All righty. Chapter 23, huh? Got a lot of fighting for you, yep.

I'd also like to say something about the anime filler arcs with regard to my fanfic.

The Tea country arc happened. (The early 100's)

The Fuuma arc may or may not have happened. (I haven't decided)

Mizuki's return did not happen. (not in that way, and not yet, cuz it sucked. I mean, seriously...a FURRY!)

Naruto did go on the Bikouchuu hunt, Naruto did peep on Hinata (though he didn't know it was her) Hinata did not use her new technique. Tche...

Phew...any others?

Sorry, all those filler arcs pissed me off.

You reviewers make me happy, that you do.

Chapter 23: Orochimaru's Offer - No Need for Masks

"What do you fine people want with me?" Edo asked the four Sounds evenly, though his eyes were cold and piercing.

"It's not what we want," Rika, the most theatrical of the four, answered with a flourish. "But what our master wants."

"Your master?" Edo grunted in a mildly scornful tone.

"Orochimaru. The leader of the Sound Village," Akira clarified quietly, bobbing his head. "He's developed a bit of an interest in you."

"Cute," Edo popped his neck, then brought his feline idol around and slammed it into the earth. "Before we begin, why don't we introduce ourselves? Nekoarashi Edo. Pleased to meet you, I suppose."

"Akira, the dancer," Akira nodded, rummaging in one of his pouches for something.

"Bunraku, puppetmaster," the old man tipped his hat. His puppet did the same.

"Chieko...none of your business," the female Sound-nin said, without so much as inclining her head.

"And I," Rika said dramatically. "Am Rika, actor/actress extraordinaire."

Edo raised an eyebrow. "Actor/actress?"

"That is correct."

"I think you have to pick one."

Rika gave a piercing laugh, which caused everyone to wince. "Don't be ridiculous. The ambiguity of it is what makes it poetic. It is symbolic of our foolish desire to force everyone into particular roles. It is this defiance that is a testament to my supreme acting ability."

The Sound-nin went into an elaborate pose, arms raised high.

Edo blinked, staring at the strange figure for a few seconds.

"Meaning you're definetely a guy."

Rika deflated. "Excuse me?" he lilted in a delicate voice.

"It's simple," Edo shrugged. "You're bragging about it being difficult to discern your gender, but only a guy would make such a big deal about something like that...so..."

Rika twitched.

The former Cloud-nin continued, giving a short laugh. "It's obvious, really."

A vein pulsed in Rika's temple.

"But you know what's funny?"

"No, but I have a feeling that you are going to tell me," the effeminate man said, tight-lipped.

Edo pointed at Rika's made-up face, then at the Sound-nin's shoulder-length silver hair. He winked cheekily.

"You work so hard to be feminine," he smirked. "But at the end of the day, I still have nicer hair than you."

Torikushi and several of the other cats yowled agreement.

Bunraku shook his head. "Oh, dear."

Rika eyes were wide, his pupils shrunken to mere dots.

"How dare you?" he shrilled. He pointed to Edo's black and blond streaked hair. "You...your hair looks like a bumblebee! An unkempt bumblebee, at that!"

Edo twitched. "A bumblebee? Not that that makes any sense, but there's no need to be so catty. However, I think your make-up is very nice," he paused.

Edo smirked again.

"For a clown."

Rika gave a shriek and leapt towards Edo. The feline ninja spun, grabbing his idol with both hands and swinging it into his attacker's torso. Rika tumbled back, flipping to his feet acrobatically. Chieko restrained him from pressing his attack.

"Calm down, Rika," she said firmly. "We're just testing him, remember?"

"I want to hurt him," Rika snarled. "Akira, let me go first! He's mine!"

"Yeah, Akira," Edo said. "Listen to your weird friend."

Akira hadn't been listening. He was listening to his headphones again. He glanced up, having heard only part of Edo's sentence.

"What's that?" he said in a loud voice. "You say I'm weird?"

"I wasn't saying that you're weird-" Edo began.

Akira had removed the headphones. He had only caught the last two words, 'you're weird'.

"I thought as much. Guess I'll have to show you what I can do."

The sound-nin removed a strange looking mechanism from his back. He moved to the side and placed it on the ground.

Edo walked to the opposite side, setting down his idol and directing the feline troupe to sit around it.

"Let's get started, then."

Akira nodded. "Don't rush me."

He fiddled with the device. Akira nodded, then stood up, brushing back his spiked black hair.

"If we're going to have a proper dance, we need proper accompaniment."

Edo rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

(This guy's a joke,) he thought. (He has so little chakra, I can hardly sense a thing.)

Then, from the device on the ground music began to emanate. A strange rhythmic combination of horns and drums. Akira began shuffling back and forth in place to the beat, bobbing his head. The music began to pick up slightly, and Akira's movements became stronger and more coordinated.

