Bab 175: 5
Chapter Five: Do you smell it?
"Crash." – Talks
'Crash.' – Thoughts
...
Time 17:43. Forest area…
Many people think that Wind Country is just a plain desert. Maybe it's because forest area and desert area have a straight border. That means when you leave the forest, you enter the desert. And those who don't know exactly think that this is a country border as well.
That suspicion is wrong however.
Far from it, actually. The truth is… the Fire and Wind Country border lies in the forest… deep within it. But, they were in allegiance for such a long time that even small towns near the border started to count themselves as a part of Fire Country… which greatly pleased the fire Daimyo.
Also this very border was the one, that team Kakashi was closing to.
They recently received an almost impossible task – to save the current Kazekage from Akatsuki… Actually, they only needed to investigate the situation and report back… Bah, who am I kidding?! Perhaps the only member of the former team seven who gave even a slightest damn about the mission must be blowing off Orochimaru somewhere.
If you watch from the side, you'll see that the only excited person in a three man cell was Sakura, who was no doubt in hopes of receiving some information on her dear Orochimaru's blower… Sasuke-kun I mean!
Hatake Kakashi – the reinstated leader of his first genin team looked deep in thoughts for some reason. Of course you might think that he's dreaming about his Icha-Icha books… But this raises a question – why then he is giving Naruto these strange glances?
Speaking about Naruto. Sure, he wore a smile on his face. But if you look closer, you'll see that so far he found this oh-so-dangerous mission as boring as Iruka's academy lessons.
'Fuck! A long travel… And with such a nice company. Damn, I swear that if this goes on, then Akatsuki will find me dead, because I'll kill myself out of this boredom!' Then something caught his attention.
"Wait… Do you smell it?" He said looking in the distance.
"Smell what?" Sakura asked in frustration. 'Damn this fool! He interrupted my thoughts about mine and Sasuke-kun's wedding night!' She thought, drooling a little.
Naruto smirked. "Firstly, stop thinking about having sex with Uchiha. He's gay. Secondly…"
"Sasuke-kun is not gay Shannaro!" She interrupted him.
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Secondly, if I ever hear Shannaro again, then I'm gonna kill someone." He threw a glare at Sakura, and she gulped. "And thirdly, I smell a woman… up ahead."
"Hmm…" Was all Kakashi said.
Two minutes later they caught up with mentioned woman.
"There she is." Naruto exclaimed. "Told ya!"
"Oi, isn't it Temari-san?" Sakura asked.
Kakashi jumped ahead. "Maybe. Let's find out."
"Temari-saaaaan!"
Having heard a girlish scream behind her, Sabaku no Temari, a proud jounin of Sunagakure turned around. And when she did, she almost immediately came face to face with three Konoha shinobi. Two of them she recognized at the first sight. Haruno Sakura was her good friend, and Hatake Kakashi was well known throughout the world. Still, the third one gave her no clues about his identity.
'Who is… a man, blond hair, black clothes… hmm, maybe someone new? But one thing is clear… he sure is hot!'
The same girlish voice put her out of her wonderings. "Temari-san? Are you alright?"
"Oh? Y-Yeah, sorry… So where are you going, and who is your handsome teammate?" The Suna jounin almost slapped her mouth. 'I didn't say it out loud, did I?'
Kakashi suddenly became very serious. "We're going to…" But he was not allowed to finish the phrase.
"You wish to know who I am?! I'll tell you who I am!" Naruto shouted. "I am the world's one and only the jabroni beating, LALALALALAAAAAW, pie eating, trail blazing, eyebrow raising, elbow dropping, jutsu stopping, AND, without a shadow of doubt, the best damn Konoha shinobi there ever was, great Uzumaki Naruto!"
If Kakashi had his book in his arm right now, he would've probably dropped it.
"W-What was that?" Sakura asked
The jinchuriki smirked. "That, my dear, was the most electrifying introduction in ALL of Shinobi Nations!"
