Playlist: Spies (Coldplay), The Sharpest Lives (My Chemical Romance), Next in Line (Meese), Bleed Like Me (Garbage), and Drifters (Patrick Watson).

The great thing in this world is, not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

…

Twisted Road

…

The gates of Rain Country had been reduced to a pile of rubble ten feet high. It was nothing like Kakashi had remembered. In times of war, a village's walls were indestructible, untouchable. Never before had he seen this kind of devastation. These walls had been ripped down without retaliation. They had been abandoned.

"Hinata, look for hidden opponents. I'll find Shikamaru." Neji scanned the area.

The skin puckered around their eyes and Hinata leapt onto a higher pile of concrete and metal braces. There wasn't a soul around them. The remains weren't being defended. The rubble wasn't being disputed over. There was hardly even sign of a struggle.

"I see Shikamaru. He and Gaara are north of here." The Hyuuga noted his cousin shaking her head. "There isn't anyone here, let's move out."

Kakashi took his place next to Neji. "Rain nin like ambushes so be on your guard. Move quickly. We don't want to draw their attention. Hinata, you keep us on track. Kiba, find them before they find us."

Kiba rolled his eyes. "Look at this place. No one's here."

Kakashi's eyes squinted in a chilling smile. "They will be."

The team nodded silently and began running along the wall with their inhuman speed. The further north they went, the more bodies started appearing. The dust had already settled, the fighting had ended here long ago. The shinobi passed by ditches where they would be thrown. The corpses were stacked respectfully and covered. It didn't help much with the smell.

The odor of burning bodies, the thick metallic tang of blood, and the remains of gunpowder was lifted into the air by their movement. War. They had never seen it before and they would never forget it. It would mar their memories until the day they died.

"To the left!" Kiba's voice roared through their silence. All heads turned as Akamaru fell upon an unsuspecting shinobi. A sickening orchestra of snaps and cracks followed and the soldier hit the ground. The nine geniuses of Konoha were upon the hoard of ninja before they could alert one another.

Kakashi paused as his three victims fell and looked up. From the row of rooftops, dozens of shinobi leapt out. Fifty, maybe more, were in midair, about to swallow their team.

A cloud of black was between them in an instant. Buzzing was suddenly drowning out every sound.

"Kiba." Shino's droning voice came from an unknown direction and was quickly followed by Kiba and Akamaru's animalistic cry. Two spiraling forms broke through the cloud that was blinding and tearing it's targets to shreds. The two wove in and out of bodies, splattering blood on the dusty road before they even hit the floor.

The first wave landed right on top of Hinata and Neji. That was a mistake on their part. The duo started taking out chunks of their numbers with gentle fist.

"Chouji! Cover me!"

Chouji glanced around. Lee was standing still, his head down. The chakra inside of him was condensing. He wasn't paying attention to the team of nin about to strike.

"Seimon!"

"Bubun Baika no Jutsu!"

Just as a pulse of chakra came off of Lee, Chouji's enlarged arm shot past and knocked the enemy nin away. Lee's skin was quickly becoming very red.

"Hold them off, Chouji!"

"No need to tell me twice." His swung his other arm to keep away the recovering troupe while smashing a shinobi as he was making hand signs. "Hurry up!"

"Shoumon!"

Chouji was just about to swing again when the earth beneath him was torn open. He lost balance for a moment.

"Doryuu Katsu!" A small woman off to the side had her hands together. She caught Chouji's eyes and lifted her hand. The ground beneath them rippled and moved with her, throwing Chouji twenty feet. Lee was defenseless.

"Lee, get moving!" A furious female voice came from behind as a hail of weapons crisscrossed around the enemy nin. The kunoichi flicked her finger up and a rock wall blocked the attack TenTen had unleashed.

Lee's head lifted. The woman's companions were rising. They dove at him, imagining that their numbers could outdo him. Lee spun, knocking one in the jaw. Blood spewed from his mouth and he was launched into another. Three more surrounded Lee in an instant.

"Get off me!" He flipped in the confined space, his foot jammed into one and he kicked off to get one in the gut, another punch in the face. They fell back.

"Tomon!"

Lee vanished.

The soldiers looked around, disoriented. Suddenly he was in four places at once, striking them all at once. His body flickered in and out. They only had seconds to take in his red skin and bushy brows before the lights went out for good.

TenTen was high above them, scrolls swirling around her. She scanned her hand over them as they fluttered past and weapons appeared from clouds of white. They threw themselves at idle opponents trying to make sense of the unfortunate circumstances they had stumbled upon. Ino was standing behind her, uninjured and inactive. She leaned forward on anxiously, ready to join in.

"You should just stay here. You're at a disadvantage."

"I know." Ino stepped back. A platoon was running to their position, weapons ready. "I'll watch your back. Take out that woman using earth jutsu!"

The kunoichi dropped from the roost and hit the ground. Ino threw her hands into a jutsu and seven clones charged. She got a good look at the nin as they battled her doubles. They were very young. It was clear that the main threat was the leader, probably their teacher.

She was just about to cast a Genjutsu when a wall of rock hit her. Her back hit the tower her friend was firing from with a little grunt.

"TenTen! I told you to watch the earth jutsu!"

"I am!"

Ino looked back at the enemy. Her clones had all but disappeared in puffs of smoke. The nin had her cornered. Ino stood. It was him. He was casting it.

It made sense that one of Rain's forces could possibly use earth jutsu due to kekkei genkai, but two? It didn't seem possible. Rain was known for its extensive variety of water jutsu yet she hadn't seen any of the use it from this miniature army.

"Shinranshin no Jutsu!" Two of the nin stopped in their tracks. Their eyes moved around, terrified as their bodies began attacking their former teammates.

