Naruto - The Sannin.

[ Previously ]

Katon: Chōshinsei! - (Fire Release: Supernova!)

Having said that, Kakashi and Itachi's eyes widened as the temperature in the room rose dramatically within seconds.

It was as if the sun was approaching the planet, because the temperature was not from flames but from the sunny biome of the day itself, which was soaring high

It was worse for the Uchiha, who found himself with a flaming weapon in his hands, making it unbearable to handle, due to the heat waves that reddened the skin of his hand, forcing him to deactivate the technique, where the Totsuka sword soon disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

The situation was not good for the Uzumaki either, as being at the center of this heat wave had affected his breathing.

This was promptly taken advantage of by the enemy, who had also used a body flicker, but directly in front of Menma.

He closed his arm, waiting for a physical attack. However, he was startled by his opponent performing a hand seal.

Where he sucked air into his lungs:

Futon: Sutõmu! - (Wind Release: Storm!)

Itachi had said this in an attempt to cause damage with a strong wind like a storm. However, this only caused Menma's hood to fall behind his back, whereupon the Uchiha was surprised to see who was in front of him.

- Naruto-kun? - The Uchiha said impressed and surprised, where a bluish luminosity prevailed below him with the blond's serious and murderous face.

Already weak from the fight, it was impossible for the Uchiha to fight back against Naruto's onslaught. A lacerating pain appeared in his stomach, as if his skin were burning and his internal organs were being torn apart, with a grotesque explosion coming out of his back along with his guts and a lot of blood gushing out of the affected area.

- Oodama Rasengan! - Finally, the final blow could be heard, as the Uzumaki used his brute strength to propel the Uchiha's body forward.

Who, before being taken away, had given a proud smile with blood dripping from his mouth. Which resulted in the Uchiha's body being carried hundreds of meters in front of the Uzumaki's location.

Even before the impact hit the ground, the Uchiha's body was already a corpse with a torn chest and organs scattered across the ground, where only his final smile remained in Naruto's mind.

- What was that smile? - Naruto asked himself, as he sat on the floor and tried to take deep breaths to stabilize his lungs. Of course, he couldn't help but hear an animalistic laugh inside him, which was surely his orange dog enjoying the brutality of the fight.

Kakashi was the first to reach him, where he offered his help with a very proud smile, along with Sakura's impressed look and Chiyo's astonished one.

In her eyes, the Uzumaki was strong. But what she had seen there was unusual for someone of her age.

He had even shown that he wasn't exhausted, but just out of breath.

If she had any doubts about Naruto's word to Temari, those doubts have now been completely removed. What she wants to know is what this boy will do to the Akatsukis when he finds them.

[ Currently ]

[ First Arc: Kazekage Rescue ]

- You were great, Naruto. - Kakashi said without bothering to call him by name, since there was no one else in the area. - What's the level of your chakra? That null aura makes it seem much smaller based on the capabilities you've shown.

- How much do you feel? - Naruto asked as he walked towards the Uchiha's corpse, hidden in the smoke that had risen from the destruction.

- Your chakra seems to be six to seven times stronger than mine, I mean... in terms of size. - The Hatake had said under the attention of the two kunoichis.

- That's good... because with the constant forcing on the eight-trigram seal, I no longer have my chakra being suppressed as I did before to keep her imprisoned. - The Uzumaki explained in reference to how as a child he had almost his entire chakra network compromised. - In any case, my null aura hides 95% of all my chakra... if I were to calculate a total, I think my chakra must be 125 times greater than yours, Kakashi-sensei. - Naruto said, realizing Hatake's suspicions.

- Aren't you exaggerating, Naruto? One hundred and twenty-five times more chakra than our sensei is beyond reason, I mean... we understand that the Sharingan drains chakra in constant excess, but his isn't that low. - Sakura asked.

- Actually, he's right, Sakura. - Kakashi said in his monotone voice. - When I was instructed as sensei of Team 7, Naruto had six to seven times the proportion of my chakra, now it seems to be the same, but it's as if there's this nagging feeling that he's barely tapping into all the potential he has in store.

- If in the past Naruto could easily create a thousand clones with his chakra being suppressed by the Bijuu seal being split on such a scale, now that he's free of that restraint... his chakra being one hundred and twenty-five times greater than mine just shows the reality of how the Uzumakis were beings with colossal chakra to rival the Tailed Beasts themselves.

- In basic terms! If their chakra was already enormous when they were restricted, their potential is now equal to that of a one-man army. - Hatake informed the two Kunoichis to their surprise.

- So that's the capacity of the much-feared Fanalis? - Chiyo asked herself, under the attention of Naruto, who didn't understand this "Fanalis" thing.

- Fanalis? What's that? - Naruto asked, stopping where he was, a few meters from the location of the Uchiha corpse.

- The Legendary Fanalis! You really don't know them, kid? - Chiyo said strangely. - It's the most brutal army ever seen in the ninja world, the Fanalis were a squad of fifty men and fifty women.

- All brutal and with chakra superior to the Ichibi, they used physical training to perfect their bodies to the extreme, having only physical techniques of firing pure chakra in a dark purple hue.