Living with Gaara for the most of her life gave Temari a few useful skills. One of them helped her greatly right now – to hear only the end of the speech.
'Uzu… Naruto? This is NARUTO?! No fucking way! He was a little shrimp in orange, and now he… he… Damn!' She blinked a few times. "U-Uzumak-ki Nar-ruto? Is this really you?"
"No, I'm Uchiha Itachi under a henge!"
Temari sighed. "Yeah, this is you." She looked up. "So, where are you heading?"
Naruto thought for a second. "Oh, yeah. We're going to rescue your youngest brother who has been kidnapped by the Akatsuki!" He said smiling. "Cool ya?"
The fan wielder played a statue for some moment. "…What?! What do you mean he's been kidnapped?!"
"I meant every word I said."
Temari almost felt her world broken. "N-No, this can not be… Gaara, he's…"
"Captured. And if we won't hurry, he's also dead." Naruto said, becoming slightly serious.
"Naruto's right." Kakashi finally decided to show that he's still alive. "We have to hurry to Suna as fast as we can."
"R-Right!" Kazekage's sister agreed, and they took off without wasting any more time.
Time 23:40. Near the border…
After moving non stop for several hours, the four men cell was finally able to reach the border.
Then Kakashi stopped.
"We'll stop here for the night." He turned around. "Let's set up a camp."
"Wait, we still can run for at least a…" Temari tried to argue, but Konoha jounin stopped her.
"Yes, we can. But in the end, we'll still have to make a nightstand at least one more time. And it's better to spend one night in a desert instead of two." He said and walked off.
Well, she could not argue with that. Nights in the desert weren't the most pleasant experience. "Fine." She only mumbled.
Fifteen minutes later…
The camp was made pretty quickly, and now our heroes were sitting at the fireplace.
"Gaara…" Temari whispered.
Naruto rolled his eyes. Actually, he was a very patient man in these kinds of things… but hearing Gaara's name every two minutes can break even the strongest. Something has to be done with that. He moved closer to her and forced her head to look at him.
"Look, Temari. I know that your family means a lot to you, but worrying about them will only make you feel worse… did I say that?!"
Temari looked at him almost on the verge of tears. "I…"
The jinchuriki sighed. "Listen, yes they captured him, yes they took him away. But they need him alive… at least for now."
"Really?"
"Yeah, really. We just have to hurry and catch up with them."
Now she was in tears. "Thank you!" The Suna jounin threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"Hey, thank me when we'll save your little brother."
Quickly releasing her hold on him, she mumbled a "sorry" and looked away.
"You don't have to apologize either." With that Naruto turned around and walked deeper into the forest.
Silence longed only for a few minutes.
"Ne, Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked, keeping her eyes on the fire.
"Yes?" The jounin answered.
"Do you think he'll do something?" She whispered, using the opportunity, that Naruto gave her when he went to scout the area.
"Who, Naruto?"
"No, Hiashi-san."
"Oh… Well, I don't know, he might…"
"If you don't mind me asking, what Hyuga-san might do?" Temari asked, and it was actually her first question that was not about Gaara.
"Well…"
Flashback…
"Where is this damn Naruto! This is not the time to be late!" One frustrated Sakura screamed. "Even Kakashi-sensei is already here."
True enough. Uzumaki Naruto was half of an hour late for his first mission after a long break.
Not far away from the screaming girl, recently mentioned Hatake Kakashi… was reading his porn book… Of course that looked like it from the outside, but in his head he was deep in thoughts. 'If by anything strange she meant differences between the new and the old Naruto, then I already have a report… a report at the size of the Hokage mountain.'
"Oh? I see everyone's already here."
There was no need to guess who that voice belonged to. Both of them knew it too well… and they also were expecting only one person.
"YOU'RE LATE!" Guess who yelled that.
The blond jinchuriki, who appeared a moment ago, was now scratching his ear. "Oww… I'm deaf!"
