Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
A/N: I haven't got many votes the past month (Only 5 votes since Sept and just got three the other day) the top 5 are just a few votes from each other I'm at 293 votes overall and if I don't get to 325 by the time I get to s3 of Ultimate Spider-Man I'll end the poll and do the top 21 for the remainder of the story.
Beta: Chaos-PSD. Contributor: Kuronodono12
Chapter XXXIII: Rescue The Kazekage.
Easy, Isn't Always Simple.
A Rescue Mission! Naruto brings his girlfriend Ayala Secura, Jedi Master Yoda, Thrawn, his Padawan Zule Xiss, and his clones back to Konoha for rest, relaxation, and to learn about his world. Yoda talks to the Hokage Tsunade Senju about building a Jedi temple in or near Konoha as an emergency sanctuary. Meanwhile, the Godaime Kazekage (Fifth Wind Shadow) Gaara fights off two ninjas from a mysterious group called Akatsuki, a group of nukenin…. (Rogue Ninjas….)
Coruscant; Jedi Temple, Yoda's Quarters.
"Go to your home next time, I would," Yoda said to Naruto who was sitting by Ayala and BD looking over his shoulder.
"Fine with me, the invitations are open to anyone that wants to visit. I just asked Aayla and Thrawn to come as I'll be visiting soon." Naruto said before standing.
Konoha, Atmosphere.
The Maelstrom appeared in the atmosphere above the planet.
"Sir, we've arrived successfully," Thrawn said to Naruto who nodded.
"Good, load up the gunships," Naruto ordered as BD jumped on his back.
"(Trills.)"
Konoha Gates.
Kotetsu and Izumo were talking to a teen girl and three kids.
The girl has short bright pink hair, large green eyes, fair skin, and a rather large forehead. She's wearing her Hiate as a ribbon on top of her head. Her attire consists of a red top with a white circle on the back, black, low-heel, calf-high boots, black shorts underneath a short pink apron skirt, and pink elbow protectors.
Sakura Haruno Chūnin.
The first boy has short spiky brown hair and black eyes. He's wearing a pale green jacket with a dark green stripe down the middle. He also has a long scarf and a Konoha Hiate.
Konohamaru Sarutobi Genin.
The second boy has short brown hair, dark eyes, and glasses. He's wearing a dark jacket and blue pants.
Udon Genin.
The girl has orange hair pulled into high pigtails. She's wearing a sleeveless purple vest over a violet t-shirt, and a layered skirt with mid-thigh boots.
Moegi Genin.
They stopped as a gunship flew down and landed outside the gates and opened up before Konohamaru ran ahead with a kunai in hand. "Konohamaru, wait!" Sakura yelled out before Konohamaru's kunai was knocked in the air.
"Easy, there, squirt, you might hurt someone."
Sakura's eyes widened at seeing a tall blonde haired man in robes and white armor decorated with various images as well as Konoha's emblem and a strap over his shoulder.
"N-Naruto?"
"Hey, Sakura." Naruto greeted as she ran over.
Only to stop seeing men in armor, an orange-skinned girl who was around her age, a blue-skinned man and woman with appendages from her head, and a small green man. "Uh, Naruto, who are these people?"
"Friends from where I went," Naruto said before BD looked over his shoulder, scaring the Chūnin. "Oh, this is BD." Naruto patted BD's head, having him beep. RC then rolled out and up to Naruto. "And RC. Oh, this is Master Yoda, Thrawn, some of my men, Zule, and Aayla."
"Nice to meet you." Sakura just waved at them.
"Hey, Boss!" Naruto looked behind Sakura to see Konohamaru and the others.
Suddenly, smoke engulfed Konohamaru, and in his place is a nude, busty brown hair girl with smoke covering her modesty, having the girls blush in anger.
"Oiroke no Jutsu! (Sexy Technique!)" Smoke covered 'her' revealing Konohamaru again.
"What do you think? Pretty good huh?" Naruto chuckled before crossing his arms.
"Konohamaru. You should only use that for infiltration, and undercover missions." Naruto replied as Sakura smiled.
"He has matured."
"Besides, it doesn't compare to the real thing." Sakura's eyebrow twitched before growling.
"Naruto!"
Naruto ducked under a punch from Sakura before Zule appeared. "Lay off Pinky!"
"Pinky?!"
"Easy, you two," Naruto said, getting between them. "My student doesn't take kindly to me getting attacked, Sakura."
"Student?!"
"Yeah, Zule here is my student. Anyway, let's go see Tsunade."
They then started walking before Sakura blinked. "Naruto?"
Naruto who was walking beside Ayala looked at her. "Yeah?"
"You didn't call Tsunade-sama granny?"
"I just did that to annoy her," Naruto replied before wrapping his right arm around Aayla's waist and walking to the Hokage Tower.
Inside, the group was talking to Tsunade as the clones sat on a couch by the wall and introduced each other. "Oh, yeah, Tsunade, Master Yoda wants to ask you something," Naruto said as Tsunade glanced at the small alien in a hoverchair that reminded her of a certain someone's summons.
"A temple I would like to build here."
"Temple?"
"Yeah, it's their school," Naruto explained. "Yoda wants there to be a temple here as an emergency in case something big happens."
"Correct, young Naruto is," Yoda replied before the door opened, having two people walk in.
"Hey." A lazy voice drew out before the two stopped.
The first is a teen boy who has narrow brown eyes and a typical expression suggesting he is either bored. He has shoulder-length black hair tied in a spiky ponytail. He's wearing the standard Konoha-nin outfit, the only customization being green-lined mesh armor on his wrists and ankles and the metal part of his Hiate is sewn on his left sleeve.
Shikamaru Nara, Chūnin.
The girl has teal eyes and blonde hair, which is gathered into four ponytails. She's wearing a short-sleeved, black kimono that reaches down to her legs, with slits along the side and a revealing neckline.
She has a red sash tied around her waist, fingerless black gloves, and sandals with fishnet armor on her right leg, and a Hiate on her forehead along with a giant folded fan on her back.
Temari, Jōnin of Sunagakure. (Village Hidden In The Sands)
"Hey Shikamaru, Temari, look who's back!"
"Naruto, it's you!"
"Hey, Shikamaru!" Naruto greeted turning around and crossing his arms. "Nice to see you too Temari."
'Is that the same little squirt?' Temari thought as Naruto smiled.
"Before any of you ask why I'm taller, I'm 19 now."
"What?" Temari asked before pointing at the blonde. "You've only been gone 2 years!"
"Yeah, but I got sent to another dimension where time was faster before coming back," Naruto explained before looking back. "Since what Yoda has to talk about is classified, we'll leave you alone while we go look at the village."
"Right, he is," Yoda said, getting surprised looks out of the two teens.
"Talk strange he does," Naruto said as they started walking out of the office. "Get used to it, you do."
Thwack!
"Ow!" Naruto yelled as Yoda's cane hit him in the back of the head.
Outside, Naruto, Aayla, Zule, Thrawn, Alpha, Fordo, Sakura, Shikamaru, and Temari walked down the streets before Naruto looked back. "What are you doing here, Temari? You and Shikamaru get together?"
"You're joking like I would even," Temari said resting her hands on her hips. "The Chūnin Exams are about to start. I'm running back and forth getting things ready."
"And I'm her escort," Shikamaru said, hands in his pockets. "It's a drag. And don't ask how it happened, but I've been put in charge of organizing the Chūnin Exams."
"Damn that takes me back," Naruto said before looking up. "Anyone get promoted?"
"Yes, all of us in our Generation. What are you going to do?"
"I don't know. I guess go for a field promotion since there are no teams left." Naruto replied with a shrug.
