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Dragonsoul	By : UmbreonMessiah Category: Naruto > General Views: 999 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. All characters from Naruto are property of Masashi Kishimoto. Any original characters are property of their respective owners. There is no profit to be made with this story, it is purely for entertainment purposes.

Chapter List
- 1-Dragonsoul
- 2-Chapter 2
- 1
- 2
Dragonsoul

Chapter 2

Ino yawned deeply as she walked the streets of Konoha on her way to the
flower shop. She had a few days off, and decided it would be best to put her
other talents to work. Being able to control peoples� minds and bodies was fun,
but she often preferred the subtle approach of controlling people through
speech. On top of that, selling flowers was a welcome diversion from the sort
of work her job usually entailed.
A peculiar noise caused her to come to a slow stop. She turned and faced
the direction the noise had originated from only to find nothing but an eager
squirrel rummaging through someone�s discarded belongings. She shrugged her
shoulders before she continued down the street, acting as though nothing had
happened.
Moments later the noise came again. Ino reacted much more swiftly this
time, but once again there was nothing out of the ordinary to be seen. Worry
began to set in as Ino contemplated whether she was simply being paranoid or if
she was actually being followed. A moment later she dismissed the problem
again, realizing that the chances of someone following her were slim. After
all, why would someone bother with the beautiful blonde walking down a street
all by her lonesome?
�Wait a second...� Ino grumbled, questioning her own logic.
A moment later the sound came again. This time it emanated from the
bushes to her left, where a faint rustle gave away the perpetrator�s position.
Fully assured that she was not imagining things she tossed a kunai into the
foliage, barking at her stalker.
�I know you�re in there! Come out and face me!�
A small figure leapt from the shrub, moving too fast for Ino to see. It
collided with her, temporarily knocking the wind out of her lungs and throwing
her onto her back. As she recovered, she was mildly aware of something nestled
on top of her chest. Baffled, the blonde tilted her head to look at what was
lying on top of her, only to be greeted by the cheekiest of masked smiles and a
body of grey and black fur.
�Hoooey!� Zurui snickered. �Aren�t these things lovely? I could get lost in them all day!�
The raccoon expected to see the cheerful face of a lovely woman as he
looked up. Instead he was greeted by the pure white eyes of Yamanaka Ino, who
was currently frothing with rage. Her fist created a mini crater as she slammed
it into the dirt, letting out a scream that could be heard across the village
and deep into the surrounding forests.
�JIYUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMARUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!�

Naruto�s ears twitched as a faint noise reached them. He turned to face
the direction that he and the others had come from, staring back through the
tree line with a slight frown.
�Did...you guys hear something just now?�
�You�re imagining things,� Sakura said, placing her hands on her hips.
�Now quit stalling and move!�
Konoha lay far behind the group, nestled somewhere back in the deep
forests that covered the Fire Country. As Naruto looked out through the canopy,
he could just make out the sun clinging to the rims of the horizon, desperately
trying to stay awake against the advancing night. The four shinobi had set an
amazing pace, mostly thanks to the quiet that had gripped them since leaving
the village. They were now less than half a day�s travel from their destination
in the Land of Waterfalls and were getting ready to set up camp.
�I�m not stalling,� Naruto grumbled. �I just thought...�
�No fighting,� Yamato said, glaring back at his subordinates.
�Us? Fight?� Sakura giggled nervously. �Whatever do you mean?�
�He is no doubt referring to your history of bickering amongst one
another.�
A visible shudder passed through Sakura�s body as Sai spoke. She was
still unused to the pale boy�s mannerisms and phantom-like speech. She had
tried to make him understand that fact during the trip. Sai either failed to
grasp the concept or had not been listening, as every time he opened his mouth
it seemed to get worse. Were it not for his completely hollow delivery of every
last word, Sakura would have assumed he was doing it on purpose. As things
stood, it was all the more likely that Sai simply had no comprehension of other
peoples� feelings.
�Did anyone ask you?� the
medic snorted. �Learn some manners. This conversation has nothing to do with
you.�
�I cannot ignore the both of you,� Sai responded. �Not only are we on
the same team, but you are both loud enough to be heard at quite a distance.�
�That�s quite enough,� Yamato called out. Naruto and Sakura snapped to
attention, but Sai was once again unaffected. �I don�t know how Kakashi ran
this unit, but I for one won�t tolerate any more of this. Either you all behave
like shinobi or I�m going to have to start using some drastic measures.�
�Drastic measures?� Naruto asked, tilting his head. �Like what?�
Yamato grinned almost maliciously as Naruto swallowed the bait, leaning
in to glare at the ninja patronizingly. �For the most part, I can be just like
Kakashi was. But if you continue to be unruly, I might just have to start
ruling by fear.�
�You�re not that scary,� Naruto replied petulantly. �I bet you couldn�t
scare a fly.�
The new leader of Team Seven could not have been happier with Naruto�s
reaction. The second half of his display always worked better when at least one
person failed to subscribe to the belief that the demure man could be
frightening. With a slight chuckle, Yamato leaned toward the blond shinobi,
trying to contain himself just a bit longer.
�Is that what you think?�
A sudden, terrified yelp sent a flock of birds scattering into the sky.
Both Naruto and Sakura slapped their hands over their mouths to prevent any
further noise as they stared into Yamato�s perfected face of fear. The ANBU�s
suspiciously block-shaped head seemed drained of life as dark shadows obscured
the curves of his cheek bones. Yamato�s beady eyes seemed almost ready to leap
out of their sockets as he glared at his new pupils, his gaze boring into their
souls. He looked like a beast out of a child�s nightmares, waiting for the
right moment to pounce.
Just as suddenly as Yamato had adopted the look he abandoned it, eyeing
the pair condemningly. �No more fighting. Got it?�
�Yes, sir,� came the meek reply.
�Good!� Yamato chuckled. �Then let�s get moving. Just a little longer
and we�ll set up camp for the night.�
The two waited until Yamato was out of earshot before letting out a
unified shudder, as though they were shaking themselves dry.
�Damn. That was creepy,� Naruto gulped.
�I�ll say,� Sakura shivered, rubbing her arms to try warming herself
up. �As long as I never have to see that face again, it�s totally worth leaving
your skull intact.�
The conversation was interrupted as Sai pushed his way through the
pair, moving to keep up with Yamato. Miraculously, the boy seemed completely
unmoved by Yamato�s terror technique, his gaze remaining as resolute and empty
as ever. As the new recruit shuffled by, Naruto let out a low whistle and shook
his head.
�You aren�t human, I swear.�
�I don�t see how your inability to control your emotions has any effect
on my humanity,� Sai said bluntly. �Your cowardice is your own fault. Blame
your lack of penis, not me.�
As Sai walked off, Naruto was left speechless. He stood there blankly,
trying to grasp at the proper words to voice his rapidly increasing hatred for
his new teammate. He was astonished and enraged all at once, his confusion
quite evident from the rapid blinking he was doing.
