TTP, TTK

Chapter 23

A/N: The next Chapter is up!

…

Kurenai was laying on her side. Curled into herself in pain as she gasped for air and coughed from the dust that tainted it. She rolled onto her back and looked up at the setting sun, her head too heavy to do much of anything else.

Even though her ears were still ringing she heard Asuma, who wasn't too far away, cough and struggle to stand up. She felt his heavy footsteps through the ground, heard as he accidentally kicked at some rubble, and she knew that he was limping.

After a moment, dread filling her up, Kurenai joined him. She stood and saw Asuma making his way toward the two bodies that was by the entrance of the mansion.

The large flower garden, that was beyond the gate, was completely destroyed. Countless colorful flower petals were scattered on the pavement and many danced in the air, falling toward the ground in slow motion. It would have been a beautiful sight if it wasn't for the large indent in the ground, he broken pavement upsetting the environment and the dust slightly darkening the sky.

Deidara was beyond recognition. His body was charred and he was missing a couple of limbs. As for Anko, her clothes were blackened and was burned off in most places. It was obvious that she had tried to shield herself because her forearms had took most of the damage. Anko's face was covered with grime and Kurenai covered her mouth to stop the stench of burning flesh from reaching her lungs. "Anko…" she whispered, saddened by these turn of events.

Asuma stiffly moved to kneel down beside the fallen Anko. Kurenai knew that Asuma was angry, she could see it in his face, and she knew from experience that his anger wouldn't let him speak or move properly for a while. She watched as he checked for Anko's pulse and that dread that she had felt before threatened to fully engulf her when he shook his head in the negative.

Anko was dead.

They both stood there. Their limbs and hearts aching as they paid their respects in silence. After a minute or so, Asuma grasped her hand, he gave a slight tug and together they walked up the mansion stairs and through the doors.

…

Agents, especially those employed in such a large and accomplished company such as KAGE, are known for their stealth. Well, they are supposed to be. Stealth didn't seem to apply to Naruto though.

Our blond-haired agent was making quite a ruckus. Thud after thud echoed through the cellar. Each thud growing louder than the first. Finally, the trap door they were under gave way. It swung open and banged loudly against the wall behind it. The chain that was holding it closed- broke into several pieces and scattered onto the floor.

Naruto grunted out a victory cry and gingerly climbed out of the tunnels and through the trap door. "Finally!" Naruto cried. His blue eyes watched as Gaara, Suigetsu, and Juugo climbed through the trap door also. The giant closed the door behind them and all four of them took in their new surroundings.

There was a single light bulb hanging from the ceiling and the corners of the large room were covered in shadow. Naruto couldn't help but find it all a little creepy.

"Where the hell are we, Gaara?" Naruto asked.

The redhead was scanning the environment with narrowed eyes. "It looks like we're in a basement of some kind. I believe it is that of Orochimaru's mansion. It also appears to be a wine cellar, Naruto." He answered, even though that was pretty obvious.

"Basement, huh? No wonder I find it creepy." Naruto muttered.

Suigetsu pushed his way past Naruto and raced to the nearest rack of wine bottles. He wiped the dust off the bottles with care and his eyes widened comically. "Damn," he whispered in awe, "there is some good stuff in here…"

The cellar was huge. The walls were made up of stone and so was the floor. The air was cool, just a bit over normal room temperature, and there was easily over fifty racks of wines. Each rack nearly touching the ceiling of the dungeon.

"Juugo," Suigetsu practically screamed, "we hit the jackpot! There's thousands, no millions, of dollars worth of wine here!"

Naruto frowned. "Hey! Did you guys forget why we're here? Keep your voice down. We're in enemy territory!" he yelled.

Gaara was tempted to roll his eyes. "Follow your own advice, Naruto."

Naruto blinked. "Oh! Fuck, sorry, Gaara."

"I think I'm the one you should apologize to." Said a new voice from across the room. "You have disturbed my nap."

The four of them stilled in surprised. Naruto grabbed onto Suigetsu's shoulder and threw him back into Juugo's chest. He gave Juugo a pointed look and Juugo nodded his head in understanding.

Naruto and Gaara walked side by side, past a few wine racks until they saw who else was in the dungeon with them. They saw a young woman standing beside a large cot that was up against the far wall. On the cot, a sickly man sat, his shoulder-length black hair covering half his face. He was pale and his cheekbones were pronounced, as was his collarbone that showed through his loose black shirt.

The woman held out her hand and helped the sickly man stand up.

After a moment, where each person took turns staring at each other. Naruto asked, "Who are you?"

