Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the intellectual property associated with Naruto.

Hi all,

Here's the next chapter. Naruto and the others make their escape, but they are being pursued by root operatives.

Chapter 6

Danzo appeared on the Hokage's Tower's roof to observe the plume of smoke rising against the night sky. The explosion had occurred in a residential neighbourhood. His shinobi had already responded to the commotion, moving quickly towards it to address the threat and ensure the safety of the civilians in the area.

He was upset because an explosion woke him up in the middle of the night, disrupting his precious sleep.

His brow furrowed. The location of the explosion was close to where he held the Kazekage's children captive. He would lose a valuable bargaining chip if they got away. The burning question was, who was assisting them? Had Suna lost all sense and resorted to using force to retrieve their jinchuriki?

The Anbu Commander appeared next to him. His name was Akishi Hiroshi. His spiky brown hair and the dog-themed mask with pointed ears made him easily identifiable.

"Report," Danzo said.

"Someone freed the jinchuriki and his siblings," Akishi explained calmly. "We believe the intruders purposefully caused an explosion in a nearby warehouse to create a distraction and cover their escape."

"What is the extent of the damage? Casualties?"

"The fire spread to adjacent buildings, but we were able to contain it. There are a few people injured as a result of the initial explosion, but there have been no reports of fatalities."

"Where did the prisoners and intruders go?"

"We do not know," Akishi admitted. "It appears they have a secret escape route that we are not aware of. The Anbu are currently searching the village for them."

Danzo slammed his cane against the ground, realising he had grossly underestimated Jiraiya. Jiraiya's decision to free the Kazekage's children had never occurred to him. Was he collaborating with Suna? His train of thought was abruptly halted by the emergence of an even more unsettling notion. What if this wasn't the main event? Could it be possible that this attack was just a diversion for something else?

Anbu appeared on the roof, as if in response to his concerns. The masked figure knelt in front of the two men.

"Report," Akishi ordered his subordinate.

"Hai. A disturbance has occurred in the Forest of Death. Above the treeline, Choza Akimichi's expanded form was seen. It is believed that he is currently engaged in combat with an enemy force."

Danzo gripped his cane tighter as his mind raced. Jiraiya's true intentions were to attack his root compound and free the jinchuriki. To make matters worse, he was not alone. Danzo was not delusory enough to believe Choza was protecting his compound. How many people were assisting Jiraiya in his endeavour? Were they fleeing the village?

"Spook," Danzo called out, summoning his subordinate.

"Lord Hokage, what is your command?" Spook appeared beside him.

"Deploy your unit to Choza's location and apprehend the intruders. Do not let anyone get away!"

"As you command, Lord Hokage," Spook said before disappearing off the roof.

"Should we help him?" Akishi asked.

"No. Assist in the cleanup of the residential area. Maintain vigilance in case there are any more intruders."

"Hai."

Danzo returned to the Hokage's office, which served as a symbol of his authority. During times of adversity, he recognised the value of projecting himself as a strong leader for the village. Regardless of the consequences of what happened tonight, he was fully prepared to take charge and deal with them.

Sasuke was jolted awake by an explosion. He lay there stunned for a moment before springing into action. Despite not knowing what was causing the commotion, he saw it as an excellent opportunity to flee. He quickly dressed himself and grabbed a bag from his closet.

Sasuke took a painting off the wall, revealing what appeared to be a blank space. He then sliced his hand with a kunai, causing blood to ooze from the wound. He pressed his palm against the wall. A symbol appeared and briefly lit up in response, followed by a section of the wall sliding away. A small nook was revealed behind it, filled with storage scrolls containing the belongings he inherited from the Unchicha clan. He stuffed them into his bag and made his way to the front door.

It was not the entire inheritance because the more valuable items were hidden in a secret location outside of the village. He would have to go there eventually to claim his remaining inheritance.

Sasuke opened the door and activated his Sharingan, peering out into the courtyard. When he saw nothing, he shut the door and stepped out into the street. He felt a sense of urgency because he knew he needed to flee as soon as possible.

A man appeared before him, his face hidden behind a white mask. "I suggest you return to your apartment, Sasuke Uchiha. The streets are currently unsafe."

"I can go wherever I want," Sasuke scowled. "Get out of my way!"