Then the vocals kicked in.

Edo's eyes widened. (The hell? His chakra, it's...skyrocketing.)

Akira's attack caught him totally off guard. The Sound-nin, without missing a beat, planted his hands on the ground and swung his legs around in a circle. His kicks caught Edo in the solar plexus, knocking him backwards. Akira followed up, still on his hands. His next several kicks struck Edo repeatedly, driving the missing-nin farther back.

Cursing, Edo grabbed one of Akira's ankles and threw him over his shoulder, smashing him into the earth. Akira lay on his back, one foot twitching. Edo gave a feline snarl and stomped down at the prone shinobi's groin, but Akira twisted, his legs snaking upward and catching around either side of Edo's neck. Akira flung Edo with his feet, then charged after him on his hands. He began spinning, whipping his legs around like a propellor. Edo staggered back, desperately blocking each flailing kick.

"Hah!" Edo grunted, sweeping Akira's arms. The Sound-nin flipped to his feet, and came in hard, bobbing and ducking. Strikes and kicks flew in from every reasonable angle, and a few unreasonable ones.

(Come on Edo,) Edo chided himself. (No matter how unpredictable his attacks, he's just dancing. It's like fighting a Suiken drunken fist. Besides, how many times has Maiyuu attacked you while she was drunk?)

Akira began swaying from side to side in perfect sync with the beat. His feet beat a brutal cadence on the ground. At odd intervals, his hands or feet would lash out, striking several painful blows.

(Besides, there's a rhythm to his movements. If I can find it...)

Edo smiled. He began moving his own body in time with the music. Akira smirked and continued his rhythmic taijutsu assault. Edo kept this up for several seconds, then performed a small stutter-step, throwing off Akira's own groove for a few seconds.

It was enough.

The Sound-nin's last punch had gone wild, streaking past Edo's left ear. Edo gave a predatory smile and brought his arm up, the elbow smashing Akira in the chin. As Akira stumbled backwards, the long-haired man snatched at Akira's boombox, crushing it with one blow.

The music abrubtly cut out, causing Akira's performance to screech to a halt. Edo's next attack was a brutal roundhouse kick which sent the dancer flying several feet into a good-sized boulder. Akira groaned in pain.

"That's not cool, pal," he muttered, fumbling in one of his pouches. "Guess I could use some backup dancers."

Rika hopped forward lightly. "More than willing."

"I suppose this old body of mine could use the exercise," coughed Bunraku, cracking his neck.

Chieko drew a kunai. "Might as well."

Akira withdrew a large pair of headphones from his pouch. He put them on, then clicked a button. Akira began bobbing his head as the music revitalized him.

Edo lowered himself into a fighting stance and spread his arms wide like claws. "Yosh! Come on then!"

Chieko lunged forward, slashing with her kunai. Edo spun around her body, striking her in the small of the back with a driving palm.

Bunraku and Akira came in next. The puppeteer had summoned a puppet from a scroll, it was over ten feet tall and shaped like a humanoid pig. Akira danced forward, balancing on one hand and firing off several kicks.

"Go for it, Chibibuta!" Bunraku cackled, setting the pig into a charge. Large tusklike blades jutted from the head and its limbs were studded with spikes. "Make him into pudding!"

Edo yelped as Bunraku's puppet smashed down at him. He dodged backwards, evading a headbutt. The pig's 'mouth' opened, revealing a metal pipe. Several kunai shot out, dripping with a purple slime. Edo grunted as the poisoned kunai thunked into his chest. The former Cloud-nin vanished in a puff of smoke, revealing an impaled rock.

"Kawarimi," Bunraku grunted. He squinted through his tinted glasses.

"Akira! Behind you!" Chieko shouted.

Akira didn't hear, but, sensing movement, he kicked behind him. Edo's hands grabbed the foot, spinning the spike-haired man directly into the chest of Bunraku's Chibibuta. The puppet fell backwards onto Bunraku, who dismissed it just before it crushed him.

Rika charged forward. "Take this, bumblebee-man!" The effeminate man swung an oversized kunai at Edo's face.

Edo stepped back out of range, then stepped back in with a simple but effective straight punch. It was then that Edo discovered that Rika had a glass jaw. Literally. The lower half of Rika's face shattered into a strange glasslike substance that cut Edo's knuckles. The rest of Rika's body fell back and shattered as well.

Edo blinked. He looked at his bleeding hand. "What the fu-"

There was a sudden blurring as Bunraku slid in front of him with agility that belied his age, crouched on his hands and feet. His legs blasted upwards, as though his arms were propelled by pistons. Bunraku's sandals connected with Edo's jaw and blasted him into the air. Akira leapt into the air after him, spinnin one leg around with great force. It struck Edo in the stomach, sending him flying backwards. Chieko was next. The woman appeared directly behind Edo, palms out. As Edo flew close by, she covered her hands with chakra and unleashed a double handed hammerblow. Edo flew downward, where Rika waited to deal the final blow.