Only the captain remained unoccupied.

Ino ran to the side as another wall of rock sent out to squash her. She leapt high onto the side of a building only to have it collapse under her. She pushed off before the concrete could clamp down on her legs and landed roughly. Her ankle wasn't pleased with the sudden stop and pain shot through her legs. She ran. Running eliminated the pain. She was lucky they weren't sprained. If she went any slower, the churning waves of rock and rubble would have her in a second.

She was at a disadvantage. When coming to Rain they had expected midrange attacks. Water doesn't have power from a distance. It has to stay close to one source. But earth could be used at any distance, preferably long range. That didn't suit Ino's style at all.

Her thoughts distracted her. The earth rose in thick panels, blocking her escapes as the rock behind got closer, inches from her flying legs.

"Suiryuudan no Jutsu."

Above her, as the two deadly forces were about to collide with her in the middle, a giant dragon of water hovered.

There was the water jutsu she had been expecting. She was about to be killed from three directions.

The water shot at her and she anticipated the painful pressure it would bring before crushing her. She shut her eyes. When it hit, it stung everywhere. Her feet were swept out from under her. Her hearing, which had been filled with earth grinding against earth, was cut off and immersed in nothingness.

She opened her eyes again in the water. She expected to see the shadows of rock shutting out her last glimpse of sunlight, but instead stared straight into it. She was high in the air and encased in the water, not crushed by it.

The dragon retracted, releasing her where the ground had not been destroyed. The water pulled back over the open canal and dropped.

"You should know how to pick your fights by now, Ino."

The blond ran to the desecrated wall and looked over the railing where the water surrounding the city was being channeled. A column of water came out of the darkness with Kakashi riding on top.

From all of the canals serpents of water lifted their heads and beams of high pressure water were released upon the enemy.

"They're Rock nin." Kakashi appeared out of nowhere behind her and the kunoichi jumped. "They're trying to take over Rain. I'm guessing they thought both forces would be exhausted and rendered defenseless. They didn't know that no one was home to fight back."

Ino's brows scrunched. "What about Shikamaru?"

"I sent Pakkun to alert them. We just need to hold our own until they get here with reinforcements."

She surveyed the battleground. The captain that had almost killed her was lying near his team. They were all unconscious or dead. TenTen was still gunning down from afar. Just beyond Ino could see Hinata. Her hands were glowing, streams of chakra piercing through the platoons surrounding her. Her eyes were sad, but serious. Even gentle Hinata was capable of fighting.

The sound of a drill grinding the ground screeched in their ears. Ino and Kakashi witnessed Kiba plunge into a wall of living earth. He busted through. Only to meet the spear waiting for him. The impact shook the bridge they stood on and dust flew into the air around him.

"Kiba!"

Kakashi looked at the blonde. "Let's go."

They ran through the flying kunai. Kakashi's clones gathered in front of him, defending Ino, and pushed through a squad. They trailed them only to be knocked back again by a giant fist. Chouji's arm swung over them. Ino bent down and it brushed her hair. The three teams ahead of her and Kakashi were hooked and thrown into the water.

Kiba's fallen form was seconds away.

The silver haired man turned around to face the awaiting shinobi. Ino stumbled to her teammate's body, her hand already glowing green. She turned him over and felt around his body. It wasn't serious, but he was losing consciousness.

"Kiba, come on, Kiba! Stay with me for a bit. Just a minute. Come on." She smacked his cheek for a moment until his eyes rolled back to life. "Come on. Talk to me. What happened?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine." His arm waved dizzily in the air. "I'm fine…"

Ino gave him a hard slap. "What happened?"

His eyes widened and he looked at her. "That hurt. Don't hit your patients."

She put both her hands on his chest and they glowed softly. "What happened? Is anyone else hurt?"

"No. Everyone's fine. I just messed up." He looked away sheepishly. "There's a woman with a blood limit in the middle of the field. I wanted to bust through, but she was ready for me. It's amazing, like the rock is alive. It's adapting to us."

"Where is she?"

He pointed. There were jagged rocks rising and falling all around one petite woman. Her arms were thin but as they fluttered, a thousand stones would be flung at the shinobi. Kakashi's serpents of water kept her attacks at bay, but it was clear she would win a fight when it came to endurance. Her body was perfectly in tune to the rock. It curled around her legs like an obedient pet and blocked every angle TenTen tried to get on her. She wasn't even emitting chakra signals any more. Her body was completely connected to the earth.

"She's stationary." Ino's eyes glittered happily.

"What?"

The kunoichi looked back at her friend. He was hurt, but his stamina was helping immensely with healing. "Are you alright on your own?"

He got to his feet and stretched. "I'm dandy." He gave her a toothy smirk.

"Does she have an opening?"

"That's what I was aiming for. There's one spot she always has open. She can't turn easily and it's the best vision she has. It's well defended." He gave her a playful sideward glance. His mood was very bright considering the circumstances. "You want in on the action?"

Ino couldn't help but smile back. "Yeah. I'm tired of sitting on the side lines." Ino touched the mike strapped to her neck. "I have an idea." She spoke into it. "TenTen, Kakashi?"

There was static, then an answer from TenTen. "What is it?"

"I need you to hit her blind side with everything you have. Kakashi? Can you hear me?"

She watched the shinobi from a far. He was distracted by a small armada but managed to wave his hand. The serpents suddenly went for the kunoichi's back. Kakashi's interest was in the two teams she was defending as they took out his clones one by one.

"Kiba?"

Akamaru's bark made them look up. He hit the ground and bounced lightly on his feet. Kiba grabbed Ino's waste and put her on the beast. "I'll get you close."

"You'll keep me still." She wagged her finger as he hopped on behind her.

