i'd still choose you. naruto uzumaki x reader

✤ Facing The Akatsuki

~Chapter 17~

"We're off!"

Iruka and Tsunade stood at the village gates, saying their goodbyes and good lucks. Just when team seven took their first few steps, Jiraiya hopped down from a tree and landed in front of them. "Hey, you two already heading out on a mission?" He asked, looking at Naruto and (Y/N). "Yup!"

"Oh, before that, bad news, Tsuande. The Kazekage—." Jiraiya began. "I know." Tsunade cut him short. "I'm about to send Kakashi's team there now."

Jiraiya's brows furrowed while he got closer to Tsunade. "Is that a good idea..? Knowing Naruto's relationship with the Akatsuki..." Jiraiya stood back to his normal height, an arm outstretched. "Naruto, come here.. you too, (Y/N)."

The two jogged over to him quickly. "Don't push it if it comes to a fight with the Akatsuki, you hear me?" He told Naruto who of course wasn't having it. "They're the ones who've got business with me, so I'm gonna meet them on my own terms!" Naruto yelled, his own brows furrowing.

"You are stronger than before, that's true." Jiraiya continued. "But if you lose control, you'll just dig your own grave. Your quick temper is still your achilles heel. I think you already know this already, but don't use that jutsu."

"I know.." Naruto muttered out. Jiraiya turned to (Y/N). "Try your best to keep him under wraps. Don't overwork yourself either." (Y/N) nodded. "Got it. We need to go, and fast. We'll be back.. sometime. See ya!" (Y/N) said and jumped into the trees, Naruto following. "Wait up!" Sakura yelled and followed after them.

"Kakashi." Jiraiya said. "Hm?" Kakashi looked over his shoulder at the white haired sage. "What is it?"

"Watch over those two." Jiraiya said with a stern look. Kakashi nodded. "Don't worry."

==

Kakashi's team had been on the move for about thirty minutes now. Nobody had said a word. (Y/N) was in the front with Naruto trailing close behind. Sakura was next to Naruto with Kakashi in the back. Sakura's eyes caught the glint of Temari's fan in sunlight. "Temari!"

The sand ninja stopped at the voice, turning to look at the team that had jumped down to her. "Oh, what's up?"

"No time to casually talk." (Y/N) said with a stern tone. "It's Gaara. He's been kidnapped by a member of the Akatsuki."

"What?! Gaara?!" Temari yelled, remembering how her cup cracked just moments before at a cafe. She knew that was a bad sign. "It's going to take three days to get to the sand." Kakashi said. "We'd better hurry."

"Right!" Temari yelled, jumping into the trees quickly. The group were back in the trees, only moving faster than before. Naruto pushed himself harder, sending him ahead of the others. "Naruto, no matter how much of a rush we're in, we can't break formation." Kakashi said. "Didn't Jiraiya just talk to you about temper? Calm down."

"I hate this!" Naruto barked out, surprising everybody. "I know why those guys want Gaara and me! Sakura.. you know now too, don't you.?" Sakura didn't respond. "I don't like it! The Nine Tailed Fox spirit sealed inside me!"

Kakashi heard (Y/N)'s breath get caught in her throat, causing him to look over at her. It looked like she was remembering something. By the look on her face, it was obviously an unpleasant memory. (Y/N) shook her head to refocus. Kakashi gave a confused look, and hesitantly looked away himself.

"Both Gaara and me.." Naruto continued. "We're carrying monsters inside our bodies and that's what they want! Our monsters! It's awful! They only see us as monsters! I don't like the way they look at us!" Naruto ranted, remembering the way the village looked at him as a kid. "Gaara and I... we both had the same lonely life as a kid.. but it was so much worse for him! He suffered all alone! I had somebody, but he was just.. alone!"