The man coughed into his hand and inclined his head in introduction. "My name is Nagato. And this is Konan." He said, gesturing to the young woman by his side.

The blond-haired agent straightened his back, "My name is Uzumaki Naruto and this is Gaara." Naruto tilted his head toward the redhead and his blue-eyes hardened as he asked his next question. "Do you work for Orochimaru?"

The man nodded his head.

"Then I'm sorry to say that we are enemies." Even as Naruto spoke the words he wished how it wasn't so. He was tired of fighting Orochimaru's subordinates and not Orochimaru himself. He was tired of fighting in general. He wanted to find Sasuke. He needed to find Sasuke. Not to mention Itachi. He didn't have time for this.

Gaara, it seems, was able to read his mind. "When the opportunity presents itself, Naruto, escape and leave this encounter to me."

Naruto turned toward Gaara in surprise. "Are you sure?"

Gaara nodded his head.

Naruto gave a graceful smile and felt renewed.

Hold on, Sasuke, I'm coming!

…

Itachi stared at his younger brother but he might as well have been staring at a stranger. This wasn't the Sasuke he had left behind. This is the Sasuke that Itachi's actions caused him to become. A young man whose life was twisted and thrown into confusion and who had grown up in anger. Sasuke was no longer his innocent little brother.

"I have imagined the day when we would meet again millions of times, Itachi." Sasuke said, his tone of voice staying low and without obvious emotion. "I planned on killing you."

Itachi lowered his head at that statement, letting the shadows of the room cover his face. He had known of this possibility, anticipated it, and he fully accepted it. If he was to die, he would gladly take amends for his sins by Sasuke's hand. Wait, planned?

"Planned?" Itachi rasped out, unable to hold back his confusion. "What do you mean?"

Suddenly, Sasuke smiled. It was sad, small, barely visible, but it was there. 'I know everything now' Was what that smile stated.

Itachi just continued to stare. His skin itched and his eyes burned. The air in the room feeling heavier and lighter at the same time. After a moment he asked, "Did Naruto tell you?"

Sasuke shook his head, setting himself on the floor so that their knees were almost touching. "Gaara did."

"Oh," Itachi really didn't know what else to say.

Sasuke made a noise between a grunt and a sigh. "Out of the millions of encounters I imagined, this was not included." Sasuke shook his head in apparent exhaustion. "Even after I heard your side of the story, a part of me still wanted to kill you. To be able to seek retribution for my, our, parents. To somehow justify the anger and pain I felt. But…" Sasuke locked eyes with Itachi. "My soul is calm enough now to hear your half of the story, in your own words. I will listen to whatever you have to say."

Itachi released a relieved, hushed laugh, his chest taking in much needed air, and the muscles in his arms slightly flexing- causing the chains to rattle in the background. "I have to admit that I wasn't expecting this. What…What brought this about?"

"My own reaction is a surprise to me." Sasuke agreed. He suddenly gave a shrug. "It was Naruto's devotion to you that I couldn't dismiss."

"Naruto, huh?"

Sasuke ran a hand through his hair. "Naruto told me about how you sent him to be my bodyguard. He also told me that you saved his life."

"Ah." Itachi suddenly grew quiet and after a moment he whispered. "Are you sure you want to know, Sasuke? Because I won't leave anything out."

Sasuke gave a resolute nod of his head even though his fists were curled and his knuckles were white.

Itachi inhaled through his mouth and exhaled slowly. This was a story he only had the strength and courage to tell once in a lifetime.

…

Tsunade gulped down a mouthful of coffee only to discover that it had gotten cold. She grimaced from the taste and slammed a hand onto her desk in anger. "Where is my updated report on the Task Force? And someone reheat my damn coffee, it got cold again."

A random assistant ran up to her desk and took the cold cup of coffee away to reheat.

Tsunade turned her angry gaze to Genma who was standing beside her desk. "Well?" She demanded.

"What?" Genma asked unfazed.

Tsunade's temperature rose five degrees. "The. Updated. Report." She gritted out.

Genma did a one-shoulder shrug, the toothpick in his mouth moving back and forth. "I told you that when I got any news I will tell you right away." Tsunade narrowed her eyes and was about to choke the life out of him when suddenly his phone began to ring. Genma peeked at the caller id and smiled. "Ah, it's the Task force." He was about to answer it but Tsunade swiped the phone away and answered it herself.

"Hello!" She roared.

Genma watched as Tsunade's face morphed into different expressions. First, it looked like she approved. Then she looked concerned. And then she was crestfallen.

