Right. My dissertation is due in on Friday so naturally I have loads of creative energy so long as it means I'm not doing what I'm supposed to be doing. So I've put a lot of thought into this and planned out how it's going to go.

Thanks for all your comments and support for this. Most stories like this have the ninjas coming along with the fellowship and that's originally what I thought of. But then I thought, you know what, LOTR is amazing, you people don't need me doing an awkward retelling of an already brilliant story. So I'm switching it all up. This is a game changer. There's every chance this is going to pan out very badly and be a total mess but at least it's going to be something more original! You'll see what I mean by the end of this chapter.

A few notes – Aragorn refers to Elrond as father because he was raised in his household and wasn't told of his true parentage until he was about twenty. I am totally unsure of pairings, even if there will be any as I don't really think anything fits for what I've thought out so far. Watch this space though as something might develop! Naturally all LOTR canon pairings will be included. I also love Boromir and Gimli and feel they often get a bit of a short shrift in other stories so I've made them a bit more sympathetic. Canon is that the Ring really starts getting to Boromir about Lothlórien but I've made it a bit earlier. I've also continually capitalised the Ring throughout. I didn't really notice I was doing it but it's sort of stuck. If it's annoying I'll edit it out.

A couple of very minor parts were loosely inspired by the amazing stories of 'While the Ring went South' by Thundera Tiger and 'Rapid Peril' by majorbee – go and read these wonderful stories immediately.

Thanks again for all your comments and keep them coming! I have ideas of where this is headed but I'm totally open to suggestions. Lots of LOTR love!

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The ninjas were kneeling on the floor of Elrond's study with the hobbits as the other members of the fellowship had taken to the more comfortable seats. When offered a perch on the low slung benches they had declined, citing that this was the way the always sat – Naruto and Sai with crossed legs and Sakura with her legs folded under herself. They had been there for several hours as Elrond and Gandalf briefed them on their mission. It was perhaps the most fluid assignment they had ever been presented with and for Sai it sat uncomfortably. He would never fully shake the strictly regimented life he had known under ROOT and could not enjoy the supposed freedom Tsunade had gifted them regarding this world. She had been unwilling to send what remained of Team 7 – this mission was beyond S-Class, the dangers unknowable and the intelligence almost non-existent – but there was no one capable of adapting quite like Naruto. With Sakura as his voice of reason and Sai as his strategic advisor Naruto was a nigh on unstoppable force.

Sai suspected there was another reason Naruto had been chosen, beyond the reasons Tsunade had outlined. Sakura had been restless in the previous weeks, nervous even. Whenever she left the Hokage Tower her expression was grimmer and more shadowed. Despite Kakashi's teachings Naruto still tended to take words and actions at their face value and Sai still struggled with identifying the more subtle emotions of others. Therefore she had not felt the need to lie as convincingly as she might have with others when they asked how she fared. Naruto had accepted her excuses of extra shifts at the hospital or a new training regime or the other legitimate sounding reasons she had given. However Sai had been improving his social interactions and saw enough to be suspicious. ANBU had also been unusually busy yet he and Naruto had not been sent on more missions than normal. Medics were rarely sent on solo missions at their level due to the dangers inherent and the lack of that particular talent in the ranks. Sakura had been on at least two in the month before they left to come to Middle Earth. Those were only the ones he had been able to find out about from fellow members of their organisation – he had a feeling they were being obtuse with him on purpose but he could not see why. There was something going on in Konoha. Something important enough to prevent Kakashi being assigned to this mission and enough that even Sai had been able to read the relief on Sakura's face when she knew Naruto would be far from it.

Gandalf was pointing at a large map that hung from the ceiling, still embroiled in a disagreement over the spread of Isengard with Elrond, so Sai collected his thoughts to focus on later. Gandalf had started by informing them of the free peoples who populated this land; the men, elves, dwarves and hobbits and the lands they called home. Then he had moved on to the enemy. Sauron. It had been a difficult task to describe their foe as the ninjas had no knowledge of the Ilúvatar, the Valar, the Maiar or Melkor. As such things formed part of the deepest and most fundamental workings of Arda even Elrond had never thought how to educate someone on such a matter and it was this that had taken most of the morning. The ninjas were not entirely sure of how to classify Sauron but were content with some basic knowledge. From there it had been less complicated to discuss the common enemies – orcs, goblins, wargs, Haradrim, pirate raiders – and the dangers they posed. In some ways the stark differences between those they had to protect and those they must fight was a comfort for the ninjas. So used to unravelling deceptions from their very human foes it was something of a relief to have a clearly defined enemy. Of course that did not mean there were no traitors in this land – the description of Saruman was what had lead to the debate currently happening around them.

