Ascending (Sequel to Rock Bottom)

Chapter 23 - How Does Sasuke Even Know This Stuff?

 Before anyone could get too close, Gaara held a hand up. "We're not going by the front."

Everyone except Naruto felt relief wash over them. "Why not?" The blonde asked with a confused expression.

"Naruto," Kakashi began, placing a hand on his student's shoulder, "Look at what the guards are wearing."

Naruto studied the guard's uniforms. At first glance, they seemed like the ordinary Chuunin uniform. However, upon further inspection, Naruto noticed that a red cloud replaced the usual red Uzumaki swirl on the shoulders of the guards. His brows furrowed.

"Aren't those the same clouds that were on those Akatsuki cloaks?"

"Ding ding ding, we have a winner," Kakashi replied sarcastically. And now with Naruto on board, the five of them crept around Konoha's walls.

Not long after, they saw a red and white fan symbol on the outside of the wall. Sasuke immediately tensed up, and then felt something warm encircle his hand.

When he realized that it was Naruto who had grasped his hand, he relaxed slightly and sent a small smile to the blonde. Heat rose to Naruto's face as he looked at the ground. However, he did not let go of Sasuke's hand.

Then, Gaara stopped. "We're going this way," He said as he pointed to the back of the Uchiha compound.

"Don't we have any other options Gaara dattebayo?" Naruto asked,

"It's Kazekage-sama here, and yes, but this is the best option."

"But from what we've seen outside, the Akatsuki have basically taken over the village. And between them and our already rocky relationship with the Konoha citizens, waltzing into the Uchiha compound would be like saying 'Here I am! Come give me a slow and painful death!'" Kakashi pointed out.

"The Uchiha were never openly invited to participate in Konohagakure politics. If the Akatsuki have actually taken over the Leaf's government, the Uchiha are the least likely to be under their influence." Gaara explained, "They were even planning a coup at one point,"

"Were planning?" Sakura asked, not bothering to question Gaara's sources; he was a kage and knew Jiraiya, after all.

Gaara hummed in confirmation, "It was called off for unknown reasons a little over a year ago, around the same time you all were on hiatus," Nobody said anything in response. There was nothing to say anyway.

Then, a memory flashed in Naruto's head, "That's all well and good, but there's something you forgot to take into account Kazekage-sama dattebayo." The blonde began, "At the very end of our hiatus, Sasuke, Sakura, and I bumped into each other. Uzushiogakure shinobi were chasing me; Sakura was doing...something. I forgot." Sakura rolled her eyes but remained silent as her teammate continued.

"But that's beside the point. What I meant to say is that Sasuke isn't on the best terms with the Uchiha considering they tried to Amaterasu him into a crispy fried duck." Naruto glanced at Sasuke's twitching eye and smiled cheekily, "Sorry, I couldn't resist 'ttebayo."

"Naruto, stop flirting! If you're feeling hot and bothered right now imagine how you'll be feeling after getting hit by the Katon fireballs flying your way." And that was Kurama's quote of the day.

Too bad all of Team 7 plus Gaara heard it as well. Both Naruto's and Sasuke's faces turned bright red, however, there was no time to mill over the Kyuubi's statement because sure enough, there were several massive fireballs headed their way.

"Split up!" Kakashi said as the five of them leaped away from the incoming fireballs. Kurama, however, stayed unmoving in his spot, and before anyone could jump back to retrieve him, the Katon Justus hit him head-on.

Everyone was frozen as the dust cleared. Kurama was still in the same spot and now gazed lazily at the three Uchiha who had revealed themselves. "Was that supposed to hurt?"

The three Uchiha's exchanged glances. "Hn?" One of them said,

"Hn." The second one replied.

"Tch," The third added, making the first one shake his head.

"Hn." He said in response, emphasizing his statement with a grunt at the end.

The conversation went on, and Naruto stared at the scene blankly. He turned to Sasuke, "What are they saying?"

Sasuke stared at the exchange for a moment,"Basically nothing, the first one said something about castrating a fish and the other phrases are incomprehensible babble. Their pronunciation is horrendous."

Sakura held back a laugh as Sasuke continued, "I'm extremely disappointed in their teacher. The language of Hn-speak is an art, but it's like their doing this to try to look cool."

Even Kakashi couldn't hold back a chortle at that one.

"Who are you?" One of the Uchiha finally asked, pointing at Kurama since all of Team 7 was hidden in the surrounding forest.

Kurama, who was lazing on the ground this whole time, looked at the three Uchiha innocently, "Who, me?" The Kyuubi's face then morphed into a smug grin, "Oh, just your friendly neighborhood Kyuubi no Yoko! You know, the last time I was here I made that crater in the Hokage monument."

"Goddamn it Kurama, now they're gonna hate us for sure," Sakura whispered under her breath. However, Naruto heard her and looked at her incredulously.

"Never mind that! That damn fox is stealing my thunder! I blew up the Hokage monument, not him!" Sakura shook her head exasperatedly as they continued to watch Kurama.

"And then the time before that I basically laid waste to the entire village before Hizuren-san sealed me in a boy which was so uncool of him by the way...No offense Naruto you're a great jinchuuriki. But let's just say that the Sandaime's face on the Hokage monument now has some extra large acne scars. Ooh! That rhymes!"

"Enough!" One of the Uchiha finally said, cutting off Kurama's pointless babbling, "You five in the trees, you're coming with us."

"No harm will come to you," Another added, "What your ally has done to the Hokage monument shows your discontent for Konoha's government. And any enemy of the council is a friend of ours."

"I don't know about you, but I'm not buying what they are selling," Naruto whispered.

"Yeah, not even Sasuke talks that much," Kakashi added.

"Actually, I do. Didn't you hear me before?" Sasuke replied smoothly.

Sakura turned to Gaara, ignoring her team, "Well Kazekage-sama, are we going or not?"

Gaara was silent for a moment, "Yeah sure. Why not?" Sasuke looked exasperatedly at Gaara.

"I have 18 reasons so far and counting, want me to voice them for you?" The ex-Uchiha asked.

"Oh my Kami what a long sentence! My little ducky is all grown up! I'm so proud of you!"

"Shut up, Bakashi,"

"And he's back."

I actually laughed so hard while writing this XDD

Sorry it was kind of a filler but it set up a few things...especially something involving a certain Yellow Flash wink wink nudge nudge (I know, referencing my own works. I'm so lame...)