"I am afraid I have to insist that you return to your apartment," the man said as he approached Sasuke.

"Are you one of Danzo's spies?" Sasuke inquired, pulling a kunai from his pouch and assuming a defensive stance. He would not allow the man to stop him from leaving the village.

"He is the Lord Hokage; therefore, you should show him your respect."

Just as Sasuke was about to strike, a snake slithered up and wrapped itself around the man's legs. The man froze, his gaze fixed on the ground. Before he could say anything, a hand layered in chakra burst from his chest. A torrent of blood gushed forth, drenching Sasuke's face. The man shuddered and collapsed to the ground.

Sasuke screamed, frantically wiping the blood from his face. Some of it got into his mouth, and he had to fight the urge to vomit after tasting someone else's blood.

"Hello, Sasuke," Kabuto drawled, crouching down to wipe the blood off the kunai with the deceased man's pants.

"What are you doing here, Kabuto? Where is Orochimaru?" Sasuke growled.

"He is nearby," Kabuto replied. "He would like to speak with you."

"As if I am going anywhere with that freak," Sasuke said, taking a few steps back. "That asshole gave me this curse seal. Whatever he wants, it can not be good."

"You are fooling yourself if you think you have a say in the matter," Kabuto said. "Come on, now. Orochimaru is running out of time."

Caw.

Kabuto's eyes widened as he raised his head, searching around for the source of the noise. Sasuke followed his gaze until they both noticed a man standing on a nearby rooftop. He wore a black cloak with red cloud patterns all over it.

An unconscious person lay at the man's feet, restrained by a ninja wire.

"Brother," Sasuke growled. His Sharingan blazed as he locked his gaze on his most hated adversary.

"Itachi, what are you doing here?" Kabuto frowned. This was an opponent he could not defeat.

Itachi dragged the unconscious man from the roof and hurled him towards Kabuto, who cursed and jumped back to avoid being hit. Kabuto looked at Itachi, perplexed.

"Sasuke is off-limits," Itachi stated. "This person should be a suitable replacement for Orochimaru."

Kabuto turned the man over, catching a glimpse of his face. His expression was surprised at first but quickly changed to a smile. "I am not sure why you are assisting Orochimaru, but he will be happy with this vessel."

Kabuto quickly lifted the man onto his shoulders and dashed away into the night.

"Why do you continue to torment me?" Sasuke clenched his teeth. "Are you here to finish me off?"

"Foolish little brother," Itachi said before disappearing behind a veil of crows and reappearing before him. "I can't kill you. I am waiting for you to get strong enough to take your revenge."

"What do you mean?" Sasuke gripped the kunai tighter, resisting the urge to attack his brother. He was well aware that such an action would be futile, especially after their encounter in the hospital.

"Let me show you," Itachi said, his tomoes spinning as he activated Tsukuyomi.

"No!" Sasuke screamed as his surroundings dissolved and he suddenly found himself in a different place.

He looked around, almost expecting to be transported back to the night of the massacre. Instead, he found himself in a room, silently witnessing a scene unfolding before him. His pupils dilated as he noticed a younger Itachi kneeling in front of a seated Danzo. Despite wearing a white mask, it was clear that it was his brother. What exactly was going on?

"What have you discovered?" Danzo inquired.

"The Uchiha clan is staging a rebellion," Itachi said, raising his head. "Father has been whipped up into a frenzy, but I suspect someone is manipulating him from behind the scenes. The other elders, on the other hand, are eager to stage a coup. They intend to depose Hiruzen as Hokage and replace him with one of their own."

Sasuke was startled, his mind filled with doubts about the reality of the situation. His clan had been about to revolt against the Hokage. Why hadn't he known any of this before?"

"Perhaps they want you to take over as Hokage," Danzo speculated.

Itachi shook his head. "Even if I wanted to, I'm still too young."

"Do you have any idea why they are staging a coup?"

Sasuke waited with bated breath, desiring the answer himself.

"They are enraged at being confined to their own compound and subjected to constant surveillance. They feel betrayed because the village believes they are to blame for the Kyuubi attack."

"I was afraid it would come to this." Danzo sighed.

There was a brief pause as Danzo appeared to be lost in thought.