"No, Naruto. You're not deaf. She wasn't using her special ultrasonic scream technique." Kakashi said, doing the same.
"How do you know that?"
"First, I already experienced it and second… you heard me, right?"
"Oh…" He turned to the village entrance. "Well, anyways, off we go." And started to walk off.
Now if you take Haruno Sakura, the one thing she did not like very much is to be ignored.
"Stop right there Naruto! I'm not done with you!" She took a few steps towards him and prepared her Sakura's especially for Naruto Megaton Punch… but he stopped her with only a stare over his shoulder.
"I already know what you're going to say, so save it." Then he turned and started to walk again.
Kakashi also started to walk, but Hokage's apprentice hasn't moved a bit… or more like she was not able to…
'N-No… 'Yo're annoying…' i-it can't be '…save it…' he's… he's just like…' She could not finish that sentence. She could not because it was wrong. 'No, Sasuke never said it with such coldness. It was almost like if Naruto… hates me?'
Naruto smirked.
"We're gonna leave you behind, Sakura." Kakashi said, looking back.
"Ah! Coming." She finally moved… only to stop the next second.
"Stop right there, Uzumaki Naruto." A low voice of a man ordered.
"Wha…?" Naruto turned around and raised an eyebrow in surprise. Before him stood none other than Hyuga Hiashi… a very unpleased Hyuga Haishi.
"Oh, my, my. Well if it isn't…" The jinchuriki cocked his head to the side. "Who in the blue hell, are YOU?!"
Hiashi grunted. "I am Hyuga Hiashi, the head of the strongest clan in Konoha, the Hyuga clan. And for you, maggot, it's Hiashi-sama. You will treat me with proper respect from now on." He exclaimed in his usual commanding tone… a tone that Naruto did not like very much.
The blond shinobi crossed his arms. "And why exactly should I do that?"
"Because I'm a clan head of course!" Hiashi snapped.
Naruto looked bored. "I don't give a fuck about this. I'm not a Hyuga."
The white eyed clan head became even angrier. "I'm also a member of the council."
No effect.
"Don't care either. I'm under jurisdiction of the Hokage, not the council."
Sakura and Kakashi were silently observing with wide eyes and Hiashi narrowed his.
"I can use my political weight to demote you in rank." He proudly exclaimed… but he forgot one simple thing.
"Ahahaha! To what? I'm still a genin, you know."
Despite the sarcasm, the Hyuga smiled. "Then I can just strip you off of your shinobi rank. And, because of your situation, it won't be very hard."
Now Naruto was the one who smiled, but this smile was much more… sinister.
"Of course you can, but you won't."
"And why is that?"
"Think about it. What my social status will be then, huh?"
Hiashi thought for a moment. "A civilian…"
"Uh-huh. And what civilians have? Or better yet what they don't have?"
"Civilians don't have…" He narrowed his eyes even more. "I see."
"What? I don't get it?" Sakura asked in confusion.
"Yes, I would like to know that too." Kakashi said in his strict and serious mode.
"Tell them, why don't ya."
Hiashi grunted again. "Civilians don't have… a village allegiance." Sakura gasped, and Kakashi also narrowed his eyes just as the Hyuga clan head did. "You're pushing your luck Uzumaki."
"Maybe I am… Anyway, why are you telling me this shit. I'm in the middle of the mission right now, you know." Hiashi immediately straightened, anger gone. 'Hmm, a political training in action.' Naruto thought.
"I came to make a warning. You are to stay away from my daughter Hinata."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. Kakashi and Sakura were confused as well.
"Heh, heh. No problems here… but why is that? I mean, it's not like I was near her before."
Hiashi shifted into a lecture mode. "Today Hinata came home very determined. She never looked like this before. When I asked her about it, she told me that she needs to train and then asked for a key to the forbidden Hyuga libruary."
"What the fuck is the forbidden Hyuga library?" The blond shinobi asked.
