Hello everyone and welcome back to the next installment of SOABU! I am terribly sorry for the delay on the chapter, but as you may know I had some issues. Well before anything I just wanted to say that God, I have the best reviewers ever! You guys motivate me a lot with all your feedback. And well based on a lot of the reviews I receive I think a lot of you guys will probably like this chapter. Without further a due. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto (yet)

"I'm exhausted." Was the first thing Yugito said she entered her rented hotel room. She threw the folder that she was holding onto the bed and quickly followed herself. Accompanied by the sound of springs creaking she bounced on the bed a few times.

'The informer sure seemed nervous. But then again, when you are performing espionage I guess you are bound to get edgy.' She thought after finally settling on the aging mattress.

She cracked an eye open and looked at the folder of information that rested besides her.

'I have the clearance to see it according to the boss.' She slowly picked herself up in a way in which she remained seated on her knees on top of the bed. "Later." She muttered as she stood up. She walked over to the bathroom where she unsealed some looser clothes that she always carried while on missions. She quickly changed in to some black pants and a white shirt with a modified version of Kumo's flack-jacket made less heavy that only covered her torso and a single strap that passed over her left shoulder.

"I wonder how Naruko is doing." She let the sentence hang in the air for some seconds before laughing. "Ha, I only saw her last a few hours ago. What am I worried with? Boss must be right. I am definitely warming up to that girl." Walking out of the bathroom she turned to a clock on a wall. 'Three A.M huh? Time sure flies.'

Her eyes drifted back to the bed, or more precisely to the file on top of it. She moved slowly towards it, cautious as if it would run away if she was too brash with her movements. She sat on the edge of the bed and extended her hands towards it, quickly grabbing the plastic folder on her hands.

"Let's see what this has." She said as she opened the folder. As she read through the document her eyes started to widen. There was nothing more than military information regarding Konohagakure, Takigakure and Kirigakure but what surprised her most were the last pieces of text.

- Diplomatic relations between Takigakure and Otogakure collapsing.

- Possible alliance between Konohagakure and Kirigakure. Estimated thread level: Orange

"What? What does Konoha wants with Kiri? Last I checked it was still organizing itself after the Civil War they had." But then she remembered another piece of the text.

- Kirigakure forces reorganization estimated at 60%

- Kirigakure main army body shifting to defensive formation.

"Defensive position? From What? Crap I have to get this information to the boss." She stood up and grabbed her gear. "It will take me more time to reach Kumo, because it is up in the mountains my way there will be way slower than when I came down." She clicked her tongue in annoyance. Hurriedly she exited the room and began her way.

./ Takigakure Council Hall

"So who are we going to send to the chuunin exams?" A figure on the upper ring of seats on a wide room said. He was a man of about forty years, yet because of his attire one could tell he was a ninja.

"Team Four is not ready yet." A woman with similar attire said, just that she was on the center of the room standing along with other four shinobies, instead of sitting on the ring of seats.

"Team Two is ready." Another woman said.

"Team Three isn't" a man said and then everyone turned their sight to the last man standing on the center of the room that hadn't said anything.

"Team One is ready but..."

"Satoshi, you know that your team cannot participate, at least not while you have two members only." Another figure on the ring said. He was not dressed as a ninja but because of the air around him one could tell that he was of importance.

"I know that Rintarou-sama but only if a replacement could be provided we-"

"There are no replacements I'm afraid. That unless you want to take her." Rintarou said interrupting Satoshi in his words. As soon as he said those words everyone else flinched and Satoshi looked down curling his fists in frustration.

"I'll take her." He said eventually surprising everyone. "If it means that my team can participate I, I'll take that girl."

"But Satoshi!" The second woman that spoke started.

"Is okay Arya!" He said stopping her from continuing talking. "I know what I am getting into. My team should be able to handle her alright... I hope." He said muttering the last part.

"Very well." The man with shinobi attire on the ring spoke regaining everyone's attention. "It is decided then. Gennin teams one and two are to participate in the upcoming chunnin exams to be held at Kirigakure at six months from now in commemoration of our neutrality agreement." He said as he closed his eyes. The four jounin on the center of the room bowed and exited the room. Once they did so the man named Rintarou spoke again. "Someone go inform Fuiren that we will be using her." No one on the ring of seats moved but a shadow flied out from a corner in the room. 'So the Nanabi jinchuriki will be going to chuunin exams, and just as we are getting reports of Kusa making suspicious moves. Things are getting interesting.'

./ Yugito. Morning. Kumo Outskirts

An explosion was heard through the mountains as flocks of birds and packs of wild animals fled the place where the event took place.

"Hold still kitty! You are going to make a great offering for Yashin-sama!" Hidan yelled as he frantically swung his scythe. The scythe was as tall as Hidan himself who was fairly tall and had three red curved blades extending out one on top of the other.

"Hidan! Remember we need her alive!" A voice yelled after him.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. Shut up and let me fight." He responded as he turned back at Yugito.

'Shit I can't escape.' Yugito thought as she continued to evade Hidan's scythe. 'He is just swing randomly, is obvious that he does not had any style at all, but because he swings so fast it is very hard to slip in his defense.' Frustrated Yugito jumped away and landed on a large boulder. "Who are you? What do you want with me?" She asked as she surveyed the area looking for advantages points or places to escape.

"We are part of an organization who is hinting people like you. Jinchurikies." Kakuzu who had been following as they moved answered calmly. The answer made Yugito panic a little.

'They know full well what they are against yet they continue.' "Are you sure you should be telling me such valuable information? And why aren't you helping your partner."

