Not gonna lie I was sorely tempted to leave the story as it was. But the second ending spoke to me. So here is the sequel! Thank you for all your reviews on the Alternate Ending of the first story. I hope this lives up to your expectations!
Please note that this story will be keeping up with what is happening in Konoha as well as what Sakura is up to. But, it will not solely follow Sakura as she uncovers things for the Akatsuki. I'm trying to add to the 'mystery' part of the genre types I chose by doing a different spin on things. Also, hacking is not as prominent in this story. It will be put in that she (or Kitsune) hacked certain places to get the results they want, but it might not be as relevant as the last story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. If I did I wouldn't be an in-debt college student.
~Facade-sama
Catch me if you can.
Find the clues I'll leave behind.
Your only chance to find me.
Is if you think like one of mine.
Entry 1:
K and I decided early on to dedicate this first piece to someone we both looked up to. While K didn't know a whole lot about her before, he now sees her as just about as much of a mentor as I do. Anyway, for all those reading this entry I say thank you. To all the friends we left behind, all those still waiting for their journey to begin, I beg you watch us. We are the coming tide, the leaves in the wind. Watch us as we change the world.
A still hourglass stands.
Where once winds of shadow blew.
Follow in our steps.
We both want and dare you to.
Follow us into the sands.
The first entry was dated one day ago. Shikamaru's hands shook on his phone as he read it. Though this sort of dramatic flair was all Sakura, he still hadn't forgiven her for leaving so quickly.
And after she had disappeared, this website was tagged on every school computer. He had quickly deduced who put it there, and why.
Sakura's face had been all over the news lately. A link to the hacker Ryuu. He'd known that one day she'd be found out, but he had hoped she would at least see through the end of high school with all of them.
"It's Sakura, isn't it?" the distinct voice of Ino Yamanaka rang out behind his ear. As ditzy as she acted most of the time, it was just a cover for her observational skills. And her gossip was a cover for the fantastic spy network she had been cultivating since middle school. "I always knew forehead girl would 'change the world'. I just didn't expect her to do it without me." She stopped reading over his shoulder – or rereading as she had already seen it. "But who is this K character she mentions?"
At first Shikamaru was going to deny any knowledge on that front, but the look he was getting from the blond curbed any notion of that. "Troublesome," he whispered to himself. "I think it's her apprentice, Kitsune. A short kid that I met a little bit ago."
"When you were held by that…" Ino trailed off when she realized the conversation was making him uncomfortable. So she switched topics. "Anyway, I slapped Sasuke-kun today for being an ass to all of us. Did he even realize what he put everyone through? Naruto was dragging him around to do apologies. I thought I should mention it, seeing as how he might come bother you soon." Her ramblings were stopped by the school bell, signaling the end of lunch for them both.
"Thanks, Ino," Shikamaru said with a small smile in her direction. She acknowledged it with a simple nod before preceding him through the doors of the school. He just hoped Sakura was staying safe in Suna, because that clue would have the Akatsuki on her ass very soon.
The Akatsuki contingent sent on this particular excursion were not particularly happy about the arrangement.
Sasori was not at all pleased about visiting his birth city. For all he cared it could burn in its incessant heat and toxic fumes. It also didn't help his temper that a certain blond-haired man was not paying attention to the assignment they had received.
Instead he was ogling at the sand sculptures for sale at a street vendor's stall.
"Tourist," Sasori muttered to himself in annoyance. The blond man would one day make his hair grey with the amount of time he always shaved off his life.
"Come on, Deidara, we're on an assignment," he reminded the excited male with a nudge of his elbow. "You can look at the stalls later."
Deidara frowned at Sasori. "But, Danna, why can't we stop for just a few minutes, yeah?"
"Need I remind you of a pink-haired dragon who sent us a blaring message of 'catch me if you can'?" Sasori presented his phone in front of his partner's face with the URL Sakura had left them up on the screen. The top of the screen had the first poem she left them, followed by entry number one, the excerpt that had lead them to Suna.
Deidara deflated at the sight of it. "Alright, you win this one, Danna, yeah."
Sasori gave a half-hearted sigh as he continued down the street. His partner kept pace with him until sundown. They scoured the city, from the ruins of the once-great dictatorship, to the more modern establishments of the current parliament-esque building. But nothing in the entire city seemed to be another clue to the whereabouts of Ryuu and Kitsune. And Sasori came to only one conclusion for that sort of scenario: she was playing with them.
