It was mid-evening; fairly dark out for only five thirty pm. The temperature was the usual cold but relaxing draft that came at night. The air was ripe with a small cloud of smoke, and a delicious smell in the night air. The smell came from a temporary camp on the border of the Land of the Waterfall and Land of Grass. The camp consisted of about ten to eleven tents and one big fireplace in the middle with benches around the fire for sitting. There were numerous people around the fire; some appeared to be working to cook dinner.

Three were bickering amongst themselves, one was scolding the bickering ones, and two others were huddled around the fire stirring a pot, which seemed to carry a type of soup or stew. And last but not least, three children were playing some sort of game of tag. One of the people by the pot of soup was known as the group's leader. Illua Oshue, as she was known. She stood with folded arms, watching a younger female mixing in herbs and spices. The younger girl, known as Meiya, would turn around occasionally to look at her older sister, and wait for her to speak. But Illua never did. Illua appeared to be in deep thought, staring down into the roaring flames under the metal pot. Though in thought, she was forever alert, for she had noticed her loyal friend, Gensou, the slinky cat-like creature approach her from behind and jump to her shoulder to join her.

A couple of minutes had past, and Illua had forced herself back into reality. Unfolding her arms, she put a hand to the back of Gensou's neck and gently scratched, making him stretch out and rub his body to the side of her head. He had seemed to stay purring softly.

"It is about that time." Illua whispered so suddenly, making her little sister jump.

"For what?" She asked as she turned around and looked up at Illua.

"I am supposed to meet a friend." Illua said, simply with a straight face.

"The friend that was in Akatsuki?" Meiya asked, watching her sister turn around and prepare to leave.

"Yes, her. We will all get acquainted after I return." Illua said calmly as Gensou hopped from her shoulder to the ground.

"...Does she still work for them? They think you're dead, but if they find out that you are living, you know what they will do to you." The younger sister said, showing a concerned face.

Illua stood silent for a moment, then began to walk. Meiya took one last look at her sister then brought her attention back to the almost ready soup. In sort time Illua had left the camp. Gensou was sprinting behind her, seeming to struggle to keep up. It was soon that Illua had approached a dead and withered willow tree on the bank of a swamp - the place where Illua was supposed to meet her friend, Natsumi Hitama. Leaning against the tree, Illua watched her faithful friend approach her. Gensou looked up at her with a twinkle in its eye. Gensou was a slinky creature; who seemed to conceal its face with a sturdy ANBU Black Op-like mask with three holes.

"She is supposed to come? I am curious of a new guest!" He said ecstatically.

"Just don't be a bother, Gensou. And most importantly, don't annoy her. I don't want to hear anything about you." Illua whispered, looking down at the creature in disappointment.

"Talking to yourself seems to be a bad habit." A small chuckle came from behind the tree before she stepped forward.

Hearing a voice behind her, Illua turned around rather slowly. The familiar voice had said that talking to yourself seemed to be a bad habit. A chuckle then followed. Illua saw Natsumi walking from behind the tree. A smile emerged from Illua's frowning lips.

Her arms were crossed over her chest as she searched her friend with her scarlet eyes, almost checking to see if she recognized the being standing before her.

"You're late, you know." She stated a smirk at her lips.

Illua blinked at the thought of being late, she usually was never late. "Oh? Am I?" Illua asked, tilting her head to the side slightly. "I never was the late type." Illua added, shaking it off.

Gensou cautiously approached this person known as 'Natsumi'. Sniffing her shoe slightly, he looked back up at her, but soon retreated behind Illua.

"Well, aren't you a brave one." Illua said, looking at her feet to see Gensou cowering between her ankles. "Anyway, shall we go?" Illua asked with a smirk.

Natsumi nodded. "Sure, I'm slightly sick of this tree - been staring at it far too long." With a sigh she added, "and you weren't late, I was early." She laughed, stepping closer to Illua and slowly following her.

Illua looked over at Natsumi. She hadn't seemed to have changed from when they last met.

"Ah, so you were early... I had thought so. I was held up at camp. Or else I would have been here earlier." Illua shrugged, and began to lead the way back to the camp. She walked for maybe two minutes, and began to feel... weird. "So, anything new?" Illua had said, seeming desperate to start up a conversation, to try and make it seem less awkward.

She was always bad at talking with other people; she always seemed to have the words die in her throat. And Gensou was usually the one to talk to newcomers, but he was acting unusually... shy. Gensou jumped to Illua's shoulder and turned around and began to intently watch the newcomer.

Natsumi shrugged, diverting her gaze to the ground. She let out a sigh; she figured there was no use lying to her friend. "Things haven't been the best. After I left the Akatsuki, I searched for my brother b-but..." She took in a shaky breath in an attempt to hold back her anger that she inflicted on herself far too often. "He still hates me. He won't accept what I've done." She lifted her head, nervously pushing her red bang from her eye. "B-But... it's not like I didn't expect it." She said her voice dull with raw sorrow.

Illua could tell that something was eating Natsumi, Just by the feel of it. Illua became quiet as Natsumi explained that things haven't been the best. She explained that she searched for her brother; personally Illua had never met her brother. Illua raised an eyebrow as she looked over her shoulder at Natsumi.

"Hates you...?" Illua repeated, "May I ask how come?" Illua asked in the usual monotone voice. She was genuinely concerned with her friend. They were drawing near to the camp, but Illua slowed her pace otherwise.

Natsumi laughed, but wasn't exactly a real one. "W-well, leaving him alone in the Akatsuki wasn't the best thing to do, and..." She let out a sigh.

Illua could tell right off the bat Natsumi's laugh was faked, though said nothing. As Natsumi explained that she left her brother in Akatsuki, it hit her like a bullet to the head. Her brother was in Akatsuki! How could she have forgotten? And the thought of Akatsuki reminded her of another one of her friends, one who genuinely loved Illua in comparison to thousand burning suns... yet she could not manage to say his name.

Natsumi suddenly reached into the bag that was slung over her shoulder and pulled out a chain. On the end of it, was a pendent; an emerald gem to be accurate. Natsumi held it out into Illua's view.

"Remember this? Hikaru gave it to me shortly after we reunited." Looking closer, Illua could now see that the chain was broken and the gem was cracked. "I know he hates me because it's broken. It won't stay on my neck anymore. It's complicated, s-sorry, I'm unsure of any better way to explain it."

Illua shook it off suddenly as Natsumi pulled out a chain and pendant. Upon closer inspection, the chain was broken and the beautiful gem cracked. Natsumi explained that's why her brother hated her. Illua herself couldn't understand why that would make her brother angry... The pendant must have been very important.

"It is all right..." Illua could only say as she looked at the ground.

Gensou's small ears perked up, "Angry over a broken necklace? Did it mean something to your family?" Gensou seemed to be coming out of his shell.

Natsumi's scarlet eyes widened slightly as she looked at the small creature sitting comfortably on Illua's shoulder.

"S-so, you never talk alone... it's this ... thing." Natsumi let out a laugh as she returned the pendent to her bag.

Illua had smiled slightly as Natsumi noticed it wasn't that Illua was talking to herself, but a strange creature. But Gensou was enraged as Natsumi's eyes widened as she looked at him and called him a 'thing'.

"Hey! I am no thing." Gensou exclaimed, hunching his long body.

"He's an abomination." Illua answered Gensou, in a playful yet insulting sense.

"Yes, what I- er, Illua!" Gensou said, thinking she'd say something else.

Illua's shoulders moved with silent laughter. He was an abomination after all; the very look of the small, charcoal-coloured, strange creature would make people's heads turn and stare. His body itself was small, about three feet long, with unusually small legs and a long tail, about two feet in length. Sort of like the body of a ferret.

Natsumi looked over at the creature; she shook her head slightly, her short raven hair moving with her as she opened her mouth to answer its question. "It was my mother's before she was killed. Hikaru and I had been separated when we were young. When my memory returned, I brought him back, but, I then joined the Akatsuki shortly after. Later Nagato allowed me to let my brother join, being the only two left in our extremely powerful clan is useful." She sighed, shuddering at her following thought. "I had to leave him, the Akatsuki was going to kill me otherwise, but, Nagato of course never told him that bit... and so, the enchantment between Hikaru and I broke when his hate grew, and now my pendent, and his matching one, are broken. It will soon shatter if we don't fix things between us." She explained bitterly to the creature.

As Natsumi began to explain about the necklace to Gensou, Illua almost felt like scolding Gensou, it was none of his business, after all. Gensou, himself quietly listened to Natsumi explain. He shifted his weight and lowered his body, appearing to relax. Gensou seemed to quiet for a moment after Natsumi spoke, processing the words in his head.

"...So, the pendant was... given to you by your mother. And... because your brother is angry at you they are broken... And... they won't be unbroken until you and your brother make up?" Gensou seemed to talk to himself. He has a very short memory. "Well, Then, why don't you make up?" Gensou asked, tilting his small head to the side. Illua kept quiet, like she usually was, not shifting her gaze from the road in front of them.

Natsumi lowered her head. "I wish it was that simple." She sighed deeply.

Gensou quieted after hearing Natsumi's response. It wasn't too shortly after that the three had reached the camp, most people were gathered around the campfire with empty bowls and clean spoons, waiting for soup to be dispersed between everyone when Illua, Gensou and Natsumi returned. As Illua stepped into the camp light, everyone lit up.

"Oh, Illua, you're back. Everyone has been waiting." Meiya said with a smile as she stood near the pot, with a giant spoon.

"I didn't keep you all waiting, did I?" Illua asked, pushing Gensou off her shoulder.

As Gensou landed on the ground, it seemed like instantly a little girl, about maybe seven or eight, ran up to him and wrapped her arms around him. Lifting him up, Gensou seemed to moan. He didn't seem to enjoy this.

"Everyone, this is Natsumi Hitama. She will be joining us, And you will all treat her with the respect you have given me these past years." Illua said, again in a monotone voice, as she stepped aside.

Natsumi gave a nervous wave as she took a seat by the fire, loving the feeling of the heat against her skin.

Illua could tell that Natsumi was nervous, and Illua didn't blame her. Illua decided to sit beside Natsumi, who was sitting next to a male, seeming to be around Illua's age. "That is Kaizen." Illua said pointing to the male. Kaizen nodded and waved slightly.

"Yo." He said with a little wink.

Just after he winked, he was nudged on the shoulder.

"Hey, I am right beside you, remember?" followed a voice. It was female. As she peered over Kaizen, she saw the newcomer. "Oh, I am sorry. My name is Mirai. It's nice to have another person join us." She said, curling her index finger in her blonde hair.

Kaizen looked over to Mirai and frowned for a moment, then began ripping off pieces of bread and eating them. Illua's sister stepped forward giving a wooden bowl and a spoon to Natsumi.

"I am Meiya, Illua's younger sister. It's nice to meet you." The brunette said with a warm smile.

"We will get on with introductions as we eat; they have been waiting for us to return. And the most impatient are the children..." Illua said as she took her spoon and bowl.

Natsumi shot a warm smile at Meiya as she took the bowl from her hands. "Thank you. I've heard about you from Illua before, she loves you quite a lot." Natsumi grinned as she put the spoon to her smiled towards Meiya as she handed Natsumi the full bowl and the wooden spoon.

It was always something of a... Oshue, tradition to give the guest the first plate or bowl of food. She was glad it hadn't died out among the newer generations. Though the Oshue was a fighting clan, they still were humble and traditional family, though they enjoyed parties from here and there. What made the clan itself was, though hard to earn, their undying loyalty and determination. They would never turn their back on their foes during battle. It was only about 10 minutes that everyone had filled their bowls with the soup that smelled too good to be true. All of the members of the group loved Illua's cooking, and often would say she was the very best in the lands, making everything, even some of the most unfavourable foods, mouth-watering. Around the fire sat 13 figures out of 14 altogether. One stood at the base of a tree, pretty far away from the others. They were all enjoying the soup and fresh bread, though.

"Now," Illua began to say after she scooped up some soup from her bowl. "We will get on introducing each other." Illua said, looking across to another bench beside hers. "The three children." Illua said finally, after eating the soup from her spoon. There sat three children, two girls on the outside and a boy in the middle. "Yuki, The youngest is on the right. In the middle is Kaumi, and Mika is on the left." Illua said before quickly going onto the nest bench. As she did so, the children waved and said hello. They seemed hyper. And Illua seemed impatient. "The twins, Shineien and Shinaki." She said, pointing her spoon to blonde twins. Beside them are their... girlfriends, Yashashii, and my own sister, Meiya, as already introduced."

The leader said, pausing as they waved and said their hellos. At the last bench sat a dark-haired girl and a orange-haired boy. "And the last bench. The girl is Ayuri, and beside her is Kasumi." Kasumi winked at Natsumi and smiled. Illua and leaned in close to Natsumi, seeming to whisper. "Don't take any bull from Kasumi. He will try and flirt with you. But he never learns." Illua cleared her throat quickly. "Anyway, last but not least, Yahasu. She is hiding from us..." Illua said, as she glanced over to the tree line, where a dark figure could be seen leaning up against a tree. "She is a bit... different from the others. I would just leave her be." Illua finished, going back to her soup.

Natsumi nodded as she finished up her bowl and let it rest on her knees, not knowing what else to do with it. "Hello all." she laughed, shaking her head slightly. She looked over at Illua and her smile faded. "Someone is here... and I know who it is."

Quickly she jumped to her feet and ran off, her eyes fading to their white form as she took a kunai into her hand.

Illua seemed to jump up instantly as Natsumi did, the empty bowl falling to the ground, and her spoon tumbling after it. The others looked in confusion. Tailing after Natsumi, Illua noticed that her eyes had faded to white. It was uneasy, but she worked with Natsumi long enough to know. Looking back to ahead of her, Illua quieted.

"Who is it?" Illua asked in a whisper that was barely audible. She, herself had activated her Kekkei Genkai, as her pupils increased in size, she could see the terrain perfectly, as good as someone in the daylight.

Natsumi's eyes darted around as she came to a stop in an opening. "Minako Uma! I know you're there! Come out now!" Her fists clenched as she looked in the direction where she knew Minako would appear.

Illua was silent as she stopped alongside Natsumi. She could see the pink-haired girl step out from behind the tree with her night vision. She seemed to be in great distress. Natsumi said she was named Minako Uma. Illua herself was curious about this girl. Natsumi seemed to know her. As Natsumi approached her, Illua stood in her place, noticing the signal to stop, though she could hear running from behind her.

Slowly a fairly short girl with bright pink hair appeared from behind a tree. Her eyes were neon blue - the gaze was piercing. However tears formed in her eyes. Natsumi's shoulders relaxed as she looked to Illua and the others, holding a hand up to halt them in there spot. Natsumi slowly walked over to Minako, and the girl collapsed in Natsumi's arms.

"Nat-Natsumi..." She sobbed, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

"Minako... what is it?" Natsumi asked with concern.

"H-Hibiki... they took him! W-We found your b-brother... a-and were l-looking for you... b-but they took them both!" Minako's head fell on Natsumi's shoulder as she slowly processed what she was being told.

"H-Hibiki... and Hikaru... taken?" She repeated slowly, her heart racing.

Minako nodded, her tears falling gracefully down her cheeks.

Extending her hand to the left, she stopped Kaizen in his tracks after Minako finished speaking. As Illua learned that Natsumi's brother, and someone named Hibiki, were taken, she knew this was not good, for them or Illua's 'family'. There was an enemy out there somewhere, and Illua was determined not to put her people in danger. Illua turned to face Kaizen, who was staring at the pink-headed girl, just in time to see Meiya.

"Meiya, go back to the camp and advise everyone to get ready." Illua stated quickly. Glancing quickly over to Kaizen, Illua had a fierce look in her eye. "Kaizen, you will stay here. I might need you." Illua, said, glancing down at the special decorated katana at his side. Illua turned back to Natsumi.

"What can we do to help, Natsumi? We cannot leave your brother, or the other, to be at the mercy of known forces." Illua's leadership skills were settling in. "We will assist you in rescuing them both." Illua said, glancing to the tree line.

Minako's head lifted to look at Illua, her face twisting in confusion. "You'd help someone you do not know?" She questioned, chocking on a sob.

