"Understand," Ay stated, "I don't want to send you. I don't trust you, not really. Konoha has my brother because of you but Onoki can sense no dissension within our ranks and with Dodai gone, you are all I have."
"I understand," Darui replied, posture rigid and eyes focused. Any allowance of informality was gone, on the strictest of etiquette was permitted. It was early yet, not even errant rays of sunlight could be seen. Darui was alert and more importantly, he welcomed the opportunity to leave. Shi and he had explained themselves as well as they could. Ay's ambush failed and they needed to fallback. Even with Kirabi and Yugito there, those two couldn't be expected to fight two-thirds of the Sannin, Hatake Kakashi, Uzumaki Naruto and, potentially, Gaara of the desert in the desert. Darui even made the point that if Kirabi thought the A-B tandem could have won he wouldn't have sacrificed himself.
Ay would hear nothing of it. The Raikage swore Kirabi was just attempting to avoid a fight, as was his way. That while formidable, the Konoha contingent would not have been enough nor would the boy Kage that ruled over Suna. He swelled with pride and reeked of liquor when he stated that whatever advantage they had, none could overcome his lightning armor. Darui remarked that Ei-sama never believed that lone technique made him invincible. Ay lost it and punched through a wall, narrowly missing Darui's head.
The two Kumo elites looked at each other, Ay in rage and Darui nearing anger himself. He was loyal but he was no coward and would not accept any and all treatment from Ay. He lived for Kumo, he'd die for Kumo but before anything, he was a man. Not some boy, not a sycophant, but man and he wouldn't carry it any other way. Mabui intervened before the situation could become unsalvageable and Darui hadn't spoken to the Raikage again until this briefing.
"You are expected to arrive within five days and are to stay for no longer than a week. I expect you to be able to tell whether Onoki is serious or not. Promise him nothing and report everything to me upon your return. Do not fail me. Dismissed," Ay bellowed. Darui departed silently.
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Clanging and furious movement could be heard as a trio of blurs engaged in a violent exchange of weapons. After the last attack, two broke away from one looking on at their mutual opponent. Shikamaru held his tanto in a reverse grip, knees slightly bent prepared to move at the smallest provocation. Shino, dual sais at the ready was a mere foot apart primed for the same.
Naruto looked at his two teammates with a smile as he spun his pair of metal nunchaku. They were starting to breathe a little heavy but it'd been a good showing and he wouldn't let up. He appeared in front of Shino with an impressive display of pure speed and began attacking.
Clang, clang, swoosh clang. The sounds went as the Aburame heir blocked, deflected and dodged. Shikamaru came into Naruto's blindside, ruthlessly slashing at his neck but his progress was ended by Naruto's well-timed back kick. Planting the kicking foot, Naruto rotated as to avoid Shino's dual thrust and retaliated with more swings, none hitting the mark. Having both assailants in his view, Naruto brought an end of each nunchaku together and with a concentration of his chakra transformed them into a short spear.
"Shino?" Shikamaru spoke.
"Yes, Shikamaru?"
"Does it offend you any that we're being pushed this hard by a shadow clone and Naruto is just using said clone to get some training with his koton?"
"Yes, yes does. Why? Because the shadow clone, by its very nature, is a fraction of its creator's overall ability and power."
"Also, why should he get to spend our team training time with his girlfriend-"
"Fiancee-"
"While we're over here with this troublesome clone?"
"Long-distance getting to you, Shikamaru?" Shino asked and Shikamaru could hear the teasing in his voice even if it didn't change in the slightest.
"Cold showers are a drag," Shikamaru responded as he hadn't seen Temari in weeks.
"I wouldn't know," Shino bragged.
"I hate you both."
"Oi, less talking more fighting," the real Naruto said as he sat under a shady tree, Orochimaru between his legs as she attempted to pop the water balloon. Shika and Shino both responded with a single finger hand gesture and Naruto delighted in his clone continuing his assault. He returned his attention to his betrothed as she focused intensely on the water balloon in her right hand.
"Orochi-chan, I'm getting concerned you've slipped past concentration and ran straight into existential contemplation on the nature of that water balloon," he said in jest. She released a small laugh in return.
"Maybe so… this jutsu is vexing. It should be simple and for some reason even knowing what I should do it just isn't coming to me."
"You're likely outsmarting yourself," Naruto suggested as he thought back to her progress or lack thereof. "Since you have some notion of what should be done you're trying to do it all at once. Basically, your genius brain is making this harder for you. Be more like Jiraiya," Naruto observed and then advised.
"Oh my, Naruto-kun, right in front of your teammates? Kinky boy," she purred and felt something move against her back.,
"T-that is not what I meant, 'ttebayo," Naruto defended. He briefly looked back to his friends and clone, seeing his bunshin had gone from the short spear to a kusarigama as it fought only Shino, Shika having tapped out.
"Isn't it?" she asked. "Is my wearing this ring not enough? Must you claim me in front of an audience you brute!" She said as she gently grinded against him.
"I give, you win," Naruto conceded, not wanting her to escalate things.
"Kukuku, of course I do," the future Uzumaki said as she watched the exchange between Team Kurenai, It made her curious. "When did you learn those weapon forms, Naruto-kun? Jiraiya is serviceable with them but that's about it."
"The scroll Hashirama-sama left me had a lot of forms and styles for various weapons. Once I learned the steel release Jiraiya and I agreed it made sense to increase my proficiency in more than just sword types." The two continued to chat away until Tayuya approached them at a clipped pace, gaining the notice of Shika and Shino as well.