The animal launched off the ground, bounding across rocks and enemies. Ino blocked a few kunai as they landed in sight of the kunoichi. Her eyes were darting from side to side as she strained to feel where her attackers were. There were jagged rocks all around her, ready to sense a strike form the front, but Ino's spiritual energy wouldn't be stopped.

"Keep me steady." She released her grip on Akamaru's fur and put her hands into the sign of her clan's most famous jutsu. "Shintenshin no Jutsu!" Her eyes shut and her body slumped in Kiba's arms. Akamaru quickly leapt off the rock, retreating to protect the woman's limp form.

The little woman froze. The rocks came to a stop.

Kiba's voice came loud and clear. "Stop attacking!"

The little woman's hands clenched and unclenched. The rocks moved accordingly, as if breathing quietly. Ino was in control.

She looked around in the small body she had been jammed into. The Rock nin were watching her curiously.

"Why have you stopped?" One of them demanded.

The petite girl smiled sweetly. "Oh, I'm sorry."

She lifted her hand and slung it across. A rumble erupted around her and a whirlpool of stone began pulling in the shinobi that had once been her teammates. The twenty or so enemy nin watched in horror as their own secret weapon turned against them. The possessed girl twiddled her fingers and an earthquake knocked them back. TenTen's focus turned on the others and Kakashi's serpents pushed through the defense jutsu they cast.

Hinata rejoined Shino as his bugs returned to him. There was no need to assist now that Ino had control. Kiba landed beside his teammates and they watched Kakashi and Lee chase after the escaping nin. Neji's opponent fell and he quickly followed them.

"Way to go, Ino!" Kiba ruffled her soulless body's hair. He grinned proudly at its new frizzed and tangled appearance.

The little girl shouted from afar. "I don't know what you just did, Kiba, but if I come back and something is missing or wrong with me, I'll kill you." Her voice chimed unfamiliarly with Ino's aggressiveness and earned a laugh from her companions.

Ino removed the braces on the girl's legs and took a step. The jutsu ended immediately, the unsteady cave around her collapsed and she jumped away.

She walked to her companions in the body of the child and looked at the knotted blond hair Kiba was trying to straighten. Chouji waltzed to the dogs and picked up Ino's body.

She sighed a little angel's sigh, then growled. "Just forget it." It didn't sound half as menacing as she had hoped.

Kakashi returned with Lee soon enough and TenTen skidded down to Neji's side.

"That went well." Neji had a small smirk in place. TenTen bumped him and they exchanged smiles.

Kakashi dusted himself off. "They'll be back with friends."

Kiba's head snapped up and he sniffed. He looked behind them and chuckled. "Too bad." A familiar scent just blew past. "We may not get as much action this time around."

All of them turned to look as Shikamaru and Gaara approached. Behind them a few dozen shinobi stood armed for battle.

Shikamaru strode up to Kakashi and Neji. "I see you didn't really need help."

Kakashi shook his head. "With help we would have fished that much sooner."

"Coming from the man who is late to every occasion." Neji interjected. "We were lucky. It was an inexperienced group and they were taken by surprise. Their jutsu could have done some real damage. Had they been trained well, we might not have won without sacrifice." He looked around at the teams. "There was one with a strong blood limit. It looked easy, but it took a lot of trust and timing." Ino beamed from the little girl's body. Her innocent face stood out amongst the Sand and Fire nin.

Gaara approached the child. "This is her?"

"Yes." Ino meshed her fingers. "Kai." The little girl dropped to the ground and the kunoichi in Chouji's arms jerked. He put her down gingerly, keeping an arm around her just in case.

Ino's voice rejoined them, loud and mature. "What will you do with her?"

"It depends on the girl." Gaara motioned and a soldier picked her up. "We won't kill her unless she proves to be dangerous."

Shikamaru turned to Kakashi, his face serious. "Aren't you looking for Sakura and Naruto? Are they around here?"

"No. Their trail vanished. But if Naruto is trying to settle the Kyuubi, he'll no doubt come to the people causing the problem."

"Good luck to him when he gets here." Shikamaru gave an exasperated sigh. Kakashi lifted a silver eyebrow. "Ame is empty of most of the Akatsuki as well as the soldiers. The villagers have already been moved by our forces. We're just fighting the Rock nin now."

"I see… You said most?"

"Our scouts have seen a paper woman and a man with orange hair in their robes. They are in the center of the city. It looks that all of the remaining Rain nin escaped somehow. Mutiny is the only excuse we can think of."

Neji joined in, "Why haven't you attacked them yet?"

Gaara answered. "They have put up summoned beasts as defense. The Rock nin have interfered mostly. They may be inexperienced, but their numbers rival ours and reinforcements come very quickly." He looked at the battlefield for a split second. "We should probably move. More will be coming soon."

The new additions to the Konoha shinobi looked sullen. They suppressed their questions and followed the Kazekage to their makeshift post. Temari and a handful of others ran to their sides. A medic attended the wounded and others demanded information about the area they had fought at. Who was there? How many? Were there more coming? Standard procedure that each and every one of the Konoha nin were memorizing. Communication could make or break a victory.

The place was buzzing with commands and soldiers. They were all gathering. Hundreds of shinobi from both Wind and Fire stood in formation. It was a force to be reckoned with.

The Kazekage spoke. "We are preparing to attack." He explained briefly before turning to one of his awaiting officers. "Set aside nine squadrons to take out the Iwa nin. Prepare the rest in waves according to range and experience. Send in the elites first, then Jounin, then Chuunin. If they are not ready, they will stay behind and defend this position."

"What's going on?" Ino wobbled closer.

Gaara answered confidently. "We're going to storm the stronghold."