�What did you just say to me!?�
he finally managed to blurt out.
�I think you heard me,� Sai yawned loudly, already quite far ahead of
the Jinchuuriki. �Please don�t attempt to disprove the statement...I�m sure
neither I nor Sakura would approve.�
�Shows what you know,� Sakura sneered.
It took a moment for Sakura to realize what she had said, and another
moment after that for what she considered the appropriate reaction to take
place. Her face turned a violent shade of red just before she delivered a wild
right hook that sent Naruto flying. A thick cloud of dust marked his landing
zone well ahead of the rest of them, making Sakura�s blush all the more
powerful. A few seconds passed before Yamato�s condescending voice could be
heard once more.
�Glad to see at least someone here is taking the initiative!�

Jiyumaru bolted down the street, sweat pouring from his brow and his
silver-streaked hair. He could not believe his luck, but considering that it
was his fault Zurui was roaming the streets of Konoha, he had little reason to
be surprised. This was the price he paid for not being in full control of the
creatures he summoned.
�I�LL CLOBBER YOU TO DEATH!�
Yamanka Ino�s embittered cry made for excellent motivation as Jiyumaru
picked up the pace. Though the raging blonde was certainly not on the level of
the Hokage or Sakura in terms of raw physical strength, she was still quite an
accomplished shinobi and a member of the Yamanaka clan to boot. What she lacked
in physical strength she made up for in mental prowess. The amount of sheer
torture that he was likely to endure if she caught him only supplied more fuel
for his legs, which burned with the effort of keeping him ahead of the mob that
Ino had managed to rally. Konoha�s women began to pour into the streets in one
unified wave of rage, all directed at a certain ex-ANBU captain.
�Well, it wasn�t exactly the best life,� Jiyumaru whimpered, �but for a
ninja I had a good run.�
Just when all hope seemed to be lost, Jiyumaru spied his salvation
around the next bend. There, standing like a holy shrine, was Ichiraku�s Ramen
Stand. If he could make it there, Ayame would certainly grant him sanctuary,
just as she had several times in the past. That thought, along with the
thundering sound of the stampede that was hot on his heels propelled him to an
amazing speed. With a hoarse shout he dove into the shop, landing behind the
counter and rolling to a stop against the wall.
�Jiyumaru?� Ayame blinked. �Most customers walk in like normal people.�
�No time for that now!� Jiyumaru yelped. �Hide me before they kill me!�
Ayame stood at the counter, looking down at her long time friend whilst
tapping the ladle in her hand against her palm. The look on her face was a mix
between pity and the gaze of an angry schoolteacher. She bent down and looked
him in the eyes, giving off an irate sigh.
�What did Zurui do this time?�
�WHERE IS HE!?�
�It�s a short story that I don�t have time to tell you right now!�
Jiyumaru panicked. �Just hide me! I don�t care if it�s in the pot with the
ramen, just hide me!�
Ayame pondered her options as she stared at Jiyumaru, trying her best
to hide how amused his current situation made her. The thunder of approaching
footsteps cut her fun short, leaving her to decide where best to stash him.
Without other options, she shoved him into the store room just behind the
kitchen.
�And don�t come out until I tell you it�s safe, all right?� she
whispered harshly.
�I�m fairly sure that won�t be too difficult.�
Ayame left her friend behind to deal with the throng developing outside
the restaurant. With nothing else to do, Jiyumaru decided to use his time to
explore the inner workings of the ramen stand. Rummaging through the various
confections and seasonings produced nothing of real interest. Further searching
revealed a recipe book and a few extra pots and pans, effectively giving
Jiyumaru everything he would need to make himself a bowl of salty goodness. The
only thing he was missing was the stovetop. The closest one however, was out
front with the murderous women of Konoha, which made it the very last place
Jiyumaru wanted to be.
Giving up on having a secret lunch, Jiyumaru leaned against a shelf and
tried to relax. Boredom eventually led him to peruse its contents, finding a
variety of tools for every day purposes. There was a screwdriver, a wrench, a
box of matches, a hammer, a kunai...
�A kunai?� Jiyumaru mused. �What�s this doing here?�
�Don�t you have more important things to be worried about, kiddo?�
How Jiyumaru kept himself from shrieking like a little girl was
something that the ANBU jounin would never quite find the answer to. The
surprise of hearing someone else talking to him when he thought he had been
alone was the perfect shock scare, yet all it managed to elicit from him was a
sharp intake of breath. Where once there was nothing but bags of ramen noodles
now sat Mitarashi Anko, succulently enjoying a trio of dango pierced through
the middle by a toothpick.
�M-Mitarashi-san! What are you doing here?�
�I�d ask you the same question,� she smirked, �only it seems pretty
obvious. You really shouldn�t summon that raccoon of yours if you can�t keep it
under control, y�know?�
�Why are you blaming me for his behavior!?� Jiyumaru scowled. �I didn�t raise the
lech!�
�Be that as it may,� Anko smiled, biting off another sugary orb, �most
people don�t understand that a summoner is not always in charge of what he
summons. Those girls outside sure don�t...and I bet they�d love to know where you ended up.�
Unease drifted between the two
skilled warriors, drawing an awkward look from Jiyumaru as he slowly did the
mental math. He turned to the doorframe that served as the only boundary
between him and a horde of angry women. Knowing all too well where Anko was
going with her statement, he let out a loud gulp and turned back to face her.
�You can�t be serious,� he whined.
�I�m quite serious, kiddo,� she
snickered. �What do you say? You take me to dinner, or I�ll tell those pretty
little flowers that you�re holed up back here.�
�You realize if you tell them,
they�ll kill me?�
�Nah, they�ll just beat you within
an inch of your life,� Anko stated matter-of-factly. �And then you�ll be in the
loving care of Haruno Sakura...right after her best friend tells her what your
raccoon did.�
�You win!� Jiyumaru squeaked,
flailing his arms in fear. �Dinner it is! DINNER IT IS!�
�I�m so glad you saw it my way,�
Anko cackled. �See you around eight!�
The trench coat wearing special
jounin disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving Jiyumaru with only ingredients
and cutlery to talk to. Convinced he was alone again, he let out a deep sigh
and slumped down against the shelf.
�That raccoon is gonna be the
death of me.�

It was a rare occurrence in the
Land of Fire for there to be a solidly constructed, well maintained wooden
house in the middle of nowhere. Yet that was precisely what Sakura beheld as
she entered the clearing where Naruto, Sai and Yamato waited for her. For a
moment she thought that it might be a genjutsu. Thorough examination proved
that hypothesis to be incorrect, leaving her amazed at their good luck, if not
a little a dumbfounded.
