AN: So here is the next chapter I hope you all enjoy it, sorry it's a bit late but real life has been kicking my arse. To be honest I was working on a HP/DC and my other Naruto story, but was struggling so I did this to take my mind off of it. That being said I quite like this chapter and so hope you do to.

Please leave a review and what not.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

( - )

(Last Time)

As for Deidara, he was currently standing atop a massive owl made of white clay. A grin on his face as his creation started flapping its mighty wings taking to the air.

"Kin." Naruto called out abruptly as he leapt up off the ground and landed on the back of the owl. Kin following after him, as she shot her opponent a slight smirk, before she jumped up, pushing off the side of a building and landing on the owl as she did so. Boarding her ride out of here just as it rose into the air, almost out of reach.

"And now the distraction." Deidara grinned as he looked down on where they had just been, noting that the grey haired man and the woman had both recovered enough to stare up at them, their knife wielding friend however was still down for the moment. Grinning wider as he saw this, Deidara then unleased his flock of clay swallows. More than a dozen of the little birds descending on the streets of the Village as he did so.

"Katsu!"

( - )

Chapter 7

( - )

(In the air above the Village Hidden in the Leaves)

Looking down on the Village Hidden in the Leaves, a vicious smile spread across Deidara's face as he watched his clay creations explode, each of them erupting in an explosive blast of varying sizes, depending on the amount of clay he used. Each of his constructs causing masses of damage and destruction, as the brought down buildings and collapsed bridges, scattering the Shinobi in the streets below as they dodged out of the way of the falling rubble, or moved to safeguard the village's civilian population.

Flying higher into the air on their clay bird, the group of three quickly rose far beyond the range of most techniques as they began to soar away, disappearing into the thicket blanket of clouds above them, even as the Shinobi Village below them erupted into chaos, as civilians shouted and screamed, fleeing from the imminent danger of collapsing buildings and explosion in terror.

Many of them no doubt coming to the conclusion that the village was being invaded, again, so soon after it had just begun to recover from the last invasion.

Unlike the civilians though, the Shinobi of the village reacted far differently, as within moments of the loud explosions the rooftops were swarming as hundreds of Shinobi took to them, some of them, those not on duty heading for the epicentre of the disruption so they could investigate the threat, and the face it head on if necessary.

Others however, those on duty, headed for the village walls, the Academy, the Hokage's tower, and other specific parts of the Village, securing all of the Village's most important assets in case this was an attack. All of them quickly slipping into their assigned roles as they followed protocol, acting like a single well-oiled machine, and showing the world just why the Hidden Leaf was considered the most powerful Shinobi Village.

"They're certainly an organized bunch aren't they?" Naruto spoke up idly from where he was crouched on the edge of their mount, his amber eyes absentmindedly scanning the Village as if he was looking for something. His gaze revealing no real concern despite the chaos they had just caused.

"It's a heavily militarized Shinobi Village, are you really that surprised?" Kin asked from where she was stood on the bird as it flew through the clouds, the dark haired girl pushing away her discomfort as the cold, wet air began to soak through her clothing as she instead looked down at the Village, her own gaze slightly more conflicted, "It's almost like watching an ant's nest that's just been disturbed isn't it?"

"Yes, but far more dangerous." Naruto muttered, as he looked down at his palm and the shallow cut that was still healing upon it. His amber eyes narrowing at the sight of the minor injury, Even as he watched as it began to rapidly heal, a scowl spreading across his face as he thought back to that pesky, bearded Jounin and how his wind enshrouded blades had manage to pierce his skin.

This happening despite his Sage Mode, which enhanced his durability, though not as much as his other attributes such as speed, strength and his senses. Still it made him durable enough that a simple blade couldn't breach his skin, which is why he had come to the conclusion that the Jounin from before had used the Wind Element to sharpen his blade. A technique Naruto had at least heard of, even if it was not one that he knew how to use personally.

"You're injured." Kin suddenly said as she tore her eyes away from the village below and instead took a step toward Naruto, a flash of concern passing through her eyes as she noticed the blood staining his hand.

"It's nothing." Naruto muttered, clenching his hand into a fist as he did so, and instead looking back down at the village, his gaze shifting away from the swiftly moving forces that were already securing the village and evacuating the affected areas, even as he watched, and instead to the surrounding forests, where he was just able to pick out two figures leaving the village, before they began running through the trees.

