A New War Approaches
Author's Note: Even though this chapter might not seem as good as the last 2 chapters, considering the fact that this chapter has a lot of conversation, I still personally find this one as one of the best I've written so far (Not bragging
) and enjoyed the most writing, at least as far as the story goes (Story developing and character relationship). It's also by far the longest chapter I've ever written and I sincerely doubt that I'll ever write a longer chapter than this or even close to as long as this chapter again.I hope you will enjoy it as well; have a good time reading!
~ Jiraiya: Dad?... Is he going to be okay?! Is it serious?
Narrator: Jiraiya asked anxiously, as he worried about his dad.
Tsunade: Hmm... This poison looks familiar. If we gather the following materials, we should be able to stop the poison and cure your dad, don't worry. Sakura, Temari. I want the two of you to stay here with Naruto and pay attention to him, so that nothing happens while we're looking for what we need. Sakura, you know what to do.
Sakura and Temari: Right!
Sakura: I will keep a close eye on him, in case his condition changes
Tsunade: Good. Kakashi, Gai. You two will look after the prisoner, in case Akatsuki decides to strike again.
Kakashi and Gai: Roger!
Kakashi: Are you sure you won't need more people to help look for the materials?
Tsunade: Yes... The poison itself can be really dangerous, but if you know what to do and what you need to cure it, and also act fast, then it shouldn't be too hard to take care off.
Shikamaru, Rock Lee, Kankuro and Yamato; I need the four of you to look for seven different types of leaves...
Here's a drawing for you, so that you know what leaves to look for.
Narrator: Tsunade handed over a paper with sketches of seven different leaves. She explained their names and which trees they usually comes from.
Yamato: Seven different leaves, eyy?
Narrator: Yamato looked at the sketches earnestly, as Tsunade handed the paper over to him :
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Kankuro: So we only need to find two of each, and that's it?
Tsunade: No... We also need some Red berries, some fur from a wild boar, and crow feathers. So you better start looking for those leaves right now.
Shikamaru: Alright, let's go.
Rock Lee: Roger!
Narrator: The four of them spread out to look for the leaves while Tsunade continued to give instructions.
Tsunade: Anbus... I want you to look for the berries. They grow almost everywhere in the forest, so it shouldn't be too hard. I need at least 100 of them.
Anbus: Right!
Tsunade: Gaara.. Maybe your guards can help our anbus as well?
Gaara: Sure. Guards… Help out the Anbus, will you?
Narrator: Gaara's bodyguards got up and went with the anbus from Konoha.
Jiraiya: We want to help too! What can we get?
Narrator: The three young shinobies volunteered as well.
Tsunade: Well... Hmmm, Jiraiya, Hiruzen and Mito; I want you three to look for the boar. You don't need its skin, just a handful of hair from its fur.
Jiraiya: We'll get on to it right away!
Hiruzen: Yeah! No time to lose!
Mito: As you wish Gondaime Hokage.
Narrator: After the three of them left to look for the materials, she paused for a sec.
Gaara: Guess there's only us left then.
Tsunade: Right... Crow feathers shouldn't be too hard to find.
Narrator: Tsunade and Gaara left, leaving Kakashi and Gai to watch over Sonia, and Temari and Sakura to watch over Naruto.
Temari: How's his status?
Sakura: I've seen worse, like the time your brother Kankuro got poisoned by Sasori...
Temari: Hmm... So the process you are doing now is the same as you did back then?
Sakura: Yeah.. First I will get all the poison out of his body, and then when we get the rest of the ingredients, I'll make an antidote to fight the effects of it.
Temari: Right. Anything you need me to get?
Sakura: No thanks, not at the moment. Here goes…
Narrator: Sakura began extracting the poison from Naruto’s body, using a healing technique that she learned from Tsunade a long time ago (Note: Same technique she used to save Kankuro during the Gaara rescue arc).
Gai: Is something bothering you, Kakashi?
Kakashi: Hmm... It's just that I've never seen Naruto in such a condition before... every time he gets hurt or injured in a fight, the fox’s healing power have always allowed him to heal faster than any normal person would. But this time, he looks pretty beaten.
Gai: Mhm, I see. Well no need to worry! The others will find what they need and fix him up in a moment!
Narrator: Gai tried to cheer him up with his nice guy pose, as always.
Gai: Ahahaha! Naruto won't go down that easily; he's our Hokage after all!
Kakashi: ... Yeah.. I guess you're right. But it's not only that, I'm worried about.
Gai: Oh?
Kakashi: You see, there's something strange going on. I know I've heard that guy's name before. Akashi...
Gai: ...
Kakashi: Not only is there something strange about him, but something feels way off. I’m sure I’ve seen him before…
Gai: Hmm… So you think he's a former Konoha shinobi?