Hiashi seemingly ignored the remark. "It's the library where Hyuga's most secret and ancient techniques are stored. The key is to be given from one clan head to another. It's a tradition that was kept for many generations… And now it's broken."
"Why?"
Hiashi looked down. "Because when I refused to give it to her, she… she suddenly attacked me and took it herself."
Now that was a surprise.
"No, she couldn't!" Sakura tried to defend her friend, but was interrupted by Naruto's laugh.
"Ha, ha! I take it back! She might have something after all. But I still don't understand one thing. Where do I come in? And about the key, just take it back the same way."
"Firstly, I can't take it back. She closed herself inside." Naruto snorted, but Hiashi continued. "And secondly, when she hit me, she apologized and said that it was all in order to save her Naruto-kun."
Sakura was shocked. Kakashi was confused. And Naruto… laughed again.
"And I thought Sakura was hopeless. Well, I guess there is my fault in this…"
"What did you say to her?!" Hiashi screamed; politeness aside.
"Actually, I said… that I have nothing to do with her."
"Wha…?" Now Hiashi was confused. "Then why did she…?"
"How could you!" Everyone turned to the only girl that was around. "How could you do this to her?!" She almost went for the punch, but, remembering her last attempt, decided not to. "She… she loved you! She really did! And you… you…"
"And I didn't." The black clad ninja said coldly.
"What?"
"You heard me. She loved me, but I did not love her back. End of story."
"You… you knew?"
"Of course I knew! Do you think she can hide herself so well? And her following me everywhere I go? Pu-ulease."
"Then, why didn't you tell her?" Sakura screamed.
"Oh, because it was funny, of course! Having the Hyuga heiress running around you, but dare not to show herself was funny as hell, hahaha!"
Now Sakura was pissed. She wanted to punish him… well at least insult him somehow, but Hinata's father bested her here."
"You dare insult the Hyuga clan, boy?!"
"Hell Yeah, I am… jabroni."
Something exploded in Hiashi's head. "That's it." He went for a juuken strike, but Naruto stopped him.
"Whow, whow, whow, hold it. Before you do that, allow me to say… thank you."
"What?!" Hiashi snapped. "You want to thank me now?!"
Naruto smiled. "Yep. You said something interesting to me, so allow me to thank you… right from the bottom of my heart!" In a flash of speed, he appeared in front of the Hyuga, and kicked him in the stomach. Not expecting this, Hiashi bend over. Naruto's eyes sparkled behind his sunglasses. 'Now!' With that thought he turned around, placed Hiashi's head on his right shoulder and jumped down on his lower back, finishing the combination. (AN: Another WWE move, called Stone Cold Stunner.)
The result was… stunning. The clan head fell on his back and then even rolled several times on the ground.
Nearby Kakashi was thinking. 'That looked like the move he used against me… yet it's different.' He shook his head a little to make it clear and then grabbed blond genin's hand.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
Naruto jerked his hand off. "Defending myself, or haven't you noticed? He attacked me first, you know."
"Grrr… fine. Let's take him to the hospital." The jounin started to walk towards the downed Hyuga, but was stopped by his subordinate.
"No. We're leaving him where he is. Or have you forgotten? We're on a mission and do not have time for this."
Kakashi glared at Naruto… and even released some killing intent.
"I-I think Kakashi-sensei is right, Naruto." Sakura was a medic after all… but her teammate knew better.
"But then we may lose the link to Sasuke." He said, scratching his chin.
Sakura's eyes burned with fire. "You're right, let's go."
'Soooo easy.' Naruto thought, and without saying anything more jumped off into the forest with Sakura closely behind.
'This is gonna be a long report.' The masked jounin concluded and jumped also.
End flashback…
"Hmm, he has guts; that's for sure." Temari stated.
"No. He don't have guts, he's nuts!" Sakura screamed in response. "Hyuga Hiashi is one of the most respected people in Konoha. He may politically destroy Naruto."