"Ha! You got injured by some treehugger? I thought you were supposed to be tough, yeah!" Deidara suddenly laugh obnoxiously as he looked over at Naruto, a manic grin on the blonde's face as he saw evidence that the seemingly indomitable and intimidating bounty hunter wasn't as invincible a she liked to pretend he was.

"Fuck off Deidara, the guy got lucky." Naruto replied as he wiped his hand on his Akatsuki robes, before showing Deidara and Kin his now fully healed up hand. "It won't happen again. Now it looks like they have taken the bait and gone to warn the Jinchuuriki of our presence. So stop waiting around follow them."

"Hn!" Deidara grunted in response, a bit disappointed with Naruto's dismissive reaction, before he instead pushing back his long blonde fringe, and used the binocular like device on his right eye to zoom in on the running Shinobi. "Yeah, it looks like you're plan worked."

"It almost sounds like you're disappointed." Kin said absentmindedly as she began to clean the blood off of her tanto, using Deidara's robes to do so.

"Oi, stop that." Deidara snapped as he saw what she was doing, pulling his robes out of her reach as he did so. "And fuck no I'm glad we finally get some action. Still it would have been funny to mock your boyfriend about the failure of his plan."

"He's not my boyfriend!" Kin shot back, her face going very red as she avoided looking at Naruto and instead glared at Deidara, her hand twitching as she resisted throwing her knife at the man.

"Just do your job and fly the bird." Naruto snapped, pushing down his slight disappointment at Kin's words as he instead glared at Deidara. "Or else I'll rip out your spine and flay you alive with it."

"You know, the more you threaten me, the less impact it has." Deidara replied petulantly, as he folded his arms and willed his clay construct onwards, his gaze now back on the running Shinobi below, content just to follow them for now, as they would hopefully lead them to right where the Jinchuuriki was.

"They're not threats Deidara, they're promises." Naruto shot back dryly as he got to his feet, patting Kin on the shoulder lightly as he walked to the front of the bird so he could keep an eye on the two Shinobi too, restraining himself from ordering the bird down so they could hunt them on foot like her preferred, after all the aerial advantage Deidara's constructs gave them was not something to just ignore.

It was as he did this, that he didn't notice how Kin relaxed slightly into his touch, her cheeks once again pinking as her dark eyes fixed on Naruto's broad back, a pang of longing passing through her, before she ruthlessly pushed it down, and instead focused on the matter at hand.

( - )

(Outside of the Leaf Village)

It was as chaos in the Leaf Village was unfolding, and the Shinobi forces were being unleashed, that both Shikamaru and Choji left the village.

The both of them running as fast as they could through the forests outside of the walled village, the pair of them soon taking to the trees, and leaping from branch to branch as they quickened their pace. The both of them moving as quickly as they could, eating up the distance as they ran in the opposite direction of the village, and the large black plumes of smoke that were rising from it.

Leading the duo was Shikamaru Nara, a tall, thin teen, with long dark hair tied up in a top knot, who usually had a disinterested look on his face, though now he had an expression of intense concentration on his face a she leapt from branch to branch. His childhood friend, and teammate, Choji Akamichi following along quickly after him as he did so.

The rotund, brown haired teen with face paint on his cheeks, almost the exact opposite of Shikamaru, in both character and appearance, hurrying along behind him, huffing and puffing as he tried to keep up. The pair of them both running as fast as they could from their home, though not because they were scared though, but because they needed to warn someone about what was coming.

With the someone being the third and final member of their Team, Team 10, another teen, and recent graduate from the Leaf's Shinobi Academy, Sora. A boy who despite being abrasive, crass and a bit of a jerk most of them was still their comrade, which meant that now he was in danger, it was up to them to warn him of what was coming and help him defend himself against it.

Already Asuma Sarutobi, their Jounin Sensei, and Kurenai Yuhi another Jounin Sensei for a different genin team, had apparently been rushed to the hospital with severe injuries due to the most recent attack on the Leaf Village. One which had apparently been orchestrated by a group of three powerful Shinobi, all three of whom had been looking for Sora.

With both Shikamaru and Choji having been present to witness the beginning of the attack, which had allowed them to see just how dangerous the three of them were if they could take down two Jounin and hold off another one. With them having heard of Asuma and Kurenai's fate as they left the village.

Which is of course why they were doing what they were, as since the Jounin present were either hospitalized or busy putting out fires, or evacuating civilians, it was up to the two of them to warn their comrade about his pursuers, as by the time things had settled down long enough for the now leaderless village to make sense of the situation, it might be too late.

