Chapter 27: The Secrets We Carry

"Lies and secrets, Tessa, they are like a cancer in the soul. They eat away what is good and leave only destruction behind."

― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Prince

Shikamaru, Team 10 & 8-Tenchi Bridge, Kusagakure

"I don't have business with any of you." Sasuke remarks.

Shikamaru dryly smiles.

Sasuke's indifference doesn't sting, but the memory of Choji does.

Face to face with his indirect killer.

One of his last conversations with him rises up, unconstrained taking in Sasuke's casual stance, the night before the retrieval mission.

Their last proper meal together...

"Oi Shikamaru, are you sure you want me as part of this retrieval team? I mean, I didn't even get pass the preliminary rounds in the Chunin exams. I...I don't think I'll be of much help to you in getting Sasuke back to the village." Choji questions gently.

Shikamaru shifts his gaze over to him from his plate of curry he's been swirling with. His eyes widen a fraction to see him picking with his own plate of beef skewers as well, chips discarded and untouched. Yakiniku Q is busier than usual for a weeknight, customers packed into booths as the smell of grilled meats and spices permeate the air.

The busyness is aided by the fact that it's a relatively warm, clear night despite autumn's approach. Morning chills and rustic-colored leaves of reds and yellows swept away by a heat that rolled in from the west.

"Here's to Kizumi on a successful capture of that burglar who made that break into Konoha's Main Street Bank last month! Bastard thought he could run to some small town in the Land of Rice Paddies to avoid detection!" A man bellows out behind them before he can answer.

The clink of glasses rings out, cheers ringing out.

"Of course Choji! I know what you can do outside some regulatory fight. We got this! Besides, I'm planning to ask Neji, Shino, Kiba, and Naruto as well to join us." Shikamaru notes when the noise calms some.

Everyone is out celebrating missions accomplished since the Invasion or the return home of loved ones after long assignments away to build income back into the village.

They must be the only table clouded with nervousness, Choji's brows knotting.

"Naruto? Neji, Shino, and Kiba I can understand for their tracking capabilities, but Naruto probably won't want to come. I know he's technically the closest to Sasuke having been on Team 7 with him, but I always got the sense he doesn't strongly care what Sasuke does. Maybe...Maybe even agrees with his defection to a degree. Err, but don't tell Lady Tsunade I said that!" Choji clams up, grabbing and biting into a slice of pork belly to stop himself from talking any further.

Shikamaru chuckles, bites into a strip of grilled chicken, mixes it with his curry and soy sauce just to experiment.

He has a point, Naruto's relationship with Team 7 seems more business-like than friendship-like from what he's seen and heard. As their village's jinchuriki, he supposes many of Lady Tsunade's advisors may advise against his going on along too in their current weakened state. There's also the underlying fact that perhaps Naruto wants to leave Konoha too and it's too risky to send him out as well.

Civilians and shinobi have only recently started treating him properly knowing the deity he holds, but it's too little too late in his opinion...

And most likely Naruto's as well.

Shikamaru blows out a breath, it's a drag to think about such things.

"Never mind Naruto. We'll be fine with the 5 of us. Don't sell yourself short Choji, you're a powerhouse and that will be needed to stop Orochimaru's elite bodyguards."

Choji hums thoughtfully, sets down his half-eaten plate. Dark eyes fix upon him and everything in his stomach curdles at his stare.

"...What?" Shikamaru studies him back.

Choji half-smiles. "This isn't like any other assignment we've done before Shikamaru. So if one of us dies out there, please don't blame yourself as team leader. Don't let any of us turn into Sasuke and let revenge cloud our thoughts. We knew what we were signing up for becoming shinobi after all."

His chopstick snaps in half, knot in his throat at the calmness of his friend's voice.

Puffs of air escape his mouth, voice caught in a vice as Choji continues on.

"I mean it Shikamaru. I know you're a lazy guy and most everything is too troublesome for you to put an actual effort into, but I've seen how you get when you're mad about something."

Shikamaru bristles, shakes his head before lightly bumping fists with his oldest friend.

"Nobody's dying on this mission Choji. Worst case scenario, we'll need to retreat back to the village."

Choji grins. "I'm telling you; you're going to be a great leader in the village one day! Even Asuma-sensei sees it!"

