Naruto Karyuden

Chapter 82: Interlude IV - Call to Arms

Hidden Leaf Village Conference Room

Tsunade slams both fists on the desk, causing the entire room to quake and the TVs in front of her to lose signal for a moment. Naruto, sat right beside her, flinches at the sudden outburst. Although her outbursts are common enough where they shouldn't really be unexpected.

"We can't let this go on any further!" She cries out. "They've been running circles around for too long. First sending their monsters to attack and now capturing two Tailed Beasts."

"I agree." Ay says. "We need to move our plans forward."

"By plans, you mean the joint Chūnin Exams?" Gaara asks. "Is it wise to all gather in the same place?"

Ōnoki shakes his head. "We do need to act. And if worse comes to worst, we'll need more capable Chūnin to fight."

Mei lowers her gaze. "So it's come to this once again? Another war."

"Except this time, the Hidden Rain will be present to help." Konan states. "I wasn't there to take a stand against Madara Uchiha but this time will be different."

"Do you think this attack had a specific purpose?" Kaidomaru asks, trying his best to act innocent.

"Besides weakening us?" Gaara answers. "We don't know, and that's a big problem."

Ōnoki nods. "Their goal is to unleash the Great Beasts. It would make sense to get rid of the main force capable of opposing them- the Tailed Beasts."

"We can't let'em get away with any more

They got two, we gotta protect the other four.

Yeah." Bee rhymes from his seat beside his brother.

Tsunade raises a brow at Bee's wording. "Killer Bee." Tsunade addresses the jinchūriki. "What did you mean by "other four"? There should be five remaining, right?"

Ay furrows his brow. "Two sealed inside you and Naruto, two captured by the enemy... Yeah, there should be five."

"Uh, actually," Naruto scratches his head. "We don't know where Saiken is, either."

"Saiken... The Six Tails?" Mei asks. "She's missing, too?"

This time it's Ay's turn to slam his desk. The signal is lost for a brief moment. "What do you mean, you don't know where the Six Tails is?! If she's been captured, too, we should know!"

"No, not captured." Naruto explains. "We just... don't know where she is. We haven't had contact in years."

"Her gate still stands so we know we ain't captured." Bee clarifies. "Isobu and Kokuō's are all broken and busted."

"And you can't contact her?" Gaara asks.

Naruto shakes his head. "Not unless she wants to be found."

Tsunade rubs her brow. "So that's another thing to worry about for later. We'll deal with it as it comes. For now, we need to make sure the others aren't captured."

"We'll call Matatabi back." Ay says.

"I can... try and speak to Shukaku." Gaara says. "But I doubt he'll want to."

Ōnoki grumbles. "I don't think Son Goku would appreciate it, either."

Shibuki lowers his gaze. "The Seven Tails- Chōmei, I mean, used to be the Hidden Waterfall's Tailed Beast but I don't think we have much authority with him."

"Chōmei's probably better at hiding than most so I think he'll be fine." Naruto says.

Tsunade leans back in her chair. "So we need to get the remaining Tailed Beasts protected and initiate the Chūnin Exams."