All eyes turned. Some were exhilarated, some were petrified. None of them knew what was waiting. The majority had only heard of the Akatsuki's powers in stories and by witnessing their own leader fall at the hands of a single man. Instinct ran deep in them, though not deep enough to make them run.

Gaara looked to the nine, Neji, Kakashi, and Ino in front. "We need you to lead the front in. You are the largest team we have. Your skills and knowledge of the Akatsuki will give us strength."

Kiba almost rolled his eyes. Of course. They were the cream of the crop, after all. Under the rim of his cloak, Shino couldn't help but grin. The bugs creeped on his skin excitedly. Hinata settled her thoughts. Her group had never fought the Akatsuki personally, but she knew they couldn't lose. Their team dynamics were unmatched. It was a fight that they could compete in. Neji, Lee, and TenTen stood close. Their energy surged as one. These friends and comrades their trust, and this team had their backs in return.

Chouji glanced at Ino. Her female form was shaking slightly. She was at a disadvantage here. Her gifts and reliance on teamwork had made her soft in other ways. She was reliant. She was attached. She wasn't ready. The shinobi looked at his best friend, the leader of Konoha's forces.

"Shikamaru…" Chouji strode up, placing his words next to the man's ear. "Ino shouldn't go."

His eyes widened. His mouth opened slightly in shock. "What's wrong?"

"She's not ready for war. She can't fight in this."

Shikamaru drew back his head and looked into his teammate's face. "Are you sure."

Chouji looked torn, but he knew he was right. "Ino's specialties won't favor the situation. She's a medic. Keep her busy here."

"What about you?" Concern laced his tone.

Chouji gave a squinting smile. "I'm a big boy, I can handle myself."

Shikamaru checked his eyes, moving back and forth between them. "If you're certain."

"I am."

He sighed. "How troublesome… I'm coming with you. I won't leave you to fight alone." He looked back at Gaara. "I'm headed to the front."

The red head's face lifted. "As am I. I will lead Suna's soldiers in."

"Let's show them how it's done." Temari gave a demented smirk.

Shikamaru and Gaara grasped hands and grinned. Something passed between the two.

"I'll see you in a bit."

Gaara nodded and vanished with the dozen or so waiting for him. He landed far off, high above his soldiers and his voice boomed over them. Shikamaru turned to his former team as the others became occupied with the usually soft spoken Kazekage.

Ino felt Shikamaru's gaze and looked. A twinge of fear hit her stomach. Something was wrong. Both Chouji and Shikamaru stepped toward her.

"Ino, I need you to stay behind and watch after the wounded."

Her face blanched. "Wh-What?"

"I know your style. You use stealth and trust. But in this situation, you are surrounded by people that don't know your ability. Even though you are on the same side, they might accidentally kill the person you are possessing. I can't risk you being in the front line."

The woman's jaw dropped. Her stomach churned sickly. Pain in her every blink, her every heartbeat. "You… y-you can't… I'm a part of this team… I'm a part of this fight… For Sakura! And Naruto! For Tsunade… You can't do this to me." Small tears started to form. "I want to fight."

Shikamaru's face turned cold. "You won't. Stay here. Help the people in need. You are still here for Naruto and Sakura, just not where we'll be bleeding…" He chuckled. As the sound hit his ears, he feeling a stone sink in his gut. Sadness, regret. Separation. "You will stay." He reached for her. She was frozen and couldn't jerk away as he put his arms around her. "Don't follow us," He pleaded as if reading her plan of action, "Stay here."

He took away his arms. Ino felt her legs shaking. They were leaving her. "Don't go…"

Chouji quickly embraced her as well, big and tight. He couldn't say any more. The next words they uttered would break her.

They both took steps back to see if she would move. She didn't. She stared at the ground, lost in though.

Shikamaru exhaled and breathed. "Please be safe." The two turned. "Bye, Ino."

She stood numbly as they became only dots in her peripheral. Other's came to her side, giving her directions to the med tent. She took steps, but she couldn't feel impact with the ground. All she could register was the feeling of their arms around her as they abandoned her. The sound of Tsunade's voice as her idol pushed her away. Sakura's letter as her best friend fled from her.

There was one strong memory. The last sight of one man. The last touch: cold hand, toneless voice, furrowed brow, pale skin, bitter eyes, and tight lips. The last moment when he broke her heart. When Sai broke her heart.

Turned away from. Abandoned, pushed, and broken. Her team, her idol, her friend, and him.

They all fell from her fingers once again and glinted light, burning her eyes with tears, and shattered like glass at her feet.

Sasuke rested on his back in the grass as Sakura paced back and forth impatiently. The sun was passing its peak in the sky, placing a thin coat of sweat on her face and neck. The heat wouldn't bother her if she were flying through the forest. But, instead, Sasuke was taking the opportunity to nap. His shadow eyes shut lightly.

The crunching of her feet on the grass woke him.

"The only reason we've stopped is to rest."

Sakura continued to pace. "Then rest."

"You're too loud, Sakura." He stared accusatively at the small beaten path she had created.

"Am I?" She stopped, staring down at his onyx eyes. Her head cast a shadow over his face and he squinted while looking up at her small, apologetic smile. He watched her walk around his head and sit beside him a few feet away. The shade covered her head, setting patterns of leaves across her chest and shoulders.

"I don't like waiting around. It makes me nervous."

He rolled his eyes. "More than you already are?"

Sakura grunted and turned her head. It was true that Sakura's hallucinations were becoming more regular. Whenever she took the night shift, she could start to panic and they would both stay awake the whole night. Exhaustion slowed them down more than the naps did, so they compromised. Sakura didn't take the night shift and Sasuke got time to sleep in the day time.