"It is of no importance weather you know that information or not, after all, you are not going to live long enough to tell it. And no, I won't be helping that idiot, you can kill him for all I care, that if you can." Kakuzu said with a sinister laugh.

'What does that even means?' She didn't had much time to think about it as Hidan jumped down on her with a war cry. 'A chance!' Hidan who had thrown himself at Yugito had pierced the ground with the blades of his scythe in the place where Yugito had been standing a few moments ago causing it to get stuck leaving him wide open. Not letting the opportunity escape she rushed at Hidan who was no more than a few steps ahead and using a kunai she embed the weapon on Hidan's neck.

"There. Your partner is dead. Now only you remain." She told Kakuzu who was sitting at a rock sixty meters away.

"I wouldn't be so sure."

"What do you-?"

"Aaaagh! That hurt bitch!" Yugito's eyes widened. Turning to Hidan she saw that was he not only still standing, he had grabbed and taken the kunai out of his neck. The hole caused from her attack remained.

"Thats what you get for being so careless." Kakuzu said.

"Shut up idiot! She only caught me by surprise!" He said angrily. "And you bitch!" Yugito paled as Hidan turned back to her.

'I stabbed him. I am sure I stabbed him. Then why is he alive? I-I even have his blood on my hands.'

"Kitten. Kitten calm down! You are gstopping to think rationally. Kitten I need you to calm down!" Nibi who has detected Yugito's inner turmoil said, but her words fell on deaf ears.

"I killed you. I passed my hand through your throat. How are you still alive?" She asked shakily. Hidan smirked.

"Hahaha. You can't kill me! You understand? I'm immortal!" Yugito's eyes widened at the revelation. -run- was the only thing that was clear on Yugito's mind. -run-. Not caring for anything else she turned on her feet and began running.

"Here we go again." Kakuzu muttered annoyed to himself as he stood as ran after Hidan who was already pursuing behind Yugito while yelling obscenities.

'I need to run. I need to run. I must escape.' Was the only thing that Yugito thought as she ran across the rocky mountain. She continued running for minutes until she stopped at the start of a large plain. In the far she could see a concrete platform.

'Kumo's water way!' She realized after seeing the platform. 'I can use that to escape!' Not daring to look behind she began to run full speed towards the grey platform. After passing the platform a wide opening was visible on the ground. She jumped down the tunnel and began to run in a random direction. 'Crap I feel heavy.' She continued running down the tunnel until she reached a big room that connected with multiple other tunnels in all directions. "Yes. Yes! That's it! I can use this place to escape them." Hearing the echo of Hidan's swearing she took a bunch of explosive tags and attaching them to a kunai threw them at the wall above the entrance of every tunnel and walked to the center of the room. Shorty after Hidan entered the room along with Kakusu.

"Did you finally realize that you can't escape us?" Kakusu commented calmly after entering the room. He had run a fairly run distance but looked completely fresh, as if that was nothing more than stretching. "Hmm, for a jounin, and a jinchuriki at that, you look pretty worn out." True to his words Yugito was covered in sweat and panting with one had on her knee.

"Ha! Haha! DO YOU GUYS EVEN REALIZE THE POSITION YOU'RE AT?" She yelled "This is Kumo's water way." She said signaling all around her. "Here there is nothing but concrete and the ground above us! Look around! I've putten tags all around! Do you understand? I am not trapped here with you. You are trapped here with me!" She yelled while putting her hands together on the ram sign. Kakusu eyes widened.

"Crazy bitch! Are you trying to kill yourself?" He asked hurriedly but his words were lost after a loud KAI! was yelled by Yugito. Explosions ringed all around them with a deafening echo. The fire quickly consumed Kakusu and Hidan who were right beneath one and the pillars and roof started to collapse.

"Nibi I need your strenght!" Yugito yelled. Soon enough she was covered in a blue cloak made out of chakra and she jumped at the falling pieces of concrete using them as leverage to jump higher colliding with the room making a hole in the already fragile roof and jumping outside. "That's right! Die!" She yelled as she watched through the hole the fire consume everything. The rest of the room started to shake and suddenly the whole area in front of Yugito crumbled as giant pieces of concrete fell into the room smashing everything.

"Finally... I can go back... Naruko." She whispered as she let the chakra cloak recede. Falling to her knees a single tear ran down her cheek. "I can't move anymore. Having not rested and running all the night I gave everything I had at this fight." After a few minutes she slowly forcefully dragged herself up to a standing position. She gave a last glance to the settling cloud of dust and the giant hole that she made before turning. She gave two steps before freezing on her tracks.

"Bitch that hurt!" She recognized the voice immediately. Turning back once more she saw the concrete being pushed apart as slowly both Hidan and Kakusu emerged from beneath the crumbled debris seemingly un scratched other than slight burn marks on their cloaks.

"What?" She asked in disbelief. "I killed you. I saw you get smashed by all the concrete."

"I told you there was no escaping from us. You can't kill us. We are immortals." Kakusu said with chuckling like if it was a good joke that always got the people. "So are you ready to give up and come with us peacefully?"

'Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit no! Nibi I need your power! Please help me!' She screamed inwardly. The atmosphere quickly got heavy and Yugito once again got covered by a cloak of blue chakra, the difference being that this time it didn't stopped there. It was denser and the blue turned a deep purplish blue. It covered all her body and her features started to change to one of a cat. A blue flaming cat with black markings all across her body and two long flaming tails waving furiously from behind.

