Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Bleach.

Chapter Eleven: The Infiltration of Love and Peace

N.U. Journal Entry #300

So, these are the Legendary Sannin…gathered all together for a fight after so long…

The Toad Sage Jiraiya…

The Slug Princess Tsunade…

The Giant Snake Orochimaru…

I really have to say I'm disappointed with them all. I expected more from the three who are powerful enough to challenge the Sanshuo no Hanzo of Amegakure.

Instead, I see a Toad Sage frivolously spending his time with whores, a Slug Princess pathetically drinking and gambling her sorrows away, and a Giant Snake endlessly chasing after power not his own for his pursuit of immortality and the ultimate ninja.

It's embarrassing for powerful ninjas to be reduced to mere shadows of themselves.

…

Even Kyuubi agrees with me and he faced the likes of Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara in a fight to the death. If the Kyuubi is to be released now, I doubt these three can even last the hour against him.

I can't believe that the Toad Sage is my godfather. I can't believe that the Slug Princess is going to be Godaime Hokage. I can't believe that the Giant Snake is enticing Sasuke for his Sharingan with paltry promises of power.

They're all just embarrassments.

I'll show them. Sasuke will show them. We'll show them just how pathetic they have become. We'll show them the true meaning of power. And they will all kneel before the power of gods.

Uzushiogakure no Sato

Seated on his throne, Naruto raised a hand and called for his subordinates with a small gesture. Figures approached and knelt in front of him. Amaru and her Gang of Four awaited his next orders.

"Hello, my friends," he greeted with his arms spread, looking down at them with a smile. "I have need of your services again."

"Yes, Naruto-sama!"

"Amaru, your Gang of Four will support Sasuke-kun's ambition from the shadows. Primarily, keep him appraised of Akatsuki's movements. Specifically, keep him appraised of Itachi's and Orochimaru's movements. Provide me with a copy of your reconnaissance after you've shared it with Sasuke-kun."

The Gang of Four bowed their heads. "Yes, Naruto-sama!"

Amaru asked, "Naruto-sama, wouldn't Uchiha-san have three factions chasing after him: Orochimaru, Akatsuki, and Konoha? What should be done about them?"

"Leave Konoha be. I will handle them. As for Akatsuki, that will be the responsibility of Temujin's knights. For Orochimaru, it will be the responsibility of your Gang of Four, Amaru-kun."

She bowed her head. "As you command, Naruto-sama."

The Gang of Four bowed their heads. "We will do as you command, Naruto-sama."

"Wonderful," he replied as he turned to Amaru. "In the meantime, you and I will be venturing outside the village."

Her eyes widened as her head shot up to look at him. "What? You and me?!" Almost immediately, a blush formed on her cheeks before she lowered her head. "I am honored to accompany you, Naruto-sama."

Naruto felt Kyuubi's disgust at her infatuation with him. He could also feel Kyoka Suigetsu's almost mocking amusement and Hogyoku's dismissal of her feelings. Now, now, you three. Let her express her feelings for me. "Yes. The both of us will be focusing on Konoha while the knights focused on Akatsuki and the Gang of Four focused on Orochimaru and Sasuke-kun."

"What will we be doing, Naruto-sama?"

"We will be monitoring Konoha's reaction after Sasuke-kun's defection and Akatsuki's rising movements."

Amaru furrowed her brows, hiding the scowl that would've formed on her face at the mention of Konoha.

Naruto clarified, "Temujin and his knights are focusing on Akatsuki. Your Gang of Four, I just assigned to Orochimaru. That leaves Konoha unobserved, which I intend to rectify as soon as possible."

"Will you adopt your persona of Aizen Sousuke, Naruto-sama?"

He chuckled in amusement, shaking his head. "Oh, heavens, no. The last thing I want is to let Danzo know that one of his...associates is in his village. I'd rather not give him even the falsehood of an advantage at all."

She bowed her head. "Forgive my ignorance, Naruto-sama."

He continued nonetheless, "But, no, I have a different person in mind." With a smirk, his form shimmered like water. He grew a few centimeters taller as his yellow hair shortened and turned orange and his blue eyes turned brown. He turned to a nearby mirror; the form of Kurosaki Ichigo gazed back at him. Naruto raised a hand to his shoulder to massage it and the mirror image mimicked his action. He smirked as he turned to Amaru. "This is the form I will use for Konohagakure. While in Konoha, you shall address me as Kurosaki Ichigo."