Sakura wasn't too disappointed at this seemingly waste of time. Being lookout in the day had its perks. She got to watch Sasuke's sleeping face as much as she wanted and she could poke fun at him if he drooled or snored—which he had yet to do.

The kunoichi hummed mindlessly, and stretched. They were close to the clinic where Itachi was going to. Sasuke had filled her in on the details. The clinic was run by a wandering doctor. None of the Uchiha had met him except Itachi. Even thought Itachi had reported any valuable information about the old man, everything was kept secret for the safety his civilian status and only a few records speak of the location. It was close to Konoha, but far enough to be left alone.

Sasuke's eyes flickered open. Sakura rose as he did.

"Are you ready?"

She smiled. "Lead the way."

Sasuke and Sakura ran side by side into the forest. The density of trunks was the famous trademark of Fire Country. The trees acted like brothers, tied together by the same seeds, united by knotting roots. Their leaps were close together, often landing on the same branch. It was a strange feeling for Sakura. She had never been this in tune with Sasuke's movements. She felt like part of a squad again, like she had been with him for years instead of days.

He formed to her habits as well. It was subtle, but Sakura could tell. In his own way, he was conditioning Sakura so that she could hold her own and stay clear of him when he struck. The more familiar they were with one another, the more successful they would be. He had gradually accepted her. He said her name more casually now.

Sakura had found a friend in him again. Sasuke was capable of things more than battle and hate and revenge. Even if his face was controlled and unmoved, his words and his actions connected their little threads to her and acknowledged her.

…

Night fluttered in through clouds and the setting sun. The moon appeared out of nowhere in the blue turned black, big and yellow. Sakura's stomach grumbled. Soldier pills only took you so far.

"We'll stop for food in the next check point." He took the map that was sticking slightly out of her backpack and pointed to it in relation to the clinic. It was the closest town to it. Sakura followed his thought pattered easily. Sasuke wanted to check and see if a man was buying food for two additional mouths. "You should mask your hair. Hoods will be too conspicuous today."

Sakura nodded and chakra seeped to her skull, turning the short pink to a darker red. It was natural looking and took little chakra. Even if it drew the eye, it was better than peach pink.

Sasuke cast a simple Genjutsu, changing his skin tone and eye color. She watched the fabric of illusion cover him and turn his Sharingan to a peaceful honey brown.

Their control would give nothing away.

They walked close in the crowded streets. It had been wise to hide. There were shinobi everywhere. Their cold eyes gazed at the people, watching for suspicious folk like the pair waltzing right past.

Sasuke pulled her into the first place that smelt of cooking meat. It was a small bar. A waiter addressed them as they sat at the table furthest from any of the windows, closest to the kitchen door just in case a quick escape was necessary. Sasuke ordered for them both quickly, ushering away the waiter subtly. The shinobi waited until the man had gone through the swinging door before standing.

He leaned close to Sakura and muttered softly. "I'll be back."

Her face flushed for only a moment before he sped off to the other side of the room. His grace made him invisible. He pushed open the door labeled "man's room" just enough for Sakura to see the window in it. It was the perfect size to crawl out of.

Sasuke was going to investigate.

The kunoichi relaxed a little in the chair, leaning back on two legs and putting her head against the wall. Her sensitive hearing caught all of the clanks and bangs in the busy kitchen and she shut her eyes. She listened to the conversations going on around her. She could read the chakras of their bodies. Even if it was a civilian, their signatures were distinct.

There was movement in the kitchen and she opened her eyes. There were a few people staring at the kitchen entrance, hoping it was their meal. Her waiter stepped out and turned promptly to set down a pair of drinks and one large plate of an assortment of meat and vegetables. He gave her two small stacked plates so they could eat over them and she placed one before her. He smiled at Sakura and she waved him off, thanking him politely.

The food sat before her appetizingly. Sasuke wouldn't mind if she ate first would he? She took her tools in hand and prepared to feast. She would avoid his favorites and save them for when he returned. Everything else was hers for the taking. She grabbed the first bite, her favorite pork piece, and put it against her lips excitedly.

She chewed, savoring the details. The breading was crisp and the juices leaked across her tongue. A faint, foreign taste hit the roof of her mouth unexpectedly. She recognized it from somewhere. It had a very quiet tang that distracted her. Regardless, she swallowed a little. The juices were not hot and tasteful as she had wanted. Instead a chilling and slow trickle trailed down to her stomach. A little red flag was going off, though she didn't know why. Her throat instinctively closed up and she choked. The half chewed meat flew out of her mouth and onto the little plate. She gagged and whatever liquid was in her cleared her mouth of the flavor.

She stared at the pork, frozen. Quickly she looked around. The heads of the other customers were down, occupied by their normal tasting food.

What was wrong with her?

She poked the pork curiously, turning it over on the plate until she saw a small dark spot. Sakura peeled away the meat and stared at the small, empty pocket of air in the middle of the pork. She bent her head down and smelt it curiously. The scent matched the name of a drug floating in her head. That smell linked to the image of an anesthetic, colorless, that blends in with flavor.

Sakura caught herself. She leaned back in her chair. It couldn't be. Still, there was a lingering taste in her mouth mixed with the stomach acid that made her uncomfortable. The wary kunoichi grabbed her glass of water. She tossed the straw aside and took a big swig, careful to not swallow. She swished it around in her mouth and spat it back in, the flavor thoroughly washed out.

Her medic mode set in and she took a small packet of powder from one of the pouches on her side. She poured the white dust into her drink and stirred it with a chopstick. She waited patiently, looking for any change in the color of the liquid.

When nothing happened, she sighed and leaned back again. She had lost per appetite, but at least her crazed feelings were satisfied.

