EIGHT
Konoha: Part II
"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune yelled as she ran into the office.
Tsunade sighed. She was actually getting some work done and now there was another 'emergency'.
"Yes?" Tsunade replied with an unenthusiastic tone.
"Naruto's missing!" Shizune replied as she reached Tsunade's desk.
"WHAT!" Tsunade screamed as she jumped up placing both hands on the desk cracking it a bit and knocking over her chair in the process.
"When the guards went to check on him, he wasn't in his cell," Shizune explained, "the guards are out looking for him now."
"I want every ninja out searching for him now!" Tsunade called as she stormed out of her office to find Naruto.
000
Looks like the finally noticed I was gone. Naruto thought at he was crouching on top of one of the roofs looking down at the scrambling Ninja. He then went to the place where he knew his Katanas would be. Naruto jumped into the window of a house and found a familiar face starring back at him.
"What are you doing here?" the man starring at Naruto asked.
"I came to get my Katanas, Shikamaru," Naruto replied.
"I knew you would," Shikamaru replied turning around and walking over to the other side of the room where two swords were leaning up against the wall. Shikamaru grabbed them then walked back over to Naruto. He handed them to the blonde haired boy, "You're lucky that Tsunade-sama forgot I had them."
"I know. Why are giving them to me?" Naruto asked as he reached up and grabbed them. Naruto and Shikamaru stood there for a minute each holding the Katanas.
Naruto smiled at Shikamaru as the brunette dropped his hands from the swords, "You figured that out too, huh?"
"I did." Shikamaru replied placing his hands in his pockets.
"I'll return home some day, Shikamaru," Naruto said sheathing each of his swords.
"How do I know that?" Shikamaru countered looking at Naruto like it was that last time he would ever see him.
"Hmm," Naruto thought for a minute then got an idea. He reached up and undid the top of his cloak revealing the leaf Hitai with the line through it and a necklace with two silver beads on each side of a long green stone underneath the Hitai. Naruto reached up and took off the necklace and handed it to Shikamaru.
"I expect it back when I return. Consider it a promise to you that I will return home one day," Naruto smiled at Shikamaru.
"You still have this?" Shikamaru asked holding up the necklace and eyeing it after taking it from Naruto.
"Yea, it was the one thing reminding me of who I was," Naruto looked down like he was ashamed, "but now when I think about it, I will know its safe with you. It will remind me that I have a place… and someone …to come home to."
"Naruto, please try to not return home in a casket. I already went through that, I don't need to again," Shikamaru smirked as he placed the necklace around his neck then tucked it underneath his turtleneck shirt so no one would see it.
"I will do my best, Shikamaru," Naruto reached up and cupped Shikamaru's face his hands and pulled him in for a kiss. Shikamaru placed his hands on Naruto's waist and let Naruto pull him in.
They pulled away from each other after a few minutes of passion.
"I have to go, they already know I am missing," Naruto placed his forehead against Shikamaru's.
"I know," Shikamaru pulled away placing his hand back in his pockets.
Naruto turned around and started out the window.
"Naruto?" Shikamaru said.
Naruto stopped half way out the window then turned around and looked at Shikamaru, "yeah?"
"I love you and keep your promise this time," Shikamaru smiled.
"I love you too and I plan on it." Naruto smiled back before jumping out the smiled.
He's always been so troublesome. Shikamaru thought as a smirked appeared on his face.
000
Naruto was jumping roof to roof before planning on getting out of the village as soon as possible, but then something stopped him. He noticed a very familiar face.
Iruka-sensei.
Iruka looked determined. He was running somewhere, almost like he was late for something.
I wonder if Tsunade told him about me. Or if he thinks he is just looking for a missing Akatsuki prisoner?
Naruto decided to follow his old Sensei and jumped to another roof and found that several ninja, including the rookies and their senseis had gathered in front of the Hokage's mansion. Tsunade was standing in front of everyone looking pissed. Shizune was standing with TonTon behind her. A moment later Iruka joined the group.
"I want you to find the Akatsuki member and bring him back!" Tsunade yelled.
Yeah, they're looking for me. Naruto smiled to him self, AH! I can't resist my urge to mess with people! I think I'll make this fun!
"Baa-chan!" Naruto called out to Tsunade with a very cocky look on his face, "Are you looking for me?"
Everyone looked up and saw Naruto crouching on the nearest roof. There were several shocked faces when they finally recognized who he was. Tsunade looked even more pissed if that was possible. Iruka's face was the best.
"Naruto?" Iruka whispered.