- Their reserves were so great that they could fight for days without eating or resting. Apart from their rare skills in the sealing arts, their name was made famous by the mass sealing of mythological creatures that plagued our lands.

- Known for being a legendary warrior race, they are also referred to as the Uzumaki Hunter Tribe. According to legend, a Fanali can withstand any kind of physical attack, their kicks are like lightning and they can take down even a Bijuu using their brute strength.

- In the past, they were labeled as frightening predators when they were at war, but what frightened the ninja villages the most was the fact that they were so peaceful that they insulted the ninja for fighting and killing their own people for the sake of foolish ambitions.

- In the midst of this, they had their peak in the creation of the Whirlwind Tribe, which had great contact with the Senju and Konohagakure no Sato, of course all this before the eminent destruction, in which they had the ninja villages as partners against Uzushio. - Chiyo had told him everything, making the blond impressed with every word he heard. He had never heard anything about the Uzumakis, making him glad to find out more about his relatives. - The strange thing was that only Konoha knew about the Land of the Whirlwind... so how was it that one of their great allies was able to expose such an important secret, which had led to the downfall of thousands?

- The Uzumakis really were incredible... - Naruto said to himself as he turned to walk away, where, as the dust settled, Chiyo's eyes widened.

[ ... ]

- I don't know... I think I've already fought this guy. - Gai had said alongside his students, after the eminent defeat of the marine Akatsuki.

- Don't you remember meeting him before? - Lee asked.

- It's strange really, because from what he was saying, he seemed to know everything about you. - Tenten informed while the last member of the team stared at everything strangely with his Doujutsu activated.

- There's something going on here. - The Hyuuga said under the attention of his team, who soon noticed Hoshigaki's face deform grotesquely into that of another man.

[ ... ]

- What the hell is that? - Chiyo had said in surprise at the Uchiha's facial deformity.

- When we were fighting, I sensed something strange. - Kakashi dictated whereupon Naruto added:

- I don't know how they did it..., but when I fought Itachi, he seemed to be restricted, even if he tried hard, it still didn't feel like his correct strength... - Naruto had said seriously. - As if it was only possible to reach that level because of some blockage or whatever.

[ ... ]

- Sensei, who is that? What does that mean? - Lee immediately asked as the corpse's face changed to that of a burly man with brown hair.

- I don't know... but I know one thing for sure! - The green beast of Konoha said under the attention of his team. - I have no idea who this guy is. - Finally, the green beast said to the dismay of his students who thought it was something serious.

[ ... ]

- It's Yuura... - Chiyo said as she stared at what was once the corpse of the Uchiha, now becoming the corpse of a well-known man. - He's a Jounnin from our village. - Finally, she said to the general surprise and laughter of the Uzumaki.

- "Ah Itachi! If that was a mere clone... I can't wait to find out what it can really do." - Naruto thought to himself, where based on his past training, he had come to have a taste for battle. And surely the Uchiha Itachi was a challenge to overcome.

== Far Away ==

Located kilometers away from the Land of Fire, on top of rocks, two Akatsukis had just opened their eyes while their hands constantly formed a hand seal for hours.

- Looks like you lost too, didn't you? - Kisame had said under the Uchiha's attention.

- My chakra ran out... - Itachi replied, to the animalistic laughter of his companion.

- That technique was very useful... giving 30% of our chakra to battle our enemies, far from our real locations. - Kisame said, whereupon the Uchiha's serious gaze turned on him.

- I think I underestimated my enemies. - Itachi had said seriously. - The village has acquired yet another powerful monster, if the Senju Princess, the Toad Sannin and the Green Beast of Konoha weren't enough... now we have a singularity with access to Senjutsu. - The Uchiha said under Hoshigaki's surprise and the excitement of the sword twitching behind his back.

- "That was very good, Naruto-kun." - Finally, the Uchiha thought to himself in a short smile as he stood up.

== Akatsuki Base ==

They were standing in front of an enormous stone wall. Uzumaki Naruto, codenamed Menma, had quickly climbed the rock at his sensei's request, where he had touched a white stripe with reddish seal inscriptions.

He immediately used his sensory abilities and was able to feel four places in resonance with the stripe, at a distance of kilometers.

The Uzumaki quickly jumped backwards in a deft turn as his team stared at him:

- So? Find anything, Menma? - The captain of the team asked with the Uzumaki's consent, hidden by the ninja mission suit he was wearing.

- There are four locations in resonance with this one. Specifically at a distance of five to fifteen kilometers from here.

- Obviously, in order to destroy the rock, it will be necessary to break all five seals at the same time, so that it can be released without traps.

- But in any case, this is the right place! I feel an oppressive chakra drain drastically with each passing second. - Naruto said seriously. - Whoever's in there, we can't let them finish what they're doing to Gaara. - Finally, Naruto, codenamed Menma, reported under Hatake's understanding.

- "Naruto... When did you get so strong to face enemies of this level?" - Sakura thought. - "Even your way of acting has changed during missions."

- A lot of wars have been fought over Bijuus and Jinchurikis, haven't they? - Sakura asked Chiyo, under the gaze of everyone on her team.

- That's right. - The old woman replied.

- So the people who became Jinchurikis before came to die? - Sakura was about to say, but then saw her companion's concern. - Okay, fine! How are the tailed beasts extracted? - Sakura asked, this time under the gaze of the hooded Uzumaki.