There was something more familiar about Saruman - one who had been a trusted companion, leader, mentor and friend who was then revealed to have been working for personal gain all along without a care for who was hurt in the process. Though similar to Gandalf in that he was in the body of an old man, his power far exceeded the physical limitations of such a form. Gandalf had confided in them that his most powerful weapons were his words which could ensnare the minds of mortals. The ninjas shared a look at this piece of information, silently agreeing that Sakura would take point should it come to a confrontation with the white wizard. One of her main strengths had remained her ability to cast and break genjutsu and Saruman's 'spells' sounded like such.

" – Should the Ring fall into Saruman's grasp it will find its way to its master within hours. The palantir would serve him ill."

"Would he attempt to use the Ring for his own purposes?"

"Perhaps, and it would turn on him as surely as it turned on Isildur, as I said before, it recognises no other master."

Nodding to her companions Sakura held up a hand and all eyes turned to her. "Forgive my interruption," she said, "but we wish to know more about the Ring. You speak as if it were a living thing."

The Ring had been briefly mentioned during their lesson on Sauron – how his life-force was tied to it and that he could not be destroyed until the Ring was no more. However there had been no more in-depth mentions of it beyond that it had to be cast into the fires of Mount Doom. Gandalf tapped his as yet unlit pipe against his lip as he considered how best to approach the subject. Elrond inclined his head to question if he may be allowed to answer. Gandalf nodded though still appeared reserved on the matter.

"We must know all. Lack of information will cost life." Sai stated firmly, sensing the reluctance to reveal the full extent of their knowledge on the matter. Sakura gave him a calculating look from his side and he realised he may have given her cause to wonder just how well his social skills were progressing. He almost smiled, Sakura was the most invested in his emotional wellbeing and was always ecstatic to see perceived improvements. However in this case it was his ROOT interrogation training that served him. Elrond and Gandalf perhaps wished to soften their words, not for their sake, but for that of Frodo. However such coddling could not be allowed given the dangers ahead.

Elrond frowned imperceptibly but continued, "The Ring has some form of sentience as it is tied to Sauron – the only thing it desires is to return to him. It has terrifying power but it only works for its own ends. It poisoned the minds of those who held it while it waited for favourable circumstances. It gave the creature Gollum life far beyond the normal time but at the cost of truly living. It kept Frodo's uncle Bilbo in robust health well into his twilight years but altered his moods and gave him a deep, obsessive attachment that he will never truly escape. It manipulates those around it by whispering, promising whatever they desire."

Naruto twisted slightly to observe Frodo who had taken to wearing the Ring on a chain around his neck once it became his responsibility. Frodo flinched slightly under such an intense gaze but it was not the hobbit that interested the ninja.

"It whispers?" he asked, looking rather sceptically at where the Ring lay heavily against Frodo's chest beneath his shirt.

Gandalf nodded gravely when Naruto turned back to face him, "Yes, it speaks a dark tongue the like of which is too ugly for these halls but the words themselves are as nothing to the feeling of them, the sense."

"Has it speaken to you?" Naruto asked, still finding the tense changes of the common tongue more of a challenge than his companions.

"Indeed it has, I cannot touch the Ring but I have heard its voice impressing on me the power I could wield should I only use it," Gandalf replied.

Other members of the fellowship nodded and spoke in the affirmative. They had all heard the Ring reach out to them, testing them for weakness and an easily corruptible purpose. Boromir shifted uncomfortably. He had not wished to reveal the Ring's attempts to sway him but the way Sai had insisted on all those involved being privy to the same information had struck a chord in him. The true strength of any collective relied on effective communication. How often had a campaign failed and lives of his men lost for the want of information? How often had he brought sad tidings to the friends and families of those struck down in the service of Gondor for the want of fresh reconnaissance? Nay, he would not conceal this to spare his pride when it could lead to the downfall of his home.

"It speaks to me often," Boromir paused as they turned to him, he lowered his eyes to avoid meeting theirs, "At first it promised me wealth beyond the reckoning of even the kings of old, and I felt little."