Fortunately Sora was a loudmouth, and so it hadn't taken long for Shikamaru to find out that the obnoxious boy had left the village a couple of days before with Jiraiya of the Sannin, in order to find the older man's teammate, Tsunade Senju of the Sannin, both so she could become the next Hokage of the Leaf, and also use her legendary skills at healing to help those that were still injured from the invasion. With the previous Hokage, the Third, having fallen in battle against Orochimaru, slain in cold blood by his former student.

Despite that painful loss though, the Leaf Village, had for the most part fought off the invasion by both the Hidden Sand and Sound with limited casualties. Their forces had of course taken a hit, but as oppose to that hit being devastating, and crippling like it could potentially have been, it was negligible. And as soon as they got a new Hokage in the seat of power then the Hidden Leaf would begin recover, and quickly, which was good, considering the other Shinobi Village's, all of whom were probably watching the Leaf Village, searching for any weakness they could easily take advantage of.

That being said, despite having fought off the invasion, Shikamaru also knew that there would be certain people that would want revenge on their former ally, the Hidden Sand, despite the Leaf Village being slightly weakened. Fortunately though he also knew that most people didn't want to spark another war. Both sides had lost enough already; further conflict would just drag in the other nations and Shinobi Villages.

Fortunately, before all this had happened, Shikamaru, inquisitive as ever, had found out from his father that both Sora and Jiraiya were going to be starting their search for Tsunade, in Tanzaku Town, a small tourist community that was not too far from the Hidden Village. Which meant that the two of them should hopefully not be that hard to find, so they could be warned about the three Shinobi wearing black cloaks, with red clouds.

Of course that is not to say that Shikamaru didn't think Jiraiya could handle himself, despite being outnumbered, the older man was a legend after all, an S-rank Shinobi and one of the strangest in the Elemental Nations. But the element of surprise had killed many Shinobi before, and would continue to kill many after. After all sneak attacks and stealth were a Shinobi's most deadly tools, and considering there were three of them he might be facing, then Jiraiya could be in a lot of trouble.

However if Jiraiya knew about the threat beforehand, then half the battle was already won, as the Sannin could either retreat or make preparations to meet the threat head on if he had too. Either way with the information they were bringing, he would be prepared, and Sora would hopefully be safe. They could only hope their Sensei Asuma was as well, as they had not had the chance to check on the older man before they had left.

It was only two or so hours later that the two friends finally arrived at Tanzaku Town, the pair of them both quite tired after hightailing it there all the way. Despite that though they both continued as they set out to track down Sora, which should be pretty easy to find considering his loud, attention seeking personality, and his distinct appearance, what with the bandaged arm and blue hair.

Of course that was easier said than done, as the two of them soon found that Tanzuka Town was a lot more sprawling than the Leaf Village, With the Hidden Leaf being just a large, but with it also being designed around utility and defense, with distinct districts and large open streets. Tanzuka Town in comparison, was the complete opposite.

Still despite the difficulties the two quickly got down to track Sora down, asking anyone they could about people of their description, and where these people might be staying, after all someone had to know didn't they?

It was as the two were doing this that unnoticed by the both of them a large, clay bird began to descend from the sky, before it began circling in the darkening skies above the town, still partially concealed by the clouds.

( - )

(With Naruto)

Hovering above Tanzaku Town, doing lazy circles on the clay bird, Naruto, Kin and Deidara began to prepare for the confrontation ahead. The three of them having just arrived at the town after following a couple of young and impetuous Shinobi who had left the village soon after their attack.

"Where did those brats go?" Deidara asked as he controlled his clay construct, playing with the binocular like eyepiece on his right eye as he tried to find the brats they had followed here, the ones, due to the timing of their departure and their haste, that they had assumed had come to this innocuous town, to warn the Jinchuuriki of their pursuit.

"It doesn't matter, we don't need them anymore. Start flying around the town, and keep out of sight while I try and find the Jinchuuriki." Naruto replied brusquely as he crouched down and spread his senses, uncaring of fate or whereabouts of the Leaf Shinobi that had brought them here, as he instead tried or find their quarry.

With him using his Senjutsu enhanced sensory abilities to try and track down the enemy by the size of their Chakra reserves, with Naruto having gone with the assumption that the Jinchuuriki would have colossal reserves. That being said his sensory abilities, although far belong an average Shinobi's, were not perfect, hence why he need Deidara to ferry him around the town on the bird, so he could try and find his quarry from the air.