"What do you think she meant by 'one of mine', yeah?" Deidara's sudden question cut Sasori off from his musing.
"What are you saying?" Sasori had no idea where his partner's thoughts had gone since they had last spoken to each other.
"In her first clue to us, yeah. She said 'Your only chance to find me, is if you think like one of mine', yeah." Deidara said. "I asked you what you thought that meant, yeah."
It took the red-head precious seconds to realize that Deidara had said something monumentally helpful. While the first entry had an actual place they could track her to, the message she had stated first over-arched all the others. If anything, both were to be followed.
"'One of mine' could mean any number of things, coming from Ryuu," he commented while beginning to chew on one of his thumbs. Deidara knew not to interfere when Sasori got like that, so he waited for the answer he would come up with. "Though the most likely would be another hacker, or even a criminal of some note. Just who could she mean, though? That's the million dollar question."
A beep from Deidara's cellphone broke his thought process. He glared at his partner as the blond male checked his phone. "It's a notification about Ryuu's website, yeah," Deidara exclaimed loudly. "Another entry has been added just now, yeah."
Sasori flipped his own phone on to check the entry himself.
Entry 2:
K and I followed the path of the past today. Shadow winds painted that which once was, and that which is trying to be again. While the snake in the sand has been neutralized, we both wonder when the red clouds will take initiative and root out the shadow. Only time will tell, really. The hourglass is ticking.
The sands blow softly
Whispering words of wisdom
To those who listen
"I still don't understand why everyone is reading this website, teme," Naruto complained loudly. "It's not even real writing. Just a bunch of stupid poetry and junk. I mean, clouds can't root out shadows!"
Sasuke Uchiha, sporting a fairly purple bruise curtesy of certain a Yamanaka, glared at his oblivious friend. The words weren't to be taken at face value. Not that Naruto would ever understand that. "Dobe, don't worry about it." The raven-haired male was too preoccupied with his thoughts to hear his friend's answer.
It didn't take a genius like Shikamaru to figure out that Sakura was playing around with the Akatsuki. But it did help to have been in her circle of friends. The rest of the school could be left to wonder what the hell was going on. And Sasuke would be silent the entire time. He owed it to her to at least do that. She had save them all from the creepy bastard known as Orochimaru.
Even though Sasuke resented her for that.
He had been about to inherit all his father's companies. Not his older brother. And that's what pissed him off so much. His parents kept hinting at him to do well in school and find a job that paid well. For all he knew there would be no inheritance when his parent's died.
"Come on, teme, I see Shikamaru over there. You haven't apologized to him yet." Naruto shook him from his thoughts.
Sasuke sighed in resignation. Though he did mean it when he apologized, he couldn't help the annoyance that flared when Naruto had to pull him over to do it.
Sasori and Deidara ended up following the second entry. They wandered the crumbled ruins of the long-dead portion of Sunagakure. Structures of once great magnitude were covered in decades of sand. Any artifacts had been picked from the site long ago and headed off to the one museum the town could boast of.
The one building they circled more than a few times was the central tower. It had at least one floor more than any of the other ruins, and its structure was still decently preserved. There was also the helpful piece Sasori had known from mostly growing up here. The central building had a giant symbol that meant 'wind' in the old script.
Something was odd, though. Sasori couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was until he took a step back for an overview. And then he saw it.
Faint markings traced around the edges of the design leading down the side to a small indent in the sand. To any casual observer it would seem like the normal wear-and-tear of the building, it took a critical eye to root out the difference.
At least Sasori knew his observational skills were still up to par. He couldn't really say the same for Deidara. His partner was only being semi-serious about this whole thing. And after the fifth pass around the building he had started drawing in the sand with one of his boots.
Sasori shook his head at the display and, instead of remarking on it, went to investigate the small indent in the sand.
Wadded up on the ground, covered with miniscule bits of sand, was a small piece of paper no bigger than the palm of his hand. Drawn on it was the symbol of a fox.
Deidara was suddenly at Sasori's shoulder, breaking his concentration as he looked over the drawing. "What's that mean, yeah?"
"It's the same symbol as a bar in Sunagakure's market area. Even in my youth it was considered dingy. My grandmother warned me to never go there. It was a place for many of the seedier side of things to occur without the threat of the police. Fits perfectly for Ryuu's type to be honest." Sasori sighed as he stuffed the drawing into his pocket. He never actually went into that particular establishment. The same couldn't be said for a few other places, though. He knew the type, and he was dreading actually having to go in and shake down the barkeep to get the information he needed. "Come on, they open late. We have a little time to kill first."
Sakura sat lazily at the bar. Kitsune had begged her to let him come, but with his obviously young features they would've gotten thrown out a while ago. Instead, he was monitoring the surveillance cameras from their hotel room a block down the street.
The bar she found herself in was on that prized anonymity above all else. While she had entered as a newcomer, no one had question her confidence, deciding that she had the skills to navigate in their world regardless.
The anonymity also allowed her several liberties in the way of disguise. She was dressed in all black – not unusual for the patronage here – with a large jacket and a beanie hat. Her brown hair curled around the edges of the beanie, and she had kept her sunglasses on even as the light outside faded from existence.
And she wasn't even the most outrageously dressed one in the establishment.
Sakura had grabbed a bottle of sake and found a home in one of the corners of the bar, drenched in the shadows splattered about by the half-hazard lighting. It was there she waited.
Nearly an hour later, her lips thinned in distaste at how long it took them to figure out, a pair of individuals walked into the bar. While they held an air of confidence, it was the wrong type for a bar of this nature. And everyone here knew it as soon as they stepped through the door. Everyone but them.
It was comical, the silence that blanketed the area as soon as they entered. The red-head, Sasori, walked calmly through the bar to the barkeeper. His younger compatriot, unused to such welcomes, followed at a more sedate pace.
The man at the bar watched them with distrust. More than one of the occupants in the establishment could be called out for any number of felonies. And it was his job to make sure they stayed safe. Customer secrecy and all that.
Before either could get a word in, however, a small girl ran up to them. She was maybe ten with bouncing curls and the most expensive dress Ryuu had ever seen. Probably the daughter of the mob boss holding court in the other end of the bar.
She smiled thinly at Sasori before handing him something. "A nice dragon lady told me to give this to the first badges I'd see tonight." She handed him a small, crumpled note. And then she ambled back to the corner she had come from, leaving two very confused males in her wake.
Ryuu leaned forward enough to exchange a small nod with the mob boss sitting across the bar. His payment would be waved for the last job she had done for him.
Sasori showed the paper to Deidara. As the both of them mulled over its meaning, the barkeep cleared his throat and gestured to the door. "If you have no further business, sirs, please show yourselves out." While he was trying to be polite his voice was clipped and edged with annoyance.
Sasori nodded his head and walked back towards the door. Deidara, having no further business as well, followed the red-head out.
It took nearly a full thirty seconds for the normal sounds to resume. Everyone kept glancing at the door as if a dozen policemen would bust through the door at any moment. Ryuu just rolled her eyes at the notion. If Sasori or Deidara had come to arrest anyone they would have already done so. And if they had had to drag the local police into it there would be a shit ton more paperwork involved.
Ryuu gracefully stood up from her hidden alcove. She placed her empty bottle on the bar counter. Next to it was a wad of cash. She offered both the barkeeper with a small smile. "I only ask your discretion and forgiveness for that display. I'm currently wrapped up in a game of cat and mouse with the police. I am sorry that I used your bar for the progression of the game we are playing."
The bar man accepted the cash graciously. "Not at all, miss. It was a bit interesting tonight, but none of my customers were hurt. Rest assured I won't tell anyone." He threw the bottle into the recycling bin before once again turning back to her.
But he found the 'dragon lady' gone, as if she had never existed. He let out a grumble about 'her sort' to himself as he went back to his work.
Entry 3:
K and I have it on good authority that someone's getting shaken down tonight. Their time is up, but it wasn't us who decided so. The shadows in the sand grow longer, reaching further than the snake ever dreamed. Hopefully clouds will block the exchange. I hear there's good information to be had that will be taken by the wind soon. Too bad it's more of a paper trail. Apparently shadows can learn a thing or two in their old age. Especially after what happened to the snake and his nest.
Ryuu had found that the underbelly of Sunagakure was severely regulated. While this may have seemed like a good thing, every angry male was like an injured creature chomping at the bit. And the people holding them back were asking for it.
Few gangs run in the town could keep up with the amount of protection they needed to provide. Money was becoming scarce, and unemployment was rampant. The economy of Sunagakure was in the trash, and the political climate rough to traverse. Yet the politicians were lording it over the younger generations.
Many of the old money crowd had large houses built off the backs of the poor and homeless. It was shameful back-alley dealings that kept them in power, and that was about to stop.
Ryuu sat perched on the top of a building owned by one such individual. However, this particular male had just about done himself in. She had had a very 'nice' visit with him earlier about the options he now had for himself and his family. He had chosen wisely.
She watched as the Akatsuki pair that had followed her instructions most of the day took the twenty paces from the block down on her left to this very house. In the moonlight they both looked vicious. While they may have toned down what they were visibly wearing for civilians during the day, the night brought out a whole new side to the pair. Multiple weapon bulges were noticeable beneath clothes, and pockets were filled with unmentionable sharp objects. Ryuu wanted to bet they were going to war.
And I pretty much set everything up for them already. They're going to be disappointed.
Ryuu's musings were cut short by the loud knock that sounded from below. Both Akatsuki entered the abode and disappeared within its depths. She watched them with small cameras she had placed earlier when she had 'shaken down' the man in question.
His arrogant mask was eradicated and he scrambled around to accommodate the two elite officers in his home. Sasori and Deidara looked less than impressed at the bulging mass that was the man.
He showed them his stash of files. Evidence Ryuu herself had been trying to get her hands on for days.
Of course, she had her own copies of everything. But the originals were the ones the Akatsuki would need to take down the suspects. So she left those for them. As well as the man and his first-hand accounts.
He would be invaluable in court; that is if he didn't lie on the stand.
Ryuu stayed long enough for the pair of Akatsuki males to get what they needed and begin an interrogation. She watched from down the street as they took the man away in handcuffs.
Looks like this job is half done. Ryuu rubbed her eyes and sighed, tired after all the running around she had been doing that day. It will all be worth it when I extinguish Orochimaru's entire plan. Seems like his reach extended all the way into the land of wind.
Ryuu walked back down the street to the room she and Kitsune were renting from one of her contacts here in Sunagakure. He took the money online through wire-transfer, and he didn't ask any questions.
She felt bad about leaving Kitsune there for most of the day, but she couldn't let him roam free today with his hair still dyed red. That was something she would be fixing as soon as she got back. She had promised he could help her during the next portion of her plan, and he was severely excited to do so.
With another sigh at just how much sleep she would be missing out on tonight, Ryuu continued off into the night.
"Not in our jurisdiction! We were given access to all information – that includes witnesses – pertaining to this case!" Deidara heard Sasori's yelling from down the hall. It didn't matter that it was through a supposedly 'sound proof' door. Sasori, when angered enough, had lungs that could put most mothers to shame.
"I'm sorry Sasori-san. Your official paperwork only includes the case involving Ryuu. This witness leads to problems within Sunagakure. As an operative of Konohagakure – regardless of your birthplace – I can't give you access to the witness in question." The male desk worker was not prepared for the full rage of the red-head in front of him. He was just the messenger, not one of the higher ups that ordered him to tell the Akatsuki member.
A ping sounded from his phone making Sasori snarl "Going to get that, gaki?"
He ignored Sasori for a moment to check the email that he had just gotten. And then he had to recheck it.
"U-u-um, Sasori-san, it seems you're clear. The paperwork that just came in gave you and your partner full access to this case and any more that might be 'given' to you by the hacker known as Ryuu." The desk worker took a moment to adjust his glasses and clear his throat uncomfortably. "E-excuse me. I have to go talk to someone about this."
Sasori smirked as the smaller man fled out of the room to look for one of his superiors. Now all he needed was the papers printed out and an interrogation room for himself and the witness. None of this stupid red tape would get in the way.
The red-head was privy to several enraged yells from a few doors over. Something about 'bullshit did I sign these forms'. Or something to that nature. He didn't care one way or another as long as he eventually got to talk to the person he arrested yesterday.
A tall man with a very commanding presence walked through the door this time. In his hands were a few rumpled pieces of paper. He coughed a bit before handing them over. "This clears you for further investigation. But only you. The boss drew the line at letting a non Suna-born in on something this delicate. Especially after all that's been going on recently."
"Anything you want to tell me?" Sasori new all about the political climate here. He'd gotten out just before it was too bad. He'd give this guy one chance to be straight with him before rooting around for answers himself.
"If I were you I'd make this interrogation very thorough. If I had to guess, I'd say that guy won't be talking long if you know what I mean. Probably won't take even a day for word to get out about a snitch. Tread wisely." And then the man was gone, giving Sasori a final look to make sure he'd keep quiet about the tip at the end of their conversation.
Sasori sighed at the complicated mess he found himself in. Or rather, Ryuu pushed me into. It was her fault he had to go through all this shit. But it was all in a day's work for the Akatsuki.
It took him twenty minutes to clear an interrogation room and get the man out of holding. Deidara was relegated to the one-way window outside the room, a bit miffed at the fact he hadn't been cleared to help with the interrogation himself.
Sasori started off in true Akatsuki style: hit them hard and don't give them a break. Not that it took long for the guy to start squealing. He'd told them most of it already, they just had to get it recorded for evidence. And, just in case, Sasori had his own tape recorder. A bit old-school, but, then again, he was working against an infamous hacker so he felt more secure with the physical recording.
"I was part of the financial backing of the movement," the squat man began. "They funneled my money through the government of Suna, bribing some of the politicians, and replacing the rest. Orochimaru said he'd help when he won over Konohagakure, and then we'd make a peace treaty between the nations."
While the man took a moment to breathe Sasori shot him a disgusted look. "So you sold your country for what, a peace treaty?"
"No, no, no. You don't get it. My money was going towards the rebuilding of the replica Kazekage structure. A new era of dictatorship. And all the politicians involved would be getting nobility rankings. I was to be a Duke."
"And who was to be this new Kazekage figure?"
The man's eyes widened as if he was surprised Sasori didn't know already. "Your Uncle, Mr. Sabaku. I was told you were going to help! That's the only reason I was telling you all this. Hell no! I'm not saying a single word more! They'd kill me for it!" And with that, the stupid, little man shut his mouth and refused to say anything else. None of the Akatsuki tactics worked now that he knew Sasori was against him.
As the red-head left Sasori asked one final question. "Just who told you I'd help?"
The man tilted his head to look at Sasori. Just as the Akatsuki member thought he was going to be ignored again the man answered his question. "Ryuu, that backstabbing piece of shit hacker of yours."
The man was found 'mysteriously' dead in the holding cell that evening, and the papers that had been extracted from his house disappeared from the evidence locker at nearly the same time.
Ryuu wanted to smack the Akatsuki members for their stupidity. Sasori hadn't even made one copy of the files he had gotten from the man before the 'new Kazekage's' lackeys stole it from the evidence lock up.
It was a good thing she had her own copies of them, and she had had Kitsune make a copy of the interrogation video before that, too, was erased.
"Do you think I'm over complicating this, Kitsune?" she asked her only companion. Kitsune's hair was now dyed inky black to match her own, and they both opted for blue contact lenses. He just looked at her and smiled.
"I think it just makes everything more fun. As long as the bad guys get caught, who really cares, right? This is the most fun I've had in a long time, Sakura-chan. I kind of like making the Akatsuki chase us instead of running around with them on the hunt."
Sakura smirked at Kitsune. "Yeah," she agreed. "Being the one setting up the 'hunt' – as you so eloquently put it – has a lot more merits than being the hunter." She took a moment to collect the files laid out in front of her. "Ready for part two of the plan? I couldn't let you help all that much on the first, but this part is definitely more your style anyway."
Kitsune grinned happily in her direction and reached for his laptop. "Of course I'm ready. Let's change the world, Ryuu, one corrupt politician at a time."
Ryuu watched him and smiled as he worked. I'm really glad I brought him with me. I'd be going insane otherwise.
Debatable. I think you're already insane. But that's just me.
Inner startled Ryuu at first. But she had learned to ignore the voice, and she had been doing so for most of the past week. Instead she turned her attention to her own laptop to monitor the goings on at the police station. It seemed that more red tape was getting in the Akatsuki's way. She sighed as she prepared to help them again.
First the papers, now more shit. I hate politics.
The official story was that Sasori had been removed from the case because of the 'conflict of interest' brought upon him by the singular witness' naming of his uncle. Nagato, the Akatsuki's leader, did not intend to send more of his men into the Land of Wind. So he allowed Sasori to stay under the stipulation Deidara take the lead on the case.
Sasori was to act as an 'adviser' for the younger blond in case he went in over his head. And while this annoyed Sasori greatly, he knew not to argue with his esteemed leader. The last person who did was never seen again.
Deidara had the 'privilege' of bringing Mr. Sabaku – one of the political figureheads of his generation – down to the local office for questioning. The Sabaku male brought along a slew of lawyers to 'back up his innocence'.
