Finder77: Hey, Everybody! I just wanted to let you guys know that this is the sequel to The Story of Gaara and Mitsuko but you don't have to read TSOG&M to understand it. And that makes The Story of Gaara and Mitsuko the prequel to this story. I don't think it matters which story you read first but The Story of Gaara and Mitsuko is first chronologically. This story occurs after the timeskip, so it's two years later. Therfore, it does have some spoilers. I'm putting TSOG&M on hiatus for now because I'm editing it.

Ok, so this is actually content from a forum made by me. It's from my RP forum and I have a bunch of co-writers. The people who are involved in this story are Fullmidget Alchemist, Kai19, and Sneere. Thanks to them 'cause they rock!

The sun shown gently through a tree, catching in free, long blonde hair and making it shine like white gold. Thick lashes fluttered softly against peaches and cream colored skin. It was midday and the sun was warm. Perfect time for a nap: Peaceful. There were even birds chirping off in the distance. Calloused fingers twitched slightly in sleep.

A young woman, still in her late teens, sat under a maple tree, asleep. She was the average size and build of any kunoichi but the hitai-ate worn around her waist with the scratch through the Konoha (1) symbol there, declared her a missing-nin. Aside from that, she wore usual ninja clothes: Dark grey crop pants and a black tank top covered by chain-mail shirt which was now lying beside her.

She stirred slightly in her sleep.

The sky was covered by dark clouds that would occasionally light with lightening and roll with thunder. Azuki Oshira (2) stood on top a concrete building in the ruins of the Village Hidden in the Air. The wind whipped wildly around her and the man before her. He was tall and pale with long black hair. He stood with his back to her on the very edge of the very tall building. She took a single step forward and stopped when he looked slowly over his shoulder, red eyes almost glowing, and he wore a permanent scowl. Azuki sat frozen as she waited to see what would happen. The man smiled slightly at her and then took a small step forward and disappeared over the edge of the rotting structure.

"Itachi-san!" She yelled, her voice drowned out in the wind and rushed forward. And then the sky was falling.

There was an audibly 'thunk' and Azuki sat up straight with a yelp. Grey-blue eyes, almost the color of silver, looked around wildly for the culprit. She spotted the fiend and held the yellow-green apple in her hand and yelled, "Oh my GAWD! Gravity sucks!" Azuki sighed. She got up and stretched, slipping on her chain-mail shirt. She grabbed her cloak and hat and hid them in her bag before heading into town. She had an appointment to keep after all.

Satsuki Mitsuko (3) stepped to the edge of the island she called home. It's time I pay a friend a visit, she thought as she summoned a giant sea turtle. She carfully stepped onto it's back as it floated away from the village hidden in the Light. Hmm, she thought, I wonder how many days I can make it in, this time? She lay down on the turtles back: stretching herself out and taking off her jacket so she could catch some rays on her back and shoulders. Not that I don't already have a summer tan, she said to herself. Ih, it'll be dark soon anyways.
"Please, bring me to the edge of the Land of Fire," she told the turtle. "I can walk from there."
"Sure," said the turtle. He swam along at a brisk speed so the ride only lasted a few hours. Mitsuko thanked the turtle and began her trek; heading at a quick pace towards Suna, only stopping in Konoha along the way.
Two blondes sat at a dinner together in the heart of the Earth country.

"It kind of brings back memories, un..." One of the figures said quietly to his partner: His new partner, since the death of Sasori. Deidara didn't mind getting the newbie, she had been recommended by Itachi after all. Nor did he mind that she was female but... His poor Sasori... Deirara sighed. Oh well.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that," Azuki replied as she took a bite out of her stick of dango. 'Wow,' She thought to herself looking out the window to her left, 'It's already getting dark outside. That's nice. Better cover. Hmm, I wonder if Itachi likes this kind of dango…'

Deidara stood up suddenly and straightened out his clothes. They had dressed casually for the occasion, "I suppose we should get going before we get in trouble, un."

Azuki quickly finished off her dango and got up as well, "Yes, but I'm sure Sir Leader will understand if we make a small pit stop," she said with a sweet smile, accepting the gentlemanly arm offered to her.

"Yes, because food is very important," Deidara started as they left.

A waiter began to chase after them, "Excuse me sir! You haven't paid yet. Sir, madam!"

Another waiter went over to inspect the table just incase they had left the money there on the table and the other waiter had simple not seen it. What he found there was not payment. What it was took his mind a moment to process. He gasped when it did but it was too late.