Shikamaru waves away the idea, nods back to their unfinished meals.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Let's focus on the here and now. You can order a second plate, I have extra ryo on me."

He grins as Choji instantly perks up, nods over to their waitress.

"Really? Well, why didn't you say so earlier! I've been dying to try their new short ribs and sirloin steak!"

He blinks the memory away.

'Sorry Choji, revenge is on my mind.' Shikamaru clicks his tongue.

He never told Ino, his Dad, or Asuma-sensei about that final meal they had together, how easily Choji could read his thoughts.

Maybe is he no better than Sasuke when it comes to vendettas.

Because his rage simmers and coils upwards around him like the very shadows he commands now that the boy whose defection has taken so much from him and the village is right in front of him.

"I'm not surprised. Choji's death wouldn't be on a traitor's mind. Looks like you haven't even gotten strong enough to kill that brother of yours."

Sasuke arches a brow, flash in his eyes before he hops down towards them despite Orochimaru's protest.

"You know nothing about my past or my goals." He voices sharply, drawing his sword.

The Masked Man hops from foot to foot anxiously, Asuma and Kurenai turning their attention back towards him and Kabuto.

"Now hold on! Two against one isn't fair!" He waves up his hands when Kabuto turns his focus away from the duo back towards Orochimaru if he plans to intervene on Sasuke fighting.

"Let go of me. I'm not a part of whatever anger you hold towards Sasuke. I have my own objectives." Sai mutters to him, his hold on him is loosening too fast, glint of his ink pen and scroll hitting the sunlight.

'Shit. As soon as my hold breaks, he's going to go straight for attacking!' Shikamaru grunts.

'So be it.' He decides.

He scoffs, focuses back on Sasuke, chuckles coldly even as electricity crackles around him. "I know enough from hearing it around the village about your miserable past Sasuke. Power to kill your brother and then have your body taken over? I doubt that's what Itachi and your parents wanted your life to amount to, but if you say so."

Sasuke says nothing, vermilion bleeding into black.

The instant his sword swishes forward does the ground before them crack apart.

"Earth Release: Fissure!"

Sai slips from his bind as they all lose their footing, jumps forward for Sasuke in a swirl of ink.

Lions surge forward from his scroll, Sasuke dodging each beast's mouth, burns each of them away with streaks of fire.

He imbues lightning into his sword as Sai gets into view, jabs and slices cleanly into the side of his torso before he can fully turn his body away.

"Pathetic. If you're the best Konoha sent to assassinate me, then I truly did make the right choice in leaving." Sasuke sneers.

Ino draws up a surge of water as Sai's body tumbles back, Shino's insects slipping into the fallen earth to form a barrier around them all as Sasuke returns to Kabuto and Orochimaru's side.

Orochimaru shakes his head at him. "An unnecessary waste of our time and resources Sasuke. There's no need to kill them when they can still be of aid to us in getting rid of any Akatsuki members that stop you from getting to Itachi, don't forget."

Sasuke shrugs away the Masked Man's check of him for any injuries, nods as he turns away.

"Fine. Let's get out of here already."

Orochimaru nods to Kabuto, whipping up a hand unleashing a cloud of dust upon them.

Kurenai blow the haze back before it can fully coat them while maneuvering quickly to her team, breathes a sigh of relief to see the trio are fine minus a few scrapes and bruises. Scarlet pinpoints on Sai's drawing Hinata described for him of the Masked Man safely tucked away amid Shino's pouches.

Shino catches her eye, nods. "We can't fully trust that Sai wasn't going to destroy that drawing as soon as he completed it."

Hinata moves for Asuma-sensei and his team, it isn't them who Kurenai-sensei should be worried about.

Shikamaru mutters curses under his breath as she sidles up to his left, Ino flushing out Sai's wound while Asuma uses his chakra blades to hastily cut away necrotic flesh.

His gaze lands on Kurenai amid their hovering. "He needs better emergency care than what we have on us."

Hinata reactivates her byakugan, directs him to cut away burnt skin that's digging into Sai's muscle and bone. If they can keep infection from spreading to his heart and other organs, they can evacuate him back to the village in time.

Hopefully.

'Asuma-sensei's right. Injuries like this typically have a high mortality rate within the first 48-72 hours.'

And Konoha is at least a day's journey away...