�I see you like my craftsmanship,�
Yamato beamed. �I always try to make them a little different each time.�
�You made this!?� the pinkette
screeched. �Impossible! This would have taken you months!�
�It would seem Captain Yamato is
the owner of a very rare Kekkei Genkai,� Sai muttered. �The power of the
Mokuton jutsu was something only the Shodai Hokage possessed. Not even his
descendents inherited his power.�
Sakura looked at Yamato curiously
while Naruto slowly peeled himself off the forest floor. Dazed and confused
from Sakura�s vicious blow, he had nevertheless heard the entire conversation
and wanted desperately to get his two ryou in.
�So what does that make you,
Captain Yamato?� Naruto groaned, shaking the cobwebs out of his brain. �A very lucky descendent, or what?�
�What I am is none of your
business,� Yamato glared. �All you need to know is that there will be no tents
or stargazing while I�m around. This is where we�ll be staying the night,
assuming the three of you can get along that is. Otherwise, I think I can make
you all an eight by eight cell.�
��We�ll be good!� Sakura
squealed, unable to contain her excitement at the concept of a good night�s
rest in the wild.
�It�s settled then,� the team�s leader announced. �I�ll see you three
in the morning. Try not to get into any trouble. If you spot anything, let me
know. You can�t be too careful out here.�
Yamato and Sai retired at the same time, leaving the original half of
Team Seven on the magnificent house�s porch. The style was oddly civilian, with
regular doors instead of the sliding variety. It spanned two floors, yet took
up very little room in the shady clearing. It looked like a cottage in the
middle of the wilderness without any sign of decay at all.
�What was that all about?� Naruto asked.
�I don�t know,� Sakura pondered. �Captain Yamato certainly is
different.�
�That�s not what I meant,� Naruto said. �I meant back there with
Sai...before you punched me.�
The bright glow returned to Sakura�s cheeks as she avoided her
teammate�s gaze. �Oh, well you know...uh...it�s just that...well um...�
�Come on Sakura,� he pleaded. �You can tell me. We�re practically
family.�
�Oh that does not make the
image I just had any more comforting!� Sakura whined. �Seriously Naruto, you
can be so clueless!�
For what might have been the first time, Naruto actually took a moment
to think over what Sakura had said. Revelation hit him like another one of Sakura�s
mighty fists, causing him to blush as well. He cleared his throat, trying to be
as polite as he could.
�Ah, I see,� he chuckled. �I kinda thought you�d just forget that and
move on.�
Sakura huffed angrily, crossing her arms and giving her friend a pout.
�What made you think I would be able to forget that?�
The two shared an awkward moment before Sakura cleared her throat, a
hand gripping her left arm tightly in order to squeeze out the nervousness she
was experiencing.
�Forget I said anything. Let�s just get some rest, all right?�
Naruto remained outside for a bit, looking up at the sky in a
contemplative manner before deciding to turn in.

The night passed uneventfully. Despite having an entire house to run
amok in, the original members of Team Seven found it impossible to get into any
mischief at all. The walls seemed thin and the fact that Yamato had created
everything led them to believe he could also see everything. That was enough
incentive for the both of them to go to sleep almost as soon as they had
slipped into their sleeping bags.
Breakfast was as good as could be expected. Feeling it would be rude to
leave the comfort of Yamato�s makeshift home to cook a warm breakfast, Naruto
and Sakura instead threw together an assortment of fruits and bread to eat.
Yamato joined them shortly after they began, but the trio did not see Sai until
they were just about ready to leave. He exited the house just before Yamato
disassembled it, which earned him inquisitive glares from Naruto and Sakura.
After Yamato returned the house to the earth which had spawned it, the group
set off towards the Land of Waterfalls, leaving behind no evidence of their
passing.
The location of their mission was a bustling neutral city that sat on
the border of the Land of Waterfalls and the Land of Fire. It stuck out against
the backdrop of lush forests and gentle streams with its lamp posts and high
tech buildings, giving it a surreal look amidst the natural beauty of the
country. The flora of the Land of Fire would have nothing to do with the
concrete jungle, staying on its side of the boundary between the wilds and
paved roads. It was unlike any other place that Naruto had visited in his
travels, as though this town existed several years in the future. For a moment
the group was certain it had stepped forward in time somehow, to a place just
beyond their current understanding. This feeling evaporated as a stout man with
a goatee trudged past them, dragging an old fashion noodle cart behind him.
Opting to stay within the little pocket of civilization, the team
rented a series of rooms at a local hotel that were to act as their base of
operations. Once Yamato was satisfied with the arrangements, the four shinobi
met their client inside the town�s claim to fame: a large stone building with
glorious stain glass windows that acted as a special repository for all of the
Land of Waterfall�s neighbouring countries. The building, as the pamphlets
boasted, was built as a combined effort between the Great Shinobi Nations as a
place to store all sorts of information. It was an ambitious project that
brought the town just as much thievery as success. Since much information was
housed there and since a large amount of it could be used for vile purposes,
the building was outfitted with the greatest security measures known to the
ninja world, with staff that was handpicked by some of the most renowned ninja
in the world. For all intents and purposes, the building was theft proof.
The team met up with a stocky man who turned out to be the repository�s
curator. His most defining feature was that he possessed the most comical nose
Naruto had ever seen. It looked much like a shrivelled eggplant, curved
strangely toward his mouth, making it appear as though he were trying to eat it
every time he spoke. This would have caused Naruto to burst out laughing for
certain, were it not for the fact that the man�s voice was completely
juxtaposed to how he appeared. Instead of something nasally or high-pitched,
his voice was deep and gruff, commanding the sort of respect that Naruto rarely
gave anyone. It was a humbling experience for someone so silly looking to drag
along a team of experienced shinobi as though they were a litter of newborn
puppies.
�And this section has measures set up by Kumogakure and Iwagakure,� the
curator boasted. �Of course, I can�t tell you anything about it, and even if I
could, I don�t know how it works. Best way to make sure nobody can overthrow
your security system is to make sure nobody knows anything about it in the
first place, right?�
�That...definitely seems like it would work,� Yamato frowned, quite
concerned over the intense ignorance the smallish man portrayed. �But that
doesn�t quite answer what you need us
for. Your request was incredibly vague.�
�Ah, yes,� the curator chuckled, clapping his hands together. �Well,
that�s because I couldn�t risk anyone getting a hold of the information, you
see. Our carrier birds are always getting shot down. We have to make sure the
information is direct and to the point, without giving anything sensitive away.