"Sir?"
Looking over his shoulder, Naruto saw Thrawn speak. "Yeah?"
"I would like to read up on the village? Can you show me to the library?"
"Fordo can. And Fordo you can go do whatever when you get there." Naruto ordered, having the clone nod.
"Right, sir."
The two then left as Alpha excused himself wanting to find a dojo with Zule accompanying him.
"Neji and Temari here are Jōnin." Shikamaru continued pointing to the blonde beside him. "Gaara's even the Kazekage."
"Really?" Naruto asked before looking at Temari. "Your village didn't get a new leader immediately after your dad was killed? Even we got Tsunade afterward."
"Gaara's was one of the strongest. Even back then." She replied with a shrug.
"(Trills!)" BD said, popping over Naruto's shoulder surprising the two.
"Oh, yeah, this is BD," Naruto said, tapping the droid on his head. "RC is still in the tower to help out Yoda."
"You mean that trash can?" Temari asked as Naruto chuckled.
"These are robots, the dimension is advanced to the point they have A.I. now," Naruto said before seeing the sun setting. "Well, I guess I'll let you guys go."
Naruto and Aayla then walked off with Naruto showing her around. A few minutes later, Naruto brought Aayla to a metallic fence surrounding a forest that has a radius of ten kilometers. He explains that the forest is commonly used for a promotion test and houses large dangerous creatures before seeing a sweaty Anko and Hinata walk out of one of the gates.
"Hey, you two."
"Naruto!/Hey Hot Stuff!" The two greeted each other before walking to a roof over a table by the gates to talk.
"Is everyone over there different colors?"
"No, just some species," Naruto said as they sat down. "There are human races that look like we do. This is Aayla, my girlfriend. These two are Hinata and Anko."
"You've known Naruto for a long time?" Aayla asked as Anko grinned.
"I met him a couple of years ago."
"Yeah, she snuck up behind me and gave me a good licking," Naruto replied, having Anko lean back on her hands and had her breasts bounce slightly.
"And here I was worried you forgot and wrote it off as a one-night stand."
"Oh, I would never do that," Naruto said to her before Aayla spoke.
"I see they're dressed like the dancers at Oola's."
"What?" Hinata asked as Naruto turned to her.
"Another person from her species owns a bar that I get info from. Aayla's race is a popular one for dancers and they usually wear mesh outfits that show their cleavage, and leave their sides and thighs bare like Anko."
"Aw, I knew you liked my way of dressing."
"More than you know," Naruto said under his breath before they continued talking for a bit before he then walked with Aayla leaving the others to walk to finish what they were doing.
Later, they then walked up to a small stand before walking in. "Hey, old man!"
"Welcome!" The man inside greeted Naruto.
He's wearing a white hat and clothing with an apron.
Teuchi.
"Naruto?"
"Yeah, I thought you'd forgotten about me," Naruto said before a young woman walked up.
She is a slender girl with long, dark brown hair and large black eyes, plus fair skin. She wears a white robe with the sleeves folded, a sort of dark blue apron with ribbon ties at the top, and a bright white bandanna.
Ayame.
"Naruto!"
"Hey, Ayame." Naruto greeted as BD jumped on the counter, scaring the two. "It's OK, he's with me. As is she." Naruto said as Aayla walked in, having them stare. "I know what you're thinking… 'What's a criminally handsome man like me doing with a girl like her?' I get that a lot." He was then elbowed by his girlfriend, having him chuckle. "I'm kidding, two bowls please." He ordered sitting down.
"I'll take the order."
Looking back, Naruto saw a man enter.
The man is of average height and build. He has brown hair that he has in a ponytail, dark eyes, and a scar that runs across the bridge of his nose. He's wearing the standard Konoha shinobi outfit complete with a forehead protector, sandals, and flak jacket. His sleeves are also rolled up about a quarter of the way up.
Iruka, a Chūnin and an Academy instructor.
"I thought this is where you'd be."
"Hey, Iruka." Naruto greeted as he walked in.
"I thought Sakura was with you. Tsunade-sama told me that."
"Said she forgot to pick something up at the gates and had to get them," Naruto replied before Iruka sat down and looked at Naruto's armor.
"Is that a picture of the woman beside you?"
Naruto looked to see a picture of Numa's head under his swirl on his left arm. "No, it's an orphan I helped out a while ago," Naruto explained before going on to tell about the universe he was sent to before their food came. "Well?" Naruto asked with a smile as Aayla took a bite.
"It's… OK."
"OK?! Now you're screwing with me! And not in the fun way we usually do either."
"Naruto, where's your Hiate?" Iruka asked as Naruto looked at him.
"In my pouch, the weapons over there melt metal and I don't want to damage it or have it hurt me if it gets hit. I thought about fusing it with my armor but decided against it in case the armor got damaged."
Nighttime, Sunagakure.
A male teen stood on the roof of a building watching as a big clay bird flew around the Village. He has fair skin and short, spiky, auburn hair, and pale blue-green eyes. He has no distinctive pupils or eyebrows, but has two very notable traits in his appearance: firstly, he has tanuki-like black eye rings. Secondly, he has the kanji for 'love' on the left side of his forehead. His forelocks are parted from the left side, making the kanji more visible.
He's wearing full-length dark trousers, with a pair of laces on each leg, respectively a few inches below the waist and the knees, a long-sleeved crimson coat with flaring hemlines and slits down on the lower half of the front and the back, a grey holster vest held in place by a single strap over his left shoulder and by two buckled belts which he uses to carry a gourd.
He also has another pair of casually worn belts around his waist.
Gaara, the Godaime Kazekage.
A man dropped down from the bird onto the roof, not noticing the teen.
"Infiltration successful."
He's wearing a cloak with a red cloud design on it, a headband with a slash across the symbol on it, and long blonde hair pulled into a ponytail with a bang covering his left eye. His right one with slanted blue eyes widened seeing the teen cross his arm.
Deidara, a missing-nin from Iwagakure. (Village Hidden In The Stone.) and a member of Akatsuki.
"That's as far as you go," Gaara said as Deidara smirked.
Deidara jumped back on his bird and lifted his hand showing a mouth on it before going to a pouch with more clay in it. He looked back, having the wind blow his hair and revealed an eye scope on his left eye, and saw sand flying at him. Gaara moved the sand around with his hands as Deidara flew around the village before jumping on it, and followed after.
They both stopped in the air and looked at each other. 'That Jinchūriki sure comes in handy doesn't it?' Deidara thought, holding a hand by his chest. "Tell me, how did you guess I was an intruder?" He asked as Gaara just gave a blank stare.
"There are no birds like that in this dessert."
"Is that so?" Deidara asked with a smirk as several ninjas started walking out of the sand buildings to watch. "Well… So much for our covert operations, Heh!" He then pushed a button on his scope and had it zoom in on Gaara. "At least now I don't have to go looking for you."
Gaara then raised his hands and had a large amount of sand be pulled up from the ground to form a wall behind him. He then created a lighter-colored arm with black fingertips that reached for the nukenin. Deidara then had his mouth spit out clay that he formed into small birds to throw at the hand.
Boom!
The hand disintegrated before reforming to continue the attack, having Deidara fly higher. "The real fun's about to begin." He said before throwing more birds at the arm.
Gaara created smaller arms to try and stop the bombs only to be blown up. 'What unusual explosive devices… Accurately guided to their targets.' Gaara thought as Deidara put his hands in his two pouches.
He then threw two larger pieces that flew to Gaara who brought sand up in front of him to block the attack.
BOOM!
"GAARA!" One man yelled looking up.