- Two things are necessary! - The sand elder began.

- A sealing jutsu strong enough to counteract the oppressive power of the Tailed Beast, be it the technique, the summoner or the receptacle.

- And a long time for this process to be completed. The more people or the stronger it is, the faster the process is. - Finally, Chiyo said under the ramblings of the others.

- But when it's all over... The Jinchuuriki... hm - Chiyo tried to explain without seeming rude to another Jinchuuriki.

- The Jinchuuriki dies... that's what you mean, isn't it? - Naruto said to the old woman, where he already knew that this was the resolution of having a beast of such magnitude removed from his being.

- That's right! As soon as the Tailed Beast is extracted... the Jinchuuriki dies. - Finally, she said under the concern of the rosy cheeks in which she had thin tears predominating in her eyes. She then felt a hand gently touch her cheek.

- You always get emotional so easily, don't you Sakura-chan? - Naruto said, lowering his hood and wiping the tears from her eyes.

- Don't worry; I promise I'll save Gaara. - Naruto said with a brave smile on his face. - Actually, they're the ones who should worry about the damage I'll do to this base. - Finally, he said sadistically to the Hatake's minimal laughter.

- You don't understand! I'm worried about you... - Sakura tried to say something, but the Uzumaki turned around and interrupted her, while lifting his hood. Thus demonstrating that her apparent emotions on the mission would not help him, much less her friend.

Just then, a loud voice rang out:

- OE!!!! Kakashi. - A man in green tights shouted as he landed in front of the team.

- Gai? - Kakashi had said to him, as they watched their team face the disguised Uzumaki.

== Sunagakure no Sato ==

At a table with twelve chairs. Kankuro and his master were discussing with the war advisors what to do in this crisis.

- If they find out that the Godaime Kazekage is missing! We don't know if we could be attacked by neighboring countries. - A central advisor shouted.

- Our most urgent immediate need is to elect a new Kazekage. In order to bring more stability to the village. - The advisor dictated everything, to the irritation of Gaara's brother.

- Wait! We're still not sure whether or not Gaara will return. - Baki informed under Kankuro's silence.

- Some of the opposition believe that the village would be better off without a Jinchuuriki as its leader, and it would be better if he never returned. - The advisor had said coldly.

- Where are you going with this? - Baki asked from the front, afraid that Kankuro would do something wrong.

- Gaara is an unstable monster who carries a beast inside him! We thought it would be easier to control him if you made him Kazekage.

- However, there's no telling when he'll lose control. He is a danger to us all.

- An unstable experiment! Even his own father knew that. Considering him an unstable experiment with a high level of risk.

- The Yondaime Kazekage ordered his death for that... I know that many young people support him almost blinded by admiration, but let's not fool ourselves with pretexts.

- Most of the villagers are afraid of him. - The advisor said to the utter irritation of Kankuro, who held his face in shadow as he stood up and walked towards him.

- Nobody actually believes him! That's why we need to elect a Rokudaime Kazekage. - Finally, the advisor said something, whereupon he was suddenly pressed by the neck, with Kankuro showing total irritation at what he had heard.

- I don't care if you're a member of the council! I won't listen to such an insult to the Kazekage and especially to my brother. - Kankuro said to the council member's frightened face.

- Kankuro! Let him go right now... You're in front of the Kazekage memorial! This is a sacred place and there must be no conflict. - Baki said under Kankuro's attention.

- Look at that, Kankuro! His anger is understandable, but there is a logic to what the advisor says. - Chiyo's elderly brother had said. - We have to face facts! We're at the mercy of the desert, without the protection of a Kazekage... and that has nothing to do with our trust in Gaara. - Finally, the old man said, causing Kankuro to abruptly release the advisor from under his chair.

- We've been through a similar situation before! The Sandaime Kazekage was also kidnapped. There was much speculation about his whereabouts, and the result:

- Instability led to war. Countries were destroyed. - Another advisor this time said, his voice unmatched in seriousness.

- If we had focused on stability within the village and not on the search. Such past disasters would never have occurred. - Finally, a third advisor, his voice hoarse, said as Kankuro sat down in his seat.

- The Sandaime was different from everyone else. Certainly the strongest of his predecessors.

- But, unfortunately, his body was never found. No one could believe it... what kind of monster would be able to kill and capture a powerful Kazekage of that magnitude, with such ease and subtlety by not being found. - Finally, one of the councilors said, while making the others clench their teeth over the only case of attack that the Sand Village never solved.

- Okay... I won't be against such decisions anymore! But this is my younger brother we're talking about! It's Gaara... he sacrificed himself to the end to keep all the villagers alive.

- Because of that sacrifice, we had very few casualties... So I beg you! Give us forty-eight hours to elect a new Kazekage.

- If we haven't heard from Gaara by then... Then you will have the full right to choose a new Kazekage. - Finally, Kankuro said, to which the councilors accepted, and some of the opposition clenched their teeth in anger at his plans not working out immediately.

== Akatsuki Base ==

Situated above the fingers of a grotesque humanoid invocation, which was used to extract Biju energy from the Jinchuuriki.