"Let's see how you like this!" he crowed. "Onnabi: Shousutoppa (Woman's Beauty: Showstopper)!"

Rika tossed his long silver hair, his hands forming into several seals. Chakra began to collect in midair. It concentrated, seeming now to resemble a large weight made of glass. With a gesture, he intercepted the falling shinobi with the block, smashing him heavily into a rocky wall. Edo went down hard.

"Well now, that wasn't so bad," Bunraku observed. "Good exercise."

"Hardly a warm up," Akira murmurred, apparently dancing a jig.

"Oi, oi! Finished already?" Edo's voice silenced the conversing Sound-nin.

They glanced over. Edo was standing upright, slightly dirty, but relatively undamaged. He popped his neck.

"I'm just getting started," Edo gestured towards his cats. "I haven't really used any ninjutsu yet."

The troupe of cats rushed towards Edo, surrounding him. They snarled and hissed at the four Sound-nin.

"Anyway, if you're allowed to have backup dancers," Edo brought his hands together. "So should I."

With a yowl, the dangerous young man began to gather chakra. A blue aura played over his skin. The cats growled, gaining small auras of their own. Edo smirked, then formed a few seals. Strings of chakra stretched from him, covering all of his cats and making their auras even stronger.

"Neko Ryuu-" he began.

"That will suffice," interrupted a smooth voice.

"Orochimaru-sama!" Chieko gulped.

Edo glanced over to the new voice's source. Several new figures had appeared. Their were three young people wearing Sound headbands standing their, along with their sensei, a silver-haired young man wearing glasses. The bandaged one was supporting a limping lavender-haired woman. There was a fifth figure as well, and he was the one who had spoken. He was tall, dressed in the same kind of outfit as the four Edo had fought previously. He had black hair longer than Edo's own, and a pale cruel face with yellow eyes.

Edo shrugged, dispersing his chakra, but still wary. He scrutinized the leader of Sound village's face. He wrinkled his nose and turned to Rika.

"You know, I thought you were bad, but you pale in comparison to this guy. This, is creepy."

Discorujia scowled and attempted to start forward. Nhaki simply snorted.

Orochimaru frowned, then shrugged. "Nekoarashi Edo. I have a proposition for you."

"No thanks; I'm not into that."

Orochimaru gritted his teeth. "I know about your past, your desires. I can give you great power, the ability to control the beast that dwells within you."

"And what would I have to do to gain this control?"

"Serve me."

Edo frowned.

"Aid me in my ambitions, and I will help you find your purpose."

Edo gave a short laugh. "What ambitions would those be?"

"I seek knowledge, the power to change the world. I want to see things in motion, see my enemies broken and defeated. To punish those who have wronged me."

"Very dramatic. Why not add 'take over the world' to that list?"

"One thing at a time, Edo-kun," the Sennin smiled.

Edo raised an eyebrow and wrinkled his nose.

"I don't believe I gave you permission to call me 'kun'. I generally only let pretty girls call me that, not old men."

"Why are you so hostile to my offer? Perhaps it's just because I haven't made the right one."

"If you knew anything about me, you'd know that I don't give my loyalty to just anybody. Loyalty must be earned." Edo bared his teeth in a snarl.

"Oh, I think I might have a way to earn your trust," the leader of Sound hissed.

"You must be very lonely, without your parents. So tragic, losing them both at such a young age."

Edo gritted his teeth and practically growled. Orochimaru smiled evilly before he spoke again.

"I can give them to you," he said quietly. "I can bring back your parents."

The missing-nin was struck dumb for a moment.

"Impossible," Edo muttered, eyes wide. "That's...impossible."

"Not for me. The laws of life and death do not apply where I am concerned."

Edo's entire body shook, his hands balled helplessly into fists.

"All you have to do is join me, and you will have everything you desire. Balance, protection, power, and a family. Somewhere you belong. I can give you it all. All I ask in return is that you serve my aims."

His listener blinked, staring off at two faces that only he could see. He clenched his fists even tighter.

"You seem hesitant, dear boy. Perhaps a small demonstration is in order. I will show you the power that I can give you, and show you the folly of refusal."

Orochimaru gestured to the side. The Sound-nin called Yogo Nhaki stepped forward, coming to a stop in front of Edo.

"No need for masks, we want a proper introduction," the Sennin said silkily.

Nhaki paused for a moment, then reached up. He detached the bulky mask from his head and removed it. Edo found himself staring into the pale face of a boy no older than Naruto. His head was framed by black bangs, though his hair was slightly longer in the back. The young man's eyes were cold and black, glaring at Edo with a powerful intensity.