Kakashi: I'm not sure... I might have seen him some other place too, but if I did... He didn't have those eyes back then.
Gai: Those eyes? I noticed he had a sharingan like you.
Kakashi: Yes he did. But not only that, he had a byakugan too. For what I know, there isn't anyone left with a sharingan around, except from Madara, Sasuke and me, and I haven’t heard of a byakugan being stolen from anyone inside our alliance either. Not for the last thirty years at least…
Gai: Hmm, that’s strange... He looks to be of the same age as us, don’t you think?
Kakashi: ... Yeah he did, now that you mention it.
Sonia: ...
Kakashi: ? You got something to say?
Sonia: Hmm... It's just that...
Gai: What?
Sonia: I'm not sure if I really knew him as well as I thought.
Kakashi: Oh?
Gai: Speak up.
Sonia: I thought he was fighting for the same reasons as me... But I guess I was wrong.
Kakashi: Same reasons?
Sonia: I don't want to go through it again. You can ask your Hokage when he wakes up.
Gai: ...
Kakashi: So how much do you know about this guy?
Sonia: Other than the fact that I thought he fought to get his sister released, I'm not sure who he is.
Gai: You sure that's all you know; nothing about where he got his eyes from or anything about his past?
Sonia: No... I've already said too much.
Kakashi: Huh... Well you can share everything you know with us, once we get back to Konoha.
Sonia: ...
Jiraiya: *Whispering* That's a boar, isn't it?
Hiruzen: *Whispering* Yes.
Mito: *Whispering* Should we try to trap it first, or just do the same thing as we always do?
Jiraiya: *Whispering* Mito. Use your shadow technique to make him stay still. I will use my shadow clone technique to get as many hairs from its fur as I can. Hiruzen, use your speed to make sure he won't escape, in case it breaks free.
Hiruzen and Mito: *Whispering* Right.
Narrator: The boar was by the river bank, drinking some water with his back turned against our "heroes", whom were hiding in some bushes right behind it.
Mito: *Whispering* Nice and steady little piggy... Got you!
Jiraiya: Shadow clone jutsu!
Narrator: Mito had stopped the boar's movement as Jiraiya sprung out of the bushes to get what he needed.
Jiraiya: Stand still! Hold him tight!
Mito: I'm trying.
Hiruzen: She got the boar under control! I'll help you get the fur!
Narrator: Jiraiya and Hiruzen surrounded the boar, as it screamed for its life.
Hiruzen: I think we’ve got enough.
Jiraiya: Yes! Nice job!
Mito: ... I think that's a little more hair than we needed. Tsunade said that she only needed a handful of them to make the antidote.
Narrator: Jiraiya turned around and saw a furless, naked and mean-looking boar, standing before them.
Jiraiya: Ehehehe! Maybe...
Mito: Ahhh... We should get back to the rest. I'll release the technique.
Hiruzen: Right.
Jiraiya: Hey Mito!!! Wait until I get away from him!!! Ahhhhh....!!!
Narrator: All mad and furious with what was done to it, the boar ran after each and every one of Jiraiya’s clones. And when all of them disappeared, it headed straight on to Jiraiya sending him flying through the woods.
Mito: ahh... Well we got what we needed.
Narrator: Annoyed by Jiraiya’s behavior, Mito helplessly dropped her shoulders in disappointment and started walking back to the camp with Hiruzen
Gai: ?...
Kakashi: What happened to you Jiraiya?
Jiraiya: Ehehe... Well, you could say that the boar got a little mad.
Mito: Yeah, after he stripped off the boar's entire fur.
Gai: All of it?!? Tsunade and Sakura only needed a handful!...
Hiruzen: I guess you can say he got a little excited.
Jiraiya: Ehehehe…
Narrator: Jiraiya scratched the back of his head, as the rest shook their heads in humiliation.
Mito: Same old Jiraiya...
Random Anbu: Kakashi Tai cho!
Kakashi: Oh! You guys got the berries already?
Anbus and Gaara's bodyguards: Yes!
Sakura: Good, bring the ingredients here, and I'll start making the antidote.
Jiraiya: How is he doing?
Sakura: He's stabilized, but he still need the antidote to get bett... Naruto lay still!
Narrator: She gave him a smack to the head, causing his eyes to spin as he tried to get up.
Naruto: Sakura chan... That hurt...
Sakura: I told you not to move!!
Gai: Haha, this reminds you of old times, doesn't it Kakashi?
Kakashi: Hehe, well maybe a little.
Narrator: Both Kakashi and Gai started laughing, as Sakura looked at them with a weird expression.
Sakura: What is it?
Kakashi: Ahh... nothing, just keep doing what you're doing.