He's wearing a black outfit consisting of a black hood with his Hiate on it long top and trousers with a red sash around his waist. He has three scrolls on his back and purple face paint. It starts from one cheek to the other, and another line starting from the top of each cheek that goes to the bottom of the chin forming a point.
Kankurō, a shinobi of Sunagakure.
The smoke cleared revealing a ball of sand around Gaara with a baseball-sized eye above it before Gaara had the arms wrap around Deidara. "Sabaku Rō! (Sand Prison!)"
The sand then formed an identical ball around Deidara. A moment later, Deidara then bursts out and flies past Gaara sans clay bird before turning to see sand coming towards him. It grabbed his left leg and pulled him in front of Gaara's ball before throwing him back at the other as a mouth formed on it. Deidara threw a bird in it as he formed a large owl to land on and fly away
Boom!
The ball was unformed and had sand fly to the nukenin, having him fly high and start to dodge the sand tendrils that formed from the sand. Sand then wrapped around his left arm before he created a long centipede and wrapped it around the sand having it explode. Only for the sand to still be there. Gaara, who was looking out a small hole closed his hand and crushed Deidara's arm. "Sabaku Kyū! (Sand Coffin!)"
Deidara then flew around and got the sand off him before looking back thinking of the information on Gaara's group was given. He then dodged another strand of sand before smiling. He then reached in his pouch and grabbed the rest of his clay before creating a small statue with a face and large hands standing at 2'.
"What to do? Guess I'll just destroy it all." He said before flying higher and dodged another strike from the sand.
The ninja ran around getting civilians to safety before Deidara threw the clay in the air and had it grow in the size of a small building before having it drop. "That was a doll molded from detonator clay molded from my palm and loaded with chakra. It's a specialty of mine from Shī Surī. (C3.) The most powerful chakra I possess. Its destructive ability is my masterpiece!"
He then made the release hand sign and had it glow brightly as it got to the buildings.
BOOM!
The smoke then settled revealing a sand shield protecting the village before Deidara smirked. "Now, you're within range." He brought his hand up just as a clay bird flew in the hole of Gaara's ball.
Boom!
Gaara covered the hole in time just as the ninja below got large crossbows ready to fire at the nukenin. Inside, Gaara pants before seeing clay bugs come through the sand. Outside, Deidara smirked remembering having his hand eat some of the sand and mix his lay in before being crushed. "True art is… AN EXPLOSION!" Deidara yelled as the ball of sand deformed from an explosion inside.
"GAARA!" Kankurō yelled up as the sand started to fall off.
And showed Gaara with cracked sand-colored skin. He then opened one eye and slowly moved his hand up to have the shield move outside the village so it wouldn't harm anyone. The ninjas then started firing large arrows at Deidara to help Gaara out. Several have tags on them, having them explode when getting near the nukenin. Once the sand was out of the village, it fell as Gaara started to fall as well.
Deidara flew over and caught him in his bird's tail before he flew off. The ninja stopped shooting so as not to hit Gaara as Deidara came up to the entrance of the mountain he came in before Kankurō and several ninjas started jumping across rooftops. Deidara then landed where another man was waiting inside the crevice. "I completed my mission."
The man is hunched over wearing the Akatsuki cloak, a straw hat, and a mask.
This is Sasori of the Red Sands.
"I told you don't keep me waiting!" Sasori yelled having a mechanical tail come out and swiped at Deidara.
"Grumpy… This one was rather strong, you know." Deidara said, looking at the unconscious Gaara.
"Perhaps next time you'll listen to me!"
Everything ready here?" Deidara asked his partner.
"Well, of course, it is! I've had plenty of time to see to it. Unlike you, I know what I'm doing!"
"Well then, let's get going," Deidara said, jumping off his owl and the duo walked with the owl taking off as Deidara put on his straw hat.
As they walked a few miles out, they heard explosions from the entrance as rocks fell.
Morning.
The two stopped as Kankurō dropped down. "We meet at last. Hand over Gaara… Now."
"I've got him," Sasori said to his partner. "You go on ahead." He then jumped over in front of Kankurō who pulled out the three scrolls before unrolling them. "Are you two ready for a puppet show?" He then knelt and made the release sign. "Karasu. Kuroari. Sanshōuo."
Smoke appeared on each scroll before disappearing and revealed three large wooden puppets.
Karasu resembles a three-eyed, four-armed humanoid with jagged teeth and a spiky brown hairstyle protruding from the top of its head and framing the sides.
Kuroari has a much longer head than Karasu with a bucket-shaped face sporting two sharp red horns and six arms; its facial features include three eyes similar to Karasu, with a dark, disheveled hairstyle. Its overall body frame somewhat resembles a large barrel.
And Sanshōuo somewhat resembles a large salamander. It has a frill as well as a tail.
They all have strings made out of chakra connecting to Kankurō's fingers. "Let Garra go, now!"
"The Kugutsu no Jutsu. (Puppet Master Jutsu.)" Sasori said, looking at the puppets.
Deidara smirked before jumping on his owl. "I'm going on ahead. Enjoy the show." He then flew off as Kankurō attacked with Karasu.
"Think again!" Suddenly, Sasori attacked, wrapping the puppet with his metal tail. "What?"
"I don't like to wait," Sasori said, taking off his hat revealing dark hair in cornrows that spiked up in the back. "Or keep others waiting. So let's make this short and sweet!"
"You moved as fast as Karasu. I'm impressed." Kankurō said to the ninja who still had his puppet wrapped up.
"The spider needs to be as fast as the fly," Sasori said, staring at Kankurō.
"I remember now… This Jinchūriki is supposed to have a couple of siblings. One of them is some kind of… Kugutsutsukai (Puppet Master.)" Deidara said smiling. "That must be you I guess. Your name's Tankaro… Kanso-"
"It's Kankurō!" Kankurō yelled, pulling on his strings, having Karasu be pulled out of the stall and broken.
Only to form back together and try to jump up at Deidara. And was swatted down by Sasori. "Forget about it… I'm your opponent. Deidara, stop gawking and get out of here."
"Fine, have your fun."
Kankurō tried to jump, only to stop as Sasori attacked. "I told you, I'm your opponent."
"OK, if that's what you want." Kankurō then moved his arms around. "Let the puppet show begin!"
Karasu and Kuroari spun around Sasori who just glanced at them before they spun faster. Karasu then shot kunai out of its mouth before Sasori jumped in the air and flipped as Kuroari came out of the sand under him. "You didn't notice Kuroari was missing, did you?
He then had Kuroari leaned back and open its chest, having Sasori land inside before it closed. Karasu then came apart as blades popped out of its neck, and body parts as Kuroari stood straight. The seven blades are simultaneously inserted into slots on Kuroari's body. "Kurohigi Kiki Ippatsu! (Secret Black Move: Iron Maiden!)"
Sand started coming out of the holes, having Kankurō open the body. And showed Sasori who turned into sand. Sasori then came up under the sand behind Kankurō, having him quickly turn.
Konoha, Naruto's Apartment.
Naruto woke to see a blue arm on his chest before feeling the bare skin of Aayla. After a moment, he then got up and went to get ready for the day. As he put on his armor, his comms went off before answering having Yoda appear via hologram as BD got on his back. "Needed for a Mission you are. Need you, Tsunade does."
"I'll be right there," Naruto said before reaching into the back of his pouch and pulling his Hiate out.
Putting it on, Naruto tied it on before looking at Aayla who was pulling her pants up. "I gotta meet up with Tsunade, meet me at the gates."
"Got it." She said before walking up to kiss him.