"It seems like he doesn't give a damn about that. And if he does, then he hides it very well." The Suna kunoichi answered. "But, it looks kind of strange to me. Did he not want to become a Hokage?"
"Indeed, he did." Kakashi made himself noticeable.
"Then… I don't understand."
"Yeah, me neither."
"Oh, it's quite simple." Naruto said, appearing out of nowhere. "People change, dreams change."
Sakura's heart almost stopped. "I-It can't be! You must have wanted to be a Hokage from your birth!"
"Care to explain, Naruto?" Kakashi asked. Temari just decided to silently observe.
Naruto sighed. "Tell me Kakashi, what are my chances of becoming a Hokage?"
The masked jounin thought for a moment. "Like snowball's chances to survive in hell."
"Exactly." Naruto said, sitting down near the campfire.
"I see." Kakashi mumbled and returned in his Icha Icha world, giggling a little.
"Well, I think we should call it a night." Sakura stood up. "I guess Temari-san and I will be staying in this tent, and…" She tried to make arrangements, but someone interrupted her.
"Nope." Everyone turned to the blond jinchuriki. "In that tent it will be Temari-san and I." He exclaimed with a smiling face. Everyone except him blushed, even Kakashi."
"N-Naruto! You pervert! How can you suggest that?!" The pink haired kunoichi yelled at him, even making him flinch a little.
He turned to the Suna jounin. "Do you object?" He looked extremely serious, and for a second Temari thought that she saw Gaara instead of Naruto.
"N-No, I…" She hesitated.
"Wait, Temari-san, you can't…"
"Then it is decided." And without saying anything else Naruto entered the tent he appointed for himself.
"W-Well… go-od night." Temari also stood up and slowly followed him, blushing furiously.
"I… I…" Sakura tried to say something… anything… but she just couldn't.
"Well, I'm off." Kakashi excused himself.
Sakura stood alone near the fireplace. 'This can't be Naruto. No one can change this much…'
Oh, if only she knew…
Ten minutes later. Sakura's tent…
"I just can't believe it!" Godaime's apprentice spat, trying to keep her voice down. "I don't understand, why she didn't object?!"
Her team leader Hatake Kakashi was trying hard to ignore her and fall asleep… but a pink haired non-stop talking machine can do that to you.
So he finally snapped. "Stop this, Sakura."
"But I don't…"
"So you would've refused if he said the same to you?"
"…"
"Exactly. Now be silent and go to sleep. We still have a long way." He turned around and hoped that sweet dream world will visit him at last.
Sakura pouted. 'Guh… maybe I would have refused…' She got into her sleeping bag. 'Yeah… maybe…'
'Stop lying, Shannaro! You would've jumped there before him!" Kunoichi's counterpart added her lepta.
'Who the hell asked you?'
'Duh. Well it must be you I guess. No one else can do that, stupid.'
'Oh, right… Still, I haven't asked you! Anyway, I don't like Naruto. Sasuke-kun is the only one for me!' Satisfied with herself, she closed her eyes and welcomed beautiful images of her, Sasuke and a dining table…
'Yeah, you keep telling that to yourself...'
Same time. Naruto's tent…
Temari was already in her sleeping bag, but not asleep yet. How could she? It will be her first night spent in any man's company, aside from her brothers and sensei… Add the fact, that she never had a boyfriend and you will get the picture.
"U-Umm… Na-Narut-to-san-n?"
"I'm not a san."
"S-Sorry, umm… Naruto-k-kun."
Sigh. "I'm not a kun either… no matter, what is it?"
Temari gulped. "Why have you asked this… the tents I mean."
Naruto gave her his foxy grin. "Well, the reason is quite simple."
Temari's heart almost stopped. "W-What is it?"
He stood still for a second, then quickly got into his sleeping bag and closed his eyes. "Because the thought of spending the night in company of either one of them gives me the creeps." He turned around and passed out almost immediately.