"Looks like we will have to get serious Hidan." Kakusu said as he got into a battle position. Standing before them was no longer Nii Yugito. No, before them was the Nekomata no Nibi. (Two tailed Hellcat)

./ With Naruko

Naruko was sleeping soundly when she felt it. It was quick but she felt it. A large explosion of energy, no chakra. But not any type of chakra, a more specific type of chakra that he knew all too well. Youki.

"What was that?" She asked slightly panicked as she lifted her upper body from the bed. "Karui... Karui!" He whispered loudly to the dark skinned girl.

"Mmng? nnruko? wssup?" She asked sleepily.

"Karui did you felt that?"

"Snse wut?"

"I don't know. Some type of energy."

"You're imaging things. Go back to sleep." Karui said as she drifted back to her slumber.

"No, I am sure I sensed it. Just for a brief moment." 'Kyuubi... did you sensed that?' No response. She stayed in the position she was in for various minutes before letting herself fall back in the bed. 'Maybe Karui is right and I am imagining things.' She thought as she closed her eyes. Not a minute later her eyes opened and she rocked out of bed into a standing position. "There it is again! I can feel it!" The wave of chakra came again but this time stronger and didn't disappear. 'Kyuubi! Kyuubi! Do you sense that?'

'I sense it gaki!' The kyuubi said with a surprisingly alert tone. "This chakra... hmmm, there is no doubt. It is the Nibi. That slutty cat is in trouble, I can feel disturbance on her chakra."

'The Nibi? What is a bijuu doing here?'

"Actually... I didn't told you, but that blond woman you like is her container."

"Yugito!? Yugito is in trouble?!" She said alarmed ignoring the mental conversation.

"Naruko? What's wrong Naruko?" Karui who had woken up from the outburst asked.

"Karui! Yugito is in trouble!" 'Kyuubi please guide me to her!' She said and dashed out the window.

"Wait Naruko! What are you talking about!" Karui yelled after her but her words did not reached Naruko who had already dashed out the window "Naruko wait up!" She yelled as she ran out the window after the blond.

./

'Where to?'

"To the southwest, about twenty kilometers from the village." Kyuubi responded and Naruko adjusted her position.

"Yugito hang on." She muttered as she approached the village gate. Soon enough the chunnin squad guarding the gate noticed her and stood in her way in an attempt to stop her, but she dashed past thought them in blinding speed.

"Hey stop!" One of the chunnin yelled after her but turned back as Karui landed behind him.

"Go tell Raikage-sama that this is an emergency! That Yugito is in trouble and we need him!" The chunnin just nodded dumbly at Karui and dashed to the Raikage's office.

"Crap I lost a lot of distance, Naruko is going to fast I won't be able to catch up. I better get going." She said for herself as she dashed out the gate.

./ Raikage Office

"Sir, I have notices." A woman said. The woman was a dark-skinned young woman with green eyes. She wore a very formal attire consisting of a long-sleeved, high-collared dress shirt and skirt, along with a pair of long earrings and sandals. She has her light grey hair pulled back into a bun with two bangs that fall on either side of her face.

"What is it Mabui?" The deep voice of the Raikage answered.

"Sir, Kumo, along with the other villages has been invited to a chunnin exam to be celebrated in Kirigakure as a sign of neutralism now that a new Mizukage has been chosen and the civil war has ended. The exams are dated half a year from now. We have confirmation that both Konoha and Taki will be attending."

"Chunnin exams huh? And in Kiri out of all places. This is interesting. You said Taki is going?"

"Yes sir. Also we also have received word from Samui that-"

"RAIKAGE-SAMA!" A yelled interrupted Mabui as a chunnin entered abruptly the office. "Sir an urgent message from Karui, sir!" The chunnin said gasping for air. "She says that Yugito-sama is in trouble. That your presence is required. She didn't specify a location, she just followed a blond girl through the south gate."

"Yugito is what?" 'Are they moving already?' "ANBU! Get me C and Darui now! Tell them to meet me at the south gate ASAP!" Not waiting to see the order being carrier over, the kage blasted through the window of his office in direction on the gate.

./ Konoha

"Jiraiya. Where have you been?" Tsunade tired voice said from behind her desk.

"I told you hime. I would look for Naruto. Right now I have the whole network searching for the gaki." Jiraiya said as he seated on a chair. "Is something wrong?" He asked seeing that she made no comment.

"Do you think he hates us?" Jiraiya remained silent for a while.

"I don't know." Jiraiya said frankly. "I don't know, but I would."

"Shizune misses him a lot." She said allowing a single tear to trail down her cheek. "She screamed at me for hours after she got notice of what I did." She took a file of papers from her desk drawer and placed it on top of the desk. "And now we can't protect him."

"What is that?" Jiraiya asked worriedly.

"Akatsuki invaded Konoha. It seemed that they heard that Naruto was no longer here and decided to investigate."

"Kami... What happened?"

"Nothing, just a skirmish with the jounin senseis. But not now they know that he is not here. Jiraiya, Naruto is out there, being searched by the Akatsuki, and now that he has no protection they won't doubt to attack him on sight."

"Why didn't you tell me anything? You could have sent me a message and I would have been back at the village sooner." Tsunade shook her face.

"I just got the report myself a few hours ago. Asuma and Kurenai gave their report but they didn't know what had happened. Gai said that they were looking for Naruto. It was Kakashi who was badly injured that told me everything after he got stable."

"I'm going out of the village for a few weeks. I search for him personally... and I will bring him back."