Both members of the Akatsuki thought that was a load of shit.
"Sabaku-san, have you, or anyone who works for you, ever taken a bribe or a sum of money for the purpose of persuading you to do things for them," A generic Sunagakure police officer was interrogating the Sabaku family head because neither Konohagakure officers could do so. They were, however, allowed to watch the proceedings from the window.
"No I have not."
"Have you been actively conspiring to topple the democracy of this country?"
"No I have not, sir. Where did you get such heinous accusations?"
Mr. Sabaku's question went unanswered as the officer swiftly exited the room. Sasori was chomping at the bit to get a piece of his Uncle. He knew the man was lying, it was written all over his face. But there was nothing the officers could do because of the imposing line of lawyers backed up against the far wall.
And the officer they chose is terrible at interrogations. Didn't even make my uncle sweat!
Just as he was about to give up hope for this particular avenue, the police station was flooded with sound from the speakers on the walls. The setup was supposed to be closed-circuit. But no one accounted for a certain raven-haired boy and his companion.
The recording was a bit fuzzy, the people speaking were hard to identify, but names were spoken that proved the guilt of Mr. Sabaku. And all he could do was sit and listen as his faced paled with realization.
"This meeting is set to order. Yamaguchi-san is everything setup for the preparations?"
"Yes, Sabaku-sama. The funds are in place, and the architects confirmed that the building itself can be unveiled next week. With the public's attention on Orochimaru's failure in Konohagakure we were able to sneak past a few more things. Namely the completion and passing of the first bill."
"Very good. Just a few more of those and the democracy can be broken. It's too bad Orochimaru won't be able to sign that treaty with us, but everything seems to be going smoothly otherwise."
"Sabaku-sama, if I may interject. Those Akatsuki members in Suna, what are they doing here? They were sniffing around a lot this morning. Some of our more delicate clients were showing concern."
"They're just here to look for an escaped hacker. Don't worry about them. My nephew knows how to deal with delicate matters, even if he did chose the Land of Fire over us. He'll keep things quiet."
After the first few people spoke the office was in an uproar. Sabaku's lawyers shut down any conversation between their man and the police. One or two went to shut off the recording playing over the speakers. And all Sasori did was watch his bastard of an uncle pale and start to sweat profusely as the conversation went on. Through all of the mess he managed to get inside the interrogation room for a small chat, regardless of the lawyers in the background.
"You know, uncle, if you give me a list of names I might be able to get a lighter sentence for you. Not that you deserve it. But you are blood, after all. Even if you did disown me."
Revenge was sweet, and Sasori was savoring every moment of it. While he may like his cousins – Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari – their father was a piece of work. An asshole of the highest level. And bringing him down a peg had been on his mind for a very long time. Especially after he had disowned him from the family.
Sasori had the list of names within the hour. He didn't even try to ask for a lighter sentence, though he did tell the officers that Sabaku cooperated.
The rest of the afternoon was spent knocking down the doors of the elite and arresting quite a few for their involvement. Mysteriously, copies of the files that had disappeared from lockup made it in to the hands of the more 'honorable' police officers. Many of the ones who had been taking bribes from the politicians found themselves thrown off the force.
Sasori and Deidara woke up the next day to a very unwelcome surprise.
The shops and businesses on the main thorough-fair of Sunagakure each had a small depiction of a dragon on the corners of their stalls. Those that didn't were not attracting as many customers, and would probably fail within the next month.
"What's with the symbol, miss, yeah?" Deidara asked the nearest vender with a smile.
The lady behind the counter gave a mysterious smile to the blond. He was obviously some form of officer with the way he held himself. Though she didn't mention that she knew just what he was. Instead she supplied him with the cryptic message all the shop owners were told to give to 'badges'.
"A dragon offers protection to those of integrity, and claims those with loyalty as one of her own," her smile deepened at the dawning realization on the man's face.
No matter what they did, though, she would tell them nothing more. And neither would the other shop owners they talked to on the streets.
It was just another thing to add to the file marked 'Ryuu'.
Politicians Arrested in Sunagakure
After the arrest of the head of the Sabaku clan, allegations came out yesterday afternoon of a plot to tear apart the democratic structure of Suna. It is yet unclear what is to be done with the perpetrator of the crimes committed. What is known, however, is that the amount of people in on the act was astounding.
Many police investigators were taken off the case for participatory bribes. The extent of the damage to Suna's police force is yet to be uncovered.
Late last night we received word from a prime witness that "those involved have a lot to answer for" and that "the economy will be taking a huge hit with this scandal".
That "huge hit" has yet to be seen as reports came in of a "dragon helping the [people] most in need". When the shop owners were asked their only comment was this "dragons protect their own, and under that protection [we] can be assured that nothing bad will happen to the economy".
For further information go to page 6.
The paper Ino held in her hands was a bit crumpled from the amount of force she was exerting on it. Shikamaru had provided her with the information because of their mutual concern for the goings on in Sakura's life. While she had warned them to watch her change the world, the both of them were still looking out for her interests.
"Shika, she did warn us what was going to happen. I just didn't expect it on this scale." And really, should she have expected Sakura to take down most of the Sunagakure government within a week?
"She did eradicate the problem here in Konoha. It was near to the same level as what's going on in Suna, Ino. Sakura chose her own path. And while that may lead her away from her birthplace that doesn't mean she won't come home one day."
Ino could tell this was hurting Shikamaru about as much as it was her. While she was Sakura's best female friend, Shikamaru held more of a brotherly role in Sakura's life. Especially after what had happened with her family.
The blond Yamanaka sighed. She worried too much over stuff she couldn't control. "You're right, as always. But when Sakura does come back she's getting the largest lecture of her life! I mean, taking off without us! How dare she!" Her accusations were all just playful banter, something that made Shikamaru relax at its normality.
Ino pushed the paper aside and stretched out on the ground beside Shikamaru. While she may not condone his laziness most of the time, she needed the calm tranquility of his presence today.
"Thank you, Shika," she whispered as she drifted off. Thank you for being here.
Shikamaru smiled at her as he, too, drifted away into the land of Morpheus.
Sasori glared at the message on his phone with contempt. Somehow Ryuu had been able to send him a text message without his knowledge.
"This is the right place, isn't it, yeah?" Deidara asked him carefully. There was no use antagonizing his partner when he was in this type of mood. "Exactly where Ryuu tipped us off too, right, yeah?"
It took Sasori a moment to reply. "Correct. This is where she told us to go."
"You know, I'm a bit annoyed with all this chasing, yeah. Why do you think she'd doing all of this, yeah?" Deidara's second questions went unanswered as the both of them geared up to enter the hotel room.
The door pushed in without a sound. The silence that answered them was both expected and unnerving. It always was.
Sasori entered first, clearing the bathroom and the closet in record time. The main area, the bedroom, had two messed up queen-sized beds. And it was one of the cleanest hotel rooms either of them had ever seen.
On the far bed, however, was a small token: a figure of a dragon cast in ebony. A note lay beneath the figure.
All it said was: Watch as we change the world.
Ryuu laughed as she and Kitsune rolled away in a new car. The dealer didn't care where Sakura had gotten the money to pay for it. Neither did he really care that a teenager was buying this sort of vehicle.
"The sports car was a nice choice, Kitsune. Now how do you feel about the Land of Earth? The files we got from that Suna politician had some dirty laundry leading there. May as well go check it out." She took a sip of her soda and placed it back in the holder before he replied.
"I've never seen Iwa before. It could be fun."
"Come on, then. We'll go mess up shit in Iwa this time."
Kitsune laughed at her comment. "And it will be even more fun messing with the Akatsuki this time. They always get mad when you're not doing what they expect."
"They should know by now that sometimes my clues are stupid, and sometimes they lead to actual information. We'll just have to see what they think of Iwa."
Entry 4
K and I are about to blow this Popsicle stand. Seems like the clouds finally caught the last of the snake's friends. The media had a fun time exposing a lot of the politicians today. Not that either of us are complaining. But we are setting course for a different location. One where lots of things are better set in stone.
We
Want you
To leave and
Follow us both
As we lead you to
Places unknown before.
We dare you to watch
As we change the
World into
Something
New.
Thoughts/Comments? I hope this didn't get too crazy. I wanted to mesh in what was happening to Sakura's friends in Konoha as well as the story in Suna. If there are any points that need clarification I will address them when I have time.
Just a note: Sakura is a bit crazy in this story. She'll send out notes that lead nowhere just to watch the Akatsuki follow her 'treasure hunt'. But she will eventually lead them to the criminals.
And what is she doing with the dragon markings on the villager's stalls? It's all in the plot. :)
As always, if there are any grammatical errors or plot holes please tell me and I will get to them as soon as I can.
~Facade-sama