"Oh…" To tell the truth Temari was more disappointed than relieved…
One night and two days later. Suna village…
"Damn!" Naruto exclaimed, staring at Temari's hometown. "Nice clean air, perfect terrain. How do you people live here, you must be insane?!"
Temari pouted. "Hey! It may not be good enough for you, but it's still our home!"
The genin just rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever… Anyway, let's get this over with quickly. We have an Akatsuki to kill!" He said in excitement.
Kakashi did not agree. "You wanted to say, we have a Kazekage to rescue?"
"That too… But it raises a question."
"Which is?"
"Well, if we're gonna save Kazekage, then what Sunagakure is going to do?"
Silence.
Naruto sighed and pulled out a can of cola from behind. "Alright, enough talk. I want to know what happened from some witness." He opened his can and went for the gate… that was destroyed. "Oooh, someone had fun!" The jinchuriki tried to go through, but a random guard appeared on his way.
"Halt! Who are… oh, Temari-san!"
Naruto's eyes widened behind his sunglasses. "What?" He grabbed an unfortunate gatekeeper and lifted him up by the throat with one arm. "Do I look like Temari-san to you, huh?!" He then shook him a little. "Do I have breasts?! Or a huge ass fan?! Or the worst thing – Suna headband?! Huh?! Answer me!" But despite all his efforts, no answer came from the too shocked guard… instead it came from behind.
"Umm… Naruto? I think he was referring to me."
The blond genin turned around to see the fan wielding Suna kunoichi, behind whom stood a massively sweatdropping Kakashi and a very angry Sakura.
"Oops." He put the guard down. "Sorry, my mistake."
Recently promoted Suna chunin also wanted to sweatdrop at first, but then remembered what he wanted to say before this short incident.
"Ah! Temari-sama, we have an emergency!"
"Yes, I know. Gaara has been kidnapped, and…" He interrupted her.
"No, it's Kankurou-dono!"
Temari gasped, fearing the worst. "W-What happened!" She almost screamed.
"Quick! Follow me!"
Eight minutes later. Suna hospital. Operational room…
"Kankurou!" Kicking the door open, Temari flew into the room. On the operational table laid her brother, who seemed like he has no visual damage, but for some reason was in extreme pain. Several medics stood over him, looking at her.
She ran over to him. "What happened?"
"Poison." One of the medics answered.
"And? You don't have the antidote?"
"S-Sorry Temari-sama! But this is the first time we witness this kind of poison." Medics tried to make an excuse.
By that time team Kakashi entered the room as well. "Oh, hi man!" Naruto appeared near the table. "Damn, you look like shit!" He then looked at the med card. "A poison, huh… Sasori's work for sure."
"Do you know the cure?" Temari looked with pleading eyes.
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Who… me? Well… yeah, I know one…" He said, scratching his chin.
"Really?" Now her eyes were full of hope.
"Yeah, but you won't like it…"
"ANYTHING!"
"Anything you say… well, okay. But don't say I didn't warn ya." With that Naruto outstretched his right arm and made a perfect Rasengan.
Temari's and all medics eyes widened in fear before the infamous jutsu. Still neither she, nor them could make a move to stop him… but Kakashi could.
"What the hell are you doing?!" He screamed, grabbing his subordinate's arm.
"Well, she asked me for a cure, and this is the only one I know."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "But you tried to kill him."
The jinchuriki sighed. "Believe me, in fifteen more minutes he's gonna beg for death." He jerked his arm away and cancelled Rasengan.
"Still, this is not the way!"
Naruto sat on the bench. "Well, I wash my hands then."
Kakashi turned back to the table and saw Sakura, looking at the med card. 'At least she won't kill him on purpose.' He thought and then came to join Naruto on the bench.
Thirty five minutes later…
Sakura sighed. "His life is not in danger anymore." She said with a smile.