The members of the ritual were focused on their tasks, trying to finish the extraction before the enemy appeared.

- Itachi! What are our enemies and their abilities? - A colorful hologram of an Akatsuki with purplish eyes asked the Uchiha in front of him.

- It's a three-member team from the leaf, made up of Hatake Kakashi, Haruno Sakura, an unknown shinobi called Menma, along with the addition of Chiyo, an old woman from the sand. - The Uchiha said with the leader's consent.

- Chiyo-Obasan? - Sasori asked himself in surprise and a certain nostalgia.

- Right! It will take them a while to arrive. Right away, hurry up. - The leader said, and a laugh was soon heard.

- Actually... It's been a few minutes since the two leaf teams met in front of the base. I don't know how they got here so quickly, but they certainly knew where we were. - Zetsu said with an emotionless tone of voice, unlike the laughter that had just erupted.

- Then get moving! Focus everything you can so that the extraction can be completed as quickly as possible. - The leader said in response, and the final order was given with everyone's consent, in which they inflated their chakra at the same time.

[ ... ]

- It looks like a big cave... but I can't see it clearly. - Neji, who had been staring at everything until then, was soon surprised by the image of a huge ten-eyed monster.

- It looks... it looks like there's a grotesque ten-eyed beast with its hands chained. - Neji reported, still straining his Doujutsu. - And several people there... It's like a ritual and the Kazekage is right in the center around a huge dome of chakra. - Finally, he said as he forced his Byakugan off.

- So the extraction has already begun... and the past enemies were just bait to slow us down. - Chiyo said with everyone's consent.

- We need to find out what kind of barrier it is to break into the cave. - Gai said as Menma soon took up the conversation.

- It's a five-seal barrier. - Menma said under everyone's attention. - Clearly that's the first one, and all the following ones look the same.

- Have you ever seen how one of these works, or at least deactivated one? - Kakashi asked his student, under the curiosity of many in the guise of Naruto.

- Yes! The wise freak taught me a lot about Fuinjutsu, and this is a very special and dangerous one. - Naruto said, remembering the old temple he had invaded with his master. - We can't remove this targe, let alone destroy the rock, without removing the other four targes at the same time.

- I think that with your Doujutsu it will be easy to find them. - Naruto said, walking over to Neji. - I know where the chakra goes, but not where it's located.

- Understood. - The Hyuuga said as he performed a hand seal. - Byakugan! - Anyway, he dictated as Naruto stood behind him, and with his hands on his shoulder, turned the Hyuuga where he felt the chakra was going.

- The first tile is on a rock about 500 meters northeast of here... - Neji dictated with his gaze fixed in that direction, with the Uzumaki turning him again.

- The second one! It's in the trunk of a tree, near a river 350 meters to the south-west. - He continued, while once again turning to another area.

- The third! On a cliff 650 meters to the northwest...

- And finally! The last sealing stripe is in a forest just under 800 meters to the south-east... - Having said all that, Naruto finally let go of the Hyuuga, whose eyes soon had the nerves and veins softening in the eye area.

- They're a long way off... what's the signal? - Sakura asked, whereupon Gai immediately pulled out his backpack, showing that he had several wireless radios.

- It's just me that's finding it so easy... I mean! It can't be just that, can it? - Tenten asked, to the Uzumaki's laughter.

- You're right... This sealing is very dangerous, not because of the difficulty of synchronizing the removal of the strips. - Naruto informed everyone who looked at him. - It's often used for training, tests and even grandiose traps that take up a lot of the enemy's time.

- Anyway, in summary... with the removal of the tarpaulins, for everyone who has done so, a living, emotionless copy of themselves will emerge by reading their chakra.

- The great test is to overcome your inner self in a skillful and calculating way. - Naruto, who was explaining everything, soon realized that he could only give one thing as a hint.

- I can't tell you how to act in your tests, because everyone has their own style. However, the best way to do this is to clear your mind of any worries or trivial thoughts, because your clone doesn't have your power, but rather the ability to replicate your movements automatically.

- Clearing your mind without formulating strategies is the best way, where your automatic actions have to be faster than the very idea fixed in your mind. - Noticing the looks on everyone's faces, Naruto saw that everything he had said sounded absurd. For someone who isn't used to meditation or mental self-control, it's really hard to keep a clear mind.

- You say it like it's easy. - Tenten commented as Gai immediately held out his hand euphorically with an immense desire to defeat his inner self.

- Hmmm.... - He mumbled forcefully to his students, while Lee was the first to respond to the touch.

- Hmmmmmmmm... - Gai mumbled to Tenten, who immediately touched him.

Neji was the last to stare at his sensei with sharp eyes, an act promptly reciprocated by the green beast of Konoha, who grumbled even more for the next half minute.

- Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!! - Gai grumbled until he was almost out of breath, under the Hyuuga's serious gaze, but in the end he gave in to this nonsense too.

- With all the strength of youth! - Gai shouted euphorically after the Hyuuga finally responded to his touch. - Go for it! - Gai shouted.

- Hai! - Lee replied with the same enthusiasm.

- Go! - Gai shouted.

- Hai! - Lee replied with the same enthusiasm.

- Go!!! - Gai shouted even louder.

- Hai!!! - Lee replied with the same enthusiasm.