Later, Naruto met with Sakura and Kakashi in the mission room of the Tower where Yoda, Tsunade, Shizune, Iruka, and several other people sat at a long table explaining that Gaara's been kidnapped. "Akatsuki?" Naruto asked, having Tsunade look up. "What? It's not the first time that Jiraiya told me about them when we got attacked by Itachi and Kisame."
"We've been studying them for these three years. Sunagakure has asked for our help. I'm sending your three."
"Got it, can I bring some of my group with us?" Naruto asked the busty Hokage.
"… Sure." She replied after Yoda gave a nod. "Get there ASAP."
"Oh well, I got transport we can use to get there very quickly," Naruto said before bringing up his comms. "Thrawn."
"Yes sir."
"I need Alpha, Zule, and Delta Squad for a mission. And bring eight speeders."
"Roger."
"Speeders?" Sakura asked, surprised at Naruto's attitude.
"Hover bicycles that can go as fast as a train."
"Remain there and follow their orders and give any backup they need," Tsunade said, having all three nod before leaving.
Kankurō Vs Sasori.
Karasu came out of the sand and had its four arms aimed at Sasori. They opened up and shot senbon needles at the ninja who dodged them by stepping to the side. Kuroari tried to attack only for Sasori to block it. As well as the blade from Karasu's arms. "What's wrong? Run out of tricks?"
"I'm just getting started!" Kankurō yelled having Karasu throw smoke bombs out that exploded in purple smoke. "Dokukiri Jigoku: Baribari Hyaku Renpatsu! (Poison Mist Inferno: Consecutive Needle Combo!)" Then both puppets fire a barrage of senbon from their arms at the now blinded Sasori.
The smoke cleared revealing an unarmed Sasori. "Not even that hurt him."
"Have I mentioned how much I dislike making people wait? It's against my policy. You've had your turn." Sasori said, bringing his tail over. "Now, it's mine!"
He shot his tail over as Kankurō brought Sanshōuo in front and blocked the tail with its frill, and brought its tail up on it creating a shield as a cloak covered the body. "That puppet of yours does indeed have incredible defensive capabilities. But even the best-made puppet has a weak spot." Sasori said, shooting his tail at the side of the frill having it break off.
He then attacked Kankurō who jumped out of the way and landed behind Sasori who brought his tail over and pierced his chest sending him back. "That puppet of yours is no different from any other. You can make the individual parts as strong as you want but the joints are always a weak spot." Kankurō stood as he held his chest with one eye closed in pain. "And now…" Sasori trailed over showing the tip of his tail was covered in poison. "for the real grand finale!"
Kankurō just brought Karasu and Kuroari to shoot kunai and senbons at Sasori who blocked with his tail. He then swung his tail and destroyed all three puppets. "You're wondering how I anticipated your moves… That's simple. Karasu, Kuroari, Sanshōuo… I created them!" He said, shocking Kankurō. "If not I said I wouldn't keep you waiting… But seeing one of my disciples using my old toys… I can't resist savoring the moment."
"So then, you'd have to be… Sasori of the Red Sands!" Kankurō yelled out as the wind blew Karasu's hair off its neck revealing a diamond patch with a red scorpion in it.
"I'm honored that my name's so well known. Even to a child such as you."
"You deserted us 20 years ago… Why come back now?"
"What's the point of asking questions… When you're about to die?" Sasori asked, showing his poison-tipped tail to Kankurō who fell.
Sasori tried to attack, only for Kankurō to bring Kuroari's head up to block the tail. And used Karasu's hand to nick a piece of his cloth mask off when he dodged and hid it as it landed. "I'll let the poison take its course. You'll wish I had ended you quickly after the three days are up." Sasori said before turning to leave.
Konoha Gates.
"Delta Squad!"
"Sir!" The four clones stood at attention as the ninjas were looking at the speeders as they hovered.
The first had red in the middle of his helmet, right shoulder, and chest.
Boss.
The second has red in the middle of his helmet, shoulders, down his arms, abdomen, and the inside of his legs. He also has a pack on his back.
Fixer.
The third has black on the back of his helmet, shoulders, and legs with red on the forearm and his shins.
Scorch.
The last man has red lines on the front of his helmet, red on his arms, and his legs from the knees down.
Sev.
"I'm sure Thrawn told you our mission. We're going to the next village to help them get their leader back. Any questions?"
"Sir, no sir!"
"Then get your supplies." Naruto finished before turning as the ninja looked at him in surprise. "What?"
"Just surprised at how serious you are," Kakashi said to the blonde who snorted.
"I have matured," Naruto said before walking to Aayla. "You ready?" He asked, having her nod before kissing her and had the others look on in surprise that did not know they were dating.
Suddenly, Jiraiya dropped down. "Hey there! Back again Naruto?"
"Yeah. Been tasked for a mission." Naruto replied as Jiraiya walked to Tsunade to explain about Gaara.
Only for Tsunade to point at Naruto, his men, Zule, Kakashi, and Sakura. "You sure that's a good idea? They're after him too."
"No one else is here," Tsunade replied as Jiraiya nodded.
"Be careful Naruto. They're after you as well."
"I'm not an idiot," Naruto replied as he got on a speeder as did the others with Kakashi getting behind Alpha and Sakura getting behind Zule.
They then put on goggles as BD jumped on a bar in front of Naruto. They then quickly sped down the road. "I want one," Jiraiya whined as the last clone sped off after the group.
Later, they're riding through a forest before seeing Temari walking who jumped as they sped past before they did a u-turn and came up to the Kunoichi. They filled her in before Naruto spoke. "Get on!"
Blinking, she got on the back of Aayla's speeder and she gave her a pair of goggles before they took off. Temari hitting the back seat hard, not ready for the speed. On their way, Naruto starts to tell Sakura that he harbors the Kyūbi, a revelation that stuns Temari. He explains to them that he and Gaara are the same, as they both have beasts sealed within them and that they both grew up in a very lonely, isolated environment.
Naruto states that while he managed to forge bonds with others and emerge out of the darkness, Gaara never did, and thus continued to suffer. Both he and Gaara were detested and feared by the villagers for being monsters, and Naruto adds that the Akatsuki simply view them as the very monsters they have sealed within them.
Naruto also reveals that the Akatsuki are after him as well, and tells the group that this time, he won't let Gaara suffer. Temari silently thanks Naruto for his actions, while Sakura reveals that she knows about Itachi. She tells Naruto that during her two years of training with Tsunade, she often reads reports and therefore is aware that Itachi is a member of the Akatsuki and that Itachi is the very person who Sasuke wants to kill.
Sakura theorizes that Sasuke only went to Orochimaru to quench his thirst for power, while also revealing that she is aware that Orochimaru only wants Sasuke for a vessel and that Orochimaru has six months left before he needs a new body. Knowing that one day Itachi would face both Naruto and Sasuke, Sakura vows to be there as well to protect them for once, as they have done for her.
Deidara And Sasori.
The duo dropped by a cliff with a cave that had a large boulder blocking the entrance with a red tori gate in front that had several tags on it and one on the boulder. Deidara then brought his hand up for the release sign having the tag on the boulder glow red before it lifted and they walked in.
"You're late."
They looked to see a man in the cave via hologram wearing the Akatsuki cloak with the top part of his body in shadow with only his purple ringed eye showing.
"We must get ready at once."
"The Jinchūriki was stronger than we thought," Deidara said as the boulder started to lower and close.
The owl then dropped Gaara on the ground before disappearing in smoke. The man then did several hand signs before slamming a hand on the ground and had a large statue start to come up on the back wall, only showing it from the chest up.
It's a giant, earthen-colored humanoid entity with a mummified appearance and many spike-like protrusions on its back. It has nine closed eyes that are the size of an adult man. The statue's wrists are usually bound by shackles and it's biting down on a scroll, which is held in place by two ropes extending from either side of its head.