Sakura looked down at her plate again. The vomit and chunk of meat stared back menacingly. She quickly pushed it away, stacking her cup on top. She didn't want to be around when her waiter reappeared to explain that. The kunoichi stood and scanned over the table. The small packet she had emptied was still there. Once again, that wasn't the thing a person should leave around. A small amount of white something stuck in the cracks near a used straw might give the wrong impression.

She grabbed the paper and scattered the dust best she could, meanwhile catching a glimpse at the bottom of her glass. She could have sworn that there wasn't a blue print on the small porcelain she had spat up on. What was it, then, that tainted the coloring of her water?

She had gotten water. Clear, plain water.

Something tingled in her throat. It was still burning from her gagging upchuck.

Her body jerked and her hands reached out manically toward the glass. She stared at the bottom, her voice caught in her throat. Something was swirling between the ice cubes. The water had a thick layer of blue resting in the bottom of her glass. She hadn't seen it because of the dark color of the table.

Drugged.

The color blue suggested a fast acting agent. Direct questions like who and why escaped her. Her focus was on the liquid she had almost ingested. Had she kept eating, she would have gotten through at least four or five pieces before feeling the effects. It was meant to be undetectable and spread out. Passing out on the spot would get too much attention.

She checked her mouth with her tongue again. She hadn't swallowed in minutes, but her stomach felt numb. The tingling across her tone core was rising up her throat. Her tongue sunk sleepily in her mouth.

It was working.

The kunoichi looked around the room desperately. This corner was isolated, yes. If someone was looking for them, they were hidden from windows and witnesses. That's what made it dangerous. Witnesses. If she were to pass out, no one would notice.

Sakura stood. A cool water passed over her sides into her legs. The drug was in her blood. It was faint, but it was enough to slow her. She needed to be in the open.

She walked past the bar to the checkout. Sakura still had to wait for Sasuke just in case she became somnolent. She checked out, paid in full, and sat at the bar next to a passed out gentlemen, closest to the bathroom door which was still locked.

The bartender politely asked what she wanted and she responded instinctively. She had no intention of indulging, but the façade had to be kept. Moments later he put a glass beside her. She nearly laughed at the glass's pleasant appearance. It had a small mint leaf floating with the ice. Sakura spun the liquor in the cup habitually.

"Are you alone tonight, sweet pea?"

Of course. There was always one drunk to deal with.

When Sakura turned around to tell the guy to piss off, she was surprised to see it was a shinobi. His headband had on it the Konoha leaf. All of his hair was long and silver except for a thick strand of black here and there. One long clump covered his left eye effectively. Sakura's thought flickered to Kakashi. It's amazing what potential can be hidden behind a bit of hair. She prayed that he didn't have a special ability to see through the lies she was about to spill.

His breath held the faint scent of alcohol. What a wonderful soldier, drinking on the job. She hadn't seen him when entering the village. He must have been investigating a different bar; testing to see if the beer was good enough to drink.

"No, I'm not."

She started to stand when he placed his hand on the bar. Either she would have to push past, or she would sit and wait for the bartender to say something. Patience was somehow present in her and she sat. The bartender had gone in the back to retrieve more of something and would be back soon. There was no need to cause a scene.

The man scooted his arm closer, his drunken eyes dragging from one green one to the next. Then down her face, her neck, toward her chest. Her outfit was definitely not normal up close. If he saw her packs on her side, would he question her? Getting this close to a scout was definitely not what she had planned in the beginning.

"Quite a find. Out here alone." His voice was a little fuzzy. The drug was starting to target her senses.

She sat with her hands in her lap, covering the most obvious med pack. "I'm not alone." His own chakra was well masked, but something familiar was clawing obnoxiously at her consciousness. She thought about searching his chakra signature a little more, but the drug was disturbing her vision.

He tilted his head. "Looks to me like you are."

"He'll be back soon." Her tongue flicked lazily. The sound was sleepy.

"You shouldn't be with him if he left you." He laughed quietly. "Can't be trusted."

Her eyelids drooped. His face was losing the intoxicated look. He looked much more focused, more determined. His words were strangely familiar, but she couldn't place them, just like everything else about him.

"Don't fall asleep, now. Maybe you should go for a walk. Wake up your nerves."

She shook her head. Her elbow caught the bar before she could slip into a slouch. "Pass."

A sickly hand cupped her chin, lifting her falling head. Her arms were heavy. "Looks like you need some air." His body seemed unusually weak for a shinobi. "I'm a doctor, I should know."

"Is she alright?" The bartender had come back.

Sakura could feel an arm sliding around her torso. "Don't worry. She's never been good with liquor. I'll go ahead and take her home." She heard the jingle of change. "How much?"

"She hardly had a sip! It's on the house tonight." The burly man feet from saving her gave a booming laugh, "Can you carry her?"

"I'll manage."

Where was the stool? Where was the bar? She couldn't feel her feet dragging on the ground as this stranger helped her stand.

"What happened?" A new voice joined in. It was deep and harsh, filled with agitation. She knew this voice as it passed through her dulled ears.

"I was just taking her for a walk. Is something wrong?"

"Yes." Two firm hands pulled her away from the clammy ones. His hand wrapped around her gently, holding her an inch off the floor. They were freezing, but they woke her up enough to see the shinobi staring back with a wide eye.

"Hey, buddy. I was just helping my—"

"Your what." They were moving. Sakura's eyes opened again and she looked around, terror sending a flash of awareness into her. They left the bar without a word. The bartended was yelling after him, worried for the young woman's safety.

Sasuke looked down at her and saw the glaze of intoxication. "Were you drinking?" He glared at her like he already knew the answer.

