Return (Part-4)

-Land of Rivers-

In just a few hours, Okami was already deep into the Land of Rivers territory.

The land was a rocky terrain that had the occasional river flowing through it, which was appropriate considering it was the Land of Rivers. Okami was moving quite slow for his standard, but he doesn't know where he is going, not to mention he had to trail of the Akatsuki members.

"..."

Booommmmm

Booommmm

Booommmm

Huge explosions took place and covered his entire self in a black cloud.

She waited for the surprise attack or his torn body in the explosion.

Yet, nothing came... Once, the cloud gets cleared up. Okami was standing there, without a single scratch on his body.

"You have some very good Defense Okami", The purple hair Akatsuki member said.

"..."

"Konan, Where is Gaara?"

"I have already told you the last time we met, Do not go against Akatsuki, yet you didn't lis--

"I don't have time for this, Where is Gaara?"

"A year ago, you showed great mercy on me, when you didn't even know me, yet you protected me without a second thought or any other reason... you are a very kind and gentle person Okami. Stop waging the war against Akatsuki. We are only trying to achieve peace"

"Peace? Like this? This is not peace Konan, You are pushing the world to another war"

"You still don't understand"

"Konan, we have already talked about it a year ago, we are on a different page. Pity, we could have been great friends, but we are not meant to be... Let's not waste time on it... where is Gaara"

"You don't even know that guy, so, why are you trying so hard to protect him... or are you doing it just to attack Akatsuki like those other times"

"Final time, where is he?"

Konan sighed, as wings made of papers appeared on her back, as she flew away.

"..."

But Okami didn't care to move.

She raised her hand.

"Multiple Explosive Tag"

"..."

Multiple tags of papers covered the entire field. There was nowhere to dodge or run from this attack.

"Explode"

"..."

Okami didn't even move a single muscle on his body.

Booommm

Booommmm

Booommmm

Booommmm

Booommmm

...

Violent explosions took place, covering the entire area in the Black dust cloud.

She kept flying, watching the dust settled up.

!!!!

When the dust cloud settled, He was not there. He seemed to have disappeared in thin air.

She frowned. And was about to do something.

!!!

Next thing she knows, He was standing in front of her without any form of chakra around him. Flying along with her. With his exceptional mastery of winds, he alleviates the pressure of winds on him. Resulting in flying.

She got startled and tried to run. Okami disappeared once again.

As he teleports up above her. Flying with her.

!!!

She tried to use her Jutsu. But his eyes widened, as she felt a force that was so high, that she couldn't hold it.

She tried to struggle but with irresistible force, She rolled around in the air towards the earth.

Like a ragged doll, she flipped and flipped around and stopped after slamming hard on earth. Creating a huge crater on earth.

When the dust cloud disappeared, Konan was replaced with someone else.

"..."

Okami chuckled, as he realized she was only bidding the time. He carried on his search for Gaara.

-------

In just a few minutes, He reached what appeared to be a huge cave in the middle of a lake.

The cave had a Torii gate just in front of it, but the entrance was sealed with a giant boulder that had a paper tag seal on it.

Okami Knows the basics about the seals, as he took out a tag as he contacted Jiraiya.

"Jiraiya san, can you hear me?"

"What is it brat?", Voice of Jiraiya came from the other side of the seal.

"I have encountered a Five-Seal barrier"

"Where are you?"

"Doesn't matter... is it possible to break it?"

"You have to take out those tags at the same time. There have to be five in total. The rest should be somewhere around near the main seal; they won't be too far but they won't be too close either. You have to make the clones, split up, and tear them off simultaneously.'' Explained Jiraiya

"How do I find them?"

"Make a Guess I believe?"

"Old Man"

"It's not my fault. You won't even tell me where you are"

"I am at Land of rivers, Trying to protect Gaara"

"Kazekage?"

"Yes, Akatsuki's target is Shukaku of sand this time"

"Listen to me very carefully brat, Kakashi and his team are currently in Sand village and are heading towards Land of rivers, Tsunade has also deployed Gai and his team, Use Hyuuga's eyes, only they can help you in this situation, without those you can't search for rest of the seals in time"

"Lee... Tenten"

"Brat are you there?"

"Yes, Where are they?"

"They should be somewhere in Land of the river around this time, You are a sensor, cover the wider ground"

"Understood"

-------

Gai and his team were pretty tired after Gai sensei beat Kisame.

"That was a brilliant display of prowess, Gai sensei"

!!!!

They turned back in shock.

"Y-Y-You are---", Lee was almost tearing

Okami smiled, "Long time no see, Lee, Tenten, Neji, Gai sensei"

"Okami Kun..!!"

Lee tried to hug him with very thick tears.