"Any luck?" Kin asked from beside him, her own dark eyes scanning the town below, as she tried to find the Leaf Shinobi from before. Not quite as quick to dismiss them as Naruto and Deidara had, after all they had come her for a reason, to warn the Jinchuuriki, and an unprepared foe was a lot easier to deal with than a prepared one.

"There is three large Chakra signatures in the town that I can sense." Naruto muttered, his brow furrowed as he assessed the three different signatures. "All of which are large enough to be a potential Jinchuuriki."

"Well shit, this is a bit of a fuck up isn't it?" Deidara spoke up mockingly. "So we've potentially found the Nine Tail Jinchuuriki, but he's got friends. I'm guessing they're the ones that were sent to protect him?"

"Quiet." Naruto grunted as he tried to focus in on the signatures, scowling as he tried to infer which one might be the Jinchuuriki. "The one we are looking for is over there, he's weaker than the other two, but his chakra has a small amount of the Tailed Beast's energy running through it." Naruto continued, pointing off in the direction of a small, dreary hotel on the edge of the town.

"And how do you know what a Tailed Beast's chakra feels like?" Deidara asked in amusement, cocking an eyebrow as he gave Naruto a mocking look.

"Are you really complaining?" Kin snapped back, shutting Deidara up as she did so, though internally she was also curious about the blonde's question, after all since when had he ever had any direct interaction with a Tailed Beast or a Jinchuuriki, and if he had, why didn't she know about it?

"I've met a Jinchuuriki before." Naruto replied bluntly as he stood up, his gaze panning the town below them once more, before he focused on Deidara, his now glowing red eyes as he activated his Doujutsu, daring the blonde to question his statement.

Something Deidara didn't bother doing as he instead just accepted the explanation and looked away from those cold, predatory eyes, after all he didn't know all that much about his stoic partner's history, and so couldn't say whether he was lying or not.

Kin however frowned as she immediately saw Naruto's answer as a deflection, not that she was about to call him out on it, not here anyway. She would be asking for some answers later though, as the two of them were supposed to be partners, and as such he should have clued her in on this, just as she had told him everything about her.

"The other one, the largest signature, is over near the town's bath houses." Naruto then continued as he stood up and gestured at a rather posh looking bath house on the other side of town, before he then pointed off towards the centre of the small town. "As for the third, that one is in a bar in the town centre."

"Is there any other Shinobi in the town?" Kin asked, her eyes now on Naruto, not at all bothered as his glowing red eyes turned on her, if anything she basked in the way he looked at her, though personally she did prefer his amber, more lupine eyes.

"I have trouble with the smaller chakra sources form this high up." Naruto replied grudgingly, but even if there are, I shouldn't think they would be all that concerning to the three of us.

Deidara nodded in agreement at that, before began to play with his telescopic eyeglass. "You need me to create a diversion? I could start dropping bombs in the town and draw some attention to the centre, cause a spectacle that'll draw some of the Jinchuuriki's protection away."

Naruto paused as he heard that, running though the benefits and negatives of such a tactic before he nodded. "Cause a little chaos, get the civilians out onto the streets and panicking. But try to restrain yourself, we don't want a blood bath."

"Minimal civilian casualties if possible." Kin then added on, playing with her sharp tanto as she did so. "This isn't a Shinobi Village we're messing with here,"

"Who cares?" Deidara replied irritably, somewhat surprised that the large, feral looking bounty hunter would care for people he didn't know, he genuinely didn't' seem like the type who would.

Naruto just shrugged at that, before glancing to Kin.

"I care, so in case you want a sudden, swift and painful change of gender, control yourself." Kin spoke up, a dark gleam in her eye as she eyed Deidara like he was a particularly loath some animal that needed putting out of its misery. Her mind momentarily flicking back to the Shinobi attack on her own home, and the deaths of those she held close to her heart. Attacking a Shinobi Village was one thing, they knew what they were getting into and were trained, but attack ordinary, untrained people just going about their lives that was an entirely different thing.

"Enough talk." Naruto said, placing a clawed hand gently on Kin's shoulder comfortingly as he could guess why she was so passionate about this, before he looked harshly at Deidara. "You have a job to do, don't fuck it up."

Deidara rolled his eyes at that, but still nodded. "Hn, you do the same yeah!"

"Kin and I will pursue the Jinchuuriki." Naruto then continued, before he ordered Deidara to drop them off in the town.