Temari released the breath she was holding and slowly slid down the wall. "Thank God!"
'Well, I guess she's not entirely useless after all.' Naruto thought, sitting on the bench in his boredom. "Anyway, this is what we have. Gaara has been kidnapped by two Akatsuki members. From the description we know it was Sasori and Deidara. And they have a few days advantage… Oh did I forget to mention that we don't know their location?" He made a thinking pose. "After counting all rights and wrongs… I think Gaara is fucked." The jinchuriki gave his verdict.
Kakashi stood up and approached one of the medics. "Can you tell me where you found him?" And then he added. "It may not look like it, but I'm a professional tracker." The medic was going to open his mouth, when…
"You don't have to." It was Kankurou, who started to show signs of life.
"What do you mean?" Kakashi asked.
Kankurou turned to medics. "Have you brought back all my puppets?"
"Yes, Kankurou-dono."
The puppeteer smiled. "Good, search Karasu's left arm."
Kakashi went down and opened said arm, receiving a piece of clothing. "I see. You gained something even from a lost battle."
Kankurou smiled. "I'm a shinobi after all."
"You so sure about that?" Kazekage's brother turned his head, to see approaching Naruto.
"Uzumaki Naruto. What did you mean by that?" He hissed with narrowed eyes.
"Right, but first tell me, how was your fight with Sasori?" Naruto said smirking.
"Well, I…"
"It doesn't matter, how your fight was!" Naruto interrupted, making Kazekage's brother scowl. "I mean, look at the facts. You fought a master puppeteer, your own puppets are trashed and you were lying half-dead for the last two days. I think everyone with brains would get the picture about how your fight was."
"Naruto! You should not speak like that to him!" Sakura screamed.
Naruto turned to her. "And why shouldn't I?"
"Well… because his brother is a Kazekage!"
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "…And?"
"A-And he's…"
"Oh shut your mouth!"
"Enough!" Kakashi joined the conversation. "I'm gonna track down Akatsuki." He made a few handseals. "Kuchiouse no jutsu!" The masked jounin slammed his hands into the ground and eight dogs appeared.
"Yo, Kakashi!" The smallest one greeted. "What do you ne…?" He interrupted his speech, when his eyes fell on Naruto. "YOU!" Pakkun pointed at the jinchuriki. "You heathen! You dare to show your face after what you've done?!"
Naruto smirked. "Ouch, that was pretty harsh… And by the way, I was here from the beginning. It was you, who showed up."
Pakkun turned to his summoner. "Kakashi. If you have summoned us to help him, then we have to deny."
Everyone was shocked at what has happened. A summon for some reason insulted a human.
"What are you talking about, Pakkun?" Kakashi asked. By this time every dog was already barking and growling at Naruto.
"I dare not speak of this. It's forbidden." The pack leader answered. "But what I can say is… he committed the worst possible sin against us summons." He narrowed his eyes. "So, what have you summoned us for?" Every dog immediately became silent.
The jounin cleared his throat. "Kazekage has been kidnapped by Akatsuki. I need you to take the trail."
All dogs seemed somehow relieved. "Alright, we'll do that." Then they smelled the piece of clothing.
"Got the scent? Alright, disperse!" Pakkun commanded, and all pack ran off in random directions… all except for Pakkun himself. "Word of advice, Kakashi. Do not trust him." He said and also ran away.
"Care to elaborate, Naruto?" The jounin asked.
Naruto scratched his chin. "Hmm… Nope." He said and walked out of the room.
Sakura approached Kakashi. "Sensei, what was that?"
Ex-ANBU looked distant. "If only I knew, Sakura."
Random part of the village…
Naruto walked in some narrow alley. "You can come out now." He commanded.
"Hai, Naruto-sama." Someone from the shadows replied. One moment later a small figure appeared. "Welcome to Suna village, Naruto-sama. It is an honor."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Stop this sama crap, I'm not that old. And it's good to see you too by the way… Matsuri."