"Jiraiya." Tsunade said stopping the male sannin who was already moving to the window. "Bring him back."

"Of course Hime." He said with a smirk. After that he was gone. A few minutes later there was a knock on the door. "Come in." The door opened and it revealed Kurenai and Gai who entered the room.

"You called for us Tsunade-sama?" Gai said.

"Yes. Kurenai. Gai. Do you think your teams are ready to go the chunnin exams again?"

./ Naruko

"The strength of the chakra is decreasing. I have to hurry."

"The source is just a kilometer away. Just over that mountain." Naruko listened to the words and ran even faster.

'I can barely feel the chakra. Yugito hang in there. Just over this slope.' Naruko sent a small amount of chakra to her feet and jumped over to a big rock. She landed on a pile of peebles making her feet slip, but giving another quick jump she landed on top of the hill. Her eyes widened. Chaos and destruction was the only thing visible across the once viridescent terrain. Charred, broken logs could be seen scattered everywhere. Once green pastures now laid nonexistent as only piles of blackened ashes remained on its stead. Further ahead a huge hole, obviously unnatural, could be observed from on top of the hill he was standing on.

"Yugito!" Remembering the reason for which she had came to this place Naruko started to rush toward the barren land in her search but stopped after having just given a few steps. In a spot a few dozen meters away from the base of the mountain Yugito was on her knees. Naruko's eyes widened not only at seeing her trashed state and semi tattered and burnt clothes, but also at seeing the now light blue cloak of bubbling chakra. It was painfully clear that Yugito was not in any real condition to fight any longer, and that she was holding the youki cloak only because of her will of not to give up even thought it was doing her more bad than good.

"Finally this is over." A voice distracted Naruko from his shocked state. Looking away from Yugito, another couple dozen meters away from her were standing a couple of persons, Naruko had never seen them but he recognized them right away - no - rather he recognized the cloak that they were wearing.

"Akatsuki." Naruko said through clenched teeth.

"This bitch burned pretty nasty. I would love so much to offer her to Jashin-sama right now."

"Hidan don't ge stupid. We can't kill her, less let you offer her to your god."

"I know! Fuck Kakusu!"

"Whatever I'll pick her up." Kakusu said that seeing that the chakra cloak had receded back into Yugito's body and had collapsed into the ground.

'No!' At that moment something ticked inside Naruko that caused her body to jump into action and to send adrenaline rushing down her system. Quickly carrying her fingers into a all too familiar cross she shouted.

"Taju Kegebunshin no Jutsu!" (Multiple Shadow Clone Technique) Instantly a mass of smoke puffs appeared on the base of the mountains leaving behind multiple copies of Naruko enough to compose a full platoon (AN: 64 soldiers).

"What's that!" Kakusu who had felt the sudden chakra spike looked up from where they were to the mountain only for his eyes to widen. With a battle cry the unit composing of clones and original came roaring down with the sole purpose of saving Yugito unconscious body.

"Hidan! Protect the jinchuriki!" Kakusu yelled at his partner as he rushed to meet the sudden attack. Hidan decided not to comment and rushed to Yugito's side as he stood on a defensive pose with the pose.

"Bless Jashin-sama who blessed me with these herd to sacrifice to him." He said with glimmering eyes.

./

'Interesting.' Kakuzu noted silently praising the tactic that his opponent had decided to employ. After money, which was the most important thing to him, the thing that he valued the most was intelligence. He despised having to deal with less than thoughtful persons, and the fact that despite rushing into the scene, the enemy had decided to use tactics and not just rush and attack him -even if the enemy was using clones. Instead of all charging head on, when about to clash with him a bunch of clones jumped instead to head over and retrieve Yugito. The only reason he hadn't killed Hidan was because he couldn't. Stupid cult.

His praise was cut short as he brought up an arm in order to block a kick aimed at his face. Pushing the offending limb away Kakuzu leaned back and ducked in order to dodge a swing from the left and a punch to the face. Casting a quick glance over at Hidan he noticed a good amount of clones zero-ing on him as he stood, scythe lifted with both hands, grinning with anticipation for the carnage to come.

'With this amount of clones it would seem that the sole objective of the enemy is to retrieve the jinchuriki, and with the agility that she has displayed so far it won't be long until Hidan fucks up.' Scrambling to the right from his prone position, he lashed his arm out at an unfortunate clone, who was rushing over to reinforce the clones with Hidan, causing it to dispel, his eyes widening a little at the puff of smoke that followed instead of the crumbling earth, or the splattering body of water he had expected to see.

'Too bad. I don't have the time to chase after her and capture the jinchuriki again.' He jumped away from the group of clones swarming him that had began to enclose him. Landing outside the circle he brought his hands to a hand sign.

"Jiongu" (Earth Grudge Fear) He said in a deep monotone voice. The clones froze in shock as the cloak that Kakuzu was wearing started to expand impartially, as if explosions of something were to be occurring beneath the robe.

Black tendrils of a strange texture started to slither on the ground from beneath Kakuzu's cloak. They continued to advance and appear in a fast pace as the tendrils started to crawl over each over, overlapping, and soon enough a dull figure with a humanoid shape was formed, out of nowhere a mask with yellow markings emerged from within the mass of tendrils.

A second passed after the mysterious yellow mask emerged from the equally mysterious figure before, with astounding speed, it dashed at the gang of clones fighting Hidan.

With a crackling cry, a beam of lighting was fired towards the unsuspecting group of clones.

