Ascending (Sequel to Rock Bottom)

Chapter 7 - Don't Fight Your Kage, Bad Things Happen

In honor of Naruto's birthday (October 10), I'm posting another chappy today!! 🎁 🎊 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎈

Happy Birthday Naru ;D

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Things were once again quiet in Suna. Or as quiet as it could be after an Akatsuki attack.

Gaara had announced an emergency shinobi council meeting, and of course, Team 7 had to sneak in. Though Sakura was almost positive that Gaara was purposely ignoring the fact that they were in the meeting room. 

The four of them were hiding in the back corner, praying that nobody would notice them. 

"I say we storm their base!" A council member yelled, banging his fist on the table. But Gaara shook his head.

"That won't do any good. From what I heard, my rescuers and I barely made it out of the fight, and we had the Sannin, Otokage, and about 150 Otogakure shinobi fighting against two of their members.

"And from whom, pray tell, did you get this information from?" Another shinobi asked, making Gaara silently nod in the direction of Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi. The four of them emerged from the shadows of the meeting room.

As soon as they came into view, the entire room broke out into murmurs and some gasps. "Aren't those the top four shinobi on Konoha's wanted list?"

"That blonde is also wanted in Uzu,"

"That's the Copycat! Didn't he massacre almost all of Konoha's ANBU?"

"The pink one is scary, she almost defeated Tsunade in the Chunin Exams!"

"Kyaa! He's so hot!"

Gaara thankfully noticed Team 7's discomfort and held a hand up, effectively silencing the room. He then began, "This is Team 7, consisting of Namikaze-Uzumaki Naruto-" Gaara was cut off.

"Just Namikaze please dattebayo! I don't need to be reminded of my relation to those Uzumaki-bastards." Gaara sighed,

"My mistake," he said with the slightest hint of sarcasm, "Namikaze Naruto, Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha-"

"Don't group me in with that stuck up clan."

"Dear Kami, Sasuke... Sakura, you go by Haruno right?" Sakura smiled and nodded, making Gaara let go of a breath he didn't know he was holding. He'd be damned if he got that wrong.

"Anyway, these four are my newly appointed task force," Gaara was once again, interrupted.

"Are you sure four people can be called a task force?" Someone asked.

"If it's these specific four people, then yes," Gaara replied confidently. Naruto leaned to whisper to Sakura.

"How come we weren't informed about being his task force?" Sakura shrugged in response, equally confused.

"Now are there any more questions?" Gaara's eyes scanned the silent room, "Good, now stop interrupting me goddamnit." Naruto held back a laugh, only Gaara would be able to say something like that with a straight face.

"I didn't gather you here to gossip or ogle my g-...task force," Sasuke smirked and gave a sideways glance towards Sakura. "We're here to discuss our next move against the Akatsuki"

"But we have next to no information about them or how far their influence stretches!" Sasuke replied before Gaara had the chance to.

"Hn, no need." He whistled, and a moment later a crow flew through the window and perched on his arm. Sasuke held the close to his ear, as if the bird could speak to him. A minute later, The bird moved from Sasuke's arm to his shoulder.

"The Akatsuki have taken over Ame, and their base is in the northern part of the land of Rivers." Sasuke stated matter of factly. Earning blank stares from everyone.

"And how do we know this information is reliable?" Sasuke narrowed his eyes.

"Are you questioning my information gathering skills genin?" The council member's eyes widened and he vigorously shook his head no.

Naruto shifted uncomfortably after witnessing that scene, he felt a bit of blood drip from his nose. Dear Kami, this could not be happening! His train of thought came to a screeching halt when that stupid voice came back.

"Naruto..."

"Shut up dattebayo!" Naruto mentally yelled,

"Think, Naruto..."

"What?" The voice didn't reply. And Naruto didn't know whether that was a good thing or a bad thing, but he decided to forget about it for now. Turning his attention back to the brawl that was about to break out between Gaara and Sakura and some of the other shinobi.

Naruto tapped Sasuke on the shoulder. "Ne, Sasuke, what's happening 'ttebayo? I wasn't paying attention."

"Gaara proposed that we should go to Otogakure to get their help, and then try to take out the Akatsuki. Those other idiots are against it because they don't think that Sakura should go with us." Kakashi leaned over to his two students.

"200 ryo says that Sakura beats them unconscious before Gaara does."

"You're on dattebayo!" The three of them turned back to observe the standoff.

"Oh, so because I'm a girl, you don't think I'm strong enough to hold my own against an Akatsuki." Sakura stated. And without waiting for a reply, multiple tungsten kunai materialized in the air, pointing threateningly at the sexist nins. "Don't bother trying to defend yourself, even Tsunade didn't stand a chance against technique."

But before Sakura could show those shinobi a world of pain, Gaara grabbed her arm gently, making her turn to look at him. "It's not worth it, Sakura. Let me deal with them." Sakura stood there for a moment, but then wordlessly nodded and made the kunai disintegrate.

Gaara glared at the group of ninja who had offended Sakura. "That was very childish and selfish. You all will be on paperwork duty for 3 months. Next time, I hope you don't speak out about matters that do not concern you. Though after what I just witnessed, I don't think there will be a next time for you." And with one final glare, Gaara calmly said, "Dismissed,"

Everyone got up and left the room, still slightly shaken by their Kage's eerily calm demeanor. Once the room was empty save for Team 7 and the Sand Siblings, two groans were heard. One was from Gaara, who was rubbing his temples tiredly. And the other was from Kakashi, who handed 200 yen to a smirking Naruto.