- ANOTHER FORCE!!!!! - Gai shouted so loudly this time that even his enemies must have heard.

- HAI!!!!! - Lee promptly responded by raising his voice under the incredulous gaze of Team Kakashi.

- Disperse. - At last, the green beast of Konoha had said before everyone disappeared in the direction of their duties.

- Don't look at me like that... I won't do anything like that... - Menma said jokingly, making the rosy-cheeked girl laugh.

[ ... ]

- Well done! Everyone into position. - Kakashi dictated as he stood ready to remove the main stripe. - Side Hook formation. - Finally, he said, with Sakura jumping backwards as he formed a firm punch.

- Right... - Chiyo had said to the left of the base.

- That's it. - Menma muttered to the right of the base.

- "Right, everyone! Remove the stripe on three." - Gai's voice came over the radio's wireless transmission, after a few minutes when each respective member was ready.

- Let's go! - Kakashi replied to everyone listening.

- One... - Neji dictated from above a rock.

- Two... - Tenten replied while hanging from a tree.

- Three! - Lee shouted, also hanging from a tree.

Team Gai, along with Kakashi, immediately removed their tarpaulins.

- Sakura! - Naruto said as the rosy-cheeked girl began to run.

Kangouken! - (Adamantine Fist!)

With her strength multiplied twofold, Haruno leapt up and punched the rock hard, breaking it into hundreds of pieces that resounded throughout the forest with the force of her blow.

It was now his time, Naruto had invaded the Akatsuki base, where he immediately saw which ten-eyed beast Neji had been talking about.

Performing several hand seals, he aimed to proclaim, his voice changing to a thicker one.

Katon: Haisenkishou! - (Fire Release: Field of Flaming Ashes!)

Menma said as he unleashed a great wave of smoke, in which he swooped around all the enemies in the beast's chained hands, while at the same moment he leapt onto the spot, gritting his teeth, letting the explosion scatter all the enemy limbs.

Only for him to fall amidst a large blue chakra dome surrounding Gaara, who seemed to be hanging by a thread. He quickly fell away while supporting Gaara on one arm and wielding his katana in his right hand.

Menma had hardly noticed what was happening there, but inside her costume, on the necklace she had gotten from Tsunade in the past, a kind of brownish magatama appeared next to the emerald crystal, on which the chain was attached in a way that was inaudible even to the Uzumaki.

[ ... ]

Gai, whose feet were currently stuck to a rock. He had seen a deformation in the biome which had made him press the button on the wireless radio.

- Neji... Are you seeing what I'm seeing? - The green beast of Konoha asked, as his student targeted his location with the Byakugan.

- Yes! The same thing is happening here. - Neji replied over the wireless radio.

- A deformation appeared on the ground as soon as I removed the seal. - Lee reported, already in battle position.

- So Na... - Tenten was about to say, but she quickly censored herself. - Menma was right. - She continued.

- Team Kakashi has already invaded the base. Let's at least do what Menma said, and clear our minds for this confrontation. - Finally, Neji said as he saw a perfect copy of himself in front of him.

- Let's go! - Gai, Neji, Lee and Tenten said in chorus to cancel the wireless transmission.

[ ... ]

- Gaara... Gaara! - Menma said as she shook the redhead, but he didn't react. He then laid the Kazekage down and readied himself for battle, with the edge of his katana immersed in red flames.

He promptly had his team invade the base with body sparkles around the red-haired man's body.

- You did very well, Menma... - Kakashi dictated side by side with his student.

The smoke caused by the explosion and incineration of the ten-eyed beast quickly dispersed, with the image of two Akatsukis on the ground in a defensive position, while the rest were still in the same position as if they hadn't even suffered a scratch.

They were like holographic images of the real members. Even Itachi was there, to allay the blond's suspicions.

- Itachi... who's the hooded man? - A hologram that seemed to be the leader of them all asked the Uchiha hologram, noticing strangely how this new figure stared at him, studying him in some way.

- I have no idea... - Itachi said under Naruto's attention, who could hear everything and couldn't help but study the strange eye pattern in that hologram, as if he had already seen this pattern of rings on the sclera, but the color didn't match. - In our confrontation, it was hidden at all times. - Finally, he said, under Menma's doubt. Surely the Uchiha had discovered his identity, but why not reveal it to his leader? Especially someone who had eyes so similar to those in the legend, but whose color seemed wrong.

Then the voice of the hologram with the strange circular eyes finally came to order:

- Sasori! Deidara... Take care of the invaders. - His voice was very robotic. - No matter how much they interfered, the sealing was complete and the Kazekage would soon die. - Finally, he said as he disappeared under the Uzumaki's irritation.

- Itachi-san... any tips on the enemies? - Deidara asked with each hologram disappearing, while only one remained.

- Don't be fooled by that null aura around the disguised member. - Itachi said, glaring at the Uzumaki. - He's hiding a lot more of his potential... clearly to the point of defeating a clone of mine with 30% chakra. - Finally, he gave his notice, only to disappear as if he had never been there.

- Hm... for once you've cooperated with something. - Deidara said sarcastically.

- "Sasori..." - Chiyo thought with regret in her eyes, under the attention of Sakura who could see a connection between her and the hunchbacked puppet in front of her.