Amaru nodded. "Yes, Naruto-sama!"

"And you shall introduce yourself as Orihime Inoue, Kurosaki Ichigo's lover."

She blushed bright red and whispered, "Y-Yes, Naruto-s-sama..."

Naruto felt his inner spirits scoff, mock, and dismiss her infatuation and reined them in once more, betrayed by the amusement in his attempt. He pulled out a photo from his pocket and presented it to her. "Orihime Inoue is the girl in his picture."

She took the picture and narrowed her eyes as she scanned it. Then, she cycled through hand seals and transformed into Orihime, her long auburn hair growing longer and turning into a bright shade of orange. She also grew taller and slimmer, her bust size grew to match Ichigo's ditzy lover's, and her blue eyes turned brown. Amaru looked down at herself and frowned at her chest, a contrast to the actual girl's usual expression. "How can this Orihime person move with these things? They are an annoyance and I haven't even spent five minutes with it!"

He chuckled amusedly. "She is not a ninja or one of these Shinigami. Her...fighting style – if it could be called that – doesn't make use of speed or power. She quite literally uses six fairy spirits to fight for her and she doesn't need to move around as much or throw a punch."

Her frown grew and she clicked her tongue but didn't reply.

"Nevertheless, gather your belongings and we shall meet at the front gates in fifteen minutes."

"Yes, Naruto-sama!"

They regrouped by the village gates. Naruto and Amaru, in the forms of Ichigo and Orihime, stood in front of two of Uzushio's ANBU operatives.

"I'll leave a clone here to manage the village in my absence," he told them. "I cannot say when we will return; ensure that nothing untoward happens in the village until then." As they bowed low to affirm his command, he turned to the Gang of Four. "Are you four ready?"

They bowed their heads. "Yes, Naruto-sama."

"Then go. Assist Sasuke-kun from the shadows and do not be seen." When the four dashed off to begin their mission, he finally turned to Amaru. "And are you ready, Amaru-kun?"

The face of Inoue Orihime nodded resolutely, hefting her bag over her shoulder. "Yes, Naruto-sama."

"Then let's go."

Akatsuki Base

Temujin opened his eyes from his kneeling position in the middle of the cell as he heard footsteps approaching him and his knights. Behind him, his three knights also took note of the incoming people. His red eyes narrowed as he looked at the blue-haired woman dressed in a black robe with red clouds. "Akatsuki," he softly muttered.

Her voice was soft yet cold. "Are these the Shinigami forces that attempted to ambush you, Itachi?"

"Yes, they are," Itachi replied, his Sharingan glowing in the dim prison cell. "They were considerable but weren't enough against me."

"I see." She narrowed her orange eyes at Temujin's red gaze. "And you believe they may hold valuable information about their organization?"

"Yes."

"Then you would've been able to extract that information alone with your Sharingan."

He shook his head. "I assumed that Leader-sama would want to study these Shinigami after they've been extracted."

She remained silent as she and Temujin stared at each other for a few minutes. Then, she said, "I suppose Pein would have use for their skills after they've been dealt with. Were they awake long?"

"Yes. I released the hold of the Sharingan over them and they awoke soon after."

"You think it wise to do so? You don't believe they can escape this cell?"

"If they escaped, I will recapture them. They will not give me much trouble."

She broke eye contact with Temujin and turned to Itachi, narrowing her orange eyes once more. "It is not wise to be careless about a new enemy, Itachi."

His own eyes narrowed but he only said, "As you say, Konan."

"Still," she continued, turning back to the knights, "you did well incapacitating them instead of killing them, Itachi. We will make use of this." She then addressed the knights, "I will ask this of you once. Surrender your knowledge willingly and I will ask Pein-sama to show leniency."

Temujin softly scoffed, "You showed no leniency to the jinchuuriki. Why should I expect you to do the same for us?"

She readily replied, "Their demise is unfortunate but it is necessary for our goals. Yours, on the other hand, is not required for us to achieve them but will be done if need be."

He narrowed his eyes. "And why should I accept the words of a terrorist organization who views the deaths of ninjas forced into a life of pain as unfortunate but necessary?"

"Death is inevitable," she replied, "and it is indeed unfortunate. As a whole, Akatsuki does not revel in the deaths we cause because we know that it is the only path to our goal."