"The time for negotiations is over," Danzo said, striking his cane against the ground. "The Uchiha clan must be eliminated. They pose a threat to the village. I expect you to take this task upon yourself. If you do this, I will let you spare your younger brother."

"Understood," Itachi said, rising to his feet and saluting.

Sasuke's surroundings faded and he was back on the street. He spun around, desperately looking for his brother. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, trying to make sense of the information his brother had shown him. Was it a genuine memory or an illusion created by Itachi for his own twisted amusement?

A voice sounded from nearby. "If you want to leave the village and seek vengeance, it is time for you to go, my foolish little brother."

Sasuke looked around one last time, but there was no sign of Itachi. He dashed through the streets, intent on reaching the gates. Leaving the village without being noticed was a difficult task, but he hoped that his brother would find a way to make their exit go smoothly. Whatever Itachi was up to, Sasuke would take advantage of it.

He reflected on the vision he had seen while running. If Itachi's memory was true, it would imply that he had been working for Danzo all along. But why did he let him get away? Danzo planned to use him to bring forth the next generation of Uchiha. So, what was Itachi doing, going against these plans?

Sasuke promised himself that he would return to exact revenge on Danzo and Itachi one day. The entire Uchiha clan unjustly suffered the consequences of the elder's plans to stage a coup. What about the innocent members, like the children? Why should they have to suffer as a result of the actions of a few?

When he returns, he will question Danzo about his motivations, just before slitting the man's throat.

"Where are we going?" Naruto asked.

The group successfully fled the compound and evaded the pursuing operative by strategically placing explosive traps at the entrance. Although it would temporarily slow them down, their primary concern was not them. They were expecting another group of Shinobi to come after them. If Danzo was predictable, he would dispatch more of his root operatives. He would hate it if the rest of the village found out about his secret compound.

They were making their way deeper into the Forest of Death, led by Anko, who was most familiar with the terrain. They moved quickly from tree to tree, travelling at high speeds as the ground rushed beneath them. Even Kuromaru effortlessly matched their pace, making it appear effortless.

"There is a secret passage leading out of the village." "It is deeper in the forest," Jiraiya replied. "It is a good thing the compound was in the same general area."

"Do you think the root operatives will catch up with us?"

"They will if you continue to slow down due to your constant chatter," Tsume growled from behind them.

"Hey, you look familiar. Are you by any chance related to that mongrel, Kiba?" Naruto asked.

"Do not call my son names, Baldy," Tsume snapped back. Kuromaru barked in agreement.

"His head does resemble a wrinkled ball sack," Sai pointed out. Gai was carrying him while he was bound with ninja wire. Even though Naruto did not see the point in keeping him, they decided not to leave him behind.

"Shut it, creep," Naruto grumbled. He was irritated that his head had been shaved yet again before escaping the compound. He would have to wait weeks for things to return to normal.

Jiraiya gave the command to stop, and they obeyed. "They are catching up with us. They must be able to track our movements."

Naruto lowered his gaze to his plain white uniform. "Do you think they can track something on my clothes?"

"Or maybe it's the mini-Orochimaru who is leading them here," Anko said, pointing to Sai.

"It doesn't matter how they found us," Jiraiya stated.

Hiashi scanned the forest behind them with his Byakugan. His dojutsu gave him the ability to see long distances and even through obstacles. "He is correct. They are closing in quickly. Should we engage them?"

Jiraiya bit his lip. "We may not have any other choice because we cannot allow them to find the passage leading out of the village. How many are we up against?"

"Twenty-three shinobi," Hiashi replied. "I see eleven Shinobi who have Jonin-like chakra reserves. The remainder are chunin level."

"That sounds like a piece of cake," Naruto said.

"I can see that you are brimming with youthful energy, Naruto," Gai gave him a thumbs up, almost dropping Sai to the ground in the process. "Let us fight a passionate battle filled with hotbloodedness."

"Should we split up and fight them individually?" Inoichi asked. "If we stick together, things will become chaotic."

Choza grunted in agreement. "That is a good idea."

Jiraiya looked around the assembled Shinobi, carefully weighing his options. "All right, here's the plan. We will divide into three groups and confront the enemy separately. Anko, you'll team up with Gai and Tsume. Hiashi, you will stick with Inoichi and Choza. Naruto and I are the final team."