That and we release about twenty birds every time we need to send a message,
so...�
�That�s all well and good,� Yamato grimaced. �But why are we here,
again?�
�Oh goodness, my manners!� The curator clapped his hands again, and suddenly
a group of well dressed servants rushed onto the scene from out of nowhere,
offering everyone a drink of water. The curator guzzled his before the servants
sped off, not even giving Naruto a chance to reach for his glass. �Yes, well,
you see, recently we�ve had a series of attempted thefts. Normally such things
would never bother me, as our
security systems are untouchable. But � and here�s the very disconcerting part
� some of them have been broken through. I don�t know how they did it, but they
managed to get through at least one, if not two
of our security measures. And they aren�t stopping. Whatever they want is
worth enough to them to brave the dangers over and over again.�
�That sounds like one determined thief,� Sakura mused. �How many times
have they tried to steal from you?�
�Counting the very last time, that makes about twelve.�
�If this guy�s tried twelve times and failed, then he�s not gonna
succeed,� Naruto grumbled. �Why did we bother coming out here?�
�The fact that he�s still alive,
my good ninja,� the curator admonished, �is reason enough to be concerned.
These traps aren�t meant to be cautionary devices. They�re deadly. He�s managed
to come back not just once, but twelve times. That means we�re dealing with
someone who�s not your run of the mill thief.�
�What do you suppose he�s after?� Yamato asked.
�Impossible to say,� the curator sighed. �We have a lot of information
that�s accessible to the public, and a lot more that isn�t. He could be after almost anything. Though I can tell you that
the attempts started not long after we acquired our latest addition.�
�Latest addition?� Sakura inquired. �What would that be?�
�Follow me and I�ll show you!�
The curator took the group into the main hall of the repository before
pulling out a long ring of keys. Taking quite a while to pick the right one, he
shoved the awkwardly designed key into an inconspicuous wall. The wall opened
up to reveal a secret door that led to a display case where three sets of
incredibly ancient tomes were laid out for public viewing. As the four shinobi
followed the stocky gentleman, Sakura took notice of how Sai seemed utterly
unimpressed by the grand tour, yet was furiously sketching something into a
black book that he kept in his backpack.
�This,� the curator said in awe, showing off the centerpiece to his is
display, �is a text we�ve just had dated and appears to be over a thousand
years old! The writing inside is a very, very old form of our language, and is
still giving us trouble in translating. From what we can tell however, it seems
to be some form of atlas.�
�An atlas?� Yamato whistled. �If it really is as old as you say it is,
I can understand why someone would want to steal it.�
�I can�t,� Naruto grumbled. �What the hell would someone want with a
really old map?�
�Are you seriously that dense!?� Sakura snarled, taking a swing at her
partner. �That kind of information could go for a lot of money. This book is
probably worth more than Konohagakure!�
�The little lady is correct,� the curator assured them. �That is the
reason why it has been sent here
instead of to some nation where it would inevitably end up in someone�s fancy
collection, or worse. That�s why I�ve become very concerned...and why I hired
you all.�
�That seems logical,� Sai finally spoke up, putting his black book
away. �You want us to stop the thief before he has a chance to steal
something...presumably the atlas.�
�Precisely!� the curator beamed. �It�s not like I expect you to brave
the traps yourselves, mind you. That would be suicide! Even so, I trust you
will perform...admirably?�
�You can count on us,� Yamato nodded. �All right team, let�s get going.
We�ve got a perimeter to set up.�
�Excellent, excellent!� the curator cheered. �I feel compelled to
inform you that the thief only shows up at night, so feel free to take as much
time as you need.�
The team set off to begin their preparations, with Sai lagging behind
just long enough to take a quick sketch of the curator�s prized possession,
rolling the scroll up and stashing it away along with other such pictures that
were destined to end up in far darker hands.

Night descended upon the town quietly, replacing vibrant colors with
murky black shadows. Street lights flickered on as soon as the sun set, giving
the small border community a healthy golden glow that could be seen for a mile
around. That was too much light in Naruto�s opinion, but this place was not a
Hidden Village. It was in neutral territory and therefore welcomed visitors
from all countries and factions. He�d even learned that the repository held
tours during the day. He idly began to wonder if Hinata would mind going to
one.
Thwack!
�Watch where you�re walking!� Naruto growled as Sakura�s heel dug into
his cheek. The two of them were hiding in one of the trees outside the town�s
giant archive, concealed by the area�s thick foliage.
�Sorry Naruto!� Sakura attempted to adjust her position, but only
succeeded in kicking her teammate in the face. The two finally managed to find
a rather uncomfortable arrangement that had them pressed back to back on the
tree�s thin branch, looking out through a gap in the leafs.
�Did I do something to offend you?� Naruto whispered hoarsely.
�I said I was sorry,� Sakura replied. �See anything yet?�
�Not a thing,� he sighed. �We might not see anything tonight. We could
be here for days.�
�It wouldn�t be the first time. You act like you�ve got something
important waiting for you back...oh, right.�
Naruto rolled his eyes, reaching back to take a swipe at his friend but
failing. �What can I say?�
�You don�t have to say anything,� Sakura chuckled. �You�re in
love...and you�re an idiot. It�s not like I can blame you.�
�Oh, thanks,� Naruto grumbled. �Why haven�t you gotten anyone Sakura?
It�s not like you�re having problems attracting guys.�
�What�s this all of a sudden?� she flushed, trying to hide her
embarrassment. �Who are you, Ino?�
�I�m just curious,� he muttered defensively. �You�re pretty and you
really shouldn�t have any problems picking up boys, so what gives? Unless you
know...you�re...�
�I�m not gay, Naruto!� she snapped. �I just...no one in Konoha does it for me, you know? I guess it�s
hard for you to understand, since you have Hinata and all.�
�What�s that supposed to mean?�
�You know exactly what I mean! You two are perfect for each other. I�ve barely seen you two apart.
You�re...well...you�re like soul mates, or something equally gaudy. It would be
sickening if it wasn�t so right.�
�I think you�ve been reading too many romance novels, Sakura,� Naruto
laughed. �Seriously, you can�t really mean all that. My relationship with
Hinata isn�t that amazing.�
Sakura frowned slightly, turning to face the trunk of the tree. �You�d
better not let her hear you say that.�
There was no time for a reply as Sakura leapt from the branch that
Naruto was hiding on and moved further down the tree. She slipped past Yamato�s
hiding spot, giving her current captain a curt nod before making it around to
the other end of the tree, where Sai was busy with his little black book again.
Though she loathed admitting it, she found herself interested in what the quiet
boy was up to. Since Naruto was currently being dumber than she cared to put up
with, she decided to test the waters and speak to her new teammate.