"And yet you welcome monsters like the Jashinist Hidan, the bounty hunter Kakuzu, the bomber Deidara, or even the literal monster Kisame into your ranks, all of whom relish in causing pain and suffering and death."

"The views of pawns does not reflect the views of a god and his angel. We tolerate their proclivities because they produce results. If they do not, they suffer the consequences. Such is the way of the world."

Temujin scowled. "God? Angel? Do you really view yourselves as deities who have come to cast divine retribution upon us? Do you really believe your cause to be pious?"

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them. "This world is filled with pain and suffering. Nations fight with one another and that causes a cycle of hatred that expands and grows with each death they suffer. Where is the justice for the ones who lost loved ones in war? Where is the retribution that should befall the killers for the blood they spilled? Akatsuki rises above it all and will pass judgement on the world. We will cleanse this world of pain and suffering."

Scoffing, he uttered, "Self-righteous posturing. You claim to rise above the pain and the suffering of this world and yet you commit that same pain to the jinchuuriki and those who get in your way." He bared his teeth at them. "Your god is just as hypocritical as the lowly ninjas he wants to cleanse."

Her orange eyes narrowed, the only outward sign that she was affected by his insults. Then, she said, "You are just guilty of it as we are, then; you, who call yourselves Death Gods. Especially when Kakuzu remembers you four as the knights from the Scattered Lands."

"The bounty hunter may have known us but that was years ago; he does not know what happened since his first and only visit. Our previous leader, Haido, was deposed by Aizen-sama after he declined his offer for an alliance and tried to kill him. Aizen-sama took the reins of our leaderless organization and started building his powerbase in the shinobi lands."

"So this...Aizen is your leader, the one who sees himself as a Shinigami. That's just as hypocritical as you view us to be."

Temujin laughed mockingly. "Woman, you know nothing of Aizen-sama. He wields power beyond ours. If you were in his presence, you would feel it in an instant. What he has, it isn't chakra; it feels different, far more ethereal. He needs no hand seals to use his abilities, whatever they are. And he uses a katana that is far more potent than the blades of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. You, and your hypocritical organization, are nothing to him."

Konan raised a brow and glanced at Itachi beside her. "That seems to coincide with Kakuzu's story of when he crossed paths with this Aizen person. Well, we know more about him now than we did back then." She turned back to Temujin. "Thanks to your hubris, you divulged quite a bit more about your leader. Sedate them, Itachi," she ordered, turning around to leave the cells. "Then, prepare them for extraction and travel. Pein-sama will deal with the rest."

"Very well, Konan," said Itachi, stepping forward and looking at them with his Sharingan. Temujin and the knights stared back at him fearlessly. Foolish, the Uchiha thought as his Kekkei Genkai did its work and put them in a genjutsu. He watched as their eyes closed and they slumped over, unconscious. As he entered the cell to prepare them, he froze as a voice entered his mind, a voice not his own.

Foolish Uchiha...

Itachi spun around in alarm, his eyes narrowed, as he looked for the source of the voice. He couldn't find the source but he remained tense as he slowly approached the unconscious knights who considered themselves Shinigami.

Konohagakure

Naruto and Amaru stood in front of a desk, where two shinobi sat behind as guards to the front gates. One had long, black, spiky hair and had a strip of bandage going across his nose while the other's hair was combed down and covered his right eye. Hagane Kotetsu and Kamizuki Izumo, Naruto recalled, thick as thieves and the usual guards assigned to the front desk.

"Sorry for the delay, you two," Kotetsu said with a smile as he looked up at them. "I just need you two to sign some forms before we let you in the village. You know, standard security checks and the like."

Naruto raised a brow and nodded. "Ah, sure. Just let me get my pen." As he wrote Ichigo's and Orihime's name on the form, he asked, "What's with the security? We're just civilians; we don't really pose a threat against this many ninjas in your village."

Izumo scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "It's orders from Hokage-sama herself. She wanted to tighten security after several news reached her ears."

Amaru furrowed her brows. "What news was that?"

The two chunin looked at each other, pursing their lips as they seemed to decide whether they should tell the duo. Then, they turned back.

Izumo said, "Well, one such news is that one of our missing-nin, Uchiha Sasuke, defected from the services of another of our missing-nin, Orochimaru.