"I see," Tsunade whispered. "I understand. Best of luck on completing your mission. Yes. Bye."

She hung up the phone and looked dejectedly at her desk and at the countless papers that littered it. Genma waited a moment before he asked, "What happened?"

Tsunade sighed, suddenly looking much older. "It seems that Anko has fallen."

"Anko?" Genma lowered his eyes in respect. He had worked with her before, she was an excellent agent. He was sad to hear of her passing. "Was it Orochimaru?"

Tsunade shook her head and leaned back into her chair in sudden fatigue. "No, it was the bomb expert, Deidara. He confronted them before they got through the entrance of Orochimaru's mansion."

"I see," Genma replied, "And the others?"

"Kurenai and Asuma escaped the explosion with only slight injures. They said they would proceed with their mission. As for Gai and Lee, there hasn't been word from them, but they should have infiltrated the mansion by now." Tsunade rubbed the bridge of her nose in frustration. "Damn it!" She cursed. "If only I had a status report on Naruto's team. My constant worrying over that brat is going to send me to an early grave."

Genma grunted in agreement and he watched as an assistant brought Tsunade her reheated coffee. Tsunade grumbled a thanks and took a swig and just as readily spit it out. "Has the milk gone sour? This coffee is horrible! Give me a fresh cup, tea this time, and check the milk!"

The assistant cowered under Tsunade's loud voice and rushed to fulfill the order. From the left, another assistant approached the desk with a lowered head. "Tsunade, you have an agent reporting in."

Tsunade was grateful. "Show him in." Before the agent was fully through the doorway, Tsunade was out of her seat and across the room. "Shikamaru!"

The brunet bowed his head in respect.

"What happened?" Tsunade demanded.

Shikamaru sighed. His left arm was in a sling and he looked like he has seen better days. "We got ambushed in the tunnels." He began. "Temari and I both suffered gunshot wounds so we were forced to retreat. The others stayed behind."

Tsunade soaked up the information. Her blond hair looked disarrayed and her light-blue eyes were uncertain. "Does that mean that you don't have any recent news about Naruto and the others?"

Shikamaru nodded his head and Tsunade felt her temperature rise five degrees again. "Where is that goddamn tea!" She demanded of her staff.

…

Gai stood with his back facing the open balcony, the breeze ruffling his short black hair, as he watched his student engaged in combat with the enemy who called himself Kimimaro.

Gai had thought that he knew of all the men who worked under Orochimaru, but he had never heard of Kimimaro. At least he didn't think so. Well, now that he thought about it, Kimimaro did look kind of familiar. Gai frowned. Maybe the guy just had one of those faces. Of maybe it was the white hair.

Kimimaro landed a hit at the back of Lee's knees and his student fell to the floor but he was able to roll and spring back up. It seemed that the enemy, who used a bone-colored staff, was fully versed in the art. He was able to keep Lee at a distance and Gai was curious on how his student would counter, seeing as Lee had yet to land a hit.

Kimimaro's plain, off-white gown resembled a hospital gown and Gai was distracted by the sight. How could anyone fight in such saggy clothing? He just didn't get it. He watched as Lee landed a hit but Kimimaro was able to counter the next. Gai finally realized what was happening.

Lee's fighting technique was too straight forward and predictable. Even though his student was fast, that staff seemed to defend against every possibility. Gai frowned as Kimimaro landed a hit on Lee's gut, knocking the wind out of him.

"Do you wish me to intervene, Lee?" he called to his student. He already knew the answer but he figured it would only boast Lee's determination.

"No need, Gai-sensei. He is my opponent and I will defeat him."

Gai nodded his head in approval and he watched as the two circled each other. Now he was sure that he recognized Kimimaro! But from where?

Kimimaro twirled the staff with a flick of his wrist and he zeroed his gaze on Lee. "I serve Orochimaru and his enemies are my enemies. I will be the one to defeat you."

Lee thought of a cool comeback, but he was unable to vocalize it because in the next second a bird whistle cut through the air and caught both their attentions. Lee watched as Kimimaro turned toward the source in surprise and got a fist in the face for it. The guy went down in an instant. Above the unconscious form of Kimimaro stood Asuma, he was rubbing his knuckles with annoyance.

"Why are the two of you fooling around?" Asuma called. For once he didn't have a cigarette in his mouth.

Kurenai stepped into the scene, her hair wild and her crimson eyes brighter than ever. "We don't have time for this. Come on!" She cried, and gestured for the two green smurfs to follow her.