( - )

(A few minutes later)

It was a few minutes later that Deidara had smoothly, and quietly, brought his clay bird low enough to the ground, for both Naruto and Kin to safely leap off of it without incident, the two of them landing in a back alley, just behind the shabby hotel as they did so. Both of them on guard instantly as they eyed their surroundings, just in case of an ambush or any other trick a Shinobi might have set up to defend their prized weapon. Only for nothing to happen, as their arrival had apparently gone completely unnoticed.

After which Deidara had then gone off to make mischief, with no one paying attention to the on goings as the trio took advantage of the high buildings and busy, bustling nature of the tourist destination, and the darkening skies as afternoon quickly turned into evening, and the darkness of night began to descend on the thriving, tourist destination.

Looking up into the sky as Deidara vanished from sight, a slight scowl spread across Naruto's face. The blonde bomber was a wild card, one that was prone to rash decisions and bouts of petulant anger. The teen hadn't developed the cold ruthlessness of a hardened killer, instead he treated this whole thing like it was some big game.

Naruto however, although prone to bouts of anger and rashness on occasion himself, was for the most part different to Deidara. He was far more pragmatic in the way he approached things, weighing things up before acting. Sure when the was in the midst of a good fight he could sometimes be overcome by the throes of battle, as everything turned red and he could feel his heart pumping faster, as the bloodfury overcame him.

In those times he could act rashly, and act out in anger, but such occurrences were few and far between, as for the most part Naruto treated his hunts as just that, a hunt, one which required, speed, precision, commitment, and no hesitation.

Which is why for the most part Naruto was careful, he was also not excessive, as he didn't wantonly cause destruction for the sake of destruction like Deidara did, nor did he revel in death and carnage like Hidan, or in money like Kakuza, or his hate like Itahci Uchiha.

No, if anything he was more like both Kisame, in the way he exulted in the challenge of hunting down and facing a strong opponent, however unlike the blue skinned swordsman, he did not make a performance out of it. A fight after all was just that, a fight, it was swift and brutal, it required no flashy moves, or excessive attention seeking techniques.

It was with that thought in mind that Naruto sent Deidara one more look, faintly sensing his powerful chakra signature amongst the clouds, before he turned away. Hoping as he did so that Deidara didn't let his idiocy get the best of him, and also that the enemy didn't have anyone skilled at sensing chakra either, as although Naruto and Kin could mask their signature, Deidara could not. Plus Naruto knew that there were others out there who could do the same as him, or better in terms of sensing chakra. Which if that were the case, meant that their 'element of surprise' might just be a sham, and their opponents might be lying in wait for them. Preparing to turn the hunters, into the hunted.

"Come on." Naruto muttered to Kin, before he set off towards the hotel, trusting in his dark haired companion to follow along.

"Coming." Kin replied quietly, pausing momentarily to look up at the sky as she did so, before she turned and left. With the dark haired girl being just as concerned as Naruto about Deidara's lack of inhibition, and the likelihood that he could mess up their plan.

It was a few minutes later that the two of them entered the hotel through the window of an adjacent room. With Naruto entering the hotel proper, his bare feet padding silently along the threadbare carpeted floors, his senses flared as he sniffed the air, trying to lock onto the Jinchuuriki's scent, even as he activated his Doujutsu. His amber eyes turning red as he began to look through the surrounding walls, searching for his quarry.

A part of him looking forward to fighting a Jinchuuriki, if it put up a fight, and another part of him curious about just how this person came to hold the Nine Tail's chakra within him, and whether this person would make a suitable replacement for Naruto himself in Pain's 'Grand Plan'.

Whilst Naruto was doing this, Kin had run up one of the walls using her chakra, her footsteps silent as she crept across the rooftops, her tanto held at the ready, as her dark eyes flicked about her surroundings. The dark haired girl pressing herself against the roof tiles as she prepared to back Naruto up at any moment, if necessary.

Though for the moment her attention was also partly on Deidara as she saw him flying own the town, no doubt creating his explosive constructs. With Kin's eyes locking on the figure as he prepared unleash hell, hoping as she did, that he did at least exercise some restraint.

This was a concern that Naruto himself also shared, though likely for a different reason, as despite their apparent confidence, Naruto, and likely Kin too, knew how dangerous their current mission was, as they were only a short distance from the Hidden Leaf Village, and any prolonged conflict would bring both the wrath of the Hidden Leaf and the scorn of their elders in Akatsuki upon their heads.

On top of which the proximity of the two powerful chakra signatures was somewhat concerning, though that concern would hopefully be mitigated by Deidara's distraction, which should also allow Naruto to quickly go in and capture the Jinchuuriki.