Naruto & Kakashi-Suna Medical Center, Operating Unit-Waiting Area

"Are you going to talk to me at least?" Kakashi begins.

Naruto shifts from foot to foot, studies him flatly.

"Depends on if you're just going to pretend the past didn't happen too like Neji."

Kakashi shakes his head as he settles into the seat beside him.

"The past clings to me every day. You know that Naruto."

By the way cerulean stays murky, clearly, he doesn't.

Kakashi pivots to head towards the vending machines, grabs them two sodas.

Naruto sighs at he hands him a cherry flavored drink, takes a small sip while Kakashi as usual hides his own taste of the beverage wothout removing his mask.

"It's different for me as a jinchuriki and you know it. In fact, you've known so many things about me for years now. I can't just easily forget or pretend you kept my own family history from me simply because of orders." He counters.

Kakashi stays quiet as Naruto's shoulders fall.

"Anyways, eventually, I'll be next. But it's not like I want to sit and let it happen y'know. These Akatsuki guys are so strong though and...and I don't know how to counter all of them. I may just need to overwhelm them somehow via my clones." Naruto absently thinks aloud.

Kakashi places a hand tentatively to his shoulder, glad when he doesn't shrug him away.

"Don't forget you're not taking these guys on alone Naruto. I, Jiraiya, Lady Tsunade, and an ANBU member I need to introduce you too along with a horde of others in the village are looking out for you."

Naruto snorts dryly. "Yes, if only because I have the Nine Tails in me. Konoha wouldn't be nearly as strong if they lost their main weapon now, would they?"

Kakashi to his mild surprise, nods. "No, we wouldn't be. Though it isn't just because you're our village's jinchuriki Naruto. We do care about you as well."

His words falter as Naruto's features instantly cloud over again silently. None of their latest sacrificial gifts made much of a dent in making Naruto actually care about the village, Chiyo's words coming to mind.

'Does Konoha not offer up valuable gifts to their jinchuriki?'

They have though, Hinata has made a difference. However, even she can't sway whatever is running through Naruto's mind once the Akatsuki threat is taken care of. Outside, the afternoon trudges on, sunlight highlighting scars of black along Suna's buildings, smoke wrapping around infrastructure like vines.

"I'll work with Neji for the mission's purposes, but I'm ignoring any comments that don't relate to the assignment. I don't think Neji seeks my forgiveness and I don't plan to give it to him anyways at this time or anytime soon." Naruto finally relates.

Kakashi crushes his empty can, that's the closest he'll get Naruto to say he'll be cooperative.

Pakkun totters in before he can say anything more, cloth of blood in his mouth.

Naruto and Kakashi both stand, Neji entering the area as well for the update.

"Sorry to interrupt, but time is of the essence. I've tracked the scent down of where Gaara's body is currently located."

Kakashi thanks the ninken, nods back to both boys.

"We're leaving now then; I'll let one of the circulating nurses know on the way out to update Sakura and Lady Chiyo of where we've gone."

Jiraiya & Tsunade-Konoha, Hokage office

Pain drums at the back of her head, amber eyes glancing to her left at the office's wall clock.

'When did it get to be already past 2:00 pm?'

The ice in her sake glass is already half melted from midday sun, sky now littered with wisps of gray clouds as she looks outside, rain in the distance approaching.

Her chest sinks at the bad weather most likely meaning the gambling dens will close early with less customers out and about. Granted, maybe she should avoid pachinko tonight and for the next few weeks or else she might end up winning again...

'It wasn't the jackpot last night, but it still isn't a good sign.' Tsunade huffs.

Shizune will at least be pleased she supposes.

There are other matters at hand anyways that have her attention. Homura and Koharu have been pushing her to treat Naruto as their village's weapon once more in light of the Akatsuki's growth, not sending him away to aid in trying to save Suna's own. And meanwhile his sacrifice is in Kusagakure tracking a threat Jiraiya has given her little to go on.

A creak at the door gets her attention off mounting paperwork, nagging thoughts brewing into ugly scenarios.

'Speak of the devil.'

It's like Jiraiya sensed she was thinking of him and decided it's time to stop by.

Her gaze flits between him and these documents regarding emergency measures to take for Naruto's safety, tax filings from each of Konoha's shopkeepers, new sacrificial duties Hinata should apparently have, snorting as Jiraiya tries and fails to keep his spiky white hair towards the shadows by crouching.

