Chapter 035

"The leading three shinobis among the group approaching us are at levels higher than our own. We'll surely die should we stay here."

As if on cue, a large tree was sent flying at Itachi and Kisame from a very large distance like a speeding jet missile. Itachi grabbed Kisame and dashed out of the way barely evading the surprise attack as the uprooted tree went crashing into the forest and down into the waters, causing a large wave of water to separate the Akatsuki nins and Leaf nins further apart from each other. None of the four there needed to be geniuses, to know whom it was that threw that fully grown tree with such great force.

"Godaime," Itachi said to himself. Taking Itachi's words seriously and not wanting to argue with his partner any further, Kisame placed his large sword away. Before leaving, Itachi looked over at Naruto and said, "You surprise me Naruto. You're more than we expected and I will admit that we underestimated you. But next time we won't make that same mistake. When I'm strong enough, we will meet again. Until that time, try not to get yourself killed."

Itachi and Kisame vanished from the scene, leaving Kakashi and Naruto behind.

"Bastards," Naruto mumbled mere seconds before Sandaime, in his black shinobi battle gear, Godaime in her usual clothes but not with her green robe, Jiraiya and the entire ANBU squad in full battle ready ANBU Black Ops gear, and Shizune in full Jounin gear appeared around Naruto and Kakashi who now placed his head protector back over his left eye. During this time, the water was speedily sinking into the ground.

"Nice timing," Naruto remarked in sarcasm. Jiraiya, Tsunade and Sandaime went over to Naruto and Kakashi. Tsunade knelt down to tend to Naruto first.

"Naru-chan," Tsunade said in a motherly tone forgetting all Hokage protocols, "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," Naruto grinned, "Thanks to the medic training you and Shizune-neechan gave me over the years. It helped me a lot."

In spite of the situation, Tsunade couldn't help but smile knowing that not only was her son in good health, but that her and Shizune's training him was truly paying off.

"Are Hina-chan and Ino-chan alright," Naruto asked with concern.

"They're fine," Jiraiya replied, "We came here as fast as we could after they told us what was going on."

Tsunade looked around for the two missing-nins with a venomous expression showing that she was out for blood, specifically theirs, "Where's Itachi and Kisame?"

"They're gone," Kakashi answered, "They took off just before you all arrived here. For what it's worth, Naruto and I gave Kisame and Itachi quite a fight; solely Naruto with regards to Itachi actually."

"We'll expect a full report about this when we return back," Sandaime said. Kakashi simply nodded his head. Shizune tended to Kakashi's injuries and healed him of his cuts and bruises before returning back to the village.

(Later Back At Konoha)

Ino and Hinata were instructed to await Tsunade, Jiraiya and Sarutobi's return with Naruto at the Hokage office after they explained what happened earlier. The girls still remembered how they barged into the office while Tsunade and Sandaime were having an important discussion with Shizune, Jiraiya and the two village advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, both of whom were also Sandaime's former teammates. Upon barging in unannounced, Tsunade was about to immediately dismiss them for their disrespectful entrance until the girls said that her son was battling Itachi and Kisame of the Akatsuki.

That was all that had to be said when a suddenly worried-sick Tsunade dashed from her desk and straight at them demanding to know exactly where her son was. Upon hearing their explanation as to where Naruto was, Jiraiya and the two Hokages immediately ran out of the office and gathered the entire ANBU squad along with Shizune. Neither Hinata nor Ino have ever seen Tsunade, Jiraiya and Sarutobi move with such inhuman speed.

"I hope that Naruto-kun will be alright," Hinata said in a worried voice.

"Me too," Ino retorted just as worried, "But did you see the fiery look in his eyes? It was as if he was an entirely different person."

"I saw it too," Hinata said, "I never…saw those kind of eyes before. And his voice was also…different. I know that Naruto-kun is a diligent hard worker but…what we saw earlier today was…"

"I know what you mean," Ino nodded in agreement, "There's so much about him that we don't know or understand."

Before another word was said, the door to the office opened, revealing Naruto, Kakashi, Shizune, a Sannin and two Hokages stepping into the office. Naruto's clothes were ragged but other than that, he was A.O.K.

"Naruto-kun," Hinata and Ino chorused happily as they ran over and hugged him together. Naruto was partly surprised at the show of affections, but he understood their concerns.