Sakura's mouth opened, but her voice was almost too slurred to comprehend. It made her shiver. Even if she had tried to call out for help with the other man, it would have sounded like wild ramblings. "There… was something in… the food." She fumbled for the pack of white. Somehow she couldn't find it.

He looked at her with a glare at first. It was just as intense as it would be when is iris were black or red. Then he waited for a better explanation.

"I tested it. Was in the pork… I choked… I threw it up. I couldn't see the… color until later… Too late. Took in some." Now more than ever she wished that she had taken a sample.

The kunoichi hung in his arms and he readjusted. She was fading fast. "Who?"

The perpetrator's image changed in her head: shinobi, bounty hunters, Akatsuki, Konoha… It could be anyone. They were very wanted people.

"I don't know…"

Sasuke considered it carefully. "If it were hunters they would have waited for both of us to eat. Why just one?"

"Don't know…"

Sakura wasn't even trying to walk anymore. Her arm around his shoulder was useless. She was worn out just from talking.

"Let's stop here."

Sauske sat her down softly then proceeded to check her medical pack. Before she could try to speak again, he was pouring a liquid in her mouth. It was hot on her tongue and woke up her throat as it went down.

She groaned happily and leaned forward into him. At first he stiffened. Then he bent forward to move her legs out of their cramped position. She fell further against his chest, curling in his arms, and he was pinned.

A little bit of relief settled in. He imagined the stranger's arm around her, hauling her to the door. He had made it just in time.

Sakura had been right. There was definitely someone tracking them. The man at the bar was evidence enough. He could have easily been from the Konoha ANBU sent after them by the Hokage. Or he could have just seen them in the village and was looking to gather the bounty.

The real inquiry Sasuke had was on the purpose. Why attack one? If the tracker had reinforcements, they could have gotten her out successfully. Working in teams was key to success. Even lowly hunters knew that. If it had been the government, Sasuke and Sakura would have been taken by force. It would have worked the same way with any other association. The only explanation was that this was a solo mission. But how and why? How did they get the drugs in the food then expect to get her out of the bar? Why just Sakura?

The young woman's head lulled back. He caught it before it fell off his chest. He cradled it for a moment. Her face was flushed. He paused, considering the unseen enemy that had discovered them. Then he put his arms under her and lifted her for a moment. She rested against his side as he removed his cloak and put it over her. He leaned her against the tree behind him and she still inclining toward him precariously. It looked like he would have to keep an eye on her, just in case she fell over again. Her head slowly fell and plopped on his shoulder. She muttered some gibberish that sounded like thanks. He smirked under the cover of nightfall and leaned his head back to look at the stars. It wasn't that cold anymore and a fire would only draw their tracker. Sakura moved a little, scooting closer so his shoulder wasn't stabbing her temple. He lowered his shoulder just enough for her to find a comfortable pocket. In minutes her light breathing evened out. He had a suspicious feeling in him that this would be the last night of relative peace.

Sasuke brushed her hair from her slightly open mouth. Her sleeping face was similar to her waking one, bright and caring. Only this one was a bit calmer and a little less fearful. He rested his hand on her leg. Her arm was half across her body and his entire side was touching some part of her. It was warm. Very warm.

"Hey, buddy. I was just helping my—"

His fabricated appearance changed with Genjutsu released like the flick of a switch.

"Your what."

His black eyes pierced the memory.

He had hesitated to interfere at first when he walked through that door. He saw the man talk casually about her. At first he imagined that it might be a friend of hers from Konoa. He imagined that she had been in that situation before with her companions back home. She had a life of her own. She had memories he wasn't aware of. He had only been a part of her life for a few months. She had lived outside of that happily. She knew many people. They touched her casually. They spoke to her kindly. They watched over her with compassion.

He had hesitated, but never again. She was there with him by choice. He was the only one she needed to affiliate with. This was the path she had taken. As long as she was set on this road, he wouldn't falter to protect its frailty and brevity.

"Get some water over here!" Two heavy set men were hauling a smoldering branch away from the flames. The fire was finally being contained. The work effort had reached further into the forest where a large crater was still fresh. It hadn't had the power of the first, but the innumerable explosions set fire to everything. If left alone, it was bound to spread. Why were these explosives gathered here? The line of bombs was long. Some were still going off, the unfortunate soul that found them rarely survived.

The sound of creaking wood tore through the group. There were dozens attending the flames.

"Look out, it's gonna fall!"

A large, blazing tree leaned precariously to the side and the snaps and cracks warned those aroundF. It was quickly extinguished. One tree at a time, one at a time and the forest could be saved.

Miles down the line of devastation a middle-aged woman moved an extinguished branch from the fire's reach. They were clearing one of the quieter areas. The work was important to prevent spread, but it was less dangerous. This mine had gone off two days before. The main fire had already gone out It was their job to clean up the rest. Her son had a shovel, throwing piles of ash onto the smoldering wood. Trails of sweat cleared away the gray on his face.

He stopped for a moment to shake out his gloves when he noticed something flutter in the breeze. He leaned in closer, but the soot was obstructing his view. He took the shovel and dragged it out from under the wood.

It was a thick black fabric. It was frayed and burnt, but not from the fire. He had felt enough material to know that this was fire proof. He turned it in his hands, realizing it was inside out and started to correct it. A faint noise startled him and the boy looked around for a potential tree falling. He had heard something.

The boy stood with the fabric over his arm. "Hey mom, you over here?" She called out in response, but it wasn't from the direction he was expecting. There was something else here.

He quickly took up the shovel and walked to where it had come from and started clearing. The fire had already gone out here but some trees had knocked over by the explosion. He looked at the cloth again.

"Mom, I think someone may be around here."

"What?" Her voice answered faintly. She couldn't hear. He gave up trying to reach her and started kicking around in the soot. Maybe there would be a sign.