The man then did another hand sign. "Now, Everyone gather."
Six more holograms, one a woman appeared on each finger as Deidara and Sasori jumped up as well. "Alright, shall we begin?" The man asked before jumping up on one finger and did a hand sign.
The mouth of the statue opened, dropping the scroll. "We will now take three days and nights. Stay aware of your physical surroundings. Zetsu." The man said looking at the hologram that had two things growing on each side of the man's head. "Have our physical body stand guard outside. Use the half with the greatest range. Understand?"
"I know."
"Only three days?" Another man asked who had a large sword on his back. "Isn't it possible it'll take longer since we don't have Orochimaru with us?"
"All the more reason to get started at once." The man said as each of them did the same sign and had a fingernail light up with the kanji for different words.
Zero, blue, white, bloody, hog, south, north, three, sphere.
Blue chakra energy shot out of the statue's mouth as nine dragon heads and hit Gaara as his eyes glowed before red chakra came out of his eyes and mouth. "Fūinjutsu: Genryū Kyūfūjin! (Sealing Jutsu: Nine Phantom Dragons!)"
Konoha Group.
A few hours later, they came to a desert before Zule spoke. "I've hardly seen a planet with multiple places like this."
"If you go on about how much you hate the sand I'm sending you back!" Naruto yelled looking back. "I got enough of that shit from Anakin."
They sped through the desert and came up to the mountain that held the village. They then came up to two ninjas at the entrance before stopping. "Temari-sama!"
After explaining they just got Kankurō in not too long ago with poison, they then sped to the hospital before running in, all but the clones, Aayla, and Zule running to the back. There, they saw two elderly people by them.
The first is a woman with black eyes and lavender-colored hair tied in a bun. She's wearing the traditional Sunagakure outfit which consists of a dark-colored, loose-fitting outfit with a poncho-like top.
Chiyo.
The other is a man who has heavy-lidded eyes that give him the appearance of having no eyes at all. He also has very long eyebrows that frame each side of his face. Along with a turban wrapped around his head, he's also wearing the traditional Sunagakure outfit.
Ebizō.
Seeing the ninja walk in, Chiyo suddenly lunged at Kakashi. "Damn you, White Fang!"
Naruto threw his hands out and froze her in mid-air, having the surrounding ninja look on in shock. "Easy there, grandma. You might break a hip."
Ebizō then walked up explaining that the White Fang had died long ago, reminding his sister that she didn't get her revenge when finding out. "Oh, never mind." She said before laughing, having the others sweatdrop.
After seeing Kankurō, Sakura tied her hair back to keep it out of her face and had everyone but Temari leave so she could treat him. "Oh, wait, BD here might be able to find out what's wrong," Naruto explained as BD jumped off, ran over, jumped up on the table, and scanned Kankurō.
"What's he doing?" Sakura asked, seeing the blue light.
"He's scanning, he should find something that's not right," Naruto explained before the light turned red and then brought up a hologram with writing.
"It looks like we're dealing with a heavy metal-based toxin," Sakura said leaning in to read the report on the cells and muscle issues that came up. "The kind that attacks the muscle tissues destroying the integrity of the cells." She continued to read before looking at the medical ninjas. "I need a few things." She finished as another ninja ran in.
He's a very tall man. He has two distinctive, red markings on the right side of his face, the only visible part of his head, with the rest being covered by his turban-like headgear and by a sheet hanging from it on the left side of his face. He dons the standard attire of a Suna-nin, complete with a forehead protector and flak jacket.
Baki.
"Right!"
Later, Sakura had a pail of water by her before she put her hands in it. "Hold him down." She told the four ninjas and Temari who nodded and held Kankurō down.
Sakura then pulled her hand up and had a ball of water come out before she brought it to Kankurō's chest then pressed it on the chest having him scream and thrash. "Hold him down!" She yelled before green chakra covered her hand for a moment. The ninja held him down before the water went into his chest.
After a couple of seconds, she then pulled the water out with purple liquid in it. "That's it, another!"
"Right!" A ninja said before switching the water with a new one.
She then repeated the process several times on multiple parts of his body before finishing. "You remind me of the Slug Queen Tsunade," Chiyo said to Sakura as she pulled her headband off and freed her hair.
"Lady Tsunade is my teacher. And it's by her order that I'm here." Se said before walking out to create the antidote to take care of any small traces in Kankurō's body.
As she did, Baki tells Kakashi that they have lost track of the Akatsuki, having Kakashi ask him to bring him to where Kankurō was found, to track their scent. Kankurō, who has regained consciousness, notifies Kakashi that he managed to obtain a shred of Sasori's clothing that he could use to track him. Kakashi summons eight ninja hounds, and Naruto is related to reunite with Pakkun, a talking pug wearing a blue vest with the Konoha Hiate.
Kakashi cuts their reunion short and sends his hounds towards Sasori's scent as Baki offers them a night's rest due to their long journey as well as a stand storm was picking up, and Kakashi accepts the offer not knowing how long it'll be for his hounds to find where Gaara is. Kankurō is surprised to see Naruto, and Temari tells him that Naruto came to help them.
He remembers how Gaara used to be cold and vicious, even threatening to murder Kankurō for getting in his way, to become a considerate and caring brother and Kazekage, all due to Naruto. Kankurō then asks Naruto to save his little brother, and Naruto states that he will before leaving.
Morning.
Naruto woke up to see Pakkun going over a map with Kakashi before he left and the two got ready. Going outside, BD jumped on Naruto's back before seeing Alpha holding his helmet. "Everyone ready?"
"They're putting their gear on now sir."
"Then we'll meet at the gate," Naruto said before walking to another door. "Zule, get your ass up and ready."
"I'm already up, Master!"
"Then get out here! I ain't got all day!"
"Screw you, Master!"
Naruto rolled his eyes before Aayla walked out of the room. "Mornin'."
"Morning." She greeted before kissing him.
Later, they went to the entrance where Chiyo met them wanting to go and help rescue Gaara. "Besides, it's been a while since I doted on my grandson."
Naruto looked at Delta Squad before speaking. "Can you four hang back and follow from a distance? Just in case they have anyone else guarding the area I'd like you to be a surprise."
The four nodded before Naruto got on his speedster as Chiyo got on the back of Aayla's. Naruto, Aayla, Alpha, and Zule sped down. Following Delta Squad after a moment.
As they made it into the woods, Sakura asks Naruto how long the Akatsuki have been after him. Kakashi tells her that the Akatsuki once came to Konoha in search of Naruto, but that it was three years ago. Sakura asks why they waited so long to make a move once more, and Kakashi theorizes that it may have been because Naruto was under Jiraiya's care and that the Akatsuki did not want to engage him.
Chiyo, however, sets the record straight, stating that the Akatsuki waited three years to properly prepare for the extraction of tailed beasts. When Sakura asks what she means, Chiyo is surprised that a student of Tsunade does not even know about the tailed beast that Konoha harbors. Kakashi tells Chiyo that the topic of the Nine-Tailed Fox is taboo in Konoha and is considered classified information.
Chiyo goes on to explain that there are nine tailed beasts in the world, who are monstrous beings of chakra, and that many ninja villages fought for control over them for military purposes. She tells them that the One-Tailed Shukaku was in Suna's possession for many years, while the Nine-Tailed Fox was under Konoha's.
While most villages tended to forget about the beasts after the war, she remarks that the nine-tailed beasts are still out there in the world. Naruto takes this as a grim revelation, as he realizes that he and Gaara are not alone in the world and that more of their kind will be hunted by the Akatsuki. Unknown to them, a man is observing them from a bush.