"My name," the figure nodded tersely. "Is Uchiha Sasuke."

"Sasuke-kun," Orochimaru called. "Have fun, but try not to kill him."

Edo shook himself out of his daze and regarded the figure in front of him. He turned around, making his way towards his idol and jacket. He slid the black coat on. Turning back around, he lowered himself into a combat stance.

"Come on, then."

The Uchiha charged, his eyes shifting from black to red. "Sharingan!"

Edo charged as well, running lightly across the ground. He lunged straight for Sasuke with a raking palm strike. Sasuke smirked and disappeared, appearing right behind Edo and lashing out at him. Edo flipped out of the way. Sasuke disappeared and reappeared several times, striking with quick brutal strikes, which the other blocked.

"This punk's pretty fast," growled Edo, standing upright. He held his hands together, disappearing in a puff of mist.

"Shunshin no jutsu," the Uchiha smirked. He quickly found Edo's new position.

Edo slapped his hand down on the ground. "Hitoshirenu Izumi no jutsu (Hidden Spring Technique)."

A number of small water geysers burst from the earth.

The ex Cloud-nin began forming seals. As he did so, Sasuke's hands began forming the same seals.

"Suihyoudan no jutsu (Water Panther Projectile technique)!" they shouted at the same time. Two panthers composed of water roared out of the springs, colliding in midair with a crash. The water flew everywhere, obscuring Edo's vision.

(What the hell? He copied my technique as I did it. I guess some of the rumors I've heard about the Uchiha are true.)

As Edo thought this, Sasuke appeared from out of the water, a sharp kunai in one hand. He slashed at Edo's torso. Edo lurched back, then slammed forward with both hands. Sasuke backflipped. In midair, the Sound-nin performed a technique.

"Katon: Housenka no jutsu!"

A myriad of small fireballs streaked towards Edo. The water shaper gestured sharply.

"Hyou no Tate (Ice Shield)!"

A large vaguely snowflake-shaped shield of ice spread out of Edo's right forearm. It absorbed the fireballs and the shuriken hidden within them. Edo smiled.

Sasuke did not hesitate. He rushed in and began unleashing a fury of quick physical attacks on the larger shinobi. Edo blocked most with the shield, ducking and twisting away from the others. Edo growled in irritation.

"Copy this! Hijutsu: Kurokouri (Hidden Technique: Black Ice)!" Edo dropped to the ground. A large burst of black ice erupted from the water, forcing Sasuke to withdraw a good distance.

Edo crouched behind the ice. "Feh, if I get out of this, I'll have to find some way to get faster. Just being 'really fast' won't cut it any more."

He glanced out at Sasuke, who was regarding him coolly.

"I guess I should play a defensive game for a bit, then change the momentum," Edo whispered to himself. "Kozui bunshin no jutsu (Flood clone technique)."

A large number of Edos appeared around the original. Edo and his clones leapt out, perching on and around the ice. Sasuke just shook his head. He charged into the crowd, leaping and dodging around the clones and heading straight for the real Edo.

(He saw through the clones! Damn it!) Edo thought. He glanced over his shoulder at the black ice behind him. He smiled.

Just then Sasuke reached him, striking him in the chest with a solid kick. Edo flew back, straight into the ice, disappearing into it. Edo's clones quickly surrounded Sasuke, then moved to attack. Some of them leapt into the air above him.

Inside the ice, Edo formed several seals. Sasuke noticed the chakra of the clones changing, solidifying.

"Shit," Sasuke gritted, realizing what was happening an instant too late.

Edo snapped his fingers. "Boom."

It was as though the area had suddenly been struck by a blizzard. The clones exploded, showering the battlefield with hundreds and hundreds of icy senbon. Sasuke leapt and twisted in midair, but the Sharingan user was unable to avoid all of the projectiles. Edo burst out into the chaos, lunging from the ice almost faster than the eye could see. His hands were shrouded in mist and his black and blond hair streamed behind him. He reached for Sasuke's throat and side, but the Uchiha was too fast. Instead, Edo grabbed an arm and a leg.

"Kouru no Tsukami (Frozen Grip)!" he said.

Sasuke's grabbed limbs now had a heavy covering of ice on them. Using his free leg, Sasuke kicked Edo away, then glanced at his trapped arm. Finding that he could still form rudimentary seals, he performed a quick jutsu and breathed flame on the ice, causing it to vanish in a puff of steam. He was free, though his extremities felt rather numb. He glanced up at Edo, who had formed claws out of ice and was even now slicing forward, his body low to the ground. Sasuke drew two kunai and began parrying his blows. Edo pressed Sasuke backwards, then the two locked together, claw and kunai straining.

"That was some pretty quick thinking," Sasuke grudgingly admitted. "Using those exploding bunshins to distract me."