Puffs of smoke quickly appeared and dissipated just as fast by flying crumbles of earth. A trail of blackened earth being the only reminder of the vicious beam of energy that had made its way.

A quick whip of an extended tendril-arm managed to dispel another bunch of clones who, after the last attack, were still confused and processing what had happened, leaving only a couple dozen clones around Hidan.

"Fuck Kakuzu!" The grey haired Akatsuki member shouted outraged. "Watch where you fire at! You almost fried me!" He shouted turning to face the man completely disregarding the clones. "And don't steal my victims"

"Idiot, they even aren't human. You can't sacrifi- Idiot the jinchuriki!" Hidan made a confused face until realization downed on him and remembered his original task. Twisting on his feet he turned towards Yugito only to see two clones already grabbing the unconscious woman. He made to advance toward her but a unit of five clones posed themselves between him and Yugito blocking his way.

'We got this!' Naruko thought as she hung one of Yugito's arm over her shoulder with the help of another clone grabbing her other arm. She made a quick scan of the battlefield. Kakuzu, if what his partner called him by was his name, was up in the mountain. A range of clones obstructing his way. The partner, Hidan, was blocked off and encircled. A trail of clones made a line between him and the black creature, that by the memory of her clones, had crawled from within his cloak.

It had been easy enough. She had let her clones swarm and manage her enemies using the tactics from her early shinobi days. Strength in numbers. While she knew that the tactic was highly ineffective in taking out strong enemies, and practically useless against enemies of the Akatsuki calibre, it was a good way of locking and separating enemies up, just what she wanted. She knew that she was in no position to be able to fight two S-Ranked nin. Let alone defeat them. So she had abandoned all combat oriented tactics and went for one that would allow her to get Yugito in the confusion and stall just enough time for her to escape.

It impressed her still. That even thought she hadn't trained for Kami knew how much time, and she didn't had any experience fighting with her female body, her clones had manage to be so efficient and able to last this long.

"Futon: Daitopia!" "Katon: Intelligent Hard Work!" (Wind Release: Pressure Damage. Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work.) Naruko twisted her head as soon as this words were pronounced. Two more black figures had emerged from under Kakuzu's cloak. One had the form of a four legged creature with two small wings, a mask on front of the creature. The other took the form of a demonic lion, a mask, like the the other two, was present on its face.

Jumping on the air both creatures released continuous streams of pressurized air and scorching, that after after advancing a few dozen meters from their position to the ground, merged, giving birth to an even more powerful and chaotic fire, which downed on the clones, the intensity of the river of flames causing them all to dispel other than the ones that were lucky enough to avoid the fire, or that were far enough already.

Naruko winced at the transferred memories of the clones that had received the attack. The sensation of feeling her skin boiling and getting charred before dispelling, not capable of enduring the torment that the fire had caused sent a chill down her spine.

When the fire dissipated there no longer were any clones blocking Kakuzu, other than a few to the sides that had survived the flaming attack, and the line of clones that made the imaginary defensive wall between her and the Akatsuki members in the way the mountain was long gone.

Panic invaded Naruko as she felt her face pale. Acting on instinct she, without turning back, made a mad dash over to the mountain, in hope of being able to out run the duo long enough to reach Kumo sensor walls and, hopefully receive backup before she was rendered incapable of fighting.

Seeing Naruko run Kakuzu made a dash after her. The remaining clones around him attempted to intercept and stop him, but his superior velocity and strength, along with the help of his lighting heart caused the clones to dispel in an instant. Both his fire and and wind hearts fired small controlled torrents of their elements in order to try to slow down and stop the fleeing girl.

'Shit.' The words formulated on Naruko's mind as she ran. Desperately trying to grab onto whatever surface she could get a hold off that was not a seemingly ocean of loose peebles Naruko, along with the clone, gave a chakra enhanced jump barely avoiding a fire stream than exploded just a feet below where they used to be. Hot air burnt Naruko's air as she soared through the air, the explosion while unbalancing her; it gave her a boost which caused her to land forcefully on the hilltop.

The clone was dispelled on impact and she scarcely managed to get a hold of Yugito before roughly crashing and skidding over the rocky, uneven floor of the hill rolling a few times.

The tension and pain on Naruko's body was hardly bearable. Her legs were all cramp up and the skin had a grayish color due to the overexposure to heat. Her back was all messed up due to the rocks, and her arms were bloodied and scraped, and even though she could feel the Kyuubi's chakra trying it's best to patch her up, it was still not enough. None the less she forced herself to open up her arms and let Yugito roll out of her grasp. Turning to see her, she noted that the still unconscious woman had suffered minimal damage, seeing this a small smile made its way to her face. Ignoring the soaring pain through her body she slowly managed to stand up, knees flexed and upper-body inclined resting her weight on her knees with her extended arms. She tried to stand up completely but she immediately fell to her knees coughing blood. The thick red liquid spattered on her hand that had tried to block the surging blood and on her dirtied shirt.

"You gave a good fight." She heard Kakuzu's voice call over from a few meters in front of her. "And your usage of tactics was commendable, but I fear you are no match for me. Hand over the jinchuriki."

"No." She answered in a raspy, low, almost unhearable voice. "No." She said louder as she shakily stood coughing more blood in the process. She took notice that the partner Hidan has arrived to their position only because of his dull, unrestrained stepping. Forcing herself to stand as straight as she could; she moved her fingers to the clone hand sign.

"Don't you understand that this is already over? Well if that is how you want it." She saw Kakuzu bend his knees and start running toward her and in a flash of an instant he was already on her, his arm lifted in order to give the final blow. Time slowed for Naruko as she saw the attack that could very well end her life come towards her while she stood still unable to react.

