Chapter 12 - The Traitor Revealed

Mammon and Mei had been missing for almost half a year at this point, with no success of finding them. However, nobody was giving up on finding them. At this point, Zack's arm had healed, but not fully, so he was still looking after Lilly while everyone else searched.

"I feel so pathetic." Zack was saying to himself. However, Lilly walked in and tugged on his shirt, just as he said it.

"Why does chu thinkies dat Zack?" She asked, tilting her head.

"No reason Lilly." He smiled softly and patted her head lightly. She giggled softly.

A while after the others had left to search for Mammon and Mei again, Nagato turned up he was acting strangely. Zack noticed this straight away and didn't let him get any closer to Lilly.

"You know something don't you?"

Nagato remained quiet.

"Well..."

"No." He said and started to leave. However, Zack wasn't letting him and threw a kunai at him, which pinned his jacket to a wall. If Nagato wanted to leave, Zack would find a way to stop him. "What do you want?"

"The truth."

"I told you the truth. I don't know anything."

"You don't know what I wanted to know though. That makes me think you have something to hide."

"Oh yeah..."

Zack just nodded. "Now tell me what you know and no lies." He growled.

After a few hours of endless searching, Kenny's mobile rang. It was Zack. Kenny blinked and looked at all the others. Itachi just nodded to him. He answered the call and blinked after listening to what his older brother had to say.

"Damn... You kidding me bro? Seriously?"

"What's going on Kenny?" Sasuke asked, slightly worried that maybe it was something to do with his sister.

Kenny hang up and looked at them. "Nagato... He was helping Hanzo... He's at Naruto's right now... Zack has him not able to escape... Lilly is safe just now..."

Sasuke breathed a slight sigh of relief. "I'm glad she's okay. We better get back to find out why Nagato has done this."

Everyone else just nodded in agreement.

As they all started to head back, Shiru stopped them. Maybe she had heard something, or was worried about something? Either way it seemed kinda important.

"Wait..."

"What is it?"

"Shouldn't some of us continue to look for Mammon and Mei, just in case it turns out to be a trap?"

"You're right, Shiru." A strange voice said out of nowhere. Everyone turned around, trying to find the source of the voice, with no success.

"Who are you?" She questioned.

"Show yourself!" Itachi shouted.

Out of nowhere, someone appeared right in front of them, grinning. "You've fallen right into Hanzo's trap." Without another word, he vanished.

Chapter 13 - The Nara Clan and The Kiss

Mammon had somehow managed to get his arms free and was now trying to get his legs untied so he could go and help out Mei. She was close to unconsciousness, but was just hanging on. She may seem weak to some people but boy, she was so not weak.

"Hang on Mei... Please" Mammon whispered, trying to get his legs free. He looked up, thinking that Hanzo would appear at any moment and tie his hands back up again, when he suddenly noticed that there wasn't just him and Mei there, there was also another girl - tied up, just like them. She wasn't as badly hurt as Mei, but she was hurt worse than him. Concerned, Mammon rushed to get free, wanting to help out both girls.

Everyone else had gathered back at Naruto's house, wanting answers from Nagato. Itachi, however, was not entirely sure Nagato had ratted them out to Hanzo and gotten Mei and Mammon captured. There was something inside him that was telling him that the real traitor was still at large. Whoever they were, they were going to find out and make them - and Hanzo - pay for what they had done. Not just to Lilly, but to Mammon, Mei and anyone else they had taken.

Sasuke was playing with Lilly, keeping her occupied, while everyone else talked. However, it wasn't that easy because she knew it would be her birthday in 2 days and she was way too excited.

"Big bwrother, what going on?"

"Nothing you need to worry about, sis."

She sighed a little, quietly. "Okaies."

Sasuke smiled and hugged her gently. She hugged him back and looked up at him. She hadn't asked anything about her parents since she was able to speak, but today for some reason, she did.

"Where mommy and daddy?"

He gulped a little and looked at Itachi, hoping for help.

"They're away doing work."

"But they been gone for 2 years." She may have only been turning 4 in two days, but she was quite bright.

"They will be back sis." Itachi lied, looking away. Sasuke looked at his brother, not happy about him lying to her, but knowing that just now, it was the best thing to do.

After hours of trying to get free, Mammon was eventually free and was now making sure that the two girls - Mei and someone else that he hadn't noticed before - were alright. He went to the girl who wasn't as badly hurt as Mei and started to heal her.

"I-I'm Mammon... W-What's your name?" He questioned, slightly shy and quiet - mostly, not wanting to talk normal in case Hanzo heard him.

"Momo." She said weakly.

"Nice to meet you. What clan you from?"

"Nara. P-Please help me find save my older brother, Jack, from Hanzo's control."

Mammon nodded. "Of course."