Rock Lee: Alright! We have already collected the first five leaves on the drawing, so now we... ugh!...
Shikamaru: Are you alright?
Rock Lee: It's nothing, just a little sore after opening the gates.
Shikamaru: I see... I'm amazed that you're recovering this fast. You shouldn't be able to move you know.
Yamato: Found it!
Kankuro: Nice job!
Rock Lee: So this is the Viper Fang leaf?
Yamato: Yes, It's quite rare... There are usually only Viper Fang Flowers around here as the Viper Fang Leaf is mostly related to the Wind country
Kankuro: Yeah, you're right about that one.
Shikamaru: Well, it seems that there’s only leaves one leaf left then.
Yamato: Correct, we only need the big white one in the middle now:
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Rock Lee: Right! Then let's get to it right away!
Shikamaru: Hey Lee, wait up!
Tsunade: A crow shouldn't be too hard to find.
Gaara: Huh... No it shouldn't.
Tsunade: I might have been a little too worried. You see, even though Kabuto has created the poison, it's nowhere near the poison Sasori once created. I find that a little strange.
Gaara: Well.. Sasori was an expert after all, and besides, we got two of the alliance's best medical shinobies with us, so we shouldn't worry that much I guess.
Tsunade: Yeah, you're right. As long as Sakura gets out the poison and we get the ingredients for the antidote, he should be fine.
So, you only brought Kankuro and five bodyguards with you to the meeting I see?
Gaara: Yeah... Well I brought fifteen to begin with, but soon after we left for the meeting, two of them got sick; so they had to turn around. Not only that, but eight more showed symptoms later on as well. It was only a matter of luck that we didn't have to call off the trip.
Tsunade: Oh really? Hmm...
Gaara: I see you guys brought a lot of people with you?
Tsunade: Well, Naruto wanted his advisers to come along, so I had to join then.
Gaara: Yeah I get it. Kankuro was the only adviser that could come with me to the meeting as my other adviser is on an important mission...
Tsunade: I see.
Gaara: So Shikamaru is Naruto's other adviser, am I right?
Tsunade: Yes... Naruto also wanted Shikamaru's wife, your sister, to come along too for some reason.
Gaara: Yeah I saw. ... I haven't talked to Temari in a while...
Tsunade: Hehe, I'm pretty sure he wanted her to come along so that she could meet up with you and Kankuro.
Sakura and Lee came along too, as he wanted a medical ninja, aside from me, to come with him, and also a great shinobi like Lee.
Gaara: Hmm... I haven't seen Lee for awhile... He has improved a lot since I fought with him during the chuunin exams, ages ago.
Tsunade: Yeah, he's becoming more and more like Gai. One would almost think they're related you know.
Gaara: Huh.. Yeah they do look alike... I see you brought ten anbus as protection too?
Tsunade: Yeah, they're a part of Naruto's special travel team. He won't go anywhere without them as backup. One of the reasons is because of their barrier technique which comes in handy when we need it.
Gaara: Hehe, I see; not a bad idea. So what about the rest?
Tsunade: Well, the other guy who went with your brother, is Yamato. I'm sure you know him, don't you?
Gaara: Yeah I do.
Tsunade: Well the reason he's here is because he's the three kids' sensei, and they snuck themselves with us, so he came looking for them. It wasn't a part of our plan to bring them with us.
Gaara: Hmm.. So who is that brown haired kid? I'm guessing he's related to someone in your group?
Tsunade: Oh, you mean Hiruzen? He's the son of Sakura and Lee.
Gaara: Oh, really? So he's part of my niece and Naruto's son, Jiraiya's team then?
Tsunade: Yes, he is.
Gaara: Hmmm.. Looks like a promising team.
Tsunade: Yes they do. Your niece is already a chuunin as well as Hiruzen, if you didn't know?
Gaara: Yeah I know about Mito, but not the other guy. But it's starting to be awhile ago, isn't it? Since they became chuunins, I mean.
Tsunade: Yes, that's true. Naruto's son also became a Jounin around three weeks ago.
Gaara: Yeah I remember. There was a lot of disagreement there, when I agreed with Naruto on that.
Tsunade: Haha, yes there were some old grumpy guys disagreeing with you two. Speaking of children, did you know that Naruto just became a father again?
Gaara: Really? No I didn't. So when was that?
Tsunade: Hinata gave birth right before we had to leave for the meeting.
Gaara: So, was it another boy?
Tsunade: No, it was a girl this time.
Gaara: I see. I better congratulate him when we're done with making an antidote then I guess.
Tsunade: Yeah... This means that your boy will only be two years older than her when they grow up.
Gaara: Yes indeed... Hmm... What are you implying here?