�Hey, Sai,� she greeted nervously. �What�re you up to?�
Several silent moments passed with no response. Sai seemed completely
absorbed in whatever he was doing, completely shutting out the outside world as
he moved his brush with frenetic yet carefully planned strokes. He was a
paradox, able to be calm while also being panicked. Each time his brush
caressed the paper, a new story came to life, weaving together with earlier
streaks to create one amazing picture. All the while his eyes never seemed to
leave what it was he was looking at, which in this case was the well-lit frame
of the repository.
Naturally curious as to what he was working on, Sakura attempted to spy
on Sai by peeking over his shoulder. She only got a short glimpse of Sai�s
interpretation of their surroundings before he turned to face her, his eyes
digging tunnels through her soul as he stared at her.
�Can I help you?�
A soft squeak was the only sound Sakura could mutter at first, the rest
of her senses paralyzed by a ghostly fear of the fledgling artist. She took a
moment to recompose herself before taking a seat next to him.
�I was just curious as to what you were working on,� she said bluntly.
�I mean, you�re always drawing something, but I never see what.�
�And?�
�Well, aren�t you friendly?� Sakura muttered dismissively. �I just
wanted to know. That�s all.�
The sound of rustling leafs replaced a spoken reply as the pair sat
there staring at each other. Sakura was vaguely aware that she might have upset
the boy. Or rather, she would have, were he like other boys she had met. Sai
seemed completely indifferent at all times, an emotionless face that cared
nothing for those around him. The way he failed to react to anything she did
was beginning to upset her, which only made things worse. She felt childish as
she sat there, waiting for him to respond in the way that almost any other
human being would. She almost wanted him to make her angry, just so she would
have an excuse to hit him. If only he would...
�It�s a hobby.�
Shock was the only response Sakura could offer. She was not certain how
proceed now that Sai showed a sudden desire to socialize. Since he had been
assigned to the team he had given them no opening to discuss his life in any
detail. He was a mystery that none of them could solve, nor had they bothered
to try. But now fortune smiled on Sakura, giving her a chance to learn.
�So you paint?� she asked cautiously, not wanting to set off any
alarms. �Can I see some of your work?�
Once again there was no verbal reply. Sai held out his black book,
letting Sakura gaze at the beautiful rendition of their surroundings that he
had created. Sakura gasped as she stared at the marvellous piece of art,
reaching out with her fingers to mimic the contours of the dazzling green and
black backdrop. The sheer detail of the painting, from the glow of the lamp
posts to the blades of grass, left Sakura breathless.
�Wow,� she murmured. �That�s incredible! Have you been painting these
sorts of things the entire trip?�
�Yes,� came the stone cold reply. �I paint what I see.�
Sai�s gaze hardened as he suddenly found himself without his book.
Sakura snatched it without warning, flipping through pages and looking at the
rest of her new teammate�s work. Each page contained new wonders for her to
peruse, highlighting the various things that seemed to pique Sai�s fledgling
interest. In an obscure way, she was staring into the only emotional outlet the
boy had, despite the fact that he was just as cold and calculating with his
brush strokes as he was in conversation. It was a sight she would not soon
forget.
As she continued sifting through the book, she eventually made it to
the centerfold. On one of the pages was a picture of a boy that Sakura had
never seen before with his hand outstretched towards the center of the book.
The other page remained mysteriously empty, though a cursory glanced showed
that several of the pages after it were filled in with drawings of other
cities, villages and an occasional fight.
�Who is this?� Sakura asked, showing the middle of the book to its
owner. �Someone you know?�
Sakura yelped as Sai took the book from her and shut it. It was sudden,
but Sai did not look the least bit angry. He simply stashed the book in his bag
and resumed his job as watch, keeping his eyes away from her.
�I just wanted to know,� she huffed. �You don�t need to be so
aggressive.�
�I simply have no wish to discuss this with you,� Sai said in his
dreadful monotone. �We have a duty and you are shirking your responsibilities.�
�So were you!�
�Unlike you, I can do my job and indulge in my hobby at the same time,�
Sai countered. �While we�re on that subject, you should wear less revealing
clothing. Not only are we not in a position where we require you to seduce
anyone, but you are not pretty enough to be wearing such things.�
�Wh-what did you just say!?� Sakura shrieked.
�Perhaps I was being too polite?� Sai asked. �I meant, quite honestly,
that you are ugly.�
The only thing that spared Sai his fate was the earth shattering
explosion that rocked the entire city. Shattered stone and concrete whizzed
past the tree as clouds of smoke and ash billowed out from the town�s archives.
In a flash, all four members of Team Seven were on the move.

�Yeeeesh! That was close!�
�Stop your damn complaining! I don�t know how you managed to dodge all
that, but I still wouldn�t have had to blast us out of there if you hadn�t
triggered the damn traps in the first place!�
As the smoke began to clear, two disgruntled silhouettes came into
view. A stiff breeze brushed away the acrid clouds, revealing two men in black
cloaks stylized with red clouds. The first to step out of the rubble of the
town�s most important building sported a head of majestic blond hair, the back
of which was pulled into a pony tail and the front of which draped over his
left eye. His face was currently affixed in an angry scowl, threatening to crack
under the pressure of having to deal with his subordinate�s behaviour. His
subordinate was a man of few features save a single eye, the rest being hidden
behind a spiral pattern orange mask. His hair was a brown shrubbery, jutting
out in sticky points that never seemed to go down despite how many times he
tried.
�But it wasn�t my
fault we triggered the trap!� the masked man whined. �How was I supposed to
know that the front door was booby trapped?�
�Because everything was booby trapped you moron!� the blond shouted
furiously. �I explained this before we went in!�
�But you never said anything
specific about the door!�
�GAH! Shut the hell up, unless you
want a cause of death, hm!�
Before the two could engage in an
act of civil violence, Team Seven interrupted them. Each member of the four man
squad landed on the ground ready for combat with their kunai and other weapons
drawn. The masked man panicked, flailing his arms and pointing in Naruto�s
direction. The blond man turned to face his new bright haired adversary, and
promptly imitated his partner, albeit with much more zeal.
�YOU AGAIN!�
The veteran members of Team Seven
found their jaws nearly touching the ground. There was no mistaking the late
Sasori�s partner, a man with flamboyant hair and distasteful disposition.
Sakura�s frame visibly shuddered as she recalled the horrid visions and
nightmares that plagued her sleep for many weeks after dealing with Akatsuki�s
redheaded puppet master, while Naruto�s body quaked in rage.
�What in the hell is Akatsuki doing
here!?� he bellowed.