"That's really him, Iruka." Kakashi who was standing next to him was confirming Iruka's worst fear.
"He's alive? How? And why is he wearing an Akatsuki cloak?" Iruka almost screamed.
"I will explain it all later, Iruka. Right now we need to capture- or rather recapture- him," Kakashi placed a hand on Iruka. Iruka nodded in agreement.
Before Naruto knew it, Tsunade had leaped up and was about to punch him, but he jumped out of the way in time leaving Tsunade to almost destroy the building Naruto was standing on.
"Whoa! Baa-chan! Watch where you are aiming! You almost hit me!" Naruto laughed as he landed on another roof.
"Naruto!" Tsunade yelled.
"Want to have some fun?" Naruto countered. Then he unsheathed his swords and planted them into the roof he was standing on, "Raiton: Sandageto!"
Suddenly a bunch of lighting bolts came down to the various spots where the ninjas were standing including where Tsunade was standing. The ninja scattered. Naruto then pulled the swords out of the roof and placed them back in their holder.
"Now where did she go?" Naruto muttered to him self as he looked around for Tsunade.
Tsunade was able to land on Naruto once again but he was able to grab the leg she was about to kick him with and throw her towards the roof of the Hokage Mansion. Shizune was able to catch Tsunade as she landed. Shizune then spit two senbon needles out of her mouth towards Naruto. Naruto was able to pull out a Kunai and block the needles before they hit him.
Naruto sighed, "that old trick, Shizune?" Naruto put the kunai away.
Naruto then felt something coming at him from behind. He also heard chirping sounds. Easy Naruto thought.
Kakashi was about to land his famous chidori on Naruto but the blonde spun around and grab Kakashi wrist making the chidori disappear. He threw Kakashi at the same spot where he had thrown Tsunade.
My chakra. What happen to it? Kakashi thought as he was being thrown towards Shizune and Tsunade. Kakashi was able to adjust him self where he slid right past the two women on his feet. Tsunade stood up after gathering her self.
"Damn, he is a lot faster," Tsunade snarled.
"Yes, he is," Kakashi agreed, "He was able to block both our attacks, plus he found a way to stop my chakra flow, stopping the chidori."
"Stop you're chakra flow?" Tsunade looked at Kakashi with wide eyes.
"Yes," Kakashi nodded.
Tsunade got to her feet and several ninja joined her.
"We are going to need a plan to take him down," a random ninja stated.
"You're right," Kakashi nodded.
"What's his strengths and weaknesses?" another random ninja asked.
"He's a lighting, water and wind user at least. He uses two swords for the lighting, but he can use the lighting without them. He is very fast and very smart. His taijutsu is impeccable. It seems he can counter anyone with in a few minutes of fighting him," Kakashi replied.
"I see," the random ninja stated, "Weaknesses?"
"Genjutsu, I believe," Kakashi replied, "at least it was the last time we saw him."
Naruto landed on a rooftop across from the group of ninjas, and smiled at them.
"You know, Kakashi-sensei," Naruto started, "You're wrong."
"I'm wrong?" Kakashi repeated.
"I can use genjutsu, actually I am pretty damn good at it. It helps when Itachi taught me Genjutsu," Naruto laughed.
"All right, Kakashi-senpai. Any other weaknesses?" a
"Well, that was fun and I would love to stay and chat, baa-chan, but I have things I need to do. Plus Pein-sama should be expecting me soon. I will see you soon," Naruto winked at Tsunade, "Hiraishin no Jutsu."
In an instant Naruto disappeared.
"Damn it," Tsunade swore under her breath then yelled, "Find him! I want every last ninja out looking for him!"
Every ninja that was in Konoha that night went searching for Naruto but no one found him. He was long gone. The secret that Naruto was alive and was part of the Akatsuki now, was out.
000
"Naruto Uzumaki," a voice called out as Naruto walked into the Akatsuki base after sneaking out of Konoha.
"Yes?" Naruto winced, every time… Naruto thought.
"You went to Konoha?" the voice called out once more.
"Yes, but not willingly." Naruto replied trying to find the source of the voice. The Akatsuki base was empty except for Naruto and owner of the voice.
"Not willingly?" replied the voice.
"No sir, after the Ichibi was sealed, the leaf ninja burst into the base and was able take me by surprise and capture me. They took me to the village and had me interrogated. They were able to get past the first layer of seals but not farther than that."
"Just the first layer?" The voice questioned.