Tsunade waves a hand forward, pushes the files aside with a rising grin.

'They can wait longer. Not like Naruto or Hinata are in the village right now and they deserve to challenge these stipulations if need be.'

"For someone who's supposed to be our village's best spy, you're terrible at hiding."

Jiraiya chuckles as he steps in properly and she notes the two to-go boxes in his hands.

"Who said I was trying to hide? Anyways, I wasn't sure how busy you currently are, but I brought lunch from your favorite hole-in-the-wall Tatsuko Sushi & Hibachi!"

Her stomach absently gurgles, pursing her lips.

"I've eaten."

Jiraiya's smile remains unfazed.

"Alcohol doesn't count!"

Tsunade rolls her eyes as he plops into the seat in front of her, digs out packets of soy sauce, chili sauce, herbs, and chopsticks from the bag as the office fills with the rich scents of tuna, crab, and snapper.

Jiraiya waves a shrimp roll and gyoza in front of her.

"Come onnn, I'll even feed you if you'd like! Say Ahh!"

Tsunade snatches the roll from his hands instead, barely covers her sigh of delight as the seasoning hits her tongue, Jiraiya snickering.

Her gaze moves to his own folder of work.

"What exactly are you trying to decipher?"

Jiraiya studies the documents as if just noticing them too, sighs.

"I wanted to pick your mind for a bit on one of these photos of the dead men Hinata collected on the personal assignment I gave her."

Tsunade notes the uneasiness so rare to his voice, leans forward.

The photo in question is blurry, as if taken in the rush of movement, but she makes out fiery orange hair, black piercings to the man's nose.

"Do you...Do you think that potentially one of those Ame Orphans is this man?" Jiraiya asks tentatively.

Hazel sharpens, sushi turning bitter in her gut. The children Orochimaru originally wanted them to kill are probably somewhere in their 20's to 30's now. None of them know what they got up to after they left that region, the three of them splitting up shortly after.

"Hard to say. This isn't a good quality picture, and the Second Shinobi World War was years ago. Shinobi change their appearances all the time and we don't know what abilities they picked up between now and then." Tsunade ventures.

Jiraiya nods slowly.

"One thing I know for sure though is that all of these men's bodies went missing shortly after that war's end. It isn't known how prominent they were in their home nations, though they all at least had a one loved one or friend/companion who wanted to bury them but couldn't do so as no one was able to retrieve or locate their corpses."

"And where do you come into this?" Tsunade pries.

Onyx glances up at her.

"I met them all at one point in my travels. If they're already truly dead, their corpses are being used for other purposes."

Tsunade leans her head against her palm. If Jiraiya is stumped on this, she doubts she can be of much help.

"Whatever you suspect is likely the case here must be true. It's possibly connected to the Akatsuki, or it could be some other criminal organization. Bodies are collected for ryo from the Bingo Books too."

Jiraiya rubs at his chin quietly, doesn't say aloud what would pain him the most.

The orphans he helped to survive during those seemingly endless rainy days in Amegakure could now be a part of the very group he's trying to hunt down, the ones out to capture and inevitably kill Naruto.

Darkness settles in his eyes when he looks up at her again.

"Gaara is probably dead by now. I know you sent Naruto along with Team Gai and Team 7 out there, but with how fast the Akatsuki moves, he isn't likely to survive."

Tsunade blows out a breath. "Geez, it's a good thing Naruto isn't here currently to hear all this negative talk."

Jiraiya chuckles morosely. "Yes, I just managed to get back to where I was in my notes for my upcoming novel after he told me to burn most of my manuscripts or else he'd find a way to make my life hell for a while. I get the sense the Kid only tolerates my existence; he saw what benefits he could get from my training with me and now...well I guess we'll see once he's back in the village!"

Amber softens at his self-deprecation. "When Naruto acts that way, it reminds me somewhat of Minato and Kushina's situation."

Jiraiya considers this. Minato was the sacrifice to Kushina being the jinchuriki. He took to his role in stride from what he recalls in the days before and after he was Hokage, rarely showed anger or upset over new titles given to him whether by friend or foe.

"No, calling it swirly-whirly sphere sounds dumb! I agree with Kushina that rasengan is a far better name." Jiraiya remarks.