�Currently we�re escaping an
exploding building,� the masked man piped up jovially. �Compliments of
Deidara-senpai!�
�Tobi, for Kami�s sake, shut the
hell up!� Deidara spat. �Look, what we�re doing here is none of your
business...and while I�d love to
repay you all for a year ago, I�ve got much more important things to deal with,
so buzz off, hm!�
�Fat chance of that!� Sakura
yelled. �You aren�t getting away this time!�
�Well, at least you have backup,�
Deidara sneered. �I wouldn�t want to see what happens to you if you don�t
become someone�s puppet this time.�
Deidara�s last remark was enough
to make Sakura cringe. She could still remember quite vividly the horrors that
Sasori had committed not only on others, but on himself. In order to defeat the
walking nightmare, Sakura had joined forces with Chiyo of Sunagakure, becoming
a puppet made of flesh guided by the old kunoichi�s expert reflexes. Together
they had defeated one of Akatsuki�s best, but it still left the pinkette with a
sour taste in her mouth. Unlike when she was younger, she had managed to prove
her worth in that battle. It unfortunately only happened because she had help.
She was still unable to shake the guilt.
�He�s got the book!�
Yamato�s voice ripped through the
air and drew everyone�s attention to Deidara�s right hand. Tucked under his arm
was the repository�s newest addition, the ancient atlas that they had seen
earlier in the day. The very thing they were trying to protect was in
Akatsuki�s hands.
�So, you�re the thieves!� Naruto
pointed at Deidara angrily. �I should have known it would be no good assholes
like you!�
�What is he talking about,
Deidara-senpai?� Tobi squealed in anguish. �Is that all Akatsuki really is?
Just petty thieves?!�
�I said shut the hell up!� Deidara
raged. �Your cause of death is definitely going to be blunt force trauma!
�As for you lot,� he said,
gesturing to Team Seven, �I haven�t got a clue what you�re talking about, but
since we�re technically stealing this little book, that sort of does make us
thieves, hm?�
�So wait, we are thieves?� Tobi asked.
�...I can�t wait for you to die,�
Deidara moaned.
�Maybe if we wait a little longer
they�ll kill each other off for us,� Sakura muttered as Deidara and Tobi broke
into another argument. The team became invisible as they bickered, leaving Team
Seven to discuss strategy.
�But we can�t risk the book,�
Yamato said quietly. �It�s our mission to protect it, remember?�
�Well that�s simple then!� Naruto
smirked. �Hey, you idiots! Yeah, you guys from Akatsuki!�
Deidara retrieved his fist from
Tobi�s face, shaking out the dull ache it had gained from beating the junior
member�s mask. �Oh shit, that�s right! You�re still here.�
�OF COURSE WE�RE STILL HERE!� Naruto hollered. �Where did you think
we�d gone!?�
�Can�t say I really care,� Deidara
chuckled. �Let me just guess...you idiots were hired to guard this place, and
that means we have to fight, hm?�
�We can�t simply let you steal
from these people and leave,� Yamato said. �On top of that, you�re both wanted
criminals. You wouldn�t be escaping without a confrontation anyway.�
�I suppose you�re right,� Deidara
chuckled. �Luckily, I always come prepared for these sorts of setbacks.�
�Huh? Oh that�s right!� Tobi
announced brazenly. �Look to the skies! Deidara-senpai is absolutely amazing!�
It was pure fascination with the
way Tobi directed their attention that caused the group to follow his command.
Their eyes turned to the starlit skies, searching the infinite darkness for
anything out of the ordinary. When the team finally found what it was they were
looking for, each of them save for Sai elicited a sharp gasp. Hanging high
above the village was a human shaped doll made out of disturbingly white clay.
It hovered ominously above the village, its empty expression a chilling
forewarning of its purpose.
�Has that been there the entire
time?� Naruto asked incredulously. �What the hell is it?�
�It�s...a giant clay statue,�
Sakura confirmed, glaring at Deidara. �And it looks like the same clay that he uses!�
�I�ve read your file,� Yamato
growled at Deidara. �Your creations explode. I suppose that�s a gigantic bomb,
then?�
�You catch on quick!� Deidara laughed.
�It is indeed a gigantic bomb, one big enough to wipe this city off any and all
maps!�
Yamato paled. This was absurd. How
had he not noticed something that big before now? Had it only just gotten
there? No matter how, when or why, Deidara�s intent was obvious: either they
let him go, or the city would suffer.
�Look, we�re all smart people,
hm?� Deidara smirked. �I�m not gonna bother with the melodramatic details.
We�re going to leave now, and I don�t want to see or hear any of you until
we�re long, long gone, got it? Otherwise...�
�Chojuu Giga.�
A spiral of cartoonish black and
white lions cut Deidara�s maniacal ultimatum short. The surprise attack caught
both members of Akatsuki off guard and drove them back into the repository,
where they threatened to trigger one of the facility�s death traps. Tobi busied
himself with awkwardly dodging every attack that came his way, falling
backwards to avoid the first blow before running around like a scared child.
Deidara was forced to fend off several caricatures at once, forced to fight
with only one of his arms in order to defend the stolen book. This proved to
only be a minor setback for the dangerous missing-nin, as Sai�s animated beasts
were no match for Deidara�s exploding figurines. Sloppy patches of ink splattered
and dribbled down the walls as sets of clay spiders and rats clung to Sai�s
creations and blew them apart. When the calamity finally abated � and Tobi
stopped flailing his arms � Deidara stepped out of the hole in the wall in
order to face the team from Konoha.
�What the hell are you thinking!?�
Naruto shouted at Sai.
�Protecting the book is our
mission,� Sai stated dryly. �I am simply attempting to accomplish our mission.�
�That doesn�t mean you can risk
the lives of innocents!� Sakura cried. �What are you thinking!?�
�Your feelings are getting in the
road of your job.�
�What did you say!?�
�As much as I love watching you
three fight,� Deidara clicked his tongue, �I regret to inform you that breaking
our deal does not bode well for the citizens.�
A quick hand sign sent Deidara�s
massive bomb plummeting towards the city. A loud screech began to fill the air
as it tore through the sky, falling at amazing speed toward the heart of the
quiet border community.
�And now if you�ll excuse us...�
Deidara vanished in a puff of
smoke, leaving Tobi behind for just a moment before the masked shinobi followed
suit. Sai, seemingly undeterred by the city�s imminent destruction, ran off
into the tree line, following a barely visible trail of ink in order to chase after
Deidara and Tobi.
�Damn it Sai!� Naruto cried. �Get
back here!�
�Go after him!� Yamato commanded.
�Follow him and make sure neither one of those two get away!�
�But what about the city?� Sakura
asked.
�I can deal with this,� Yamato
said confidently. �What I can�t deal with is an insubordinate shinobi who�s
probably going to get himself killed. Now go!�
Naruto and Sakura shared a
distressed nod before going after Sai. Yamato let out an angered sigh as he
turned his focus towards the sky.
�Things never get any easier.�

�Deidara-senpaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii,
SLOW DOWN!�
�Are you stupid?� Deidara snapped
at his partner. �If you want to get caught, that�s your problem!�
�But you�re leaving me behind!�
Tobi whined.