The sound of Deidara's bomb going off in the restaurant and the destruction it caused was like music in the background to a beautiful evening. And true to that it was. Warm and full of stars, shining with moonlight and the burning buildings the fire had spread to behind them.

Deidara slipped on his coat and as he helped Azuki into hers he asked, "Where was I?"

"Food is very important," Azuki reminded with a smile as she placed her hat in her head.

"Ah yes. Food is very important," the blonde man continued, slipping on his own hat.

"And so is..."Azuki added.

"Art, un," he finished.

The two strolled down the street and decided the night was still young and deserved not to be wasted and made one more pit stop to the town's Museum of Modern and Classic Art.

It was the middle of the night and Itachi Uchiha sat as still as stone, face its usual blank mask with a hint of a scowl. One would never know the gnawing nervousness that threatened to crawl into his mood and fester if not for the fingers drumming against his biceps, unbeknownst to the Uchiha himself. Kisame suppressed a sigh as he watched his partner fight off a fit of worry. Gods forbid that anyone suggest Itachi-san of showing signs of nervousness.

Kisame was about to go to sleep and leave his partner to brood alone when they heard a noise in the kitchen/mess hall as someone tripped over something, possible a person by the sounds of it.

"Watch it, un! Geez, are you wasted or something, un?"

"Shut up! You're the genius that blew up the bird on the way back, AGAIN!"

Kisame and Itachi stood in the door way to the kitchen and smirked.

"Hello there, Deidara, Azuki." Kisame spoke, drawing attention to them.

Itachi snorted in greeting and asked, "What are you doing? It's late."

"Itachi-san," Azuki blushed and got up to greet him, daring to hug him. But rather then shove her away he allowed the gesture, smiling slightly, but did not return it, instead slipping a single arm around her waist. "I missed you Ita-san," Azuki said while nuzzled Itachi's neck. He fought with the blood trying to make its way onto his face when he noticed Kisame and Deidara watching them carefully, smirking. Deidara even dared to giggle.

Itachi ignored him, "It's late. Let's go to bed." Itachi said, taking the now sleepy and slightly drunk Azuki to his room with him, nuzzled soundly in his arms.

"Sure, you do that Itachi-san," Kisame teased and had to place his hands over Deidara's mouth to help the drunken blonde suppress his laughter. Crush or no, Itachi was still scary.

Once in Itachi's room Azuki moved into the bathroom and slipped into a pair of old pj's Itachi had gotten from somewhere.

When she came out Itachi was already in bed, resting, not asleep it yet, but resting.

Azuki smiled and got under the covers with him, she carefully wrapped her arms around him and was delighted when the gesture was returned if a bit more roughly. She blushed and before giving into her tired body for the night she whispered, "Itachi, I... Love you."

Itachi watched her a moment longer as she slept before whispering into the deaf and darkened room, "I know..."

Mitsuko had rented a room at a hotel in Konoha. It wasn't a cheap room but money didn't concern her. She threw her stuff and most of her weapons onto the floor near the bed. She'd only be staying one night so she didn't feel the need to unpack. She checked her hair in the bathroom mirror before leaving with only a small blue bag with her essentials and money to go to Ichiriku. She made sure the door was locked and headed off.

It was a busy night in Konoha. It must be tourist season or something, Mitsuko thought. She walked up to the counter of the ramen shop and sat down next to a blonde-headed ninja who was currently scarfing down his fourth bowl.

Naruto gulped down the remains of the bowl of ramen and ordered another. He turned to the teenage girl beside him, a year over his own fifteen, "Hey! What's up? How've you been? Are you staying long?"

Blue eyes turned to meet his own, brushing a long, sandy blonde strand of hair behind her ear before answering, "No. I'm just staying for the night. Then I'm headed to Sand."

Naruto snickered, "Oh, I see. Your going back to see Gaara, right?"

Mitsuko Satsuki blushed, "Well… Yes… I haven't seen him in a while so I thought I'd visit him."

Naruto blinked. "But didn't you just see him, like, three weeks ago?"

Mitsuko blushed some more, "Well... Yes but..." Naruto started laughing loudly. "Shut up! I just want to see how he is! Is that okay with you? Can I spend some time with my boyfriend?" She asked sarcastically.

"It's fine Mitsuko, just enjoy the ramen," He said and went back to eating his meal.

Mitsuko took his advice and paid attention to her own dinner. In fact she had two more bowls before she paid the tab and left. But not without hugging Naruto goodbye, of course.

"Night, Mitsuko!" The blonde boy waved.

"Bye!" She waved back and began heading back to her room at the hotel where she was staying. About halfway there she had the faint feeling of someone following her. She moved a bit faster without looking back. She picked up footsteps with her heightened sense of hearing. Someone was definetely following her. She stopped: There was no point to this. She turned sharply and growled, hackles raised, "What the hell do you want from me? I know you're there. I can smell you for crying out loud!" She performed a quick jutsu and the street was lit with a light from her left hand. Now you can't hide in the shadows, she thought.

Mitsuko blinked, a little confused when she was confronted by a small child. He was very young. Couldn't be older then ten. His face was still round but pale and his black hair was long and well-kept in a pony-tail; not messy as a child's should be. The eyes were squinted in a smile that seemed sweet but distinctly fake, like Naruto's sometimes would be.

The boy seemed to sense this for he dropped the smile for a smirk and his pale blue eyes were certainly not childish but sharp and aware. His voice was high and clear as a young boys should be but his words… "So, the dog still has its acute sense of smell, even when in the body of a human."

Mitsuko gasped, and even though the boy remained in front of her she still felt a small, cool finger press into her back were her five pointed star-shaped seal was located: The one that contained the Gobi No Houkou within herself, the five tailed dog.

She turned sharply around but there was no one there and the boy remained in front of her. She growled slightly but he continued, not the least bit disrobed, "I figured you would though. I just wanted to annoy you really. Even I get bored. Don't worry; I'm mostly here for supplies. Business and such. Here and Sand are really the best places for it. Which reminds me, I hear Shukaku's has been separated from his host." He raised an eyebrow at her, unwilling to admit he really was curious.

Mitsuko relaxed some, though still annoyed buy hey, he was usually like this, "Hey, Kai. (4) Good to see you to," she greeted tiredly. "Yeah, Shukaku's free," Mitsuko replied while leaning against the wall of a dark, closed-off ally. She couldn't see as well as she knew Kai could, but she was hoping she wouldn't have to, "What's more is the container lived through the ordeal. By the way, the new look is nice but can you change back now? Oh, and he still kicks ass by the way." She smiled thinking about Gaara.

"I'm sure your thrilled," said a deepened voice as a ring of light moved over the boy who turned into a 6 ' 2 young man with pale skin and long, straight black hair held back in a pony tail. He placed his hands on his hips over his black silk pants that matched his silk slippers and hung low assisting in revealing his muscled stomach along with the blue silk shirt that was several times too small.

"Would this be more appropriate?" Kai (1) asked with a slight accent and a smug look, tightening the band in his hair, "It's just so much easer when you're a kid. People hardly notice ya, ya know? So... Shukaku is out and prisoner to the Akatsuki and the boy holding him actually lived through the ordeal." Kai yawned as though very bored with then whole thing, "You realize this means they'll probably be comin' for ya? Me as well. Ya better be careful. As far as I know, I'm the only Biju that remains unsealed." He leaned to look out into the near empty street, "Are ya stayin' here to or are ya headin' out?"

What Kai said about the Akatsuki had made Mitsuko a little anxious. Mostly because she was sure it was true. She didn't want her biju, Houkou, gone. Especially not with Akatsuki. I should be careful, she agreed. "I am staying here. In a hotel. But I'm leaving tomorrow for Suna... Hmm... Did you get taller since I last saw you? What about you? Where are you headed? Do you have a place to stay?"

Kai rolled his eyes, "Do I ever have a place to stay? I can sleep in a tree or somethin'. I'll handle it. I wasn't really planning on stayin' long. Just long enough to sell some things I picked up in my travels: Mostly weapons an' such. Ninjas are always in the market for those. I need money somehow. But if you're travelin' soon, you better be careful. The humans know better than to come after an unsealed demon. We can access all our chakra easily. You containers can't. I might as well follow you 'til you get there. Can't have more of us gettin' captured. I don't really care 'bout Shukaku, but I doubt Kyuubi'd forgive me if I let you get captured, too." Kai leaned up against one of the buildings. "You know where I could sell some stuff and get some food?"

TBC...

Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Naruto. Just the characters I made up, like Mitsuko.

(1) Konoha is the Leaf village, where Naruto lives.

(2) This character is the property of Fullmidget Alchemist

(3) This character is property of Finder77

(4) This character is property of Kai19.

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