"I figured that you'd be distracted by such a large burst of chakra, given what I've heard about the Sharingan."

"Heh."

"How'd you see through my clones, anyway?" Edo asked.

"The chakra flows differently," was all Sasuke would say.

Edo pressed in harder, his claws scraping against Sasuke's weapons. The younger shinobi was forced back.

With a yell, Sasuke shoved back, activating his Curse Seal level one as he did so. Taken aback by the sudden increase in strength, Edo stumbled and Sasuke ducked down, striking with a kick to the jaw. Edo flew up into the air, Sasuke vanishing and reappearing right below him. Sasuke swung a wide punch, which was easily intercepted and blocked. The former Leaf-nin then swung to the other side, leading with his legs. Edo moved to block the legs, but was struck by a punch to the face. He began to fall. Sasuke unleashed an elbow to the chest, followed by a backhand to the same spot. Just as Edo struck the ground, Sasuke hit him with an axe kick.

"Shishi Rendan (Lion Combo)!"

Blood flew out of Edo's mouth as hit the ground. Sasuke flipped away, landing lightly on his feet. Edo pulled himself to his feet.

(Damn, where the hell did that come from?) Edo wiped a trickle of blood off his face.

"Torikushi, Gurao, everyone!" he called. "Get out of here!"

"Mrraow!" Torikushi yowled in protest.

"Do it! This guy's pushing me pretty far. If you don't go, I don't think I'll be able to beat him!"

"Mrrr-"

"Go!"

After a slight pause, Torikushi hissed at the other cats. They quickly made themselves scarce.

"Ku ku ku ku..." Sasuke chuckled. "What was that all about?"

"Don't you know?" Edo asked innocently. "Torikushi was always my last bastion of sanity. A barrier between Hyousai's madness and myself. If she's not here, perhaps I can defeat you."

Orochimaru looked mildly perturbed at this statement.

"Sasuke-kun-" he began.

"I'm in the middle of something. Not now," Sasuke said coldly.

"Mind your tongue," Kabuto chided him.

Edo began forming seals. "Let's continue then, shall we? Let's see if you can wake the monster inside me up."

"I've become quite skilled at doing that," Sasuke calmly responded.

---

At this time, the carts occupied by the party from Konoha had stopped for a break.

"Oi, Ero-sennin!"

"That's 'the great Jiraiya-sama' to you."

"Ero-sennin!"

Jiraiya sighed. "What is it, Naruto?" The sennin glanced across at his apprentice.

"You were up on the platform with Orochimaru," Naruto said. "Did you find out what he was after?"

"Not exactly. I know he was doing something. Two of his bodyguards weren't up on the platform. They were just puppets," Jiraiya shrugged. "I couldn't get any definite information from him."

Hinata, who was near Naruto, spoke up. "But what about Akatsuki? Are they here for Naruto-kun?"

Jiraiya looked at her. "How did you know they were here?"

"Well...I heard you talking to Father after the first part of the exam."

"Oh. To answer your question: I'm not sure. All I know is that there's more than one of them in the area."

Naruto frowned.

"How troublesome," grumbled Shikamaru.

"Hey, did any of you hear that?" Sakura asked, approaching the four of them.

Naruto cocked his head. "Yeah, it sounds like fighting."

"Mrrraow!" Came a plaintive meow from one side.

"Oi, isnt that one of Edo's cats?" Naruto asked, pointing at Torikushi, who had just appeared.

"I think so," Hinata replied.

Torikushi meowed again and looked over her shoulder, where the distant sounds of combat could be faintly heard.

"What's going on over there?" Naruto wondered, scrunching his face up.

"I can check, Naruto-kun," Hinata said quickly. She brought her hands in front of her. "Byakugan!"

Veins appeared around the Hyuuga's white eyes as she peered through the trees and rocks.

"So, what is it, Hinata?" Naruto asked curiously.

"It's...Edo-san, and he's fighting someone."

"Who is it?"

"It's..." Hinata looked harder, then blurted out. "Sasuke!"

There was a pink blur as Sakura sped off in the indicated direction, Naruto right behind.

"Naruto-kun!" Hinata called, following as well.

Jiraiya turned to Shikamaru. "Tell the others what's going on. Tell them I'm handling it."

Shikamaru opened his mouth to speak, but the sennin was gone.

---

Haruno Sakura ran across the ground, dodging trees and leaping boulders. Her single-minded advance would brook no obstacles.

(Sasuke-kun...)

The sounds of battle were louder now, punches and crashes, with the occaisional sound of rushing water or crackling flame. Abruptly, she stopped. She had found them.

Sasuke and Edo stood facing off, after a few minutes of combat. Both combatants seemed rather bruised, but Edo seemed to have gotten the worst of it.

