Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Mended Hearts ❯ Chasing Down the Dawn ( Chapter 15 )

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I wish I did, but I don't.

 

Summary: AU Naruto hides many secrets from Konohagakure no Sato. As time continues, Naruto's precious people learn the hard way that many secrets are best left untouched, and that Naruto is not at all what they believed.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Chapter 15: Chasing Down the Dawn~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

He was no fool. The Mirror had been shattered, and the fox was caught. It was only a matter of time before the fox was killed and he was beached.

 

A red sun was rising, and they were all in danger.

 

If the Mirror could reflect the image before him, then the hidden alliance between Mist and Leaf to prevent a red dawn would succeed in their efforts. If not, well, they may as well just start digging their own graves shouldn't they?

 

He attached the rolled up bit of paper to the pigeon's back and sent it off.

 

There was nothing left to do but hope and wait.

 

He just hoped that they wouldn't have to wait too long, or both he and the fox would die…

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Itachi reported back as expected and the Oto-nin arrived at the Hokage Tower several hours after. The Sound Leaf War, while difficult for Konoha, had been devastating for the Sound, and the death of Orochimaru had allowed them to choose a new Otokage, and the way of life for the village was improving, little by little, and the Nidaime Otokage wanted an alliance with the Leaf.

 

The agreement was agreed upon within 48 hours of the proposal being set forth. The Alliance of the Leaf and the Sound was to be sealed by a joint mission into Red Bean Country to retrieve the Leaf's best Ninja, one Uzumaki Naruto.

 

Two weeks after the alliance was finalized, a party of eight ninja, four from Sound, and four from Leaf, left for Red Bean Country.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The eight ninja from Leaf and Sound were met by a shocking sight as they crossed the border of Red Bean Country. Itachi, Kakashi and Jiraiya recognized the two ninja almost instantly.

 

Kisame smiled weakly as a Sound medic-nin examined him and tended his wounds as Sakura examined the unconscious Naruto.

 

“What happened?” Jiraiya said.

 

“They suspected there was a second spy in the organization, and moved the plans forward,” Kisame rasped. “There was no choice but to get Uzumaki out of the headquarters as quickly as possible. Deidara stayed behind to cover us, and the base was destroyed two days ago."

 

“Deidara?” Kakashi said, “I thought Hidden Stone wasn't part of the alliance?”

 

“It isn't,” Itachi murmured, as he watched the Sound medic-nin tend to Kisame's injuries. “But Deidara owes Kisame and myself several large favors. His covering for Kisame and Naruto during their escape wasn't exactly how I anticipated cashing in on the favors, but it works just as well.”

 

“We should move away from here as quickly as possible,” Kisame rasped, “The Leader and the Unnamed were following us, last I checked.”

 

“Good idea,” Jiraiya said, and glanced at Sakura, “Well?”

 

“We can go once the bleeding slows or stops,” Sakura said, “As long as Naruto's broken rib doesn't puncture his heart or lung while we travel, here should be no problems.”

 

“His injuries aren't too bad,” the Sound medic-nin said, “We can move on once we stop the bleeding.”

 

The group of ninja departed half an hour later.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The sun was setting when two ninja dressed in black cloaks with red clouds stopped at that area. One of them bent down and touched the ground, shifting leaves and debris, searching for something only he could see. He raised his hand and his fingertips were coated in something wet that glistened in the dim light of the setting sun. he brought it to his nose and sniffed and nodded.

 

“Leader,” he said, “It's blood. There are tracks of other ninja here. Kisame and the Kyuubi vessel must have met with them here, because there is indication that at least two of the group they met with were half dragging or half carrying someone away.”

 

The other man nodded. “Then let us move on. We will capture the traitors and kill them, and extract the Kyuubi. That we are the only members of Akatsuki left is of little consequence. With the Kyuubi, we can still meet our goal.”

 

The other man nodded and rose to his feet, and the two vanished into the trees once more.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Naruto was well enough to report to Tsunade three days later. He was restored to his position as Hunter-nin, but was put on the off-duty roster for another month to regain his strength. Neither Kakashi nor Iruka questioned Naruto of his ordeal, and Itachi gave the Jinchuuriki and Kisame the same respect.

 

Others, unfortunately, had no such qualms. In the end, only Tsunade knew what had happened to Naruto and Kisame in Red Bean Country. Both ninja refused to speak of their escape, and any attempts to question them about it were systematically rebuffed, whether by the two in question, or by Iruka, Itachi, or Kakashi.

 

At the same time, Tsunade sent out five teams of Hunters, led by the five Primary Hunters. Itachi was restored to his position as ANBU captain, and he and four other captains led several squads out of Konoha. Suna, Oto, and Kiri also sent out several squads of Hunter-nin and ANBU to scour the area between Red Bean Country and Fire Country.

 

A massive manhunt was taking place and the quarry were the last two remaining members of the Akatsuki.

 

CSA Version 7 Mended Hearts What Are You Hiding?