Minato dissipates the spin of chakra, laughs lightly. "Yeah, I figured as much! Ah, I should ask her if she wants me to get any meats or fruits on the way home. I didn't get a chance to earlier during our reading session over the Uzumaki clan's history."

Jiraiya plops down beside him as he dips his feet into the Naka River, waves a popsicle in front of him Minato happily takes.

"Now how does that work? Do you buy the groceries and share cooking duties? Most of the time it seems like it's always you doing the shopping runs." Jiraiya questions.

Cobalt softens between bites of the ice treat, shrugs. "I guess...people kind of expect it with me being her sacrifice that I take care of errands like getting the groceries and picking up the laundry, but the truth is, I like picking up ingredients for us to make at home. Kushina likes to show me seafood dishes she used to make back home in Uzushiogakure and of course she does the shopping too when I don't have the time or am on an assignment. However, she said...she said people always give her a wide berth or think she's about to have a meltdown. Sometimes, merchants refuse to even sell to her."

His lips twist into a scowl at a particular memory before calming.

"Last year for gifts Kushina received some combs and shampoos for her hair, at first she was so happy to have them until she looked closer..." Minato trails off.

"And?" Jiraiya leans forward expectantly.

Minato shakes his head. "A chunk of the bristles for the comb were missing and the shampoo had already been half used and just mixed with water to fill it back up. I know people aren't exactly happy to have more foreigners in the village, but they forget that Kushina is still a person with thoughts and feelings. They worry that angering the jinchuriki will lead to floods or droughts when they're risking those very things happening by giving her such thoughtless or worthless gifts."

"We can't assume the worse that Gaara is already dead until I get further updates. Naruto will of course be interested in a jinchuriki so close to him in age and past life situations being captured. So it was in his best interest to go and get more intel and experience dealing with the Akatsuki's current members. And while Naruto and Hinata are similar to Minato and Kushina, in Kushina's case, she wasn't already here in the village and forced out by her own clan." Tsunade relates as positively as she can spin this.

Jiraiya takes a bite of his tempura. "Let's just hope things end differently for those two."

Tsunade sighs, hates when Jiraiya becomes this dark, broody with what-ifs. Hell, she'd take his flirting and perverted antics right now just to brighten the mood.

A knock at the door stops her from questioning him if he's truly feeling alright, Shizune poking her head in before breathing a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness you're here My Lady! I got an urgent alert from the hospital that you're needed on the Burn Unit. Team 8 and Team 10 have returned from their assignment in Kusagakure!"

Jiraiya puts down his box. 'Hinata. I wonder if she retrieved that drawing.'

And is okay.

Tsunade has already pushed herself up and away from her seat, sends Jiraiya a passing wave without waiting for a response.

"Well, duty calls. We'll finish this conversation another time."

Tsunade & Ino-Konoha Hospital, Surgical/Burn Unit

She doesn't immediately ask Ino how Sai got these bruises and burnt flesh that mark his skin in constellations of violets to scarlets, the one injured the most out of her team.

In fact, he's the only one with critical injuries out of both Team 10 and Team 8.

If he's in pain, his features betray nothing as she sticks in another IV to start fluids.

"One bag is for antibiotics to prevent infection, the other to rehydrate you considering your burns." Tsunade explains.

Sai blinks his understanding, doesn't flinch as she checks the burn wound to his torso.

'These flames could've easily affected his heart and lungs. It's lucky that he at least got some medicine into his system to prevent too much internal damage.' Tsunade assesses.

Ino observes her quietly work all the while with a thin smile, steps forward to poke at a particularly large bruise to Sai's opposite forearm, grin evaporating into a full-on glare. Tsunade studies as Sai restrains back a wince, moves back for a moment to see if this is teasing on her end or if Ino is trying to probe into whatever is running through his mind.

"So, are you going to explain yourself now that Lady Tsunade is here?" Ino begins while tapping along his arm.

"..." Sai looks away causing her to huff.

"Ugh, you're so lucky Forehead isn't currently available or Amiko!'

Hazel eyes peer to Ino with a silent raised brow.

Amiko is the meanest nurse on this unit, even she knows this from the rounding she does at the end of day shifts and gossip throughout the hospital's cafeteria and hallways. She seemingly took a page from Ibiki's sadism techniques when it comes to torture by applying the same measures to unruly and loud patients even when most of their behavior is just due to phantom pains or shock.