But there he was. Uchiha Sasuke, missing-nin of Konoha. He looked much the same as he had always looked, but taller. Sasuke's face was still boyish, though paler, as though he hadn't been getting enough sun. He wore a black combat gi and black sandals. The black flamelike marks of his curse seal covered half of his face and one arm.

"Sasuke-kun," she whispered, seemingly unable to speak any louder.

Fortunately, the next arrival on the scene did not have that problem.

"SASUKE!"

Everything stopped. Edo winced and glanced over at Naruto, one eyebrow raised. He looked between Sasuke and Naruto.

"Friend of yours?" he asked Naruto.

Naruto just glared at Sasuke. Hinata, who was right behind him, looked on.

Sasuke looked up at Naruto, dispelling his curse seal power. His eyes returned to a neutral black.

"Ku ku ku ku. Well isn't this a lovely reunion?" the Uchiha smirked.

Naruto ground his teeth. "You bastard! Come on, I'll fight you right here!"

Sasuke turned away. "No. I don't think so."

Naruto looked ready to rush Sasuke where he stood, but then a heavy hand clapped down on his shoulder.

"Huh? Ero-sennin?"

Edo raised his eyebrow again.

Jiraiya did not answer his student. Rather, he looked hard at his former teammate. "Orochimaru."

"Jiraiya."

"What are you up to here? It's not like you to just enter students into a tournament without an ulterior motive."

Orochimaru smiled. "Let's just say that I got what I came for."

He turned to his bodyguards. "We're going. Bunraku, Nameless, you know what to do."

The two shinobi stepped forward. Sasuke made no move to retreat.

"You too, Sasuke-sama," Bunraku murmurred as he walked past the boy.

"We can't risk you having another incident," Nameless patted Sasuke's shoulder. "Boss's orders and all..."

Sasuke gave the bandaged shinobi a death glare. Nameless just shrugged, blue and orange eyes twinkling. Sasuke snorted and turned away, walking towards Orochimaru.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura shouted.

Sasuke paused for a split second, then continued walking.

"The mission was a success. Now the only thing we have to worry about is returning Sasuke safely to the village," Bunraku adjusted his rosy glasses. "Nameless, if you please."

"Yo! Daikemurihei no jutsu (Great Smoke Wall technique)!" Nameless giggled. A huge cloud of gray smoke spread throughout the clearing, obscuring everything.

Jiraiya through himself defensively in front of the younger shinobi.

The only thing they could hear was Orochimaru's voice.

"Consider my offer carefully, Edo-kun!"

When the smoke cleared, Orochimaru and his minions had disappeared.

"Damn! They got away!" Naruto cursed.

"Naruto-kun, are you all right?" Hinata asked.

Naruto forced his face into a weak smile. "Yeah...I'm fine."

Edo stood still for a few seconds, then grabbed his cat-shaped idol. He held it for a few more seconds, then slammed the idol heavily into the ground with a loud cry.

SMASH!

The jinchuuriki breathed heavily for a few more seconds, then placed the idol in its position on his back.

"Interesting crowd," he said in a falsely cheery voice.

Naruto nodded bitterly.

"So," Edo said as he beckoned his cats from their hiding places. "How about I travel with you lot for a little while? I've got nowhere special to be for a few days, just a lot to think about."

Jiraiya looked appraisingly at him. "I doubt one more will make any difference."

Edo scratched the back of his head, smiling.

---

A few miles away, five Akatsuki members were watching what transpired between The Sound-nin, the Leaf-nin, and Edo in a large orb.

"I must say, I find it amusing that Orochimaru has procured one of the Nanashi," Kurohigure laughed.

Zeka frowned. "Why are we still watching those three? Shouldn't we be catching them?"

Kurohigure tilted his head slightly from his vantage point.

"You will be patient, Zeka. Impatience is a poor character trait."

Zeka narrowed her childlike eyes.

"As is lying," Akatsuki's leader continued.

Zeka's eyes snapped open.

"Back during the finals," Kurohigure explained. "You said that you'd never seen Edo perform techniques like that, when I now know very well that you had. I can tell when someone is lying to me, and I must say that I do not like it."

Zeka was silent.

"I know your background," Kurohigure continued.

"I was just-"

"What you were trying to do is immaterial," the dark man said dryly. "Just try to remember that your loyalty is now to me. Not to your past, and certainly not to yourself. I alone can help you regain what you have lost."

Zeka nodded.

Aira coughed slightly. "Ahem. We're being watched, or so the plants have informed me."

The bicolored man gave a breathy hissing chuckle.

A knowing smirk was barely visible under the rim of Kurohigure's hat. "Is that right?"

Without warning, he spun, backhanding three swishing projectiles out of the air. Three razor-tipped kunai. A figure leapt, somersaulted, then came down hard, slashing at Kurohigure's head with a katana. The Akatsuki leader reached up and grabbed the blade in his hand, then flung sword and wielder away. His assailant backflipped and landed on his feet.