"We all believe that he did so to freely hunt down his brother, the killer of his clan, Uchiha Itachi, without being under Orochimaru's eyes but Hokage-sama doesn't want to take chances and increased security just in case Sasuke decides to come here."

"Seems a bit excessive, don't you think," Amaru asked.

"You're not the only one who thinks so," replied Kotetsu conversationally. "The other chuunin and a few jonin think that Sasuke won't be able to take on the entirety of Konoha by himself. Heck, Orochimaru needed the help of Sunagakure to help his invasion three years ago!" He puffed his chest proudly. "It goes to show how great Konoha is that it needs a major and a minor village to even attempt an invasion!"

Ah, hubris, Naruto thought in mocking amusement, Sasuke-kun is far above any of your comprehension that only someone like Tsunade or Jiraiya can even offer a challenge.

Amaru pointed out the flaw in that plan. "So what other reasons do the Hokage have for this increased security if Konoha is very secure?"

Both chunin shrugged. "Beats me," Izumo said. "Some of the others think that there's some other danger out there – more dangerous than Sasuke – that the Hokage wants to be ready for."

Naruto narrowed his eyes. Are they getting ready for the Akatsuki? My execution wasn't really a secret, neither is Akatsuki's goal. Do they expect the Akatsuki to get revenge for killing me, which put a wrench in their plans? It's...possible. No, that can't be it. The higher-ups of this world knows that a Bijuu will eventually reform after a few years of its jinchuuriki being killed and the Akatsuki still needs to get the other seven after the Ichibi anyway so they have time to spare before even attempting to get the Kyuubi. There's something weird here...

He double-checked the form he just signed before handing it back to the duo. "Here you go. Thanks for the information, you two."

Izumo smiled at them. "You're welcome, ah, Ichigo-san, Orihime-san. Enjoy your stay in Konoha."

Amaru smiled back and nodded. "We will. Thank you."

As Naruto and Amaru properly entered Konoha and started to wander its streets, the latter asked the former, "What did you think of the security measures, Na – ah – Ichigo-kun?"

Naruto furrowed his brows. "It's suspicious. There's something else at play here, something that the higher-ups in Konoha are hiding from the rest of the village."

The two of them stopped by an alleyway and ensured that they were alone before Amaru asked, "What do you think it is?"

"I don't know...yet. I'll find out eventually. I can't get close to the Hokage, the council, the ANBU, or Jiraiya since they are hardened ninjas."

"What about the jonin? Surely, some of them would know the reason but would be susceptible to such a...questioning?"

Naruto glanced out the alley and into the populated street of Konoha. "I doubt that the Hoakge would share it with every jonin in her ranks. There are only a handful that I would expect her to share it with; some of the stronger jonin. Perhaps Morino Ibiki and his accomplice, Mitarashi Anko, she shared it with. I expect that she shared it with Hatake Kakashi, Maito Gai, and Sarutobi Asuma; Kakashi, because he's one of her strongest jonin, alongside Gai, and Asuma because of his history as a part of the Twelve Guardian Ninjas."

"I recall there was one other jonin whose name is often spoken alongside theirs. Umm...it was...Kunai or something."

He blinked as he turned to see her contemplative face and said, "Yuhi Kurenai? Ah, yes, I had forgotten about her. I don't consider her to be on the same level as the previous three. Her entire skill set revolves around genjutsu. Her taijutsu skills are adequate but she is no Maito Gai. Her ninjutsu, on the other hand, is...very, very limited, especially when compared to Hatake Kakashi's or even Sarutobi Asuma's."

"I read that her genjutsu is on par with Uchiha Itachi's. Surely that would amount to something."

Raising a brow, he amusedly said, "Comparing her genjutsu to Itachi's is like comparing Kakashi's ninjutsu to that of Uchiha Madara. Both may be at the top of their field but their competition is far, far above them." He smiled at her. "But she does deserve her accolades, I suppose. Taking that into consideration, then, yes, the Hokage would've told her as well."

Amaru bowed her head. "Forgive me for my presumption. I didn't mean to question you."

He waved his hand dismissively. "You are not at fault. It is only natural to question that which you do not understand. And it is just as natural for me to indulge your curiosity and answer accordingly."

She lifted her head but kept it low, as if ashamed of her actions.