He kicked something hard, a log under the layers of debris. He brushed away the soot with his hand. It was another crater. He looked under it. He couldn't see clearly, but something told him to go deeper. He gripped the cloth in his hands as he ran back to the shovel.

His mother was standing by it, worry on her face. She was panting a little. "Did I hear you calling earlier? I thought you were hurt."

"No, I think I found something." He handed her the fabric and took the shovel.

"We have to work on the embers."

"I think there's someone here." He ran to the hole again and started jabbing under the closest trunk. He pushed it away and used it for leverage on the others. Soon enough he could walk down in the hole. He dragged back the soot and lifted the shovel high. There were a few thin braches he could easily rip through with its hard edge. He brought it down solidly; the metal glinted in the hazy light.

He struck something soft and a pained grunt rose from the shadows. The boy gasped and dropped the shovel.

"Shit!" The boy dove into the ash, feeling for whatever he had just stabbed. Sure enough, there was a body there. He started pulling. "Mom, there's a person here!"

His mother squatted at the rim of the crater and shouted down, "What?"

The boy pulled harder. It was an arm. A head emerged from the soot, coughing and choking. The survivor shook and clouds of gray flew into the air.

"Fucking hit me with a shovel!"

"What?" The woman slid down to them and helped her boy pull the deranged man out. "Did he say shovel?"

"I don't know. I don't know what he said." He put the man's arm around his shoulder. "Help me." His mother quickly did the same and they carried him out of the crater.

The man murmured curse words as they helped him. He kicked the soot in a tantrum and it went flying into their faces.

The mother wasn't gentle when she put him down. "What's your problem? We just saved you—Oh, my God, you're bleeding." Her hands shot out to his side. He yelped loudly as she stuck her hands onto his freshly opened gut. He was lucky that the boy had hit his ribs. Any lower and some real damage could have been done on his organs.

The survivor glared at the boy, "Yeah, I'm bleeding." The boy cringed. "I was just starting to get comfortable in that little hole when your kid found me." Something over the brat's arm caught his attention. The lining of the black fabric had red in it. The survivor coughed uncomfortably.

The woman's hands glided over the burns covering him. Large chunks of skin, shriveled by explosions. He couldn't move his leg even if he wanted to. He could still feel it, but the muscles had been distorted, moving it was impossible. The bleeding had already stopped in those places, leaving black trails across his body.

He adjusted as the woman stepped back. It was clear that she had no idea what she was doing. She stood helplessly to the side. The man could have laughed. If he died, it would be because of this woman's negligence. Luckily he could tell it wasn't as serious as it looked. His side was the biggest worry. The boy hit him hard, even though the branches slowed down the impact. He'd stop bleeding soon enough.

"What happened to you?"

He put a hand to his oozing wound. The ash was making the blood thick. "Don't know. I was wandering for a while before I set off that bomb. I got out of the fire, but the trees fell on me. Got pinned."

The woman was uncomfortable. "Wh-what were you doing here?" That was the sign that she would soon turn her suspicions on him. Women were predictable. "Why were you out here? Did you start the bombs?"

Did I start them? "I was taking a walk. You gonna castrate me for it?" The man sighed. "The explosions started going off. Monstrous plumes of smoke, shooting through the air like fireworks. It sounded like hell was rising to cover the Earth." A ghostly smile lifted his features. "I got out. I got out…"

The woman shuffled her feet, embarrassed. "We better get you to town."

You think?

The boy wrapped his arm around the survivor's shoulder again and began dragging him away to who knows where.

"They kept going off. Everywhere. I just started walking. I just walked. Through fire. Just started walking." He hacked and waves of gray fell off his head. His skin was pale, his hair was matted with the soot. He mumbled to himself. "It was sad. The form was terrible. No coordination. Only a few got me. Half of them weren't even close. The timing… The timing was off." He shuttered as pain moved through his side. "Stupid kid…"

"You're going to be alright now."

The black fabric was hanging next to his hand and the man brushed it with disgust on his face. He turned the hem over and took in the red cloud staring back at him. If he put it on, the holes in the fabric would match perfectly with his newly forming scars.

The ghostly smile reached his blue eyes. "Stupid kid…"

The mother was speaking into a walkie-talkie. "We've found a survivor. He's hurt bad. He has burns all over a-and a big cut on his side."

"…hit me with a shovel."

"He was trapped under the aftermath of the explosion we were taking care of. He doesn't know how long he's been here. H-he set off the mine two days ago and claims he was walking around when the first explosions were going off. He's dehydrated. It's clear he hasn't eaten in a while. Possibly delusional."

Maybe she had been paying attention.

A fuzzy voice responded. "He might be one of the missing villagers. Can you give a physical description?"

The woman went to her boy and the limp man hanging off him. She brushed away the soot from his face and lifted his eyelid. He rolled his eyes as he opened them wider. Then she started hitting his head—What a gentle bunch of people…—to knock away the ash and see hair color.

"M-male. Blue eyes, long blond hair. He's wearing black. Nothing special."

The survivor almost laughed as he gripped his hands. The two little mouths bared their teeth.

Nothing special.

What a twisted world it was.

Nut

Poor Ino. She wanted in on the action too! She'll fight, don't worry. I'm so excited, it's ridiculous. I have to be honest with you all, I don't like writing fight scenes with this many people. It's just really hard to keep interest. I really like one-on-one. Small fights are a lot of fun to write.

DEIDARA!

…

That's all I have to say…

Thanks for reading!

Next Chapter—Awareness: Exposure (I'm splitting what would have been chapter 5 in two)

…

All our knowledge merely helps us to die a more painful death than animals that know nothing.

Maurice Maeterlinck