Gai blinked at the two of them in bewilderment. "Why are your clothes torn and burnt. I had heard an explosion before but I didn't think much of it." He turned his head side to side. "Where's Anko?"

Gai knew the moment it left his mouth what the answer was. His eyes hardened and he spoke in a uncharacteristic firm voice. "Let's go, Lee."

All four of them ventured deeper into the mansion together, determined more than ever.

…

"What are you doing, Suigetsu?" Juugo mumbled.

Suigetsu had removed his shirt and he began to pack random wine bottles inside. "What the hell does it look like I'm doing, Juugo? I'm stealing!" Suigetsu waved his free hand about. "Well, aren't you going to help me!"

Juugo frowned. "How can I help?"

"Gimmie your shirt."

Juugo shrugged his large shoulders and complied. Suigetsu made a noise of approval and continued to pluck more wine bottles out of the racks and into the shirts. "How would you be able to leave with so many bottles, Suigey?" Juugo asked.

Suigetsu rolled his eyes. "Through the tunnels, of course. No way am I sticking around those freaks any longer."

"Then you're leaving by yourself because I'm not leaving till I find Sasuke."

Suigetsu groaned in annoyance. "Goddamn it! Sasuke's a big boy! He can take care of his damn self! You are going to lead me back through those tunnels and we are going home!"

Juugo crossed his arms. "No, I ain't ."

Suigetsu was about to explode but he held his tempter in check. "Fine. Fine! Lets see…That redhead said that we were in some kind of basement. Inside a mansion, right?" Suigetsu furrowed his brows in concentration. "If we're in such a fancy mansion, that must mean that Sasuke's kidnappers live here. If that's true, then we just have to find some stairs and go up!" Suigetsu grinned. "All I have to do is walk out the front door! Fuck those tunnels! Come on, Juugo, help me steal some more wine bottles! Gimmie your pants!"

Juugo suddenly looked embarrassed. "But I'm not wearing any underwear."

"Who gives a shit! Gimmie your pants!"

Juugo shrugged off his pants and he was now completely naked. He watched as Suigetsu tied the ends of the pants and began to throw many more wine bottles inside.

"Okay!" Suigetsu wheezed in satisfaction. His arms were so full of stolen goods that he staggered for balance. "Juugo, listen carefully…"

Juugo leaned toward Suigetsu in order to hear better.

"I want you to rush those guys ahead. Tackle them, push him, I don't give a damn what you do- Just clear me a path so that I can find some stairs and get out of this dungeon. Got it?"

"Yeah, I can do that."

Suigetsu grinned, "Well, like our main man, Captain Picard, says- Make it so!"

…

Gaara and Naruto were holding a steady front. It was a classic stare-off. He wasn't sure who would make the first move and quite frankly the guy named Nagato looked like he could barely stand on his own two feet. He wasn't too sure about the girl, Konan, either. She didn't look like a fighter, she didn't even looked armed.

But Naruto knew that looks could be deceiving. So he waited. Waited for a sign, an opening, something. And then the oddest thing occurred. The last thing in the world that he expected to happen, to ever happen…well, happened.

A giant-naked-man, aka Juugo, rammed into Naruto's shoulder- knocking him into Gaara and into a rack of wine bottles- causing the whole thing to collapse and start a domino effect.

The giant-naked-man, aka Juugo, then processed to grab the fragile-looking-Nagato, who by the way looked like he just saw a ghost or (you guessed it) a giant-naked-man, and threw him into Konan. The two of them hit the stone wall hard and fell to the floor in a dazed heap.

And to make things weirder, since it wasn't weird enough, a half-naked man with shirts full of wine bottles, ran like hell was at his heels through the aisle and up the stairs.

Naruto lost his breath from mere shock. "What!" he rasped, "What the fuck was that?"

Gaara shook his head, equally bewildered. "I have no idea." The redhead gestured to the two unconscious figures in the corner and to the open staircase. "But we got our opening."

-To Be Continued-

A/N: I had a lot of fun writing that last part. I was laughing to myself and typing all the while. I know you guys wanted to see more of the Uchiha Brothers, but the more I tried to put in- the more unnatural it felt. That section above took me three rewrites to prefect. They'll appear in the next chapter- so no worries about that.

Now the moment of truth- The next chapter wont be put up for at least two weeks. I've probably mentioned it before but the computer and internet I use aren't mine. I borrow them sporadically, it's the reason why my updates are all over the place and why I can't reply to reviews. I simply don't have the time or the means. But, oh, how I love your guy's reviews and encouragement. And as always, Thank you for reading!