[ ... ]

- A shinobi team is always small in numbers... Three or four people at most. - Gai's voice came over the radio transmission.

- But it takes at least five people to destroy the five-seal barrier. - Neji said in Hyuuga fighting stance.

- Which means that one basic team isn't enough, all you can do... is wait for another team to arrive. - Tenten said with her left hand on a large scroll behind her back.

- The barrier has already slowed us down considerably... but apparently! It hasn't slowed us down enough. - Lee had said, staring at a very similar copy of himself, which surprised him, since he had gained a great deal of muscle three years ago, but had never been one to look in the mirror to notice himself in detail.

- It was a great job destroying a village and capturing a Kazekage! However... we can't stand here and boast about their work. - Try said as he unsealed the scroll.

- So... let's go! - Lee dictated as he charged at his copy, with her making the same move.

This act was repeated by everyone on his team, who attacked their copies with powerful blows. Blows that were exchanged at the same moment as the enemy's, to everyone's elation.

[ ... ]

- "He's strong! I couldn't expect anything less from my copy." - Gai thought as euphoria rose within him.

He then did the same against his copy without any emotion.

This was the start of a great fight for the best Taijutsu user in the village.

[ ... ]

Neji, who was the most serious member of the team, fought his copy equally, both using Hyuuga-style open palms, an act that made tiny amounts of chakra show with each impact.

- "They don't just look the same... They're like real life counterparts in appearance, skills and chakra." - Neji thought, studying his enemy using his Byakugan.

[ ... ]

- Ahhh! - Tenten exasperated as she extended her scroll with dozens of lethal weapons emerging from it at high speed against the enemy.

This act was repeated by her double, who showed no facial reaction, let alone any sign of breathing.

If she was correct in her analysis, as she wore herself out in combat, her double would gain an advantage from this act.

[ ... ]

- "So they really do have the same abilities." - Lee thought as she ran side by side with her double, followed by a short flurry of physical attacks.

- That just makes it more interesting! Well, I'm ready. - This time he said out loud with a powerful punch at his enemy, which hit him, but also Lee because his double had copied him.

It made both of them strain their muscles, taking each one to one side.

[ ... ]

Menma, until then quiet in the face of both enemies, felt immense anger towards the blond in that hiding place.

His sarcastic smile made him angry at the state of his friend. His guard was soon raised by the enemy performing a one-way seal.

- Kat... - Deidara began to proclaim, where in a quick reaction, Kakashi saw with his Sharingan dozens of white spiders surrounding Gaara's inert body.

- Everyone away! - Kakashi had shouted while kicking his student in a quick reaction as the Uzumaki turned all his attention to the enemy.

However, with everyone moving away from the Kazekage's body and a Menma immediately rising from the ground. No explosion occurred, to the mocking laughter of the Akatsuki.

- Just kidding. - Deidara had said jokingly above a large clay bird, followed by it swallowing Gaara's inert body in a single bite, which had caused the red-haired man to be trapped inside the large bird's mouth.

- Sasori-sama... I'll leave you alone with that old woman! - The blond Akatsuki said as the bird left the base. - Take care of your personal business. - Finally, he said it with Menma looking at Kakashi.

- Come on, Menma! - Kakashi said quickly. - Sakura, Chiyo... I'll leave this one to you. But please, don't do anything too risky. - Finally, he said it with the consent of both women, who immediately took up a combat pose.

- Hai, Kakashi-sensei. - Sakura replied immediately.

Kakashi didn't want to split up his team in a fight with enemies of such caliber. However, he was well aware that Chiyo was the best for puppet combat, with his student being the best sensor to hunt down the enemy trying to flee the base.

Both the male members of the team immediately left the base in pursuit of Deidara.

The blond Akatsuki flew calmly in circles in the sky, where he finally noticed the Doujutsu in Kakashi's eye.

- "Hm... Sharingan, huh?" - Deidara thought euphorically as the battle raged on.

[ ... ]

- Sakura! Don't be afraid... I'm here with you, I'll take the lead, dear. - The elder of the Hidden Village of Sand had comforted Sakura, who felt afraid of fighting someone much more experienced than her, and with a great track record of murder.

- "Chiyo-sama..." - Sakura thought, clenching her fists.

Her heart practically leapt into her throat. Her lips were dry, sweat dripping down her back.

Even though she was with the old woman, she still felt very nervous; come to think of it, she had never had a real life-or-death confrontation. But there was no other way, she had to hold him until someone arrived...

- "No..., I must honor my master's teachings... I must defeat him!" - Sakura thought with conviction, her gaze sharpening in determination.

Metal noises could be heard from inside the sand elder's sleeve. Then, in one swift movement, a line of chakra emerged from inside, filled with linked kunai floating in the air.

The kunais immediately flew towards Akatsuki, who had had his clothes partially torn, he had even managed to defend himself with his tail, but soon his cloak had torn completely, giving a glimpse of the enemy's sinister appearance.

- "But... what is this?" - Sakura thought as she saw the creature, which seemed to be walking on all fours, with a huge tail swinging and one of its arms full of cylinders.

- That's not Sasori... It's just a puppet. The real one is in there. - Chiyo said to Sakura, who nodded.