Ideally Naruto would have liked to investigate the other two powerful chakra signatures, in case one, or both of them had a bounty on their heads, or they were a particularly challenging opponent.

Unfortunately though the mission came first, besides once they found out he took the Jinchuuriki he was sure they would come for him, so who knows, sometime in the future he could be facing off with them anyway.

Shaking those thoughts away, Naruto instead focused on the task at hand, already aware as he did so that Kin was prowling along the rooftops overhead. With that thought in mind, Naruto continued padding along the corridor of the sleazy hotel, before he came to a halt in front of a plain wooden door, one which he knew the Nine Tail's Jinchuuriki was hiding behind.

Moments later he calmly knocked on the door, knowing as he did so that despite his outward calm, internally he was a raging tumult of emotions. After all if this Leaf genin was really the Nine Tail's Jinchuuriki, or a suitable substitute, then that meant that Naruto was off the hook, and that he would no longer be one of the Akatsuki's potential targets, not that they knew that, yet.

And to keep it hidden all he had to do was continue to maintain his Sage Mode, and not use the Nine Tail's chakra, something he had never used before, in front of an Akatsuki member, and he was home free. After which he could continue living his life how he wanted, whether that be that both Kin and himself remaining in the Akatsuki tracking down and defeating powerful opponents and doing S-rank missions for a lot of money, or whether it be that they leave and do something else, whatever that may be.

Either way it meant that he could strike out on his own, without the worry of the group of S-rank Shinobi working out what he was and pursuing Kin and himself, then again he was pretty sure they wouldn't be all that keen if he were to leave the group, so the point may be moot.

Pushing those thoughts away for now, Naruto instead focused on the task at hand, as it was only a few moments after he had knocked on the door that it opened and a short, blue haired kid with a bandaged arm revealed himself, a confused expression on his face and, a Leaf forehead protector proudly displayed upon his forehead.

Tilting his head at the sight of the boy, Naruto's amber eyes turned red as he activated his Doujutsu. To the average passerby, the boy was just an average kid, or at least an average kid with Shinobi training. But to Naruto, with both his eyes and his sensory abilities, the boy's chakra was a raging sea of raw energy, most of it his own, but with trace amounts of the Nine Tail's energy within him, with these trace amounts somehow enhancing the boy's natural reserves, both in terms of size and potency.

Focusing on the source of the Nine Tail's chakra, Naruto found the seal on the Jinchuuriki's stomach, one which contained a chakra exactly like his own, though noticeably less than the amount Naruto knew he held. Then again that might be because of the type of seal he had, or the source of the Nine Tails chakra, there were likely factors involved that he couldn't comprehended, either way the boy was the Jinchuuriki of the Nine Tails, even if only a pseudo one, and that was good enough for Naruto.

Grinning at this, Naruto showed off his sharpened canines as he tilted his head to one side, his eyes returning to amber as he stopped channeling chakra to them. The reason for this being the sudden explosions that began erupting in town behind him, as Deidara released his chakra heavy blasts of exploding clay, blowing up buildings and scattering the crowds, even as the sound of screaming and panicking civilians started to fill the air.

"Who the hell are you?" The boy before him snapped, his loud and obnoxious voice carrying quite far in the almost empty hallway. Not that Naruto was really bothered by this, as although he would likely not be getting the epic battle he was looking forward too, a job was a job, and he didn't like failing.

With that said Naruto went to step forward and sucker punch the target, with a single Sage Mode enhanced blow. It would be an easy knock out, and would likely cause little more than a bit of internal bruising and a few broken ribs, no life threatening injuries, but ones which would hopefully disable him and stop him from calling for help.

Only as he was doing this, he found couldn't move, as somehow the shadows within the hall had thickened, before suddenly binding around his body, completely immobilizing his arms and legs over the course of a few moments.

"Shadow Possession Technique. Complete." An unfamiliar voice announced behind Naruto, catching his attention as he once again flared chakra to his eyes and activated his Doujutsu.

"Seriously?" Naruto asked as he wrenched his body around, flaring his chakra and breaking the shadows grip on him with ease as he turned to face the two young teens facing off against him. With one of them being a skinny kid with small to mid-reserves, which already looked to be low, this one being the was using the shadows as Naruto could see them chakra infused shadows linking to him, Whilst behind him his chubby friend was already flaring his chakra and preparing an attack.