A blink happened and the next thing she knew was that Kakuzu had crashed against a big boulder and that a unnaturally long, and thick octopus tentacle was lying on the floor before her.

"Yo! Did anyone order takoyaki? Because there is only tako-hashi!" (AN: I don't know how to rap,or rhyme at that, but I am going to give it a try. If you don't like or it is to much trouble I am going to stop.) (Takoyaki: a japanese snack which main ingredient is octopus. Tako: octopus. Hashi: bee.)

Naruko glanced over to her left and saw a man standing there. He was fairly tall and had a big build. He clothing consisted of navy blue pants with black sandals. White armor parts covered the front part of his leg. He was wearing the standard kumo jacket with nothing underneath allowing his dark skinned chest to show. He had a white scarf tied around his neck and a white headband was tied on his forehead with a Kumo headband engraved in it. His hair was blond and was brushed back in an elegant fashion. His eyes were unseeable as they were covered by a pair of small black lenses.

"Coming to aid * here is weee!" (AN: he is referring to Yugito as both Ni and Nii. Ni being number two on Japanese, and the number of tails of her bijuu, and Nii her surname.)

"The hachibi jinchuriki? What a great opportunity." Kakuzu stated as he climbed out of the hole that was made by his body.

"Wait the fuck up Kakuzu." Hidan yelled from the side causing the other member t turn his eyes. "This one is mine! You interrupted of my fight earlier!"

"Idiot there is no way you can defeat him. We will work together with this one. The hachibi jinchuriki is fairly powerful."

"Tch. Whatever."

"I don't know who you are. But if you are coming for me, I warn you that I sting." The tall man said as he casually moved his body is a rapping manner. (AN: I know is lame.)

"Hidan get re-"

"LARIAT!" The shout interrupted Kakuzu mid sentence and the next thing everyone knew was that Hidan was on a three meter wide crater on the floor. Standing on his previous location was the Raikage, his arm extended and coated in lighting.

"Raikage-sama!" Another shout was heard as C and Darui landed a couple dozen meters away.

"The Raikage and escorts? Hidan this has gotten too complicated, we are leaving."

"You are not going anywhere!" Darui shouted as he prepared a jutsu but stopped when both Akatsuki members suddenly melted into the ground.

"Naruko!" Using her last bits of energy, with blurry vision she slowly turned her head and saw Karui running towards her. Right after that everything went black.

./

"... is impressive... don't know... Raikage-sama... just as... as Yugito-..." These words managed her way into Naruko's ears as she struggled to maintain herself conscious and not fall to the calling darkness.

Forcing herself through raw willpower she lazily opened her eyes. The words were now sounded as a distant murmur and the image protected through her field of vision was hazy but she could see a group of people surrounding the bed in which she was in.

Using her only viable sense she inhaled and quickly smelled the familiar aroma of sterilized air, medicine, and plastic sheets.

'Konoha... Hospital?' She slowly thought. 'No- not Konoha. Kumo. But... Why?' Trying to recall the events that could possibly led to her being in a hospital room at Kumo once again the blast of memories of the things that had happened assaulted her. Yugito, the akatsuki, the fight.

'Yugito!' Becoming alarmed she tried to lift her upper body, but quickly found that she didn't has the strength to do so, and as soon as she tried a flash of pain ran through her ribs.

A faint moan of pain escaped her departed lips after trying to stand up.

!

"She is waking up!" She heard distantly. It sounded as if the voice was echoing from far away at different locations but still managing to arrive hearable. The voice sounded both surprised and alarmed. "Wait! You can't stand right now, not in the state you're in right now!" The owner of the voice approached her face and she saw what she thought was a doctor coat. "I'm going to give you a medicine for you to go back to sleep. Don't worry when you wake up next you're going to feel a lot better." The voice said assumingly, but it did nothing to calm her.

She felt a sting on her left arm and something being injected to her system.

'No wait!' She wordlessly called out. 'What... happened... with... Yugito?'

But.

Not being able to resist anymore she allowed herself to be enveloped by the tantalizing darkness that was unconsciousness.

./ Akatsuki Hideout

"I did not expect you to end in failure Kakuzu." A loud voice rang throughout the enormous room. His form was formed by what seemed to be a hologram just like most of the other presences on the room.

"We are sorry Leader-sama. We already had the jinchuriki at our grasp, but un expected aid came to her rescue."

"Aid? What kind of aid? Your position was way out of Kumo's sensory perimeter."

"I don't know how she found us or sensed us, but a woman appeared out of nowhere. She swarmed us with clones and got the jinchuriki, by the time we defeated her, the Hachibi jinchuriki, the Raikage and other shinobies had arrived."

"Swarm you with clones? How is that possible?" Came the voice of a woman that was standing next to the leader.

"It is possible, but only if the user has enormous amounts of chakra. Like a jinchuriki I would say." Another voice rang out. Everyone on the room stayed quite after that.

"No matter." The leader once again said disrupting the silence. "We already have the identities of all nine jinchurikies. That woman is of no importance." He said. "At any rate. Itachi I want you to find the location of the Kyuubi jinchuriki."

"Hai." Came the short response of the man.

"And Konan. I want you to put the Nanabi jinchuriki capture on hold until we gain another bijuu. It seems like we started too early. Itachi if you locate the jinchuriki do not capture him. Dismissed." One by one the holograms on the room faded until there was no one left other than Kakuzu and Hidan.

