~~~
"So, two Akatsuki are now dead, huh?" Questioned Asuma, conversing with Kakashi as they walked through Konoha beside each other.
"Yeah, it was a tough battle, but we managed to scathe through in the end. Although it was more preferred if someone didn't have to die." Asuma nodded, agreeing with these words as he smoked a cigarette.
"But it seems as though you managed to survive and rescue the ones that were within your reach, no?" He asked, getting a small nod from Kakashi.
"I guess so; but I can't just shake off the feeling of knowing that things could've been different if I had tried harder." Asuma sighed releasing the clouds of smoke that built from inside his mouth.
"So, how are things on your end? You know, with Kurenai and all." Asuma raised an eyebrow, smiling as he came to a thought. He had the cigarette between his fingertips.
"Things are going great. Our lives together is finally moving again." Kakashi gained a slightly smile under his mask, making his one eye curve into a smiley-shape.
"That's good. It's good to hear that something good is going on within a world full of bad." Asuma and Kakashi had finally made it to the training grounds.
Another day of these multi-team sessions were at it again. It was a good way for them to connect and be well-acquainted with one another incase they were in a team with each other.
If there were no chemistry with one another, then the team will just be a complete mess. This is their goal for these sessions.
"You're late," Kurenai, looking at the two them. She wore her signature outfit as her untamed black hair followed her. The two rubbed the back of their heads as they looked at her.
"Sorry about that," told Asuma, leading the way as he stood right beside her. Kakashi copied this, shifting his body so he would be standing beside Asuma. The ever-so eccentric Guy was busy hyping up Rock Lee.
Looking at the battle in front of them, they saw both Sakura and Choji dueling it out in a sparring match. Kakashi smiled under his mask, a sad one ruling over his face.
He and everyone here liked what they had; the peacefulness like a steady flowing river. These were people that he had grown to care and protect for.
Kakashi, like everyone else, didn't want to let these things go. But the paranoia of losing it all always creeps up and haunts him.
He didn't want to lose another person he cared for and considered family.
~~~
"What do you need, Sai?" Asked Naruto, as he looked at the person in front of him. Sai plastered a smile on his face, one that was full of insincerity.
"I have information that I think you'd be interested in." Naruto nodded, his interest now being caught by those words. He looked at Sai attentively.
"Danzo has connections to Orochimaru." Naruto was immediately disappointed by said information. This type of info wasn't anything new to him and was pretty obvious.
Naruto had placed a bit of trust on Sai. Although not a lot, it was still sufficient enough to carry on his duty. Maybe he considered him a 'friend', but who truly knows.
Sai had a friend, whose name was Shin. And there is a well-known method within ROOT is that was very effective to those who have done it.
Danzo had managed to make a method that eradicated one's emotion to the fullest extent. The members of ROOT are people that grow up with each other, making themselves see each other as siblings more than comrades.
He makes them grow up fast and nurtures them, only to extinguish those emotions by making them fight a battle to the death.
The final test.
The same happened to Sai - he had to kill someone named Shin that was very close to him to get rid of his own emotions, plastering only fake smiles wherever he goes.
Naruto knew he just couldn't take advantage of emotion like others, but he had to take advantage of experience and memories.
And he was successful. Hopefully.
"But it also seems as though Danzo has made contact with Orochimaru recently. The reason is something that is unknown." Naruto was brought back to reality due to these words.
"How did you find this out?" Naruto asked, wondering where the source of the information was. If he was able to find the source then he'd be able to extract more information from the source.
"I was at the ROOT headquarters and had overheard Danzo talking to someone. As I eavesdropped, I heard their conversation." Naruto nodded, seeing as he couldn't exactly extract any more information now.
After all, it's Danzo that we are talking about.
"Thanks for the info, Sai." He nodded as well, disappearing from Naruto's sight to leave him to his own devices. Naruto sighed, now facing another problem along his path.
Danzo had gotten in contact with Orochimaru. There are chances that Orochimaru had spilled the beans and told Danzo of him being an Uchiha.
That would seriously be a lot more problematic in the long run. And it's already posing a problem even now.
The only way to truly find out is to seek out Orochimaru himself. Naruto thought to himself, now needing a way to meet the slippery snake.
Suddenly, Naruto saw something fly throughout the sky. Narrowing his eyes, Naruto trailed the bird, following its every movement that it had made. He jumped from house to house, keeping a steady speed.