"Hai, Naruto-sama!"
"Guh, well, no matter. I came here personally to thank you for your good work during these three years. You certainly deserved this." He put his arm in his pocket and drew a small ring, which had a skull on it. A skull that looked very similar to the one he had on his necklace.
"Oh, thank you, Naruto-sama!"
Naruto threw the ring to her, and she quickly caught it and almost immediately put it on her finger with shaking hands.
"Now listen here." She stood straight. "On this mission to retrieve Kazekage I don't need any Suna ninja escort."
"This will be hard to achieve, my lord."
"No, it won't… Tell me, Matsuri, what council members in every village fear the most?" He asked with a confident smirk.
"What, Naruto-sama?"
"They fear for their own skin of course. So, all we have to do is to make sure that some council member will find this early in the morning." With that a parcel appeared in his hand.
"It shall be done, my lord." She took the parcel.
"Good. We'll speak again after the mission." He disappeared in a flash of black.
"Hai!" Matsuri said and also disappeared.
The next morning…
"What do you mean we can't go?!" Temari yelled in anger.
Her ex-sensei Baki crossed his arms. "I meant exactly what I said. You are to perform a guard duty."
"B-But why? I mean they will need someone from Suna to escort them".
Suddenly Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Wait, do you smell it?" He asked.
Sakura turned to him. "Smell what?"
"I smell a woman."
"What, again?"
"Yeah, but it's much worse… it's an OLD woman!" Immediately after he finished his sentence, everyone heard…
"Wait a minute." Someone's voice echoed through the area.
All shinobis turned to the voice's source to see probably the oldest woman living on the planet. What no one expected is that she jumped from the wall she was standing on and landed very swiftly.
"Not bad for such an age." Naruto commented.
"If they need a Suna shinobi, then I will be more then enough." She exclaimed.
"C-Chiyo-baasama? But you have retired!" Temari shouted.
Ignoring her, the old woman turned to Konoha team. "I know that you're White Fang's son, and I hate you very much. Still, I will help your team on two conditions."
"They are?" Kakashi asked.
"First, I want to see my grandson."
"And second?"
Chiyo turned to Naruto. "You will let me talk to him, eye to eye."
"…Alright. I accept."
"Good. Then I suggest we leave now." The masked jounin nodded and they jumped off.
"I don't like this, Baki-sensei." Temari looked at the ground.
"Yes, me neither…"
Akatsuki hideout…
Nine men stood on a giant statue, performing the bijuu extraction.
"Someone's approaching." Said a man that looked like a plant.
"Who is it?" Asked a low voice of the leader.
"It's some Konoha team."
Leader's eyes narrowed. "Is there Kyuubi jinchuriki among them?"
"…No, but there is someone called Maito Gai."
"I see." The leader said. "Then I guess we'll use that jutsu… any volunteers?"
"Can I have this one?" Asked a man with a large sword.
"Very well."
With team Gai…
"We should hurry." Said the dog that was leading the way. "I sense someone approaching."
Then a blue skinned man with a large sword burst from the ground. "It has been nearly three years… missed me?!"
Akatsuki hideout…
"I sense another team approaching."
"Alright, another volunteer…"
"Sorry my lord, but… this time it is Kyuubi jinchuriki."
The room became silent for some seconds.
"Then it's decided." The leader turned to the only present Sharingan user. "Word of advice, Itachi. If he will make it in time and interrupt the ritual, then it's your head."
No answer came.
With Naruto…
Team Kakashi… and one old woman were passing through the forest at high speed.
Suddenly Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Wait, do you smell it?"
Sakura rolled her eyes. "What, another woman?"
Naruto made an evil smile. "Oh no, now I smell trash." He twisted in midair and descended to the ground. "Look what we have here?! The biggest piece of Konoha trailer park trash, walking God's green Earth!"
"Long time no see, Naruto-kun…"
...
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone