The Legend of the Kyubi

". . ." - Kurama frowned when he saw the Jubi's husk disappear from the site, though he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Gaara was still alive, more so when he felt the presence of Shukaku still inside his friend, but his expression changed again when he noticed how weak he was - "I guess it's a 50/50... don't you think?"     

". . ." - Sasori was only silent when he heard the redhead's question.     

"Tell me Sasori... did you ever think things would end up like this?" - Kurama asked curiously as he watched the man he had fought with - "Did it ever cross your mind that you would die in the same village where you were born?     

"No... I always thought I would die because of some Nukenin far from my home," Scorpion answered calmly. By becoming a puppet, he had lost the ability to feel pain, so there was no problem talking, though that did not mean he could move now that he was only a torso and a head - "Though I am surprised I am still alive..."     

"You are only alive because I have let you live," Kurama replied with disdain.     

"I'd like to ask you to at least let me see Suna one last time..." - said Sasori normally - "Let's say that knowing that I'm going to die, I got nostalgic about seeing my home village one last time"     

"That depends on the decision of others," Kurama replied as he created two clones, one to take Scorpion and the other to pick up Gaara who was unconscious but out of danger at the moment.     

"Did the seal manage to save him?" - asked the red-haired man from Suna.     

"In fact," Kurama replied, "Kushi-chan did a good job of creating this seal to prevent the death of the Jinchurikis, though it still needs to be improved..."     

". . ." - Scorpion was silent when he heard this as he looked around. Clon Kurama was carrying it as the three of them passed by the area where Deidara took his last breath.     

"Any last words to say to your partner?" - Kurama asked curiously.     

"No... we always fight over which of our two arts was the best," Sasori said calmly. His coming end was not affecting him, after all, he had already recognized his destiny when he was defeated, expending energy would only be counterproductive, not to mention that his death would not be a painful one after all - "Let us continue..."     

* * * * *     

"I feel the aroma of Kurama, concentrated in this area..." - Kiba said seriously as he looked around - "In fact, from here his scent spreads in different directions, giving me to understand that he decided to create Kage Bunshin to explore the area"     

"I don't see any sign of Kurama anywhere..." - Neji said as he frowned - "Maybe we should keep moving north so we can get a neutral view of the area"     

"Gaara..." - Temari murmured with concern - "Please... I only ask that you be safe..."     

"I think I have an idea that might help," said Lee as he earned everyone's attention.     

"Let's just say your ideas aren't the best, Lee," said Neji as he shook his head. He could still remember when Lee had the idea of mixing a dessert with chili pepper for a more 'explosive' taste.     

"Oh, come on! This is a good idea!" - Lee exclaimed with a smile - "I just need your help Neji-kun to be able to increase the distance of my jump so that I can look around for the presence of Kurama-kun"     

"That idea doesn't sound so bad," said Pakura as the others nodded.     

"Okay, let's do it" - nodded the Hyuga heir as he watched his friend defuse the gravity seals and take a big jump. A few seconds later, he did the same and let Lee use his shoulders as a springboard to get even higher.     

Neji slowly landed calmly as he watched Lee look in all directions from the air.     

"Now that I think about it... why weren't you the one who jumped the highest?" - Pakura asked as he looked at Neji - "With your eyes, it would be a better choice"     

". . ." - Neji tried to say something but no word came out of his mouth when he realized Pakura was right.     

"I see something!" - Lee exclaimed with emotion as he fell at high speed - "Northeast! I see 3 Kurama-kun there!"     

"Let's go!" - Temari exclaimed as the group ran in that direction.     

"Etto... guys?" - said Lee as his fall increased in speed - "Guys! I mistakenly activated my Gravity Seals! Somebody catch me!"     

BANG!     

* * * * *     

"I think we have company," Kurama muttered as Sasori watched as two familiar silhouettes approached along with two Konoha shinobi.     

" Sasori..." - Pakura said when she saw the Nukenin in such a bad state.     