"Now, now," he said, lifting her head by her chin and smiling at her, "there's no need to be so down, Amaru-kun. I am not angry or disappointed with you in the slightest. Rather, I am proud of you for thinking outside the box."

She pursed her lips before she curled them in a smile. "Th-thank you, Naruto-sama."

His smile widened as he leaned closer. "That's better. That smile looks better on you." He pressed his lips against hers, making her body tense and her eyes widen. Pulling back, he looked amused at her reaction before turning to the street. "Come on, Orihime-chan. We need to find a room at some inn before we can start our reconnaissance."

Her cheeks were red as she numbly followed him. "Y-Yes...Ichigo-kun..."

Keh, Kyuubi scoffed from within Naruto, you merely kissed her and she's already this flustered and aroused? Bah! I forget how weak you humans are to even the notion of romance!

I agree with the fox, Sousuke, Kyoka Suigetsu agreed, her disdain felt through their bond. These humans are rather easy to emotionally compromise.

Oh, I agree as well, Naruto replied with an internal laugh. But I would be a hypocrite if I were to denounce it completely. After all, I made very good use of my emotions when I was younger. Besides, that same emotional vulnerability will be useful here.

Everything is useful to you, Naruto, replied Kyuubi in mocking amusement. It amuses me to no end how you can use anything to your advantage.

Naruto chuckled softly as he and Amaru approached a nearby inn. Amaru looked at him questioningly. Noticing it, Naruto smirked at her. "Oh, I was just thinking on how we can find out what's going on."

"Eh? What's the plan?"

"Later, Orihime-chan," he softly chided as they approached the front desk. "I'll tell you after we get a room."

She firmly nodded, watching Naruto talk with the innkeeper.

"Hello there," he said with a smile. "We'd like to rent a room."

The innkeeper blushed a deep red as she stared up at Naruto. "Ah, c-coming right up, sir," she muttered as she fished for a key.

Amaru narrowed her eyes as she glared at the innkeeper, who eventually found the key and handed it to her leader.

"H-here you are, sir. You two have Room 529."

Naruto took it and widened his smile. "Thank you."

The innkeeper's blush grew as the two of them headed towards their room, missing the glare that Amaru still sent her.

"Now, now, Orihime-chan," he said with a soft chuckle. "You know that there will be nothing happening with her."

She huffed and crossed her arms. "I can't help it, Ichigo-kun. She was blushing like a schoolgirl in front of me! It's as if she doesn't even realize that you were with someone else!"

He chuckled again, opening the door to their room and ushering her in. "Infatuation can do that to a person, especially blind infatuation."

Entering the room, she settled on a nearby chair and looked up at him expectantly. "So, what's the plan, Naruto-sama, given this new situation?"

Naruto locked the door and put a hand to the door, leaving behind a seal that ensured privacy. "Our main objective here is to keep an eye on Konoha; that hasn't changed. Finding out the source of this increased security is a part of that objective."

"I understand, Naruto-sama. How shall we proceed?"

Naruto gave her a small smirk. "We'll start small; don't draw attention to ourselves. We don't want to get the attention of the Hokage – or worse, Danzo – as we stay here for the next few weeks."

She nodded. "Yes."

"With that said, I have the exact targets in mind for information extraction."

Amaru's eyes hardened into steel. "Their names, Naruto-sama, and I will have them brought to you for interrogation." She faltered when Naruto let out a laugh. "Naruto-sama?" she asked uncertainly.

Naruto stopped laughing and smiled at her, patting her on the shoulder. "I appreciate your enthusiasm, Amaru-kun, but I have something else in mind for those two. We don't need to kidnap or torture them for information. Instead, what I have in mind will...affect them far more powerfully than that. What I want to know is," he stared at her intently, "if you have the conviction to follow through. This will challenge your resolve in completing the mission." He smiled at her. "I will not think less of you if you decline because this will not be an easy mission."

Amaru furrowed her brows before shooting up to her feet, her arms straight at her side. "I am willing, Naruto-sama! I will do whatever it takes! I will give you my life if need be!"

Yet again, Naruto felt the disdain coming off of the Kyuubi from within his seal but Kyoka Suigetsu and Hogyoku emanated feelings of approval.

Tch, this is almost too easy.

That's good. The easier it is for Sousuke, the quicker the plan comes to fruition.