Aragorn smiled then, a feeling of camaraderie easing the tension around his heart when Boromir had started speaking. The others were sharing a look of confusion so he spoke to show his support of Boromir's choice to admit to this, "Wealth that holds little appeal for a true soldier."

Boromir smiled bitterly down at the clenched fists on his lap, "Aye, and so for a while it was quiet. Then it began again. It shows me the destruction of Gondor, of lives lost on my account and the spread of the darkness our blood has kept in check. It tells me that I must use it, that all will be as dust if I do not. It fills my head so that I cannot think and fills my heart with such sorrow and rage that I feel I cannot bear it. Why does it target me so?"

The experience was clearly painful and Gandalf's expression was soft when he spoke, "It is because you are good and true, my boy. Ever has the will of Sauron been to corrupt the goodness left in this world. It targets you because you carry the weight of your home on your shoulders and there is no limit on what a man will do to protect what he loves. You became a soldier when you had barely seen your sixteenth winter. You became Captain-General hardly past your twenty-first. The fight against the darkness is all you have known and with your father's rule failing all look to you to protect them. Is this not so?"

Boromir raised his eyes quickly to meet Gandalf's and then returned them to his lap, unwilling to show just how that assessment had pierced his armour. Would they think him weak? A liability? Would he return in shame to face the father who bore such little resemblance to the man he remembered from childhood?

Gandalf continued, although he chose to pace the room rather than focussing so intently on Boromir, "And so you see my friends, that is the true and terrible power of the Ring. It would convince Boromir that he is drowning, pulled under by the weight of what is expected of him, and that it would be his only hope. You must fight it, Boromir, it would only lead you to ruin."

In the pause after Gandalf finished speaking Sakura observed Aragorn whose expression was of guilt on hearing the struggles of Boromir. However any more thoughts on the matter would have to wait until Naruto had said his piece to the Gondorian. Naruto was no stranger to the desire to protect his home and those he loved within it. The fact that the Ring would attempt to twist such a pure-hearted goal into something that would spell the destruction of everything good could not have made him angrier had it been invented purely to do so. Boromir had won himself dogged support from Naruto who Sakura suspected was projecting his unfilled desire to save Sasuke from the darkness onto the man.

"You are good, Boromir. You will succeed!" Naruto announced; his bright smile the symbol of the hope and optimism that seemed to be tied to his presence.

On seeing Boromir manage another of his lop-sided smiles at having the full force of Naruto's friendship directed at him Naruto nodded, satisfied for the moment. Boromir was heartened to see that Gimli gave him a nod of support, silently pledging his aid should it be required. Elrond and Gandalf shared an amused look while the other members of the fellowship looked on in slight bemusement. Sakura had mentioned to them that Naruto was known as the 'number one most unpredictable ninja' but it was certainly something to see for themselves.

Sai directed their attentions back to the present matter with the quiet observation that the Ring had not spoken to him. Sakura and Naruto agreed, they had heard nothing from the seemingly innocuous object that hung around Frodo's neck.

"It is likely that it is confused with your presence. Just as you do not understand how it speaks to us it does not understand where you have come from so it cannot as yet formulate an approach." Elrond said thoughtfully.

Gandalf's expression turned grim as he spoke, "I would not expect this good fortune to last. You are our allies and it will do whatever it is able to break the bonds that hold this company together. You must fight its influence as Boromir must. Should you succumb to its effects all may be lost."

The ninjas nodded, still oddly in sync with each other. Sai glanced out of the window and noticed the sun was getting lower in the sky and soon those present would want to break for a meal. The hobbits, he had noticed, had snuck a variety of foodstuffs into the room and had been eating almost continually throughout. Naruto was also starting to fidget in the way he did when forced to sit still for long periods. Before the air of candour in the room was lost he wished to start formulating a plan of attack.

"To destroy the Ring is the final aim. What is the first objective?" he asked.

Sakura and Naruto cast him fond half-smiles as he spoke. The fellowship fell silent for a moment; the more strategically minded examining the map as if to puzzle a path in their minds that they must follow.

Finally Aragorn spoke, choosing to voice his thought process aloud to involve the ninjas, "We must head south, that much I know at least."

"If we reach the Gap of Rohan we will be in safer lands. Théodred, Éomer and I were close in our boyhood and they will aid our passage south," Boromir added, confident in his friendships with the horse lords despite his father's fears.

Gandalf frowned, "I have heard dark rumours of an evil that sweeps Rohan. No doubt it is Saruman's doing but we may find that land is not safe as it once was."