He has two Venus flytrap-like extensions that emerged from both sides, enveloping his head and upper body as a shell. Beneath these extensions, he has short green hair and yellow eyes. The right side of his body is black while the left is white.
Zetsu.
He then notifies the Akatsuki that a squad of Konoha shinobi are also on their tail and would be there soon due to being on some weird device that has them speeding through the woods.
With Naruto and the others, they stopped as they came to a clearing and saw two men standing. "Itachi, and Kisame, been a while," Naruto said standing up.
Itachi is a fairly tall man of fair complexion. He has red eyes with three tomes in them, under which are long, pronounced tear-troughs. He has jet-black hair that is pulled back in a low ponytail and his face is framed with center-parted bangs that extend to his chin. He's wearing the standard Akatsuki cloak and a slashed Konoha Hiate.
On his right ring finger is a ring, which is red and has the kanji for 'vermilion'. He has light blue nail polish on his fingers and toes and a necklace that had three silver rings with red gems inside them.
Kisame is a very tall, muscular man. He has a distinctive shark-like appearance, complete with blue-grey skin. He has small, round, white eyes, 3 sets of curved facial markings under his eyes, and sharp triangular teeth. He also has blue hair styled in the form of a shark fin. As a member of Akatsuki, he has dark-purple nail polish.
He's wearing the typical cloak with a brown sash across the front and back of his cloak to hold his large sword wrapped up in place on his back. He has a ring on his left ring finger, bearing the kanji for 'south' which is yellow.
Kisame grinned as he reached for his sword. "Well, it's been a while, Jinchūriki."
Naruto just raised his hand and made a fist having Kisame get hit in the head with a laser blast. Everyone looked on in shock as the ninja was taken out so easily as a glint behind Naruto shined from a mile out before Kisame turned into another man. Even Itachi looked slightly surprised before Kakashi spoke. "Don't look him in the eyes, he can put you in a Genjutsu. (Illusion Technique.)"
"He's right, men," Naruto said looking at Itachi's stomach. "He and his brother Sasuke can make you see things just by making eye contact."
Naruto then threw his hands out, having Itachi fly towards a tree, having him flip to land on it before glancing at Naruto. 'Is that…?' He thought remembering a move he's seen.
Naruto then brought him back before turning him around and ran at Itachi's back. Bringing one hand up, Naruto created two clones that attacked from the side. Only for Itachi to spin and had two kunai come out of his sleeves before attacking the clones having them disappear in smoke before another Naruto came down from above with a Rasengan (Spiraling Sphere) in hand.
"Rasengan! (Spiraling Sphere!)"
Itachi was then replaced with a log before he ran to Naruto and attacked with a kick. Only for Naruto to be replaced with a log before he froze Itachi then ran at him and stabbed him with his saber through the heart. "Another clone," Naruto said as the Itachi then turned into a man with a goatee.
"Yura. He's a Suna ninja." Chiyo said as the others rode up to Naruto who turned his weapon off and had Yura fall.
"Must be to slow us down." Naruto mused as BD looked over his shoulder and scanned the now dead man. "I'm sorry I killed him. I guess that's why the fight was quick. That could not have been Itachi at full strength. Let's go!"
Getting on his speeder, they then sped down into the woods. "The extraction has begun," Chiyo said, having Aayla look back.
"Extraction?" She asked as Delta Squad came up behind them.
"They'll pull Shukaku out of Gaara. They could make another Jinchūriki." Chiyo explained.
"But pulling a Bijū out from someone kills them," Naruto said as he turned away from a tree. "Since we have our speeders, we should get there before they finish. I hope… I don't know when they started or how long it takes."
"That depends on the technique and how strong the Bijū is," Kakashi explained from his seat.
"Could you stop for a moment?" Chiyo said having the group do so before she pulled a scroll out as well as another.
She then unsealed a mechanical bird before putting the first scroll in its mouth and sent it off with a report on what's happened so far. They then continued. A few hours went by before they stopped by the boulder and got off the bikes. "Damn, there's a tag on it." Naruto mused as he looked at the tag with red writing. "Scorch!"
"Sir!"
"Before we try anything, see if our explosions can take care of this barrier."
"Sir, yes, sir!" Scorch ran over and put explosives around the rock before running back and giving Naruto a detonator.
BOOM!
Seeing the tag was destroyed, Naruto then lifted his hands and pulled the boulder away before throwing it away to his right. Going in, they saw Gaara floating in chakra with the statue's eyes opening before Naruto spoke. "Well, I feel I'm overdressed. I mean, just me and five others in armor? And the rest of you in black cloaks? I guess this is a formal event."
Zule and Aayla walked up and turned their sabers on before Naruto threw his arms out and pulled Gaara to them, surprising the others, more so with the purple-eyed man and woman. Naruto then dropped him by Sakura. "Is he…?"
Sakura knelt and felt Gaara's pulse. "He's alive, but most of his chakra's gone."
"Deidara, Sasori, deal with them!" The man ordered before Deidara threw clay birds at them forcing the others to move out of the way before a large bird grabbed Gaara and flew out with Deidara on top.
"Sakura, Lady Chiyo, stay here and fight him," Kakashi said to the two as Naruto started to run out.
"Zule, Alpha, help them out, the rest with Kakashi and me."
Chiyo then brought her arms up as the others ran out having kunai tied to chakra thread come out before throwing them at Sasori who brought his tail up to black most of them. The rest tore his cloak before he got on all four showing he had a large red face on his back as well as a device on his left metal arm. "How would you four like to be a part of my collection, eh, grandmother?!"
Sakura put on black gloves as Zule, and Alpha got their weapons ready and looked at Sasori before Chiyo explains that the Sasori they see in front of them is not Sasori's actual body, but in fact, a puppet named Hiruko. Sakura wonders where Sasori is, as she does not see someone behind Hiruko pulling his strings, and is shocked to learn that Sasori is operating Hiruko from within.
Chiyo then explains that since puppet masters are not good at close combat and rely on their puppets to attack, this leaves the puppeteers themselves vulnerable, hence why Sasori created Hiruko, to counteract that weakness. Chiyo also reveals that Sasori was once a master puppeteer in Sunagakure, but at some point began to transform human corpses into human puppets, which Sasori considered a form of art.
"Sounds like he's sick in the head," Zule said, holding her saber up.
Chiyo then reveals that The puppet they see in front of them, Hiruko, is the body of a shinobi from a neighboring village whose corpse Sasori used. Chiyo tells them that she joined the Kazekage Rescue Team believing she could stop Sasori, as she knew how Hiruko operated but reveals that Sasori has improved and refined the puppet. Nonetheless, she believes they have the advantage and undoes her hair. Chiyo then shares a secret with the others, which Sasori is unable to hear.
"Understood," Sakura said as Zule got in her stand and Alpha took several steps back.
"We'll end it quickly!" Chiyo yelled as she and Sakura dashed forward as Zule and Alpha stood back to gauge Sasori's strength.
Sasori pulled his mask off revealing a large mouth that opened up and split into three sections and started firing senbons at the ninjas. They dodged and deflected the senbons for several moments before Sasori stopped. He then shot a circular device that Alpha shot and melted with his rifle having several senbons launched into the air. Sakura then dashed forward before tossing her kunai, having Sasori block it with his tail then went to stab her.
Only to stop a couple of inches from her face before Sakura dashed to him with a punch to his back-breaking the Sasori's puppet body. Suddenly, the cloak jumped over then stood up before Sasori turned around. Suddenly the head started to move before Zule pulled it to her and sliced it in half.