With slithery movement, Naruto managed to attain the bird that had been soaring from above. He held the bird softly, not wanting to accidentally kill it with just his bare hands.
What's this? Naruto thought, seeing a letter attached at the bottom of the bird. He looked around before he attempted to read the letter.
"I want to meet you at Tenchi Bridge In two days - before 12 PM. I am willing to lend you a hand in the future."
- Sasori
The side of his mouth curved into that of a smirk. It seems as though his coercing had managed to pay through. Although he had no idea of far his coercing had gone through.
Will it stick through and stay? Or will it wear off in the future? Nevertheless, it is a good idea for him to take advantage of this situation.
Naruto tucked the letter away, soon letting the bird come free from its restrictions. Walking away, he wondered what was going to happen next.
~~~
Sakura and Naruto stood beside each other, standing in front of Tsunade. They had been requested to be at the Hokage Tower just earlier ago.
"I wanted you two here today because I wanted to ask you two about the mission." The two raised their eyebrows in confusion.
"Didn't Kakashi-sensei tell you about the mission the day we arrived?" Tsunade nodded, knowing that was most indeed correct.
"Yes, but we only talked about the most basic things - a simple report. Now, I want you two to give me information on both of the Akatsuki that you two had fought." Now seeing what she wanted, the two nodded their heads.
Naruto decided to go first.
"Well, even though Sasori had managed to escape, I did find out a bit of information about him. When I fought him, I found out that he was encased with another puppet - almost acting like a defense mechanism." The two others nodded their heads.
"Once I had destroyed the mechanism, the real body of Sasori had been hiding underneath. And it also turns out that Sasori's body was that of a puppet." The two slightly widened their eyes.
"You mean he had made himself into a puppet? How is that even possible?" Naruto shrugged at Sakura's question, wondering how he had managed to live through something that was most certainly life threatening.
"That was all I had before he managed to escape," lied Naruto, withholding information about Sasori. If they were going to be acquaintances then he can't just revela major weaknesses about him.
"All right, that seems to be it then. Sakura, your turn for information." Sakura nodded, fully ready to funnel the information over.
"One of the members that was the partner of Sasori had the ability to turn clay into explosives. From what Kakashi-sensei had told me, it seems as though there was a mouth on his palm to turn the clay into explosives. In many shapes and sizes." Tsunade nodded, thinking the information through.
"Any more information?" Asked Tsunade, getting a nod from Sakura herself.
"Well, I had thought of an idea. I still have a sample of the poison that Sasori had used to almost kill Kankuro. So I was thinking of using that to trace where it wa made maybe? Or what were the ingredients that involve in the making of the poison?" That was indeed quite a good idea.
If they had managed to get information where the poison could potentially originate, it could serve useful. Although the maker was Sasori, locating the ingredients were important.
If that happens, then they'd be able locate and lock down the ingredients so they could track down Sasori. But that's not something the should worry about too much for now.
Once they were dismissed, Naruto and Sakura walked out right next to each other.
"Hey, Naruto." He turned around, looking at Sakura with a questionable look on his face as he stared at her. He waited for an answer.
"How do you do it?" She asked him. Confused with the vague question, Naruto kept his questionable look on his face.
"I do not follow," told Naruto, wanting a clarification on the question that she was posing. Seeing this, Sakura decided to clarify the question.
"Like. . . how do you get passed death? I know I just met Chiyo-san a few hours before her death, but we just clicked as comrades - as friends. I'm not sad to the point where it's interfering with daily life, it's just interfering my mind." Naruto nodded, seeing as she was dealing with internal conflict.
"So - I'm asking you - how do you deal with death so easily?" Naruto placed his fingertips on his chin, quietly thinking about that question as they made it out of the Hokage Tower.
"That question is troubling. I think dealing with death is hard - even for me. I may not show it, but all the sadness that wants to pour is just being pushed back by me. To the say the least, that is not the very healthy for me to do." He decided to change the subject due to him not being able to answer the question with much efficiency.
"Now, I have a question for you, Sakura." She raised an eyebrow, disappointed that she couldn't get any insight from Naruto.
"Seeing from kill scene, it seems as though the person responsible for her death is Sasori. Do you feel hatred towards him?" He asked, leading the conversation into that sole question.