"Fuck. I always get scared as fuck when Leader gets angry." Hidan said after the humongous room was emptied. However he was ignored by Kakuzu who was on deep thought.

'That woman. She will become trouble in the future, I can feel it. And the fact that she was not on the bingo book with that level of skill worries me. Well as long as she doesn't have a good bounty she doesn't concerns me."

./ Kumo

When Naruko woke up nothing could be heard other than the beeping sound produced by the life support system attached to her.

Her whole body felt exhausted, and tired, but after twitching one of her fingers she felt blood start to run through her body and to her sleepy brain. Slowly she felt energy return to her body.

Once she felt her body get awake she flexed her arms and planted the palm of her hands against the soft bed she was resting at, and slowly push herself up. She felt inconformity and opposition on her ribs when she applied force to move, but they at least didn't hurt and fill her with pain anymore.

Once she lifted her upper body she pressed her back against the wall of the bed and remained seated like that as she observed the room.

It was a plain white hospital room. There was a black couch and a couple of chairs for visitors. A window to her right gave her a view of the canyon in which Kumo was located. From there the sun rising could be seen. Beams of light entered through the window illuminating the silent room.

"You're awake." A voice came from the other side of the room. Surprise filled Naruko as she quickly turned her head towards the source of the voice. Her neck hurt a little from the exerted pressure but she ignored it as blood rushed to her face in relieve and happiness filled her chest. A smile appeared on her face for the very first time on her stay on Kumo. A full smile.

Lying limply on a bed at the other side of the room was Yugito.

"Yugito." Naruko said with a soft choked voice. A single tear travelled down her cheek before finally falling in the blanket leaving a darkened spot.

"Naruko." Yugito said with a smile of herself. "Thank you very much Naruko." Naruko took that time to inspect her body. She was completely covered in bandages. Seeing a bin besides her bed she saw many more bandages completely drenched in blood. Her heart felt like a lump after she saw that.

"No." Naruko said turning her eyes away from Yugito. "Don't thank me. You have nothing to thank me for." Her voice level lowered more and more every word she said. "If it hadn't been for me, if I had been faster... if I have been stronger, you wouldn't have ended like that."

However.

"Idiot." The word reached Naruko's ears causing her eyes to widen and for her to turn her sight back at Yugito who had a frown on her face.

Despite Naruko lowering her voice, Yugito has been able to hear every single word she had said.

"Idiot. You don't realize how wrong you are." She said as she began to slowly move out of her bed. The action seemed to bring her pain but she endured it. "If it hadn't been for you I would have been more than injured. If if it hadn't been for you I wouldn't be here. If it hadn't been for you I would probably be dead."

For every word she said she got closer and closer to Naruko, and despite being in pain the frown on her face had been replaced by a smile.

"If it hadn't been for you Naruko... I wouldn't have been to see you again." By the time she said those words she already was in front of Naruko, her hand cupping lightly her cheek. She was leaning down to be at face level with Naruko and Naruko was lifting up her face to match Yugito.

"Yu-gito."

"So please, please do not say those words Naruko, never again." They remained like that for the next minutes. Each other's eyes on the other. Yugito palm gracing Naruko's cheek.

Until.

"Wait Bee-sensei! You can't enter yet!" They heard a muffled voice come from the other side of the door.

-Boom-

A sound like an explosion was heard and the door was aggressively swung open.

"Hey-o, hows the lovin' this morning? Yo!"

Both Naruko and Yugito froze in place. Slowly both turned towards the exit of the room. Standing there was the strange man Naruko had seen during her last memories of the battle.

Behind him, poking their heads through the door frame was the Raikage and Karui, and standing on behind the door entrance were Samui, Mabui, and both men that Naruko also recalled from her last memories.

Both women's face reddened at incredible levels.

"What the hell Bee!" Yugito roared as she turned, face still red. "Ouch, ouch, ouch, it hurts." Her rampaging was stopped as she clutched her side. Bee who was about to get beaten, possibly to death, by Yugito breathed in relief.

"You shouldn't be standing yet Yugito." One of the men that Naruko didn't know said.

"Yes, yes. I got it C." She responded in a dismissing tone as she returned to her bed in a loath manner. Using that time the rest of the persons standing outside entered the room.

"Is good to see you are recovering well you two." The Raikage said.

"Thanks." Came the muttered response from both girls who were still flustered from the recent events.

"But I got to say, we were pretty surprised to see the speed with which you recovered Naruko." After hearing those words Naruko tensed a little, but no one seemed to notice. "We knew that Yugito healed fast because thats how she is naturally but-" After hearing those words Naruko stayed quite looking down. Beneath the sheets she curled her fists.

"It's obvious that she would be able to that bakayaro. After all Ms. Nine is stronger than us thrice, bakayaro konoyaro." Bee who had been standing on a corner of the white hospital room suddenly said while moving his arms in a rapping manner.

Everyone's eyes widened and turn to look at Naruko who had sunken into her shoulders and had her head down.

"Naruko? Is that true?" She visibly flinched after hearing Yugito address her. "You are a... Jinchuriki?" She asked hesitating a bit at the word.

"Go on." She said in a low voice. "Laugh at me. Call me monster." The room got tense immediately after. "Now you know what I am, I harbor the strongest of the bijuu, harbinger of chaos. The kyuubi." She said through clenched teeth. They could see Naruko's shoulders tremble slightly.

"Naruko." She heard Karui's soft voice after a minute of silence. The tone of voice confused Naruko but she remained quite. "We don't care."