-------

Neji activated his Byakugan to look for the remaining tags, and sure enough, it only took him a couple of minutes. ''What Okami says is correct. I found four of them, but as he says, we will have to split up as they are a considerable distance away from here.'' Said the Hyuga with focus.

''But we have to take them off at the same time, don't we? How are we going to coordinate ourselves to do that if we get so far apart?'' Questioned Tenten.

"I have many Contact Seals with me, just put a little bit of chakra in it and you will be able to use it", Okami said

''Well, that solves that problem. But, we still have to decide who will stay behind to remove this one. It has to be someone able to deal with the boulder.'' Said Gai sensei

''I will do it", said Okami

-------

''Neji, Tenten, Gai sensei, I'm almost in position.'' Said Lee through the seal.

''Me too.'' Also informed Tenten.

''I am in position too", said Gai sensei

"Okami what about you?", Neji asked

"I am ready"

"wait for my signal...", Neji said through the seal

''Now'' Ordered Neji

Then, immediately Okami tore the piece of paper in one swoop and he guessed that they did it right since it came off without a problem.

His eyes changed after that, As he went right through the boulder without needing it to be destroyed.

-------

Once inside, he could see several shadowy figures standing in each finger of a huge statue that had the levitating Kazekage in front of it.

Several Effies of Dragons were coming out of it, Surrounding Kazekage and going through him.

Okami disappeared and jumped and used his hands to cut those dragons. He landed on the water surface as he carried Gaara in his arms.

Almost entire Ichibi's chakra has been sucked out of his body, Leaving only a thread of chakra inside of him, at least that will let him live.

The dragons went inside the statue, and one of its eyes opened up.

Deidara jumped and made a C-4 Bird Clay bomb.

"..."

Okami didn't move from his place.

As the bird in high speed slammed on Okami

Booooommmmmm

A huge explosion took place, and once the Black cloud disappeared, he stood there, without moving at all, and without a single scratch.

Both Deidara and Sasori's mouth twitched...

This damn Dark wolf and his ridiculously high defense.

Now both parties were in a standoff, and the two Akatsuki members stood side by side across the Okami while the shadowy figures of the rest of the Akatsuki members watched the exchange.

''If it isn't royal highness Dark Wolf himself, long time no see. Last time I saw you, It was nearly 8 months ago. You were trying to foil our plan in Land of Lightning and failing miserably'' Said Deidara with a mocking tone.

"Well, enjoy this reunion since there won't be the next time once I'm done with you, Deidara''

''It looks like the whore didn't learn anything from last time. I think that another session with Jashin-Sama is in order. Don't you think, bitch?'' Said another one of the figures.

"Yea, Just like that time, When I beat your ass so hard that you were nearly screaming, if it wasn't your partner distracting me, You would have died regardless"

''Hahahaha! You shall be my greatest sacrifice to Jashin-sama"

''That's enough!''

The conversation got silent, and everyone, including the Akatsuki, looked at a particular hologram standing on one of the fingers of the great statue. The black figure had spiky hair and the only definitive feature one could make were his strange purple eyes with a ripple pattern.

''The extraction of the Ichibi has failed. Secure the Jinchuuriki until this situation has been dealt with.'' Said the leader. They had been at mere seconds of completing the extraction, they had got almost all of the Chakra of the Ichibi that it would make up for not having the full Biju, but that didn't mean that completely extracting it wasn't preferable.

''Sasori, Deidara, You two aren't strong enough to face him, Get Jinchiruki, and find a new location to continue the extraction.'' Ordered the man.

''Of course.'' Responded Sasori.

''As you wish, leader-Sama'' said Deidara.

''And you, Dark wolf. If you keep interfering with our plans is only a matter of time before you know true pain.'' Said the man ominously before he regarded his subordinates once more. ''We are done here for the moment. You are all dismissed''

The Akatsuki members could tell that their leader was angry so they didn't dare to comment on anything anymore. And with that, one by one of the holograms started vanishing, and once all of them were gone, the statue started sinking into the ground as it shook the cave's interior. until it was completely gone.

''Well, Sasori no Danna, you heard leader-Sama. Sorry, Okami chan, as much as I would like to keep catching up on old times, I fear that we have to eliminate you'' Said Deidara with a confident smirk.

"You, trying to eliminate me? Is it a joke?"

"Indeed, We are not strong enough to face you or even scratch you for that matter, But we are strong enough to take Ichibi's Jinchiruki from you and get out of here", said Sasori

''Then, how about against all of us?''

Everyone turned their head to look at the source of the voice, and they saw Kakashi arriving at the cave, along with Naruto, Sakura, and an old plump lady with graying hair in a bun that wore a long dark robe.

Okami smirked, "Then let's get this started shall we?", he waved his arm, and near him, two dark wolves appeared out of thin air on either side of Okami.

Awoooooooooooooo