She kept her far away from Sakura's Father during and after his leg amputation to rehab process and knows her mentee avoids her like the plague unless for end of shift huddles or their monthly meetings.

For Ino to bring her up so casually could mean dozens of things...

But her chilling gaze towards Sai is the most telling.

She's the only one from the mission assigned to both Team 8 and 10 to visit Sai so far as much as she knows.

'No. Danzo surely paid Sai a visit too as soon as he learned he was back in the village.' Tsunade notes at seeing his half open window.

Tsunade gestures with her thumb back towards the hallway.

"Ino, a word. Sai, not that you'll answer me right now, but we'll be having a conversation too down the line."

Sai watches them leave with his eyes, blows out a low breath before leaning back into his pillows.

Tsunade leads them to a corner of an unoccupied room, crosses her arms at Ino's matching frown.

"Explain that attitude back there. I haven't gotten the full details of how this assignment to Kusagakure went."

Ino straightens herself, bows apologetically. "I'm sorry for my earlier behavior, My Lady. I'm still just...aggravated on how Sai behaved during that whole mission! Ugh, not only was Sai hiding from us that he planned to secretly meet with Orochimaru and Sasuke, but he nearly caused the whole assignment to be a failure by not fully revealing the drawing he made of the Masked Man."

Tsunade clicks her tongue. "I see. This was Team 10's first mission with Sai on board too, correct?"

Ino nods, azure relaxing at a sudden thought. "There's a lot of things Sai was and probably is still keeping from us. I know I shouldn't have, but I looked through his belongings. Apparently, he had a brother along with maybe a parent figure during his time in Root he hasn't completely forgotten or been wiped out by Danzo based on his drawings."

"Danzo will always keep an eye on him and therefore your team as well. It would be good for both you and Shikamaru to help him not feel like he's just a 'replacement' for Choji. Spend time together outside of missions and with the other teams." Tsunade suggests.

Ino waves up a hand that such a thing is currently a stretch. "Hmm, I guess I'm willing to try again if he can keep those insults under control this time or to himself."

Tsunade smirks. "Or because you're attracted to him."

Pink burns across Ino's face, nearly jumps back from her as if she doused her with ice water.

"W-What?! Where did you get that idea?!" Ino bellows even as Tsunade twists to go check on her next round of patients.

Tsunade beams at her over her shoulder. "Don't worry, I won't tell Sakura!"

Not that she wants to put any ideas of love in her mentee's mind right now...

Because then she'll get it in her thoughts again to sneak out of the village after Sasuke, isn't sure what she'll do if she leaves at a time where she's too busy with so many other tasks to stop her.

Naruto, Kakashi, & Neji-Akatsuki Hideout, Land Of Wind Northwest Forests

"Come on Naruto, it's been a while since we last truly talked. You and I both know you need my power right now and I'll give it to you, but I want plenty of blood in return; no matter what." The Fox goads with promises.

He last talked to the Nine Tails shortly before this trip to Suna, avoided Pervy-Sage's questioning if he had been spoken with the beast at any point after their training trip and subsequent return to the village.

"Kid, you know what happens when you talk to it, you'll lose control of yourself." Jiraiya mentions.

Naruto waves away his concerned look. "Don't worry about me Pervy-Sage! Geez, you act as if I don't know that!"

He twists and heads for his apartment before he can further lecture him, finds Hinata curled on her futon dozing between reading a mix of scrolls and books, head half falling into a page on various poisonous herbs and plants that grow in the Land of Fire's region.

A smile curls its way up his lips seeing a tiny sheen of drool to her lips. Oh, if he had a camera right now to capture this embarrassing moment of her.

"Don't fall asleep in such an awkward way silly." Naruto chuckles while moving aside the scrolls, shifts a blanket and pillow over her.

Hinata stirs awake at the movement, pearl taking in blue.

"Oh, when did you get home? There's leftovers in the fridge I think." She murmurs.

Naruto shakes his head, messes with her hair affectionately.

"I'm fine, I'll make myself something while you can keep sleeping y'know."

"You care too much about that girl. Her presence makes you too soft; weak." The Fox growls as he moves for the kitchen.