"The Gap takes us too close to Isengard. If Saruman has succumbed to madness then he will have the lands watched," Aragorn noted.

The ninjas shared a gaze, communicating without words while the fellowship continued to debate.

"What do the scouts report?" asked Boromir, keen to push the idea of crossing through Rohan into Gondor and unwilling to let the matter go easily.

"The creatures of the enemy are multiplying. Elladan and Elrohir were accosted by a lone warg far closer to the border of these lands than ever before," Elrond informed them.

Aragorn chewed his lip, his brother's had told him this and he'd thought this then also, "A lone warg is a rare thing."

"Aye, and they said it was in health, well fed and uninjured – not one driven from a pack," Legolas mused, he'd also discussed this matter at length with the twins.

"The darkness can call on the aid of all fell creatures – our journey will be perilous," Gandalf added, more for the benefit of the ninjas than the others.

Gimli had moved from his seat and approached the map. He was less experienced in the dealings of unintelligent creatures than the elves and elf-kin, snorting softly to himself as he remarked to himself they had plenty of call for it what with living with each other. Tracing the passage south with his eyes he alighted on a possible safe port.

Turning he addressed the room which was still debating the intricacies of a warg-pack over the heads of the ninjas and hobbits. "What of Moria? My cousin Balin would gladly shield our passage should we call on him. We can approach Mordor from there, avoiding the Gap altogether."

The dead silence that met his words was a shock to the dwarf, as it was to the ninjas and the hobbits. All the colour had drained from Legolas' face and even Gandalf looked haunted by something only he could see. Naruto looked to Boromir but even he did not seem to understand what scared the others so.

Finally Gandalf spoke, "Nay Gimli, I would not travel through that place unless I had no other choice." On seeing the dwarf settle into a sturdier stance to argue he continued, "No one has had word from Balin in many years – you cannot bring the ring-bearer to such an uncertain place. I admit I fear that place, there are more than just orcs in the deep places of the world."

"We have a solution." Sakura's firm statement prevented the situation from degenerating and drew all attention to her.

Sai took over, sensing that as much as they respected Sakura they would take better subconsciously to a plan outlined by a man. Naruto merely nodded at the appropriate moments during Sai's explanation to add his weight behind it.

"You will go to the Gap of Rohan. If you will give us a map we will leave first and advance ahead of you. We will," here he paused searching for the correct word, "dispose of Saruman and clear this Gap for you to pass. Then we will rejoin you and go into Rohan together."

There was a long pause as the other members tried to work such a plan through in their heads. It was Gandalf who spoke first, "My friends, Saruman is a powerful enemy. I have no doubt you are strong but you could not hope to succeed by force."

Elrond's brow was creased fiercely, "Nay, it is folly."

Naruto momentarily forgot all of the decorum Tsunade and Sakura had been pounding into him for when he took over as Hokage and rolled his eyes, "We're not going to fight our way in."

Thankfully Naruto had forgotten to speak in the common tongue and while he was distracted nursing his near broken ribs from Sakura's heavy elbowing Sai fought to smooth relations over.

"Forgive Naruto, Elrond-sama. You speak of the shadows as your enemy but to a ninja they are a friend. We would enter his lands in secrecy and kill him without alerting his servants much less his warriors. It will be an assassination and it will not be glorious but he is too dangerous a foe. He would not fight you with honour so there is no reason to extend to him the courtesy."

"You can do that?" Pippin asked his eyes wide.

"Ninjas have always done the necessary but distasteful work," Sakura informed them, her voice solemn.

She could see that this had shaken the fellowship's perceptions of them but Sai was right – Saruman was too dangerous to be faced in the honourable combat of which these warriors were so fond. Gimli and Boromir seemed almost affronted by the plan but had been fighting the forces of darkness so long as to recognise the sense of the matter. Aragorn and the elves seemed of the opinion that it simply could not be done. The hobbits looked rather ill on being faced with the realities of a war.

"Do you truly believe you will succeed?" asked Gandalf.

Sai inclined his head, "I do Gandalf. We will travel light and arrive perhaps many days in advance of the fellowship. We will wait at the Gap if we are successful and retrace our path and find you should we fail."

"I do not like it. We will be too far behind to provide aid should you need it." Boromir was rubbing his beard and attempting to work out the travelling speed of a fellowship where five members had short legs. Gimli nodded in agreement.