Widening his eyes when he saw Naruto had already broken his technique, Shikamaru could do little more than look on horror, even as Choji unleashed his own attack. The two of them having tracked Sora down quite easily, the two of them only needing to ask a couple of people to narrow down where they were staying, and then a few enquiries to the hotel reception to find out which room. Both of them arriving just in time to meet one of the pursuers already confronting Sora.

"Did you really think this would work?" Naruto continued on incredulously, as he wrenched his way through the boy's shadows as he tried to use them yet again, his red eyes fixed on the fat boy as he curled up into a ball and shot towards him, like a runaway boulder.

Snarling at that, Naruto lashed out with his hand, striking the human boulder rushing towards him in the side, and sending him hurtling into the wall. After which he then twisted and dodged the Jinchuuriki's attack from behind, gripping the boy's arm instead and breaking it with a single twist, before he then wrenched it and flung him headfirst into a nearby wall.

"How did you think this was going to go? That you'd try and ambush me, then what, that you'd somehow defeat me?" Naruto continued to ask, almost angry about how stupid this attack was. What did a pair of genin think they could actually take him on? It was embarrassing.

Back tracking at that, Shikamaru's eyes widened in horror as Naruto walked towards him, his claws gleaming in the dim light of the hall and his eyes glowing red, leaving light trails through the air as he advance on the younger teen.

"Shikamaru!" Choji shouted desperately, in a pained voice, before he exploded towards Naruto one again, his fist growing ten times larger as he lashed out with a single, direct, forceful punch.

"Choji don't!" Shikamaru cried out, panicking now, as he final realised the difference in skill between their opponent and them, a difference that no amount of planning and preparations could make up for.

Despite that though Shikamaru didn't give up as he extend his shadows once more, burning through the last of his chakra as he tried to immobilize his opponent long enough for Choji to land a blow, a blow that would hopefully incapacitate him, if only temporarily, but long enough so the three of them could run away and find some real help..

Scowling at this Naruto once again broke the shadows grip, as he instead lunged forward, dodging beneath the clumsy, fat genin's strike, before lashing out and taking advantage of the opening. His clawed hand moving upwards as Naruto tore through the boy's stomach, partially disemboweling him, an action that caused a spray of blood to drench the silver haired Sage. Only for Naruto to then flick the boy off his hand with a look of disgust, sending the young teen smashing into a nearby wall, where he landed in a heap on the ground, still and unmoving, a pool of blood rapidly expanding around him.

"Choji!" Sora snarled as he pushed himself to his feet, his eyes now red and his broken arm quickly healing as he began to draw on the Nine Tail's chakra.

"Choji!" Shikamaru also shouted desperately, his eyes wide and filled with horror as he looked from his still and bloodied best friend, to his red eyed opponent in terror and fury. "What did yo-" Shikamaru began to say, his voice pitching slightly as panic, anger and fear overtook all rationality, only to be halted in mid-sentence when he felt a heavy blow to the back of his head, his world going dark as he fell to the ground moments later.

"Kin." Naruto said with a nod, as he looked at the dark haired girl, who was absentmindedly twirling her tanto in her hand as she stood over the still and unresponsive body of the Leaf genin.

"I can't let you have all the fun now can I?" Kin replied with a slight smile, before she nodded to a point just over Naruto's shoulder. "Don't forget the Jinchuuriki by the way."

Smiling slightly at that, Naruto rolled his eyes before he turned and watched as the Jinchuuriki ran at him, his previously bandaged right arm now revealed, showing off a bestial arm with a set of claws extending from it. A loud scream of fury leaving the boy's mouth as he bull rushed Naruto, his clawed hand trailing behind him, tearing deep furrows in the carpeted floor.

Tilting his head as he saw this, Naruto could almost taste the Jinchuuriki's fury as wisps of orange chakra began to flow off his body, even as his claws began to glow a light green colour, a similar technique to the one the Jounin he had defeated earlier had used.

Watching as the boy charged him, Naruto waited until the last moment, before he reacted, his eyes flashing red momentarily as he avoid the boy's clawed had as it slashed at him, before he twisted and lashed out with a closed fist. Aiming for a straight knock out, after all they needed the boy alive.

"Die!" Sora snarled as he spun on his heel and lunged for Naruto again, only to find himself facing a clenched fist, one which struck him in the side of the head, and smashed him off his feet and into a nearby wall, his mind spinning and his consciousness slowly slipping away as blood began to drip down one side of his face.

"I thought you were supposed to be watching my back?" Naruto said calmly as he looked back at Kin, his gaze moving over the three downed genin as he did so.