After he had healed, and set Momo free, he headed over to Mei and started to help her. Momo kept a watch out for any signs of Hanzo coming.

"M-Mei... You still with us?"

She managed to nod.

"Good.. You'll be fine soon." He continued to heal her, while trying to get her talking, so that he knew she was actually alright.

"Ma-Mammon..." She managed to weakly say.

"I'm here Mei and I'm not going anywhere."

"D-Don't leave..."

"I won't." He said, blushing lightly and leaned close to her, gently kissing her lips.

Mei blushed.

He kept healing her and looked away, blushing more. "S-Sorry..."

"I-It's okay." She smiled softly.

Lilly's birthday was almost upon them, although, everyone else was too preoccupied with trying to locate and save Mammon and Mei. Lilly realized this and headed up to the room she had been staying in for the past two years.

As she entered her room, she sat on her bed, looking out of the window, as tears fell down her face. One question was running through her mind and it was causing her to cry; Where were her parents and were they alright?

Cecilia had noticed she had gone and headed upstairs. She gently knocked on the door and looked in. When she seen Lilly looking out of the window, she walked in and gently hugged her.

"What's wrong, sweetie?" Cecilia would always try act like a mother to Lilly.

"N-Nothing." She sniffled.

"Please tell me."

"I-I miss my mommy and daddy."

"They miss you too Lilly. Remember that."

Lilly nodded and continued to look out the window, she kinda felt like someone, somewhere, was watching her.

Chapter 14 - A Birthday and Some Shocking Truth

Mammon picked up Mei in his arms - after healing her - looked and Momo, nodding and headed out, hoping not to run into Hanzo.

"I will get you back." Mammon said, looking down at her in his arms, blushing.

"I-I know you will." Mei quietly said. She was still slightly weak.

"Sleep."

She nodded, closing her eyes. Momo remained silent and walked with them.

After a few long minutes of walking, they got back to the village. Lilly was playing around and seen them. She smiled and ran over and hugged Mammon, looking at Mei worried.

"You're back!" She giggled.

"Yeah." Mammon smiled. "Mei needs some rest... She was badly hurt."

"By who?" She blinked and tilted her head.

"Hanzo."

"Oh." She looked down, thinking that the only reason Mei had got taken and hurt, along with him, was because of her. He smiled and ruffled up her hair.

"Don't worry, little one." She giggled lightly, before looking at Momo, blinking.

"Who's dis?" She questioned, looking at Momo.

"I'm Momo Nara." She blinked and tilted her head, looking at Lilly. "Who are you?" She continued.

"Lilly Uchiha." She smiled.

As they all headed back to Naruto's, someone came out of a alleyway and grinned at them. Momo gasped - she must have recognised the stranger. Mammon looked at Lilly, who hid behind him, then at the stranger.

"What do you want?"

"My little sister."

"You're not getting her!" Mammon snapped.

"Oh but I will." The stranger smirked. Momo stopped Mammon with a shake of her head, walking towards the stranger.

"Brother... Why are you helping him? Why are you not trying to look after me more?" She spoke quietly and gently.

"I am doing this TO protect YOU!" He shouted, it looked as if tears were in his eyes. "I only agreed to help him, because he told me he would kill you if I didn't... I'm sorry Momo."

"It's fine Jack. As long as you stop all this," She smiled, hugging her older brother. "For me." She continued.

Jack nodded. "Anything for you sis."

As they reached Naruto's, Sasuke came rushing out and picked up Lilly. He looked oddly happy today. She noticed this, as did the others.

"Why you so happy Sasuke?" Mammon questioned.

"Come inside and you'll find out." He smiled, covering Lilly's eyes.

"What chu doing big brother?" She asked.

"It's a surprise." He giggled, looking at Mammon, Mei, Momo and Jack, giving them a motion to 'be quiet'. Mei was awake at this point and she immediately knew why they were to be quiet and giggled.

As they all headed inside, Itachi and Naruto were just finishing decorating the room with streamers, banners and such, while Shiru and Cecilia where finishing cooking in the kitchen. Nagato was sitting outside, alone, as everyone believed he was the traitor, which he actually wasn't. Mammon headed upstairs and placed Mei in her bed to rest, while Sasuke took Lilly into the living room, keeping her eyes covered. Momo and Jack looked around the place trying to figure out what was going on, when suddenly it dawned on them that it was a party for Lilly.

Hours after the party, Lilly was clearly tired and needing to go to bed, she had ended up being up later than she should have. It was 9pm and Itachi carried his sister up to her room, as she snuggled against him, slowly falling asleep.

"Sis.. We've got one more thing to tell you.." Itachi said, with a lump in his throat. Sasuke was right beside him and was starting to tear up. "It's about mom and dad."

"What about mommy and daddy?" She blinked, looking at her brothers. "They're okaies... right?" She had slight tears in her eyes, as she had heard the sadness in her oldest brothers voice.