Naruto's smile widened, putting both hands now on her shoulders. "I knew I could count on you, Amaru-kun." Now to seal the deal, he thought in amusement. "Know that I am proud of you, whether this mission succeeds or fails."

She shook her head vehemently. "We will not fail, Naruto-sama! I will make sure of it!"

Kyoka Suigetsu let out a melodious laugh at the same time that Kyuubi bellowed in amusement and the Hogyoku thrummed with approval.

Admiration is indeed the emotion furthest from understanding.

Gang of Four

The four zoomed through the trees as they headed towards Sasuke's last known location. They arrived in front of a small town and casually walked through its streets, careful not to draw attention to themselves. They had opted for similarly casual clothes to ensure they are inconspicuous and act as tourists to the village. It was still risky but it was less so.

As they passed by an alley, they all paused as Kusuna turned to the aforementioned alley, where a pair of red eyes peered at them. Turning, he went into the alley with the others following him.

He greeted, "Sasuke."

Sasuke was leaning by a building wall as they approached and grunted, "You four should really refine your act as tourists. Tourists don't walk in an organized group and they keep their eyes to the sights around them instead of looking at the road as if they have lived there all their lives."

Kusuna shrugged dismissively and said, "It serves its purpose well enough."

The Uchiha grunted again but asked, "So what does Naruto want?"

"We're here to support you and keep you apprised of the situation with Konoha, Akatsuki, and Orochimaru."

"And what have you got so far?"

Kusuna replied, "Naruto-sama and Amaru are infiltrating Konoha right now to keep track of their actions. Temujin and his knights are still in the process of infiltrating the Akatsuki base. We have yet to catch wind of Orochimaru's activities. We expect him to send a small group to follow after you but we don't know who it is."

Sasuke scoffed, "Whoever it is, they are not a match for me."

"Be that as it may, Naruto-sama said that it would be better to have as few distractions as possible for his and your goals and that it would be just good to be prepared for whatever distractions will come."

He shrugged, stepping away from the wall. "Nevertheless, consider your message delivered. For now, take a break. We just started our hunt for Itachi and I was about to have my group split up to look for clues when I sensed you four."

Kusuna scowled. "We are sent by Naruto-sama to be undetected and to keep you informed. We can't just 'take a break'."

"So be it." Sasuke waved a hand dismissively. "Then, get to it and keep me posted."

The Gang of Four frowned at him and left the alley; Sasuke left through another path to return to their inn room.

Sasuke closed the door behind him and asked, "Did anything happen in my absence?"

They all shook their heads. Karin answered, "I didn't sense anyone else other than that group you went to. Who were they, by the way?"

"Aizen sent some reinforcements to keep us informed of Akatsuki, Konoha, and Orochimaru and their movements."

"Well, that's generous of him," said Karin with a sniff. "I doubt it's for free."

"Let's just say he has a vested interest in our actions since our defection from Orochimaru."

"I'm sure," replied Suigetsu dryly from his seat by the table.

"In any case, we'll take a little break and then we'll split up and start our search for Itachi tomorrow."

True to his word, Sasuke had his group split up to start their search for Itachi when the next day came.

Jugo took to the nearby woodlands to use the animals for his search. Suigetsu went to the seedier part of town to interrogate the criminal underbelly. Karin, the most normal-looking of the group, hid in plain sight on town, keeping her eyes, ears, and senses open while there. Sasuke had Tamaki spend the few days in their inn controlling her new powers. Sasuke himself wandered outside town.

Unknown to them for the time being, Konoha's group, consisting of Kakashi's team and Gai's team, were hot on their heels.

They gathered on a rooftop and deferred to Kakashi. Sakura asked him, "So what's the plan, Kakashi-sensei?"

The silver-haired shinobi looked at him. "Let's split up and search in a 5 kilometer radius. We'll cover more ground that way. If we don't find anything, we'll relocate and search again."

She asked, "Five kilometers? Our communication devices can't reach that far. If we find anything, we won't be able to tell the others."

Yamato placated her, "Calm down, Sakura. Kakashi-senpai has already planned ahead."

Kakashi used the Summoning Technique to bring out his ninken to the field. "The groups will be Hana and Sakura, Neji and Tenten, Gai and Lee, and Shizune and Tenzo."

"You'll be scouting alone, Kakashi-sensei?"