"Yes - of course, I do. It amazes me that I was able to create another new bond with an unlikely individual in such a short amount of time. I feel like I failed yet another person. It feels wrong for me to hate him, but I really do hate him." Naruto nodded at her heavy dislike at Sasori.
He wondered how she would react if she found out that it was him? Would she hate? Or hesitate to the bitter end?
"Hm. . . I guess that's an understandable feeling coming from you. You made a quick friend and she died, it's only natural that you feel hatred towards Sasori." Sakura nodded slowly. With them splitting ways, Naruto could feel the hatred for Sasori rise slowly but surely.
Naruto looked up to the sky.
Tomorrow is the day I have to assist Sasori. What would he need? Naruto thought to himself, disappearing in the crowds of villagers.
~~~
"Your meeting with Sasori is coming up, no?" Asked Orochimaru, looking at Kabuto as he bowed down before the snake.
"Yes, that is correct. I do believe that he still thinks I am under his technique," told Kabuto, getting Orochimaru to curve his mouth into a creepy smile.
"Do you have anything in mind, Orochimaru-sama?" Asked Kabuto, wondering if he had anything that he wanted to speak out on.
"Yes, I do. I never really have any intention of interfering in the affairs of the Akatsuki." Kabuto stayed silent, letting him talk.
"But I am aware that they show no mercy on their enemies; and I'm one of those enemies. If I'm going to have to fear for my life in the future, I have to be prepared for them, yes?" Kabuto nodded, seeing what Orochimaru wanted to do.
"Are you suggesting we capture Sasori and extract information on the Akatsuki?" Orochimaru nodded, delighted that Kabuto caught onto this idea of his.
"Yes, that is exactly what I want to do. Even though I was a member of the organization, it was only for a tiny bit. So I had no real info on each of the member's weakness. Especially that leader of theirs." Orochimaru's long tongue slipped out of his mouth, weirdly licking his lips as he thought of the leader.
Those eyes of his - they are powerful without a doubt. Thought Orochimaru.
~~~
"Hm? You won't be in Konoha for a few days?" Asked Shikamaru, yawning as he played against Naruto in a game of Shogi.
"Yeah, I won't be here for a few days. I have some things that I need to settle." Naruto looked at the board. It has been quite a long time since they had another match in Shogi.
It was quite refreshing for Naruto. Every day, he was always on the frontlines, fighting for the village. And, each day, he would grow tired without ever resting.
"You overwork yourself too much, Naruto. Don't you ever just. . . relax? Rest and look at the clouds for a day or two?" Naruto shook his head slowly, not very used to something like that.
Naruto had always worked nonstop without ever taking a break. Even when he takes a break, he'd go back and overwork himself once again the next day.
"Something like that is not my forte. That's only something you like doing." Shikamaru was quite the relaxed and carefree person. But he was also a very dangerous individual when it came to being a strategist.
"Yeah, I guess it is. Well, I suppose that's the difference between the two of us. You like overworking yourself, and I like relaxing." Naruto nodded, somewhat agreeing with those words.
Naruto soon sighed afterwards. He had lost yet another game of Shogi.
"That was a close one," said Shikamaru, analyzing how their game went. Naruto nodded to that statement, knowing that the game was indeed a close one.
"Indeed it was. We're just about even again. Well, I have to go now. Thanks for inviting me." Shikamaru cleaned up the Shogi board and pieces, nodding his soon after.
"Yeah, it's a good time to end - I still have to meet up with my team soon. Later, Naruto." He waved him the blond goodbye.
Naruto returned the wave with a wave of his own as he walked away from Shikamaru. He sighed, getting ready for tomorrow as the sun started to slowly come down.
I just need a week and everything will be over. Naruto thought to himself, waiting for the impending day that was going to soon cross.
~~~
"Naruto won't be here for a few days," stated Tsunade, spilling this little bit of information towards Kakashi. He raised an eyebrow towards Tsunade.
"Why? It's not normal for him to do that. The only time he leaves the village are when he does any type of missions for th village." Tsunade shrugged, unable to answer the question that Kakashi was currently posing to her.
"Who knows, but what Naruto does is what he does. I don't plan on snooping around in his business when it's clear to me that he is able to take care of himself. I wouldn't worry about it." Kakashi sighed, having to take that as an answer.
"I guess you're right," responded Kakashi, having to agree with her words.