"Pakura... I thought you were dead... what a surprise" - said Sasori calmly.     

"You!" - Temari exclaimed angrily as he looked at Sasori - "Why is he still alive?!"     

"I wonder the same thing... though I am grateful that my enemy was kind enough to allow me to observe Suna one last time," replied Sasori neutrally, "By the way, far from worrying about my condition, you should be worried about your younger brother"     

"Gaara!" - Temari exclaimed in terror as she remembered that important detail.     

"Kurama... could you give us details?" - Neji asked calmly.     

"As you see, I managed to save Gaara and kill two S-ranking Nukenin who were members of Akatsuki," replied the red-haired Konoha as he watched Temari check on the condition of her younger brother - "Gaara is weak but his life is not in danger"     

"I am still alive," replied Scorpion as Kurama refuted his words, "At least for now"     

"I guess our support wasn't necessary," sighed Kiba as he shook his head. "Although it's better to be safe than sorry, you never know what kind of enemies we might have"     

"It's good to see you've matured over the years" - the redheaded man nodded as he looked at his friend - "I guess Haku has been a good influence on you"     

"Let's leave that for another time, now we have to go to Suna so that we can meet with Hinata-sama and the others" - Neji said seriously - "Sakura-san came to Suna so that she could check both Kankuro's condition and be a nurse's instructor for our allied village".     

"Kakashi sent Sakura?" - Kurama asked in surprise, after all, he was the first to discover that she was pregnant - "Ok, let's go to Suna"     

* * * * *     

After arriving at Desert Village, Kurama dealt the final blow to Sasori and sent him to the afterlife.     

The group took Gaara to the hospital immediately for Sakura to take a look, only to see how Kankuro had awakened from his unconscious state.     

Kurama decided to stay in Suna for a few days so that he could prevent Akatsuki from returning for his weak friend while Lee who had finally met with the group, Neji, Tenten, and Kiba returned to Konoha.     

Hinata, Ino and Pakura, decided to remain in Suna so that they could protect Sakura while she served as an instructor, although the return of Shakuton's user was a surprise to all the inhabitants, as her name was a legend in the Village. Maki, the girl who had suffered the most from the loss of her pseudo-mother, could not believe her ears, so she ran to meet Pakura, only to start arguing about why she had not returned.     

Temari decided that it was time for all of Suna to know the truth about Pakura's 'death', causing a great deal of commotion in the Village. Many cursed the stupidity of the former Kazekage upon hearing that he had decided to sacrifice his strongest kunoichi for an alliance that might not come to pass.     

After a day, Gaara opened his eyes again, though he was still weak.     

Kurama tried to communicate with Shukaku but he seemed to have gone into a coma and did not know when he would be able to wake up. When he saw that everything was in perfect condition, Kurama gave his friend a new seal, a Hiraishin Seal to help him in case Akatsuki returned.     

Temari decided to stay in Suna to help his brother, though she said she would return to Konoha with Sakura and the others after they completed their mission.     

That left Kurama for us at this time. He had said goodbye to his acquaintances of Suna and had returned to Konoha thanks to the Hiraishin to communicate Kakashi about the current situation.     

"I see... thank you for the additional information, Kurama" - Kakashi nodded with a relaxed attitude as Hiruzen did his paperwork.     

"I curse my weakness!" - roared Hiruzen as he moved his hands so fast they seemed to have multiplied - "If it wasn't for my desire to get those two books, I wouldn't be in this situation!"     

"Do I have to ask?" - asked Kurama as he watched Hiruzen's work.     

" It is not necessary," Kakashi calmly denied. "As for the two members of Akatsuki, you may receive your reward whenever you wish... though I recommend that you hand Deidara's head to Iwa as a token of goodwill... perhaps you will applaud that girl"     

"Don't even think about it" - snorted Kurama with disdain - "I know Kurotsuchi well enough to know that she will only be much more annoying now that she knows I killed Deidara, after all, he was one of her targets"