A Stone village headband rested on the shinobi's brow. Hida Dajan held his katana in one hand, and his ever-present sheaf of papers in the other.

"Good day," the jounin said blandly. "My name is Hida Dajan."

Aira snapped his fingers and pointed at the man. "Oh yes. I remember you. You were in charge of the first test."

"I am here to avenge the murder of my students."

Kurohigure turned. "Aira?"

"Sorry," the plant shinobi hissed. "I got thirsty."

Dajan's visage hardened. He oriented on the ex Grass-nin, tensing his muscles.

Aira simply closed his flytrap jaws. "I've had my fun. It's someone else's turn."

Kurohigure looked to Zeka.

"Why don't we have our most junior member handle this situation?"

Zeka grinned impishly. Dajan wrinkled his nose.

"I see," Dajan gritted. "You find this funny. You expect me to kill a child, to play the villain for you?"

"You talk too much, handsome," the woman muttered.

Zeka's smile intensified, taking on a harsh cast. Plucking a kunai from a sheath on the inside of her Akatsuki cloak, she rushed forward. Dajan swung his katana one-handed at her in a slightly half-hearted manner. The S-rank criminal blocked with her kunai, using the momentum of her charge to flip over the Stone jounin and kick him in the back. Dajan stumbled forward, but regained his balance quickly.

"Take that conciliatory attitude with me and you'll die," Zeka stated, crinkling her eyes in mirth. "Plus...I'm older than I look."

"Very well then. I'll make this quick."

Dajan tossed a number of his papers into the the air. He formed seals with his hands, directing his chakra into the flying objects.

"Koukami: Origami Shuriken (Steel Paper: Origami Shuriken)!"

The papers folded up, forming into paper shuriken. They blurred towards Zeka, who backflipped over the projectiles. Dajan threw up another handful of papers, flipping his sword up as well.

"Koukami: Kamiken Enshin (Steel Paper: Paper Sword Extension)!"

The swirling papers converged on the sword, seeming to melt into it. The blade was longer now by over a foot and looked heavier. What looked like paper streamers now trailed from the back of the blade. Dajan caught the sword and spun it easily.

"I'm of the Hida clan. People say we're just a bunch of paper pushers," the jounin shrugged. "And they're right. My clan's signature ability is the manipulation of paper. We can modify it to be as hard as steel using our chakra. This blade is nothing more than paper, but can cut stone."

Without another word, Dajan slashed at Zeka. Zeka rocked back, evading the long blade. However, one of the streamers slid across her cheek, leaving a thin line of blood. Zeka stepped back with a curse.

"I'd make the obligatory papercut joke, but that would just be trite, wouldn't it?" she growled, preparing a jutsu.

Dajan swung his paper sword down at the small figure's head again, just as Zeka finished her technique.

"Raiton: Tanpatsu Houden (Lightning Element: One-pulse Discharge)!"

A pulse of electricity emanated from the small Akatsuki member, striking Dajan and driving him back. The muscles in the Stone-nin's arms and legs twitched as the electricity pulsed through them. Gritting his teeth, he brought himself into a defensive stance.

Zeka crossed her arms before her face.

"Defending? That won't do any good."

Dajan raised an eyebrow.

"Tatsumaki Ken (Tornado Fist)!" Zeka was suddenly behind Dajan, striking upwards with an uppercut. Air swirled around her fist like a tornado, driving her opponent upwards.

Dajan fell heavily, then began pulling himself to his feet.

"And there's no blocking this! Kaze no yaiba!" Zeka crowed, as not one, but two blades of wind extended from her arms.

The Stone jounin's eyes widened as Zeka's arms converged.

Blood flew up in an arc, spattering Zeka slightly. Her manic grin faded as she saw what she had struck.

A heavy back, covered in a layer of stone. Two fairly deep furrows were carved in the rock, and blood seeped from them. The back belonged to a huge figure with tall geta sandals. A large pipe could be seen jutting from the side of the man's mouth. He turned halfway, revealing a weathered, craggy face, gimlet eyes, and a grey beard.

Dajan gaped at the huge man. "G-Gin-sensei!"

Gin turned an eye back on the jounin.

"Baka. You still don't know how to pick your battles, boy."

Zeka wrinkled her nose. "Who's this geezer?"

Gin blew a cloud of smoke. "Iuchi Gin, at your service."

"It's been a while," Kurohigure said smoothly. He turned to the others. "This is one of our former members."

Gin raised an eyebrow. "Indeed I am." He bowed in a manner that looked exceedingly awkward on his muscular eight-foot frame.

"Hold on," Kumonosu protested. "I've been with the organization longer than even you, Kurohigure-sama-"

Kurohigure snorted. Ignoring this, Kumonosu continued.