Natsumi too, looked at Illua, though her expression was harsher. "You don't know what you're getting into, Illua. This won't be easy. If they can capture both my brother and Hibiki, than that means they will not make getting them back easy. I do not want to risk the lives of you or your group - it just wouldn't be right of me as a shinobi to allow it."

Natsumi slowly helped Minako to her feet, looking over her. "Where did you last see them?"

"Only a day's walk from here..."

"How did you find me?" Natsumi asked.

"Blood." Minako lifted Natsumi's arm and pulled her sleeve back to reveal a deep incision that had been wrapped up, however the scarlet liquid was still seeping through.

"You were in a battle?" Minako asked, sounding more like herself.

Natsumi pulled her arm back, pushing her sleeve back down. "Y-Yeah... they ran off before I could finish them." Natsumi sighed. She had forgotten that Minako could smell blood no matter how far the distance, and be able to figure out who's it was.

Minako asked that Illua would really help someone she doesn't know. Illua answered simply. "Well, I do know Natsumi. And my opinion is that I owe her." Illua said, looking at Minako. As Natsumi looked over with a harsh look, she spoke and said that she didn't know what she was getting into. Illua and Kaizen both smirked. "Natsumi, you don't need to worry about us. We are Oshue. We are strong." Kaizen said, continuing to smirk. "That thought itself is a bit insulting towards us. Do you not feel that we are any stronger then you are?" Illua said, tilting her head to the side. Illua shook her head, "Anyway, I won't be sending all of my people into battle. I will send ones that are capable to handle more than you think. There is a reason why we are feared across the seas." Illua added, smiling slightly. As the two began talking to each other, both Illua and Kaizen quietly listened in, Though Illua was taking in all information she could.

Natsumi sighed. She walked up to Illua and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You know you do not own me. But, I'd still very much like your help." She smiled weakly at her friend.

Illua smiled as Natsumi had said she would like her help. That pleased Illua. Well, she was going to help Natsumi if she liked it or not, there wasn't much of a choice. Kaizen smiled, He enjoyed the thought of more adventures. Lately he was stuck to washing dishes, and it seemed like a breath of fresh air. "Alright, so that does it. We will rescue your brother and Hibiki." Illua said, raising an eyebrow.

Natsumi's eyes drifted toward the male, a smile forming on her lips again.

"Thank you." Minako whispered, taking the words from Natsumi's mouth.

Natsumi let her arm fall to her side. "Illua, gather them up then. We will leave as soon as you're all ready."

Illua nodded, "Alright. Where should we meet? Or are you tagging along? It would maybe take 10 minutes or less to get the group ready, since Meiya probably already had taken care of the camp." Illua said, looking between Natsumi and Minako. Kaizen had stayed quiet as they talked.

"We will follow." Natsumi answered.

Illua nodded and sprinted back towards the camp. Kaizen followed behind Illua quietly. Kaizen had wondered about Natsumi and her friend, they had both seemed interesting. And after the stories told by Illua herself about Natsumi and her power, Kaizen was interested. It was shortly after they reached the campsite. Barely anything showed signs of life, apart from the burnt firewood and scattered cinders of the fire. Which seemed strange, in a circle, stood all of the other members. Illua stopped shortly after approaching them. "Okay, Kaizen and Yahasu will come with us. Meiya, You will look after the rest of the group as it's leader until I return. I will leave the twins, Yasahii, Kasumi and Mirai for protection. I trust in you and all your abilities. As for where we will meet you after we are finished; you know where, Meiya." Illua said quickly. Meiya had just nodded; she understood her place in Illua's absence. "Now, let's go." Illua said, as Yahasu and Kaizen stepped forward to follow Illua.

The leader turned to Natsumi, "Let's go, We are ready." Illua said, waiting for Natsumi's response.

Natsumi nodded looking down at Minako. "Ready?"

"I just want my Hibiki back." She murmured.

Natsumi looked back up and nodded at the group. "If it's alright, I'd like to lead. I think I know who took them and where they are - Reina." Minako shuddered beside Natsumi, gripping at her sleeve. "Am I right?" Natsumi asked.

Minako nodded. "And... and the twins..."