Sasori chuckled under his cloak and noticed Chiyo had chakra strings connected to Sakura and had used her knowledge to have Sakura hit any weak spots. As well as seeing ones on the tail he used. He realized the kunai attack from earlier was the time she attached them to his tail. He then pulled his cloak off getting everyone to gasp.
Revealing a teenage face with fair skin and short red hair.
"You haven't aged?!"
Outside, Naruto, and Kakashi looked up at Deidara who explained they'd killed two Jinchūriki before with no one caring they died. "Yeah, why not go after the others then? Oh yeah, I'm sure it'll be harder to fight a Bijū unrestricted by a human, but if all of us are hated why not simply ask for them?" Naruto asked, starting at Deidara. "No, the rest are liked or are high up in the village so you can't."
Deidara stayed silent before flying off. "Men, follow on the speeders, provide cover fire," Naruto ordered before he and Kakashi dashed after Deidara with Delta Squad and Ayala following on the bikes.
As they followed, Deidara threw clay bombs at them, only for Delta Squad to shoot them, having them explode before getting to the ninjas, having them continue following on the roots connecting the ravines.
Sakura, Zule, Alpha And Chiyo Vs Sasori.
Sasori brought a scroll out and unsealed another puppet. It's a man in a black cloak with messy blue hair.
"That's the Sandaime Kazekage! (Third Wind Shadow!)" Chiyo yells out and realizes that it is Sasori who kidnapped and killed the Third around a decade ago and is appalled to learn that he transformed the Third into a human puppet.
She tells him she finds his association with Akatsuki regrettable, but she finds his betrayal to his village the most despicable, holding him responsible for the murders of the two Kazekage before Gaara. Sasori claims that it was one of his spies that was complicit in the murder of the Fourth, but admits that the Akatsuki and Orochimaru have some shared history.
Wanting some answers, Sakura tells Sasori that he will tell her what she wants to know. Not wanting to drag out their fight, as he needs to aid Deidara outside capture Naruto, Sasori uses the Third Kazekage puppet to launch more poison senbon towards Sakura; Chiyo manages to have Sakura evade the attack successfully.
Then bringing blades dipped in poison out of the puppet's right arm, Sasori tries to stab Sakura, but the attack is blocked by Hiruko's tail, which Chiyo controls with her chakra threads. However, the blades are powerful enough to break Hiruko's already powerful tail. Sasori then brought the left arm out that opened in sections revealing kanji before multiple hands came out towards Sakura.
Only for Zule to bring her saber down and slice the arm off the shoulder. Sasori pulled the puppet back gritting his teeth due to forgetting the other two. Sasori then had purple gas come out of one arm, having Alpha throw a grenade that explodes and have the fire dissipate the smoke. Suddenly, kunai shot at them, and Alpha started to take a couple of steps before Chiyo unsealed two puppets, a man with red hair and a woman with long brown hair to block the kunai.
He stopped and readied his weapon again. "So… You brought them?" Sasori asked, looking at the two puppets.
"That's right. These are the very first puppets you made. The father, and the mother." Chiyo said, having Sasori look at her.
"What could you hope to accomplish with them? They were made by hand. I know all their tricks."
"Are you sure about that?" She asked having the two puppets touch hands.
She then pulled the hands away revealing regular wire connecting the fingers. 'Wires?' Sakura thought as she looked at the wires.
Chiyo then had them fly towards Sasori with the father bringing out a long wooden whip with kunais on it as the mother brought a serrated katana and the puppets attacked each other with their weapons at high speeds destroying their weapons before Sasori's puppet shot an iron sand cloud out of its mouth.
"Satetsu. (Iron Sand.)" Chiyo said before explaining the technique that the Third was known for. "Everyone stay back. You can't handle this."
Zule dashed away and grabbed Sakura as Alpha ran to the entrance as Chiyo had the father puppet protect her by using a shield made from chakra. She then tried to move the puppet, only to stand and see iron sand was in its joints. Sasori then created blades from the sand before dropping them at each group.
Zule then threw her hands and stopped the ones above them as the blades above Chiyo dropped on her. The smoke cleared revealing Chiyo's right arm opened and a shield of chakra protecting her. "Oh, you modified your body," Sasori started looking at the prosthetic arm. "I see great puppet masters think alike."
He then dodged the blades that Zule threw at him with the Force. Chiyo stood and realized that Sasori's youthful appearance is because he made his body a puppet. Sakura then jumped back in, ready to attack before Chiyo attached her strings on Sakura before having her run towards Sasori. Sasori then made a wall with the sand before creating a giant pyramid and rectangular prism, which he uses to attack Sakura.
Sakura anticipates Sasori's movements, impressing Chiyo, and the former uses her Chakra Enhanced Strength to punch and kick the pyramid and rectangular prism around the cave. This causes the entire roof of the hideout to collapse. Impressed by Sakura's strength and realizing she could continue to repel his attacks, Sasori decides to expend more of the Third Kazekage puppet's chakra by creating more Iron Sand, which he manipulates into a gigantic sphere of branching spikes.
Sakura finds herself unable to block or evade the attack and is helpless as the attack rains down on her. Only for the attack to slow down from Zule throwing her hands out. Sasori then reveals a blade hidden within the Third Kazekage puppet, he sends it towards Sakura to personally finish her off, only for Sakura to leap up and destroy the entire puppet in a single punch.
Sasori then took off his cloak showing his puppet body. It has a pair of spinning claws attached to his lower back, with a holder for four scrolls on his back, a stinger dripping in poison in the empty and open stomach cavity, a compartment in his right chest, and a 'core' in the left which had the kanji for 'scorpion' painted on it.
He then threw his hands up having tubes coming out of the palms before fire shot out forcing the group to hide behind rocks. "You have a plan, right?" Alpha asked the two ninjas. "I don't have anything that can help out if his attacks are like this!"
The ninja jumped up with Sasori attacking his grandmother who switched places with a rock before using the head of the destroyed Kazekage puppet to attack Sasori who incinerated it. Zule shot up and pushed Sasori back before ducking from a stream of fire. She and Alpha ran to another larger rock with him throwing a smoke grenade out.
Sasori then shot water out of his hands at such high pressure it cut into the rock before one scroll on his back disappeared. He shot his cord out that hit Sakura who stabbed herself with a stim she had of the antidote she made before Sasori dodged a strike from Zule. He tried to attack her with his blades, only for her saber to cut through the metal surprising the ninjas.
Sakura then appeared and punched Sasori, breaking his body into pieces.
Naruto, Kakashi, Aayla, And Delta Squad Vs Deidara.
Boss shot another bomb as the ninja, Jedi, and clones continued to follow Deidara in the ravine. "Kakashi, you ready?" Naruto asked his teacher who had his hands clasped and eyes closed.
"Not yet, I don't have as much chakra as you so it'll take time." He replied before a moment went by. "Preparation complete!"
He then opened his Sharingan eye revealing a pinwheel design. "Stronger version?" Naruto asked as he jumped on another root.
"Yes!"
"Then put it to good use!" Naruto yelled as Kakashi looked up.
"Kamui! (Divine Threat!)"
The air around Deidara started to swirl before he was pulled into the middle before throwing a bomb down, having Kakashi lose concentration and him moving away from the swirl as his clay bird flew up from it. Kakashi closed his eyes to build up his chakra again before Naruto looked down. "Aayla come up here!"
Ayala brought her speeder up before jumping off with Naruto grabbing her and jumped at Deidara as they got to the forest. "Kakashi, keep that closed until the right time now!" Naruto said before jumping up with Aayla and they attacked with their sabers, hitting the bird's head.
Deidara landed on a branch and then brought his hand up having the clay turn into a clone that went to Kakashi. Naruto created clones that took the head and broke it showing Gaara.