"What is stopping them from pursuing you and Naruto alone?" Hiashi asked. "The jinchuriki is their top priority."

"We will stay within a certain range just in case that scenario plays out," Jiraiya said. "Once we have engaged the enemy, use your own discretion to decide how to handle it."

Everyone agreed with a nod.

"You know exactly where we need to go if any of our teams is eliminated or captured," Jiraiya added. "If you are caught, remember not to reveal the secret passage right away."

"As if they could ever compete with my torture methods," Anko chuckled.

The group split into three, with Naruto following closely behind Jiraiya. They made sure to keep a safe distance from the other groups as they continued moving forward. It was only a matter of time before the enemy would catch up to them.

"Do you have enough chakra to switch into Tailed-Beast mode?" Jiriaya inquired.

"Sure," Naruto replied. "I should be fine for a few more minutes of action."

"Excellent because we will definitely need it," Jiraiya said. "There are four jonin and three chunin on our tail."

"How do you know this?"

"I have some of my summons scouting behind me."

"I suggest that I take care of the Jonin while you have the chunin."

"I think it has to be the other way around," Jiraiya snorted. He motioned to the open area between the trees in front of them. "We will take a stand there."

They landed on the ground, and Jiraiya quickly retrieved a scroll and brush. Naruto watched intently as Jiraiya skillfully and quickly drew a fuinjutsu array on the scroll.

"What's that for?" Naruto asked.

"This will level the playing field," Jiraiya explained. "It is a restriction seal that will impede the enemies' movement, making it easier to defeat them."

"Will we not be affected as well?"

"Not if we add our blood to it," Jiraiya said, laying the scroll down before biting his thumb and smearing blood on the array.

Naruto copied him and added his own blood. "This is absolutely incredible. Could you teach me fuinjutsu?"

"You certainly have the pedigree for it," Jiraiya replied mysteriously. He performed a series of hand seals, and the scroll sank into the ground, making it inaccessible to their opponents.

Half a minute later, the root operatives arrived. The seven of them came to a halt in the trees above them, spreading out in all directions to surround them. Naruto and Jiraiya separated themselves so they would not interfere with each other's fight.

"Jiraiya," one of the men called out. He distinguished himself from the other operatives by wearing a wooden mask rather than the standard white mask. "My name is Spook. Surrender now, and we will take you back to the village."

"Do you honestly think I will give up at this point?" Jiraiya scoffed.

"What kind of name is Spook? Do you have an unsightly face that you are hiding behind that mask?" Naruto asked.

"I have been told I have a creepy face," Spook replied. "But enough chit-chat. Chunin, you will deal with the jinchuriki while we deal with Jiraiya. He should be relatively easy to subdue."

"Are you sure?" Naruto let out a low growl as an orange chakra cloak engulfed him, revealing two distinct tails extending from behind him. "I am not going down easily."

"This is unexpected," Spook said. "But not an unwelcome one. This simply makes the fight easier."

He swiftly executed a sequence of hand signs.

"Naruto, be careful," Jiraiya warned.

Wooden beams erupted from a tree beside Naruto, who evaded them as they formed into a cage in an attempt to capture him. He took a few steps back as the wooden structure receded back into the tree. "What the hell?"

"Is that really you, Yamato?" Jiraiya inquired. "I had no idea you were still working for Root."

"I never stopped," Yamato replied. "Operatives, attack!"

The seven operatives jumped to the ground, weaving hand signals in preparation for an attack. Jiraiya infused chakra into his hair, causing it to expand and stiffen. He aimed his hair at the approaching shinobi and unleashed a hail of hundreds of sharp needles.

The attack overwhelmed the seven shinobi, but each one burst, revealing that they were merely clones.

The Root operatives burst through the tree lines, immediately splitting into two groups to engage Jiraiya and Naruto separately. The seal Jiraiya setup immediately affected them, causing them to slow down. This boosted Naruto's confidence in his ability to defeat them.

Naruto summoned two shadow clones to assist him in confronting the Chunin trio. Similar to Fu, the three adversaries wielded tanto blades. One of the Chunin relentlessly launched a barrage of powerful slashes in an attempt to keep Naruto at bay. While evading the onslaught, Naruto activated his Adamantine Sensing Chains and ensnared one of the Chunin's legs. He quickly picked up on his opponent's rhythm and prepared for a counterattack.