"Orochimaru-sama, you're needed at the Hokage Tower," Tayuya announced but said no more. Orochimaru kissed Naruto's cheek and departed, Tayuya close behind. When the pair were far enough away Orochimaru questioned her subordinate.
"What else did you have to tell me, Tayuya-chan?"
"Kimimaro and company have returned, all but Kabuto are at your manor. Kabuto was taken to the Hokage by a squad of ANBU," the Uzumaki genjutsu mistress relayed.
"You join the boys, I'll go have a word with Kabuto-kun," Orochi said, voice monotone.
"Hai," Tayuya obeyed and shunshin'd to her destination. Neither she nor Orochi noticed the single kikaichu depart from Tayuya's hair. Shino's trusted ally soon returned to his host's body, causing Shino to call a stop to the spar.
Normally the return of an ally would be welcomed but offer little in the way of intelligence. But Team Kurenai didn't deal in normal. Maybe may have thought Kurenai was a poor match for her students but they'd be completely wrong. Outside of each boy learning to be adept trackers, intelligence gathers and some of the best genjutsu users in the village, they all took to learning pure Yin Release and infusing it into their arsenal. For Shikamaru, it made his shadow based jutsu stronger than any of his clan save, possibly, his father and he'd soon surpass the Jounin commander. He also had more variations than anyone, his shadows seemingly coming to life to haunt his enemies.
Naruto, already having overachieved at being able to wield genjutsu, wanted to manage to infuse it into his elemental ninjutsu. He'd succeeded at creating a few techniques that could attack while also ensnaring the enemy. He also uses it to mask his summoning jutsu, his enemies never truly knowing how many panthers he calls forth at any one time.
Like the rest of his team, Shino trained and excelled in genjutsu. Like Shikamaru, he managed to infuse the Yin Release into his family's signature abilities but not to attack but as a method of intelligence gathering. Limited in what they could "record" he had a section of specialized kikaichu that could replay overheard conversations. His facility with them only grew during his time as a Hunter Nin, missing ninja failing to ambush or evade the Aburame heir. And now one of those special, little bugs was revealing something of great importance.
Naruto had grown and matured during his time away. He'd really taken much of Jiraiya's philosophies to heart, even if he didn't wholly agree. He believed in peace but a peace that protected the weak from the strong. He believed that revenge was an oft futile act that didn't balance the scales nor sated the emotional needs of the person seeking it. He was not as angry, not as quick to violence now as he was then; partially because his level of skill and power demanded control and discernment.
"Kabuto is back," Shino informed Shika and Naruto. With all his growth, he was not a pacifist nor a saint. Anyone that proved to be a threat could be removed and Kabuto had tried to kill him and his team. By itself, that earned Kabuto a slot on Naruto's kill list. But now that he knows Orochi is pregnant, the medic became a problem in need of a solution.
"He dies today," Naruto said.
"He's in the Hokage's custody," Shino pointed out.
"Today," Naruto reiterated. He saw the looks his friends shot him. Looks that begged for an explanation. Naruto sighed before answering, "Orochi's pregnant," he said. He smirked a little as both concealed their surprise well, likely focusing on the issue at hand. Naruto ran his fingers through his hair. "Chakra is a funny thing. Your initial capacities are like any other genetic predisposition, given to you by your parents. But chakra can change, expand, strengthen overtime so in that way he can act as something akin to an environmental factor. Your chakra can affect how your genes express themselves, it is an epigenetic factor," Naruto explained and saw that each was still with him. He'd honestly hadn't known this until Tsunade started training him on medical ninjutsu as she refused to do things halfway.
"My child will be the child of a Sannin and a lifelong Jinchuuriki Uzumaki who has spent a solid decade increasing the potency and amount of his chakra."
"Massive reserves," Shikamaru said.
"Yes, Kyuubi says I'm nearing tailed best level reserves on my own now that I no longer have to hold his chakra back. Well, when baby forms it takes more than just nutrients from mom."
"Even as a Sannin, it is likely Orochimaru's own chakra system will be strained and impacted by the unique circumstances of his or her conception," Shino concluded.
"Troublesome. At some point, she's going to be weakened. Chakra control shot, maybe not consistently but that almost makes it worse. Reserves also diminished to go the most troublesome fetus in history. Kabuto would probably make another attempt on your life first but if he believes he can't get to you he'll target the baby." Shikamaru concluded.
"Kabuto dies today," Naruto reiterated.
"Agreed/Affirmative," his teammates said without hesitation. Shikamaru then added, "snatching him from the Hokage and therefore ANBU won't be easy. We have to at least try to get away with it."
"We'd also have to talk to Kurenai-Sensei, why? Even if purely ceremonial, she is still our squad leader and deserves to know, be allowed to weigh in."
"I agree, besides I may have a plan but I'd need Kurenai-Sensei's help."
"What plan?" Shikamaru asked.
"Singing in the rain," Naruto said.
"Ambitious," was the Nara's reply.
"Village-wide?" Shino asked. And followed up, "Can you handle that?"
"For my future wife and child? Yes. Besides, you two would have the hard part."
"We'd only have one go at this and if we fail we are so screwed," Shikamaru expressed.
"Guys, if this is too much I will sincerely understand. Just tell me now and I'll handle it. Honest."
"No, we will undertake this as a team but we should be aware of the consequences, some will be present even should we succeeded," Shino explained.
"We'll need two messenger summons. I have everything else on me," said Shikamaru.
"Same," Shino added. Naruto nodded and then summoned two panther cubs. His teammates informed the little ones of their tasks and they took off. The three members of Team Kurenai then made their way to Kurenai's.