Chapter 69 - A New Player has entered the Game

After the fight with his students, Ishizu went home and started preparing his raid against the Akatsuki.

"Summoning Jutsu."

The smoke cleared to reveal a female panda smiling at Ishizu. Ishizu was a few meters away, ready to defend himself with various utensils from the monster he summoned.

"You don't have to be on guard every time you summon me," spoke the panda before her nose recognized a particle smell and a grin formed on her face.

"Oh my, you smell like you've been in heat. Did you think about me?" asked Yang Yang in a not so nice voice.

Ishizu's response was to glare at the panda.

"Stop asking such trivial questions and listen to what I have to say, Yang Yang. I have a mission for you. Go to Sunagakure and find my clone. When you do look out for two cloaked individuals. Maybe they will already fight a young boy with red hair. If this happens make a small summon array and switch the clone with the real me."

"Why do you need a wood clone here in this village? Just go."

"When Gaara is defeated, Naruto will surely want to help him. As his sensei, there is the possibility I will have to come too, but the real me can't go with him. I have to sabotage the Akatsuki during the sealing process, so I get enough charka from Shukaku."

Yang Yang smiled as she clings to Ishizu who failed to see her move.

"That is why I want to be your wife. You are so serious when it comes to working. Come, give me a kiss."

"Yang Yang, I already have a wife and I won't cheat. I will fear for my life if she finds out I cheated on her and that with one of my summons. Now go. I doubt this will be like in canon."

The reason I made Yang Yang go to Suna was because of her small structure and her decent speed. She would be in Suna in no time and wouldn't be seen, unlike Long. I just hoped that she would be there before the mad bomber and puppeteer got there. I had no idea where the barrier was, and the best thing to do was to follow them in secret.

The next day Yang Yang arrived and to my luck, the Akatsuki were not there. I activated my Rinnegan to communicate with Yang Yang.

"Yang Yang, prepare a small sealing array outside of Suna where nobody will see it. The moment you see two people with cloaks walking to Suna give me the signal."

She understood and went to work. The following day, I got confirmation that the Akatsuki were entering Suna. This was also the moment Naruto came into my house.

"Ishizu-sensei, you have to help me. I think we have to go to Suna. I believe that something bad will happen to Gaara."

Now, this was something new. How did Naruto know Gaara needed help? This shouldn't be happening.

I calmed down Naruto and we immediately went to Tsunade to go and help the new Kazekage. Tsunade didn't believe such a claim as it had no truth, and sending out her Shinobi for nothing wasn't something she would do.

I reasoned with her.

"Hokage-sama. Both Naruto and Gaara are Jinchuriki. Maybe they have a connection between them and one feels that the other is in danger?"

Of course, Tsunade didn't believe this was possible. Although it was and going by the sweat drop Naruto had which was caused by Kurama screaming that his stupid brother was being attacked. In response, Naruto slammed his hand on the desk.

"I don't need proof if I feel that a friend is in need. Let me go!"

Tsunade sighed and made a team just to get this boy out of her office. But it had to be a team capable of protecting Naruto as he was a Jinchūriki. What a surprise it was to see Sakura and Kakashi. I had hoped for Ino to replace Sakura, but although Ino was a good medical shinobi, she paled in comparison to Sakura's strength and fine chakra control. Sakura was basically a weaker mini Tsunade, while Ino was a mini Anko without a crazy attitude.

Unfortunately, I was forced to go with them so I had to contact Yang Yang who switched me with the clone.

General POV

Ishizu and Yang Yang watched from afar how Deidara flew over Sunagakure and engaged in a battle with Gaara.

"Are you not going to help him?" asked Yang Yang as she put a dumpling inside her mouth. Ishizu shook his head. Gaara had to be defeated in order for him to get the chakra.

The annoying part was that Konoha was coming faster than in canon. Ishizu had to think about a plan to make this into a benefit.

Ishizu POV

"There is no need to do anything. If this plan works the Kazekage will be alive even after the extraction. I also prepared my grand entrance for the Akatsuki to show them there is someone out there who can match them."

Soon Deidara outwitted Gaara and both he and Sasori left. I followed at a safe distance, my Rinnegan gazing at them. Kankuro, the side character, tried his best to stop them but was curb-stomped by Sasori, who was just a better puppeteer.

When we arrived at the sealing place, I saw the barrier, and like a snake sneaked inside. I held my breath when Sasori's puppet turned around towards the sealing and starred at it.

"What is wrong, Sasori-dana, un?" asked Deidara.

Sasori looked around the room to find something, but I was hiding quite well.

"I thought something came inside, but it must be your mouths making the noise," answered Sasori before a projection of Pain appeared who summoned the Gedo Mazo.

When my gaze fell on the Gedo statue, I could my Rinnegan unconsciously activating and I felt a familiar feeling from the statue. A connection between the statue and me was established.

"I see you," I heard a whisper. Nobody had that voice.

'Is the statue speaking to me?' I thought curiously.

While Ishizu was trapped inside the barrier, Naruto and the rest met Temari in the desert. Because Naruto left earlier, they could advance back to Suna without the storm interrupting them.

On top of each finger of the Gedo Mazo emerged the other 7 figures of Akatsuki. I suppressed my chakra to the minimum as I did not want to be found out. Having 10 S-ranked shinobi in one place where most are against you is not a good place to be, even if most of them are astral projections.

Thankfully, once the process started, I could do what I want. I saw the perfect opportunity when the nine phantom dragons emerged.

As soon as the dragons crashed into Gaara, I jumped on the last finger, which was Orochimaru's with my mask on. Ready to introduce myself.