One of Naruto's shadow clones was destroyed, and the chunin rushed to engage Naruto together with his comrade. They both worked together to put pressure on him, making it more difficult for him to avoid the onslaught of strikes. One of his tails appeared from behind him, grabbing the blades in the chunin's hands. The second chunin released the tanto immediately.

The first chunin who had engaged him clung to his tanto, refusing to let go. Naruto yanked the chunin towards him with his tail, causing the man to lose his balance. Taking advantage of the situation, Naruto delivered a devastating blow to his opponent's stomach. The force of the punch, combined with the power of the Tailed-Beast transformation, caused the chunin to cough up blood as his organs shifted from the impact. He crumpled to his knees, suffering from serious injuries.

Naruto's second shadow clone was destroyed at that moment, and the third chunin rushed forward to assist the remaining chunin. Naruto kicked the kneeling chunin, propelling him into the path of the third chunin who was approaching him. The unexpected manoeuvre caught the man off guard, and he had to react quickly to catch his companion, resulting in both of them falling to the ground.

Simultaneously, he used one of his tails to block an attack from the second chunin, while the second tail lashed out, causing his opponent to retreat. With swift movements, Naruto formed a seamless sequence of hand seals. As he finished the final seal, water burst forth from his mouth with incredible force, transforming into a powerful beam that surged towards its intended target. The chunin dodged the attack, but a tail appeared and wrapped around his waist. Naruto launched the man into the air before slamming him into the nearest tree. But he did not let him go.

He slammed the struggling chunin into the third chunin, who was rising to his feet. In a similar manner to his previous attack on Fu, he repeatedly slammed the second chunin into the third chunin. There was no need to be concerned about the first chunin because he was already down and out.

He was fully aware of Jiraiya's fight with the four Jonins as he decimated his opponents, but he had tried to ignore the distraction while fighting his opponents. After his fight, he turned to observe Jiraiya's fight.

His eyes widened. Two of the Jonins were already unconscious on the ground. Yamato and the other Jonin in their group were exchanging blows with Jiraiya. The surrounding terrain appeared churned up, with some areas charred as a result of their intense encounter. Yamato abruptly retreated, leaving his companion behind, and vanished into the dense forest cover.

Naruto narrowly escaped capture after becoming distracted. Roots sprouted from the ground, attempting to entangle him. He dashed to Jiraiya's side, who conjured a powerful orb of swirling blue chakra in his hand.

Jiraiya lunged forward, thrusting the chakra ball into the jonin's stomach, ripping his uniform to shreds. The impact threw the man backwards, causing him to collide with the tree behind him. He sagged to the ground, a gaping hole in his stomach revealing his internal organs.

Naruto turned away from the nauseating sight. He grimaced as he reversed the transformation, feeling the strain on his body. Despite his ability to maintain it for an extended period of time, it took a toll on his physical body.

Jiraiya exhaled several deep breaths. "Yamato will not be returning. He is not stupid enough to believe he can capture you at this point."

"Who was that guy? How could he use wood release?"

"Yamato's abilities are the result of Orochimaru's illegal experiments," Jiraiya explained.

Naruto nodded and was about to ask another question when he heard a distant shout.

"Come on," Jiraiya said, leaping into the tree. "Shall we check in with our allies to see if they require any assistance?"

Naruto followed him, heading towards the source of the disturbance. What they discovered was a scene of utter devastation, with Gai in the centre among several bodies strewn across the ground. An intense and fiery aura surrounded him, delineating the enormous power that seemed to emanate from within him, while his muscles visibly swelled with immense strength.

Anko stood beside him, her face relaxed as she munched on a dango. Tsume and Kuromaru stood guard over Sai, who was resting against a tree and observing the scene indifferently.

"What took you so long?" Anko grinned. "We easily managed everything, despite having ten opponents. Gai did the majority of the work."

Anko slapped Gai on the shoulder, causing him to cry out in pain. The aura that had surrounded him vanished, and he collapsed to the ground.

"Oops."

"He will be out of commission for a while," Jiraiya predicted. "We have to get out of here. Where are the others?"