"Sis... Mom and dad... they're.." Sasuke started to say, but he just couldn't finish the sentence and cried.

"They were killed sis. Mom and dad are gone." Lilly blinked, as tears filled her eyes.

"G-Gone?" She sniffled, looking from one brother to the other. The both nodded, tears in there eyes.

Sasuke had taken Lilly from his brother and was comforting her before placing her in her bed to try get some sleep. Itachi had stayed behind, while his brother headed back downstairs to help everybody else tidy up.

"H-How did mommy and daddy die?" Lilly asked him, sniffling and yawning.

"They were killed by someone sis. Who we don't know but somehow they didn't kill Sasuke, you or me." Itachi lied, not ever having wanting to lie to her but knowing that what they had told her just now was enough for today. He would wait a little longer before telling her that it was all his fault their parents were dead.

Someone approached Hanzo later on, bowing and told him everything which they had heard. Hanzo was pleased with this information and smirked.

"Well well Itachi... you eventually start to tell her the truth... but there is still some truth to be uncovered..." Hanzo laughed a little, evilly. "And she will find out soon." He continued, laughing more and laughing darkly.

Chapter 15 - The Rude Awakening

As more months - years even - passed, Lilly had not asked anymore about how her parents had died, she was still however, trying to get to grips with the fact that she would never fully know her parents and that she would miss them with all her heart. She started to walk around the village more on her own, although even though she didn't know it, her brothers were always watching her, making sure she was safe, especially since Hanzo was still at large.

Lilly was just a year from starting studying at the Ninja Academy, that her brothers had previously studied at, and she was trying her best to learn some of the basic things her brothers knew and would actually teach her. However, that was harder than it appeared, as her brothers weren't always up for teaching her anything. They didn't want her to get hurt. Cecilia, however, would sometimes teach her the occasional move, along with Naruto.

Mammon, Mei, Kuroryu and Kenny weren't around as much anymore as they were now studying at the academy, however, they four were smarter than they appeared and would probably not be in the academy when Lilly started.

Hanzo was always watching them, waiting for the right moment to get Lilly once again. Although, that wasn't going to be as easy as the first time. Lilly was more aware of what was going on around her and she knew very well that someone was always watching her.

"I will get you once again girl." Hanzo would sometimes mutter to himself. However, this one time, he said it just as someone walked in.

"Don't worry Hanzo. You will get her in a few months." The figure stood in the shadows but there was really no need for him to stand there, as Hanzo knew who it was straight away.

"And how is that..." Hanzo grinned. "Tell me.. Jack."

Jack Nara walked out of the shadows, a evil grin on his face.

"She'll be starting the academy within the year, but thing is, none of her friends or family will be studying at the academy at the same time as she is. She'll be all alone."

"Big brother Sasuke!" Lilly shouted, running up to him. He picked her up and blinked.

"Yes sis, what's wrong?"

"Cecilia has vanished." She sounded rather upset about it.

"Oh no... Does anyone else know she's missing?"

Lilly shook her head. "She was going to be showing me some new basic moves." She continued.

"Alright well let's let everyone else know and we'll try find her." Sasuke looked around, feeling like someone was taching them. "Did you look where she told you to meet her?" Lilly nodded. "Alright let's head back and tell the others."

Lilly nodded in agreement with her older brother. "Oh wait, I forgot... Jack Nara has gone missing as well and his sister, Momo, is worried that something has happened to him."

Sasuke had a feeling that all of this was the work of Hanzo, but he wasn't wanting to scare her.

Itachi was looking around the village, wearing what seemed like a Akatsuki uniform, he was always making sure that nobody suspicious was walking around the village. On one of the days, that was growing closer to Lilly starting the academy, Itachi and Sasuke decided and actually agreed that Lilly should see what was once their home. As that day grew closer, Lilly wasn't able to sleep one night. A strange dream happened and it was not a nice one.

Lilly was dreaming that her brothers were trying to kill her, for no reason whatsoever, and everyone else was just watching, laughing and letting them carry on. Although, they weren't doing it because they wanted to, she could see that plainly, mostly because as they were trying to kill her, there were tears in their eyes. Someone was controlling them from the shadows, and she was sure it was Hanzo.

During the night, Lilly woke screaming and her brothers came rushing in to see if everything was alright. However, because of the rude awakening she had, she wasn't trusting her brothers much anymore and was slightly scared of them.

"Sis?" Sasuke slowly walked towards her. She was shaking and backed away slightly, so he stopped where he was. "What's wrong?"

"G-Get a-away from m-me..." She stuttered, scared.

"Sis, are you alright? What's gotten into you?" Itachi questioned, slowly approaching her.

"S-STAY A-AWAY!" She shouted, tears in her eyes. She got up, ran past them and out of the house.