- So he's hiding inside... that... - Sakura had said, watching the old woman confirm.

- You seem to know my secrets, Grandma... but do you also know my process for creating a puppet? - He had said sinisterly. - First I rip out the entrails, organs and guts, skin, wash the body, drain the blood... and then I put the mechanical parts in... - He said with his tail going close to his face, dripping a purplish droplet, surely of some poison or toxin. - And that's what will happen to you... my new puppets. - Finally, he said, with Sakura breaking out in a cold sweat.

- Hiruko... do you intend to use that against us? You know I can beat you easily, Sasori. - Chiyo said seriously.

- Hiruko? - Sakura asked doubtfully.

- It's the name given to the puppet he's using. - Chiyo began to explain. - We puppeteers are vulnerable to attacks when we manipulate the puppets...

- A puppet eventually reverses this weakness, protecting them inside its body. - Finally, the old woman explained to Sakura.

- So all we have to do is get him out? - Sakura asked.

- In theory, yes... but... something is different about him.

- From the last time I saw him. Before, I thought I could take him out by myself..., but seeing him now... - Chiyo said as Sakura began to tremble, only for her to grab her hand tightly to stop her nervousness. - Calm down... - The old woman said with a smile. - I'm not strong enough to break his shell, but you... you've inherited Tsunade-hime's strength.

- It'll be enough to finish him off. Gyaha! - She returned her gaze to Sasori while still laughing. - We just need to get you close to him.

-And remember to dodge everything. - Said the old woman after seeing another purplish droplet drip from the moving tail.

- "The poison." - Sakura reminded herself.

- So... what are we going to do? - Asked the rosy-cheeked girl, adjusting the gloves on her wrist.

- Hehe... you think I'm just a helpless old woman... - She said, starting to untie her gray hair, where she stretched out her bony, skinny fingers. - Battle experience is not lacking.

- Okay... let's get started! - Sakura said, infusing her feet with chakra, only for her speed to double in a headlong rush.

- Great... I hate waiting. - Sasori says, tearing off his mask, revealing his open puppet mouth.

- "Damn!" - Both women thought as needles flew swiftly from the puppet's mouth, heading in a straight line towards them.

Their eyes darted around, their bodies dancing in a precise rhythm to escape the needles and get even closer to the enemy.

One wrong move and the enemy would kill them.

Right, left, spins and pirouettes.

These were their movements as they got even closer.

- Die! - Sasori said, aiming his arm full of cylinders. Making it fly, and more needles spreading out.

Almost similar movements by both women were present. The dance was precise. One mistake and death was certain.

With a slight stumble, Sakura almost became the target of the needles, but they hit the ground. Not a scratch on the rosy-cheeked girl.

She didn't know how she managed to save herself, but she did.

- "Got it..." - Sasori thought, seeing thin lines of chakra connected to the rosy-cheeked girl's body - "That old woman."

- Sakura, now! - Chiyo shouted as she released Sakura from the chakra lines so that she could propel herself against the enemy.

- SHANAROO!!!! - With such a war cry, along with the impact of a single punch, all of Hiruko's parts flew everywhere in pieces, for in reality his war cry was purely his activation of the Adamantine Fist, multiplying its power threefold.

Something outside Hiruko that was situated inside the puppet aimed to escape the impact, it was covered in black blankets with reddish clouds.

- Well... - His voice had become serene, different from the grotesque one of a few minutes ago. - I see the old woman has succeeded, manipulating the girl.

- Gyaha! Impressive, even camouflaging the chakra, you still managed to identify everything I did. - The old woman replied with a laugh.

- It was you who taught me that trick, after all. But... - He begins to remove the cloak from his face. - This "joke" will end today... - He finally said, with the cloth flying away.

The lady's eyes showed shock and surprise. Sakura noticed this very well, she couldn't know why, but she saw denial in her gaze, as if something was wrong.

- What happened, Chiyo-sama?! - Sakura asked, already back at the old woman's side.

- He... no... - She sees him... the same. Red hair, deep red, wrinkle-free skin, as young as a teenager. - He hasn't aged at all.

- "How?" - Thinks the rosy-cheeked girl.

With a parchment in hand, Sasori showed her a three carved in "Kanji".

This number represented the title of something, and Chiyo knew very well what it meant.

- No, you don't... - Chiyo said.

- That one was hard to kill, I admit. - Sasori said with a smile, and in a cloud of smoke, a puppet finally appeared. - My favorite. - A puppet with long coats and hair on its collar. A figure that frightened Sakura just by looking at it. When she remembers the paintings and the studies she had done, her eyes startle Chiyo.

- Sandaime... - Sakura murmured.

- Kazekage. - Chiyo finished with the Akatsuki smiling excitedly.

- Let's get started! - Sasori laughed sadistically, remembering how he had challenged the Kazekage and promised that when he defeated him, he wouldn't kill him outright, but would turn him into a puppet step by step, with him watching his own decline.

- So it was you who made him disappear. - Sakura says, startled.

- Ah... I see someone has done their homework... I have to admit that Tsunade trains her students well... - Chiyo said, pulling herself together. - I see that raising these old bones was important, as I have a lot of unfinished business... My own grandson... betrayed the Sand Village three times.