"I was, but these fuckers must have got into the building before us. Besides they're just genin, what trouble could they actually give you?" Kin replied dismissively, as she eyed the three teens before looking down at the Jinchuuriki, her gaze softening slightly. "He's so young."

Naruto frowned at that, before pausing. "You're too soft hearted."

"Or maybe you're to hardhearted." Kin shot back at him.

Naruto cocked an eyebrow at that, before he leant down and grabbed the all but unconscious Jinchuuriki by the collar. "I held back didn't I? I didn't kill them all like I could have done?"

"No just a bit of friendly maiming is all." Kin replied dryly.

"They trained to be Shinobi, it's an occupational hazard." Naruto said, as he began to leave the hotel, dragging the barely conscious Sora along behind him, even as he heard the explosions in the distance continue to sound off, though now the screams had faded, telling Naruto that Deidara was doing little more than demolition work now.

Kin rolled her eyes at that, but didn't reply, partially because she couldn't refute that point.

"Now come on, we've lingered here too long as is. Deidara can only keep them distracted for so long." Naruto said as he continued down the corridor, increasing his pace as he heard the explosions in the distance beginning to fade.

Kin nodded at that, before running after him, casting one last look back at the two genin, before she shook her head and continued down the hallway after her partner.

( - )

(Moments later)

A few moments later, after the two Akatsuki members disappeared down the corridor, taking Sora with them, Shikamaru opened his eyes.

Letting out a slight cry of pain, the boy then began to crawl along the floor, the barely conscious Shikamaru slowly dragging himself over to where his friend Choji had fallen, his breathing ragged and his head pounding as he did so.

He hadn't planned on the Akatsuki being this ridiculously powerful. The plan he had thought of was supposed to work, he was supposed to immobilize the older teen before he got to Sora, after which Choji's Human Boulder would then connect with the man and take him out. Following form that they would link up with Sora and then take the remaining members of the trio down one by one, using team work to accomplish the feat, after all wasn't that what Asuma had been training them to do.

It was supposed to be simple, but effective.

But instead the attack had failed, and their efforts were shown to be paltry and futile as the older teen crushed them with no apparent effort. Choji had been crippled in moments, as too had Sora when the boy had realised what had happened, and then Shikamaru had then been taken out, with the last thing he remembered being a strike to the back of the head. Either by the older teen's clone, or by one of his compatriots. Either way their plan had failed and they had been decimated.

Despite that though he wasn't about to give up, Sora was a teammate, and dare he say it, a friend, and Choji was the closest thing he had to a brother. Shikamaru would not allow Akatsuki to win this easily, first he would help Choji, if the boy still lived, and then he would go after Sora.

With that though in mind, Shikamaru struggled to his feet, his vision blurring as his head continued throb, and his knees almost buckling as he felt the warm feeling of blood running down form the back of his head. He knew he had no real hope of beating one of these three Shinobi now, as he was, but as unlike him as it was, he would still try.

Shaking his head Shikamaru took one step towards Choji, his eyes flickering over the large pool of blood surrounding him, and the great bloody tear in his gut, before he collapsed again, his vision blurring as he desperately tried to cling onto consciousness, before he looked up and found himself looking at a pig...

"Hold still." A soft and unfamiliar voice then said, as he looked up and found himself looking at a pale skin woman, with short black hair and dark eyes. An intense expression on her face as she gently cradled him in her arms, her face pinching in concern as she looked form him to Choji. "Help is here."

( - )

AN: So that's the chapter what do you think? It ended up being a lot longer than I thought it would be, but even so it's done and the next one has already been started. I assume people can infer what will be happening in it and that things aren't going to be all that simple.

So yeah, other than that I hope you enjoyed, sorry it's been a while, but I've been very busy in real life.

For those who have questions over Naruto's Sage Mode, I will say now that it is different to the Toad's Sage Mode, focusing more on offensive enhancements, then defensive ones. With the Wolves's Sage Mode having different strengths to the Toad's Sage mode, which I hope came across in the way I've been describing it. I think I covered this before in the story, but it has been a while and I can't remember.

Naruto's Doujutsu for those who don't know has penetrative vision like the Byakugan, Analytical memorisation and the ability to cast genjutsus like the Sharingan, the ability to block other Doujutsu and final the ability to see lifeforces. Sonyeha it's it's pretty versatile. Look up Ranmaru's Doujutsu for more information.

Other than that I hope you all review and if you have any questions etc. feel free to PM me and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Also feel free to check out my other stories if you fancy, there may be something you like.

Thanks for reading and I'll see you later.

Seagate.