As if called upon, the three remaining members of their group emerged from the trees. They appeared largely unaffected, aside from a few minor injuries. Hiashi, as always, looked impeccable, as if he had not just fought.

"Can you carry Gai, Choza?" Jiraiya asked as he picked up Sai and slung him over his shoulders.

"Sure thing." Choza effortlessly slung Gai over his shoulder as if he weighed nothing.

"How close are we to the passage?" Naruto asked.

"Another hour or so," Jiraiya said. "Let's go."

They hurried towards their destination, remaining silent and moving quickly to avoid being pursued by any more shinobi. Jiraiya finally slowed his pace after nearly an hour and descended to the ground. The rest of the group, following his lead, soon joined him by a towering tree.

"A tree is our destination?" Naruto looked at Jiraiya in disbelief.

"Are you forgetting who I am?" Jiraiya slapped Naruto on the back.

Jiraiya executed a series of hand signs before pressing his palm against the tree trunk. A door appeared, revealing a spiral staircase leading into shadowy depths. Naruto peered inside, unable to see much further than the first few steps.

"There should be some people down below waiting for us," Jiraiya said, motioning for them to enter.

Jiraiya lit the torch sconces built into the wall as they descended the stairs. Naruto reached out and touched the wall, feeling its smooth texture made of concrete. Someone had put in a lot of time and effort to construct this passage.

They followed a corridor at the bottom of the staircase until it opened into a large room. Naruto was taken aback when he noticed the people waiting for them.

"Gaara! Temari! Makeup boy! What are you doing here?"

"My name is Kankuro," the black-suited teenager yelled.

Gaara glanced at his sister. "He appears different in some way."

Temari grinned as he examined his bald head. "His head resembles a wrinkled ball sack."

"That is what I said," Sai said from the back of the group.

"It is perfectly smooth," Naruto grumbled as he approached them. "Why don't you go ahead and touch it, Temari? It is unquestionably the smoothest ball sack you will ever feel."

Temari laughed. "In your dreams, Uzumaki."

"Enough," the elderly lady interjected, her voice solemn. "This is not the time to be joking around. We still need to escape from Konoha."

"The other villagers should have gotten away by now, Chiyo," Jiraiya said to the elderly lady. "Are you certain you want me to take on the responsibility of caring for the Kazekage's children?"

Temari and Kankuro were both taken aback as they looked to Chiyo for answers.

"What is he talking about?" Gaara queried.

"I will not be able to take you back to Suna," Chiyo explained. "If you are seen in public, Danzo will know that Suna was involved in your rescue. He is actively looking for any reason to launch an invasion of Suna. You will be joining Jiraiya and the other villagers who are leaving Konoha. You should be safe with them."

"Abandon our village?" Temari protested. "Are you mad?"

Kankuro agreed with a nod. Gaara did not say anything, but his expressionless face and crossed arms said everything.

"It will not be forever," Chiyo reassured them. "Only until the situation improves, either through Danzo's removal as Hokage or Suna gaining enough strength to resist Konoha."

Naruto looked around the room as the four people engaged in a heated argument. The room functioned as an equipment cache, housing a large collection of ninja tools, weapons, scrolls, and outfits. Naruto noticed the assortment of clothing, prompting him to approach and examine the variety of options available to him. He needed to get out of the clothes that constantly reminded him of his confinement.

"I have your favourite orange outfit sealed into a storage scroll," Jiraiya said as he approached him.

"I feel like changing things up," Naruto said, eyeing a particular outfit.

The clothing resembled a Jonin uniform, with a vest layered over regular clothes and bandages wrapped around the wrists and shins.

Instead of the usual green, the vest was black. He was particularly fond of the orange accented stripes that ran down the sides of the pant legs.

Jiraiya chuckled. "There's even a headpiece for your bald head."

"Shut up," Naruto said as he quickly removed his white clothes and put on the new outfit. When he looked down at himself, he could not help but think he looked pretty good.

Naruto also made sure to stock up on ninja tools. He needed to be well-prepared because he had no idea what he would encounter outside.

"Where are we going exactly?" Naruto asked. "You forgot to mention that crucial detail."

So, what do you think? Naruto is finally free and the team is heading for their ultimate destination in the next chapter.

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Thanks for reading.