He paused before nodding. "Yes. I...need some time alone for a bit."

"Are you guys alright?" Tenten asked in confusion. "Ever since you guys came back from the meeting with Hokage-sama, you guys have been...quieter."

"We're fine, Tenten," Kakashi replied. "It's just...we recently received some terrible news. We just need time to come to terms with it."

Sakura asked, "What's the news? What's so bad that it made you like this?"

Yamato answered for his mentor, "Hokage-sama swore us to silence until she deems it ready to be shared, Sakura. I'm sorry."

The chunin in the group frowned and shared a look with each other.

Kakashi continued, "Two of my ninken will join each group, with the exception of Hana's and Sakura, since they have Hana's to support them." After grouping up, they split up and started their search. As he watched them leave, Kakashi let out a deep sigh and dropped onto the ground, taking a casual stroll down the street, with Pakkun on his shoulder.

"Are you alright, Kakashi?" his ninken asked. "I haven't seen you this down since the Yondaime Hokage's death."

"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing, Pakkun. As Tenzo said, Hokage-sama made us keep it a secret so I can't tell you even if I wanted to." Sakura's words were on point: the jonin sensei – with the exception of Tenzo – have been quiet and subdued since the proclamation of Naruto's revival and betrayal. Kakashi absolutely refused to believe it. Naruto was many things: loud, brash, reckless, proud, colorful, and so on; but he was not disloyal. Of that, Kakashi was sure. The boy surely had no reason to betray Konoha.

His childhood was carefully monitored by the Sandaime and a select few ANBU. They made sure that nothing untoward happened to him during his growth. Sure, he was isolated and ostracized but he was never attacked, physically (the Hokage made sure of that) or verbally (at least, to the extent of loud name-calling; they still spoke in hushed tones). That's why the Sandaime spent some time with Naruto over the years to keep him company.

Kakashi remembered being on watch as the Sandaime brought Naruto to Ichiraku Ramen. The smile on the young boy's face was real; there was no mistaking the joy in his expression. There was also no faking the satisfaction when Naruto dug in his first bowl of ramen or the excitable manner with which he talked with the Hokage or the Ichirakus. How could that same boy betray his village such that Tsunade-sama considered him almost on the same level as the other traitors to Konoha?

He shook his head. Clearly, this wasn't the time to be contemplating that thought. He had a mission and, in Naruto's name, he'd get it done. Unknown to him, he was busy with his inner thoughts that he missed the sight of Jugo walking past him and into the outskirts.

"Oi, Kakashi, are you listening to me?" Pakkun called out, getting his attention.

He said, "Oh? What is it, Pakkun?"

"I kept trying to get your attention for the past few minutes but you were really distracted there." He grunted. "I wanted to tell you that I sensed Sasuke's scent earlier."

His shoulders tensed. "Where is it?"

"That's just it. Earlier, it seemed like it was walking towards us but now it seems to be walking away from us."

Kakashi stopped and looked around, trying to keep a lookout for the Uchiha's spiky, black, blue-tinted hair, but not a single person in the crowd look remotely close to him. "I don't have a visual," he muttered. "It must've been one of his accomplices instead."

"You really should be more focused, Kakashi," admonished Pakkun. "That is so unlike you."

"I know," he said. "I know. I won't do it again. Do you know where the scent is headed?"

"No. It's too weak for me to pinpoint exactly where it is, especially with this crowd around us."

He frowned beneath his mask and cursed. I had a lead and I let it slip away because I was distracted! I need to focus!

With Sasuke

Sasuke ventured the furthest of his group, even further than Jugo, who had already started communicating with his animal friends. He stopped by a tree trunk and raised his palm, a small seal with the kanji for radio appearing on it. He raised the hand to his ear and listened.

It was Kusuna. "Sasuke, Konoha and Akatsuki are close by. Setsuna and Shizuku found a flying creature made of what looked like clay above the general area. On closer inspection, they said that there were two people on top of it, dressed in Akatsuki robes."

"I see," he softly replied. "And what does Konoha have?"

"Gitai and I saw two separate groups of ninjas with hitai-ite bearing the insignia of Konoha. One group had a girl with pink hair, a girl with face markings, and three dogs in the street."

Sakura and a member of the Inuzuka clan, huh, Sasuke concluded. "What about the other group?" he asked.

