turning his head to Tsunade.
Tsunade hesitated and thought for a moment, "Is there another Nara around that can switch off with you?"
"The only Nara around that I trust with this is my son, Shikamaru," Shikaku replied.
"Then bring Shikamaru in. You two will switch on and off, understood?" Tsunade said as she waved for Shikamaru to come down from the observation room and into the interrogation room.
Shikamaru nodded and handed Kakashi Naruto's Katanas, as he knew better than to take them into the interrogation room.
As Shikamaru entered the room, Naruto smiled at him. Shikamaru pretended not to notice.
"Shikamaru, you will switch on and off with your father using the shadow possession jutsu to hold Naruto while Inoichi tries to get as much information as possible out of him. Understood?" Tsunade said as he walked over a crouched beside his father.
"Yes," was Shikamaru's only response.
For the next 8 hours, Inoichi, Ibiki, Shikamaru and Shikaku worked on Naruto to try and get as much information as possible out of him, but to little success. The Akatsuki has placed seals and barriers on themselves in case any one was captured.
"Are you finished yet?" Tsunade asked as she walked back into the interrogation room 8 hours later. Kakashi and Jiraiya were soon to follow.
Shikaku and Shikamaru were both breathing hard while Shikamaru had Naruto in his jutsu, Inoichi was rubbing his temples and Ibiki has his hand placed on Naruto's head. When Ibiki heard Tsunade's voice, he dropped his hand.
"The Akatsuki are good. Inoichi and I both tried but there are too many seals and barriers for us to pass through, Tsunade-sama," Ibiki replied.
Naruto opened his eyes and starred right into Shikamaru's eye hopping he would he understand, "I told you. You have to ask the right questions."
"What do you mean ask the right questions?" Shikamaru asked trying to understand what Naruto was saying. Shikamaru then nudged his father signaling him to swap off with him. Then Shikamaru swore Naruto winked at him.
Naruto sighed, "I can't tell you what I mean. Sorry."
"I'm not getting anything except a headache," Inoichi said still rubbing his temples.
"You're right. Lets put him a holding cell and we will try again once everyone rests. We will put him in cell X," Tsunade said as she turned around and walked away.
Kakashi and Jiraiya follow her but not before Kakashi notices the look of regret on Naruto's face. Kakashi decides to brush it off at nothing but Naruto being exhausted.
"Hai," Shikaku, Inoichi, Ibiki and Shikamaru all replied.
000
That night after helping his father put Naruto in the holding cell, Shikamaru laid in his bed with his arms behind his head and his feet stretched out in front of him, tying to figure out what Naruto meant when he said they had to ask the right questions.
…too many seals and barriers…
…you'll figure it out…
…I told you. You have to ask the right questions…
…what do you mean?...
…I can't tell you… Sorry…
These words and the last look Naruto gave him floated through the Nara's head for hours that night. He knew he needed to get some rest because until they get something out of Naruto, they would not give up on getting any information out of him.
What did Naruto mean? Why was he directing those statements at father and me? The Nara thought.
…are you sure you can hold me for that long…?
…You look just like you Shikamaru when you do that…
…He is my son….
… Is there another Nara…?
…Only my Son…
At that moment, Shikamaru eyes flew open and he immediately sat up. He knew what Naruto meant. He knew what Naruto want him and his father to understand.
He knows father and I are the two smartest people in the village, the Nara thought. He wanted me to help my father…. He knew I would figure it out!
Shikamaru then ran out of his room, almost running into his father.
"Shikamaru? What is it?" Shikaku questioned, looking at his son who looked a little frazzled.
"I figured something out about Naruto," Shikamaru said looking up at his father.
"We need to talk to the Hokage immediately." Shikaku said as he spun on his heal and they both ran out of their house.