"Shut it." Naruto snaps right back, beast quieting in return.

For now.

'There was no reason to have him or Hinata worry.' Naruto absently recalls.

But now Gaara's body lies still underneath Deidara using him as a chair, chuckling at their arrival.

Heat rises up over him taking in the ashen gray of Gaara's wilted and cracked skin, eyes shut.

Gone.

"I'll give you the power to kill him, all of them. You haven't killed lately, and let's face it, your latest gifts were never going to be enough to satisfy this rage." The Fox further pushes, buzzes with alertness at this scene before them.

"Wow, looks like I'm getting quite the audience to bear witness to my art! Too bad you were late for the earlier event!" Deidara marvels as he moves to a standing position.

And Naruto drops to all fours, roar piercing the cave's walls.

Neji sends Kakashi a warning look. "We cannot let Naruto get too close. His body is littered inside and out with clay bombs."

Kakashi nods, glances to Naruto worriedly as his eyes turn a deep crimson.

He focuses back on Deidara as he begins to take flight with Gaara's body via one of his clay birds, activates his mangekyou sharingan.

'Kamui!'

A barrier activates by Deidara's right arm just as he bursts up out of stone for the forests, cursing as it gets ripped away into the void.

'Damn it! Another one of those sharingan techniques! Kakashi isn't connected to the Uchiha clan like Itachi though, yet he somehow managed to get a hold of one of their eyes.' Deidara curses.

He can't form any proper attack with both his arms damaged, licks his lips forming what remaining clay he has on his tongue.

'It's fine. I can still keep them back with some mini bombs of art!'

Neji races forward as Deidara spits down a stream of ants.

"Rotation!"

The clay insects detonate against the trees and ground in bursts of white, Neji skirting under the ash while looking around the trees and bushes.

'Naruto. Where did Naruto go?!'

Kakashi catches his breath as they give chase, pinpoints on Deidara's head once more.

Naruto races up beside him, leaps forward into the air when his attack skirts past Deidara's body once more.

"Don't worry sensei; I'm finishing this now."

He raises up his hands, dozens of Naruto's coming forth to encircle the clay bird.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

'Shit. I can't aim accurately yet or form a large enough barrier!' Kakashi pants as the first Naruto's rasengan tears the clay bird into pieces.

Clumps of clay land upon the forest's branches and leaves, Neji retrieving Gaara's body from within the crumbling creature.

His stomach drops as he looks him over.

'His body is cold.'

The original meanwhile Naruto twists his attention back to Deidara before he can fully hide.

"There's nowhere you can run!" He calls out.

His clones surround him in a flurry, drag him down from the canopies in a barrage of punches.

'Wait, something's off about his body.' Neji notes as he and Kakashi look closer. The haze clears, Deidara's clone popping in a puff of smoke underneath Naruto's clenched fist.

The heat surrounding Naruto turns boiling.

Kakashi stiffens in alarm as a second tail of chakra emerges around Naruto's body.

'This is what Master Jiraiya warned me of! I need to place the seal on him!'

Deidara observes from the tall underbrush his transformation, lowers his head. 'There's soon going to be too many of them here. I need to get away via another explosion. I just need to eat the last remnants of clay from my bird.'

He watches as Kakashi hops down for the original Naruto only for him to leap away from his touch to his shock, scarlet twist to his hiding spot with a sniff of the air.

'Shit, he smells my blood!' Deidara realizes, moves back too late as he races in.

Naruto's nails dig into the flesh of his back pinning him in place, azure forced to look into gleaming vermilion as Naruto's opposite hand wraps around his throat.

"I told you; didn't I? You're not leaving this forest alive."

-x-

Well, either Deidara is going to die by an enraged Naruto, or they're going to capture and imprison/interrogate him! Take your pick on what you think his fate will be! He can't escape via his explosion trick this time so it's one or the other!

Changing up canon is not the easiest thing in the world to write, but I'm enjoying rewatching and rereading the series to even exploring old discussion topics of chapters to help blend my ideas with canon events.

I also am posting bonus side stories for all of my current ongoing fanfictions on my pa-tre-on if you want to see extra content or early chapters! I go by TheLovelyMidnightWriter there! October's Couple of the Month is Beast boy x Raven from Teen Titans as well!

As always, let me know your thoughts!