Kusuna seemed to have trouble believing his next words. "The other one seemed to have a pair of men with the most outrageous bowl-shaped hair and thick eyebrows; they too have a pair of dogs accompanying them.

"Maito Gai and Rock Lee," he spoke. "So we are dealing with two teams from Konoha and a duo from Akatsuki. If that's the case, tell your group to keep an eye out for a member of the Hyuga clan and a kunoichi with two buns for hair. Those are the other members of Team Gai. Keep an eye out for the other members of my old team, especially for Kakashi."

"Very well," Kusuna said before he cut transmission.

After he did so, Sasuke asked, "You heard that, Naruto?"

Naruto's voice answered him. "Yes. That makes things easier for me here in Konoha. But that means you'll have your work cut out for you."

"You're forgetting who I am, Naruto," said Sasuke with an amused tone. "I can deal with whatever Konoha sends against me and the lower echelon of Akatsuki's forces."

Naruto chuckled again, saying, "Of course, Sasuke, of course. How could I forget? Good luck."

Sasuke grunted out a response before lowering his hand and turning to continue his search. He got a few steps beyond the tree he hid by before he heard the sound of heavy wings approaching him. He looked behind him over his shoulder and narrowed his eyes, saying, "You're...Deidara of the Akatsuki."

The blond Akatsuki member grinned cockily. "So you're Itachi's little brother, un! This is going to be fun!"

He narrowed his eyes, his black eyes turning to the red of the Sharingan.

Konohagakure

"It's a boon that both Kakashi and Gai are not in the village," Naruto explained to Amaru. "That makes this plan a lot easier to accomplish." Amaru silently nodded behind him, making Naruto look to her with a raised brow. "Are you alright, Orihime-chan?"

Amaru perked up, waving her hand wildly in front of her face, reminding Naruto of the original Orihime. "Ah! It's nothing! It's nothing at all, Ichigo-kun!"

Naruto smiled and turned to her. "Is this about what we talked about last night? It's alright if you change your mind. I wouldn't think less of you if you do. I don't want to make you uncomfortable or anything."

She puffed her cheeks and put her hands to her hips. "I told you that I can do it! I'm just preparing myself for it!"

"The offer still stands, Orihime-chan."

Amaru put her nose up proudly. "And I won't take it, Ichigo-kun! I made up my mind and I'll follow through with it!"

Naruto's smile widened and pulled her in for a hug. He then whispered, "Thank you, Amaru-kun."

Her cheeks burned bright red as she returned the hug and whispered back, "You're welcome, N-Naruto-sama..."

Pulling back, he gave her one final smile and was about to continue walking when someone bumped into him. He played the part of a simple civilian and fell to the ground with a loud "Ooof!" The second thump and grunt told him that he wasn't the only one who fell to the ground. He rubbed and then raised his head to look up at the person who bumped into him.

A woman with long, wavy black hair dressed in what seemed like bandages with rose patterns was being helped up by another woman with purple, spiky hair in a tan trench coat.

"You gotta watch where you're going!" exclaimed the purple-haired woman as she helped her up.

The black-haired woman gave her a glare. "I can't help it when you keep distracting me with nonstop offers to that new dango store that opened up, Anko."

Anko grinned wide. "What? You can't talk and walk at the same time?"

She shook her head in exasperation as she turned to Naruto, who was being helped up by Amaru. "I'm terribly sorry about that. My friend wouldn't stop pestering me to join her."

Naruto gave her a disarming smile. "No, no, it's alright. I should've watched where I was going as well. Sorry about that."

"It's no problem at all." Raising a brow, she peered up at him. "I...don't think I've seen you around here before. Are you two new to Konoha?"

He pulled Amaru with a hand to her shoulder and smiled wide. "Yes. My girlfriend and I are new to Konoha. We are tourists and wanted to see this place for ourselves. I'm Ichigo, Kurosaki Ichigo. This is my girlfriend, Inoue Orihime. Pleased to meet you." He held out his free hand to shake hers.

"This knucklehead who distracted me is Mitarashi Anko. I'm Yuhi Kurenai." She shook his outstretched hand and smiled at him. "Welcome to Konoha, you two. I hope you enjoy your stay."

Naruto's smile belied his true nature as he replied, "We intend to, Kurenai-san. We intend to."

Target Acquired.

This took a while because I had to go through so many iterations.

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