"Delta Squad take him away!"
"Yes Sir!" Boss yelled as he caught Gaara and the four turned to leave.
Sakura, Zule, Alpha And Chiyo VS Sasori.
The group looked on in shock as Sasori put himself back together before Chiyo pulled a scroll out and unsealed ten puppets, in white cloaks and tags on their foreheads.
Sasori just brought his middle scroll from his back out and opened his right chest revealing a chakra shroud inside. It then shot out in strings attaching to a hundred puppets in red cloaks. "Akahigi: Hyakki no Sōen! (Secret Red Move: Performance of a Hundred Puppets!)"
Sakura uses her strength to fight Sasori's puppets and Chiyo does the same with the help of her Ten Puppets. Alpha started to shoot at any in his sight and Zule slashed and burned any that got near her. One of Chiyo's puppets shot a white ball at Sakura who ran to Sasori then threw it at him. It grew into a large lion's head with 32 teeth that hit Sasori and pinned him on the cliff behind him.
"Fūinjutsu: Shishi Heikō! (Sealing Jutsu: Lion Roar!)"
They pant before turning and missed Sasori's core going into another puppet that looked like him. It then dashed to Chiyo with a sword only for Alpha to wrap his arm with his before the father and mother puppets grabbed Sasori. Zule then jumped up and stabbed the core with her saber. Sasori wonders why they would help each other, stating that he has no regard for human life himself, having claimed the lives of thousands of people.
Chiyo sighs and places the blame of his mentality on the upbringing of those raised in Sunagakure, where shinobi are taught to only focus on themselves and not anybody else. Sakura walks up and punches Sasori, but he tells her that he cannot feel pain, as he is a puppet and wonders why Sakura and Chiyo tend to do pointless things.
However, he decides to do something pointless as well, and as a reward for defeating them, he reveals that he had a meeting with one of his spies, who works for Orochimaru, at the Tenchi Bridge in Kusagakure before dying.
Naruto, And Aayla Vs Deidara.
Aayla held her saber up as Deidara dropped down. "Are you related to Kisame?"
"No." She said leaning forward with a strike.
Only to lean back as Naruto appeared to swipe at Deidara who dodged by jumping. And saw fire appear from the branch Naruto hit with his orange blade. Naruto smirked as he raised his left hand and had his shoto spin and slice Deidara's right arm off "AAH!" He yelled before dropping a clay bomb at the duo then fled before his clone came up.
Taking a bite, he then started to bulge before Naruto grabbed Aayla and picked her up bridal style. He and Kakashi dashed away as Deidara blew up.
BOOM!
Kakashi turned and used his technique to contain the blast before falling. "Are they alright to move?" Naruto asked Sakura who looked over Gaara.
"Yes, they just have chakra exhaustion. With those bikes, we should be able to get to the Suna hospital quickly if anything happens."
"Then let's go," Naruto said before giving both Kakashi and Gaara a stim just in case.
"What's that?"
"Healing stim. Kinda like a shot for illnesses but can help heal any physical damage as well." Naruto explained before having BD shoot two more up for Sakura and Chiyo.
They went to get his speeder at the cave before leaving to go back to Sunagakure. Only to stop as a group of Suna ninja dropped down. Gaara then woke to see Naruto staring down at him. "Your people came running to help ya," Naruto said before two teen girls pushed him away to dot over Gaara.
As well as Temari and Kankurō. Gaara tried to stand only for Naruto to speak. "Take it easy, Gaara. You had some of Shukaku's chakra removed so you'll probably be weak for a while."
A few miles away, Deidara popped out of the ground before walking off.
In the cave, Zetsu was looking over the puppets as another man took Sasori's ring. "Maybe now I can be a member of the Akatsuki, huh?" He asked in a high-pitched voice.
He has short spiky black hair and is wearing an orange mask with a swirl design focused on his right eye. He's wearing a black long-sleeve top that covers his neck and chin, a pair of black gloves, a pair of dark-colored pants, a long green scarf, and standard sandals and white stirrups. On his waist, he has a thick black belt with armor-like metal plates attached to it, and similar plates on his upper arms. He has blue nail polish on his fingers and toes.
"After all, there's a new spot open, right?" He asked, flipping the ring in the air.
"Fool, do you think it's that easy?" Zetsu said in a slightly deep voice, mouth never opening.
"Oh come on, why not let him join?" Zetsu asked himself in a slightly higher pitch. "Tobi's a good boy."
Tobi tried to grab the ring when it fell only to miss and it fell into a crack.
"Let's Go." Zetsu said in his deeper voice as Tobi frantically looked around.
"Wait a minute Mr. Zetsu, please!" He then reached for it with his right hand. "It's… Right here, somewhere. I'm sure-" Tobi stopped to see Zetsu walking away before waving his hand. "Hey! Wait, Mr. Zetsu! Mr. Zetsu, hey, wait, wait! Please!"
Later, Sunagakure.
Naruto and his group slowly rode the speeders beside the large group of Suna-nin's as they got to the gates. All of its citizens, including Baki, eagerly await the return of their Kazekage. They are overjoyed when they spot the Three Sand Siblings, Konoha's response team, and Suna's rescue unit.
The citizens of Suna cheerfully celebrate the successful recovery of their leader. As Gaara resumes office, Baki and Temari attempt to persuade Naruto and the others to stay in the village for a day or two, to recover and recuperate from their wounds. Kakashi and Sakura tell them that they must return and report to Tsunade regarding the completion of their mission.
A report is sent in advance by Takamaru to Konoha, however, the fates of Deidara and Sasori are omitted by Kakashi, who wishes to discuss it in person instead.
Land of Rivers.
Tobi and Zetsu find Deidara's severed arm before seeing it was cauterized. "Looks like Deidara's gone too. Blew himself up to bits. Don't you think so, Mr. Zetsu?"
"No, the Jinchūriki has a new weapon," Deidara said, coming out from another tree. "It was like a fire sword, it cut through me and hurt like hell."
"You must have had a close shave Deidara. But you're in one piece... Sorry." Tobi told the bomb user who looked at him.
"Tobi, even Buddha loses patience after being insulted three times. One more and you're dead."
"Gonna bomb me to death, right?"
"That's three." Zetsu said before Deidara wrapped his legs around Tobi's neck to try and suffocate him.
Konoha.
Kotetsu and Izumo were talking to each other before Naruto and the others stopped by them on their speeders. Later, after going to the hospital to have Kakashi checked out, Naruto looked at Tsunade who was speaking to Yoda. "I got someone I want you to look at Tsunade." He explained handing her a datapad.
Taking it she raised an eyebrow before Naruto hit a button and had a report come up. "They're computers," Naruto said as Yoda looked at him and explained that he and Tsunade agreed on building a Jedi temple behind Konoha but that'll take time to be completed.
Going into a room, Naruto saw 99 on a bed. "Tsunade's gonna see if she can help you. I know you're happy being a janitor and helping your brothers that way. But in your heart, you want to be on the battlefield helping them there. I don't know if she can help you, but this is a chance to be cured so you can help your brothers."
"Thank you, General." Naruto nodded before leaving.
To Be Continued.
A/N: Thanks for reading and let me know of any mistakes.
Beta: Chaos-PSD. Contributor: Kuronodono12.
I haven't got many votes the past month (Only 5 votes since Sept and just got three the other day) the top 5 are just a few votes from each other I'm at 293 votes overall and if I don't get to 325 by the time I get to s3 of Ultimate Spider-Man I'll end the poll and do the top 21 for the remainder of the story.
Next to be updated with be Maelstrom Avatar.
Nothing else to say.
Talk To You Later,
Lone Wolf Out.🐺