"We should not need aid as they should not even know we are there." Naruto grinned at him, giving him the strange gesture of a curled fist and upwards thumb again.

"You are actually considering such a plan Boromir?" Aragorn asked, his tone shocked.

"The real folly would be to not utilise the skills they possess. Why should they be here if we would treat them the same as any from this land?" Gimli stated firmly. He had been very impressed with the skills they had shown the previous day even if he did consider such smoke and dagger techniques personally distasteful. Saruman was a dishonourable opponent and he saw no reason why honourable blood should be shed when he could be dealt with by their new allies.

The others hummed in agreement, it was a sensible point. Interrupting before a new wave of arguments could begin there was a knock at the door and an elf advised them dinner was being lain on the table.

Elrond nodded and once the servant had departed he addressed the ninjas, "We will consider this plan but I do not agree to it."

Sai smiled blandly, the unnatural fake smile he used when he wished to display annoyance, "With all due respect Elrond-sama, we will carry out this plan. Our mission is to aid you and we have been given clearance to do whatever we see fit to ensure you are safe. We will need more information about Saruman and his fortification."

Naruto clapped a hand on Sai's shoulder as he stood up and stretched, "Do not worry Elrond-sama! We are the best! Believe it!"

Elrond remained displeased but he could see that Gandalf and Aragorn were giving the plan serious consideration. If it were possible that they could succeed, it could well change their fortunes in this war.

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It was that night when Sakura first heard it. A dark whisper inside her mind. The fellowship had returned to Elrond's study after their meal and continued to iron out any flaws in their plan of action. Gandalf had advised them that they would wait until the last of Elrond's scouts returned before they set off. The ninjas would leave a day or two before the fellowship to ensure that there was enough time for the plan to be enacted and backup action to be taken should it fail. They had retreated to bed long after night had fallen and the oil was low in the lamps.

It was now the middle of the night judging by the weak moonlight pouring through her window and Sakura was awake. Her skin was crawling and she felt restless enough that she could barely contain herself. It seemed Gandalf had been right that it was only a matter of time before the Ring overcame its confusion at their presence and started its attempts at corruption. She could not understand how Boromir faced down this feeling without going mad. Pulling on one of the soft robes the elves had given her she crept to the door and opened it. Sai and Naruto were sharing a bedroom across the hall from her and she eased herself inside as silently as a shadow. As he eyes adjusted to the darkness she could Sai was already awake, his knees pulled up to his chest and his arms around them. Naruto was snoring away happily, sprawled across his bed as a starfish. Settling herself at Sai's side she leant against his headboard.

"You hear it too?" she whispered.

"Yes," he answered.

"What does it say to you?"

"That if I do not take it terrible things will happen. That I will lose you, Naruto and all that I have gained since I was given to Team 7. That I will be alone again."

"Oh Sai!" Sakura breathed, and laying her head on his shoulder and taking his hand, "You will never be alone again. Even if something happens to me and Naruto we'll always be in your heart. You aren't getting rid of us that easily."

He huffed a soft laugh and squeezed her hand, revelling in her support and looking fondly at the still sleeping Naruto. "What does it say to you?"

"The same. That I was not strong enough to save Sasuke, so how could I be strong enough to protect anyone else I love? It lies Sai – there is nothing I wouldn't do to keep you and Naruto, and Kakashi and Tsunade and Ino-pig and everyone else safe. I don't need it to know that."

"You never have to do anything alone," he stated softly.

Sakura gave him a watery smile, "As if I can do anything without you two idiots being involved."

"And that's how it will stay. Do you think it speaks to Naruto?"

"I don't think so; even Naruto wouldn't be able to sleep through it. You know Naruto though, he'll probably end up convincing it to drop this world domination stuff and become friends with him."

"Should we tell him?"

"We have to but I think it can wait 'til morning."

Getting up she pulled Sai over to Naruto's bed and shuffled the sleeping ninja over to one side so the two of them could get in beside him. It spoke volumes of how much Naruto trusted them that he barely woke up except to murmur it was too early and they were not to steal his covers. Surrounded by her two closest friends Sakura was able to ignore the low level buzz of awareness of the Ring and fall asleep. It took Sai a little longer as he was disappointed he had not pushed Sakura to tell him what was happening back in Konoha. However he had time enough to figure out that puzzle and so drifted off to the sounds of the deep even breathing of his friends.

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R/R!