Tsunade: Oh nothing, just a thought... So how is he? Who's taking care of him while you're attending the meeting?
Gaara: Well after my wife died, Baki has been helping me out a lot aside from Kankuro, so he's with Baki's family when we're not in Suna.
Tsunade: That's nice of him. What was his name again?
Gaara: Ebizō... Me and my wife figured that we would name him after the Honored Grandfather. And besides, it's a great name.
Tsunade: Yes it is... Oh Gaara! Look... There's a bunch of crows up ahead.
Gaara: ...
Tsunade: We need around five feathers; do you think you can manage to find some up in that tree with your sand? Oh, and without hurting the birds of course...
Gaara: I'll try...
Narrator: Gaara released his sand gently and stretched it up towards the crows in the tree.
Gaara: Alright, this should be about it.
Tsunade: Yes. Let's hurry back to the rest then, so that we can make the antidote.
Sakura: Alright. Now we just have to wait for Shikamaru, Lee, Kankuro and Yamato for their leaves and also the feathers Tsunade and Gaara would find.
Gai: They should be here any moment now.
Rock Lee: Sakuuuuuuuuuura!
Narrator: Lee came running with some of the leaves in his possession.
Sakura: You guys found them?
Rock Lee: Yes! Here are four of the seven leaves we needed. Two of each, just like you said.
Sakura: Good.
Yamato: *Huff... Huff* Here are two leaves as well. Two samples of each as Tsunade instructed.
Sakura: Right... Then we only need two samples of the last one, and we got them all.
Shikamaru: Damn it Lee, It's not a race!
Rock Lee: Ehehe.. Well I just felt like running.
Kankuro: Here are the two samples of the last leaf. Now we only need to wait for my brother and the 5th Hokage.
Sakura: Yes... Good work everyone.
Temari: It should be over in a sec now Naruto.
Naruto: ... Yeah, thanks guys... ahh...
Sakura: You're still not 100% healed, so don't get up.
Naruto: Right...
Narrator: Naruto laid back, as Tsunade and Gaara arrived with the last ingredient to complete the antidote.
Tsunade: Alright, we got the feathers. Now to make the antidote...
Narrator: A few minutes later, the antidote was ready, Sakura finished giving Naruto the antidote and bandaged his wound.
Sakura: How do you feel?
Naruto: Better.
Tsunade: That should do it. I have a feeling that Kabuto didn't make that poison to try and kill you. I think there is something more behind it, but I'm not exactly sure what his intentions are.
Naruto: ...
Sakura: You should have been more careful you know.
Naruto: Right...
Gai: ...
Kakashi: *Thinking* ‘Sakura just won't cut him a break for once, does she… Even if he's the Hokage, she still cares for him like in the old days.’
Narrator: Kakashi showed a smile under his mask, reminiscing the old times.
Gaara: So, we should probably get moving again.
Naruto: You're right. Everyone remembers what I said before I.. Yeah you know.
Kakashi: Right. Gai let's go.
Gai: Roger! Don't try any funny stuff now.
Sonia: I won't...
Narrator: Kakashi and Gai lead Sonia onto the road towards Konoha, as both the Hokage and the Kazekage's convoy started moving towards the Wave country, once again.
Gaara: Tsunade told me that you just recently became a dad again, Naruto?
Naruto: Yeah I did. It was a girl this time.
Gaara: So what's her name?
Naruto: Hinata insisted that we would name her after my mom. So we named her Kushina.
Gaara: I see.
Temari: So how's my nephew doing? I haven't seen him since he was born.
Gaara: Well he's doing fine, thanks for asking. Since Kankuro had to come along, Baki is taking care of him.
Temari: Oh he is? That's nice of him.
Kankuro: So how have you been sis? I hope Shikamaru is treating you well?
Temari: Haha, yes he does.
Shikamaru: Oi, oi, of course I am! I might be lazy, but I know how to treat a woman!
Narrator: The group laughed after hearing what Shikamaru had to say. After all, aside from being lazy, he used to complain about the complexities of women.
Yamato: So, it shouldn't be too long now before we reach the Wave country, right?
Sakura: No it, shouldn't.
Rock Lee: You guys came through the River country, didn't you?
Kankuro: Yes we did. There aren’t really too many options, if we want to get to Kirigakure.
Rock Lee: I see.
?: So... What did he have to say this time?
Masashi: You mean Madara? Well, not much, other than his usual report.
?: I see... *cough... cough!*
Masashi: Are you alright?
?: My time is running out... It has already been over 100 years since you and Madara started the task.
Masashi: Yeah I know. Madara always seem to fail with his plans, when the actual war starts. I told him that your patience is running out, Tobi sensei...
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[He'd better be the one Michael! U_U