"Well, now that was out of the way, I'd like to talk to you about the Akatsuki." Kakashi nodded, seeing as the conversation was going to delve into something that was in some serious territory.
"While I would've liked Shikamaru or Shikaku to take part in this conversation as well, they are currently unavailable at the moment." The Jonin-sensei listened carefully.
"Anyway, I would like to discuss strategies about scenarios where we do encounter one of the Akatsuki members or all of them at once." Kakashi nodded, knowing that Tsunade was being careful.
"As of right now, we only know 3 people that are in the Akatsuki. All the others are unknown. Those figures that we do know is: Itachi, Kisame, and Sasori - all very dangerous Shinobi, with one of them being a former Konoha Shinobi." Kakashi continued to listen through these words.
"We do know that Itachi is a Shinobi that is very proficient in the art of Genjutsu - a very talented user at that. Then there's Kisame, whose one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. And is a carrier of the Samahada. And finally, there's Sasori - the Puppet Master. Soon, I'd like to talk to every one of the Konoha-nins and inform them of this." Kakashi agreed with this with a simple nod of his head.
"I agree. If people are prepared, then the mortality rate will lower, even if it's just by a tiny bit." Tsunade nodded at this. The rate of survival was a key component to this.
"And due to the increasing movements of the Akatsuki, people from our village and the many others will encounter them without a doubt. The main thing I want to achieve from this is information about the members of the Akatsuki." She took a deep breath before continuing.
"To clarify, I am not aiming for information on other members; although that would be nice, I highly doubt it would happen. No, what I want is information on the members that we are aware of. If we are able to locate their whereabouts, then we'd be able to plan things ahead of time instead of just in the moment." There then was a pause that loomed the air.
"Good idea. Then, if necessary, they could always retreat and report back to you. Although there is doubt laced in my mind that they could get away from S-Rank Rogue-nins." Tsunade shrugged, sighing.
"It is indeed a very low chance. But simply just fighting them is clearly suicidal if you cannot match their caliber. Battling is useless if they'd be dead the moment they try and fight them. No?" Sighing, Kakashi agreed with that even though there many flaws in this plan that was quickly revealing themselves in a quick rate.
"Good. Throughout the week, I'll try and refine this plan and rethink over it alongside other people like Shikaku and Shikamaru - they'd be great help." They indeed would be great help.
Their intelligent minds would be able to assist in refining this to create and much better plan of action for the future of Konoha.
"You are dismissed Kakashi. I'll get both Shikaku and Shikamaru at a later date once they are free." Kakashi bowed his head down slightly before disappearing from Tsunade's sight.
~~~
"Where is he?" Murmured Sasori, peering through a bush as he saw Kabuto appear on the bridge that they were supposed to meet at.
Sasori had requested Naruto to tag along because he couldn't risk the chance of Kabuto double-crossing him and betraying.
Even though he had used a technique that supposedly turned him into a spy for him, there are always chances of it becoming obsolete in the long run.
"I'm here." Sasori turned around, reacting to the voice and seeing Naruto in the flesh wearing his usual clothing.
"You came here after all," stated Sasori, gaining a simple nod from Naruto as he too peered out of the bushes and saw Kabuto standing at the center of Tenchi Bridge.
"You're meeting with Kabuto?" The red-head nodded his head at him.
"Correct. He is supposed to be my spy. Normally, I would just go alone and talk to him. But I'm being careful just incase he double-crosses me and brings someone uninvited along with him." Naruto saw what he wanted him to do.
"So you want me to hide within the trees and appear if someone other than him just suddenly appears in front of you?" Sasori nodded, his mouth curving into a smirk.
"Yes. I'll return this favor for a favor of your own in the future." Naruto stayed silent, liking the sound of those words. He was going to need his help in the nearing future.
"So, what do you say?" Asked Sasori.
"You struck yourself a deal. All right, I'm in." The red-head nodded, disappearing from Naruto' sight with his Akatsuki cloak trailing after him.
This is like taking down 2 bird with 1 stone. Naruto thought to himself as he situated himself on top of a tree branch, observing the situation from above.
~~~
Done. So, I took a week off. With this chapter ending, I have accumulated over 3600+ words that have been written in this chapter alone.
I don't really have much to say for this chapter. The next chapter will be out soon enough. The pacing is now moving quickly do to me not wanting to just stay stuck in one place for too long.
Thanks for reading Grace.
But until next time.
CYA!