Three words. Karui had said three simple words, but yet Naruko felt like she was going to explode. Not from pressure, but from the overwhelming emotions that were flooding her chest.

Confusion. Happiness. Conflict. Joy. Relief.

"Wha-" she said as she stared at Karui with wide eyes. Giving a quick glance around the room she saw that everyone was nodding their heads like if the term jinchuriki was the most common thing on their lives. Which it probably was.

"We in Kumo live our daily lives along with two jinchurikies." The man called C said.

"The Nibi." Yugito said pointing to herself.

"And the Hachibi-sama, yo." Bee said as he too pointed at himself with his thumb.

"While the word jinchuriki is not a very nice one, and to many villagers means bad memories." The other man that she didn't knew said. "We have come to understand the difference between a creature and its holder, and learned to let the past stay in the past. Heh, even those bijuus are nice enough according to these guys.

"Thats why Naruko." Karui spoke again. "We don't care, we accept you." She said with a smile, a rare one from her. A grunt of approval came from the Raikage's throat.

Love.

./ Taki

"What can I serve you with honorable council?" A figure spoke as she kneeled before the ring of council seats within the council room.

"You may raise Fuiren." One of the council members ordered and the person complied.

"Very well." They proceeded after Fuiren had stood to her feet. "The reason we have called you here is very simple." They let a moment of silence pass before voicing again. "She is going to part-take on the upcoming chuunin exams." The woman standing in the middle of the half lit council room did not visibly react, and if she had any complain or opinion she didn't voice them.

"As her personal trainer you will talk her into thinking that being cooperative with matter is going to be beneficial to her. That if she manages to become chuunin she will receive better treatment." They let the notice sink before speaking again. "You may speak."

"Hai. I respect your decision, but, is it really wise to do so? She will obliterate who ever stands in her way after all, and that may cause us trouble. She is not a mere gennin."

"And that is exactly what we are aiming for. In times of necessity we need to show Taki's strength, and Kusa needs to learn their place. They are no longer the strongest minor village, and they will not regain that title."

'Kusa?" Fuiren thought but she didn't voice her doubt. It was not something that corresponded to her.

"Dismissed." With a short bow she exited the room and closed the great wooden doors that marked the entrance towards the council chamber. Once she had exited, instead of taking the path toward the village where her house was, she took a dirt road that leaded the outskirts of Taki, to a place that no one ever went to, the place where the Bug Kingdom was. But she still traveled down the untravelled road; she needed to see her old pupil after all. A cruel smile appeared on Fuiren's face as she walked down the abandoned road.

./ With Naruko.

"But why didn't you tell me you were a jinchuriki? I'm sure I don't look like the type of person that would judge people based on that. Do I?" Yugito said sounding a little self-hurt at the end.

After the revelation of Naruko's status of a jinchuriki, and Karui's statement about them being okay with that, A told Naruko that within the Kumo shinobi community, jinchurikies were persons to look up to. Because other than the fact that they contained a demon within them, the control required to control the bijuu's chakra and their normal extra large natural chakra pools was way too high.

"Ano, Yugito semapai." Karui said with a sweat drop. "You only met a few days ago." She said. "No matter what, trust to that level does not happen so quickly."

"I guess you are right..." She said as she scratched her head with a goofy smile on her face. "But what don't understand is; why did you react like that? I mean sure a jinchurki is not exactly an appreciated existence outside of Kumo but-" Naruko turned to look at Yugito and sighed.

"Do you remember my story? About how I got here?" Naruko asked looking a little bit downcast.

"Yeah." Yugito and the Raikage nodded. The rest of the present on the room who hadn't been present when Naruko told her story said nothing.

"That wasn't the whole reason... I mean. If you think about it, exiling someone just for failing a recovery mision is a bit too much, don't you think? Even if the target is the last Uchiha, it is just too much of a punishment for recently promoted chunnin."

Being the first time hearing the information Karui, C and Darui rised an eyebrow at what Naruko was saying.

"But well, maybe not." She said with a humorless laugh. "That if you are hated by the hole village in which you live in." After Naruko's words everyone's eyes in the room widened.

"You, you were hated by your own village?" Karui asked in disbelief to which Naruko responded with a nod.

"I mean, of course there were a few people that liked me, that did not hated me." An image of Tsunade appeared in her mind making her cringe and her heart fell heavy and betrayed. "But overall, the whole village hated me. To the point that I was cast outside and excluded from the community, parents told their children not to approach me and shops refused to sell me anything at all or to give me ridiculously overpriced tags. I was even beaten on my birthday."

After finishing her explication the room remained quite; everyone still processing the information Naruko had given them about her previous life.

"Thats why." Naruko spoke once more with a convinced voice. She turned to the Raikage who stared directly at her instead. "The reason may seem immature, but after meeting the people from this place I have decided. To protect those that I love, and to be able to grow stronger. Raikage-sama. I would like to join Kumo's ranks."

Hearing those words everyone in the room couldn't help but smile.

'Naruko.' Karui and Yugito thought.

A passing cloud blocking the sun moved away and light filled the room just as the Raikage said. "Welcome aboard."

./

Dyaum. Done with this chapter. It is the longest one so far I have done on this fic and it is amezeballs! The hospital scene was a lot more difficult than what I imagined, but we got through didn't we? Well I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, please be sure to review what you liked, what you didn't or anything you may want to tell me.

Also I am looking for a beta to help me with this fic. What I need help with is: grammar, scenes improvement and maybe plot aid.

Well, at any rate see you later! Have a nice day.