Things Change [Naruto AU]

18

The next day was quite normal and everyone trained and got used to one another. TenTen had a great time sparing with Kankuro's puppets and getting to see Temari's wind style. The training that Neji and Hinata did continued to resume at their new location. Lee pushed his taijutsu against Sasuke's Sharingan. He failed but then claimed that Sasuke was now his rival and that he would never stop until he beat him.

Kiba tried a spar with Naruto but realized he needed a lot of work before he could actually beat him since the match lasted less than 5 minutes. Shino did a match with Sakura and he did fairly well but more training was required. They enjoyed the testing of their limits and were now all becoming powerful.

A week later Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke went to Konoha to meet with Sai and recruit the last ninja for the Akatsuki. They met with Team 10 as they were leaving a restaurant and snuck up on them. When they saw who it was none of them were happy. Choji actually looked sick for a moment.

"We don't want to fight." Sasuke said as he watched them.

"Then what do you want?" Ino said as she looked at her old rival and past love interest.

"We want you." Naruto said as he eyed the ninja again.

"Why?" Ino glared at the blonde.

"To stop the upcoming war." Naruto said, Shikamaru was now intrigued and wanted to listen to the class idiot. As if on cue Sai arrived he kneeled and handed Naruto a file full of important papers. Sai then stood behind the three of rouge ninja keeping a look out. Naruto handed the file to Shikamaru and watched his facial expressions.

First it was curious, shocked, and finally it settled on a face that was forced to keep a bored expression. "This is true?" He asked the blonde and he nodded.

"Shikamaru, is there really going to be a war?" Choji asked nervously.

"If this is correct, then yes." Shikamaru said as he looked at his friend.

"What?" Ino asked as she looked at the others.

"Danzo is assembling a team to fight the Akatsuki. But the Akatsuki has allies so it may lead to a full scale war. It seems like Danzo doesn't care if people die, only that the Akatsuki is taken down." Shikamaru said as he handed the file back to Naruto. Naruto nodded deeply in understanding.

"I'll join." Shikamaru said lazily. Ino widened her eyes confused and not sure what to do.

"I-i... I trust Shikamaru so I guess I'll join too." Choji said. "I don't want people to die in a war, I want to stop that from happening."

"Ino... do you want to join?" Sakura asked her old rival quietly. Ino sighed as she looked to the ground.

"It's useless to have them without me. Or me without them. I'll go with you, only to stop the war though." She said with a somewhat sad smile.

"Good, do–"

"Naruto. Other ANBU have noticed my absence, we must leave before they search for me and spot us." Naruto started but was cut off by Sai. They all nodded.

At the base Sai changed into his Akatsuki cloak as did the others and the slashed their headbands with straight lines. The Akatsuki was completed.

In the time that followed they got used to each other's fighting style and jutsu. They met with the beasts of the forest and made the same pact as the others before them. Jobs were taken and they were paid well. Each day they prepared them selves for the inevitable fight between them and the new team assembled by Danzo.

«««« End of Book 1 »»»»