- Three times? - Sakura asks.

- This kid was responsible for the death of Gaara's father, the Yondaime Kazekage.

- Now he's responsible for the death of his son, Gaara, our current Godaime Kazekage.

- Only to discover...

- That this kid is responsible for the death of the Sandaime Kazekage. - Finally, the old woman said to the red-haired Akatsuki, laughing in derision.

- Hey, I have nothing to do with the Yondaime Kazekage. I have to admit that I got up to a lot in Akatsuki with Orochimaru, but... - Sasori was about to continue, but then Sakura's shrill voice echoed in the room.

- Hold on! - Sakura interrupted him. Her gaze became serious as the image of an Uchiha came into her head. - Do you know Orochimaru?

- Well... - Sasori shrugged, with a smile that made her understand. - Shall we continue? - Finally, he said with the marionette flying at the two of them.

The marionette flies at the two, where the old woman, in a swift action, controls Hiruko's tail to protect the pink one.

The tail shattered into a thousand pieces, with Sakura holding on... Soon, however, a compartment opened in the Kazekage puppet's arms, revealing seals.

- What now, old woman? - Sasori said with numerous arms emerging from the Kazekage, where he advanced to attack both Chiyo and Sakura.

- "No!" - Chiyo thought after a miss, where she saw the hundred arms brutally crush Sakura with a lot of dust scattered around the place.

- SAKURA! - The lady screamed in despair.

[ ... ]

The smoke dissipated over time. The lady was relieved to see the Kunoichi right between the puppet's prosthetic arms.

- "She dodged them all." - Chiyo thought as she pulled her by strands of chakra. The pink one, in the process, flew out of her arms, only for the enemy to laugh.

- Not so fast! - Sasori opens one of his arms with a ball flying towards Pink.

- "Damn, a bomb." - Chiyo thought as it exploded with a large purplish cloud enveloping Sakura completely. - "Poison." - Chiyo continued to pull her, but she felt something trapping her inside the cloud.

- SAKURA, I'M COMING! - Chiyo shouted where Sakura could hear very well.

- "No..." - Sakura had thought, her mind muddled and disconnected by the strong intoxicating smell of the poisonous mist.

And then she rummaged through her backpack:

- "I promised I'd go with you, Naruto..." - She picks up a kunai with an explosive paper - "I promised I'd make up for everything I threw at you..." - Finally, she thinks as she activates the seal.

- "I'M NOT GOING TO DIE WITHOUT TAKING THIS BASTARD WITH ME!" - Sakura thought determinedly as she saw a final image of Naruto in her mind.

The same image as when he arrived in the village, when he smiled at her, how he joked mischievously and even how he kissed her before coming to the mission.

He had certainly changed his ways a lot, and she didn't understand why, but she couldn't lie to herself, she was really enjoying it.

- "Many people see people they love when they're close to death..., but why Naruto?" - That was Sakura's thought as a warmth spread across her skin, only to be caught up in the great explosion that had occurred there.

It had taken her, along with a large crater in the ground that had enveloped both the Sandaime Kazekage's puppet and Sasori himself.

This caused the place where they were standing to tremble fiercely from the magnitude of the explosion under the incredulous gaze of the old woman at the sacrifice of the pink girl who had taken the Akatsuki in the process.

And with that I end the seventh chapter of The Sannin, I hope you're enjoying it, and don't forget to comment.

This story has a lot of potential to go a long way, but I need readers to cooperate in the comments, with ideas, opinions, criticisms and everything else.

I hope you'll appreciate Sakura too, because each character here will have their own personal development, since in my view everyone is the protagonist of their own life and shouldn't live dependent on others.

-- Characters' Fighting Power --

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[ Haruno Sakura ]

Level: 50

Fighting Power: 100

--

Strength: 1,000 Kg (1 Ton)

Speed: 500 Km/h

Stamina: 1,000 Kg (1 Ton)

Chakra: 100,000

-----

-- Kangouken 2x --

Level: 100

Fighting Power: 200

--

Strength: 2,000 Kg (2 Tons)

Speed: 1,000 Km/h

Stamina: 2,000 Kg (2 Tons)

Chakra: 100,000

-----

-- Kangouken 3x --

Level: 150

Fighting Power: 300

--

Strength: 3,000 Kg (3 Tons)

Speed: 1,500 Km/h (Mach 1)

Stamina: 3,000 Kg (3 Tons)

Chakra: 100,000

-----

Note: The Adamantine Fist is a fighting style characterized by precise and meticulous chakra control, a source of multiplying your physical strength by infusing chakra into a specific part of your body.

Special effect:

1. Chakra expenditure (50,000)

2. Increase in Fighting Power. (2 to 3x Base)

3. Expenditure per use is generated after one round of activation followed by deactivation of the Ninjutsu.

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 [ Chiyo ]

Level: 64

Fighting Power: 128

--

Strength: 1,280 Kg (1 Ton)

Speed: 640 Km/h

Endurance: 1,280 Kg (1 Ton)

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[ Sasori ]

Level: 350

Fighting Power: 700

--

Strength: 7,000 Kg (7 Tons)

Speed: 3,500 Km/h (Mach 2)

Endurance: 7,000 Kg (7 Tons)

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