�Good! Then maybe you can stop
making Akatsuki look like a bunch of silly thugs!�
Deidara bounded off a tree branch
before lobbing a series of skittish clay spiders into the foliage to his right.
The cacophonic explosions flushed Sai out of hiding, who countered with another
wave of animated animals. This time, a swarm of bats spewed forth from the pale
ninja�s scroll, creating a wall of living ink. Deidara countered the jutsu in
his typical fashion, launching another wave of living explosives at it. Each
bat that he killed splattered ink across the immediate area, panting the forest
black. Deidara clicked his tongue in annoyance, moving the hair out from in
front of his left eye as he scanned the trees for the disappeared painter.
�That kid is fast,� he mumbled.
�Deidara-senpai, what should we
do!?� Tobi yelped. �The bomb is going to hit any moment!�
�We should be fine,� Deidara said.
�We�re far enough away. Now hush...I�m hunting shinobi.�

Yamato grimaced as he slapped a
few hand signs together. Timing was everything, especially with this quickly hatched
plan. There would be no stopping that thing from colliding with the ground.
Yamato guessed it weighed far more than it appeared to and he possessed no
shielding abilities that could deal with an explosive this large. From what he
had read, this was not the first time Deidara had done something like this. The
difference between then and now was that Yamato was not the fifth Kazekage.
�Here goes nothing,� he breathed.
Yamato slammed his palms into the
ground, pouring his chakra through the soil into the roots that stretched
inward from the forest. The earth split wide those roots grew at Yamato�s
behest, spiralling through the sky directly at Deidara�s giant bomb. With a
final grunt, Yamato emptied as much of his chakra into the jutsu as he could and
rammed the explosive doll. The result was much what the ANBU captain had hoped.
The blow knocked the white statue off course, sending it flying through the air
into the forest to the west. As soon as it hit the ground it exploded, rocking
the village with a potent shockwave as flames and smoke claimed the night.
�That was close...� he muttered,
sweat pouring from his brow. �Now, to catch up to the others.�

Sap spattered Deidara�s robes, as
pieces of loose bark flew past his face like shrapnel. He let loose another
clay spider, watching as it brought fiery destruction to yet another towering
oak. Each explosion was another attempt at flushing Sai out from hiding. It was
so much fun for Deidara to watch things blow up that finding Sai was slowly
becoming less and less of a priority.
�Come out come out wherever you
are, little brat!� Deidara taunted. �I just want to see you splattered across
the floor, that�s all, hm!�
Despite his masterful taunt, there
appeared to be no sign of the concealed ninja. It occurred to Deidara that his
search method was likely to blame for that, but being overt came with its own
set of perks. For one, it instilled a bit of fear in his adversaries as they
came to realize he simply did not care how much he had to go through to get them.
Secondly, it made him look like a complete idiot, which often made people�
The attack came from the right.
Deidara�s lips curved into a wicked smile as another wave of inked creatures
bounded out of the thick foliage. Each one exploded into thick black liquid as
a swarm of clay insects burst forth from behind Deidara, colliding with the
attempted surprise attack.
�Let your guard down,� the
explosives expert grinned. �My turn.�
Deidara quickly reached into the
pouches hanging from his sides, squeezing down on the clay inside them before
pulling his hands back out. Each palm quivered, a pair of disgusting mouths
smacking their lips and slurping in as much clay as they could. Slapping his
hands together, the two mouths got to work shaping the clay, turning into a
twelve inch replica of Deidara. Sai was already on the move, but it was too
late. Deidara loosed his small doll, watching it litter the ground with smaller
bombs that exploded in peppering blasts. This quickly dispatched Sai�s clone
and destroyed enough surrounding flora to reveal the Konoha shinobi once more.
The small model leapt forward and exploded just before reaching the boy,
sending him flying through the air until he smacked into the thick trunk of a
poplar. Deidara chuckled as Sai struggled to get back to his feet, the world
doing impressive somersaults thanks to the brutal impact.
�They just don�t make shinobi like
they used to,� Deidara teased.
Both members of Akatsuki jumped
down to the forest floor, looming over Sai like death incarnate. Deidara took
much glee in grabbing the unsociable teen by his hair and slamming him against
the poplar�s trunk once more. Sai could barely see through the daze that
gripped him, but he could just make out the mouth on Deidara�s left hand
opening up as a sickly tongue proceeded to lick the palm�s disturbing lips.
�I gotta say, you got guts kid,�
Deidara hummed. �But unfortunately in this world, guts just get you killed. At
least your death is gonna be one of my masterpieces, hm.�
Sai�s vision returned to normal
just in time for him to see Deidara�s hand mouth chewing on an especially thick
wad of clay. The hand slowly moved forward, slipping its tongue out and angling
it towards Sai�s mouth. The outcome was obvious. To his character, Sai did not
even flinch as he felt the slippery appendage start to worm its way into his
mouth, ready to deliver death to him.
The kunai slammed into Deidara�s
back, cutting into his spine. The crippling blow looked to be successful, but
instead his body gave way to hardening white clay. Tobi squealed in surprise,
flailing his arms as Sai slipped out from the fake Deidara�s grasp. Naruto and
Sakura emerged from behind one of the few trees that still stood in the newly
formed clearing, eliciting applause from Deidara as he revealed himself once
more, stepping out from behind the panicking Tobi.
�Nicely done,� he chuckled.
�Waiting for the exact moment I was open to reveal yourselves. You should have
waited a little longer, hm? You would�ve killed me for sure.�
�Sorry,� Naruto growled. �Even
though I don�t like Sai, I couldn�t just wait for you to kill him.�
�Excuses,� Deidara snorted. �So
this is how it�s gonna be, hm? A giant brawl over a book? Can�t you just turn
around and let us go?�
�Our mission was to keep that book
away from thieves,� Sakura said. �We�re not going to let you get away with it,
even if you aren�t the real thief!�
�Oh man, don�t you know how hard it was to get this thing?� Tobi
complained. �We almost died six times just getting inside the place!�
�You mean I almost died six times,� Deidara groaned. �You just flailed around
like an idiot and somehow survived.�
�Enough,� Sai shouted, though his
voice did not approach anger in any form. �You are not escaping. That is
final.�
�Fine by me, hm!� Deidara smiled.
�Let�s do this!�
BAMF!
Three separate smoke bombs went
off all at once, covering the surrounding forest in thick clouds. Both teams
were covered by the choking mist, obscuring their vision and reducing their
communication to rasping coughs. The two members of Akatsuki flailed around,
desperately searching for one another while Deidara clung to his stolen goods
tightly.