"-and I've never seen this man."

"I think you have," Kurohigure responded. "Lighten the skin, lose the pipe, make the beard white..."

In response, Gin transformed, lightening his skin and beard, as well as making other subtle changes. His earth-toned gi was replaced by a garishly colored oversized kimono.

"Ta-da..."

Kumonosu practically hissed. "You!"

"Me. Hige Mamoru, the so-called 'Crusher of Amegakure'. Pretty convincing disguise, wasn't it? I used it to learn everything I needed to know from your little organization."

"There's nothing small about my goals," Kurohigure said quietly.

"Perhaps, but I could still fool you for a while."

Kurohigure tipped his hat in response.

"I had better things to due than spoil your childish little games, Gin," the man frowned. "But I do not want you to interfere in my business now. Kill them."

"Time for us to leave, baka-kun," Gin grunted. He took a deep breath and exhaled.

Vast torrents of smoke emanated from his pipe, obscuring both of the Stone-nin from view. When it cleared, they were gone.

"They vanished," said Zeka.

"No," Aira corrected. "They went underground to escape. I could feel the vibration. They went that way."

"Do we pursue?" Itachi asked in a bored tone.

Kumonosu growled. "Do you even have to ask, Uchiha? Of course we-"

"Do not pursue," Kurohigure interjected. "Except you, Zeka. Do your best to follow them and see that they do not interfere tonight."

Zeka shrugged and vanished in a rush of wind and dust.

Kurohigure turned to the others.

"So, we make our move tonight, Kurohigure-sama?" Itachi asked.

"Yes. Tonight we will confront Kyuubi, Shukaku, and Hyousai. Things may get a little rough, but I am more than confident in your abilities."

"What do we do when we confront them?" asked Kumonosu.

"Well, that depends on them."

Kurohigure lifted the brim of his hat, staring into the sky.

---

Some distance away, Gin and Dajan surfaced.

"And what do you think you were doing?" Gin asked hotly.

"Avenging the murder of my students!"

"Like hell you were, idiot!" Gin took out his pipe and pointed at his student with it. "You were throwing your life away for nothing. Attacking five S-rank criminals is not justice, but suicide!"

"I have a duty to-"

"Your duty is to the village. Zanako needs you, baka-kun," Gin replaced the pipe in his mouth. "She's already lost one teammate. How do you think she'll feel with both of them gone?"

Dajan had no answer for that.

"She's strong, but she's more fragile than she seems. Deidara's loss was a heavy enough blow as it was."

"Gin-sensei..."

"You're emotional. I can understand that. But you can't lose yourself in vengeance; you have to move forward. Trust me. Do not forget about your students, rather, celebrate their lives and work to preserve the place that was their home. Rest assured, they will be avenged. Don't ask me how I know. Call it a feeling"

Dajan looked into his teacher's eyes, then finally sheathed his sword.

"I have to go, baka-kun. I have more business to take care of here."

Gin began to sink into the earth.

"Oh, and by the way," he said. "Tell Imura that his grand-daddy says hello."

Then he was gone.

Next Chapter: Into the Noose - A Mist that Lures Demons

Okay, here it is. The return of background music suggestions.

While Edo and the Sounds are talking - Glued State (Naruto OST 1)
Edo and Akira's fight - Ready (Folder5, from One Piece Special 2: Jango's Dance Carnival)
Edo vs. the 4 Sounds - Bad Situation (Naruto OST 1)
Edo gets back up - Turn Over (Naruto OST 1)
Orochimaru - Orochimaru's theme (Naruto OST 2)
Sasuke unmasked - Sasuke Destiny (Naruto OST 2)
Edo vs. Sasuke - Raikiri (Naruto OST 2)
Akatsuki: Dajan fights Zeka - Heavy Violence (Naruto OST 3)
Gin saves Dajan - The Rising Fighting Spirit (Naruto OST 1)

I'd like to say that I am very happy with my Orochimaru moment in this chapter. I thought that he came out rather convincing, and that scene is even scarier if you're listening to his theme while you read it. I'm also kinda fond of the Sasuke-Edo fight.

Heh, silly Akira. The song he plays on the cd player is his theme song, Ready by Folder5 (From the One Piece Special Jango's Dance Carnival). In terms of looks, Akira looks exactly like the character of the same name from the Dance Dance Revolution games. In terms of personality, his inspiration is Jango from One Piece.

All right, Sasuke 'finally' shows up. Happy? Ke ke ke ke...

And we now know that Gin is an ex-Akatsuki. He's the big guy from the cave scene.

Big thanks to Timeshifter, especially with Rika. Also, without 'shifter, I wouldn't have known that Deidara was a guy. Having a beta is the best way to get evil plotbunnies out of your system, and god knows I slapped mine with a lot of them.