"Yes sir," Naruto replied still trying to find the owner of the voice and a after a moment of silence asked, "Pein-sama, will you teach me the Shinra Tensei and the Bansho Ten'in?"
"Naruto, you know those are Rinnegan powers. You have been able to use only a form of both Gedo and the Gakido, but the Shinra Tensei and the Bansho Ten'in require the Tendo." Pein (the voice) replied.
"I know, sir," Naruto complied, "but I am willing to work for it."
"I can try to teach you a variation of the two, like I did the Gedo and the Gakido," Pein answered.
"Thank you, Pein-sama," Naruto smiled.
"Before I can teach you, I am going to send you and Itachi-san to Orochimaru's hideout. You need to take care of Orochimaru, he a pain in our side," Pein requested.
"Konoha has the highest bounty on his head, more than our bingo offers, plus his assistant Kabuto has a bounty as well but only for the hidden villages. If we take their bodies back to Konoha, we can retrieve the largest bounty," Naruto explained.
"If you wish to, just take care of Orochimaru," Pein demanded.
"Yes sir," Naruto nodded, "Itachi?" Naruto called out.
"Yes, Naruto?" Itachi replied as he stepped out of the shadows.
"Are you ready to take care of Orochimaru?" Naruto smirked.
"Yes," Itachi replied simply.
000
A few hours later, Itachi and Naruto were jumping branch to branch through a forest. It was silence most of the way there. They both had one thing on their mind.
Sasuke.
"Itachi, lets not kill Sasuke," Naruto mentioned still watching straight a head, "instead, lets take him back to Konoha alive."
"I agree. I never wanted him to leave Konoha," Itachi approved.
Naruto nodded, "So what's our plan? We don't need to go in without one."
"I know, I have been thinking about that," Itachi confirmed, "If you finish off Kabuto, I will handle Orochimaru. I was partnered with him before he left the Akatsuki, so I know some of his weaknesses. I also know he is after Sasuke's body."
"That's fine with me. How exactly are you planning on taking on Orochimaru?" Naruto questioned, still gazing at the direction that he and Itachi were heading.
"I have plan in mind. I could ask you the same question about Kabuto," Itachi returns.
"I've never been a strategist, but I have fought Kabuto a few times," Naruto thinks out loud as he remembers the fight he, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Shizune fought against Orochimaru and Kabuto, as well as the few other times Naruto encountered Kabuto, "Putting all the information I know about Kabuto together has helped me put together a loose plan."
"Which is?" Itachi prompted.
"Kabuto is a medical ninja and a very skilled one at that. So his strong point is taijutsu and close range fighting. If I stick to my mid range and the few long rang skills I know, I should be able to take him down with out much problem," Naruto explains.
Itachi nods.
"But, we are going to have a problem if Sasuke gets in the middle of the fight," Naruto expresses his concern.
"I know. I have a way to keep him out of the fight," Itachi smirks to himself.
Naruto glances over at Itachi who is now looking at him, "How?"
Itachi points up at one of his eyes, "Tsukuyomi."
Naruto raises an eyebrow indicating for Itachi to explain further.
"The last time I saw my brother was at the hotel where Jiraiya and you were staying when we went to obtain you. As I recall, I used Tsukuyomi on Sasuke and it completely knocked him out. I plan to do the same," Itachi explain.
"I see," Naruto nods and turns back to the direction they are following.
After a while Naruto and Itachi come up on a large field.
"Pein said this is where Orochimaru's base would be," Itachi confirmed they were in the right spot, "It much be underground. Naruto if you would please."
Naruto glanced at Itachi then nodded.
"Doton: Gyaku Chido kaku," Naruto exclaimed as he placed both hands on the ground after making several hand signs.
The ground started to shake and suddenly a large structure rose from the ground. It was only one story about housed several long hallways and rooms. It was covered in vines and dirt from being underground.
"Well, there goes the element of surprise," Naruto stood up and crossed his arms.
"I don't think we ever had the element of surprise. They probably knew we were coming," Itachi shook his ahead.
"You're probably right. Lets go."
Naruto walked up to one of the walls with Itachi following, then started to gather the chakra in his feet. He then side kicked the wall, plunging his heel where he had gathered the most chakra into the hard surface. The wall crumbled while Naruto stood up straight.
"Well, your physical strength could almost rival Tsunade's," a voice inside called.
Naruto and Itachi peered inside the hole that the blond created and saw a face they weren't expecting just yet. Orochimaru. Then two other faces appeared on each side of Orochimaru. Sasuke was on the left while Kabuto was on the right.