�What the hell?!� Deidara managed
to cry out. �Whose big idea is this!?�
�I�ll take that.�
Deidara watched a bright flash fly
through the air, cutting across his right arm. A split second later the limb
came flying off, sending a spray of blood across the grass. Crying out in pain,
Deidara gripped the remainder of his arm in order to stifle the loss of blood.
�Oh god damn it, not again!�
Across from Akatsuki�s side of the
conflict, Naruto had somehow managed to stumble out of the smoke, gasping for
breath as his lungs were greeted with fresh air. He looked around, trying to
get his bearings. As far as he could tell, Deidara and Tobi were on the other side
of the huge smokescreen, while Sakura and Sai were only a few feet from him.
From the way Deidara was shouting, it was obvious that this trap was not
Akatsuki�s doing, which put Naruto on edge. If someone else was out here, he
would have to be extra careful.
A swish from the far end of the
cloud cover caught Naruto�s attention. At first he was certain it was Deidara,
or Deidara�s crazy partner. Closer inspection revealed the shadowy figure to
look nothing like either of them. Whoever it was, they had long hair and a very
angry looking sword. And, as Naruto just barely made out, a large book under
their left arm...
�Hey!� Naruto shouted out. �Get
back here! That book doesn�t belong to you!�
The mysterious figure heard
Naruto�s voice and made a break for it. Branches creaked under his weight as he
escaped via the high road, leaving the scene of the crime. Not to be outdone,
Naruto took to the trees as well, hot on the new thief�s trail. He realized
that leaving Sakura and Sai behind might have been a bad idea, but he had
confidence in the both of them, even if only one of them deserved it. They
could deal with Akatsuki, and he could deal with the book.
The stranger did his best to make
tailing him all but impossible. Random turns complimented with an arsenal of
violent distractions, from kunai to severed tree branches. Every second was
heart pounding as Every heart pounding second, Naruto relentlessly chased the
faceless thief, knowing that if he looked away for a mere half second, it would
be over. The chase lasted what seemed like forever, projecting down a corridor
of green and brown walls with a dark moonlit ceiling. Naruto felt like he�d
been down this very hallway before, sometime long ago, but with a much more
frantic purpose to his step. Failure seemed like a much better option this time
around, but it was not one that the plucky blond was willing to take just yet.
He was completely unprepared for
it to be forced on him. The thief�s shadowy frame vanished from sight without
warning, flickering out of view and leaving behind a swaying tree branch.
Naruto flung his kunai at the ground ahead of him, watching the throwing knife
cut his quarry off. Thinking that there was no escape now, Naruto moved in for
the decisive blow, only to be met with an ear shattering explosion. The world
went silent as Naruto spun through the air, his hearing dulled by the potent
blast. His ears still rang as he pulled himself out of the pile of bark that
littered the forest floor, searching for the runaway brigand. The only thing
Naruto found were a set of fresh tracks that led out of the forest and into the
grassy plains further south.
�I�ve got you now!� Naruto
proclaimed. �Just you wait!�
Naruto followed the trail as it
curved around the edge of the forest until it disappeared into the tall grass.
Taking a look across the empty meadow, Naruto realized that he was alone in the
night. Anger sank in first, causing him to curse at the starry sky. Thanks to
him, their mission was a complete failure. Sakura would definitely never let him
live it down.
�At least I can take it out on
those bastards from Akatsuki!� he grinned.
Fate worked in mysterious ways
around Uzumaki Naruto. Often it gave him precisely what he wanted without his
say so, forcing him into situations that were beneficial to him and anyone
around him. At that very moment, it conspired to put a loose tree root in
Naruto�s way just as he turned around, sending him tumbling across the ground.
It also had the good sense to aim him at a certain fallen tree trunk, which
gave way to reveal a secret passage as he slammed into it. This secret passage
opened into a five foot shaft that was hollowed out of the ground. Normally the
trip to the bottom would have been completed via the rope ladder that was
fastened to the near wall, or by jumping down. Unfortunately for Naruto, his
trip to the bottom came in the form of a painful tumble down the hole which
ended in an equally painful face plant. The blow to his head was the final link
in the chain of that night�s events, and Naruto passed out.

�Oh this is just amazing,� Deidara
groaned. �Absolutely amazing.�
The two members of Akatsuki had
escaped from the smoke blanket and were hiding near the forest�s edge. Deidara
leaned against a withered sequoia, clutching the remnants of his left arm as he
looked up at the sky. Tobi was currently carrying the mangled limb, looking it
over much like a jeweller would appraise new merchandise. He took a moment to
look up from the severed arm, tilting his head like a curious puppy as he did.
�It could be worse,
Deidara-senpai!� he consoled.
�Really?� Deidara asked. �And how
could it be worse?�
�They could have stolen the book.�
�THEY DID STEAL THE DAMN BOOK YOU
MORON!� Deidara screamed. He lunched at his partner, grabbing him by the neck
with his good arm.
�B-b-b-b-b-but can�t we just use
the d-dragon to track them, senpai!?� Tobi blurted, despite the fact that his
windpipe was currently being crushed.
�The dragon?� Deidara questioned.
�You mean C2? Damn, why the hell didn�t I think of that, hm?�
Deidara pushed Tobi aside, running
off through the trees again. The masked shinobi took a few moments to try and
piece together what was going on before chasing after his partner, calling out
pathetically for the blond to wait up.

Naruto groaned as his senses returned
to him. His head throbbed intermittently, reminding him of the rather
disgraceful fall he had taken. Impenetrable darkness surrounded him on all
sides, while cold dirt seemed to line the floor. Though he was unsure of where
he was, he was certain he did not want to be there.
A noise came from somewhere to his
right. Before Naruto could react, a foot planted itself firmly on his chest,
pinning him to the floor. A second later he felt the cold metal of a blade as
his throat, coaxing him into uncharacteristic silence.
�I don�t know who you are, but you
made a big mistake tracking me this far.�
Warmth spread across Naruto�s
cheeks as a lantern poured light across the room. The overzealous Jinchuuriki
was surprised to discover he was in some form of makeshift home, a hovel carved
out of dirt and clay to form a suitable living space. The corner housed a
dirtied cot that had obviously seen better days, but was still able to serve
its purpose. Several shelves were made out of the walls, housing things like spare
cash and lantern oil. It was the sort of living a hermit would do, completely
secluded from civilized society and living alone. It made the blond feel sad
just looking at it.
�What the...you�ve gotta be
kidding me.�
The thief�s voice sounded
strangely familiar to Naruto. He turned to look at his captor and was
momentarily blinded by the light from the lantern. As his eyes adjusted, he
made out the red of a tattered vest and a head of untamed brown hair. When the
light finally stopped bothering him, Naruto�s eyes shot wide open in shock as
he suddenly realized who he was looking at.
�Yakusho?�
�
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Dragonsoul